2016 – Teen Observer Archive

June 26, 2018June 27, 2018

Celebrity influence powerful for some people’s politics

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Many teenagers and adults studying or working at American University this summer believe that celebrities have significant influence in shaping people’s political views, although research shows many young people are influenced by factors outside of star power.

Social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat have propelled celebrities’ status and many are opting to share their views on topics including immigration, elections, drug offenses and the prison system.

People like 16-year-old Nei Boney are paying attention.

“If it’s somebody I respect, I will consider their opinions,” said Boney, who considers herself a frequent social media user.

Boney, who said she uses social media frequently, often finds herself pinpointing celebrities’ talents like acting or photography before looking at the politics. Jaden Smith and Cole Sprouse make her list as influential.

This month, model Chrissy Teigen and singer husband John Legend used the social media platform Twitter to encourage fans to donate money to the American Civil Liberties Union to fight President Donald Trump’s new immigration policy separating children and families at the border.

The celebrity couple donated $72,000 for each member of their family in honor of Trump’s 72nd birthday, and urged followers to give what they could whether that was $7.20 or $720. That started a social media firestorm. It was retweeted 94,000 times and liked 414,000 times as of Tuesday.

On June 16, Teigen tweeted stating that 20,000 people had donated to the ACLU, raising more than $1 million.

twitter teigen — Chrissy Teigen tweeted on June 14 urging people to donate to the ACLU.

Teigen, Legend, Smith, and Sprouse are just some of the names that make a political splash on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.

People like Boney listen to celebrities because they respect them, while other’s like Marie Rose Belding, 22, respect people based on their policies and characteristics rather than just their fame.

“They need the brains to back it up,” Belding said.

Cory Booker, Michelle Obama, and Hillary Clinton were just some of the people she found herself often looking at when scrolling through Twitter. She stated these people needed to be “well rounded.”

Kim Kardashian West, who often uses her social media platforms to discuss her television show or items she’s promoting, successfully advocated for the prison release of 63-year-old great grandmother Alice Marie Johnson, according to West’s website.

West retweeted in October information about Johnson’s incarceration, saying “This is so unfair.”

That tweet was liked 30,652 times and retweeted 6,383 times as of Tuesday.

When discussing Johnson’s prison release Belding said she found it wonderful that a powerful celebrity such as West could use her influence in a beneficial way.

Research from Valerie R O’Regan, of California State University, concluded: “The research finds that young adults are more likely to listen to individuals other than celebrities for their own political information.”

Sara Beightol often finds herself gravitating towards people on her social media accounts who agree with her values. These people include two powerful Christian pastors: John Piper and Jonathan Leeman.

Others like Beightol, 26, and Jasmine Ellison, 20, fear the power celebrities have in the political world.

“That’s scary,” Beightol said. “That Kim Kardashian West has that much power.”

August 6, 2016

Thrifting on Telegraph draws year-round customers

BERKELEY, Calif.— Ariel Dekovic, a Berkeley native, sat with a box of sweaters, hats, jackets, jeans and more at Buffalo Exchange. She was planning to sell all of the items to the thrift shop, something she does twice a year.

Every other month, she can be found at Buffalo Exchange buying clothes, shoes, and accessories. The purse she currently carries is from a Buffalo Exchange store, she says.

“I think the idea of better prices,” said Dekovic about why thrift shopping and selling appeals to her.

Buffalo Exchange on Telegraph Avenue in this college town was the first location for the store in this state when it opened in the early 1980s, according to its website. All products sold at the store are bought, sold and traded locally. Items sold at the store include vintage, designer, one-of-a-kind items, costumes and even current and new clothing, shoes, jewelry and other accessories.

Buffalo Exchange is dedicated to helping the community in more ways than one: When customers decline a bag, they are offered a 5-cent token instead to donate to one of three charities through the Tokens for Bags® program. This program claims credit for saving more than 13 million bags from landfills. Buffalo Exchange also supports food pantries, animal shelters, LGBT organizations, homeless aid, local libraries and schools, women’s support centers and more.

Mars Mercantile is another store in the thrifting business, one of many in Berkeley. It is one of seven stores in the San Francisco area under Retro City Fashions Inc. and under its current ownership since 1993. The owner buys clothes from various warehouses, and from there they are distributed to different stores.

Ashley Gardner, the manager, said most of their shoppers are between the ages of 16 and 25. During the summer, however, Mars also gets an influx of traffic from tourists, especially from Europe.

Most of the clothes that come in are from the 1970s and 1990s. However, that doesn’t always match what shoppers are searching for: “The demographic that comes in here is people that are looking for really vintage stuff, like the 50s,” she said.

As a thrift shop, Mars Mercantile sees a lot of crazy clothes, notably fur collars with the fox face still attached.
“It’s just fun to see all the clothes coming in from different eras,” Gardner said.

August 6, 2016

Students living large at Cal

BERKELEY, Calif. — The University of California, Berkeley, ranked No. 1 among public universities by U.S. News, attracts people with wide-ranging views and interests, with an undergraduate enrollment of more than 27,000. Teen Observer staffers conducted a random survey about the student experience at Cal.

The new student union on campus was where we began our search for information on the student experience. Linda Li, a rising sophomore who works at the front desk at the union, talked to us about her passion for attending Cal football games.

But she said the Cal academics are challenging: “One of the hardest parts are the final weeks, and how stressful it can be on students, and how many students suffer from anxiety and depression.”

Out on the center of campus close to Sather Gate, we came across Bo Mot eating a burrito on a bench. Mott is a rising senior from the Lake Tahoe area. The location of his hometown played a big role in influencing his decision to attend Cal.

Mott said, “It was next to the city (San Francisco), and I wanted to be close to the ocean.” Also, Mott said he enjoys the cuisine around campus. “It has to be the food; the food is the best. Blondie’s [the restaurant] is great.”

Sather Gate-the iconic gate at Cal-a historical landmark at the campus. Photo by Etta Liu — Sather Gate, an icon at Cal, is at the center of the 1,200-acre university and near the new student union. Photo by Etta Liu

The Campanile on Cal campus-another historical landmark photo by Etta Liu — The Campanile is a 307-foot tall bell and clock tower on Cal’s campus.
Photo by Etta Liu

We then met Berkeley engineering major Anesh Akella, who is from San Jose, south of Berkeley.

“The people here are unique, very competitive students, thus you can do your best,” he said. So far, his favorite moment at Cal was when he and his friends went to Riverside, California, for an engineering competition.

Ray Huang, an incoming freshman, said he is looking forward to beginning his college life this fall. “I liked all the research and things being created here,” he said of his decision to accept admission at Cal.

“I really like all those activities,” said Li. “There are different communities for any kind of person so anyone can fit in and find their niche.”

August 6, 2016

Tuition & diversity mark Berkeley’s evolution

BERKELEY, Calif. — How has Berkeley changed over the years?

What used to be a free education for California residents, was around $13,500 for in-state tuition, a number that jumped to more than $38,000 for out-of-state students, in the past academic year.

The University of California, Berkeley, the state’s first and now ranked No. 1 on U.S. News’ annual “best colleges” list, was created 48 years later, in 1868. Over the years, change throughout the university and the town is reflected in the grounds themselves — and continuing construction over the campus’ 1,200 acres — and the students.

Stan James, the manager of Bill’s Men’s Shop, which was founded in 1961, said, “The students were different; they were more preppy. They were pretty much all the same.”

In 1968, the registration fee for all students was $300 per year. The tuition for out-of-state students was $1,200 per year, and tuition was free for all in-state residents.

In 1975, 85 percent of students attending Berkeley were residents of California. According to a recent study done by the Berkeley News Office in 2015, 65 percent of students attending Berkeley are now residents of California.

Maureen Nam, owner of Steve’s Korean BBQ, and Stan James said they have seen a definite increase in diversity in their years working in the heart of the Berkeley campus.

Nam said that over the years, she has noticed that the economy and her business are tied. “State of economy low, my business goes low. State of economy high, my business goes high.”

Right now, Nam has noticed an increase in Asian students, especially Chinese. She said that they are big fans of what Steve’s Korean BBQ has to offer, and so her business is booming.

There have been many new developments within Berkeley, such as development of new residential halls, apartments and restaurants over the years. These changes have shifted both Berkeley’s cityscape and demographic, as the city and the people of Berkeley are connected in an unmistakable and fluid way.

James said that for the past four to five years there was a lot of construction, and the end-result did not turn out as was initially planned. A fire broke out on Telegraph Avenue, taking out two restaurants.

A side-view of the construction project. Nam said, "The general noise and construction makes everyone uncomfortable." Photo by Anamaya Shore — A side-view of the construction project. Nam said, “The general noise and construction makes everyone uncomfortable.” Photo by Anamaya Shore

There is currently a construction site,The Southgate Apartments, on Durant Avenue in hopes of creating new apartment space for students,and other Berkeley locals. There will be 44 apartments, eight two-bedroom units, 36 one-bedroom units and junior one-bedroom apartments. The project also includes two restaurants: Taco Bell Cantina and Garlic Mediterranean.

The average cost for an apartment will range from $2,000 to 4,000 a month; even at that high price tag, the apartments are still expected to draw students.

One thing has remained a constant: The importance of academics, students and a vision that Berkeley students will “contribute even more than California’s gold to the glory and happiness of advancing generations.“

James says, “As far as the university, that’s been the constant thing. Students come and get their education.”

August 5, 2016

Berkeley bookstores surviving in the technology age

Teen Observer staffers interviewed several local bookstore employees about their experiences competing against the biggest giant in the e-book and physical book market, Amazon.

BERKELEY, Calif. — There are over one dozen independent bookstores within a one-mile radius of the University of California, Berkeley campus. In a world where practically any book is one click away from conveniently arriving at your doorstep, what makes a bookstore special?

Many bookstores worldwide have closed as a result of Amazon’s ability to outcompete the traditional “brick and mortar” libraries, including two shops in the Berkeley area within the past year.

“Berkeley has become more of a tech town,” Half Price Books employee Jim Hotti said. “There’s more drive for technology and less drive for actual physical books,” he added.

Hotti attributes the downfall of bookstores to Amazon’s generally lower prices and convenience.

“Most people aren’t willing to pay $25 to $30 for a brand-new bestseller hardcover. They’ll download it on a Kindle or a tablet device that they have.”

Half Price Books uses Amazon as a resource for pricing, but Hotti says that it is “nearly impossible” to compete with the online retail giant.

Stanley Sobolewski, the store manager of Moe’s Bookstore on Telegraph Avenue, echoes the sentiment of using Amazon as a guide for pricing. Moe’s Bookstore sells used books online through Amazon as well, which they say has helped business.

Moe's Bookstore on Telegraph Avenue. Photo by Danny Emerman — Moe’s Bookstore on Telegraph Avenue started in 1959. Photo by Danny Emerman

“We’ve adopted to it. If [Amazon] didn’t exist, I don’t know if our business would be stronger or weaker, but the Internet in general has added a lot of benefit,” Sobolewski said.

Berkeley native Lucas Buckman, who has worked for Pegasus Bookstore for nine years, says that the privately owned shop is in a relatively safe place financially as consumers have become smarter.

“The Internet was scary, but now it has sort of plateaued back,” Buckman said of the store that started another name in 1969 and the re-located and became Pegasus in 1983.

“I think now there’s a lot more education about online shopping versus supporting local businesses. That has evolved more than anything,” Buckman said. “There was an idea that books were going to be outdated, but they aren’t. They’re actually stronger,” he added, citing an upward trend in sales.

The dominance of the Internet has led to changes in book publishing and bookstores, but some avid readers take advantage of all the options.

Veri Lobos, a customer at Half Price Books, reads both e-books and paperbacks. She prefers hard copies because she said a hard copy presents fewer distractions than an electronic version.

“I love the smell of it, I love to use it, and maybe it is for myself. And I have proper time with my books. You can be more focused on the paper books, more than on an e-book,” Lobos said.

“I don’t think paper books are going to disappear,” Lobos said. “E-books are very useful, but I don’t think they are going to replace the paper books,” she added.

Neither Half Price Books, Moe’s Bookstore nor Pegasus Books sells e-books. “There will always be people who will buy paper books and like the physicalness of it,” Hotti said.

Pegasus Bookstore on Shattuck Avenue. Photo by Danny Emerman — Pegasus Bookstore on Shattuck Avenue is a local landmark near the Berkeley campus and now has three locations. Photo by Danny Emerman

August 5, 2016

Berkeley Kite Festival draws thousands

BERKELEY, Calif. — Thousands of people from around the country gathered at the annual Berkeley Kite Festival this past weekend, some to fly kites, and some to watch, eat and play on the hills of the Berkeley Marina.

Dan Perez drove 32 miles from San Ramone with his young son, who proved to be more successful than Perez himself at kite-flying.

Cam Zhao drove 30 minutes with her kids to the festival.

“We tried and failed,” Zhao said when she couldn’t keep her kite up.

But she said they would definitely come back. They watched as others struggled, too, to keep their kites flying.

Lina and Diya Nihar, a mother-daughter duo, drove 20 minutes to see the festival, which they heard about on the news. This was their second time trying to get to the festival.

There was too much traffic the previous day, they said; about 35,000 people attended the two-day event, vying for parking spots along the marina and designated areas from which shuttle buses took people closer to the entrance area.

They’d just arrived after waiting an hour for parking, and while they weren’t planning the fly any kites, they couldn’t wait to see them.

Although there were dozens of food vendors selling hot dogs, chicken, grilled oysters, pork sandwiches and fresh cut fruit, Lina and Diya said they always worry about whether there will be vegetarian options.

Danata Aaron came from East Oakland with her child and godson. They said they had a lot of fun and participated in many different activities for kids, including the moon bounce.

Aaron thought she would come back next year. “Seeing him [her son] happy was the best part,” she said.

August 5, 2016August 5, 2016

Kite party draws families

BERKELEY, Calif. — Felipe Gomez attends the kite festival with his daughter every year here, two of the thousands of people who flocked to the Berkeley Marina over two days to take in competitive kite-flying, colorful just-for-fun kites and a food vendors who offered everything from grilled oysters to grilled cheese.

Cecilia Espinoza, who brings her daughter with her as well, took part for the first time after learning about the event on Facebook.
“The big kites are awesome! We have never seen before,” Espinoza said.

Miles Duan, a visitor from China, said, “It was my mother who told us about this festival, and we decided to come here for fun actually.”

Jay Yasgoor, who attended with his girlfriend, said, “It is our first time here. We love those big kites.”

August 5, 2016

Politics at the Pier: Issues vary

Chris Conville, an Irish citizen, felt as though the United States needs to address the problems surrounding immigration for the 2016 presidential election. Photo courtesy Jack Null. — Chris Conville, an Irish citizen, said the United States needs to address the problems surrounding immigration for the 2016 presidential election. Photo by Jack Null

SAN FRANCISCO — In a presidential election where both the Republican and Democratic parties have radically different plans on how to address the massive problems surrounding immigration, it comes as no surprise that many people feel strongly about this prevalent issue.

On Monday,The Teen Observer staff interviewed people at the popular tourist destination Pier 39 in San Francisco to ask young people their opinions on the most important issues surrounding the 2016 presidential election.

Many respondents talked about immigration.

Others, including Ellen Ward, a British tourist, said the problems surrounding the United States’ prison system need to be addressed the most for the incoming president. As it currently stands, more than 2.3 million Americans are incarcerated in either local jails or federal and state prisons, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. These 2.3 million comprise 22 percent of the 10.2 million people incarcerated worldwide, according to The Washington Post.

Ward also brought up racial inequality as an additional issue, which many mentioned.

August 3, 2016August 3, 2016

Drugs, equality on people’s minds

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — What issue most concerns you? The Teen Observer staff asked tourists and residents at this city’s busy Pier 39 what mattered most:

Elise Szabo, 20, said the issues most important to her were police brutality, the war on drugs and the connections between the two.

“Police brutality is a direct impact of the war on drugs. The stereotypes are still very prevalent so the police go into communities seeing these people as criminals,” she said.

The issues most important to Chala Jan, 36, was equality for women, the LGBT community and immigrants. She said, “Everyone should be equal anyways.”

“This election makes me afraid. Because I’m an immigrant, and not a Christian,” she said.

David Ly, 26, simply said that he was most concerned with Donald Trump not being elected to office.

He said, “He seems like a big egomaniac.”

August 2, 2016

The voice: Kite maker and announcer back at Berkeley

BERKELEY, Calif. — A booming voice carried across the hills of the Berkeley Marina as the 32nd annual Berkeley Kite Festival was under way. That voice belonged to none other than the well-respected Ron Gibian.

Ron Gibian flies his kite at a kite festival. Photo credit Takaku Barresi. — Announcer Ron Gibian; photo by Takaku Barresi

Gibian was the main announcer for the competitive field, but he has fulfilled roles such as a judge or a side field announcer as well. And he said his usual role is as a featured guest for his ability to create stunning kites. “I’ve been a relentless kid all my life,” he said.

Since his early days in Chile, Gibian has been surrounded by artists; both parents, especially his father, a commercial artist, were involved in the artistic community. Gibian first became interested in kites as a child when he attended Chilean Independence Day kite festivals. He talked about how the sport of kite fighting is central to the culture of the Chilean people, and how that inspired him to take his artistic ideas to the realm of kite-making.

“I found kites to be are an interesting platform, and the sky to be my gallery,” he said.

He is also a graphic artist and a percussionist for the band Zzah but he’s passionate about kites.

“Kites have taken me around the world,” he said.

Gibian began attending the Berkeley Kite Festival in 1987, a year after its inception. He has been at this festival ever since, with the exception of a five-year hiatus; this was his first year back. He said the Berkeley Kite Festival is “second to none,” with nearly 35,000 people attending over the course of this past weekend. Gibian said the Washington State Kite Festival draws 100,000 visitors over a week but Berkeley’s large crowds are still impressive over the two-day period.

Gibian also said he has enjoyed seeing the festival grow every year; it started in just a single field with a few large kites and grown to the sprawling event it is today.

Attendees of the Berkeley Kite Festival observe the many varieties of kites in the sky. Photo credit Marvin Leung. — Thousands gathered to see kites of all shapes and sizes compete — and also just fly. Photo by Marvin Leung

In the future, Gibian doesn’t plan on slowing down or leaving the kite community. He usually goes to 12 or 15 kite shows and festivals a year and said he always enjoys the Berkeley festival’s mix of competitive fliers, food vendors and playgrounds. “It’s a 10-ring circus,” he said.