El Estoque will accurately inform our community through well-researched, unbiased and in-depth accounts of stories of the student body and staff, local news and developments and taboo topics prevalent in and near the MVHS realm. By investigating a variety of voices and credible perspectives, we hope to foster active discussion, effect positive change and spread awareness of timely and relevant content. As a trustworthy, consistent and reliable source of information, we strive to be accountable, adaptable and ready to correct and address our mistakes. Constantly striving for improvement, we will uphold integrity and ethics to be respectful and empathetic to one another, our sources and our readers. We will exercise our press freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment and California Ed Code 48907 while maintaining a community of reporters with a strong passion for our work and journalism as a whole.
LETTER FROM THE
Scrolling through TikTok, it’s hard to forget that it is election season. From jokes about coconut trees to parodies about eating pets, both presidential candidates have racked up their fair share of viral moments. Consequently, the election has generally been hard to take seriously, especially for the large majority of us who don’t have a vote.
Still, as much as we love to laugh from the sidelines, we need to face the truth — it is almost our turn. In a country that is becoming increasingly polarized, the youth vote makes a difference in who decides the next decade of our lives. The decisions made impact us directly, which is why in our Staff Editorial, we advocate for students to vote in school board elections.
In this issue, we tackle this fast-approaching responsibility in an attempt to clear the haze of memes and misinformation. Our News section takes a look at how we approach elections, analyzing MVHS government curriculum and the campaigns of the past and present to gather a more holistic perspective on the election.
We also take a moment to reflect on ourselves, examining the ways in which we are simultaneously united and divided. In our Features section, we comment on our evolving dialogue, creating space for minorities in the language we use. On the other hand, our Opinion section examines marginalizing humor on campus and polarizing conspiracy theories.
It’s increasingly important that we have spaces where genuine discourse can occur. We aim to make this magazine that space, but we recognize that the activism and debates that shape the future of the nation will have to happen outside of it too. So instead, we hope to begin the conversation and encourage you to acknowledge your importance in these elections, no matter how laughable they may be.
Alyssa Yang
PHOTO | LILLIAN WANG
Jami Lim
Ananya Chaudhary
Kathryn Foo
Alan Tai
Samika Bhatkar
PHOTO | ERIC ZHOU
PHOTO BY KENNETH GAN | USED WITH PERMISSION
THE VOTE IS
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION | STELLA PETZOVA
IN.
The 2024 election prompts a look into the factors affecting the outcome and future of American politics
BY ETHAN KELLOGG, ZAID NAQVI, DYLAN NGUYEN, STELLA PETZOVA, APRAMEYA RUPANAGUNTA, ALYSSA YANG AND ERIC ZHOU
BALLOT
BY DYLAN NGUYEN AND APRAMEYA RUPANAGUNTA
JULY
7.21 Biden drops out
Biden announced the end of his candidacy in a letter posted on his X account. Shortly afterwards, he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who accepted his endorsement with a statement that received mixed reactions.
AUG.
SEPT.
8.7 Protesters removed
Harris held a rally in Detroit where a group of Pro-Palestinian protesters chanted during her speech, “Kamala, Kamala you can’t hide! We won’t vote for genocide.” Harris responded with “Everyone’s voice matters. But I am speaking now.” The protesters were later escorted out.
9.10 Presidential debate
The second presidential debate of 2024 covered pressing issues such as immigration, affordable housing and the Jan. 6 insurrection. After the debate, the public consensus was that Harris had a stronger performance whereas Trump’s performance was unprofessional.
“Although she wasn’t great at answering the questions, at least she made sense and talked more about policy.”
- Arunabh Thakuria (12)
7.21 Charli xcx tweets
As reactions about Harris’ candidacy erupted on social media, popular artist Charli xcx, who had recently released her studio album “Brat,” tweeted “kamala IS brat,” marking the beginning of a social media trend that played a key role in Harris’ campaign.
8.19-22
Harris officially accepted the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination on the last day of the Democratic National Convention. Beginning on Aug. 19, many influential figures took the stage to endorse Harris.
87% of MVHS students think Kamala Harris won the debate *According to a survey of 112 people
8.6 Walz is announced
After weeks of anticipation from Democrats, Harris announced Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota, as her running mate at a rally in Philadelphia. He is “the kind of vice
BATTLE
A reflection on key events during Harris and Trump’s 2024 presidential campaigns
13% of MVHS students think Donald Trump won the debate
*According to a survey of 112 people
SCAN FOR MORE COVERAGE
7.13 Trump is shot
5.30 Trump is convicted
8.5 Adin Ross & Trump
Trump engaged in a live-streamed conversation with influencer Adin Ross to appeal to young voters. Ross gifted Trump various items that were later returned to Ross as they violated the Federal Election Commission Regulations.
Trump was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In the attempt, the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fatally shot Corey Comperatore and injured two other rallygoers. Trump suffered an injury to his right ear but continued his campaign events.
“If you are going to kill someone for having a different political ideaology, something needs to change.”
- Nikhil Chi (9)
Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts, surrounding Trump falsifying business records to cover up illegal payments to pornographic actress Stormy Daniels following a sexual encounter.
9.10 Presidential debate
The second 2024 presidential debate between Trump and former vice president Kamala Harris took place in Philadelphia. Unlike the first debate, the moderators fact-checked both candidate’s claims and news organizations later cited Trump as having over 30 false statements.
Elon Musk donates
At a pro-Trump rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Tesla CEO Elon Musk pledged to award $1 million to petition signers each day until Election Day. Over the past few months, Musk has donated over $75 million to Trump’s campaign, founding the America Political Action Committee (PAC) to support him. In exchange, Trump has promised to elect Musk as chair of the Federal Efficiency Commission.
ELECTION EXAMINATION
Students and staff discuss the significance of controversial elections in the past
BY ZAID NAQVI AND ALYSSA YANG
With tensions growing in this year’s presidential election, former President Donald Trump unleashed various personal attacks on his opposing candidate, Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. At a rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania on Saturday, Oct. 19, Trump labeled Harris as a “s--- Vice President.” He went on to call her “slow” and said she had a “low IQ” on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at a campaign event in Miami. With no comment from the Harris campaign, this precedent for
personal attacks between candidates has been developing over the last few elections, resulting in toxicity between the two parties.
The 2020 election consisted of much of the same vitriol, with clear hostility between candidates and contentious debates. Biden ultimately won the election — however, the events that followed on Jan. 6, 2021 where an armed and violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the capitol, leading government officials and lawmakers to take refuge, remains the biggest thorn in Trump’s 2024 campaign. History teacher Hilary Barron recalls her shock at people breaking into an esteemed government institution and Trump’s denial of the election results following the election.
“Trump’s continued claims of election fraud with no verifiable evidence are very concerning for the future of our democracy,” Barron said.
“In the U.S., democracy was built on this idea of having a peaceful transfer of power.
When you know that a sitting president is working against the democratically elected incoming president, it is very concerning.”
Engineering teacher Ted Shinta says the Jan. 6 events led him to feel more uncertain of the future, especially with the response
from radical Trump supporters if Harris wins the current election. The Proud Boys, a far right movement supporting Trump that participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection, promise to emerge again following the November ballot.
“If Kamala Harris wins, there’s so many of these fanatics with guns, honestly, that you just don’t know what’s going to happen,” Shinta said. “Trump has fanatical loyalty and you hope that it doesn’t overthrow the government of the United States.”
Trump’s loyalty from his radical supporters began to grow in the election with former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in 2016. Although Clinton won the popular vote, Trump won the electoral college and the presidency. The notorious emergence of Trump as a political figure beginning with his labeling of Mexicans as rapists to the controversial result in 2016 brought the authenticity of the electoral college into question.
“The electoral college does not accurately reflect the population in an equitable way,” Barron said. “It makes it so that for some citizens in some states, their vote counts and has a bigger impact on the election than others. That’s why the candidates are spending so much time and money in these battleground states like Pennsylvania and North Carolina and those people are going to decide our election.”
Shinta believes that the conflict between Clinton and Trump was due to an increasingly widening divide between the two parties. For junior Maxim Gutnik, the political climate surrounding recent elections has convinced him that each party views the other as an enemy, often bickering about what they disagree upon rather than focusing on other matters. Gutnik has seen the same divisions among voters.
“I’ve lost friends over my political beliefs, but I’ve also gained friends due to having different political beliefs,” Gutnik said. ”Anybody that might have a political opinion different from yours will be seen as an enemy due to the polarization. But we shouldn’t be looking at that. We should just be looking at what we can all agree on as a people.”
Unlike most elections, the result of the Presidential Election of 2000 was decided by the Supreme Court. The Democrat Al Gore, who was the incumbent Vice President, ran against George W. Bush, the eldest son of former president George H.W. Bush. With both candidates tied at 266 electoral votes, attention turned to Florida, where, due to the small vote margin, a recount was mandated. After a month, the U.S. Supreme Court voted five to four in favor of reversing the recount issued by the Florida Supreme Court, effectively handing Bush the victory. While Gore disagreed with the court’s decision, he conceded the election quickly citing “the unity and strength of our democracy,” a different route than what Trump chose where he continued to challenge the election.
“ I LOOK AT POLITICIANS AS ‘THEY DO GOOD,’ ‘THEY DO BAD.’ OUR SYSTEM ISN’T PERFECT, BUT IT’S ALWAYS BUILT UPON COMPROMISE.
ENGINEERING TEACHER TED SHINTA
As the race towards election day wraps up, Gutnik says it is imperative for the American people to understand that political violence will only cause further time,” Shinta said. “There’s always going to be dissent, and you have to bring some of those dissenters to your side. I look at politicians as ‘they
“There was frustration from the Democrats, but Al Gore conceded right away and was trying to promote this idea of peaceful transfer of power,” Barron said. “Gore’s leadership drew people to accept the Bush presidency. I assume this is Trump’s last election, so it’ll be interesting to see whether candidates choose to follow his kind of style of rhetoric going forward or not.”
STEERED TO EXTREMES
The MVHS community and experts discuss the drawbacks and solutions to online radicalization
BY ETHAN KELLOGG AND STELLA PETZOVA
For the purpose of maintaining their privacy, the advertising professional mentioned in this story will be referred to as Source A.
The issue of algorithmic radicalization, the concept that social media companies push radical content, is not a new idea. But with the election and ever-increasing polarization between political parties, fears about it — real or imagined — are only growing.
Social media is used by 77% of MVHS students as a news source. However, some research proposes that as content gets more radical, so do its viewers’ ideological standings, which in turn influence the content they see, creating a constant positive feedback loop.
Performance Marketing Director Source A, who has previously worked for Meta, currently creates advertisements on various social media platforms. They believe that extreme content goes viral because it stops the fingers of users from
scrolling on the platform. This fingerstopping content is so valuable in marketing that Source A’s companies have spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to achieve it on behalf of their clients.
Like Source A, Lynbrook High School library media teacher Amy Ashworth has noticed that content meant to evoke an emotional response gets more likes, regardless of whether it’s factually correct. Ashworth never takes the news she sees on social media at face value, and always double-checks it with a reputable news source.
She believes that algorithms tend to push content that users engage with and causes them to spend more time on the platform, leading to an echo chamber. On the other hand, posts that challenge users’ worldview are suppressed.
like about this? Is there anything that I can change?’” Ashworth said. “They’re trying to give you what they deem as the best experience.”
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In addition to divisive and echo chamber content, algorithms have been shown to promote harmful content due to high engagement with such posts. According to an article by the BBC, social media companies show violent and misogynistic content to teenagers, especially young boys, and turn a blind eye to the harm this content poses. A study by the University College of London reveals that these algorithmic processes lead to hateful ideologies and misogyny being spread and becoming embedded in youth culture.
“The algorithm is like a waiter at a restaurant coming to you and asking, ‘What do you like? What do you not
In accordance with this finding, Ashworth believes that the combination of social groups and social media can a ect one’s worldview and the development of
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION | STELLA PETZOVA
their beliefs. When the Israel-Hamas war broke out, her son, a student at the California Polytechnic State University, was pushed in support of one side by social media posts. This led to him feeling torn between maintaining an unbiased point of view and supporting his friends, many of whom were of Middle Eastern descent. In response, he began to “recalibrate and recenter” his viewpoint and be conscious of what content he interacts with, in order to view events from a less biased perspective.
Assistant Professor of Sociology at Yale University Daniel Karell says that when social media is considered alone, it has a small correlation to an increase in political violence. He agrees that algorithms do promote sensational content, but cautions against blaming them wholly for radicalizing people. Rather, “economic inequality, cultural grievances and a sense of cultural and political loss, cable news and other media, and the rhetoric of political leaders,” along with radical and insular social media circles, can cause realworld extremist and terrorist activity. Karell believes that a possible reason for most of the blame being assigned to social media is because of the rise of both happening at the same time: it is simpler to blame the algorithm for real-world problems rather than try to address the more complex reasons.
junior Khushi Chetty cites her father, who consumes political content on YouTube, as an example of someone who seeks out content per their previously held political views. But while his viewpoint informs the kind of content he consumes, she believes the content also further influences his opinions — an ongoing selfreinforcing loop. She has noticed her father’s political stances lean ever farther from the center because of social media. Chetty, who says she doesn’t currently hold strong opinions on political or social topics, believes that if she began seeing left or right-leaning content on her social media feed, she may start to believe it.
“ THE ALGORITHM IS LIKE A WAITER AT A RESTAURANT COMING TO YOU AND ASKING, ‘WHAT DO YOU LIKE?’
contribute to o ine violence. However, she says social media does have strong ties to real-world political events due to its instantaneity and interconnectedness. She believes since it allows people to plan events and communicate about gatherings, o ine violence is more likely to happen at a larger scale. She also states that emotionally impactful events are much more prevalent because of social media.
86% of
MVHS students
feel their opinions are influenced by their social media feed
*According to a survey of 133 people
The promotion of misinformative content by algorithms, and the insular “filter bubbles” formed when algorithms prioritize content that users already agree with, combine to make the ideal breeding ground for users to selfradicalize. To Chetty, this has potential implications for the political state of America.
LHS LIBRARY MEDIA TEACHER
AMY ASHWORTH
“Consuming sensational or extremist content does not mean that someone is going to commit political violence,” Karell said. “After all, most people select into consuming content — that is, they seek out the content they want. For example, racists seek out racist content.”
In line with Karell’s point that radical people seek radical content,
“To a certain extent, it may have influenced the election, because there’s a lot of people who are easily influenced by what they see on social media,” Chetty said. “I do think it could definitely alter the opinions that they previously had based on new information they find on social media. Especially with biased videos, they could definitely impact people’s perceptions of big events.”
Like Karell, Ashworth agrees that polarization doesn’t necessarily
“Before, you didn’t hear about the event until after it had happened, maybe a week later,” Ashworth said. “Wherever you are in the U.S., all of a sudden you have all of this news that’s popping into your feed because that information is readily available and consumable. That information push is so instantaneous that something that was once a small bubble is now a massive bubble, and it has a ripple e ect in larger groups of people.”
As library media teacher, Ashworth’s role in teaching research and media literacy skills means she has strong convictions that all people, especially high school students, should be informed about what content is harmful for them to believe and could potentially drive them to insulate themselves from outside perspectives.
“Once you’re in your little bubble, you tend to not want to leave your bubble,” Ashworth said. “That’s a polarizing e ect, and since these algorithms are feeding you information you’re staying on one side, whether you realize that you are or not, without taking anything else into account. I would recommend that people just take it with a grain of salt and say, ‘OK, well, this is what I’m hearing from these people. But I’m going to investigate myself.’ Very few of us actually investigate for ourselves.”
TOMORROW’S VOTE
Government classes adapt curriculum to educate students about the election
BY ERIC ZHOU
When he turned 18, U.S. Government and Politics teacher Benjamin Recktenwald registered as a member of the Green Party and has remained one ever since. He resonates with the Green Party’s pro-environment and people-overprofit values and believes that voting is a responsibility when living in a democracy.
guide projects, mock elections and discussing voter suppression.
“ IT’S THE IDEA THAT YOU LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY, AND YOU’RE EXPECTED TO VOTE.
U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS TEACHER
As a government teacher, Recktenwald says part of his duty is educating students about the election. Recktenwald embraces the idea of approaching government class as a current events class by incorporating voting
BENJAMIN RECKTENWALD
To encourage student involvement in politics, Recktenwald distributed voter registration cards in his U.S. Government and U.S. History classes. There has been an increase in young voters in the past decade, and Recktenwald feels strongly that the American people have been more politically active in this year’s election because “there’s something really at stake this time.” He cites the recent uptick in political violence as a prime example, also mentioning how there have been safety concerns
this election was about “defending American democracy.”
“It’s this kind of double-edged sword, where there’s so much controversy, so much toxicity, so much rage flowing in our government,” Recktenwald said. “On the other hand, it’s driving people to participate in politics.”
Recktenwald says there’s been more enthusiasm among his students for voting compared to the start of his teaching career 25 years ago. He even says that young voters around voting age exhibit more passion for voting than adults, attributing this to the fervor dying off with age. However, he admits that young voters lack optimism in viewing the election.
Current events have led senior and U.S. Government student Piers Boyer to notice a stigma around politics, which may discourage young voters from even considering casting a ballot. In particular, the 2024 Presidential Debate had made him more skeptical about both candidates.
“They’re not even debates anymore, they’re just politicians not answering questions and using every instance to try and defame the other contestant,” Boyer said. “It’s really a contest of popularity at this point.”
Recktenwald acknowledges the pessimism toward the presidential election, with the amount of
lying by politicians of both parties, yet he questions how well-informed undecided voters were.
“If you couldn’t decide between the two candidates, one question I have is you need to get better informed, and what were your sources of information?” Recktenwald said. “There are clear differences between Harris and Trump, and you might favor one over the other, and that’s fine. I always tell my students that I’m going to talk about politics and the election. In class, if you disagree with anything I say, that’s fine. All I ask is that you back it up with evidence.”
As an alternative to national elections, Recktenwald had encouraged students to vote for candidates in local offices and on the California ballot, noting that voting in a local election could have a larger impact. Having grown up in East San Jose, he recalls an election for a vacant city council position where he claims he and his family were among the only people to vote in a low-turnout election. Recktenwald even says the Green Party should focus efforts on local elections for greater impact, as he fears a Green Party presidential candidate drew votes away from Harris. Regardless, he emphasizes the significance of voting to his students, whether or not their chosen candidate wins.
President of Politics Club, senior Ali Malik says the classroom environment actually inhibits students from sharing their political opinions, which informed his decision to lead a student-run civic engagement club. He says students may be discouraged from sharing a political opinion that contrasts with those of teachers or peers. In Politics Club, Malik helps facilitate debates among students concerning where different candidates stand on policies and has plans to invite activists for a student panel.
66% of MVHS students
believe school officials should encourage students to vote
*According to a survey of 143 people
“I think we live in a society where no matter where you’re at, people have to usually conceal their political beliefs out of fear of being attacked for what they believe in or out of fear of being unpopular,” Malik said. “The fact that people in Politics Club are able to share their political opinions without necessarily fearing extreme backlash from students is something that’s really powerful.”
expressed their views in his class. By encouraging classroom debates, Recktenwald hopes to create active, participating citizens, a sentiment that Boyer aligns with.
“We will be the ones with the majority vote leading into the upcoming years,” Boyer said. “I would definitely say that because we are the next generation of the workforce and the country, we have to make sure that our country, how we live our lives, is run the way that we need rather than the way what we want.”
“It’s a civic duty — it’s not just an opportunity,” Recktenwald said. “It’s the idea that you live in a democracy, and you’re expected to vote. It’s like you pay taxes, you obey the laws and you need to vote.”
As a supporter of Kamala Harris and a critic of Donald Trump, Recktenwald does not forgo his political identity in the classroom, and instead, he invites open, frank discussion.
Recktenwald disagrees, believing that the classroom doesn’t inhibit any sort of discussion — rather, it simply depends on the student. He recalls instances where students who were friends had contrary political opinions and openly
PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS | ERIC ZHOU
ach year, APUSH students listen to a familiar lecture on using the term “enslaved person” instead of “slave” when speaking during discussions or writing essay responses such as Document-Based Questions. This practice isn’t unique to APUSH classes: many AP Literature and history teachers across MVHS give talks about inclusive and appropriate language.
However, junior Abhi Kotari, who is currently taking APUSH, believes that students lack sensitivity regarding their choice of language despite these lessons. He says this can be explained by the low diversity in MVHS’ demographics. Although MVHS has 92% minority enrollment, since 78.6%
MVHS
community members discuss
the impacts of using more inclusive language regarding marginalized groups
BY ANANYA
CHAUDHARY AND LIZ LIU
of the student body is Asian, meaning that the actual diversity of the student population within MVHS is diluted. Kotari believes that if MVHS were more diverse, students would be more careful with their language as they would be able to see the impact of their words.
RIGHT NOW, WE CAN’T SEE THE ACTUAL DIFFERENCE USING THE RIGHT LANGUAGE MAKES TO A PERSON OF THAT COMMUNITY.
JUNIOR ABHI KOTARI
“If you look at the terms ‘enslaved person’ versus ‘slave,’ we understand the reason for why we are using new words and see the difference,” Kotari said. “Right now, we can’t see the actual difference using the right language makes to a person of that community.”
MVHS alum ‘24 Meggie Chen also believes MVHS’ student demographic contributes to the lack of sensitivity
or knowledge surrounding their language. Both Chen and Kotari believe that most MVHS students wouldn’t correct their peers if they were using language such as “slave” or “disabled person” instead of “enslaved person” or “person with disabilities.” Kotari believes that if he heard the outdated language in conversation, he wouldn’t even recognize that it was being used, while Chen says that if she were to notice outdated language being used in conversation, she doesn’t know enough about the topic to feel comfortable correcting someone else.
“In news articles, there are a lot of people with varying opinions on using labels like disabled person versus person with disabilities,” Chen said. “As someone who is neither disabled nor of African American ancestry, it feels strange to make a stance on these topics when I’m not even sure it’s correct. If I felt a little more educated about the topic, I could say, but I don’t want to say anything concrete when there’s a large diversity of opinions
about the topic.”
Chen says her choice to speak up against the usage of a word is dependent on the situation she is in and the type of language being used. For example, correcting peers regarding their language feels different in a college setting where her peers are adults with more freedom, as opposed to high schoolers. She also believes the word “slave” does not have the same bad connotation as other words which have changed their meaning over time, like the “r-word.” The “r-word” was originally created as a medical term in the mid 20th Century and has evolved since then to become a slur or used demeaningly.
also should not be using that word while they’re writing about the text.”
USING NEW LANGUAGE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SHOWS THE GROWTH AND BROADER INCLUSION OF MORE STORIES IN HISTORY VERSUS THE DOMINANT NARRATIVE MOST OF US READ.
need to rewrite words in his essays. He attributes this difficulty adjusting to still constantly seeing the outdated language in textbooks and in media, which he thinks encourages students to continue using that language even if it’s morally incorrect.
Belshe agrees that media portrayal of language does affect its usage, especially among Gen Z and Gen Alpha students. As a result of the media’s influence on students, both Belshe and Kotari recognize that it can be difficult for students to change their language when the media they consume reflects the outdated language.
Belshe conveys that it is important for students to understand the reason for a language shift, even if the outdated term may not be offensive. She implemented new and inclusive language following a technique called “reading against the grain,” where students recognize they are looking at the past as historians, acknowledging the changes in mindset that have occurred since then by using new language.
HISTORY TEACHER BONNIE BELSHE
MVHS seniors in AP English Literature are introduced to the “r-word” repeatedly in the text Flowers of Algernon. Despite this, AP English Literature teacher Melissa Clark believes the addition of the book in the curriculum is extremely valuable because while MVHS students read books about people from diverse places, they don’t read a lot of books about diverse disabilities.
“Right before we started the text, we let the students know that there is some terminology in the text that can be a little jarring for us in our modern day setting,” Clark said. “But having them understand the history of the word is valuable, because they understand why authors use it. It also has them understand that it’s not appropriate for us to use that word aloud during discussions, and they
“Using new language is important because it shows the growth and broader inclusion of more stories in history versus the dominant narrative that most of us read — the very narrow slice of economically elite, politically elite and socially elite, which tends to be very white focused, male focused history — that was positioned for so long as the default history,” Belshe said. “When we only look at sources given in the language of which they are from — white supremacy — then we’re only looking at history through the lens of white supremacy.”
While Kotari understands the importance of using accessible terminology, he has found it difficult to completely change his language. Kotari says he often uses the wrong words, causing him to
“When using new language, it’s about the ‘know better, do better’ attitude,” Belshe said. “It doesn’t mean that we are all perfect with our language every time, but it’s important that we recognize the work that we’re doing to change. Once we recognize the continued reinforcement in the classroom is important, those changes outside of the classroom will start to come. If we have a new generation that can recognize this shift, other changes will come from there.”
ith the noise of waves gently rolling onto the sandy shore and seagulls squawking in the distance, senior William Dahm and his older siblings stroll down the beach, catching up with each other along the way. It’s a bonding moment that’s hard to come by for Dahm, as his siblings, who are 11, 22 and 25 years older than him, have all moved out of the house. Due to the size of their age gap, Dahm’s two oldest siblings, his brothers, already lived separately from their parents by the time Dahm was born, leading him to experience more moments with his older sister.
“I see my sister most often because she grew up in the same household as me, whereas with my brothers, they were pretty much already adults when I was born, so they kind of have their own lives,” Dahm said. “I like going to the beach with my siblings, because when we’re walking, we can have more real conversations, as opposed to at family dinners where it’s a lot of small talk. When it’s just a few
The MVHS community discusses how they connect with their siblings despite their large age gaps
BY ERIN LIU AND OWEN LIU
people, you can really get to know them, one on one.”
Freshman Melinda Zhao, whose two older brothers are 10 and 16 years older than her, has had a similar experience as Dahm. While her brothers played an important role in the early years of her life, even taking her to school in the mornings, Zhao’s brothers have now both moved out. This reduced amount of time spent together has led Zhao to feel more distant from her siblings.
“Most siblings live together, so
Biology and Health teacher Pooya Hajjarian says some relationships are universal — among them are the tightknit relationships between siblings. However, being the second youngest of five brothers, Hajjarian has noticed how different age gaps impact his individual relationships with his siblings.
“My younger brother and I have an 18 month age difference, so it’s almost like we’re twins,” Hajjarian said. “However, I think because there’s a
as much in common, so it takes a little more effort to try to understand one another. It feels a little more like father and son than it does brotherlike, to some degree.”
Hajjarian notes that along with generational differences, cultural differences also influence his relationship with his oldest brother. Having spent only 11 and a half years in Iran, Hajjarian’s experiences differ vastly from those of his oldest brother, who spent twice as long there. Certain aspects of Iranian culture, like the Farsi language, are more important and come more naturally to his brother than to Hajjarian, leading them to have different values. Despite their differences, Hajjarian describes his brothers as some of his best friends, emphasizing the importance of spending effort to bridge the distance in maturing relationships.
like a secondary set of parents or guardians.”
Dahm also acknowledges that his older sister had at times played a parental role in his life when he was young. However, both Dahm and Zhao agree that, compared with their parents, it’s often easier to get advice from their older siblings.
a lot easier to have distance between you and your siblings,”
Hajjarian said. “If you put in the effort, you can continue to stay in touch and keep the relationship strong, but if you’re not putting in effort, it’s really easy to lose that relationship.”
However, even though Zhao is able to reach her siblings whenever she wants over the phone, she highlights that the lack of face-to-face interactions limits the activities she can do with her brothers. When she gets to see her brothers, it is typically only over a family meal, and she feels that this lack of more fun activities detracts from the traditional sibling experience.
“Since they’re much older than you, I feel like connecting with my siblings is harder than for other siblings, who play with each other or do something like that,” Zhao said. “I never really experienced that — my brothers were more like my babysitters, and they would have to look over me when I was younger. In that sense, they were
“My parents are pretty old, so sometimes they’re a little out of touch with the way the world is today versus when they were growing up,” Dahm said. “It’s nice to go to my siblings for advice on things that they’ve already gone through, but it’s also close enough in time to where it’s something that our experiences are more similar than between me and my parents.”
Having a similar mentorship dynamic with his oldest brother, Hajjarian highlights that such bonds never change. Even as his relationships with his siblings have blossomed from never-ending fights to the strong bond they currently have, Hajjarian’s oldest brother still plays the same role for him and his brothers.
“I think there are certain dynamics that will always be in place, and my brother’s sense of obligation that he needs to make sure he’s there for us and help guide us in the right direction in life is one of them,” Hajjarian said. “But generally, my brothers and I always want to be there for one another, regardless of how old we are and where we are.”
PHOTOILLUSTRATION|ALETHEIAJUANDCORINNAKUO
FUHSD’s Middle College gives MVHS students a unique high school experience
BY ALETHEIA JU AND CORINNA KUO
very day, junior Sophie Tam begins school at 12:30 p.m. While many of her friends have already been in school for four hours, her classes have just started. As part of FUHSD’s Middle College, a program giving juniors and seniors an opportunity to earn both high school and college credits in a unique setting, Tam is one of around 80 FUHSD students who take classes at De Anza College. With the freedom to choose from a larger variety of courses and times for their classes, as well as an increased sense of independence while taking more difficult courses, students are able to get a taste of college life without being in college full time. For Tam, being able to experience a different educational environment from MVHS was a major appeal.
“I think Monta Vista is kind of restricting,” Tam said. “Going into junior year, I was thinking, ‘I’m going to have to do five AP’s and study and do this and do that.’ But being at Middle College is much more freeing for me. There’s a similar amount of coursework, but I’m able to choose the classes that I want and do the stuff that I want.”
Senior Erin Handelsman, who attended Middle College her junior year and currently attends MVHS, joined Middle College both for a new experience and because of memories she had of it when her sister was enrolled in the program. Her older sister would take her along to Friday Middle College movie days, and the sense of community she saw there pushed her to try Middle College once she was a junior. However, Handelsman found that the classes were the highlight of her time there.
“I love the De Anza classes, they’re
excellent,” Handelsman said. “The professors are so nice and caring, and they want to teach you. It’s not that they have to, it’s that they want to be there and they want to help you succeed.”
Middle College teacher and Adviser Sean Morrison agrees that students seem to enjoy the new experience. As a social science teacher for 12th graders, he only meets with his students three hours each day and, although he is there to support students navigating the college experience, he tries to stay in the background.
“From what I’ve seen, students have really enjoyed the transition,” Morrison said. “There’s a lot of autonomy and a lot of freedom out here, and students are only with us for three hours of the day. Students, I think, really enjoy the freedom that they have to navigate the college system on their own.”
However, Morrison says the transition can be difficult for some students at the beginning. Nobody is monitoring the students to make sure they finish their work, and the class structures are often different from high school as many of the classes are more lecture-heavy and fast-paced, and grades tend to be based on just a few large exams. Additionally, students take on more independence as they are taking college courses at a college. Because many professors treat them like adults, they are given more autonomy and responsibility over their education.
She contrasts this with high school, which she says has a different set of expectations for students, and a more involved approach.
“At Monta Vista, they envelop you in a little bubble,” Tam said. “The principal would email us and be like, ‘Here’s this opportunity that if you want to go to, you can, but in De Anza, you have to find those opportunities yourself.”
she arrived at Middle College, she felt isolated as many Middle College students already had friends, making it harder to meet new people or make close friends.
23%
However, Tam says the Middle College program does a good job of hosting events aimed at connecting students with the De Anza community, recalling when they held an event the second week of school where she could talk to people interested in similar majors as well as network with other students and staff. She says that many other opportunities like club information day are held at Middle College as well. Morrison agrees, adding that a week-long orientation at the beginning of the year allows students to bond before classes start.
of MVHS students have considered attending Middle College
*According to a survey of 103 people
“It’s a big change, and you feel really secluded being part of a new group of people you just met,” Handelsman said. “Don’t get me wrong, they were really nice and helpful, and everyone’s there to make your experience worth it. We had a lot of group chats, and the people were super nice. But just how Middle College was styled — it was a lot different.”
Tam agrees with Handelsman, saying it’s harder for her and her MVHS friends to meet up because they can’t hang out during brunch or lunch anymore. However, she still believes that the Middle College learning environment works better for her overall.
“ STUDENTS REALLY ENJOY THE FREEDOM THAT THEY HAVE TO NAVIGATE THE COLLEGE SYSTEM ON THEIR OWN.”
MIDDLE COLLEGE
ADVISER
SEAN MORRISON
Tam agrees with Morrison, noting that there is an expectation for them to be more mature and act like adults, both academically and while interacting with other students.
“One of the things we really focus on here at middle college is really trying to build a sense of community,” Morrison said. “We put such an emphasis on the community building and social element, and we spend so much time together that I do think it kind of creates this small community.”
On the other hand, for Handelsman, the social transition was the hardest part, and one of the reasons she decided to return to MVHS. When
“I think the bigger aspect is helping me integrate into college life,” Tam said. “There’s a lot of things here — expectations, unsaid things that just don’t happen at high school, and I think Middle College is just a great transition point from high school to my university and future.”
mandatory SERVICE is
MVHS students share their thoughts on having to do mandatory military service in their home country
BY ETHAN EISLER AND SAMUEL TEO
Looking through the scope of a rifle, former Emergency Medical Technician for the Israeli military Orr Sharpe aims her weapon at a target. Before she pulls the trigger, Sharpe shuts her eyes in fear and fires her shots, missing all of them. This is the third time that Sharpe has attempted the shooting exercises, and the third time she has failed them. Fortunately for her, an officer overseeing the exercises decides to pass her, understanding that she will be an EMT and won’t be doing much fighting.
“ WHENEVER I TALK TO FRIENDS AND PEOPLE THAT I KNOW IN KOREA, THEY ALL TELL ME NOT TO GO BECAUSE THEY EXPERIENCED THE HARSH TRAINING.
Sharpe is a devout pacifist who doesn’t like holding weapons. However, Israel’s mandatory military service requirement required her to enroll from 1990 to 1992. Luckily, Sharpe found a way to serve her country without using weapons.
SOPHOMORE JIHWAN LEE
“I was not extremely joyful that I had to do military service,” Sharpe said. “But it’s something that I grew up with, and I knew that it was coming, so it wasn’t a big shock. I knew I had a little bit of an issue because I was a pacifist, so I had to work hard to get enlisted to
become a medic so I didn’t have to do any fighting. After basic training, I refused to hold a gun.”
South Korean citizen and sophomore Jihwan Lee will also have to fulfill his country’s mandatory military service requirement in the near future. While some might view this as a rite of passage, Lee feels apprehensive about the experience. His concerns are shaped by the numerous reports of mistreatment within the ranks, with hazing and bullying by senior officers being particularly prevalent. Lee believes this environment undermines the camaraderie that should exist among soldiers.
“In the past, the higher ranking officers would kind of bully the soldiers, and there would be trouble between them,” Lee said. “And there have been news articles about how higher ranking officers would punish soldiers without reason. Whenever I talk to friends and people that I know
in Korea, they all tell me not to go because they experienced the harsh training.”
Lee also feels that he will be disadvantaged if he chooses not to do military service, as South Korean employers may think that people who completed military service “have more experience and are more organized.” But to other students, like junior Brian Chou, having to complete military service abroad can create legal challenges for students who are on green cards such as himself.
“ I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT STANDING UP FOR MYSELF AND STANDING UP FOR OTHERS.
“I met my husband there,” Sharpe said. “I met a bunch of people and we’re all still kind of friendly, but two became lifelong friends. I learned a lot about standing up for myself and standing up for others. I learned to push myself and achieve stuff that before I would just say I cannot do, and I learned that actually, I can.”
FORMER EMT FOR THE ISRAELI MILITARY ORR SHARPE
“I can delay my military service if I go to college,” Chou said. “But if I fail to get into college, then I’ll just need to go back to Taiwan and do my military service, and I couldn’t come back to America because I need to stay in America for 200 days in a year in order to have my green card. So, if I fail to get into college, I won’t come back to America anymore.”
Chou says that time spent in the military could also take away from working on his career. Despite this, Chou is still looking forward to his military service, because he thinks that he will learn other important skills like leadership and discipline.
“In terms of their career, other people don’t need to waste a year in the military and that will save a lot of time,” Chou said. “But military service can provide a unique experience and teach skills that others won’t have. So actually, it depends on the individual. In my perspective, I don’t think military service will damage your career or your college.”
Chou’s hopes that military service could provide a unique experience is shared by Sharpe, who says during her time in the military and the Gulf War, she made lifelong relationships, had many memorable experiences and learned more about herself.
Although Lee has the option of skipping military service if he obtains American citizenship and renounces his Korean citizenship, he says he wants to complete his military service as it will give him some time to think about his career.
“For me, I can get my American citizenship if I live here three more years,” Lee said. “And if I get American citizenship, then I don’t have to do Korean military service. But personally, I think military service can be a good time for thinking about my future, so I think it’s kind of a positive.”
Military service not only provided Sharpe lessons and areas for growth, but her experience as an EMT led her to rethink her goal of becoming a doctor, and she instead opted for a more engineeringfocused degree.
“Before the military, I thought of becoming a
doctor. I wanted to be an MD,” Sharpe said. “I went and I volunteered to be an EMT, where I learned that I really don’t like touching people, especially dirty or stinky people. So I scratched the MD thing and I went and got a degree in biotech engineering, and I still treat diseases, but not individual people.”
Sharpe believes that military service is important to help out one’s country. However, Sharpe says people shouldn’t necessarily have to serve in the military and that they can do other civil work like working for the fire department or working for a hospital instead. Regardless, Sharpe still believes that her time in the military was a unique experience and helped her grow as a person.
“I don’t have any regrets doing military service, but at the same time, I’m happy that my kids don’t have to,” Sharpe said. “If you ask my husband, he actually feels that the kids are missing out on not doing military service, because you definitely learn to stretch your boundaries more and it really gives you a different perspective of life.”
TAKE A VOTE
Students should be allowed to vote in FUHSD school board elections
This November, FUHSD board seats for Trustee Areas 2 and 5 were up for grabs. Candidates raced to campaign at PTSA events and candidate forums, aiming to best represent the interests of parents, teachers and community leaders. However, one crucial group was missing from the discussion: the students themselves.
This shouldn’t be the case. After all, the board oversees decisions that touch every aspect of student life. Budget allocation, managing hundreds of millions of dollars, determines which programs to prioritize or what technology to upgrade. Curriculum development shapes what students learn, preparing them for life beyond high school. Attendance zone boundaries shape the demographics of campuses and what educational resources are available to our community.
Meanwhile, across the country, school boards have become battlegrounds for divisive issues like book bans, DEI initiatives, LGBTQ+ discussions and critical race theory. For students in FUHSD, the decisions the board makes are the difference between an inclusive environment or one fraught with discomfort. Any shift of the board, especially as parental-rights advocacy groups gain momentum, could upend the experiences of students in an instant.
Allowing students to vote in board elections isn’t a radical idea. In fact, it’s already being done in California — Berkeley and Oakland granted 16- and 17-year-old students the right to vote in school board elections this year. While the results of the change remain to be seen, outcomes elsewhere have been promising.
78%
of MVHS students
would vote in an FUHSD board election at age 16 if allowed
For example, in Takoma Park, Maryland, lowering the voting age for local elections saw 69% of eligible youth turn out for the 2020 elections, outpacing the 54% turnout for all voters in the area. Analysis from Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement finds that politically engaged youth are more likely to remain engaged with politics in the future — it makes sense that the earlier students learn the mechanics of registering to vote and casting a ballot, the more likely they are to continue exercising their rights as adults.
*According to a survey of 108 people
It’s only fair that FUHSD students, who have firsthand experience with all of the issues that the school board addresses, have the ability to vote in board elections. We cannot afford to leave those most vulnerable to the outcomes of board policies voiceless in the electoral process.
Indeed, in some countries
that have lowered the voting age, there has been an increase in voter turnout among all ages. Considering data from Tufts University that shows only 22% of Californians between 18 and 29 voted in the 2022 midterms, it is clear that more effort is needed to get young people to the ballot boxes and foster engagement in the democratic process.
A common pushback
to giving students the right to vote is that they lack the knowledge and maturity to make these decisions. But if anything, we have seen the opposite from FUHSD students. Through ASB, clubs, nonprofits and other means, students have shown that they care about shaping their educational environment for the better. It’s possible to stay informed too, as FUHSD can continue to support student journalism and work to host spaces for students to talk with board candidates and discuss politics.
Research from the American Academy of Political and Social Science shows that youth possess the neurological and social maturity to vote based on empirical evidence. The logical next step is to formalize student involvement by giving them a direct vote.
FUHSD has an opportunity to empower students to be civically engaged. By giving students the ability to vote in school board elections, the district can ensure that its policies are shaped by those who are most affected by them and foster lifelong civic engagement. Students live with the outcomes of board decisions every day. It’s time to give them a say in who makes those decisions.
ILLUSTRATIONS | GRACE LIN
PHOTOILLUSTRATION| YIXUAN(JOYCE)LI
BEHIND THE PUNCHLINE
Jokes about sexual harassment trivialize the issue
BY JONAH CHANG AND YIXUAN (JOYCE) LI
Trigger warning: This story mentions sexual assault.
“I’m gonna touch you” is a phrase that has grown far too common in MVHS’ soundscape. While it’s often used in a seemingly lighthearted way, typically as a retort, its implications and derivatives cannot be ignored, as they downplay the severity of sexual misconduct and assault. Jokes or statements such as these minimize the gravity of sexual harassment, perpetuate a toxic culture and normalize behaviors that can lead to real harm. It’s time to rethink what we’re laughing at.
Rape jokes were prevalent in the media for years before the #MeToo movement, which brought awareness to sexual violence, gained traction in 2017 and criticized rape culture. Movies labeled comedies, namely 2007’s “Superbad,” which follows teens who attempt to drug their female classmates during a party, presented sexual assault and harrassment as a form of adulthood, while stand-up comedians, including Daniel Tosh and Jimmy Carr, joked about rape to audiences. In one instance, Tosh remarked to a female audience member who criticized his crude humor, “Wouldn’t it be funny if that girl got raped by, like, five guys right now? Like right now?”
In making this infamous comment during his stand-up show, Tosh wasn’t just making an offcolor joke — he was reinforcing the idea that it’s acceptable to laugh at someone else’s trauma and even encouraging others to do so as well. The fact that it happened in a public space to a paying audience makes clear how deeply-rooted this issue is. Public figures like Tosh and Carr who engage in this type of humor validate it, encouraging others to adopt a similar
mindset, especially when they face little to no backlash.
Even after the #MeToo movement put such jokes under scrutiny, social media users have has continued to make light of rape through the use of memes, namely those made about allegations regarding Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sexual misconduct. In this way, social media plays a huge role in perpetuating this harmful rhetoric, with platforms like TikTok and Instagram promoting lighthearted language that trivializes sexual assault. The casual use of terms relating to rape and sexual assault or phrases that mimic harrassment in slang and memes may seem insignificant, but ultimately send the message that these topics are fair game for humor without regard for the pain they cause.
“ INTENTION DOES NOT NEGATE IMPACT.
It’s important to acknowledge that not everyone who makes a rape joke intends harm — many may not even realize the gravity of what they’re saying because this language has become so normalized. However, intention does not negate impact. Joking about rape blurs the line between what is acceptable humor and what crosses into harrassment, minimizing the trauma of sexual assault survivors and allowing harmful behaviors to escalate. Ultimately, language shapes behavior, and what starts as a casual joke can just as easily influence real-world actions.
These attitudes have begun to filter into MVHS’ culture, and in school settings, peer influence exponentially increases the scale of this issue.
Among friend groups, rape jokes can be passed off as harmless or even witty. However, what begins as a joke among friends goes unchecked and leads to the blurring of strict boundaries that should not be broken.
80%
of MVHS students
often or sometimes hear jokes about sexual harassment/assault used around campus
*According to a survey of 156 people
Moreover, students’ normalization and popularization of this rhetoric inspires other students to act the same way.
When students hear these jokes from their friends, they’re less likely to question and more likely to repeat, creating a positive feedback loop of problematic rhetoric and encouraging an overall toxic school environment when it comes to this issue.
To address this issue, it’s also essential to draw a clear distinction between what’s considered an acceptable topic to humorize and what crosses into the territory of harassment to curb the harmful progression and desensitization of these jokes. School officials can contribute to this effort by implementing educational programs that focus on the impact of such language, perhaps through advisory periods with cautiously chosen language to ensure that, in addressing these issues, these programs aren’t further perpetuating these jokes. These programs can encourage students to think critically about their jokes and call out inappropriate behavior when they see or hear it.
Ultimately, a cultural shift is needed — one that rejects jokes about sexual assault and recognizes the gravity of these issues. One that begins with rethinking the language we use and the jokes we choose to make.
rumor has it
MVHS students and staff discuss the role of conspiracy theories in their lives
BY SAMIKA BHATKAR AND RADHIKA DHARMAPURIKAR
BEYONCÉ
For the past month, TikTok edits of Beyoncé and Jay-Z clips from the Grammy Awards have been plaguing senior Deeksha Kemthur’s TikTok For You page. ‘90s rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs’ public arrest has sparked social media users to create conspiracy theory videos about Beyoncé controlling the music industry. Specifically, the videos theorize that her husband Jay-Z was responsible for the deaths of Red Eye and Aaliyah because they would threaten Beyoncé’s success, with users using lyrics from J. Cole’s song “She Knows” to corroborate the theory.
Kemthur understands that such videos are exaggerations and views the Beyoncé conspiracy theory as something to entertain her, rather than be taken seriously. However, when considering more widelyknown conspiracy theories, especially political ones, Kemthur keeps an open mind and tries to acknowledge any evidence that supports them. Similarly, sophomore Beck Poltronetti follows a philosophy that if a conspiracy theory is somewhat plausible, he can’t debunk it immediately.
AREA 51
“I see something, and it’s not necessarily that I have to research it, but I think about the motivations and the reasoning behind it,” Poltronetti said. “So I think this: Is it plausible? Is it based on my perception of how the world works, and could this happen within that? An example is that I can say with 100% certainty there are no aliens in Area 51. I’m not saying the government doesn’t have aliens. But think about it: If I’m the government and I have aliens and UFOs, why would I store them in the place people
know about and are actively talking about? Instead, I’m going to move them to Area 57 because no one ever thinks about Area 57.”
MLK JR
Poltronetti mainly finds conspiracy theories through YouTube videos and talking with strangers through video games, emphasizing that he avoids social media and believes it’s harmful to younger generations. One of the conspiracy theories Poltronetti found on YouTube and believes in is that Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination was planned and that his assassin, James Earl Ray, was hired by the U.S. government. AP Macroeconomics and U.S. Government teacher Pete Pelkey agrees with Poltronetti, firmly believing in this conspiracy theory.
“There’s a big question about how a small man like James Earl Ray could have shot through a window,” Pelkey said. “He’s standing with one foot on a toilet, another in a bathtub, and somehow hits Martin Luther King. Also, he was in a Black hotel at the time, and you’re telling me nobody seemed to notice the white guy in a Black hotel. He actually drove away with a white Mustang, and there’s no way that nobody seemed to notice the white guy in a white Mustang, driving away with the gun. It doesn’t make sense.”
EDUCATION
students to think critically by having them create a research project to investigate a specific political conspiracy theory. Last year, Pelkey had students create a “Conspiracy Museum,” where each group was assigned a conspiracy theory, such as the Kennedy and MLK assassinations being planned and the theory that the U.S. funded the Nicaraguan war through the “War on Drugs” movement. Similarly, World Studies and AP U.S. Government teacher Hillary Barron says she ensures her students analyze the sources they use for history research projects to teach them to be critical thinkers, perhaps finding biases for historical agendas.
SOCIAL MEDIA
45% of Americans are more likely to believe conspiracy theories than 25 years ago
*According to the National Library of Medicine
Barron emphasizes teaching this skill, especially with the widespread access to information on social media. She believes the line between news, biases and conspiracy theories is easily distorted and notices social media has caused biases to become more obvious, especially with, in her view, a growing radicalization between liberalism and conservatism. According to Pelkey, many sources claim radicalized or extreme theories, recalling Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene claiming “Jewish space lasers caused the California wildfires.” As someone who receives news through social media, Kemthur is wary about political agendas being pushed in the form of conspiracy theories.
Pelkey encourages his Government
“I get a lot of my news through social media, and it can be so
unreliable because political accounts and politicians are making all these conspiracy theories,” Kemthur said. “Sometimes it’s obvious to people what’s a conspiracy theory, like Trump claiming Haitian residents are eating cats and dogs, but for those people who can’t tell, it’s dangerous for them to be so trusting.”
IMPLICATIONS
Barron worries about the effects of strongly believing in conspiracy theories as well, sharing a story of a time when one of her close friends from high school saw her husband go through a traumatic experience, causing him to go on a conspiracy theory bend. Ultimately, the couple divorced. Barron believes conspiracies can, in some cases, remove people from reality when they are so trusting of the media.
Poltronetti agrees and specifically worries about the prevalence of A.I. in future elections and how it’ll distort the general population’s consumption of news. He believes distorted videos using A.I. will influence the way voters are influenced. Furthermore, Poltronetti says many U.S. citizens don’t read impartial news, referencing them as not being “media literate.” When comparing different political environments from the past to today, Barron states that there has been a massive increase in the number of conspiracy theories and the speed with which they are spread. In a 2022 study, 45% of Americans believed people are more likely to believe conspiracy theories than 25 years ago because of social media. Barron observes this ongoing trend and believes that due to the lack of the general population using physical and unbiased media their received presentation of facts is often insufficient.
“Now it seems like there’s this even greater distrust of the federal bureaucracy and the mainstream media, this idea that they’re in cahoots,” Barron said. “And so I feel like it’s grown, and the pace of these new issues coming out has also quickened.”
WHAT’S A CONSPIRACY THEORY YOU BELIEVE IN?
THE U.S. AND UKRAINE ARE PURPOSEFULLY THROWING THE WAR AS RUSSIA MAKES SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES IN THE EASTERN UKRAINE FRONT.
SENIOR
STEVE LAM
SKIBIDI TOILET IS A PROPHECY THAT WILL OCCUR IN THE NEAR FUTURE (FIVE TO 10 YEARS).
FRESHMAN
JEFFREY HUNG
QUEEN ELIZABETH II IS NOT DEAD. 9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB.
FRESHMAN
VIKRAM MALLYA
SENIOR DARREN LIN
CELEBRITIES ARE THANKING BEYONCÉ TO BE SAFE.
FRESHMAN
KAYLEE GUERRERO
WHAT
ICK? THE
Students and staff reflect on the implications of toxic relationship terms
BY MEGHA MUMMANENI AND ARCHANA VENKATESAN
Walking in Times Square alongside her friends, sophomore Ruchika Varanasi came across a street performer who was dancing boisterously, while also appearing to bother women in the crowd. Seeing this, she told her friends, “Oh, that just gave me the ick.” Looking back on the experience, Varanasi contemplates her use of the word ick and if it really was just a spur of the moment feeling of dislike or a genuine bad impression she had gotten about the man.
According to a survey of 119 MVHS students, 66% have used either the phrases ick or red flag before. Varanasi attributes the exponential increase in the use of these words to prevalent social media apps including Instagram and TikTok.
The first time senior Nishant Chatterjee saw the word ick was on Reddit, involving a highly upvoted post of a teen saying that he plays a myriad of video games and owns lots of plushies. However, someone else had commented on the post calling those behaviors an ick, making Chatterjee feel upset as someone who also enjoyed playing video games for long hours for leisure. He addresses a different perspective on the issue: with the overuse of these terms, many times, people end up miscategorizing serious situations by passing them off as icks or red flags.
Tina Colada, who has a specially categorized playlist on her YouTube channel titled “ICKS.” After scrolling through the videos, Varanasi found some of the icks valid. However, she didn’t see eye to eye with some of the other shorts, as from her perspective, they crossed the line from merely being an ick to actually being a serious issue. She recalls one video where Colada describes a scenario involving her friend, who loved watching and listening to K-Pop idols. However, her controlling and jealous boyfriend would not let her engage in this interest, frequently getting mad when she did.
“ RED FLAGS AND ICKS ARE TERMS THAT SIMPLIFY A BIGGER ISSUE. PEOPLE CAN AND DO USE THE TERM WRONGLY.
SENIOR NISHANT CHATTERJEE
87% of MVHS students
not defined enough to the point where we can actually get to a good place in terms of the relationship. They can take advantage of that person and just do whatever they want and exploit their emotions.”
have heard someone use either the phrase “ick” or “red flag” outside of social media
*According to a survey of 182 people
While acknowledging that sometimes these terms can contribute to troubled platonic or romantic relationships, Chatterjee says it is important to recognize that words like icks, red flags and situationships are all still slang terms. He says that sometimes they should just be taken as lightly as they were originally intended to be, calling it “cool” in certain contexts.
“Red flags and icks are terms that simplify a bigger issue,” Chatterjee said. “People can and do use the term wrongly. So I feel like good education about these terms and proper usage of them will have positive effects.”
Varanasi agrees with Chatterjee’s perspective, alluding to influencer
Junior Alex Sharma feels that “icks” and “red flags” do not necessarily lose their meaning through social media, but the connotation of the terms shift as they gain more traction in everyday life. Sharma cites the word “situationships” as an example, stating that in years prior, it was meant to describe two people who liked each other before dating. Varanasi adds that now the term has taken on new complexities, referring to two people who are on the cusp of dating yet do not want to put a label on the relationship, which can at times be negative as it does not tie one down to the expectations of being loyal.
“The other person could be like, ‘Oh, we’re just in a situationship. I could talk to whoever I want. I could go out and date someone else if I really wanted to,’” Varanasi said. “It’s
Overall, Varanasi claims that these terms have now become overused due to a lack of differentiation between satire and seriousness. Sharma shares similar sentiments in that using such phrases can be a fun way to joke around with friends, but can become toxic when said about someone who isn’t necessarily “in on the joke.”
“If you’ve known each other for a long time and you’re just joking around and not saying anything that the other person’s insecure about, then that’s fine,” Sharma said. “But if it’s something that they can’t change, they’ve been insecure about or it’s something that’s just genuinely mean, I think that’s the line between toxicity and just joking. But there’s also different boundaries with every friend and every friend group. It’s very situational.”
AT A PASSING GLANCE
Rejecting the idea of passing can help us embrace our identities
BY JILLIAN JU
The first time I passed to my mother was in the passenger seat on the way home from a formal event, wearing a thin blouse, agreeable earrings and makeup that made my eyelashes crusty. I felt distant, but parental conversation itched to fill empty space, so conversation flowed from one topic to the next until we landed back on ourselves. She told me that another parent had asked me whether I was her son or her daughter.
I didn’t respond. The comment caught me off guard since she usually doesn’t pay much attention to my social life or hobbies — why would gender be any different?
I had first tossed around the idea of being nonbinary in the middle of my freshman year, and, through gradual introspection, became comfortable with the concept. But that particular moment was ironic, given that it was the one day I wasn’t actively trying to look masculine or even gender-neutral. But it was true that I had been making the effort in general, swapping out baby tees for loose shirts that made me look a little like my father. The comment marked the beginning of my mother’s small but prickly observations that I avoided the dresses she chose, that my hair was too short to be pretty, that I could be elevated to the beauty of a K-pop idol if only I tried.
It would be an easier way out. I could follow her suggestions. I could pass strictly as female.
Appearance is central to the idea of queer passing, which is when a transgender person meets the societal standard for “appearing cis.” But beyond the standard definition, passing is a concept that can apply to any identity. Everything we are or aren’t — a certain ethnicity, a certain personality type, a certain standard for an MVHS student — will always be refracted through others’ standards.
" EXISTING IS A LIFELONG TUG BETWEEN AUTHENTICITY
AND ACCEPTANCE.
a compromise, rounding out edges to fit a little more neatly into others’ definitions.
who have to pass for the sake of their
The idea of queer passing itself is flawed — it has been criticized for how it reinforces the gender binary, and rightfully so. At the same time, treating it like a choice ignores the many trans people living in hostile communities
they’re concrete. They bring me one step closer to painting a fuller picture of myself.
Destigmatizing identity starts with a basic, uncomfortable dialogue that explains each side. But that talk can go a long way in setting boundaries for how people are perceived and who they really are.
We’re more than who we seem at a passing glance. Our conversations can reflect that.
AS A HIGH-MAINTENANCE PERSON
I’m learning to embrace support with my allergies and more
BY JONAH CHANG
My sister, brother and I often bicker about who among us is the highest-maintenance child. We jab back and forth at each other, listing embarrassing moments where we each demonstrated some lack of self-sufficiency. In the end, however, it is generally concluded that I am the highest-maintenance child, not because I’m stuck up, demanding or clumsy, but because of my many food allergies.
Since the day I was born, I’ve been deathly allergic to wheat, dairy, eggs, nuts and oats. If I ingest any of these ingredients, my skin will develop a rash and my throat will close, limiting my breathing. As such, I’ve never tasted pizza, fried chicken or pasta in my life — that is, I’ve never tasted standard pizza, fried chicken or pasta.
My mom is a phenomenal cook. Not only is her food
substitutes ingredients in her dishes to accommodate my allergies, all while — according to my friends — maintaining an original recipe’s authentic taste.
Whenever I leave the house, whether to school or with my family over the weekend, I bring my mom’s food in a thermos. Now and then, however, a restaurant will serve food I can eat. In these cases, my mom carefully lists my allergies to a server, asks about the menu items and makes clear the dangers of crosscontamination.
Crosscontamination has been a challenge for me and my family. Once, minutes after eating a supposedly allergen-free pizza, my throat began itching, and I started wheezing. Even though the ingredients were safe, residual wheat particles in the oven got on my pizza. Because my allergies are so severe, it’s not enough to simply avoid eating foods I’m allergic to.
This was especially burdensome when I was in elementary school. Back then, I was touch-sensitive, meaning that if my skin made contact with an allergen, I’d react. My parents worked with the principal and school nurse to implement a 504 plan, which provides accommodations to students with disabilities. A medical aide accompanied me in an “allergen-free” zone during lunch, and until fifth grade, my table was separated from the rest.
For much of my childhood, I felt highly dependent on other people. And now, frustratingly, even without needing to be monitored 24/7, I still feel
over-reliant. On one occasion, my mom ordered me an allergen-free boba during a friend’s birthday party because I didn’t know how to order it in a way that ensured the drink was safe. Of course, I’m grateful my mom was there for me. But in the moment, I felt embarrassed and ashamed.
DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF
It’ll soon be my responsibility to manage not only my allergies but all aspects of my life, and I’m not sure I’m ready. As a high-maintenance person, I find it difficult to imagine a future where I must manage my business on my own.
To compensate for my allergies, I’ve tried being hyper-independent by staying on top of work and tracking my due dates, but have been overwhelmed and stressed as a result. I want to be self-sufficient but still need support. Ultimately, it helps to know someone’s got my back.
I’ve begun seeing this more and more in how I approach writing. Before I joined El Estoque, writing had always appeared to be an individualistic task. But through El Estoque’s collaborative process, I’ve learned the value of seeking support.
As we grow, we are expected to figure things out for ourselves. But we don’t need to do this alone. Independence does not mean avoiding help but acknowledging when you need it and growing as a result.
I still worry if I’ll be able to navigate the challenges of college by myself in two years. But as I continue learning how to manage my needs, I’m confident I’ll find a way. After all, while I may be high-maintenance, at least I now know how to order my own allergen-free boba.
REACHING FOR THE STAGE
BY JAMI LIM AND ELIZABETH YANG
Ever since Kennedy Middle School English teacher
Diana Kirsh was a child, her enchantment with the world of theater was undeniable. As a teenager, Kirsh commuted after school from the suburbs of New York to the city for acting lessons and training in the performing arts. Kirsh went on to become a musical theater actress and later a scriptwriter, taking on any job opportunity she could find. While Kirsh received support in pursuing this career, she eventually left her aspirations in pursuit of stability due to the turbulent financial situation she found herself in.
“My parents were really, really supportive of me going into theater, but I don’t know if that was the right thing to do as a parent,” Kirsh said. “I did musical theater for a long time in New York, and then finally, I was like, ‘I want to pay my rent. I want to go out with my friends.’ I wanted to do those things that normal people in their 20s did, and I couldn’t afford to have that life because I didn’t have a regular job. I was taking these little jobs and trying to pay my rent by being an actress.”
When MVHS alum ‘24 Ankita Krishnan decided to pursue a career in musical theater, she was also met with abundant support from her family, many of whom were in creative careers. Krishnan, who currently studies musical theater at California State University, Fullerton, says that while she initially recognized the risk
surrounding the career path, she was also confident in her decision due to the support and because of her personal value of passion over societal notions of success.
“Musical theater is a fluid thing — you can express yourself in different ways with acting and taking on different characters,” Krishnan said. “I wasn’t going to try to do an office job or something like that because I’m not really passionate about that. Me thinking about being successful was not one of the reasons in deciding if I wanted to do theater or not. It’s more just about me, I don’t want to do something that I’m not going to enjoy.”
their intended career path. The reality of most performers being unable to reach the level of success and stability they aspire to is not lost on Ling, who recognizes risks in entering the oversaturated industry. However, their dedication to theater remains resolute due to their unmoving love for the community they have experienced through the performing arts.
Expressing a similar sentiment, sophomore and aspiring Broadway performer Juju Ling has had to confront the potential instability in
“In theater, there is a sense of community and togetherness, and it sparked something in me where I was like, ‘Oh, this is me,’” Ling said. “It’s fair to think that it’s risky because it very much is. You’re not the only actor trying to get into Broadway, there are hundreds of thousands of people in New York, in LA and Chicago trying to get in. It’s one of my dream jobs — keyword ‘dream.’ But I still love theater as a whole. I’m lucky enough to get to see
Musical theater artists speak on the unique career path and industry
PHOTO COURTESY OF DIANA KIRSH | USED WITH PERMISSION
Kirsh smiles for the camera in her old headshot. This headshot would accompany her to auditions while working as an actress in New York.
shows and every time I see a show, my love for, theater grows even more. The financial aspect, while it scares me, doesn’t deter me from it.”
To expand their interest in theater while supporting a local community of smaller artists in the Bay Area, Ling has become a regular audience member of the Sunnyvale community theater. They note that within the larger Broadway industry, they mostly see mainstream productions pushed as moneygrabbers and tourist attractions to fund production companies whose main revenue comes from popular musicals such as “Hamilton” and “Wicked.” According to Ling, the emphasis on established productions leaves less room for newer, independent stories to be told within the musical theater scene and often pushes them out of business.
connections they have within the industry, creating a drastic difference in career advancements.
“You can have a great show, but if you can’t get it into the right hands, it’s not going to be made,” Kirsh said. “Boy, does it help to have connections. There are so many people that even if somebody just knows your last name or your dad directed something and and people might know him — those connections are very, very valuable.”
“ YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT SHOW, BUT IF YOU CAN’T GET IT INTO THE RIGHT HANDS, IT’S NOT GOING TO BE MADE.
ENGLISH TEACHER DIANA KIRSH
“I see all the actors, especially smaller actors, who are passionate about what they do, passionate about their job, and proud that they made it big,” Ling said. “And then for a show to close early on them — that’s just devastating. When it gets closed prematurely, that kind of screws you over because that was your plan for the next eight months, right? Now it’s just gone.”
Such patterns in the musical theater scene became evident to Kirsh while she was working as an actress. Kirsh explains some artists have significant advantages over others due to
Despite changing her career path, Kirsh’s life continues to be impacted by her passion for musical theater, watching shows with her family whenever she can. However, when her daughter approached her about possibly pursuing a career in musical theater, she was reluctant to let her daughter follow her path, remembering the struggles she faced firsthand within the cutthroat nature of the industry.
“In acting, there are so many people that look like you and sound like you — it’s just so competitive,” Kirsh said. “No matter who you are, you need persistence. I don’t want to tell people not to do it, but it can really wear you down.”
However, Krishnan views potential rejections and setbacks as simply part of the process, saying auditioning is a way for performers to build resilience and experience as a performer, in addition to just acquiring jobs. Krishnan notes that one of the most difficult aspects of breaking into
ARTS & ENT
the industry is getting noticed — something that doesn’t happen for everyone. However, she believes that persistence and a strong mindset can guide a person on the right path.
“People can find their way around difficulties — it’s human spirit,” Krishnan said. “If they find a challenge, they’re going to try to find a way to overcome it. Keep an open mind and a fluid mindset. Going into auditions, I say, ‘If I don’t get this role, that’s fine. I still have talent, I’m still good.’ Don’t let not getting a role discourage
MVHS alum Ankita Krishnan plays Helena in MV Drama’s 2024 production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
ILLUSTRATION | ALETHEIA JU
rates. One industry that was heavily impacted was the film industry, with receipts in 2020 marking a 40-year low in domestic box office. Even as the nation recovered, remnants of its impact endure: a survey from July 2022 found that 20% of adults had no intention to return to theaters, while another 10% are unlikely to return. As a result of declining audience numbers, movie theaters across the nation have shut down — over 3,000 screens have closed nationwide, and box office numbers have plummeted, including the Showplace Icon Theater in Valley Fair Mall that abruptly announced its closure in July of 2024.
However, he has noticed declining enthusiasm regarding going to movie theaters among his circle of friends, which he attributes to two key factors: high ticket prices and quick content turnovers to streaming services.
Similarly, sophomore Lillaka Ruffin has noticed a rise in the use of streaming services, which she says has contributed to movie theater closures becoming an even bigger problem in the past few years. Throughout the pandemic, Ruffin noticed that those around her who would not leave the house as much relied on streaming services more — a pattern that
my streaming services because I didn’t really see a point,” Ruffin said. “Especially when a lot of people were sick, I didn’t really leave the house that much, but even after the pandemic I feel like that mindset kind of stayed.”
The closure of the Showplace Icon theater reminded Statistics teacher Jeff Payne of some of his favorite theaters in San Jose that were torn down in 2014. From an analytical perspective, he recognizes that the closure was a result of declining customers and revenue. While growing ticket prices have not been a defining factor for him, he has noted that the convenience of waiting for streaming services has
influenced his decision to opt out of movie theaters — especially after theater-to-streaming turnaround has improved for the majority of films postpandemic. In the 2010s, there would be around a 70-day gap between a theatrical release and a streaming release. Recently, this time has been cut in half to about 30-40 days.
“With the streaming environment now, you can get new movies within around two months, so sometimes I’ll just skip the movies and just watch it at home if I’m feeling kind of lazy,” Payne said. “I think there’s an easier option for at-home viewing now. For me, I think that takes away some of my visits.”
Despite the closures, Payne’s fondness for theaters remains. From a young age, he has been especially enthusiastic about theaters, namely Century Shoreline and AMC Saratoga, and has also enjoyed exploring smaller and more niche theaters in San Francisco that screen old, blackand-white films. More than the actual theater, Payne enjoys the experiences that come with watching movies in theaters, such as going with his family during the holidays. Even despite the nostalgia he feels, he decides to opt out of going to theaters regularly.
“I remember there was a time when a new Marvel movie would come out and I had this group of people that would all go on opening night together,” Payne said. “We would wear T-shirts of a superhero or dress up a little and just get into the spirit.”
Similarly, Kumar and Ruffin feel that going to theaters are some of the best experiences they have had with their friends and family. Ruffin fondly recalls going to watch “Spiderman: No Way Home,” one of the largest boxoffice blockbusters coming out of the pandemic, with her friends in seventh grade. One of Kumar’s more nostalgic memories involves rewatching a childhood film with his sister.
“Last year, when they re-released a bunch of kids movies in the theater, I went to watch ‘Kung Fu Panda’ which is my favorite childhood movie and the first one I ever saw in theaters,” Kumar
said. “I was absolutely over the top because I really, really liked that movie. Everything that made me laugh when I was like five made me laugh again, and I just felt really nostalgic. That was a lot of fun.”
Both Kumar and Payne agree that the pandemic, along with other factors, has taken a huge toll on the movie industry, with dwindling box office numbers and screens closing nationwide. However, Payne feels that the movie industry isn’t dying, — but rather being reconstructed and adapted.
“I just feel like there’s a new wave of theaters now, which is more tailored and specialized with food, seating arrangements and the ambiance and stuff,” Payne said. “So I feel like it’s going through a little bit of a revolution because a lot of chains are going to die out or merge after they just couldn’t survive through COVID and now streaming. I feel like the whole industry is headed for a new direction.”
ROME
WASN’T BUILT IN A DAY
MVHS Drama shares the work and hopes behind their adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’
For the past month, Advanced Acting and Tech classes prepared for the adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” on Nov. 1. The production — MVHS Drama’s annual Fall Showcase — began at 7 p.m. in the Black Box theater. Drama teacher Hannah Gould selected a 16thCentury literary classic as this year’s Fall Showcase after MV Drama had an opportunity to watch the renowned theatrical group Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) perform “Julius Caesar.”
“I just decided that ‘Julius Caesar’ has a lot of resonance with the current moment, the political stuff going on right now and media literacy issues,” Gould said. “A lot of different big personalities are popping up in our world right now that are influencing the way that people think and the way that people make decisions. There’s a lot of violence happening in our lives right now, so I thought it was a really relevant play.”
Although this isn’t the first time Drama has adapted an Elizabethanera play, there were still struggles with handling the complexity of Shakespeare’s writing style. Senior Aayushi Ayalasomayajula still felt challenged at the beginning, despite having experience from taking on prominent roles last year.
“It was not the most straightforward because it takes a certain amount of time and effort to even comprehend it in the first place,” Ayalasomayajula said. “Like, ‘What am I reading? What are these words?’ We spent time discussing how this connects to us in our daily lives. I think that’s what we wanted to apply to the final piece.”
The challenges of adapting a classic play fell hand-in-hand with the difficulties of connecting various adaptations. One solution Gould devised was to reuse tech elements such as props and lighting patterns in each scene in hopes of “bringing the whole play together as one cohesive unit.” However, this caused issues when one skit needed a prop that didn’t have relevance in another, and it challenged Advanced Tech students like Shaurya Sane.
“The four scenes are very different, so it’s mainly just about how we can reuse these props for the different sections and still have them cohesive,” Sane said. “It’s just a little brainstorming at the start. But once you find something that can work for each part of the play, then you can go ahead and make it, and it’ll work out.”
According to Sane, Advanced Tech built the iconic Roman Doric columns in preparation for the set of “Julius Caesar.” These columns were used for different purposes in each skit, such as being an ice cream tub in one and a podium in another. These abstract meanings the props held corresponded to the expressionist set design that Gould was striving for. She wanted to use tech elements to make the audience think about ideas that aren’t directly represented — an interesting task for the actors.
performing an entire play. Gould was more than confident about the obstacles — happy even — because helping students push past that fear toward success is what drives her passion.
“ it takes a certain amount of time and effort to even comprehend it in the first place.
senior aayushi ayalasomayajula
“I want all the students who are involved in working on it to feel proud of their work and feel like it came together,” Gould said. “There’s this special little miracle moment. That is why I do theater — going from that place of not knowing if it’s going to come together to like, ‘Wow, it happened, and it’s because everybody did their part.’ This magic of interdependent creation is what I always want people to realize.”
Similar to Gould’s goal, Ayalasomayajula transformed from a state of doubt to excitement after
“We’re working with minimal and interpretive sort of props and sets, so you really need to make sure that your message is getting across so that the audience will be able to understand what you’re even doing,” Ayalasomayajula said. “Some of these scenes are so complicated with so much drama and plot elements, it was a struggle.”
But Gould is more than familiar with this struggle. In her five years of teaching Drama, she’s noticed how students often feel intimidated by the daunting nature of starting with nothing and eventually
witnessing the script come to life. She saw the different adaptations of “Julius Caesar” that the different groups were able to create and was amazed at the ridiculously random yet unique concepts each ran with. As this is Ayalasomayajula’s last Fall Showcase, her hard work and contributions to this unique play were her way of saying a bittersweet goodbye.
“I’ve been really, really, really, really locked in because I want it to be good,” Ayalasomayajula said. “I’ve been more motivated to put my all into it because I know this is one of my last times performing in the Black Box or on the Monta Vista stage. I hope it goes smoothly, I hope no one breaks any props on stage, I hope no one loses anything and I hope we all remember our lines. Let it come together, please. It’s my hope, my dreams.”
Falling Into Fall
Fall holidays bring festive atmosphere
“My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because you get to eat an endless supply of food and get a couple of days off of school.”
-Freshman Kaylee Guerrero
89% of MVHS students celebrate afallholiday*
“A memory I associate with fall is crunching on dry leaves on the sidewalks with my hands in my pockets walking to school. The chirp of birds migrating and walking home with the sun well near the mountains.”
-Senior Ashley Kwong
37% Diwali*ofMVHSstudentscelebrate
"In the fall holidays, I get to spend time with people & family I only see twice a year, so it’s very heartwarming and welcoming to see family."
*according to a survey of 127 people
-Freshman Alexandra Perrault
Nov. 1
Ending on Nov. 1, Diwali, also known as the Hindu festival of lights, typically lasts five days and symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. Homes are decorated with oil lamps, deepa, and colorful rangoli — patterns made from colored powder. Families come together to eat a feast and share mithai — desserts of the Indian subcontinent.
Nov. 9
First established in 2001 by President George W. Bush and observed on Nov. 9 each year, World Freedom Day commemorates the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. This event signified the end of Berlin’s division and heralded the reunification of Germany. The day celebrates freedom, democracy and human rights. It is celebrated through rallies and flier campaigns.
Nov. 13
Observed on Nov. 13 and established by the World Kindness Movement, World Kindness Day is celebrated to promote kindness and highlight good deeds. Activities include creating kindness cards, pledging to do acts of kindness and volunteering.
Nov. 7
Celebrated on Nov. 7, Chhath Puja is a four day long festival dedicated to the sun God Surya. Celebrating includes taking a dip in the Ganges River, fasting, abstaining from water for the day and offering prasad — typically a vegetarian food offering to God during prayers — to the sun’s rising and setting. Compared to other religious festivals, environmentalists consider the holiday an eco-friendly way of celebrating nature.
Nov. 11
Veterans Day is observed on Nov. 11 to honor all military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is celebrated through parades, ceremonies, a moment of silence at 11 a.m. and by wearing red poppies to represent fallen soldiers.
MVHS fall athletes bring their seasons to a close BY
KATHRYN FOO AND ANGELA POON
Sophomore Felicity Chu swings her club for a drive.
PHOTO BY KENNETH GAN | USED WITH PERMISSION
Sophomore Isobel Schweigert (right) runs down the field in a game against MacDonald High School, winning 38-14 on Monday, Oct. 14.
Senior Eric Tang (below) prepares to shoot past a defender in a game against Saratoga High School, winning 12-9 on Thursday, Sept. 12. a pack of MVHS runners in the annual Crystal Springs Preview Race on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
PHOTO | MANAS KOTTAKOTA PHOTO
PHOTO | KAIA YUAN
PHOTO | ETHAN KELLOGG
Senior Kiana Mark (left) prepares for a powerful hit in the last game of the season against Gunn High School, winning 3-0 on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Junior Justin Chahoub runs the ball up the field while senior Aneesh Boddu blocks a defender in the Homecoming game against Saratoga High School, tying 27-27 on Friday, Oct. 4.
Senior Sonika Wagner
protects the ball while warding off her opponent’s aggressive defense in a game against
High School, losing 8-6 on Thursday, Sept. 12.
Junior Jillian Yang (left) prepares to use a forehand hit to return the ball in a match against Palo Alto High School, winning 7-0 on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
(below)
Saratoga
Senior Lilia Murase (left) maneuvers the ball past a defender in a game against Santa Clara High School, losing 9-1 on Monday, Sept. 16.
PHOTO | YIXUAN (JOYCE)
PHOTO | APRAMEYA RUPANAGUNTA
PHOTO | ZAID NAQVI
PHOTO | MELODY LIN
BOUND THROUGH BALL
Asian league basketball brings the Asian community together
BY LEAH DESAI AND ETHAN YANG
After returning from relocation camps during World War II, the Japanese-American community still faced discrimination in their hometowns. In response to this discrimination, one of the ways the Japanese-American community in the Bay Area came together was by creating all-Japanese basketball leagues, according to Varsity Basketball and San Jose Ninjas coach Wade Nakamura.
What began as exclusively Japanese organizations in the early 1940s has now evolved into Asian league basketball teams inclusive of all Asian ethnic backgrounds which remain an essential part of the AsianAmerican community.
Having played in Asian league teams around the East Bay during his youth, Nakamura says he brings that experience into his coaching and has coached various Asian league teams. Nakamura says that he was motivated to coach in order to give back to the Asian community that he was a part of growing up.
“It’s important for me to give back because I think there’s a void in my generation of people wanting to come
back to coach,” Nakamura said. “It’s also becoming more difficult because the club scene has started to take kids away, so teams now are scrambling to find kids who are committed to the Asian league.”
This idea of giving back to the community is a cornerstone of Asian leagues according to Nakamura.
Compared to traditional club basketball, the price of playing in an Asian league is significantly lower due to the abundance of volunteers that help maintain the teams.
“ IT’S A BIGGER COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYBODY IS REALLY CLOSE, AND YOU CAN TALK TO ANYBODY.
SOPHOMORE KAYLEE KWOK
“It’s definitely more organized and it’s definitely more tight knit,” Nakamura said. “It’s not all moneydriven — everyone volunteers their time and none of the coaches get paid. The parents have to put in a lot of time and a lot of work, because they
that sportsmanship is highly valued in Asian league.
“In regular club, people tend to play really dirty,” Sakurai said. “Sometimes I feel like people are genuinely there to hurt you. But in Asian league, sportsmanship is something that is really sought after, so you don’t have to be worried about getting hurt, but it’s still competitive. In an Asian league, it’s more of a for everyone, and you definitely gain a lot more sportsmanship and learn how to be a better teammate.”
Nakamura also points out that Asian
definitely a different feel culturally, as well as with how people behave.”
The tryout process for joining an Asian league team differs from a traditional club. Instead of attending an open tryout, Asian leagues teams are typically formed through invites and recommendations from coaches, which is why Asian league teams are generally less well-known. Kwok was introduced to the league by her MVHS coaches and was able to secure a spot on the team.
opportunity,” Kwok said. If you are going to any other team, you are able to try out and put yourself out there, but these teams are invite only.”
At its core, the Asian league is about connecting the Asian community together according to Kwok. While different teams do this in different ways, Kwok says that the San Jose Ninjas, with help from many parent volunteers, often put together socials for teams to interact with each other.
“ I SAW PEOPLE THAT I USED TO PLAY WITH 30 YEARS AGO HAVE KIDS PLAYING, AND I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE NEVER GOT TO SEE THOSE PEOPLE OR TALK TO THEM IF IT WASN’T FOR THE ASIAN LEAGUE.
ASIAN LEAGUE COACH WADE NAKAMURA
Nakamura, who also attends these socials as a coach, says that they can serve as a good bonding moment, and allow families to form more tight-knit bonds that create a sense of unity among members of the league.
“It creates the opportunity to come together and continue to build that community, and that’s super important,” Nakamura said. “We were in Reno two weekends ago, and I saw people that I used to play with 30 years ago have kids playing, and I would probably have never got to see those people or talk to them if it wasn’t for the Asian league. It creates opportunities for people to support other people within the Asian community through sports.”
THE FAMILY GAME PLAN
Student athletes and parents describe their relationship with the sports they share
BY SIH YU (MELODY) LIN AND SANIA NADKARNI
From a young age, history teacher Robbie Hoffman has played a variety of sports including basketball, baseball and golf. Coming from a family of athletes, Hoffman was naturally drawn to sports and became an avid athlete, playing throughout his middle school, high school and college years.
“I would always hear stories of my parents playing sports, and ever since I was a little kid, our family activities were always going to a sporting event,” Hoffman said. “That’s what we did and it was a way that we could bond as a family.”
Similarly, junior Sean Foo comes from a family of athletes and was first introduced to different sports by his parents, including cross-country and soccer. He eventually found his passion for basketball by watching games with his friends and family. Ever since then, Sean has dedicated much of his time to basketball, playing on the MVHS team and for fun in his free time.
“My first introduction was through the Golden State Warriors,” Sean said. “When they won their first championship back in 2015, I fell in love with the game and the team, and I’ve just been playing basketball ever since.”
Although Sean attributes his introduction to basketball to the Golden State Warriors winning the 2015 NBA championship, he says his father’s experience and love of the sport helped fuel his passion and get him to where he is today. His father Ian Foo played on his basketball team in high school. Growing up, Ian was always taller and naturally was guided into the sport of basketball. Since Sean showed an interest in the sport, Ian would take Sean to school to play basketball and teach him certain moves that he felt gave him an upper hand against his opponents.
“While we were playing around,
I also took the opportunity to really teach him basketball fundamentals, like how to post up, how to shoot a ball and how to do layups,” Ian said. “We still continue to shoot around today.”
Not only did his father’s affinity for basketball affect Sean, but he also mentions how both his parents played an important part in the sports he had participated in in the past. His mom’s history in cross-country encouraged him to join the team in middle school, though after realizing it was not for him, he quit to focus entirely on basketball. Additionally, his dad was always an avid soccer enthusiast which led to his enrollment in many soccer leagues at a young age. But, as with running, Sean eventually did not feel fit for the sport and ended up quitting soccer as well. Despite not continuing with his parents’ most beloved sports, Sean’s parents continue to support their son in basketball, citing one of their favorite moments as a game where Sean was exceptionally happy with his win.
“ AS A FATHER, SEEING YOUR CHILD THAT HAPPY MADE ME VERY PROUD. IT JUST SEALED A MEMORY THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET.
and had a major contribution to the win,” Ian said. “He had a lot of points and boards in that game. I remember his face was just beaming after the game. You can tell that he was very proud of how he performed during that game. As a father, seeing your child that happy made me very proud. It just sealed a memory that I will never forget, like how happy and proud he looked, so it made me very proud to be there and be his father in attendance.”
MVHS PARENT IAN FOO
Instead of encouraging his kids to play his favorite sports, Hoffman slowly introduced sports to his kids in a different way, by allowing them to show their own interest first before actually participating. Hoffman believes it is important to create a choice for his kids, so they have the freedom to make decisions on their own about what sports they want to play. This way, Hoffman can make sure his kids do not feel any pressure to do a sport they do not want to do.
of disappointing his dad. Hoffman recognizes that parents may place pressure on their children to play the same sport, even though it is not intentional. Rather than treating sports as a responsibility that his children fulfill, he instead thinks of sports as an opportunity for family bonding.
“There was a game that he won
“I would not be mad if my kids decided not to do any sports because it is totally up to them,” Hoffman said. “I let them do it, and I play sports because my son likes to do it. For example, the other day, he asked me if he could go to the driving range with me, and so we just went and hit some golf balls. It’s not something I would ever force upon them to do. If there’s a sport that they’re interested in and they see me do it, and they want to continue to do it, fantastic.”
Sean adds that he is grateful for his parents’ support, but did feel some pressure before deciding to quit soccer, in fear
“We’ll go outside and just try and hit these foam golf balls just for fun,” Hoffman said. “It’s just a way to interact with them, and bonding with them is more important than anything else. I enjoy being with them, so whether they’re good at it or not, if they enjoy it, it’s just something that I see as an opportunity to have fun with them.”
According to Hoffman and Ian, parents play a large role in choosing and introducing their kids to sports. However, both agree that at the end of the day, it’s the kid who is playing the sport, not themselves. Both believe it is important to let their kids be open to trying new things and what they continue to do is their individual choice.
“It’s totally up to my kids if they want to do it or not because playing and watching sports is just something that I enjoy,” Hoffman said. “I’m not gonna stop doing it. I’m gonna continue watching it and participating as much as I can, and if my kids decide to continue doing that it would be fantastic, but ultimately it’s a choice that they should make.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF IAN FOO | USED WITH PERMISSION
PHOTO BY JODI HOFFMAN | USED WITH PERMISSION
Sean Foo and his dad Ian Foo pose for a picture at a soccer game.
Robbie Hoffman helps his child during a baseball game.
CROSSWORD @elestoque
BY ALYSSA YANG
ACROSS
Gives stars to Outcast
Put up with When preliminary steps are taken?
Shakespeare adaptation which opened in the Black Box on Nov. 1 (pg. 36-37)
Ye olde news announcers
Hot dog topper
____ A Sketch
Just one little bite
Historical period
Sophomore Felicity Chu’s goal, e.g. (pg. 41-43)
Shower component?
“Pygmalion” playwright
Singer in TikTok conspiracy theories (pg. 26-27)
How APUSH or AP Literature discussions on language sensitivity might get, e.g. (pg. 14-15)
Sweet Starbucks order
Coral rings
Companion of logos and pathos
Mother with a Nobel prize Abounds
British rule in colonial India ___ Dhabi
Up to, informally Decrees
“A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” painter
Wore out the carpet, so to speak
Witherspoon
That girl
Foal’s father GPS displays
Only state with a three-word capital
Singer Bareilles
You, probably
Shoe with many holes
Fabled race loser
Instagram’s parent company (pg. 10-11)
Hole for a shoelace So far
During
Wood that becomes a type of vinegar if you add a “mic” Right-angle pipe bends
Large tub
Devoured
Neither’s partner Word often ignored when alphabetizing
(Thai soup)
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