Skip to Main Content
The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

Japan enforces some of the strictest gun laws in the world. In 2014, there were only six deaths by  firearm in the entire nation. The U.S. has less stringent gun control laws and had 38,658 gun related deaths in 2016. In response to the Parkland school shooting, the Florida state legislature raised the minimum age to buy a firearm from 18 to 21.

Shots heard around the world: How do American gun laws compare to those of other developed nations

by Varsha Rammohan, Reporter March 29, 2018

Following the recent mass shootings in the United States, advocates have spoken out against the leniency of American gun regulations compared to those of other countries. Americans make up five percent...

President Trump affirmed the establishment of tariffs on imported steel and aluminum on March 8 in an effort to bolster American companies that struggle to compete with foreign companies. “From an economics standpoint, the purpose of tariffs is to protect a domestic industry [and] try to boost employment in that industry under the theory or the hope of creating more steel and aluminum domestically and therefore growing the economy,” economics teacher Sam Lepler said.

Tariffs imposed on imported steel and aluminum

by Arya Maheshwari, Reporter March 29, 2018

President Trump affirmed the establishment of tariffs on imported steel and aluminum on March 8 in an effort to bolster American companies that struggle to compete with foreign companies. The tariffs were...

Students that spearheaded the march in San Francisco prepare to partake in the march following the rally. More than 25,000 people participated in the San Francisco march alone on March 24.

Students, faculty join national movement protesting for gun control

by Katherine Zhang, Kathy Fang, and Prameela Kottapalli March 28, 2018

  “Hey-hey! Ho-ho! The NRA has got to go!” “Enough is enough! Enough is enough!” “Rain rain go away! Take away the NRA!” “No more silence, end gun violence!” The shouts rang...

Production Manager Brian Larsen encourages students interested in teching this year's spring musical "42nd Street" to email him regarding availability. Three students are still needed to join the tech crew for the production.

School meeting recap 3/28

by Anvi Banga, Aquila Asst. News Editor March 28, 2018

Harker Athletics gave a short update about games this past week and encouraged students and faculty to support the teams at upcoming games this week. Interact’s club week is this week, and they are...

Instrumental music teacher and director of the upper school orchestra Chris Florio stands with the ensemble at the end of one of their pieces for the collaboration concert with the Santa Monica High School Wind Symphony. The upper school orchestra will be traveling to Chicago from March 29 to April 2 to perform at the Chicago International Music Festival.

Upper school orchestra to perform at Chicago International Music Festival

by Karina Chen and Kat Zhang March 26, 2018

The upper school orchestra will embark on its annual trip, heading to Chicago from March 29 to April 2 to perform at the Chicago International Music Festival. The orchestra will be judged along with three...

Anika Banga (12) sings Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles" as Akshaya Vemuri (12), Sumi Wadhwa (12), Satchi Thockchom (12) and Megan Huynh (12) accompany her on various instruments. The group is planning on performing another song at the upcoming Quadchella talent show on May 2.

Student council hosts annual talent show Hoscars in Patil Theater

by Farah Hosseini, Reporter March 23, 2018

Upper school students and faculty attended the return of talent show Hoscars today in the Patil Theater of the Rothschild Performing Arts Center. Due to limited seating in the venue, two showings of...

Gun debate participants Andy Semenza (12), Serena Lu (12), Sophia Gottfried (9), Sachin Shah (10), Edgar Lin (12) and Jason Huang (11) take audience questions about their speeches. Today's event in Nichols Auditorium was moderated by Aliesa Bahri (12), Dolan Dworak (12), Sahana Srinivasan (12) and Jai Bahri (10).

Students discuss gun control in after school nonpartisan gun debate, town hall

by Rose Guan, Wingspan Senior Staff Writer and Designer March 23, 2018

Six students discussed gun control in a nonpartisan town hall and question-and-answer session hosted by ASB and the debate and journalism programs today at 3:15 p.m. in Nichols Auditorium. In two groups...

Art Club members Zara Vakath (10), Connie Xu (11), Katrina Liou (11), Charlie Molin (11) and Donna Boucher (11) organize baked goods sales outside Manzanita during the club's club week. “We’re trying to fundraise for an art gallery in Shah, and basically we need these boards that kind of look like walls, but it’s easy to put drawings on them without ruining them. We also need really good lights and stuff like that, so Mr. Martinez said we need about $3,000," Art Club member Kaitlyn Nguyen (12) said.

Art Club fundraises for Shah art gallery through baked goods, sweatshirt sales

by Arya Maheshwari, Reporter March 23, 2018

Art Club raised funds for a new school art gallery through sales of baked goods and hoodies for their club week this week. After school on Monday and Tuesday, club members sold homemade cookies, and...

A student signs the banner that will be sent to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as a sign of support in the aftermath of a Feb. 14 shooting that left 17 students and faculty dead. The Florida Senate responded to the shooting by passing a bill that raises the minimum age to purchase firearms, bans bump stocks and allows sheriffs to appoint and arm “school guardians.”

Through the years: A history of gun legislation in the U.S.

by Anvi Banga, Kathy Fang, and Tiffany Wong March 15, 2018

After the shooting at MSD on Feb. 14, which left 17 students and faculty dead, Florida Gov. Rick Scott passed a new law on March 9 prohibiting gun sales to individuals less than 21 years of age and banning...

Avi Gulati (10), who led the initiatives of solidarity among student council and headed the coordination of the vigil, writes a message in neon green on the “#MSDStrong” banner which student council had prepared before the vigil this morning. The banner will be sent to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to hang in their halls alongside the banners of other schools across the country as a sign of support and solidarity.

Upper school community extends support to recovering MSD students and faculty through vigil, advocacy initiatives

by Anvi Banga, Kathy Fang, and Tiffany Wong March 15, 2018

Students and faculty attended an optional vigil and walkout in the athletics center from 10 to 10:35 a.m. yesterday to honor the 17 people who were killed during the Feb. 14 Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD)...

Student council members  Alycia Cary (11), David Wen (12), Avi Gulati (10), Akshay Manglik (9) and Kat Zhang (11) announce details about the upper school's upcoming support and advocacy initiatives in response to the recent Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) shooting. Among these efforts include an optional vigil in the athletics center this Wednesday and a gun debate and town hall at 3:15 p.m. in Nichols Auditorium on March 23.

School meeting recap 3/12

by Anvi Banga, Aquila Asst. News Editor March 12, 2018

Harker Athletics gave a short update about games this past week and encouraged students and faculty to support the teams at upcoming games this week. The cheer team played a video promoting tryouts,...

Spanish National Honor Society members serve paella to Spanish Cultural Night attendees. The event was hosted in the auxiliary gym from 6 to 8 p.m. today.

Spanish National Honor Society hosts Spanish Cultural Night

by Arushi Saxena, Reporter March 9, 2018

The upper school’s annual Spanish Cultural Night took place in the auxiliary gym from 6 to 8 p.m. today. Hosted by the Spanish National Honor Society, the event was coordinated by a committee of...

Load More Stories