MAY 2021

INSIDE THE ISSUE

opinion 4

feature 8

a&e 9

the bull's eye news

opinion

feature

sports 14

MAY 26, 2021 VOLUME XXXIX ISSUE IX ONLINE AT DBBULLSEYE.COM

arts&entertainment

Staff’s final chapters at DBHS

School to add unisex restrooms New DBHS buildings will include gender-neutral facilities.

Bull’s Eye adviser List and Photo teacher Foley are among those retiring.

Marykate Palaris Asst. a&e editor As a means to help nonbinary and transgender students feel more comfortable at school, Diamond Bar High School will be adding three gender neutral, and by extension, single-use restrooms.

The new facilities will be located in the current nurse’s office, near the portable classrooms, and in the new 500 buildings, according to operations manager Mike Bromberg.

At the end of last semester, the Gay-Straight Alliance club began an effort to persuade the school to build said bathrooms.

“We decided that the best way to support the LGBTQ+ community at DBHS would be to install gender-inclusive restrooms,” GSA member junior Maya Mehta said via Instagram.

GSA ended up contacting Bromberg, who said that the restrooms were already being implemented in the new buildings.

“We reached out to Mr. Bromberg and he told us that the school was already planning them,” she

bathrooms ON P. 3

Marcus Hsieh asst. News Editor

ANIKA YATAWARA

Ethnic studies raises debate Some districts and colleges are adding controversial course. somiya jajieh asst. feature editor Throughout the past year, ethnic studies has begun to be included in high school and college curriculums. Although the introduction of such a class has often been met with criticism, several Diamond Bar High School Students are open to the idea of having such a curriculum available at DBHS if the school were to offer it.

Ethnic studies teaches students about the histories, contributions and struggles of marginalized Americans throughout history.

Last year, California required the Cal State University system to include ethinic studies as a mandatory course.

Earlier this month, Los Alamitos Unified School District, located in Orange county, decided to approve ethnic studies as a required course for high school students. In addition, the Los Angeles Unified Board of Education aims to make ethinic studies a graduation requirement by the 2023-2024 school year.

Those against the establishment of the course claim it may produce anti-white rhetoric, with opponents, in an open letter to the Los Alamitos community, stating that the class will “[teach] children America is based on white supremacy and that white people are racists.”

On the other hand, many Brahmas are on board with the course, like junior Hilary Wang, who thinks an ethnic studies class would positively impact students since it offers them a wider perspective of American history.

Wang said she disagrees with the claim that the class will promote anti-white rhetoric since the course is just teaching students about history through the eyes of people of color.

“If learning about regular history courses like European History or U.S. History isn’t labeled as anti-POC when students learn of the horrible ways white people have oppressed people of color, I don’t see how others can call this informative course ‘anti-white,’” she

studies on P. 2

Graduates to attend prestigious institutions Several students will be heading east to attend top universities in the fall.

Kelsey wu Asst. feature Editor After completing the arduous college admissions process, a handful of Diamond Bar High School seniors will be attending some of the nation’s top universities to pursue their dream majors.

Both Ryan Real and Daniel Min will be heading east to the University of Pennsylvania, while Jack Coursen has committed to Johns Hopkins. William Chang and Yifei Hu are heading to Cornell while Wilson Zhu will study at MIT and Luke Zhou will be attending Caltech.

In addition, Breanna Yang will be going to Washington University and Chelsea Wu will be attending the University of Chicago.

During high school, Min was the lieutenant and district governor for Key Club, class president for four years and Den Chief of his

sports

Boy Scouts troop. He was accepted into UPenn’s Wharton School of Business, where he will pursue a concentration in marketing and social impact.

“I’m most excited about the people and new experiences that come from meeting new people. I always liked stepping out of what I’m used to, and I’m particularly excited to meet such a diverse group of people and live in a new state,” Min said via Instagram.

Real, on the other hand, said he plans to major in bioengineering.

For all four years of high school he was a member of the Science Olympiad team and served as an officer for three years. He says that he had always been interested in science and was eager to apply to the nation’s best bioengineering programs.

“I was actually fortunate enough to have also gotten into the Biomedical Engineering Program at Johns Hopkins and Duke. In the end, Penn’s larger size, great location, social atmosphere and flexibility with the bioengineering curriculum swayed me,” Real said via Instagram.

“The main thing I’ll miss is just standing in front of students… and interacting with students.”

DOUG LIST

Claremont-Pomona Executive President and the DBHS branch president, as well as co-president of FBLA. He also helped coordinate vari-

“The main thing I’ll miss is just standing in front of students… and interacting with students,” List said. “Absolutely the best part of being a teacher is getting to know those students, especially for the students that I have as freshmen and then I see them evolve through four years and graduate. That’s been a great pleasure, a great reward to have.”

He is particularly proud of The Bull’s Eye’s success in write-off competitions throughout his 10 year tenure.

“I’m lucky that I got to work on the newspaper and got to guide students in the newspaper so that, to me, is my legacy. It is how The Bull’s Eye continues to evolve and improve,” List said. “I feel proud that we were able to turn that into something that goes outside of this school and wins awards and is seen as a really good high school paper.”

Comparatively, Photography teacher Foley has spent his entire career working in the field of education.

“I’ve been here for ten years and

admits on p. 3

teachers ON P. 2

Daniel Min, left, and William Chang will be heading east to UPenn and Cornell.

Also travelling to the East Coast is Chang, who plans to pursue a major in industrial and labor relations at Cornell University.

At school, Chang was heavily involved in the American Red Cross organization, serving as both the

During students’ four hectic high school years, teachers serve as steadfast anchors in the ebb and flow of secondary school life.

However, at least four veteran Diamond Bar High School teachers, including multi-sport coach and math teacher Tony McCabe, Journalism and English teacher Doug List, Photography teacher Bill Foley and math teacher Hana Matloub, will be retiring this year.

List joined the DBHS staff in 2011, bringing with him about 30 years of experience from the newspaper industry, most notably as a design editor for the Los Angeles Times.

Throughout his career, List has taught sophomore, junior and senior English in addition to mentoring students in Journalism 1 and Journalism 2.

2

NEWS

MAY 26, 2021

THE BULL'S EYE

Pioneering in philanthropy Nonprofit leader was invited to speak at a virtual assembly for AAPI month.

Maia pak staff writer In honor of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, Diamond Bar High School held a student-led question and answer session with Ann Young Lee, CEO and co-founder of Community Organized Relief Effort, on March 17 via Zoom.

USB members Eunice Lee and Vishnu Nair, both juniors, hosted the school-wide assembly along with Principal Reuben Jones and Assistant Principal Elizabeth Chang.

Lee discussed her previous international response efforts while partnering with CORE and her organization’s current work in the United States.

“We jumped into this space and increased testing and then moved into vaccines,” Lee said. “But we also worked alongside our partners and our communities to provide other services like food, water, and shelter to make sure those families were safe,”

CORE is a multifaceted international organization with an emphasis on local community-based responses.

The group seeks long term solutions for struggling communities, including natural disaster assistance and supporting low-income and marginalized communities.

Lee also discussed what it was like breaking into the humanitarian industry which has historically been dominated by white

“You don’t have to have huge amounts of money...and all kinds of free time to be able to help people.“ ANN YOUNG LEE males, as a Korean-American woman.

“It’s not easy being a woman of color in [the humanitarian] sector,” she said. “Sometimes you have to stand firm and hold your ground,” When asked where her passion to help other nations came from, Lee named her mother as her inspiration.

“She worked so hard,” Lee

the staff Editors-in-Chief

Josh Chou, Camille McCurry

News Editor Asst. News Editors

Anika Yatawara Marcus Hsieh, Steve Qu

Opinion Editors Asst. Opinion Editor

Camille McCurry, Reyna Wan Rachel Lee

Feature Editor Asst. Feature Editors A&E Editor Asst. A&E Editors

Emily Koh Somiya Jajieh, Kelsey Wu Josh Chou Natasha Chang, Marykate Palaris

Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editors Photo Editor Asst. Photo Editors

Victoria Artale Deesha Pathak, Charles Tam Victoria Artale Tiffany Lee, Kelsey Wu Ryan Chan Connor Cho

Business Manager Asst. Business Manager Web Editor Asst. Web Editor Staff Writers

Reyna Wan Natasha Chang Kyle Hong, Lyndon Kaneko Edward Kim, Vera Wang

Adviser

Doug List

contact us Diamond Bar High School, Room 459 21400 Pathfinder Road Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Phone: (909) 594- 1405x33459 Email: eye.editors@gmail.com Business Inquiries: thebullseyebusiness@gmail.com

editorial policy The Bull’s Eye is a public forum that welcomes the views of our readers. Letters to the Editor and Op-Ed pieces will be accepted only if they are signed. The author may, however, request anonymity. The staff reserves the right to edit letters without changing content. You may forward letters to Room 459 or submit them online at dbbullseye.com.

said, “But at any moment in time, she did everything she could to help other people. It didn’t matter whether they were Korean or not.”

Growing up as the child of immigrant parents in a predominantly white neighborhood opened up Lee’s eyes to the racial injustices of the world at a young age.

“The value of ‘you help everyone that you can with whatever you got’ and also the frustration and anger that I feel in terms of seeing any injustice. Kind of mixing those two things together and that’s what, I think, drives me to do the work that I do,” Lee explained.

Lee advised students who are interested in a career in humanitarian assistance to join the grassroots nonprofit Peace Corp in order to gain first hand experience and learn how to better support specific communities.

However, she also reminded students that anyone, regardless of their background, can find ways to help others.

“You don’t have to have huge amounts of money and wealth and all kinds of free time to be able to help people. It’s even some time to talk to somebody, to make sure they are okay,” Lee said.

Discussing novel history curricula Studies from p.1 said.

Although Wang also supports the idea of implementing ethnic studies into Walnut Valley Unified School District curriculum, she said she would prefer the class to be an elective instead of a mandatory class.

“While I believe that courses like [ethnic studies] serve a purpose in helping others understand the cultures and contributions of people of color, others may not find the subject interesting nor important to them,” Wang said via Instagram.

Junior Daniel Zoubstov shares a similar sentiment to Wang’s, adding that the class could potentially fuel reductive discourse in discussions about race since it may cause students to form one-sided opinions.

“I think this class may [be] a bit of an eye opener for some, but its impact will also be a bit negative due to a radicalized split in our youth and may possibly cause a stronger split,” Zoubstov said.

“Introducing such classes for people at a point in their life when they start forming their opinions can cause them to see things more one sided than someone who has a different view.”

Alternatively, sophomore Olivia James said she’d want the class to be an elective in high school but a mandatory class for all college students.

James argued that the class would provide equal attention to ethnic backgrounds as it does for white backgrounds. “[The class] will make students see that ehtnic people have just as much importance and history as white people,” James said via Instagram. “I think… ethnic students will feel heard and all students will have a huge learning opportunity.”

GLOBAL REPORT cease-fire called in Palestine conflict

insider

A month after the Israeli police’s raid on the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, war between Israel and Hamas resumed. On May 20, it was announced that the two will cease-fire after more than ten days of fighting which resulted in over 200 deaths.

abortion case challenges roe v. Wade Since the recent conservative tilt of the U.S. Supreme Court, several conservative states have proposed number of anti-abortion bills. Most recently, they have challenged the 1973 ruling in the Roe v. Wade case.

boston herald

dallas morning news

cdc announces neW mask guidelines Recently, the CDC reversed the mask mandate for vaccinated individuals, stating they are no longer required to wear a mask indoors or outdoors in most settings. In light of this, many U.S. states have started to ease mask mandates.

columbian Protests remain ongoing Following the proposal of a new tax plan by the Columbian government, violent clashes between protestors and police have broken out. Protestors are calling for police reform and new policies concerning minimum income among other things.

al jazeera

goP disPutes vex rePublican Party

vanity fair

Due to her criticism of former President Donald Trump, Rep. Liz Cheney was purged from House leadership. Friction in the GOP over differing opinions on Trump’s presidency continues to divide the Republican Party.

Brahmas announce retirement plans Teachers from p.1 it was a great way to end my career as a photography teacher and as a teacher,” Foley said. “I worked at Ron Hockwalt Academies before I came here and before that, I taught computers and PE at the elementary schools.

And then, before that, I worked at private schools. So I was 18 years in private schools and 18 years in public school.”

At DBHS, Foley started by teaching IC3 (Internet Core Competency Certification), then transitioned to focus on Photography and Photoshop classes.

He also oversaw an articulation agreement between DBHS and Mt. SAC for some Photography students to receive college credit through his class.

“What I will miss most is how the kids at Diamond Bar behave, how they make me feel about life.

It makes me feel younger,” Foley said. “The way they view things when they’re out shooting photos

is so different from what I would choose because their minds are wide open to possibilities. They’ll come back with photos from the campus that I would not even think to take because they look at things a different way than I do.

Foley was honored as Diamond Bar High School Rookie of the Year in 2011, then as Diamond Bar High School Teacher of the Year and Walnut Valley Unified School District Teacher of the Year in 2017.

“What’s more important to me than anything else is that I taught with passion and I was fair to my students,” he said.

Meanwhile, Algebra 1 teacher McCabe has been working at DBHS since the school’s founding in 1983 while accepting numerous coaching commitments over the course of his career.

The two-time Brahma of the Year has coached multiple sports including basketball and golf, amounting to over 130 seasons of coaching over his career.

VICTORIA ARTALE Doug List served as adviser for school publication The Bull’s Eye for 10 years.

MARCH 24, 2021

NEWS

THE BULL'S EYE

3

An enchanting night on campus Seniors and juniors were given the opportunity to attend prom this year.

Kyle Hong STAFF WRITER

Tiffany lee

Former Asst. Photo Editor

W

hile I am most excited to end my senior year and never step foot on campus after graduation, I dread writing my final piece in the Bull’s Eye. I have spent most of my lunches and afterschool in the Journalism classroom organizing photo schedules, taking pictures, and writing many articles throughout the four years I’ve been part of the school newspaper. But my last paragraph and sentences have been erased repeatedly as I realize that it would be my very last article to write in the newspaper that I spend all-nighters writing.

I remember during my registration for my freshman year that I chose to take the Journalism I class on a whim after calling a friend who already decided on the class.

From there, I was already telling myself that I would only be taking the class for the credits. Although I admit I have slept numerous times in the class during the movies we had to watch, it was the first time I had actually admired the newspaper and my first time opening the newspaper and reading it. After writing my first contributing article on Halloween movies, I felt a bit accomplished at myself just seeing my name under a published article and decided to join the Bull’s Eye. For me, joining the Bull’s Eye felt like an accomplishment and it reminded me that I had something that I didn’t give up on and had something that I continued for four years. From the countless articles and running around campus taking pictures of various sport games, lunch activities, and student spotlights, room 459 gave me a sense of belonging.

I can’t say I became a better writer since I entered the Journalism room, but Mr. List and my staff members helped me grow as a more confident person with the various interviews I had to conduct.

If I had only knew then that deadline night for the March 2019 issue was the last in-person event I would have with my staff members, I would have chosen a later time for the movie I was supposed to review and stay for another hour to just take in the moment of us rushing to get our articles in time, finishing the last couple edits of layout, and just talking with my other staff members. I would like to say thank you to Mr. List for giving me the opportunity to express myself in words and our conversations on our walks to the computer lab and putting up with me never quite calling your name correctly during Journalism 1.

In a surprising, last-minute revelation that pleased many Diamond Bar High School upperclassmen who had been hoping for more events as the school year came to a close, DBHS administration allowed an in-person prom on May 15, organized by USB and this year’s junior class officers.

While the event is usually held at an indoor venue away from campus, this year’s “Enchanted Garden Party”-themed prom was outdoors, taking place in the DBHS amphitheater. Additionally, tickets cost much less than usual--only $20-30 depending on whether students took advantage of early-bird sales, and whether they had activity cards. There were 360 people in attendance and tickets were sold out according to USB social commissions manager and organizer Jenny Dunn “Prom this year was on campus but did not have any dancing in order to adhere to CDC guidelines,” Dunn said via Instagram messages. “We tried our best to still make a fun experience for our seniors and juniors, despite the circumstances.”

The event offered activities such as table games like pool and foosball, a photo booth and a calligraphy station where students could get professional calligraphy letter-

ing for free. Dunn said the group aimed to emulate the traditional prom experience while working past financial and time restrictions. Due to high demand, the event was even moved back a day, as it was originally set for May 14.

“We definitely had a lot less time to plan for prom this year because we honestly didn’t even think that we would be able to do something like this,” Dunn said. “Our budget was cut but we worked with what we had. We had such an amazing support system from the staff, so without them, we definitely couldn’t have pulled this event off.”

Although Akash George, class

of 2022 president, and Dunn originally came up with the idea for the event in April, they refrained from submitting an activity request until May due to uncertainties surrounding the feasibility of the event. The group had to navigate last-minute cancellations and struggled with booking vendors for certain events.

The event, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., followed a set schedule posted by the official 2021 DBHS prom account, @dbprom2021. The first hour was dedicated to admissions, before the Prom King and Queen-seniors Zayn Siddique and Breanna Yang--were revealed at 7:30

p.m. The remaining time, students spent on activities. Throughout the event, music was played from a collaborative Spotify playlist to which all students were allowed to contribute.

Senior Annika Revilla, who attended prom, said that she enjoyed the event and thought it was a fun experience.

“The prom transformed the quad we’ve grown used to into a beautiful wonderland filled with lights and colors,” senior Diego Tamayo said. “Candles shone softly, posters were luminous and the overhung lighting was calming and brought warmth to the area below.”

Photo courtesy of ABIGAIL HONG Prom was held outdoors with lights, music, backdrops and games on the artificial grass area next to the 800 Gym Building.

School Gearing up for graduation introduces inclusive restrooms bathrooms from p. 1 said. “It just took a very long time for us to figure that out because of the lack of communication from the school.”

Sophomore Jodie Baek advocates for the implementation of gender neutral restrooms because she knows a handful of students who dread going into restrooms for a gender they don’t identify as.

“I believe this would be a great allyship on the part of Diamond Bar High School [to] really show how much they care for our student body,” Baek said via Instagram.

“There will be people initially against it, but if we can normalize this at our school, I know we can make a huge difference for those who need them.”

However, other students said that the new implementations of the restrooms would be an unnecessary addition to the school.

“I think it’d be more of a hassle than it’s worth,” sophomore Ethan Barbieto said via Instagram.

VICTORIA ARTALE On May 14, seniors were allowed to visit campus for activities and socialization as well as picking up graduation chords.

Brahmas head to top universities ADMITS from p. 1 -ous leadership development camps under the American Red Cross that aimed to teach delegates from the LA region key leadership skills.

Chang said that Cornell’s location, with the surrounding waterfalls and mountains, as well as its rural environment were a huge draw for him.

“When I was choosing my colleges during the application process, I wanted to choose schools that would allow me to grow in some shape of form,” Chang said via Instagram.

Coursen will major in bioengineering at John Hopkins, a school he said was one of his top choices due to long-time interest in that

field of study.

Coursen said that one of his most meaningful learning experiences within the field of biomedical engineering was his internship at an endoscopic device company which allowed him to further ex-

“I wanted to choose schools that would allow me to grow in some shape of form.“ WILLIAM CHANG

plore physics and biology.

“There was definitely a great weight lifted off my shoulders when I found out I had the option to attend the school of my choice.

I believed that as long as I stayed motivated to accomplish my goals I would be fine anywhere,” Coursen said via Instagram.

Many seniors said the application experience was both mentally and physically demanding.

They’ve expressed being particularly stressed out about how they would sum up their entire highschool experience and lessons in just a couple hundred words.

Chang shared advice for future students on how to approach applications.

“This process will be stressful.

Colleges are not looking for any singular thing, so just do what you love and what you are passionate about as that will shine through your application. You have come so far so be proud of what you have accomplished!” he said.

4 OPINION

MAY 26, 2021

THE BULL'S EYE

-OPINIONBoth teachers and students alike should be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine before returning to campus for in-person learning.

E

veryone aged 12 and up is eligible for the vaccine, with 123 million people in the United States already fully vaccinated and the seven-day average number of COVID-19 cases dropping 85.8 percent since this January. In order to ensure the safety of Diamond Bar High School staff and students, it should be a requirement for both teachers and students to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus for in-person learning.

Most—if not all—students are eager to return to normalcy, which includes resuming in-person instruction five days a week. It is also dangerous for students who live with high-risk family members and have to worry about spreading COVID-19 to them every time a new case is reported.

However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if students have been vaccinated, they won’t have to quarantine if exposed to the virus, allowing for school to continue normally without constant disruptions. Not to mention that if most or all students are vaccinated, there is a very

low chance of any new infections occurring to even begin with.

Some students are choosing not to get vaccinated for a variety of different reasons. One of the most common excuses is that there’s still a small possibility they may get COVID-19 after being vaccinated, which is referred to as a “vaccine breakthrough case”—but this does not mean that the vaccine is useless or ineffective.

According to the CDC, if a vaccine breakthrough case occurs, symptoms will most likely be less severe, if there are any symptoms at all, and the risk of a fully vaccinated person dying from COVID-19 is significantly reduced. In this sense, the vaccine is like a seatbelt: using it won’t guarantee complete safety, but most people still do to avoid sustaining serious or fatal injuries if an accident does occur. Similarly, many people think they don’t need to wear their seatbelts and endanger themselves, which is why a law is in place to require their usage—and a similar such law should be in place for the COVID-19 vaccine, too.

Considering that students are now

spending time in-person with teachers during tutorial, a vaccine mandate should be instituted at least for teachers, so that younger students and those with anti-vax parents can be safe on campus even without the vaccine. In addition, older staff members are more susceptible to experiencing harsher symptoms of the virus, so a vaccine mandate would help protect them, even if they are hesitant to get vaccinated.

Of course, it is important to note that students and teachers who are allergic to any components of the vaccine or who are immunocompromised to the extent that they cannot get vaccinated should obviously not be included in such a mandate. Nonetheless, this is yet another reason why those who are eligible to get the vaccine should take the opportunity, seeing as it will protect those who can’t through herd immunity.

A vaccine requirement isn’t a matter of control, but rather a matter of being selfless in order to protect those around you and be a part of a school-wide return to normalcy, once and for all.

FROM THE BRAHMA PERSPECTIVE

“

I believe students should be vaccinated before coming to campus because it helps keep COVID from spreading.

ANGELA KIM (10)

”

“

“

...Every student should be vaccinated before returning to campus to ensure the safety of their peers.

EVAN THOMAS (12)

”

ASHLEY HUANG (11)

JIANLAN BUSTEED CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

hroughout my journey to be accepted by a prestigious college, I endeavored to cut out all of the unnecessary distractions in my life, like cleaning the house and grocery shopping, to focus solely on achieving my goal.

Whenever I hear my peers complaining about their household chores, I pity them for their uncaring parents who make them waste their time doing such menial tasks.

My own parents are supportive of me, of course, and are always

at the same time, but that’s just to drown out the distracting sound of my mom vacuuming my bedroom. I don’t need to feed my pets or clean my room to learn discipline.

After all, colleges are not looking for the student who has completed the most chores. They are looking for someone like me who has dedicated every second of their life to becoming a great student.

Besides, when I become the CEO of a big corporation with a degree from my top-of-the-line college, I won’t need to know how to do house chores. As a future workaholic, I won’t have enough time, so I’ll just hire people to do what my parents did; there’s no point in learning to fold my clothes. And with all of the money I’ll be making, why would I need to learn how to spend it wisely? I’ll be able to buy as many luxury items as I want without making a dent in my bank account.

I also won’t need to learn how to

”

SATIRICAL

Sense and study-ability willing to pick up the dirty work so I can dedicate all my time to maintaining my good grades and participating in extracurriculars.

Even though both of my parents work full-time, they always find time to prepare and deliver three meals a day since I’ve never learned to cook or grocery shop.

Unfortunately, my mom works late into the night so she can only spend the day caring for me, but it will all be worth it when I get into a good college, then find a high-paying job to support her—something I could never do if I had to waste my time folding my own laundry.

Some of my classmates call me lazy and claim that doing chores builds character. But I’m no fool—I tried doing the dishes before, and I can assure you that chores only make messes. As for discipline, I would like to see them call my 18-hour-long study session undisciplined. Sure, I was watching Netflix

Teachers should be vaccinated before returning to campus because they are probably more likely to get COVID.

skillessly

cook or clean while I’m in college, either, of course. Although my parents will only be visiting to clean up twice a week, I will be supplied with a willing roommate. After all, isn’t that what roommates are for?

So while my classmates are busy doing their chores, I spend my pre-

cious time studying for tests, which will give me the edge over them during the college application season.

Their parents will probably regret giving them all those time-consuming chores when they don’t get into as good of a college as I do.

Cartoon Courtesy of KATHERINE CHEN

Biden administration exceeds expectations

STEVE QU ASST. NEWS EDITOR

M

any of those who voted for Joe Biden for president were simply settling for the lesser of two evils, since the other option was Donald Trump.

The general preconception was that the nation was simply “settling for Biden.” However, Biden’s first 100 days have proved that the

differences between Biden and Trump are profound.

It can be said that both administrations hold slight similarities, considering Biden’s hardliner stance on China and how he almost broke his promise of raising the refugee cap. Still, when one reviews the over 100 executive orders Biden has signed to reverse Trump policies and the dignity that has been restored to the presidency, any similarities are basically insignificant.

The new administration--by releasing vaccines as soon as they were available and having a COVID-19 action plan--reached their goal of 100 million vaccine shots over a month ahead of the initial 100-days pledge.

The 200 million goal was also called ahead of schedule, whereas Trump failed to even reach his vaccination goal of 20 million when he was voted out of office.

Despite the success in vaccine distribution, the current administration is faced with the usual negative response from the Republican Party over every policy decision. Thus far, one of the major complaints from the other side is Biden’s “failure” to unite the nation. Yet, Biden put together a relief package that has received overwhelming support from almost all Americans. That package failed to receive even one GOP vote.

The Republican party has shown time and time again that they have zero interest in neither helping

the people nor bi-partisanship. He is right to not focus on appeasing the “no-party,” Biden and Harris should continue to work on delivering their promises while the GOP is busy devouring itself from the inside with Trump’s “Big Lie.” As for the current progress in undoing the previous administration’s controversial immigration policies, the number of children in jail-like facilities at the border was brought down 83 percent, from 5,767 on March 29 to less than a thousand within the past month.

The length of time the Border Patrol keeps the children is going down as well, from an average of 133 hours to only 28.

The Biden-Harris administration has shattered previous expec-

tations so far. Biden speaks plain, honest rhetoric to address the most pressing issues.

Instead of taking on the Trump-esque behavior of ignoring COVID as nothing but the common cold, Biden shows empathy for others.

For some Americans, Biden may not seem progressive enough. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that, with the odd combination of broad popular support and the narrowest margin in Congress, Biden needs to please the majority of Americans without angering the people or a single Congressional Democrat.

To that effort, he’s met the threshold, even exceeding such expectations put on him.

OPINION

THE BULL'S EYE

MAY 26, 2021

5

DBHS fails to handle AP logistics

A

EDWARD KIM STAFF WRITER

lthough Diamond Bar High School is still in the middle of AP testing, many students are still unsure about the logistics of testing and other details one would think should already be common knowledge.

First off, it has been unclear what classes students are excused from or if they are even excused at all. Personally, some of my teachers stated that they were aware of certain upcoming AP tests and how that would result in lower attendance numbers.

However, for other teachers, the topic of AP testing was not mentioned at all and class carried on as usual, so they had to be informed by students. Students are already juggling classes and cramming for

upcoming exams, the one thing they shouldn’t be worrying about are small things like attendance.

Past the issue of simply worrying students, teachers not knowing exact dates of AP tests can also cause potential problems with scheduling. For example, it would be easy for a teacher to accidently schedule a test, presentation, or even worse, a final on the day of an AP exam.

These problems would easily be solved by issuing an email to all teachers and staff including AP testing dates even before AP season began. Then, teachers could have

set up a Google form for students to fill out, making things easier for both teachers and students. One could argue that it is just as easy for students to email all of their teachers, but the school should have prepared a more centralized system for the AP test schedules instead of giving more responsibilities to students.

The issues do not stop there; there have also been many technical problems regarding AP tests, ranging from simple ones involving the lockdown browser to ones that involve scheduling for the exam itself.

Graphic Courtesy of RACHEL LEE & FREEPIK STORYSET

Many students have tried to cancel and get refunds for an AP test they signed up for early on, but ended up facing week- or monthlong delays before receiving any kind of response. Considering the importance of AP tests, it’s something that should be addressed very quickly—not ignored and put on the backburner.

Adding on to technical difficulties, some students apparently heard rumors of being able to switch between the online and inseat testing options. It was never actually clarified if, once you made the decision to take a test, you could switch to the other option.

Some students ended up having to email their teachers—last minute— inquiring about the ability to switch from online to in-seat or vice-versa. So far, out of the stories I’ve heard, these students received indefinite answers from teachers saying they were either unsure or that they’d have to double-check.

Overall, AP testing this year was definitely chaotic and poorly planned as important information was left unknown to both teachers and students.

Teen inclusion in wage hike merited

Vaccines for “all”

Cartoon Courtesy of VICTORIA WANG

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CLAIRE WU CONTRIBUTING WRITER

he debate about minimum wage has been going on for decades, raising issues such as its effects on the overall economy and workplace competition.

While people have been discussing whether the minimum wage should be raised to $15 per hour, many have also been debating whether teenagers should have the same pay increase.

Despite what activists and government officials have been saying, without a doubt, teenagers deserve the same minimum wage increase as adults.

Advocates against raising youth wages have argued that teenagers are unable to do certain things that adults can, such as working late hours or operating heavy machinery. There’s also various obstacles for teenage workers, such as school, family rules and restrictions like the inability to drive— thus they should be paid differently.

However, setting a different pay rate for younger workers creates a disadvantage for adults seeking employment. Generally, adults and teenagers who work minimum wage jobs have the same performance standards.

If teenage workers cost less than adult workers but still perform the exact same job, then employers would “hire cheaper teenagers instead of adults, undermining job opportunities for the struggling

families I-1433 was designed to help,” Jeff Johnson said in an article for The Olympian.

Lowered youth wages also equate a person’s age with value.

Older people do tend to have more working experience because of their age, however, a 17-year-old could have just the same or even more working experience from summer jobs than a 21-year-old who has just entered the workforce. If teenagers are paid according to the youth wage laws, then a more experienced teen would be paid less than an unproductive adult worker.

Having a youth wage would also be incorrectly assuming that teenagers don’t need a higher wage.

Opponents of increasing youth wage argue that teenagers apply for work purely to gain more work experience since they don’t need to support themselves with living costs like adults.

But, teenagers often work for the money as well, not just the experience. While insight for a future job and gaining work experience to put on resumes or college applications may be important, they aren’t the only valuable feature of having a job.

In fact, a third of teenagers in families 200 percent below federal poverty level and 26 percent of teenagers in single parent households are employed. Managing personal finances, helping with family finances and saving up for college or personal expenses are the key reasons many even get a job.

While the value of minimum wage is a controversial topic, deciding that teenagers earn less than the normal minimum wage for adults thoroughly undermines the importance of teenage employment.

Photo Courtesy of TEEN VOGUE

CAMILLE MCCURRY Former Editor-In-Chief

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s many times as I’ve put pen to paper and effortlessly composed near thousand-word articles, it’s a wonder that I am struggling to write on a subject as close to home as my high school experience: my time in journalism.

Yet this issue, I share this retrospective, and in doing so I fulfill a promise to myself made two years ago when, seeing Mr. List’s exasperation at the half-dozen seniors procrastinating on their columns, I vowed to turn this article in on time.

It is also today that I curse myself for my naivete: It’s not as easy as it looks.

At the end of Journalism 1, I was hesitant to join The Bull’s Eye without my friends, who’d decided not to move on, but applied regardless after a lot of reflecting—after all, I’d heard from the upperclassmen that Journalism 2 was a completely different experience from J1.

Their words held true—the class was much more lax and less structured, yet because I hadn’t joined a section, I was unable to fully experience what makes The Bull’s Eye so special: its familial atmosphere.

Thus, I repeated the same mistake again and decided not to move on, before changing my mind last-minute—albeit too late to join a section.

Amidst all my wavering, though, I learned what it was like to be a part of a team. I never sacrificed quality or timeliness just because I didn’t feel as involved in the paper; always doing my best because others were relying on me to get things done.

Maybe procrastination is OK when it’s just your grade on the line, but within a team, everyone’s hard work is suddenly vital to success. And as I worked, writing more prolifically than ever before, I found my voice in political matters, eventually becoming a de-facto member of the opinion section for which I am now co-editor.

As tumultuous as these past four years have been—especially the last—and as much as I’ve written scathing criticisms of our school, complained about how much I hate any number of my classes and lamented every little thing, there’s nowhere else I would rather have been than right here, with the best high school newspaper staff, some of the most knowledgeable teachers and most dedicated peers.

To my fellow seniors, I wish you good luck in your future endeavors.

You’d better come back and visit me here in Diamond Bar. To the juniors and sophomores who succeed us, I hope you can stay strong in Mr. List’s absence, and hopefully you’ll have a wonderful new adviser to guide you in the future.

To every incoming staff member and J1 student, I want you to know that if you give it your all, you will never regret joining The Bull’s Eye. Finally, to everyone else at Diamond Bar High School—students, staff, teachers alike—thank you for everything.

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Ways to prioritize mental health kelsey wu asst. feature editor

Students take up odd jobs Edward kim staff writer Whether it’s selling clothes, creating and selling technology, or simply selling a product for a quick profit, many Diamond Bar High School students seem to have an endless amount of entrepreneurial spirit.

For junior Jolleen Mejia, selling clothing and accessories using Depop, her personal vanity-selling marketplace, is the primary way she earns money. Her account @ digs_etc shows off the products

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n the midst of AP Exams, finals and the regular stressors of life, it becomes easy to overlook the importance of one’s mental health.

With May being National Mental Health Awareness month, I wanted to highlight key routines you can use to ground yourself during stressful times to ensure your mental wellbeing is always at its best.

Exercise. After a year in lockdown, you’ve probably heard this suggestion a million times already-but that’s because it is incredibly beneficial to one’s state of mind.

Exercising is one of the best ways to quickly boost endorphins as it acts as a natural antidepressant. In fact, according to HelpGuide.org, exercise is the best fighter for depression because it boosts neural growth, reduces inflammation in the brain and activates new activity patterns that promote feelings of calmness.

It is suggested on the HelpGuide site that you dedicate about 30 minutes to moderate exercise about five times a week in order to begin feeling the transformative benefits.

Another great way to look after yourself is to nourish your body with healthy and nutrient rich foods such as home-cooked whole food meals, such as whole wheat pasta or green smoothies. While this means eating healthfully and holistically, healthy eating also includes listening to your body’s cravings and simply just eating things that make you feel good from time to time.

While you should try to make better nutritional decisions, don’t entrap yourself into a restrictive diet that leaves you and your body malnourished and weak. Eating doesn’t have to have rules attached to it, and the best way to supplement your mental health is to have a balanced diet that makes you feel good.

There’s nothing better than being able to see your friends or loved ones face to face, but since that isn’t always possible, it’s still important that you use the resources and technology available to keep your lines of communication going.

Mentalhealth.org suggests that you try to reach out to your friends or someone you trust at least once a week--send them a message, drop a note, or give them a call and start a discussion. This is often called talking therapy, where just simply having a conversation can drastically improve one’s state of mind.

The final tip I have for maintaining your mental health is to prioritize yourself.

Even though you might have other commitments and responsibilities in your daily life, your health is a non-negotiable dedication that should go above everything else. It is only then that you can truly have a healthy mindset and be able to live life well.

High school can seem challenging, stressful and just down right scary at times, so it’s important to take these rituals to heart as a way for you to enjoy these last few years of adolescence that you have.

Photo courtesy of JOLLEEN MEJIA

that she sells, ranging from handbags to sneakers.

“Most of the products are pieces that are my style or a style I admire,” Mejia said via Instagram. “I sell clothes for all genders so I also judge a piece based off of the name brand and its quality.”

Mejia stated that in order to determine the price for a product, she looks up the product’s retail price and sets the cost at about 50 percent of it; if the product isn’t new, she sets it at 25 percent of the retail price. She usually finds these clothes through thrifting.

“I’ve always been interested in fashion and thrifting, and this shop is just a fun way for me to turn my hobby into an income,” Mejia said.

“The increasing popularity of marketplace platforms gave me the idea to start my own online shop.”

Another sophomore student stated anonymously that they also followed this pattern of buying items as cheap as possible and selling them for the highest amount possible, or “flipping” in simple terms.

“I usually just buy and sell pretty small things like clothes, shoes, or even things like toys; for example, Supreme drops a lot of clothing that you could flip,” the student said via Instagram. “To see the price to sell at, you can usually just go on a site like eBay and see what other sellers are listing the item for.”

Meanwhile, junior Alan Zhang sells drone electronic components instead of clothing on his dropship-

Photo courtesy of ALAN ZHANG Alan Zhang, a DBHS junior, sells drone electronic components on his store, FPV creator.

ping store FPV creator. He also designs his own drones and lists them for purchase.

Zhang had different inspirations from the other two DBHS students for starting his business, since he stated that income was not the main motivation.

“I didn’t come after the money, and I started this because I personally really like flying drones myself; the drones I fly are all custom made,” Zhang said via Instagram.

“My shop is for experience, and it

is quite time consuming learning the knowledge of marketing, but it’s going to be worth it.”

Zhang also stated that he might switch up his business’s structure to maximize income.

“I may have to switch my business model if it’s not profitable enough,” Zhang said. “As of right now, I’m thinking about switching [my business] into a business-to-business model to make it more profitable in a shorter timespan.”

Embracing the great outdoors steve qu asst. news editor From recording sightings of rare organisms to contributing to grassroots conservation efforts as a Certified California Naturalist, Diego Tamayo said he has made nature his lifetime passion.

The Diamond Bar High School senior’s interest in nature originated from his early childhood experiences of living in Monterey, California. He said his time there acted as the main motivation behind his devotion to understanding complex environmental issues and how they can be solved and managed within society.

“Living in Monterey, California for two years exposed my youthful senses to the wonders of a world filled with wooded pine forests, darting deer, colorful tide pools, breaching whales and majestic condors,” Tamayo said via email.

The senior took the California Naturalist Certification course in Riverside during the summer of 2018. The system was in collabora-

tion with the Riverside Corona Resource Conservation District and lessons included geology, air-water quality, wildlife, urbanization and interpretive teaching.

“While participating in these lessons, the students learned handson about flora and fauna identification, field journaling, among other excellent naturalist skills,” Tamayo said.

Among the many fields to explore, his primary academic interest lies with ecology, the study of interactions between living organisms and their natural environment.

“Although individual plant and animal species have captured my interest over time (especially those majestic Orcas), discovering and learning about plant communities and the associated wildlife has repeatedly been my calling,” Tamayo said. “Other passionate interests of mine, such as community science and civic engagement, have stemmed from this sincere fascination of the living, breathing world.”

After completing the California Naturalist program and receiving

the certification, Tamayo’s efforts have been directed toward grassroots conservation with the Diamond Bar-Pomona Valley Sierra Club Task Force. He believes that advocating for protection and responsible management of local native habitats within the city is vital for supporting the community’s desires to preserve and nurture open, wild spaces in Diamond Bar. “As I began to witness the effects of human-caused threats towards wild coastal sage scrub and coast live oak woodlands in Diamond Bar, I became driven to critically assess why they are in the current state of risk and how we as a society could support these precious plant communities,” Tamayo said.

“I realized that I needed to improve my community science skills, understanding of the local ecology, among other knowledge that I had yet to develop.”

In addition to this civic engagement, Tamayo participates in community science efforts by photographing plants and animals, which are uploaded to his iNaturalist page @diego4nature. After over

Photos courtesy of DIEGO TAMAYO Senior Diego Tamayo is a certified California naturalist and shares pictures of his observations on his iNaturalist account @diego4natuture.

five years on iNaturalist, he has contributed over 5,600 sightings of organisms constituting over 880 species. Contributing sightings of organisms to the database greatly supports scientists, researchers, policy-makers and those who rely on the knowledge of local biodiversity to understand, study and manage the natural resources found within nature.

Tamayo has committed to Pitzer College for its core values surrounding environmental sustainability and social responsibility, hoping to contribute to the movements of environmental justice and fighting climate change.

“Although nature is prevalent in my professional outlook, I will also enjoy the wonders of nature through lighthearted, engaging hobbies for life,” Tamayo said.

“Watching for blooming flowers, chirping birds, scaling high mountains and wide beaches, kayaking down estuaries, photographing majestic trees, among other activities are hobbies which will remain a part of me as I enter the new stage of college life and beyond.”

FEATURE

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MAY 26, 2021

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From fashion sketches to NYC Somiya Jajieh Asst. Feature editor Following in her father’s footsteps to pursue fashion, Diamond Bar High School senior Daisy Lu has committed to Parsons School of Design in the hopes of starting her own clothing business in the future.

Parson’s is a four-year private school and was the only art school Lu applied to. She was first made aware of Parsons when her art teachers and classmates encouraged her to look into the school’s fashion programs. The school is ranked No. 1 in the nation as an art and design school, which made it an even more appealing choice for Lu. “Parsons School of Design is my dream school; it’s located at the center of my favorite city, New York, which is also the ultimate city of fashion in the United States,” Lu said via Instagram. “Parsons is able to give me all kinds of fashion industry-related resources not just in class but outside of school so that I can succeed in the future.”

As for her major, Lu is looking to study Strategic Design and Management due to its combination of fashion and business. She plans on taking the classes Design Innova-

tion and Leadership as well as New Design Firms in order to foster her leadership and critical thinking skills.

Her interest in fashion stems from her father, who owns a fabric and textile company. She said being surrounded by the different colors and patterns of clothing pieces from such a young age has helped her establish a high standard when putting together and designing outfits.

“I do remember one day in autumn, my dad forced me to wear a pair of sandals instead of warm shoes, only to match my outfit for the day… this made me have very high requirements for my fashion styling later on,” Lu said. “If the clothing I’m wearing isn’t a good match, I will be in a bad mood for the whole day.”

Since she was interested in both fashion and leadership, Lu founded the DBHS Fashion Club, which allowed her to express both interests simultaneously. While Lu has never made clothing before, she said that she constantly sketches out designs as a hobby. She said she gets inspiration for her sketches from aspects of traditional Chinese clothing, which she always tries to incorporate into her designs. Other ways she gets ideas for sketches is a process called draping, in which

a designer manipulates fabric on a mannequin in order to visualize the different ways they can create shapes and patterns.

“There’s no other particular way of getting ideas, basically just watch a bunch of documentaries or listen to the music about the topic/ culture you’re interested in designing for, and just let the ideas flow,” Lu said.

Lu said she doesn’t have any intention of bringing her designs to life in the near future since she wants to gain more professional

skills in fashion design. However, she does want to collaborate with a professional sewer sometime in the future in order for her designs to look as best as they possibly can. In addition, she doesn’t plan on working as a full-time designer, but rather hopes to create her own fashion brand “I hope to use my power to promote Chinese traditional cultural heritage,” Lu said. “My goal is to establish a fashion brand that promotes Chinese heritage, ideally [to stop] them from dying away.”

EMILY KOH

Former Feature Editor

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Photo courtesy of DAISY LU

Shown above are Lu’s personal sketches which she hand drew and cultivated.

Much of Lu’s fashion pieces incorporate elements of traditional Chinese culture.

Reducing gender gap in STEM Maia Pak Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of RAMENTSURMI.ORG

Ramen Tsurmi is known for its savory autheticity and appealing food visuals.

Local Ramen sets the bar

Ashley Park Contributing writer When I walked into Ramen Tsurumi, a recently-opened Japanese ramen restaurant in Rowland Heights, I didn’t anticipate being so awed by a single bowl of ramen.

The interior of the restaurant displayed white walls with minimalist wooden tables and chairs.

A few pictures hung in frames evenly, making the restaurant look neat and well put together. Due to COVID, the restaurant also offered outdoor dining services and had outstanding service. I ordered a serving of gyoza ($5.50), a bowl of shoyu ramen ($12.50) and ice water with the wait being about five minutes. Some other dishes on their menu were chicken/pork rice bowls, shio ramen, and a plentiful variation of tantanmen.

The six pieces of gyoza were served first as an appetizer. The appearance of the dish looked remarkable, but the taste was even better. The gyoza were evenly placed from the center of the dish going outwards in a circle. The bottom of the individual gyozas were fried to a dark golden brown color with the texture of a very thin potato chip. This gave a pleasant crisp contrast to the otherwise chewy

and soft dish. The gyoza by itself was very sweet, but when dipped into the soy sauce that was given on the side it gives a fusion of salty and sweet.

The shoyu ramen came soon after the gyoza and was served again with first-rate visuals. The ramen($12.50) was arranged neatly with the noodles tucked at the bottom, then the soup and toppings which consisted of chashu(pork belly), bamboo shoots and plenty of green onions. The soup base was a sweet and salty soy sauce soup that gave off a savory and refreshing taste. The noodles were made freshly from scratch and were chewy and plump, and went well with the other components of the dish. The chashu was also pleasantly tender and complemented the incredibly fresh and crisp green onions and bamboo shoots.

The only downside was that the meal was pretty greasy, so I would advise getting a more refreshing drink than just water, such as ramune or green and oolong tea to cut through the fat. Another great way to enjoy the meal is to include a side ordering of extra spice.

All in all, the taste of the dishes was great, and the prices were reasonable. I would definitely give Ramen Tsumuri another visit and recommend it to others.

In an effort to bridge the gender gap in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, the newly formed Diamond Bar High School club Women in STEM offers learning opportunities and networking, in hopes of empowering girls to increase female representation in STEM. As a branch of the international organization, DBHS WiSTEM has served as the host for various panelists and guest speakers from all over the globe to speak with students about their work and research in their fields.

“Although many have grown aware of the STEM gender gap, there was still a lack of initiatives on campus to combat this social issue,” DBHS WiSTEM founder and president sophomore Anna Chen said via email. “Therefore, I decided to start WiSTEM to make STEM education more accessible and encourage girls who are deciding what they want to pursue to explore STEM fields.”

DBHS WiSTEM was ratified by the Inter-Organization Council in

early 2021, so every event or meeting has been held over Zoom. After selecting officers by reaching out to potential candidates, the club quickly gained roughly 30 active members by advertising to DBHS students through Instagram.

“Because things are online, we are able to connect with more people,” DBHS WiSTEM publicist junior Melody Mao said. “The online platform has benefited our club a lot.”

One memorable event was the biochemistry panel event, held on March 29, featuring a diverse group of six female doctors and a graduate student, all of whom are biochemistry specialists. The speakers represented research centers at prestigious colleges all over the nation, including Yale and UC Berkeley. Students were able to interact with the panel by asking questions to gain a better understanding of their work as women in STEM. “My favorite [event] was the biochemistry panel because, listening to the unique stories of seven professors, researchers and graduate students, I realized how much freedom the seemingly technical field

WISTEM on p 12

Photo courtesy of DBHSWISTEM

WISTEM was established earlier this year to help reduce the STEM gender gap.

n all honesty, my memory of my time at Diamond Bar High School is a little spotty. I don’t remember the football halftime songs I had to listen and perform to every Friday for color guard or what I learned in any of my classes freshman year. The only thing I can recall from my sophomore year is being severely sleep-deprived after pulling all-nighters cramming for AP European History tests.

Junior year was a blur, of trying to survive my first year on varsity color guard while trying to tackle my seemingly endless amounts of school work. One of the most distinctive memories I have from that year is studying for my AP tests with the help of Khan Academy while making whipped coffee using a recipe I found on Tik Tok. Senior year has been filled with memories of staring at a screen while trying not to be tempted by the bright red “leave” button that would allow me to crawl back into bed and sleep.

In spite of my faulty recollection of the past four years of my life, the most significant moments have stayed with me. I remember the adrenaline and excitement that rushed through me before every color guard performance, deep late-night discussions with my friends, the relief I felt when I passed all of my junior AP exams and my time as a writer and now editor for the Bull’s Eye. I will admit, at first I wasn’t entirely sure if I even wanted to join the Bull’s Eye staff after my first year of journalism. I spent more time my freshman year belting “Hamilton” lyrics with my fellow Bull’s Eye seniors Joshua Chou and Tiffany Lee than I did focusing on Mr. List’s lectures about the decades or how to write a proper lead.

However, I am incredibly grateful to my past self for deciding to join the staff after all.

I’m going to miss seeing Mr. List’s iconic, somewhat passive aggressive, ellipses at the end of every email and message he sends, staying late on campus for deadline nights while eating takeout food, I’ve made over the years. It’s difficult enough to move on to the next phase of your life and let go, but my time as a member of the Bull’s Eye staff has made it so much harder.

They say high school will go by in a blink of an eye. I know at times it doesn’t feel like it, but trust me it will. I’m not going to say the cliche line that you should make sure to have no regrets and do everything you want to do in high school despite what others may think. That’s just not realistic for most people.

You are probably going to have regrets; there will be things you wish you did when you look back.

But, instead of focusing on what you should have done, reminisce about everything you did do and all of the memories and experiences you gained that helped shape who you are when you walk across the stage at graduation. In the end, what you can remember is so much more important than what you can’t or wish you could.

NOTABLE AAPI ACTIVISTS FEATURE

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ver since 1992, the month of May has been designated as the time to commemorate and observe the history and the contributions made by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in America. Take part in this year’s AAPI Heritage month by learning about these four influential figures in the AAPI community.

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s the executive director of the South Asian Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the service and advocacy of South Asians in Southern California, Manjusha Kulkarni has been passionate about civil rights since she was young. Upon graduating from college and during her time at law school, Kulkarni worked at the American Civil Liberties Union in the mid 1990s, where she fought to obtain justice for Japanese Latin Americans who had been abducted by the U.S. government during WWII. In 2010, Kulkarni was selected as the executive director of SAN. During her time running the organization, Kulkarni has worked to help promote policies that addressed reforms in health care, such as the Affordable Care Act and the Covered California program, among the South Asian American community through outreach and efforts in individual assistance. In 2014, she was awarded the White House Champions of Change award for her work advancing access to healthcare in the Asian American community by President Obama.

Most recently, Kulkarni has testified before Congress regarding Asian hate and co-founded the Stop AAPI Hate initiative, which is currently the nation’s top aggregator for COVID-19 related hate crimes against the AAPI community.

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Story by Rachel Lee Design by Somiya Jajieh and Kelsey Wu

that helped depict the lives of Japanese Americans in America.

His most famous work, “Issei: The World of First Generation Japanese Immigrants, 1885-1924,” won the 1989 History Book Award of the National Association for Asian American studies.

Manjusha Kulkarni 1971 - Present

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n 2014, Amanda Nguyen founded Rise, a nonprofit organization and partnership which aims to support and fight for the rights of sexual violence victims.

Since then, the organization has expanded to include the battle against “all systemic structures that have been gatekeepers of visibility,” as stated by Nguyen.

So far, Rise has managed to pass more than 30 laws in legislative reform with Nguyen’s guidance, most famously passing the Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act in 2016, which established federal rights for survivors of sexual assault.

Then, in February, Nguyen joined the discussion surrounding crime directed at the AAPI community, posting a viral video to her Instagram account in order to help raise awareness. In the video, Nguyen called for news outlets to do more reporting on the increase in hate crime against Asians, and included several instances of violence against older Asian citizens. In an interview with CNBC Nguyen said that Rise’s current projects include the formation of a campaign to educate the public about the Asian American experience, AAPI history and the necessity of Black and Asian solidarity. She has received multiple accolades for her dedication to the pursuit of social justice, including the Nelson Mandela Changemaker Award and a nomination for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.

Photo courtesy of blogger DEEPAK RAJA Manjusha Kulkarni was a speaker at Darbar Festival in 2015, which is an event surrounding Indian classical music.

Photo courtesy of SHAKTI COLLABORATIVE

Yuji Ichioka 1936-2002

Photo courtesy of WORDPRESS

From right to left, Yuji Ichioka, Victor Ichioka, and Emma Gee attended a protest in 1960, where they called for an alliance between the Black and Asian community.

Amanda Nguyen

photo courtesy of NBC NEWS

1991 - Present

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ormerly the senior advisor for Trade and Strategic Initiatives at the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Obama Administration, John C.Yang is now the current president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, or shortly known as AAJC, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance civil and human rights for Asian Americans.Yang began his career as an advocate for civil rights after he graduated from George Washington University Law School, becoming the director of legal affairs for the Asia-Pacific region of Illinois Tool Works, a Fortune 500 company, 16 years after joining them. In 1997, Yang continued his path as an activist by becoming one of the co-founders of the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center, using his background in law to assist Asian Pacific Americans in Washington, D.C. Aside from his extensive legal background, Yang has also had substansial civil roles on the external diversity councils of Verizon, Charter Communications and Comcast NBC Universal, making him one of the most notable AAPI figures

Amanda Nguyen speaking after the Senate passed the Sexual Assault Survivors' Right Act.

Photo courtesy of DISOCVERYGATES.ORG

John C. Yang 1968 - Present

Photo courtesy of AAJC

John C. Yang with Rev. Al Sharpton, head of National Action Network, at The Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks.

photo courtesy of MEDIUM

est known for his coinage of the term “Asian-American,” historian Yuji Ichioka is considered by many to be a pioneer in Japanese American and Asian American history. Ichioka and his family were incarcerated in the Topaz internment camp during WWII, which influenced him to become an advocate for social justice when he entered college.

He established the Asian American Political Alliance during his later years at UC Berkeley.

The alliance later went on to form a partnership with several other student groups at San Francisco State University as the Third World Liberation Front, which spearheaded the longest student-led strike of U.S. history to campaign for the establishment of ethnic studies programs in colleges. Then, Ichioka taught UCLA’s first course at the Asian American Studies Center--the first program of its kind in the country. Inspired by his experiences teaching at UCLA, he partnered with a classmate to take part in the Japanese American Research Project, where he authored several influential works

MAY 26, 2021

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MAY 26, 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE BULL'S EYE

2021 Summer Binge List

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ith summer vacation right around the corner, plenty of time will soon be available to binge-watch your way through shows. Selecting quality series to watch, however, can often prove to be a difficult and time-consuming task. Here are some recommendations to guide you in the right direction, reducing your decision-making time to give you more time to binge-watch.

Look ing For Alas ka Based on John Green’s 2004 novel of the same name, the eight-episode miniseries makes for a perfect binge, appealing to viewers with its quirky and relatable indie characters, as well as elements that will make you reminiscent of your days at summer camp. For fans of the book, the show will not disappoint. This show adaptation is both nostalgic and a breath of fresh air; a refreshing take on the novel, but substantial enough for long-time fans of Green’s first published work to fall in love with the story all over again.

The Crow n Of the many digital stories portraying the British Royal family, none are quite as intriguing and enjoyable as Netflix’s “The Crown.” Turning back the clock to the end of King George VI’s reign in the mid 20th century, the show captures all facets of his successor, the current Queen Elizabeth, from being his eldest daughter, wife of a high-ranking naval officer and the present face of the English monarchy. With its precise depiction of the private nuances of the Royal family, clever humor and frighteningly accurate, or so it seems, portrayals of iconic figures in contemporary English history, the drama just keeps getting better with each episode, with its most recent fourth season dubbed by many as the series’s best yet.

Carnival Row Amazon Studios have yet to produce a mediocre series, and “Carnival Row” is mostly definitely another must-watch. Drawing elements of Irish folklore, the show tells the story of a world where ethereal creatures co-exist with humans. A story of tragedy, loss and prejudice, this world is simultaneously fantastical and at the same time, extremely relatable to modern times, with demonization of the unfamiliar playing a big part in its overall theme. This series is sure to please fans of Victorian era shows, and while there is only one season as of right now, a second is expected to be released by early 2022.

The Blac klist Already garnering a cult following, this thriller series stands out for its dynamic characters and equally interesting plot. Following the story of an FBI agent and an internationally wanted criminal mastermind who form a mutually-beneficial relationship, the two parties work together to take down the world’s most dangerous offenders. With eight seasons available on most streaming networks, the show is as good of a distraction as it is long.

While many shows tend to develop frustratingly similar plot patterns, “The Blacklist” is an exception with eccentric, ever-changing character relationships that only add to its appeal.

story & design by Natasha Chang

The Soci ety A modern twist on the classic legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin and William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies,” “The Society” captures the essence of the social cliques and hierarchies that exist within high school and the everyday world, as well as the worst of the inherent nature of man. Transported under mysterious circumstances to a replica of their hometown devoid of adults, a group of sheltered teenagers from a well-to-do New England town quickly find that life without parents or order can have devastating consequences.. Although the show only has one season, the eight episodes that are available on Netflix are perfect for those who enjoy cliffhangers and cynical shows.

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THE BULL'S EYE

Musical mission inspires new club Performing Arts students provide music education to peers with disabilities. rachel lee asst. opinion editor Because of its universal appeal, music is the medium the Strike a Chord Project will use to provide therapy for students with disabilities.

According to Diamond Bar High School sophomore Kyle Yang, the club’s president, Strike a Chord Project—which originally started as a registered nonprofit organization and was established as a club in March—began as a means

to make studying music more accessible to students who might not normally have the opportunity to do so.

“Growing up [with] music education, I’ve heard the phrase ‘music is a universal language’ more times than I can imagine,” Yang said via Instagram. “Yet on the other hand, I’ve also been taught that the ability to appreciate music is of direct correlation to how much education you’ve received in music.”

The club plans to provide oneon-one and group lessons led by their student musicians. Students who are interested in learning an instrument are referred to the club through the Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Autistic Spectrum Disorder Institute programs at DBHS.

Photo courtesy of STRIKE-A-CHORD

Tiffany Brito, DBHS’s Special Education teacher, shares learning strategies.

Panelists includiing Mr. Acciani speak at the Instrumental Music Roundtable.

“These instruments would be easy to pick up and learn, such as the marimbas, drums, the triangle that would first introduce them to rhythm,” sophomore Secretary Kaley Wong said via Instagram.

“And maybe when they get more advanced, they could learn instruments that require a little more effort, such as piano, violin, trumpet.”

All of the club’s procedures are overseen by the Special Education program at DBHS, and funding for supplies will be raised through benefit concerts with performances by club members, as well as donations.

“Since Strike a Chord Project is a relatively new club, and also due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the club hasn’t been able to start on everything we’ve set out to do,” Yang said. “We’d most likely start by establishing a GoFundMe page, as they seem to be most accessible for anyone who’d like to donate.”

Aside from the musical education opportunities presented by the club, the Strike a Chord project also hosts sessions with lectures by professionals about special education and music therapy.

“Our club combines a general meeting with an event where we invite special guests to teach us more about music therapy, special education, basically all things music-related,” Wong said. “Our first ever meeting involved learning about special education through Mrs. [Tiffany] Brito, DBHS’s very own special education specialist.”

Other guests that the Strike a Chord Project has invited to present include DBHS Performing Arts Academy faculty Michael Yoshimi, Marie Santos, Steve Acciani and Aki Nishiguchi.

Recently, the club has been focusing on growing its social media presence to attract more members, as well as planning online meetings using Zoom. Both Yang and Wong said they enjoy the learning opportunities the club offers and recommend students join to cultivate an appreciation for music and to enhance their musical ability.

“Regardless of if music really is a universal language, everyone should be given the same opportunities to share the same love and fire as I do for playing the violin— including students with disabilities,” Yang said.

Turning childhood passion into profit Sophomore utilizes a decade’s worth of experience to provide piano education to younger children.

Although a majority of her students are interested in learning piano, Liu said she also offers drum lessons; however she is only looking to teach beginners at the moment. She charges $30 an hour for those seven and up.

“I’ve played the drums since kindergarten, then joined band [and] played percussion for three years. I anika yatawara was also in drumline in high school news editor for a year so overall I have pretty good fundamentals,” she said.

With 13 years of experience unLiu developed diligence through der her belt, Diamond Bar High playing piano, and says that she School sophomore Belle Liu decidnow applies this skill in her teached to profit off of her piano prowing. One way she helps her stuess by starting a music tutoring dents grow as musicians is by anservice. alyzing her personal growth as a Liu started learning piano when musician and sharing her findings she was three years old, receiving with her students to ensure they lessons from her mother before avoid making similar mistakes. working with a professional in“There are so many things I structor. would’ve done [in the past] that Liu said she had been contemwould have made me so much betplating teaching for a few years ter than I am now,” Liu said. “I before starting feel like I have her business. that information “I have a lot of She got her start to share and I last year, when have experience patience, more than she started by so I know what others, and I’m good tutoring family to tell [my stuwith little kids..“ friends for free. dents] and [how BELLE LIU “It [teachto] teach them ing] was just a how I wish I was fun thing to do. taught.”

They were fami- ly friends and One of the main reasons I taught them once every two Liu said she feels qualified to weeks or maybe two times a teach, aside from her extensive month, it wasn’t really too serihistory with piano, is her abilous,” she said via text. ity to con- nect and work well Since then, Liu has acquired sevwith others. en new students, most of whom she “I have a lot of patience, more met through family and friends. than others, and I’m good with litShe offers piano lessons for $40 an tle kids,” she said. “I also think, in hour for children 3 to 14 years old. general, I’m a very outgoing and

social person and that’s very important in a student-teacher relationship.”

So far, teaching has taught Liu to be more versatile and adjust to ensure that each of her students is comfortable and learning efficiently.

“Not everyone learns the same,” Liu said. “Everyone has flaws and

weaknesses and you need to adjust to them and you need to adjust to their style and adjust to their attitude and personality.”

Due to her current schedule, she has not begun teaching all of her students regularly. She plans to organize her time during the summer and continue teaching throughout her high school career.

Liu, playing Moszkowski’s Caprice Espagnol Op. 37 at Azusa Pacific University.

Photo courtesy of BELLE LIU

Liu posts videos of herself practicing on her Instagram @bellespianojournal.

A&E Commentary Apple, Epic battle over app fees EDWARD KIM STAFF WRITER Tech conglomerate Apple and the creator of popular video game “Fortnite,” Epic Games, are currently engaged in a landmark courtroom battle that will determine the fate of pre-loaded app store ecosystems after Epic attempted to circumvent Apple’s 30 percent in-app purchase fee.

“Epic violated the terms of its developer agreement when Epic implemented a payment system in the game that enabled players to circumvent Apple’s App Store,” an article from Business Insider stated. “Epic says the App Store is a monopoly, and argues that iPhones and iPads are no different from computers.”

Epic Games had implemented in an August 2020 “Fortnite” update a method to purchase in-game currency at a discount directly from them. In an immediate retaliatory measure, Apple took “Fortnite” off the App Store, following which, Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Apple.

Epic’s argument was that Apple’s App Store had essentially become a private ecosystem revolving around greed and profit, as companies that host their apps on it, such as Epic Games, are unjustly being robbed of their money.

They say that Apple’s 30 percent cut is too much relative to the services, like quality control, that Apple provides to developers.

The company lawsuit alleges antitrust violations against Apple with regards to the app distribution market for iOS devices and the inapp purchase processing market.

Thus, should Epic games succeed, developers will be able to release their own games on third-party app stores for the iPhone, and will be able to facilitate in-app purchases independently of Apple.

However, this is a huge reach, and it seems rather reasonable that Apple takes a portion of profits, as they provide a large, well-maintained platform for companies like Epic to easily upload their app; without the App Store, these companies would not even have a place to promote and sell their software.

And while some argue that Apple should simply release their monopoly hold and allow other developers to introduce their own app stores for iOS devices, it would be extremely difficult to establish a proper application store that combats pirating and is secure as Apple’s.

Epic Games responded to this by pushing the fact that the fee constitutes almost a third of their revenue, which cuts into their profits immensely.

At this point in the lawsuit, both parties seem to be extremely desperate for the upper hand, especially as this case represents a pivotal moment in tech history. After all, if Epic Games succeeds, there’s a case for making all devices, especially game consoles like the XBox and Nintendo Switch, open to third party app stores.

Because of the case’s potentially far-reaching impact, other parties have joined the fray, including

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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An arctic adventure of angst ‘Fumetsu no Anata e’ (‘To Your Eternity’), an anime adaptation of the manga with the same name, is in its sixth episode, recieving nothing short of positive feedback from its audience.

Josh Chou Former Editor-in-Chief

C

ontrol. Or, the obsession with maintaining it, I guess, might be what turns some of the most stringent perfectionists into flagrant procrastinators; any little deviation from a pre-portioned schedule causes them to give up entirely on getting through a day’s workload.

My first two-and-a-half-ish years of high school more-or-less resembled that at the macro-level: poor decisions made early-on led to, for lack of a better term, spiraling.

My inner critic never went away either, always telling myself that I had wasted another semester, but that my time to thrive would arrive with the next. Of course it never did. I was perpetually (and frankly sometimes still am) unable to be satisfied--nor did I think I ever had a reason to be—and constantly contemplating like everyone has, “What’s the point of it all anyway?”

Despite becoming increasingly disillusioned about education, government and institutionalized religion, I retreated socially and intellectually, never putting my buzzing opinions and scathing criticisms into action, or opening up to more than one or two people at a time. Moreover, I made more than a few decisions I’m not proud of but found necessary at the time—and to anyone who I hurt with my ignorance, there’s nothing I can really tell you except that I’m truly, truly sorry.

Still, there were a few decisions that I think were sound enough: leaving unsafe environments, growing away from people who traded empathy for their egos, and perhaps most importantly, learning when and how to cut my losses.

Piece by piece, I began to forgive myself, but realized too late that the contentment I was chasing by running away from what made me uncomfortable could really only be achieved by embracing it, and accepting the results regardless.

I didn’t really like high school.

Even now, after finishing senior year and getting into schools that I’m still shocked decided to take me, I would probably (foolishly) trade those acceptances to rewind the clock and instead experience four years of mental stability and— dare I say—blissful ignorance.

But I guess that’s not how it works. There’s no equivalent exchange for time I’ll never get back, no matter how enticing future fleeting highs may feel. And even with the time I do have, I’ve figured that not everything can be processed, finessed or even forgiven. More often than not, there’s nothing to show for standing toe to toe with yourself and coming out on top, except for being around to do it all over again. And that really, really sucks. But choosing to go forward with each day, trying to let go of what I couldn’t change and gritting my teeth through the worst, has gotten me—no, all of us—here and still alive to this moment, hasn’t it?

And maybe that was the whole point after all.

ter his wolf companion Joaan had just died and then replaced by “It.” Soon, the two form a bond and it is clear that the boy, who seems happy on the outside, is suffering.

Nearly every member of his village struck out on a voyage five years ago to find paradise in the south, leaving him to tend to the eldery. He decides to pursue the other village members and join them on their journey, but in a freak blizzard he ends up injuring his leg LYNDON KANEKO and falling into icy waters.

Unlike Oima’s previous work, staff writer the show looks toward the future rather than dwelling on the past, It’s not often that an anime can by tackling the intriguing theme of be widely regarded as one of the immortality and its long term efbest of the season just based on its fects. The anime provides a unique first episode. Yet, the high expecperspective on loneliness, its meltations for the anime adaptation ancholic tone pairing well with the of popular manga “Fumetsu no small glimmers of hope offered by Anata e (To Your Eternity)” since the unwavering kindness of the plans were announced were both supporting characters. reached and surpassed with aniSo far, the show’s writing qualmation studio Brain’s Base’s faithity measures up to Oima’s past ful adaptation. storytelling, “Fumetsu no with pacing Anata e,” which unhindered by “With its gut-wrenching premiered in the formulaic drama and above April on Crunchydesign of its average animation, roll, is based on source materi“Fumetsu no Anata” is the award-winal. In addition, a must watch. ” ning manga writthe mangaka ten by Yoshitoki manages to Oima, the author make each behind the source material for segment seem new and refreshthe critically acclaimed animating, keeping the overall quality of ed film “Koe no Katachi (A Silent the show well above average.

Voice).”

Brain’s Base, though relatively The story follows a mysterious unknown within the anime comorb, sent to Earth by an unknown munity, easily does justice to the being, which initially shows no source material with high producsigns of consciousness. “It” is cation values. Even though it may pable of mirroring external stimunot be the studio’s main selling li, first imitating the form of a rock point, the animation is still much before changing into the surroundbetter than that of the other anime ing moss. Eventually it takes the coming out this season. form of an injured wolf, beginning The show’s score is another one its journey as a living creature. of its standout features, helping Now in the form of a wolf, “It” drive home the already convincdiscovers a young boy living on his ingly powerful premiere and its own in the middle of a tundra affollowing arc. When only one of

The boy who had been living in the tundra for all his life has a wolf as a friend.

Photos courtesy of BRAINS BASE

the characters speaks for an entire episode but the show still manages to convey every nuanced emotion, some credit has to be given to the amazing soundtrack.

With its gut-wrenching drama, amazing original soundtrack and above average animation, it’s no

wonder “Fumetsu no Anata e” has already been rated as the 52nd best anime of all time on MyAnimeList, and is, by any measure, a mustwatch this season.

like “deja vu” are more obvious examples of this, with Rodrigo even saying that the shouty bridge in the song was inspired by Swift’s “Cruel Summer.” Furthermore, Rodrigo even received Swift’s permission to use her underlying composition in “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back,” earning her co-writing credits.

Despite the album being filled with heartbreak-themed songs, Rodrigo does make sure to add variety. Punk songs like “Good 4 U” help to change up the pace of the album by adding a contrast with bitter lyrics like, “You bought a new car and your career’s really takin’ off.

It’s like we never even happened baby.”

The album is by no means per-

fect, though. Having done such an amazing job on “drivers license,” Rodrigo had created great expectations for her future work, and some songs, like “traitor,” with its forgettable, flat melody, just don’t measure up.

In this album, Rodrigo tended to focus on select plot points, such as the success of her unnamed ex or how long they took to move on, which dulls the impact of meaningful songs like “hope ur okay.” After all of the heartbreak and revenge, “hope ur okay” almost seems like an insincere last-minute effort to find a new perspective and portray maturity; though after all, she is still just 18.

Other than these relatively minor flaws and thematic shortcomings, the story that Rodrigo tells through “Sour” is still very meaningful and pleasing to the ear. The overwhelmingly positive reception of “drivers license” and many of Rodrigo’s other songs proves that her formula of admitting her own flaws and embracing the mess is a recipe for success.

FINAL VERDICT: stream it

tune in:

Former Disney Star Olivia Rodrigo, best known for her debut single “drivers license,” released her album, “Sour,” on May 21, telling a relatively cohesive and meaningful story. lyndon kaneko staff writer In January, singer-songwriter-actress Olivia Rodrigo premiered her debut single “drivers license,” skyrocketing the singer’s popularity, seemingly out of nowhere. The former Disney star has since gone on to release her highly-anticipated first album “Sour,” taking impressive first few steps into the music industry.

“Sour,” which came out May 21, is a somewhat chaotic collection of breakup songs, all told from Rodrigo’s perspective. Many of the songs carry similarities to her de-

but single, which is also included in the album; they follow roughly the same theme, failed romance and the aftermath of heartbreak.

Although the theme of each song takes the same general direction, their paths diverge when it comes to instrumentation and overall feel. The way the songs are organized, juxtaposing emotional and mournful ballads against guitars and distortion filters, actually adds to the individuality of the album despite the seeming unorthodoxy.

Its inconsistency is inelegant by design, helping to emphasize the authenticity of the lyrics, revoking the image of a teenager venting their frustrations.

Many of the songs in “Sour” take inspiration from Taylor Swift’s emotionally-fueled songs. Tracks

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Club aims to reduce Stem gender gap WISTEM from P.7 has and that there is no correct way to study science since simply investigating what sparks one’s curiosity can lead to remarkable discoveries,” Chen said via email.

Through these seminars, DBHS WiSTEM hopes to educate more students about the gender gap within the STEM field and intro-

duce the idea of a STEM career to female students.

“One goal we have for next year is to continue getting more speakers and introducing our students and making known other internships and opportunities for our members to explore,” DBHS WiSTEM treasurer junior Kristin Joe said.

While STEM has traditionally been a male dominated field,

DBHS WiSTEM pushes the message that girls are equally capable of making achievements in STEM. “It’s known from a young age that men are more prevalent and are seen more in STEM fields and it is hard for a woman to be seen,” Mao said. “We want to give opportunities for women to discover the STEM field so they too can have an equal opportunity to participate.”

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Column

Apple vs Epic in fight over fees CONNOR CHO

Former Asst. Business Manager

I

t came as a surprise to me that I’m finally through my four years of high school. To be honest, Journalism 1 was only going to be a class that I would have taken my sophomore year for free credits toward my graduation. But the people I met in that class and Mr. List led me into applying for The Bull’s Eye to continue journalism in high school.

While I probably don’t have that many memories from the Journalism 1 class because I was asleep countless times (sorry Mr. List), I still enjoyed all the conversations we’ve had with Mr. List along with the laughter from whenever Ryan said something questionable. I even remember when he walked in class one day and somehow forgot his backpack.

I can also say that The Bull’s Eye helped me prepare for the future. Journalism inspired me to try out new things because I would have never met any of the people in The Bull’s Eye if I didn’t sign up for the course.

And while I think journalism improved my writing, it also offered so many unforgettable memories that I’ve made on deadline nights.

From attempting to help the feature section with headlines (sorry) and walking around campus with Ryan to waste time, this class was a highlight of my high school career.

When we were hit with the announcement during deadline night on March 13 that school would be cancelled, I was excited to spend my time away from school. But I realized that I will also miss The Bull’s Eye as we spent our last deadline night in Mr. List’s classroom.

While this entire year happened through distance learning on our computers, I wish my last year of high school was able to be experienced inside the friendly environment of the journalism classroom.

I’d like to thank all my friends for making my high school experience a better one. And I’d also like to thank Mr. List again for giving me a chance in The Bull’s Eye despite how much I’ve slept in your class.

I hope that you enjoy retirement and I’ll try my best to update you on how my sleep schedule is going.

I’m also thankful to all my teachers. While I really haven’t gotten the chance to know them that well, I’m glad they were able to teach us during these tough times.

Once again, thank you Bull’s Eye and Diamond Bar High School for all the memories, and farewell.

Popular from P.10 popular game Roblox. Roblox, which is available on many platforms, has allowed users to purchase their “Robux” on any platform--PC, iPhone or otherwise--for a long time, with currency being transferable across platforms.

Epic argues that due to Fortnite’s “hidden stories, cosmetics, and community,” their creation is no longer just a mobile game, and therefore, they should be able to let users buy their in-game cur-

rency elsewhere, just like Roblox.

“Roblox is an online platform and storefront where users go to play games,” the company stated.

“Roblox is not a game, it is a place where people play games made by other developers.”

However, Roblox’s user-developers are actually paid, while Fortnite cannot say the same about its app. Fortnite revolves mainly around its battle royale gamemode, and its “creative” gamemode is more like a secondary addition that allows random players

to build small minigames.

It’s evident through these flimsy arguments that Epic Games currently holds a very weak case against Apple, and its examples show its desperation to win this money-grab of a lawsuit. So far, unless some new, monumental evidence comes to light, it seems that Epic will lose and Apple will walk out of this conflict with an even stronger case for its private App Store ecosystem and its heavyhanded policies; Epic needs to step up their game before they lose.

RYAN CHAN

Former Business Manager

I

f someone had asked me in middle school whether or not I would be in the school newspaper in high school, I would have said of course not. I’m still surprised with myself to this day that I took Journalism 1 in sophomore year, when I had little to no interest in writing at the time. However, I am glad to say that participating in the school newspaper has been one of the better decisions that I have made in my high school career.

Although J1 was a pretty tough class to get through due to current events quizzes and long lectures, I’m happy that I trudged through it and made some new homies along the way.

Some of my favorite memories from journalism include participating in different events such as the write-offs and doing in-person fundraisers at a football game. The write-offs were fun because it was cool watching our school win a bunch of trophies and certificates for different sections even though I didn’t win anything the second year I went. I still feel like I was robbed of a prize for my Picassolevel masterpiece of a cartoon depicting Skid Row and the homeless.

That cartoon I made is something I still have stored away in a folder in my room, so I can proudly tell everyone in the future that I was a talented artist back in high school.

I remember having fun at the fundraiser we did at a football game at the beginning of junior year too even though I don’t remember exactly what I did. I just recall that Mr. List was the one flipping the burgers and that I poured some water on the grill to watch it sizzle.

I want to say a big thank you to Mr. List for being one of the coolest teachers I’ve had during high school. I have the feeling that most of my teachers weren’t that fond of me during high school since I liked to screw around in class, but Mr. List was really nice to me even though I still messed around from time to time. I remember one time during sophomore year, I got a bloody nose and dripped blood on Mr. List’s mousepad. I was scared at first since I thought I was going to get in trouble and was pretty surprised when Mr. List told me that it was no big deal and to just wipe it off. Finally, I want to thank all my classmates for making working with them in the newspaper such an extremely enjoyable and fun experience, even when they liked to clown me.

THE BULL'S EYE

MAY 26, 2021

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Athletic director Lim steps away from DBHS position After many years in sports department, the teacher decides to make a change in his career. reyna wan Asst. Business manager From working with various student athletes to coaching students one-on-one, Diamond Bar High School’s Athletic Director Albert Lim has spent the past four years refining the athletic department.

Yet, come the end of the 2020-2021 school year, Lim will be stepping down from his position, as well as from being the interim Wellness Adviser.

Throughout his decade-long career at DBHS, Lim worked in multiple aspects of the athletic department—ranging from coaching football between 2009-2012 to teaching Health Sciences and Strength and Conditioning—before advancing to Athletic Director.

However, teaching in athletics was never a part of Lim’s initial plans.

After graduating from DBHS in 1996, Lim spent a four-year stint in the Army as an infantryman, igniting his passion for helping people which led to his six-year career in social work—one filled with many negatives that would push him to-

ward teaching.

“In my last two years as a social worker, I was working with opioid addicts and just doing very traditional one-on-one therapy, and it really burned me down,” Lim said via Zoom. “So, I just wanted something where I was able to see positive changes immediately, and I reached out to my former coaches and, after coaching for a season, I fell in love with the education field. ” When Lim eventually rose to the position of Athletic Director, he inherited a department that was not very prioritized and filled with holes.

“In the past, there were a lot of issues in terms of lack of communication and lack of support for the coaches,” Lim said. “So, I knew that it was something that we wanted to change, ‘we’ meaning myself and the coaches.”

Nevertheless, being the Athletic Director has been a rewarding experience for Lim. He’s had the opportunity to work with anyone from student-athletes to teachers and administrators from outside districts.

“One of the best experiences has been being able to work with a lot of people.” Lim said. “I’m just in a unique position where I pretty much have to work with every leader in every department within the school, as well as different de-

partments at the district office and, even our local schools here.”

Even Lim’s short time as the interim Wellness Adviser has taught him more about what it means to work with students, especially considering their social and emotional wellness.

“I believe that [social emotional intelligence] is one of the more important skills that, not only teenagers, but everybody needs to learn,” Lim said. “That’s one of the main drivers of why I got into social work, not necessarily because I wanted to help others, but I wanted to help myself too.”

While Lim will be taking positive experiences from both positions, he finds it vital for him to step down right now and focus on his other priorities—family.

“This work takes a lot of time away from me being able to spend time with my wife at home,” Lim said.

“Just being able to be at home more and spend more time with her is important.”

At the moment, Lim is not confident exactly what his next move will be, but he’s sure to take the incredible lessons and experiences he’s had at DBHS to his next endeavor. “[I understand now that] it takes a whole community,” Lim said.

“It takes a lot of working together with an idea to make anything impactful for the students, the kids.”

Photo courtesy of ALBERT LIM

Lim steps down as athletic director in order to dedicate more time to his family.

Badminton team triumphs in league DBHS badminton team wins seven out of eight league matches despite facing several obstacles.

nut, sophomore Jedd Perea would debut as one of the team’s strongest players, being recognized by his peers for his skill on the court and how quickly he adapted into the team environment.

“Jedd was the deciding factor in lyndon kaneko our Walnut match; he was the exstaff writer tra guy we needed to overcome the males in Walnut. Since he joined Despite the team’s roster being later in the tournament, none of reduced by one-third because of the teams really expected him athletes deciding not to participate to perform so well,” Ma said. because of COVID, the Diamond In the finals against Arcadia, the Bar badminton team made its anteam started strong by winning the nual trip to CIF finals, losing to Arfirst few mixed games and cadia on Saturday, 13-8. doubles matches. But according “I would say that our overall perto Ma, the team was struggling formance is a highlight due to all with con-sistency, not being able of the missing talent,” said sophto find a healthy amount of omore Ryan Shin, “We’ve got a lot reliable players that could carry of people from junior varsity and the team over the finish line. even those that are on varsity hav“Against Arcadia, we were outen’t been showing up.” matched in basically everything.

Despite all the downsides, the Despite all of that, some of our top Brahmas still managed to have a varsity players were able to score dominant season leading up to the wins, it’s just that our weaker finals. Out of the eight matches members weren’t prepared to played over the season, the mixed go against them,” Ma said. team only lost one match to Walnut The loss against Arcadia result12-9. ed from a lack of players, being “In our first loss against Walnut, outnumbered in varsity players we noticed that we were weak in and the newly formed roster not the male department and got us to having time for efficient practice. worry about or match with them “In my opinion, we did pretty later in the bracket,” junior Codey good, even if we’re missing a lot of Ma said. our players. It’s great being back In the knockout stage, head cheering on my teammates and coach Kemp Wells’ team beat San playing the sport with them again.

Marino in the quarter-finals a nd There’s a lot of room to improve took revenge on Walnut in the in all of us and I hope we get to semi-finals, beating them both 13-8. work on that in the next couple of During

the rematch with Walmonths,” junior Kodi Lee said.

Photo courtesy of EmaginePixel

Individual practice all season has prepared the girls for victorious league matches, and continues to prepare them for CIFs.

Girls golf prepares for CIF tournament following successful league season

Brahmas work toward CIF title, while focusing on developing team bond. deesha pathak Asst. sports editor

Photo courtesy of ERIC SHEN

In previous years, badminton had the advantage of maintaining a full roster.

Following many delays, the official golf season began March 20 for the Lady Brahmas.

According to retiring head coach Tony McCabe, golf is a year-round sport, so the team has been practicing individually throughout the pandemic.

The girls varsity team finished the season 12-2 overall and 8-2 in league. They finished second place in the Hacienda League and will play in the Division 1 CIF-SS playoffs on June 8.

Each athlete is independently

preparing for CIF, but the team still holds weekly practices on the course to ensure that everyone is performing up to par.

As golf prepares for playoffs, they focus on playing 18-hole matches, the format that’s used in CIF. Due to this, the ladies have been practicing longer than usual.

Because of this, McCabe is confident that the team will succeed.

“We are one of the best teams in CIF this year,” McCabe said. “We hope to make it to CIF Finals.”

Some of the ladies that have made notable contributions to this season are junior captain Irene Park and senior captain Alicia Kuo, who have both led and mentored new players, and been integral to the team’s success as individual athletes.

“Players that have improved are Bella Yang and Ella Chiu and they

are the top players in the league,” McCabe said. “We have two freshmen who have really performed above and beyond in the toughest matches.”

Junior Ella Chiu said that this season helped her develop greatly as an athlete, and as a student as well.

“During this season, I have learned responsibility and balance as I had to juggle golf, my academics, AP tests, and finals,” Chiu said. “However, I was able to learn time management by trying to utilize as much time as possible to focus on my studies as well as putting in efficient and quality golf practice.”

Looking forward, golf hopes to succeed in their upcoming CIF match, while facing the challenge of upholding the current seven-year victory streak.

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SPORTS

MAY 26, 2021

THE BULL'S EYE

Brahmas swing into CIF undefeated Photo courtesy of SANDY MCELREA

Senior Jadyn Sanchez attempts a shot to score in a league game at home.

Season of resurgence The boys soccer team had a turning point this year after qualifying for CIF with a winning record. kyle hong Staff Writer Last soccer season, the Diamond Bar High School boys team narrowly missed qualifying for playoffs after a tie in the last game of the season. This year was a different story.

Finishing the regular season 6-4, the Brahmas won their first CIF playoff match, defeating Marshall High School, 4-3. In the next round, DBHS was defeated by Baldwin Park, the second-ranked team in the league, 2-1.

This year’s team was assembled in somewhat of a rush due to the pandemic, and is made up of many younger players, according to head coach Pete Orosco. He said that this was because he wanted to build the structure of the team without having to worry about many seniors leaving at the end of the school year. Despite having many underclassmen players, the team performed well.

“This team should have gone undefeated as they made many opportunities in the game, but when you make 15 opportunities but only deliver on two of them, it’s very dif-

ficult to sustain winning,” Orosco said.

Despite the playoff loss, Orosco said he was proud of the team for doing well.

“Everybody contributed this season, that’s just part of being on the team, but notable players to me are not only great athletes but also great leaders,” said Orosco. “A guy like Aaron McElrea was really great not only as a player but also as a leader for the rest of the team.”

Orosco also noted senior Justin Bortis as an excellent striker for the team. He described him as someone who would sacrifice his body for the game and take injuries so that the team could succeed in the league.

“He would get brutalized by players who tried to hurt him intentionally,” Orosco said. “He was a target for the other teams, but every time he would still get up and lead the charge for the team.”

Orosco said that this season was excellent and he is proud of all of his players. He also said that there was a lot of fan support this season. which he wants to see for all teams on campus.

“When we won the wild card game and also the game to make it into CIF the stadium was rocking and the crowd was loud,” Orosco said. “Every team at Diamond Bar, not just the soccer team, should have students and adults coming to support them.”

The boys golf team looks to find success in the postseason after a strong showing so far this year. charles tam asst. sports editor The Diamond Bar High School boys golf team came out on top in the Hacienda League this season, with several players qualifying for the CIF Individual Regional.

Although there was uncertainty to the season due to the impact of COVID-19, the team had an outstanding year. The Brahmas finished the season in dominant fashion with a 10-0 league record.

“The strength of our team allowed us to give 11 different players the opportunity to compete in varsity matches, and several others in JV matches,” assistant coach Jason Tuck said. “The depth of the team at all grade levels is one of our greatest strengths, and has proven successful over many years.”

Diamond Bar sent six players to league individual finals to fill in spots for CIF. Five of the Brahmas

finished in the top eight and qualified for CIF Individuals.

Sophomore Henry Yang was the league champion and named Hacienda League MVP after an exceptional performance one under par for 54 holes. Junior Joshua Chen finished second with a one over par for 54 holes.

Along with Yang and Chen, sophomore Elson Liu, as well as freshmen Jack Zhu and Kyle Lim, advanced to the Division I CIF Individual Regional, scheduled for June 2 at Los Robles Greens in Thousand Oaks.

Following the individual regional is the boys Team Divisional Championships scheduled for June 7 at Seacliff Country Club.

“Our expectation is to play well enough to send the team through the SCGA Qualifier the following week, and to qualify as many individuals as possible for the Individual Championship scheduled for River Ridge on June 10,” Tuck said.

With the team going into their final competitions, Tuck said he is happy with the season so far.

“There were many questions surrounding the season, and to finish the league matches undefeated is very exciting,” Tuck said.

Photo courtesy of DBHS.ORG

Some members of the boys golf team prepare to board the bus to play Los Altos.

Woo’s devotion to swim leads to success The May Athlete of the Month prepares to swim at the collegiate level for Chapman University. marcus hsieh asst. news editor Diamond Bar High School senior Ashlyn Woo has been raised into a life full of swimming, having been introduced to the sport as a toddler at the tender age of three and swimming competitively at six.

“Having a positive mental attitude is what makes you a better swimmer,” Woo said via Instagram.

“Anyone can drop time and go fast, but learning how to be positive even when you don’t go fast and being positive around teammates is what sets you apart.”

Since starting competition as a child, Woo has shaved off time by practicing six days a week for years.

“It was an hour of practice a day six days a week. As I got older, the practice times got longer from one hour to 1.5 hours to two hours, still six days a week Monday-Saturday,” she said.

As a swimmer for the DBHS team this year, Woo has dropped her time in her main event, the 100-meter breaststroke, at every single swim meet.

“Honestly, I can’t imagine my life without it. Swimming has been such a big part of my childhood and high school career. Being a student

MAY AOTM: ASHLYN WOO Photo courtesy of ASHLYN WOO

Senior Ashlyn Woo has swam for varsity in her entire high school career with about 12 years of competiton experience. athlete is and will always be a part of my life,” Woo said. “Swimming is a part of who I am as a person and it’s what makes me, me.”

The student athlete said she believes that swimming has had a profound impact on her mindset and outlook on life.

“I think it [swimming] has definitely changed my mindset when going into races… I push myself to go faster by telling myself that I will go certain times,” Woo said.

“Sometimes I drop and sometimes I don’t, but I remain positive regardless because swimming is always about growth.”

Next school year, Woo will be Photo courtesy of ASHLYN WOO swimming for Chapman University Woo, bottom-middle, competed at the 2019 CIF Division 4 swimming meet. in Orange County.

VICTORIA ARTALE Former Sports Editor

E

ver since joining The Bull’s Eye, I have looked forward to writing this column and always thought that I’d have a lot to say. However, this is my tenth attempt writing this final farewell and I’m struggling to put my experience at Diamond Bar High School into words. I believe the reason I am struggling is because I’m saying goodbye to a place that has taught me so much.

Entering my freshman year, I had no idea of what I wanted to do while in high school or even what I wanted to pursue after graduation.

I felt lost because all the other students around me seemed to know exactly what they were doing.

They knew what clubs to join, what scores they needed and what goals they wanted to reach.

Meanwhile, I just joined whatever seemed to interest me. This led me to The Bull’s Eye and it was the best decision I could have made. Not only did The Bull’s Eye teach me about the amazing world of news but it also made me realize my passion for journalism.

I will forever be grateful for the memories I have made while being a part of such an amazing student publication. I will miss standing on the football field holding my camera in hopes of getting the perfect shot, interviewing students and teachers and writing stories alongside the most genuine people. If you are reading this column and are thinking about taking Journalism next year, this is your sign to take it.

Although this school year was full of changes, the determination of The Bull’s Eye remained constant. I will forever be proud of this year’s staff for continuing to put out an issue each month regardless of the obstacles that came with working fully through a computer screen.

As for next year’s staff, that me and the other seniors will be leaving behind, I wish you all the best of luck. I’m excited to see what you do with The Bull’s Eye in the future.

Certain individuals on this campus have also made an impact on me and I feel like now is the right time to give them some recognition. First, I would like to say thank you to Coach Cooke and the rest of the cross country team for always cheering me on and showing that if I fall I can always get back up.

Also, thank you Mr. Patterson for supporting me in my academics and showing me that I am more than just my grades. I will miss coming into your office and you always knowing just what to say.

Lastly, thank you Mr. List for teaching me so much and taking the time to make me a better writer.

You truly make an impact on every student you teach. Without you I would not be pursuing Journalism at University of Texas or would not have had such a great time contributing to the newspaper.

Without further ado, thank you DBHS for the memories and opportunities. I feel like this school has prepared me very well for the next chapter of my life. I hope you continue to positively impact students.

THE BULL'S EYE

MAY 26, 2021

SPORTS

Brahma swim finishes season undefeated in league Following year-long shutdown, swimmers perform well and achieve new records at DBHS. Ethan ro contributing writer Despite the numerous setbacks high school sports have faced this year, the Brahma swim team overcame these obstacles and returned from the pandemic stronger than ever for an undefeated season in the Hacienda League.

“All swimmers have been doing well - especially after most being out of the water for a year,” head coach Isabelle Cheng said.

Between both dual meets and league Finals, the Brahmas emerged without a single loss in the league this season, in part due to many swimmers’ participation in club swim, which allowed them to stay in peak shape throughout the pandemic. They began their streak with an overwhelming victory over the Wilson Wildcats, with girls winning 140-31, and boys winning 148-14.

This success was just a start for the Brahmas. They had another blowout match against the South Hills Huskies for a combined 28959 point victory for girls and boys.

The Brahmas continued to assert their dominance against the Mustangs at the rival meet on April 29, and also against the Rowland Raiders on May 6, with victories against both schools.

Additionally, Diamond Bar High School swimmers had unprecedented success in the Hacienda League finals. Of the 36 varsity swimmers who competed, 34 swam lifetime bests, with 19 CIF consideration times, six CIF automatic times and four broken school records. Junior Kai-Min Tsuei broke the girls 50 free record with a CIF auto and an All-American consideration time. Tsuei also broke her own 100 back record set in 2019 with another CIF automatic time.

Matthew Chai broke the 500 free

record with a CIF auto time and an All-American time. Vincent Cheng, senior Stephen Lee, junior Charlie Lin and junior Brady Xie broke the 200 free record with a CIF consideration time.

Though the Brahmas have enjoyed much success this season, competing in CIF Division I will prove to be a challenge, as they will face off against the best high school swimmers in the area.

“This year, we are Division I for CIF, which is extremely difficult, especially since we were Division 4 just two years ago.

The times are really fast, and only a few have made consideration times, even fewer automatic

times,” Cheng said. “I’m not too sure [how we’re going to train for CIF] because all the CIF potentials are club swimmers so they don’t even train here.”

On the other hand, senior Stephen Lee, one of the four team captains this year, expressed that being D1 or D4 doesn’t really change anything because swimming is both a team and individual sport, meaning that what matters the most is how much each individual swimmer pushes themselves and their peers. Lee also mentioned that it is great to see the team improve exponentially in such a short amount of time with minimal team practices.

Photo courtesy of ISABELLE CHENG

DBHS track dominates

Track and field advances to CIF, in addition to two Brahmas nominated for All-League MVP title. charles tam asst. sports editor

Following a promising 2020 season that was cut short, the Diamond Bar High School track and field team has had a strong season in its return.

The boys team finished with a 3-1 league record, while the girls finished with a 2-2 league record.

Last Saturday at the Hacienda League finals hosted by Walnut High School, freshman L’Mio Edwards ran a personal record of 58.77 in the 400-meter race, moving her from ninth place to second place in the all-time DB records list.

With her dominant performance this season, Edwards earned the title of All-League MVP. Along with Edwards, junior Josiah Chin was also awarded All-League MVP. For the individual events, seven DB athletes advanced to the CIF preliminaries at Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo on June 5.

Edwards qualified for the 400-me-

Photo courtesy of WILLIAM FOLEY

Emily Le makes a steal in the first home game against Walnut High School.

Girls soccer meets their season goals

Brahmas win league with a record of 6-4, establishing dominance through several keystone games. deesha pathak asst. sports editor

Head coach Isabelle Cheng (right) and assistant coach Ashley Meza lead team.

ter and 800-meter, while Chin qualified for the 100-meter and 200-meter. Juniors Jacob Truong and Hilary Nakaishi qualified for the 110-meter and 100-meter hurdles, respectively.

Outside on the field, junior Aaron Chiong qualified for the high

jump and senior Daniel Marquez qualified for the triple jump. Senior Kyra Ruiz also qualified in the shot put event.

In addition, three relay teams-the boys 4×100, boys 4×400 and girls 4×100--will also be competing at the CIF preliminaries.

The Lady Brahmas kicked off this soccer season to a strong start with an overall record of 9-6 and a Hacienda League record of 6-4.

Following a year and a half-long shutdown due to COVID-19, the ladies had a rough first game, losing 4-0 against Wilson High School.

Their following game was similar, a 3-1 defeat against South Hills High School. Just a week later, though, Diamond Bar High School won its first girls soccer game against Walnut High School, 5-2.

This win against their rival was a confidence booster for the athletes.

Although the Brahmas later took a loss at the conference game against Rowland High School, they defeated Los Altos High School the following week,4-1. Building upon that momentum, DBHS won 1-0 in a matchup with Wilson, against whom they’d faced their first loss, the next week.

In the Brahmas’ second game against Walnut, they won with a score of 3-2. They were also victorious in their second game against Rowland, ending 3-1.

“Our most memorable game has probably been our home game against Rowland as it was not only senior night, but a very important game,” senior Emily Le said. “They

Photo courtesy of WILLIAM FOLEY

were a top team in the league, winning many games and we knew we had to win.”

The team has faced several hurdles this season, between both injuries and COVID-19 restrictions.

“We have stumbled with a few injuries along the way but overall we worked hard for the results we wanted,” senior Megan Nadal said.

“I think with the talent on our team we could have done so much more but again we had a few setbacks as a team which unfortunately showed but I am still proud of them regardless.”

According to team manager and former player sophomore Presley King, the ladies have done an excellent job of stepping up to the challenges on the field this year.

“The girls definitely improved throughout the season and it was really fun being with them,” King said.

The Brahmas lost their May 5 game to South Hills, 3-0. However, they won their next game against Los Altos with a score of 3-0.

So far, this season has been tumultuous for the girls soccer team, but they have been far from stagnant. Each day, under head coach Matt Franco, they work on improving their skills to best prepare for the following game.

As the ladies approach league finals, they are fine tuning their kicks, passes and goals.

“We are currently working on moving the ball cohesively,” Nadal said. “We have struggled a bit working through our midfield and building up to attacking third to get some shots in.”

Wrestling season cancelled for 2021 Wrestling program was unable to make a comeback on campus due to COVID regulations. nathan chu contributing writer

L’mio Edwards is pictured racing at League Finals, where she won League MVP.

15

Out of all the Diamond Bar High School sports, the one that has been the most disproportionately affected by COVID has been wrestling.

The nature of wrestling requires competitors to get physically close to each other, which became impossible due to the virus. Consequently, the wrestling season was cancelled and won’t begin again until next fall.

The impact of the lack of practice has been tremendous, according to the athletes. Students haven’t been able to practice wrestling with peers or competitors all year, making it difficult to stay in shape for the next season.

“I’ve been able to condition by myself at home, but practicing techniques and movements have

been impossible because I have no one to play with,” sophomore Timothy Kim said.

According to Kim, another aspect of COVID affecting wrestling is the fact that there will be a decline of interest in wrestling since freshmen never had the chance to experiment with different sports.

Many students only start wrestling once they reach high school, and students might choose another sport that they can play since wrestling was canceled this year. That obviously presents problems for the wrestling team in future years, as their team might be smaller and interest might decline.

In addition to less interest in wrestling, the relationship between current students has also been changed during this period.

The teammates who had previous connections with each other would have been separated for an entire year.

“The thing I’m most excited about next year is being able to work out with the team again,” Kim said. “It’s much more fun than working out alone.”