TPHS Bird's Eye View

The Torrey Pines High School

Bird’s Eye View Friday, June 4, 2021

| Vol. 1, Issue 1

TPHS student vaccination rates surge

Anna Opalsky, Phoenix Kim, and Darby Snyder

ASSISSTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF and STAFF WRITERS After more than a year of living in a pandemic, COVID-19 vaccinations are rolling out to Americans each day, and as of May 9, adolescents ages 12 to 15 have joined the list of those eligible to receive the shot.

Young people being vaccinated is an important component of the effort to stop the pandemic and resume normal operations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health officials.

Currently, there are three vaccines on the U.S. market. These are the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, both two dose regimens authorized for those older than 12 and 18 respectively, as well as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen single-dose vaccine, authorized for ages 18 and older.

According to the CDC, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is the most used in the United States, is 100% effective at preventing COVID-19 in adolescents, as shown through clinical trials. Data indicates that all three vaccines drastically lower the risk of death, hospitalization and transmission of COVID-19, according to the CDC. “I feel safer now,” Vin Stratton (12) said after getting his vaccine. “It’s definitely a lot better knowing that I have less of a chance of getting COVID, especially with at-risk family members and friends.”

Stratton is among the 40% of the U.S. population and 50% of Californians who are fully vaccinated as of May 27, according to the CDC. After the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine’s emergency use authorization was expanded to include ages 12 to 15, more TPHS students now have a chance to join that percentage.

“I’m thrilled to have the chance to get the vaccine,” Kathryn Reese (9) said. “It will open up so many parts of life that we’ve been disconnected from.”

At TPHS, 50% of students are ei-

ther half vaccinated or fully vaccinated, according to a poll of 824 students from all grades taken in May 2021.

However, not everyone is as confident in the vaccine as Stratton and Reese. Since parental permission is needed for minors to be vaccinated, some parents are choosing not to book appointments for their children.

Out of parents of children ages 12 to 15, 25% say they will not vaccinate their children right away, and nearly the same percentage say they will not vaccinate them at all, according to a poll published in the April Kaiser Family Foundation’s Vaccine Monitor.

At TPHS, some students remain unvaccinated. According to the May poll, 38% of students are not vaccinated yet, but plan to be, while 12% plan to not vaccinate at all.

Although children are less likely to be hospitalized and have severe side effects from COVID-19 when compared to adults, they can still transmit the virus, according to the CDC. One study found that teens are more likely to contract COVID-19 than older adults. This study, led by Dr. Barbara Rumain, a professor at Touro College, analyzed rates of infection in six states over this past summer. In all six states, COVID-19 was more prevalent in individuals ages 10 to 24 than in adults over 60.

“People should be getting the vaccine and trusting it,” Stratton said. “It will help prevent COVID and help things open up.”

Getting as many eligible people vaccinated as possible, including adolescents, is a vital part of reaching herd immunity, according to general surgeon Alexander Korn.

Getting a vaccine is a simple process, even for minors. The shot is free and is available at almost 40,000 pharmacies across the United States, according to a statement by President Joe Biden on April 21. In addition, as of April 21, 90% of Americans have a vaccination site within five miles of their home, making the process easy and efficient for many.

“The system was very well organized,” Ben Hong (12) said. “I got [my vaccine] at UCSD and the process was [to] make an online appointment, bring IDs, wait in line, get the vaccine [and] wait 15 minutes at the UCSD center to make sure no serious reactions occur.”

After receiving the shots, minor side effects are expected and are proof that one’s body is building immunity to the virus, according to the CDC. “During the first dose, [I had] a bit of soreness in my arm and during the second dose, some muscle fatigue in my torso but no major symptoms,” Hong said.

To be labeled as fully vaccinated, a

patient must wait two weeks after their second dose. Though San Diego County has lifted some COVID-19 restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals, pandemic-safe practices, such as mask wearing and social distancing, are still enforced at TPHS. As of now, in-person students are not required to receive a vaccine, according to Principal Robert Coppo.

“I don’t know what the vaccine requirements will be yet,” Coppo said.

“It depends on how the numbers are over the summer. But my gut is telling me that we won’t require vaccinations for the fall, and masks will soon no longer be necessary to wear indoors.”

A2 bird’s eye view

news

june 4, 2021

San Diego Co. Fair is back but masked and smaller Vin Stratton

STAFF WRITER A scaled-down San Diego County Fair will return to the Del Mar Fairgrounds from June 11 to July 4, after last year’s county fair was canceled due to COVID-19.

The fair will be smaller than usual. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be limited tickets and parking. It will also not be open on Mondays and Tuesdays, and it will have attendance restrictions. Tickets cost $10 for ages 6 and up, which is half the usual admission fee, and children under 5 have free admission. All COVID-19 precautions, such as social distancing and wearing masks, will be enforced, and guests must select arrival times in advance.

“The event will provide the community with an essence of some of the most important traditions San Diegans look forward to every year to start their summer,” Kate Mueller, chief of business services at the fairgrounds, told the Del Mar Times.

San Diegans are eager to return to this beloved tradition.

“I grew up going to the County Fair,

going on rides, and eating lots of food. I was scared that there wasn’t going to be one because of COVID, but even though this year’s fair is a little different, I’m still excited to go,” Nadia Phaneuf (11) said.

Evan Doan (11) shares Phaneuf’s enthusiasm.

“My favorite activity at the fair was the rides, but they won’t have those this year, which is upsetting,” Doan said. “I’m just happy I am able to go this year.”

This year’s theme of “Home Grown Fun” reflects the quarantine’s effects on homebound Californians due to the pandemic. The San Diego County Fair will give San Diegans and visitors the opportunity to be reunite. The fair will include 280 shopping vendors, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, agricultural exhibits, contests, “edu-tainment” and activities, including the Swifty Swine Pig Races, magicians and a juggler on a unicycle.

Over 35 food vendors, including some fair favorites will offer a variety of food for hungry fair-goers.

Also included will be up to 20 vendors for gardening, cow-milking demonstrations and socially-distanced bub-

ble gum-blowing competitions. The fair is also introducing Make & Takes, an interactive activity where guests can make their own souvenirs, such as a flowerpot or miniature garden, to take home with them. Pacific Animal Productions will bring an array of wildlife, like ponies and daredevil dogs.

The entrance will have either the musicians Jackstraws or Juicebox Jazz Trio, or Godfrey the Magician to meet guests. The fair will also feature a new showcase of projects that were produced over the COVID-19 quarantine.

A fireworks celebration on July 4 will close out the fair on the last night.

Photo Courtesy of San Diego County Fair

Hate crimes against Asians rampant and increasing Dasha Tkachenko and Adriana Hazlett STAFF WRITER and COPY EDITOR

Race-based hatred against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders has increased severely with the spread of the coronavirus.

According to an analysis by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, Asian hate crimes have increased by nearly 150% in 2020, notably in Los Angeles and New York City. New York City hate crimes rose from three in 2019 to 28 in 2020, while Los Angeles rose from seven to 15.

Many people also call COVID-19 the “Chinese Virus” and blame the virus on the Asian community.

“I experienced racism several times throughout my life, especially during the pandemic, since many Asians were blamed for the start of the coronavirus,” a student who asked to remain anonymous said. “Most of the racism I experience is just jokes, but people don’t realize how seriously their words impact me.”

According to what Connie Chung Joe,

the CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Los Angeles, told National Public Radio, these attacks target the more vulnerable members of the Asian American community, like the elderly.

One instance of elderly Asians being targeted happened on July 14, 2020. Only a couple minutes after an 89-year-old Asian woman stepped out of her house in Brooklyn, New York, she was suddenly attacked by two men who set fire to her clothes, according to ABC News.

“There are a lot of other people who live in this neighborhood, but they purposely picked … on an Asian woman, an Asian senior, to commit this heinous crime. There’s no other reason other than it’s a hate crime,” community leader Don Lee told ABC News.

Kathryn Reese (9), an Asian American, is concerned about the increase of Asian hate.

“I’m tired of having to fear for the safety and well-being of my elder family members during this time,” Reese said. “I just want to live in a world where my family and people in my com-

munity can live in safety and peace.”

Teacher Mia Boardman Smith has similar concerns for her Asian-American niece, who lives in San Frnacisco Several support groups have been formed to support Asian and Pacific Is-

lander individuals during these times, such as Stop AAPI Hate, Asian Mental Health Collective and Asian Mental Health Project. These groups have websites and discussions dedicated to providing information about Asian hate, as well

Photo Courtesy of Los Angeles Magazine

Cheer squad raises funds for Angelman Syndrome Sumin Kim and Holly Weiss

STAFF WRITER and COPY EDITOR The TPHS cheer team participated in a modified version of the San Diego Angelman Syndrome Walk, a yearly event organized by the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, aimed at spreading awareness and raising money for family support and research on Angelman Syndrome, on May 15.

The event has traditionally been held at a local park, however, due to the pandemic and safety protocols, the walk was changed to a drive-through format, which was held in the TPHS faculty parking lot.

Family members of children with Angelman syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes developmental disabilities and nerve-related symptoms, drove through the parking lot, being cheered on by cheerleaders and other participants. The names of the children were written on the cars so cheerleaders and other participants could address each

of the children by name in their cheers.

“Some drew on cars with washable markers. And some made a poster of loved ones and taped it to their cars.

“I didn’t expect that many people but it was a really good turnout,” Madelyn Amerson (9), a cheerleader, said.

Approximately 25 cars showed up, which “impressed” the organizers, according to Suzy Chodorow, the head coach of the cheer team.

“It’s amazing the school does this,” Amerson said. “I’ve never been to a school before that’s so invested in the community and doing these events makes it so accessible to us to volunteer. So I think that’s great.”

Many of the families who attended were excited about and involved in the event. Amerson said she had a very memorable time there.

Maddy Miller (10), a member of the cheer team, described the procession as an “incredible experience.”

“It was a great way to get in-

volved with see everyone

the community smile,” Miller

and said.

Other the event

cheerleaders in a similar

Photo Courtesy of Suzy Chodorow

saw light.

OPINION

june 4, 2021

A3 bird’s eye view

Is thrift shopping good for everyone?

CON

PRO Caroline Hunt

Claire Ratzer

FEATURE EDITOR

STAFF WRITER

As the popularity of secondhand shopping apps like Depop and Poshmark rises along with an interest in leading a sustainable lifestyle among Gen Z shoppers, the art of thrifting has become more desirable than ever before. The chance to shop sustainably and find unique items at an affordable price is an offer few can pass up, but the recent increase in thrifting adoration has led some to wonder if the negative impacts of thrifting on those of a lower socioeconomic status outweigh the positive environmental and societal influences. Though the recent demand for thrifting could have a small-scale effect on some shoppers, this impact is manageable and solvable compared to the horrors of fast fashion. Thrift shopping’s downside is far outweighed by its benefits on the necessary journey to create a more sustainable world.

Fast fashion, defined by Oxford Languages as the industry in which inexpensive clothing is produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends, has a huge environmental impact. According to the U.N. Environmental Programme, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a U.K. charity that promotes a circular economy, the fashion industry uses 93 billion cubic meters of water per year, enough, says the World Bank, to satisfy the consumption needs of 5 million people. This tally includes nearly 20% of wastewater worldwide, according to the World Bank.

And this is only fast fashion’s effect on water consumption. The U.N. Economic Commission for Europe estimates that the fashion industry as a whole is responsible for nearly 10% of global carbon emissions, a number, as cited by the BBC article “Can fashion ever be sustainable?” that surpasses the impacts of both aviation and shipping combined. This cycle of waste continues even after the clothes are produced. Since clothes are purchased so superfluously, many items end up in landfills; 40% of clothing bought in some countries was never used, according to the World Bank. In the United States, 10.2 million tons of textiles ended up in landfills, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Thrifting is an obvious solution to such waste, since it slows the fast fashion cycle while giving existing clothes new life.

The working conditions garment workers must endure are especially atrocious in the fast fashion industry. A prominent example is the 2013 collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh. Rana Plaza, like many other garment factories and sweatshops, was built with low-grade materials. An engineer who inspected the building a day before the collapse deemed it unsafe; however, garment workers were ordered back to work the very next day. After

art by Martin Lee the power went out and the generators (con opinion cont.) came on, the building collapsed, injuring Although the popularity of thrifting 2,500 people and killing 1,100, the most has its problems, some people believe fatalities of any garment industry that this is not as harmful as other accident in history. Despite the evident shopping alternatives are. Thrifting dangers, the fashion industry makes advocates may say there are more up a shocking 84% of Bangladesh’s than enough clothes at thrift stores for exports. Fast fashion workers are everyone to have. Although it might human beings, toiling away and risking seem that there is an endless supply their lives for the sake of producing of second-hand clothing available, in an in-style shirt that, according to reality, only up to 20% of clothes donated the Wall Street Journal article, “The to thrift stores yearly actually make it to High Price of Fast Fashion,” will be the shelf. That giant bag of clothes you worn an average of seven times before just donated? More than half of it will moving onto the next transient craze. end up in a landfill within the month.

But as the popularity of thrifting The trend of thrifting has morphed grows, so does the awareness of the from a cost-effective shopping option benefit of donating one’s old clothes. to a weekly activity for some to find as According to the U.S. Census Bureau, many stylish items as possible. Thrift there are currently over 25,000 not-forshopping is seen as the biggest way to profit resale shops in the United States, help the environment while shopping, so chances are, anyone looking to buy but in reality, switching your Brandy clothing at an affordable price will be Melville hauls with Goodwill hauls is able to find the thrift stores and items doing nothing for the environment, as it they require with ease. With these still is in support of these fast fashion environmental and community benefits sites, as those brands have still gotten in mind, the rising recognition of thrift money from the purchase. In exchange shopping is nothing short of a blessing. for constantly taking from thrift stores, Hopefully, as knowledge of thrifting’s try thrifting in your closet and upcycling benefits grows, we will be able to create your old clothes. Remember, what a cycle of reusing and recycling our might seem like a fun and inexpensive clothes while writing a new chapter activity to do with your friends can in the lives of one-of-a-kind pieces. be a family’s only way to get clothes.

Torrey Pines High School Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor-in-Chief News Editor Opinion Editor Feature Editor Entertainment Editor Sports Editor

Natalia Mochernak Anna Opalsky Yao Liu Kathryn Reese Caroline Hunt Lola Newlander Quinn Satterlund Anton Pereverzin

Copy Editor Digital Editor Art Editor Photo Editor Adviser Staff Writers

Thrift shopping has been around for generations – always deemed a sustainable way to find used clothes for low prices. Thrifting has become a common practice, as teenagers find it to be a great way to get unique clothes and cultivate an individual fashion sense. Although this may appear to be a fun and sustainable way to shop, this raises a question: Is thrift shopping as advantageous as it’s made out to be? The rise in thrifting has caused an immense increase in the price of items at thrift stores, and it takes away from the less fortunate in need of these clothes.

The rise in popularity forced many thrift shops to raise their prices, meaning those in need of inexpensive clothes struggle to find pieces within their budget. According to the Oakton Outlook, “there is an average price increase of over 15% within thrift stores in the United States within the past three years.” Those with the means can purchase the most desirable and trendy items, leaving a smaller, lower quality selection for those with a more limited budget.

The reselling of clothes has also become much more popular since the rise in thrift shopping. People enter thrift stores with the sole purpose of upselling clothing, purchasing a trendy shirt for just $3 and re-selling it for $30. Reselling apps, such as Poshmark and Depop, provide the perfect platform for profiteers. Not only are those who resell thrifted clothes taking cheap clothes that others need, but it is also very common for people to go to a thrift store in a lower-income neighborhood with the intent to find cheap clothes to sell for a heavy profit.

Nowadays, with social media being very widespread, things can become trendy within minutes and be sold out in stores in a matter of days. With certain clothing trends, like “baby tees” or cropped sweater vests, it has become common for teenagers to shop in the baby section or toddler section of thrift stores, just to find a tiny top that they can resell. This practice can take the clothing away from an actual child who needs it. The “Vintage Y2k baby tee” a teenager just bought for $2 and sold for $25 could have been a mother’s last shot at finding a change of clothes for her baby. When people from an upper-middle-class neighborhood come down to a thrift store in a lowerincome neighborhood, they aren’t there with the purpose of shopping while caring about the environment by buying secondhand clothes. But regardless of the mindset, they don’t realize the detrimental effects their shopping habits have on low-income families.

Some people shop at thrift stores as a fun activity and a way to find cool, vintage pieces, while others rely on these clothes for everyday wear.

Bird’s Eye View

Adriana Hazlett Martin Lee Sophie Rosenblum Rasa Nyce Mia Boardman Smith Andrew Day Robert Freedman Regan Guirguis

Rami Kabakibi Phoenix Kim Sumin Kim Naimah Malone Aline Pampinella Yasmin Parsa Azra Perez Sofia Quisling Claire Ratzer

Colette Robitaille Rida Salim Naomi Schneider Sahand Shahoy Christian Shaw McLean Smith Darby Snyder Vin Stratton

Dasha Tkachenko Holly Weiss

opinion

A4

bird’s eye view

Can vegans go too far for health and environment?

Caroline Hunt

FEATURE EDITOR Middle-aged women picking up kale smoothies after Soul Cycle and van-life hippies reminiscing about Woodstock are typically the two stereotypes associated with veganism. However, since its official introduction in November 1944 by British woodworker Donald Watson, the vegan lifestyle has picked up massive steam with widespread pursuit of a healthy lifestyle and reduced carbon footprint. Throughout the 2010s, more and more Americans, as well as people from all around the globe, embraced veganism, so much so that The Economist pronounced 2019 “the year of the vegan.” While some regard veganism as a moral choice, negativity both outside and inside the vegan community characterizes vegan culture. This judgment creates an unwelcoming environment with the effect of discouraging others to pledge to veganism.

The most obvious presence of this vegan toxicity is directed towards those outside the vegan community.

An alarming embodiment of this negativity is seen in TikTok’s Kadie Karen Diekmeyer, whose username was @thatveganteacher on TikTok, as well as on her YouTube channel. With a large following on both platforms, a hefty 1.7 million followers on TikTok (until she was recently removed from the app) and 53,100 subscribers on YouTube, Diekmeyer makes videos and writes songs to encourage others to adopt veganism. This encouragement, however, is far more like a profane guilt trip than it is about fostering support for the vegan movement. In one notable song Diekmeyer sings, “Jesus is vegan

now and God is too / If you want to get to heaven, you better be vegan too.”

This is not the first reference to Diekmeyer’s Christian faith on her platform, but one has to question her logic behind claiming the fish-loving apostle to be vegan. Though Diekmeyer obviously doesn’t represent the entire vegan community, her massive following poses a threat to the reputation of all vegans. Diekmeyer isn’t alone in the toxic influence; other accounts such as @militantsoyboy on TikTok preach dietary divisiveness. The risk of nonvegans seeing this content and assuming these toxic vegans speak for the entire lifestyle has the potential to turn people away from trying veganism–because who would feel particularly welcomed by a community who immediately condemns them to eternal damnation?

However, vegan culture is often so rigid in its near-draconian beliefs that it can even turn away its allies. In the article “Vegan culture is harmful and toxic, that’s why I left” published in The Daily Aztec, author Kayla Henrikson describes her reasoning for leaving the vegan community.

“There is more forgiveness in religion than in that community. You can sin and all will be forgiven, but you eat one bit of cheese or a slice of regular cake, then to them, you might as well have eaten a whole cow,” Henrikson said.

This failure of vegan culture to acknowledge the necessity of a gradual process from omnivore to herbivore, rather than quitting cold turkey, is a serious oversight, as most people willing to pledge to veganism need time to adjust to such a stark dietary change.

Yet another area in which the vegan community falls short is intersectionality, frequently failing to recognize the importance of people of color to the vegan movement. Long before veganism was coined by Watson in 1944, Africans ate mostly plant-based meals as part of traditional African diets.

Quinoa has been consumed by South American Indigenous communities for thousands of years, and similarly, lentils and chickpeas have been used in Indian dishes for hundreds of years. It was not until colonization that many African and American Indigenous communities began eating meat. So why is it then that the vegan, plant-based movement is so predominantly represented by white people? Maybe because white influencers and authors on veganism are amplified, while the voices of people of color are often tamped down, which leads to vegan “bibles” such as “Skinny Bitch,” “Quantum Wellness” and more titles that cater to this primarily white, female audience. Promoting veganism to a limited audience will not push the vegan movement forward, but ensure it remains stagnant and consistent with its racist and exclusive reputation.

Yet, some vegans who are more tenacious in their standings argue that there is no reason not to commit to veganism because of the lifestyle’s environmental and health benefits. Yet they frequently neglect to acknowledge the fact that not everyone can be vegan, even if they want to. For example, those with eating disorders, zinc or B12 deficiencies, those who live in poorer neighborhoods or those with allergies to nuts or soy can often not be vegan.Even

if you can eat these products, another common barrier to a vegan lifestyle is the cost required to follow such a diet and still receive all the necessary nutrients. Prominent examples include the vegan essentials of soy, almond, oat or a host of other non-dairy milks.

As of April 2021, average milk prices in the U.S. range from around $2.39 to $4.09, while non-dairy milks range anywhere from $3.99 to $5.

Though this might seem like a small jump, this and other added expenses are too steep for many to take on.

Ultimately, it is clear that vegan culture needs to return to its morals of being kind to all species, not only animals but other humans as well, and doing one’s best to make the world a better place.

Vegan culture needs to forget about just the “vegan” label and focus more on what it actually means to be vegan.

art by Martin Lee

Biden’s climate plan can do what it is meant to do Rami Kabakibi

STAFF WRITER Around 200 species go extinct every single day. Half of the world’s coral reefs have died in the last 30 years.

Some 24 million people are displaced from their homes because of natural disasters annually and 1.2 trillion tons of sea ice have been melting each year since 2010. Many people know the cause of these shocking numbers: climate change. What most people don’t realize, however, is just how serious a crisis our planet is in right now.

On March 26, 2021, President Joe Biden invited 40 world leaders to the Leaders Summit on Climate, a global effort to combat climate change consisting of eight virtual meetings spanning over April 22 and 23. On the first day of the summit, Biden announced that the United States would aim to reduce emissions by 50% to 52% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. (In 2005, total U.S. CO2 emissions peaked at around 6.1 billion metric tonnes. In 2020, mainly because of strict lockdown orders, this number fell by 12% compared to 2019 levels to 4.7 billion metric tonnes, but it is projected to rise again in 2021). To achieve this cut in emissions, the Biden Administration has put forth their American Jobs Plan, a proposal that aims to lift the U.S. economy out of the COVID-19 recession by attempting to improve aspects of life like transportation, housing and infrastructure, while also making them more eco-friendly.

Many people believe that Biden’s plan will not be able to achieve his goal for a 50% cut in emissions in the next decade. However, the truth is that his plan actually outlines measures that, if met, will certainly halve emissions

by 2030. The even better news? The main points in Biden’s plan involve technology that is already available to easily implement into our country.

Tackling climate change is not an easy task. It will require a massive shift in the way we view almost every facet of our lives, from transportation to infrastructure to housing and connections between the national electric grid.

The first part of the American Jobs Plan grants a 10 year extension of direct-pay tax incentives to inject money into cleaner energy alternatives.

In addition, not only are renewable energy sources better for the environment than fossil fuels, like coal, but they are cheaper as well.

“It actually is uneconomical in many cases to continue to burn coal, even regardless of the climate and health impacts of that,” said Nathan Hultman, director of the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland, in an interview with National Public Radio(NPR).

Further, a 2019 EPA analysis showed that transportation was the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., and another report showed that on average, a typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of CO2 every year.

The American Jobs Plan includes a $174 billion investment in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, especially in less populated states where the “range fear” of electric cars may be a concern for potential purchasers.

A March 23, 2020 study conducted by scientists at the universities of Exeter, Nijmegen and Cambridge found that in countries like Sweden and France, where

renewable sources make up the majority of electricity production, electric vehicles could save almost 70% more CO2 from being emitted than gasoline vehicles.

For the U.S. to achieve a similar scenario, the government and the individuals need to rethink their lives in a more climate-friendly way. Solar panels are an efficient way to generate electricity, especially in states that receive a lot of sun. Electric cars can be purchased that run on the electricity generated by the panels, so the majority of cars will run on the power of the sun.

This sort of investment in climate is exactly what it will take to tackle this crisis.

Many scientists believe that a global acceptance of climatization-or the process by which climate change will affect various aspects of our lives- will be a huge factor in our likelihood of keeping global temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a goal that was laid out by the Paris Climate Accord six years ago, while also accomplishing Biden’s goal.

Despite all this, there are some who think that Biden’s goal is too ambitious and that his plan will not be able to achieve the goal of halving emissions by 2030.

In reality, however, the technology needed to complete his goal is readily available to implement into the global economy, and scientists have agreed that if all points of Biden’s plan are achieved, a 50 percent cut is possible.

According to a study by the Rhodium Group, a nonpartisan research provider, Biden’s plan to implement cleaner energy into the economy could reduce U.S. carbon emissions by as much as 76 percent in the next decade, and would cut nitrogen oxides

by 62 percent in the next 5 years.

These cuts would achieve Biden’s goal and would take the U.S. significantly closer to attaining the Nationally Determined Contribution(NDC) they laid out in the Paris Agreement.

Biden’s goal to halve emissions comes at the most crucial period of time our world has ever experienced with regard to the future of our planet.

The decisions that we make to either address or disregard climate change will have significant repercussions.

And so, while some people may believe that acting on Biden’s goal is unrealistic, the truth is that we do not have much time left, and there is no other option available. The only thing we can do right now is try.

Act now, and the worse effects of climate change may be avoided. Disregard the issue, and ecosystems and lives across the globe will crumble to pieces.

Our planet is desperately calling for help. We cannot ignore its cries any longer.

art by Sophie Rosenblum

FEATURE

june 4, 2021

A5 bird’s eye view

Thrift Shopping: Shaping Styles Claire Ratzer, Sofia Quisling and Lola Newlander STAFF WRITERS & FEATURE EDITOR

On a cloudy afternoon, Kathryn Reese (9) walked into her local Goodwill.

As she was browsing through the many different pieces of clothing, across the aisle she spotted a hint of her favorite wash of blue denim. She immediately made a beeline across the linoleum floor and snatched the piece before anyone else could, clutching the cloth in her arms like a pirate would hold treasure.

Thrifting has been a popular way to shop for decades, dating back to the 1920s, when the first second-hand stores were established. However, its popularity has recently skyrocketed. This newly heightened popularity is said to have stemmed from Generation Z’s interest in vintage and retro fashion.

“We mainly get teens and young adults, like ages 15 to 26 in our shop,” Macy Rodriguez, the manager of the Goodwill thrift shop in Anaheim, California, said. “We have not seen a large increase in business simply due to COVID; it has just been increasing on its own over the past couple of years.”

Social media platforms, such as TikTok and YouTube, have also influenced the increased business at thrift stores because popular influencers often sport

their latest thrifted attire and display their thrift finds in clothing hauls.

“I first got into thrifting after Emma Chamberlain did her first thrifting video, and I have been obsessed with it ever since,” Sydney Parker (9) said.

M o r e over, retro fashion has been in style for a few years now, so thrifters often look for old or used T-shirts, handbags, sweaters and shoes.

Thrifting has brought trends rang- Photo Courtesy of Rasa Nyce ing from the 1970s to the early 2000s back in style.

“I usually go to look at the jackets and crewneck sweaters and accessories and bags first, and then I look for retro graphic tees,” Parker said.

Thrift stores are often very

large and have a vast inventory, so finding something unique and fashionable is rarely difficult.

“I’ve thrifted the majority of my closet, and it’s allowed me to have an eclectic wardrobe,” Reese said. “For example, I found my favorite jean jacket from a thrift store, which was different from buying it firsthand b e c a u s e it was all worn-in and oversized.

It’s a corner piece in my wardrobe now, and it’s all thanks to thrifting.”

This magical quality that sets thrift stores apart from buying firsthand is not unfamiliar to Rasa Nyce (9), an avid second-hand shopper.

“I went to Flashbacks, a local thrift store, and found a Banana Republic

blue sweater for $8.99, and I imagine it should’ve cost a lot more than that. It goes with everything, and I wear it all the time,” Nyce said. “I can’t help but think I may never have seen it had I come a day later. I guess that’s the fun and game of thrifting.”

In addition to allowing shoppers the opportunity to develop a completely personal style, it can also affect other aspects of one’s tastes too.

“A couple of years ago, I went to a Goodwill, and I found a shirt with a super awesome graphic. At the time, I didn’t know it was a limited-edition Mac Miller shirt,” Nyce said. “Over the years, though, I’ve actually gotten into Mac Miller and his music, and I’m really glad I have the shirt now.”

Thrifting brings a different perspective to how we, as consumers, approach shopping. Replacing the ever-changing stream of fast fashion products, thrift shopping provides a method of cultivating one’s style that not only is timeless, but also effortlessly unique.

Walking out the door that day, new treasures in hand, Reese, like countless others, was excited to expand her fashion horizons through the art of thrifting.

Independent bookstores fight for survival Natalia Mochernak EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

On the corner of Girard and Silverado, where the air is tinged with salt and the sky a crystal blue, sits a place where a colossal whale swallows ships, a blonde girl pursues a talking rabbit and a little boy plants roses on an asteroid. A bookstore.

Warwick’s bookstore has provided the La Jolla community with continuity and culture for more than a century; its 1896 year of establishment crowning it as the oldest family-owned and operated bookstore in the United States. In an era of digitization, Warwick’s is an enduring haven for bibliophiles and creatives alike.

“People have shopped here for years, it feels like home when they come in,” Adrian Newell, Warwick’s head book buyer of 20 years, said.

McLean Smith (10) is one of those people. Adrian Newell “I remem- WARWICK’S HEAD BOOK-BUYER ber when I was younger I loved walking around between the bookshelves and [it] would feel almost magical to have all of the books around me,” Smith said.

While shopping online may be convenient, the experience of buying books from local bookstores cannot be replicated.

“With an independent bookstore you are interacting with people who really love books,” Newell said. “We read the books, we talk about the books.

Books are not just a product to us, they are our life. When you shop, for example, at Amazon, they sell tons of other products, and they even deprioritized books during the lockdown because they weren’t deemed essential. I don’t think an independent bookstore would ever think books were not essential.”

At Warwick’s, each book is thoughtfully selected with the buyer in mind.

Interacting with the shopper and discovering their interests is a key prin-

ciple at the store. Unlike Warwick’s, big retailers do not always pay as close attention to which books will bring value to their immediate community.

Just a twenty minute drive north from Warwick’s brings you to another local bookstore nestled in the Del Mar Highlands Town Center: DIESEL, A Bookstore. DIESEL has been in business since 1989, with its first location in the Bay Area. “We have a very strong focus on the reader and the bookseller,” Co-owner, John Evans said. Evans and co-owner Alison Reid value their buyers and employees over profit.

Shopping for books online takes away potential benefits for small businesses like DIESEL in the local community.

However, customers are also missing out on a significant discovery process.

“Often people say to me, ‘How can you have more in this small store than what I can find in Barnes & Noble?’,” Evans said. “It’s because we’re thinking of you when we select it. You may or may not find the book you were looking for, but you can find all of these other books you didn’t even know existed.”

Further up the coast, located across the street from the pastel painted Carlsbad Village Plaza, is a gem of a bookstore called Farenheit (sic) 451 Books. After selling his bookstore on Julian’s Main Street to another owner 14 years ago, owner P.J. Phillips opened Farenheit 451, a store specializing in used books.

The books at Farenheit 451 have their own stories and characters that an online book could not even begin to compare to. When a buyer walks into the store, they will get something unique.

What all independently owned bookstores in San Diego have in common is that they contain books for all mo-

Books are not a product to they are our

just us, life.

ments of life, including the hardships that may resonate with many people.

“A bookstore is very unlike any other kind of retail,” Evans said. “There’s something for you no matter what you need, which is sometimes more.”

There is no question that bookstores are a fundamental part of a community, but unfortunately, their future is unknown. Indie bookstores have been fighting to stay afloat long before the pandemic. Big chains like Barnes & Noble and Crown Books were the first hurdle for small bookstores, and when Amazon was founded in 1995, it meant sudden death for chains and local bookstores alike.

“Right now, the biggest competitor to independent bookstores is COVID,” Evans said. “It’s making it difficult for people to browse, which is key to full-bodily and emotionally finding the right book for you.”

COVID-19 has placed a huge burden on local bookstores, prompting DIESEL and Farenheit 451 to create crowdfunding initiatives so that they can keep their stores running. Even farther in the future is a worry that troubles every bookseller: the eventual obsolescence of printed books.

“I worry about the future of literary culture,” Newell said. “I think there’s a whole generation of young people who haven’t grown up with that sense that books are fundamental.”

Although most of Gen Z is Photo by Rasa Nyce

more interested in the newest Netflix series or learning a TikTok dance, there are still those who appreciate the art and practice of reading.

“There’s a whole other world inside books,” self-proclaimed bookworm Adriana Hazlett (9) said. “I love being sucked into the emotions of characters and into their own adventures.”

Even with the convenience of e-books and audio books, print is still appreciated.

“People still want that tactile experience you get from a real book,” Newell said. “When you smell the pages, when you open a book for the first time, there’s just something very satisfying. It really engages other senses other than auditory.”

Bookstores are vital to local communities like San Diego in many ways, from the people to the knowledge to the sense of home.

For online or in store purchases, please consider buying from local bookstores directly. Now, more than ever, it is paramount for readers and the community to lend independent bookstore owners and employees both financial and emotional support.

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bird’s eye view

Letter writing spreads good Kathryn Reese

OPINION EDITOR

Most people never see their pen pals in person due to distance, yet Jessica Kutz can’t meet her’s because they are all behind bars. Kutz, a student at Cornell University, writes to prison inmates in her spare time.

“I got my penpals off of writeaprisoner.com. In order to look at the different profiles you have to sign up first and verify that you are over the age of 18,” Kutz said. “But once you do that you can look at the different profiles and pick someone you want to write to.”

Kutz shares her writing escapades with her audience of 127,800 followers on TikTok. The topic of penpalling with inmates has blown up on the app, and the #writeaprisoner hashtag has over 139 million views. Many of Kutz’s TikToks have gone viral, gaining 6.2 million total likes. In an interview with I-D Vice, a magazine dedicated to fashion, music, art and youth culture, she shared why she does it.

“I feel it’s important to show this side on my TikToks. Supporting prison education is one way to support successful rehabilitation and reintegration,” she said. “I like to stress the importance of proper rehabilitation.”

Kutz is accustomed to warnings and concerns of the inmates’ dangers from her TikTok followers, yet she remains calm.

“Of course there’s always risk involved, but there are several factors as to why I’m not super concerned,” Kutz said. “When I pick to write to someone, I always research them and their crimes first. Also, I’m there as their friend to support them, and I like to think I make a positive difference. So hopefully they won’t want to murder me one day, but of course you never know.”

Aspiring to work in a penitentia-

ry after graduating, she began writing financial crisis that many people are goto inmates to learn about prison life. ing through, so I think it’s just nice to “I reached out to people who are fursee that we could help out somehow.” thering their education within prison, so Nguyen is the leader of Letters to I can learn about that more,” she said.

Strangers, a penpalling club at TPHS, When finding individuals, Kutz told dedicated to helping people through them she wanted to kindness on paper. aid in their studies.

“We like to In only 11 months show a personof penpalling, she al view on menassisted an inmate tal illness and get into college. your own story, “I was helping so that’s what we him with editdo with our letter ing essays, doing writing,” Nguyen research, giving said. “We choose advice, stuff like various organizathat. After he was tions to write to, released, he got sharing personal into his top-choice stories of hardcollege,” Kutz said. ship to inspire “We still keep in others to share touch. I’m realtheir own stories.” ly happy that I Nguyen started could help him the club in Sepand that we’ve tember 2020, and stayed friends.” since then, the Ashton Nguyclub’s 45 memPhoto by Kathryn Reese en (11) also enbers have sent joys using letter over 250 heartfelt writing as a force for good. Only a few letters to foster homes, hospitals and months ago, she stepped into Tomhomeless shelters all over San Diego. mie’s Place, a women’s shelter for “It’s a way to bring people togethteen parents, carrying a bundle of leter because during this time, you feel ters that could save someone’s life. so disconnected,” Nguyen said. “I Shoes firmly planted on the dark think there’s something so special carpet, she listened to a worker tell about receiving a card or a letter.” her about the 10 families there, whose The women of Tommie’s Place defilives had been anything but stable. nitely knew that special feeling that “[The women] were either kicked out day–a lot of them having been cut off from of their houses for being pregnant or the people that were previously in their were domestically abused,” Nguyen said. lives. According to Nguyen, the women “Especially during COVID, the homeless were “just happy to have a friend again.” rate has gotten so much worse due to the Other students share Nguyen’s pas-

sion for penpalling. Ashley Do (9) is a member of the Letters to Seniors club, a group similar to Nguyen’s, which brings senior citizens connection to the outside world through writing.

“I love writing letters and talking about my experiences and what I’ve been up to,” Do said. “Letters have such meaning. If it’s handwritten especially, you put in that time and effort.”

This effort is familiar to Kutz, whose incarcerated companions are never hesitant to spoil her as much as they can.

“I’ve received a lot of art and gifts from my friends. One paid a craftsman two packs of ramen and one can of baked beans to make me a festive card,” Kutz said. “Also, a few months ago, another penpal drew me a custom designed cassette jacket to go along with the mixtape he made me. I love it so much. He even wrote in his letter, ‘Criminals can like Lorde.’”

These extra gifts are increasingly prevalent in the penpalling scene.

Yet Mia Ng, a young penpalling influencer from Singapore with correspondences all over the world, holds that, though the extras are sweet, the “genuine connection” made through writing is what keeps her at it every day.

“It just makes me smile, knowing that someone, some time ago, sat down and poured their heart into a piece of paper. It’s just really special. We get to learn about each other slowly and over the course of time, not needing to rush to any biased conclusions about one another,” Ng said.

Whether it be for teen mothers, prison inmates or strangers across the globe, Do, Nguyen, Ng and Kutz have all found new ways to connect and help others through this fading art form.

The “Seaspiracy” beneath the ocean Rasa Nyce

PHOTO EDITOR

Without the ocean, our world is nothing. It makes up around 70% of our earth. Its vast biodiversity and variety of marine flora and fauna. All of those ecosystems and species in the ocean matter more than many understand, without these vital organisms, the life of the ocean would slowly die. When the ocean loses its life, we lose our lives.

The Netflix documentary “Seaspiracy,” directed by Ali Tabrizi and produced

by Kip Anderson, has raised many questions about the truth behind fishing and consuming fish on a global scale.

Their questions dive beneath the surface and discuss topics such as commercial fishing and seafood consumption, cultural norms when it comes to sea life, pollution in the oceans and the overall environmental footprints these things leave on the ocean. As addressed in the title, this documentary explains the many conspiracies that threaten our oceans, such as corporations hiding behind blue-washed propaganda that claims to help in sustaining the health of the oceans. Bluewashing something means to promote a product by falsely claiming that it is healthy for the ocean.

In particular, the narrator of “Seaspira-

cy” uncovers the truth about the nonexlarger problem that the oceans face in istent protections of marine life, involvregards to misconduct and corruption. ing commercial fishing, the marine park The cinematography is sublime, and industries, whaling, overfishing, shark the colors used alongside the serious finning industry, bycatch, trawling, message of the film resonated deeply farmed fish and slavery at sea. Tabrizi’s with me. The vivid and bright colors were childhood love of the ocean was what used to show how beautiful the ocean is, first motivated him to make the film yet also how distinct and clear-cut the along with whales beginning to wash problems are. Interactive infographics up on the beach and visuals are also used to with plastic inside keep the audience engaged. of their stomachs There’s no such thing as a This film is not over-comall around the world sustainable fishery. There’s plicated to the point where around the time he . it’s too hard to follow along The investiga- not enough fish to justify that. or understand the mestive 90-minute ex- Captain Paul Watson sage. The documentary is pose film was re- FOUNDER OF THE SEA SHEPHERD also filmed in a way that CONSERVATION SOCIETY leased on March keeps the audience on the 30, 2021, and it edge of their seats and inshortly thereafter made it to Netflix’s volved throughout the course of the film.

“Top 10 in the U.S. Today” category.

Tabrizi and his team filmed the The soundtrack helps in portraying documentary in various locations, a very vivid visual of what is to come, such as Japan, China, Belgium, the especially at the ending. Without giving United Kingdom, Somalia, Liberia, much away, the movie ends in a somber Scotland, Thailand and Denmark. tone as Tabrizi reflects on the informaTabrizi interviews individuals from tion he has uncovered. He is stunned both sides of the fishing debate, creat what originally started out to be the ating a balanced look at this issue. uncovering of a smaller issue that ended “There’s no such thing as a sustainup turning into the discovery of a much able fishery. There’s not enough fish

to justify that. Everything is now sustainable. It’s not sustainable. Just a marketing phrase, that’s all,” Captain Paul Watson, a conservationist and activist, said in the documentary. Watson is also the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a marine conservation activism group that works to stop illegal activity regarding the sea.

As a pescatarian from birth, I never used to think about where my seafood came from and what I was actually consuming. My eyes were opened up to a new world, and I, personally, will be better at sourcing my seafood; although, this film makes one wonder whether there are any sustainable companies to source seafood from. The filmmakers wanted to show the global scale and impact that is currently happening to our seas.

This film simultaneously horrified and captivated me. During each graphic scene, I wanted to turn the movie off, but I needed to know why these companies and industries were doing what they were doing: covering up the unsustainable acts taking place.

Tabrizi’s powerful message illustrates that the problems in the fishing industry are ocean deep.

ENTERTAINMENT

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News

june 4, 2021

Internet rap/pop

Similar to rap and pop Genre artists: MCVirgins, Wilbur Soot Songs we suggest: Your New Boyfriend” (Wilbur Soot) “A Love Letter to 2010” (MCVirgins)

Bird’s Eye View Pg.3 bird’s eye view A7

Electropop

Music is ever-evolving.

Here are our picks for the prominent, up-and-coming musical genres that have exploded over the past year – especially with younger generations.

Similar to pop, electronic Genre artists: Lemon Demon, MGMT Songs we suggest: “No Eyed Girl” (Lemon Demon) “Little Dark Age” (MGMT)

Internet rap and pop as a genre consists of songs that often make use of comedy or satire. Songs of the genre are upbeat and have a strong rhythm, making them fun and catchy to listen to. A lot of internet rap/pop songs have many pop culture references, usually things like anime or movies. Wilbur Soot’s music is relatable to many people, as he sings about his heartbreaks and crushes, but he does it with satirical flair. MCVirgin songs, such as “Anime Thighs” and “Trap Anthem,” got very popular on TikTok this year with over 23,500 videos made to their music. Although many people knew Soot’s music before quarantine, he also blew up on TikTok with the new release of his song “Your New Boyfriend,” on December 11, 2020. There are now around 299,000 videos made to the song on the app.

Electropop is a hybrid of electronic music and pop music, combining static undertones and heavy bass with rhythmic beats and pop vocals. Even before quarantine started, this genre was well known because of artists like Lemon Demon, MGMT and others. Lemon Demon’s songs, “The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny” and “No Eyed Girl,” have been popular for quite some time.

However, the popularity of this genre grew significantly over the past year because of social media apps, like TikTok. MGMT and electropop as a whole amassed new popularity over this past year with their song “Little Dark Age,” as it was trending on TikTok for almost three months. As a result, Lemon Demon and many other electropop artists continue to grow their audiences every day

Indie Folk

Art Pop

Indie folk is an subgenre of two older branch genres, which found new audiences this past year with some of its more popsounding artists. This genre is beautiful, blending many classic acoustic folk music elements with newer indie and pop elements.

New artists have skyrocketed in popularity over the past few months, such as Phoebe Bridgers and Adrianne Lenker. Lenker released a stunning album titled “Songs” in 2020, which focuses on dealing with grief and heartache. The album engages listeners, allowing them to experience the same fervor and intensity Lenker felt as she wrote “Songs”. In 2020, Phoebe Bridgers released her most popular album yet, “Punisher,” with the songs “Kyoto” and “Garden Song” taking the streaming lead.

By blending genres that have existed before with individual style, artistic vision and ideologies, art pop is often categorized by its unique, changing sound. Art pop is flexible with its sound and paired with its pop influences. Fiona Apple, for example, is an artist who has been around since the 1990s. She released the album “Fetch the Botch Cutters” in 2020, which has been praised by the likes of Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. Like much of art pop, the album exploring ideas of self-awareness, solidarity and resilience. Jacob Collier is another influential artist who works with different musical compositions and artists on his albums “Djessie Vol. 1,” “Djessie Vol. 2,” “Djessie Vol. 3” and his most recent single, “The Sun is in Your Eyes.”

Similar to folk, indie, acoustic Genre artists: Adrianne Lenker, Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers Songs we suggest: “Indygar” (Adrianne Lenker), “AUTAC” (Bon Iver), “Garden Song” (Phoebe Bridgers)

Similar to pop, experimental Genre artists: Fiona Apple, Jacob Collier, Charlie Burg Songs we suggest: “Under the Table” (Fiona Apple), Lua (Jacob Collier [Feat. MARO])

by Naomi Schneider and Regan Guirguis

Gen Z Popular Music Over Quarantine McLean Smith & Holly Weiss

# 1 2 3 4 5

Savage Megan Thee Stallion

Levitating Dua Lipa

Blinding Lights The Weeknd

drivers license Olivia Rodrigo

Peaches Justin Bieber

March 2020

Oct. 2020

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April 2021

A8

bird’s eye view

SPORTS

june 4, 2021

TPHS co-ed tennis places second at San Diego CIFs Robert Freedman STAFF WRITER

The TPHS varsity tennis placed second in this year’s team CIF championships. The team continued to sweat and work through a season that was under threat of cancellation due to COVID-19.

The TPHS girls tennis team had historically dominated the league for almost 30 years. This year, the two teams joined when the girls moved their fall season to the spring resulting in a co-ed team. Another change to the team was that mixed doubles, a subtype of the sport where the team of two has one male and one female, was added to the competition. Don Chu, the head coach of the tennis team, found that some players performed much better in mixed doubles than expected.

“Oftentimes, my best mixed players are not the ones that I would say are my best overall players,” Chu said. “For example, my fifth highest ranked player tends to perform as a member of one of my best mixed teams.”

Some of the co-captains found practices more difficult to coordinate. Maxim Pogorelov (12), a co-captain, explained that the large number of team members made it harder to get productive practices in for the whole team.

“We have 34 players in total that need practice on our seven courts,” Pogorelov said. “We end up getting little to no practice for our singles players because it is so inefficient for a whole court to be occupied by just two people.”

Although there were fewer quality

practices, the team managed to make it to the finals, beating The Bishops School in the semifinals by a landslide. Rebecca Kong (9) and Natalia Mochernak (9) both played important roles by making sure the team pulled ahead from the start, winning two out of the three girls singles matches. Kong and Pogorelov clinched the match during mixed doubles when one of their opponents sprained her ankle.

In the finals, TPHS faced Canyon Crest Academy, the first seed. The TPHS team ended up losing to CCA before mixed doubles started. Co-captain Alex Stafford (12), predicted if TPHS played well in States, they could beat CCA, but it was not to be.

“I am the first singles player, and every time I play against their first singles player, it ends up going to a tiebreaker,” Stafford said. “In league CIFs I lost the tiebreaker,” Stafford said.

TPHS boys lost to Harvard-Westlake of Los Angeles in the first round of States on June 2. The girls team lost to Palos Verdes Peninsula High School in the first round.

The match format for States shifted from three singles and three doubles matches to four singles and three doubles.

The boys tennis team was seeded first in the qualifying rounds, making their way into the main draw with a sweeping win over Del Norte High School. The TPHS girls team was seeded second in their draw, beating Westview High School to secure a spot in the state championships.

This year, the scoring system was

different as well. Since the team is coed, there are three boys and girls singles, three boys and girls doubles, and five mixed doubles matches. In previous years, there were simply three singles matches and three doubles matches.

In addition to fundamental changes in the scoring system between schools this year, there are more social gatherings among the players.

“Usually, the team would go out around two times a month,” Stafford said.

“Now, we tend to celebrate more often after big wins.”

Although team spirit has increased, it seems the contest for state championships has become much tighter.

“For the last five years, our team was winning every single CIF championship and sometimes states,” former member of the team Zach Brumm (‘19) said, commenting on how the standing of the tennis team has dropped. “Now, we lost to CCA in the finals of league CIFs, which was really surprising for me.”

The drop in the level of the boys tennis team may be due to their overload of upperclassmen in the previous few years.

“Two years ago, when my team won states, we had six seniors as our six top players,” Stafford said. “This year, myself and the other co-captain are the only seniors on the team.”

Meanwhile, the girls team’s starting lineup consists of mostly freshmen. Chu, the girls’ coach for three years prior to being the co-ed coach, recognized the potential of the young team.

“Four out of five of our top girls are

freshmen,” Chu said before the State matches. “These young athletes have the potential to bring the girls team to one of their only state championships in a long while.”

The state championships were held from June 1 to June 5 at various locations in Southern California. The main draw consisted of eight teams from all over the state, yet two schools from the San Dieguito Union High School District hold spots in both the boys and girls draw.

This year’s tennis season has brought many changes. The team became co-ed, and the boys team lost its streak of five CIF wins. The TPHS girls team has an even more storied history. They won the CIF San Diego Section championship for 28 years running from 1989 to 2017, and from 2014-2017 the girls team did not lose to a local high school team.

Photo courtesy of Natalia Mochernak

Sexism rampant in pro and high school sports Adriana Hazlett

COPY EDITOR

Stepping into the sun, Regan Guirguis (10) took her place at the plate. The bat held tightly in her palms and her feet standing sure in the red dust, her eyes narrowed in on the ball in the pitcher’s hand.

From out on the field, a boy’s voice called, “Girl on the team!” Snickers from the others followed.

But Guirguis didn’t look at them. She was proud to be the first girl on her middle school’s baseball team.

Would anyone have taunted Guirguis if she were a boy? Perhaps not. But there are many differences between being a boy and a girl in the world of sports.

One of these differences is the standards especially in terms of a woman’s appearance.

“It’s a tennis CIF rule that if you’re playing in a match, girls on the same team all have to wear the same uniform.

But I’ve been in matches where guys weren’t all wearing the same uniform, and they were still allowed to play,” Natalia Mochernak (9) said.

The focus on female athletes’ appearance is so strong that the Women’s National Basketball Association holds makeup seminars for players, so it’s easier for them to get scholarship deals, according to The Conversation.

“Instead of being respectful of the athlete and the athlete’s talents, women are viewed externally as like, ‘Oh, look at her, she looks like a guy’ or ‘Look at her body,’” Pamela Kalinoski, a girls club soccer coach, said.

Although the boys on Guirguis’s baseball team were not concerned with her appearance, discrimination still existed in a more subtle form.

“Another guy could have been in the outfield and missed a catch and totally bombed the entire play, and they wouldn’t have said anything about it, but it wasn’t like that for me. It’s like this constant need to have to prove that you are at their level,” Guirguis said.

Despite the challenges she endured, Guirguis continued to love baseball. Her dream was to one day become the first female baseball player.

“It was my dream job, but like, of course, that was never going to happen,” Guirguis said. “Even if I was good enough, even if I worked hard enough and was able to try to get there, I don’t think I would’ve made it.”

It’s understandable why young female athletes like Guirguis are so discouraged about getting to the professional level when one looks at the large pay and funding gap between women’s and men’s sports teams.

For instance, Delanie Gourley, a star pitcher in the National Pro Fastpitch softball league, said on Twitter that she makes less than a New York Yankees bat boy. Additionally, the total prize money for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup was $30 million, whereas the collective prize money for the men’s World Cup was $400 million, even though the total viewership on Fox’s streaming services for the Women’s World Cup peaked at around 20 million, “making it the most-watched soccer match on English-language television in the United States,” according to Fox Sports.

The pay gap between male and female athletes has not been Gurgius’s only frustration while playing baseball.

“I’ve had coaches – whether or not it’s for my best interest – tell me, ‘You’re good at baseball, but you’d be even better at softball,’ which was discouraging at the

time because I loved playing baseball,” Guirguis said.

But eventually, in ninth grade, Guirguis did switch to softball. Today, she loves the sport just as much as baseball and the community even more so.

“It’s not at all a quiet sport. I think it’s definitely something that should be watched more. I think it should be aired on ESPN or streaming services like that,” Guirguis said.

All female sports get extremely little representation in the media. Despite the fact that women make up 40% of all sports participants, they receive only 4% of media coverage, according to a study done at the University of Minnesota.

People often attribute this discrepancy to the idea that women’s sports are less entertaining to watch. However, statistics show that a large number of people do enjoy following women’s sports. Across eight key markets in the world, 84% of sports fans are also interested in female sports, of which 51% are male and 49% are female, according to Nielsen Sports.

The media coverage of women’s athletics would be higher if it were actually due to interest levels, considering female sports attract a substantial, gender-balanced audience.

“The more exposure you can provide, so that you can create heroes, idols and mentors for girls to look up to, the better,” Kalinoski said.

An integral mentor in Guirguis’s life was her middle school baseball coach.

“He didn’t ‘baby’ me, but he also definitely spent more time with me in particular, not because I’m a girl and he thought I was worse but because he really wanted to watch me grow,” Guriguis said.

People like Guirguis’s coach, who just want athletes to succeed regardless of gender are the ones chiping away at the

sexism in sports.

What had the most profound effect on equality for women’s sports in the U.S. is the passage of Title IX, a federal civil rights law, which ensures that females and males are treated equally in any government-funded education program.

According to a College Language Association Journal report, the ratio of male to female athletes in high school athletics before Title IX was 12-to-1. Today, female participation in high school sports has increased by 1,057%.

“I think that [the sexism is] all just being exposed, whereas ten years ago, no one wanted to be the person to bring up all the mistreatment,” Kalinoski said.

Guirguis is grateful for her baseball experience. Even with all the negatives, it taught her not to care what people say about her, in any aspect of her life.

“There have been times that I wanted to quit baseball,” Guirguis said. “But I didn’t, and I’m happy I didn’t because it taught me that you can’t let other people ruin something that makes you happy.”

Representation in high school, college and pro sports is key to breaking the cycle of sexism against girls and women.

Photo courtesy of Regan Guirguis