Paw Prints Weekly | Volume 52 Issue 8

Thank you to everyone who purchased a Valentine gram! Find them here.

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Netflix’s hottest rom-com’s sequel does not turn out so hot. Here is why.

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In the 54th Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs dominate the game.

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

Paw Prints Weekly Volume 52, Issue 8 | Tuesday, February 18, 2020 | pawprintsweekly.com

Advanced Drama hosts annual Murder Mystery

By CLAIRE LAW STAFF WRITER

ALL SMILES FOR VOLUNTEERING - Volunteers from Team Up for St. Jude manage a food and water station for runners to receive free items after the race.

PHOTO/GAWHS TEAM UP FOR ST. JUDE

St. Jude volunteers at foundation marathon

By EMMA CHANG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Team Up for St. Jude volunteered at the annual GO2 Lung Cancer Foundation Walk/ Run on Sunday, Feb. 9.

Members of the walk performed several tasks such as passing out food and water to the marathon’s participants.

The marathon raised awareness for lung cancer and celebrated patients all around.

According to club president senior Ashley Ko, the event allowed members to serve their community and raise awareness for the foundation.

“The walk [served] as an important [opportunity] for our club to raise awareness for cancer as well as offer others a chance to volunteer,” Ko said. “I felt very excited to volunteer with my club and it was especially amazing to see some of the runners come in before everyone else.”

In addition, vice president

junior Carol Li believes the walk served as an ample opportunity for the club to regain their spirit in volunteering.

“This walk is the first one we participated in this year and it definitely helped our club get back into rhythm after winter break,” Li said. “In the future, we want to continue planning more crafts and projects for St. Jude patients with our club.”

Overall, member sophomore Jasmine Yang felt inspired by the marathon’s participants’ passion

for the cause.

“My favorite part of the walk was when we handed out snacks and water to the first few runners who had just completed their run,” Yang said. “Their animated spirit manifested their compassion towards the research of lung cancer and really made such a great environment for us volunteers.”

Team Up for St. Jude will volunteer at the LA Marathon on Sunday, Mar. 8 where attendees will host the official St. Jude booth and help volunteer.

Voices of Wilson spread Valentine’s day cheer

By RENEE WANG STAFF WRITER

The Voices of Wilson hosted its annual Love Songs Concert on Feb. 11 and Feb. 12.

The concert featured solo and group performances by all four choir groups, Aria, Sorellé, Harmony and Rhythm as well as additional choir members who auditioned separately. In celebration of Valentine’s Day, the performances included popular love songs like “All of Me” and “I Want You Back.”

According to choir director DeJohn Brown, the success of the concert came from the choir members’ hard work and commitment to the program.

“The Love Songs Concert provides choir students [an opportunity] to display their [individual skills] with solos, duets, and groups [contrasting] the four usual choir groups,” Brown said.

Brown also believes the concert held a special meaning to the choir studetns as they dedicated their spirit into their performance. “[Ultimately], the students make the Love Songs Concert

special, as they put in a lot of passion and effort in four to five minutes of singing. They work really hard and you could see [their dedication] in their performance.”

Moreover, junior choir member Sophia Zheng who sang “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele expressed how the concert provided new ways for choir members to perform.

“I enjoyed [being a part of] the Love Songs concert because there are many opportunities for [choir members] to showcase their singing and have fun on stage,” Zheng said.

In addition, sophomore choir member Imani Lee, who soloed “Endless Love,” believed the Love Songs Concert provided everlasting memories for both the audience and members.

“Being with my friends and performing in front of an audience is something I will definitely [keep close to my heart],” Lee said. “It reminds me of how sad I will be once my senior choir friends graduate, but the concert [served as one of the memorable moments] that I will continue to cherish.”

Choir’s will host the annual Spring Concert in April.

Advanced Drama hosted its annual Murder Mystery dinner from Feb. 6 to 7.

This specific performance provided viewers with an audience interactive show as well as a Chipotle meal for $20. The performance centered around the theme of “The Royal Cupid’s Cruise” and gave the audience a one of a kind performance on a “boat.”

According to Drama Department teacher Kimberly Weaver, Drama faced many obstacles but still managed to put on a fantastic performance.

“This was the first time we did [the performance] on a boat, so creating the ambiance of water and a cruise was difficult. [In addition], we had a student that unexpectedly did not come to class for two weeks, [so] we had to get rid of his character and make some adjustments,” Weaver said.

According to Advanced Drama senior Fayelin Plascencia, it was [nerve-racking] to be on stage but as time went on, she became more comfortable performing.

“During the first part of the show I was really nervous because I was scared of the guest interactions,” Plascencia said. “As the show went on, I became [more] relaxed and felt like I became my character.”

As stated by sophomore Andrea Robles, there are still improvements that have to be made, but overall she enjoyed being a part of the performance.

“I [believe] that if we had a couple more days to plan things out, it would [have made] the show even better,” Robles said. “[Apart from that], my favorite part is when the detective reveals who the murder is because the audience’s reactions when finding out was really rewarding to watch.”

Drama’s next event is the Improv Show on Friday, Feb. 28.

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Paw Prints Weekly

TUESDAY, FEB. 18, 2020

EDITORIAL American hypocrisy with the immigration crisis Despite its long withstanding, there is an issue plaguing American political ideology: hypocrisy-namely, the despotism regarding foreign affairs.

The issue at hand is the intersection of America being founded by immigrants and the administration passing antiimmigration legislation.

Our country is supposedly built on the principles of freedom, on a basis where adversity does not stand in our way of fantastic dreams and longing aspirations. We are the land of diversity, a melting pot of different cultures and ethnic backgrounds, all contributing to the varying face of our nation.

This new restriction prevents citizens from Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Eritrea, Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan to apply for visas.

However, they are still permitted to visit the country for other purposes, including tourism, business, and medical reasons. To justify their actions, government officials stated that these countries have not complied with U.S security measures.

Furthermore, the obvious focus on African and Southeast countries speak louder than Trump’s reassuring claims. Nigeria is the United States’ second-largest trading partner in Africa, supplying much-needed oil in exchange for the

foreign financial aid our country provides.

One of the biggest countries affected by this ban is Nigeria; by including Nigeria in this immigration ban, the administration is directly hoping to curb the country’s diaspora of the Nigerian people and implying undertones of who is welcome in our nation.

According to a Migration Policy Institute study, first- and second-generation Nigerians are well-educated and are more likely to possess professional jobs than the general U.S. population. Therefore, this immigration ban may also be detrimental to the nation’s economy, since these individuals contribute to such a large part of our society.

Consequently, it is extremely clear that this crucial relationship with Nigeria cannot be jeopardized; nevertheless, the discrimination for Nigeria immigrants is a step short of thanking the country for its services.

In reality, our president cannot even provide simple respect for countries included in the immigration ban, let alone decent gratification. In fact, in 2017, Trump had stated that the Muslim and African citizens “had AIDS,” and Nigerians would never “go back to their huts” when visiting America.

The president’s statements, which have been repetitive throughout his term, indicate that these bans are rooted in racism. If this is the case,

we should not simply stand by while others are facing prejudice.

In addition, by barring southeastern Asain countries from receiving American citizenship, families from these countries are torn apart. Individuals including green card holders and foreignborn children are separated from their parents and loved ones who live in the countries where the ban is effective. These family members are prohibited from traveling to America, but the people residing in the U.S are not guaranteed reentry if they do visit their homeland.

Consequently, breaking families apart is a far cry from supposedly protecting our nation.

Moreover, the ban went back to the Supreme Court on February 4, where arguments presented by U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents with relatives who haven’t been able to enter the United States because of the ban were presented to the Circuit Court of Appeals.

However, this is not the first time America has presented racism in the form of immigrant laws.

Acts depicting prejudice have been seen in the Johnson Reed Act preventing immigration from Asia, the Gentleman’s Agreement discriminating Japanese in California and even the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 establishing percent quotas for certain nations and specifically discriminated

against Southern Europeans.

Alas, it seems as though we have not learned from our past mistakes. Many of these acts only resulted in hysteria and xenophobia from the public, heightening an issue that initially was not prevalent.

Trump’s new immigration policy only foreshadows the same attitude that will grip our nation, bringing greater hardships on our long list of government conflicts.

These rationales and administrative actions have tremendous consequences for our country. When our government carefully selects who is able to enter America, this demonstrates that the right to vote is not ubiquitous to everyone- but rather to a certain group.

Despite this, there can be some logic behind the new immigration policy. In light of the recent Coronavirus jumping continents, it may be wise to heighten security for those who are able to enter and leave America. Yet, Trump’s current policy does not protect the country’s safety in any sense and must be thoroughly amended to serve as the enforcement of safety.

America is a harbor of safety, an outlet for individuals to achieve sought out goals without restrictions.

Despite this, the new immigration policy places a very large roadblock, an unavoidable cone, as if to say, “You’re not welcome here.”

A flimsy defense on the “antiquated socialist” As the bid for the presidency unfolds, the future of the Democratic party becomes more uncertain.

As more states begin to hold their caucuses and primaries--with Iowa and New Hampshire already hosting theirs--the upcoming months will become imperative to the future of the country. Heading the Democratic party are the front-runners Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg; simultaneously, the two represent the party’s polarizing divide that has emerged in the past decade. With Sanders just narrowly beating Buttigieg in the New Hampshire primaries, it’s becoming blatantly obvious that the contender facing Trump in 2020, like the 2016 election, will be from either the progressive or moderate camps.

For many Democrats, the divide is ideological versus practical and such a divide is potentially detrimental to the party. With relatively disparate front-running candidates, there is a fear that the Democrats will blow their chances in the 2020 election by electing a “far-left” candidate: Sanders. As centrists outnumber the liberal candidates, the “establishment” has made a clear intra-party enemy out of Sanders—just like four years ago.

Sanders, a Vermont Senator and touted “democratic socialist” has a wide and expansive track record in politics--serving as a mayor and

holding positions in Congress.

While technically an independent, Sanders is ideologically closer to a Democrat. Unbeknownst to most, Sanders was a back note in political America before running in the 2016 election. Regardless, from his days as a protestor in the Civil Rights Movement to the arbiter that he is today, Sanders has always upheld a populous platform, even in the ire of capitalist-America.

At the heart of the issue, Sanders is a threat to both Democrats and Republicans for a shared reason: a misunderstanding of socialism. To the economist, especially on the global scale, Sanders policies barely hit left from center; to the establishment and, as Sanders calls his main detractors “corporate media”, they are radicalized socialism--the likes of seizing the means of production.

Yet, this misunderstanding is tantamount to ignorance, a result of Red Scare fear-mongering.

Sanders is not arguing for a return to normalcy nor is he banking on tired platforms that have done little but stagnate the country, he is spearheading a plan to revolutionize the socioeconomic stratum.

Even with Sanders’ unprecedented five million individual contributions, the narrative instituted by corporate media is that he is an unlikely candidate to win. Though already stated, yet central to the core of this case study, take, for example,

the New Hampshire primary results. Occurring earlier last week, Sanders’ narrow margin of victory solidifies his place as the candidate of choice that progressive democrats are rallying behind, as opposed to, say, Senator Elizabeth Warren. Indeed, as the three centrists candidates on the platform of bipartisanship amassed up to 53 percent of the New Hampshire democrat-vote, Sanders encapsulated half of that. Polling at 25.7 percent of the vote, Sanders would receive the most delegates from the state—which will be sent to the national convention to decide which candidate to represent the party. This is imperative. The 2020 race is more competitive and populated than 2016, it intersects at the crossroads of ideology and practicality; electing someone to represent the people or electing someone to defeat Donald Trump-and this is clearly illustrated by Sanders controlling 60.1 percent of New Hampshire’s vote in 2016.

Yes, 53 percent of voters in New Hampshire identify with a centrist candidate, yet, as the moderates contenders continue to split their vote, Sanders continues to make gains across the country. As Sanders’ electability is starkly criticized, his ideas are transcendental. Ironically, as the only prominent candidate in 2016 running on a progressive platform, Sanders’ policies have coalesced to transform the

ideological landscape of 2020. As ideas such as Medicare for All and free college have been integrated even into the moderate camp’s objectives, it is clear that Sanders is a transformative force in modernday politics--which, I might add, is as, if not more, important than beating the current regime.

In the era of Trump, populism will be a force that will continue to grow, take, the elections and continued support for progressive congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Ilhan Omar, for example. Politics is a complex but continually growing subject, and progressivism might be the new norm--for the Democrat party that is.

As the favorability of moderate powerhouses such as Joe Biden plummets, or as candidates like Kamala Harris drop out, Sanders remains a consistent and powerful force for the past four years.

This “threat” in the eyes of the establishment Democrats to elect a progressive candidate is painfully obvious as they stumble to find a moderate candidate to place their support behind. Ironically, policies such as Medicare for All that Sanders put into the mainstream are now proliferated by moderate candidates. The openness by center democrats to accept such “radical ideas” illustrates that the ideas are popular among the people, and chiefly, it is indispensable for our democracy to follow the will of the people.

Paw Prints Weekly Volume 52 | Issue 8 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

TUESDAY, FEB. 18, 2020

FEATURES

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FEATURES

Our Voices of Wilson are out of this world!

Kristin Sung (12)

Ariana Zenon (12)

Jordan Chan (12)

What is your favorite part about choir? “[Everyone in choir] is willing to work towards a common goal—we all get to sing with each other and enjoy the music.”

In what ways do you try to better the choir?

“We try to do a lot of bonding [activities] so that we can be closer together, and we also have mass sectionals to work on music. We all try to work together to find common goals and try to push an agenda when we do our activities.”

Describe your favorite moment in your time as a choir member. “[There was a moment] when [the choir] was preparing right before a performance, and I [felt] a sense of [love] for [everyone]. [I felt] really happy to be able to perform with them. [Experiences like that] are really what make the high school experience worth going through.”

What first led you to become more involved in choir?

“I [realized that I] wanted to become more involved in choir as a freshman after I saw [the upperclassmen] around me putting a lot of time and dedication into it.

[They inspired me] to do the same as well.”

What do you hope that students will gain by being a part of choir?

“I want students to know that they are part of a community and [gain] a sense of belonging by sharing in the experience of singing with other people.”

If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?

“Build My Life.”

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

“Olaf from Frozen.”

What inspires you to be an active member in choir?

“The people, for sure. I have had [amazing] experiences with all of the people I have been with in the past years, like in [Women’s Ensemble]. Mr. Brown also inspires me, because he has taught us all so much and helped us grow. [Choir] is an [incredibly] beautiful program that has helped me so much in life, and I want to [do my best] to [help others feel the same.]”

Describe your time as a member of choir. “[There are] a lot of ups and downs. You have your good days and bad days, but the ups always outweigh the downs. As a member of choir, I have learned not only music theory but also a lot about myself as a person. I gained a lot of confidence and got to [form] relationships with people I will treasure forever. [Choir] is a big family as well as a support system for me.”

What is your role like as an assistant conductor?

“Sometimes I am [referred to] as the ‘section leader of section leaders’. I am [required to be] a leader of the sound, and help with using the right vocal technique and learning the music. I get to work one-on-one with Mr. Brown and learn how to conduct, and I [also] get to conduct a few songs per season for Aria.”

What kind of preparation do you do prior to concerts?

“Alongside practicing every day in choir, [just before a performance] it is mostly about getting into the mood.

Before we perform, [the entire Voices of Wilson] is always brought together to hold hands and [recite] the choir motto together. That really gets me into the mindset of being there to sing together and bless people with good music.”

Not pictured.

Joseph Chung (12)

Sydney Rodriguez (11)

Mayeli Mendoza (12)

Why do you think students should join choir?

“I joined choir because [I have] a love for music and the community that surrounds [the group].”

How do you feel that you contribute to the choir?

“I help bring positive energy to the group and [try to] bring everybody closer, because choir is supposed to be like a community. [I try] to make everybody feel welcome.”

What are some of your duties as a class representative?

“I focus a lot on the atmosphere in class and make sure everyone feels included during bonding. I also try to help the section leaders with music if there is anything they are struggling with.”

What have you learned from being in choir?

“Not only have I learned the fundamental techniques of singing, but also the strength of each person in our choir. Due to the [difficulty of] the songs we sing, each member of the choir is needed to complete the full picture.”

Describe your post-apocalypse plan.

“My post-apocalypse plan is to start another apocalypse.”

What is your ideal day like?

“Sleeping all day and waking up to a plate of my favorite foods.”

How do you try to get students to be more involved in choir?

“I try pushing people to sing louder and audition for solos because I know that everyone is talented, they are just scared to show it. I also try to show [students] that they should not be scared, because you get one step closer to [what you want] when you go after the things you are afraid of.”

Why do you think that it is important for students to have access to groups like choir on campus?

“Personally, choir is a way for me to get away from the problems that I have had at school or at home.

The people here are just [generally] very goodhearted and [the environment] is very welcoming and free of judgment.”

What is your current favorite fashion trend?

“I do not really know anything about fashion, I [just] wear hoodies and jeans to school.”

Compiled by Ana-Sofia Munoz Photos provided by Paw Prints Weekly

If you could be any TV show or movie character, who would you be?

“I would be Eleven from Stranger Things, because she is really cool.”

What is your favorite part about being a class representative?

“Seeing the close bonds everyone forms with each other. I love my Sorelle (Women’s Ensemble) sisters and all I want is for them to have an amazing experience [in choir] and for them to feel like a family.”

How do you try to connect with students?

“I connect with the students through the use of technology. I try [messaging] a lot of cute puppy and baby videos, as well as encouraging them via Instagram. I also try talking to a new person in class each day.”

What is your favorite song to sing?

“My favorite song to sing would have to be Oceans by Hillsong United.”

What do you like to do to de-stress?

“I like putting on facemasks, binge-watching Hulu or Netflix and sleeping.”

4 FEATURES

Paw Prints Weekly

TUESDAY, FEB 18, 2020

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

FROM PAW PRINTS WEEKLY!

TUESDAY, FEB. 18, 2020

Paw Prints Weekly

PERSPECTIVES

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PERSPECTIVES

Living on minimum wage has never been harder

By CLAIRE LAW STAFF WRITER

Receiving your first paycheck is one of the most amazing experiences that a person new to the workforce can endure. After doing all the calculations, you only have enough money to pay taxes and insurance.

This is the harsh reality that many Americans working for minimum wage have to face. With the national average minimum wage of only $12-$13 an hour, it is difficult for people who receive the bare minimum to buy necessities such as food, shelter and clothes.

Think about it: after you stash away money to pay for your medical and other insurance expenses and taxes, you only have so much left to buy food and clothes.

If you work for about nine hours every day on minimum wage, you only earn about $108$117 per day. To a small child that may seem like a fortune, but in reality, it is just not enough to live on your own.

Furthermore, the prices of necessities to live have also risen in the past years. For example, a bowl of ramen can now go up to as high as $12. Taking this into consideration, many people that are given minimum wage can not

afford to buy enough food to stay well-nourished.

Meanwhile, Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC) Make It,— a new section of CNBC dedicated to helping you manage your business, career and money, interviewed participants

have to pick and choose what’s more important,” Nicholson tells CNBC Make It. “Of course my child is more important, but at the same time, I have to work and make money to be able to support and take care of them.”

Every year there is a nationwide

are under the poverty line. They believe that raising the minimum wage will raise the overall net income of the working class and low-income families which will lead to greater financial stability.

In addition, raising the minimum wage would also

and found out that many parents and/or guardians stress about where to spend money on.

Additionally, Dougleshia Nicholson is a single mother of six trying to survive on minimum wage in Kansas City, Missouri.

“It is stressful because I basically

debate about raising national minimum wages. Increasing the minimum wage obviously has a massive effect on the country’s economy and its people.

Some experts say that raising minimum wages can improve the lifestyle of those employees who

increase worker productivity and reduce employee turnover.

According to Janet Yellen, Chair of the Federal Reserve, increases in wages are associated with increased productivity. Alan Manning, DPhil, Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics,

stated in 2014 that employee turnover rates and truancy tend to decrease as the minimum wage rises and work becomes more attractive.

A 2014 University of California at Berkeley study found turnover rates for teens and restaurant workers fall mainly following minimum wage inflation declining by about 2% for a 10% increase in the minimum wage.

Similarly, a survey given that same year found that 53% of small business owners considered that with a greater minimum wage, businesses would profit from lower employee turnover and raised productivity and consumer gratification.

Moreover, raising the minimum wage would help families pay their necessities to live and help them become financially stable. Also, employees would retain working relationships for longer periods of time thus leading to less turnover. The biggest effect that raising the minimum wage has is bringing people out of poverty and raising the income of families.

Thus, a minimum wage should not force people to live at the bare minimum. Poverty is an epidemic that affects the whole nation and can fix in releasing financial pressure from its citizens.

ART/SHIRLEEN KWONG

#NOTFAKENEWS: What journalism is supposed to be

By JACOB RAMOS STAFF WRITER

Modern multimedia journalism has improved the spread of news in the 21st century substantially, but at what cost?

In the light of recent Presidential Elections, the term “fake news” has been coined as a popular way of calling out false theories and numbers. However, the spread of false information in America is not a new phenomena.

This phenomena is heightened by the the arrival of high-speed internet being the successor to dialup, allowing for more digital media to be distributed.

Make no mistake, the globalization and modernization of news has fulfilled its purpose to expedite the spread of information so the average consumer can access any article, video or game they want in a few clicks.

The issues at hand are the trolls, the jokesters and the flat out incorrect people of the internet.

As for the trolls and people attempting to get a laugh out of the average internet consumer, it is an acceptable practice to tell jokes and post memes in the form of false, ridiculous information that people know is definitely not true. Most users are decent human beings and know when it is time to stop.

Examples of this include when celebrities or public figures die; it is rare to see jokes about them or their

death flooding social media.

Of course, there is a side of news in the 21st century that may be the most gut-wrenching, god awful horrible place to inhibit.

This side is the false reporting, fake news, worst journalistic possible side of the internet.

Let’s be honest, if you owned a

This is where the stem of false media is planted.

The middle ground, if you will, is where the news outlets who could not break the big story act as vultures, picking at the remaining pieces that they know the public will bend over backwards to know.

A prime example of this was

on the helicopter. TMZ held off on naming those others that had died, due to uncertainty over the facts of the situation.

This opened the floodgates for other news outlets to rush to find the cause of the crash, how many died and who exactly died.

While the truth did prevail

professional, multi media company, you would definitely want to be the first to leak a big story.

Some news outlets view not breaking the big story as a loss, but you can still report important details such as the amount of money lost, casualties that occured or property destroyed.

exhibited in the recent passing of Kobe Bryant.

Bryant’s death was quickly reported on by Thirty Mile Radius (TMZ). TMZ, despite exhibiting a spotty track record with celebrity news, delivered a very accurate report, explaining Kobe’s death, along with all others

eventually, a whirlwind of information circled the internet.

Some misinformation reported was surrounded around the family of Kobe Bryant, explaining that his entire family unit had perished in the accident. Others explained that it was only a 5 casualty crash, when in fact nine had died.

When the final casualty amount of 9, including Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, had been reported, millions had been confused by the conflicting reports of multiple news outlets.

Beyond being factually incorrect and causing confusion to the public, many fail to realize the issues regarding the disrespect to the families of those directly affected by tragedies in the news.

The Bryant, Altobelli, Chester and Zobayan families did not know their relatives had perished until the initial TMZ report had come out.

The crash being falsely reported at first added to the limitless trauma induced by the accident.

Any fix for the situation is an extremely slippery slope, giving reasonable cause for news agencies to call out violation of the First Amendment.

Overall, false journalism is a slippery, messy slope. Many people rely on reporting the initial story as a way to provoke controversy and gain popularity to their news outlet, which explains the haste that has been seen in modern news as of late. The internet has helped modern news become a defining part of the 21st century media.

While we as a society should continue to embrace this means of communication, we must appreciate the humor, truth and overall continue to stay aware of the pitfalls potentially involved with breaking a story as soon as possible.

ART/JOSEPH MENDOZA

6 ENTERTAINMENT

Paw Prints Weekly

TUESDAY, FEB 18, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: P.S. we are disappointed

By ANA-SOFIA MUÑOZ STAFF WRITER

To all the teen rom-coms I’ve loved before…this one hardly stands out.

On Feb. 12, Netflix released the teen romance film To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, the sequel to To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

In the first film, high schooler Lara Jean Covey’s (Lana Condor) life changes after her five secret love letters are accidentally mailed to their recipients. Within this dynamic follow-up film, Lara Jean faces entirely new set of problems when an old flame reenters her life, creating a rift in her relationship with her boyfriend, Peter Kavinsky, played by Noah Centineo.

Unfortunately, despite the film’s efforts, it ultimately falls short in furthering the franchise’s storyline and does little to rekindle the chemistry that had audiences swooning in the first movie.

From the start of the rom-com, Peter and Lara Jean’s interactions come across as more awkward than heartwarming. While this may serve to foreshadow tensions that arise later in the film, even the moments intended to be heartfelt feel forced and uncomfortable.

Further, these scenes appear to come from a combination of both

the actors’ portrayal of their roles and poorly illustrated romantic dialogue. In fact, many romantic scenes between Peter and Lara Jean appeared orchestrated and unnatural, leaving audiences feeling underwhelmed by the minimal sparks between the two leads.

reconciliation scene that still leaves questions of the characters’ previous choices—and ultimately, their morality and standing in their relationship—unanswered.

Moreover, there was very little character development in the two leads throughout the movie. Neither Peter nor Lara

felt rushed and unfulfilling, with no satisfactory conclusion.

In spite of the film’s shortcomings, there were still a few notable aspects that definitely made the audience swoon in various ways.

Much like in the first installment, the cinematography

In addition to the lackluster gentle romance of the two protagonists, the entire plot of the sequel simply appears to go in circles. To elaborate, the conflicts that develop between Peter and Lara Jean are never directly addressed.

The only resolution is a brief

Jean grew in any way from the various difficulties they each faced in their relationship. By the end of the movie, things between them returned to square one, with no significant changes to help strengthen or shape their relationship.

Overall, the ending of the film

in the film is extremely wellexecuted. The use of Wes Anderson-style color palettes and uniquely shot scenes is eyecatching and served to make the film very aesthetically pleasing.

Additionally, the soft pastels and bright spring colors the director chooses to focus on

expertly created an atmosphere that radiates a romantic aura.

As a whole, the outstanding cinematography paired with the soundtrack, which is comprised of synth pop and lively indie tracks, resulted in a perfectly crafted setting for a teen romance film.

In an unexpected turn of events, one of the several notable features of the movie was the new main character in the franchise.

John Ambrose McClaren, played

by Jordan Fisher, effortlessly charms his way into viewers’ hearts.

Fisher’s performance absolutely steals the spotlight, with his character John Ambrose’s wit and charisma posing a major threat to Peter. Fisher’s acting ultimately leads audiences to root for John Ambrose as the underdog, as opposed to Peter.

Overall, Fisher’s skills as an actor truly shine in this film and arguably make the movie worth the watch despite its drawbacks.

In the end, the verdict on To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You will likely remain open-ended as fans debate over the movie.

Although it is not a perfect film, if you are looking for a sweet romcom to make you feel lonely this Valentine’s weekend, this sequel is still a potential contender— even if it does not quite live up to audience expectations.

GRAPHIC/DENISE THUONG

NBC’s The Good Place finale sheds light on acceptance

By RENEE WANG STAFF WRITER

“Everything is fine.”

On Thursday, Jan. 30, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) sitcom The Good Place concluded the four-season series with its 52nd episode, “Whenever You’re Ready.”

Written and directed by Michael Schur, The Good Place consists of six main characters revolving around Eleanor Shellstrop, played by Kristen Bell, a self-absorbed and intentionally mean individual who attempts to become good with the help of her friends: Chidi Anagonye, Tahani Al-Jamil, Jason Mendoza and more.

Throughout each episode, Eleanor steadily learns what it takes to be a good person while facing various challenges as she adjusts to the Good Place, with the last few episodes being less about becoming good, and more about accepting imperfections as a human.

Initially, the show starts off with the main character Eleanor, entering The Good Place, a utopian world made by an immortal architect named Michael. As she would discover, individuals in The Good Place were ranked “good” in a highly-selective point system which determines if an individual would go to The Good or Bad Place based on their decisions made in

their lifetime.

As the plot progresses, the characters realize they are in fact in The Bad Place, which was disguised to resemble The Good Place in a morbid experiment to torture people by their own goodness.

By the end of the first season, the protagonists work together to find a way out of the Bad Place while facing various obstacles along the way. However, much to the characters’ dismay, it proves to be more difficult than they anticipate.

In contrast to its predecessor, the final season focuses more on the development of each character, rather than the challenges they have faced to avoid being tortured by their deepest fears. In the end, the final episode with the characters having their last wishes fulfilled symbolizes the end of their adventure and by moving on to the afterlife, they are accepting their flaws.

For instance, Tahani, a seemingly overly good person, has made many accomplishments in her life to classify herself as “good,” however due to lifelong jealousy towards her sister, the system perceived her acts of good as corrupt. Yet, when she dies, she still feels unjustified in her pursuit of goodness and makes the decision to become an apprentice architect, in order to utilize her strengths as an organizer, and at the same time, come to a conclusion to accept

her feelings of inferiority to her sister. Arguably, Tahani has been a character is subjected to comedy relief, however, the finale gives her justice by making her focus on helping others for the good of it, rather than for herself.

In context, this development contrasts greatly with season one, as in when Tahani found out that she was the second-to-last place in the “good” point system.

From there, she performed charity work and tried to help others, but ultimately for the wrong intentions, which was the initial reason for her going to The Bad Place. Her progression by the end of the second season documents her character’s remarkable change of heart and how far she and the other protagonists have come since their death.

According to a Buzzfeed interview with author Schur, helping others to benefit yourself represents the problem of selfishness in the world today, as society pressures many people to compete against one another.

Namely, in the episode of “What We Owe to Each Other,” references philosopher Thomas Michael “Tim” Scanlon’s book with the same title, to explain Eleanor’s central flaw, her lack of human connection, that eventually makes her life miserable in the long run.

Notably, The Good Place

finale comes to terms with how good and bad are not exactly black and white. Essentially, the series utterly addresses this in the form of flashbacks, and how certain families negatively affect the behaviors of our protagonists.

Additionally, the show focuses on the importance of having imperfections, as it provides more meaning to life than eternal paradise. For instance, Michael, an all-powerful immortal, demonstrates this idea. Even though he does not have to experience the small, annoying limitations of being a mortal, this makes him desire to experience the uncontrollable events in life.

Furthermore, the finale’s decision of making him mortal represents that there is not exactly a perfect utopian world that anyone can feel

full satisfaction.

Moreover, the characters’ friendships represent how imperfections can be improved upon with the help of others. For example, with Chidi’s knowledge in philosophy and Eleanor’s lack of moral good, allow both to develop and learn from each other.

Essentially, it demonstrates what it means to be human, where having trustworthy friends is so important today.

Overall, The Good Place has been a fantastic journey, from teaching moral philosophy to fighting against an unjustifiable system, the iconic sitcom undoubtedly sheds light on individual acceptance, while valuing the importance of inward growth.

GRAPHIC/DEVYN KELLY

TUESDAY, FEB. 18, 2020

Paw Prints Weekly

OPINION

7

OPINION

Bringing culinary diversity straight to your plate

By GARY LEE STAFF WRITER

“Diversity is the mix.

Inclusion is making the mix work,” Andrés Tapia said.

These days, diversity is everywhere, it is within people, it is within education and it is even in the food we eat. No matter how, no matter where and no matter when, there is always going to be diversity.

One of the finer things in life is being able to enjoy the variety of food options across the globe; with different cultures comes different flavors and styles of culinary art.

Some of the most diverse restaurants are actually the most common, including McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). This diversity also extends to places such as convenience stores and markets, the most wellknown location being 7-Eleven.

7-Eleven is just like any other convenience store, but in countries like China, Taiwan or even Japan, the idea of

a convenience store has far different standards from that of American’s.

One day, an American might just stumble onto an online video

It is a marketing strategy on the behalf of 7-Eleven, by making their chain locations so different, they entice new customers to visit their regional location just

machine, or like how a location at Urban Texas is self-serviced and cashierless.

In fact, these locations are well known for being different

about 7-Eleven in Japan; not only will they be surprised at the vast differences of the product, but they will also compare it to the 7-Eleven they are used to.

because they see how amazing it is. In the case of 7-Eleven, many people might find it surprising that a 7-Eleven in Tokyo Japan has an auto cup-and-noodle

in every country they are found in. The reason for such diversities stems from factors like local resources, the locals themselves and many others. The differences

in many chain restaurants ranges from as small as slight coloration difference within the food to serving a whole new unique regional food. Like McDonald’s, the food served around the world is as diverse as any restaurant can be. For example, many of the regional foods include Toblerone McFlurry served in Switzerland, Saiman served in Hawaii or like how Teriyaki Burger in Japan.

However, such marketing strategy may contain a major flaw; although it is effective at attracting customers, it is hard for them to keep them. For example, individuals that have moved to a new country and cannot have the same experience in convenient stores and restaurants will likely find themselves severely disappointed by the difference within the convenience store they had known so well. Even so, it is still good to have these variants as it serves as a way for any diverse culture to add on to any preexisting notion of what kind of food should serve within many well-known locations.

GRAPHIC/DENISE THUONG

Online shopping made much more traditional?

By ADRIAN HERNANDEZ PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

What would you rather do? Buy over 500 dollars worth of shoes online just so you can try them on at home, only to return the majority of them or go to the store to try on the same pairs and only buy the pair you actually like?

If this question was asked ten years ago, the majority of people would have chosen the second option since the internet was

not a prevalent tool in someone’s everyday life.

However since then, online shopping has taken the world by storm. In the forefront is Amazon, a well-known corporation known for its vast online market and instant availability.

Although online shopping has forever changed the way consumers interact, it should not replace the traditional walk in stores.

What many do not realize is that traditional stores such as Macy’s and JCPenney give consumers a

great and convenient way to try and view products. This offers customers ample opportunity to see if they would like to purchase it without committing to purchasing the actual product.

If the large price tag for their products scare consumers, any customer can always go to a local Goodwill or thrift store for cheap prices and overall good quality products.

Additionally, buying through actual stores allows the consumer to actually have the product on the

same day they actually buy it. While some may argue that Amazon’s one day shipping compensates for this commodity, it cannot truly compare to the feeling of actually having the product in your hand right after purchase.

It can also be said that online shopping is much more convenient for people who might not have the time or means to visit a traditional store.

This argument is undoubtedly substantial unless people consider the high possibility of the customer

disliking or being dissatisfied with the product. Though there are ways to return products from the convenience of home, there are still many items that cannot be returned online. Also, online returns have shipping fees that are nonexistent if brought to a regular store.

Overall, the rise of the internet may change the future of buying products for years to come, but the need for these traditional stores will always be necessary for the convenience of consumers.

SPORTS

Boys’ basketball falls in decisive qualifying match

By GARY LEE STAFF WRITER

On Friday, Feb. 7, boys’ basketball suffered a conclusive loss to Rowland HS with a final score of 59-61.

After several face-offs against nearby teams, both the Wildcats and Rowland were set to compete to advance to California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) preliminaries. Thus, the team’s defeat marks the end of the boys’ season.

Despite the loss, head coach Willie Allen is proud of the team’s performance and believes the game produced a fair outcome.

“I am disappointed [with] the Rowland game because it [would have brought] us to CIF, but I

thought we played well,” Allen said. “Rowland is a good team and [when] we were down 8 points in the last minute, our boys fought back and went into overtime. It was a good game, but we just came a little short at the end.”

Similarly, point guard Tyler Kam (12) believes the outcome of the game ultimately resulted from the team’s individual performance. “[In the end,] we gave Rowland a couple of runs that allowed them to take the upper hand,” Kam said.

“We had too many little lapses here and there that [eventually] cost us the game.”

Though disappointed in the final outcome, center Jeremiah Susanto (10) is motivated for the team’s seasons to come.

“I feel like we did not work as hard [as we wanted to] because the

match [happened] the day after our [loss] to San Dimas,” Susanto said.

“In order to improve for the future, I [will] look back on my mistakes to learn from and work harder on them.

In short, Allen is certain for the team’s future.

“It was a great season for us [even though] it did not pan out the way we wanted to. Every year, we would set a goal that we wanted to [achieve] and winning a league title was one of the goals that we had,” Allen said. “We did not obtain that [goal] so that is something we [will] work on in the upcoming years.”

Overall, the Wildcats played their best and unfortunately will not advance to CIF. Make sure to stay tuned and look forward to their success in the next season!

A TEAM COMES BEFORE ANYTHING - The boys’ team gathers around Coach Allen before a pensive play during the second quarter.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY/GAWHS ATHLETICS

8 SPORTS

Paw Prints Weekly

TUESDAY, FEB. 18, 2020

COMMENTARY

54th Super Bowl marks another victory for the Chiefs

By ANA-SOFIA MUÑOZ STAFF WRITER

Super Bowl LIV will certainly be one to remember.

On Saturday, Feb. 2, the Kansas City Chiefs proved victorious against the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 31-20 in an astounding turn of events. Football fans especially commended the efforts of quarterback Patrick Mahomes throughout the game and attribute much of the Chiefs’ success to his strategic gameplay.

This Super Bowl comes as a refreshing change in comparison to the games of the past several years. Much unlike last year’s less-than thrilling game between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams with a score of 13-3, this year’s Super Bowl was vastly more competitive and kept audiences at the edge of their seats until they counted down the last seconds of fourth quarter.

With the score tied 10-10 just before halftime, the 49ers completed a long pass and appeared ready to score. However, the 49ers receiver who caught the pass was penalized for offensive pass interference, and the long

gain was called back. The penalty brought the team’s previous momentum to a sudden halt, leaving the score tied at halftime.

Even in spite of the penalty,

49ers made some questionable calls that ultimately led to their demise.

For instance, when the 49ers were down 24-20, they began

sacked and the Chiefs got the ball back.

The Chiefs scored, again, to take a 31–20 lead. Because the 49ers let the clock run down

the 49ers were winning the game by the end of the third quarter with a score of 20-10.

However, the Chiefs miraculously pulled ahead with a turnaround in the last quarter.

The Chiefs took the lead, 24-20; in the fourth quarter. In a futile attempt to make a comeback, the

a drive and were faced with a third down and 10 yards around midfield, with less than two minutes left in the game. Rather than going for the first down on a short play, Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers quarterback, opted to go for a long pass that fell incomplete.

On the next play, Garopollo was

by 40 seconds on their previous possession instead of calling a timeout, there was simply not enough time for them to make a comeback.

It goes without saying that the Chiefs fought to the very end of the game, most especially quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Although fans were highly critical of his performance in the first half of the game, Mahomes proved his worth by making several major gains following the penalty against San Francisco.

Mahomes made three touchdown drives, going for 65, 83 and 42 yards respectively, driving the 49ers back and securing the lead for the Chiefs.

While both teams displayed their adept skills throughout the game, the Chiefs demonstrated especially exceptional offensive strategies, as seen in the way they were able to gain the lead in the fourth quarter. The 49ers appeared unprepared to face certain setbacks and very obviously did not anticipate having to struggle against the Chiefs’ efforts.

In short, the 49ers ultimately floundered when faced with the Chiefs’ powerful offense and willful gameplay. Overall, the game truly exemplified what the Super Bowl is intended to be about: these teams showcased their abilities as some of the best in pro football, and certainly entertained the nation in what hopefully sets a precedent for the Super Bowls to come.

GRAPHIC/DENISE THUONG