Falconer October 2020 Issue

Vol. 46, Issue 1, 22 pages

Friday, October 23, 2020

Going the

Distance DISTANCE LEARNING on A3

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SDUHSD District Board approves purchase of 13,300 Chromebooks Neha Pubbi

NEWS EDITOR

On Aug. 18, the San Dieguito Union High School District Board voted 3-2 to establish the district as 1:1, meaning all students will be provided an educational device when they enter as freshmen that will be theirs to keep. The purchase of 13,3000 Google Chromebooks will cost the district $5.2 million.

The Chromebooks were purchased using state and federal funds distributed to the school due to the pandemic.

TPHS received a total of $6.3 million to spend, with a contingency that $5.1 million must be used by Dec. 2020.

The Chromebooks are expected to arrive by late October.

The purchase sparked tension on the SDUHSD board and in the community. At the board meeting, critics argued that the funds

could be better spent, such as on reopening the school.

“I understand that this is a politically correct move, but...it’s a huge waste of money,” Andrew Onozuka (12) said. “We should get Chromebooks for students who don’t have access to technology, but we didn’t need 13,300.

TPHS administrators believe the funds were appropriately spent and could not have gone toward reopening.

“I understand the thinking that we could have spent the money to reopen schools,” TPHS Principal Rob Coppo said. “But, it’s too complex to [fully] reopen the schools.

Money wouldn’t have helped, as that’s not the issue.”

Coppo supports the board’s decision and appreciates its benefits.

“I had advocated for the 1:1 district before,” Coppo said. “Let’s give

everybody the same tools so we know it’s all working the same for everybody.”

Many teachers also support the decision and plan to use the new technology in instruction.

“I think it’s the right thing to do for student equity,” science teacher MaryAnn Rall said. “It’s a very powerful tool for future use in the classroom. We’ll be able to control what windows students are using and document the work that they’re doing or not doing.”

TPHS students recognize the important

role technology plays in their learning.

“I think that the main priority is just ensuring that everybody’s able to be a part of distance learning,” Carly Fiskness (12) said.

The 1:1 concept aims to alleviate the effects on education of families’ differing socioeconomic situations.

“I’ve had several families come to me with concerns about a lack of technology,” Coppo said.

“This decision makes sure that everybody’s got proper access. It creates a sense of unity when we’re all using the same device.”

ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Although the SDUHSD school board voted on Sept. 17 to continue the distance learning model through the second quarter, at the Oct. 14 board meeting, that decision changed.

TPHS students may return to campus one day a week

by Nov. 16, increasing to a possible 2 days a week by Dec. 7.

Special education students in the Transitional Academic Program returned to school first, followed

by English language learners. Both groups are considered most

negatively impacted by distance learning.

After the Oct. 14 meeting, the option of on-campus instruction was expanded to all students, according to an email to district families from Superintendent Robert Haley, which also said “all certificated teachers [are directed by the board to] return to work on campus by Thursday, October 29, 2020.”

Prior to that directive, teachers could opt for at-home or on-campus distance instruction, For those who return to campus, the reopening plan calls for intensified cleaning of frequently-touched surfaces and mandated

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Q&A with SDUHSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Haley Srishti Thapar and Helene Gao

Q: Did the removal of San Diego Co. from the state COVID-19 watchlist impac or sway the district’s decision on reopening?

A: It really did not, in a sense, change much of what we were doing. We were already operating under the board action taken on July 30, and already operating under this phased approach. There are limitations as to how many students we can have on campus at any one time. There are limitations to how many programs we can bring back. We’re really focused on safety and on our most vulnerable population that we believe is special education and students that needed some oneon-one counseling and assessment. That was where we started, but we will continue to add more. So in a sense, September 1 really did not have much of an impact on us...it was not critical for us. So, we are doing what we believe will give the best opportunity to maintain that basic structure that students need and the connection to campus that students need as we move forward.

Q: What is the policy if a student or a staff member becomes sick? Will we close again if that happens?

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SDUHSD reopening plan changes amid public approval and protest Katie Flint

october 23, 2020

mask-wearing for all students, staff and visitors.

TPHS also plans to slowly bring athletics back.

According to the Sept.

TPHS 18 newsletter, the TPHS Foundation and athletic teams are working together “to create safety procedures and protocols to help bring student-athletes back to campus in small sports cohorts.”

To abide by the CIF by-laws prohibiting out-of-season schoolsponsored teams from meeting on campus, CIF extended summer training until the beginning of season one, which will start in midDecember with coed practices.

Sports like field hockey and cross country will be back on campus soon with conditioning activities run as clinics through the TPHS Foundation.

Principal Rob Coppo is also working hard to restore campus

activities, like outdoor theater and dance.

Phased reopening was met with opposition from parents and students who want to fully open TPHS immediately and some staff members who think it is unsafe to return to school, especially with COVID-19 cases ticking higher again.

Those opposed rallied at TPHS on Aug. 23 for an earlier reopening and on Sept. 24 at the SDUHSD District Office in Encinitas.

Coppo believes all viewpoints are important.

“We exist because of support from our community through tax dollars and their volunteerism, so I 100% support the community’s desire to have their voices heard on this,” Coppo said. “My primary message would be that, ultimately, we all share the same goal: to get students back on campus as safely as possible.”

A: So, that is a strict mandate. We are required to test 25% of our staff every two weeks so roughly 50% every month. That mandate goes for all public and private schools in San Diego Co. and in California. If anyone tests positive, at a minimum, it triggers a 14day quarantine for that person and any other person that may have had close contact. If you get to 5% of a classroom or school, then the entire school has to be closed. And before it can reopen you have to go through a new reopening process with the county.

Q: Will students be able to choose between distance or in-person instruction?

A: Even if we had unlimited money, there are not unlimited teachers. TPHS has, almost unquestionably, the most complex master schedule in the country, and it does not matter if we are talking private schools or public schools. We offer an incredible diversity of choices and curriculum for our students. We can’t replicate both in the distanced world and in a physically present format, it’s not possible. I’ve heard a lot of people talking about blending it, but successfully blending it over time. I haven’t seen that.

Q: Is there any pressure from parents and/or staff either to return to campus or to continue distance learning, and how do those pressure impact your decisionmaking?

A: Yeah, I’m looking down on an email that lets me know about a protest tomorrow. There is not much I can do. I mean we could protest all day long but I can not violate the public health order. ... I am well aware of all of the diversity of opinion. Within the span of seconds, I can get a lengthy, impassioned email about how everything we are doing is the right thing to keep our community safe, followed by another lengthy impassioned email saying everything we’re doing is wrong and kids should just go back to school. We know it is frustrating, and we all have our own personal opinions, and often I’m put on the spot, as representing the entire district, to share my personal opinion, while I’m reluctant to do that because ultimately my personal opinion is not what counts it is what is the public health order, what is the state telling us we need to do and what advice, am I giving our school? That is what matters.

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TPHS adapts distance learning for new school year Amy Ge and Jacob Zhang FEATURE EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER

The 2020 TPHS school year kicked off on Aug. 25, when students, teachers and parents were greeted with a new distance learning curriculum. Following the school’s sudden closure on March 13, students completed assignments and tests on Google Classroom, while teachers taught live through Google Meet or posted pre-recorded videos.

Administrators spent the summer developing a plan to replace the underdeveloped spring 2020 distance learning format.

“In the spring, [COVID-19] came very suddenly ... and we weren’t ready,” chemistry teacher Michael Rall said.

But TPHS teachers hope that with a revised distance learning model, they can provide the same quality of education as in-person learning while maintaining the well-being of students.

The school day currently begins an hour later, at 8:40 a.m. and includes

20-minute breaks between classes to give students a break from their screens. Attendance is now strictly monitored, and daily class meetings are mandatory. Each period is also split into synchronous and asynchronous learning time.

“I feel like [asynchronous time] resembles a sense of normalcy as if we are back in school,” Jerry Wu (10) said.

TPHS also implemented student connection days, called Wellness Wednesdays, in the weekly schedule.

“The point of it is to give ... our students some non-academic time and get access to things to help them make sense of this ever-increasing chaotic world,” Principal Robert Coppo said.

Many teachers altered their grading policies to make online learning fair to all students. For example, English teacher Lisa Callender made her class a “no-fail process” to discourage dishonesty.

“I hope that students are more willing to be wrong, and more willing

XINJIANG

not to cheat, because they know it’s not distance learning, many see some high stakes,” Callender said. advantages to it.

Modifying curricula to fit distance “I think distance learning gives more learning proved especially difficult for flexibility for students, “ Johnavon Kim classes that require hands-on activities (11) said. “We get more rest, and we are or in-person interaction. However, even able to spend a lot of our time focused classes like AP Seminar, an almost on extracurriculars.” entirely discussion-based class, are SDUHSD is continuously making possible to replicate online with tools improvements to the online learning like the chatbox. format. For example, since there have “That beautiful little chat gives been several extensions added to [students] an opportunity...to show that Google Classroom, like breakout groups they’re interacting,” Callendar said. and automatic attendance.

Still, with months of preparation for online learning, teachers and RESPONSES students still face many Do you prefer in-person learning yes: 82% 18% to distance learning? technological issues.

Has your Google Meets ever glitched during school hours? yes: 91% 9% “I think the number Have your technology or WiFi ever one difficulty I see is yes: 98% glitched during school hours?

2% problems with internet Are you learning at the same yes: 87% 13% level online as you would connectivity, so that in-person? makes communication difficult,” Rall said.

Despite the difficulties surrounding infographic by neha pubbi/falconer

BELGIUM

More than a million Muslim people — mainly Uighurs and Kazahks — have been forcibly held in concentration camps for the past two years in Xinjiang, China, where they have been deprived of their cultures and religious practices. China claimed that these camps were “reeducation centers,” but evidence has proven that Muslims are being monitored, detained and beaten because of their religion.

Delphine Boël was recognized as Belgian Princess Delphine of Saxe-Coburg after two decades of royal scandal and a seven-year legal battle. Boël, a 52-year-old sculptor, first launched a lawsuit in 2013 claiming that former Belgian King Albert II had had an affair with her mother, resulting in her birth in 1968. After King Albert took a DNA test in 2018, he was finally identified as Boël’s father earlier this year.

Conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan were mostly resolved following the dissolution of the late Soviet Union.

On Sept. 27, Azerbaijan claimed Armenia shelled its positions, while Armenia claims an Azerbaijani offensive was unprovoked. Azerbaijan aims to acquire NagornoKarabakh, a region in Azerbaijan that has been controlled by the Armenian military due to its economic importance.

Turkey has closed its borders to Armenia.

After ravaging Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula on Oct. 7, Hurricane Delta moved toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. It was projected to be a Category 4 hurricane that would weaken to a Category 3 when it hit the coast. Louisiana’s governor declared a state of emergency. The winds traveled over 100 mph due to the narrow eye of the hurricane, causing structural damage and power outages in Louisiana, eastern Texas and southern Arkansas.

ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN

information from pbs, washington post, npr, cnn, new york times, bbc and the guardian

SOUTHEAST U.S.

words by srishti thapar, kevin song, dixie wallerius and matan morris

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october 23, 2020

Oracle and Walmart invest in TikTok Global deal Neha Pubbi and Kelsie Park

NEWS EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER

After months of bidding, American companies Oracle and Walmart will invest, as “trusted technology partners,” in TikTok Global, the new international company for the TikTok app, a videosharing social networking service. The company was created after a pair of executive orders from President Donald Trump threatened to ban the app in the U.S. The first, issued on Aug. 6, set a 45day deadline for an American company to purchase TikTok operations in the U.S. The second, issued the following week, extended the deadline to 90 days but required Chinese technology company ByteDance, the previous parent of TikTok, to delete any data from U.S. TikTok users.

TikTok has 800 million users worldwide, including 100 million in the U.S. Under the plan, Oracle will hold

12.5% of shares and Walmart will hold 7.5%; the remaining 80% will be owned

by ByteDance. To satisfy Trump’s executive order requiring an American company to purchase the app, the U.S. users’ data will now be protected under Oracle’s server.

Trump approved the deal and asked that the U.S. Treasury get partial payment for the transaction, but sources told the (London) Financial Times the deal will not include a cut for the U.S. government.

Oracle and Walmart claim that the transaction will create 25,000 jobs and generate $5 billion in U.S. tax revenue.

As part of the agreement allowing TikTok to remain in the U.S., TikTok Global will be an independent company with headquarters located in the U.S., as well as four Americans on its fiveperson board.

China released new restrictions

on the deal prohibiting the export of algorithm technology. TikTok uses this technology, but Walmart and Oracle claim that the agreement does not constitute a transfer of algorithm technology. Oracle will provide its server for U.S. consumer data.

Since Bytedance’s takeover of TikTok in 2017, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) has been investigating the app over concerns that user data could be accessed by the Chinese government.

These security concerns have caused countries to respond in a variety of ways: India has banned the app, while Australia is considering restricting it and Japan is negotiating the purchase of TikTok’s Japanese operations.

There has been speculation that Trump’s opposition to TikTok was based on a June 20 Trump rally in Tulsa, Okla.TikTokers posted videos

Differing Rates of Suspension by Ethnicity & Economic Status in SDUHSD

1.95%

African-American

3.58%

Two or more races

30.29%

encouraging buying tickets for the rally not not attending. Trump spokespeople said over a million tickets were sold, but roughly 6,200 people showed up, according to the Tulsa Fire Department.

TikTok is suing the Trump administration for not allowing it to respond to the national security concerns, contending that Trump’s actions were unconstitutional.

Overepresented by % Enrolled Underepresented by % Enrolled

0%

Pacific Islander

Socioeconomically Disadvantaged

0.65%

Native American

SUSPENSION NOTICE

59.61% White

27.03% Hispanic

1.63% 5.53%

Filipino

Asian

Information provided by the California Department of Education.

Statistical analysis by Jackson Huston (‘20)

infographic by jasmine criqui

Court rules UC schools cannot accept SAT or ACT Brandon Ramiro and Matan Morris

SPORTS EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER

Superior Court judge Brad Seligman ruled on Sept. 1 that the University of California system can no longer consider SAT or ACT scores when looking at applications. The decision came after the new UC admissions policy was adopted on May 21, which

photo by jessica yu/falconer

eliminated SAT or ACT scores as a requirement on UC applications.

“The current COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in restrictions in the availability of test sites,” Seligman said in his ruling. “While test-taking opportunities for all students have been limited, for persons with disabilities, the ability to obtain accommodations or even to locate suitable test locations for the test are ‘almost nil.’”

The decision makes UC schools the first major public universities to become test-blind; although many universities declared standiardized test scores temporarily optional due to limited testing oppotunities during the COVID-19 outbreak, UC schools were the first to remove them from applications entirely.

Originally, the UC system planned to become test-blind starting in 2023, claiming that disabled applicants are at a disadvantage due to the lack of testing centers with accommodations.

Because they are no longer accepting test scores, UC schools are looking for an alternate way of scaling applicants.

The system is attempting to create its own admissions test, which will be implemented in 2024 if it is successfully developed and approved by the UC Regents.

The removal of test scores from UC applications is one facet of a collective effort by colleges nationwide to decrease the effect of students’ backgrounds on their applications. Both the SAT and ACT charge to take the test. In addition, test scores often reflect preparation rather than native intelligence or natural academic potential. Other parts of students’ applications such as

GPA, personal essays and teacher or counselor letters of recommendation may give clearer insight into students natural abilities.

While this may be a benefit for students, especially those that are disadvantaged, it certainly is not a benefit for the corporations who administer the tests. The College Board, the company that owns the SAT, and the non-profit ACT organization urged schools to become test-optional during the pandemic but still attempted to maintain testing dates across the country. As a result, over half of the students that signed up for the SAT during the pandemic were unable to take the test because of COVID-related restrictions.

The court’s decision comes at a time when more and more schools are moving away from using standardized testing as an admission criterion.

Where Are Schools Open?

Government mandates for K-12 schools in the 50 states:

14%

86%

of U.S. states have ordered at least partial closure of schools

of U.S. states have given no orders or have ordered schools to remain open

Information provided by CNN

ART BY ISABELLA ZABARSKY

SDUHSD has announced that students will be allowed to come back to campus as soon as Nov. 16. In the interest of public health, both physical and emotional, is resuming in-person schooling the best option?

Piper Levy

COPY EDITOR

Since mid-July, students across the nation have waited in anticipation for various school boards and adults to decide whether or not they can go back to school. On Thurs., Oct. 15, the SDUHSD school board voted to reopen schools on a limited basis starting Nov. 16, with expanded on-campus attendance beginning on Dec. 7. Although the pandemic is far from over, and the risks are still present, the decision by school board members was the right one; kids need to be back on campus not only for their academic success but also for their social and emotional health.

An in-person school environment provides students with a positive, safe space to learn the academic curriculum, build social skills and facilitate physical activity. While some students may be thriving, most have been struggling with the transition to online school.

Classes have even been shortened to prevent overuse of screens. Although taking a break from staring at a screen is crucial, it still takes away time that would otherwise be spent learning in the classroom. The SDUHSD school board has conceded that most teachers will only be able to cover a portion of their curriculum due to the absence of activities that must be completed in person.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), studies have shown that children and adolescents under the age of 18 are far less likely than

adults to suffer from severe symptoms of COVID-19. In fact, nationally, under 7% of cases have come from those under 18 years of age (10% in San Diego Co.), and less than 1% of those cases were fatal.

International studies conducted to assess how readily COVID-19 spreads throughout public grade schools has led experts to conclude that children and adolescents are not the main transmitters of the virus.

Data from both virus and antibody testing have proved that transmissions in a school setting remain low, as long as the community transmission is low as well.

Another challenge that comes with distance learning is the economic obstacle that low-income families face. Oncampus learning not only supplies better education, but also provides students of all ages a safe place to stay while their parents are at work. This financial burden will affect the entire family: older siblings may have to dedicate more time to care for younger siblings at home, household relationships may become more strained, or family income could even decrease as one or both parents opt to stay home instead of work.

Some may argue that students will not devote themselves to practicing safe social distancing measures once they get back on campus. However, this is unlikely because if effective, detailed procedures are put into place, students will rise to the challenge, as they have over the past few months. Students’ tenacity in the face of adversity makes it clear that we are ready to get back into the classrooms safely.

Although more safety measures and procedures need to be put in place before the Nov. 16 district reopening date, we should continue pushing to open schools safely to all students. If everyone does their part to keep San Diego off the “watch list,” meaning that community transmission is low enough not to result in immediate exposure, we may be able to go back to campus safely next month.

There are an inordinate number of unknowns in everyone’s lives at the moment, and the top one for teens across the country is whether school will reopen or not. While it’s not an easy pill to swallow, students in America should not go back to school; there are too many potential risks that cannot be overlooked when it comes to the physical health of students and teachers across America. Although many people are pushing for school reopenings, the district must prioritizie the health and safety of staff and students.

One prime example illustrating why students should not go back to oncampus learning is an incident in Paulding County, Georgia, where 15-year-old Hannah Watters posted a photo of her high school’s crowded hallways, with only a few students wearing masks. Within days, six students and three teachers at Watters’ school tested positive for COVID-19.

“Wearing a mask is a personal choice, and there is no practical way to enforce a mandate to wear them,” Paulding County School District superintendent Brian Otott said in response to the concern and questions Watters’ viral image raised.

While schools may require students to wear masks, there is no guarantee that they will comply with the new rules, similar to how some students do not follow other school rules or have been lax with following proper health procedures such as social distancing. It only takes one student or staff member to cause an outbreak.

Many claim that teenagers do not spread COVID-19 as much as adults to support their argument; not only is this false, but we also can’t overlook the teachers and staff who will have to risk their lives by teaching on campus.

Bringing staff and students back to school will not only pose a threat to the school population, but to their families as well.

Additionally, TPHS closed on March

Srishti Thapar

FEATURE EDITOR

13, 2020, when there were 1,666 reported cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., so it does not make logical sense for the student body to return to campus when the U.S. has now reached over 7.5 million COVID-19 infections, 51,470 of which have been in San Diego Co., and 10% (5,140) of which are from people 10 to 19 years old. With a student population of more than 2,500, we would inevitably close down again within days due to a positive COVID-19 test among the school population.

Many district teachers have said they miss seeing their students in person, and seeing their faces, but with masks and social distancing — the only practical way to return to school — they will not be able to see their students’ laughs and smiles. At least over online formats, where no one is wearing a mask, teachers can gauge the expressions and reactions of the majority of their students.

The sentiment of students desiring a sense of normalcy in these unprecedented times isn’t attainable with all of the safety regulations that will be instituted.

While the current situation is not ideal, health and safety should be the focus during this global pandemic. Not only is online school a safer and more effective alternative to in-person instruction, but high schoolers are also more than capable of using this method as a learning tool when it comes to protecting their peers, educators and families from this dangerous and deadly disease.

A6 the falconer

opinion

october 23, 2020

Performative activism undermines real social justice

Mirabel Hunt and Helene Gao

FEATURE EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER

How much change can a sea of black squares make? Not much. Ever since May 25, 2020, when the video documenting the murder of George Floyd reached social media, the public has been abuzz about the injustices of police brutality and systemic racism. To combat the ongoing racial tensions, one could march through the flames in Minneapolis, write a letter to local legislators or post a black square on Instagram.

Social media has made our lives infinitely easier, whether it’s staying informed about the latest news or finding outlets for action.

However, the convenience of reposting someone else’s tweet or tagging a hashtag has made it easier for people to phone in their activism without truly making an impact. This trend has been given the moniker “performative activism” by social

media users in the past couple of months.

While some may think that accusing fellow users of performative activism is just another element of “cancel culture”, there is validity in this argument. This brings us back to our original question of how much change a black square can make.

Though this trend may have started with good intentions, it quickly became a herd mentality form of activism in which social media users posted a black square with a Black Lives Matter hashtag to be accepted by their followers. By tagging an empty photo with a hashtag that had formerly been used to spread relevant information about protests, users polluted each other’s feeds, making it difficult to find useful resources.

Yes, social media is not serious in nature, but when dealing with heavier topics such as police brutality, social media users need to make sure that they do not publish posts solely in the interest of self-promotion.

And the apparent “memification” of Breonna Taylor’s murder is no exception.

Louisville EMT Breonna Taylor was murdered while she was sleeping when police officers barged into her apartment on a “no-knock warrant”. Six months later, her killer was charged with wanton endangerment, but not murder. For the past six months, the public has rallied for justice but, over time, it seemed that Breonna Taylor’s name was becoming

more of a tag rather than a reflection of our corrupt criminal justice system. “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor” became a popular caption for any commonplace of photos; hence, Breonna Taylor’s name was made a token of “wokeness”. Saying “arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor” without providing numbers to call, petitions to sign or information to note does not do a single thing except desensitize the public to police brutality. Moreover, it undercuts the horrible reality of her murder and deems it just another six-word tweet. Popular streaming service Hulu came under fire for promoting a docuseries feature on Breonna Taylor’s murder a day after the grand jury verdict, a move that critics saw as capitalizing off of Taylor’s name by treating it like another mystery crime case. Taylor’s murder is no mystery, nor is it a surprise. Bringing attention to issues is important, but it has to be done with the right intentions and in a sensitive manner.

During these powerful civil rights movements, many corporations and companies have jumped to show their support through social media, official statements and more. However, it is easy to put up a statement condemning racism without meaningful change, especially when it comes to company policies and their actions. For instance, of the Fortune 500 companies, only four have Black

CEOs, coming out to a percentage of less than one, while they make up 10% of American college graduates. The actions taken by major companies should strive to create lasting systemic change instead of being merely performative.

Despite these concerns, there is no doubt that participation in protests has been record-breaking. Many argue that awareness is awareness, and sharing social media posts is spreading the message.

However, is spreading awareness via a social media post influential if you refuse to implement your new awareness of racism in real-life situations?

Words put on your Instagram story should align with your actions in person.

A first good step is to educate yourself about systemic racism in America before teaching others: good ways to do this include researching the history of racism, learning more about events on the news and reading books written by people of color.

Signing petitions also raises awareness, collects support and incites change for any cause. Donations to organizations that deal with bail and victim funds, community resources and enrichment, policy reform organizations and more are a good way to offer support.

For a lasting structural change, it will take time and effort, but with collective efforts for the movement, we can make history.

Pod learning highlights socioeconomic inequalities

ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND STAFF WRITER

With schools closed indefinitely due to COVID-19, many parents are looking into alternative learning solutions.

One of the most popular ones is pod learning, a small group of three to 10 students who learn in-person from a tutor together, outside of the classroom.

Pod learning is not a viable option to replace distance learning because it reinforces socioeconomic inequalities between families in school districts and poses a health risk to the students and teachers participating.

After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many parents had to quit their jobs indefinitely to stay home and teach their kids during distance learning. According to a report from the hedge fund Brevan Howard Asset Management, 4.3 million parents will have to quit their jobs this fall to take care of their children under the age of 14.

While this might not seem like a big deal for more affluent families, lower-income families will feel the financial strain of having to take off one year or more from work.

Having pod learning to provide child care and education to those families would allow them to return to work and put them in a better position to support their families.

Unfortunately, hiring a private tutor is

on a child’s positive and negative school performance,” Paul Schwartz, a professor of psychology and child behavior said.

“Compared to children who lack friends, children with ‘good’ friends have higher self-esteem, act more socially, can cope with life stresses and transitions and are also less victimized by peers.”

Interaction with a teacher or tutor, being around other kids and having access to tactile learning are all potential positives of pod learning.

However, while pod learning may sound like a great substitute for in-person learning, it poses a threat to adults by increasing their chances of contracting and transmitting the virus. These risks are simply not worth the nearly “normal” school environment.

As stated by the CDC, susceptibility to COVID-19 increases with age.

The age group of 35 to 44-year-olds have accounted for 4,039 deaths, compared to a death count of 10,627 among 45 to 54-year-olds.

The lack of measures in place ensuring that teachers and parents hosting pod learning uphold the county’s guidance for school-based programs leaves the possibility of an unsafe learning environment.

While the San Diego County Office of Education’s COVID-19 Prevention Plan for schools states that “students and staff should wash their hands frequently throughout the day, including before and after eating; after coughing or sneezing; after classes where they handle shared items,” there is no way to enforce that.

The CDC relies heavily on voluntary compliance with public health orders. While law enforcement can fine people for being in public without a mask, pod learning isn’t held in a public area. Therefore, there are

very few ways to gauge if adults are actively implementing county safety guidelines.

With students sharing school supplies, toys and surfaces, everyone’s chances of catching and transferring the virus are increased.

Everyone is deserving of a good education, but pod learning highlights the inequalities among school districts and increases the rate of transmission of COVID-19 between teachers and parents.

ART BY MIRABEL HUNT

Katie Flint and Dixie Wallerius

expensive. Prices can range anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 a week, depending on the size of the pod and how frequently the group meets.

Students whose families cannot afford to put them into pods may not receive the same quality of education or social and emotional support as their peers who are learning in a pod.

It can also be difficult to find space in the home to host a properly social-distanced pod school, especially for a lower-income family. According to research from 2018 by the KidsCount Data Center, a non-partisan research organization, 14% of U.S. children live in overcrowded households.

Feeling like they have no other option, many lower-income families are forced to choose between making less money or sending their children back to inperson school and putting them at risk of contracting COVID-19.

While it may exacerbate disparities between economic classes, pod learning gives a chance for in-person connectedness that promotes social-emotional learning, which is harder to achieve online.

This is especially important for younger students who need social contact to reach developmental benchmarks.

The classroom environment is ideal for cultivating essential social-emotional skills.

Learning in an environment that resembles in-person school is beneficial to students in that aspect.

According to the Children’s Bureau, playtime among children is one way that they learn how to cooperate in groups, follow rules and learn social norms.

Kids who are distance learning online do not have access to playtime and cannot make friendships as effectively as those who are in pods.

“Friends...have a powerful influence

tphsfalconer.com

opinion

the falconer

A7

Rowling’s latest stance is as harmful as it is baffling

FEATURE & OPINION EDITOR

With the release of “Troubled Blood,” the latest installment in the Cormoran Strike series, author J.K. Rowling has come under fire for her characterization of one of the book’s villains, as well as her recent doubling down on opinions deemed transphobic by many.

The character in question, Creed, is a serial killer who enjoys crossdressing and does so to lure his victims into a false sense of security before murdering them.

Of course, liking cross-dressing is not the same as being transgender. But the second book of the Cormoran Strike series, The Silkworm, actually did feature a trans character: a woman named Pippa who stalks the main character with a knife and attempts to kill him. The similarities are hard to ignore. And, because Rowling has shown that she sees trans women and male crossdressers the same — men in women’s clothing with the potential for violence — her inclusion of these characters is tonedeaf at best and genuinely malicious at worst. In either case, the horror trope of blurring gender identities and framing them as dangerous or malicious (think Psycho or Silence of the Lambs) contributes to the persecution of and misinformation about real transgender people.

or people who underwent some form of transitioning and later decided that they no longer identified with the gender they transitioned to. This is not a completely unreasonable concern — labeling a child as transgender simply because they display characteristics typically associated with the opposite sex is damaging and only further enforces societal gender roles.

Children should be able to pursue their interests without feeling limited by their biological sex.

But this by no means justifies blocking access to transition therapy for those who would greatly benefit from it. A 2014 study of trans individuals in the UK from the Mental Health Review Journal found that delaying or denying gender reassignment treatment significantly increased rates of suicidal ideation and attempts among trans people.

Considering that the study also found that a staggering 84% of the participants had considered suicide and 48% had attempted it makes a very strong case for increasing the accessibility of such treatments.

So yes, we need to be cautious w h e n assigning broad diagnoses to individual cases, but the kind of rhetoric Rowling is spewing is the opposite of what children feeling uncertain about

their gender identity need. Rowling’s invalidation of transgender identities and portrayal of trans women as people to be wary of only further stigmatizes discussions about gender identity. Whether or not a child eventually determines that they are transgender, learning how to present themselves honestly to the world without fear of pushback or rejection is invaluable.

Rowling’s fierce condemnation of trans activism came as a shock to many of her fans. Both of us, along with readers around the world, used to find solace in the Harry Potter books and looked to J.K. Rowling as an inspirational champion of equality.

Now more than ever before, as we’ve been forced to reckon with the legacy of creators, Rowling’s vitriol toward the transgender community makes it near impossible to look at her body of work in the same way.

ART BY JASMINE CRIQUI

Mirabel Hunt & Jasmine Criqui

Trans “representation” in the world of horror is a topic all on its own, but Rowling’s bias against trans people, particularly trans women, hasn’t been limited to the world of fiction. She has been vocal in her criticism of transgender activism on Twitter, and on June 10 of this year, she published an essay defending her views. Many of the points she makes are either misinformed or overblown, especially her defense of bathroom restrictions for trans women.

“When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman ... then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside,” Rowling said.

First of all, allowing trans people to use whichever bathroom matches their gender identity does not make sexual assault legal. If a trans person were to assault someone, they would still be prosecuted accordingly. And, to be clear, there are no bouncers outside restrooms. A man can access a women’s restroom with the intent of assaulting someone the same way a woman who just really needs to pee does — by walking through the door. Not to mention, a 2015 study found that nearly half of all transgender people will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lives, making it much more likely for a trangender person to be a victim of assault than a perpetrator. Preventing trans women from using the ladies room does not protect from sexual assault, and denying trans people the option of using the bathroom they are comfortable with puts them at a greater risk.

Rowling’s essay also argues for stricter regulation of transition therapy for minors, claiming that children are too young to make permanent decisions about their bodies.

In it, she cites cases of “detransitioners,”

New Oscars “diversity quota” not very revolutionary

Kevin Song

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As a Korean-American, my heart swelled with pride when Bong Joon-Ho’s “Parasite” received four Oscars, including Best Picture, at the Oscars 2020, after being nominated for six categories.

Then, the Academy revealed its new diversity quota last month. Slated to take effect in 2024, the quota mandates sufficient diversity in two of four areas: “onscreen representation and narratives,” “creative leadership and project team,” “industry access,” or paid internships and apprenticeships for underrepresented parties, and “audience development,” or marketing.

Underrepresented groups were defined as women, POC, LGBTQ+ and people with disabilities. But,However, the quota only applies to the Best Picture category.

My initial emotions when hearing the announcement were mixed. The prospect

of more triumphs in representation, like “Parasite,” excited me. However, while the intentions behind the diversity quota were in the right place, the quota is ineffective and oversimplifies the issue of representation.

In terms of Oscars viewership, the statistics speak for themselves: for the 2020 Oscars award ceremony, the number of viewers dropped by 20% from the previous year, and ratings plunged among adult viewers from 7.7 in 2018 to just 5.3, a 31% decrease, according to Nielsen.

This drop in viewership was especially pronounced in younger audiences, which has dangerous implications for the award show’s future if young people aren’t as interested in tuning in.

The Academy is fully aware of the dangerous position it is in, and ultimately, the diversity quotas feel like the next installment in the Academy’s saga of virtue signaling.

The Academy’s efforts to overtly diversify can be traced back to five years ago, when the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite trended on multiple social media platforms after all 20 acting nominations went to white actors in the 2015 Oscar Awards.

While the Academy did not formally address this controversy, in a true testament to the power of bad press, by 2016, films that celebrated diversity like “Get Out,” “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Coco” finally gained the

recognition they deserved, winning big in the box offices and in award shows. In 2019, three of the four acting categories were won by non-white actors.

But unlike these movies, the new Oscars diversity quotas are not especially groundbreaking.

The overwhelming majority of Best Picture winners from the past 15 years — 73%— would have already met these criteria, some with flying colors.

By putting a concrete number to the amount of diversity that is considered “acceptable,” and by boiling representation down to checkboxes, the quota allows huge entertainment corporations to pat themselves on the back for meeting the bare requirement F— and, frankly, it shows how oversimplified diversity is in the eyes of the massive film industry. Diversity for the heck of it is not true diversity; it’s disingenuous and forced.

Corporations are already well aware of society’s shift towards diversity and representation of minority groups. Disney’s live-action version of Mulan, as well as their announcements to cast AfricanAmerican actress Halle Bailey and IranianAmerican actress Yara Shahidi as Ariel from The Little Mermaid and Tinker Bell in Peter Pan respectively, are just some of the many examples of efforts to increase representation in media.

The Academy must realize that they

aren’t as important as they think they are in this social shift towards representation: the movement is happening with or without them, and it certainly seems more genuine than the Oscars diversity quota. While the intentions behind the quota may have been positive, it may simply push minorities to the back unintentionally, as concrete diversity requirements can now be satisfied by relegating minorities to peripheral roles and supporting characters.

Critics of the quota argue that the quotas stifle artistic creativity and that awards should be based on merit alone. However, the fact that the quota only applies to the Best Picture category means that there are still 22 other categories that movies can win awards in. Additionally, the quota itself is very lenient, with many avenues to fulfill the criteria, and while the execution certainly leaves much to be desired, it is still a step forward, however small of a step it is. In this diverse world, merit is in itself incredibly subjective, and award shows’ interpretation of merit should also reflect the diverse population.

Whether this shift is in the interest of true diversity, or because of the gold mine in appealing to a diverse audience, ist’s difficult to say. Most likely, it’s a combination of both. Regardless, while this is a step in the right direction, the diversity quota isn’t the way to go.

opinion

A8 the falconer

october 23, 2020

STAFF EDITORIAL Colleges should be doing more to protect their students during the pandemic As colleges across the nation reopen for in-person learning amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many are challenged with preventing small outbreaks among the student body.

In just one week, Colorado University reported 350 new cases of COVID-19.

Similarly, as of Oct. 5, San Diego State University (SDSU) reported 1,110 confirmed cases.

In New York, Syracuse University suspended 23 students after hundreds threw a dangerous party without social distancing, which school officials described as “incredibly reckless behavior.”

Still, many argue that responsibility for preventing COVID-19 on campus falls on the administration, which is required to create and enforce social distancing guidelines. On the other hand, students should still make smart decisions and take responsibility for their actions.

A clear example of the administration failing to provide for its students occurred at New York University in August when students quarantining in their dorms complained about insufficient meals provided by the school, or sometimes, no meals at all. NYU now faces heavy criticism after pictures of the sickening meals went viral on TikTok. Once a student tests positive for COVID-19, the administration and the students take on a new responsibility.

At the University of Colorado, COVID-19

positive students are quarantined at school until they test negative. Others believe that sending infected students back home is a better option. While it is a possible suggestion, infected students could spread the virus to

their communities, as well as to people along the way.

Additionally, some schools are taking the punishment for not following COVID-19 guidelines even further by revoking tuition.

Northeastern University suspended 11 firstyear students and initially refused to refund their tuition, which accounts for $36,500 per person. After the students appealed their suspensions, Northeastern credited each

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student $27,760, which is most of their fall

tuition.

Nevertheless, for universities in an online format, tuition has not been reduced.

Distance learning does not provide the

same spirit and excitement as in-person learning, and many students believe they shouldn’t be paying the same price for lectures taught through a computer screen. However, students are no longer paying for room and board, which accounts for $8,060 a year at community colleges, $10,440 at public colleges and $11,890 at private institutions, according to CNN. Many of the 1.1 million international students currently studying in the U.S. have been forced to leave the U.S. and return home. This sudden loss in revenue for colleges is substantial and could cost the American economy millions of dollars.

These international students, although not physically at school, should still be able to stay in the U.S. and retain their visas, since they are receiving an education from an American university.

Overall, many believe that colleges shouldn’t be able to trust students entirely, but others argue that it isn’t fair to close schools to the students who are abiding by the rules.

Despite the many concerns surrounding COVID-19, 27 percent of colleges are already primarily in-person, while 27 percent are primarily online, according to the New York Times. Universities are constantly making improvements and changes to their distance learning format.

Nonetheless, students returning to campus need to take extra precautions and abide by health guidelines.

student voices

Information provided by CNBC.

I think colleges should respond to COVID outbreaks on campus by keeping campuses open but trying their best to limit spread.

college students believe that the pandemic will make it harder for them to get a job

- Saeji Hong (12) If colleges have COVID outbreaks on campus, I think they should quickly quarantine the infected students as well as do thorough contact tracing, if not close the school for the rest of the semester or year

worry about their financial future On average, a 4-year private university costs

- Caroline Hunt (9)

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.

Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor-in-Chief Business Editor News Editor Opinion Editor Feature Editor Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Copy Editor Staff Writers

Kevin Song Katie Flint Micah Levy Neha Pubbi Jasmine Criqui Mirabel Hunt Srishti Thapar Amy Ge Nolan Ezzet Brandon Raimo Piper Levy Helene Gao Viyang Hao Matan Morris

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feature

A10 the falconer

october 23, 2020

black lives matter.

by Mirabel Hunt and Jasmine Criqui It was the morning of May 31, 2020, the first weekend after George Floyd’s death at the hands of police, and Ariel Hammond was heading downtown equipped with a mask and a sign reading “Black is Beautiful.”

Tensions were running high after buildings had been burnt down in La Mesa the night before, but the protest was mostly peaceful.

“It was scary, but I felt I had to stand up for what was right,” said Hammond, a mixed-race mother of two. Unrest escalated and police teargassed protesters not long after she left.

While Hammond’s support for racial justice had never been in question, Floyd’s death hit especially close to home; her dad is also a Black man named George. He had urged her against going downtown, fearing for her safety.

“It was emotional being downtown, but what was harder was coming back to Del Mar and Carmel Valley, not seeing any acknowledgment of the pain felt around the world,” Hammond said, “So I took my sign from the day before and walked around the neighborhood. After a while, I just stood out on the 101, all by myself, and cried,” Hammond certainly wasn’t alone in her grief. And soon enough, she would be joined in her protest by fellow neighbors. Around the world, millions of people mourned Floyd and the countless other victims of police brutality.

“The death of George Floyd took words out of my mouth,” said Ayana Johnson (10), the president of the TPHS Black Student Union, “How can a person treat another human like an animal? The police are supposed to be there to serve and to protect, but none of them helped when Floyd was begging for his life.”

Another case that gained attention in the wake of Floyd’s murder was that of Breonna Taylor, an EMT from Louisville, Kentucky who was shot in the middle of the night by police serving a “noknock warrant”. One officer has been charged with “wanton endangerment” for firing into neighboring apartments, but not Taylor’s murder.

“We became more aware of [the Black Lives

Matter movement] when Breonna Taylor got shot… it hit me hard,” Addison Flanagan (11) and Grace Flanagan (10) said.

The Flanagan sisters hail from Rancho Santa Fe, which according to the 2010 census, is 93% white. Nonetheless, the recent racial injustices did not go unnoticed.

“I felt like we needed to show our support for the minorities in our community, so they feel supported even if it is a majorly white community.” Flanagan (11) said.

In cities like San Diego, where 65% of the population is white, it is important not to let

It was emotional being downtown, but what was harder was coming back to Del Mar and Carmel Valley, not seeing any acknowledgement of the pain felt around the world.

Ariel Hammond PROTESTOR

white voices dominate the narratives. Showing true initiative is a powerful vehicle for structural change. Protesting is truly effective, but it is not all puff paint and strolls around the neighborhood.

“At times, it was saddening to see people that we knew drive by and roll their eyes at us,” Flanagan (11) said.

These dismissive responses show that even after countless Black lives lost, it is easy for those unaffected to ignore it. Despite this, BSU Vice President Lia Turner (10) believes that the latest wave of protests might signify a breaking point for many Americans.

“The fact that people are going as far as breaking into buildings and setting police stations

Courtesy of Ariel Hammond

on fire is really striking to me because it reflects the strength of our community,” Turner said.

“We are done settling. The millions of people who come out to support our community shows that we demand change.”

And until sweeping reform to law enforcement is made and police officers are held accountable, protests will continue.

A fresh wave of outrage swept the nation after Aug. 23, 2020, when an unarmed Black man named Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by an officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Miraculously, Blake survived and was released from the hospital after six weeks, but is still rehabilitating.

Just two days later, following the eruption of protests in Kenosha, Kyle Rittenhouse, a white 17-year-old carrying an AR-15-style rifle, shot three protesters, killing two. Rittenhouse was only taken into custody when he turned himself in the next day.

“The fact that [Jacob Blake] was shot seven times without plausible reason, yet Kyle Rittenhouse, who actually killed people, was praised, is a mess,” Erin Poe (12) said.

At the time that Blake’s story was being told, Hammond had recently suffered a severe concussion and had lost her ability to walk and talk (both of which have now recovered) as well as her ability to create new memories, making it hard for her to follow the news. However, she still does her best to stay informed.

“I watched the videos of it. My brain malfunctioned while trying to understand the inequalities there. I immediately decided to protest the next day,” Hammond said, remembering the lawn chair she had brought because she couldn’t stand up on her own. “Being injured doesn’t stop me from knowing right from wrong, and I wasn’t going to let it stop me from speaking up.”

The power of protests cannot be understated.

Already, legislators are pushing for sweeping bans on chokeholds and no-knock warrants.

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tphsfalconer.com

the falconer

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feeling the heat 4.1 million acres burned

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1.01 million acres burned

The 2020 fire season has claimed over 4,124,656 California acres across the span of 8,155 wildfires, making it the most rampant season recorded in history. As the fires burn on in California amidst a worldwide pandemic, this could be thought of as just the next disaster to top off an already horrible year. However, there is a way to greatly decrease the number of fires: simply spreading awareness.

Although California has a very short wet season, enough rain falls every year to support the growth of plants and brush. After this very quick period of rain, the flora swiftly loses all of its moisture and dries out. This, unfortunately, provides a wildfire with an abundance of kindling. Individual responsibility for picking up piles of yard waste and keeping up with property, big or small, can help prevent fires.

“Take care of all of your vegetation after we get winter rains,” Encinitas Fire Department Battalion Chief James Mickelson said.

“People need to go out and cut the brush from around their homes [or] any vacant lots they may have while the brush is still wet.”

A primary factor, more difficult to improve through individual action, is climate change. This phenomenon is characterized by the gradual deterioration of climates on a global scale, resulting in changes

For California particularly, they already feel that the wildfire season is year-round. You could have a wildfire virtually any day of the year, and 50 years ago that was not true.

Steve Running

RETIRED CLIMATE SCIENTIST and NOBEL LAUREATE

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591,514 acres burned

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305,629 acres burned art by lilian kong/falcon artist

Information provided by Cal Fire.

in precipitation, wind and temperature.

“For California particularly, they already feel that the wildfire season is year-round,” said Steve Running, retired climate scientist and winner, with his fellow authors, of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for their work on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. “You could have a wildfire virtually any day of the year, and 50 years ago that was not true.”

With regard to the California wildfires, climate change causes the wet seasons to be shorter and the dry seasons to be longer. These conditions provide a perfect breeding ground for wildfires.

“The warming temperature just dries out the forests and the grasses, and extends the summer season,” Running said. “The forests are dry enough to burn for a longer period of time. And then, when there is an ignition, they just burn faster.”

Although wildfires natural occurrences, this season’s fires are anything but natural. The El Dorado fire, which has burned more than 22,000 acres, was caused by the fireworks used at a gender reveal party. Human ignorance and lack of awareness can cause extreme climate disasters.

Wildfires impact all aspects of life significantly.

“When these fires are burning, obviously there’s the destruction of the cities and towns,” Running said, “But it also spews smoke across a good part of the country that is extremely unhealthy for people to breathe.”

People and animals are often forced to leave the land they once called home in order to save their lives.

“I think it’s healthy for the forest to burn, but it’s sad, too, to see hundreds of thousands acres of burned earth,” Mickelson said, “It looks like a moonscape.”

The burning of a forest is a natural way for wildlife to spur new growth, but current wildfires are unprecedented.

Firefighters have been stretched thin this fire season, traveling for two weeks at a time to where they are needed most.

“When the weather is like this we’re always ready,” Mickelson said, “We’re dressed in our gear, wild boots are on, an ice chest has ice in it, and we’re ready to go.”

by Piper Levy

A11

feature

A12 the falconer

october 23, 2020

Behind the Screen Teacher’s Edition

Distance learning has drastically changed TPHS students’ daily lives.

However, the new learning structure has also impacted teachers in ways that aren’t always visible to students.

by Nolan Ezzet

Julianna Newell Many students and teachers have made it clear that they prefer in-person school over distance learning, and TPHS college prep and AP biology teacher Julianna Newell is no exception. However, creative solutions, such as using six chromebooks to monitor her students, have allowed her to adapt to the unforseen circumstances of distance learning.

Newell, as well as the rest of science department, has seen firsthand the negative effects of distance learning.

“Typically, the science department does a lab almost every single day,” Newell said. “We’re having to provide [students] with [old] data so they can still analyze and learn. But, they’re missing out on the ability to actually do the lab and have hands-on [experience], work together, cooperate and learn from each other.”

In order to be able to teach to the best of her abilities, Newell finds it helpful to work from her classroom. Despite being completely online, she is still very busy every day.

“School starts for me at 9:40 [a.m.],” Newell said. “I come to school at 7:00 a.m. every single day. I answer emails, I grade

Newell taking care of business on her school computer

papers, and I do all that for about two and a half hours before I even start teaching.

Then, I teach all day, and I try to be able to leave at 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon.”

Newell utilizes Google Meet’s “breakout room” feature in lieu of physical student collaboration.

“When I do breakout groups, I have six other laptops right next to me,” Newell said. “Each one of those six laptops has six people in it.”

Newell was especially concerned for her freshman students, who are new to high school, in college prep biology.

Nonetheless, she is proud of their effort.

“They’re thrown into this situation with a bunch of people that they have never seen before in a school with a format that they don’t really understand,” Newell said. “So, I was very concerned about them. But, I will say, they have risen to the occasion and done really well with the breakout groups for the most part.”

At the beginning of the school year, Newell was unhappy with distance learning, but now, things are looking up for her. “[The first day of school this year] was probably the worst first day of school I’ve ever had in 13 years,” Newell said. “But now, I would say it’s trending better.”

Distance learning has not been easy on Newell or her students, but she continues to work hard and creatively to educate and support her students.

Newell’s empty biology room

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tphsfalconer.com

Roxzana Sudo Although distance learning has drastically changed how TPHS English teacher Roxzana Sudo teaches her students, she tries to stay positive.

Because humans are social creatures, distance learning has taken a toll on many people’s mental health.

“Since March, I have been very concerned with the well-being of the students emotionally, mentally and socially,” Sudo said. “One of the biggest concerns for me was making sure that the students are okay.”

However, TPHS students’ positive reaction to adversity has soothed some of Sudo’s concerns.

“One of the best things to see was just how resilient, gritty and great the

Sudo hard at work at school with students online

Jonathan Tator Teaching online is already extremely difficult, but distance learning impacts some classes more than others. Take Jonathan Tator’s wood tech course at TPHS, for example. Attending a Google Meet on a chromebook does not provide the hands-on experience most wood tech students expected when they enrolled in the course — but Tator also recognizes some positives in distance learning.

Because wood tech is not meant to be online, Tator adjusted the class to make it more compatible with distance learning.

“The main [impact of distance learning] is that it’s a hands-on class, and we can’t go into class to actually build things,” Tator said. “I’ve had to figure out what I can teach the kids that they can do from

Tator working in the wood tech classroom

the falconer

students are doing,” Sudo said. “It’s also been really exciting to see people grow stronger. That’s alleviated some of my concern as a teacher.”

Like her students, Sudo is also adapting; during distance learning, Sudo has refined her technological skills.

“I decided I need to take the plunge to really learn [about] technology and to take advantage of all the things that the district is offering,” Sudo said. “Really preparing to understand how to use things online [helped me].”

Sudo believes that distance learning has even helped some students mature.

“In terms of behavior, I think that a lot of students have stepped it up and become more focused,” Sudo said.

Distance learning impacts everyone differently, but it has forced Sudo and her students to grow in many positive ways, from mastering technology to responding positively to challenges.

Sudo’s school workspace

home because I can’t assume that any kids have tools at home. Some kids do, and some kids have nothing.”

Tator has been teaching topics that are still relevant to wood tech, but do not require any hands-on work. “[The first eight weeks include] two weeks of furniture history, two weeks about all the trees and how they grow and the types of lumber, looking through the tools in [TPHS’] woodshop, [and] how to build a house,” Tator said.

In some cases, distance learning even has some unforseen advantages over inperson learning.

“I’m teaching the kids important information I don’t normally teach them,” Tator said.

The new learning environment has made woodworking impossible, but it has provided Tator an opportunity to enlighten his students about the tools of the trade and wonder of wood.

One of Tator’s woodworking creations

A13

feature

A14 the falconer

october 23, 2020

life as a

quaranteen.

75% 56.3%

54.2% read 56.3%

cooked

did art

60.4%

85.4%

of students walked/ hiked

listened to music & podcasts

75%

93.8%

baked &

of students ran

GRIND

62.5% did YouTube workouts

*based on an informal TPHS poll, not a scientific sample

used texting and/or Instagram to stay connected with friends

93.8% watched TV and movies

quarantine and chill 1 Avatar: The Last Airbender

2

3

4

The Office

Criminal Minds

The Last Dance

tphs’s top picks for quarantine

64

$426 2,000 new customer service staff hired to accomodate new subscribers

record-high Netflix stock price, achieved in mid-April

millions of households that have watched “Tiger King” in quarantine

16

millions of new subscribers in the first three months of 2020

3.2

average hours of Netflix subscribers have watched per day

Information provided by Netflix and BBC.

infographic by kevin song/falconer

entertainment

A16 the falconer

october 23, 2020

OPINION W e lc o m e

Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released on Nintendo Switch on March 20, 2020, as the muchanticipated successor to Animal Crossing: New Leaf, released back in 2012. The game benefitted from a pandemic release, as many people were quarantining and desperate for a way to pass the time. New Horizons did not disappoint, surging in popularity and enjoying a high rating from players and critics alike. By the time I got my hands on a copy of the game, I was worried that the hype had set my expectations too high. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find a game that had charming graphics, adorable character designs and was an absolute joy to play.

The demand for Switches made them nearly impossible to find at most retailers, encouraging business-savvy individuals to stock up and resell them marked up from the already lofty $300 price point. Combined with the price of the actual game, this means that just getting to the loading screen will set you back about $360.

The premise of the game is that you, along with two other randomized animal villagers, are moving to a deserted island after purchasing a real estate package from Tom Nook, a businessman (business tanuki?) who will be overseeing the development of the island. The villagers from my game were Biff, a red, fitness-enthused hippo, and Pashmina, a kind goat who wears a rainbow sweater and calls the player “kidders.” As you progress in the game, you can build your relationship with the villagers through activities like talking to them and exchanging gifts, which are a very endearing way to showcase their personalities.

When you arrive at the island, you’ll be asked to choose an area to place your tent, which can later be upgraded to better and better houses. Another key aspect of the game is that you are constantly in debt to Tom Nook, and as soon as you pay off a loan you have to take out another one to continue developing.

But you don’t spend all your time paying off loans.

You can also craft furniture and decorations to spruce up your house and the outdoors, or run around the island looking for fish, insects or fossils to donate to the museum. This is probably the aspect of the game I’ve spent most of my time on; the satisfaction of watching your collection grow is unmatched.

The island

Quarantine Has Highlighted the Positives of Gaming

itself is a multi-leveled area, with the higher level only accessible later in the game. You can build tools to be able to access resources like wood, rocks and metal which can be used for crafting increasingly intricate designs. The range of what you can craft or buy from Tom Nook is enormous (I’m currently saving up to buy a giant godzilla statue). For me, having so many options for customizing my island is the highlight of the game.

The storyline of New Horizons is non-linear, so you can spend your time on whatever you feel like. This is a game you can sink some serious hours into.

You’ll also run into recurring characters that appear every once in a while, like Redd the tricky art-dealing fox, Gulliver the perpetually lost seagull, and Leif the flower-selling sloth. Once you get far enough, you’ll also be able to build additional houses for new villagers to live in.

In comparison to New Leaf, New Horizons affords the player more inventory space and more control over their island layout. I believe the second part is crucial to the game’s success. Screenshots of elaborately decorated islands and clever landscaping ideas have made their way around the internet, inspiring other players to make similar builds or come up with their unique designs. The social aspect of the game also encourages this, as it is fun to show off the details of your island to visiting players.

Altogether, I’m very happy with my purchase of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The graphics are great, the character design is adorable and the overall concept of an island life simulator where you can build things and hang out with friends is very easy to love. This is a fantastic game for anyone who doesn’t mind a slower-paced, less objective-driven storyline and who enjoys customizing their gameplay experience. Being wildly in debt has never been this relaxing.

by Jasmine Criqui

As the coronavirus swept around the planet earlier this year, it snatched up our everyday schedules and plans and replaced them with a whole bunch of “can’ts” that still stand firm today.

I still can’t meet friends comfortably, I can’t walk the halls of TPHS as a triumphant senior and I can’t even dine in at Porkyland.

What I can do, though, is play video games, and apparently, the rest of the nation agrees with me: according to Verizon, since the start of quarantine, gaming has been up 75% on Verizon Networks.

While many gamers may feel guilty that their time isn’t going to more traditionally “productive” pursuits, like cooking or reading, video games are, in fact, one of the healthiest ways to pass time during quarantine when done in moderation.

As social creatures, many would agree that social distancing has been the hardest aspect of quarantine. But, video games serve to make social distancing feel more social and less distanced.

Most games these days include some form of player interaction, whether they are strangers living thousands of miles apart, or a group of friends playing together from their own respective houses.

The social aspect of gaming is further enhanced by softwares such as Discord, an app designed to provide gamers simple access to communication including instant messaging, audio and video calls and streaming abilities. The expansion of the app to non-gamers, who now make up about 30% of the user base according to Discord, is a testament to the communicative appeal games have.

While the mention of video games may conjure up alarming images of blood and gore, many of the games that spiked in popularity during quarantine are those that underscore cooperation and interaction. “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” is a prime example: by allowing players to visit each other’s islands, trade items and give each other gifts, the game sets the perfect background for positive, wholesome interactions. It even provides people a space to interact with those they wouldn’t be able to in real life: I can’t be the only one who has smiled when seeing a fan’s giddy Twitter post after trading fruit with his or her celebrity idol.

Some games bump the interaction up even more. “Among Us,” a multiplayer game that had next to no players just a few months ago, is now among the most popular video games in the world, with over 100 million downloads between its mobile and desktop platforms. While deceit and murder are involved, the hand-drawn graphics keep everything light, and deaths look almost comedic. The game requires strong communication to expose the secret Imposter among the players, leading to loud and energetic games.

It’s always possible to have too much of something good, though. The concern that video games may consume too much of our time is valid, considering how quickly the time disappears when gaming. However, as long as gamers maintain a healthy amount of physical exercise — at least 30 minutes a day is widely recommended — and games don’t eclipse work, chores, self-care or family, there are no inherent negative outcomes associated with gameplay.

Simply put, games are a welcome distraction from the crazy world we live in right now. When people can no longer go on real-world adventures, the next best thing is going on a virtual one together — and that’s nothing to feel guilty about.

by Kevin Song

tphsfalconer.com

entertainment

A review of Riot Games’ new, free-to-play tactical first person shooter

“VALORANT,” Riot Games’ new free-to-play tactical first-person shooter, was officially released on June 2, 2020, and quickly became one of the biggest games in the FPS genre. Riot’s initial partnership with Twitch streamers during its limited closed beta period coupled with the popularity of Riot as a corporation, drew the attention of a wide range of audience members. I, like many others, spent a significant portion of my quarantine learning and playing the game.

“VALORANT” features the traditional round-based bomb plant and defuse game mode. They have recently added new game modes like free-for-all deathmatch and are even discussing the possibility of adding a battle-royale style game mode.

Normal 5v5 games take place in 12-round halves that require teams to win at 13 rounds or, in the event of a 12-12 tie, enter a win-by-two period known as “overtime.” The attacking side must plant and defend the bomb (called a spike in “VALORANT”) while the defending side must either defuse the bomb or prevent it from being planted.

While there are many features in “VALORANT” that parallel “Counter-Strike: Global Offense” (CSGO), a leading FPS released in 2012, Riot made sure to add their signature flairs in every similar aspect. “CSGO”’s scuffed-up gangs of terrorists and counter-terrorists were replaced with a cast of unique agents with vibrant personalities and powerful abilities. These abilities are what truly sets “VALORANT” apart from all other FPS games.

Each agent is equipped with unique special abilities that provide them with anything from flight to massive walls to bring a whole new style of gameplay to the table. Traditional flashbangs, molotovs or smokes are revamped and turned into agent abilities. For example, take Reyna’s Leer, a blinding and deafening eye she can push through walls, or Phoenix’s Hot Hands, a molotov that can be used to burn enemies while healing himself.

Though the variety of abilities gives “VALORANT” a lot of flavor, it makes balancing agents incredibly difficult. I used to play a lot of Sage, a support agent with healing, slowing and resurrecting abilities, until Riot nerfed her to the point that she’s hardly ever played anymore. Thankfully, unlike many other companies, Riot has been on top of balancing agents with updates every few weeks.

Another aspect I found lacking was both the number and design of maps. While each map has its own unique flair like “Bind”’s teleporters or “Haven”’s three bombsites instead of two, they seem to cause more frustration than enjoyment. The few maps available for play are also extremely defensive sided, so players can almost always expect to pick up more rounds on defense. But because “VALORANT” has only been released for a couple of months, players can expect new maps with varying designs in the future such as the new “Icebox” map that just came out in Act 3 (season 3).

For new players, “VALORANT”’s clean and bright graphics create a more inviting atmosphere, and the bright red player outlines make spotting enemies significantly easier. Unfortunately, I quickly realized the learning curve for “VALORANT” is still significantly steeper than many other games. As if learning traditional FPS skills like aim, spray control and utility weren’t enough, new players also need to learn how to play around four unique abilities for each of the 12 agents.

Personally, I enjoy games that either focus purely on shooting like “CSGO” or on abilities like “Overwatch” over this hybrid. But, “VALORANT” brings an interesting twist on the traditional FPS, and there is still so much growth potential. I would recommend “VALORANT” to anyone looking for a slower-paced FPS with a wide range of abilities to keep you on your toes.

by Amy Ge

the falconer

A17

entertainment

A18 the falconer

october 23, 2020

A review of Disneys’ 2020 live-action remake of Mulan Disney’s live-action remake of the 1998 Mulan directed

by Niki Caro was released on Sept. 4, 2020 with a budget of 200 million dollars. After being released six months after its original release date in March, Mulan is now available only on Disney’s new streaming program, Disney+, with an additional$29.99 fee.

I cannot express how excited I was to watch a remake of one of my favorite cartoons as a kid. The classic story of the brave young woman taking her father’s place in war is one that touched the hearts of many since Disney’s 1998 animated Mulan.

Watching this movie was an

interesting experience, to say the least.

The cinematography was exceptional with dynamic fight scenes and vibrant colors despite being shot in a desert. It was a very visually engaging film to watch — but unfortunately, that’s the only thing this film did well.

While all remakes tend to take some liberties in tinkering with the plot, the new Mulan has removed virtually all of the heartwarming and empowering elements of the original.

Entertaining and lovable characters like Mulan’s pet dragon Mushu or the quarreling ancestors were all removed. Mushu was replaced by a magic CGI phoenix that contributed nothing to the plot except maybe a cliche “phoenix rising from the ashes” metaphor.

There is also no music; not even a hint of the iconic song “Reflection” from the original film that inspired girls all over the world to value their individuality and to express who they are inside. The film is

void of the warm and funny Disney feel, all in an attempt to make it more “realistic.”

The most confusing addition was the sorcerous Xian Liang who was also gifted with powerful chi and is forced to act as Bori Khan’s dangerous minion. I cannot understand how Disney removed Mushu because he was “too unrealistic” but decided that a witch with magical powers that allows her to shapeshift belonged in the movie. While Xian Liang’s conflict with Bori Khan does provide a clear theme that women shouldn’t have to suppress their abilities and be subservient, the addition of “chi” undermines their attempt at female empowerment.

The film seems to credit all of Mulan’s bravery and skill to her magical “chi” that she was randomly born with. Perhaps it was an attempt to show off their knowledge of Chinese culture as the concept of “chi” did originate from China, but the filmmakers seem to forget

that Mulan was a real hero in Chinese history to many. The source of her bravery came from her strength as a woman and not from some mystical energy that superstitious old folk may believe in. There is little that Mulan does in this movie that feels like she decides for herself.

Moreover, while Mulan may be a milestone for Asian representation in American blockbuster cinema as one of the first big-budget films with a completely Asian cast, there is not a single Asian individual on the production team. There seems to be a general disconnect between the producers’ understanding of the traditions, values and history of Chinese culture.

Overall, Disney’s remake of Mulan is not only a poor representation of Chinese culture, but it is also a weak attempt at female empowerment, the very message the character Mulan was created for. Perhaps if there was at least one Asian person on the production team, it would not have been so disappointing. I would recommend that movie-goers save their 30 bucks and watch the original 1998 film instead.

by Amy Ge

Brandon Raimo

SPORTS EDITOR

How Are Pro Sports Handling COVID-19?

Photo from Alamy

Nolan Ezzet

SPORTS EDITOR

After Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 on March 11, the NBA suspended its season. This sparked cautionary moves by other professional sports leagues the next day, such as the NHL suspending its season, the MLB cancelling spring training and delaying opening day and the NCAA cancelling March Madness. What many thought would be just a few weeks without major sports turned into months. But, professional sports leagues eventually found ways to bypass coronavirus concerns.

The NBA Bubble at Disney World featured 22 out of the 30 total

NBA teams playing the remaining regular season and the entire NBA Playoffs in two weeks. Most people in the bubble were team members, referees and Walt Disney World staff. There were very strict regulations on guests entering the bubble: anyone could leave the bubble at will, but in order to reenter, there was a mandatory 10day quarantine. The bubble lasted from Jul. 22 to Oct. 11, and despite frequent testing, there were no cases of COVID-19 detected.

Despite the NBA’s success, the MLB chose not to have a bubble, so teams would travel across the U.S. to play opponents. In the first half of the season, over 40 MLB games were postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests, but the MLB had much more success in the second half of the season, with few postponements.

The MLB did not want to risk the playoffs being postponed, so for the Division Series, League Championship and

Photo from Tomahawk Take

World Series, each machup had a bubble. Fans were able to attend the NLCS and World Series, both in a limited capacity.

Many NFL fans worried about players spreading the coronavirus because each team has over 60 members on the field each game, and one positive test could result in the infection of dozens of others due to football’s physical nature. The NFL’s first three weeks went well, with no positive tests. But, on Sept. 24 a Tennesse Titan player contracted the disease.

Because several other players and personnel on the Titans tested positive that same week, their game had to be

postponed, which shifted several teams’ schedules.

The following week, Patriots quarterback Cam Newton tested positive, and the next week, more Patriots tested positive, increasing concern about the spread in New England. The Las Vegas Raiders also had positive tests, resulting in drastic schedule changes in the NFL. Nothing in 2020 is back to normal, and sports are especially difficult to play safely because of the inherent difficulty of playing sports with social distancing.

However, leagues are adapting to find the best way to play their seasons without spreading the coronavirus.

Photo from Streetopia

In January, I wrote an article about why the Philadelphia 76ers were struggling so much despite their abundance of talent, in which I said that to succeed, they needed to choose between their two superstars, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. After a humiliating sweep in the first round of the playoffs at the hands of the Boston Celtics, it has become muh clearer that the root of the Sixers’ problems is not their coaching, management or bloated contracts; it is Joel Embiid.

With Simmons missing the entire series due to a knee injury, the Celtics exposed many of Embiid’s flaws on both offense and defense and proved that building a team around an unathletic center with an inability to pass or shoot will not work in the modern NBA. The Celtics took advantage of Embiid’s poor offensive awareness by constantly doubleteaming him, forcing him to settle for jump shots instead of layups. They also targeted him on defense because of his laziness and lack of mobility, driving to the rim at will and isolating him with smaller and more versatile players.

The issue is simple; Embiid’s skill set doesn’t mesh with the rest of the Sixers’ roster. Simmons, an adept slasher with a notoriously weak jump shot, can’t operate with Embiid clogging the paint. The ideal center to pair with Simmons is Al Horford, a skilled defender who can score consistently from anywhere on the court. Horford signed with the Sixers last offseason and ended up having arguably the worst season of his career, mainly due to Simmons and Embiid’s inability to space the floor.

Although moving on from Embiid would make the most sense for the Sixers, their recent hiring of head coach Doc Rivers indicates that this will not happen. Rivers is much better than his predecessor, Brett Brown, but his success in the modern NBA has been moderate at best. Last season, he coached a Los Angeles Clippers team that was upset by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the playoffs, despite being a favorite to win the championship.

The Clippers’ lack of shot creating and ball movement led to an abysmal showing on offense, and Rivers’ refusal to adapt their gameplan doesn’t bode well for Sixers fans.

Rivers did manage to coach the 2007-08 Celtics to a championship with a point guard who lacked a viable jump shot (Rajon Rondo) and a big man who played mainly in the post (Kevin Garnett). That being said, the rise of the three-pointer has changed the league immeasurably since then, and only time will tell if Rivers can recapture his success with the 76ers.

sports

A20 the falconer

october 23, 2020

Watching “The Last Dance” as a non-sports fan Piper Levy

COPY EDITOR

As a retired ballerina and a current track runner, mainstream sports statistics and rules have never been my forte. For this reason, I was hesitant when approached with the challenge of watching and writing an article about “The Last Dance,” a documentary about the journey of Michael Jordan and the progression of the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. However, the series managed to surprise me by not only teaching a despondent sports fan more about basketball, but also by successfully highlighting the emotional, political and psychological turmoil Jordan had on and off the court.

Jordan was an exceptional basketball player, but he was also a cultural icon, generating excitement around the NBA. Winning the championship was bigger than basketball—it was a reflection of the city’s success and greatness.

Fans of all ages from different parts of Chicago were brought together to root for the Bulls.

Beyond Jordan’s global influence that the documentary highlighted, it also featured Jordan’s personal goals and mindset that led him to success.

During his childhood, Jordan felt a strong competitive urge to outdo his brother in everything. This formed his natural tendency to never settle for anything less than winning at a young age. When drafted into the NBA, he was quick to inject this mindset into his team, which instantly separated him

from a traditional rookie.

Another aspect that I found interesting was how much each teammate’s character and personality affected the team’s success. Dennis Rodman’s aggressiveness and passion made him one of the best rebounders of all time. Off the court, his teammates accepted his wild spirit because they knew that when it came down to it, Rodman would rise to any challenge.

One scene that especially stood out to me was when the Bulls overcame what Jordan calls “Loser’s Mentality.”

Jordan was always aware how much positivity and faith could determine a game’s outcome.

In this scene, everyone in the city and the media had predetermined that the Bulls were destined to lose to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a moment of outrage due to the poor performance of his teammates and lack of support from the audience, Jordan made a beautiful shot that won his team the game.

He was then quoted saying, “If you aren’t with us, get out of here,” to all of the fans, media and players in the arena.

Although Jordan often carried the team on his shoulders, it did not mean his teammates were just along for the ride. Jordan pushed his teammates harder than any coach had ever done before. He expected the same intensity from his teammates that he brought himself. He would talk trash to them in practice, bully them and humiliate them because he knew that being a leader did not mean being liked.

His teammates hated this abuse at the time, but they later realized it made them better players.

Nothing could describe the anger and resentment the players at the time felt about the general manager, Jerry Krause. The players would strongly disagree with most decisions Krause made, such as coaching changes, trades and draft picks.

Throughout the series, we see how much tension and hatred mounted between the players and Krause. The players would take it as far as to insult Krause directly to his face.

However, their anger was generally justified, since Krause was known to base major decisions on how it would affect

his ego rather than the team. Players had to cope with the looming fear of being traded or released, creating a rift that characterized the relationship between Krause and his players.

A strong contrast would be the relationship between the head coach, Phil Jackson, and the players. Jackson accepted the players for the people they were, especially Rodman, and he only expected them to uphold the mindset that Jordan implemented. He was a talented mind in basketball and earned the players’ respect, creating an environment where everyone could grow and cultivate their skills. He included Native American practices, yoga and mental exercises to prepare the team for each game. Jackson’s methods showed the importance of coaching in basketball, and how having a standout coach can turn a good team into a great team.

The amount of pressure Jordan must have felt during his time with the Bulls is beyond imaginable. The fact that he was able to go out there every game, scoring the most points, bringing the brightest energy and electrifying the audience the most, is why he is known by many as the best player in NBA history. Over 10 episodes, I watched the blood, sweat and tears that went into forming one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history. Michael Jordan proved that nothing is impossible if you put your heart and soul into it, which shone through his work and inspired the world.

COVID-19 makes college recruitment more difficult Micah Levy and David Zhang

MANAGING EDITOR & STAFF WRITER

During the unprecedented coronavirus sports season, many high school athletes seeking to play collegelevel sports have been faced with challenges due to unforeseen changes in the athletic recruitment process.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, high school athletes reached out to colleges of their interest via email, phone calls, in-person visits and most commonly through Next College Student Athlete (NCSA), a college athletic recruiting network. On this platform, upcoming student athletes can create a profile including their athletic and educational achievements, highlight videos, standardized test scores and a personal biography, as well as gain the opportunity to research colleges, get in touch with college coaches and partner with a recruitment coach who can help them navigate the NCSA process.

Heather Gage, an NCSA tennis recruiting coach, has guided hundreds of high-school students seeking to play college-level sports.

“I help athletes through all the different stages of the NCAA rules, inform them of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) rules and eligibility, teach them how to get in touch with coaches and talk to coaches to try and get them connected with players,” Gage said.

Different sports have different recruitment processes, each with varying levels of adherence to NCAA

guidelines.

“With tennis, it’s a mixture of inperson recruiting, coaches watching kids at tournaments and showcases, and having players come to the college campuses so coaches can see them there,” Gage said.

On Sept. 17, NCSA declared a “dead period,” which suspended all official and unofficial in-person recruiting and college visits for Division 1 sports until

Students who maintain a positive attitude, stay proactive, focus on what they have control over and adjust to the changes in the athletic recruitment process come out on top.

Heather Gage

NCSA RECRUITING COACH Jan. 1, 2021 in adherence to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

Due to the dead period, the vast majority of college athletic recruitment has been shifted to the NCSA online format.

“I have to promote my school and

swim achievements on NCSA to prove I’m a good recruit,” swimmer Ethan Purcell (11) said.

In the shift to an online format, students must maintain an active online presence and stay organized to ensure their best chances of committing to the college of their choice.

“You can’t expect coaches to reach out to you,” volleyball player Hannah Flannery (11) said. “If you want to connect with a reach school, you have to put in the hard work and be unafraid of rejection.”

However, there were also some benefits that came for recruits with the change in the NCSA process.

“Coaches are at their computers more so I can get a hold of them a lot easier and they’re much more responsive,” Gage said.

But, many students are disappointed that they can’t connect with coaches in person.

“I think that getting the full dynamic of everything by meeting the coach and the players is a very important part of my recruiting process,” Flannery said.

Even high-school athletes that committed to colleges before COVID-19 have faced challenges.

“The American College Testing (ACT) was canceled in May due to COVID-19, so I was forced to restudy for the exam in the summer to meet Northwestern’s standardized testing requirement,” Northwestern University Division 1 women’s soccer commit Bella Grust (12) said.

Another obstacle in the recruitment process is the cancellation or postponement of events that draw recruits and college coaches, such as national tournaments and college sports camps, but many club coaches continue to hold practices for sports.

“It’s a great time to take advantage of athletics,” Oklahoma State University Division 1 men’s baseball commit Eric Vanvalkenburg (12) said.

Students who are already committed to colleges must meet and maintain certain academic and athletic requirements made by the school to hold their spot on the athletic roster.

“Grades and SAT scores are something I have to keep up,” Grust said. “I try to be a good student and athlete on and off the field.”

Despite the adversity, high-school athletes are handling the situation well and demonstrating their perseverance to college coaches.

“Athletes are doing on and off-court training, working on their mental toughness and focusing on NCAA and NAIA academic requirements,” Gage said.

Despite the difficulty in doing so, high school student-athletes are finding many ways to overcome the academic and athletic challenges posed by recruitment.

“Students who maintain a positive attitude, stay proactive, focus on what they have control over and adjust to the changes in the athletic recruitment process come out on top,” Gage said.

sports

tphsfalconer.com

the falconer

A21

Should CIF sports reopen during the pandemic?

YES! Many college and professional sports have started up again, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, and most divisions of college football.

NO! There have been numerous cases of players at the college and professional levels testing positive for the virus and possibly spreading it to teammates.

People who are young and healthy are not very susceptible to COVID, so athletes will not be at high risk even if they do contract the virus.

Athletes that catch the virus run the risk of spreading it to older family members, who are much more vulnerable to the virus.

Athletes that are worried about catching the virus are not being forced to play; they have the right to opt out of playing if they so choose.

For athletes who are seeking sports scholarships, those who do not opt out of playing gain an advantage over those who do. infographic by brandon raimo/falconer

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A22 the falconer

october 23, 2020

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f/advice posted by Freshman_TPHS_TayTay123 1 hour ago

23.4k

I feel like I’m missing out on my high school experience!

I should be getting ready to have my mom drive me to the football games right now to cheer on #21 (he added me on Snap!) How do I have the year I deserve online?

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freddy_falcon 570 points 20 minutes ago Freshie...count yourself lucky that you don’t have to experience freshman year in person. Either way, #21 would probably never be able to see you in the very back row of the student section.

f/advice posted by Sphmore_TPHS_idgaf 2 hours ago

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How am I supposed to get all this homework done?? AP World has rocked my entire world. How will I balance this insane course loadh while ALSO getting my permit???

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freddy_falcon 1.5k points 1 hour ago You think this year is hard? AP World is just the beginning, so enjoy distance learning by celebrating with another red Solo cup selfie (and stop putting so much thought into your private stories, please).

f/advice posted by alexaplayjuice 4 hours ago

13.7k

Honestly can we not go back because I don’t think I can pass my AP classes if we go back in person LOL. So how exactly do I keep myself from having a mental breakdown? (asking for a friend) 178

freddy_falcon 986 points 3 hour ago TBH, I would probably cry every night if I were you, but like Will Ferrell said, “If you ain’t first, you’re last,” so hit the books juniors...WE ARE TP!

f/advice posted by Senior_2020nevertobeoutdone 5 hours ago

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So Becky broke up with me...she said sophomore year was too stressful. I think I’m just gonna roll with the boys for the rest of the year. But, for real, how am I gonna write my college essays?

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freddy_falcon 132 points 4 hour ago Okay Chad, you already have your Ivy League scholarship for lax, so my advice is just to be yourself and let your bright, Falcon personality shine. P.S. everyone wanted you and Becky to break up (it was kinda illegal).

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