OPINIONS

May 17, 2021 21 23 AStrong action necessary to stop AAPI hate crimes

Return of international travel

With vaccines in hand, what does the near future look like?

If you’ve been fully vaccinated, your world is opening up. The CDC states that travel inside the United States is permissible without a COVID test or any quarantine time for those who are fully vaccinated, and only testing is required for international travel. Internationally, countries that are currently allowing U.S. travelers are limited, and most have strict testing and/or quarantine guidelines upon arrival. U.S. News has reported that the countries that are easiest to enter this spring are Carribean countries, like Aruba, the Bahamas, St. Barts and St. Lucia.

The number of people that are traveling via planes has risen dramatically through these new changes and greater vaccine access. For example, according to the TSA, on April 21, approximately 1,572,383 passengers went through airport security in the United States.

Understandably, these numbers are significantly higher than on April 18, 2020, when 105,382 passengers went through checkpoints, but this year’s levels are still barely 50 percent of the 2,356,802 passengers in 2019, pre-COVID.

International travel and domestic travel are expected to reach similar levels, over the summer as people return to normal life. What’s harder to predict is what precautions and quarantine procedures will look like for students in the fall at Hockaday.

The majority of Hockaday students are younger than 16, so they are not yet eligible to receive a vaccine. For them, the CDC’s guidelines include quarantines and testing, along with significantly more risk than if they were

completely vaccinated.

However, for students who are older and have received a vaccine, life is returning closer to normal. A year has been lost, but the vaccine comes with a new level of freedoms this summer and going into next fall. Things like homecoming, mixers, parties, football games and eating in restaurants with friends are starting to seem closer on the horizon as things that are safe to return to.

Nurse Erika Herridge spoke about what impact the vaccine has on life at Hockaday, especially as more students are eligible and begin to receive the vaccine.

“I’d like to start with the benefits of having a vaccine that can be given to people ages 16 and up. This is a huge medical achievement and honestly one I really didn’t think we would be able to achieve within

a year.”

“The benefits of having vaccinated people on campus is; it lowers infection in the community therefore limiting the potential spread of infection and the need to quarantine those who have not been vaccinated or are not yet eligible to receive it.”

This spring, the availability and rollout for vaccines for the general population has risen rapidly across the United States. In Texas, as of April 22, over 24 percent of the population had been fully vaccinated, and 37 percent had received at least one dose. Dallas County is second to only Harris County, which contains Houston, in the levels of citizens who have received a dose. Additionally, on March 29, the state opened vaccine eligibility to the general population as long as they were over the age of 16.

Nurse Herridge recommended that Hockaday families take every situation on a case-by-case basis and follow CDC guidelines.

“Hockaday has not made any decisions related to the COVID-19 vaccine for students, nor for faculty and staff, at this time. The available vaccines have only emergency use authorization from the FDA and have not been fully tested in children.”

“Things like homecoming, mixers, parties, football games and eating in restaurants with friends are starting to seem closer on the horizon as things that are safe to return to.” Libby Hill Managing Editor

Libby Hill

Managing Editor

Facing AAPI hate

Asian xenophobia escalates during time of COVID-19

Lily Fu

Guest Writer

Eight people were killed in a mass shooting in Atlanta March 16. Six of those victims were Asian women, and the shootings took place in three Asian-owned businesses. According to the New York Times, the victims included a single mother of two young boys, a woman who was one day shy of turning 50 and another mother of two teenage children.

Although this attack was clearly aimed toward the Asian American community, when Capt. Jay Baker, an officer from Cherokee County, Georgia, was interviewed about the incident, he claimed the shooter was just having a “bad day,” and didn’t address the problem as what it really is: a hate crime. Additionally, according to USA Today, about a year ago, Baker posted a xenophobic picture of a shirt that said, “COVID-19 imported virus from Chy-na,” and encouraged his followers to buy his shirts.

Because of people like Baker and our former president Donald Trump, who repeatedly called the coronavirus the “Chinese virus” and “Kung flu,” Time magazine found that hate crimes against Asian Americans have increased by 1,900 percent in New York and 150 percent across our nation.

In the past year, NBC News has reported over 3,800 cases of antiAsian hate crimes, mostly against Asian American women. Despite these alarming statistics, Asian hate still continues today, ranging from microaggressions to literal mass shootings.

Although many people have probably heard about the Atlanta shooting, news about smaller, but equally important, incidents don’t seem to make the cut for mainstream media.

According to NBC News DFW a few weeks ago, in Keller, just over an hour drive from Dallas, a 58-year-old Chinese immigrant named Feng Zhou was killed in a hit and run. The victim and his wife were walking on the sidewalk during an evening stroll when a large SUV veered off the road, hit Feng, and quickly sped away. Unfortunately, Feng died, and his wife suffered from injuries. Feng’s story is one of many that aren’t talked about as much as they should be.

Another example of a hate crime that needs more attention is the killing of Vicha Ratanapakdee. CNN News reported that Vicha, a Thai American man, died after being forcefully pushed to the ground in January of this year. This kind of attack happened again on Jan. 31, when a white man violently shoved a 91-year-old Asian man, a 60-yearold Asian man, and a 55-yearold Asian woman in Oakland, California, according to ABC News.

People, the media, and society have all been quiet about Asian hate for far too long, and it’s time for some real change to happen. Luckily, unlike President Trump, President Biden has announced specific courses of action the government will take to respond to Anti-Asian violence and xenophobia.

WhiteHouse.Gov reported that Biden plans to appoint a permanent director to lead the AAPI initiative in coordination of policies across the federal government. Additionally, Biden plans to provide funding for the AAPI survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault as well as establish a COVID-19 Equity Task Force committee on addressing and ending xenophobia against Asian Americans. Finally, Biden will ensure that funds go to critical research for preventing racial biases and prejudices toward the AAPI community.

Although these are necessary steps in the right direction toward racial equality, this country still has a lot of room for progress when it comes to justice for minority groups.

Pro: Late start

An extra 30 minutes really matters in the mornings

There is always that one question on personality surveys: are you a morning person or night owl? Now, you may be the former and do well in the mornings; however, every time I see this question, my mouse immediately clicks on the “night owl” option, as I am 100 percent a night person.

Of course, I’m not going to say waking up to see the dawn is not a great feeling. There is something special about getting off the bus at a cross country meet over an hour away from Dallas and seeing the sun rise over the horizon. But if I have a choice? I will be happily sleeping in.

Thus, when I heard that school was going to start at 9 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. I was elated. Ecstatic, even. It was an extra 30 minutes of sleep — how could I not be excited! And technically speaking, school now ends at 4:15 p.m instead of 4 p.m. which means our school day is now 15 minutes shorter than previous years. If that’s not enough to convince you to appreciate the extra 30 minutes, I don’t know what is.

Some may think: why don’t you just go to bed 30 minutes earlier? It would be basically the same thing as those extra 30 minutes in the morning. But the thing is, it’s not. It’s so easy to procrastinate your bedtime thanks to recently developed technologies, like the mobile cellphone. Before I go to bed, I’ll scroll through Instagram just to catch up on posts and stories, and before I know it 20 minutes have passed - 20 minutes past my planned bedtime. It’s more effective, at least for me, to be able to sleep in rather than go to bed earlier.

Also, in the case that you are a morning person, you now have an extra 30 minutes in the morning to get that English paragraph written for next class or grab some Chicken Minis for the road. The possibilities are endless with those extra minutes in the morning. You even have time to walk or bike to school if you wish, without having to wake up at atrocious hours in the morning to do so; and considering daylight savings times, thanks to those extra 30 minutes you won’t have to walk or bike when it’s dark. Especially if you live far away, getting to leave your house a bit later helps you avoid the traffic jams that occur in the morning. Even though I live close to Hockaday, I’ve heard from friends that they are able to leave the house 50 minutes later this year than they were last year, just because the time on the road has been reduced.

Considering my terrible sleeping habits, even if I try to go to bed earlier, it still takes me a while to actually fall asleep. Therefore, my time would be much better spent toiling away during the daytime and evening so that I can easily fall asleep around midnight — because I will be able to sleep in. In Hanna Zhang Copy Editor

the words of Leonardo da Vinci, “A well-spent day brings happy sleep,” and I couldn’t agree more.

Illustration by Tess Benedict

Con: Late start

Time proves more productive in the evenings

Getting to school 30 minutes later every day; what a cool addition to the changes made to this unusual school year, right? Wrong. The 8:30 a.m. start was optimal for anyone with a busy after-school schedule or procrastination issues — and I’d say that makes up the majority of the Upper School.

I get it: when school starts at 9 a.m., we get 30 minutes back in the mornings, and that seems pretty nice until you break down what that really means. The only real benefit I see from the 9 a.m. start is that I get about 15 more minutes of sleep in the morning. But when you think about it, those 900 seconds of sleep don’t do much in the long run.

Starting at 9 a.m. comes with many things, but one of my main dislikes is getting out at 4:15 p.m. I recognize that it’s only 15 minutes later, but as someone who has to commute 30 minutes to and from Southlake every day, traffic picks up quickly within that time frame. Whether it be a 30-minute drive down 635 and 114 or a 10 minute drive down Forest, traffic gets heavier the later it gets.

Getting home a little earlier allows me more time to spend as I wish. I can my learning style, but having time to decompress and just relax before I be productive while my brain is fully have to jump into my tutoring or drive awake and active would be so helpful! back toward Dallas for soccer practice Not only do I want to see the three nights a week. Those 15 minutes return of my precious after-school that I spend in school, counting down free time, but my wallet also needs a the clock, break. Even could be 15 minutes spent “All in all, late starts can be though I’d like to sleep in, grabbing an beneficial for a few extra oftentimes I after-school snack or even minutes of sleep, but when end up getting up, leaving just scrolling it comes to most other for school at through things, I’d much rather go my normal TikTok. And while back to beginning school at time and having plenty after school 8:30 a.m.” of time to snacks and spare before I mindlessly Lacy Green have to be in browsing social media Staff Writer class, which I usually spend sounds fun, I getting food. could get a lot I’ve of things done developed a with 15 or 30 pretty strong minutes tacked on to my afternoons. rotation now: Starbucks, Chick Fil-A, If I got that time back later in the day, Smoothie King, Einstein Bagels. I would also have the opportunity Whatever I’m feeling, I have the to be productive. I rarely wake up time to get it. This past week I got early in the mornings to study before breakfast somewhere every single day school because it is not effective for (with Chick Fil-A repeated Tuesday Lacy Green Staff Writer

and Friday). Granted, this may be a self-control issue, but the late start doesn’t help. And while I love to eat, the money is definitely stacking up to the point where my parents said they would no longer fund my morning breakfast runs since we have plenty of (healthy) options at home.

Finally, my Chloe Ting Ab Workouts are being reversed in the mornings. Not only have I had to use the money I’ve earned from my part time job (which I barely work due to my busy schedule), but I have also been struggling to see progress in my “Summer Shred” program. I am trying to get in better shape for summer, and when I used her program last year I saw almost instant results, but with me now eating out most mornings, my results are being hindered.

All in all, late starts can be beneficial for a few extra minutes of sleep, but when it comes to most other things, I’d much rather go back to beginning school at 8:30 a.m.

THEF Anti-Asian violence unacceptable Administration, student body must serve as allies STAFF STANCE The Atlanta spa shootings on March 16 sent a message loud and clear about the rampant racism throughout the advocate for the Asian community. This begins by helping to dispel the “model minority” myth: that Asians don’t experience struggle or racial discrimination. Instituting country. From the Black Lives programs or speakers that address

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Anna Gum and Maddie Stout Matter movement after the death of George Floyd to the shooting of eight women in Asian-owned spas and recognize the Asian reality would help dispel this stereotype of Asians being one of the most successful MANAGING EDITOR Libby Hill in Georgia, six of Asian descent, minorities around the nation are minority groups. In reality, according to a 2018 study by the Pew Research WEB EDITOR suffering from hate crimes. Center, Asian Americans actually Elisa Carrol After the Atlanta shootings, we experience the largest income COPY EDITOR Hanna Zhang appreciate the amount of time and care faculty took into addressing inequality gap as an ethnic and racial group in the United States. MAGAZINE EDITOR Katherine Grace Estess the emotions of members of the Asian Student Organization. We are grateful for the thoughts of Head Additionally, the student body can do more. Although ASA is paving the way, starting with their fundraiser NEWS EDITOR Campbell Harris of Upper School Lisa Culbertson, Assistant Head of Upper School where all pastries and drinks came from local small businesses FEATURES EDITOR Tiffani Kocsis, and Form III Dean and all proceeds went to local and Juliana Blazek and ASA Sponsor Jessica Chu, who national organizations, others in the

ARTS & LIFE CO-EDITORS Zoya Haq and Melody Hu reached out to members of the Asian community through fight Black racism, the only notice Illustration courtesy of ASA community step up and can show support whether through Stop AAPI SPORTS EDITOR Remy Finn emails expressing support. However, there has been a distinction in the way the the Upper School received about Stop AAPI Hate was an email from Culbertson and Chu who, we must Hate stickers or spreading the word through social media platforms. After former President Donald OPINIONS EDITOR Jane Clark administration treated this event compared to the Black Lives Matter note, are both members of the Asian community; and an email from Trump labeled the pandemic “the China virus” Asians, especially the CASTOFF EDITOR movement. The BLM movement Culbertson and Dr. Kocsis. Besides elderly, have been attacked daily on the Lea Whitley does deserve the level of attention Dr. Kocsis, no other faculty member streets, and their attackers walk away

PHOTO & GRAPHICS EDITOR Caroline Petrikas it has received from the Hockaday administration, but so does the of a different ethnicity reached out to the Asian community. While we are as if they had done nothing wrong. From an 84-year-old Thai man dying

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Lea Whitley Stop AAPI Hate movement. We are disappointed that the Stop AAPI Hate movement was not treated with the glad that Asians are showing support for one another during these turbulent times, we wish more members of after being thrown into a garage to a 21-year-old woman having acid thrown into her face, possibly never to see STAFF WRITERS Hanna Asmerom, Ambyr Baker, Kailey Bergstedt, Caroline Bush, Lacy Green, Harper Harris, Aadya Kuruvali, Melody same level of urgency. Compared to the BLM movement with an address from Eugene administration had reached out. As the Asian hate crime rate has insurmountably risen due to again, these incidents prove it is time to support the Asian community. Whether through small acts of kindness or large Tian, Bennett Trubey McDermott Head of School Karen the public blame of Asians for the donations to Asian organizations, the

STAFF ARTISTS Josie Agnew, Louisa Benedict, Molly Warren Coleman about creating a more equitable community at Hockaday to COVID-19 pandemic, the time has never been more right to be an Asian community needs help to get through these trying times. McPhail

FACULTY ADVISER Julia Copeland

EDITORIAL POLICY

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“The sudden increase in AAPI hate crimes has really hit close to home, and it hurts to see such cruel racism still occurring. I hope that people realize the magnitudeof this issue and do what they can to advocate for awareness.” “The rise in AAPI hate crimes makes me both incredibly angry and worried for the future of America. In a time where we should have supported each other through a global pandemic, many instead expressed their fear and worries through violence and racism.” “I think that it is good that AAPI is a big deal now because people are paying attention to the Asian hate crimes and where there is a problem, there is means to a solution.”

Nancy Chen Form II

May 17, 2021

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