Education

April 26, 2024 0

Opinion: Beware TikTok Medicine

Americans are increasingly turning to the internet for health advice. A 2022 study by CharityRx found that 65% of Americans use Google to get answers to health questions before they consult doctors. Around 20% try TikTok first, with the numbers higher for millennials and Gen-Z. As the demand for information grows, so does the supply of online “health influencers” ready to peddle products, supplements, and questionable treatments. According to the CharityRx study, 37% of Americans seek advice from online health […]

April 26, 2024 0

Don’t Throw Away That Yogurt Yet: Sampan Interviews Expert on Confusing Sell-by, Use-by Dates

by Derek He

Say you’re grabbing a bottle of milk from the fridge, and see its expiration day passed three days ago. It smells fine, but is it safe? The answer isn’t always clear. In many parts of the world, expiration dates are a familiar sight on a variety of foods, particularly those that are perishable such as meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy. The dates play a crucial role in influencing consumer behavior and managing store inventory. But the dates are not always […]

December 23, 2023 0

Bilingualism is Superpower

by Sabrina Yeung

At a Nov 16 2023 national conference organized by the Department of Education, bilingualism was recognized for its profound contribution to the economic and political power toolkits for America.. This event, as a part of the Biden-Harris administration’s initiative to promote multilingual education, brought together experts and policy-makers to discuss the burgeoning role of bilingualism in an increasingly interconnected world. A key focus of the conference was the cognitive and economic advantages of being bilingual. A study done by Michelle […]

December 8, 2023 0

Quincy Upper School to Open by Summer, Says Principal Chang

by Derek He

The new Josiah Quincy Upper School faced several challenges during its development — the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and a $30 million cost increase. But now the opening is near. To find out about the planned opening, Sampan spoke with Richard Chang, principal of the Josiah Quincy Upper School about the project to date. Sampan: How is the construction progressing as we close out 2023? Are there any structural changes from the original plans?Chang: The project management team anticipates […]

November 18, 2023 0

Book Bans Are Rising in Public Libraries and Schools

by Yizhen Zhang

According to the American Library Association, there were more than 3300 individual book bans in US public school libraries and classrooms, removing access to more than 1550 unique book titles, during the last school year from July 2022 to June 2023. In Massachusetts, there were 45 attempts to censor books and other library resources in 2022, placing Massachusetts as the fourth state with the highest attempts to restrict access to books. In reality, according to Massachusetts Library Association’s survey, there […]

November 17, 2023 0

The Brutality of Hazing Remains a Dangerous Tradition in Schools and Colleges

by Tracy Huang

Boston College’s Swimming and Diving team was suspended this past September due to hazing, targeted specifically at freshmen. The hazing occurred when the upperclassmen excessively pressured the new freshman on the swim team to drink excessively despite being underage. According to the letter written by Boston College’s administration, the hazing occurs on day two of a happening for three days straight. Reports of the incidents showed that freshmen were given bags to wear around their necks for vomit, and the […]

September 16, 2023 0

Back to School Concerns as COVID Cases Increase: How to Stay Safe

by Jeff Millman

As children in Boston return to school, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) has some tips to stay safe and healthy. In mid-August, BPHC noted that COVID-19-related hospitalizations in the city were low but that the average level of COVID-19 particles in Boston’s wastewater was increasing. This trend has continued over the last few weeks. With the cold and flu season approaching as well, preparation is key to illness prevention. BPHC “strongly recommends that all families stay up to date […]

July 21, 2023 0

Ruling on Admissions Invites Mixed Emotions From Sampan Readers

by Sampan Staff

Editor’s Note: Sampan asked a cross-section of Massachusetts residents about the recent court ruling regarding Affirmative Action. We spoke with retired Executives, academics, students, parents, and teenagers. What follows are their emailed responses, edited for clarity and space. I am personally conflicted with how I feel about the overturning of affirmative action for college admissions. On one hand I can see the usefulness of affirmative action and how it creates a more diverse student body which is very important. As […]

July 21, 2023 0

Supreme Court: Harvard and UNC’s Use of Race in Admissions Process Is Unconstitutional

by Marina Qu

The Supreme Court ruled Friday, June 30th that Harvard’s and University of North Carolina’s use of race in the admissions process was unconstitutional, changing the impact of affirmative action in higher education. The 6-2 decision for Harvard and 6-3 decision for UNC ruled that both school’s admissions processes discriminate against Asian Americans and violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans institutions that receive federal funds from discriminating “on the grounds of race, color or national origin.” The decisions […]

May 26, 2023 0

Tufts University’s Class of 2023 Graduation Ceremony: “Loudly! Step Up and Speak Up”

by Sampan Staff

Amina J. Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the United Nations, delivered the commencement address to the Tufts University Class of 2023 and their guests on Tufts’ Medford/Somerville campus on May 21th. The university conferred 3,730 degrees. In her speech, Mohammed acknowledged the challenges faced by the current generation, but expressed hope for the future and encouraged the graduates to “step up and speak up – loudly.” Mohammed continued: “Question stereotypes. Don’t just blindly accept the received narratives. My entire career, indeed, […]

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