The Student Newspaper of Oxford Academy

The Gamut

The Gamut

The Gamut

Artists abuse creative freedom with religion

Artists abuse creative freedom with religion

Jimena Beltran, Staff Writer February 1, 2024

A dark trend has emerged in the music industry: Religion is deemed an “aesthetic” and has lost its spiritual foundation in return for offensive mockery. Artists following the trend are increasingly exploiting the concept of religion to build their...

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It is time to value environmental preservation

It is time to value environmental preservation

Rachel Yoon, Opinion Editor February 1, 2024

Environmental conservation has lost its meaning. Despite backlash from thousands of residents, Irvine Company plans to implement a major urban development project this year, stripping away 400 acres of wildlife corridor from two of the busiest Orange...

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Protesting for Protection: Chicago residents call for action against the 606 trail construction in 2016 that displaced residents in the name of industrial growth and was inattentive to their needs and lives. (Photo by Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere)

Gentrification pressures OC residents out of homes

Orange County must address community needs against gentrification.
Justin Le, Staff Writer December 14, 2023

Gentrification is the process of urban renewal where communities and lower-income residents are displaced by wealthier individuals or businesses, resulting in changes to the socioeconomic and cultural fabric of a neighborhood. In Orange County, gentrification...

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Street vendors struggle with Orange County’s unrealistic regulations

Street vendors struggle with Orange County’s unrealistic regulations

Sidewalk vending carts serving tacos, tamales, and fruit are excessively impounded by the Orange County Health Agency.
Haley Nguyen and Rachel Yoon December 14, 2023

City officials in Orange County moved to crack down on sidewalk food carts in March by introducing tight regulations on the activity, a decision directly in opposition to California Senate Bill No. 946 passed in 2018, which decriminalizes street vendors...

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Sidewalk Maintenance: A group of restaurant customers at Huntington Drive in Los Angeles enjoy their meal along properly maintained sidewalks and road platforms. (Photo by LADOT/Jim Simmons)

Improving communities through establishing sidewalks

Disproportionately-built streets in California need revision and redesigning.
Athena Xing, Staff Writer December 14, 2023

There has been an immense network of complaints about the disproportionately-built streets in Los Angeles, California, especially over the past years. Since 2016, the city of Los Angeles has paid more than $35 million in settlements for the received 1,700...

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“Working-class” is not the style for celebrities

“Working-class” is not the style for celebrities

From red carpets to Walmart aisles, celebrities are deserting their glitz for grit.
Jasmine Nguyen, Staff Writer December 14, 2023

In the ever-evolving landscape of celebrity culture, the once-captivating allure of luxury and fortune has lost its glitz and glamour. Amid the destructive COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing financial crisis, the public is no longer tolerant of celebrities...

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How consumerism stole the spirit of Christmas

How consumerism stole the spirit of Christmas

Consumerism puts a price tag on holiday cheer
Celine Park, Staff Writer December 14, 2023

Holiday season is around the corner —but what should be a “season to be jolly” is one of stress and worry for many American consumers who feel financially burdened by its cost. There are many whose financial situations do not allow them to prioritize...

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Celebrities are not our saviors for solving international conflicts

Celebrities are not our saviors for solving international conflicts

With public opinion turning against Selena Gomez's silence on Palestine, people should re-evaluate the role of celebrities on international issues.
Eshmom Haque, Sports Editor December 14, 2023

Near the end of October, renowned singer Selena Gomez issued an impassioned statement to her millions of followers on Instagram declaring a social media break from the “horror, hate, violence and terror that's going on in the world.” Happening mere...

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Greenwashing pollutes consumer consciousness

Greenwashing pollutes consumer consciousness

Companies hide behind exaggerated attempts of sustainability. Instead, they must enact genuine structural changes that address waste and emissions.
Trisha Phan, Editor in Chief November 16, 2023

“Conscious,” “sustainable,” and “eco-friendly.” Beneath this veneer of environmentally friendly language and earthy colored packaging, companies fail to uphold their sustainable image. As consumers place greater value on green industries,...

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Oxford admissions inflicts barriers on underprivileged applicants

Oxford admissions inflicts barriers on underprivileged applicants

Nathan Perera, Staff Writer November 16, 2023

Distinguishing it from other public high schools in California, Oxford Academy’s infamous entrance exam is arguably its most defining aspect.  Every year, hundreds of sixth grade students from across Orange County take a challenging, three-hour...

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Toxic productivity silently suffocates students

Toxic productivity silently suffocates students

Humans are not machines that can sustain constant productivity, so why are students constantly working?
Jasmine Nguyen, Staff Writer November 16, 2023

In a success-focused world, the constant drive to optimize productivity has plagued Oxford’s student culture.  Social pressures push students to squeeze every drop of spare time into something "worthwhile," often hidden in habits like working during...

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Thanksgiving masks Indigenous oppression

Thanksgiving masks Indigenous oppression

Before enjoying a Thanksgiving meal, consider the brutal history of the celebrated holiday
Miriam Santos, Staff Writer November 16, 2023

Thanksgiving, the widely celebrated holiday dedicated to celebrating loved ones and feasting on warm, homemade food, has a dark underlayer beneath the surface of its story. Despite having a joyful sentiment, the idea of gratitude is sugarcoated, as the...

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