Falconer September 2019 Issue

Vol. 45, Issue 1, 24 pages

Friday, September 20, 2019

photo by anna jeong/falconer

Despite my desire for academic excellence, the Asian stereotype of an endlessly studious, constantly working student most definitely does not fit my personality.

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, A9

Since the start of the 2019-20 school year, the TPHS staff has been using phone baskets, caddies and more to crack down on cell phone use during class in order to have students’ full attention.

According to teachers and staff, cell phone usage in class has been a problem since the release of the first smartphone in 2007. Students are constantly glancing down at their devices instead of interacting with their peers, being productive or doing classwork.

“Phones should not be used in class because a lot of kids are antisocial, and when you take away their phones, you are forcing them to branch out,” Charlie Nelson (10) said. “You’re not focused when you’re on your phone because you’re just looking at social media.”

To address the problem, teachers have decided to enforce new phone policies.

Except for in a few classes, usually electives, students have to put their phones in caddies, which were originally used to hold calculators. To prevent students from being tempted to find loopholes, such as putting in an empty phone case, many teachers take attendance using the caddies. Other teachers use boxes, baskets or any container to store the phones.

“I don’t think phones should be allowed [in class] because they’re a distraction; by using the caddies, people are forced to be social and pay attention to what is actually going on,” Grace Vargo (10) said.

Teachers have been very pleased with the results from the removal of personal devices in the classroom. Students are less distracted, are more productive during

class and are able to talk to their table neighbors. There also have been numerous studies showing the negative impact smartphones have had on students’ brains.

“Smartphones came out in 2007, so they

have published the first 10-year study of the impact that iPhones have had on brain development... Dopamine is considered the pleasure hormone, whereas serotonin is considered the happiness hormone,” chemistry teacher Angela Willden said.

“And serotonin levels drop and dopamine goes up [when you’re on your phone]. There is the potential that teen mental health impacts are relating to those fluctuating hormones.

Those studies are all part of why teachers want to get teenagers off their phones.

Every time they receive a notification, students feel compelled to check their phones. Putting them away, even for a few hours, can be beneficial for people growing up in this technological era.

“It doesn’t matter if you have it off in your bag; there’s a portion of your brain that is constantly thinking about it,” Willden said. “We’ve reserved a portion of our brain to focus entirely on that phone.”

Although there are many students who are not happy nor very willing to give up their phones every period, many feel relieved. Being a teenager with a cell phone can be stressful. Social media, texting and

constant notifications can be difficult for a young brain. Taking a breather from the constant stimulation and drama from cell phones can give students a much-needed break.

“A phone is specifically designed by some of the most talented artists and technicians to be the most distracting thing that’s ever existed in the history of humankind,” Principal Rob Coppo said. “The only way to get [students] focused on the content is to take away that device. It’s a life skill.

You’re going to be in a situation where you can’t be on your phone. So, we want to help you learn that life skill and help you use these more responsibly,” Coppo said.

English teacher Lisa Callender encourages students to use dictionaries instead of their phones. In some classes, students are also allowed to use Chromebooks or iPads to take notes on the material, though some teachers believe students learn best by using pencil and paper, which is supported by various studies.

Cell phones are cherished by teenagers and help them connect to others more easily and quickly, and provide some educational advantages as well, but the downsides are particularly detrimental in the classroom, where shortened attention spans impact engagement and learning.

photo by anna jeong/falconer

On Friday, Aug. 9, SDUHSD experienced a malware attack, forcing a temporary shutdown of the Aeries Portal, though no student data was breached.

According to Principal Rob Coppo, the malware attack appeared to be random and “not super smart in its targeting” in that it happened before school started.

“Because we were hit with this [malware] and then got no response from whoever was trying to lock us out of our system, it appears that it was just kind of like those spam calls about my social security number,” Coppo said. “It’s just ‘Send as many out as we can.’”

Thanks to backup systems and early detection of the malware, the district IT staff was able to minimize damage, though some teachers are still experiencing printer and projector problems now.

However, math teacher Abby Brown was not as fortunate. Brown was on vacation when she learned about the attack through a “mysterious” text message, which instructed staff to turn off their computers if they were working at school.

Brown later learned that servers

hosting her websites were offline and were not going to be put back into service.

“This was hard to hear since I had nearly 20 years of work put into my www. abbymath.com website,” Brown said.

The data was not lost, but she has to use a hosting service separate from school to post materials for her classes and clubs.

Not all of her files are back on her website, and a couple of other sites she had “are likely to not be in service ever again.”

Another effect of the attack was that other software Brown uses for her classes were unavailable when school started. To teach her class, she had to bring in her own laptop.

For instance, Windows Journal, a program where she keeps all her course notes, only became available four weeks into the school year.

She also had to find a new way to “get Mathematica running, (though not connecting like it is supposed to),” as the program stopped working at the end of summer and is used in her Advanced Topics and Calculus classes.

“For the first few days, we had to reactivate Mathematica on all of [the computers],” Sumith Nalabolu (12) said. “I think they are all good now though.”

Though Brown feels like she is finally “teaching ‘normally’ again,” she hopes that the other issues caused by the attack will be resolved soon.

“There are still several areas [like my incomplete website and no file access from home] that I’m figuring out workarounds for,” Brown said.

She has been transparent about the malware attack and status of her website via emails that she sends to her students.

“I think she has definitely been stressed out by all of this stuff,” Nalabolu said. “She was afraid that she lost all the work that was on her website… but luckily, she got her stuff back a couple days ago.”

Teachers were not the only ones affected by the malware attack.

Because the Aeries Portal was shut down, students were given an extension to turn in Readiness Day paperwork.

“I was out of the country during Readiness Day and [the district] sent out an email saying that Aeries was offline,” Arthi Matrubhutam (12) said.

The email cited “technical difficulties” as the reason why Aeries

was unavailable, and though the portal was restored, other damages are still being fixed.

In the future, Coppo says there will be new precautions, such as less freedom for teachers who are using old versions of servers or websites.

Regardless, Brown believes that “it will never be the same.”

As the Falconer was going to print, it was revealed it was not a malware attack, but a ransomware attack. We will publish a follow-up story in the October issue.

The district controls the temperature of TPHS, but teachers can change the temperature of their rooms by a few degrees up or down to save energy and money, except in some of the older buildings.

According to Courtney Wayland (12), some students feel that the classrooms are too cold and must plan their outfits accordingly.

“I’m always really cold. Sometimes I’m late to class because I have to go get a jacket from my car,” Wayland said.

Teachers notice their students adapting to the temperature when they adjust the thermostat.

“If I pushed [the temperature] up like 30 minutes later it was super hot and humid here. If I pushed it down, then people were like putting jackets and sweatshirts on,” chemistry teacher Angela Willden said.

While teachers can change the temperature, their control is limited.

“We can change [the temperature] up and down, but the response of the system is automatic. So it doesn’t necessarily mean if I change it up one degree that I’m going to

get exactly one degree of change,” Willden said.

Teachers also notice how changing the temperature by a couple degrees causes extreme temperatures.

“Sometimes what happens is that if you push the plus button, it gets steamy and you’ll see the windows fog up,” TPHS teacher Normani Whiler* said.

If teachers want to change the temperature more than a few degrees, they need to contact the district and the TPHS administration. “[They would need to] contact the assistant principal and facilities, and get ahold of Mrs. Gallow and she can work with our head custodian, Mr. Helm, and he can look into it. They might send [the request] to the district,” Principal Rob Coppo said.

The district controls the temperature to save energy and money by giving teachers a small range to adjust the temperature.

“It’s as simple as we are spending taxpayer’s dollars and energy is one of the biggest [reasons]. We are talking about trying to avoid serious waste,” Coppo said.

Most teachers are satisfied with the temperature of their rooms this school year.

“I feel that what we are complaining about is not as serious as what another school might have to deal with,” Whiler said.

Even though there are some issues with the current air conditioning system, teachers feel that the district is putting their best effort in.

“I think what the district is doing is, overall, the best solution for everybody.

Also, the temperature in San Diego is relatively constant,” Willden said.

Some students notice the extreme temperature, but do not believe that it affects their learning environment. “[The cold temperature] doesn’t affect my learning that much, to be honest,” Alec Howell (12) said.

However, some students want their classrooms to be slightly warmer.

“Yeah, I wish [the classrooms] were a little less cold,” Wayland said.

Unless adding air conditioning is already in a bond, which distributes funds, then the air conditioning at TPHS will not be updated or expanded in the future. “[TPHS has] no

future grand plans. It’s just if we got an issue, let us know and we could see what we can do to fix it,” Coppo said. *Name changed to protect identity

photo by sam mathe/falconer

photo by lesley moon/falconer

SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS 1.

Nat’l Merit Scholar Semi-finalists

2.

Speech & Debate League 1A

Varsity Public Forum Qualified for Medals by going 3-1 photo by lesley moon/falconer

3.

Varsity Parliamentary Qualified for Medals by going 3-1

Novice Public Forum Qualified for Trophies by going 4-0

photo by sam mathe/falconer

photo by ariana huang/falconer

INFOGRAPHIC BY DANIEL KIM

Changing classes appears to have become significantly harder this year at TPHS as growing class sizes and scheduling conflicts leave no room for flexibility in students’ schedules.

TPHS offers students four weeks to request to change their schedule without it leaving a mark on their record if they feel a class isn’t right for them. However, this year, with roughly a hundred students per day going to the counselor to make a schedule change, a significant number of students are not just being denied changes between different classes, but they are also being denied the ability to switch between different levels of one class.

Jason Li (10) was one of the many students unable to adjust their schedules.

After he realized AP World History wasn’t the right class for him, his request to change classes was denied.

“Before the summer I didn’t exactly know what I wanted to pursue in the future,” Li said. “During the summer I thought about it a lot and talked about it with my friends. I decided that I wanted to pursue music so I wanted to drop AP World to clear more time to practice.”

Many students want to begin concentrating on a specific area of study while they are still in high school.

In Li’s case, the reason preventing his schedule change was one that is heard quite commonly from the counselors. “[My counselor] just said that unfortunately, there were no more spots in the class I need left,” Li said.

On the other hand, Michelle Burns (12)* was rejected for no apparent reason when she tried to move from College Prep Economics to AP Macroeconomics after her plans to graduate a semester early didn’t work out. “[My counselor] told me there was no space in any of the classes, but I talked

to Mrs. Mintz, the head of the history department, and she said there’s plenty of space so I was like, ‘What the hell?’” Burns

said.

After many heated conversations, Burns’ counselor talked to Assistant Principal Robert Shockney, who then allowed Burns to switch into AP Econ only if she also takes AP U.S. Government second semester too. The change forced a shuffling of many other classes in her schedule.

Burns is very dissatisfied with the w h o l e process a n d

believes there needs to be many changes to the scheduling system.

“We need more teachers to have more space for students if they want to switch. They only have one teacher for certain subjects and they’re not spreading out the class sizes evenly,” Burns said.

While he understands the importance of taking the appropriate level courses, Shockney, who oversees both the master schedule and the counseling department, said that the scheduling process isn’t as simple as it may seem.

“When students make changes to one class, it affects multiple other classes,” Shockney said. “By minimizing class changes, the better we can preserve the hard work from the spring and summer to balance all class sizes.”

Shockney also denies claims about class size imbalance.

“Actually, this y e a r

we are seeing one of the most balanced schedules in many years. That means class sizes across one course are all close to the same,” Shockney said. “The class sizes years ago when we first implemented a 3rd period were up to 45 students in some areas. This year, my personal goal as the admin over the master schedule was to get as many classes to 40 or less. At this time, we are close to this goal.”

Whether or not the difficulty of changing courses has actually increased this year, both students and administration agree that the most students can do is educate themselves and pick the best possible courses for them in the spring.

“I believe it is important for students to make thoughtful considerations when selecting their courses in the spring since the schedule of classes is built on the decisions made then,” Shockney said.

There are many ways students can make more informed decisions, avoiding the whole process of changing courses in the first place.

“I encourage students to review course profiles, talk with counselors, teachers and family, in addition to making considerations of extracurricular activities and personal well-being,” Shockney said.

photo by katheryn yoo/falconer

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to withdraw the United Kingdom from the European Union by Oct. 31.

He has faced setbacks, including defeats in both Houses of Parliament and the resignation of his brother, Jo Johnson.

Operation Yellowhammer outlines the U.K. treasury’s projections in a “no-deal Brexit,” including decreased availability of food and medicine, skyrocketing fuel prices and a wave of protests and counterprotests.

A rise in xenophobia toward Nigerians living in South Africa has created tension. There have been nearly 60 Nigerian deaths and hundreds of injuries reported so far.

On Monday, an envoy from South Africa presented an apology to Nigeria’s president, condemning the violence and promising action. Also, various Central African airline companies are in the process of flying Nigerians in South Africa back to Nigeria or to other countries for safety.

The election in Israel on September 17 was between the current Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently facing criminal charges, and the former army chief Benny Gatz. Despite being in the midst of several investigations, Netanyahu has proceeded to seek his 4th term. For the first time in Israeli history, the election results have been announced as too close to call.

Hurricane Dorian tore through the Bahamas on Sept.

1. It left at least 50 dead and over 1,200 still missing.

About 13,000 homes were destroyed or severely damaged, according to The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Classified as Category Five storm, Dorian is the strongest hurricane to hit the islands in recorded history.

Costco opened its first store in Shanghai, China on Aug. 27 after a five-year partnership with the Chinese online retailer Alibaba and months of promotions through trade fairs.

Costco was unprepared for the crowds of Chinese customers excited for inexpensive American goods like Pampers diapers, Ocean Spray cranberries and Samsonite luggage and had to close eight hours earlier than scheduled.

This isn’t an ideal time to enter a foreign market because of the rise of online shopping and the current U.S.-China trade war, Costco will not only survive long-term in the Chinese market but also will help end have consequences on an international level for the trade war.

art by amrita moturi/falcon artist

and remove electric scooters from its streets, and if not, the residents must take the issue into their own hands. Cities such as Portland have begun to take the issue into their own hands, rebelling against the scooter by throwing them into rivers according to Oregon Live.

Bird, Lyft and Lime scooters are creating chaos, and in the process, not solving the issue they were created to address.

Many other foriegn companies like Costco have had very successful opening days, but in the long run, they have had to close due to China’s difficult retail market.

Carrefour Market is a thriving supermarket chain based in France, but after more than 20 years in China, the company was forced to sell 80 percent of its business to Chinese company Suning.com because of their unsuccessful search for a partner in Chinese operations and the slow reaction to the growing amount of e-commerce. They still have a 20 percent stake in the Chinese operations and two representatives on the Chinese branch’s committee.

Another business in a similar situation is Tesco PLC, a popular British grocery and general merchandise retailer, which embarked on a joint venture in 2013 although it has only been independent and established since 2007. The deal was mainly due to the fact that it was late to open stores in China, did insufficient market research and lack of competitive ability compared to bigger brands like Carrefour Market and Walmart.

These failures offer insight into the market for Chinese consumers and show that to be successful in the world’s second

largest economy, a company needs a strong partnership, quick reflexes, advantages over foreign competitors and an understanding of what the consumer wants and how to provide it.

The stores that offer those things to Chinese customers and have additional unique programs to set them apart from competitors are even more successful.

Alibaba’s Hema is one of those companies that goes above and beyond with innovative technology and partnerships.

Alibaba, an online retailer popular in China partnered with Costco, is the parent company of Hema, which has 65 physical locations in addition to the e-commerce website.

Customers use the Hema app to scan products and learn recipes and other useful information. Since Alibaba has a record of products purchased in Hema, they can offer future delivery of those items, creating a partnership.

Customers also experience fast delivery of groceries purchased online.

Through Alibaba’s physical store Hema, customers become more comfortable with shopping online, which further stimulates business.

Another successful grocery superpower in China is Walmart. It has 433 physical stores and plans to open 40 more Sam’s Clubs (a membership store owned by Walmart) by 2020.

The secret behind its success is, yet again, technology and a strong, local Chinese partner business.

Walmart implements self checkouts, fast delivery of online groceries and payment through WeChat, and it is partnered with the second most popular e-commerce network, JD.com.

The Costco Wholesale in Shanghai is brand new and hasn’t revealed what technology it plans to use or what other companies besides Alibaba it wants to partner with.

However, it is clear that Costco Wholesale has thought through other important variables that determine the success of a store: location, products and prices, as well as their experience in the Chinese market and customer base.

Costco deliberately chose to open in Shanghai’s suburban Minhang District because

car ownership is high, so more people will be able to buy the bulk goods and transport them home than in an urban location where most people use public transportation.

Furthermore, they made a conscious effort to adjust and market products to a Chinese audience. They sell baijiu (white wine) a popular alcohol in China. In addition, they sell luxury items like Hermés Birkin bags, Maine lobsters and bluefin tuna to help market Costco as a higher end Sam’s club, one of its competitors, and a Walmart subsidiary.

Offering these products encourages Chinese consumers to buy the membership to Costco because they will receive better service. If that wasn’t enough, the price for membership on opening day was almost 50 percent off the original price from 299 yuan ($41.73) to 199 yuan ($28).

It’s great that Costco will be able to withstand the harsh Chinese retail market, but it also has some added benefits, like helping to solve the trade war.

The trade war has greater implications than in just the U.S. and China. Other companies have transferred manufacturing from China to Vietnam, but Vietnamese companies are having a hard time keeping up with the influence.

Also, the EU will be severely affected because 40 percent of their GDP comes from exports. To put that into perspective, only 12 percent of the U.S. GDP comes from exports.

Overall, the U.S.- China trade war is harmful to the global economy and supply chains, but opening big stores in China can decrease the damage.

Though this is a big concern for investors and businesses opening their doors in China, this is a great way to promote diplomacy and help find a solution to the U.S.- China trade war.

Currently, big American companies like KFC, Starbucks and General Motors, who have tapped a huge market selling to middle class China are stuck in the middle of this trade war and the companies may be targeted if the war continues. If enough of the CEOS of these companies stand against the tariffs President Trump is imposing, they can make a difference in this issue.

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Scooters, like bikes and cars, are not recyclable materials, but somehow, people treat them as such. There is no respect for the vehicles, and their nonchalant placement throughout the city is a testament to that fact.

If the safety hazards the scooters cause throughout the city are not enough to convince you of the evil they do, it can be added that many reputable members of the community the city have begun a campaign against the vehicles.

Barbara Bry, President Pro Tempore of the San Diego City Council, said that “my constituents hate them universally.”

With the safety issues posed by the scooters, as well as the eyesore they represent, the only argument for keeping the scooters in San Diego is their practicality.

With very little public transportation in many areas like North County, the electric scooters provide a simple and easy method of transportation.

It would be helpful if the scooters were being placed in the locations that actually need them. Instead, they are being placed in highly congested areas, like downtown and Mission Beach, where most people could transport themselves just as quickly by walking as they could with the scooters. The scooters only add disorder and unnecessary pains.

San Diego is not the only place facing a scooter crisis. Others cities like Nashville have begun to place bans on the scooters. Nashville mayor, David Brilley stated that, “We have seen the public safety and accessibility costs that these devices inflict, and it is not fair to our residents for this to continue,” in a letter to his constituents.

San Diego must follow suit

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All major cities have pests they just can’t seem to get rid of. New York has cockroaches, Los Angeles has rats and San Diego ... has electric scooters.

Beginning in early 2018, electric scooter companies like Lime and Bird flocked to San Diego as a main testing ground for their products, with over 40,000 total vehicles throughout the city according to the New York Times. Their scooters, which have been placed throughout the city, are available to rent through an app. Users pay $1 to unlock them and 15 cents per minute to ride.

The goal of these companies is to “reduce traffic, congestion and carbon emissions by providing people with a safe, affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to cars,” according to the Bird Scooter company website.

But in San Diego, it feels like these scooters have failed at accomplishing their mission, resulting in accidents, greater congestion and confusion on the road, as well as becoming an alternative to walking rather than driving. Electric scooters must be removed from the streets of San Diego.

I can personally attest, that there is no location in San Diego that better exemplifies the public danger posed by electric scooters, than La Jolla. As a gelato scooper located directly in front of a busy sidewalk near the

ocean, I have the privilege of observing the dangerous side effects of the disease caused by these vehicles — side effects not worth the easy transportation.

The first reason there must be a scooter ban is apparent anytime one steps on the sidewalk.

With slow walkers, skateboarders and people walking their pets, the average pedestrian faces enough menaces as it is. Adding giant, heavy metallic scooters into the mix is practically begging for disaster to happen.

In Austin, the Center for Disease Control and Public Health and Transportation Department found that for every 100,000 rides, 20 people were injured. That means that you’re more likely to get hurt on a scooter than if you went skydiving (0.0007 percent). Simply on the walk from my car to the gelato shop I have seen hundreds of near misses between scooters and pedestrians as the scooter drivers ignorantly speed down the sidewalks, many on their phones (texting and scootering is an issue for another time).

Certain locations in San Diego have already begun to ban the scooters, including San Diego State University, which banned them in early August of 2019 citing the “safety of the campus and students.”

In addition to the risk that the scooters pose to both the public and drivers of the scooters, there is one factor that cannot be overlooked.

The scooters are eyesores.

There is nothing worse than traveling 40 minutes in rush-hour traffic to arrive in Del Mar just to have all of your beautiful sunset pictures filled with bulky black, orange and green metal scooters.

When people end their rides, they are free to leave the scooters in any location they find convenient. For some, that is the side of the street, in the middle of the sidewalk, or for a few people in Denver, inside a river according to Fox News.

The following question was posed to 1,010 adults nationwide in a CBS poll conducted in August.

Do you favor legalization of marijana nationwide?

62%

38%

answered

answered

art by sam mathe /falcon artist

On Aug. 27, 2019, the California state legislature voted to permit parents to bring all forms of medical marijuana onto school campus’ for their children. The bill awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature.

Mirabel Hunt STAFF WRITER

Marijuana and school. Two things that seemingly do not belong together.

But this would change with SB-223, the amendment the California Legislature has passed. Now waiting for the approval of Governor Gavin Newsom, the bill would allow medical marijuana to be used in K-12 schools by those who need it.

Currently, marijuana is not allowed within 1,000 feet of schools, meaning parents have to check their children out of school every day to give them their CBD oils, pills, inhalers or creams. No student should have his or her education disrupted because of the stigmas against their treatment.

Medical marijuana has proved to be beneficial and even life-saving for minors who suffer from epilepsy, autism, chemotherapyinduced nausea, severe anxiety and much more. These patients are mostly prescribed to use Cannabidiol or CBD products, a nonpsychoactive ingredient found in marijuana.

Also, medical marijuana helps patients in ways that pharmaceuticals have failed to.

While drugs tailored to conditions like seizures make patients feel lethargic and weak, CBD has done the opposite. These daily treatments are often necessary and could cause grave consequences if patients don’t take them.

Epidolex is one of the CBD-based medications targeted to treat two rare forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. It is mostly used by children, as it has been proven to decrease fatal seizures.

If schools do not allow students to take these medications at school, they are asking

students to choose between their education and their health, a choice no person should have to make.

A large concern is how students would be given these medications at school. Some schools have not welcomed the idea of school nurses administering marijuana due to the fear of losing district funding. This is another example of schools putting their image over the well-being of their students. For students with certain conditions, medicinal marijuana is as necessary and simple as the Advil and Tylenol that nurses administer to students, but its importance is far greater. If nurses cannot administer the drugs, students would be responsible for administering it to themselves.

This is an additional concern for many people. Many of the students in need of these drugs are not capable of this due to disabilities. Of course, under the law, parents would be allowed to give their children the medication on campus, but that is not a sustainable or efficient solution. Furthermore, school nurses should be allowed to administer marijuana to prevent other students without these prescriptions from abusing access to medical marijuana that is not their own. But to appease skeptics, the bill should also include regulations to avoid letting medication fall into the wrong hands.

While some believe that passing the bill will promote illegal use of marijuana, in reality, most of the medications are made with CBD rather than Tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC. CBD does not cause intoxication or the euphoric effects that THC causes.

California would not be the first state to allow medical marijuana in schools. For instance, Washington D.C. public schools recently ruled to allow medical marijuana on campus.

How are students supposed to feel comfortable in a learning environment that forces them to leave campus because of their condition? Every student deserves a fair shot at a full education, no matter what disease or condition they may suffer from.

Newsom must say yes; his decision could change the lives of many young students just looking for an equal chance to succeed.

Two years ago, recreational and medical marijuana including edibles, e-cigarettes and pills, became legal for those 21 and older in California and 10 other states.

While medical marijuana has proven to be beneficial to treat conditions in all age groups, non-smoking medical marijuana use on K-12 campuses for students with doctor recommendations should not be allowed.

Former California Governor, Jerry Brown, vetoed the bill SB-1127, which states that medical marijuana can be administered by staff in K-12 schools for students with serious medical conditions.

He said, “This bill goes too far—further than some research has—to allow use of medical marijuana for youth. I think we should pause before going much further down this path.”

The decision of passing bill SB-223, which legalizes on-campus medical marijuana administration, is nearly identical to the vetoed bill, and it is now up to current California governor, Gavin Newsom, to say no.

First, one concern is that students might forge doctor notes to use marijuana during school hours. One critic who believes this, Kevin Sabet, former three-time White House Office of National Drug Control Policy advisor said of marijuana, “It is rife for abuse.” Critics have also pointed out the vagueness of the bill; the legalization of marijuana can be interpreted as a green light for the use of other drugs. This worry is understandable considering that students in K-12 schools, children and teenagers alike, don’t have fully developed brains.

Schools have pushed to be drug-free, and should continue to promote that message.

Not only will passing the law normalize drug use on campus, but it also will disrupt the class time of other students who are trying to learn.

If administrators in schools, such as nurses and teachers, become allowed to oversee the use of medical marijuana, it would normalize marijuana use on campus and set a precedent for drug use. Additionally, schools that are federally funded are likely to lose funding if medical marijuana becomes legal to consume on campus, because marijuana use— recreational or medical—isn’t legal by federal

Srishti Thapar STAFF WRITER

law.

Another issue is that rather than prescribing specific dosages of marijuana, doctors simply give a recommendation. According to the L.A. Times, getting a doctor’s recommendation for medical marijuana is so easy that it can be prescribed for basic pains like headaches or sore limbs. It is unlikely for people to hear a “no” from their doctors. This is also a problem for select school laws that prohibit staff from administering any medication that is not prescribed.

On top of this, schools will have to deal with numerous complaints because many parents will be averse to the idea of on-campus facilitated drug use. It is important to keep in mind that the number of students who require the medical marijuana is a small fraction compared to the total number of students in school. Jeopardizing the education and safety of the student body for a select few does not make sense.

The majority of the school does not need this law to be passed. The risks greatly outnumber the few who benefit, and while it is easy to be emotionally affected by the hardships of many students who struggle with health conditions like epilepsy, it is crucial to look objectively at the bigger picture.

Even without this law, students are still allowed to consume medical marijuana, just not within 1000 feet of the school. So yes, a few minutes of walking or a short car ride is required, but in the end, the students get what they need without jeopardizing other students’ safety and education.

student voices

Jesse Zhang (12)

Ava Sassen (9)

This can be achieved simply by the reallocation of federal funds, say, from our military budget. Of the over $693 billion in the Department of Defense’s budget for the fiscal year 2019, only $8 billion was mandatory, while the rest was purely discretional. Many military expenses are absurd, to say the least. The Military Times reported that in 2014 alone, the U.S. military spent over $84 million on Viagra and similar erectile dysfunction medications.

It should not even have to be explained that this money would be far better spent on educating the next generation of Americans.

College should be seen as a necessary public service, rather than a business. It’s not only necessary for the future financial security of the individuals attending college but for the whole of our country.

America needs its young to be as educated as they can possibly be.

After all, we are the ones who are going to be governing the country soon, and we need to be equipped to face all of the new issues our generation faces, such as climate change. It is crucial that we are capable of stepping up and leading our country in our increasingly complex and competitive world, and this can only be done by making college more affordable and available to all of the young people who have a right to education.

art by seyoung lee /falconer artist

As the 2020 presidential primary campaigns commence, candidates like Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are vocal about their plans to soften the stress of student debt.

Sanders has proposed a plan not only to make college free in the U.S. but also to forgive all $1.6 trillion of student debt that Americans have accumulated. Warren’s proposal is less extreme, with a limit on student loan forgiveness for households with income over $250,000. These plans, although perhaps unrealistic, are a step in the right direction.

Something needs to be done about the student loan crisis in America that buries thousands upon thousands of young people in debt before they even get a chance to start their careers. College needs to be less expensive at the very least, if not completely free.

Many people who oppose making college more affordable argue that people who cannot afford a four-year university can simply go to community college instead. But community college is not free in over thirty states.

Also, community college is stigmatized and seen as less of a qualification for jobs than attending a four-year university. People with a degree from a community college are put at a disadvantage against those with degrees from a four-year university in the job market.

According to a report by Student Loan Hero, an online service for helping students manage their student loans, tuition for a four-year private college education has gone up nearly 400 percent in America since 1987 and the cost of four years at a public college has increased by over 571 percent.

Meanwhile, there has been only a 67 percent rise in wages since 1970.

This stacks the cards against people who pursue a higher education for a higher income, especially those who do not come from affluent families and need to take out student loans to pay for that education.

Post-high school education is increasingly becoming somewhat of a requirement to get well-paying jobs. In the 1800s, when a high school diploma became seen as a requirement for job security, public high school was made free for everyone. Logically, as our society has changed and as a college degree has become almost necessary for high school graduates to achieve at least a middle-class lifestyle, changes should be made to make college more accessible to everyone as well. The past’s high school diploma is today’s college degree.

Free college might not be a realistic vision for America in the near future, but lightening the load of student debt and lowering the cost of college most definitely should be feasible with political action. The federal government should have a responsibility to regulate public college tuition so that young Americans do not have to art by seyoung lee /falconer artist worry about how they will afford to be educated enough to get a stable job. This can be done either by putting a legally enforced limit on public college tuition or by providing colleges with subsidies so that they do not have to charge students as much.

For private colleges universities, the government should cap how much money they can charge.

According to the Pew Research Center

Mickie Felthaus (12)

Claire Wang (12)

Yet another fast-fashion retailer has found itself on the brink of extinction as Forever 21 finally announced that it may file for bankruptcy.

As a former Forever 21 customer, I was initially disappointed to hear about their possible closing, but considering the harmful qualities of the fast fashion industry, I am grateful for Forever 21’s prospective bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy does not necessarily mean that all Forever 21 stores will shut down, but it does mean that they will likely reset, plan and attempt to regain their business.

Forever 21 sales have reportedly dropped 20 to 25 percent in the past year due to the recent criticism raised about the fast fashion industry. Forever 21 also has come under fire for various allegations involving stealing lesser known independent designers’ ideas. For such a successful company, you would think they could come up with a few ideas of their own or pay artists for their work.

Forever 21 owners and founders, Do Won and Jin Sook Chang, husband and wife, started the chain three years after immigrating from South Korea to the United States in 1981.

The couple’s combined net worth is

reportedly 1.5 billion as of July 3, 2019, which is a drastic difference from what it was in 2015, 5.9 billion., the drop is due largely to public awareness.

Similar to fast food, fast fashion represents clothes that are cheap, easily accessible and of questionable quality.

We try not to eat too much fast food because it’s bad for our health, right? So why don’t we cut down on the amount of clothing we buy?

Buying too many clothes won’t increase our chances of heart disease, but if we keep this up, we will see the effects on the environment in a few years.

Polyester, the most commonly used fabric, contributes to ocean pollution. Washed in washing machines, polyester releases microfibers that further pollute the oceans. The microfibers are so infinitesimally small that they pass through most sewage systems. As they make their way up the food chain, polyester fibers are consumed by shellfish and eventually humans.

Fast fashion stores tend to advertise heavily on social media to attract younger generations, such as teenagers who are more likely to want the newest styles at affordable prices.

Fast fashion is exactly how it sounds, it follows new and upcoming trends and gathers data about what is being worn by celebrities and “style icons.” All around the world, trends and styles are changing and fast fashion keeps up with them through mass production of garments and the unethical use of underpaid workers in places like China, India and Bangladesh.

Workers in these locations work tirelessly in squalid conditions, reason enough to cut down on our consumption of cheap goods. Surely

Do you want to know what people think that I regularly do for fun? They think I drive straight home from school, sit in front of a computer and work on my homework until it’s done. As soon as I complete my work, they think, I review past lessons and preview upcoming chapters, or so they think because of my Asian background.

Despite my desire for academic excellence, the Asian stereotype of an endlessly studious, constantly working student most definitely does not fit my personality.

I don’t confine myself from 3 pm to 2 am to get my work done; I do the complete opposite. I actively avoid being stuck at home after school.

Whenever possible, I will try to keep up with my friends and hang out as long as I have an excuse to avoid being at home. At times, even school is preferable to home for me; I have more people to socialize with, rather than being alone.

Even at home, I keep up with Billboard’s “The Hot 100,” television shows like “Black Mirror” and “Stranger Things” and professional sports like the NFL and NBA. Of course, to be honest, my main source of entertainment is far from binge watching shows with Hot Cheetos in possession. This is where my Asian background comes into play.

Whenever I have free time, I will be either playing video games popular among South Koreans, listening to K-Pop, watching anime or reading Japanese comics known as manga.

Sometimes, as someone who loves to multitask, I might be doing all, along with doing my homework and working on those dreaded college applications.

Even as I write this, I literally have three windows up on my laptop: one for this article, another for anime and the last one for K-Pop. Unless you are a fan, as I am, of any of the activities I listed above, you probably fail to realize how much time I waste (even though it is well worth it) on these hobbies.

To put into perspective for those who do not know me, ever since I set foot on the Torrey Pines High School campus on Aug. 30, 2016, I have played thousands of different video games on eight different consoles and platforms, listened to about 1,000 K-Pop songs, watched approximately 5,000 anime episodes (which is about 100,000 minutes combined) and read nearly 185,000 pages of manga.

Do I regret any minute I spent on these activities? Well, maybe I will when I have tests on the horizon. But, so far, it is safe to say that I do not regret a minute of my time because I enjoyed the victories while playing games or enjoying the plots of all the animes and the unique instrumentals and vocals of the K-Pop songs.

People criticize me for being entranced by such activities, calling them “pointless,” but those hobbies have allowed me to connect to many people around me, making high school less stressful than elementary and middle school.

Before high school, I had trouble developing valuable connections to others. Every time I started a conversation, it began with, “So what classes are you taking?” or “Have you done the homework yet?”

When other people were talking about the

we have enough clothes to satisfy our greedy demands.

To make matters worse, mass production of garments doesn’t just hurt the workers, but fast fashion is incredibly detrimental to our overall well being.

A popular, eye-opening documentary about the harmful impacts of fast fashion, The True Cost, focuses on the health conditions that arise in close proximity with cotton, another widely-used fabric. Producing cotton requires an unhealthy amount of pesticide and has been linked to birth defects of the children of cotton growers in India.

Along with harmful fabrics that are used in many clothes, certain dyes, prints and colors also pollute the environment. Many of these hazardous chemicals are banned or regulated in various European countries due to their toxic characteristics.

While many social media stars preach about “saving the turtles” by using metal straws, they and others ignore or are simply unaware of the true cost of the fast fashion industry.

Try-on haul after

try-on haul, these YouTubers show no honest regard for the environment. Instead, they should cut down on the hundreds of clothes they convince themselves they need.

We, as consumers, should aim to purchase clothing specifically made with natural fabrics, shop at thrift stores and overall reduce our need to always keep changing up our wardrobes.

It is extremely difficult to completely eradicate the consumption of fast fashion garments, but it can be greatly reduced with an effort.

So when you’re browsing through stores like Forever 21, remember: cheap labor comes at a high cost.

art by amy ge/falcon artist

photo by katheryn /falcon photographer

latest television shows, the references went over my head because of my lack of interest in pop culture; I felt truly split from society.

My inability to connect and have intriguing conversations about popular culture developed into a complex, haunting my social life. Now, the countless minutes I spent on my various hobbies resolved my complex and developed large groups of friends and opportunities to learn about various different cultures.

My trip to Japan was fun because of my hobbies that educated me about the culture.

The K-Pop concerts I attended with my friends are unforgettable experiences that I will treasure for the rest of my life. My friends and I can call each other over the phone while playing video games together. These memories are the best way to summarize what these hobbies have brought me: joy.

Obviously, these activities come at a cost of money and time, which is why they motivate me. By working hard to succeed, I can find ways to visit various countries, go to more concerts and watch more movies. So, I guess that means that my hobbies don’t bother my academics but rather motivate me to further pursue them in order to be able to continue to keep up with such entertainment.

Only two years ago, I would not have imagined growing into such a person. Back then, I believed that my junior and senior years would involve remaining glued to the chair in my room, studying and doing homework.

Luckily, life comes with surprises.

As much as I value the importance of studying, I am not like the stereotypical Asian student: academics are not entertainment, but a responsibility.

Fr with the B Yours comm powe

exotic

/iɡˈzädik/

originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country

From the Flying Pan to the Fire?

Owning exotic pets sometimes gets a bad rap due to problems like smuggling and breeding, but, through the pet trade, some pets can be relocated from precarious natural habitats or protected from endangered status.

At the same time, owning exotic pets may be dangerous if they are given improper care, are outlawed in your area or are released into the wild, where they can become pests and threaten local biodiversity.

Many TPHS students provide loving homes for their unusual pets from other locales, even if they are not your average dog or cat. Here are their stories.

by Jasmine Criqui and Vlada Demenko

It’s never been hard to guess the dominant pet of our region. One quick look around the suburbs of Carmel Valley or the beaches of Del Mar, and you’ll find them everywhere: dogs. Every size, shape and breed seem to be running around San Diego, so much that around 500 local restaurants market themselves as “dog friendly,” according to BringFido, a website designed to locate restaurants accessible to canines.

But, despite the overwhelming preference for man’s best friend, some would rather take in rarer and more exotic creatures. From different breeds of bird to potbellied pigs, unusual pets are sprinkled across San Diego homes and require different types of care and attention.

For proof, look no further than Madison Biemiller (12). When Biemiller saw a sun conure, a bird species native to northeastern South America, in PetSmart when she was eight, she was entranced by its vibrant rainbow colors. After some frantic research on sun conure care and her mom’s signature on the paperwork, the bird, which she named Pumpkin, was hers. Ten years later, Biemiller and Pumpkin are still as close as ever.

“If you make noises she’ll try to mimic the noises. She’s like a mix between a lovebird and a parrot, basically; parrots mimic noises and lovebirds like to play with your hair,” Biemiller said.

Not all birds are so lucky. Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary is a Del Mar safe haven for exotic birds, and often takes in birds that have nowhere else to go.

“I would say most of our pets came from very loving homes that had owners that really cared about them, and it was their last resort to give them up,” avian care associate Diane Huff said.

“The primary reason [for surrendering a bird] is if they have a major life change, like a big move, or a death or an illness.”

While some might be initially captivated by the bird’s exotic appearance, they may not be prepared for the demands of taking proper care of these creatures.

“Their medical care is [unique to the species], so it’s very expensive,” Huff said.

Even if you have the money to take care of an exotic bird, there are still many specific needs and behaviors that pertain to these pets.

“It could be that they’re going to deal with an animal that’s extremely loud, possibly biting, needy,” Huff said.

“Their beaks can become overgrown if they’re not taken care of. If a professional doesn’t groom the beak, it could crack and break off in the wrong way and could cause them to not be able to eat anymore.”

Biemiller concedes the noise.

The Sun Conure, a popular exotic pet bird, is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Its population is decreasing rapidly due to habitat loss; however, through the pet trade, its numbers may have a chance at recovering.

“She’s very loud, and she doesn’t stop being loud unless it’s at night,” Biemiller said. “She starts at 8:00 a.m. every day, and then [makes noise] every time someone walks in or out of the house or downstairs or upstairs.”

There’s also the issue of sourcing the parrots in the first place.

Although popular as pets due to their bright coloring and playful personality, sun conures are endangered in the wild due to deforestation and the pet trade.

The 1992 Wild Bird Conservation Act made the importation of Sun Conures and other exotic birds into the U.S. illegal. But, before that, the flow of sun conures into the pet trade had already begun, which is why they are more prevalent in captivity than in the wild.

“Parrots are not suited for captivity with humans. They need so much more than what human households can offer them,” Huff said.

“They’re flying animals, and you can’t really have a parrot as a pet and have it flying. It could get out and get hurt.”

But, according to

Biemiller, supervised flight is a key part of Pumpkin’s daily routine.

“She flies around by herself; that’s how she gets exercise,” Biemiller said. “ She can just hang out outside of her cage for however long we’re inside the house for.”

Even specialists can’t always provide animals with everything they have in the wild, as shown by

Free Flight. When the sanctuary was established in 1981, a net was placed over it to allow the birds to fly freely. Over time, the net deteriorated and structural issues prevented it from being replaced. So while Free Flight’s birds get plenty of care and exercise, they are still not allowed the liberties of their wild relatives.

The difficulty of raising exotic creatures does not stop at birds. Consider Maria Russo* and her late pet hedgehog named Princess Prickles, who she brought over the border from Tijuana.

“Everyone has had a bunny or a hamster, but I’ve always had more of the exotic pets,” Russo said. “I’ve had lizards and lots of stuff like that, so that’s why I also wanted to get a hedgehog.”

But hedgehogs are illegal to have as pets in California and four other states, due to the risks they pose to human health and native wildlife.

According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the creatures are restricted from domestic living because “they can become pests where introduced into the wild where they don’t

naturally occur. There are also many unknown questions related to natural predators and potential diseases when any non-native animal is introduced into the wild.”

But, since the adoption of Princess Prickles, an illegal pet, Russo disagrees with the law.

“I understand why these laws are in place,

but I feel like if people were to just not release the animals then these laws wouldn’t be in place,” Russo said. “When they were released into the wild, they messed with the natural habitat because they are little predators, but the are great pets.”

Unique pets such as hedgehogs also pick up a lot of attention, as it’s not every day you see one roaming around Carmel Valley.

“No one has ever experienced a hedgehog, and everyone is very intrigued by it,” Russo said. “Being able to show it off is really fun because everyone will enjoy it.”

Apparently it’s common among exotic pet owners to savor the attention they can get from their animals.

“It’s fun to have something no one else has,” Biemiller said.

But, once again, exotic pets do require special care and materials so they can live healthily in domestic settings.

According to Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital of San Diego, hedgehogs can also go into hibernation if their cages become too cool in temperature. Also, their quills have to be trimmed regularly and checked for mites.

Another mammal scattered across this region is the chinchilla, a type of rodent that is native to South America, identified by their outturned ears, bushy tails and furry bodies.

Sydney Rodrigue (11) got her pet chinchilla, Mochi, from her younger brother around two years ago, when he became enamoured by the

creatures after watching YouTube videos of them.

Through her time as a pet owner, she has learned all the ins and outs of the specific needs and behaviors of chinchillas.

“They’re really sensitive to loud noises, so they need to be in a generally quiet environment,” Rodrigue said. “And she needs to have dust, like volcanic ash, to take baths in.”

While chinchillas are not illegal in California, they are still exotic pets that are not typically found in San Diego, so it is important to do some research before adopting one.

“You have got to learn a little bit about animals that live in nontraditional settings. You have to follow specific rules to keep them safe. It’s not just like a dog, you know?” Rodrigue said.

Even though chinchillas do not originally come from this region or a climate similar to Southern California, it’s not impossible for them to adjust to domestic life here.

Rodrigue agrees, and says that owning exotic pets is perfectly fine, as long as they are properly taken care of.

“If they’re kept in the right conditions and have a family and owners that are willing to make their environment at home feel like it would in the wild, then I think it’s a good pet to have,” Rodrigue said.

If you find an animal different from your traditional dog or cat, make sure to research on the cost of care before hand, and take into account the animal’s possible lifespan. If all of the necessary accommodations fit your lifestyle, present and future, then a new critter might be in the cards for you. *name changed protect identity

to

Since the first season dropped on March 31, 2017, Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why” has been a controversial show, depicting themes of suicide, rape, school shootings, crimes, abortions, substance abuse, violence and deportation. The show requires a trigger warning because it takes on so many of these traumatic issues that people may face.

The first two seasons of the show were centered around a young girl named Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) who had committed suicide shortly after being bullied and raped.

She leaves behind a collection of 13 tapes, each one dedicated to a different person who was a factor in her suicide. This led to a legal battle that spanned across the second season.

Season Three leaves Hannah’s drama behind and introduces an entirely new problem to the group of already damaged teenagers: murder. One of the students, Bryce Walker (Justin Prentice) is brutally murdered by another classmate, and as with Hannah’s death, fellow student Clay Jenson (Dylan Minnette) is left to investigate.

A new leading character, Amorowat Anysia, or “Ani,” (Grace Saif) is introduced this season. The eccentric character is the narrator throughout the season and becomes Clay’s closest friend and eventually his new love interest. She was a new face in the chaos and something this depressing show desperately needed.

Director Brian Yorkey follows the series’ theme by using two separate timelines. One focuses on the events leading up to the murder, and the other closes in on the destruction it has left behind, similar to how the first two seasons were shot before and after Baker’s death.

Yorkey does a very good job distinguishing the two time frames from each other by using different lighting techniques and transitions. In all of the flashback scenes, the picture is more vivid and the contrast is brighter.

But, in current day, the scenes have a grey undertone and everything is muted, almost as if all color has been drained from the characters’ lives.

The acting is undeniably the most crucial aspect of this show’s success. Given such difficult characters to portray, the actors had to fully embrace the roles and dive into their characters.

But, there is one character missing from the third season: Hannah Baker. This has led fans to believe that the show is starting to become a cash grab since it has strayed so far from its original storyline. It was made to bring awareness to teen suicide through the telling of Baker’s story, but in the end, Baker got her revenge on her classmates, ruining most of their lives. This is not the message to send to teenagers, as it romanticizes her suicide. Baker used her death as a means of revenge against those by whom she felt wronged, and even symbolically stayed in the show to witness her effects through Jenson’s hallucinations.

Once again, this misconstrues the concept of suicide; once you kill yourself, there is no coming back and watching your revenge plan unfold.

Suicide alone is a highly sensitive topic and the show has pushed it too far. There is no arguing that the themes of this show are real issues, but that doesn’t mean that they should be romanticized in such a manner. Baker’s suicide was done in a way that teenagers could easily copy her, which is dangerous to put on television.

One season was enough; these pressing issues are not meant for entertainment.

Maybe if the show runners had focused on one issue or stopped after the first season, they could have conveyed their message, started a conversation and moved on. They definitely didn’t need to add the murder aspect to the third season, But they kept adding so much content that the authenticity was lost and it was no longer a show to help struggling kids find hope. Instead, it became a soap opera that teenagers could watch or possibly even try to imitate, while the people the show sought to reach out to remained voiceless.

by Piper Levy

national suicide prevention hotline 1-800-273-8255

From the outside, Cafe Hue looked like any other small, local cafe. Tucked neatly between a Chinese restaurant and Thai kitchen, the Vietnamese business sold not Vietnamese food, but French crepes, Belgian waffles and Italian gelato. Cafe Hue’s novelty only increased as I looked through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors and front window, which advertised free WiFi. The interior is a curious blend of old-fashioned and hipster; the front side of the cafe has wooden chairs carved with coffee-inspired designs and an array of plants affixed to the wall, while the far side features a sleek, modern sofa and a television. The staff makes good use of the space, making sure there is plenty of room between tables, preventing the cramped feeling that usually occurs in small cafes like Cafe Hue. Crepes dominate the cafe’s menu, making up almost half of the food and drinks offered in the cafe, so I decided on three different crepes. I was able to watch the crepe pancakes being cooked, slathered with sauces and packed with filling, and within five minutes, my order number was called.

My first selection was the Nutella and Mixed Fruits crepe ($6.95), which was indicated as a favorite on the menu and included a Nutella, banana, strawberry, kiwi and mango filling along with a drizzle of chocolate syrup on top of the crepe. I was initially worried that the chocolate would overpower the fruits and make

them taste sour, but the flavors were perfectly in balance. The texture of the pancake was soft and light, and the filling was also evenly distributed throughout the folded crepe.

The savory crepe I ordered was the Bacon, Lettuce

When you and your friends are trying t o decide where to eat, there is nothing worse than the old “It’s up to you!” The huge responsibility is repeatedly passed around until someone takes the bull by the horns and makes a decision. At Up2You Cafe, that problem has gone away.

Located on Vickers Street, near popular Asian restaurants and dessert cafes, Up2You Cafe boasts a large interior, with plants all throughout the room and a large, pink neon sign that reads, “I’m picky, it’s Up2You!” The concept is that Up2You Cafe has a large selection to satisfy even the pickiest eaters. The cafe offers various desserts: honey toast ($4.75), sweet crepes ($4.25), belgian waffles ($4.25), puffle waffles ($4.25), and milk tea and other drinks.

There were a few people in line when I arrived at Up2You, but fortunately, the line moved quickly.

After I chose one of the dessert options, I had the option of adding cream sauce ($1.00), dry toppings ($1.00), fruit ($1.25) and ice cream scoops ($1.75).

I finally chose a crepe topped with graham cracker crumbs, bananas, nutella and vanilla ice cream ($9.25), a puffle waffle topped with chocolate sauce, torched marshmallows, blueberries and chocolate ice cream ($9.25) and a brown sugar milk tea ($3.75).

After completing the order, I was given a pager, which

didn’t go off for 15 minutes.

Once my pager finally buzzed, I picked up my order, which was served on a nice wooden pan, and was finally ready to dig in. Despite my expectations

Opera Cafe and Patisserie is nestled in between a line of small restaurants and a border of hedges. Quaint, little tables bask in the sun and the front of the bakery welcomes visitors with blooming trellises and yellow butterflies. It’s the perfect place for brunch on a Saturday morning (or any morning, really). The inside is also aesthetic, with plenty of good lighting, white walls and earth-toned decour.

The food also matches the bakery’s environment and air. Everything I ordered was visually appealing, an important aspect of food service. All three dishes were vividly colorful and definitely Instagram-ready.

While I was waiting for a quiche and crepe to come out, I tried the Tiramisu cake ($5.00) from Opera Patisserie’s special desserts menu.

I have no words to describe how good the tiramisu cake tasted. Maybe I’ve only had mediocre tiramisu before, or this cake was just so above par that all other cakes pale in comparison, but it was so fantastic that I would go back to the Opera Cafe for the tiramisu alone.

While I was trying the tiramisu cake, the items we ordered were delivered to the table. There wasn’t much of a wait that I noticed, just a couple of minutes.

The next item we tried, the Sweet Crepe ($9.50), included the option of either a chocolate or nutella sauce. I decided to go with the chocolate crepe, but if I

went back, I would try the nutella because there was not enough melted chocolate on the crepe.

The crepe itself was soft, chewy and almost spongy in texture, more like a pancake than what I expected. The whipped cream and melted chocolate

and Guacamole crepe ($6.95), which I only chose for the avocado, but I was curious how the lettuce would taste, too. I was disappointed that the crepe didn’t have a guacamole filling as I expected, but was spread with such a thin layer that I couldn’t even taste the avocado

that the banana, nutella and ice cream would make the crepe excessively sweet, it was the opposite. The sweet flavors of the ingredients did not enhance the sweetness, but rather balanced the flavors out.

Because of the hot weather, the cold ice cream was

complemented it well, but there wasn’t a large amount of the latter.

Overall, I would say that the crepe was average.

It tasted good, but anyone with the ingredients could

over the salty bacon and dry lettuce filling.

The crepe was also served with a ranch dipping sauce, which I discovered only made the crepe saltier and soggier than it already was, so I preferred eating the crepe without it.

It was clear that Cafe Hue’s strength is in its sweet crepes, so my last order was Hue’s Coffee crepe ($6.95), another favorite on the menu. This one was gorgeous to look at, with a swirly caramel and chocolate syrup design on the crepe. Although it lacked the kick I was expecting from the coffee flavor, it had a rich chocolate filling sprinkled with brown crunchy cinnamon sugar. With all the rich filling, syrup and flavoring, though, the crepe itself felt very dense, unlike the light pancake that I would have expected from a crepe, but it was easy to overlook this detail because of the delicious flavor.

No trip to a cafe is complete without a drink, and one employee was happy to recommend the cafe’s boba milk tea ($4.05 for a large size) to me. It was the perfect amount of sweetness, which is rare to find among cafes. I was pleased with the squishy tapioca pearls at the bottom of the cup.

As I checked my phone while leaving the cafe, I realized that there was actually no WiFi. But, Cafe Hue proved that I didn’t need WiFi to enjoy the experience.

by Kevin Song

s a t i s f y i n g to eat. With the proper combination of toppings, the crepe tasted incredibly good as each flavor combined to form a new taste.

After the crepe, I moved on to the puffle waffle. The crunchy texture of the waffle and the soft texture of the ice cream and marshmallows made for an interesting bite. The puffle waffle tasted really delicious, but was just a bit too sweet. Between the waffle and the crepe, I thought that the crepe was a step ahead in terms of taste.

Finally, I took a sip of the brown sugar milk tea.

The brown sugar milk tea was nothing special, but it was cheap and well worth the price as milk tea prices have only been increasing due to high demand.

My only disappointment during my experience at Up2You Cafe came from the price of specific toppings, especially the graham cracker crumbs and chocolate sauce. Other than the prices of those two, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. On a hot day, I would definitely recommend cooling down with a crepe or puffle waffle that you could customize to your liking For a cafe with little parking space, Up2You Cafe definitely satisfied my desire for a unique, delicious dessert. I would return to the cafe when I am in the vicinity on an extremely hot day. But, well, you know, going there is completely Up2You.

by Daniel Kim

have made the same dessert easily, and it didn’t stand out from any other crepes. Maybe if the tiramisu hadn’t raised my expectations so much, I would have been more satisfied with the crepe. However, its mediocre quality and lack of chocolate was enough to disappoint.

I was also unsatisfied with the price of the crepe.

For other menu items, I could understand that price was just an expense of high quality. But the crepe had no business being $10, especially because it wasn’t particularly filling.

The Quiche Vegetarian ($11.00) I ordered came with a side, so I chose the salad rather than the side of breakfast potatoes.

The quiche was rich and cheesy but still light, almost melting on the tongue. The Swiss cheese and feta were light enough to balance out the heavier ingredients and still provide that crucial cheese touch.

The crust of the quiche was buttery and flaky, which I was grateful for, because nothing ruins a quiche like a soggy or too-hard crust.

And when the quiche became rich, the salad, which was a lettuce, baby tomato and feta cheese mix topped by a sour vinaigrette, was light enough to balance out the richness.

Even without the best tiramisu cake I’ve ever had, Opera Cafe and Patisserie would rank high on my list.

by Esther Choi

September 5, 8:30 P.M.; I tap on a notification for an Instagram story.

It displays a countdown; only half an hour left until the much anticipated drop of Hollywood’s Bleeding, the third album in Austin Post’s discography. Under his stage name “Post Malone,” the artist quickly gained a following after the release of his first album, Stoney, in 2016.

He has since become known for his expert blending of several genres, typically trap, pop and rock. So, I put aside my Calculus homework and sat down to prepare for the emotional journey I was about to embark on.

“Hollywood’s Bleeding,” the title track, was the first song to grace my ears. Starting out with an eerie ambience, Post begins his dive into the album’s theme: Los Angeles’ inauthentic culture and disposition to foster money-hungry individuals, many of whom Post has encountered in his rise to fame. The first half of the track is dedicated to setting up this concept, as the instrumental remains consistently calm. I enjoyed listening to his vocals, but was wary of the subtle aesthetic. I know Post’s style, and I knew a shift was coming. Halfway through, a bass-

heavy drop kicks in, accompanied by Post’s more rapid vocals; I felt like it sliced through me. The expertise in production and its immediately engaging tune was a good indicator of how the rest of the album would be: ethereal.

With an intro based around the sound of jingling chains, “Allergic” is another standout that showcased P o s t ’ s impeccable versatility.

Although he is often labeled a rapper, it’s a disservice to limit him to one genre; on this track we hear stronger rock and pop influences shown by him yelling the song’s title with strong electric guitar, bass and drum accompanying it. The harsh contrast between the gentle chorus and angrier verses continue to play up the idea this

? (Deluxe), the posthumous album

by Jahseh Onfroy, also known as XXXTentacion, was released on Sept. 6. With a total of 53 tracks, the album is filled with both unfinished and previously released songs from before his death. Despite his controversial lifestyle, filled with accusations of domestic abuse and other violent crimes, Onfroy still has a strong following of international fans who continue to anxiously anticipate the release of his new music. As I was especially fond of his 2018 Skins album, I was looking forward to this new release.

“Numb,” a hit from the previous ? album, reappears in acoustic form.

Onfroy mentions his seemingly never-ending cycle of depression: “And every single year / I’m drowning in my tears, I’m drowning in my tears again / I can’t seem to forget the pain you seem to give.” Atypically, this guitar rendition of “Numb” displays a raw sound that sways away from his regular use of auto-tone. While the lyrics may be a little bit cliched, the desperate, looming melody adds to its powerful message.

Rapper Rico Nasty is also featured on the remix of

Although The Lumineers’ new album, III, has the incredible sound and skillful acoustics found in almost all of their past work, this is not the most uplifting album to listen to during moments of stress or anxiety. If you are in need of a thought-provoking album, though, III opens a window into another world.

The album was released in three acts, centering around the story of a fictional family that experiences a cycle of addiction through the eyes of various family members and close friends.

The first act is about a woman named Gloria who struggles with alcoholism, and the second act reveals that her son, Jimmy Sparks, struggles with the same vice. The final and third act is about how the problems of addiction spread like a virus through generations.

III seamlessly connects all these differing perspectives to provide the listener with a glimpse into the minds and feelings of those close to a drug abuser. The message is clear: addiction affects not just the individual, but those around them as well.

entire album demonstrates: Post can truly master any and every genre.

“A Thousand Bad Times” is another personal favorite of mine and is, by far, the best produced track. The background alone was enough to elicit an emotional reaction from me, but when combined with Post’s vocal range (which is truly highlighted in this song) and lyrics, I was left in awe.

His indifferent attitude toward being hurt over and over by someone he loves rocked me to my core, particularly through the lines “So thank you for the grave / I needed me a place to sleep.”

Not only a fan favorite, “Take What You Want” also has the most well-known features: rapper Travis Scott and rock legend Ozzy Osbourne.

Both men accentuate the heavy rock

“#PROUDCATOWNER.” To be honest, this song was an extreme disappointment. While most of the album demonstrates a deeper theme revolving around death and inner peace, this track’s instrumentals were chaotic and headache-inducing.

O n f r o y mockingly raps: ‘“Oh, big deal, are you Satan?’ / I reply like, ‘Are you playin’?”

The lyrics are an attempt to debunk conspiracies that he and many other artists in the entertainment industry are part of the Illuminati.

But, they are shallow and poorly constructed, parallel to the backing instrumentals that attempt to replace real musical talent with an overbearing bassline. This song is definitely something I would skip if I heard it on the radio.

Although the album was designed to address the very heartbreaking issue of addiction, there are some songs on this album that are uplifting in tone and spirit, like “Life in the City” and “Donna.” If you disregard the heavy meanings behind the lyrics, these songs would fit perfectly in any roadtrip playlist.

T h e s e t r a c k s have little production and are heavy in acoustics, intended to leave listners more exposed to the raw and emotional lines. This intertwines with the poetic nature of the band, as they focus more on message than tune.

The instrumentals in each song have a very similar sound to The Lumineers’ other works. III is an album where thematically, they stray from their usual subject matter, but

vibe of the track and helped turn this song into one of the heaviest hitters not only in this album, but in Post’s catalog. Of course, Post himself also hits the mark on this track, as his verses came back angrier and angstier than ever, which perfectly fits the theme he’s going for.

Although I’d say the whole album is beautifully crafted, “Circles,” “Staring At The Sun,” “Myself” and “I Know” are just a few more tracks that stood out to me in their undeniable quality. The only real criticism I have of this album goes to a few of the features. Unfortunately, “On The Road” became the track I like least, due to the weak and annoying voices of Meek Mill and Lil Baby, and I physically felt my lifespan shorten when I heard Halsey call herself a “savage.”

I wasn’t sure if Post was going to be able to top his past success of Beerbongs and Bentleys, but this album has taught me to never underestimate Post Malone. I truly believe Hollywood’s Bleeding is going to finish the job of his last album and secure Post his much-deserved Grammy.

by Vlada Demenko

As a contribution to the deluxe album, composer and pianist Yoko Shinomura created a beautiful piano piece titled “Nocturne” as a tribute to Onfroy’s life. A popular video game soundtrack developer, Shinomura is a Japanese woman who is known for her work in Final Fantasy and Street Fighter.

While only two minutes long, this piece can bring anyone to tears.

Shinomura did a spectacular job of illustrating O n f r o y ’ s tragedy. As I have a soft spot for dramatic piano ballads, this was one of my favorites on the album.

“Indecision,” a track with Onfroy’s signature emo-rap style, is one that I can appreciate. While up to interpretation, I think his verses discuss his toxic relationship with

yet still manage to maintain their distinctive folk style.

One of the largest drawbacks of the album is that half of the songs are over 5 minutes long. I may not be someone who listens to the first 45 seconds of a song and then immediately presses skip, but it does test my patience when I have to wait 3 minutes to get to the meat of the song.

Another weak point of the album is the lack of variation from track to track.

Instrumentally, their songs have always lacked variety and typically stick to their acoustic folk format.

The lack of diversity is no surprise to any Lumineers fan, but to the passing listener, their catchy hooks might seem repetitive and overdone, and turn away any potential fans.

One of the most treasured

his ex-girlfriend, Geneva Ayala, and the mental health issues that stemmed from it. The repetitive lyrics seem to reflect his panicked state of mind: “The way I feel now, just can’t compare / To where we left off, to where / to where / to where / to where.” Layers of distorted yelling and Onfroy’s purposely imperfect use of the guitar and drums create an eerie atmosphere that serves the overarching theme: Onfroy’s inability to escape his persistent depression while using sex and drugs as coping mechanisms.

While I definitely enjoyed the collection of some of Onfroy’s best songs, I wonder about the ethics of releasing a dead man’s unfinished music without his permission.

Hopefully, this album was not solely an attempt to profit off Onfroy’s death and rather a sincere effort to get more of his unique voice and creative music to his loyal audience.

Despite the questionable reasoning for the release of his old music, the songs are well-produced and showcased Onfroy’s talents and will find themselves in my Spotify playlist.

by Miki Vogel

components of this album for a huge Lumineers fan like myself is the many references to some of their most popular songs in their first album, Cleopatra. Whether it is the repetition of a phrase or a beat that is common in songs from the first album, such as “Ophelia” and “Stubborn Love,” these little moments bring back nostalgia of the first album.

I have much respect for the Lumineers taking on such a heavy topic in their latest album. It takes a lot of courage for artists to stray from the typical song topics of love, heartbreak and success, and instead address the issues that are pertaining to the band’s own, and sadly too many other people’s, lives.

I appreciate the band for tackling such a difficult topic while maintaining the beautifully raw, folksy sounds that brought the Lumineers to fame. While the songs and their lyrics use more symbolic language to describe the issues of addiction, the nuances in these tracks are artistic and explain these problems better then outright giving away the theme.

by Maya Satchell

Corrado Martini (12) is a perfect example of a TikTok success story. Martini, who got his first taste of fame as a model for Wilhelmina Modeling Agency, has gained a substantial TikTok following, with 283,000 followers, 2.7 million likes and an average of 200,000 to 300,000 views per video. Though Martini mostly lipsyncs in videos, his feed is also home to videos of dancing and short comedy skits.

TikTok is home to a variety of content ranging from lip-syncing to homemade choreography. Through the “for you’’ page, users can find an endless gallery of videos catered to their interests or popular trends on the app. In fact, it is so easy to get lost scrolling through TikTok that people can spend hours watching and making their own videos. In Sept. 2016, Musical.ly was bought and renamed TikTok by Bytedance.

TikTok began gaining speed in the fall of 2018, and since then, the number of users has grown exponentially, hitting one billion downloads in Feb. 2019.

With some videos garnering thousands to millions of likes, it is possible for anyone, even the average high schooler, to have his or her 15 seconds of fame.

“I do not consider myself a TikTok influencer,” Martini said. “[Not] until I start making new stuff that other people follow, [which is when] I’d consider myself an influencer.”

As of now, Martini says he is just having fun with TikTok. His main goal is to gain more exposure for his Instagram account, which he considers to be just as important. “[Becoming] an influencer on Instagram would be cool too, because being on Instagram gets you more respect than being well-known on TikTok,” Martini said.

Many other TPHS students have become famous on TikTok as well.

“I used to have a Musical.ly when I was younger and when I saw my friends making them, I thought it was funny and logged back into my account,” Anna Tullie (12) said.

Tullie has accumulated 28,000 followers, 114,000 likes and an average of 10,000 views per video after a few of her videos became popular on the app.

“I just kind of posted random videos, and sometimes they’d get a bunch of likes,” Tullie said. “TikTok is all just a random chance to get a video famous. It doesn’t even need to be funny to get a lot of likes.”

This seems to be the overall formula for earning fame on TikTok. It truly is about luck and doesn’t take much to go viral.

However, it takes hard work to maintain a large following on this platform. For example, Martini uses his Instagram and Snapchat pages to promote his TikTok, while also posting frequently to keep up with the trends. By having all the ingredients for a successful TikTok account, his follower count and popularity increase daily.

“People come up to me in public about it,” Martini said. “I’m reaching people in other countries, which is really cool.”

TikTok allows users to connect with others all over the world by demonstrating ones’ personality in a more intimate way than other social media platforms. It also serves as a creative outlet for many users.

“It’s just something that I enjoy doing. It’s fun to do,” Gavin Christie (11) said. “I can let out a more goofy side of me that most people don’t see unless they’re my close friends.”

Christie has a platform of 54,000 followers, 704,000 likes and an average of 20,000 views per video, achieved through his comedy videos.

“I posted a video and it got 4 million views, and it all took off from there,” Christie said. “That video basically led other people to look at other videos, and then those videos blew up.”

While TikTok fame can be fun, it also has its drawbacks. Whether the criticism comes from internet trolls or from TPHS peers, TikTok fame has not always been a smooth ride.

“Sometimes people will comment rude things on my videos,” Tullie said.

For Martini, often times, it can seem like TikTok consumes his reputation around the TPHS campus.

“The main thing people call me at school now is the ‘TikTok Boy,’” Martini said.

But at the end of the day, the recognition does not faze him.

“Some of them still think it’s weird, but in reality, they are on Tik Tok just as much as I am,” Martini said. “They just don’t want to say it.”

Though it is a guilty pleasure for many, TikTok is more than a pastime for its stars. Even if you’re discouraged by its “cringy” reputation, it’s still a harmless and creatively-fulfilling platform, so those hesitating shouldn’t knock it until they try it. TikTok is just a race to the “for you” page, and it doesn’t take a superstar to get there. Who knows, maybe your videos will go viral.

by Micah Levy and Mirabel Hunt

Participation in high school athletics has declined nationwide for the first time in 30 years, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The last school year declined by 43,395 participants from the previous year, which had 7,980,886 participants across the country.

Football and basketball were the main contributors, with 11-player football accounting for over 71 percent, according to the NFHS. This is largely because of injury concerns in football.

“I broke my back. I still like the sport, but I don’t think the injury risk is worth it,” Tommy Wagner (10) said.

The increased variety of extracurricular activities available gives students more options.

TPHS Varsity Water Polo (4-2) narrowly lost to the University City Centurions (2-4) by a score of 9-8 on Sept. 13.

“We definitely need to improve our defense, I would say, and our confidence in our offense being able to shoot and work together,” varsity coach Angelina Castaneda said.

The Falcons started strong, but struck the post twice early in the first quarter. They finally broke the deadlock with a goal from Barrett Goldman (11), who soon followed with a second on a counter-attack. “[University City] is not a very well-conditioned team, and we swim a lot every week. I think these guys are mostly new, and that resulted in us getting a lot of counter-attacks,” Goldman said.

The first quarter ended with Torrey holding their 2-0 lead, but University City took a much more aggressive approach to the second quarter. They used their size to their advantage and scored four goals in quick succession.

The Falcons regrouped with a team timeout, and got two quick goals by Antoni Gonzalez (11) to level the score, but University City regained the lead with seconds left in the second quarter.

“I think they caught up to us

“There are so many options for kids to get involved in school that don’t include athletics,” Principal Rob Coppo said. “I started out wrestling freshman year of high school, and then switched to theatre.”

Academic competition causes students to drop out of sports.

“Academics have only gotten more competitive, meaning all students feel more pressure to take difficult classes and spend a long time studying,” Hanan Zhang (10) said.

A freshman football coach and freshman baseball head coach, Matt Livingston feels the “single-sport athlete movement” is becoming more popular. “[Student athletes] either do not want to risk losing yearround time in their sport of choice, or they don’t want to risk an injury outside of their sport of choice,” Livingston said.

Socioeconomics also play a

major role; the parents of wealthier families often have more time to take their kids to sports practices and games and can afford private coaches.

“Let’s face it; sports are socioeconomic. Families that have discretionary income and time are participating in sports,” Livingston said.

“Families that don’t are finding themselves on the other side of the fence.”

Student athletes have always lost interest in certain sports, but kids are beginning to play sports at a younger age each year, which often causes them to lose interest quicker.

JV football head coach Tim Staycer said many students drop out of specific sports because they lose interest after playing for so long.

Some student athletes feel they did not get the playing time they deserved. “From my experience, the coaches of many sports aren’t the most

inclusive of inferior player in terms of skill,” Adrian Wright* said. “People who previously showed immense interest had their hopes and aspirations crushed by the lack of playing time or support regarding the development of the skill.” *Name withheld to protect identity.

just because they have a lot bigger team than us and a deeper bench,” Gonzalez said.

The Falcons started the third quarter with plenty of energy, putting pressure on University City’s defense which eventually resulted in a third goal from Gonzalez. They created a number of chances to take the lead, but were unable to capitalize on them.

Soon after Torrey’s offense missed a great opportunity, University City started to attack relentlessly and ended up retaking the lead before the third quarter ended.

Torrey found themselves down 6-5 as the fourth quarter

started, but a quick goal from Gonzalez leveled the score once again. University City responded by putting pressure on the Falcons’ defense, which led to them retaking the lead yet again.

They solidified their lead minutes later with another goal, despite a few crucial saves from Falcons goalkeeper Martynas Chachisvilis (10).

Down two goals with little time remaining, Torrey had no choice but to play as aggressive as possible. Their swarming defense led to a third goal from Goldman, but University City brought their lead back to two with less than a minute left.

Drew Smith (11) pulled one back with seconds remaining, but they were unable to tie the game as time expired.

“I think we need to get our team chemistry down,” Gonzalez said, who had a game-high four goals. “We just need to learn how to work together.”

This game saw Torrey concede the most goals in a game since their loss against San Dieguito Academy on Aug. 22.

“We definitely need to improve our defense, I would say, and our confidence in our offense,” Castaneda said.

Varsity’s next game is against San Pasqual on Sep. 19.

photos courtesy of anna scipione

PHOTO BY doe SEYOUNG LEE by jane /falconer photo

This season, the English Premier League added use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which is a system that allows referees to review plays and potentially change the original calls, and fans have mixed reactions. VAR was first implemented in European football in the 2017-18 season, by the German league, Bundesliga, and the Italian league, Serie A. Last season marked the first use of VAR in the UEFA Champions League, and the Premier League decided to adopt the technology at the start of the 2019-20 season.

The VAR system is able to review four different types of scenarios, the most notable being the ability to disallow goals.

VAR can also award penalties and red cards and even reverse previously given yellow or red cards.

The first notable use of VAR in the Premier League was when a goal by Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus was disallowed because teammate Raheem Sterling was offside. This did not affect the game’s result, as City demolished West Ham United 5-0.

The day after Manchester City’s thrashing of West Ham, VAR denied a potential game-winning goal by Wolverhampton Wanderers’ midfielder Leander Dendoncker because of a handball on Wolves center back Willy Boly. Wolves ended up drawing the game 0-0 with Leicester City, and their fans were left convinced that they would’ve gotten three points out of the game if not for VAR’s intervention.

VAR’s most influential call in the young season came in a crucial matchup between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

At the start of stoppage time, the game was tied at two goals apiece, despite Manchester City dominating control of the game, with 30 shots compared to Tottenham’s three.

In the 93rd minute, Jesus knocked in what seemed like the match-winning goal. But, after a long review, the goal was waved off because the ball grazed teammate Aymeric Laporte’s hand, and Jesus, along with many City fans at the game, were furious.

They had faced a similar result last year in the Champions League quarter-final, which was also against Tottenham. After VAR allowed a questionable goal by Tottenham striker Fernando Llorente, which gave them the lead, City had a 94thminute strike by Sterling taken off the board because teammate Sergio Aguero was barely offside. As a result, Tottenham went through to the semi-final and City was knocked out of the competition.

Despite Tottenham’s experiences with VAR against Manchester City, it worked against them when they played Newcastle United the week after their tie against City. They were favored to win easily, but Newcastle took an early lead and held it until the 78th minute, when Tottenham striker Harry Kane appeared to have drawn a penalty kick after being tackled by Newcastle center back Jamaal Lascelles.

After a lengthy consultation with VAR, referee Mike Dean decided it was not a penalty, and Newcastle hung on to win 1-0.

Many supporters of teams that have been affected negatively by VAR are calling for it to be abolished, while others think it should be kept. Although no problems with VAR making the wrong decision have emerged, fans are arguing that it takes the excitement out of the game and makes it too technical. As of now, the Premier League has shown no intent of removing it, although this could change if major incidents continue to happen throughout the season.

In May, seniors Delaynie Maple and Megan Kraft qualified to play in the main draw of their first Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) tournament. In doing so, they made history as the youngest female team in history to qualify for the main draw of an AVP event.

“I love the team atmosphere of it,” Maple said. “Obviously all sports involve some sort of teamwork, but with volleyball, it’s about having a connection with the people around you.”

Maple first stepped on the court when she was eight years old. Though she had tried many other sports as a kid, such as swimming, soccer, softball and tennis, she instantly fell in love with volleyball.

Inspired by her aunt, who played indoor volleyball in college, Kraft picked up indoor volleyball in first grade and hasn’t stopped playing since.

Though they continue to play for the TPHS indoor team, they both made the switch to beach volleyball.

Maple chose to switch from indoor to beach because she thought she had a better shot at competing at a highly-ranked university playing beach volleyball than with indoor volleyball. On the other hand, Kraft made the switch for the partnership beach volleyball offers.

“I personally chose beach volleyball over indoor because I love how it requires such a tight-knit chemistry with your partner,” Kraft said. “It’s very mental, and sometimes you have to get in the other team’s head to try to pick apart a team with strategy.”

Maple and Kraft clearly have great chemistry. In July 2018, they were able to show their skills off while training with the U19 national team in China for Beach Volleyball World Championships.

Their success does not come out of nowhere, though.

Beach volleyball demands a lot of time from Maple and Kraft, so they have sacrificed the normal social lives of high school students in the pursuit of becoming professional beach volleyball players.

“It’s a lot of volleyball on the weekends and stuff after school, so I don’t really spend as much time with my friends as other people do, but I always try and make it work,” Maple said.

In addition, they both have had to change their diets to include more high proteins and fast sugars before tournaments.

“Volleyball is what we want to pursue, so we know we have to do it on and off the court,” Maple said.

Though they may have time and diet constraints, according to Kraft, one flexibility with beach volleyball is that a player can make their own practice and tournament schedule.

They practice at Wave Volleyball Club together three times a week, take private lessons from their coach, Mike Placek and go to the gym two to three times per week for strength training.

“We also have been going up to L.A. to train with some AVP players who help us increase our

level of play as we get to scrimmage against them, even if it’s just drilling,” Kraft said.

Through hours of intense training, they have learned to persevere and focus on improving their game.

“It’s about learning to push through every day, even when there are minor injuries or setbacks,” Maple said.

But these sacrifices pay off; Maple and Kraft placed fifth at the AVP Hermosa, after knocking out the third seed in the third round. Kraft owes the victory to teamwork.

“We trust each other on and off the court and know how to communicate with each other in a constructive but supportive way,” Kraft said.

Not only has beach volleyball affected their athletic endeavors, but it has shaped other parts of their lives as well.

“I think it’s influenced my character in a big way because I’ve been able to take what I learned on

the volleyball court and bring it into school and life,” Kraft said.

For instance, she has learned to work together with her teammates on the court, a skill that helps her collaborate with peers at school.

Though they have already made history, the duo does not want to stop here; Maple and Kraft hope to take their game to another level.

“Delaynie and I want to keep playing in the AVP tour, but we’re going to USC next year so we want to focus on winning a couple of national championships with the team,” Kraft said. “After that, we hope to play some Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIBVs) internationally, which would be a great experience overall, win or lose.”

Both girls are excited about their future in beach volleyball and are working toward their lifelong dream of competing in the Olympics.

by Micah Levy

photos courtesy of delaney maple and megan kraft

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A video of the U.S. women’s national soccer team (USWNT) captain, two-time The Best FIFA Women’s Player (formerly the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year) and two-time World Cup champion, Carli Lloyd, nailing a 55-yard field goal at the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice facility during their joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens took on a life of its own on the internet. She kicked the field goal with narrower goal posts than NFL regulation posts, earning her offers from several undisclosed NFL teams to play in their preseason games (not a guaranteed roster spot for the regular season) on Aug. 29.

L l o y d declined t h o s e

photo courtesy of audible

offers because USWNT had a friendly, or an exhibition game, against Portugal (in which they won 4-0) on the same day. However, with enough practice and dedication, she is able to be a starting NFL kicker and the first female NFL player in history.

The two most important characteristics a kicker must possess are power and accuracy. While some kickers are exceptionally good at both, like Justin Tucker of the Ravens and Wil Lutz of the New Orleans Saints, this combination is rare in the NFL; hence, their respective teams value them very much. The majority of kickers are slightly above average at one, and slightly below average at the other. Even being very good at only one and below average at the other (by NFL standards) can make you one of the better kickers in the league.

San Francisco 49ers kicker, Robbie Gould, is a prime example of this; because he is one of the most accurate kickers in the league, he is considered one of the best active NFL kickers, despite being unable to surpass Lloyd’s 55-yard kick since 2014. If Lloyd could come anywhere close to being as good as Gould, which is very possible, she would have a spot as a starting kicker locked up for several years.

In recent years, the NFL has had a major issue with many subpar kickers.

Because of this, Lloyd would not even have to live up to the standard she is being compared to in order to safely earn a starting role.

It is relatively easy for NFL kickers to play well in practice, but the trouble

comes when the game is on the line, or even just during a regular kick in an NFL game; so many kickers are missing easy kicks in the actual game, despite being able to make them with ease during practice.

Although many kickers simply cannot handle the pressure, Lloyd has played and performed well on a bigger stage than almost every other active kicker: the FIFA Women’s World Cup. She rarely cracks under pressure, which would apply in the NFL as well.

Many people are concerned about the challenge of being a female NFL player because it could pose a serious risk to her health, as men biologically have a significantly larger muscle mass than women. However, Lloyd is fully aware of the risks, and she said she is not taking on a physical position.

“I know there’s some challenges, there’s big men on the line,” Lloyd said in an interview with 6 ABC. “I’m not naïve to that. But I’m not trying to be a quarterback or running back.”

Some may argue that the 55-yard field goal was not as impressive as it sounds, as she was not wearing a helmet or pads, and she took four steps before the kick as opposed to two (the NFL standard), which would give the defense more time to block the kick in an actual game. But the kick appeared to have enough power to be good from 62 yards out, which is close to the NFL record, 64 yards (set by Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos at the time). If we assume Lloyd is able to kick it from 62 yards out, wearing a helmet and pads and taking two fewer steps likely only would affect the

kick by less than 15 yards, making it a 47yard field goal. Because her kick was from 55 yards out, she likely did not use all her power (more power creates less accuracy, so kickers never attempt to kick it as far as possible if not necessary), meaning she could potentially turn that 47-yard field goal into a 50-yard field goal.

Most importantly, kicking a soccer ball is different than kicking a football, which is where the effectiveness of practice comes in; with practice and coaching, she should be able to add at least five yards to her kick, making it at least a 55-yard field goal, once again. Added strength training to her workouts could add even more distance to what could be at least a 55-yard field goal when wearing a helmet and pads and taking only two steps before the kick. In addition, soccer requires pinpoint accuracy, and her 55-yard field goal with narrow goal posts displays Lloyd’s accuracy.

Overall, Lloyd has a lot of power and incredible accuracy, which pairs nicely with her experience in professional soccer and major events like the World Cup. There are also several improvements she can make with proper coaching and practice, focused toward football, to allow her to consistently kick from further than 55-yards out. The video of her nailing a 55yard field goal has drawn interest to Lloyd from several NFL teams, but we have to wait to see if she decides to give NFL kicking a shot; if she does, there is no doubt in my mind she is able to not only earn a starting role as an NFL kicker, but also make history as the first female football player in NFL history.

COACH: Ron Gladnick PREVIOUS YEAR: 2018 CIF San Diego Final Open and Avocado League Champions RANKING: #2 in San Diego MOST RECENT WIN: Against San Pasqual 2414 STAR PLAYERS: Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (#2) and Matt Lauter (#21) photo courtesy of scrippix

Wins and Losses this Season

Wins 3 Losses 1 Best Win 36-10 (Against Los Alamitos) photo courtesy of scrippix