Falconer January 2024 Issue

Vol. 49, Issue 4, 24 pages

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Every single instance of graffiti can be added together once we identify the person, and it’s kind of like a criminal count.”

Rob Coppo

TPHS PRINCIPAL

gripes with graffiti PHOTO BY ANNA OPALSKY/FALCONER REPEATED RENDERINGS: A Falcon adorns a wall near room 103 on campus — an example of purposeful graffiti on campus. Vandalism and graffiti, including a series of repeated symbols found this month in different boys’ bathrooms around campus, are often found drawn on TPHS facilities, prompting wall cleanings, image cataloging, and other administrative action.

Repeated graffiti symbol seen in several restrooms Sarina Feng

STAFF WRITER

Two drawings of an unrecognized, unique symbol were found in different boys’ bathrooms on campus this month, according to TPHS Assistant Principal Robert Shockney.

This was “the first thing back on the wall” since TPHS bathrooms were repainted over winter break, Shockney said.

“We do see [repeated images] on occasion, but I wouldn’t call it normal,” TPHS Principal Rob Coppo said.

Administration asked staff to report if other similar markings were found around campus or on paper.

Vandalism and graffiti have proved recurring issues on campus, with bathrooms intermittently being closed for cleaning through the past few years.

This year, in an effort to decrease the number of students in bathrooms during

class, TPHS implemented new sign-out and hallway pass policies, limiting the number of students allowed out at a time to one per class. Despite the recent incident, these new measures have seen success, as graffiti and vandalism have declined this year, according to Coppo.

“I think knowing that we can trace when somebody was in the restroom and talk to them has helped resolve or lessen some of the graffiti,” Coppo said.

With the new images found, the administrative team is adhering to standard procedures for handling graffiti incidents on campus, which includes cataloging photos of the symbol, according to Coppo.

“Every single instance of graffiti can be added together once we identify the person, and it’s kind of like a criminal count,” Coppo said.

This “count” allows for restitutions, where students can be charged for each instance as compensation for factors

such as extra time and materials expended by custodians. Administration also takes action to cross-reference new incidents with old photos to find possible matches, according to TPHS campus supervisor Marshall Saunders.

In addition to photographing and cataloging, the graffiti procedure used on the recent symbols involved cleaning the graffiti by “grinding up the wall and painting over it,” according to Shockney.

Disciplinary action for campus vandalism involving graffiti varies by case, but could involve consequences such as detention or suspension, according to Shockney.

“If [the graffiti] is gang-related, that’s illegal, so we have to intervene immediately and call law enforcement,” Coppo said.

Most graffiti on campus is found in the B Building exterior and interior bathrooms and occurs during class periods, when students are “roaming,” according to Saunders.

While students visiting the restroom may now see fresh walls, in the past, stalls have been covered in scribbles and doodles — from inspirational quotes to obscenities.

“It’s not a good way of expressing one’s thoughts and opinions,” Jack continued on A2

Graffiti has been an issue on campus for many years.

Recently, a repeated symbol was seen in boys’ restrooms.

The Falconer examined multiple approaches that are being implemented to curb vandalism.

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A2 the falconer

claiming particular territory with your name … is unnecessary and is silly,” Cornforth said.

However, Cornforth noted that

GRAFFITI

continued from A1

Sheehy (11) said, adding that he sees graffiti every time he enters a bathroom on campus. “The boys’ bathrooms are an absolute wreck.”

Another student agreed.

“I see [graffiti] all the time, it’s all over the stalls,” the sophomore, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

TPHS AP Art History teacher Colin Cornforth shared an opinion similar to Sheehy’s.

“Generally speaking, graffiti as a means of defacing public property or

It’s not a good way of expressing one’s thoughts and opinions ... the boys’ bathrooms are an absolute wreck.”

Jack Sheehy (11) STUDENT

january 31, 2024

graffiti can be used as an art form, if intended to “provide something new and beneficial to an area.”

Some schools have recognized this potential in graffiti and provided a space for students to produce graffiti.

The Graffiti Art Park at the University of California, San Diego, which opened in 2014, provides students with large outdoor boards to paint as they see fit. Executive Director of University Centers Sharon Van Bruggen, the park’s creator, described it as a “collaboration between students and administration,” inspired by Writerz

Blok, another graffiti art park in southeast San Diego. “[It’s] one of my favorite places on campus,” Bruggen said. “There is always something new to see or read there.”

However, the UCSD Graffiti Art Park includes an online reporting process in its guidelines, recognizing the potential for harassment and discrimination in symbols.

At TPHS, “nine times out of ten” it is a student that reports instances of inappropriate or offensive graffiti to administrators or staff, Coppo said.

Let’s Break it Down

Graffiti in the Restroom

1. Graffiti is found on a restroom surface

2. A campus supervisor finds it or is notified by a student

4. The graffiti must be cleaned by a campus supervisor or janitor, and possibly even ground off

5. If graffiti is too difficult to clean off, the stall may be repainted and the bathroom could potentially be shut down

3. Pictures are taken to be filed away and compared to past graffiti instances

Want to receive $500 to $2,000 in scholarship funds towards college?

Calling all seniors!

TPHS

Request two recommendations from either teachers or counselors

How to Earn a Scholarship

You are eligible to apply for the TPHS scholarship fund if you have a 2.5 GPA or above and want to continue your education in 2024-25

Your Guide to the TPHS Scholarsihp Fund

$

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Deadline to submit your application is $ midnight on Sunday, Feb. 18

$

Let the foundation know about your out-of-school activities and write an essay answering a provided prompt

Scholarship Fund

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Falcon Accolades 2024 AIME Qualifiers

IME 2024 A titon ompe math c fiers quali

Ethan Gu Elliott Liu Xinyu Meng Jacopo Rizzo Edison Shen Arthur Wang

the falconer A3

Hao Wang Andrew Xu Teddy Xu Jian Kun Yu Joyce Zhang Keenan Zhou

American Invitational Mathematics Examination is a selective, 15-question, three-hour test. It’s the second of two tests used to determine qualification for the U.S. Mathematical Olympiad.

Students and staff affected by changes at UC and CSU Cass Love and Makaylah Gerling NEWS EDITOR AND SPORTS EDITOR

A number of changes have occurred within the University of California and California State University systems recently: from teachers and teacher’s assistants striking for increased pay, to a new rainy day fund in the 2024-25 state budget, to tuition hikes.

Strikes Across California, UC and CSU faculty have struggled to reach an agreement on higher compensation.

The most recent strike on Jan. 22 began and ended the same day. The strike resulted in an agreement with the California Faculty Association members and CSU management that consists of a 5% general salary increase.

In addition, there will be improved gender-inclusive spaces, extended contracts, additional support for lecture engagement and increased protection and parental leave, according to the CFA.

To Rosa Velasquez, an AVID teacher, this rise in pay for professors and TAs seems necessary.

“I’ve taken a look at the salaries for ... professors at Cal states and UCs, and they make less money than we do in our district,” Velasquez said. “Overall, the teaching profession is underestimated as far as our value goes.”

The effect of the strikes at the CSU and UC campuses has been felt by students as well.

“Witnessing the CSU strike in the context of other strikes ... I’m starting to think more and more that strikes really do work,” Michele Kim (‘23), who attends University of California Irvine, said.

While these changes are seen as a victory for the system, some still worry about what this means for the future of the universities.

Professor Jean-Guillaume Lonjaret from San Diego State University participated in the strike, but he was left disappointed. While he believed the

strike was a step in the right direction, Lonjaret said faculty members should push for more “meaningful changes” at the state level. He suggested that universities attempt to distribute money so that it does not only go to sports teams and the salaries of administrators and management.

“From [the administration’s] point of view, if [a professor] can teach 300 people, [they] can teach 400, and class sizes keep increasing at the expense of education,” Jonjaret said.

Rainy Day Fund Furthermore, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new 2024-2025 budget seeks to cover the budget deficits of the CSU and UC, which some hope will allow funds to be allocated to places that really need it.

“I hope that this bill can ensure ... more safe transportation on campus, as well as make food ... and hopefully housing more affordable,” said Mirabel Hunt (‘22), who attends University of Santa Cruz.

Known as a “rainy day fund,”

California will be withdrawing money from state reserves in order to cover the budget deficits.

According to Edsource, a nonprofit newsroom, “Newsom would protect schools and community colleges by covering the current year’s shortfall and meeting the minimum funding obligation in 2024-25.

However, increased funding for the [CSU] and [UC] systems would be deferred for this year.”

Tuition Hike Velasquez advises many of her students to apply to CSU, as many are “low income,” and the CSU can be a better option for those students.

Recently, there was a 6% tuition hike, which will take place over the course of five years. Velazquez worries about the burden that will place on middle class students.

“Our middle class students are the ones who are making too much money to get help, but not enough to cover it, so that’s what concerns me.”

Behind the scenes: what goes into winter formal Macy Swortwood and Hope Dennis STAFF WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER

“Cupid’s Ball,” this year’s TPHS winter formal, has been in the works for two months, with the theme and venue chosen since last year. The dance will take place on Feb. 3 at the North Park Observatory — the first formal to fall in February.

Kayla Sozinho (11), an ASB activities commissioner, is in charge of planning the dance.

ASB works closely with SOS Entertainment to coordinate the DJ, music, setup, food and decorations for the venue. The theme and the venue are among the more time-consuming decisions. “[ASB goes] on different tours to feel out which [venue] would be the best for the school,” Sozinho said.

Multiple factors are taken into consideration, such as what location would most appeal to students as well as the administrative requirements for dance locations. Another consideration is ensuring the maximum capacity of students at TPHS can fit at the venue, whether the whole student body attends or not.

TPHS Principal Rob Coppo said

Cupid’s Ball North Park Observatory Feb. 3 that administrators also play a role in the organization of school dances in order to ensure the safety of the school. ASB initially presents a plan to administration, then ASB adviser Jennifer Ryan and Assistant Principal Tracy Olander meet once a week. After much deliberation, Coppo and his team approve or disapprove the plan.

“In the decision-making process, we refer to past events to see what venues did or didn’t work,” Coppo said.

Although formal attendance typically consists of mostly freshmen

PHOTO BY ANNA OPALSKY/FALCONER FORMAL FUN: ASB member Maddy Hall (10) makes a poster to advertise formal to the student body. ASB’s preparations for formal, which includes visiting potential venues, began last year.

and sophomores, according to ASB, the planners are doing everything they can to make the dance appealing to the upperclassmen. According to ASB Sophomore Class President Dean Smith (10), ASB is incorporating a raffle in order to encourage people to go; everyone who buys a ticket automatically is entered in the raffle.

“Freshmen and sophomores win a $75 credit for the student store, the junior receives one pair of prom tickets

valued at $100 each and the senior winner receives a free senior week ticket valued at $200,” Smith said.

Former ASB activities commissioner Megan Goelitz (12) handled the behind-the-scenes of formal last year by monitoring a $30,000 budget and choosing this year’s venue.

“We have always broken even, or sometimes made a little more than we started out with, which is always the goal.” Goelitz said.

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january 31, 2024

Yellow Ribbon Week,

PHOTOS BY CAROLINE HUNT/FALCONER

held from Jan. 22 to 26 by the TPHS PALs, raised awareness about suicide prevention and mental health.

Throughout the week, the campus was decorated with positive affirmations and students were invited to pet therapy dogs and make bracelets during lunch.

Inventor of portable cellphone speaks for TPHS club Eric Lee

ASSISTANT FEATURE EDITOR

The inventor of the portable cellphone, 95-year-old Del Mar resident Martin Cooper, spoke at an event organized by the TPHS Biomimicry, Innovation, Entrepreneurship club in the TPHS lecture hall on Jan. 16.

The presentation covered a variety of topics such as the inspiration behind the cellphone, the history of its invention and Cooper’s thoughts on

current smartphone technology.

“I wanted the students to know about the experience, about the enjoyment of continuing to learn for the rest of their lives and how important it is to practice learning, because that practice will allow them to stay young for the rest of their lives,” Cooper said.

Armutha Challa (12), an aspiring engineer, was “blown away” by Cooper’s wisdom.

“He said that the purpose of technology should always be to make

“I wanted the students to know about the experience, about the enjoyment of continuing to learn for the rest of their lives and how important it is to practice learning, because that practice will allow them to stay young for the rest of their lives.”

Martin Cooper INVENTOR OF THE PORTABLE CELLPHONE PHOTO BY HOPE DENNIS/FALCONER CELLPHONE CREATOR: Martin Cooper, a resident of Del Mar, stands before an audience of students in the TPHS lecture hall. Cooper has been meeting with students since 1960.

PHOTO BY HOPE DENNIS/FALCONER INSPIRING INVENTORS: Martin Cooper, the inventor of the cell phone, speaks on his invention during a Biomimicry, Innovation, Entrepreneurship Club event at TPHS. He is 95-years-old.

someone’s life better. I think that’s really beautiful,” Challa, who was drawn to the event out of her interest in the topic, said. “And I think that’s what I want to do with my life.”

Club adviser, biology teacher Julianna Newell, heard about Cooper through the parent of one of her students and reached out to him in December, wanting to “hit the innovation and the entrepreneurship side of the club.”

The presentation drew 62 attendees, BIE club members and other students as well.

“I think the most valuable part of the lecture [was that it] was heard by dozens of our students, students who aspire to become engineers, entrepreneurs, teachers, and a lot more,” BIE vice president Jenny Ryu (10).

Nafis Aboonour (12), a co-president of the BIE club, agreed the presentation was a success.

“Originally, I thought it was just going to be in our classroom, but then we gained so much interest after we posted on Instagram about it, so that it’s like, ‘Ok, let’s put it in the lecture hall,” Aboonour said. “When we finally got there, the entire lecture hall was pretty much filled. You know, it was well worth it.”

Aboonour’s goals for the club this year include teaching kids about biomimicry and its applications and to bring “like-minded students together who are excited to learn about innovative technology of our modern world.”

Cooper echoed Aboonour’s thoughts on the importance of excitement in invention, saying he gives presentations such as his Jan. 16 one to “capture the imagination of lots of people and to convince some of them that they can create even more exciting inventions in the future.”

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the falconer A5

Fentanyl awareness speakers warn against dangers Liv Weaver and Sneha Lele COPY EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER

Former DEA agent Rocky Herron and local mother Laura Brinker-White spoke at a fentanyl awareness event on Jan. 18 in the TPHS Performing Arts Center.

NBC 7 covered the event, giving the speakers live coverage.

Since May 2021, Brinker-White has worked to become an advocate for drug awareness in and around the TPHS community after her son, Connor, died from an accidental fentanyl overdose at age 17.

“Students need to be educated about the serious risks involved in taking fentanyl, and what to do in the case that someone has mistakenly taken it or overdosed.”

Vivian Butchko (12) MEMBER OF TPHS PALS

PHOTO BY ANNA OPALSKY/FALCONER FACTS OF FENTANYL: TPHS hosted a presentation about fentanyl awareness and overdose prevention. After the presentation, naxolone was handed out to attendees.

O

“I know I can’t change anything really at a state or federal level, but I’m trying to start in Carmel Valley, especially because this is where my family and my children have grown up,” Brinker-White said.

Herron, on the other hand, has tackled the nationwide side of the issue; his speech at TPHS is part of his program “I Choose My Future” that he has delivered to students 12 to 18 years old in 16 countries.

“Many [young people] still choose to use drugs that could kill them or change their lives forever. I’m tired of waiting for people to break themselves before we help them,” Herron said. “So I came up with my program called ‘I Choose My Future.’ I’ve now delivered [it] 1,100 times to … 250,000 people, and I’m just getting started.”

Both speakers agreed that drug prevention and awareness need to be discussed in schools and at home.

“It’s just as important for all students to be open with their parents,” BrinkerWhite said. “Lots of people think that if you go to your parents, they’re going to shame you or lock you up, so you really need to have those conversations and build that relationship and tell your parents that you need help.”

Herron agreed, saying schools across the globe should invest in assemblybased presentations such as his.

“We as a society have not decided to educate our children,” Herron said.

“I want to change the culture enough that schools make [drug education] part of what they do. This education is something that [students] should be empowered and expected to do every year, not just in high school, but also in middle schools.”

Herron has spoken at TPHS before.

At TPHS, multiple resources are available for drug awareness, including PALs Red Ribbon Week and student groups like TPHS Young Leaders in Healthcare.

PHOTO BY ANNA OPALSKY/FALCONER DANGERS OF DRUGS: Former DEA Agent Rocky Herron speaks to his audience in the TPHS PAC. Herron has traveled to 16 countries to speak to young people about fentanyl abuse.

“Students need to be educated about the serious risks involved in taking fentanyl, and what to do in the case that someone has mistakenly taken it or overdosed,” Vivian Butchko (12), a member of PALs, said. “Schools do not talk about this specific drug enough, and if they do, it’s very vague and does not address the severity.”

YLHC had a booth in the lobby of the PAC before the event. Partnered with Scripps Encinitas, Scripps Health and San Dieguito Alliance for Drug Free Youth, YLHC is a club for students who are interested in healthcare and who want to be medical professionals in the future.

According to club member Roma Panchal (11), YLHC’s goals are to “open up the conversation to drug abuse [and] … to inform, educate and then spread that information,” much like the mission statements of Herron and Brinker-White.

“We want to expand to larger San Diego district high schools or even

Poway high schools so they can help the younger generation prevent these problems in the future,” Panchal said.

Currently, Panchal and YLHC Club President Lauren Suh (11) are planning a brand-new project separate from the club, but within the same framework: Project Clean Teen. “[Project Clean Teen] is where we are going to create a basic presentation on drug abuse, and go to elementary schools and just expand on the idea of telling younger kids that it’s okay to say no to drugs,” Panchal said.

With the new program in the works, Suh and Panchal assure that anybody interested can reach out to join and volunteer. This is in line with BrinkerWhite’s recommendations on Jan. 18: to be proactive and involved in one’s community, educating peers on drug prevention.

“You need to be a hero to your friends,” Brinker-White said. “It might not be you, but it could be someone else.”

n Jan. 18, TPHS hosted a presentation on fentanyl awareness and overdose prevention. At the end, naloxone was distributed to attendees.

What is Naloxone?

An FDA-approved medication that reverses opioid overdoses, including those connected to heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone.

NALOXONE Emergency Treatment of Opioid Overdose

How does it work?

Naloxone is injected or administered nasally to persons showing signs of

opioid overdose. It has no effect if given to someone with no opioids in their system.

Why is Naloxone important?

The CDC reported that bystanders are present in more than 30% of opioid overdoses.

Where can you get Naloxone?

Call 2-1-1 for locations where naloxone is available near you in San Diego.

INFORMATION FROM THE CDC AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES

Recently, discussions about restricting public comment during public meetings have taken place on both district and county levels in San Diego. Though a limit may be seen as an attack on free speech, reasonable restrictions are imperative to cultivate informed, organized meetings and maximize public engagement.

ART BY KATE JOHNSON

Ari Rosenthal STAFF WRITER

Since 1953, the Ralph M. Brown Act has protected Californians’ ability to participate in meetings of their local legislative groups. A core tenet of this ability to participate is the right to comment during meetings — the right to speak or write into record one’s opinion.

While, ideally, the local body should value this, over the past few years, public meetings have seen a rise in polarizing, often off-topic comments that take away from the meeting’s purpose.

Recently, the SDUHSD board altered their public comment procedures in part to make meetings run more smoothly. They limited total public comments on agenda items to 20 minutes and moved non-agenda comments to the end of meetings.

This is a step in the right direction.

Implementing reasonable restrictions on both the duration and subject of public comments is essential in order to foster informed, organized meetings and encourage public participation and engagement.

To begin, unrestricted public comment sessions can be counterproductive in many cases, like descents into monologues, repetitive statements and simply inaccurate rambles, to name a few. Attendees often show up to board meetings only to bombard the board about the same topic, monopolizing the floor and detracting from the opportunity

for other voices to be heard. This is wasteful because it takes away from the board’s time and can prevent the board from covering important, timespecific topics. Allowing the general public complete, unrestricted time to speak is impractical. By imposing time limits on public comment, boards can kill two birds with one stone: they both maximize the efficiency of meetings and ensure each speaker has a fair opportunity to express their ideas.

Additionally, unrestricted public comment has the potential to be divisive and can plant unnecessary controversy in the community.

Controversial topics, personal attacks or lengthy tangents may undermine the collaborative spirit innately necessary for these community discussions, and they may harm innocent individuals with no rhyme or reason. By establishing clear guidelines — including limitations to solely subject-related and timely discussions — for organized, respectful dialogue and avoiding room for crossfire, public meetings can foster a more constructive and engaging atmosphere for consensusbuilding.

While SDUHSD made a step in the right direction, changing its policies and restructuring its meetings, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted against a similar change this month. While some may argue that these restrictive measures on public expression limit democratic participation, in truth, reasonable restrictions enhance the democratic process by providing a platform for all voices to speak in a structured and efficient way. In reality, without policies such as SDUHSD’s, board meetings are likely to be chaotic and unproductive. Such measures are critical for making the democratic process possible, upholding the value of free speech while making sure that public participation will lead to community consensus.

community’s voice dwindles.

During

the

pandemic,

local

government agencies — especially school boards — nationwide saw a rise in often polarizing public feedback, with videos of disruptive crowds and angry comments going viral. At the education level, public comment sections across the nation became a hotspot of topics ranging

Ellie Koff

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

In most community meetings, the public has the opportunity to comment on issues presented by policymakers.

The practice of public comment is essential to productive community meetings, as it allows the public to engage with other community members on matters that affect all of them, and it indicates to policymakers where the public stands on particular issues.

In November 2023, the SDUHSD board altered their public commenting procedures, allotting just 20 minutes in total for the public to share its perspectives on agenda items after they are presented by the district.

Additionally, the new procedures moved all non-agenda public comments — those addressing topics not discussed by the board — to the end of the meeting. This new system, which faced backlash from community members, has made it more difficult for the public to comment on particular issues, as many do not have the time to wait until the end of the meeting to raise their concerns to the board.

Through limiting the public’s ability to comment with time restrictions and strict sections to ask questions, the school board is losing valuable community input on certain issues.

Though such non-agendized comments may seem off-topic to some, they are, in reality, important insight for a board into the community climate; when constrained, the

from mask policies to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion curriculum to book bannings. As local agencies now look to cool their meeting climates, it is not surprising they are turning to time and subject restrictions, seeking to keep their meetings productive and

their

discussions

succinct.

However, such comment crackdowns — even those that merely switch the location of comment periods — are too restrictive, as they indicate to the public that their local government does not truly want to hear or value their voices. Not only does this leave the public disinclined to engage, but it also strips the public entity of a valuable tool in their decision-making: their stakeholders’ voices.

While SDUHSD took a step in the wrong direction, another San Diego board — the San Diego County Board of Supervisors — rejected a similar change

in

their

public

comment

procedures,

thus

upholding

the

public’s right to provide input.

Public comment must be prioritized at community meetings, as it benefits both the public and the policymakers.

The policymakers will gain insight into

the

public

opinion

of

their

proposed

agenda

items,

allowing

them to interpret their proposed plans through a different lens, and the public will be allowed the chance to participate in discussions that actively impact them and their communities.

tphsfalconer.org

opinion

the falconer A7

The clowns in Congress are the same ones we invited in

Joy Ma

OPINION EDITOR

The clown — former New York Representative George Santos — who just left the circus — the U.S. House of Representatives — has found his next lucrative and profitable venue: being a Cameo superstar. Expelled from Congress in December due to charges that included conspiracy, wire fraud, credit card fraud and identity theft, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, Santos quickly embraced a new role as a money-hungry creator of personalized videos on Cameo, a video sharing website. Initially, his minutelong scripted messages cost $75; now they are going for $350 apiece.

Santos’ Cameo gig, documented on the TikTok account @georgiescameos, paints a depressing and dismal picture. Seated in a nondescript apartment or a dimly lit SUV, his face frozen with Botox injections and fillers, Santos mechanically delivers condolences, congratulations, generic Gen Z expressions like “slay, mama” or “kill it, queen.”

In his heyday, Santos’ absurd

claims and erratic on-camera performances (such as stumbling over his office door or inexplicably holding a baby on Capitol Hill) provided some entertainment. But it is undeniable that Santos’ attempt at humor through Cameo messages inadvertently undermines the gravity of his crimes.

In truth, this new gig serves as a reflection of the perceived absurdity within the U.S. political system.

Even when facing serious charges, Santos seemed eerily unphased.

By delivering lackluster and often nonsensical messages in his videos, Santos not only diminishes the seriousness of his “fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations,” according to CBS News, but also exposes a certain level of mockery toward the political institution from which he was expelled.

The ease with which he transitioned from the corridors of power to the realm of entertainment illuminates a flaw in our political system, in which individuals facing serious allegations can trivialize their actions and create a platform for amusement.

Our country’s political scene is now analogous to a theater. Santos’ dramatic expulsion could have shaken Americans more drastically if our governing body were not already polluted by absurdity: former House speaker Kevin McCarthy’s rise and fall, former President Donald Trump’s campaign amid 91 felonies and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ book censorship rants, to name a few.

But the curtain has not fallen on

ART BY CLAIRE HWA Santos yet. Viral fame, coupled with his political downfall, fails to inject any remorse into Santos’ character as he plods through Cameo scripts.

In a recent interview, when asked how to make him go away, Santos credited his celebrity status for his continued fame,

suggesting he’d only disappear once people stopped inviting him to places.

And this, from the clown himself, is the ultimate solution. Until we start, on a bipartisan level, being more selective in who we invite in — vote for — the circus will continue.

A plane ticket isn’t an all-access pass to your destination

Sophia Gorba

FEATURE EDITOR

Every year, tourists flood to popular attractions such as the Taj Mahal, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hagia Sophia, La Sagrada Familia. Each of these sites contain a rich history with deep roots in the hearts of locals.

With the rise of cultural tourism, more and more people seek out such destinations; however, as much as this phenomenon benefits local economies and tourist mindsets, it also raises issues regarding cultural disrespect and appropriation.

Every culture has traditions and customs vital to its identity and belief system. When tourists degrade these practices, they not only disrespect the culture in which they are guests, but they also devalue another way of life.

In the Australian Outback, the Uluru — also called Ayers Rock — is a spiritually sacred place to the indigenous Australians of the area, the Anangu people. The Anangu

believe the Earth and all of its features were created by ancestral beings, and they value Uluru — a massive sandstone formation — as a physical representation of their wondrous feats.

But visitors to Ayers Rock are not always attracted to it for the same reasons. A popular tourist destination, the rock was a climbing hotspot for 16% of its visitors, according to BBC News.

In October 2019, local officials banned climbers in an attempt to uphold the Ayers Rock as a spiritual place for the indigenous people. In response, hundreds of people rushed the rock to make a final climb, rather than realize the scale of disrespect that prompted official intervention in the first place.

Yet another example of this blatant disrespect is the unfortunate rise of “naked tourism” — tourists who take nude or partially nude photos at historic or cultural sites.

According to CNN, the Angkor Wat — a temple in Cambodia — and Machu Picchu — an old Incan citadel in Peru — have been backdrops for “naked tourism.” In both places, the tourists in question were detained.

It is a privilege to be able to visit these sites, which are often open to the public for the purpose of cross-cultural sharing and appreciation. In order to respectfully and productively partake in cultural tourism, people must first educate themselves about the customs and beliefs of the area, then do their best to follow them, or at the very

ART BY BRONWYN ROBERTS least respect them, when visiting.

However harmful this disrespect may be, cultural tourism itself does have its merits. When done correctly, it helps boost local economies, protects natural resources and creates a sense of pride in one’s culture and a community, according to the South Dakota State Historical Society.

In the United States, National Heritage Areas generate $12.9 billion each year, according to the National Park Service. In Virginia alone, heritage tourism garners an estimated $430 million in tourist

expenditures, according to the Virginia Commonwealth University.

In addition to economic gains, cultural tourism encourages learning, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Although the lack of respect is an unfortunate feature of tourism, the boost in local economies and quality of life, as well as a greater understanding and tolerance of other ways of life, is a worthy outcome. To maximize the value of cultural tourism, we must garner esteem and understanding of the cultures that make it possible.

opinion

A8 the falconer

january 31, 2024

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE

CAROLINE HUNT

Assistant Editor-in-Chief Caroline Hunt explains her relationship with oxen and learning to overcome childhood burdens.

I have been in an “ox” phase recently.

By this I mean, quite simply, that I have felt a sense of intense cosmic connectedness to that animal.

I felt this connection first at the beginning of last summer. In a dream, I parked my car and, quite suddenly, an ox appeared by my side.

As I write this, I feel an immense grief for my bovine friend. Nearing 20 times my weight, the gentle creature took on the lightness of a labrador as it trotted beside me. Its massive horns and strong, ginger-furred, forehead worked as my guide.

I had an appointment to get to, so we had to move fast. Our journey took us through the different climates and sceneries of San Diego, places I have known since birth as my home. The sleek hills of Rancho Santa Fe morphed into the sea-walled-in sands of Solana Beach, the daisy fields of Encinitas and the red bluffs of Del Mar and Torrey Pines.

A panic overcame me as I realized

there was no way for my ox and me to get to the appointment on time. I thought about going back to my car, but I knew that there was no way an ox would fit inside even my spacious 2013 Honda Pilot. I knew I needed to leave my ox behind. So that’s what I did.

When I woke up, I was overcome with guilt. I couldn’t explain it, but it clung to me.

A few weeks after I said goodbye to my ox, I brought the dream to my therapist. We pored through books, searching for symbolic meanings of oxen.

Oxen are, to be somewhat crass, castrated bulls. They are domesticated draft animals that seem to stay on the back burner of history. They have, for centuries, taken on the heaviest loads of mankind.

These “beasts of burden,” as they are often called, seemed suddenly to me to be the unsung heroes of our ancestors.

I studied Han Huang’s Tan-era work, “Five Oxen,” Peter Christian Thamsen

PHOTO BY ANNA OPALSKY/FALCONER

Skovgaard’s 1874, “Two Oxen Pulling a Cart,” and the Egyptian Middle Kingdom’s “Model of a Man Plowing,” in which a peasant is posed at the helm of a plow pulled by two oxen.

The ox from my dream, I determined, was a subconscious manifestation of my dad.

My dad died when I was eleven years old. Complications as a result of longterm alcoholism. But in many ways, I lost my dad long before that; I had been grieving the dad I knew since the day he lost his job when I was six, since the day I moved out of my childhood home when I was eight.

This brings me back to the ox, to my beautiful, tragic beast of burden.

I realized that alcoholism was my dad’s burden, one that he was unable to overcome. My dad was born May 8, 1968, a Taurus, the sign of the bull.

But more than that, what has perhaps cemented the ox’s special place in my psyche, is the connection I drew between myself and the ox.

If alcoholism was my dad’s burden, he was mine. For years I carried with me the responsibility for taking care of and worrying about my dad, no matter how inconvenient. I would let my dad come over to my mom’s, sister’s and my apartment and try to fix my bike, to let him feel like a dad again.

My dad and I were both beasts of burden. The difference between us, though, is the fact that I have learned, very gradually, to shed that burden. The summer after he passed I felt this odd sensation. There was grief, but there was also freedom. I biked around my neighborhood because I could. I climbed trees because I didn’t need to bring anything with me. No 3,000-pound ox, no guilt, no burden.

That is not to say the burden is gone.

I still work through grief, but I also feel pride.

A mere month after my dream I went on a Spanish immersion trip to rural Costa Rica, and on one of my last days there, I learned about the significance of carretas, or “oxcarts.” They have come to symbolize the hardworking spirit of the country and the strength of its people. I saw one of these carretas, painted with intricate patterns and drawn by two ginger and white oxen. I stroked their horns and foreheads in a sort of trance.

I know my dad would be proud that even though he could not, I have not let myself be a beast of burden.

That’s why I’ve been in an ox phase.

I hope it never ends.

In our October issue, senior Macy Swortwood wrote a Personal Perspective article about acting as a mother of sorts to her younger sister and how the experience has shaped both sisters. Subsequent to the article’s publication, Macy’s mother, Ms. Swortwood, has stated that the article contains numerous misrepresentations of fact and does not accurately portray the relationship Macy and her sister enjoy with their parents.

Macy has learned that exaggeration and embellishing facts are not appropriate ways to solve personal family matters and regrets having hurt anyone by writing this article. The Falconer regrets the distress the publication of Macy’s piece caused Macy’s parents, and regrets not thoroughly fact-checking the article prior to publication.

It’s time for the U.S. to rethink reading in the classroom

Adriana Hazlett

ASSISTANT EDITOR=IN-CHIEF

A staggering two-thirds of American kids cannot read fluently, according to the National Assessment of Educational Process. According to their 2022 Report Card, about 30% of fourth graders can read above the NAEP Basic level but below Proficient, while 37% of fourth graders read below the Basic level, meaning almost four out of every 10 fourth graders are essentially nonreaders.

This is just one data set that is a testament to America’s literacy crisis.

Educators and parents alike have also grown increasingly aware that children are having difficulty reading — and are increasingly outspoken about it.

This is an undeniably grave and critical issue that needs to be addressed

by policymakers, educators and parents.

Though it is certainly difficult to reduce to one solution, on the whole, it is necessary to reframe the approach to teaching literacy — as well as to attend to other factors like pandemic-related learning loss and socioeconomic gaps.

For decades, there has been a debate over the two main approaches to teaching reading. Phonics-based instruction centers on the relationship between written letters and the sounds they make. On the other hand, supporters of the “whole language” method believe children will naturally memorize words if exposed to them — akin to learning how to speak a language.

Since the 1990s, most schools in the U.S. utilize a “balanced literacy” approach, which technically incorporates both reading philosophies.

However, just how “balanced” it is varies widely, according to Education Week. Balanced literacy usually does not focus strongly enough on the phonics element, and it’s this approach that needs to be rethought.

There is an abundance of research that suggests phonics are reliable and effective. As just one specific example, a 2007 meta-analysis of 22 studies found that urban minority elementary students who were taught phonics

scored the equivalent of several months ahead of their peers, not just in reading, but on multiple academic measures.

Beyond pure research, there are plenty of examples of the benefits of state-implemented phonics instruction.

Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama — all states that had low NAEP reading scores — have made gains due to recent legislation. Mississippi rose from the 49th state for fourth-grade reading in 2013 to the 21st in 2022, according to AP News. While Mississippi relied on multiple strategies, a substantial change was an emphasis on teaching phonics.

One of the opinions of the balanced literacy camp is that repetitive phonics instruction diminishes childrens’ natural enjoyment of reading, making them less likely to get the practice necessary to become truly adept.

Indeed, while lessons centered around phonics can be boring and even initially confusing, if a child does not fully understand the “building blocks” of written language, then reading will be a continuous struggle. Of course, reducing all instruction to phonics is simplifying the issue, but to read, in fundamental terms, is to decipher letters to understand a word. Without a basic understanding of that process, students are not truly reading. They

are memorizing; they are guessing.

However, other factors have contributed to the literacy crisis, like pandemic-related learning loss.

Though the fourth-grade NAEP reading average scores did decrease by two points from 2017 to 2019, they fell by another three points from 2019 to 2022.

The pandemic has also exacerbated education inequity, especially in regards to low-income students and Englishlanguage learners, according to Policy Analysis for California Education.

Various methods to recover learning loss have been suggested, including additional education time, teacher-centered reforms and student connectivity. These are just some ways schools could fight the aspects of the literacy crisis that were generated by the pandemic.

Beyond this, more should be done.

Parents should make a committed effort to read to their children, and the teacher shortage in the U.S. should be attended to. In essence, there are options. We just have to act on them. America needs to be awoken to the fact that as of now, we are setting children up for a lifetime of hardship if they cannot skillfully read — and the country truly needs to do everything in its power to prevent this.

opinion

tphsfalconer.org

STAFF EDITORIAL

the falconer A9

Healthcare is a human right. California is finally recognizing that.

Beginning on Jan. 1, California became the first state to offer health insurance to all undocumented immigrants under Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid health care program.

While this is a historic milestone, it’s been a long road to get here.

In a 2015 bill, only undocumented children and undocumented immigrants with pregnancy or emergency-related issues could receive health insurance under Medi-Cal. In 2019, 19- to 25-year-old undocumented immigrants were added to the program. Now, an additional 700,000 undocumented residents will become eligible for full coverage, according to California State Senator María Elena Durazo on ABC News.

Even if belated, this expansion of health care is a step in the right direction. Being provided health care is not a privilege but a right for every human, regardless of citizenship status. Americans need to realize that many of these undocumented immigrants did not choose to be here — many have been driven from their homes to find better opportunities, to feed their families, to escape instability — the list goes on. It should be our responsibility, as a relatively-wealthy nation, to provide the basic right of healthcare, especially considering people may not be here by choice.

Furthermore, providing comprehensive health insurance to all undocumented immigrants has the potential to lessen future costs, as receiving preventative healthcare will make someone less likely to need

2024:

future expensive emergency services.

So it’s not truly a question of whether undocumented immigrants should receive health insurance — the question is whether such a service should exist under our current system.

While Medi-Cal will receive an extra $6.6 billion in General Fund spending, according to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, a nonpartisan fiscal organization, the program’s efficiency should be funded more as its services are expanded — a level of care that will pay off in the future with a healthier population.

It is long overdue that undocumented immigrants receive access to health care.

Hopefully, California is just the first state of many to take this important step.

21%, which some politicians see as a reason not to make this expansion.

There will be a $1.2 billion additional cost in the first six months of the expansion of the program, and an additional $3.1 billion annually spent from then on, according to AP News.

Another concern for the expansion is that an increase in immigrants, drawn by the health care program, could increase competition for jobs.

However, immigrants actually add to the economy, according to The White House: “Most directly, immigration increases potential economic output by increasing the size of the labor force. Immigrants also contribute to increasing productivity.”

The U.S. is often described as a nation of immigrants, a melting pot; yet, when it comes down to it, many Americans are not welcoming, and the basic right of healthcare has been denied to those recent arrivals.

It is long overdue that undocumented immigrants receive access to health care. Hopefully, California is just the first state of many to take this important step.

1966: Medi-Cal is first enacted; fewer than two million Californians, 6% of the state population, are enrolled.

2014: 2014: Undocumented immigrants can receive emergency and pregnancy-related services under Medi-Cal.

The Falconer Staff

However, there are those who say that this expansion is not economically feasible for California.

According to the LAO, the General Spending’s 2023-24 budget will increase by

2015:

2019: 2019: Gov. Gavin Newsom expands MediCal access to all young adults aged 19 through 25 and people aged 50 and above.

2024: All undocumented immigrants are eligible for full coverage under MediCal. Approximately 700,000 undocumented residents between ages 26 and 49 are included in this expansion.

1966:

L

2015: Undocumented children become eligible to join Medi-Cal under a bill signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown.

et’s break it down:

a timeline of Medi-Cal Editor-in-Chief Anna Opalsky Assistant Editors-in-Chief Adriana Hazlett

We, the Falconer staff, are dedicated to creating a monthly newspaper with the intent of encouraging independent thinking, expanding our knowledge of journalism, and providing the TPHS student body and community with a truthful, unbiased news source, in accordance with our First Amendment rights.

3710 Del Mar Heights Road San Diego, CA 92130 PHONE: (858) 755-0125 x2245 FAX: (858) 523-0794 E-MAIL: falconer.ads@gmail.com WEBSITE: www.tphsfalconer.com

The Falconer is the student newspaper of Torrey Pines High School. Its content, which is the responsibility of the Falconer staff, is not subject to administrative approval. Unsigned editorials represent the opinions of the staff, while opinion columns represent the writer’s perspective. Advertisements do not represent endorsements. The Falconer, an open forum, welcomes signed letters or guest editorials on pertinent issues from the TPHS community, which may be submitted to room 102, via email at falconer.ads@gmail.com or to Mia Smith’s mailbox in the administration building. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Caroline Hunt Kathryn Reese Managing Editor Rami Kabakibi Copy Editor Liv Weaver News Editor Cass Love Opinion Editor Joy Ma Feature Editors Sophia Gorba Natalia Mochernak Assistant Feature Editor Eric Lee Entertainment Editors Elsa Goodman Ellie Koff Sports Editor Makaylah Gerling

Reese Carsley Nadia Fadlu-Deen Sarina Feng Gabrielle Gonzales Hinano Kato Sneha Lele Ari Rosenthal Macy Swortwood Melina Toppi-DeLeo Photographer Hope Dennis Staff Writers

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a look into

Advancement Via Individual Determination

A four-year course. A family for a lifetime.

In the TPHS Advancement Via Individual Determination program, students from underrepresented communities garner writing, collaboration, organization and reading skills as early as freshman year. Founded by Mary Catherine Swanson at San Diego’s Clairemont High School in 1980, the AVID program has since evolved beyond San Diego and, according to AVID’s website, reaches more than two million students K-12 nationwide. At TPHS, three classes make up this four-year program — Sarah Strock’s AVID 9, Colin Cornforth’s AVID 10 and Rosa Velazquez’s AVID 11/12.

The sequence begins with developing skills in organization, time-management, communication and comprehension with the help of tutorials and learning logs.

As upperclassmen, students focus on college preparation. “[AVID] helps me stay organized,” Dulce Gastelum (11), an AVID student of 3 years, said. “Because high school is very stressful, and at times you don’t know where your stuff is or when your next test is coming up, it’s nice to have extra help and teachers reminding us to write in our agendas; having guidance [has] really pushed me to stay organized.”

Karen Bautista (9), a student in her first year of AVID, agreed that the extra guidance is helpful.

“My public speaking skills [have improved]. We do a lot of activities [which] really help,” Bautista said. “Also my writing — we do a lot of stuff that involves expanding on our writing.”

You can’t figure out everything by yourself. That’s what your peers are for; that’s what AVID is for.”

Dulce Gastelum (11) STUDENT

Trevin Henry (12), a third-year AVID student, said the college preparation component of his final year in the program was helpful.

“In [AVID 12], we complete things for the FAFSA (college financial aid source) together so we can just get it over with, and it helps a lot to just know I’m getting ahead of things.

The same goes for [English language proficiency] questions

and submitting applications in the first place,” Henry said.

Not only do these students have opportunities to excel academically thanks to AVID, but they are given opportunities to seek out colleges through the course curriculum, even as underclassmen. Since the program’s focus relies heavily on gaining skills and knowledge to prepare for a two- or four-year college, AVID incorporates an annual college trip, through which students can see institutions across California and visit AVID alumni.

This year, Cornforth and Velazquez took students to see the University of California Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, San Francisco State University and the University of San Francisco.

As a first generation student who knew nothing about college, [being in AVID] really did help me a lot in gaining financial literacy and learning more about college and what opportunities I had.”

Kyra Dominguez (12) STUDENT

“I went this year, and it was really fun,” Gastelum said.

“I got to see what college students would do at places like libraries and how they would walk around campus and not look stressed. It was very cool to see the difference between a high school and a college campus.”

Since students in all grades are allowed to participate in college visits, Bautista also enjoyed her time seeing the college campuses during her first year in the AVID program.

“It was really fun because I got to connect with other people that are also in the AVID program, but in different grades,” Bautista said. “It was just a great experience to come together and [learn] more about college.”

In addition to connecting all students to their future options, the AVID program targets first generation college students.

“As a first generation student who knew nothing about college, [being in AVID] really did help me a lot in gaining financial literacy and learning more about college and what opportunities I had,” Kyra Dominguez (12), the AVID student president, said. “I honestly do not know where I’d be if it weren’t for AVID. I probably wouldn’t even be applying to colleges.”

With the help of the program, Dominguez has applied to several colleges, including UCs and CSUs, and Stanford University.

From a teacher’s perspective, Cornforth

noticed the bonding between students on the college trip.

“Juniors, freshmen, sophomores and seniors all go together, so I think there’s a lot of cross-class collaboration, communication and connection, which is great,” Cornforth said.

Velazquez too acknowledged the benefits of participating in the college trips.

“If [the students] go every year, at the end of four years, they’ve gone to around 40 different colleges, which is a lot because these students might not have the same opportunity with their families,” Velazquez said.

Although the time spent in high school and on college trips is fleeting, the bonds forged remain for a lifetime.

“I remember joining the AVID program my sophomore year at Torrey, and I’ve stuck with the same people since then — we all know each other pretty well,” Henry said. “There are times we break off into our own little friend groups, but you always hang around the same bunch; the AVID team is very strong.”

Gastelum also has fond memories of meeting people during her first year in AVID 9.

“I met some of my best friends in [AVID], so I’m really grateful I took this course,” Gastelum said.

Even the AVID teachers feel a strong connection to the program. Velazquez, who has taught the course for around 10 consecutive years, was an AVID student in high school.

Cornforth, who graduated from UC Berkeley in 2004, taught AVID early in his teaching career.

“I started out as a college graduate just working with four, maybe six, students. A lot of these kids went off to college, first generation kids,” Cornforth said. “But while I’ve taught, I’ve seen many kids benefit from the support that AVID provides to go to either local [colleges] or [colleges] across the country … places they wouldn’t have even thought about or have gotten into without the proper support.”

As a student leader in the program, Dominguez wants to bring the opportunities of AVID to more students “I was the first one in my family to really be helped, and I want that feeling to also be conveyed for other students because everyone deserves these opportunities; everyone deserves education,” Dominguez said.

That feeling is shared among many participants.

“You have to think about your future,” Gastelum said. “You can’t figure out everything by yourself. That’s what your peers are for; that’s what AVID is for.”

by Liv Weaver

PHOTOS BY HOPE DENNIS/FALCONER

A12 the falconer

e com d n u feature

what goes aro

Brian Bodas, TPHS AP Environmental Science teacher, has an idea: gather all the trash produced by TPHS students in one week and pile it on a tarp in the quad.

Pizza containers, rotting apples, empty Celsius cans, discarded math notes, plastic bottles — all heaped into one colossal mound that towers above the gym.

Difficult to imagine? That’s exactly the problem. “[People] have this conceptualization that there’s this magic place called ‘away,’” Bodas said. “When I ask people they go, ‘oh just throw it away.’ And I go, ‘where is this away place you’re talking about?’ It’s the mentality that people just don’t want their waste by them. It’s out of sight, out of mind.”

The City of San Diego’s Environmental Services Department does not have this luxury. Responsible for managing the waste produced by the households of the eighth largest city in the country, the ESD’s role is to deal with everything we think is just going “away.”

“I talk trash and think about trash all the time. I consider myself a trash talker,” Andrea Deleon, Interim Program Manager of the ESD’s Collection Services Division said, laughing.

First, the basics. Residential waste in San Diego is separated into three streams: trash, recycling and, most recently in 2022, organic waste. Every house in the city is equipped with bins for each waste stream. And though residents may think their waste is cast off to faraway places when collected by city trucks, the reality is that it is all being processed close to home. “[San Diego] is unique in that way,” Deleon said. “Other cities … may send their trash to another city. [Waste] goes directly here, and that’s important because we’re directly impacted by our trash.”

Waste placed in residents’ bins gets picked up by trucks and delivered straight to the city-operated Miramar Landfill.

“There’s a landfill tipping phase where all of these gigantic commercial vehicles will dump their trash in the back, and we flatten the trash,” Derek Lam, Recycling Specialist at ESD, said.

But space is running out.

“The Miramar Landfill will probably be full within 8-10 years,” Bodas said.

Thankfully, there are alternatives.

In 2016, former California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 1383. The law requires all residential properties and businesses in California to divert organic waste from their landfill streams. Organic waste, which comprises half of what Californians dispose of in the trash, according to CalRecycle, releases methane when left to decompose in landfills, a greenhouse gas 28 times as potent as CO2.

San Diego has met SB 1383 head-on through its organic waste recycling program.

“It’s the newest kind of collection program. It went city-wide last year and is now fully implemented,” Deleon said. “Putting something in the green bin to compost is one of the single fastest and easiest ways for us to fight climate change.”

Organic waste (loose, not in any kind of plastic or compostable bag) collected from residents is taken to the city’s Miramar Greenery, where it undergoes an accelerated and controlled decomposition process, before becoming available for free pick up to the public. It has a multitude of benefits for our region’s agriculture.

“We want to put this [compost] back into the Earth,” Deleon said. “It’s an amendment that provides nutrients, it helps retain

january 31, 2023

moisture. Those are all things that we need desperately, especially in California, as we continue to experience drought.”

But the organic waste recycling, as with any new program, is experiencing some resistance from San Diego residents, according to Lam. “It’s always hard to get people to change their habits,” Lam said.

For many San Diego residents, the perceived negatives of these changes outweigh the positives.

“I know not many people are using their compost bins to their advantage and there’s a lot of concern around like, ‘I don’t want to put my food in this compost bin because it’s going to smell bad.

It’s going to bring rats,’” Charlotte Sach (11), co-president of the TPHS Urth Club, said. “But people don’t really know the tips …

There’s a lot of things you can do to reduce those health concerns.”

Supporting this shift in mindset and behavior is one of the ESD’s central focuses.

The extent of plastics is something that we’re really just starting to understand, just how pervasive they are.”

Brian Bodas

TPHS SCIENCE TEACHER “It’s like this slow progression of getting the word out and getting people more and more familiar with how to do this,” Lam said. “For a lot of people here at the department it is an uphill battle, but we do our best to try and educate the community.”

Now on to recycling.

The City of San Diego, unlike landfill and organic waste, does not operate its own recycling facilities. Instead, it contracts with private companies that operate various Material Recovery Facilities throughout the city, which sort recyclable materials collected from residents’ blue bins.

“You have different machinery which will push these recyclables onto conveyor belts, where they’ll pass through a lot of different sorting processes.” Lam said.

This sorting is accomplished both manually by MRF employees and automatedly through cutting-edge technology, including a laser system that can detect and sort the different polymers of plastic (these are the numbers within the recycling symbols) and magnets that isolate metal recyclables.

“The idea behind this whole process is the fact that you want to separate out your recyclables into their own categories, because that’s how the recycling companies want to buy the products,” Lam said. “They want to buy a brick that is either just glass, just metal or just one type of plastic, because it makes their job a lot easier later when they’re trying to create a recycled product from [one specific] material.”

As their name suggests, MRFs in San Diego do not perform the actual recycling of goods — they solely recover and process recyclable material, which is then sent to manufacturers to make new products.

“There’s no real, definite standard as to where something goes after it gets recycled,” John Carlton, Solid Waste Program Lead at HDR, an advisory group to the ESD and other waste management companies, said.

But what materials can MRFs process?

T h a t

es around tphsfalconer.org

the falconer A13

feature

depends on both the markets for recyclable goods and their physical properties, according to Carlton.

“Oftentimes in my own house…[my family] is constantly looking at me like, ‘is this recyclable or not?’” Carlton said. “It becomes very confusing. My advice to anybody is read what they say. Look at what the Environmental Services Department says they accept.”

That information is on the ESD’s website.

And yet, confusion about what is and isn’t recyclable is still prevalent throughout the public, according to Deleon.

“The trend that I’ve seen is that what gets people the most confused is plastic, because there’s so many different types,” Deleon said.

The City of San Diego accepts plastics with the numbers 1 through 6 in their recycling signs, as long as they are clean (no food contamination), dried and loose in residents’ blue bins, Deleon said.

“We’ve gotten to a point now where almost everything is recyclable,” John Vorgeas, Director of Market Development at EDCO Disposal, said. Lam echoed this.

“By law, we are required to accept all different kinds of plastics to recycle with the exception of plastic film and bags,” Lam said.

But according to Matthew Clough, founder of the San Diego-based nonprofit Plastic Beach, this exception is a problem. A massive one.

“Soft plastics won’t be collected by any residential collection program in the U.S.,” Clough said. “It’s so bad that CalRecycle, which is California’s Government Oversight board of recycling, doesn’t even have statistics for soft plastic recycling. That’s how dismal it is.”

The City of San Diego uses 500 million plastic bags every year, according to the Surfrider Foundation. But the city’s ESD, along with those across the country, say they cannot accept soft plastics because they get caught up in conveyor belt systems during sorting.

“Instead of pivoting to work out how we can solve the [conveyer belt] problem, we as a country decided we’re just not going to,” Clough said. “It’s a real failure of engagement on our part as a country to just ignore that.”

This is why Clough founded Plastic Beach. Working at a motorcycle company in Oceanside, he noticed the immense amount of plastic wrap used for parts accumulating without anywhere to recycle it. His nonprofit partners with local businesses to provide soft plastic recycling services.

But due to the commercialization of recycling in the U.S., products like soft plastics have a very low market, dissuading governments and organizations from attempting to process them.

“We don’t have competition because no one wants to get involved with it,” Clough said.

Plastic Beach loses around 85 cents per pound of soft plastic collected from the whole process, according to Clough, and relies on donations from the public.

“It’s definitely a labor of love,” Clough said. “My whole approach to this business is ‘I’m just going to stress test it until we run out of money’ … but my hope is and I feel quite confident that we are going to continue to grow … [and] get the word out.”

All plastics — but in particular soft plastics — pose extreme threats to the environment. When left to sit in landfills, they break down into microplastics that eventually end up in the ocean, with devastating effects on wildlife.

And, according to mounting research, on us, too.

“More and more studies are being done that are finding plastics in our bodies,” Clough said.

These microplastics are being found all over the world, in places that humans have never had a sustained presence.

“The extent of plastics is something that we’re really just starting to understand, just how pervasive they are,” Bodas said.

And yet, the root of these problems may not be the recyclability of plastics.

Perhaps it is their presence in the first place.

“The U.S. is overall a very consumerist country,” Sach said. “Recycling is one of those things where it’s an anti-consumerist concept applied to a consumerist society.”

Bodas agreed.

“Just the fact that you live in an

The Falconer investigates the waste management system in San Diego and what students can do to prevent further damage to the environment.

affluent society means that you probably use four to five times the amount of resources than the average citizen on the planet,” Bodas said. “When we look at waste generation, especially in the Western world, we really need to look in the mirror.”

This mindset is something that climate organizations in San Diego, including the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation, are trying to change.

“We don’t have control over how [things] are packaged, but the best defense is to try to avoid acquiring it at all,” Liz Davis, Volunteer and Community Engagement Specialist at the Solana Center, said. “[Reduction] is a completely transparent way that you know you’re making a difference.”

A major part of shifting the culture away from consumerism and toward proper waste management is through education and raising awareness, according to Brian Elliott, Committee Consultant for Council President Pro Tem Joe LaCava, the chair of San Diego’s Environment Committee.

“It’s [like] ‘I don’t entirely know where this [waste] should go, and if I do, I may not understand or fully appreciate the significance of why it belongs in its specific bin,’” Elliott said.

This lack of awareness begins in our childhoods, according to Pilar Purvis (11), co-president of Urth Club.

“It’s people going with this herd mentality,” Purvis said. “If we were all raised to be sustainable, it would just be a habit.”

This is what the ESD is trying to do. In addition to providing their own educational resources, the department partners with organizations like the Solana Center to hold events in the community about sustainability.

Recycling is one of those things where it’s an anti-consumerist concept applied to a consumerist society.”

Charlotte Sach (11) TPHS STUDENT

Though waste management can seem like a daunting subject to tackle, Davis believes it’s all about taking little steps.

“One of the overwhelming things about sustainability is you find that everything you do is connected to 20 other things,” Davis said. “But the reverse is true. Once you start making one positive change, it then affects a whole lot of other things in a positive way. You need an upwards spiral rather than a downward spiral.”

And this is already happening.

“The younger generation are much more in tune with the whole idea of being a good environmental steward,” Bodas said.

Davis agreed.

“I go up and down myself, we all do,” Davis said. “But then we realize that these ideas are taking hold. We have a lot that we know how to do, and when the demand is there, we’ve got the solutions. As people demonstrate by participating where they can, it can shift the tide pretty quickly.”

by Rami Kabakibi

feature

A14 the falconer

I think just being aware of my surroundings and noticing things and being observant [is] something I picked up, and I think it’s an important skill.”

Kian Sime (12) PHOTOGRAPHER

“I don’t really look for anything in advance when going out to shoot content,” Sime said. “I’ll normally look for anything that stands out, or perhaps if the light hits it in a different way.”

Sime shoots planned content about once a week, but he also takes time to find art in simplicity, such as when he takes photos on a hike or at the beach.

“I think just being aware of my surroundings and noticing things and being observant [is] something I picked up and I think it’s an important skill,” Sime said.

Sime runs an Instagram account (@kian.sime), where he shares his extensive collection of photos and videos with the public. Each post is carefully and passionately crafted, putting his artistry on full display.

His commitment extends to other venues too. Since his junior year, Sime has run a photography and videography business that provides services such as professional portraits, sports compilations and even wedding films.

But even with a business, Sime’s first priority remains his creativity.

“It’s difficult to balance it all because there are so many things that I like to film that are hobby-related, like short films, so I try to prioritize those,” Sime said.

Still, when the opportunity comes, Sime is more than happy to help others in need of someone to shoot specific content.

At TPHS, Sime is an integral member of Falcon Vision, where he utilizes his filming and editing skills to help share captivating stories with a large audience. Sime also expanded his talents for videography to TPHS athletics, where he creates high quality edits for different sports after school. Sime especially enjoys filming football games due to the “player on player” contact, saying it is “cool to film.”

Looking to the future, Sime applied to various film schools, and after getting his degree he wants to continue pursuing photography through filming sports videography and commercials, among other creative ventures.

“One day, I’d love to do a wildlife documentary on either nearly extinct animals or newly discovered animals,” Sime said.

Now, carrying around his extensive array of camera gear, Kian looks forward to continuing his alreadyimpressive ascent into the field of photography, reaching new heights on the way up.

by Ari Rosenthal

PHOTO BY NATALIA MOCHERNAK/FALCONER

Kian

SIME

1 in 3000

W

ith only an iPhone in hand, Kian Sime (12) realized his passion for photography and film when he was capturing snapshots of Tokyo’s bustling metropolis.

Since leaving his hometown and moving to the U.S. as a junior, his photography career and creative portfolio evolved into much more than quick iPhone snaps.

Now, with his professional cameras and lenses, Sime photographs and films anything and everything — from supercars to sports to a short film called “Loop” about social media addiction.

His distinct style of shooting and editing, however, remains rooted in Japan.

“My favorite place to film is definitely around Japan, as I grew up there,” Sime said.

In busy urban atmospheres like Tokyo, there is an endless amount of intriguing “architecture, cars and people,” Sime said.

For Sime, uncovering unique angles and interesting shots has become second nature, and he believes his best work comes in bursts of spontaneity, when he just wanders around with his camera.

january 31, 2023

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2024 LitMag named the 4th best high school literary magazine in the nation in 2023

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- Quality over quantity - Summer Friday lip balm - Mixing silver and gold - Noah Kahan - After-school naps - Sweet treats - Movie theaters - Reading for fun - Podcasts - Gypsy Rose (for now) - New York Times games - Jacob Elordi - Cyber Stalking (always) - Skims

- Harry Styles - Overthinking - Spray tans (self tans) - Kanye - The Summer I Turned Pretty - Self-doubt - Diet culture - Being a freshman - Stealing styluses - Comparing grades - Hotboxing bathrooms - Canceling TV shows - Parents in the parking lot - Procrastination

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entertainment

ou are at a checkout waiting to pay for your food. A screen turns towards you. It reads: “Tip?” You look down and see the tipping options: 15%, 20%, 25%, custom, no tip. Suddenly, you feel nervous as your finger hovers above the screen. The worker is standing right in front of you; there are customers behind you; the screen is big enough to display your tip preference in everyone’s view.

In nearly every business, tipping has become a regular procedure. For many years, Americans have used tipping to express gratitude for a service — a cultural norm and a form of etiquette.

However, the nature of our tipping culture, especially as prices rise due to inflation, has recently fueled debate over what constitutes an acceptable gratuity. With tip jars and mobile tipping options in almost every transaction, the way tipping factors into a consumer’s life and a worker’s salary warrants examination.

According to a 2023 Pew Research Center Report, 92% of U.S. adults always or often tip in sit-down restaurants. Clearly, tipping is a common act among Americans: a social norm.

While tipping has long been considered a customary act in the U.S., for Rosie Kim (12), tipping is not a habit of home. “[Tipping is not a part of the culture in South Korea]. Sometimes [people] really secretly give money directly to the hand [of the server], but you need to be secret about it,” Kim said.

Kim works at a local fast-casual poke restaurant. The chances of getting tips are very “random,” but Kim has noticed a trend lately.

“It really depends on your luck,” she said. “If you work on holidays, you get a lot of tips because a lot of wealthy people eat out. But then if you work just a normal school day, then all the people who are coming are just teenagers and kids, so they never leave a tip.”

In Kim’s workplace, tips are requested both on digital payment tablets and through tip jars.

The shift to digital options, offering users the ability to select a percentage amount to tip, may be at the heart of the current tipping debate. No longer can customers default to dropping a few spare bills into a tip jar; tipping options, sometimes reaching 30%, are only a touch away.

“Some of us feel a social obligation to tip with the preset amount added electronically,” TPHS AP Psychology teacher Chas Doerrer said.

“There is also a social pressure added when asked to select a tip amount directly in front of your server.”

This pressure is known as “guilt tipping.” According to Forbes Advisor, Americans tip nearly 15% more when presented with a digital interface.

“For some individuals, it is socially more comfortable to select a tip privately, using traditional pen and paper or a phone app,” Doerrer said.

With the installment of digital payment tablets, companies now more openly ask for tips.

“It’s almost as if you feel guilty,” TPHS Marketing and Intro to Law teacher Jacqueline Niddrie said. “It’s twofold for me; while I appreciate them doing the math calculations for me ... on the other hand, there is the expectation of it.”

According to a 2023 Pew Research Center Report, 72% of U.S. adults say the expectations of tipping have spread to more places compared with five years ago.

While Niddrie agrees that tipping culture has grown “without a doubt” over the years, she finds ways to avoid being swayed by its influence.

“The expectation is now to the point where it’s exceedingly offensive to me at times,” Niddrie said. “Oftentimes, I will always keep cash with me. And if it’s picking up a cup of coffee that I ordered sitting on the counter, I can put it in, but I will say no customer tip, and [then] tip in cash and reduce the [tip] amount … so there’s all different ways to circumvent the expectation of it.”

january 31, 2024

For Ellana Tran (11), who works at a local Starbucks, giving tips in person-to-person interactions is customary. But Tran does not expect people to leave tips at her workplace.

“I feel like it’s unnecessary because the company is paying me to do my job and then a customer is tipping me, for me being paid to do my job when really, my employer should be paying me to do that,” Tran said.

Tran says her workplace gets “pretty good tips’’ from a lot of people, but that it is the “day-by-day kind.”

Tips are usually 5% to 10% of what Tran makes in a paycheck.

Though Tran has always been familiar with the custom of giving out tips, she feels the tipping options at self-serve restaurants are “weird.”

“You’re basically tipping to just serve yourself. I think it’s just a way for companies to not have to pay their employees,” Tran said.

On the other hand, as a worker herself, Tran acknowledges the important roles tips play for workers.

“I know how difficult it is, and how they rely on tips,” Tran said.

California requires employers to pay their employees minimum wage ($16.00 per hour) regardless of whether or not the worker receives tips or; employers cannot include tips as part of their wage calculations. However, these minimum wage and tip credit laws vary from state to state. In some other states, the minimum wage is met through the sum of direct wages from the business and the tip credits.

For workers that rely on customer tips to meet the minimum wage, receiving them is crucial.

While consumers and workers alike are affected by tipping, it’s a practice unlikely to disappear in the near future. Whether you choose the default or stick to the tip jar, tipping seems to be a habit here to stay.

by Hinano Kato

TIPPING CULTURE

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A18 the falconer

january 31, 2024

THE

GYPSY ROSE

PHENOMENON

Dressed in a prison jumpsuit, alongside a team of makeup artists and hairstylists, Gypsy Rose Blanchard recounts her most painful surgery — having her salivary glands removed — in a People Magazine interview for her upcoming documentary series: “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard.” Gypsy, then still serving time, recalls the impermeable memory of the globs of Orajel her mother pressed into her gums to convince doctors she drooled too much.

“To this day, it has left me with the side effects of having to clear my throat all the time,” Gypsy said in the interview. “And it annoys people to no end.”

The exclusive People interview marked the end of eight years in prison for Gypsy. She emerged from a Missouri prison in December 2023, entering adulthood without the one thing she has ever truly known: her mother.

Blanchard has been covered by the media since 2015, after the investigation into her mother’s murder and Blanchard’s peculiar involvement was picked up by the public. As a figure, she raises questions about topics from awareness of medical diagnoses to the fad of celebrity idolization.

THE STORY — A TROUBLED CHILDHOOD Blanchard had a troubled beginning, as documented in “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard.” Rod Blanchard, her father, was 17 years old, and her mother, Clauddine — Dee Dee — Blanchard, was 24 when Gypsy was conceived — and the two split before her birth in 1991. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed Gypsy’s childhood home in Louisiana, Dee Dee and Gypsy-Rose rented a home in Aurora, Missouri. As a single mother, Dee Dee took full custody of Gypsy, and within the first three months of her baby’s

life, Dee Dee had begun to exhibit signs of the abuse she would continue to inflict throughout the rest of Gypsy’s childhood: abuse motivated by Dee Dee’s Munchausen by Proxy, a diagnosis now widely agreed upon by experts.

Dee Dee had Gypsy tested at multiple hospitals for sleep apnea, and all tests showed no abnormalities. Persistent in her control over Gypsy, Dee Dee never relented in her suspicions, believing her daughter had a chromosomal defect.

I was desperate to get out of that situation ...

Nobody will ever hear me say I’m glad she’s dead or I’m proud of what I did. I regret it every single day ... she didn’t deserve that.”

Gypsy Rose Blanchard IN AN INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE MAGAZINE Dee Dee desperately clung to any illness she could manufacture. Eventually, Gypsy was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, severe allergies and asthma — all of which Dee Dee claimed came from Gypsy’s apparent birth defect.

Her mother ultimately put Gypsy in a wheelchair, removed her from school in second grade and gave her almost all her nutrition through a feeding tube.

Despite physical symptoms and pain brought on by unnecessary medications and an abundance of complex medical treatments, Gypsy

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had no true ailments, as investigations and court trials revealed.

She was presumably a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a rare psychological disorder that involves a caregiver, often a mother, fabricating physical or psychological symptoms in a child or person being cared for, in order to gain attention or external validation, according to the NIH. Though her mother was never formally diagnosed with the syndrome while she was alive, many experts suspect she had it.

And attached to her hip, Gypsy had no semblance of a normal life — she knew no world outside of the one her mother had curated.

Dee Dee’s claims of Gypsy’s medical ailments reached new heights after Hurricane Katrina hit their Louisiana home and Dee Dee claimed Gypsy’s medical records and birth certificate were destroyed. Hence, Dee Dee fabricated Gypsy’s age to dozens of doctors. On Gypsy’s 18th birthday, her father sent her a birthday card, but Dee Dee kept it from her, as Gypsy believed she was only 14 at the time.

the falconer A19

to satisfy a psychological need of the abuser, such as attention or to appear as a caring and competent parent.”

At its center, too, is the trauma a victim carries from living under such a syndrome.

Blanchard was forced to use a wheelchair and a feeding tube, have her salivary glands removed and take medication that made her persistently ill.

As Gypsy’s story gained an audience, many took her actions as a reflection of the need for medical awareness, especially pertaining to mental disorders. If it were possible for Dee Dee to have been diagnosed with Munchausen by Proxy early on, much of the abuse Gypsy faced and the outcome could have been avoided.

THE FAME — A MONTH IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Can’t bring me down — I’m on a high right now. I’m living my best life, and y’all can’t take that from me.”

Gypsy Rose Blanchard

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH DAILYTEA Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization, gave the two a home after the hurricane, largely due to Gypsy’s many supposed illnesses and concurring costs. Because of Gypsy’s assumed condition, Dee Dee did not have a job; instead, she received thousands in food stamps, social security checks and disability subsidies. The Make-a-Wish Foundation even donated free trips to Disney World.

After enduring years of her mother’s medical abuse, Blanchard was pushed to take action. She had made what is presumed to be an escape attempt at a 2011 science fiction and fantasy convention. After her mother found her in a hotel room with a man she had met online, Dee Dee smashed Gypsy’s computer and kept her leashed and handcuffed to her bed for two weeks.

Gypsy again unsuccessfully tried to escape after being freed from the bed.

THE MURDER — RETALIATION OR REVENGE? In 2012, Gypsy made contact with a man from Wisconsin named Nicholas Godejon through a Christian dating website. The two developed a relationship online in the following years. In 2015, they began formulating their plan to kill Dee Dee. In June of that year, Godejon entered the Blanchard’s house when Dee Dee was sleeping — at which point Godejon stabbed Dee Dee 17 times in the back while Gypsy hid in the bathroom.

Soon after, Gypsy appeared in court, pleaded guilty to second degree murder in 2016, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, her boyfriend, Nicholas Godejon, was sentenced to life in prison without parole, after pleading not guilty.

Having experienced little contact with people that had not been heavily vetted by Dee Dee, Gypsy says she finally felt free when she went to prison, calling it the best memory of her entire life in the People interview.

THE CONDITION — THE STAKE OF MENTAL HEALTH According to the Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, Munchausen by proxy is characterized by “a persistent and repetitive drive to place the victim in the sick role in order

An unlikely sensation

Gypsy was released on parole after serving eight years of her 10-year sentence.

Soon after her release from prison, the media was quick to push Gypsy’s story; viral edits, posts, comments and interviews have filled feeds and topped charts for over a month. Gypsy’s name was turned into a hashtag with over two billion views on TikTok and she has amassed more than 18 million followers across her social media accounts.

Gypsy’s immediate “fame” raises many questions about the validity and ethics of glorifying a deeply-troubled victim of abuse.

Gypsy has rapidly been forced into the role of something like an influencer.

The world treats her like a celebrity, not a victim. This has left her with no time to process, cope or live in a world that is not her mother’s or the media’s.

Gypsy, however, does not seem to be rejecting her newfound fame and attention.

She not only agrees to a multitude of interviews, but she presents herself as a celebrity, not a criminal. She commonly states in interviews that she is “not at all a murderer,” attempting to distance herself from her guilty plea in 2016.

Not all viewers have bought into this image.

Multiple online users have even compared her to her mother, equating her on-screen persona to a manipulating abuser.

This initial phase of “cancellation” raises yet another aspect of social media: cancel culture. Some of the public has gone from admiring her to despising her in a week – an online effect Gypsy is unlikely to know, seeing as she’s been in custody for nearly a decade. Especially given how rapidly she rose to his influencer-style fame — she was released in late December 2023 — her case is a clear example of how quick the internet is to idolize, then tarnish, then discard.

There is no telling where Gypsy’s current status will take her. There’s no predicting which way public opinion will shift. But, as she sat in a Missouri prison, alongside a team of makeup artists and hairstylists, there was one thing for certain about the Gypsy in “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard.”

That Gypsy Rose Blanchard, a hopeful woman dressed in a prison jumpsuit, is a figure who will always challenge audiences, someone who will always prompt the question: “When is someone truly free?”

by Hope Dennis and Macy Swortwood

Girls basketball wins big against the Mavericks PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA SCIPIONE

Sneha Lele and Reese Carsely STAFF WRITERS

The TPHS varsity girls basketball team (12-11) maintained an undefeated league record with their 60-52 win against the La Costa Canyon Mavericks (13-10) on Jan. 20.

Kicking off the first quarter, Harper Kelly (11) made an impact with a quick basket. Minutes later, Lily Oliva (11) stepped up and sank a free throw, which Grace Trusso (12) followed with four points off of two rebounds, leaving the score tied at 12-12 for the first quarter.

“The other team was doing a lot of screens and handoffs which was hard for us to figure out at first and cost us some points,” Trusso said. “But once we learned how to help off of them we were able to grow our lead.”

The second quarter started off a bit slow for the Falcons, with the Mavericks maintaining possession of the ball. While Lauren Mills (11) made a solid three pointer to help catch up, TPHS ended the half trailing 23-20.

“Although the first half of the game was a bit slower, talking to my teammates and rallying together in the locker room really helped us regain our energy and hype,” Zoe Lau (12) said.

Within the first 20 seconds of the third quarter, Lau scored a three pointer, bringing the Falcons and Mavericks to a tie. Mills continued to score, draining three three-pointers

Although the first half of the game was a bit slower, talking to my teammates and rallying together in the locker room really helped us regain PHOTO BY HOPE DENNIS/FALCONER our energy and hype.” EYE ON THE PRIZE: Harper Kelly (11) (#33) Zoe Lau

pulls up for a jumpshot to keep the Falcons in the game. The girls varsity basketball team went undefeated in league last year.

before the end of the quarter. The Falcons took the lead, with Trusso’s six points off of layups and Oliva’s layup, three-pointer and free throw.

“The easy part was that most of us had grown up playing against these LCC girls, and it wasn’t the first time seeing them over the years,” Lau said. “The challenges that presented themselves were that they played a defense that we hadn’t seen much of until that game, so we had to adjust accordingly.”

In the fourth quarter, the Falcons put heavy pressure on the Mavericks, slowly tiring out their starting lineup.

Trusso continued stacking up points, gaining four from layups, while Oliva contributed eight points from one layup and two three-pointers.

“The team performed really well, everyone did their job and rose to the occasion,” Lau said. “We all played together and did well moving the ball around to the open man.”

Trusso agreed.

“I think that we played very unselfishly and as a team rather than all playing individually,” she said.

“As we get closer to CIF’s and the end of league we are hoping to keep our winning streak going.”

SENIOR CAPTAIN

PHOTO BY HOPE DENNIS/FALCONER LOCKED IN: Zoe Lau (12) (#21) has her eyes on the court, ready for action. Lau has made a impact on the varsity team since her freshman year, with an average of 10.1 points per game.

The team performed really well, everyone did their job and rose to the occasion. As we get closer to CIF’s and the end of league we are hoping to keep our winning streak going.”

Grace Trusso

SENIOR CAPTAIN

Meet the Falcons’ new head coach

A

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA SCIPIONE

month before the 20232024 girls’ basketball season began, Scott Herrin joined the program as head coach, filling a gap left by the departure of last year’s head coach and bringing his 20 years of experience to the Olive Garden.

Herrin coached women’s basketball at the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill in 2005 and served as the associate athletic director at Cuyamaca College and Portland State University in 2010.

Herrin’s addition isn’t the only change for the girls’ varsity team this year; after winning the DII CIF championship last year, they are now competing in the DI bracket.

“At the beginning of the year we played seven of the top 10 teams [within the division], and so as a new coach with players I didn’t know playing the hardest teams in the country, [the athletes] were getting discouraged,” Herrin said. “My goal was to try to keep it together until January, and to the credit of all the leadership and players, they didn’t give up and here we are.”

Herrin has implemented new additions to offense, focusing on anticipating opponents’ plays and targeting their weaknesses.

“Our new coach has been great for our team and the program as a whole. He is very dedicated to doing all he can to help us and make us win, whether that means bringing us food before a game or staying up late to watch film,” varsity senior captain Grace Trusso (12) said.

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OTTO LANDRUM After posting a basketball compilation, the “Hi Mom” sensation has reached millions of views on TikTok. The Falconer spoke with Otto Landrum to catch up on his life since leaving the Olive Garden.

Since posting a video from the court, Otto Landrum (‘22) has become a celebrity, transcending college basketball circles and entering a kind of social media stardom. In just over a month, he amassed nearly 400 thousand followers on TikTok, caught the attention of ESPN and Overtime and landed multiple brand deals. But amid all this attention, within 30 seconds of being texted for an interview, he responded with, “Anything for Torrey.”

The Boston University sophomore, a 6’9” forward for the BU men’s basketball team, has spent the last month in the spotlight, ever since the team’s videographer, Zachary Taub, posted a compilation of Landrum dunking, dancing and waving at the camera while saying what’s now become a sort of slogan: “Hi, Mom.” While Landrum’s mother was an unexpected ticket to fame, she now “likes the publicity of saying that I’m her son,” Landrum said. “It’s a winwin situation.”

The edit has nearly 13 and 15 million views on Instagram and TikTok, respectively, and has been reposted too many times to count. It’s not only earned Landrum “a lot of pictures with random

people,” but it’s also brought fans to his games — tickets to a Jan. 24 game were one fan’s birthday present, Landrum learned.

“That was crazy, in my opinion,” he said. “But it just shows that I have a ton of support, which is awesome.”

Landrum leads the Terriers in rebounds and blocked shots, falling third in scoring. On Jan. 27, he scored a season-high of 26 points, clinching a 62-48 win against Lafayette College.

While on paper his stats may conjure the image of a hardened athlete, it’s the personality in Taub’s video that Otto identifies with the most — a person who doesn’t take himself too seriously.

“I think athletes are put under a spotlight of … having to be very straight-faced, no emotions,” Landrum said. “But what I do every single day in life is be very positive … and people are attracted towards that and they’ve stayed with me because of it.”

This personality has not only garnered online support, but it’s

also shaped him as a player. “[Some athletes] are like, ‘Oh my god, I just played so bad; my life’s over.’ But that’s just not how it is,” Landrum said. “You’re gonna have another game another day.”

Landrum first entered the court his sophomore year at TPHS, a move that quickly brought him recognition on campus. In his junior year, he earned an All-CIF San Diego Second Team selection and during his senior year, he took the First Team honor along with an All-State Second Team accolade and Coastal League Player of the Year.

But in remembering his time in the TPHS Olive Garden, it’s not the awards that come to mind.

“The entire Torrey lifestyle … was nothing less than amazing,” Landrum said. “I don’t think I could have asked for a better high school experience.”

Landrum’s most vivid memory at TPHS is winning the CIF Open Division Championship in 2021 — a 63-60 win that earned the program its eighth championship title.

“You can sum [the game] up in one person and that’s Nick Herrmann — the most impactful person in Torrey Pines High School history,” Landrum said.

Herrmann, who hit the winning buzzer-beater during the game, died in August 2022 from osteosarcoma, a kind of cancer. Landrum was among the speakers close to Herrmann at his celebration of life in the Olive Garden.

“He changed lives for a lot of people and being able to be up close and personal during that game with him … is honestly the most incredible

thing I’ve ever experienced,” Landrum said.

Landrum returned to the Olive Garden this summer to coach Olive Camp, a basketball program hosted by TPHS boys basketball head coach John Olive.

There, he reunited with Varsity Assistant Coach Jake Gilliam.

“Jake Gilliam has been a super big inspiration in what I do every day, and I would say the same about all the rest of [the coaches],” Landrum said. “Oh, my goodness. Those guys are all awesome.”

Gilliam, who’s watched Landrum’s rise to fame, said the world is seeing what a “happy guy” Landrum is. “[Landrum’s] staying who he is, but on a bigger scale,” Gilliam said.

“It’s been cool to see him handle that success and continue to work hard.”

It’s TPHS that Landrum thinks of when he envisions his future.

“I’m hopefully going to be able to go pro,” he said. “I want to bring a ton of light to Torrey Pines, if that does happen.”

While he may be wound up in stardom for the moment, basketball remains his focus.

“There’s never a day that goes by where I’m like, ‘I hate this [sport],’” he said. “It’s more of like, ‘Oh, my god, I gotta do this again.’”

The Terriers are currently 8-14 overall, and though Landrum ended our interview with another game approaching that weekend, he signed off with an enthusiastic “Go Falcons.”

by Anna Opalsky

BY THE NUMBERS POINTS PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANNA SCIPIONE

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A22 the falconer

sports

january 31, 2024

Jumbotron update for Ed Burke Field pending approval Joy Ma OPINION EDITOR

The TPHS Foundation is waiting to hear from the SDUHSD board in February regarding the latest TPHS campus project: a scoreboard upgrade for Ed Burke Field.

Alongside a group of four parents, the TPHS Foundation is playing a supportive role in acquiring a new Jumbotron for TPHS athletics. The upgraded scoreboard will include an enhanced sound system with video capabilities.

According to Foundation Executive Director Joe Austin, the Foundation was approached by a group of parents who had made several attempts over the past decade to get the “dysfunctional” scoreboard replaced.

“As a parent of a senior field hockey student, I sat through a lot of games where I was like, ‘Wow, this scoreboard is really kind of atrocious, and it has lived way beyond its serviceable life,’” Austin said.

The current scoreboard, according to Austin, dates back to around the 1980s.

“The entire project [including the Jumbotron’s manufacturing and installation] is about $500,000,” Austin said. “Replacing the existing scoreboard with a similar model would cost nearly

$170,000.”

Because of the substantial cost of the project, it is difficult to predict whether the board will approve the expense, Austin said.

This is where the Foundation steps in, a “middle ground between the board and our parents,” according to Austin. “[The Foundation is] the mechanism for taking what district funds we get for facilities and saying, ‘Hey, can we add on to that? Can we meet you with the

regular funding?’” Austin said.

While plans must wait for the board’s decision on funding next month, some already believe the cost is worth it.

According to JV rugby player Eddie Lavis (10), a Jumbotron has benefits for athletes and fans alike in the long run, making “our school much cooler.”

“Having a better scoreboard would definitely make the fans pay more attention and get hyped for games,” Lavis said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA SCIPIONE OUT WITH THE OLD: The current scoreboard on Ed Burke Field dates back to around the 1980s.

Ed Burke stadium will gain a new scoreboard, pending board approval in the coming weeks.

Addie McKay (11) agreed.

“This is a step in promoting the visibility and recognition of field hockey,” McKay said. “It will definitely be a layer of excitement for fans.”

McKay, a varsity field hockey player, believes a new Jumbotron would also have field hockey-specific benefits “If the Jumbotron could show the specifics of what happened during plays in the game, I think it would make field hockey a lot easier to watch,” McKay said. “Having more fans cheering us on definitely increases the energy of our team, which generally helps us play a lot better.”

Austin is on the same page.

“Imagine what we would be able to do in the form of producing content for a video screen. Imagine what ASB would be able to do to promote and hype up pep rallies. Imagine if the audio in that stadium were commensurate with the quality of the scoreboard up there,” Austin said. “It would just change the fan experience.”

Lavis, McKay and Austin hope that the board will approve the expenditure for the project next month.

In the meantime, “[the Foundation is] working very closely with the district leadership” to secure the Jumbotron, according to Austin.

Falcons rugby awaits possible CIF sport recognition MeLina Toppi-DeLeo STAFF WRITER

In their 10-year history, the Falcons rugby team has won the Southern California Championship five times.

Last year, the team brought home a State Championship title. And in a few months, they could be named an official school sport at TPHS, a title that comes with CIF status.

“We have established great working relationships with [TPHS] leadership, the athletic department, and the TPHS Foundation. Rugby is now following the process undertaken by girls’ flag football for CIF approval,” Coach David Pool said. “The status of winning the [state] championship is the highest it can get … it has certainly caused families that may not have considered rugby, to consider it an option.”

While it may not be offered as a CIF sport, rugby has gained popularity over

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA SCIPIONE

the past 10 years at TPHS. The boy’s team, which operates as a club team on campus, currently has a roster of more than 30 TPHS students.

Despite their success without CIF recognition, rugby’s status as a club brings disadvantages — chief among them being a lack of field space, according to players.

While the team uses the stadium field for games, they often practice on “the patch,” the field next to the weight room, which is much smaller than the stadium field and lacks proper equipment, like goalposts.

“We are lucky there have not been any injuries because of the field” Bryce Simon (11), a lock, said.

Kai Caulfield (12), a flanker, agreed.

“We barely get to use the actual field for practice,” he said.

Additionally, practices run late into the evening, with players sometimes on

the patch until 9:30 p.m.

If rugby were to attain CIF status, each high school in the district would be able to have a team.

However, with additional teams come additional field space requirements; rugby would need to be assigned a season and other teams would need to accommodate a shift in schedule, according to TPHS Principal Rob Coppo.

“Rugby has been operating as if it’s one of our teams, in good faith. Adding a field sport at a school like TPHS is tricky regarding field space,” Coppo said.

The addition of girls’ flag football as a CIF sport further limits field space.

However field space is not the only change rugby could undergo. Because the team currently operates as a club sport, there is a cost to play. Recently, the TPHS Foundation has worked with

PHOTO BY MELINA TOPPI-DELEO/FALCONER

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: Falcons rugby recently kicked off its season and players and coaches have their eyes on another state title. Last season, the team made history when they beat St. Francis 31 - 14 on Mar. 18 and clinched the All-California state championship, the first for a Southern California team.

the rugby coaches to help cut costs.

Despite these challenges, the Falcons rugby team maintains “a very positive environment,” according to Pool.

“We get on with the job and focus on managing the things we can control,” Pool said. “The field situation is out of our control.”

As the Falcons continue to push for CIF status, the community has been working hard to help them gain more recognition. Recently, the team partnered with key rugby stakeholders — including USA Youth and High School Rugby, Major League Rugby, and USA Rugby — to ensure studentathletes can have sufficient resources to successfully launch rugby as a CIF sport.

“We have a community that is incredibly financially supportive, and not everyone has that luxury,” Coppo said.

“We have established great working relationships with [TPHS] leadership, the athletic department, and the TPHS Foundation.

Rugby is now following the process undertaken by girls’ flag football for CIF approval.”

David Pool

FALCONS RUGBY COACH

sports

A23 the falconer

DAY IN THE LIFE:

january 31, 2024

Boys soccer A boy from Brazil. One from Egypt and another from England. A pair of Greek-Australians.

Others raised by parents who immigrated to the U.S. from every corner of the world. They are the TPHS varsity boys soccer team (75-3). A group of boys whose love of “the beautiful game” has dissolved all barriers.

“We all share a certain love for this game,” one of the team captains Arik Kowarik (12) said. “It’s what unites us.”

Head coach Francisco Lona believes that the team’s close bond, despite their cultural diversity, is a reflection of the true nature of soccer.

“This sport connects

pitch, the boys are one — a true team.

“We all understand that you can’t win by yourself in this sport,” Danny McKelliget (12) said.

Another team captain Malik Begic (12) echoed this sentiment.

“You can have the greatest game of your life, but winning is impossible if you don’t have your team,” Begic said.

We all understand that you can’t win by yourself in this sport.”

Omar Tawfik

TEAM MANAGER

people f r o m so many backgrounds,” Lona said. “You don’t even need to speak the same language.

The language is football.”

The boys themselves also appreciate the distinctiveness of their team’s m a k e u p .

“Our team is a mixture of people from everywhere,” Filippos Tsironis (12) said. “We do tease each other, but at the end of the day, it’s awesome.”

On and o f f the

According to team manager Omar Tawfik (12), the team’s close connection came inherently.

“Since the first day of tryouts, we already had a special chemistry,” Tawfik said.

This chemistry does not go to waste. Even to an untrained eye, the cohesiveness of each play in a game is apparent. However, even when someone slips up, there’s a teammate to help.

“If you mess up on the field you have 10 other guys who have your back,” Aidan Jennings (11) said.

Akin to siblings, the boys bicker over everything. But, when one of them scores a goal in a game, their deafening eruption of whoops makes you think you’ve witnessed a World Cup final. Most of all, each moment they share is filled with joy.

“We just have so much fun when we’re out on the field,” Kowarik said. Lona also recognizes the one-of-a-kind nature of this team.

“They are just a great group,” Lona said. “They’re going to do very well in life not just because of how they carry themselves as individuals. They represent Torrey Pines in the best way.”

They are friends because they love the game. They are a team because they love the game. There are many ways in which they are different, but soccer has made them brothers in every way but blood.

by Natalia Mochernak

Danny McKelliget Midfielder

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA SCIPONE

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A24 the falconer

News - The Falconer

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THE FALCONER The student newspaper of Torrey Pines High School

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The Headlines Colleges abolish traditional admissions, opting for a new “Battle Royale” for prospective students

by Ari Rosenthal

January 14, 2024 at 12:59 am

TPHS secures Ice Spice as graduation speaker, a “fire” choice, according to seniors

by Joy Ma

January 10, 2024 at 4:22 pm

Freshman in custody for manslaughter after victim takes a rogue Stanley cup to the head

by Eric Lee

January 5, 2024 at 10:56 am

Freddy Falcon drops luxury clothing brand, dubbed THE CHAOS

by Anna Opalsky

January 2, 2024 at 1:11 pm

60% of TPHS students drop out, citing “Ins and Outs” trend as motivator Joe Shmo STAFF WRITER At 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 10, classrooms stood desolate as 60% of the student body left campus. The dramatic decline in attendance comes in response to the “Ins and Outs” trend, a popular fad on TikTok in which individuals declare what is “in” and “out” for 2024 –– in other words, what they want and do not want to bring into 2024.

“Secondary education is so out,” John Doe (formerly 11) said. “Don’t blame me for protecting my peace.”

Doe, along with 1,800 of his peers, chose to drop out of high school, opting to “hang” at McDonalds on weekdays. Some of Doe’s “ins,” on the other hand,

include “vibin’, chillin’ and having a good time.”

“Fortnite” mobile also narrowly made the list.

In light of their newly-empty schedules, many students have joined the School’s Out club, an organization formed to entertain former students during the day, according to club president Noda Gree (formerly 12). The club’s weekly meetings include support groups, movie screenings, pick-up pickleball games and seminars on dealing with disapproving parents. According to anonymous sources, Freddy Falcon allegedly made an appearance at the club’s meeting on Jan. 22, issuing the following statement: “I just miss my Falcons.”

Despite the shrinking student body, those who remain at TPHS are “keeping up the chaos,” according

to administrators. Rather than dubbing high school as “out,” many Falcons rather consider it as “very much in.”

“I’m in my academic comeback era, so of course school is in,” Tria Hard (10) said. “Yale is my dream school, so if anything, I’m doubling down on my work.

What can I say? I’m locked in.”

Hard looks forward to putting “stayed at school during 2024 dropout crisis” on her Yale admissions application.

To restore the TPHS student body to its former numbers, administrators have taken up a vigorous social media campaign, posting TikTok videos about how “in” school is. As of Jan. 28, enrollment numbers have been up, suggesting the campaign is working.