Volume 50, Issue 5, February 5, 2020

NEWS 8 Examining the personal and legal implications of DACA being rescinded

OPINION 14

F E AT U R E S 1 9

A&E 28

SPORTS 38

Exploring the media coverage of the Australian wildfires

MVHS community members share about backpacking

A look into the rise of interactive art museums

Sisters Emi and Kelli Kosakura share the basketball court

TABLE OF CONTENTS El ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

04 Up in flames

BY ISHAANI DAYAL AND TINA LOW

Australia is experiencing more widespread bushfires than in previous years

14 Global apathy

BY SHUVI JHA

Exploring the media coverage of the Australian wildfires

28 Selfie factories

BY AYAH ALI-AHMAD

Examining the rise of interactive art museums over traditional art museums

38 Ball in the family

BY JAYANTI JHA AND ANISH VASUDEVAN

Sisters Emi and Kelli Kosakura share the basketball court

22

They/Them

BY ALYSSA HUI AND ANNIE ZHANG

What Merriam-Webster’s 2020 Word of the Year means to the MVHS community

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EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS “KOBE!” We look over our shoulders and we see another student — arms bent, wrist pronated, fingers pointed down. We’ve spent years watching our classmates throw old homework assignments into the trash can, all while saying the name of one of the most legendary players in the NBA. But now, this name we unconsciously said means so much more — it is no longer the everyday phrase nor does it hold the same meaning.

People all over the world — diehard basketball fans or not — lost a part of their hearts on Jan. 26 following the death of Kobe Bryant. Kobe was the face of an entire generation of basketball, inspiring countless young athletes to perfect the craft and put on a brave face in the midst of challenges. He created Mamba Mentality — the belief that even beyond sports, anything is possible as long as you have the determination and drive to never settle regardless of the circumstances.

Kobe believed that he could be the youngest player in NBA history.

He did that.

Kobe wanted to be known as a basketball legend.

He did that.

Kobe aspired to win an Oscar after ending his basketball career.

He did that.

Kobe wasn’t perfect. He was involved in a sexual assault scandal and had his fair share of hardships and controversies. But even with these setbacks, Kobe continued to stand as a figure that multiple generations looked up to.

“Everything negative — pressure, challenges — is all an opportunity for me to rise.”

Kobe may no longer be with us physically, but he will remain a legend in our hearts. His legacy is one that cannot be replaced, and one that will not be replaced.

Thank you Kobe for showing us your Mamba Mentality. We will never forget the impact you had on sports, on communities, and on individuals.

We will do everything in our power to continue your legacy.

“FOR KOBE.”

elESTOQUE 21840 McClellan Road Cupertino, CA 95014 mv.el.estoque@gmail.com

Editors-in-chief: Hannah Lee, Anish Vasudevan Managing editors: Alyssa Hui, Shuvi Jha, Swara Tewari, Stuti Upadhyay, Emily Xia Copy editor: Zara Iqbal News editors: Anushka De, Andie Liu, Tina Low, Jai Uparkar Sports editors: Justine Ha, Kamyar Moradi, Tabitha Mendez, Rucha Soman Entertainment editors: Ayah Ali-Ahmad, Charlotte Chui, Shivani Gupta, Robert Liu Opinion editors: Lakshanyaa Ganesh, Sreya Kumar, Jasmine Lee, Oishee Misra Feature editors: Tyler Cho, Iman Malik, Claire Wen, Brian Xu Beats editors: Lance Tong, Annie Zhang Graphics editors: Claire Yang, Sarah Young Visuals editors: Justine Ha, Tabitha Mendez, Collin Qian Website Editor: Devin Gupta Staff writers: Michelle Chen, Sophia Chen, Ishaani Dayal, Aditi Dixit, Jayanti Jha, Rachel Jiang, Vivian Jiang, Elena Khan, Jefferson Le, Tanish Mendki, Shreshta Ranganathan, Anjali Singh, Neysa Singh, Leanna Sun, Sean Yagi

Mission Statement El Estoque is an open forum created for and by students of Monta Vista High School.

The staff of El Estoque seeks to recognize individuals, events and ideas and bring news to the Monta Vista community in a manner that is professional, unbiased and thorough in order to effectively serve our readers. We strive to report accurately and will correct any significant error. If you believe such an error has been made, please contact us. Letters of any length should be submitted via e-mail or mail. They become the sole property of El Estoque and can be edited for length, clarity or accuracy. Letters cannot be returned and will be published at El Estoque’s discretion.

El Estoque also reserves the right to reject advertising due to space limitations or decision of the Editorial Board that content of the advertisement conflicts with the mission of the publication.

COVER PHOTO | JUSTINE HA

Hannah Lee

Anish Vasudevan EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

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UP IN FLAMES

Australia is experiencing more widespread bushfires than in previous years

BY ISHAANI DAYAL AND TINA LOW

04

Senior Isabelle Dingli shares about her winter break in her homeland Australia.

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

PHOTO | JUSTINE HA

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NEWS

ince late July 2019, Australian wildfires have ravaged over country is projected to increase 5.1 degrees Celsius by 26 million acres of land and destroyed over 3,000 homes.

2090, compared to the global projected increase range After the deaths of three American firefighters on Jan. 23, of 2.6 to 4.8 degrees Celsius. Paired with record-high the fatality count rose to 32, while millions of animals have been dryness, conditions for bushfires were amplified. killed or displaced.

When Butler-Schilling lived in Australia, she According to professor Lisa Alexander at the Climate Change considered herself to be a proactive advocate for Research Center of the University of New South Wales, these climate change. seasonal bushfires are due to the hot and dry climate — but these “Some people in the government are talking about annual fires began months earlier than usual and have continued how climate change isn’t real,” Butler-Schilling said. to rapidly spread.

“It is. But they’re probably trying to downplay the The fires have especially impacted states including New South revealing of it. I think a few key people in power are Wales and Victoria near the southeast coast. Areas in major against climate change existing [and don’t] believe in it. cities like Sydney and Melbourne feel the effects of the bushfires That’s what’s stopping the communication.” hundreds of miles away but are unlikely to be impacted too Alexander also sees this reluctance among officials severely, according to the New York Times. to fight climate change. She believes that Australia’s Senior Isabelle Dingli, an Australian citizen, spent winter break government has had a slightly delayed reaction in in Melbourne where she had to adjust, opting to avoid outdoor combating climate change after receiving advance exercises. Her brother, who has asthma, notice that the 2019 fire season had to be even more careful to avoid the had potential to be one of the smoke. worst.

“Victoria has had worse bushfires; “My guess is it will take a however this is some of the worst lot more debate in Parliament, bushfires we’ve had nationwide,” trying to work out what those Dingli said. “In the city, even today, it’s changes would be, but the fact is extremely hazy. You can’t see the blue the government actually talking skies, you can’t see if there are clouds or about it is actually quite a step forward not and when you’re in the city [it] gets for the current government, even to really, really smoky.” discuss that they want to make changes,” As of Jan. 6, according to the New Alexander said. “I think they’ve realized York Times, the air quality index of they need to do something.”

Victoria surpassed 999, well beyond After New Year’s, Alexander’s friends the healthy limit of 200. Smoke and ash and family from her homeland Ireland blowing towards the coast prompted the reached out to her with concerns for her Australian Medical Association to advise safety after watching the recent news people living along the coast to buy coverage. She now sees the media as PROFESSOR LISA ALEXANDER smoke masks and avoid the outdoors. effectively driving government action.

“I have many friends who live further “So it’s definitely in the international out, and they keep water tanks at the public press now and that’s a good thing house and ... on the back of trailers attached to cars so that they because it’s actually highlighting that we’re actually seeing some can use the hoses and whatnot to dampen the ground if fires do of the effects from climate change directly,” Alexander said. get closer to that house,” Dingli said. “Where I live, that’s not as However, Butler-Schilling believes that despite increased much of a threat as the [air] pollution.” media coverage, some people internationally are not informed Alexander, who currently lives in New South Wales, had to on the extent of the issue because of the lack of government change her 1,500 kilometer route to Adelaide in order to avoid communication and the reluctance on Prime Minister Scott the physical effects of the fires over the holiday.

Morrison’s part to acknowledge climate change as a threat.

“And actually in Sydney we’ve had some of the worst air Currently, a majority of the information she learns is from pollution days here to the extent that some days, for example, I contacting her Australian friends on Instagram. won’t even let my kids go outside,” Alexander said.

“I do think that the government should be posting more about While sophomore Aurora Butler-Schilling moved from Australia it,” Butler-Schilling said. “I feel like there are probably people in to the U.S. in 2018, her family always intended to return home. this school that just have no idea. If you don’t have a connection Her plans remain intact, but these fires are unsettling for her. to Australia, it’s going to be hard to get that information.”

“I’m just distraught,” Butler-Schilling said. “I’ve had a couple Although Australians living in fire-prone areas receive advice [friends] out in the outbacks and have to be evacuated from certain and training on safety in the case of a fire, Alexander suggests places and it just looks awful. I am truly terrified for everyone and that more action needs to be taken towards solving — or at least just worried. I’ve been looking at all the posts about it and it’s just mitigating — the issue of climate change. awful seeing how many people and animals have died and how “In terms of climate change itself, I think we really need some much land is being burned.” urgent, ambitious action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Many like Alexander see a link between climate change and the Alexander said. “That’s a global problem. So really limiting our aggressive fires, specifically how the temperatures increase every greenhouse gas emissions substantially, significantly and urgently year while rainfall decreases. According to Reuters, Australia’s is one of the things that we seriously need to do.” e annual temperatures are the highest rising in the world; the

I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED SOME URGENT, AMBITIOUS ACTION TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, THAT’S A GLOBAL PROBLEM.

NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

05

OUT OF THE

California passes temporary law removing menstrual product sales tax

BY EMILY XIA alifornia’s Senate Bill 92 went into effect on Jan. 1, 2020, removing the sales tax from menstrual products and diapers. By passing this law in June of 2019, California added itself to a list of 12 other states, such as New York and Maryland, that have also exempted hygiene products from sales tax; however, the law is not permanent and is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2021.

According to NPR, the “tampon tax” can add up to 66 cents per box, and the average menstruating woman spends around $66 per year on tampons and pads. With over half of the population in the U.S. being women, this amounts to millions of dollars spent every year. With the 7.5% sales tax removed, California’s state general fund will lose approximately $20 million. With its current $215 billion annual budget, the money lost is about 0.009% of total state funding. On the contrary, products such as condoms and Viagra, that are more traditionally purchased by men, don’t have the same sales tax that is imposed upon menstrual products.

While biology teacher Lora Lerner does support the bill, she believes that it is more a matter of politics and finance rather than of science. For Lerner, the bill’s passage is an important step in understanding the inequity that women face.

“I understand the purpose of it, which is to, and this is really out of the realm of science, to recognize the difference in economics between men and women,” Lerner said. “We live in a world where women make less money and still do more child care. They have less economic opportunity and it’s over their lifetime.”

Girls Empowerment Project (GEP) officer and senior Naomi Desai agrees with Lerner that women are economically disadvantaged, and stresses the importance

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of the bill. To Desai, not only should the California, I think this is good, we’re setting sales tax be removed, but menstrual an example that other states can follow,” products should be free.

Desai said. “And I know there’s Maryland “It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity for and a few other states who don’t have this everyone,” Desai said. “Some people can’t [tampon] tax that we used to have, so this even afford to have it — pads and tampons is definitely a good stepping stone for the — so having to pay extra is just ridiculous. future.”

It’s only for two years, [and] it’s only in Despite the obstacles, Desai and California. There’s so many other states Renukuntla focus on the positive aspects that do still have this tax and that’s a huge of the bill and the problem.” attention it brings Though junior Sowmya to a sometimes Renukuntla hopes the uncomfor table tax will be repealed subject.

Being permanently in the future, part of GEP, Desai she acknowledges that hopes that the the bill is an important of low-income women in the club’s annual pad first step in spreading and tampon drive awareness about the U.S cannot afford tampons in March will be stigma and inequity *According to Reuters more successful surrounding periods. this year. Having “I think it’s a good first step because already researched the pink tax for two [congresswoman] Jackie Speier tried years, Renukuntla hopes to work with repealing it three times and it didn’t congresswomen like Speier and Garcia to get passed,” Renukuntla said. “Another continue eradicating the tax in more states congresswoman Cristina Garcia, she tried and even other countries. twice and didn’t get passed. So I think even Overall, Lerner stresses the importance though it’s a trial period, I think it’s good in being able to understand each individual’s because it’s spreading awareness about it. struggles and situations. As a teacher, she Even a trial is still a good first step.” uses her influence to break gender stigma However, Lerner remains unsure of and connect to her students. the likelihood of other, more conservative “I do make a point of saying women states, to pass the same law, as they are should know about men’s bodies, and men less likely to attempt to overcome stigma need to know about women’s bodies,” surrounding women’s hygiene. Desai, on Lerner said. “And it doesn’t even matter if the other hand, remains optimistic in her you’re gay or straight or anything. You’re view of the future for the tax on menstrual going to have people you love that have products, and she acknowledges that as different bodies than you, a more liberal state, California serves as and you’re going to a role model for the rest of the want to be supportive country, as well as the rest of them.” e of the world.

“Definitely, for blue states like

SENIORITIS STRIKES AGAIN Examining teacher perspectives on working with second semester seniors

BY RACHEL JIANG

PHOTO | RACHEL JIANG

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SS, better known as Second Semester Seniors or senioritis, is when seniors slack off in their second semester.

According to a survey of 124 seniors, 64% have experienced SSS. Of those, 49% have it because they are finished with college applications and are tired after three years of high school.

AP Physics teacher Jim Birdsong has observed this trend for 25 years. In order to prevent senioritis from affecting class, he removes the senior scores out of the Physics grading curves and motivates seniors to try harder. However, that has not worked out so far. According to him, students listen and nod along, however they still end up reverting back to senioritis: not trying or ditching school.

Birdsong hypothesizes that many MVHS students have senioritis because they want to have a normal life after completing college applications, feeling that there aren’t any consequences to getting worse grades. Although Birdsong understands it, he doesn’t think this is justified.

“No one’s looking, so why are you acting different?” Birdsong said. “If you act different when no one’s looking, then you’ve been faking it the whole time. You’re not really a good student if you only do it [to] get the reward.”

Similar to Birdsong, Science teacher Kyle Jones believes that students slack off in their second semester because they feel it won’t affect their future. Still, he wants students to maintain their standards.

“I understand [Senioritis],” Jones said. “[B]ut I also just try and make sure that

they at least maintain a certain level of since the student did not deserve to pass dignity within their academics.” his class.“They’ve lowered their standards,” To help seniors, Jones gently reminds Birdsong said. “But I’m not lowering mine.” them individually to stay focused and to In addition to affecting seniors, Jones hang in there a little longer. states that SSS may affect non-seniors, Taking a different approach, English specifically in group projects. teacher David Clarke stated that he simply “It can be frustrating for the juniors who accepts and acknowledges the stages of are trying to maintain that level to be paired SSS. In addition, he tries to incorporate with a group of seniors who are maybe not non-academic activities such as self- so interested in maintaining that same reflections into his course after AP testing. level,” Jones said. “Juniors can look at it, Finally, he keeps students engaged by at best, as a little annoying, and at worst, creating courses that revolve around their detrimental to their grade.” current conditions.

To resolve this issue, Jones typically “As a teacher, you’re always adjusting, grades non-seniors based on their even on a daily contributions to a group basis, [to] the project more, thus psychological state decreasing the chances of your students,” that seniors’ grade will Clarke said. be affected because of Sy m p a t h i z i n g seniors with SSS. with his students, On the other hand, Clarke does not of the class of 2020 Clarke doesn’t believe believe that SSS that SSS affects students’ experience senioritis is a bad trend overall performance. because he *According to a survey of 124 MVHS students According to his believes this is part experience, people who of the developmental process that students have struggled to maintain their grades in go through. When he was in high school their second semester don’t generally fail experience, Clarke noticed that his because of SSS; rather, they go through classmates’ priorities have shifted from personal issues. Being in an academically studying to socializing. In addition, they competitive area, Clarke believes that were less stressed during their second students deserve a small break. semester.

“I don’t take it personally that [seniors] In terms of the impact of SSS, Birdsong don’t take MVHS as seriously toward the has personally dealt with an alumni who end of the second semester [as] they may received a failing grade in Birdsong’s class, have when they were juniors or at the which kept him out of Yale University. beginning [of high school],” Clarke said.

Birdsong decided not to make exceptions “Because they shouldn’t.” e

64%

NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

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PHOTO | ANISH VASUDEVAN

KEEP THE 08

DREAM ALIVE

Community members discuss the personal and legal implications of DACA being rescinded

BY SWARA TEWARI AND JAI UPARKAR

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

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ou need to pack all your things. Your notebooks, all your school stuff.”

Fremont HS English teacher Onette Zabinski vividly remembers her parents telling her this when she was 7 years old.

She recalls packing her belongings into the car and thinking to herself, If we’re going on vacation, why do I have to bring all my stuff? But Zabinski didn’t ask any questions at the time Her family drove 2,121 miles from Morelia, Mexico, to the Bay Area, where her mom’s sisters and extended family were already settled. Although Zabinski didn’t understand it then, she had just illegally crossed the border.

“I don’t think that my parents were ready to explain to me what was happening until we were actually here because of the sheer number of changes,” Zabinski said.

“Especially the fact that I didn’t speak English and I was going to need to start school over here. All of those things were slowly rolled out once we were here in the U.S.” Zabinski went through elementary, middle and high school as an undocumented student. For her, day-today life as an undocumented person was an “overwhelming stress” that compounded the diffculties of being a teenager and growing up.

“Being a high schooler on its own is a very difficult time in life — there are a lot of different stresses,” Zabinski said. “To add that layer of being undocumented means that you also don’t really know [how] you’re going to navigate the world without the means to find a legal job or easily be able to access education. There’s just a lot of different challenges that present themselves when your life is not necessarily in your own control, when it’s being controlled by some other unseen forces.”

Without a social security number, Zabinski was unable to apply for financial aid, which made it impossible for her to attend many universities. She decided to attend De Anza College to get an affordable education and was able to cover the first

year of tuition with scholarship money.

After two years, Zabinski transferred to San Jose State University (SJSU). It was at SJSU that Zabinski felt her future was the most hopeless. The uncertainty of her looming future and inability to work in the U.S. became such a burden that she wanted to return to Mexico.

“I told my mom that I wanted to leave,” Zabinski said. “I said, ‘I have family members in Mexico, I’m tired of feeling like I have to live in the shadows and of never being able to feel comfortable and safe outside because you just never know what’s going to happen.’ So I told her, ‘This is the idea that I have and I’m just done with this, I can’t do this anymore.’”

Zabinski’s mom’s response was simple.

She told Zabinski that moving back to Mexico wasn’t just her decision — it was something that would impact both her mother and younger brother. “[My mother told me] that she was willing to have me go back [to Mexico] but only after I finished my degree,” Zabinski said. “She reminded me that an education is worth an education no matter where you go. And especially if I had an American degree, then that would just open up more opportunities if and when I needed to go back.”

Zabinski remembers that period of uncertainty as a constant push and pull — her life felt manageable one second and hopeless the next.

“It was just this fluctuation between feeling like ‘I see the light at the end of the tunnel’ and feeling like, ‘Wait, that wasn’t really a light, that was just a match that someone turned on for no reason,’” Zabinski said. “Just this constant swinging back and forth of feeling like what I was doing was right and ... feeling like what I was doing was fruitless.”

Despite her fears about her hazy future, Zabinski dedicated herself to her education.

When she was studying for her teaching credential, her godmother texted her a link to an article that changed her life in the space of a second — the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) had passed.

Zabinski now had legal status — she could work and had a path to citizenship.

“When I was finally able to go and get a driver’s license or go and get a work permit, I just couldn’t believe that it was actually real,” Zabinski said. “When I finally had all of these different documents, I started to feel just so much more like a part of actual society. I didn’t have to figure out different ways in which I needed to work around the system because now, I could work within the system.”

When DACA was rescinded in 2018, Zabinski was completely heartbroken.

She herself was no longer protected under DACA as at that point she had a greencard, but she ached for the thousands of undocumented students who wouldn’t have a chance at the life DACA had allowed her to create.

“I can’t imagine the feeling of being so close to being able to get such an opportunity and then it being pulled out from under you,” Zabinski said. “It has made me tear up on multiple occasions and it just makes me feel the same way that I felt when I was in high school and going through a lot of those feelings of uncertainty.”

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ACA is an American immigration policy enforced through an executive order by former President Barack Obama in 2015 that allowed eligible immigrant youth who were brought illegally to the U.S. as children to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and become eligible for a work permit in the U.S. DACA was a temporary program instituted to help eligible immigrants after Congress failed to pass the DREAM Act in December 2010, which would have provided a path to attain citizenship for immigrants brought to the country illegally as children.

Obama hoped to expand DACA in 2014 by establishing a new program, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) to delay deportation for parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. However, this expansion was blocked in 2015 by a lawsuit from 26 states. In September 2017, the Trump administration announced it was terminating DACA, as Obama’s executive action of enforcing this program surpassed his legal authority, placing the citizenship and lives of 700,000 DACA recipients in legal limbo.

Due to pending litigation, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continues to accept DACA renewal applications but stopped accepting NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

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THEY CALL US DREAMERS, BUT any new DACA applications as of August 2019 due to an executive order.

In June 2019, the Supreme Court revealed that it would review the Trump administration’s decision to end the DACA policy, hear oral arguments for the case in November 2019 and reach a decision no later than June 2020. The Justices are reviewing a trio of cases that argue that the administration’s decision to terminate DACA violated the Administrative Procedure Act, a federal law governing policy-making procedures.

In an effort to urge the Court to consider DACA’s continuation, the Cupertino City Council unanimously signed on to a amicus curiae brief authored by the City of Los Angeles on Oct. 1, 2019, which was sent to the Supreme Court. An amicus curiae brief is submitted to the court when a third-party to the lawsuit wants to raise additional points of view in an attempt to influence a particular decision.

According to council member Liang Chao, who was Vice Mayor when voting on signing the brief, the council wasn’t provided any background information on DACA and the complexity of the issue before voting on whether the city should sign the brief. “[In retrospect], I don’t think it’s something that the city should get involved in because this is a legal issue and it’s a temporary solution to a problem, but the actual solution would be for Congress to adopt something legally that can be implemented,” Chao said.

While Chao still supports the idea of protecting these working immigrants, she is

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doubting the city’s decision to sign the brief after discovering that the cities of San Jose, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Mountain View and Saratoga did not. This brief gathered the support of 109 cities and counties across the country while other big corporations, like Apple, submitted their own briefs to the Court.

“Should a city like Cupertino, where illegal immigrants [are] not a big issue for us, have taken a position before we understood everything?” Chao said. “I don’t think it’s something the city should get involved in because [DACA] is a legal issue and is a temporary solution to a problem.”

Although Chao believes that DACA recipients contribute to American society in school and at work, she also understands why people have opposed the program.

For many, the program appears to unfairly reward illegal immigrants with economic and political autonomy while others are stuck waiting years to obtain permanent residency.

“I think we have to be fair,” Chao said.

“There should be a path to citizenship for these children, but it needs to be a path that doesn’t penalize others who legally followed the process [of] waiting to get a legal entry to the country. [But] we don’t want to deport them to a country that they don’t even know, that’s just very cruel.”

After further research, Chao discovered more information. In 2016, the Supreme Court announced a 4-4 decision in a case challenging Obama’s expansion of DACA and the establishment of DAPA. In this lawsuit, 26 states, including Texas and Florida accused Obama of ignoring

federal procedures and abusing his power by evading Congress in his decision of establishing DAPA. For Chao, the fact that four Justices believed the programs were unconstitutional made her second guess the Cupertino City Council’s decision to publicly support DACA. “We want to follow the law, we want our representatives to follow the law, we want our president to follow the law,” Chao said.

“This is a matter of principle — even a good program should follow the law. So if this is not the right way to solve the problem, find a good way that actually follows the law.

There are systems in place, if you break it for one issue and it’s good now, what about another issue? It’s not fair for someone else. [DACA] was a temporary solution, it should have been replaced.”

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ttorney Victoria Argumedo, a firstgeneration Peruvian American, has represented thousands of clients over the past seven years and focuses on cases involving deportation defense and asylum practices. Her parents immigrated from Peru to Alabama in the 1970s, where she didn’t have much of a Latinx community.

She decided to pursue immigration law when she realized she wanted to use her education to directly benefit the Latinx immigrant community.

For Argumedo, DACA acts as a “semibandaid” to America’s broken immigration system and provides a temporary remedy to help young people who had no input in their legal residency. While she believes comprehensive immigration reform is needed to solve these problems, she also understands that America’s immigration system is extremely complex. As a daughter and wife of an immigrant, Argumedo is directly affected by the intricacies and nuances of American immigration.

“So I think this whole idea ... about how this current administration is saying that they don’t want chain migration is really, really hard to listen to because this country was founded on immigrants,” Argumedo said. “That is what makes America, America. It’s a melting pot. We have the Statue of Liberty that has the saying: ‘Give me your tired, your poor ...’ but somehow from this administration that’s no longer something we believe in.

I don’t see why there would be a need to rescind DACA; these are all young people that have made a pledge to study, they have no crimes. There’s absolutely no negative that comes out of DACA, from my personal and professional opinion.”

Argumedo’s job involves presenting options to families to help them remain in the U.S. legally and to prevent children being separated from their parents.

“I explain to them what their rights are,” Argumedo said. “My job is not to

choose a path for my clients. It’s to make sure that they understand the immigration consequences of the decisions that are available to them, for them to feel empowered to pick the best choice that fits best with their family.”

Although Argumedo has been handling immigration cases for 20 years now — she is in no way accustomed to watching families ripped apart or children losing their homes.

“Those are all the people coming up through the border,” Argumedo said.

“That’s a large chunk of what we do. There is absolutely no way that I’m robotic enough to just leave at the end of the day. I can’t just leave those horror stories that I hear.”

Similar to Argumedo, Zabinski felt compelled to help undocumented students navigate the complexities of their situations. She is part of a small community of staff members at FHS working to support the school’s undocumented student population. As a highschooler, Zabinski was the first undocumented student her guidance counselor had encountered. She hopes that by sharing her story, she can help students feel less alone.

“I thought that if I share [how DACA being rescinded is] really affecting me, then at least there’s one person that you can put a face to the issue with,” Zabinski said. “I’ve been more comfortable being really open with my students about my experience and framing it as a big challenge but definitely not one that should stop you from being able to pursue your goals, especially in terms of being able to pursue higher education.”

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abinski has noted that certain elements of the media oversimplify illegal immigration when she says it’s actually a complex issue. “[With illegal immigrants], there’s this dichotomy of either being helpless or being a criminal,” Zabinski said. “Most of the undocumented people that I know fall into neither bucket. The stereotype makes it easy to digest this image but the actual reality of it, I think, is just way more than most people can handle and more than people are really willing to grapple with.”

Although Zabinski’s experience as an undocumented person felt insurmountable at times, she says it has given her an inner strength and faith in herself she wouldn’t have developed otherwise.

“It’s safe for me to say that there’s nothing that I’ve dealt with that has been as challenging as being an undocumented person,” Zabinski said. “If you’re able to jump through all these hoops, you’re going to come out on the other side being super savvy and super resilient to a lot of the other challenges that life is going to throw your way.” e

WE'RE THE ONES WHO DON'T SLEEP. NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

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Entertainment award shows discriminate against non-English speaking artists

BY ZARA IQBAL AND CLAIRE YANG

T

hey broke Taylor Swift’s record for the most viewed YouTube video in 24 hours. They’re the first group since The Beatles to have three Billboard No. 1’s in one year. They’ve garnered the most Twitter engagement ever recorded on the platform, exceeding Harry Styles’ record.

In 2019 alone, Korean-pop group BTS broke multiple records, trumping Western artists after breaking into the American music market. However, despite its glaring success, award shows are xenophobic towards BTS. In 2019, the Video Music Awards (VMAs) made a new category dubbed “Best K-pop,” after BTS started smashing sales records. Despite its album, “Map of the Soul: Persona,” becoming one of the top selling albums in the U.S. and worldwide last year, the VMAs excluded BTS — and all other K-pop artists — from main awards such as “Best Pop” and “Artist of the Year” through the creation of the new category.

The award show clearly drew a line

between non-English speaking and English speaking artists. Allowing foreign acts like BTS to win “Best Pop” and “Artist of the Year” would force the industry to admit that an Asian boy band could trump white artists.

Making a separate category for K-pop furthers the notion that K-pop bands shouldn’t be taken seriously, and that nonWestern artists are not at the same level as “mainstream” pop. 5 Seconds of Summer was nominated for “Best Pop” at the VMAs, even though they’re an Australian boy band — there seems to be a clear division between English-speakers and foreign language speakers.

To some, this may not seem like a big deal. Using the counter-argument that East Asians are “finally being represented” isn’t addressing the fundamentally xenophobic reality in America. While we’re finally seeing Asian faces on the big screen and in the music scene, the “representation” award shows are giving non-white artists is a backhanded reward; they are placing them in a box and othering them even though they’re just as capable as Western artists who are nominated for main awards. Award show xenophobia extends to Latino artists as well, where they are sometimes put into separate labels like “Best Latin Pop.” “Taki Taki,” a Spanish and English track by popular artists French DJ, Selena Gomez, Cardi B and Ozuna, released in 2018, debuted at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually reaching number 11. It also remained at the top of the Spotify Global 50 chart for multiple weeks, demonstrating its international impact.

However, it was only nominated for “Top Latin Song” and “Top Dance/ Electronic Song” despite its worldwide success.

Some may argue that award shows in other countries exclude Western artists by creating “international” categories, but this disregards one main difference between American award shows and foreign award shows. In other countries, such as Korea, award shows are held solely

OPINION

AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

to celebrate Korean entertainers, whereas many American award shows are touted for being allinclusive and diverse.

Award shows have started showing some signs of change after the Korean film “Parasite” took the world by storm last year.

The movie has racked up countless awards and nominations, including “Best Picture” at the Oscars. The film also made history as the first foreign film to take home the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

However, at the Golden Globes, the film was only able to take home the “Best Foreign Film” award because, according to the Hollywood Reporter, it “did not qualify for the ‘Best Picture’ honor, since the Hollywood Foreign Press Association stipulates contenders feature ‘more than 50% English dialogue’ in the film and ‘Parasite’ is fully in Korean.”

To this day, many awards shows in America stand by the “separate but equal” philosophy, but they are taking steps — albeit baby steps. BTS’ popularity worldwide paved the way for other K-pop artists to be recognized in the West, allowing more nonKorean folk to accept and listen to nonEnglish lyrics without prejudice. “Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho said through his translator at the Golden Globes, “Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” Music, film and other aspects of the entertainment industry are meant to be enjoyed by all, no matter where they originate from. As a country that prides itself for diversity, having English as the barometer in award shows is misleading and unfair. e

ILLUSTRATION | ZARA IQBAL AND CLAIRE YANG

OPINION | FEBRUARY 2020

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GLOBAL APATHY Exploring the media coverage of the Australian wildfires

S

ince last July, 26 million acres of However, when compared to the extreme Australia have burned in one of media coverage of the significantly less the country’s worst fire seasons on damaging 2018 California wildfires, which record. At least 34 people have been killed, burned approximately two million acres of 3,000 homes have been destroyed and an land, it is apparent that a far more sinister estimated one billion animals have been reason contributes to the global apathy lost in the fire’s damage. The wildfires are demonstrated towards Australia. so dire that on Nov. 12 greater Sydney The fact of the matter is, we as a society declared an unprecedented “catastrophic” tend to pay greater attention to suffering fire warning due to high level of pollutants when it impacts parts of the wealthy West — in the air. parts of North America and Europe — than Australia is burning down. when it strikes Asian, African and Oceanic Yet very few in the international countries. This is the unfortunate result community were aware of this crisis until of the power structures of our society and the New Year’s Eve — months after the the sentiments of colonialism that pervade fires began. It was when Australian Prime many developing nations, and is seen in Minister Scott Morrison made his vacation many aspects of society. For example, trip to terrorist Hawaii just attacks in days after Palestine declaring receive much a national less coverage disaster that than terrorist the media attacks in OPINION OF THE EL ESTOQUE erupted, and France, and EDITORIAL BOARD the world the Notre realized what Dame fire in was happening in Australia.

2019 garnered funds from political figures All of a sudden, social media platforms from across the world yet events such as were flooded with sympathetic posts calling the Sri Lanka church shooting received very for donations and community service. little attention or donations.

Images of children wiping their eyes and What this selective attention and firefighters branding their extinguishers coverage demonstrates is society’s dominated our news feeds. The world tendency to direct its resources to those was transfixed — but not necessarily in a nations who abide by the principles of good way, for there was a slight eeriness in Eurocentricity, a school of thought centered the way that the international community on Western civilization and one that favors reacted to the Australian wildfire crisis. it over non-Western civilizations. The worst Rather than viewing it as somewhat effects of climate change are looming, and of an apocalyptic event that poses grave it is the developing nations that will be implications to the state of biodiversity, impacted the most. So if we continue to species richness and human infrastructure view the suffering of others’ as distinct from around the world, the wildfires were initially ours, then soon enough there won’t be a treated as a local news story, not deserving planet for us to live on. Climate refugees, of great media attention. Only those in political turmoil, xenophobia and sexism Australia knew what was going on while the — all issues resulting from our Eurocentric rest of us — especially those living in the view of natural disasters such as the one in wealthy West — lived our lives, oblivious to Australia — will accelerate further, pillaging the conditions plaguing Australia. our society. And we will have no one to Part of this discrepancy in coverage blame but ourselves, for unfairly subjecting can be accounted for by the natural our ingrained biases and prejudices upon human desire to look away and avoid our view of the world. e contemplating issues that cause us distress, especially when those anxietyinducing events are miles away from us.

STAFF EDITORIAL

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EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

USED WITH PERMISSION OF BERT

USED WITH PERMISSION OF DAVID CLODE

Only 23% of students heard about the Australian wildfires when they began in late July. *According to a survey of 294 MVHS students

82% of students believe that media focuses more on Western countries than on Asian, African and Oceanic nations. *According to a survey of 279 MVHS students

BERTKNOT USED WITH PERMISSION OF G20 ARGENTINA

USED WITH PERMISSION OF JODITRAN

en

USED WITH PERMISSION OF ISSY BAILEY

OPINION | FEBRUARY 2020

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ILLUSTRATION | SARAH YOUNG

MVHS community members unpack veganism’s negative stereotypes

BY SREYA KUMAR AND JASMINE LEE

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EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

mid the chicken sandwich privileged people, which Gould attributes there are different levels of veganism and debates that emerged between to remnants of socioeconomic and racial some may be more forceful in pushing their popular fast food restaurants segregation from the past. agenda but at the end of the day, people Chick-fil-A and Popeyes, an But going vegan presents its own set of should respect one another for trying to be unlikely contender remained — constraints. While many of us may think of more mindful of what they consume. the Impossible Burger. Founded in 2011, it as a feasible and easy transition, it goes “Vegan[ism] is definitely an abstract Impossible Inc. wanted to create vegan beyond just buying vegetables and avoiding concept,” Northrop said. “There’s different burger patties that tasted and looked like cheese. According to New York Times, levels of veganism— some people feel that ground beef. The idea behind the Impossible fast food restaurants, for example, tend one person is more vegan than the other Burger was pushed to be cheaper just because they don’t use leather. I think into pop culture by and accessible what’s most important in being able to the ever-present to people call yourself vegan is that you’re making a vegan subculture living in poorer conscious effort to avoid animal products that has been gaining neighborhoods, in your daily life.” momentum over and most of Veganism has also been under fire the past decade, the time the by some people for prioritizing animal according to Forbes, cheapest options welfare while disregarding the livelihoods which found that the of students don’t have a contain meat. of farmers and other labourers who work percentage of people dietary restrictions In fact, all of in farms where vegan products are sourced. eating vegan grew the sandwiches “Wherever you go, there is going to be from 1% to 6% from *According to a survey of 319 MVHS students that fall under people being exploited in everything you 2014 to 2017.

M c D o n a l d ’ s buy,” Northrop said. “It’s really difficult to Modern day veganism was founded by dollar menu contain meat. Sophomore be a completely guilt-free consumer. I think animal rights advocate Donald Watson, Sahana Anand, who follows a vegan diet, if you’re able to do the research on where who defined the lifestyle as a “way of living says there are stereotypes on eating vegan. your stuff is coming from, that’s great. If which seeks to exclude [...] all forms of “When people say it’s a sign of privilege, you’re not able to do the research [or] if you exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals I’m assuming they mean they can eat what don’t have the resources, then I think just for food, clothing or any other purpose.” they want and it’s easy for them to come changing what you get is a step in the right However, the roots of veganism date back to by vegan products,” direction.” ancient Indian and Mediterranean societies. Anand said. “For me, I What it The movement that was once perceived as think if you’re privileged means to be tasteless and trendy now makes headlines enough to be a vegan vegan has in relation to issues like climate change, and you think it’s good evolved as the as going vegan can drastically decrease an for the environment, movement has individual’s carbon footprint, according to you should do it.” grown. While Oxford. Now, veganism has found its way Junior Sylvana the term can into the diets of professional athletes, Northrop, who calls of students chose to be interpreted social media influencers and members of herself a “flexible plant in many ways, follow their current diet the MVHS community. based eater,” explains its main role Drama and English teacher Hannah that another reason why *According to a survey of 308 MVHS students is to offer Gould reveals that it was a combination of veganism may have a consumers a ethics, her dislike of the taste of red meat negative image associated with it is because healthier alternative to meat products and and the documentary “Forks Over Knives” of organizations like People for the Ethical decrease the impact individuals contribute that led to her dabbling with vegan meals. Treatment of Animals (PETA), as some of to climate change.

Her and her boyfriend’s frequent tinkering its members tend to “attack” meat-eaters “There’s often a lot of pushback from with cookbooks turned into a pure vegan for not being vegan, causing people to people about our own food choices and I diet without her even realizing it. distance themselves from the diet thinking think veganism is great but I don’t criticize “[We] started cooking recipes from this that it is too extreme. people for eating meat. I don’t tell them one book called ‘Isa Does It’ and it’s an “I think that it’s very unfortunate that they should be vegan,” Gould said. “A easy vegan recipe book,” Gould said. “The that there is such a negative stereotype lot of people, when they find out that you recipes were just so good that we just kept on veganism because it’s really not that eat vegan, they give you a really hard time making more and more things from that extreme thing of a thing to do,” Northrop and so I think that it’s just something for book. Then we bought more books by the said. “It is a small change that has a really people to think about. Even if they have same author. And then we bought more big impact. I think that the stereotype on it no interest in being vegan, maybe think vegan cookbooks. Gradually without really is deterring people from even considering about being tolerant toward people’s food realizing it, we were just eating vegan.” how great of an impact it can have.” choices.” e Gould explains that going vegan This “extremist” behavior seen in requires easy access to fresh produce, and mainstream media today paints vegans in poorer neighborhoods, where the closest as villains of the food chain, as they are resources are a Walmart or a bodega, stereotyped as people who chastise others going vegan is not practical. Veganism is for eating non-vegan candy and riding bikes also often perceived to be a movement for with leather seats. Northrop agrees that OPINION | FEBRUARY 2020

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REPUTATIONS : FOOD PREFERENCES Looking at MVHS students’ dietary habits

BY MICHELLE CHEN

SNACKING

FAVORITE FLAVOR

47

%

of students snack once between meals

*According to a survey of 311 MVHS students ILLUSTRATION | CLAIRE YANG

Savory

51%

Sweet

27%

Salty

17%

Sour

4%

Bitter

1%

*According to a survey of 306 MVHS students

INFLUENCED BY

PICKINESS

FOOD TASTE 60% PARENTS MAKE 32% FOOD TEXTURE 6% RELIGION/CULTURE 3%

41

%

*According to a survey of 310 MVHS students

*According to a survey of 307 MVHS students

GROCERIES

ACCEPTANCE

43

%

*According to a survey of 305 MVHS students

of students have felt judged for their eating preferences

23%

of students primarily buy groceries at Trader Joe’s *According to a survey of 317 MVHS students ILLUSTRATION | CLAIRE YANG

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EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

of students are moderately picky about the food they eat

PATH TO THE PEAK

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM ANDREW YANG

Junior Andrew Yang hikes in a 14-day backpacking trip in Philmont Scout Ranch with Boy Scouts Troop 453.

Members of the MVHS community share their backpacking experiences

BY SOPHIA CHEN AND BRIAN XU

J

unior Andrew Yang was in a tough Junior Andrew Yang spot. One of his fellow Boy Scouts Over the summer of 2019, junior Andrew had sprained his ankle on an eight- Yang embarked on a 12-day expedition mile hike, and the as a crew leader with Troop troop immediately 453, which consisted of eight I THINK WHEN WE set to work cheering high school Boy Scouts WERE ABLE TO SEE other him up and fishing and three adults. The troop THE VIEW BELOW out medical supplies. traveled to Philmont Scout After redistributing US IT REALLY GAVE Ranch in New Mexico and the injured boy’s load, journeyed over 70 miles.

US AN IDEA OF the troop spent nearly On average, the group HOW SMALL WE 13 hours backpacking traveled roughly seven in a single day. to eight miles each day.

WERE [AND] HOW Backpacking can Throughout the trip, Yang’s BIG THE WORLD be venturing beyond biggest challenges came in WAS. the state of California the form of mental aspects into New Mexico with of the trip rather than the JUNIOR ANDREW a Boy Scout troop. physical intensity of the hikes.

YANG It can be trekking Because his crew included through the Alaskan many athletes, ranging from wilderness with a summer camp. It can varsity swimmers to baseball and tennis be hiking up to 17 miles a day in South players, the troop was relatively fit going America. Below are the experiences of into the trip. However, the boys began three MVHS community members who find to get worn out spending 12 days in the themselves backpacking. wilderness. Some boys asked Yang to allow

them time to check their social media as they began to lose self-control.

“But I think more tiring was the fact that we had 14 to 16 hour days,” Yang said.

“And then we didn’t get much sleep. And every day, we basically went to a new place, which meant that we had to set up camp again.”

Despite the challenges he faced, Yang found it very rewarding and was grateful to have had the experience. His most gratifying moment was when he reached the summit of Baldy Mountain.

“All the pain and suffering, eating crappy food out of plastic bags, hiking for long periods of time with heavy packs and having to deal with each other’s opinions — all that led up to that moment,” Yang said. “And I think when we were able to see the view below us it really gave us an idea of how small we were [and] how big the world was. It’s one of those feelings of just being able to perceive how lucky you are to be able to be standing at that point. So I think that was one of the highest moments FEATURES | FEBRUARY 2020

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PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM ANDREW YANG

TO PULL OR NOT TO PULL, THAT IS THE QUESTION. TO PULL OR NOT TO PULL. WOW HOW FUN I LOVE QUOTES SO MUCH. NAME OF SOURCE

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for us during our trip, both literally and figuratively.”

Overall, the trip taught Yang to be stricter in his leadership style when the situation called for it; during an expedition, it is difficult to satisfy each member’s

personal desires, especially when the group is limited by time. In addition, Yang learned greater empathy for his fellow scouts. One particular learning experience came when a fellow Boy Scout sprained his ankle.

“We were actually in a really bad mood

Junior Laney Goldman Last summer, junior Laney Goldman traveled to Alaska to engage in three separate backpacking expeditions with a summer camp, each four to five days long.

Her first trip was on Crow Pass Trail, the second in the Talkeetna Mountains and the third in Denali National Park.

Her backpacking group encountered some difficulty from the first trip due to a heatwave that flooded the rivers and forced them to turn back part way through. In her second trip, she remembered oddities she saw on the trails as a result of lax regulation.

“There [were] no park rangers or anything,” Goldman said. “And we saw [a] bunch of weird stuff, like dead bears hanging in trees and bullet shells on the ground, because some people were hunting maybe.”

On her third trip, her group had experienced overcast weather throughout the trip, missing the opportunity to view Denali. But as the clouds parted for the first time in days, they were finally able to catch a glimpse of the mountain.

Looking ahead, Goldman hopes that she can continue to backpack. Being a part of a Venturing crew, a co-ed program similar to Boy Scouts, she believes she will eventually get the opportunity to do so. “[The Venturing crew has] gone on a few

backpacks, but I haven’t been able to make it [to] any of them,” Goldman said. “I think if that crew ends up going on one and I’m free, then I’ll probably go with them.”

Despite enjoying backpacking, Goldman dislikes the physical aspect of it, describing herself as “quite unathletic.” But even with this difficulty, Goldman was able to admire the beauty of the Alaskan landscape.

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

during that day because it was raining,” Yang said. “We had to hike eight to nine miles. However, once we had that sprained ankle, everybody went back to help that person. And overall, I think that experience told me to be a little more thoughtful about getting things done, but also how to interact with people in a more effective way in difficult situations.”

Yang believes embarking on similar trips can be valuable. He encourages anyone interested in testing their physical and mental abilities as well as those looking to develop closer relationships with others to give backpacking a try.

“There’s also being able to just see nature,” Yang said. “Being able to see those mountains really makes you feel good because once you’re out there you feel a sense of achievement, and even before that you feel really excited to summit. So if you’re an enthusiast, if you don’t mind some suffering, it’s a good idea to join Boy Scouts, and even if you’re not a Boy Scout you can still do backpacking.”

“For me, the actual backpacking kind of sucked,” Goldman said. “It was more like, when you get into camp, you see these views that are quite spectacular. It’s cool because you can’t reach those places with a car. There are places that you can only get to on foot, and they’re usually untouched by humans so [the views are] really pretty.”

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM LANEY GOLDMAN

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM SARAH FINCK

French teacher Sarah Finck mix of colors — the granite mixed with the One of French teacher Sarah Finck’s white snow with the green trees, foliage, most notable trips through nature occurred reflections and lakes, and then if you get a four years ago when she hiked the John sunset in the mix, you can get some orange Muir Trail from Yosemite in the sky.” to Mount Whitney. She Putting in work to reach I REALLY ENJOY spent the 16-day trip a tough destination gives THE MIX OF backpacking around 200 Finck a feeling of what she COLORS — THE miles — the longest trip refers to as second degree she had ever gone on. fun, a gratifying experience GRANITE MIXED More recently, Finck is “questionably fun in WITH THE WHITE that traveled to Patagonia last the moment” — even though SNOW WITH winter break, backpacking her feet hurt and she is tired up to 17 miles each day. from climbing, she sees the THE GREEN She explored glaciers, and is motivated to TREES, FOLIAGE, slope lakes and granite forms keep going. The remote REFLECTIONS in this South American locations and beauty of her region. Finck was thankful hikes add to the beauty she AND LAKES. for the experience, as it feels when she is immersed FRENCH TEACHER may have been the last in nature.

SARAH FINCK chance she had to view For those looking to try the glaciers due to global out hiking or backpacking, warming. Through all her trips, Finck has Finck recommends starting out small. She been drawn to the sights she sees in nature. emphasizes the need to know your limits, “The views that I’ve had mostly in the but also the willingness to push beyond Sierra Nevada are panoramas where you them a bit. feel like you’re on the top of the world “The first thing is that you’re not going on some rocks, with views of layers and to take a shower at night and so you’ve got layers of mountains as far as you can see, to give it a shot and see what it’s like to be often with snow cap on, some of them in dirty for a day or two,” Finck said. “The first any season,” Finck said. “I really enjoy the time wearing a backpack, your shoulders

are going to hurt or your hips are going to hurt, and sleeping on the ground, it could not be the most comfortable thing, [but] to try it a second time would be part of the [lesson].”

Finck loves seeing her own students go outdoors and take on hiking or backpacking — through social media, Finck has gotten a glimpse of many former students who have embarked on similar journeys.

“It makes me happy to see that suburban students who I don’t think were doing [these activities] with their family, necessarily, have found a way to enjoy nature,” Finck said. “You guys are still young, so there’s time to test lots of things.

I think it may not be for everyone, but the world is beautiful and there’s a lot to see and a lot right near us in California.” e

FEATURES | FEBRUARY 2020

21

THEY/THEM

PHOTO | IMAN MALIK

BY ALYSSA HUI AND ANNIE ZHANG Student X is anonymous in order to protect their identity.

In April of 2019, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal disclosed that her child is “gender-non comforting” and uses “they” as their pronoun. American singer Sam Smith announced in September that they prefer to use “they/them” as their personal pronouns.

With these announcements, alongside the increase in word searches by 313% in 2019 from the previous year, M e r r i a m -We b s t e r selected the word “they” as the 2019 word of the year.

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EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

According to Merriam-Webster, there was a In kindergarten, Sharma remembers lack of a singular, gender-neutral pronoun, going to school clothed in the boys’ uniform and consequently, “‘they’ has been used and getting tugged to the boys’ line, which for this purpose for over 600 years.” In made them question what it means to be a light of recent years, “they” has also been girl. Looking in the mirror, they developed used to refer to individuals questions: whose gender identity is I’M A GIRL, BUT THAT Was it the not binary, which is why the long hair? definition was added to the DIDN’T FIT. OR JUST, I’M A Was it dictionary’s online database BOY, BUT THAT DOESN’T b e c a u s e in September of 2019. everyone — FIT EITHER. I’M NEITHER Through the word of their parents the year, “they” is being AND THAT FIT PERFECTLY. and society highlighted today.

For SOPHOMORE ANIKA SHARMA — told them sophomore Anika Sharma, that they were the word “they” is more a girl? than a pronoun — it makes up an integral They felt a sense of familiarity when they aspect of their identity. were first introduced to gender terminology “I’m a girl, but that didn’t fit,” Sharma in their freshman biology class, specifically said. “Or just, I’m a boy, but that doesn’t fit for the term “agender” — someone who either … I’m neither and that fits perfectly.” does not identify themself as a specific

gender. Coming to a revelation, Sharma Sharma spontaneously sought consolation turned to their elbow partner and said, “Oh with Payne, confiding in him about their my god, that might be me.” gender preference. Payne was the third “Honestly, I was confused and scared adult Sharma disclosed their gender because it’s a big thing to happen,” Sharma neutrality to at the time — the other two n a m e ” well said. “It was like something hit me in the being their parents. With this, Sharma as as she/her face and it was just a shock. I couldn’t wasn’t sure what to expect from Payne. function for a good five minutes. I asked “When I went to [Mr. Payne] to tell him pronouns, which questions like, ‘Is it okay to be agender? after class, my legs were shaking, my heart Student X believes What pronouns do I [use]? Can I still be a was beating out my chest, my breathing is “a little bit annoying.” feminist and be agender?’” was ragged. I was lightheaded and dizzy Student X has to correct such Feeling unsatisfied with their gender by [and] my voice was raspy — it was dry,” mislabelling and, as a result, feels birth, Student X, who also Sharma said. “I told him, “extra demanding” at times. With these uses they/them pronouns, and he was just like, instances, Student X occasionally doubts had been experiencing HONESTLY, I WAS ‘Okay, cool. What can I their choice in expressing their gender. “[At times], I think, ‘Maybe this is not episodes of gender dysphoria CONFUSED AND do to make you feel more really what my gender is and maybe I’m (a state of uncertainty where SCARED BECAUSE comfortable?’ I almost an individual’s biological sex cried because I was so just a [cisgender] girl and maybe I should just stop with the whole pronouns thing,’” doesn’t match their gender IT”S A BIG THING relieved.” identity) since the beginning TO HAPPEN. Payne explains that Student X said. “I feel like sometimes I’m of the 2019 school year. he was thankful and worried that it’s kind of annoying to other Initially, they were in denial, STUDENT X appreciated Sharma people. Obviously I know that those are my as they had previously coming to talk to him pronouns and other people should not have identified themself as a cisgender girl. about what pronouns they prefer to use. He an issue with it because it’s my identity.”

Student X believes that the word of the After speculating about their gender also notes that he tries to be more aware of year is “absolutely awesome” and that it identity, undergoing severe episodes of what he says in class. gender dysphoria and consulting a friend, “I try not to use general, traditional serves to elevate queer representation.

“I think the fact that Merriam-Webster, Student X decided to experiment with gender words, such as ‘ladies and different pronouns. According to Student gentlemen,’ things like that,” Payne said. which is a well known company, chose to X, as soon as their friend suggested that “I’m just trying to be a little more mindful recognize that as their word of the year they “try something different,” outstepping of that. I don’t know if I’m perfect because really helps with spreading awareness and it sort of says the message that nonthe binary “just felt a lot more right than it’s old habits, but I try my best.” anything else that [they] thought of before.”

Although Sharma has not changed binary people are here and that they do “I decided to mess around with my anything about themself physically, they exist,” Student X said. “[It breaks] the pronouns and because I’m gender fluid, my would like to cut their hair shorter and gender binary because obviously ‘they’ goes against the ‘you’re a boy, you’re a girl’ pronouns change by day,” Student X said. possibly get a chest binder. thing.”

“Generally they/them is just the best way While realizing their Over this past year, to describe me because some days she/ “true gender identity,” I FELT REALLY, Sharma has been greatly her just doesn’t work and some days he/ Student X also experienced impacted by the word him doesn’t work. I think that ‘they’ is really physical dysphoria in REALLY GREAT “they” and Merriamgreat because it’s all encompassing — you respect to attire. After BECAUSE I HAD Webster’s 2019 word of can use it to refer to anybody.” reaching a consensus with WANTED TO the year shows them how Due to not being out to their parents, themself, they wanted EXPRESS MYSELF much support they have.

Student X turns to their close friends for to express themself “I’m really happy reassurance. Whenever Student X finds more androgynously. DIFFERENTLY FOR about that,” Sharma said. themself in an episode of gender confusion Accompanied by their A REALLY LONG “I’m so thrilled. It just or whenever they quarrel with their parents friends, as their parents shows that there’s just so about their identity preferences, they find didn’t want to purchase TIME. much support and even solace in venting online to their friends. androgynous clothing for STUDENT X though there are some “If I felt like there wasn’t anybody for me them, Student X went on people who still don’t really to really talk to, I think it would’ve been a a Goodwill shopping spree lot more difficult because obviously there and swapped their feminine apparel — off support me, for every one person who are people who have issues with me and I the shoulder tops, crop tops and tube tops doesn’t there’s 50 other people who love and support me no matter what.” e think that it would be a lot tougher if I didn’t — with boys clothing. have somebody to really support me and “I felt really, really great because I had to follow through on who I am,” Student X wanted to express myself differently for said. “I think I probably still would’ve been a really long time,” Student X said. “That in the closet because I wouldn’t really have was really important because it helped me realized [my gender identity] yet.” realize that this does make me happy and Likewise, Sharma was able to draw that this is something that I want to be.” support from their friends and teachers, According to Student X, their close including math teacher Jeff Payne. After friends are still used to referring to them class on the first day of sophomore year, by their former name known as their “dead FEATURES | FEBRUARY 2020

23

PEELING BACK THE LAYERS Examining how the minority experience is taught by white HAmLit teachers

BY JEFFERSON LE AND IMAN MALIK

SCAN FOR MORE COVERAGE

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EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

H

onors American Literature (HAmLit) Asian American voices in the American lit would be regarding the same topic.” teacher Vennessa Nava paces at curriculum and that feels inauthentic.”

Nava believes that because of the large the front of her room, leading a This lack of authenticity prompted the representation of minorities in Cupertino, class discussion on the Asian American HAmLit teachers students have experience. She uses students’ personal to add “American less personal anecdotes to draw connections to the text, Born Chinese”, a experience with especially because she doesn’t have the graphic novel by racism, whereas IT’S BETTER IN A SENSE relevant background. She believes this is Asian American in another part BECAUSE THEY’RE a discursive process — the intersection author Gene of the country, of her literary expertise and the stories Luen Yang, to the they would most ABLE TO DISTANCE of students allow her to teach a deeper course curriculum likely experience THEMSELVES FROM exploration of the minority experience, this year. Nava more prejudice.

THE ISSUE... [TEACHERS] even though she is white. d e s c r i b e s In addition, According to Nava, “traditional “American Born she says that NEED TO BE TEACHING American literature” has been novels Chinese” as her Caucasian THE BOOK, NOT THEIR written by mostly white male authors. a story about descent makes EXPERIENCE. Nava and her fellow HAmLit teachers — navigating the her feel strange all three of whom are white — have been identity of not when speaking to JUNIOR REVA LALWANI focusing on teaching students about the being a white students about minority experience more accurately. male in American minority groups Nava recognizes the demographic of the society.

She in America. teaching staff does not reflect the group believes this piece “But then of students being taught, so she finds that isn’t as challenging as the ones it replaced we’re also in this unique place and there discussions on topics such as the model —such as Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The is a feeling that there’s a Cupertino minority stereotype and white privilege are Scarlet Letter”— but is still necessary. bubble,” Nava said. “Many students here, influenced by her race.

“A young adult graphic novel is not especially if they’ve lived here their whole “I find myself going into this meta mode on the same rigor level,” Nava said. “But life, haven’t been exposed to the kinds of where as a white woman who’s saying this, I think that it is far more attuned to the marginalization that in other locations in I recognize that I have privileges,” Nava experiences of our student population.”

America they might be exposed to.” said. “This year we’ve been reading this Although Nava believes that “American Lalwani agrees with Nava about the piece by a white woman that discusses her Born Chinese” is far more accurate to lack of marginalization minorities face reaction to the idea MVHS, she still in Silicon Valley and the direct affect it of white privilege, finds herself has on the ability to teach the minority and being really unable to experience. Lalwani specifically cites the resistant to it share her own topic of white privilege as an example of I FIND MYSELF GOING initially before e x p e r i e n c e s this phenomenon.

INTO THIS META understanding during discussions Nava believes that there is still work to MODE WHERE AS it better. In the because she is not be done when it comes to redefining the past, that’s the Asian American. American canon. Lalwani is grateful for the A WHITE WOMAN only piece that Junior and curriculum change and says that addressing WHO’S SAYING THIS, we read about HAmLit student all sides of America is important.

I RECOGNIZE THAT I intersectionality.”

Reva Lalwani “I hope we’re able to involve more HAmLit teacher believes that there minority groups, because in our area, I HAVE PRIVILEGES. Mark Carpenter are two sides know a lot about Asian Americans, but HAMLIT TEACHER also realizes how to having non- I don’t know so much about what type the Asian American minority teachers of racism other minority groups face, VENNESSA NAVA demographic talk about so it would be interesting to pull out contributes heavily the minority different sides and see it from a broader to the class e x p e r i e n c e . perspective,” Lalwani said. experience. Specifically, there was a stark Lalwani views their lack of personal After expanding the curriculum, contrast between traditional American connection with the topic as beneficial Carpenter thinks that the lack of staff literature and the MVHS demographic. because discussions are more objective. diversity has become more evident.

“The American canon is very white, “It’s better in a sense because they’re “Our staff in general should be more is very hetero[sexual] and is very able to distance themselves from the diverse,” Carpenter said. “If we had a future cis[gender],” Carpenter said. “Those are issue,” Lalwani said. “I’m sure they’ve person of color in the English department not the demographics of the world they seen it happen, but haven’t experienced it who said ‘I want to take this course,’ I’d live in. Those are not the demographics of themselves, which can be good and bad... be willing to have those conversations and the only voices that matter. So there has [teachers] need to be teaching the book, step down if that seemed to be the right been a conscious effort on bringing in texts not their experience. It’s actually a good decision to make. I recognize that our staff that are more relevant. But the fact of the thing that they’re able to not become [as] is less diverse than our student body. And matter is we have a lot of Asian American emotional on the topic as someone who is I think that’s something that I do hope students here and we don’t have a lot of Asian American and has undergone racism changes over time.” e FEATURES | FEBRUARY 2020

25

Four creations that incorporate marshmallows

BY STUTI UPADHYAY

1

CHOCOLATE PRETZELS

Supplies: - Large marshmallows - 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chunks - Sprinkles or edible decorations - Lollipop sticks (1 per marshmallow) Steps: 1. Puncture the marshmallows with the lollipop sticks.

2. Microwave the chunks, stirring every 30 seconds, until the chocolate is completely melted.

3. Dip half the marshmallows into the melted chocolate, letting the excess drip off. Then sprinkle them with the candy decorations of choice before the chocolate completely hardens.

SOURCE | JUSTATASTE

4

MARSHMALLOW MEN

Supplies: - 3 large marshmallows per creation - Long salted pretzel sticks - Melted chocolate - Long skewer/toothpicks Steps: 1. Skewer three marshmallows with a pretzel stick so they are all connected.

2. Break additional sticks into desired lengths to create legs and arms.

3. Skewer the bottom marshmallow with two sticks to create legs, then skewer the middle marshmallow on either side to create hands.

4. Dip a toothpick in melted chocolate to create eyes, nose and mouth, as well as any other desired embellishments.

2

FACE MASK

Supplies: - 1 cup melted shea butter - 1/2 cup coconut oil - 1/2 avocado oil - 2/3 cup marshmallow root - 1/3 cup aloe vera Steps: 1. Combine marshmallow root, coconut oil and avocado oil into a jar and slow cook in a water bath for several hours or overnight.

2. Set a heat-proof glass jar into a pot of simmering water on the stovetop for 45 to 60 minutes — watching carefully and ensuring the herbal oil doesn’t fry the herbs.

3. Strain the oil using a cheesecloth, then compost the marshmallow root.

Add the aloe vera to the strained oil — if the aloe is fresh from the plant, use an immersion blender to puree it.

4. Add the melted shea butter and essential oils. Pour into a bowl and pop it into a freezer until it’s set.

5. Whip at full speed for several minutes until the mixture is creamy and fluffy in texture.

3

RICE KRISPIES

ENT

MALLOW MAKIN’ Supplies: - 1/4 cup butter - 5 cups crisp rice cereal - 4 cups miniature marshmallows - 1 sheet wax paper

Steps: 1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat.

2. Add marshmallows and stir until melted and well-blended. Cook for two more minutes, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat.

3. Add the cereal and stir until it is well coated with the melted marshmallows and butter.

4. Using a buttered spatula or wax paper, press mixture evenly and firmly in buttered 13x9-inch pan. Cut into squares of desired size.

SOURCE | ALLRECIPES

SOURCE | LIFEINFUSED

SOURCE | CRAFTYPANDA YOUTUBE

PHOTO | STUTI UPADHYAY

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FEBRUARY 2020

27

SELFIE FACTORIES

Examining the rise in popularity of interactive art museums over traditional art museums

BY AYAH ALI-AHMAD

O

A staff member at the Museum of Ice Cream takes a photo of visitors.

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EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

verstuffed, small rooms lead to the next, with young attendees posing toward cameras, large, colorful sculptures flowing throughout and samples of ice cream flavors provided around every corner. For $38, junior Sophia Chen and her friends toured the Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco, which serves both ice cream and the perfect backdrops for social media posts.

“Take your time, get your photos,” are the first words attendees hear from the staff when entering the Museum of Ice Cream.

Installations like this are spaces for people to take photos, and Chen credits this trend to the “Instagram era.”

The aesthetics of the bright pink and white colors seen throughout the ice cream installation, along with the different themes inhabiting each exhibit, provide visitors with numerous photo opportunities. Since its opening in 2017, the building has captured the attention of almost 2,000 people every day.

Chen went to the museum over the summer to celebrate her birthday. It was one of the many things they did that day, but Chen says she wasn’t quite satisfied.

The bright lights and the “immediate sense of excitement” that greeted her at first didn’t last throughout the tour, and Chen attributes most of the fun she had to friends who accompanied her rather than the museum itself.

“You get the immediate sense of excitement, then you walk in and people hand you ice cream, and it’s definitely a welcoming, happy experience,” Chen said.

“As a person who doesn’t care that much about [taking] photos, personally, I didn’t think it was worth [the $38], but it was to celebrate our birthday and it was with a group of my friends, and I did have fun.”

Chen says with her background in art history and being an artist herself, the interactive style of the museum did not meet her standards of an art gallery she would find interesting, and it is something she doesn’t consider to be art.

“Is the Museum of Ice Cream even art?” Chen said. “Reading into the work

of famous artists and studying the time periods and knowing that there’s history behind that piece of art is more compelling to me than a giant cherry … I think with interactive museums like Museum of Ice Cream, it is fun, but there’s no deeper meaning. There’s no meaning to the actual artwork besides the fact that it’s colorful and it’s fun.”

On the other hand, art teacher Brian Chow says that critics should welcome the rising trend of pop-up art exhibits that serve the purpose of being interactive for visitors. As a father of three, Chow says he has struggled with keeping his kids interested in art when visiting established art museums like San Fransciso Museum of Modern Art, but says experiences like these help.

“How do you swing the deal for a kid to be engaged in work like that? Well, have a definitely more important for preserving hands-on art activity,” Chow said. “I think that historical context and the historical more engagement is fun and that’s going to styles of pieces of art from [SFMoMA] is help people get engaged in their [artwork] more important than [interactive] art that people just want to take photos and learn about it. with.”

There’s a controversy IS THE One of Chow’s art students, or critics in terms of MUSEUM OF senior Kiren Balakrishnan, embracing this, but I ICE CREAM says that she likes the idea of think they’re a little too mixing interactive and traditional old school in that aspect EVEN ART? museums to attract all kinds of of it.”

Chow says if JUNIOR SOPHIA people. However, she says that this strategy only works when established art museums CHEN the mixing takes place in already were to implement what interactive exhibits are achieving with established museums like MoMA because hands-on activities, visitors would engage the Museum of Ice Cream will only use it more with the artwork and potentially for profit advantages.

“I feel like it’s cool that MoMA, both learn more.

“When we [think] about the museum, SFMoMA and the one in New York, does how do you design the experience for have certain areas that are meant [to] take people to come to it? Because that’s what your phone out and take photos and be you’re trying to do,” Chow said. “You’re cute,” Balakrishnan said. “And then not just trying to house [the art] to keep it they have areas that are just like a safe and archive history, you want people traditional art museum, [and] it’s a to see and engage ... They don’t have to nice mixture. So you get a taste of come preloaded with any information, they a regular art museum experience, can use technology or these [expierences] to then engage in the work and then they can be connected to the work in a different way.”

But mixing museum styles and purposes isn’t ideal to Chen, who says that the two should stay segregated so that established museums can remain recognizable to the people who regularly attend them, like herself, and preserve the history she deems more important than an attraction for social media attention.

“I do think that there should be a difference between interactive art museums and art museums,” Chen said.

“I think art museums [like SFMoMA] are

A child plays in the sprinkle pit.

but you also attract people with the social media buzz ... You can tell that [the Museum of Ice Cream is] trying to capitalize on our crazy obsession with social media, because SFMoMA is a genuine art museum and that’s all [the museum is] there for.”

Chow says that the controversy over these new pop-up installations isn’t entirely realistic, as they don’t threaten traditional museums, and either way, people will likely share their life experiences online anywhere they go.

“This is a museum of ice cream, so have some fun with that,” Chow said. “What’s the drawback to having an immersive exhibit? That someone’s taking a picture in front of the artwork? It’s not competing with SFMoMA or the icons in the 20th Century ... Who cares if someone takes a selfie with their favorite artwork? They’re going to do it anyway.” e

PHOTOS | AYAH ALI-AHMAD

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FEBRUARY 2020

29

GREEN THUMBS Teachers and students share their passion for gardening

BY CHARLOTTE CHUI

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION OF DAVID CLARKE

JUNIOR TANUSH TALATI Though Talati primarily views gardening For junior Tanush Talati, a seventh grade as a way to destress, he also enjoys seeing visit to a bonsai garden in Washington D.C. his efforts pay off. Some plants, like the lemon sparked his passion for gardening. tree, were bought from the store, then planted, “Ever since that, gardening and plants but Talati finds it especially rewarding to see really interested me,” Talati said. “We the whole process of a plant growing. always had a garden at home since I was “For our avocado, we didn’t buy it young, but my interest in maintaining it and from somewhere,” Talati said. “It was expanding it really started after that point.” actually grown from a seed [after we ate the Before, Talati’s avocado], and it’s been a parents mainly year and a half. It’s really grew flowering interesting to see it grow I THINK OF [PLANTS] AS and ornamental from a seed to almost two BEING SORT OF LIKE plants, like roses feet tall, so it’s something and tulips, but that I’m proud of.”

PROGRAMS IN SOME Talati chose to add SENSE. THEY’RE JUST fruiting plants, like ENGLISH TEACHER REALLY COMPLEX SORT lemon, avocado DAVID CLARKE and peppers. His The summer before he OF ALGORITHMS. family typically left for college, English ENGLISH TEACHER uses the flowers teacher David Clarke to decorate worked for a landscape DAVID CLARKE their house and architect. The architect the fruits and would design the plan; his vegetables to make recipes, like lemonade landscaping crew would create it. For three or spices with the peppers. summers, Clarke was part of the crew, Talati feels one of the most difficult parts charged with tasks ranging from installing of gardening is dealing with the winter, due the pipes to putting in the plants. to the weather conditions. Insects and As Clarke moved to different places pests also pose a challenge, though one with his now wife, they started gardening. pest in particular came as a surprise.

He would build; his wife would plant. Their “When we had carrots, a lot of the current house was a fixer-upper, so he saw times, they’re dug up,” Talati said. “We their house and yard as a “blank slate.” finally found out there were squirrels Over the past 20 years, their garden has digging underneath them and eating the amassed plants ranging from annuals to carrots. We didn’t really try to stop them flowering perennials, succulents to tropical because the carrots were just planted for plants, vegetables to fruit trees (like citrus, fun mostly, and so it was just really cool to nectarine, fig and apple) to 8-foot vines. see other animals.”

They don’t have a lawn anymore but

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EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

“various evolving displays of pots” instead.

Clarke says that deciding how to lay out the garden is a design-oriented process.

“Landscaping really has two phases,” Clarke said. “The first phase is putting in the basic structure. It’s like designing a template for a publication or something like that, which I’ve done too, so you have to design a basic structure and then there’s putting things within that structure, so it’s very creative. There’s a lot of long-term thinking involved. It’s constantly changing.”

The first phase — construction — usually takes place over the summer. Major construction work can take him anywhere from a week to a month. The 12-by-40 foot greenhouse he built, for example, took about four weeks and now stretches along the side of the house.

As for the second maintenance phase, Clarke says that on a good day, when it’s not wet, he and his wife will spend six to eight hours out in the garden. They prune, re-pot and plant. Typically, Clarke handles the heavy labor, while his wife handles the vegetables and annuals.

Clarke has also set up a weather station, which he uses to monitor wind, temperature variation and precipitation, then adjusts accordingly with what the plants need and how he takes care of them.

“I think of [plants] as being sort of like programs in some sense,” Clarke said. “They’re just really complex sort of algorithms and so depending on what you do, they will react in a particular way.”

Clarke finds that growing tropical plants, like lantana and hibiscus, in this area is particularly interesting. In tropical climates,

KE

these plants typically flower year-round, “I just bought two really beautiful pieces but develop a different growing habit here. in October from one of our oldest club “After the last frost, we just whack [the members — he’s getting older and sicker, hibiscus and lantana] all the way back to and he can’t take care of his hundreds of the ground,” Clarke said. “They look like trees,” Pelkey said. “One of them has to be they’re dead, and they’ll about 100 years old, just come back. It’s and the other has to be BECAUSE IT’S constantly interesting about 60 or 80 years to think about all the old, and they’ve gone LIVING, THERE’S AN different ways that into some decline. I’m INTERACTION YOU’RE plants have adapted going to have to get HAVING WITH A LIVING just like animals, to their health back, but their environment and they’re going to be CREATURE THAT HAS filled a particular niche. absolutely gorgeous SOME CALMING AND You’re just trying to bonsais once again.

STRANGE POTENTIAL. figure out what that It’s like having a house niche is, and adapt it to and rehabilitating, so SOCIAL SCIENCE the environment which it’s a living thing.”

TEACHER PETE PELKEY you’ve given it.”

Although Pelkey Clarke feels researches using gardening rewards patience, as it requires books, videos (particularly from Japanese research into a particular plant’s needs bonsai master Masahiko Kimura, who and careful attention to the environment’s Pelkey calls “one of the world’s greatest changing conditions. For him, this provides bonsai artists”) and club meetings, he says an “intellectual challenge,” which is just taking care of bonsai also requires being in one factor behind why he enjoys gardening. tune with regional microclimates.

“I like it because I’m a very visual person, December is a busy month for Pelkey but I’ve done a lot of heavy manual labor — it’s re-potting time, when the bonsai are as well, and I also like something that’s dormant. After Christmas, he spent three intellectually challenging, it gets you to five hours each day transplanting and outside,” Clarke said. “The other part of it fixing bonsai. February — budding season too is that it’s something that my wife and I — is another busy month. Ultimately, do together. I couldn’t do it by myself, and Pelkey says the goal is to display them at she certainly couldn’t do it by herself either. bonsai shows, like Cupertino’s annual The house and yard become something Midori Bonsai Show, held in October. that fulfills a lot of different intellectual and Even though he plans for the timing and physical and emotional needs that we can the changing environment, pests or disease fulfill together.” can still affect the bonsai. When this happens, Pelkey researches plant diseases SOCIAL SCIENCE TEACHER PETE PELKEY As a self-proclaimed “plant lover” since he was little, social science teacher Pete Pelkey says bonsai enthusiast Mr. Miyagi from “Karate Kid” was his “hero.” While in elementary school and growing up in Barstow, Calif., Pelkey tended to a small vegetable garden. Now, his current garden has expanded past vegetables. He breaks down his current garden into several sections: fruit, vegetable, ornamental, rose, Japanese and finally, bonsai.

Pelkey has 55 to 60 miniature bonsai displayed on platforms around his garden, laid out like Mr. Miyagi’s garden, he says.

Once in a while, he “gets the urge” to add another — it’s “almost an addiction” — and sources them from local nurseries like Yamagami’s or from an East Bay nursery in Sunol, where he buys junipers and pines to convert to bonsai. Sometimes, he buys them from fellow bonsai club members, PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION OF DAVID CLARKE during their weekly Thursday meetings.

and anatomy — “botany, it’s like knowing your biology” — to take care of them.

“It’s kind of like children — you have a favorite one for a little while, and then somebody else becomes your favorite for a little while,” Pelkey said. “It just depends on how much you’re working on it or how it’s adjusting to the world at the moment.

Certain ones, if they’re sick, they take on more concern for a while, and then when they’re healthier, you don’t have to be as concerned with them.”

The “enduring” nature of bonsai also appeals to Pelkey. Just as some of his bonsai were passed on to him from a club member to be shaped by his hands, Pelkey’s bonsai will likely be passed on to others after him, shaped by the next owner.

“Most of the bonsai I have will outlive me for hundreds of years,” Pelkey said.

“What I start now, somebody else will put their hands on and modify, modify, modify.

If humankind lives another three or 400 years, it’s a good chance somebody’s going to be holding on to this tree that I once started as a bonsai, which is a continuity that is just amazing to me.”

Pelkey sees building bonsai as a form of art, one that’ll continue to grow and evolve.

“Bonsai is like art and science that melds together into something beautiful,” Pelkey said. “When you finish a tree — you never finish a tree, it’s always a work in progress — you step back after you’ve cut the tree and bent the tree and fed the tree and you see how beautiful that tree is.

It’s like finishing a painting. It’s the same kind of thrill, of knowing you have created something that wasn’t there before.” e

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FEBRUARY 2020

31

PHOTO | AYAH ALI-AHMAD

SPIRI OF SONG

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EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

Senior Yoanna Lee and sophomore John Lee of Santa Teresa HS practice after rehearsal.

A look into ways of worship in the Christain community

BY ADITI DIXIT AND LANCE TONG

A

ter entering the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in San Jose on a late Saturday afternoon, youth pastor Brian Hwang leads a prayer to start the weekly practice for the middle and high school musicians who are part of their church’s praise team, a group that performs worship music every Sunday during service. After prayer, they split into two groups. One group heads to a room to practice its set for the following week, while the other group stays in the auditorium to do run-throughs on stage for the service the next day. Senior Yoanna Lee and the praise team — comprised of two guitarists, a drummer, a keyboardist, a lead singer and two backup singers — rehearse their performance in the dimly lit auditorium.

Born to two pastors, Lee has been a part of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church since she was young. Lee joined the praise team when she was in eighth grade and became one of a few praise leaders during her sophomore year.

As a praise team leader, Lee helps with running weekend practices and updating their group chats with set lists or practices.

Lee also learned how to play acoustic guitar to enhance the band’s sound performance.

Over her past few years in the group, she has seen how praise is a way for her to express her feelings for her faith in God. “Praise is literally just another type of worship of our God,” Lee said. “When there is a really pump song, people dance and people sing and that’s just kind of what it is. Us as praise leaders and team leaders [lead] people into that space, so they’re not singing to us — we’re all singing to God.” Hwang preaches to the youth at his church and oversees the praise team.

He assists the team leaders in how to improve, as well as informs them how much worship time they’ll have. However, Hwang says he leaves technicalities and musical expression mainly to the students. “[The praise team] leads us on a type of musical adoration, worship and expressions towards God [during] the time we commune with him through [the] singing of songs, music and expression,” Hwang said. “So [its] our energy towards God, through the medium of music.”

The praise team at Hwang’s church consists of 28 members, including its three praise leaders. The leaders take turns leading and choosing which

members will perform during Sunday’s through their religion, as well as the youth services. The members then music that Lee brings to her own group.

This music has found a home in modern learn the setlist, and they hold a final practice the Saturday before the services. high schools through clubs like Christian Club. Christian music Senior Elvis Lang, has modernized over while not on a praise AS PRAISE time, incorporating team, values the impact LEADERS AND Western genres like praise has on his TEAM LEADERS pop, rock n’ roll and church community at River of Life Church.

[WE LEAD] PEOPLE rap, as opposed to traditional hymnals “Worship is the one INTO THAT SPACE and church choirs. time where you’re singing SO THEY’RE NOT “Nowadays, you listen [and] you can reflect on to modern-day hip-hop or yourself as you do it,” SINGING TO US­ pop and you hear people Lang said. “I think [the — WE’RE ALL praising beauty, praising worship team] goal is to SINGING TO GOD. women, praising men, create an environment where we can all focus on SENIOR YOANNA LEE praising love,” Hwang said.

“Humans have yourself spiritually. [It’s especially helpful] in the morning [when] always [written] history. We’ve sung stories. we’re all kind of groggy [because] everyone We’ve sung about people. We’ve sung about starts singing and focusing on God.” things that we find worth remembering, Outside of their Sunday services, Lee worth thinking about, worth praising.”

While the style of praise has changed, and Lang bring their Christianity and worship to the MVHS campus as officers Hwang believes that music can “plant for the Christian Club. On Fridays during hope” in the individuals listening to it.

“God looks at young people and lunch, they hold meetings to connect

God sees a lot of potential — that’s planted hope,” Hwang said. “[Praise is] about activating young people in their gifts, so they can serve God and serve the world and to do it at a young age.”

Although Hwang feels that praise helps youth serve God, Lang believes music stands out as a medium for worship because of the sincerity involved. Lang feels that music is inherently emotional, enabling people to feel a greater level of connection with God. “A lot of [people at church] aren’t saved, they’ve been taught everything their whole life but I don’t know if they actually dedicate their lives to God or not,” Lang said. “For a lot of people who are saved though, you can tell by the way that they worship that they actually praise God, that they mean every word that [they sing].”

SCAN FOR MORE COVERAGE

Senior Yoanna Lee practices “Jesus Loves Me” by Chris Tomlin on stage.

PHOTO | AYAH ALI-AHMAD

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FEBRUARY 2020

33

CALLIN THE SHOTS Referees share about their experiences calling the game

BY ELENA KHAN AND TABITHA MENDEZ

E

ssential to every sports competition, referees stand out in their striped black and white attire, a whistle dangling around their necks — it’s up to them to call the shots. With eyes on the players, coaches and fans, the referees are responsible for making quick choices to ensure the safety of all.

“I get to stay involved with basketball,” referee Will Mittenthal said. “I get exercise — it’s a good workout. Obviously, I’m getting paid to run, which is not a bad thing. The cons are that you have to put up with coaches and the fans who don’t like the calls you make. You’re only making 50% of the people happy every time you blow your whistle.”

Mittenthal’s love for the game led him to reffing at the high school level for the

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EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

last six years. Similarly, wrestling coach Kristian Barbo wrestled throughout his high school career and has continued to coach and ref. While he enjoys staying involved with wrestling, he frequently experiences backlash from the teams he works with.

“Many referees like the sports that they ref, but the bad part about it is [that] there are people who yell, scream and bad mouth refs,” Barbo said. “We try to do everything as best as possible, but mistakes happen in any athletics and I think it needs to be addressed a little more.”

Both Mittenthal and Barbo consider the criticism from spectators as the only negative aspect of the job. Parents are heard screaming from the bleachers after unfavorable calls, leading to the refs experiencing highly stressful situations.

“The best tool when reffing is your personality to deal with different situations,” soccer referee Eder Del Angel said. “A good referee has to have a lot of situations that happen to him in a game so that he can know how to deal with it in the future games.”

Del Angel has been refereeing since he was 12 years old, and played soccer growing up. What started as a way to make extra money and follow in his father’s footsteps, Del Angel says that he considers soccer a family sport, and refereeing is a way for him to continue being involved since his playing days are now over.

Similarly, Mittenthal started refereeing at age 19, and views reffing as another job opportunity aside from working in finance at Salesforce in San Francisco.

- Referee Kristian Barbo

“I’ve seen a person just go on the field with a monkey wrench going after a goalkeeper that had nothing to do with the game.”

SPORTS

“A kid broke his leg pretty bad. Then one of his teammates like laid across his chest and talked to him while the ambulances came because he was scared and his face turned white ... that was really cool to see.”

- Referee Eder Del Angel

PHOTO | TABITHA MENDEZ PHOTO | TABITHA MENDEZ

PHOTO | TABITHA MENDEZ

However, Barbo referees for a different purpose: his children. Previously, Barbo was a wrestling coach, but he noticed it took up the time he wanted to spend with his kids. As a result, he looked to referring as a less time-consuming way to stay involved.

Barbo also holds a job as an agricultural biologist in Santa Clara County.

Although reffing high school teams is a way to maintain his involvement in basketball, Mittenthal sees referring as something he wants to pursue even more in the future.

“I have aspirations to go and potentially referee for higher levels and high school so reffing is a big pro for me [in the future],” Mittenthal said. e Soccer referees gather together at the end of the game to speak with coaches.

SPORTS | FEBRUARY 2020

35

s e h c a o C g n i Hir Understanding the process behind how sports coaches are hired

BY HANNAH LEE

1 2

When a vacancy for a coach arises, the school notifies FUHSD’s HR Department, which then posts the position for a minimum of five days on EdJoin, an educational employment website.

Candidates who are interested in the position submit an application through EdJoin.

After the posting closes, the athletic director and administrator overseeing athletics at the school site work with the HR director and senior HR specialist to review the applicant pool and select candidates to interview.

5

The athletic director contacts the HR Department to recommend the successful candidate for hire.

The HR Department approves the selection and processes the candidate for clearance to become a coach.

4

3

An interview panel made up of the athletics administrator, athletics director, coach and student athletes conduct interviews at the site and finalists are selected.

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

36

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH ASHLEY LIU

BY RUCHA SOMAN

A

fter watching people play at her elementary school and noticing her dad’s keen interest in the sport, senior Ashley Liu started playing basketball in sixth grade.

At first Liu would shoot hoops during her time at Lincoln Elementary School, later joining her sixth grade basketball team at Kennedy MS. Throughout middle school, Liu played competitive basketball at Cupertino Hoops while simultaneously playing for National Junior Basketball (NJB) during seventh and eighth grade. Liu continued her basketball journey in high school where she not only played with the MVHS team but also played with a Foothill competitive league team created by her middle school coach. In 11th grade, Liu transitioned with members of the MVHS team to play Amateur Athletic Union tournaments from spring through fall. Due to her vast experiences, Liu says safety is the biggest difference between school and tournament teams. She claims that school referees care more about safety so they call more fouls while outside of school is more physical. Although Liu does not plan to continue at the collegiate level, she hopes to stay in touch with the sport through intramural teams.

10.3

POINTS PER GAME*

3.1

STEALS PER GAME*

28

POINTS: CAREER HIGH*

* from the 2019-2020 season PHOTO | JUSTINE HA

SPORTS | FEBRUARY 2020

37

BALL IN THE FAMILY

PHOTO | ANISH VASUDEVAN

Sisters Emi and Kelli Kosakura share the girls varsity basketball court

BY JAYANTI JHA AND ANISH VASUDEVAN

38

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2020

N

W

hen their three daughters were in preschool, Keith Kosakura and his wife considered which sports to put them in — gymnastics, soccer or basketball. However, due to a combination of their Japanese heritage, love for basketball during their childhood and the convenience of having all their daughters play the same sport, there was only one answer to their dilemma.

“My best friends to this day are still my teammates from those middle school or high school teams,” Keith said. “We wanted our kids to have that same experience that we had playing with the same teams growing up.”

Since then, all three daughters have stuck with the sport, but this marks the first time two of the sisters play on the same team. Since the start of the 201920 season, freshman Emi Kosakura and junior Kelli Kosakura have shared the floor on the girls varsity team. Kelli explains that because of their bond as siblings, their chemistry on the court is unmatchable and the two can anticipate each other’s moves and position while playing.

“We always bicker a little bit, like ‘why didn’t you look at me?’ or ‘that was a bad pass,’” Kelli said. “But we do have some sort of connection. From watching each other’s games [while] growing up, we know how we play. And so we can adjust to that to make things work like driving and spotting up in the corner or something like that.”

Kelli says this chemistry developed over the years, with the sisters frequently

PHOTO | ANISH VASUDEVAN

Junior Kelli Kosakura sets up for a midrange shot against Mountain View HS. MVHS lost this game 31-52 against the Spartans.

playing against each other on a court in front of their house. Keith explains that through basketball, his daughters were able to get closer as people and as players.

“The whole family responded with basketball, and the weekends really revolve around our tournaments and basketball,” Keith said. “But with the three sisters, they definitely bonded with it, just playing against each other. And sometimes there’s a few tears, but most of the time, they help

each other, they support each other.”

Even though the duo playing for the same team has been convenient for the Kosakura family, Emi points out that the season itself is still difficult. Emi had some experience as a seventh grader playing for MVHS during summer league games, which she describes as a “nervous” experience.

This season marks the first time in several years that multiple freshmen have been on the varsity squad, and Emi finds herself having to play her hardest to prove herself. However, she explains that having the returners, like her sister, guide her has a positive impact on her skills.

“Having other freshmen on the team, we are all on the same level so we all have to show what we are capable of playing,” Emi said. “Then again, having the upperclassmen there [to] help us understand ‘what’s going on?’ because sometimes we get confused since it’s a lot different than middle school basketball.”

Keith explains that both daughters have somewhat of a sibling rivalry on the court, citing how they won’t high five when substituting in for each other because of their competitive spirit. Nonetheless, Keith says their sibling bond is still strong.

“They’ll never admit it, but I think not just on the court, but even at school and with other activities, I know the other two daughters look up to and respect [Kelli],” Keith said. “Even if they never say it.” e

PHOTO | ANISH VASUDEVAN

Freshman Emi Kosakura attempts to drive into the lane against Mountian View HS defenders. The Matadors are 11-10 this season.

SPORTS | FEBRUARY 2020

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