Falconer February Issue 2022

Vol. 47, Issue 5, 24 pages

Friday, February 18, 2022

More than a drill GYM FIRE on A2

Firefighters arrive at TPHS after a fire breaks out in the gym. All students and teachers were evacuated safely.

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ASB hosts “Welcome to the Jungle”-themed Formal Jenny Han

FEATURE EDITOR

TPHS ASB’s “Welcome to the Jungle” themed Formal dance took place on Jan. 29 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Farmer and the Seahorse.

With COVID-19 restrictions in place, ASB chose to improvise and host the dance at a larger venue in La Jolla, rather than at the usual House of Blues.

ASB came up with three potential ideas and voted on the “Welcome to the Jungle” theme, coincidentally resembling CCA’s “Safari” theme.

“We had a good turnout, we were limited to 700 tickets and sold out,” Senior Class Vice President Mateo Pacelli (12) said.

The DJ and dance floor were at the front of the venue with string lights illuminating dancing students.

Away from the dance floor, tables were equipped with patio heaters and

decorated with faux leaves and rubber snakes. Further matching the jungle theme, plants and bouquets of green and clear balloons speckled the venue.

Snacks like soda, lemonade, candy and popcorn were provided.

Activities like bean bag toss, Wii Mario Kart and Xbox 360 Pac-Man were available for students to play. Ring lights equipped with iPads allowed students to take four pictures and turn them into their own GIFs. To fit the “jungle” theme, some wore green, however, for the most part, students explored their own fashion.

“I think the theme of the formal was [basically] irrelevant … I actually forgot there was one when I was there,” Taisiya Rubtsova (11) said. “Lots of people wore green but even more didn’t.”

To ASB adviser Jennifer Ryan, dances like Formal are an opportunity

to make the most of high school.

“There’s a line in the Macklemore song ‘Good Old Days,’ that always comes to my mind when I think of dances,” Ryan said. “‘Wish I made it

to homecoming/Got up the courage to ask her/Wish I would’ve gotten out of my shell.’ I really hope that all our students are able to make those special memories at dances.”

PHOTO BY JESSICA YU/FALCONER

ON TOP OF THE WORLD: A student is lifted into the air at the Winter Formal held on Jan. 29 in the Farmer and the Seahorse Restaurant.

“Beyond Van Gogh” exhibit comes to Del Mar Natalia Mochernak STAFF WRITER

The Del Mar Fairgrounds is hosting “Beyond Van Gogh”, an immersive touring exhibition showcasing 300 of Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh’s artworks, from Jan. 14 to Apr. 24.

Van Gogh’s paintings are unbound from frames, enlarged and projected onto the walls of Wyland Center.

Originally created in 2020 by Mathieu St-Arnaud and his team at Montreal’s Normal Studio, the exhibit features 500,000 square feet of visual projections and 60,000 frames of videos.

Additionally, it includes a recorded symphonic score that is composed of an instrumental version of “Vincent”, Don Mclean’s ode to the painter.

“Beyond Van Gogh is an imaginative and immersive adventure and takes on the challenge of breathing new life into Vincent van Gogh’s vast body of work,” St-Arnaud said in a press release.

“Through the use of cutting edge 3D

projection technology and music, guests can experience the artist with all of their senses.”

The exhibit is spread throughout three rooms. It begins with a walkthrough section of written panels that tell stories of Van Gogh’s life, his close relationship with his brother and an overview of late-19th century art in Europe.

“I never knew what a tortured person Van Gogh was,” Alyssa Wakefield (11) said. “It was very educational to walk through and read about his artistic process.”

Although some people remember Van Gogh for cutting off his ear and killing himself during bouts of mental illness, the focus of “Beyond Van Gogh” is to highlight his genius.

“It was a wonderful 90 minutes,” art enthusiast Maureen Beebe said. “It did a lot for my soul just like art should.”

Next, visitors walk through the Waterfall room which shows a cascading

flow of digital dots to model Van Gogh’s brush strokes.

The final room showcases a 35-minute film beginning with Vincent’s darker landscapes in the Netherlands and progressing to livelier still lifes and portraits from his time in France. Through animation, the cosmos swirls, portraits wink, flower petals blow across the wall and paint drips

from the ceiling.

“I loved how the art was everchanging,” Morgan Mullins (11) said.

“It was never stagnant and there was always something different to look at.”

Tickets are priced at $36.99 for adults and $23.99 for children, however the experience is emotionally moving and allows visitors to see the world through Van Gogh’s eyes.

PHOTOS BY NATALIA MOCHERNACK/FALCONER

BEYOND BEAUTIFUL: Museum patrons observe projected versions of Van Gogh’s artwork in the “Beyond Van Gogh” immerive experience.

Malfunctioning air purifier causes fire in TPHS gym Martin Lee

STAFF WRITER

On Feb.8, at approximately 2:05 p.m., smoke was seen coming out of the gym building due to a fire that started under the gym bleachers. The source of the fire was a malfunctioning air purifier which was placed under the bleachers.

At the time of the fire, students in the gym reported smelling smoke leading to the discovery of the fire before the alarms went off.

“We saw the fire before the alarm started ringing because somebody smelled the smoke and then the alarm started ringing,”said Luke Sanchez (9) who was in the gym playing basketball at the time.

Erik Shamsedeen (10) was outside when he was temporarily relocated away from the gym to the quad.

“Once we got down to the quad, we saw black smoke coming out of

everywhere ... there was so much smoke coming out the doors, it was insane.”

Many students were startled by the fire alarms and believed they were false since the gym has a history of false alarms.

“At first I was shocked because I didn’t really know what was going on and I thought it was a false alarm,” Nadine Malhis (10) said.

Principal Robert Coppo immediately called 911 shortly after the fire started.

Firefighters were on the scene 15 minutes after the fire was spotted and no one was hurt during the ordeal.

“The coaches using the gym evacuated quickly and kept all staff and students safe,” Coppo said in an official statement two hours after the fire.

Students who had seventh-period weight training that day had to wait until after school to enter the locker rooms, due to the smoke. Coaches gathered as many N95 masks as

possible to distribute to students so that they could change clothes and retrieve their belongings safely. Repair

trucks were seen the following day and the gym was reopened on Friday after school.

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rates

Kathryn Reese

STAFF WRITER

A recent string of residential burglaries in San Diego County, including La Jolla, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Carmel Valley, Poway, Torrey Highlands and other areas, could be linked to a “sophisticated” crime ring, according to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD).

In response, the department’s Northern (Carmel Valley) Division is assigning investigators to the La Jolla area, where most of the cases have been reported.

“We are going to use additional patrol officers to patrol the area [and] undercover detectives to ride around in plain vehicles,” SDPD Lieutenant Rick Aguilar said in a community conference on Jan. 21. “We’re going to have officers work overtime to patrol this area. We hear you loud and clear … we want to catch these people.”

According to SDPD Captain Scott Wahl the break-ins typically take place when no one is home. “[The thieves] don’t want interactions with people. I think they are aware of how that would elevate the status of the crime. They are sticking to just property crime and very high-dollar crimes,” Wahl said. “The value of what has been taken in homes across the county is in the millions.”

Cece Cornell (12) is one San Diego

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resident who was recently subject to a burglary. Though not a residential theft, Cornell’s car was broken into and her driver’s license was stolen.

“I looked through my passenger side window and my console was open as well as my glovebox. It didn’t seem too out of the ordinary to me because I thought it was just one of my brothers looking for their permits or getting their football gear,” Cornell said. “I went to get my

I went to get my card and I realized none of my cards were there. So that’s when I started to freak out.

San

Diego

to stay vigilant in these times. The burglars often case a neighborhood to learn patterns, wear high-end clothing and drive high-end vehicles to blend in.

“They do their homework, they are sophisticated in their surveillance.

They are … watching when you leave your home,” Aguilar said.

Hailey Hellenkamp (12) was surprised when her parked car was burglarized in Leucadia late last year.

“It was weird because I thought the area we were in was a really nice area,” Hellencamp said. “So after that, being in my car was just a weird feeling.”

Cornell also thought it was “kind of

weird” when her car was broken into, because she lives in Solana Beach, “a pretty nice part of San Diego.”

Cornell was previously aware of the increasing burglary rates in the area, yet felt the break-in she experienced was eye-opening.

“I watch the news every night and the crime rate has increased so drastically, and you don’t think it can happen to you until it happens to you,” Cornell said. “Maybe I should have made sure that my car key batteries were accurately working. It just serves as a real maturity and responsibility check.”

Lock the Door on Theft 2

Cece Cornell SENIOR

card and I realized none of my cards were in there. So that’s when I started to freak out.”

Cornell suspects the break-in occurred late at night or during the early morning when the perpetrator got in because of a broken car key.

“I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, nothing’s there,’” Cornell said. “It was pretty scary. I’m still kind of scarred by it.”

According to Aguilar, it is important

County

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don’t post vacation plans on social media

keep windows and doors locked in evening

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have plenty of exterior lighting

alert neighbors when going on vacation

INFORMATION FROM THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT

Infographic by Jerry Wu and Rami Kabakibi

Celebrating Black History Month in San Diego

Febuary 1976 marked the first Black History Month celebrated in the United States. Dedicated to honoring African Americans and their history, Black History Month has become a national observance since its founding. Black people in San Diego experienced struggle to gain equal rights and a strong voice in society as they did everywhere. Here are a few of the revolutionary historical figures and key events in San Diego Black History.

INFORMATION FROM SANDIEGO.ORG AND SAN DIEGO HISTORY CENTER

Earl Gilliam

Leon Williams

Earl Gilliam became the first African American judge in San Diego County when he was appointed to the San Diego Municipal Court in 1963. Gilliam served on the San Diego Interracial Council, the Southeast Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego Board of Education’s advisory committee.

Leon Williams was the first Black person elected to the San Diego City Council in 1969 and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in 1982. In his long public service, Williams helped start the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation and served as President of the California Associations of Counties.

Soloman and Cordella Johnson

George A. Ramsey

Soloman and Cordella Johnson helped open the first black Church in San Diego, the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, in the 1890s. The church soon became a popular hub, offering sanctuary to African Americans. The Solomons also kickstarted a chapter of the NAACP in San Diego.

In the 1920s, George A. Ramsey helped fund the building of the Douglas Hotel. As one of the earliest Black entertainment venues, it featured nightly jazz and blues performances and provided top-quality entertainment for African Americans who were barred from San Diego’s other hotels.

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PHOTOS FROM SAN DIEGO HISTORY CENTER, EARL B GILLIAM FOUNTATION, MISSION TIME COURIER, NAACP, PEW RESEARCH CENTER, BLACKPAST

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february 18, 2022

TP Hip Hop dominates West Coast Elite competition Dixie Wallerius

OPINION WRITER

The TPHS dance team hosted and placed first in hip hop small group and hip hop large group at the West Coast Elite dance competition, which was held in the TPHS gym on Jan. 22.

Schools throughout California participated in the competition, including neighboring schools like La Costa Canyon High School and Cathedral Catholic High School.

After a football season when the hip-hop dance team performed for live half-time audiences, the team switched gears for their competition season.

This meant more practices and new combinations.

“From the end of October to the end of January is when we are prepping all four teams for competitions,” Francis Florendo, head coach of the hip-hop team, said. “This is when we change our

schedule from having one rehearsal per team to having two or three rehearsals throughout the week.”

Hours are spent perfecting routines and learning choreography designed by Florendo.

“It’s just really a bunch of trial and error. Trying to find the best music, the best choreography and the best blocking,” Florendo said. “Although it seems like a long time, we always finish our dance sets a week or two before our first competition.”

Hosting this large competition on the team’s home campus was a unique experience. Not only did it strengthen their school spirit, but it also calmed nerves.

“It was fun because this is our home and it was a comfort to dance with everyone in our gym,” Lexi Greene (12) said.

Each of the teams, whether big or

small, have traditions and rituals they observe during competitions.

“We come early so we can support every person competing,” Brooklynn Munce (12) said. “When someone [on the team] is performing, our entire team runs out to be in the front row and cheer.”

As opposed to the fun football season performances, there is more pressure

during the competition season.

“Competition is really about changing the pace of performing for your fellow classmates, to representing TPHS,” Florendo said.

With monthly competitions and a trip to nationals, the hip-hop dance team continues to “do work” in hopes of claiming their fifth consecutive national championship.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BROOKLYNN MUNCE

DANCING QUEENS: Hip hop dance team celebrates with its trophies following a West Coast Elite competition victory. Both hip hop teams placed first in their

SAT adapts to waning use with digital version out in ‘24 Jacob Zhang

NEWS EDITOR

The SAT will move to a shorter, all digital version starting in 2024 for U.S. students amid a growing retreat from standardized testing as colleges adopt test-optional and test-blind admissions policies. The test will still be administered in person.

According to the College Board, the new SAT will be cut from three hours to two hours and allocate more time per question. It will also feature shorter reading passages with one question tied to each passage and allow the use of a calculator on the entire math section.

“Shortening the test is helpful,” TPHS Intervention Coordinator Brenda Robinette said. “A lot of students are not able to sit in a chair and focus that long. The length of the test was probably an issue for a lot of students.”

In a global pilot of the new SAT, the College Board reported on their website

that “80 percent of students found it to be less stressful and 100 percent of educators reported having a positive experience.”

The transition from paper to computer will also allow each student to receive a unique test, increasing test security.

Scores will be returned in days, instead of weeks, and administrators will have more flexibility as to where, when and how often the test is administered, the College Board announced.

“It’ll be a good change,” Seewoo Kwon (11) said. “I’m sure there are countermeasures so people don’t cheat.”

In the new SAT, content will be more “relevant” and reading passages will cover a wider range of topics reflecting the works that students read in college, according to the College Board.

“They want to align [the SAT] with college preparedness,” TPHS Counselor Julliane Velasco said. “So that to me is a valuable tool not just to enhance

students’ application for admissions, but to also … help the student fine tune college preparedness.”

The decision comes as more and more colleges are placing less emphasis on standardized test scores. The Wall Street Journal reported that 76 percent of U.S. colleges are making standardized testing optional in 2022, and that the SAT has lost market share to its competitor, the ACT. “By reducing the time, I think it makes [the SAT] more appealing, which could also be something related to monetary gain,” William Song (12) said.

In California, the UC system has stopped considering standardized test scores altogether, but because many schools outside of California still accept them, TPHS recommends that all students to take either the ACT or the SAT, according to Velasco.

It is unclear whether the change

will prompt colleges to place a heavier weight on standardized test scores.

“It depends on each individual school,” Velasco said. “They’re looking at current data from the last two years in terms of the admission acceptances they’ve received, and asking themselves, ‘Do they need it or is it something they want to bring back?’”

PHOTO BY JESSICA YU/FALCONER

DROP YOUR PENCILS: Starting in 2024, the SAT will ditch paper and pencils and move to an all digital format.

PH

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District leaders take campus Equity Walks to identify equity barriers in classrooms Anna Opalsky

STAFF WRITER

The new SDUHSD practice of Equity Walks, the latest development in a district-wide effort to increase equity and diversity, began in late January.

The walks, conducted by SDUHSD Superintendent Dr. Cheryl JamesWard and the district executive cabinet, are visits to classrooms with the objective of observing teacherstudent interactions and class environments.

“A key component of equity work is to identify barriers in our systems … that lead to opportunity … gaps for students,” Ward said in an email to SDUHSD staff.

To identify these barriers, the district correlated recent academic performance data, including class enrollment and standardized test results, with race, economic background and gender. The data reveals subsets of district students, specifically Black, Indigenous and LatinX students and students from low-income households, have lower graduation rates and test scores, and higher enrollment in below-grade level math courses. Female students show lower enrollment in AP math and advanced Career Technical Education (CTE) courses.

“The data tells us that although we’re doing well as a district, some

kids are not well served,” Ward said.

“The question is, why?”

This is what prompted Equity Walks. During visits to classrooms, Ward gathers information on seating arrangements and class engagement to ensure all students are supported.

“If a kid is on the data set that says they’re not doing well, and we visit the class, [we want to know] where they are seated,” she said.

The goal is to ensure struggling students are toward the front of the class, engaged in work and receiving teacher support, according to Ward.

After each walk, the executive cabinet’s observations are reported to principals and used in future staff training and district programs.

The walks are every other Tuesday, and Ward plans to visit each campus by the end of the academic year, initially focusing on math departments.

“We started with math because it’s the gatekeeper to a four-year university and higher paid CTE professions,” Ward said.

The first walk was at Diegueño Middle School on Jan. 18. Two weeks later, Ward visited Oak Crest Middle School, saying that classroom environments were “all on point.”

“OCMS got very positive feedback,” OCMS Principal Kathryn Friedrichs said. “Teachers were prepared and 100 percent of students were engaged.”

The next Equity Walk will be at Earl Warren Middle School on Mar. 1. A walk at TPHS has not been scheduled yet.

In ensuring that students are supported, Ward sees the walks as a way to increase awareness and decrease hate in the district.

“Once [teachers] give [students] the support they need, the rest of the class will do the same,” she said.

With multiple incidents of hatemotivated vandalism in SDUHSD this year, TPHS students agree education is necessary to decrease hate.

“Awareness is a key part of creating change,” TPHS Progressive Student Coalition President Ari DiDomenico (12) said.

Toby Thorpe (12), another PSC member, shares DiDomenico’s view on awareness, but doubts the effectiveness of Equity Walks.

“When teachers get reviewed everyone acts differently,” he said.

“I’m not sure if [prejudice] will be caught by observing classrooms.”

While an increase in classroom engagement, teacher support and equitable seating are short-term goals of Equity Walks, Ward hopes a change in behavior will strengthen academic performance among minority students.

“The long-term goal is a change in the data,” she said. “We want to narrow that gap.”

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Daniel Wang (12) & Gwennie Liu (12)

WRIGHT STUFF (4th)

Ian Chen (12) & Celine Wang (12)

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Andrew Wang (12) & Daniel Wang (12) AIME Math Exam Qualifiers Derek Liu (11) Elliot Liu (10) Giacomo Rizzo (12) Jacopo Rizzo (10) Sidarth Erat (9) Edison Shen (10)

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANGELA WILLDEN

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As the Supreme Court hears a case regarding affirmative action, the practice of favoring those in groups previously discriminated against, debate is raging again. Some view affirmative action as necessary for leveling a sloped playing field, while others see it as more discrimination.

Cole Frost

STAFF WRITER

Introduced by a 1961 President Kennedy Executive Order, affirmative action opened a new chapter of racial and gender equality in hiring for United States government positions.

Today, affirmative action reaches into a variety of sectors and has evolved from viewing applicants with an unbiased eye to actively making room for underrepresented groups in our society.

And rightly so. In the half-century that affirmative action has been in place, severe inequality has given way to greater diversity – and with it, great societal benefits. To stifle it now would be premature and harmful to our current and future generations.

According to the Pew Research Center, the share of women aged 18 to 24 attending college more than doubled between 1967 and 2009, climbing from 19 percent to 44 percent. Furthermore, The National Center For Educational Statistics found that college enrollment rates for African Americans aged 18 to 24 rose from 31 percent to 37 percent between the years 2000 and 2018. This same upward trajectory took place among the Hispanic population.

However, racial and gender inequality is still present today, despite the many gains enabled by affirmative action.

A 2019 study conducted by the Economic Policy Institute found that 8.2 percent of Black workers with

a high school degree suffered from unemployment, compared to just 3.8 percent of white workers. Even among those with educational experience post-high school, 3.5 percent of Black workers with a college degree were jobless in 2019, compared to 2.2 percent of college-educated white workers.

A ban on affirmative action would worsen the already significant racial inequality that plagues our country today. According to a 2014 University of Washington study, racial minorities would suffer a 23.3 percent decrease in the chance of admission to selective public colleges if a ban on affirmative action was enacted.

This should not only be a cause for alarm among minorities but a wakeup call for all Americans. Prioritizing diversity does not solely benefit one race or gender. When we prioritize diversity, we enrich humanity.

Diverse communities allow students to connect and learn from people of different backgrounds, cultures and values, fostering a more inclusive and enriching learning environment for all. In a rapidly growing global economy, the next generation’s workforce must have the skills to collaborate and communicate with people of all nationalities, religions and genders.

Despite the significant gains it has enabled, affirmative action does have one glaring flaw; it ignores socioeconomic differences among minority groups. But prioritizing the socioeconomic factors of affirmative action would ignore the institutional racism and sexism that exists today.

A ban on affirmative action would be a regressive and costly choice considering the crucial role that diversity plays in American colleges and workplace. It is time to build on the progress enabled by decades of affirmative action while strengthening it to better address the emerging challenges facing America in the twenty-first century.

David Zhang

SPORTS EDITOR

Affirmative action attempts to address past discrimination in a particular institution or in broader society through “targeted goals” to identify, select and train potentially qualified minorities and women.

First implemented in 1961, it was prohibited by law in California in 1996 with the passage of Prop 209.

While I do agree with the idea surrounding affirmative action, I disagree with the execution of it.

Affirmative action promises to train potentially qualified minorities and women due to them being underrepresented in college education and in the STEM workforce, among other industries. Yet, Asians have it harder than their white counterparts.

According to a research study from Princeton University, students who identify as Asian must score, on average, 140 points higher on the SAT (out of 1600) than white students to have the same chance of admission to private colleges. They must score 450 points higher on the SAT than Black students. It is a good idea for affirmative action to make it easier for minority groups such as African Americans and Hispanics to get into college. However, why does it have to hinder Asians? According to the U.S Bureau of Statistics, Asians are also minorities in America while white people are the majority. In a study done by the Social Science Quarterly, without affirmative action nationwide,

ART BY AMANDA SALANTINO

African American candidates of elite colleges would fall from 33.7 percent to 12.2 percent, while the acceptance rate for Hispanic applicants would be cut in half from 26.8 percent to 12.9 percent. White applicants see virtually no change going from 23.8 percent to 24.3 percent, Asians would see an increase from 23.7 percent to 31.5 percent. These statistics do show the benefits of affirmative action, however, it also shows how hindering Asians keeps white people in college along with helping other minorities.

Asians are essentially given a tax in college admissions. Affirmative action promises to help benefit minorities, yet it benefits white students more than it does Asian students. According to Time Magazine, while people of color, individually and as groups, have been helped by affirmative action, data suggest that women -white women, in particular -- have been helped disproportionately.

The main goal of affirmative action is not only to help minorities but also women, particularly minority women, yet white women are receiving inordinately more help than minority women. Affirmative action is based on a system of discrimination and therefore should not be used to evaluate fitness for admission to college. This ties back to how affirmative action is still helping white people.

Once again, the idea behind affirmative action is sound, and the goal of bettering minority representation in college and the workforce is admirable. However, an increase in minority representation should mean an increase for all minorities, including Asians, yet, as affirmative action decreases the number of Asians admitted in order to keep the same amount of white people in college. If affirmative action followed through with its intention, that would mean a decrease in white students in order to have an increase in minority students of every group.

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opinion

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Clothing companies need reform, not consumers

Helene Gao

FEATURE EDITOR

With the ever-changing trends circulating every social media platform, it is easy for consumers to fall into the trap of trying to keep up with them all. With buying new clothes being as easy as a couple of clicks, American consumerism is at its peak as global clothing production has risen to 100 billion units a year. However, what many people don’t see is the social and environmental cost of these easily accessible clothes.

To keep up with the increasing demand, supply chains often outsource textile production to less economically developed countries and to keep prices low, the cuts are made in the wages of workers. In Bangladesh, retailers pay as little as US$2-3 per day to garment workers and there are cases of child labor found in the textile production process in multiple countries. Workers are not guaranteed safe working conditions and are exposed to dyes and solvents that are carcinogenic and mutagenic. These toxic chemicals also harm the surrounding environment as factories dump chemical-laden

wastewater into rivers and oceans. The United Nations reports the fashion industry is responsible for 20 percent of global wastewater and 10 percent of global carbon emissions.

The counterpart of fast fashion, aptly named “slow fashion,” consists of sustainable clothing made with natural material and low-impact manufacturing processes. Brands such as Patagonia, one of the first brands to use recycled materials and switch to organic cotton, and Reformation, which has detailed explanations of their environmental footprint, strive to be environmentally neutral or even environmentally positive.

Even if everyone knows fast fashion is bad, shopping sustainably is just not accessible to everyone.

Commonly, brands that are claimed to be sustainable are noticeably more expensive and not inclusive for all sizes. With the fast fashion business model dominating the fashion industry currently, sustainable brands are few and far between, unable to compete with fast fashion’s constant stream of new products. Most people simply don’t have the time to rifle through thrift stores or research the practices of every company they purchase from. Fast fashion is simply easier to find a variety of sizes and fits, at an affordable price.

As more awareness is spread about fast fashion, there is also more criticism of those who support these businesses, but shaming those who buy fast fashion is ineffective in solving the root of the problem. Necessity shoppers do not supply the majority of income building companies like Spanish

ART BY ALISON WILLIAMS brand Zara; overconsumption is. Social media influencers that flaunt massive fashion haul videos are promoting this overconsumption on the seemingly limitless reach of social media.

The popular sentiment, “no ethical consumption under capitalism,” may be true, but giant retailers dominate almost every market segment. Shaming consumers for buying what is accessible for them does not fix the unethical system that fast fashion is built on.

Although fast fashion giants seem unavoidable, average shoppers can still make small changes to their buying habits to decrease the damage.

Consumers also play a part in environmental and social consequences, whether that be participating in throwaway culture or perpetuating societal pressure to keep up with trends. The average American produces

82 pounds of clothing waste annually, which ends up sitting in landfills, some of which is discarded after only a couple of uses.

Additionally when shopping, searching for timeless pieces or items with higher quality can ensure a longer lifespan for the garment.

Instead of a $10 t-shirt that quickly deteriorates, consider purchasing a higher quality and ethically sourced one for $40. By wearing a garment for nine months longer, the carbon footprint of that garment is already reduced by 30 percent. If all consumers make a conscious decision to curb their impulsive shopping habits and to consciously mind their clothing intake and disposal, companies can be prompted to change their business models with workers’ rights and environmental protection in mind.

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INFORMATION FROM CNN

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A8 the falconer

february 18, 2022

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE

» SRISHTI THAPAR Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Srishti Thapar, reveals how she has learned to live with anxiety rather than fighting it.

“I used to think the brain was the most important organ until I realized who was telling me that.”

My dad told me this quote when I was twelve years old, anxiously awaiting my second HPV vaccine dose at the doctor’s office. The week before my appointment, it felt like I spent each passing moment in dread, scared of the pain I was going to endure. I didn’t know what that crippling feeling was then, but I finally understand: it was anxiety.

After seventeen years of trusting the “Srishti” in my head, I realized that not all of my thoughts deserve attention, because, quite simply, they’re not all true. At first, these thoughts were harmless, but the older I got, the more they turned on me and convinced me I was fundamentally not “enough.”

As solace during stressful times growing up, I took refuge in my inner world. It often felt like there were two of me: the “Srishti’’ interacting with the outside, and the “Srishti” living in my head, providing comfort through an internal monologue. While being highly sensitive in that way has given me the gift of feeling life’s joys intensely, it

also means that I also feel profoundly in the other painful direction. And while I was okay living with the voice for years, upon entering the pandemic, my moderate, manageable anxiety gradually became severe.

In stressful moments of feeling inadequate, all I had alone in my room was the “Srishti” in my brain.

When thoughts of insecurity and selfdoubt flooded my mind, of the body’s main threat responses, I didn’t fight or flee, instead, I froze. At low points, I felt immobilized, my legs heavy, weighing me down. With my family and therapist’s help, I made the first step in getting out of this habit loop: admitting I needed to change. After accepting my situation, I turned to action and started to meditate, read books and watch lectures about anxiety, psychology and mindfulness. Through all of my studies, I came to a harsh truth; I could never get rid of the “voice” in my brain, I had to live with it.

This was an important discovery because I finally understood that instead of trying to talk myself out of insecurity or fighting with my brain, convincing myself “I’m enough,” I

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could instead redirect my attention from my thoughts and anxieties to my hands and senses. If I felt myself start to shut down, I turned to art, exercise or piano, ensuring I kept my hands moving and my brain occupied with other streams of thought. I took a cognitive behavioral therapy approach to my anxiety: changing my behaviors to modify my thinking instead of the other way around. Through movement, holding space for my anxieties and shortcomings came more naturally.

I learned (and am still learning) to consider every part of myself with equal weight, not letting one thing define me — essentially scattering my self-worth into a multitude of things. I wasn’t just one “Srishti,” but, instead, a whole person, deserving of love regardless of categorical success. I prioritized balance, ensuring that anxiety didn’t shut down my entire life. I knew that no matter how unproductive I was in a day, or how deficient I felt, every part of my life didn’t have to (or get to) stop.

After all, my mind is only one out of 78 organs in the body; it was time to start

paying attention to the others with the same earnestness. Meditation brought me to my physical consciousness, encouraging me to notice the sensations of my body with curiosity. I know I will never be rid of anxiety, but I can learn to live with it; focusing not on what my mind is telling me but instead on my physical existence – the only thing I know is true. Withdrawing from the story of “Srishti’’ has been freeing because I get to immerse myself into other peoples’ stories through books, music, art and friendships instead of habitually tuning in to the “Let’s Make Srishti Sad” radio station in my mind.

Over time, I’m learning how to harness my sensitivity, using it when necessary, while also allowing myself to let it go and rest from feeling all the time!

So with numerous vaccines upon me, and an entire, uncertain life ahead, I will not stop and sit, dreading a jab to the arm or an imminent future. I’ll instead wave my thoughts “hello” and let them drift by like clouds in the sky as I remind myself to keep moving – even if that’s all I do.

TPHS lacks necessary campus security precautions

Madison Miller

STAFF WRITER

TPHS’ lack of gates surrounding the campus and other security issues have raised concerns about whether TPHS is a safe campus. Although not true of all the high schools in SDUHSD, the TPHS campus features numerous ungated entry points, allowing anyone to walk onto campus at any hour of the day. While the campus is in a generally safe, low-crime location, TPHS lacks necessary security precautions. The limited number of gates and active cameras on campus are insufficient to guarantee the safety of students.

“There are some vestiges of older cameras that aren’t functional so not everything that looks like a camera on campus works,” Principal Robert Coppo said. “There’s a couple of really big ones, those are left over from decades

ago. We have smaller ones now and those are all active and working.”

The campus supervisors at TPHS typically drive around campus and make sure students are behaving themselves, as opposed to monitoring the paths leading onto campus.

Threats have become far too common in public schools across the country, and unfortunately, TPHS has experienced several. According to ABC 10 News San Diego, in 2018 two teens were arrested on suspicion of threatening a shooting at TPHS. An unidentified student had written threatening notes on the locker room bathroom walls, sending out a wave of fear in the community. Since it was a TPHS student that threatened this, the district was concerned that the students may carry out the threat on campus. The district has since installed security cameras and closed bathrooms numerous times in recent years due to threatening acts of vandalism.

Schools everywhere have implemented lockdown drills, and TPHS is no different. TPHS has had numerous lockdown drills in past years, none of which were truly effective in preventing potential intruders as they only demonstrate how students should respond to a campus intruder event.

According to the Washington Times,

the U.S. Congress is pushing to employ resource officers, law enforcement officers assigned to ensure the safety of students on campus and even going as far as having police officers prominent on campuses during the school day.

TPHS has a few campus supervisors, but not enough to prevent a potential intruder from entering campus. The campus supervisors’ typical role on campus is to monitor student behavior and ensure that the campus is clean.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 91 percent of high schools have controlled access to buildings during school hours, while 94 percent have active security cameras covering the school. Coppo said working cameras are being installed, but none of them are actively monitored and are only used if

there is a specific reason.

In December 2021, La Costa Canyon High School received a written threat on the wall of the girls’ bathroom.

The school switched to asynchronous learning that Friday as the campus contacted Carlsbad police and the campus was heavily monitored.

“All schools have safety plans and participate in lockdown drills,” SDUHSD Superintendent Cheryl James-Ward said.

While TPHS continues the installation of new security cameras and has students participating in lockdown drills, the lack of security on campus leaves students questioning whether TPHS’ campus is truly safe from outside intruders.

ART BY ISABELLA ZABARSKY

opinion

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STAFF EDITORIAL Over the past few years, states across the nation have continued limiting what teachers are allowed to teach in schools. From censorship of discussions about sexuality to the banning of books like “Maus,” there has been an increase in conversations, sometimes heated ones, about what parents think their children should and should not learn.

School is a community designed for students with the purpose of teaching them about a wide spectrum of topics, including ones that challenge their perceptions, make them uncomfortable, upset them, lead them to action, and help them make informed decisions about how they feel about issues, controversial and otherwise.

Educational censorship limits students’ exposure to events and issues in the world around them, hampering their ability to judge for themselves what they think and what, if anything, they need to do.

That is why bills such as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill that is in moving through both the Florida state House of Representatives and the state Senate, can be so detremental to developing minds. The intent of the bill is to forbid discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in public school primary grade classrooms, any other classroom deemed “not age-appropriate” and with counselors or school support staff, such as school psychologists. Opponents of the legislation say passage will further marginalize LGBTQ+ students, which may have “devastating mental health impacts.” This form of censorship is harmful as students are unable to have formal instruction in and discussion

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Educational censorship threatens safe and important conversations about topics they may be interested in, curious about or grappling with.

The “Parental rights in Education” bills in Florida not only hinder discussion of important topics, they also make LGBTQ+ kids feel excluded from their school communities and from society in general, as if their very existence is being banned.

This is not the only thing being censored in schools, as the book “Maus”

by Art Spiegelman has just been removed from a Tennessee school’s curriculum.

The book follows the story of Spiegelman’s father and his experience surviving the Holocaust. The McMinn County board stated on January 10 that the reason they banned “Maus” was for upsetting topics such as the depiction of violence and suicide.

While it is true that the Pulitzer Prize-winning book shares descriptive and possibly graphic stories of Vladek Spiegelman’s life, schools have a responsibility not to sugarcoat any aspect of the Holocaust or any other historical event. Educational censorship stops students from learning the raw truth of these historical events.

The book is often included as part of the 10th grade curriculum in the SDUHSD and depicts far more personal stories than those found in history textbooks. It not only shares a personal story but helps students understand the emotional toll of the Holocaust more fully.

The collateral harm that comes with educational censorship is that students who do not learn about important topics in school may turn to social

ART BY TISYA NAIR

media to get their information on the topic, where there are no barriers to misinformation, bias and hate.

This type of environment can easily sway the opinion of developing minds and is not the safest place to have selfexploration discussions.

Schools must provide students with the environment to learn about important and even potentislly

What kind of content should schools censor in their curriculums?

uncomfortable events and topics while giving students a chance to discuss and exchange ideas before forming their opinions. The overall goal should be to provide students with enough wellrounded resources in order to educate them on the world they will step into, rather than push others’ developed views and ideas onto impressionable -The Falconer Staff students.

Student Voices I think schools have the right to censor materials that spread hate and misinformation if it doesn’t add to the lesson.”

-Roan Wallerius (10) I think schools should be able to censor anything negative about race and ethnicity”

-Ashley Pham (12) Editor-in-Chief: Assistant Editor-in-Chief:

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

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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.

Jasmine Criqui Mirabel Hunt, Srishti Thapar, & Amy Ge

Copy Editor:

Jerry Wu

News Editor:

Jacob Zhang

Opinion Editor:

Dixie Wallerius

Feature Editors:

Jenny Han & Helene Gao

Entertainment Editor:

Viyang Hao & Kelsie Park

Sports Editors: Backpage Editor Adviser:

Nolan Ezzet & David Zhang Piper Levy Mia Boardman Smith

Staff Writers: Adriana Hazlett Anna Opalsky Caroline Hunt Cole Frost Lola Newlander Maddy Miller Matan Morris Martin Lee Michele Kim Natalia Mochernak Rami Kabakibi Kathryn Reese Naomi Ciel Schneider Regan Guirguis Photographers: Jessica Yu Emily Suh Rasa Nyce

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february 18, 2022

Stop and smell the bougainvillea As one steps up the stairs in the front of the school, the sweet smell of eucalyptus and rosemary embraces the senses and encapsulates the wonders of Southern California in one breath of air. In one stroll through the campus, students encounter thousands of different plant species. In fact, the region’s beautiful Torrey Pines trees are the school’s namesake. No matter how effortless the flora of our campus may seem to flourish, there is a lot more than meets the eye.

The SDUHSD Maintenance and Operations team puts in hours to tailor the region’s natural gifts to the needs and purposes of the student body. Director of Maintenance and Operations, Ted Norman, leads a team of 19 full-time staff members in the grounds department along with groundskeepers, equipment operators, irrigation technicians and pesticide applicators. “[The ground staff] their primary function is the day-to-day upkeep: collecting all of the trash around the perimeter of the campuses,” Norman said. “High schools like Torrey Pines, you’re talking about 50 to 100 trash barrels throughout the property by sports fields, parking lots and the perimeters.”

The staff also maintains all district trees, mow lawns, dig necessary ditches and fertilize on a daily basis. And with such a limited staff, that can be a great undertaking.

“Much of the week is consumed with day-to-day upkeep.

The team does a lot, but they all wish that we could do more,” Norman said. “It’s not real exciting work but that’s the job: to maintain.”

To minimize unnecessary maintenance, the groundskeeping team makes an effort to work with plants indigenous to San Diego.

“If you put in all the native plants they’re gonna grow yearround. Some of the plants here adapted to summer almost like what we call aestivation,” Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher, Brian Bodas, said. “They go dormant in the summertime: it is their way of surviving in the Mediterranean climate.”

The Carmel Valley and Del Mar region is a coastal Chaparral biome. Therefore, native plants such as lemonade berry, laurel sumac and echeveria are abundant on campus.

“You want to put in things that are agreeable with the soil and the natural climate,” Bodas said.

Being conscious of water is especially important in a droughtridden area such as California. To combat this, the campus uses reclaimed water to reduce its water usage. However, reclaimed water presents its own set of issues.

“Reclaimed water is really great, but it is really bad for our soils because it promotes weed growth,” Norman said.

Weeds not only are detrimental to the general aesthetic of the campus but also to the well-being and cleanliness of the athletic fields, especially for the non-turf fields.

So, irrigation technicians come to monitor the water regulation in these fields and grounds staff keep the lawns mowed.

One of the main goals of the Maintenance and Operations team is to make sure that the landscaping is conducive to student life at TPHS. “So because of the changing bell schedule, they’re going to convert some of the upper fields to turf, and then they’re also going to illuminate them,”

Bodas said. “If we start getting out at 3:30, in the wintertime, teams would be playing in the dark.”

Not only that, the groundskeepers must also protect the natural environment from human impact. By the student parking lot, the grounds team just finished a beautification project, planting copper pinwheels, agave, paddle plants and more. Knowing that students walk on that hill, often very recklessly, to get to their classes, the grounds team used decomposed granite and an aggregate glue to keep the plants in place and provide students with a stable walking path.

As far as the future, the Maintenance and Operations team is excited to work with the facilities team on more projects.

“That beautiful new Falcon eatery is going in so when that area is done it will be landscaped by the facilities department,” Norman said. “Their contractor will come in and coordinate with my team on plants, soils, irrigation materials and more.”

Student-driven environmental clubs such as Urth Club and The Eco & Care Club aim to lend a hand in improving and beautifying TPHS. Urth Club regularly plans campus clean-ups for its members.

Co-president and founder, Olivia Schroeder (12) hopes to leave the club’s own mark on campus.

“We hope to work on bettering the TPHS landscaping and possibly making some kind of nature space on campus for students,” Schroeder said.

At the end of the day, maintaining the beauty of our campus is a group effort. If a golden treasure flower or the alluring aroma of sweet alyssum blossoms ever brightens your day, remember how much care went into cultivating that plant.

“If students are looking for ways to help out, litter on the campuses is an issue,” Norman said. “And say hi to your groundskeeper when you see him?

They don’t get a lot of love.”

by Mirabel Hunt

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february 18, 2022 2018

Cardinal Custodia Falconer aspires to gain a better understanding of the responsibilities and lives of the TPHS custodial staff to create more awareness among students of just how invaluable they are to the campus.

For the past 16 years, Logan Helm, Head Custodian and School Plant Supervisor, has risen before the sun and arrived at school at 6 a.m. every morning to begin his work day. He and his staff stay on campus until 3 p.m., going from broken cabinets to malfunctioning air conditioners to pizza-boxmissed shots at the trash can. While students filter in and out, Helm and his crew are always nearby ready to spring into action.

This story is the same for the rest of the custodial staff at TPHS, many of whom have been TP employees longer than most teachers. Helm, for instance, has been working at TPHS for nearly 17 years maintaining the electricity and taking care of various issues.

“If there’s an HVAC issue or electrical issue and the lights are out, I’m the one that gets everything going,” Helm said. “When there’s a problem, I’m always there.”

The other part of Helm’s workday involves him and his daytime staff working all around campus, mitigating the ongoing trash problem at TPHS. Another longtime TPHS employee is night crew leader, Jesus Santa Cruz, who takes over for the day crew when Helm finishes his work at 3:30 p.m. Santa Cruz has worked his Jesus Santa Cruz 2 to 11 p.m. shift for the past 22 years. As NIGHT CREW LEADER a crew leader, Santa Cruz is responsible for the routes of the members on his crew in addition to his own cleaning route.

“I have ten classrooms, the Learning Commons and the media center [on my route]. Plus, whatever sports are happening in the stadium, I [help] work the scoreboard and bathrooms. Whenever there’s other events [on campus], I have to be aware of what’s going on,” Santa Cruz said. “There’s a lot in a normal day.”

After an exhausting day, Santa Cruz arrives home and unwinds by babysitting his two grandchildren and catching up on his sleep. He also spends his weekends going to church and having fun at parties.

One of Helm’s favorite parts of the d a y is going home to his cat, Ambi, and listening to music to

relax.

These moments of relief are much needed for the hard-working custodial staff. On top of keeping every classroom pristine, the crew faces unnecessary challenges created by students in their day-to-day work.

“There are times when there are 19 juices (cartons) that are crushed outside after break and lunch,” Helm said. “It’s crazy; just show some respect.”

Santa Cruz echoed this feeling, noticing a lack of respect among students for the school and staff.

“Before, we used to erase the whiteboards [and empty the pencil sharpeners]. Now we don’t have time because we spend more time picking up [trash]from the floor,” Santa Cruz said. “We will do more in the classroom if it is clean.”

The trash issue certainly hinders the work of custodial staff, often forcing them to do extra work that students have left behind.

“Way back in the day, they cleaned your whiteboard for you every day, they vacuumed every day, they emptied the trash can,” English teacher Mia Boardman Smith said.

But despite the excess of difficult work, Santa Cruz says that he truly enjoys his job.

“I like my job,” Santa Cruz said. “I like everything that I do. I like to work with kids. I like the environment. I like to work with anybody; I’m a team player.”

But even Santa Cruz’s love for his job does not make him immune to the disrespect he, and the rest of the custodial staff, receive from some students. “[The trash problem] is [worse] in some places than in others,” Sofia Balistrieri (10) said. “On the hill out front [of the school] where I eat everyday, it’s not very nice because there’s so much trash left behind.”

Smith also sees students leaving their trash behind firsthand.

“They don’t understand what it’s like trying to keep this place clean.

After lunch almost every day there’s milk cartons [outside my classroom]. They leave their stuff everywhere. I never cease to be disgusted,” Smith said. “So I guess in that respect, yeah, kids are disrespectful. I just can’t even believe it.”

On top of student misbehavior and extra work, the custodians have to quickly respond to campus crises.

During the pandemic, every aspect of TPHS changed, especially the jobs of Helm and Santa Cruz.

“We came [to TPHS] every day so we would make sure that everything is disinfected.

We got the wipes, we got

I like everything that I do. I like to work with kids. I like the environment. I like to work with anybody; I’m a team player.

“It’s unexpected, you have to do what you have to do, you have to be ready for the next thing” Jesus Santa Cruz

NIGHT CREW LEADER

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ans

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Logan Helm HEAD CUSTODIAN

“I’m the one that gets everything going. When there’s a problem, I’m always there.”

the masks, we got everything ready for you guys to come back to school. It changed a lot. We never expected this pandemic so we expect that you have to be aware of what’s going on,” Santa Cruz said.

Ted Norman, SDUHSD Director of Maintenance and Operations experienced a similar change between his work life before and after the pandemic.

Usually, Norman’s day-to-day life involved overseeing the safety of all the schools in the district, his gaze spanning over custodial, grounds and maintenance staffs for numerous schools.

“Our teams work hard everyday to provide a safe, clean and functional learning environment for students and staff,” Norman said.

But as the pandemic shifted what everyday school life looks like, Norman’s job, like the rest of the custodial staff, shifted too.

“The focus is definitely more on indoor air quality, i.e., cleaning, disinfection, ventilation, filtration, etc.,” Norman said. “These are all things we do on a daily basis, but now with COVID-19 these areas are highly critical and folks want to know what is happening, so communicating and staying ahead is really important.”

But the custodial staff are no strangers to the unexpected. When a fire occurred in the TPHS gym on Feb. 8, 2022, both Helm and Santa Cruz were quick on their feet to solve the problem.

“We were short one guy so we had to do extra work. So I was running like crazy that day … it’s unexpected, you have to do what Logan Helm you have to do, the job in nature is not perfect, HEAD CUSTODIAN but you have to be ready for the next thing,” Santa Cruz said.

But what is so special about TPHS? One thing that makes the school unique, according to Helm, is the atmosphere.

“The look of the school is like a small college which I think is awesome,” Helm said. “I remember when I first started here, and I walked up and I’m like, ‘This is the school I’m going to be working at?’”

Norman even highlights a good feeling that the TPHS campus has.

“It’s a beautiful campus, with great students and administrators,” Norman said. “There is a lot of positive energy at TPHS.” But to Helm, the TPHS campus goes beyond an ocean view or a nice environment. Finding his place at TPHS represented a valuable turning point in his life.

“I came from a place 17 years ago where I’m like, ‘What am I going to do?’ I got this job and as soon as I [did], I knew this was for me,” Helm said. “So when I’m here, there are a lot of times I just look over at the ocean and I’m just so grateful to have the best campus, this sounds corny, but with the best staff and students.”

Both Santa Cruz and Helm have made strong connections with their fellow employees, many of whom have been working at TPHS for similar periods of time. The kindness of the student body is another thing that stands out to the custodial staff as they work closeby.

“When I’ve walked through crowds of students, I think sometimes if I would have been a student now, how many friends I would have,”

Helm s a i d .

“Because I see such great students interacting with each other … everybody just seems to get along.”

Norman agreed.

“From what I’ve seen, [TPHS students] appear to be engaged, intelligent and active,” Norman said. “TPHS never sleeps, there are always great activities going on.”

Santa Cruz, Helm and the rest of the staff do not ask for much. However, if there’s anything the custodial staff want to tell TPHS students, it’s that their dedication and effort often go unnoticed.

“On occasion I notice people saying thank you to the custodial workers,” Balistrieri said.

Indeed, the staff, at times, act as a helpful hand behind the scenes.

“We’re hard-working people and we’ll do whatever it takes to get something done. And sometimes, especially the night crew, they work their butts off,” Helm said. “Behind the scenes, we’re short on help. A lot of times we don’t even get [people to fill in for us]… it’s because of our tremendous work ethic that things are happening.”

The crew greatly appreciates the occasional thank yous they receive but also believes that students’ actions can speak louder than words.

“You know, it’s not about saying thank you, it’s about keeping what you do, learning, clean. The environment has to be clean, so when you come to school, [know that] you’re not at your home, you know, don’t destroy it,” Santa Cruz said.

Santa Cruz adds that he feels touched when students recognize the effort he puts into his work each day.

“This kid, since he was a freshman, always keeps coming to me saying thank you. It’s only two kids and I appreciate that, you never hear from kids doing that to you,” Santa Cruz said.

However, students also notice and agree that kids on campus should pitch in to help the school’s custodial staff.

“I think people have to pick up after themselves,” Balistrieri said.

Smith notes the fact that the custodial staff does not have time to tackle their normal responsibilities when they have to deal with students’ trash.

“Just pick up your trash, be a decent human being,” Smith said. “They’ve got enough to do without having to pick up after slobs.”

Norman agreed, calling on students to help out the custodial staff any way they can.

“It takes a village,” Norman said. “Pitch in, pick up trash, respect the facilities and be good to one another.”

by Caroline Hunt and Michele Kim

There are a lot of times I just look over at the ocean, and I’m just so grateful to have the best campus

PHOTOS BY RASA NYCE/FALCONER

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1 in 2500 Restless from quarantine and looking for a creative outlet, Cormac Cadden (12) ventured out with a Nikon D7500 and a spark of inspiration.

While enthusiasm for photography had always been something he and his mother shared during family trips, a year void of sports practices and music rehearsals gave him the time he needed to develop his craft.

“I just [took] the camera everywhere I went and that’s when [my photography] really started evolving,” Cadden said.

Whether he is documenting vacations, shooting football games or carrying a camera along to meet friends, Cadden sees photography as a way to capture moments and connect people.

“All I really need is my camera,” Cadden said.

“I can capture all these amazing things just with the little piece of equipment that fits in my hands.”

Cadden also sees photography as a way to connect with nature. On his Instagram page, he has shared photos of Hawaiian landscapes and Austrian mountains sprinkled among shots of friends.

“I’ve taken [my camera] on hikes, I’ve been in caves [and] I’ve put it underneath cars,” he said. “It’s just cool to have the ability to capture things so easily.”

Because of scheduling conflicts, Cadden was unable to take a photography class at TPHS. Instead, trips with his family not only initiated his love of photography, but also introduced him to techniques like angling light and framing photos.

Until recently, Cadden had been relying on past instruction from his mother and his own experimentation with the craft to capture the shots he wanted. But in summer 2021, Cadden was accepted to an intensive photojournalism program organized by the School of The New York Times.

“It was … my first real instruction in photojournalism,” Cadden said. “It was definitely more technical, I learned a lot more about photography than just taking the photos.”

From concealing the camera on the hip to

february 18, 2022

“All I really need is my camera. I can capture all these amazing things just with the little piece of equipment that fits in my hands.”

Cormac Cadden Senior

telling jokes to relax subjects, several of the summer program lessons centered around capturing authentic moments. With these lessons in mind, Cadden now values spontaneous and candid shots.

This spontaneity can be seen in one of Cadden’s photos from the program, a shot of the Del Mar Racetrack. The photo went on to place in the top ten of over a thousand submissions to the 2021 SoNYT Photojournalism Challenge. “ A f r i e n d invited

me to go to the races and I just brought the camera with me,” Cadden said. “[Capturing that photo] was actually a total coincidence. It wasn’t the one I expected to go that far [in the competition].

But I’m glad it went through, it was a super cool experience.”

Though quarantine gave him more time for photography, Cadden had to balance it with rugby practice and music rehearsals when they started up again. Fortunately for Cadden, this balance came easily, and he began using photography as an opportunity for moments of tranquility and a way to tie different aspects of his life together.

“Music can be stressful if you don’t know your part [and] rugby is stressful with people running at you,” he said. “But, when you’re out in nature or doing it with friends, photography is relaxing and very enjoyable.”

Cadden began incorporating photography into rugby when he started running his team’s Instagram account. In the fall, he also photographed TPHS football games, posting all the photos to a shared Google Drive folder for fellow students to access.

“One of the cooler things I remember seeing was after the football games … you’d see [the photos] popping up on Instagram,” Cadden said. “The coolest thing about [photography] is you’re capturing all these moments, even if you’re not in them.”

Cadden is also an active contributor to TPHS publications, with photos in the FreeFlight Yearbook, the FirstFlight Literary Magazine, and the Falconer. Right now, he is working with Flex Mvmt Fitness to promote a workout product with photo and video shoots. In the future, he’d like to shoot concerts.

“I’m really into live music, so I think it would be super cool to start getting into that front pit in front of the barriers,” Cadden said.

Cadden hopes to keep photography in his life.

“Whether it’s traveling to a place to do a shoot or going to a concert and doing a shoot there, my goal is to allow [photography] to open up doors that wouldn’t be there without it.”

by Jasmine Criqui and Anna Opalsky

CORMAC CADDEN

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Meetings begin in Summer o f

Attention Class of 2023!

2022

Program includes:

The CollegeMIND is a step-by-step video course that will walk you through the college admissions process and find the school that best aligns with your academics and interests.

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Meeting topics to include: Academic & Extracurricular Review + Resume Editing + College List Review + College Research + Demonstration of Interest + College Visits + Applications Used + Deadlines to Apply to + Personal Statement Brainstorming Review + Supplemental Essay Brainstorming Review

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Lackluster Lunchtime Read the Falconer’s review on the diverse array of disappointing lunch foods served at TPHS

Caesar Salad, the silver lining of school lunches. The lettuce tastes fresh and crispy, the distribution of cheese from croutons to lettuce is perfect and the chicken is not slimy, unlike other school dishes.

Not a direct reflection of the meal itself but the spork served with the salad makes it difficult to stab the chicken and lettuce. The dressing is not consistent, sometimes thick, thin, sour and sweet. Nevertheless, the Caesar salad is a gem of TPHS lunches.

In my quest for the best food on campus, I had high hopes for the talked-up pizza. The pizza had three distinct layers: the burnt cheese that had turned cold and just about fell off the entire pie, the cold tomato sauce and the crust that was uncomfortably similar to the old English muffins that have been on my grandmother’s counter for months. Maybe it was the 60-degree weather and high winds that turned it cold but the separate cold parts to the pizza did not make my tastebuds jump for joy.

Among the TPHS lunch options, from utterly disappointing pizza to the surprisingly tasty bean and cheese Pupusa, the chili seems to fall right in the middle. Although the dish may start with a decent taste as far as chili goes, it fails when it comes to the texture, which unfortunately leaves you with a grainy and somewhat gritty feeling in the mouth. This isn’t helped by the congealed cheese on top, which you can tell was supposed to be served hot, yet it’s hard to tell when exactly that was. I feel that the chili can best be described by the fact that the best part is the free chips that come with it.

I had low expectations going into the school lunch review, and the Pick Up Stix chicken and rice met them.

Although the lunch has a bad chickento-rice ratio and a mysterious bite of chicken, honestly, it could have been worse. If you can look or rather, chew, past mushy rice and mediocre chicken, this lunch option, somehow, has the capacity to be pretty all right.

by Dixie Wallerius and Lola Newlander

tphsfalconer.com

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DemoN SlayeR Two years after the release of its first season, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” premiered the first episode of “Demon Slayer Season 2: Entertainment District Arc” on Dec. 5, 2021, and has released a new episode every Sunday since. “Demon Slayer” fans like myself waited heavily in anticipation for this new season, and “Demon Slayer Season 2: Entertainment District Arc” both met and exceeded my expectations.

“Demon Slayer” season 2 transitions smoothly from the Mugen Train arc in the movie, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train,” and follows Tanjiro and his friends as they search for a demon terrorizing Tokyo, Japan’s “entertainment district” or red-light district, Yoshiwara. The characters emotionally send off their former mentor Rengoku but are provided a new mentor, Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira known for his flamboyant personality and flashy appearance. Uzui’s character is one of my favorites in the show as his unrelenting arrogance and a soft spot for his three wives is endearing

and creates a fun viewing experience.

The setting, Yoshiwara, is known for its vibrant nightlife and active sex industry. Prior to season 2’s release, some have criticized the producers for creating a setting too mature for younger audiences, but personally, I found fault not in the choice of setting, but rather in how it was presented.

Yoshiwara was introduced as a glamorous, glittery district with “houses” or brothels full of happy, beautiful women. The show makes Tanjiro, Inoske and Zenitsu comically crossdress as girls and be sold into these houses to infiltrate the district, but it completely overlooks the harsh reality women face in Yoshiwara. Young girls are often sold into Yoshiwara brothels by their parents and are forced into prostitution with no means of escape due to their crippling debt. However, the characters’ positive interactions with Yoshiwara women do serve to humanize sex workers and Yoshiwara did provide a unique and visually stunning setting that was integral to the story.

The main antagonist, Daki, is the upper moon six demon who is

disguised as a Yoshiwara oiran, the highestranking prostitute. Daki’s character is the source of one of the biggest plot twists in the season. When Daki was decapitated by Uzui, instead of dying, Daki’s older demon brother, Gyutaro, suddenly emerges from her body. His powerful blood-demon art and cruel personality drive the second half of the show as Tanjiro, friends and Uzui work together to defeat him and Daki.

The animation in these fight scenes is truly breathtaking, and the highcontrast and vibrant colors of Demon Slayer’s district animation style are still present.

The music complements each scene beautifully, and Aimer’s theme song “Zankyou S a n k a ” doesn’t fall short of season 1’s iconic opening, “Gurenge”

by LiSA. Season 2 concludes with a heartwarming f i n a l e released on Feb. 13, 2022,

character designs and animation.

Although the studio received much backlash with the CGI of the Colossal Titan’s awkward proportions and attack movement, the animation of titans has been much smoother in the second half of the season. However, the difference between the two studios is noticeable, and I prefer the more intense and detailed frames of WIT that show higher quality.

The last episode of part one left viewers off with Paradis’ leadership destroyed after protagonist Eren stages a coup d’etat to take control, causing the forces of Marley, the nation with which Eldia has lasting conflict, to retaliate with their Titans and advanced weaponry.

Episode 76, “Judgment,” continues off from the previous episode with full-out fight scenes with different titans and glimpses into the minds of the characters. One of the things that the final season has created that stands out from its predecessors is character development and nuance. I personally enjoy watching the parallels between characters like Eren Yeager and Reiner Braun unfold and the dive into deeper themes of what is right and wrong in the conflict between Marleyans and

Attack on Titan 4 The second part of the fourth season of “Attack on Titan” or Shingeki no Kyojin started airing on Feb. 13, and it lives up to the hype.

The English releases of the episodes will be aired weekly on Sundays until the series is adapted from the manga series of the same name by Hajime Isayama. Since its 2013 release, it has been undoubtedly one of the most popular anime of the decade.

Although the first three seasons were spectacularly produced by Wit Studio, the production team decided producing the fourth season to align

with the creators’ wishes would be too difficult. As the last part of the series would involve an exponentially larger scale of animation, character design and story development, multiple other studios declined the pressure until MAPPA, home to other popular anime series like “Jujutsu Kaisen” and “Yuri!!! on Ice,” accepted the daunting task of adapting the complex manga source.

Although I had doubts about the studio change, MAPPA has kept much of the elements that made “Attack on Titan” popular, although changing notably, with its CG usage,

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that humanizes the villains Daki and Gyutaro after their defeat. The strong sibling bond between Daki and Gyutaro reminds viewers of the bond between Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko, and the villains’ arc ends heartbreakingly beautifully with Daki deciding to join Gyutaro in hell. While there was an excessive amount of plot armor that protected all the protagonists in the final battle, the season finale left viewers with a heartwarming ending and ominous cliffhanger. With “Demon Slayer Season 2: Entertainment District Arc” being such a mesmerizing continuation of “Demon Slayer,” we can only wait in anticipation of a third season.

by Amy Ge

Eldians. Eren shows dramatic change, going from a weak and grieving b o y to one of the most powerful titan shifters ever seen.

As the battles and fight scenes increase, so does my nostalgia for the earlier seasons where there was a focus on the interactions and relationships between the original cast. There is no doubt that the story is well-written and progression is inevitable, but the original elements of what makes the show stand out have been buried by the intense conflict and plot.

My favorite thing about this show is the ability of every episode to keep you hooked and looking forward to the next episode. Although the show has diverged greatly from the original story with a whole new level of stakes, the spark that makes fans so excited every Sunday is still burning.

The opening theme is “The Rumbling” performed by SiM, and the ending theme is “Akuma no Ko” performed by Ai Higuchi, both the latest installments in a series of renowned, exciting sequences (all Attack on Titan openings will grow on you eventually).

Through the spectacular animation, complex plot and interesting characters, you won’t want to miss the show-stopping finale of the titan of the anime industry as episodes are continually released.

by Helene Gao

entertainment

A18 the falconer

february 18, 2022

lovers and loners

Movies that captured our hearts this Valentine’s day

NOTTING HILL

by Adriana Hazlett

With quaint London streets, potent romantic tension and Hugh Grant’s charm, “Notting Hill” remains a heartwarming classic of all romantic comedies.

In London’s Notting Hill neighborhood,endearingly-awkward William Thacker, played by Grant, leads a humble life until his unexpected connection with an American movie star, Anna Scott, (Julia Roberts), thrusts him into the tumultuous realm of stardom. As Thacker’s love becomes all-encompassing, the two struggle with Scott’s highly-publicized life.

Adding to the film’s considerable charm is its “British-ness.” The ironic humor and the posh accents all create a distinctly English appeal. “Notting Hill” is sure to make an Anglophile out of anyone.

This profusion of Britishness is just one reason why “Notting Hill” deserves its second description as a comedy. The dialogue is ingenious and witty, and the delivery of lines is hilarious, especially with Thacker’s iconic friend group with people such as his roommate, Spike, played by Rhys Ifans.

Yet even with all of its priceless humor, “Notting Hill” remains, above all, a romance. Again and again, it imbues one with the sense of how intimate yet complicated love can be. With not one

but two “meet-cutes” in the first 20 minutes and lines like “You are lovelier this morning than you have ever been,” the romance is sweet and tender.

Touching, tear-inducing and utterly lovely, “Notting Hill” is perfect for Valentine’s Day, or any day when one wants a reminder that they can find a soulmate in such an unlikely person.

To make a last testament to how remarkable this rom-com is – even my 50-year-old dad sat down to watch it too.

he’s all that

by Cole Frost

“He’s All That,” the 2021 reboot of the fan-favorite romantic comedy, “She’s All That,” follows the story of Padgett Sawyer, a high school social media influencer played by TikTok star Addison Rae, who attempts to turn the school’s biggest loser into the next prom king. Featuring a not-so-clever gender swap for the sole purpose of staying “woke,” this movie left me with far more questions than answers.

Aside from the poor acting and hilariously predictable plotline, this is your run-of-the-mill teen romantic comedy; entertaining, but nothing more. Nonetheless, these factors, along with how utterly unnecessary this movie was, combine to create – and I mean this – one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen.

And I know about bad films; I saw “The Emoji Movie” in the theater.

Twice.

The movie’s main conflict is introduced after Sawyer loses thousands of followers after a viral

breakup. She sets out to turn Cameron Kweller, an antisocial and arrogant photographer, into the next prom king.

The movie follows Sawyer and Kweller as their relationship progresses from strangers to friends, to romantic partners – all over the course of just a few weeks.

This unrealistically short timeline transforms what could have been a heartwarming montage, into a rushed and disorganized series of non-related events. Meanwhile, Rae’s sub-par acting consistently detracts from the movie’s already clichéd plot, blurring the line between satirical and serious.

I didn’t go into this movie expecting much. I didn’t even expect the film to live up to its predecessor, “She’s All That.” After all, how many times have we seen a successful gender swap reboot?

I merely hoped for a couple of chuckle-worthy jokes and some quirky rom-com romance. What I got was a dumpster fire.

Not only was this movie painful to watch, but it is also indicative of a worrying trend in the movie industry as a whole. Film studios have become content with producing low effort and low-quality movies that perform horribly among critics but bring in dough at the box office.

To anyone looking for a heartwarming and entertaining romantic comedy to watch this Valentine’s Day, I recommend you stay far away from “He’s All That.”

photos by amazon, imdb, letterboxd, reelgood, universal pictures

entertainment

tphsfalconer.com

With the sad, declining quality of romantic comedy movies in the last decade, many have slowly fallen out of love with the genre. It was no surprise when I first heard about the latest release of “Marry Me,” my natural reaction was to label it as another letdown, flushed with uninspiring humor, overused and romance hastening the demise of rom-com. It turned out I was wrong.

“Marry Me” tells the story of pop star Kat Valdez, played by Jennifer Lopez. Residing in a luxurious penthouse with a massive following base worldwide, Valdez has no

shortage of success.

At first glance, it almost seems as if Valdez is Jlo herself. Uniquely, this is one of the few instances the character played by the actor reflects her real

s a b r i n a

The portrayal of the blossoming life almost identically, allowing her to relationship, unlike many other draw more parallels to immerse herself modern rom-coms, features a gradual in the role. With her seasoned acting procession of key snapshots of their background, Lopez spontaneously time spent together: scenes of Valdez radiates the charm and magnetism of visiting Gilbert’s house and Gilbert someone like Valdez. ding long hours at Valdez’s music Following the movie’s storyline, spen studio. The delicate sequence of events Valdez plans to marry her fiancé offers a rare realistic depiction of realBastiene on stage in front of her life romance that has gone missing in fans before discovering he has been many modern rom coms. having an affair with her assistant.

As predictable as the entirety of the In the heat of the moment, Valdez plot was, “Marry Me” allows viewers locks eyes with a stranger, Charlie to relive the traditional rom-com Gilbert, (Owen Wilson), in the crowd experience, as an earnest reminder and impulsively decides to marry him that romantic comedy movies still instead. up the raw authenticity At this moment, warm, welcoming serve everybody loves. memories of classic rom-com began flooding into my mind, reminding me of the universe’s tendency to magically

by Jerry Wu bring contrasting people together.

As the first lilting notes of “Sabrina” (1995)’s opening score ring out, an eternal spring blossoms — vines dripping with wisterias, blushing cherry blossoms catching in the breeze and golden daisies peeking through

cobblestone paths.

When director Sydney Pollack first set about remaking the 1954 version starring beloved Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, critics claimed it would be an immediate failure. And yet, Pollack managed to transform a simple story into something utterly charming and endearing.

Sabrina Fairchild is a magnificent character, and Julia Ormond plays her with grace and genuine gravity.

She takes the crown for best makeover in cinema history, and not the cheesy sort where she takes off her glasses and

What a joy it would be to find yourself handsome, clever and rich! In both Jane Austen’s origina l romantic comedy and the 2020 adaptation starring Anya Taylor-Joy , Emma Woodhouse is all of the abo ve.

“Emma” – the heroine and the name of the film – is set in Highbury, England, during the Reg ency era.

The film follows Emma, a native girl, who at 21 years of age, has been afforded every luxury of life – wanting for nothing. Emma excels at matchmaking but when she falters, her life takes unexpected tur ns.

This delightful film takes the classic tale to the screen with per fect clarity for both those who have wa tched the film, and those who have read the book.

The acting connects the aud ience

the falconer

now she’s beautiful. As the daughter of the filthy rich Larabee family’s chauffeur, she spent her childhood on their massive estate. After two years in Paris, Sabrina returns to Long Island no longer a girl — but a woman who has found herself, with experience, courage and a voice she never knew she had. Finally, the man of her dreams, playboy David Larrabee (Greg Kinnear) notices her, but it is his older brother Linus (Harrison Ford) who describes her as a ‘lovely breeze that has swept through the whole house.’ David is smitten with Sabrina, but Linus objects; there’s a rich girl he wants David to marry because the match will help cement a business merger. The catch: when Linus flirts with Sabrina to lure her away from David, he begins falling for

to the characters right aw ay; every action, confession and mo ment of realization unfolds in suc cession to move the watcher’s heart, mind and soul.

Particularly, Taylor-Joy shines as Woodhouse, bringing a refreshing take to the too-smart-for -her-owngood heroine. She is witty, charming, mean and perfectly imperfe ct.

Then the scenic design,W costume design and score blend perfect ly to set the stage for a world long left in the past.

One could simply look upo n the folds of a skirt and feel as if they were transported to the era of empire waistlines and bishop slee ves. Walls of pastel pastry colors in Ha rtfield and the classical vocals add fur ther layer upon layer of realism.

m a r r y m e

her himself. Linus is an unexpected male lead — aloof, guarded, but so quietly dashing that others are willing to overlook his unfriendliness.

His chemistry with Sabrina is off the charts, and the intense rivalry between the brothers adds an element of tension.

The film is sprinkled with stunning one liners to make any romantic swoon, like the one delivered by Linus when he runs after Sabrina to Paris: “I don’t deserve her, I know that, but I need her, and I don’t need anything.”

To me, this film is romcom perfection, with stunning backdrops, mesmerizing music and palpable chemistry between the leads. Intertwining humor and a touch of melancholy, no other romcom can compare.

by Natalia Mochernak

A testament to Austen, herself, director Autumn De Wilde beautifully orchestrates the vision for the film and its singular outstanding the me: love.

Love is not a game to play, as Emma plays it at the start of the film. It is something entirely une xplainable.

One character perfectly sta tes, “if I loved you less, I might be abl e to talk about it more.”

Each shot harbors sentim ents of youth and romance, filling the air with the smell of honeys uckle and morning dew, forming the shape of whispered confessions. At tim es, even watching felt like an intrus ion, the best kind, the kind you can ’t tear your eyes from. It felt real, a per fect period piece, comedy, and romanc e; for that, “Emma” wins a million pra ises.

by Naomi Schneider

e m m a

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Nolan Ezzet

SPORTS EDITOR

In recent years, NFL officials have been criticized for consistently making terrible calls and missing obvious penalties. From ejecting Tim Duncan for laughing to not calling a pass interference penalty (and helmet to helmet and unnecessary roughness) when Nickell RobeyColeman blatantly decked Tommylee Lewis, there have been a lot of atrocious officiating moments in recent memory. At this point, when officials don’t mess up to this extent, PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES it’s often seen as a positive. But the Super Bowl brought attention PHOTO FROM GOLF MONTHLYto another issue that’s almost as important: consistency.

Every official has his or her own standards regarding what is and isn’t a penalty. If an official wants to pretend like it’s still the 20th century and let players get away with an excessive amount of contact, that’s fine. If an official wants to pretend like everyone is a quarterback and throw a penalty flag whenever the minutest bit of unnecessary contact is made, that’s also fine. But it is unacceptable for officials to change their penalty standards during a game, and that’s exactly what happened in the most critical part of PHOTO FROM CORMAC CADDEN PHOTO BY NATHALIA MOCHERNAK/FALCONthe Super Bowl.

ER With 1:47 left in the fourth quarter, the Los Angeles Rams were PHOTO FROM CBSSPORTS.COM trailing the Cincinnati Bengals 20-16. The Rams faced a 3rd & LUKE LIST HOLDING THE TROPHY AFTER HIS PLAYOFF WIN goal from the Bengals’ eight-yardline. Rams quarterback Matthew his putt, thus forcing List to steal the victory from List.

Stafford dropped back and threw and Zalatoris into a sudden List won the $1,512,000 the ball down the middle to Cooper death playoff. winner’s share of the Kupp, which got deflected by Both golfers started the $8,400,000 purse and Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson. playoff by hitting into the Zalatoris won $915,600.

Instead of facing a difficult 4th & same bunker off the tee With his win, List earned 60 goal, the Rams got bailed out by a and both left themselves Official World Golf Ranking defensive holding call, despite there 130 yards out on their third points and 500 FedEx Cup being no clear reason for calling shots. However, List landed points with the win, which a penalty. Two plays later, the his shot 11 inches from the comes with a two-year Rams had the ball on the Bengals’ cup, while Zalatoris missed automatic qualification for four-yard-line, and Stafford threw another birdie opportunity any PGA Tour event and another incompletion targeted at that would have tied them makes him eligible to play Kupp. However, the referees called again, allowing List to win the 2023 Sentry Tournament a defensive pass interference despite his first PGA tour title. of Champions. Those 500 the contact being minimal. Just Rahm, Day and Tringale points raised his rank to fifth observing the amount of contract on tied for third place (-14), all place in the points standings. these two plays, there’s certainly an giving strong performances This marked his first win on argument to be made for throwing on the final day but unable the PGA Tour in 206 starts. the penalty flag. However, given the extremely high standards the VIEW OF THE 18TH HOLE ON THE SOUTH COURSE referees set in the first 58 minutes of the game for what constitutes a penalty, there’s no reason why either of these two plays should’ve resulted in a penalty. These penalties gave the Rams numerous extra plays and brought them to the Bengals’ oneyard-line, ultimately helping them score the game-winning touchdown.

To go from rarely calling penalties to suddenly throwing the flag left and right is incredibly unfair to the PHOTO BY NATHALIA MOCHERNAK/FALCONdefense, as they are forced to operate PHOTO COURTESY OF GOLF DIGEST ER with no knowledge of what officials PHOTO FROM GOLF DIGEST will allow in any particular moment.

Farmers Insurance Open Open List takes Farmers Insurance Helene Gao and David Zhang

FEATURE EDITOR AND SPORTS EDITOR

The venerable annual PGA tournament, the Farmers Insurance Open, took place from Jan. 26 to Jan. 29 at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

Twenty seven of the top 50 golfers in the world were among the 156 players in the Farmers field. Many fan favorites, including Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Bryson Dechambeau, Rickie Fowler, Xander Shauffle, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson and Tony Finau, were also in the field. The winner of last year’s tournament, Patrick Reed, also participated this year, but did not get a notable placing.

There were 18 holes played each day and a total of 72 holes for players who made the cut. Those who missed the two cut were then dismissed from the tournament. Both the North and South Courses were played during the Farmers.

Before the cut, every player rotated, playing on both courses once; after the cut, only the South Course was played, since it is the more difficult of the two.

Given the fact that the tournament was outdoors or in open-air venues, masks were not required for those fully vaccinated while unvaccinated individuals were asked to wear masks.

Typically, the tournament begins on a Thursday, but because it coincided with NFL playoffs this year, it started on Wednesday instead.

After the first round, Billy Horshel led the field shooting a 63 (-9). Horschel, playing

on the less difficult North Course, made five birdies and a 25-foot putt on the par4 second hole. The low score on the South Course, 66 (-6), was by Rahm, the 2017 victor, who made two bogeys before finishing off with an eagle on the 18th hole.

Adam Schenk, Thomas and Rahm shared the lead after the second round.

Thomas rose to first after carding a bogey-free 63, while Schenk made eight consecutive birdies on his way to a second-round 62.

Rahm followed the two by scoring birdies on three of his last four holes to 13-under overall.

The cut line was -3 and 79 players made the cut to play in the last two rounds on the unforgiving South Course.

Will Zalatoris had a great third round scoring 65 (-7) and climbed the leaderboard to enter the final round with the lead alongside Jason Day (-14) with 16 birdies, one eagle and four bogeys. Rahm (-13) and Aaron Rai (-13) were one stroke back while Sungjae Im (-12), Cameron Tringale (-12) and Thomas (-12) were just two strokes back. Due to inconsistent play and a new leader at the start of each round, the winner’s trophy was truly up for grabs going into the final day.

In the final round, Zalatoris was consistently near the top of the leaderboard. After 11 straight pars, he went to his 72nd hole. Further down the leaderboard, Luke List, who had consistently been outside of the top ten, made a 13 foot putt, putting him in a tie for first at 15 under.

Zaltoris needed a birdie at his 72nd hole to finish at 16 under and break the tie with List, but he barely missed

tphsfalconer.com

sports

the falconer

A21

DAY IN the Life Many sports at TPHS have long been overshadowed by major sports such as football and basketball, but the badminton team has gained popularity and even went undefeated in Eastern San Diego City League play last season. Of the 985 public schools in California, 164 have badminton teams, and the sport is still growing today. Badminton is still gaining recognition everywhere, and it’s no different at TPHS. “I think that applies to almost every sport at this school that isn’t football, volleyball, or basketball,” head coach Lars Trupe said. “If you ask the field hockey girls, you ask the wrestlers, you ask the gymnasts and even the soccer program, which is huge and really successful, we’re all overshadowed by the big three.”

The team practices three to four days a week for two to three hours in the gym, including Saturday morning practices that not only strengthen the skills of each individual player, but also bond team members.

“We managed last year, even with COVID, to still have close to 40 people on the team,” Trupe said. “There were teams in the city schools that had been established as badminton powerhouses for years that could barely field enough kids to have a program, which speaks volume to us because kids understand that we have this program now and are willing to come out even in the midst of a lockdown.”

Trupe’s message to the team is that losing is not failing; failing is not trying.

Teams at schools throughout San Diego County were forced to forfeit last year due to their lack of players, yet the Falcons still managed to go undefeated in their league. The team’s success is not only the result of hard work and determination, but the time spent with each other that defines who they are as a team. The badminton team has two new captains, David Yang (12) and Daniel Wang (12).

“I think with badminton, we’re all like a family,” Yang said. “Even before badminton, most of us were friends and we started badminton as a group and practiced together, spent a lot of time together and grew together,” In the last few decades, Badminton has gained popularity around the world. It was declared an Olympic summer sport in 1992 for men’s and women’s singles matches, and in 1996 doubles teams entered Olympic competition. Word is badminton is popular because it’s easy to learn and brings joy to those who play it.

“What many people have been realizing is that badminton is a casual sport,” Wang said. “It’s really easy to pick up.

It’s not a sport where you have to play for eight years to play against people.

It requires skill of course, but it’s really easy to pick up initially.”

Trupe has a constant refrain during practices in the gym: enjoying themselves is as important as winning, and spending time together as teammates is the main source of that enjoyment.

“I feel like, at TP, people are starting to realize how much fun it is. I think we’ve really made a tightly-knit community full of people who support each other,” Wang said. “We’re not necessarily all about who wins what, rather we’re trying to better each other and make it so we are all having fun in a happy, positive community.”

The TPHS badminton community has grown significantly in recent years and has provided many with a sport they love, teammates they value spending time with, and something that brightens their day.

by Maddy Miller

BADMINTON

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA YU/FALCONER

A22 the falconer

sports

february 18, 2022

Football legend Tom Brady retires after 22 seasons Viyang Hao and Adrianna Hazlett ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER

And so ends the career of the most decorated NFL player of all time, Tom Brady. After 22 seasons, seven Super Bowl rings and 84,520 passing yards, Brady announced his retirement from the NFL via Instagram on Feb. 1. Many people – long-term fans and avid NFL followers – were acutely disheartened at this news, upset that someone who had been in the game and who they had watched for so long was leaving. Many joke, and strongly believe, that Brady will eventually come back to play in the NFL in due time.

However, the negativity surrounding this should not be as immense as it is. Instead, we should celebrate and remember Brady for his outstanding achievements. In actuality, Brady’s retirement reinvigorates football once more, as we are now able to focus on a new generation of NFL athletes reaching new heights.

Over the course of his career, Brady established himself as a force to be reckoned with. Never having a losing season when he was playing for the New England Patriots, he has won three NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and five Super Bowl MVP awards; has had the most quarterback

wins, passing completions and passing touchdowns; and is part of the 100th Anniversary All-Time list.

Playing quintuple more times than the average quarterback in the NFL in 2019, Brady’s 22-year career proves the dedication to and admiration for the intense sport. At age 44, Brady retired on the account that he is no longer able to give the game “[his] 100% competitive commitment,” according to his Instagram statement. In this, he said that he now plans on spending more time with his family.

As Brady finally retires, the last of the old generation of quarterbacks – consisting of players like Drew Brees and Peyton Manning – trickles out of the NFL. Yet simultaneously, a new generation comes into the spotlight.

One of the best rising quarterbacks is Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Chiefs. Throughouthis last four years, Mahomes averaged 4,677 yards per season, and he was named MVP in 2018, a season in which he threw 50 touchdowns and ran for two. Mahomes brings many dimensions to the quarterback position: not only throwing but running and an almost magical ability to escape defenses.

Another rising quarterback is Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow. The 25-year-old has already made a name

for himself as, in 2020, he was drafted first overall out of 255 picks. Despite being drafted by the worst team in the NFL, Burrow was able to bring his team to compete in the Super Bowl two years later. To further add to his impressive accomplishments, he is the first quarterback to have more than 400 passing yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in back-to-back games.

Burrow’s athleticism only improves as time goes by. Despite tearing his ACL during his rookie campaign, he still continues to power through.

Brady himself singled out Baltimore Ravens player Lamar Jackson as one of the quarterbacks to be the new face of the NFL. After he announced his retirement, Brady mentioned Jackson on his Instagram story and wrote “You’re next,” as if to imply that Jackson was his heir.

Other promising quarterbacks include Josh Allen, Justin Hurbert and more – but no matter who ends up succeeding Brady, this new generation of quarterbacks brings something fresh to the game. For one, they are much more mobile, athletic and agile. This ultimately revives football, making it more exhilarating for viewers to see which players rise to the top and set new records.

Brady has had a long, riveting and

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WASHINGTON POST

fulfilling career. For him to continue playing could not only be detrimental to his physical health but also to his mental health.

At the end of the day, the decision of when to retire is solely up to Brady himself. As fans, it is more important to support Brady’s future endeavors rather than tearing him down for his decision. Right now, the public should support the new generation of football players. While there may not be another NFL player like Brady, there will be another new “it” person, creating a name for themself among football’s greatest players of all time.

Professional soccer transfers in the month of January Rami Kabakibi

STAFF WRITER

As the new year dawns, soccer clubs across Europe spring into action, scrambling to shoulder their way to the forefront of the long-awaited January transfer market to catch the eyes of the world’s top players. This period of frenzied competition between clubs that begins on Jan. 1 and ends Jan. 31 has seen some of the most shocking and impactful transfers in the past. This January was no exception, with many European clubs, namely Juventus in Italy, Barcelona in Spain and Liverpool and Aston Villa in England making some of the biggest signings that could have potentially massive effects on their future success.

Let’s start with Juventus, who have stumbled off the center stage of Italian soccer in the past few years, due in part to their lack of a consistent goal-scorer.

However, on Jan. 28, the Italian club signed 22-year-old Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic from Italian club Fiorentina for an astounding $84.5 million in a longterm deal set to expire in 2026. In the past few years, Vlahovic has established himself as one of the best young strikers in all of European soccer, scoring 18 goals in 22 matches in this season, making him the second highest goalscorer in the league. With his immense strength, explosive acceleration and incredible shooting technique, Vlahovic could very well be the player that soon returns Juventus to the pinnacle of Italian soccer.

Spanish soccer giant Barcelona has also heavily participated in the January transfer market. They completed a $62 million signing of 21-year-old Spanish forward Ferran Torres from British club

Manchester City on a five-year deal and also signed Spanish winger Adama Traore on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers until June 30, 2022. Both Torres and Traore could offer major improvements to a Barcelona offense that has been racked with injuries and inconsistency.

Torres, who operates mainly as a centerforward with the ability to play on both wings, could provide Barcelona with tons of creativity and class in front of goal. With blistering pace, masterful ball control and surprising agility contrary to his massive frame, Traore could also prove to be an instrumental part of Barcelona’s attack down the right wing.

As a member of Spain’s international team seeking to demonstrate his ability on world soccer’s grandest stage, Traore’s return to Barcelona may be just what the Catalans need at this moment.

Liverpool, one of England’s biggest clubs, have emerged as a serious European powerhouse in the past three to four years under German manager Jurgen Klopp. This January, they struck a $50 million deal with 25-yearold Colombian international Luis Diaz.

Before joining Liverpool, Diaz cemented himself as one of the best Colombian players in his time at Portuguese club F.C. Porto, scoring 14 goals in 18 games in the league this year. For the past four seasons, Liverpool have established a legendary and deadly front three in the form of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, but all three players will turn 30 by the end of this year. Diaz, with his ability to drive down the left wing and create chances when cutting inside to his favorite right foot, is the latest move by Liverpool to “futureproof” their front line for the upcoming years.

Another English club, Aston Villa, who currently sit 12th in the Premier League, completed one signing this January that could see them leapfrog many teams in the league into a more desirable position. Brazilian midfielder Phillipe Coutinho signed on loan from Barcelona to Aston Villa until the end of the season, with a $45 million option to make the deal permanent. Coutinho’s return to the Premier League, where he spent 4 and a half glorious seasons playing for Liverpool before moving to Barcelona, could be a massive deal for Aston Villa in the coming years. With star player Jack Grealish leaving Villa

in August of 2021, the British club have been left with a creative void they have struggled to fill. Coutinho functions as an attacking midfielder with a typical Brazilian style of play: weaving around defenders as if they aren’t there, dribbling as if the ball is stuck to his foot and curling 20-yard screamer into the top corners of the goal. His presence will provide Aston Villa with unrivaled quality and composure in midfield.

This year’s January transfer market was just as wild and frantic as those before it, with the possibility of shaping the future landscape of professional soccer in the coming years.

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Robby Collins gets the nod as head football coach Caroline Hunt

STAFF WRITER

Former varsity football assistant coach Robby Collins (’07) was named the new varsity head coach on February 11, replacing Ron Gladnick.

Collins’ recent promotion follows Gladnick’s move to Saint Augustine High School to be the head football coach there.

“We are very appreciative for all he did for TP football and wish him continued success,” Collins said.

Collins began his time as a Falcon early, holding the roles of captain and Senior Cabinet member of the 2006 TPHS football team under head coach Ed Burke.

“You cannot find a better person both as a teacher and a coach than Robby Collins,” Burke said

in a Feb. 11 TPHS press release.

Collins joined the football coaching staff in 2011, starting as an assistant coach and accumulating the roles of varsity Running Backs Coach, varsity Quarterbacks Coach, JV Head Coach, varsity Offensive Coordinator and varsity Assistant Head Coach. He joined the teaching staff in 2014 as both an English and physical education teacher.

“I always loved football,” Collins said. “Growing up and all the way through high school I played everything, but football was always my passion.”

Collins is very excited for his future as varsity head coach and has big plans for the coming years.

“I will lean on all of our assistant coaches to be sure we give our players the best high school football

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experience possible,” Collins said.

He plans to develop a program made of players who “genuinely love and care about each other” while playing the game in a smart, tough and overall fun way.

“We need the Chaos all four quarters next year,” Collins said. “It means the world to our players when their friends are up in the stands rooting them on.”

Collins hopes to take the lessons he learned playing Falcon football with him as varsity head coach.

“Anyone that played for Coach Burke will tell you that when we took the field, there was a quiet, humble confidence that made us know and believe we were going to win,” Collins said in the TPHS press release. “This is the same mentality we will instill in our current players, and the process is already underway.”

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ZODiAC COMPATiBiLiTY Aries Mar 21-Apr 19

Libra Sep 23 -Oct 22

Taurus Apr 20-May 20

Cancer Jun 21- Jul 22

Even though these signs are 180 degrees apart, they embody the saying “opposites attract.” This is a relationship of great balance since the indecisive, calm, smooth Libra mixes perfectly with the impulsive, excitable Aries. However, during challenging times, this yin yang relationship could be their downfall as Libra will go to great lengths to maintain harmony in a relationship, while the decisive Aries may want to accept things as they are.

This couple is close together within the zodiac and tend to share a very deep understanding.They are very similar to one another and prize their relationship over anything else. One problem this pair might face is when the stubborn Taurus may refuse to budge in a situation and Cancer chooses to react by sulking. Cancer must stop using emotional blackmail as a strategy, and Taurus must be open to embracing a more sensitive mindset.

Leo Sagittarius Nov 22- Dec 21 Jul 23- Aug 22

Virgo Capricorn Dec 22- Jan 19 Aug 23- Sep 22

One word to describe this match is fireworks. This couple is full of life and always fun to be around. They are both charismatic and charming and radiate these qualities powerfully as a couple.

Sagittarius may flirt a little too much for Leo’s taste, and Leo may tend to be too impatient according to Sagittarius.

There is never a dull moment with these two, and they may need reminders to talk about hard discussions before getting swept away.

These partners are often seen in a pragmatic, smart relationship. They both expect a lot out of themselves and others, and are known to be highly rational. Virgo appreciates Capricorn’s dedication and intensity, while Capricorn requires Virgo’s intuition and attention to detail. These signs do not let their emotions take the wheel and can help each other reach their goals and ambitions through keeping each other in check.

Gemini May 21- Jun 20

Aquarius Jan 20- Feb 18

This pair is known to share a very powerful mental connection. Gemini loves new ideas, and as a visionary Aquarius is full of them. They are very energetic and rely on their quick wits.

Both need to form an understanding of the other’s independence in order for this couple to thrive. If Gemini begins to think Aquarius is too stubborn, or Aquarius doesn’t think Gemini is up to their fast-paced standards, the two may start to see trouble.

Scorpio Pisces Oct 23- Nov 21 Feb 19- Mar 20

This relationship thrives due to respect and understanding. Since they are both water elements, they are prone to keen insight into each other’s hearts.

Pisces offers sympathy and kindness to the mysterious and ambitious Scorpio.

Scorpio is oftentimes overly interested in material comforts and intense emotional dramas, which is balanced out by the charitable attitude of Pisces.

This relationship can be very rewarding if both parties are fully invested.