SCIENCE AND HEALTH
THERE'S FAMOUS, THEN THERE'S TIKTOK FAMOUS
How much of your recyclables are recyclable?
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT China's strong hand in U.S. entertainment.
Three students share stories of their experiences being in the viral spotlight. BACK PAGE
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WITNESS BRANHAM HIGH SCHOOL
NOVEMBER 19, 2019
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WHEN INSIDERS SPEAK OUT
LAUREN COKE | 2000-2019
Lauren Coke
The 2018 alumnus died in her sleep from an undiagnosed heart condition on Oct. 26.
WHISTLEBLOWER An employee who brings wrongdoing by an employer or other employees to the attention of a government or law enforcement agency.
Family, staff mourn loss of alumnus
WHISTLEBLOWERS CHANGE THE TUNE You've seen the term ‘whistleblower’ before, often connected to the current impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. Whether or not you approve of it, they are a vital check to our civil order, and help reveal suspicious behavior. Board member exposed local company's price fixing
TWO TYPES OF WHISTLEBLOWING
NOLAN ZILS Staff Writer
t didn’t take long for Stacey I Brown to realize that something fishy was going on at Drae-
ger Construction Co., where she worked as the business operations manager. Brown, who is on the district Stacey school board, realized Draeger was Brown colluding with its competitors to She calls fix market prices. Many of her cothe U.S. workers knew about these corrupt whistleblower practices, but none had the courage who told to speak out. authorities of “They didn't cover it up,” Brown Trump's alsaid. “They were very proud of all leged actions the ways that they cheated their 'a patriot.' customers.” Another company’s audit triggered an investigation by law enforcement, requiring information on the inside SEE WHISTLEBLOWER • PAGE 7
Public and private sector whistleblowing carry varied risks. Whistleblowing in the public sector organization is more likely to result in criminal charges. A whistleblower who accuses a private sector organization is more likely to face termination and legal and civil charges.
was soccer that brought out Lauren IIntCoke's fiercely competitive nature. recalling his daughter's life at her memo-
rial service Saturday at the United Church of Christ in Campbell, Bill Coke said the sport had shaped her character and helped her build lifelong friendships. Her loyalty to her friends meant that she couldn't quit the team, even when she had wanted to and was given her father's OK. "I'm not gonna let my teammates down. and I'm not gonna let my coaches down,' " he recalled her saying. It was one of several stories of her high-caliber character that he told the crowded audience of friends, family and teachers during the service, often fighting tears. His daughter Kimberly, a junior, and wife May, wept throughout. Lauren Coke was in her sophomore year at the University of Oregon ("preordained," as her father, a Ducks alumnus, described it). She had died in her sleep from an undiagnosed heart condition. Her father, who was in Eugene, Ore. for homecoming happened to be in town. The news came as a shock to teachers here, who recalled the hardworking Lauren, the fiercely loyal Lauren, the friendly Lauren.
Bathroom damage costs thousands Private sector: District school board member Stacey Brown feared reprisal after reporting her company's price fixing with competitors, but said that it was the right thing to do.
Officials report uptick in student vandalism JULIANNE ALVARES Co-Editor-in-Chief
V
Staff Writer
he division and apprehension sweeping the nation over the impeachment inquiry by the U.S. House of Representatives into President Donald J. Trump has reached the Branham campus and its student body, according to a Bear Witness survey of more than 600 students. More than 56% of students surveyed approve or strongly approve of the current impeachment inquiry, compared to 10% who don't. However the survey showed that more than 33% aren't sure what to make of it, reflecting the student body's widespread confusion from the myriad details coming from the investigation.
Public sector: According to a whistleblower in the intelligence community, the president withheld military aid pending the Ukraine’s agreement to investigate Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden —a potential opponent of Trump. Elizabeth Posey/Bear Witness photo illustration
SEE SURVEY • PAGE 7 Campus briefs.................................2 News.............................................. 2
Co-Editor-in-Chief
CAMPUS VANDALISM
NOLAN ZILS
INSIDE
JULIANNE ALVARES
SEE MEMORIAL • PAGE 5
Poll: Most students back impeachment inquiry
T
She embodied Branham spirit, teachers say
Editorial..........................................4 Bulletin Board.................................3
Science and Health.........................6 Climate Watch.................................6
InDepth...........................................7 Student Life....................................8
andals are destroying soap dispensers, removing bathroom stall partitions and clogging toilets in what school officials are describing as a troubling increase in school vandalism. Editorial: Replacing the dispensers and repairing the dam- In defacing aged property have cost school propthe school upwards of erty, where's $2,500 according to Prinyour school cipal Cheryl Lawton. Custodian Moises Espipride? noza said soap dispensers Page 4 are being removed and emptied as the most common act of vandalism. He said that this creates both an inconvenience and a hazard. SEE VANDALISM • PAGE 5
MiniReviews.................................11 Sports.............................................9
Arts & Entertainment...................11 The Back Page...............................12
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BEAR WITNESS
| NOVEMBER 19, 2019 |
NEWS
BHSBEARWITNESS.COM “The past three years I’ve been swimming in a puddle.” — Senior Matthew Nguyen on Branham’s old pool.
Campus roundups Former officer shares data on dangers of vaping
Branham’s PTSA hosted an information night where parents could learn more about the dangers of vaping and drug use. Former San Jose police officer Rey Cedeno educated parents on different forms of paraphernalia and potentially harmful chemicals within them. It was the second of three vape talks in the district.
Committee helps decide Winter Wishes recipients This year Branham has created a committee to determine the rally wishes for this year’s winter wishes. The Wish Committee, consisting of students, teachers, and administrators, said they feel good about the process and community involvement in selecting the wishes, and that ASB will begin working on gathering donations to grant as many of them as possible.
Annual faculty show is a blind date comedy Preparations for this year’s faculty show are underway. The performance is a comedy called Check Please that follows a series of blind dinner dates that couldn’t get any worse. Auditions took place Nov. 12, with performance dates are Dec. 12-13. The show is approximately 30 minutes long.
Students get training on drug prevention Community Matters last week hosted a twoday training for student leaders with the aim to launch a student-centered drug and alcohol prevention program. They’re looking for diverse social leaders who can have a strong influence on campus and with their peers. The training helps students develop effective communication skills around the use and misuse of drugs. — Zachary Macapanpan
Earning A’s is tougher under new science grading policy TAE YUN (ERICA) KANG
S
Jayden Kim/Bear Witness Branham Swim and Dive team members jump into the pool to celebrate the grand opening of the Aquatic Center, which will allow the team to host meets.
New pool makes a splash in its debut Possibility of water polo team opens, but coaches see challenges for non-swimmers ZACHARY MACAPANPAN Staff Writer
fter a year of construction, the Branham A Aquatic Center is finally ready. At its grand opening on Oct. 26, district dignitaries
praised the facilities, and the swim team made a symbolic first dive into the new pool during a swim demonstration. The new pool is Olympic-sized at 164 feet long, 82 feet wide, and up to 7 feet deep. It features a new timing system, which includes a scoreboard and touch pads that register the times as swimmers touch the walls. At the ceremony, senior and varsity swimmer Matthew Nguyen spoke on behalf of the team. He said that they no longer have to worry about technical issues with the aging pool, which was built when the school first opened. “The past three years I’ve been swimming in a puddle,” Nguyen said. “There were countless times that the chlorine pump wasn’t working. One time, after 90 kids swam in the puddle at the same time, half the team came to school the next day with sore throats.” The improved Aquatic Center is one of many projects included in the district’s Facilities Mas-
ter plan. Made possible by the Measure AA facilities improvement bond passed in 2016, the plan is being pushed to all CUHSD campuses. Like the pool, many of the CUHSD campuses were built over 50 years ago and have received little improvement since their construction. Principal Cheryl Lawton believes the new pool will benefit future aquatic sports at Branham. “The new Olympic-sized pool offers a better and more professional swimming experience for our competitive swimmers,” said Lawton. “Plus we now have the option of offering water polo in the future.” Swim coach David Mackey said that the Aquatic Center will give his teams more practice opportunities. Before, the teams couldn’t practice their relay starts or dives due to lack of proper equipment and pool depth. “I think everything is pretty remarkable,” said Mackey. “I like the fact that the swimmers can’t stand on the bottom anymore.” While the pool will benefit the swim teams, it may potentially be creating some problems for the P.E. classes. The previous pool was entirely 3 feet 6 inches, which allowed for students to
stand regardless of where they were in the water. This made it perfect for teaching beginner and intermediate swim instruction. The new pool has only one shallow, 3-foot-6 lane, one lane at 4-foot-6 and then drops off to seven feet deep. P.E. teacher Ron Smare said that while this helps with the swim team programs, it is more intimidating for beginning swimmers. He added that it will force the P.E. teachers to organize their classes in ways that enable one teacher to more effectively monitor an entire class, and limit the procedures of ‘Free Swim’ time that has traditionally been given to most classes. “It is not beyond our physical education teachers’ capabilities,” he said. “It is something that we can and will do effectively. The new pool arrangement makes it more challenging and demanding but not impossible for us to safely teach swimming.” Despite these issues, the new aquatic center opens the door to new opportunities for the competitive swimming teams as well as future aquatic sports programs. “I am happy for the school and the community,” said Mackey. “The pool really is beautiful.”
English scores on state test drop sharply JULIANNE ALVARES Co-Editor-in-Chief
ranham saw a sharp drop in last year’s EnB glish Language Arts (ELA) scores on the annual school assessment, prompting teachers
and administration to question student effort and the timing of the test. Statewide, more than 3 million students take the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), which is used as a yardstick to measure student preparedness for career and college. Since the test was first administered in 2014, Branham’s scores have steadily improved. But the 2019 test saw 68.83% of students at or exceeding standards on the English component of the test, down from 85.32% in 2018. This is
Branham’s lowest score on the English portion of the exam. English teacher Heather Amanatullah said she was shocked at the decline in scores, which were among the highest in the district. “It almost looked like we had a completely different population,” she said. “I asked a bunch of kids who were honors and AP ‘why did you score so poorly?’“ CUHSD’s average ELA score declined this year by 2.37% to 67.20%. While Branham scored average for district standards, it was noticeably below Branham’s average. Math scores increased this year with 52.67% of students at or exceeding expectations compared to 46.87% the previous years. This led to a shrink in the performance gap between ELA and math.
Editors-in-Chief Julianne Alvares and Elizabeth Posey Editors Opinion: Andelina Miller Arts and Entertainment: Chandler Roberts Science and Health: Caitlyn Schlaman Student Life: Lily Middleton Sports: Jazzy Nguyen
This year’s CAASPP tests, administered from April 18 to April 29, were held close to AP tests and SAT dates. Amanatullah said that her students, knowing that CAASPP scores would not affect their college chances, may not have tried on the test as much as in previous years. “They said to be honest the testing was so close to APs that we know they didn’t count for grades or anything,” she said they told her. “‘We didn’t care so we didn’t try.’” Amanatullah said that CAASPP scores had previously been used as a way for the English department to evaluate areas of improvement. However with students not showing their best work, they cannot identify areas of improvement. “You use those as a teaching tool,” she said. “But you can’t use them because it’s not valid data if the kids weren’t trying.”
Copy Editors: Nolan Zils and Katelyn Lowpensky Staff Writers Ziv Galpaz, Cianna Hollinger, Meenakshi Iyer, Orion Jandu, Tae Yun (Erica) Kang, Jayden Kim, Cara McClure, Zachary Macapanpan, Shantala Muruganujan, Genevieve Nemeth, Carly Waldorph, Ryan Walters Guest artists: Stella Wong and Nina Wang Adviser: Fitzgerald Vo
Staff Writer
cience students seeking a straightforward way to achieve an A are frustrated at the new standards-based grading system that the science department is implementing, which awards a B to students who adhere to learning goals, and makes high marks further out of reach. Teachers are defending the move say that the grading systems encourages students to challenge themselves and learn beyond what’s being taught in class. Though there is no disagreement that an A is given to excellent marks, the debate is over the availability of resources given to achieve them. Starting this year, the science department has decided to start teaching and grading according to the standards-based grading system. The teachers have created new rubrics that break down each unit into learning goals. While this may not be new, the curriculum is tuned to teach the basics, which is a B. “We’re really trying to push to make sure that when people are doing work in our class, it’s to learn, and not just to earn points,” said Living Earth teacher Kori Reynolds, who is leading the effort. “When you move to a rubric with standards-based grading, it’s more of a focus on ‘what do I have to continue’ or ‘what do I need to work on’?” According to the district’s grading policy, AR 5121, an A grade reflects mastery of content and the ability to apply that content in new ways in new problems, and the “ability to integrate them from multiple sources.” The new science grading policy reflects that, but how this is applied among the classes can be different. Some students have expressed dislike towards the new system, saying that they want to be taught the content to achieve an A, and not to find out how through outside resources. “Teachers should teach us how to succeed in the class and how to know the information.” said freshman Ellie Jenkins, who is taking Living Earth. “We shouldn’t be taught how to get a B in the class, we should be taught how to get an A. We shouldn’t have to go an extra step to get an A in a class when it’s something that’s so broad.” Sophomore Ashlee Pruitt, a chemistry student, feels the same way. “If they are teaching at a B-level, then they shouldn’t expect us to do better than what they are teaching us,” she said. Another issue students have had with standards-based grading is the resources available to learn content beyond the given content. Even though students are given a worksheet that outlines “advanced” work, being taught something and given a worksheet with other things to learn about can be very different. Teachers view this as a carrot on a stick, especially for the more motivated students. They plan to provide students with extra resources and practice, giving students who are willing to learn an extra boost by giving them extra worksheets, website resources and informational videos. This provides an environment where no one is either struggling too much or breezing through with ease. Living Earth and physiology teacher Dave Mackey has seen the standards-based grading before, and appreciates that it is applied among all classes with resources available. “It’s good that we’re doing this,” he said. “The kids that are ready for it and willing to do it, it’s available to them.”
Mission Statement The Bear Witness is committed to providing accurate, timely coverage of local and world news while connecting these events to the lives of our diverse student body. Website: www.bhsbearwitness.com Phone: (408) 626-3407 Email: bhsbearwitness@gmail.com Address: 1570 Branham Lane, San Jose, CA 95118
BEAR WITNESS
| NOVEMBER 19, 2019 |
OPINION
People who are diagnosed with OCD cannot simply “turn it off.”
Averting the disaster within
BULLETIN BOARD
Getting ready for ‘The Big One’ On Oct. 17, 1989, the 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake shook the Bay Area. Branham marked its 30th anniversary with the Great Shakeout, an annual earthquake drill, with seismologists predicting that the next big one is due any day.
Quinn Ruiz Junior
“I don’t think I’d be prepared for the aftermath of an earthquake, but I think that in the moment I’d know what to do and how to take cover. I wouldn’t be prepared for the aftermath, because I don’t really know the emergency systems or how everything would work after. I also don’t know how insurance would work after, or how people would retrieve all their belongings. “I’m kind of prepared, but some classes don’t have things to hide under because of the built-in desks. We should have something to protect us.”
Abi Reed Junior “I feel prepared enough. I know what to do, but we should have more earthquake drills.”
Alex Kallinsky Junior
Sanjith Iype Freshman
Brendan Jones Senior
“Our family doesn’t really think it’s a big deal. And we have zero preparation for any earthquakes… My biggest concern is that our house is going to fall down because it’ll take months for it to repair, and it’s going to be hard to find a place to stay.” “If I’m at home, we do have some precautions, but overall I think I’d be pretty lost. ... At school I would feel more safe than I would feel at home, because a lot of buildings in California are earthquake safe and up to code. With all the drills we have, I do feel moderately safe at school.”
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Getting help stopped OCD from consuming my life JAYDEN KIM Staff Writer
hen I was younger, I was terrified of W the inevitable; the catastrophic event that would destroy the planet - the end of
the world. The very thought of the apocalypse would turn my blood frozen and leave me shaking with anxiety. I would have nightmares centered around tsunamis flooding my neighborhood to asteroids obliterating everything in sight. My anxiety took over my sanity, and got to the point where I was showing signs of obsessive compulsive disorder. If I hadn’t reached out to get help, the situation would have been worse. Before I was diagnosed, I believed the earth’s fate was dependent on my actions. There was a pounding voice that said that if I didn’t do the tasks that it demanded, an asteroid or a black hole would destroy the earth. These tasks didn’t make sense: Sometimes I would tap the wall a certain pattern and other times I would flicker the lights on and off in a certain number of times. However, they would give me temporary relief from my anxiety until my OCD would kick back in. This fear was not based on logic, and was born out of my exposure to disaster films and conspiracy theories. The world wouldn’t end if I failed to flicker that light. Yet, despite knowing how ridiculous my worries were, I allowed myself to be afraid of what would likely never happen and watched as my fears grew. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, OCD causes people to obsess over certain thoughts and/ or perform certain behaviors repeatedly. My mental disorder took away my self-control and sense of freedom, leaving me anxious and exhausted. It took a while before I realized what my condition was and spoke out to receive help. It certainly wasn’t easy at first. After opening up to my family and going in once a week to talk to a therapist, my road to recovery was a slow process. Some days would better,others would leave me feeling discouraged, making me doubt if I could ever overcome my OCD. However, as time went on, I was less afraid of my fear in general, and feeling less anxious. I gained more control over myself and started to say no whenever my mind would tell me to perform another repetitive behavior. Today, I’m currently free from the mental disorder I once had. Though I’m faced with similar urges that I had with OCD, these voices are far more muted and less frequent. Along with that, I’m able to keep these thoughts from taking over my mind and I can finally ignore them without giving myself anxiety. I’m no longer afraid of the possibility of a natural disaster destroying the planet. I’ve learned to stop being terrified of things that won’t happen and to see things rationally rather than letting my fear lead me to do irrational things. My recovery was because of multiple factors; my family and my faith along with my time talking with a psychiatrist. However, my decision to speak out was what allowed me to be free from my OCD. If I hadn’t made this decision, chances are that I would still be the person I was from years ago, only far more anxious. For anyone who’s struggling with a mental disorder, it may feel impossible to overcome it. Though reaching out and getting help may seem frightening, having someone to talk to, even just a simple conversation, can make things so much better.
Empty tanks and wallets Driving is costly, but doesn’t have to break the bank
Stella Wong/Special to the Bear Witness
MYTH: We are all ‘OCD’ sometimes FACT: OCD is not a personality quirk or a character trait — it is a very real mental health condition that affects about 2 to 3 million adults, and half a million youth, in the U.S. alone. While many people can have obsessive or compulsive traits, OCD stands for obsessive compulsive disorder, and people who are diagnosed with OCD cannot simply “turn it off.”
MEGAN PEREZ Staff Writer
riving provides teens with the thrill of freedom. They can go wherD ever they want and gain a sense of independence. The problem that comes with driving is money. Most aren’t fortunate enough to have their parents pay for gas and all the other costly problems that come with a car. Teens usually have to get a job, do chores, or other things to earn money, but that money soon all goes to gas. In 2019, San Jose gas increased 19.5 cents a gallon, often going above $4, which hadn’t happened since 2014. That is expensive and costly for the average student. Having a car, you need to pay for gas one way or another, and it comes out to be very expensive, especially for a high school teen. A Marketing Charts survey estimates that 15 to 17 year olds earn
MYTH: OCD is about cleanliness, perfectionism FACT: People with OCD can have obsessions related to a wide variety of things, including losing control, hurting others, unwanted sexual thoughts, and many more. The anxiety caused by these obsessions can be lessened by compulsions such as “checking” (e.g., re-checking door locks, repeatedly making sure the oven is off), “repeating” (e.g., doing the same action or ritual over and over to be sure it was done “correctly”), and “counting” (e.g., doing things in certain numbers, counting items to certain numbers).
TIP: Seeking help, helps With proper treatment, it is very possible for people with OCD to lead full and productive lives. Many people respond positively to behavioral therapy and/or medication. Specifically, Exposure and Response Prevention or ERP is considered the first-line treatment for OCD. Medication such as antidepresants may also be recommended for people with OCD. Family therapy can also be very beneficial since family members (including parents, siblings, and spouses) often play a major role in recovery. — Compiled from Beyond OCD
about $4,000 a year and a smaller car’s gas tank usually holds about 12 gallons of gas and gas costing about $4 each locally, that is very expensive yearly and over the annual income of teens. How do we make driving a car more affordable? A few options for students include finding a smaller, more fuel-efficient car. Simple maintenance and keeping tire pressure high and following speed limits (wind resistance doubles when you accelerate from 65 mph to 75 mph) can extend the gas tank’s life. But the best bet may be to hold off on driving altogether, if you can manage it. Teens who turn 18 won’t have to pay for driver’s education, which can cost hundreds of dollars. Additionally, those who are 18 or older save an average of $1,200 a year on insurance premiums, as older students are considered more mature than students. There’s no simple solution to the necessity of driving, and the costs do add up, but minding the road and patience can help offset costs.
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BEAR WITNESS
OPINION Editorial The opinion of the Bear Witness editors
| NOVEMBER 19, 2019 |
BHSBEARWITNESS.COM CSU tuition has increased by 1,360% since 1979.
VANDALISM OF SCHOOL PROPERTY
Bathroom destruction shows lack of respect
t the beginning of the year, school A administrators held separate meetings, one for each class, to emphasize one word:
respect. Respect at school can be interpreted in a few ways: respect for each other (no name-calling, and taunting), respect for the language (call out f-bombs!) and respect for school property. The jury is still out on whether students have internalized the lessons from that early-year rally. Students are still littering with abandon, still using vulgar language at each other passing through the hallway. What’s worse, in our new, state-of-the-art buildings, they are tearing apart bathrooms,
damaging soap dispensers and tagging them. These aren’t accidental, and show intent and willingness to damage school property. Many, including the editorial staff, welcomed the new facilities, which were funded by the Measure AA bond. Vandalism has always existed in schools. It’s commonplace to see gum thrown sporadically, messages written on desks, and drawings in textbooks. But the senseless destruction of school property is on a different level. Respect for Branham’s campus is common sense. Don’t damage what’s not yours, and make your learning space clean and available for future Bruins.
Custodial staff such as Moises Espinoza should not have to focus on picking up after our acts of vandalism. Respect to property also means reporting those who don’t. No one benefits from those who witness these behaviors in the bathroom yet fail to report it. What culture are we promoting when people flush fruit and objects down toilets and knocking soap dispensers off walls. Students should not cost the school thousands in damage. These new buildings are the product of hard work by many people, all investing in the future of every Branham student. Respect between students and staff is
Branham’s theme for this year. Admin asked for people to respect staff, other students, and property. The level of disrespect for the new buildings and those who worked for them goes against this theme. Nevertheless, the staff is working tirelessly for the students and cultivating a positive school environment. Respect is a two way street —both students and staff need to participate in order to establish a considerate relationship. The least students can do is reciprocate.
Many options ease costs of college As costs rise, California community colleges, and scholarship programs make higher ed more affordable CIANNA HOLLINGER Staff graphic
Sports funding a matter of need, not popularity
n terms of victories, Branham’s football I and girls tennis teams are a lot alike, as both had a great regular season. Yet only one
team went undefeated — girls tennis. You probably didn’t know that because we’d be lucky one fan to show up to our games. We get a fraction of the coverage and fans. A single football game draws hundreds and generates enoramounts of Bake sales, mous media attenthis paper fundraisers, tion, included, and even from the and flea Mercury News. markets This means more money help teams generated for the team, and earn more money to money for spend toward program. their sport. the While fans can help a team generate revenue through ticket, snack and merchandise sales, much of the funds that they receive are decided fairly. The reason why some sports seem better-funded than others is not because of popularity, but because their equipment and necessities are more expensive. All sports need money for their basic equipment necessities. The athletic department, whose purchases are approved by the parent- and staff-run Sports Boosters, covers those items for each team from the general athletic account. For uniforms, merchandise, and optional equipment, the team has to volunteer at fundraisers the Boosters hold. Bake sales, VerticalRaise fundraisers, and flea markets also help the teams earn money. As a tennis player, our team needed the required items, but also wanted to have a ball machine to help us improve our skills. Ball machines are expensive, and most of the money is from the coach or fundraising. I initially thought that sports like tennis, which don’t have much participation or popularity are low funded. I found out that I wasn’t the only one who thought their sport didn’t have lots of financial support. If you compare tennis with football, which is more popular and generates more revenue, you might think that sports aren’t equally funded. Football requires helmets, shoulder pads, and other equipment to be able to play the sport. There are about 80 players on the football team, and the equipment is lots of money for each student. To play tennis, all you need are sneakers, a racket, tennis balls and a uniform. Students should be aware that sports don’t have the same funding because their sport needs different equipment than others. Each sport’s funding priorities helps the team have a baseline to stay competitive.
Staff Writer
veryone knows that college will cost, at E a minimum an arm, leg and sometimes a few brain cells . However, in the past few years
college has become more expensive, costing students more money than it should. According to a study conducted by the California Budget and Policy Center, CSU tuition has increased by 1,360% since 1979, accounting for inflation. Forty years ago, students paid $500 a year, adjusted for inflation, to attend a CSU, according to the study. For the 2018-2019 academic school year, students paid on average, $7,303, to attend a CSU according to averaged tuition and fees data from all 23 campuses. “The increase in tuition is not proportionate to the increase in salaries,” said College and Career specialist Patricia Perez.” Perez said that college is becoming too expensive, and students who come from $65,000 income families may have to find other sources of income, from applying for college loans to looking for competitive scholarships. Financial aid helps, but will also leave a student in debt. Government support is an option to help with money problems regarding college, however since it is purely based on income and size, students may not be capable to get the amount they absolutely need. College should be a place, no matter a student’s situation, where they should be able to afford to get an education. College should not be a money pit that students drag on throughout their wanted career, paying off loans and debts they had no choice but to make. In California, the good news is that community colleges is free for full-time students for two years, under the state’s California College Promise program. Nearly 1.3 million students have benefited from the law. At four-year institutions, one way students can decrease the tuition and attending costs is to sign up for a program called “Net Tuition.” Net tuition is the payment of the full tuition price minus scholarship aid that a student receives. Students of extremely insufficient income can receive a Net Tuition and would merely need to pay a fraction of the initial cost. Another option for students is to apply for scholarships early in their high school career. Perez also stated that students can apply for colleges as young as 13. By applying early, students can increase their chance since around half of an average college class is all early applicants. Since most people don’t apply for college so early, getting accepted is at a higher chance and with that, students can receive aid from the college for costs.
By the numbers Four-year colleges are becoming more out of reach to middle-income famlies.
1979-1980 CSU tuition: $500 UC tuition $2,200
2018-2019 CSU tuition: $7,300 UC tuition $14,400 Cal Grant The Cal Grant A and B tuition and fee award cover up to $5,742 at CSU and $12,570 at UC. In addition, the CSU and UC have their own institutional need-based grants that help cover tuition and fees. Source: California State University, California Student Aid Commission, University of California
Nina Wang/Special to the Bear Witness
BITE-SIZED | Minor solutions, minor problems
Problem: No good scary movies. I’ve seen almost every scary movie on Netflix and now I have to binge on “Criminal Minds” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Solution: Time to release demons and ghosts from every Ouija board, or just vlog my life, because it’s kind of scary. — Lily Middleton
Problem: Acrylic paint. I shall spare you the agonizing details, but acrylic paint is out to get me; it dries far too quickly, it stains clothes permanently, it ruins lives. Solution: Watercolor. — Elizabeth Posey
Problem: Loudmouths. Loud, annoying people who talk too much and cut off others are the worst. No one wants a minute by minute recap of how your soccer game was, Karen. Solution: Loudmouths need to learn how to shut up, or start keeping a diary. — Jazzy Nguyen
Problem: Parking lot. I watch teachers park in student parking spots every day, and students’ cars taking up two spots. Solution: Take away all the parking spaces. Fill the parking lot with a huge chasm and let everyone drive into it. Problem solved. — Caitlyn Schlaman
BEAR WITNESS
| NOVEMBER 19, 2019 |
MEMORIAL | Coke inspired others, teachers said From PAGE 1 P.E. teacher Ron Smare, who coached her in varsity soccer, attended the service. He described how Coke, a lifelong goalie, was a leader on the team who inspired the best in others. “She made her teams better through her great play,” he said. “More importantly through her positive, encouraging attitude that helped permeate the entire team.” Smare said that he would most remember her smile and her positive contribution to her teammates. Her positive attitude permeated the team, he said. Coke's AVID and AP English Literature teacher remembered her passion project presentation, which was naturally about soccer. “It was more than a sport to her and it was clear how much it meant to her," he said. Physiology teacher Dave Mackey said that it was her work ethic that he remembers the most. He said that Coke would often come in to his class early to study, ready to ask questions. Though she was clearly into sports, playing field hockey, basketball, and soccer at Branham, Mackey said that it was clear that academics were also important to her. "She truly embodied the Branham way," he said. "And it looked like she brought that spirit to Oregon." Social science teacher Tania Eaton, who was with Coke in her AVID and "extended basketball family," had high praise for her positive attitude. "Lauren was the epitome of
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FROM THE FRONT PAGE VANDALISM | Damage includes broken soap dispensers, ceiling tiles
From PAGE 1 “I have to shut to the restrooms down so nobody goes in there and slips and falls,” he said. Espinoza estimates that between 15 to 20 dispensers have been destroyed since the beginning of the year. In the field restrooms ceiling If they don’t tiles have been removed do it at home, and on the floor. A stall partition was also torn why do it off along with a hole punched in the wall. here? These He also describes fruit and plastic water bottles kids got to being flushed down toilets, clogging them and take pride in forcing custodial staff to shut down restrooms for their school" repair, inconveniencing personnel and students. Moises Espinoza Espinoza said he and other members of the custodian custodial staff have often have to drop other tasks to clean up the vandalism. Graffiti has to be cleaned up immediately and requires documentation with administration. Ceiling tiles in the restrooms near the football field have also been constantly removed and replaced, another source of irritation. “We fix it and a day later all the panels are down again,” he said. “I don’t understand why they do that.” With these transgressions taking place behind closed bathroom doors and a lack of student reporting, administrators are frustrated at their inability to track down the perpetrators. “What is most upsetting is that no one is taking the initiative to tell an adult about it when they go into the bathroom,” Lawton said in an email. “If they did, we would at least have a time frame and can check the cameras.” Respect to others and school property is a theme that staff and administrators have been stressing this year, which is why Lawton is upset with the vandalism. “This is certainly not showing respect she said,” she said. Espinoza and the other custodial staff have had to stay after hours to clean up the vandalism before, and said that the culprits have little respect for the campus. “If they don’t do it at home, why do it here?,” he said. “These kids got to take pride in their school.”
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Lauren Coke, with her sister Kimberly, at her graduation in June 2018. what we hope our students will be," Eaton said. Her spirit of kindness continued into her college career according to classmate University of Oregon sophomore Jenna Cardoza, who also went to Branham with Coke. “She was an extremely thoughtful and positive soul in this world,” she said. “Her kindness is something I always felt when talking to her about classes, college, and her family.” At the memorial service,
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Bill Coke described discovering his daughter in her apartment bedroom, with her astronomy class textbook and notes beside her. Amid his grief and heartbreak at the news of her death, he said that in that moment, he couldn't have been more proud of her. "She worked hard. She set goals because she wanted to," he said. "She never caused us to worry. Sometimes we were worried that she wasn't causing us to worry."
During the service, her mother, Amy, shared the poem "Good-bye" from Ralph Waldo Emerson that her sister Kimberly had asked her to share. "Good-bye, proud world! I'm going home: Thou art not my friend, and I'm not thine. Long through thy weary crowds I roam; A river-ark on the ocean brine, Long I've been tossed like the driven foam; But now, proud world! I'm going home."
BEAR WITNESS
| NOVEMBER 19, 2019 |
SCIENCE&HEALTH CLIMATE WATCH Small group of super-emitters cause of methane emissions Half of the methane emissions in California have been identified to be from a small number of areas. The threeyear study, done by NASA, had satellites monitoring the emission rate across California. Landfills released the most amount of methane, followed up by oil, gas, and dairy. Methane is one of the several greenhouse gasses causing Climate change; it absorbs heat better than CO2 but does not stay in the atmosphere as long. Melting ice caps affect fishing in Pacific Japan’s fishing industry has seen a decrease in the number of fish caught. Glaciers from the north fed the seas with nutrients, bringing valued fish to the area. Warming, due to climate change, has caused the glaciers to recede, taking the nutrients with it. Japan relies on its fishing for food, as the nation has very little space for livestock, and is surrounded by the Pacific.
Melting Arctic ice is spreading a virus According to a study in Scientific Reports, the melting sea ice has introduced a potentially dangerous virus to mammals in the Northern Pacific Ocean. The virus, known as PDV, was first identified in Europe after killing thousands of harbor seals. Research has shown that infection rates have increased as the ice has decreased. Speed limits for ships can have huge benefits The UN will meet on Monday to discuss setting speed limits for ocean ships. A study carried out by Seas at Risk shows that cutting speeds by 20% would decrease greenhouse gases and curb harmful pollutants such as black carbon and nitrogen oxide. Ships transport approximately 80% of the world’s goods. However, they are also responsible for a significant part of greenhouse emissions.
Tree-planting campaigns alone will not fix Climate change MrBeast, a YoTtuber famed for his giveaways, has started a campaign called #TeamTrees. Over 14 million has been donated to the campaign, but ecologists and environmentalists are giving mixed reactions. Trees being planted can help some ecosystems, but also destroy the delicate balance that some ecosystems have if the plants are not native to the soil. Environmentalists state a better way to combat climate change is to stop greenhouse gasses altogether. — Compiled by Caitlyn Schlaman and Zachary Macapanpan
BHSBEARWITNESS.COM “There’s not much incentive in recycling.” — Xiaomian Yang, Senior
Wishful recycling
3) True or false: composting biodegradable waste is a form of recycling. a. True b. False
How students at Branham fit into larger recycling systems
QUIZ YOUR KNOWLEDGE How well-versed are you in the world of recycling? See how you did at the bottom. 1) What number labels indicate that plastics are recyclable according to the city of San Jose’s requirements? a. 1-10 b. 3-5 c. 1-7 d. Only 2 2) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, what are the three most common collection methods for recyclable materials? a. Curbside pickup, drop-off centers and deposit systems b. Drop-off centers, waste plants and paper centers c. Compost bins, curbside pickup and deposit systems
4) Complete the following sentence: regulations for curbside recycling depend mostly on: a. The federal government b. The State Bureau of recycling c. City or county governments d. Material recovery facilities 6) True or false: in the city of San Jose, plastic utensils are acceptable for recycling bins. a. True b. False 7) Who coined the term ‘wish cycling?’ a. Al Gore b. Bill Keegan c. Oscar the Grouch d. Bill Gates
5) Which of the following items is not possible to recycle? a. An empty juice bottle b. Textiles c. A pizza box d. Batteries 5) Why can’t plastic wrap be recycled? a. Because it’s plastic b. It takes too long to sort c. It is often difficult to distinguish from other platsics d. The film wraps around equipment
Quiz Results 1C, 2A, 3A, 4B, 5D, 6B, 7B
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Elizabeth Posey/Bear Witness ELIZABETH POSEY Co-Editor-In-Chief
ecycling, from the moment a recyclable product R leaves your hand to when it becomes a new product, leaves much room for variation.
While some assume that most plastic materials can be thrown into recycling bins and be dealt with at a later time, much of plastic recycling depends wholly on geography. Each center and community has its own specific guidelines on which types of plastics can be recycled, which can be confusing to the average consumer. “The current cycling system is very complicated,” said SPARE President Xiaomian Yang. “It has to be user-friendly for people to actually follow.” At Branham, where a smaller and less complicated system is used for recycling, much of the issues boil down to a culture of student apathy that leads to misrecycling. “There’s not much incentive in recycling,” said Yang, a senior. “You won’t get money back, and that’s why people just fail to do it.” Each Thursday, Yang and her peers lead a weekly expedition through classrooms and fill their bags with supposedly recycled goods, from soda cans to plastic water bottles. It’s a laborious effort, since not every student recycles the correct way, and relies on SPARE members who voluntarily engage in eco-conscious behavior. In Shanghai, China, where Yang’s family lives, recycling is compulsory. Yang said that she would like some government legislation to help others recycle.
“In America, there’s a different kind of culture, which is a grassroots movement,” she said. However, “the government should also help regulate.” For SPARE recycling officer Anna Ha, who coordinates and oversees the weekly campus recycling, frustrations of improper recycling are evident, from food-covered playes to bottles that still contain liquid. Many of her recycling team spends extra time to sort the recycling to ensure that nothing has been misrecycled. Ha said she felt “annoyed” with the culture of apathy on campus. “Obviously, there’s a lack of awareness,” said Ha, “That’s one of my main priorities to just make it more known what things should be recycled.” Yang shared a similar sentiment, claiming students are unwilling to exert minimal effort to properly dispose of waste items. “Just take one second to think about it and you can put it in the correct place,” Yang said. A typical SPARE recycling session will last 30 to 40 minutes. Of this time, Ha approximates that 10 minutes are spent to separate waste items that are not recyclable. Ha and the club officers hope to complete a project by the end of the semester to put weather-resistant labels on campus recycling bins indicating what specific items can be recycled there. A SPARE initiative last year asked teachers to recycle their whiteboard markers, It quickly became a cause of frustration, as teachers used the receptacles for pens and other office supplies that couldn’t be recycled with
the markers. Custodial staff have noticed similar trends in improper recycling, finding food waste in plastic bins or other kinds of waste that can contaminate and render waste unrecyclable. Moises Espinoza has found that the student mentality towards reducing waste adds extra work to his day. “I go through this whole campus every morning, picking up every piece of paper, whatever I can find,” he said. “Check right after break record. You’ll see everything all over the place.” Ha mentioned another issue posed to the recycling program: Branham stopped partnering with the Best Buddies club, after three years. Best Buddies members collected bottles and cans to be sorted at the recycling center to get the funding for their annual prom. SPARE would then volunteer at the Best Buddies prom. “The biggest fear is like the lack of resources and a lack of facility management,” said Ha. The recycling center previously stationed at shopping center closed, forcing the two clubs to change their arrangements and end their partnership. The recent closing of multiple recycling centers in the area have made the process more difficult. As of Aug. 2019, rePlanet, the largest recycling facility organization in the state, closed all 300 of its locations, many of which were concentrated in the Bay Area. Currently, the private company Republic Services takes recyclables that SPARE places in the parking lot bins.
End to construction would be music to their ears Noise at building sites can sometimes reach jet-engine levels ORION JANDU Staff Writer
he new buildings on Branham High School’s T campus have provided the school with more space for students, more modern resources to use, and
provided a more modern look for the campus. However, the construction noises behind the new buildings have been found to be distracting by the teachers using them, and the students on campus. These can also have negative consequences for students who are learning. Alberta and Pavement Interactive, state that construction tools can often emit sounds measuring up to 115 decibels — any consistent sound above 80 dB can have lasting damage to one’s ears. English and AP Literature teacher Mike Espinoza often notices the construction noises behind his room in the C-buildings. Fitz Vo/Bear Witness “It was worse when I was at the (older) rooms and A construction worker installs the side of a building wall in they were getting those prepared for demolition,” he said. “There are times where I have heard jackhammerAugust. Students and staff are bothered by the noise.
ing that shakes the building, and so it’s sometimes hard to concentrate.” A jackhammer produces roughly 102-111 decibels, which is only a few lower than the noise emitted by a commercial jet’s engines from a distance of 200 feet away. The new double-paned glass windows and other barriers offer some protection to students from the volume of sound, and reduce the harm from construction noise. Freshman Erin Troiano has mixed feelings about the construction noise. It’s loud, but has become background noise. “Yes, it can be annoying,” she said, “However, it is easy to tune out and isn’t distracting most of the time.” There is a silver lining to this, as the final two buildings have been put into place, and should be done within a year, enouigh for students and staff to play the waiting game. “It should be ending hopefully soon,” Espinoza said, “but I would still work in the new classrooms.”
BEAR WITNESS
| NOVEMBER 19, 2019 |
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INDEPTH The Trump impeachment inquiry so far ... It's hard to follow what's going on day-to-day with President Donald Trump and the impeachment inquiry. Here, we try to provide the basics: what it is, why the Democrats are investigating, and what's at stake. Bear Witness survey into impeachment inquiry Party affiliation Democrat/Lean Democrat 46.94% Republican/Lean Republican 11.40% Independent 7.44% Not sure 34.21%
The Bear Witness conducted a survey of 616 students seeking their opinion on the impeachment inquiry, their known party affiliation and their approval of the President. Here are the highlights of what we found:
56.9%
approve or strongly approve of the current impeachment inquiry.
Following the news Frequently 46.94% Occasionally 11.40% Rarely 7.44% Never 34.21%
69.8%*
believe that Trump has definitely or probably done things worthy of impeachment. *Note: The survey did not include the option to choose "definitely not" — biasing results.
What's impeachment? Impeachment is the House of Representatives accusing the president of the United States of high crimes or misdemeanors. A high crime can only be achieved by someone in a unique position of authoiry (such as president). Impeachment occurs when House members believe the president has abused his office. There are no legal consequences, however. Here's a step-by-step below: 1. Impeachment inquiry Last week and continuing into this week, the House has called witnesses and put together evidence of possible wrongdoing by Trump.
2. Impeachment vote The House will vote on whether to impeach Trump. Only a simple majority is needed. There's a good chance it will pass, since the House is majority Democrat.
3. Senate trial Once impeached, it moves to the Senate, where a trial is conducted. The House will serve as a prosecutor, and the president will have his team of lawyers.
4. Removal of president If President Trump is found guilty on even one count, he is removed. This is highly unlikely, as 20 Republicans will have to defect to the Democratic position to convict.
The whistleblower complaint It all started with a phone call. In September, it was revealed that a whistleblower had claimed that a July phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky had Trump seeking help in investigating Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, and his business in the country. This report has been backed up through interviews and information from other sources.
What are Democrats seeking in the impeachment inquiry? The basic question that they want to answer is this: Did Trump seek to use his powers of office to press Ukraine into doing political favors for him? The inquiry is focused on the July phone call. According to Adam Schiff, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, here are the questions that are being asked: 1. Did Trump solicit foreign help in an election?
2. Did the Trump White House agree to a meeting with Ukraine on the condition that Ukraine launch investigations on behalf of Trump?
3. Did Ukraine have reason to believe military aid was being withheld on condition of launching Trump’s investigations?
4. Has there been a cover-up of the basic facts of Trump’s conduct?
— Compiled by staff from New York Times, NPR and Library of Congress reports
WHISTLEBLOWER | Personal risk to come forward
From PAGE 1 of the charges against her company, investigators turned to Brown. That’s when she blew the whistle. Her decision led to a conviction inside her company and the recovery of most of the money that had been defrauded. A whistleblower is an insider who exposes corrupt, unethical, or illegal activity in an organization. They are usually protected from retaliation, and in larger cases, their identity may be withheld. The practice of whistleblowing is in the news because of revelations regarding the alleged quid pro quo – Latin for a favor granted in exchange for something else – between President Donald J. Trump and the government of the Ukraine. According to a whistleblower in the intelligence community, the president withheld military aid pending the Ukraine’s agreement to investigate Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden —a potential opponent of Trump in the 2020 presidential election Brown’s situation bears similarities to the current whistleblower. Both whistleblowers went to authorities qualified to deal with the situation. Both were protected by law, but nonetheless faced retaliation from their accusers.
The Trump whistleblower is “an incredibly patriotic American” who took action “at personal risk,” Brown said. “I think that's a sign that everything is working the way it's supposed to work.” A whistleblower's actions have consequences. A year or two after the action against her company was settled, it declared bankruptcy and shut down. The federal whistleblower’s complaint, of course, led the U.S. House of Representatives to initiate an impeachment investigation against President Trump. Corruption exposed by a whistleblower is usually settled in a local court of law. Corruption in government might go all the way to the Supreme Court. Government whistleblowers usually have more protection from retaliation and sometimes remain anonymous. Mark Felt, also known as “Deep Throat," the whistleblower that famously exposed crucial information that led to Nixon’s resignation in 1974, did not reveal his identity until 2005. The impeachment inquiry against Trump was launched Sept. 24 by Nancy Pelosi. Beyond the situation with the Ukraine, it will explore potential abuses of power and any other actions by the President that are deemed impeachable. On Halloween, the House voted in favor of starting public hearings, which started Nov. 13.
There are three steps to impeaching the president. The first is Congress deciding to investigate, which has already happened. In the second step, the president is impeached, but not removed from office if the majority of Congress votes in favor of impeachment. The final step is removal from office if at least two-thirds of the Senate votes in favor of removal. Many people question if the Senate will get enough votes to remove Trump if the investigation reaches that point, since it is still Republican majority. Social science teacher Brett Johanson shares the same uncertainty. “I think impeachment [from the House] has a very good chance of happening, because the House is controlled by Democrats," he said. "They, I think already in their minds, know that they're going to impeach. So they have the numbers for impeachment,” Johanson said. “What's still questionable is whether we'll see removal from office [by the Senate].” Brown believes there’s a lesson to be learned from both her situation and the current whistleblower’s. “When you see something that doesn’t sit right, say something and do something about it,” she said. “Transparency — sunshine — is the best disinfectant.”
65.4%
disapprove or strongly disapprove of Trump's handling of the presidency.
SURVEY | 69% say Trump deserves impeachment From PAGE 1
The answer is stark along party lines. Nearly 82% of students who said they lean Democratic approve or strongly approve of the inquiry. That number drops to about 17% with students who lean Republican, mirroring the strong partisan differences of opinion in voters nationwide. The divide reveals how differently students view and interpret the news. Senior Kyla Masamori, who leans Democratic, believes Trump must be held accountable for his attempt to sway the 2020 election. “I don't really know how you can get over illegal action,” she said of Trump's alleged actions to enlist a foreign country to investigate former vice president Joe Biden's son. Senior Ben Austin, who leans Republican, believes that the House is investigating the wrong person and that the Biden family should be investigated. Austin is referring to an incident, when as vice president, Biden publicly proclaimed on video that he was withholding U.S. aid to Ukraine until the prosecutor investigating his son’s company was fired. “I think that it's kind of hypocritical that they're investigating Trump overdoing something that Joe Biden literally did while he was in office.” The White House stands accused of withholding military aid to Ukraine in exchange for an investigation into Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, a potential rival of Trump’s in the 2020 presidential election. The president maintains he has done nothing wrong. Students who don't follow the news were more likely to not have an opinion on the impeachment inquiry. In the survey, 68.75% of students who never watch the news selected no answer when asked about their opinion on impeachment, while 47.12% of students who watch the news frequently strongly approve of impeachment investigations. The divide is stark when asked if Trump has done things that are impeachable, 91.18% of students who identified as Democrats answered with either “probably” or “definitely," while no students who call themselves Republicans think Trump has definitely committed impeachable offenses. When asked about their opinion about the way Trump has been handling presidency, 69.44% of Republicans either strongly approve or approve of Trump. Only 2.44% of Democrats strongly approve of our president. Nationally, according to a CBS News poll conducted between Nov. 9-11, more Americans feel the Democrats have done a bad job handling the inquiry, 52%, than a good job, 48%. And more feel President Trump has done a bad job handling it, 56%, than feel he has handled it well at 43%. Moreover, those who have made up their minds about the inquiry are less likely to change them, even after the inquiry is over. Like the students', national opinions are split along party lines, and the impeachment inquiry seems only to bolster that divide.
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BEAR WITNESS
STUDENT LIFE
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NOVEMBER 19, 2019 |
BHSBEARWITNESS.COM
“I am excited to get exposed to the real culture of America outside of high school.” Senior Tilde Arbman, a foreign exchange student,on experiencing Thanksgiving for the first time.
A WORLD OF
Fall play mixes D‘n’D, comedy and drama The Backstage Bruins debuted their new fall play, “She Kills Monsters” on Nov. 7. It runs through this Saturday. In the show, senior Stacey Yavorski portrays Agnes, a teen who tries to get closer to her deceased sister through the board game “Dungeons and Dragons.”The show opened to positive reviews, and brings the fantasy worlds of elves, dragons and demons to life. Come for the drama and comedy, and stay (slay?) for the five-headed dragon.
Positive signs of our Leigh rivalry Branham’s rivalry with Leigh has been mixed, where we have seen our quad and facilities vandalized with anti-Branham, pro-Leigh messages. It was a surprise to students coming to school Nov. 1 to see posters extolling the benefits of our partnership were on display. Our sports teams weren’t so lucky. Of the field hockey, volleyball and football games played against Leigh, only football emerged victorious.
Students suspected of cheating force retesting Common assessments are one way help teachers measure how effective their teaching compared to others. But some students are suspected of using them to cheat. Pre-calculus teachers have recently had to resort to alternative testing methods after they suspected several groups of cheating. — Compiled by Lily Middleton
THANKS Immigrants bring their holiday traditions to the table ZIV GALPAZ
T
Staff Writer
hanksgiving is a holiday founded on immigrants. The Pilgrims, the first immigrants of the modern United States, celebrated their first thanksgiving around October 1621, a feast with the American Indians in their new land. The holiday is a staple of American culture, and as immigrants around the world settle here, it’s one that sees constant renewal and adaptation. Some embrace the holiday, and bring in their own twist to the feast. Both of freshman Sophie Nguyen’s parents came to the United States from Vietnam following the Vietnam War. Her dad came on an oil tanker with his nine siblings and her mother came at the age of 10. As children, her parents were raised traditionally Vietnamese, but as they got older, they themselves assimilated to their culture, including celebrating Thanksgiving. Nguyen’s family Thanksgivings have the usual fi xings such as turkey and stuffing, but also includes Vietnamese food such as pho and egg rolls. She travels between Modesto and her home in San Jose to celebrate with her large family, which includes eight uncles and aunts. “My family mixes Vietnamese food like pho and egg rolls with American foods to make it our own Thanksgiving where we celebrate with all of the cousins,” she said. “We have a huge family.” Math teacher Dianne Viernes, who spent her formative years in the Philippines, said that Thanksgiving is mother-daughter bonding opportunity. It’s also synonymous with shopping, where she and her mom would make an entire day of it. “My mom is a shopaholic, so we would use Thanksgiving to get all of our shopping done,” she said. “We would go to the outlets, great mall, and Wal-Mart and literally sleep in our car waiting for them to open stores.” Viernes said she and her mom would eat turkey when they returned from their long shopping adventure. Like Nguyen, some immigrants in the U.S. assimilate in the sense of mixing their old culture with their adoptive culture. Incorporating a mix of both allows new Americans to pay homage to their history and mother culture. Senior Tilde Arbman, a foreign exchange student from Sweden, is in the United States for her first Thanksgiving this year. She's excited to experience the traditional American holiday. She will be spending it with her sponsor family, where she will get a taste of what the holiday is like. “I really want to see how their Thanksgiving works, the food they have, the atmosphere,” she said. For some students like Arbman, it’s an opportunity to experience the holiday beyond what’s portrayed in popular culture. “I am excited to get exposed to the real culture of America outside of high school,” she said. The holiday, like any, is what students and their families make of it. What makes Thanksgiving a universally appealing holiday is the opportunity for students of immigrants and student immigrants to blend their old traditions with the new.
Bear Witness staff graphic Immigrant origins of Thanksgiving During the Civil War, President Lincoln urged Americans to celebrate Thanksgiving in the spirit of reconciliation. Later, the immigration boom inspired cultural leaders to offer Thanksgiving as an opportunity to welcome newcomers. Here are some of the ways immigrants have contributed to the holiday.
Apple pie The apples we enjoy aren’t indigenous to the United States. Cuttings were brought by immigrants. Apple pie is based on English and Dutch recipes.
Pumpkin pie It was the United States’ first immigrants who decided to combine this indigenous fruit (yes, pumpkin is a fruit) with a quintessential English invention: pie.
Cranberry sauce American Indians introduced English immigrants to smashed cranberries, a term which is actually derived from the German kranberee.
Apple cider Cider was brought to the United States by the English, but it actually originated in medieval France.
Mashed potatoes The first recipe for mashed potatoes was published in the United Kingdom in 1747. Stuffing Europeans have been eating stuffing since the Roman Empire. German-American recipes favor dried fruit, while Italian-American recipes suggest adding sausage. Tamales
The newest of Thanksgiving traditions, tamales have been a staple in Latin American households for centuries. — Compiled by staff
Considering trade school trade-offs in picking careers RYAN WALTERS Staff Writer
s of August 2019, 31.3 million students nationwide are A attending a four-year or two-year college. Of those students just over a third will be taking trade class.
Among those planning to attend a technical college is senior Alec Leong, who intends to become an electrician. He has spent the past four years taking engineering classes at Branham through Project Lead the Way and said that the electrician trade profession is the right fit. “Trying it for the first time was just natural,” he said of his experience. “Everyone in that trade was so friendly and willing to help, and my four years of experience really paid off at that moment. I knew where and what everything was.” While it’s unclear how many students at Branham do take up a trade profession, Branham’s College and Career Specialist Patricia Perez said it’s a small group. Perez, who attended UC Riverside, now helps those who are trying to find their path, whether it’s a four-year college or the trade school route. She said that depending on who the student is, either approach can lead to success. “A trade school is better for those who do not enjoy the regular school life, sitting in a classroom and taking notes,” Perez said. “If you want a more hands-on experience, a trade school is better.” Community colleges such as West Valley provide one-onone time with experts in their technical education courses. Students at Branham and other schools in the area outsource
their technical education to MetroEd which runs the Silicon Valley Career Technical Education program. SVCTE provides courses from animation to veterinary science. Junior Shubham Moore, the president of Branham’s Robotics Club and an aspiring computer engineer, is planning on attending a four-year college. Moore said that both routes have their benefits, but he and members of his Robotics Club are planning on attending a four-year college for better financial support. The typical entry-level computer engineer graduate earns nearly $70,000 a year. Additionally, Moore said that his club’s collaborative work environment will make transitioning to college more seamless. “I would like to work with colleagues in a space that has that classroom feel,” Moore said. “I already work with colleagues in the Robotics Club, so I think it would feel the same if I were to attend a four-year college.” While trade school can be much cheaper than college overall (some programs cost roughly a semester’s worth of tuition) and sets its students up for almost immediate employment, those interested in this type of schooling still have many other factors to consider, from the length of the program to the cost of the investment, as well as whether the certificate that they earn is accepted by their potential employers. Choosing careers is more than the flip of coin, and students who choose either route will have to decide what’s best for them and their career. “It doesn’t matter what route you take,” Perez said. For some, one way to success can be quicker than another route.”
Andelina Miller/Bear Witness College and Career specialist Patricia Perez talks to seniors in early September about the college application process.
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BEAR WITNESS
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BHSBEARWITNESS.COM
SPORTS
“The quality of officials may be not as high as it would have been in the past.” Landon Jacobs, Athletic Director
DEALING WITH THE REF RAFF Referee labor dispute hampers availability of experienced officials, frustrating coaches
SPORTS BRIEFS
Scores updates as of Nov. 17 JV football The JV team finishes .500 on an up-and-down 2019 campaign after losing a close game to Silver Creek 20-17. Record: 5-5 Varsity football Branham faces Carmel High School in the second round of CCS this Friday. They soundly beat Monte Vista Christian, 40-13 in their first CCS game. Record: 9-1 Girls freshman volleyball The freshman team caps off a solid season after losing to rival Leigh for the second time, losing in 3 sets. Record: 7-3 Girls JV volleyball The JV team makes a strong finish to a solid year, winning two in a row and beating rival Leigh for the second time after beating them in a previous tournament. Record: 7-3 Girls varsity volleyball The varsity team fought hard for the last game of the year, but lost in five sets to rival Leigh, ending a forgettable regular season campaign. Record: 5-10 Girls tennis The Lady Bruins tennis have been dominant all year, winning all 12 games. They lost both games in the BVAL postseason tournament. Record: 12-0
Lily Middleton/Bear Witness Referee Roger Anderson officiates a recent game between Branham and Silver Creek. Anderson left the BASO group to join ARC, a competing officiating association. LILY MIDDLETON
Student Life Editor
enior Frank Poso, who is the offenS sive and defensive lineman for Branham, cuts an intimidating figure. At 6
feet 5 inches and 320 pounds, he’s also victim to many foul calls. “I get called for unnecessary roughness and holdings mostly,” he said. “Since I am a big target, I get called a lot more than the other kids. It seems as though I have a target on my back.” Poso said that it’s unfair to be called for offenses that he didn’t commit. He’s not the only one. Both on and off the field, frustration with referees making biased calls isn’t new. It happens all the time. But after a referee labor dispute, there are other problems: shortages of qualified referees, forcing schools to reschedule games, and perhaps more allegedly botched calls. In the last school year, five local districts made the decision to search for
other associations aside from Bay Area Sports Officials, the original officiating association. This forced officials to work for other officiating groups to earn more and better games. Because of this, officials cost more. There are also unwanted schedule changes and fears of a decrease in quality and quantity the officiating. “Some officials wouldn’t cross over and start working for these other companies,” Athletic Director Landon Jacobs said. “So, we’re short on officials, and maybe, in some instances, the quality of the officiating isn’t as high as it would have been in the past.” The original officiating association, Bay Area Sports Officials (BASO), hadn’t given many referees the experience in varsity sports they may have wanted, leading to a group of officials leaving to start their own association, the Athletic Referee Community (ARC). ARC officials may not always be as experienced as BASO officials, and the
only way for them to get the necessary experience is to officiate games. This leads to companies assigning more officials to games, which also costs more for what Jacobs said is subpar officiating. “They would assign more experienced referees on par for the JV game plus a less experienced one. So we would have to pay for two,” Jacobs said. “There has been another cost just in terms of the quality of officiating at times, where they’re not as experienced and so it’s difficult for them to manage the game.” BASO’s program uses presentations, online tutorials, exams, shadowing and scrimmages to help you gain expertise in your desired sport or sports. ARC official Mike Lopez describes the tactics used to train their officials. They are recommended to attend field meetings and video calls. “It’s where I met a good majority of my friends and I felt that it’s a quality organization that also provided training,” said Rich Kulish, a BASO official of 12
years. “I also was trained as a volleyball official and as a football official.” Varsity football coach Stephen Johnson said that the referee quality is a struggle for not only the coaches, but for the athletes and parents themselves. “I want to say they make an obviously wrong call and don’t overturn it or don’t correct it,” Johnson said. “It’s blatantly illegal (for) running backs in the backfield to just dive low on someone’s legs. In college you can, NFL you can, but in high school, you cannot.” Another issue that popped up after the switch was the lack of available officials. Because of this, BASO had fewer officials on hand, forcing teams to move one of their games to either a Thursday night, or Saturday afternoon, when more were available. Availability isn’t always a frequent issue, and Kulish said that demand increases during football season. ARC officials declined to comment for this story.
JV field hockey The 2-0 loss against rival Leigh ends a solid season. Record: 9-5-2 Varsity field hockey The varsity girls lost 3-0 against rival Leigh, which capped off a mixed season that resulted in an impressive 6-2-2 home record, but a medicore 5-4 away record. Record: 11-6-2 Cross country Senior Evan Franco’s fifth place finish at Saturday’s CCS finals will have him racing the state’s elite runners at the state championships Nov. 30 in Fresno. Franco ran the 2.95 mile course in 15:43. The boys team placed fifth overall and girls team finished 13th during the finals at Crystal Springs. — Ryan Walters
Trainers give quick help for injuries
Part-time employees serve as middlemen between athletes and doctors ANDELINA MILLER Opinion Editor
tudents rush in and out. They grab S ice and protein bars, or sit down and wait for help from the trainer. There is
constant sound, athletes talking to each other waiting to be helped. This is what the work environment is like for athletic trainers at Branham. Every few minutes a new athlete steps through the door and goes to ask the trainer a question. Many students rely on the trainer to help them daily. They go into the trainer’s office to get stretched out or to get ice for their overworked muscles. Steven Kong, the school’s former parttime trainer, is leaving Branham for a full-time position. He is also in the process of getting a doctorate, so he can become a professor at a university. He said he will still be stopping by the school to help athletes. Kong grew up in the area and attended Prospect High School.
After his graduation in 2003, he went to Chapman University. Although Kong was planning on getting a degree in Physical Education, Chapman no longer offered it. His path to becoming an athletic trainer was slightly unexpected. The university told him that the alternate program was athletic training, so he decided to pursue it. “I fell in love with it once I started it, and have been doing it ever since,” said Kong. Later, Kong became an athletic trainer for the Public School Athletic League in New York. In many states, not just New York, athletic trainers for high schoolers that go to public schools are rare because of small high school budgets. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association reported that only 37% of public high schools have athletic trainers. Kong stated,“I was one of the first full -time athletic trainers that they hired, which is crazy because they had 53
schools and they only hired six of us.” Trainers at Branham are important due to the many students participating in sports and the high frequency of injuries. According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association 90% of student athletes report injuries due to participation in sports, and 54% of student athletes report that they have played while being injured. The trainer helps serve as a middleman to students, so when they strain muscles they don’t have to go to the doctor, but can still receive help to alleviate their pain. “Having a trainer has helped me with my injuries in multiple ways,” said junior Kendall Fowler, who plays on the varsity basketball and track teams. “It’s allowed me to get better at a quicker time than it would take to go to the doctor. Also the trainer knows what he’s doing, so I feel confident going to him with any pains that I have.”
Ryan McCarthy/Bear Witness archives Former Branham athletic trainer Angie Purchio wraps a bandage around a football player’s ankle. Branham has the budget for a part-time trainer.
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ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT Mini Reviews Bite-sized opinions Movie Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Directed by Joachim Rønning What it is: Maleficent’s story continues five years after Aurora’s curse is broken. When she and Prince Phillip get enWalt Disney gaged, it should Pictures be a happy union of their two kingdoms. But when a tyrannical enemy emerges, Maleficent and Aurora must work together to stop a force that promises to destroy everything. Liked: It isn’t your typical sugarcoated Disney movie. There is a decent amount of war scenes at the end. Angelina Jolie(Maleficent) and Elle Fanning(Aurora) had great performances. Disliked: The plot wasn’t as strong as the first movie, and you need to watch the first one to understand what’s going on. — Nolan Zils Joker Directed by Todd Phillips What it is: ‘Joker’ is a psychological thriller about Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill comedian, and his constant mistreatment and neglect by the higher-ups in Gotham, causing him to spiral Warner Bros. down into his Pictures alter-ego, the Joker. Liked: It didn’t hold back. It wasn’t light on serious topics such as the mistreatment of mental health in society, but instead uses that as a foundation on the film. Dark with only a sprinkle of humor, ‘Joker’ has its charming moments. Disliked: The weight you feel when watching the movie. It leaves behind a bad taste. The last thing I want is to watch a movie and come out more confused than when I did going in. — Cianna Hollinger
Interscope Records
Album single Lose You to Love Me
Selena Gomez What it is: After not releasing an album since 2015, Selena Gomez releases a new album single that explains her past relationship with singer Justin Bieber. The song is about her growth since that relationship and how she is more empowered than ever. Liked: I like the message of the song and how personal the lyrics were. She looks and sounds better and is showing others that they can get through a rough relationship, too. Disliked: The chorus was and it was a little slow, but now I really enjoy the whole song. — Megan Perez Food
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“A lot of people will say, ‘I’m not gonna do the Disney thing,’ but you know pretty well that you’re gonna do the Disney thing.” — Katie Wilson, senior
Bands searching for an audience
For local bands, making music has never been easier. The tough part is getting noticed online
Frakie Castro/Special to the Bear Witness Senior Jack Swartz, with junior Nick Lebowski (drums) and Rich Arenas (bass) of the band Hum, perform during a tailgate party celebrating Del Mar High’s 60th anniversary. CHANDLER ROBERTS
Arts & Entertainment Editor
nyone can make music, or at least A share them easily. Websites such as SoundCloud and
YouTube allow anyone to upload their tunes online. Apps such as Spotify and Apple Music also are making music much more accessible to the public (Spotify’s founder says 40,000 songs are uploaded to Spotify every day). With millions of songs to compete with every day, it’s hard to stay above the din. Senior Jack Swartz is a member of several bands. He is the bassist in Like Minded Youth, a band he formed with three other Branham students, seniors Scott Tucker, Chester Albano and Russel Steese-Bradley, in a guitar class on campus. Swartz is also the vocalist in Polyerius, which he formed with junior Nick Lebowski and Del Mar senior Richard Arenas, and creates his own music under the name AntiZero. With all of his experience making music, he says that it is very difficult to get known. “Because everyone can put out art, the market is completely oversaturated,” Swartz said. “You have a million new songs every day. People with different styles, different genres, different artists, you know, different everything.” Despite this, he is still thankful for the ability to release music, as there is no corporate in-between from artist to fan.
Frankie Castro/Special to the Bear Witness Senior Scott Tucker and Russel Steese-Bradley of Like-Minded Youth formed the band with Branham friends while taking a guitar class together. “We live in a time where you are your own label and what’s really cool is that I can put out music without having to go through studio heads and representatives,” Swartz said. “I can just be like ‘Oh I like this song,’ post it on my story on Instagram like ‘hey I’m releasing a song on Friday’ and then release it having recorded it three days prior.” The writing process can be different for every band. Polyerius, for example, improvises a lot with each member being
responsible for their specific components “It’s a very collaborative effort, each member has a say,” said Nick Lebowski, the drummer. “Sometimes it’s just the other members trying to come up with parts but i also have input on the general structure of the song.” Other bands like LMY, who have recorded and released a five-song EP already, have a similar process, where one member brings lyrics and they all work on putting it to music. Where they differ
is that they have taken the step to record, which is a different process entirely. The recording process often takes several hours of setting up instruments, playing, and eventually working on the production in the studio. “You take an hour to really set up and make sure that everything is ready to go,” said lead singer Scott Tucker. “And then on from that first hour, it’s mostly recording, and then whenever you’re done recording, you take the time to work to make the song sound good.” After recording their songs, many use word of mouth and social media to spread the news, developing small fanbases in and outside of their schools. “For AntiZero, a lot of my ‘fans’ are people that I know, but LMY is a lot different,” Swartz said. “When we released our first EP, we would get people messaging us being like ‘Hey I like your music,’ like random people who we’ve never met before.” They were also invited play gigs at schools, with their most recent show in mid-October at a tailgate for a football game at Del Mar, which was thrown by students in celebration of the school’s 60th anniversary. On top of that, they often host house shows, in which several local bands cram into one house’s living room and play for friends and fans “There’s a big explosion in music,” Swartz said. “Because we live in an age where it’s so easy to put art out into the world that anyone can.”
Despite Disney+ debut, students stick with Netflix More than 80% pick older service, citing diversity of shows and more mature content
he Branham Disney Club’s InstaT gram story on Monday displayed a timer counting down to midnight for Milk Tea Lab What it is: Milk Tea Lab is a new shop near Branham with boba, milk tea, snacks, and games. It opened earlier this year and has attracted a lot of Branham students. Liked: The staff is friendly, and the ambiance is inviting for a snack or as hangout with friends. Disliked: The food takes a long time to come out. — Meena Iyer
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the release of Disney+, the company’s answer to Netflix, the video streaming giant. For Disney Club president Max Blanchard, it’s a time for celebration. The sophomore said that Disney’s entrance into an increasingly crowded market is a positive thing for the media industry, as users can now access nearly every movie and TV show the company has made, as well as from those it owns, including Marvel, Pixar, National Geographic and LucasFilm. “I’m excited for all of the content that will keep me busy,” he said, “especially
series like ‘High School Musical’, and also Disney movies such as ‘The Little Mermaid.’” Like the opening of Disneyland in 1955, there were the usual glitches with debut of Disney+ such as delayed loading times. Still, it’s estimated that 30.2 million U.S. households will subscribe to the service by the end of next year, half of Netflix’s audience, according to Ampere Analysis. Despite the abundant attention that Disney+ has been receiving, enthusiasm at Branham is low. In a recent snap poll of 251 students, only 19% said they would switch to the service, while 81% voted to remain with Netflix.
Some respondents backing Netflix mentioned the diversity of shows on the still-popular streaming service, an estimated 20% of are Disney-owned. They said that they wanted entertainment beyond Disney. Chances are there’s room for a few more to subscribe to. According to the Ampere Analysis survey, the average family subscribes to 2.6 streaming services. With nearly 15 services making their debut this year from AppleTV, HBO Max, CBS, NBC, Amazon to name a few, Disney+ has its competition cut out for them. Senior Katie Wilson, president from the Film Club isn’t budging yet. “I’m sticking with Netflix,” she said. “I know a lot of people will say, ‘I’m not gonna do the Disney thing,’ but you know pretty well that you’re gonna do the Disney thing.”
Instagram The countdown from the Disney Club’s Instagram story.
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“Blizzard is just very blindly trying really hard to push all sorts of negative press under a rug ... that was all really distasteful to me.”— English teacher Kirsten McKay
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
Blizzard's silencing of politics sparks a storm of controversy
Rules MORGAN IRWIN | SENIOR Each month, a student selected at random shares what’s on their playlist, and plays it on shuffle. What follows is a conversation about their song selection.
Gaming company faces angry fans over punishment of Hong Kong supporters
Zedd
Comedy Central
The international DJ has been permanently banned from China due to his liking of a tweet from the "South Park" Twitter account. The tweet was from their 300th episode, not from a specific episode criticizing China. China and South Park have had a very rocky relationship, however. NBA
Creative Commons The Houston Rockets were dropped from China’s broadcasts, due to a tweet from the General Manager Daryl Morey supported the Hong Kong protesters, which was later deleted. Tencent, a Chinese-owned international conglomerate focusing on media, said they would not air its pre-season games. LeBron James stated that Morey should receive punishment for the tweet, causing backlash from media. Winnie the Pooh
Creative Commons The famous character created by A. A. Milne, now owned by Disney, is banned in China due to people drawing resemblance between him and the Chinese president Xi Jinping. The "Christopher Robin" movie was not shown in the country for this reason. Apple
The Chinese government has asked Apple to do a multitude of things, usually taking apps off the app store. The country has had VPN apps, Skype, and The Washington Post from the Chinese app store. However, Apple removed a Hong Kong protest app, which pinpointed Chinese authorities, sparking more outrage from American activists. — Caitlyn Schlaman
CAITLYN SCHLAMAN
Science & Health Editor
nglish teacher and yearE book adviser Kirsten McKay, a gamer, has stopped
playing “Overwatch,” the popular multiplayer shooter game from developer and publisher Blizzard Entertainment. It’s for several reasons, chief among which is the time that she doesn’t have. And yes, it’s also about the ongoing protests in Hong Kong that pits the city’s autonomy against mainland China’s Communist regime. Blizzard, which is partially owned by Chinese mega-company Tencent, has had a seemingly clumsy approach, reprimanding star players in its tournaments for speaking out. It’s one of several companies recently enforcing a strong policy against these protests on their platform. In one instance, a Taiwanese streamer of the card game “Hearthstone” was banned from its tournaments due to his actions on a Hearthstone broadcast. The streamer, Ng Wai Chung, also known as Blitzchung, put on a gas mask commonly used by Hong Kong protesters and expressed support for them. Blizzard stated they had banned him due to a section in their Grandmaster’s rules that players cannot, ‘offend a portion or group of the public, or otherwise damages Blizzard’s image.” This didn’t sit well with McKay, who has friends teaching in Hong Kong. She said that she stopped playing Blizzard’s games to be in solidarity with their experience. “They do feel the impacts of it every day,” she said. “It felt, not only like a betrayal to them, it was a betrayal to the students that they serve.” What Chung and his colleagues have been doing is the latest example of protesters capitalizing on their online popularity to call attention to a cause. In the past decade, large-scale movements have sprouted on social media, from Hong Kong to Chile, with citizens protesting the rise in metro fares. Sometimes, these platforms are movies, conventions, live streams, and video games. At issue is whether companies should allow such protests on their platforms, or keep their own interest in mind. China has had an increasingly large influence over American entertainment, due to its growing market for them. To attract and keep the Chinese audiences, American companies change their policies and products to appease the government (see sidebar). With the conflict in Hong Kong, however, many people are speaking out in favor of Hong Kong, and then are getting censored by either American companies or China itself. The “Overwatch” character Mei has been appropriated as a symbol of the movement in Hong Kong. She is a Chinese climatologist and adventurer from Xi'an, China. Blizzard has not made a public statement supporting or condemning the move. Blitzchung’s ban was not the only way Blizzard has censored the Hong Kong protests. People watching Those who stream of Blizzard games on Twitch were reportedly warned not to provide any commentary on Hong Kong. Three college students participating in a “Hearthstone” stream were banned after they held up a sign stating “Free Hong Kong.” In response, the company published the following statement:”Every Voice Matters at Blizzard, and we strongly encourage everyone in our community to share their viewpoints in the many places available to express themselves. However, the official broadcast needs to be about the game.” Their actions in subduing a popular movement have been met with disgust by vocal fans, several of whom are boycotting their products. “Seeing how Blizzard is just very blindly trying really hard to push all sorts of negative press under a rug, and trying to just escape the way that Mei kind of became a figure for Free Hong Kong, that was all really distasteful to me,” McKay said. After the backlash, from fans and U.S. lawmakers, Blizzard gave Blitzchung his prize money back, but kept the ban on the
Cady Groves: “This Little Girl” Morgan Irwin: “I like the beat of it and her voice is nice. I was listening to a song on YouTube and this song came right after it and I thought the song is a bop.” Meghan Trainor: “Better When I Am Dancing” MI: It is fun to relax to. It is fun to let loose to this song and it is kind of a cute song. The XX: “Intro” MI: There are no lyrics to it, but it has a really nice composition because you know I am a band nerd. It also sounds very nice.
Fall Out Boy: “Sugar We’re Going Down” MI: I think I got into this one because of my friends mostly, and it’s a good song. I like it because it is fun to sing along when I am home alone. I can belt this song.
"Overwatch" hero Mei, a Chinese climatologist in the shooting game, has been used a symbol in the Hong Kong protest movement. The Chinese company TenCent, owns a 5% stake in Blizzard Entertainment, which makes "Overwatch."
Two Steps From Hell: “Blackheart” MI: I love violins. I don’t know what it is, but this song has a lot of violins and I love it. There are no words to this song because it is a movie song. It is very calming and it helps me focus. If I am doing an essay or something and listen to this song it helps. Hans Zimmer: “Time” MI: This one, for one, is from one of my favorite movies, "Inception," which is one of the only movies that actually made me cry at the end, but also Hans Zimmer is really good at composing. It’s very quiet and kind of nice to chill. LP: “Muddy Waters” MI: “LP is really good at singing and I like her voice. It’s a very relaxing song, and I like to sing to it because it exercises the lower regions of my singing range.”
Caitlyn Schlaman/Bear Witness
China's growing influence over U.S. entertainment From sports to video games, movies and technology China has become an indispensable partner, not only in investing in U.S. companies, but exerting influence on its content. Here are some recent examples of them.
About the shuffler: Morgan Irwin is a percussionist in the Branham High School Royal Alliance. She’s a pianist and a Girl Scout. In her free time she plays and writes. She said that she has no idea where her love for music comes from since neither of her parents plays music. Irwin enjoys a wide range of music, from movie scores to Imagine Dragons.
“Hearthstone” streamer from all Blizzard esports. Despite this, McKay said she won’t return to Overwatch or any other Blizzard games. “I have other stuff I'll play.” said McKay. “I don't agree with what this company is doing, therefore I'm not going to play this game.” She isn’t making others join in her boycott, however, as it’s within their right to enjoy what the company offers. “It's not my job to go ahead and impose that on my family,” she said. “I wouldn't impose that like on like a student of mine who played ‘Overwatch.’” Many, like McKay, choose to protest by not playing. However, some, like senior Ian McKibben, are more indifferent toward the
protests and controversy. “My purpose or playing games is like, I just want to have fun with friends.” McKibben said. “I think it's a good time to connect with people. I think that my reason for why I play isn't really affected by the politics of what's going on.” For senior Riley Peters, it’s all about a company’s bottom line. However popular your opinions are on the Internet, it make the companies listen. “You have to say a lot with your money.” said Peters. “Companies look at money, they're going to focus on their bottom line. And if their decision that you don't like begins to hurt their economic interest, they're going to stop doing it.”
Doctor Who soundtrack: “Finding Jackie” MI: “Doctor Who" is one of my favorite shows. That’s kind of it. The reason it’s there is because Doctor Who is my favorite show and it’s also really good. Doctor Who soundtrack: “Cassandra’s Waltz” MI: This is in there because it’s creepy but good and I like it. I think it uses the theremin, and I like that.
Imagine Dragons:“Gold” MI: “I like the allusion to King Midas, who turns everything you touch turns to gold. That’s a fun thing to recognize. It has a nice beat and I like a very steady and slow sound of it but it is still driving. — Genevieve Nemeth
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T LIFE IN TECHNICOLOR TECHNICOLOR THE JOYS AND CHALLENGES of THE VIRAL STAR
BY KATELYN LOWPENSKY, CARA McCLURE and JAZZY NGUYEN
CHASE O’NEIL, junior 299.1k TikTok followers On bringing joy to strangers “It has made me happy and a lot of other people happy. It makes more and more people feel good about themselves when people leave positive or funny comments. It also brings people out of their comfort zone and make more friends.”
Branham’s TikTok page helps spread the word
Bear Witness: How is Tik Tok useful for what you’re trying to accomplish? Arianna Savitt: Well we have normally been trying to advertise using graphics, but using short videos that are more comical is the better way to get the point across because it’s more entertaining and more people view it.
Branham’s leadership class uses Tik Tok via @ seewhatsbruin to help connect to the student body. Sophomore Arianna Savitt runs the social media account and shares how they create their videos.
BW: Do you feel like it reaches a wider audience? AS: Yeah, it reaches a somewhat wider audience but for us it’s just a better way to advertise because it catches more people’s attention. BW: Do you know about how many people watch them? AS: Normally when we post videos on See What’s Bruin they reach about 1000 people. BW: What is your favorite Tik Tok that you’ve made?
ik Tok has taken the world by storm, with over 500 million people eager to watch the entertaining short videos it has to offer. The app allows people to make connections with creators and viewers around the world. At Branham, creators Gigi Borgese, Borgese Chase O’ Neil, and Caroline Fales have gained a following in the thousands on the social network. Although they enjoy their fame, each has experienced fame in different ways. Borgese has had several stalker incidents, but ultimately has benefited from the publicity through sponsorships. O’Neil has made many new friends around the country through the app and makes videos with them frequently. Fales’ dance and humor videos have seen much support from her friendly fanbase, but occasionally she says that she receives hate comments.
GIGI BORGESE , sophomore 713.5 k TikTok followers On watching what you say “There’s a lot of like cancel culture ... which does make it hard. That’s why you cannot make a mistake at all or else you’re kind of, like, you’re screwed. But it’s just nice having because I have a lot of friends now, I make friends online are like a lot more than I hang out like my actual friends in like real life just because like they’re so caring and understand everything.”
CAROLINE FALES, junior 53.1 k TikTok followers Finding room for expression “People do send hate comments but the videos you’re able to watch when you’re having a bad moment to make you laugh definitely outweigh the negatives. Everyone is free to be themselves and will have supporters no matter what.”
SOUNDING OFF ON TIKTOK
AS: My favorite one was about the homecoming dance it was just showed a bunch of people going to the dance but like in a trend. And it was just kind of funny because that trend was relevant at the time. BW: Do you feel like it impacted like the attendance at all? AS: I think the people that saw it, were like laughing about it and I think it did impact these hands on a little bit but there’s still a lot of people that don’t follow it because that one was only posted on the account and not on See What’s Bruin.
“It can really mess up your attention span”Audrey Nguyen (10)
BW: How is TikTok useful in conveying your message in comparison to other social media platforms? AS: Tik Tok is a more fun way to convey a message because people, especially students, tend to have a shorter attention span than adults and would rather watch a funny video than read about it.
“It’s funny but it takes up too much time!”Isha Chander (10)
“The fact that it exists.” Alex Musurlian (11)
“It’s too common for it to be good” Michael Schreiber (10)
“The ‘For You’ page algorithm shows you stuff you like.” Valentina Coronel (10) “I really love some of the trends.” Mariah Lopez (10) “They’re funny and entertaining to watch.”Itzel Moreno (11) “The humor, jokes, and people singing.”Sydney McGonigal (9)