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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

What can be burdened by what has been

What can be burdened by what has been

by Jessica Wang, Winged Post Managing Editor October 21, 2024

Kamala Harris’s policies, particularly those that appear to cater to moderates or adopt conservative stances, warrant scrutiny about the consistency of the values that her progressive platform supports...

Eliminating the death penalty means that America’s judiciary would never kill an innocent person again — not that criminals would walk free. While wrongful prison sentences are tragic, they can be revisited and resolved unlike capital punishment.

Capital punishment is guilty. America should kill it.

by Mihir Kotbagi, Co-Opinions Editor October 14, 2024

In three days, America will execute an innocent man. Despite the many fundamental flaws in the evidence used to convict him, Texan Robert Roberson is currently on death row after being convicted of killing...

Swift, despite espousing praise for the more progressive candidate in this year’s upcoming election, emits 1,800 times more carbon than the average American. By contrast, Harris, the candidate Swift supports, has put forward emission-reducing, pro-environment policy.

Celebrity endorsements undercut political culture

by Gabe Sachse, Aquila Managing Editor October 13, 2024

American history features its fair share of idols. The iconography of celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jordan has always shaped the country’s culture, creating a pantheon of legends who define...

Harker could expand the art facility to include a gallery space that serves as a permanent exhibition area where student works can be displayed. Connected to the art building, this space can foster the Visual Arts program’s main events, like Artstravaganza.

Harker should prioritize visual arts

by Elizabeth Zhang, Reporter October 12, 2024

A colorful piece catches your eye as you walk through the Shah building or into the RPAC talking to your friends. You might notice the paintings or sculptures left by Harker's artists. Each piece is the...

I want to live in a community where even those who disagree with me listen to what I have to say, and I must offer the same courtesy to others. We must offer the same courtesy to others.

Heart of Harker: Inviting the incompatible

by Fern Biswas, Guest Writer October 11, 2024

In June 2022, the country was struck with news directly impacting more than half the population—and responses ranged anywhere from fury to shock to relief. Roe v. Wade, the monumental decision defending...

Regardless of what type of election or level of politics they engage with, students have a civic duty to advocate for their local communities.

Editorial: Lack of civic engagement dampens student voices

by Editorial Board October 11, 2024

The intricacies of politics go ignored too often, especially among the youth. Take, for instance, a decision by your local city council to scrap a plan to build barriers for bike lanes you frequently use....

Physical slips serve little purpose once they leave the front desk. More often than not, they end up straight in the recycling bin.

Harker should abolish paper late slips

by Victor Gong, Winged Post Editor-in-Chief October 9, 2024

It’s 7:58. Slinging my backpack around my shoulder, I bolt into campus as fast as my legs can carry me, my heart pounding in sync with every step. 7:59. I count down from 60. Rounding a corner, I spot...

This I Believe: Furbies, family and forging connections

This I Believe: Furbies, family and forging connections

by Lindsay Li, Reporter October 8, 2024

I have exactly 33 stuffed animals in my room, including a terrifyingly long Furby. Thirty-three may be more than enough for one person, and there’s no particular reason for needing a long Furby,...

The bottom line is this: students need to like the books they read to nurture their love of reading and procure the best results learning-wise. Administrators who decide each class’ reading list should focus on choosing books that will be popular with students.

School kills love of reading

by Mendy Mao, Co-Features Editor August 29, 2024

I step into my room, glancing at the piles of books littering the floor. Most are assigned reading for English class. A few are books that I’ve selected for myself, untouched and collecting dust. I sit...

Fifty-nine percent of student respondents spent upwards of $150 on textbooks for the upcoming year and 29% of students spent over $300. The lack of value that students find in some textbooks, however, invalidates their price. 

Editorial: Textbook underutilization reveals flaws in course materials planning

by Editorial Board August 28, 2024

Scanning the MBS online bookstore for the school year’s course materials, one word jumps off the screen: REQUIRED. The bright red font and all-caps letters precede each title. You check the box labeled:...

Success equals how many people remember you after you die multiplied by how long they remember you for. But only if you’re doing what you love.

This I Believe: Appendix to equation of life

by Kairui Sun, Photo Editor August 20, 2024

I joined Harker in fifth grade. One of my first memories of that frankly overwhelming year was a math lecture with my classmates: one not held in school by Harker faculty, but in a dingy room just outside...

Volunteering impact also does not need to be confined to a set amount of time or awards. If we encourage students to approach their nonprofit work with longevity in mind, they are more likely to carry on their work, furthering acts of volunteerism in their community.

Editorial: Resume-building diminishes commitment to community service

by Editorial Board May 16, 2024

Scrolling through Instagram, numerous abandoned nonprofit accounts emerge. Initiatives that were once active during a student’s time in high school now lie dormant. These accounts cast doubt on the extent...

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