Paw Prints Weekly | Volume 52 Issue 7 by Emma Chang

The deadly coronavirus spreads disease and racism around the world.

Is in-school and weekend detention truly the best form of punishment for students?

In a split second, Los Angeles said its final goodbye to a cultural icon.

The student newspaper of Glen A. Wilson High School | Hacienda Heights, CA 91745

Paw Prints Weekly Volume 52, Issue 7 | Monday, February 3, 2020 | pawprintsweekly.com

Apply for Paw Prints Weekly Volume 53 for the 20202021 year! Are you currently an eighth grader, freshman, sophomore, or junior interested in writing or visual art? Then Paw Prints Weekly is the program for you!

A GOLDEN CUP FOR OUR GOLDEN TEAM - The Wilson Dance Company smiles and poses for a photo after a successful night of competition. PHOTO/WILSON DANCE COMPANY

Dance Company hosts annual Golden Cup By GARY LEE STAFF WRITER

Wilson Dance Company hosted the annual Golden Cup Dance competition on Saturday, Jan. 25. The Golden Cup consisted of fifteen individual dance teams from different schools such as Troy, San Gabriel and Alhambra HS. Although Wilson Dance Company participated in the event, the teams did not actually receive a score. According to dance

team director Karen Ayres, the competition improved relationships among teams by letting them receive constructive criticism given by judges. “[The Golden Cup allows students to] learn more about their sport when they are dancing. Through this experience, [students] develop comradery with other teams, [and the experience also provides an opportunity for teams to receive feedback] from judicators to improve their performance,” Ayres said. As said by dance team

captain senior Gabe Mision, the competition served as one of his memorable moments of Wilson High School. “This year’s Golden Cup is special [in the sense that] it is my last time hosting a competition as well as it being the 30th anniversary for this event,” Mision said. “As a student participating in the hosting of the competition, the [role] I had just really helped with my work ethic as a whole.” In the opinion of dance member junior Emily Tran, the competition success’ resulted from

extensive planning from the team. “The competition went well but there was a lot of preparation beforehand. [The team] was busy painting posters, completing paperwork and setting up [multiple] rooms,” Tran said. “[This year’s event] was [eye opening] for [first year members] on how the competition was actually run instead of simply participating.” The Wilson Dance Company’s next event is West Coast Dance Experience at Valencia HS on Saturday, Feb. 8.

CODE hosts Tech Jam to share STEM By ANA-SOFIA MUÑOZ STAFF WRITER

CODE hosted its second annual Tech Jam on Friday, Jan. 17. Tech Jam provided an opportunity for students to build their own alarm using an Arduino microcontroller and compete against other students to win prizes. CODE hardware manager Kyle Dang described Tech Jam as a beneficial introduction to

computer science for students interested in coding. “There is [often] a stereotype of how [difficult] computer science might be,” Dang said. “[By introducing] students [to] the Arduino project and basic website building, it demystifies how hard [coding] can be and gives them a fun opportunity to [become familiarized] with the program.” In addition, vice-captain Lilly Lee commended the event’s success through the participation from students in different grade levels.

“It [was] really inspiring when I [saw] all of the middle schoolers who [attended] with a heart ready to learn more about [the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field],” Lee said. “[For high schoolers], [the event] gave students exposure to something they may not have tried before, which can be very important as they [start exploring potential majors].” Furthermore, fronting captain Jeffrey Liu stated that events like Tech Jam serve to strengthen the community by inspiring students

to explore STEM careers. “[The majority] of the future is embedded in what we do [to] further the fields of science and help to improve the lives of others using that,” Liu said. “Providing [students] this introduction to [STEM] is the most important step in [cultivating] the future of [both] the [STEM field] and society [as a whole].” CODE will host its annual CODE camp in the summer to train incoming and interested students. The date has not yet been announced.

We are currently accepting applications for the staff of Volume 53 for the 2020-2021 school year. Applications can be found at tinyurl.com/ ppwv53app !! All applications must be submitted no later than February 10th to Room C9 or sent via email to gawhspawprintsweekly@ gmail.com. The current positions available are staff writers, photographers, artists, and graphic designers, Our awardwinning program is entirely student led and funded! Journalism is a great opportunity for students to learn more about Wilson and our dynamic student body. Though experience within each position is preferred, no experience is necessary! This course is a two semester elective that offers students a variety of educational opportunities and a family. We pride ourselves on creating a familial atmosphere amongst our members who work together to report the day to day lives of the Wilson student body, whilst expressing our own opinions and ideas. If you have any questions or concerns, please see Ms. Robles in room C8/C9 or email gawhspawprintsweekly@ gmail.com. Best of luck! We look forward to hearing from and working with you. #NOTFAKENEWS

2 EDITORIAL

Paw Prints Weekly

MONDAY, FEB. 3 2020

EDITORIAL

Coronavirus launches racist controversy in China There is a new virus sweeping across the world. This virus, dubbed, 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) is a newly discovered strain of coronavirus that originated in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Allegedly linked to China’s large animal and seafood market, the virus has primarily spread through person-to-person contact. The outbreak has already cost the lives of at least 81 people in China so far, with more than 2700 confirmed cases worldwide. Because of the virus’ pneumonia-like symptoms, a fear has ignited among the general public, provoking the question: Who is to blame? Undoubtedly, the question has exposed an underrepresented yet deep-seated issue in western society: racism against Asians. Because of its conception in China, the presence of the coronavirus in the U.S has catalyzed numerous sinophobic-the prejudice against Chinese people--tropes, in particular, concluding every Chinese person has the ailment. Among numerous think pieces on the coronavirus, blatant racism take form through misinformation spread throughout media platforms, particularly Facebook. The persistent sinophobia does not only extend to Chinese individuals, but to those who can be ethnicised as Chinese--in other words, racism

against Asians. Adding on, posts on the internet are never reliable considering a great number of posts on social media are fake or are misleading. Circulating across Facebook, one particular post claims “Corna’s disease” is “starting to spread in the greater Sydney region,” and warns of “contaminated products.” The post then lists a random collection of popular Asian foods supposedly made in “neighboring areas” to Wuhan, the Chinese city where the current virus originated, and are claimed to contain “traces of corona’s disease.” These foods include wagyu beef, Yakult, Nongshim Onion Ring snacks, Mi Goreng instant noodles and many more. What’s more bizarre is that the “bureau of diseasology parramatta” lists a couple of Western Sydney suburbs that include large populations of people who are of Chinese birth or descent, are “areas which people with corona’s disease have visited and contaminated,” proven by “positive readings” in the air near train stations. The Sydney suburb of Parramatta is not home to a “Bureau of Diseasology,” however, as it does not exist. Essentially, the fear of the coronavirus has been used as a tool to ostracize Asian individuals. Funnily enough, while there are only five confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S. the narrative set

is that all Asians have the virus. Accounts from Asian-Americans and Eurasians detail the microaggressions they encounter daily. Anti-Asian racism has been reported in the United Kingdom and abroad, and now French Asians have complained of abuse on public transport and social media. As the hashtag spread, one woman, Cathy Tran, described to the BBC that she heard two men on her way to work in the eastern town of Colmar say; “Watch out, a Chinese girl is coming our way.” Tran did not know what to do and no one decided to stand up for her and stop this. Many people do not think before they say something and never believes that they might hurt someone with something they have said. Additionally, many people who make these kind of rude comments have never stepped inside the shoes of those people who have. Another incident was Shana Cheng, a 17-year-old Parisian of Vietnamese and Cambodian origin, told the BBC that she had faced humiliating comments on a bus in the city on Sunday from both young and old. “There’s a Chinese woman, she is going to contaminate us, she needs to go home,” she heard one passenger say. People looked at her “in a disgusted way, as if I was the virus,” No-one stood up for her, so she decided to ignore the comments and listen to

her music. As a result, French Asians have taken to social media to complain of a backlash against them in response to the Chinese coronavirus outbreak. Furthermore, Asians who live in France have been using the hashtag #JeNeSuisPasUnVirus, which translates into “I’m not a virus.” While a cause for concern, the coronavirus is not an excuse to ostracize Asian people. Like all viruses, it is imperative to maintain proper hygiene. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claimed that one must wash his or her hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using a alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Moreover, the posts advises that one avoids contact with his or her face with unwashed hands and to avoid close contact with people who are sick. Even though people believe that wearing a face mask can prevent the virus, one of the simplest prevention measures a person can take is proper handwashing. In conclusion, it is wrong to believe that every Asian person possesses coronavirus because it initially began in China. But to block it from infecting your body, it is essential to stay sanitized and stay away from sick people. We can only hope that people would not assume before acquiring any genuine information about something.

Sweeping homelessness under the rug:President style President Trump is, quite simply, brushing the homeless issue in California under the rug. According to Census data, about one-fourth of all homeless people in the U.S. live in California. The message is clear: a dichotomy has been manufactured in which luxury apartments and cafes loom over blocks of makeshift homes and syringes. Essentially, California homelessness is such a precarious situation that Trump’s involvement would only aid in exacerbating the issue. In fact, it may very well lead to a host of new challenges. Although experts point to California’s high housing costs as the main culprit, the public points to the homeless themselves. According to authorities and the Los Angeles Times, there were at least eight incidents where people threw flammable liquids or makeshift explosives at homeless people or their tents this year. Ultimately, the violence created such a dire situation that Donald Trump was forced onto a plane to visit the sunshine state. Although not wearing literal sunglasses, Trump threw shade at California policymakers for letting the problem get so bad. During his two days stay in California, Trump’s Council of Economic Advisors released a report detailing the “tolerability of sleeping on the streets” and “high housing prices” to be at blame for the rising numbers. Ironically, the words “affordable housing” only show up twice within the 41 pages. However, the problems cited are very real: despite California’s strict environmental policies and progressive reforms, it has the highest poverty rate in the nation. Specifically, Trump cited

that “We have people living in our best highways, our best streets, our best entrances to buildings.” He ended his tirade with a warning that federal funding towards the crisis would be cut if the problem continued. Nevertheless, it was only recently after issuing his censure that Trump suddenly jumped ship to support more federal funding. Was it the heartbreaking sight of the homeless that led him to have a change of heart? Of course not. His administration delved into rocky territory when they threatened to withhold wildfire aid and dump detained migrants into sanctuary cities. In other words, liberal California democrats like Eric Garcetti simply detest Trump; yet, despite the diminishing Republican party in California, Trump continues to use his authority to threaten to cut state funding to coerce state legislators. Using this power, he hopes to shortchange California once more. However, the continuous conflict between the state and federal government leaves more to be desired. Additionally, now that his administration is involved, they are bringing a characteristic cluelessness and cruelty with them. In his own “crackdown” of the issue, Trump’s Department of Housing and Urban Development proposed allowing homeless shelters to discriminate and refuse shelter to transgender and other LGBTQ people, subjecting them to high risk of violence. Unfortunately for us, this is not the first time Trump has claimed to “easily” fix an issue in the states. During his presidential campaign, Trump turned to attack Chicago stating that the murder statistics would go down if officers were

“tougher than they are right now.” Trump’s approach to Chicago is similar to his condemnation of California. In both accounts, he criticized the states for raising the national amount of murders or increasing the number of homeless. However, Trump was wrong in that Chicago’s statistics had been going down just as he is wrong to assume that forceful relocation of homeless people will solve the issue. Clearly, Trump’s federal involvement is just a way for him to attack the policies of his political competitors and excite his fan base during the election. This is echoed through Trump’s unexplained willingness to suddenly cut and then increase federal funding, a step that would only lead to more problems given California lawmaker’s refusal to cooperate with him. In fact, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said in an interview with the New York Times: “There’s nothing Trump would like to see more than a diminished voice in California.” Nevertheless, the Trump administration are not alone in provoking California’s homeless epidemic; take, for example, California’s own public servants. In a letter signed by state and city officials, Governor Gavin Newsom called on the Trump administration to provide 50,000 more vouchers to account for the higher rent. However, before becoming governor, Newsom promised that he would install a cabinet-level homelessness czar to tame the issue. After one year in office, there is still no such official. Moreover, Mayor Eric Garcetti responded last fall with a series of LAPD raids of homeless encampments that have continued

for almost a year. On the other hand, in the Bay Area city officials have staged multiple raids on homeless camps in San Francisco, disassembling wooden homes and arresting anyone who occupied them and had an outstanding warrant. Lawmakers, Trump in particular, are employing an inhumane approach to homelessness, the epitome of a society that is aiming to sweep away. Trump’s involvement has bolstered nothing but political backlash that serves as a dire spotlight on the lack of effective political action against the issue. Eve Garrow, a policy analyst that focuses on housing and homelessness with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, spoke out against these rash policies in an interview with The Guardian. “It’s a terrifying prospect of a world in which we segregate, incarcerate and restrict the civil liberties of people just because they have disabilities and they are too poor to afford a home in our skyrocketing private rental market.” Garrow’s beliefs are reflected across a spectrum of people, all of which want to see homeless numbers go down. However, perhaps the best solution is at a more local level. Specifically, employing city officials and organizations that know their unique situations and can work with the state to solve the issue. Either way, with an election year coming up and Trump gambling for the presidency, we should not bring up our hopes. Regardless of the politically fueled motives that plague California, homelessness is an issue and takes more than cruel raids and relocation to solve.

Paw Prints Weekly Volume 52 | Issue 7 Glen A. Wilson High School 16455 E. Wedgeworth Drive Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 www.pawprintsweekly.com

ADVISER Pilar Robles EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Emma Chang Carol Li

EDITORS NEWS Carol Li EDITORIAL Vincent Cortes FEATURES Simone Yu ENTERTAINMENT Colleen Gapuzan PERSPECTIVES Adrian Hernandez Rani Chor SPORTS Emma Chang VISUALS Estelle Zhou ONLINE Candice Lee

STAFF Ana-Sofia Munoz Denise Thuong Devyn Kelly Gary Lee Jacob Ramos Joseph Mendoza Renee Wang Shirleen Kwong

An open forum, Paw Prints Weekly, encourages the written opinion of its readers in the form of signed letters to the editor or longer commentaries on topical subjects. While we recognize the individuality of all forms of expression we reserve the right to edit and censor that which we feel necessary in accordance with California Education Code 48907 and standards of good taste. All communications must be signed and submitted to room C-9 or emailed directly to gawhspawprintsweekly@gmail. com. It should also be understood that the views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinion of individual Paw Prints Weekly staff members or the policy of Glen A. Wilson High School. The staff of Paw Prints Weekly Volume 52 is proud to bring you our latest issue. Find our newest articles online every week at www. pawprintsweekly.com

Paw Prints Weekly

MONDAY, FEB. 3, 2020

FEATURES Here is what our Wildcats think of the new decade! By SIMONE YU FEATURES EDITOR

What is your New Year’s resolution? “My New Year’s resolution is to spend a lot more time with my friends and family because I will be going away to college soon.” (Joshua Sustanto, 12) “My New Year’s resolution is to focus more on myself, work on improving certain aspects of my life and not let others’ opinions validate my worth.” (Sally Pan, 11) “My New Year’s resolution is to save money because it is a great habit to start early and I often catch myself spending a little too much.” (Slade Mendoza, 10) What is a global crisis our world needs to really work on in 2020? “Gun violence, because that is one of the biggest reasons why death rates are going higher. Children are dying [at the hands of ] people who can buy guns wherever and whenever they want, and we need to change that. We should not have to worry about dying in an environment that was created to be safe.” (Edmond Chu, 11) “Everyone needs to work on being more open-minded and respectful when it comes to hearing other’s opinions, whether it applies to religion, politics or just general morals. Right now, our world is greatly divided, and unfortunately, there are people living in constant fear of having certain morals/ principles. We will never move forward without learning to have respect for one another.” (Kiani Jimenez, 10) “A global crisis our world needs to really work on in 2020 is global climate change. Although this topic was controversial in 2019, I feel like there was not much done to change it. The Australian bush fires and Amazon rainforest wildfires are examples of that.” (Katie Tao, 9) What is a mistake you made in 2019 that you do not want to remake in 2020? “Last year I was a lot more passive and ignored things that I was [unsatisfied with,] but this year I plan to be more assertive and be able to voice my opinions.” (Ethan Khousavath, 12) “A mistake I made in 2019 was procrastinating a lot when it came to homework. In 2020 I want to be a lot more productive [with the time I have] and stop wasting time on useless tasks.” (Rachel Yang, 11) “A mistake I made in 2019 was not spending enough time studying for my standardized tests. For example, I did not [spend a lot of time preparing for the PSAT,] but now I realize how important those tests are, and how much more effort I need to put into the preparation.” (Benjamin Xie, 10) What are you looking forward to in 2020? “I am looking forward to starting off 2020 strong. I want to meet new people and make more friends that are not necessarily in my year. I hope to have a great season for basketball and try to make it to varsity the following year. Most of all, I am looking forward to having fun and making the most out of my high school years.” (Aaron Hou, 9)

FEATURES

4 PERSPECTIVES

Paw Prints Weekly

MONDAY, FEB. 3, 2020

PERSPECTIVES

The trouble with age-old traditions and customs By CLAIRE LAW STAFF WRITER

Making tamales with grandma every Christmas has become an obstacle for social progress. Here is why... Traditions and beliefs often illustrate the stories of a family, teaching children where their family came from or give them insights into their cultural or religious history. For example, giving children red envelopes on Chinese New Year is meant to gift them with prosperity. Additionally, researchers have consistently discovered that families that engage in frequent traditions report stronger relationships and unity than families that have not established rituals together. The older generations are trying to preserve their legacy and what they built by guiding the new generation every step of the way; but, at the same time, they risk not letting the younger generations have their own freedom. Old traditions and ideas can be very distasteful to younger generations for several different reasons. As the world has changed, the beliefs of people have altered

too. Due to this, the younger and older generation’s ideas and beliefs may conflict. In the past, some cultures expect the children of the family to

Many times, older individuals may associate a perfect family with the woman staying at home, and the man working to provide for his family. Nevertheless, many

would never rush into a marriage, decreasing the priority of tying the knot. Many do not want to jump into a life commitment, but would rather have longer relationships

participate in arranged marriages at a young age. For example, older generations in a family believe that everyone should marry early to ensure they can raise a family.

children rebel against this tradition because they are growing up in a society where gender fluidity and equality are prevalent. In addition, many in the younger generation

with their partners before being married. Although family traditions and beliefs are important to pass down to every generation, not

every person would believe in the same ideas. As Tila Tequila, an American television and social media personality has said before, “I think every person has their own identity and beauty. Everyone being different is what is really beautiful. If we were all the same, it would be boring.” Everyone is created to possess various personalities and ideas for a reason. Without, the world would certainly be much more boring and bland. in fact, our world is diverse because every single person thinks differently from others. Additionally, it seems that every generation brings changes to society; likewise, we should not stifle individuals of the future to the traditions of the past. Hence, while traditions and beliefs are essential to pass down to younger generations, it is always important to keep in mind of the trends today. Traditions and beliefs represent your family and shape who you are. However, as the years go by, the minds of the uprising generations are evolving too. In conclusion, the world is ever-changing, and so too are the minds of the younger generation. ART/JOSEPH MENDOZA

Detentions: A school-discipline pipeline to nowhere By RANI CHOR CO-PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this piece are not a reflection of the views of Paw Prints Weekly as a whole. They are the sole views of the author. Paw Prints Weekly celebrates a diverse audience and staff, and it supports the declaration of the duties and rights of a Journalist per the U.S. Constitution. “What are you in for?” For decades, detention— holding students in a room under supervision of a staff member—has been used as the primary means of discipline in many schools around the country. Unsurprisingly, the typical detention does not replicate the same bad kid vibes seen in a stereotypical high school movie. Rather, there is no music, talking or sleeping allowed while students are serving out their “punishment.” Essentially, detention has transitioned to become so mundane that it does not effectively resolve problematic behavior. Rather, schools should consider the unique circumstances of its students and find alternative solutions. In the past, a lack of neurological research made detention a more effective option when compared to the old “stick-and-slap” approach. Realistically, detention has accomplished nothing more than withholding students from activities (e.g going home, spending time with friends, athletics). Comparable to a time out, a typical school

detention seeks to punish students using extreme boredom. Although this straightforward strategy is convenient for school teachers and administrators, it wastes more time than it is worth. Most students who attend Saturday school detentions are facing punishment for absenteeism or tardiness. Generally the same

about being punished could cause more problems for teachers and schools as a whole. It is no surprise that the same people keep getting punished over the course of their student life. On the other hand, detention is not fun for teachers either. At Wilson, sign-ups to be a detention supervisor are strictly voluntary.

without doing anything effective, then be my guest and stare at a wall for two hours. Despite its popularity among teachers and administrators, very little academic research has actually been conducted on its effectiveness. A search for the terms “detention” in academic databases results in pop ups of juvenile detention

students are tardy, and with a significantly negative relationship between academic success and bad attendance, it would make sense for detentions to include tutoring services or academic counseling. But all schools have done is add the lack of academic help to the list of detention woes. In fact, students who are angry

With lesson planning and a dozen more extracurricular jobs at the end of the day, supervising an afterschool detention is not high on a teacher’s list of priorities. As a result, students can be left alone in a classroom for an hour. If this is not the epitome of a completely useless excuse for schools to say that they are responding to the problem

centers. Of these articles, only a handful attempt to study the effects of detention on later occurrences of problem behavior. Thus, without research we cannot say that detention categorizes as an effective means to problem solve. However, what schools do have are an able student body that has clearly reflected how

useless the current approach to detention is. For many, teachers included, there is the issue of transportation. Students who take the school bus have to miss it in order to attend an after school detention. When parents have work or other duties, students must find alternative means to get home. This mindset encourages many students to just skip the detention altogether. However, this just leads to more detention slips in the face of an uncontrollable situation. Moreover, if a student regularly receives detention but does not show a decrease in problem behavior, then an alternative consequence should be given in place of detention. School leaders are finding that changing how detention works may improve outcomes—as will broader, proactive disciplinary approaches that can reveal strained relationships with teachers or may identify underlying problems with students’ emotional health, academic skills and home life. It goes without saying that the current approach to detention has worked for some, just not for the majority. Although school is not meant to replicate an academic prison, detention sure makes it seem that way. It is crucial that students understand why they are being punished. The emphasis should not be on punishment but changing the students’ attitude towards their studies. Detention has the potential to be a useful learning tool, schools just need to take it one step further by considering everyone’s views. ART/SHIRLEEN KWONG

MONDAY, FEB 3, 2020

Paw Prints Weekly

ENTERTAINMENT

The Hype House: TikTok’s Team10 explained By GARY LEE STAFF WRITER

“Houses, like people, have personalities, and, like the personalities of people, they are partly molded by all that has happened to them.” TikTok, what is TikTok? Is it merely just your typical, run of the mill video-sharing app, or is it what users across the globe are calling the “reincarnation” of the now-retired Vine? Whatever the answer, one thing is clear: TikTok is rapidly taking over the world. Originally launched in September of 2017, the popular video-sharing app has reached over one billion downloads worldwide in 2019, and has since then become one of the leading platforms for discovering new talent. In late 2019, YouTube vlogger Thomas Petrou collaborated with famous TikTok star Chase Hudson to create the ultimate playground for young stars—The Hype House. The content creator collective features 19 of today’s most popular TikTok stars, as well as Instagram and YouTube influencers that ultimately reside in a Spanish-style mansion in Los Angeles. Currently, the members within the Hype House

include Thomas Petrou, Chase Hudson, Charli D’Amelio, Dixie D’Amelio, Addison Rae, Nick Austin, Alex Warren, Avanni Gregg and many others. Essentially, these ordinary teenagers went from filming 15 second videos in their bedrooms to gaining millions of followers

for her dance routines, D’Amelio has amassed more than 15 million followers since joining the app this summer, and a fan base that keeps on growing. Ever since Charli was a kid, she always had a passion for dancing and acting. In her childhood, she was always greatly supported by her parents,

collab house is its lack of cultural diversity. The Hype House has almost no cultural diversity, being predominantly White. In addition, the group’s questionable content spurs their audience’s thoughts on the line between simply goofing off in front of a camera or possessing pure,

on all social media platforms. To put in perspective, one of TikTok’s fastest-growing personalities, 15-year-old Charli D’Amelio, currently holds the undisputed title of the reigning queen of TikTok. Most known

which would ultimately play a key role in her rapid fame today. Amidst the house’s “hype,” its creation also came a massive amount of controversy. For instance, one of the glaring key problems with the infamous

genuine talent. Sure, it is fun to watch a couple of videos, but after a while, it becomes so repetitive to the point where it seems overdone. Additionally, almost all of their content are structured the same

way, featuring the young stars lip-syncing to a song while doing a variety of dances. Honestly, if people are going to be famous, they should be famous for their originality and hard work. In the real world, people have to work, pay for college and actually have to worry about life’s finances. However, in today’s modern society, more and more individuals, especially young people, are earning huge money through social media. Back in the 2000s, the idea of being famous off of social media was just the pipe dreams of college drop-outs and unsuccessful adults. Essentially, it used to be just a dream for someone to live off of online entertainment, but now with apps such as TikTok, making a significant amount of money is literally one click away, Ultimately, it is upsetting that young kids these days can become famous without really doing anything tedious, but in a world of social media and technology, it is unfortunately possible. In summation, although TikTok may be praised as the undoubted 2.0 reincarnation of Vine, the fact that more and more young people are making big bank because of it can ultimately set the wrong influence on today’s younger generation. ART/ANNA MACIAS

Grammy Awards honor Hollywood’s best in music By ANA-SOFIA MUNOZ STAFF WRITER These artists have a nomineed for success—much unlike the award show that grants it. The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards occurred this past Sunday, Jan. 26 at the Los Angeles Staples Center. The music award ceremony took place in the wake of the deaths of basketball player Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. Multiple artists commemorated the two throughout the night: for instance, host Alicia Keys started the show with a speech addressing the tragedy and dedicated a special performance to the father and daughter pair. Even in the midst of the heightened emotional state, performances featuring artists like Ariana Grande, Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Tyler, the Creator served to entertain audiences tuning in nationwide. Perhaps one of the most notable aspects of the night was the diverse array of award recipients. For example, artist Lizzo, who rose to fame late last year, was nominated for an astounding eight Grammy awards. These eight categories included the four major awards, upheld as especially substantial accomplishments in

the music industry: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best New Artist. To achieve all four nominations is known as a “Grand Slam,” an incredibly rare feat for musicians,

last year, also earned a Grand Slam in nominations alongside Lizzo. This marks the first time in Grammy history that two artists have achieved this goal in the same year. Evidently, it goes

of criticism, Eilish ultimately proved her worth to the public in this display of just how wellreceived her music is. The young musician beat a multitude of other accomplished

considering only ten other artists have scored a Grand Slam in the history of the Grammys. Additionally, in a record breaking turn of events, eighteen year-old Billie Eilish, the eccentric pop star who cemented her name in the music scene

without saying that Eilish swept the music industry off its feet in 2019; she received a whopping five awards, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album. Despite receiving numerous bouts

artists like Lana Del Rey and Ariana Grande, serving to establish her stance as a newly prominent figure in pop music. However, in spite of the starstudded show and exceptional performances, the Grammy’s ratings continue to rapidly

decrease. Viewership has been dwindling within the past several years, with this recent award show reaching an all time low. Television ratings reveal that the majority of audiences were drawn away from the award show by other programs. Undoubtedly, if the Grammy awards hope to continue in the same manner that they have for decades, they must take into account new ways to draw in more viewers. Even considering the number of popular artists in attendance, accompanied by record-breaking achievements, these components were unmistakably not enough to keep audiences engaged. Clearly, it is imperative to the future of the award show that those who direct the event are able to innovate it in a way that attracts more viewers. Whether you view the Grammys as a needless show of subjective achievement, or a telling presentation of the state of the music industry, one thing is for sure: the future of the Grammys lies in the hands of those who manage it.

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6 OPINION

Paw Prints Weekly

MONDAY, FEB. 3, 2020

Paw Prints Weekly

OPINION

The unexpected virtual reality of job applications By RENEE WANG STAFF WRITER

In the near future, applying to jobs will be like playing a game. More specifically, a game to display favorable traits with an artificial intelligence (AI) program that evaluates job applicants in interviews through a phone or laptop. Recently, many businesses have become more interested in evaluating internships and entry-level positions faster through employment assessment programs like Hirevue, an online video interviewing software that incorporates AI to estimate a score of a job applicant’s personality and suitability for a job. College career centers in schools such as Duke University, Purdue University, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte are addressing their concerns with this shift, as they

try to prepare their students to face algorithms rather than building a solid resume. Ultimately, while this brings change to the standards of colleges and schools, it is not necessarily an improvement. The involvement of AI technology into analyzing job videos extends towards details like tone, grammar, facial expressions, all in order to conclude if the applicant is hard-working or can cooperate with others. This standard brings a contradiction in school curriculums, where students are expected to get good grades to get a good job. However, with an AI looking for job applicants with high communication skills, as a result, many A-plus students might not make the cut. Admittedly, many companies do acquire a lot of applicants and have the need to evaluate based on many factors like criteria, background, and traits within a short amount of time. With

most job applications judged without knowing the applicant’s personality, bringing in programs like HireVue can help with the process to judge based on their attributes rather than skills. But, it brings concern as AI programs seek characteristics from a person’s language and tone when it might not be able to tell how much passion or empathy a person might have. A lot of such applicants that have trouble expressing through communication will end up being more of a miss for a corporation that looks for hard-working and passionate applicants. Although this gives many chances for students beyond studying, the new system proves to be full of loopholes and problems many can take advantage of. Essentially, students are judged by how well they can play in the program. According to CNN, a student from Duke University states if she knew an AI was

involved in her job interview, she would play it as a “game” and optimize for certain gestures or qualities that give her an advantage in the evaluation. So in the end, the students do not necessarily need to be sociable or have the qualities of a good worker but just

be knowledgeable about how the program works to get that job. Overall, it is still too early to tell if an AI program is really necessary for the employment process, but companies should keep in mind that people are more than just algorithms and percentiles from an AI scoring.

SPORTS

Foreign stars lead the NBA’s next generation By JACOB RAMOS STAFF WRITER

The new generation of National Basketball Association (NBA) stars is here, finally. After years of being dominated by American stars such as Lebron James, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, the league is transitioning, both personally and culturally. American stars still rule the game, as both up and coming and bonafide stars from our country are plentiful. Players such as Trae Young, James Harden and KarlAnthony Towns get better with each passing season and contribute to the fairly American demographic within the NBA. Despite this, the league has definitely seen an increase in international players over the past 30 years with notable athletes including Dirk Nowitzki, Peja Stojakovic and Vlade Divac. The game has never been led by a group of young international stars, but all of this and more have changed with the arrival of the new generation of NBA talent. In the past decade, there has been a subtle trend in NBA drafts. In a typical instance of recruitment, a prospect is stashed away in their home country, playing out a professional contract signed as early as age 14 to play in their country’s version of the NBA. This continues until deemed fit for the league and thus sent to the states to begin their contract with the team that drafted them, sometimes as long as four years later. One of the notable young stars in the league, Dario Šarić of the Phoenix Suns, took this path to America, and the

NBA. In 2018, the NBA reported an astounding 108 international players, ranging from 42 different countries and territories. This number is expected to grow exponentially with time, especially as more players are drawn from their stashes. Although, not all stellar players

Without a doubt, Doncic’s talents deserve every bit of praise they have received and he surely owes a sizable amount of success he received in his home country. From the age of sixteen, Doncic played for Real Madrid for three years in the EuroLeague. In this short time, Doncic improved rapidly, earning multiple awards unheard of for a

NBA’s.

are the products of stashed drafts. Luka Doncic, the second year swingman from Slovenia, is lighting up scoreboards and is well on the way to leading the Dallas Mavericks to the playoffs. Doncic was traded to the Mavericks on draft night and came over quickly from his EuroLeague team, rather than being stashed for years in Europe.

player of his age. Plenty of critics have continued to denounce aspects of his game, specifically his speed and physical readiness for the NBA game. In fact, many naive scouts have also attempted to claim Doncic’s game would not translate to the NBA, as the European basketball mindset is extremely different from the

older competition. Now, Doncic is a shoo-in to be an all-star, is an MVP candidate and has captured the hearts of NBA fans around the world with his dazzling step-backs and clutch shots. Another foreign player who is racking up points and accolades is Giannis Antetokounmpo of

However, what critics continuously fail to realize about foreign born players transitioning to the NBA is that the vast majority of them have already have level of professional experience. If young players have not played professionally, it is likely they have substantial experience against

the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis is already regarded as a top three player by nearly the entire NBA community, including fans, players and coaches. Moving past a modest start to his NBA career, Giannis exploded in the 2019 NBA season, nearly averaged a triple-double, bringing fame and an Eastern Conference Finals berth to his team. Giannis’ explosion may be lacking in shooting, a necessary component of nearly any all-star’s repertoire, but his sheer athleticism and god given talents allow him to muscle through defenders and entire teams alike. Giannis’ heritage has played a large part in his image, as well as the league’s image. For example, he has been deemed “The Greek Freak,” based off of his otherworldly talents and athleticism. As for NBA basketball, it has benefited greatly from worldwide exposure, something that has not started with Giannis, but definitely was pushed further due to his strong Greek roots. Giannis and Doncic may be the brightest young foreign stars in the NBA, but they definitely are not the only ones. African born Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Kristaps Porzingis of the Dallas Mavericks both are constantly putting up numbers and leading their teams to wins. Ben Simmons, Andrew Wiggins, Kyrie Irving, Marc and Pau Gasol, you name it. Dear Lebron James, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant: You may have the NBA world now, but these foreign stars will soon rule the court. GRAPHIC/DENISE THUONG

MONDAY, FEB. 3, 2020

Paw Prints Weekly

SPORTS

Kobe Bryant’s death rocks the basketball world By JACOB RAMOS STAFF WRITER

Rest in peace to the man who brought endless joy to the basketball world. At only age forty-one, the legendary Kobe Bryant, died in a tragic helicopter crash, along with thirteen year old daughter Gianna Bryant, on Sunday, Jan. 26. Tragically, Bryant was reported by Thirty Mile Zone (TMZ) to be traveling with his daughter and seven others. As reports state, all nine aboard the helicopter, including the pilot, were killed instantly. Officials could not find a cause of the crash immediately. Presently, the National Basketball Association (NBA) community mourns Bryant in a variety of ways. Teams such as the Atlanta Hawks took eight second backcourt violations to honor Bryant’s years wearing the number 8, while the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors each took twenty-four second shot clock violations to honor the Kobe who wore number 24. As expected, the immediate

public mourning of Kobe Bryant was held outside of the Staples Center, where fans and even Laker players shared tears, grief and comfort. On social media, support from NBA legends, players, fans and coaches poured out in a beautiful display of compassion for the Bryant family and those killed in the accident. Gianna Bryant was an aspiring basketball player who was often seen courtside with her father at NBA games. Gianna was credited by her dad for getting him back into NBA basketball, pushing him to buy the NBA package and asking him to sit with her to watch basketball. In fact, the family and passengers aboard the helicopter were on route to a basketball game. Kobe Bryant, who spent twenty years with the Los Angeles Lakers, was considered a cultural icon, not just in Los Angeles, but in popular basketball culture around the world. With Kobe’s influence, the game saw massive expansion into India, China, Mexico, Italy and Canada. As an athlete, Kobe is widely regarded by experts as a top ten player of all time. While spending

his entire career in Los Angeles, Kobe managed to win five NBA championships, one Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and two NBA Finals MVP awards. Seen as one of the most loyal athletes in the history of sports, Bryant consistently gave back to the community in Los Angeles, while staying faithful to his team through losing seasons. At the beginning of his career, Bryant overcame a rape charge that spurred many to question if he would spend his playing years in prison. After many questions regarding his faithfulness to his wife, Bryant and his wife Vanessa settled down and had four daughters, who each play sports. The Bryants aged in front of the spotlight for years, constantly under scrutiny, but always seeming to be in a mostly positive light. After retiring in 2016, Bryant has been seen in public numerous times supporting his daughter’s various sports games. Bryant has also remained

active in the NBA community, frequently showing up courtside to games for the Lakers, most notably seeing his jersey being retired. Bryant’s death came one day after seeing Lebron James pass him on the all time scoring list. James was congratulated by Bryant on social media shortly after passing him. Bryant served as more than a basketball player to my generation. Even not being a Laker fan,

growing up in the Los Angeles area, Kobe soon grew to be one of my favorite players. For the basketball world, on January 26th, an icon was lost; for Los Angeles, a legend was lost. Kobe Bryant’s death serves as a painful reminder that not anything in life is guaranteed and can change at any instant. Life is short, keep the ones you love close. PHOTO PROVIDED BY/GOOGLE

COMMENTARY

Katie Sowers represents progression in the NFL By RENEE WANG STAFF WRITER

In one of the largest maledominated sports leagues, Katie Sowers makes history by not only being the first woman instructor, but also the first openly LGBTQ+ coach in the National Football League (NFL). From her love of football, Sowers began her career in the Women’s Football Alliance where she spent eight years, before her retirement to professional football. Sowers then took on the role of assistant coach with the San Francisco 49ers, making history as the second woman to hold a full-time coaching position in the NFL. Presently, Sowers is at the Super Bowl inspiring others and guiding her team to victory. Since 2017, Sowers has been the only openly LGBTQ+ coach in the NFL, making strides towards advocating for the inclusivity of the LGBTQ+ community in the NFL. Without a doubt, her story and message signal a shift in how the sports industry treats others based on sexual orientation for the better. Despite all the hype and success of Sowers’s achievements, it did not come easy. During her college days, Sowers participated in many sports such as basketball, track and field, and soccer at Goshen College. Upon graduating, she sought a position as a volunteer assistant coach for the Goshen women’s basketball team in 2009. Unfortunately, she was rejected due to concerns based solely on her sexual orientation.

At the time, this instance was far from uncommon. Goshen College followed policies and the laws of Indiana which allowed for hiring decisions to consider sexual orientation. It was only until previous President Barack Obama signed an executive order that added sexual orientation and gender identity protections for

coaching with emails that often were ignored or firmly replied with rejection. From this, Sowers’ story has been used as an example for many other institutions; in her history with Goshen College, Sowers sought to bring awareness to fix certain policies for the future generation of LGBTQ+ in the

of LGBTQ+ athletes have reported being harassed or attacked for gender expression. Even when former professional soccer player Robbie Rogers announced his gay sexuality to the public in 2013, many remained unaffected and in fear of coming out. To the present, many still are afraid to speak out as Sowers’s case remains quite a

federal workers in 2014. However, at Sowers’s period, many could see themselves in her situation where specific policies granted employers to evaluate a prospective position based on other sexual preferences. During her professional career, Sowers would face countless rejections after leaving Goshen. Often applying to positions of

industry. Notably, the history of LGBTQ+ discrimination in sports has been a recurring issue, leading many athletes and staff to avoid coming out in fears of backlash from the public. According to the 2011 Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network’s survey, nearly 30 percent

phenomenon for the NFL. At the same time, many other players were also under pressure of their team, fans, and career, reinforcing the harsh lack of inclusivity in the sports industry. In light of Sowers’s situation, it was highly likely for her to face discrimination from her sexual orientation as well as her gender.

Both subjects coincide as a way for employers to push away prospective athletes and coaches which leads to the precedent of many shying away from the topic in order to not jeopardize their careers. Nevertheless, there have been many like Sowers and Rogers who try to use their stories to challenge the issue. For instance, Sowers stated in a Washington Post report that she was a very inexperienced NFL coach since she never had the opportunity to play on a college team or network with others in the field. From a third-person perspective, with her characteristics and lack of experience, chances of her dream being achieved were at odds. However, after a few years and a brief meeting with the head coach of the 49ers Kyle Shanahan, Sowers now is organizing practices, making plays for the team, and ultimately, encouraging the incoming generation to freely express themselves under the patriarchal system. Essentially, with all of the excitement and hype around Sowers, it should be noted that it was not her nor the team’s goal to make a statement. Sowers’s intention is to bring awareness as well as imagine a future where one-day people would judge others based on their skills and capability, rather than gender or sexuality. Despite this, Sowers has undoubtedly made her mark in the sports culture as her position is impactful for many females and members of LGBTQ+ who, in the future, will work in the sports industry. GRAPHIC/EMMA CHANG