The Oracle October 2021

Palo Alto Unified School District Henry M. Gunn High School 780 Arastradero Rd Palo Alto, CA 94306

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Recent vandalism, litter add to custodians’ workload

Brandon Woo

Jessica Zang Features and Business editor As students return to in-person learning, the influx of trash left on campus has drastically increased the workload for the custodial staff, leading to less time allotted for customary responsibilities.

Day Shift Custodial Supervisor Luciano Hernandez has been a part of the custodial staff for 22 years. “Here at Gunn, we take a lot of pride in the work we do,” he said. “We do our best to keep the school and campus clean, and we do it for the students.”

According to Hernandez, however, the workload this year has doubled in comparison to past years. “It’s frustrating because the added work takes away from regular scheduled duties,” he said. “We can’t work overtime.”

Other campus members have also noticed the issue.

For teachers like Science Department Instructional Lead Laurie Pennington, who have classrooms in close proximity to some students’ lunchtime hangout areas, it is frustrating to see the trash left behind. “It is disheartening to see students just get up and leave without considering whether or not they’re leaving a mess behind,” she said. “Yes, the custodians can clean your mess up, but they can do other things if they don’t have to clean up after you.”

Campus Supervisor Travis Schollnick believes that the implementation of California’s Free Lunch Program

in response to the pandemic has played a large role in the doubling of the custodial workload. The program has not only brought on a slew of new disinfecting protocols, but it has also encouraged many students to pick up lunch on campus that features items covered in plastic and paper wrapping. “The students have had a year and a half off, and they’re taking the opportunity to be more free than they’re used to being in their homes,” Schollnick said. “Also, COVID-19 protocols have forced student lunch items to be individually wrapped, and that

“You’ll walk around campus, and there are empty bins with trash laying next to them. It’s hard to know what else we can do.” ­­—Day Shift Custodial Supervisor Luciano Hernandez creates extra packaging that can get lost. Outside of this, we’ve introduced new changes that mean prioritizing cleanliness and virus safety for both our staff and our students. Custodians have been disinfecting each room with far more care than before.”

Morning Shift Custodial Supervisor Nigel Hansen sees himself and the custodial team as Gunn’s human reset button. “I begin my day at 6:00 a.m. and stay until 2:30 p.m.,” Hansen said. “During that time, I’m just

returning the chaos back to its original state. Sometimes there are accidents. [There] could be spilled milk, broken glass and bodily functions. Most of the time, though, I’m going around campus cleaning up, especially after the brunch and lunch breaks.”

To reduce the amount of waste left ouside, the adminastration has made accomodations, including adding trash bins around campus. “We’re really trying to make it easy for the students,” Schollnick said. “There are even trash bins in really unexpected places on the outskirts of campus, since the school is trying to target areas where groups of students convene for lunch.”

Despite the administration’s efforts, students are not taking advantage of the nearby trash bins, according to Hernandez. “You’ll walk around campus, and there are empty bins with trash laying next to them,” he said. “It’s hard to know what else we can do.”

Not only do custodians take care of regular campus maintenance, but they are also called to the scene when any unexpected disruptions to campus safety or cleanliness occur. In light of the recent “devious licks” challenge on TikTok—involving students stealing or defacing school property—vandalism has been thrust to the center of the workload for custodial staff, many of whom have seen similar cases on a smaller scale. “We are often the first responders in cases of vandalism,” Hansen said. “There’s always been graffiti, but this year Custodians—p.2

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News

Monthly highlights: Homecoming “I had so much fun dressing up for the themes, participating in Airbands and performing with my dance team.”

“I like all the class competition. I like all the shouting and how within each class, everyone can actually get along well together for one time in the year.”

—Sophie Nam, 9

—Maya Glazer, 12

Seniors squeeze close together to fit as many students into the square as possible for Stuff-a-Square, Monday’s brunch game.

The cheer team performs a three-level pyramid for their Night Rally routine on Thursday.

“I like the school spirit. I really like how it brings everyone together under one purpose.”

Junior Evan Gold dives into the pool for Thursday ’s lunch game, a pool relay race in which grades swam through multiple challenges.

“I really like Night Rally. It was my first time leading the rally, and it was really fun.”

—Pooja Bucklin, 11

—Alan Yen, 10

Juniors Wyatt Pederson and Julian Santos lead a line of juniors facing off against the freshmen in Tug-of-War, Monday ’s lunch game.

Seniors gather together for the last part of their Night Rally Airbands performance, lifting up their light-up bracelets to finish their routine.

Sophomore Ethan Kitch takes shot from a corner of the free throw line during Wednesday’s lunch game.

—Compiled by Katie Shih Photos by Yoochan An, Gracie Easton and Naomi Wang

Custodians face heavy workload due to student disregard Custodians—p.1

there’s been more than usual.”

These unexpected disruptions have become more prevalent in recent months, leading to more work for the custodial staff and limiting the amount of school services they can provide. “It’s been bad this year,” Hernandez said.

“At one point, all of the soap dispensers in every single boys’ bathroom on campus were out of order. Broken mirrors and toilet seats, stolen seat cover dispensers, graffiti on the walls, soap spilled all over the floor, destroyed toilet paper roll holders—you name it, they’ve done it.”

Like many other staff members, Pennington cares deeply about the community and wants to see the campus in good condition. “It really is disappointing,” she said.

“The teachers are part of this place, too. When I see garbage on the ground, I really want to drop everything and pick it up, but I can’t always do that because I’m rushing from place to place. So when I see people deface things, it hurts.”

Students’ failure to clean up their mess not only affects the amount of litter left outside of the bins, but also the organization of waste into the three types: trash, recycling and compost. “We don’t have time to sort each piece of trash individually,” Hernandez said. “With what time we have, we can only sort a bin into recycling or compost if 80% or more is recyclable or compostable. I’ve seen rotten banana peels in recycling bins and plastic wrappers in the compost. It’s something that’s only begun this year.”

Green Team President senior Saman de Silva believes that students have an obligation to clean up after themselves, especially as it is a small gesture that will build good habits for students later. “As human beings, it is our personal responsibility to make sure that we dispose of

any waste that comes along with our products,” de Silva said. “It requires so little effort. There are trash, compost and recycling bins everywhere. It’s important to build that sense of accountability.”

De Silva believes that keeping students’ surroundings clean is a group effort. “Try to take steps to cover what others may not be doing,” he said. “Even if you’re good about throwing your stuff away, not everybody in the

“By vandalizing the school and littering, you’re not hurting the admin, the school or the teachers.

You’re hurting us.” ­­—Day Shift Custodial Supervisor Luciano Hernandez population is. You can go and pick up that piece of trash that somebody left behind. It is so painless. Try and help out in whatever ways you can.”

Despite the heavy load this year, both Hansen and Hernandez are thankful to work at Gunn. “When I see the trash on campus, I think of it as job security,” Hansen said. “There are two sides to it—there is a lot of trash on campus, which isn’t great. But if there’s trash to clean up, it means that I’m needed.”

Hernandez urges students to think before they leave trash on campus or destroy school property. “You have to understand that this is your school,” he said. “This is your home. At the end of the day, we do the cleaning for you. By vandalizing and littering, you’re not hurting the admin, the school or the teachers. You’re hurting us.”

How often do you pick up trash that is not yours?

Rarely 31.3%

Never 6.9%

Always 2.3%

Often 13.7%

Sometimes 45.8%

Source: Survey sent out to Gunn students with 133 responses.

Irene Hong.

News THEORACLE 780 Arastradero Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94306 (650) 354-8238 www.gunnoracle.com

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Jessica Wang Managing Editors Julianna Chang Catherine Chu News Haley Pflasterer Raphael Semeria Forum Lise Desveaux Mia Knezevic Features Carly Liao Jessica Zang Centerfold Katie Shih Rebecca Wu Sports Hila Livneh Safina Syed Lifestyle Annika Bereny Arjun Shah Online Paul Garofalo Sophia Stern Photo Editor Mia Knezevic Graphics Editor Sophie Fan

Staff Business/Circulation Sophia Stern Jessica Zang Copy Editors Cole Ford James Huang Kenneth Soh Sophia Stern Oracle/SEC Liaison Mia Knezevic Graphics Artists Lydia Cheng Irene Hong Ella Koehler Clair Koo Michelle Koo Youyang Qin Mihika Sane Chinyoung Shao Photographers Yoochan An Gracie Easton Nishi Goyal Chinyoung Shao Naomi Wang Brandon Woo Reporters Cole Ford James Huang Katie Lawer Chris Lee Kenneth Soh

Friday, October 22, 2021

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Test center shortages prompt student challenges Raphael Semeria News editor In recent months, both seniors and juniors have faced challenges finding functioning Bay Area standardized testing locations for the college admission process. Many previously functioning locations have closed following heightened COVID-19 safety protocols.

While colleges might remain test-optional for 2023 applicants, some students are still opting to take standardized tests. Junior Tejas Thiyagarajan decided to take the SAT as an extra precaution in their administration process. “While many colleges are going testoptional, there are still colleges that might go back to [requiring tests],” Thiyagarajan said.

“I’d rather have the test done and under the belt than wait until it’s too late.”

Although some students are taking standardized tests as a precaution, there is a portion of students, including senior Talia Rapoport, who have no other option but to take standardized tests for international school admission. “I decided to take [the SAT] because I want to apply to international schools,” Rapoport said. “The SAT is a big part of their admissions process, since they don’t really [accept] American grades.”

A lack of testing centers in the Bay Area due to the COVID-19 pandemic has made it hard for these students to find testing locations nearby. Additionally, those who have been able to sign up for tests have been experiencing last-minute cancellations, which can be frustrating. “The cancellations led to me having to lengthen the amount of time I study for the test each time,” Thiyagarajan said.

“Studying for the SAT is a huge time commitment, and every time it gets canceled, I have to continue studying to maintain my score. This can be really exhausting. It’s been almost six months now that I have been studying, and it’s really becoming a huge burden.”

Now, many students are looking at the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) to provide a testing site that is easily accessible

30.1%

of students surveyed drove over one hour to their test location.

for students who want to take the test. Parent Teacher Student Association member and Gunn parent Patrice Fester believes that Gunn should sponsor additional tests. “[The district] has very capable, well-educated professionals,” she said. “[Paired with] the facilities,

“Studying for the SAT is a huge time commitment, and every time it gets canceled, I have to continue studying to maintain my score.”

—Junior Tejas Thiyagarajan

motivated students and invested parents can figure out how to get pretty much anything done. For the administrators, if you can offer the PSAT, you can offer an SAT. Any time you increase access, it’s only going to improve the quality of the students’ results.”

The district has acknowledged these concerns and has responded by trying to sponsor more testing opportunities at Gunn and Palo Alto High School (Paly). PAUSD Director for

“An admissions counselor is doing a holistic review. [They’re] not banking a large part of it on your test score. Take time and focus on what you’re doing in the classroom and what else you are doing outside of school.”

— College and Career Information Specialist Leighton Lang

Secondary Education Kathie Laurence, among other district administrators, is working to host more tests for students in the district. The process, however, is difficult. “There are staffing issues, protocols, facilities and a variety of [other] reasons that can make it challenging [for the district to sponsor more tests],” she said. “The fact that students are seeing things canceled once they’ve signed up for them demonstrates that it’s not an easy task.”

So far, Gunn has administered an SAT in April 2021, and will be administering a second

35.4%

15.3%

of students surveyed had test locations in the Bay Area.

Of students surveyed stayed overnight at their testing location.

INBOX The Oracle strongly encourages and prints signed Letters to the Editor and Comments. Comments are generally shorter responses, while Letters are longer pieces of writing.

Please include your name, grade and contact information should you choose to write one.

“I would like to see more updates about the school construction and upcoming events.”

Adviser Kristy Blackburn

—Molly Truher, 11

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“I’d like to see more stories about places around Gunn, like what people do on the weekends—more Palo Alto in general.”

—Fiona Li, 10

—Sep. 17, 2021—

on Oct. 28 exclusively for seniors. In addition, the district is working on hosting an SAT for juniors in the spring. “There are a whole lot of moving parts around standardized testing,” Laurence said. “We’re working with the two high schools and working on a plan moving forward. If [the SAT] was given in the spring, it would highly be fit for juniors.”

According to Assistant Principal Harvey Newland, part of the challenge of administering an SAT is that it would likely be done on a school day, leading to schedule adjustments for the entire school. “Because Oct. 28 is a school day, kids are going to have to miss classes in order to take the SAT,” he said. “It just depends on where the district wants us to go with high stakes testing because both high schools have to be aligned on it.”

Standardized tests such as the SAT and the ACT have historically been very important parts of the college admissions process for students. However, in 2020, many colleges became test-optional for the 2021 graduating class. Now, many still remain test-optional for the graduating class of 2022. According to The National Center for Fair and Open Testing, over 55% of colleges will be test-optional for this year’s applicants. Some schools, such as the University of California school system (UCs), will even remain test-optional for future classes as well, instead focusing on other portions of students’ applications.

Overall, College and Career Information Specialist Leighton Lang believes that juniors should not stress out about standardized testing, since applications consist of more than just test scores. He also noted that it is still early in the process and that they will have more opportunities to take them in the spring. “When you look at it, [test scores are] one-eighth of your application,” he said. “An admissions counselor is doing holistic review.

[They’re]not banking a large part of it on your test score. Take time and focus on what you’re doing in the classroom and what else you are doing outside of school.”

34.1%

of students surveyed took their SAT at Gunn.

Source: Survey sent out to 133 students.

Sophie Fan.

Letters and Comments may be edited to meet space requirements, and the writer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Letters to the Editor, Comments and ideas for coverage may be sent to oraclegunn@gmail.com or posted on our Facebook page. These letters do not need to be from current students.

“[I’d like to see] more games like mazes, crosswords and maybe cartoons.”

—Emily Zhou, 10

4 Forum Offensive Halloween Costumes perpetuate harmful Rebecca Wu Centerfold Editor Cady Heron, protagonist of the iconic 2004 movie “Mean Girls,” is wrong about this one: “In girl world, Halloween is the one time of year a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girl can say anything about it.”

Dressing up as a “sexy Native American,” for example, is the intersection of fetishization and cultural appropriation. With Halloween just around the corner, teens are starting to pick costumes to go to parties or events. It’s important to draw the line between role-playing and being disrespectful. The internet further exacerbates this issue, using media to encourage young students to wear costumes that range from being questionable to blatantly racist. The first step to prevention is consciousness, so those who understand the boundaries should spread awareness.

CULTURAL APPROPRIATION In order to avoid cultural appropriation or insensitivity, people need to be cautious when dressing like a celebrity or character of color—this means those who aren't black should steer clear of protective hairstyles (cornrows, dreads and bantu knots), and making sure foundation matches skin tone. For a black rapper like ZillaKami, the bright hair color and trademark tattoos are on point, but reconsider the dreads if they are not already a part of your culture.

Inappropriate costumes stem beyond a feature “be- less than human, violence against them seems acceptlonging” to another culture—those features have histori- able. The hypersexualization of Asian women has also led cal importance and societal connotations that should be to extremist violence. Twenty-one-year-old Robert Aaron respected. Keisha Brown, an associate professor of his- Long shot and killed eight Asian women at three different tory at Tennessee State University, wrote a Huffington spas in and around Atlanta, Georgia last spring because Post article about cultural appropriation. “[The] issue at “they were too muh of a temptation to him and he hand is the separation of Black culture from the peoples couldn’t resist.” Asian women are viewed as temptand history that created it,” Brown wrote. ing, which is probably why the sexy “Oriental “People embrace the hip or popular dress” is a popular costume and dress elements of Black culture, but for casual wear, as perpetuated by not Black Americans.” fast-fashion sites such as Shein At the intersection beand Fashion Nova. However, tween cultural appropriathe back-handedness lies in tion and misogyny, peohow the temptation leads Inappropriate costumes stem ple must also be aware to mockery and, in this beyond a feature “belonging” to of the historical stereocase, violence. types attached to certain East Asian women are another culture—those features cultures. A “sexy geisha” not the only fetishized outfit or anything inminority group. For have historical importance and volving a sexualized take years, indigenous women on culturally traditional have faced a similar issue. societal connotations that clothing can be insensiM. Elise Marrubio, a proshould be respected. tive to the group that is reffessor of American Indian erenced. Halloween costumes Studies at Augsburg College, worn out of ignorance lead to the coined the terms “Celluloid Prinperpetuation of pervasive stereotypes. cess” and “Sexualized Maiden” in East Asian women in particular have her 2006 book “Killing the Indian Maiden: been hypersexualized throughout western history, and Images of Native American Women in Film.” She examit’s important to keep this in mind before buying a sexy ines the two main archetypes of indigenous women in ninja costume on Amazon. Movies such as “Austin Pow- media: the Celluloid Princess, who falls in love with the ers” and “The World of Suzie Wong” normalize what is hero, usually white and male, and has to sacrifice as a repopularly called “yellow fever.” “Austin Powers” includes sult. The second archetype is the femme fatale Sexualized a threesome with Japanese twins in a to-do list, and Maiden whose mere existence caters to serve western “The World of Suzie Wong” depicts the title character exotic fantasies. Considering the sheer number of indigas sexual and not much else. Not only do these movies enous women who are missing or murdered—which NBC perpetuate problematic ideals, but they are also incred- News describes as “an epidemic of violence”—indigenous ibly dehumanizing to Asians, categorizing them solely as women face the same ultimatum as East Asian women: sexual objects. Once a minority group has been deemed Be sexualized or be killed. Sometimes, it’s both.

Forum

Friday, October 22, 2021

stereotypes for minority groups Mocking disorders

should not be marketed as a slutty outfit.” She’s right—according to ANAD, eating disorders are among the deadliest mental illnesses, second only to opioid overdose. StuAnother offensive genre of costumes is disorder-related dents should consider this before tying a measuring tape costumes. The ones worn most frequently are skin-tight around their waist this Halloween. skeleton dresses with a measuring tape around the waist, Another insensitive costume that society has come dubbed “Anna Rexia.” These costumes mock people with to accept is the mental disorder patient costume, eating and mental disorders, at times sexuwhich features a straitjacket and exaggerated alizing their struggles. makeup. These costumes are an insultThe National Association of ing portrayal of an already underAnorexia Nervosa and Associrepresented and mocked group ated Disorders (ANAD) proof people, and these hurtful vides troubling statistics on mockeries lead to high suicide Wearing a costume that just how many people sufrates of people with mental fer from eating disorders. disorders. According to the depicts a real struggle in an In adolescent girls, 35% to National Center for Biotechinsensitive way is a surefire 57% engage in crash dieting nology Information (NCBI), (tremendously cutting down psychological autopsies from way to make it less fun for calorie intake), fasting, selfthe middle of the previous induced vomiting, diet pills or century and onwards have rethe people it mocks. laxatives. In other words: up to vealed that most people who half of the population of adoleshave died by suicide have suffered cent girls struggle with body image from mental disorders, and a recent and diet issues. Thus, it is extremely infigure suggests this number could be at sensitive to turn their struggle into an least 90%.

“Anna Rexia” costume.

The truth is that these examples are not good costumes.

When this costume surfaced in They’re not funny. They’re not attractive. They’re not cre2011, 32-year-old Jessi Davin was ative. Halloween is supposed to be fun and thrilling, and immediately upset, taking to Tumwearing a costume that depicts a real struggle in an inblr to voice her displeasement. “Ansensitive way is a surefire way to make it less fun for the orexia is nothing to party about or people it mocks. This Halloween, think twice about your laugh at,” she said. “It’s real, it’s deadly and costume.

Graphics by Irene Hong, Mihika Sane and Chinyoung Shao

Trick-or-treating as teens is acceptable

Sophia Stern Online Editor and Business Manager Once we start growing up, we start to wonder about the right way to spend Halloween.

After years of trick-or-treating, teens start to ask, “Are we too old for this?”

There is no right age to stop trick-or-treating. Even if it can feel like you’re out of place walking down the streets of your neighborhood surrounded by younger kids, you should still be there and celebrate Halloween how you want.

Halloween is one of the only nights in the year where you can dress up and look scary or goofy. You don’t have to worry about what anyone else thinks of your appearance because everyone is dressed ridiculously with you.

Each year, as the day approaches, it’s exciting to plan your costume with your friends and discuss how you want to dress up. After deciding what to wear, I always look forward to the trip to the Halloween store to buy things for my costume, and a fun alternative if you don’t or can’t buy one is to make it yourself.

The best thing about trick-or-treating is how accessible it is. Even if you don’t have plans on Halloween, you can make an impromptu trip around your neighborhood and get a bunch of candy. Everyone deserves to celebrate Halloween, and trick-or-treating is both the easiest and the most iconic way to do so. All you have to do is dress up and say “trick or treat.”

Additionally, the candy you receive from trick or treating tends to taste better in a way.

Even though anyone can go out and buy a big bag of candy, the chocolates received on Halloween always feel more rewarding to me.

Maybe this is because it was free. Maybe it’s because it feels like it was earned through the many miles walked through neighborhoods while dragging a heavy bag, along with the effort put into planning a costume. Maybe it tastes sweeter because it’s associated with good memories of spending a night with friends. Either way, the sweets become extra rewarding on this one special night.

I have years of memories of sitting in a circle with my friends to trade candy after dumping it all on the floor. In fact, I still remember eating candy until my stomach hurt.

A holiday like Halloween is made for everyone, so why do people say that teenagers shouldn’t trick-or-treat? One explanation I have for this is the pressure that high schoolers put on themselves to grow up fast. In high school, you finally have more freedom and responsibility, and with that comes the urge to start acting like an adult. One way that people do this is by letting go of childhood traditions such as trick-or-treating.

While I relate to these sentiments, I regret letting go of my favorite childhood traditions.

I think that trick-or-treating can be a good way to stay connected with your younger self, and it can be fun to indulge in innocent fun for one night. Once we go off to college, the next time we’ll go out trick-or-treating will probably be when we have kids. If you love it, you should ignore anyone who tells you you’re too old and go. You won’t always have the opportunity or time to do so.

If you’re a teenager and plan to go trick-ortreating this Halloween, do it. Go all out this year and dress in the craziest costume you can; it’s the one night of the year when anything is possible.

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Asian representation in films should focus on culture, shared stories rather than skin color alone Chris Lee Reporter

Upon its release in 2018, critics hailed “Crazy Rich Asians” as the start of a new era in Hollywood. More than two decades since the release of “The Joy Luck Club,” the last movie featuring an Asian lead and a majority Asian cast, “Crazy Rich Asians” was seen as a promising sign for movies that broke the traditional mold. However, too many professional critics were merely invested in highlighting the groundbreaking diversity in the film rather than addressing key issues such as a shallow plot and unrealistic, unrelatable characters. As we enter a new age of cinematography focused on diversity, filmmakers must look beyond the color of a character’s skin; if society is truly interested in making characters more relatable to Asian audiences, storylines must also reflect culture and shared experiences.

There is nothing wrong with a light-hearted film that spins a well-known storyline. In fact, “Crazy Rich Asians” is not an inherently wrong or bad film. Increased diversity in all genres of entertainment is positive change that we must continue to encourage.

However, the plot of the movie lacks depth and borrows from countless other works: a girl falls in love with a guy before she suddenly encounters family disapproval. The storyline then follows the couple navigating their relationship throughout the film. In fact, the only novel, non-cliché aspects of “Crazy Rich Asians” are the predominantly Asian cast and elaborate costumes.

Despite this, “Crazy Rich Asians” earned acclamation.

When the movie was released, it was viewed as a massive cultural breakthrough and a work that would inspire Asian audiences across the world. The fundamental flaw with this logic is that forming relationships with characters is about so much more than ethnicity alone; it includes culture, shared experiences and whether audiences can truly sympathize with the people they see on-screen. Critics should be more mindful when attaching substantial labels

like “breakthrough” or “groundbreaking” and consider flick, but with a different cast and in a different setting.” the actual content of the film first. Otherwise, works like Film critics’ assumptions regarding representation “Crazy Rich Asians” receive accolades that are not war- are extremely harmful to future Asian representation in ranted. culture and media. According to their reviews, the only The reception of “Crazy Rich Asians” was a chance to metric for having a breakthrough work is to simply feature set a precedent for how films with diverse casts should be Asian cast members. This benchmark, however, is not held to the same standards as their white counterparts. present when reviewing films that have predominantly After all, this was the first time in history that a movie white characters. Asian audiences are ultimately hurt featuring predominantly Asian actors gained global at- since they only see characters that look like them, not tention and significant revenue. However, critics merely ones that truly resonate with them. Lower thresholds for showered the film with praise, showcasing what the work diverse movies mean that filmmakers are not motivated did well but conveniently ignoring clear flaws. to create truly relatable characters. They become complaWhile “Crazy Rich Asians” may have succeeded in cent, realizing that simply showcasing Asian talent will featuring Asian actors, it failed as a movie in many other earn a myriad of praise; there is no longer a need to ways. For instance, not all Asian audiences could redevelop the plot. late to relate to Nick, the protagonist’s fiancé, and While “Crazy Rich Asians” failed to meet the his billionaire family’s extravagant lifestyle. standards of a cultural breakthrough, other Additionally, the film did not delve deeply films certainly have. One key example is into relatable aspects, such as the main Lulu Wang’s 2019 film “Farewell.” The plot character’s struggle to gain her centers around Billi and her paternal Asian future mother-in-law’s blessing. grandmother Nai-Nai, who has been “Crazy Rich Asians” had the diagnosed with cancer. While Billi audiences are potential to truly become a and the rest of her family are aware ultimately hurt since cultural breakthrough, of Nai-Nai’s illness, they decide not yet it failed to develop to tell her due to the Chinese belief they only see characters cultural elements that that the shock would kill her rather that look like them, not would have made the imthan the cancer itself. Although pact to diversity more tangible. her Chinese A merican family ones that truly The film paid immaculate attenseems committed, Billi experiences resonate with tion to detail regarding set design difficulty maintaining her facade. and costumes; this same effort A key component of “Farewell” them. applied to subtle cultural elements that “Crazy Rich Asians” lacks is a would have been invaluable. storyline that generally resonates with The film’s cultural shortcomings can Asian audiences. The movie explores the be seen in the reviews of “Crazy Rich Asians” more individualistic values of the West compared on two platforms: IMDb, where all audiences are free to to the collectivist ones of the East. While the rest of Billi’s share their opinion, and Rotten Tomatoes, an institution family believes the best thing that they can do is to bear that mostly hosts reviews from professional critics. While the emotional burden of Nai-Nai’s diagnosis together, 90% of reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes had a positive re- Billi has a harder time sharing in this sentiment, as she ception to “Crazy Rich Asians,” the film received a 6.9/10 was raised in the United States. Instead of focusing on a rating from average viewers on IMDb. This discrepancy billionaire family and showcasing their extravagance, the outlines the true nature of “Crazy Rich Asians.” While film featured cultural nuances and made an effort to be many were expecting a plot that resonated among Asian an authentic portrayal. audiences, they instead received a shallow rom-com that Each year, we make progress as more films that hardly delved into any cultural aspects that would make it showcase a diverse set of actors and talents are released. a breakthrough film. This dissatisfaction becomes appar- However, society still must pay attention to the plots and ent when one reads through many of the negative reviews. intricacies in the storyline when including a diverse cast.

One viewer on IMDb expresses disappointment with the While professional critics may have good intentions, the film’s storyline. “Although visually appealing, very few notion that showering diverse films with praise is the people can relate to the Asian billionaires who are de- best course of action to bolster more representation is scribed as Chinese royalty,” they wrote. Another reviewer misconceived. This act only stymies progress and leads echoes these same thoughts. “Overall, I think this movie to a future that is not remarkably different from the stawas definitely worth watching and especially supporting,” tus quo. Critics must be honest and not allow for a lower they wrote. “Do not go into this movie expecting it to standard of artistic and creative value solely because a discuss the Asian American struggle. In fact, it film is considered diverse. If society is truly interested doesn’t discuss being an Asian American at in a future where “diversity” goes deeper than skin color all. This movie is more or less a chick- alone, this is a critical step we must take.

2 out of 68 students surveyed felt that the movie

“CR A ZY RICH ASIANS”

represented Asian ly culture as accurate as possible.

Online ratings for “Crazy Rich Asians”:

90% 6.9/10 Chinyoung Shao

Sophie Fan

Features

Friday, October 22, 2021

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Gunn Theatre presents ‘Robots vs. Fake Robots’ What does it mean to be human?

Gunn Theatre’s fall production, “Robots vs. Fake Robots,” explores this question through a mix of comedy and tragedy.

According to play director Kristen Lo, the show is set in the year 6000, when robots rule the world and being a robot is the standard. “Every once in a while, a human decides that they want to be a robot,” Lo said. “It’s kind of like “Mean Girls.” Robots are popular [and] attractive. Everybody wants to be them; everybody wants to date them. Sometimes, people living their meager lives would like to be robots, too.”

The story follows one human, Joe, who desperately wants to become a robot. Senior Quincy Rosenzweig, who plays the human protagonist, explains his character’s motivations. “[Joe is] very unhappy with life,” Rosenzweig said. “[My character] hates being a human. At the start of the play, I am watching the robots dance, and I quickly become obsessed with becoming a robot and becoming good. I start to associate being a robot with being good.”

Junior Chloe Lee, who plays robot prostitute Garlic Press, noted that on a philosophical level, the play examines the futility of striving for perfection.

“It has something to do with trying to

be absolutely perfect,” Lee said. “That’s something that’s actually very toxic for you.”

Rosenzweig agreed with the sentiment that striving for complete perfection can be harmful. “I’ve been tying the play to social media and being fake on it,” he said. “Also, the idea of being true to yourself rather than admiring the idea of something else comes up.”

On the tech side, Stage Manager senior Daniella Maor said the sets and costumes will reflect the setting as well as the vanity of the characters. “We want it to look post-apocalyptic,” Maorsaid. “The set itself is going to have robot propaganda on the walls and maybe some human graffiti.”

This year the play will take place on the N-Building steps instead of the Spangenberg Theatre. The N-Building steps, with their almost Brutalist architectural style, will serve the play well. The costumes will be less silver and futuristic than classic robot images.

“More than looking robotic, I just want them to look good,” Lo said. “When you look up pictures of the performances, it’s more like they are popular clubbing people than they are metallic ‘Terminator 2’ robots.”

As the first live and in-person the-

atre production in more than a year, the play has obviously dealt with COVID-19 restrictions. All of the actors and members of the stage crew provided vaccination cards in order to make the group feel safe. “When they’re on stage performing, they will not have their masks on,” Maor said. “We did ask for all their masking comfort levels to make sure that they’re okay with it. While they’re not on stage, they will have to have their masks on, along with [the tech crew].”

Audience members will be required to wear masks for the entirety of the show.

If the fascinating concept, fun sets and fantastic acting aren’t alluring enough, perhaps the return to Gunn’s tradition of excellent theatre productions is. “This is something that we’ve missed during COVID-19:—sitting next to somebody and reacting and hearing the reactions of the audience,” Lo said.

“Coming out and experiencing art with other people is even more important now that we are reestablishing these connections with humans rather than just watching something on a screen.”

The production premieres at the N-Building steps on Nov. 5. Students can buy tickets at gunntheatre.org.

—Written by Annika Bereny

Safina Syed

Top right: In a fun dance number, sophomore Rahil Menon (middle), who plays robot Neck Brace, twirls junior Jacqueline See-Tho (left) and junior Lucia Perez Rubalcaba (right), who play robot Cranberries CD and robot War Propaganda respectively.

Bottom right: Junior Matt Herrema (right), who plays robot Nintendo 64, dances with junior Abigail Fitzpatrick (left), who plays robot Morse Code.

Bottom left: Senior Oren Schube, who plays robot Knee Pad, stares thoughtfully into the distance as other cast members turn away.

Faces in the Crowd: What are your thoughts on the topic?

“I think this play is very interesting. In middle school, everything was family friendly and very much PG or G. It’s definitely been an adjustment and a little bit of a surprise. I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out and seeing what it turns out to be.”

“I really like the play. I think it’s an interesting topic. We’ve said that it’s like the robot version of “Mean Girls,” and I think it kind of is. Basically, it is about what it means to be human and how far you would go to get rid of that. I think that’s a really interesting commentary.”

“Surface level, it has some level of vulgarity to it. I think I have the one scene that vividly describes sex. But there are some undertones to it such as how physical image is weighed in this world, especially with social media and how we want to be what we’re not and how detrimental that can be.”

“I think it is a very interesting topic. It’s definitely unlike some of the things we’ve done in the past, which have been less modern. We all get to act like robots, which is very exciting, but it’s not like classic robots. So I think it will be different than what people are expecting.”

—Olivia Souter, 9

—Nina Rajwar, 10

—Chloe Lee, 11

—Quincy Rosenzweig, 12 —Compiled by Safina Syed

Irene Hong

8

Features

Change of scene: TRANSFER Titans adjust Senior Elina Suska: Holy Trinity High School in Ottawa, Canada At the beginning of August, senior Elina Suska moved from a charming city with historic buildings to a town at the heart of Silicon Valley’s technological innovations. The move from Ottawa, Canada to Palo Alto was prompted by a job opportunity offered to Suska’s father. “It was a big change for me to move here,” she said. “It all went very quickly from the moment we left Ottawa.”

She quickly found herself starting school at Gunn. Suska noted that compared to her school in Ottawa, Gunn provided a very different experience, especially since the school puts a lot of emphasis on academic validation. “The mindset here is pretty different,” she said. “Gunn focuses on academics and doing well on your grades. You have to do well in school.”

Even though her previous school, Holy Trinity High School, is also known to be academically strong, Gunn proved to be more competitive. “We were focused on our academics at Holy Trinity High School, but not so much like here,” Suska said. “I feel like there’s a lot more competition about that.”

In order to graduate, Suska needs to take more classes than she had planned, and sometimes she finds the new workload over-

whelming. “I’ve had to take so many classes just to graduate from the school,” she said.

“Specifically, I have to take economics and physics, which are a lot on my schedule.”

Economics and physics are both classes that weren’t mandatory in her previous school; due to Gunn’s requirements, Suska had to give up taking some of the classes she wanted. “I’m planning on going into computer science, and for that field I had wanted to take physics, calculus and statistics,” she said. “But because there are other course requirements like English, I had to bump statistics and chemistry out of my schedule.

Now, I’m only taking physics and calculus.”

To meet new people, Suska decided to participate in a school sport and ultimately joined the water polo team. “Joining the water polo team helped me to settle in,” she said. “The team and players are all so nice.”

Along with water polo, she has met a lot of friendly people who made her feel welcomed at Gunn. “I’ve met some really nice people,” she said. “However, it’s been a decent experience. Again, it’ll take me a while longer to fully adjust and settle in.”

—Written by Lise Desveaux

Sophomore Eliska Injayan: Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto For sophomore Eliska Injayan, transferring between local rival schools Palo Alto High School (Paly) and Gunn hasn’t proven to be a major culture shock. Injayan transferred from Paly to Gunn at the beginning of this year to start her sophomore year as a newly-established Titan.

Having previous social connections at Gunn made the transition easy for Injayan.

“The transition for me wasn’t very hard,” she said. “I only did my freshman year at Paly, and I am friends with more people at Gunn.”

The social aspect of high school was Injayan’s reason for transferring. “Personally, I have more friends at Gunn, which was the reason I transferred here,” she said. “It’s been easier for me to talk to more people at school here.’’

Many people consider Paly and Gunn to be very different environments; Gunn is often considered the academic school, while Paly is known for its athletics. Injayan, who attended both schools, feels differently. “I think people generally have this misconception that the learning at the two schools is different, or that one school is harder academically than the other,” she said. “For me,

the learning and academics have been relatively similar at both schools.”

Injayan has particular likes and dislikes about the two schools. “I like the organization of Paly’s campus much more,” she said.

“It’s a lot nicer, and I think they have a better learning environment. Some of the classes were harder at Paly, but that was more dependent on certain teachers than the school itself.”

Injayan also finds that teachers across both schools have similar teaching styles and classroom formats. “Since Paly and Gunn are in the same district, they have a lot of the same policies,” she said.

Something that has made the transition difficult for Injayan is simply the physical distance between the two schools. “One thing that has been harder about moving to Gunn is that it is farther from my house,” she said. “It takes a lot longer to get to school.”

In the end, however, Injayan feels like she made the right choice by transferring. “Overall, I am happy with my decision,” she said.

“I get to see my friends a lot more.”

—Written by Katie LaWer

Features

Friday, October 22, 2021

9

to new environment, relay EXPERIENCES Senior Arun Gottipati: Monta Vista High School in Cupertino After one year at Monta Vista High School, senior Arun Gottipati transferred to Gunn, where he has found a new community.

Gottipati transferred at the beginning of his sophomore year after his family moved.

Even though changing schools may seem daunting, he found the transition to be uncomplicated. “It was pretty smooth,” he said.

“Because of the fact that I transferred at the end of summer, I had to rush to test for class placement. Other than that, transitioning between high schools was pretty straightforward.”

Despite the rigorous academics at Gunn, he found the environment to be more supportive and less competitive than that of his old school. “Monta Vista is more academically inclined, and the courses are a lot more challenging,” he said. “I feel like Gunn does a lot better than Monta Vista in the amount of support that it gives students. There is also a larger breadth of course material that’s available.”

After experiencing the campus culture of both schools, Gottipati prefers Gunn’s culture over that of Monta Vista and is happy about his transfer. “Gunn has a better environment than Monta Vista,” he said. “It’s

much more open. A lot of the teachers are super friendly and much more receptive when it comes to helping students out with homework or negotiating a later due date for a project.”

Gottipati has also found a community within Gunn by joining two campus organizations: the Gunn Robotics Team and Speech and Debate club. “My experiences with Gunn clubs have been pretty good so far,” he said.

“I enjoy spending time in the machine shop for robotics as well as after school debate practices.”

As for making friends with other students, Gottipati made conscious efforts to reach out and meet people. “I connected with other students by taking more time out of my day to socialize and hang out after school,” he said.

Gottipati has a few words of advice for future transfers or to other students who are transitioning to Gunn. “Take advantage of everything Gunn has to offer, like the tutors and the large number of counselors that Gunn has to serve a relatively small student body,” he said.

—Written by Haley Pflasterer

Junior Alex Farrington: Rungsted Gymnasium in Rungsted, Denmark For junior Alex Farrington, moving from snowy Scandinavia to sunny California might have been a big temperature change, but he was happy to adjust. This past July, Farrington came to Gunn as an exchange student. “I wanted to see what it was like being an American student, just to try something new,” he said.

Before coming to the Bay Area, Farrington lived in Denmark, attending a school called Rungsted just outside the capital of Copenhagen. Farrington went to Rungsted for 10 years, where he built long-lasting relationships with several of his classmates. “I liked hanging out with my friends every day,” he said. “In the Danish school system, you stay in the same class with the same 25 people for 10 years, so I’d known them for a while.”

When he first switched schools, the most striking difference was the size. With only 500 students, Rungsted had a much smaller student body than Gunn. “I don’t know how many students there are here, but there are a lot more,” Farrington said.

Farrington also noticed that Gunn has a much stronger sports culture. “In Europe, you don’t have sports teams in school,” he said. “That’s an out-of-school activity.

There’s also more school spirit [here]. We didn’t really have a Homecoming [in Denmark].”

Another major change was discovering Gunn’s well-known deeply academic environment. As an exchange student, Farrington has different course requirements than other students, something he welcomes in the midst of Gunn’s heavy academic involvement. “I don’t think Rungsted’s as academically competitive as here, but it’s one of the top schools in Denmark,” he said. “I don’t need to take Advanced Placement classes here like everyone else since I’m an exchange student, which makes things a bit easier for me.”

In spite of the new setting, Farrington found the transition to be relatively smooth.

“Making friends was easier than I thought,” he said. “People here are quite outgoing and friendly compared to the Scandinavians, who are a bit more reserved.”

Overall, Farrington likes the change. “The diversity is pretty cool and so is the interest in all the sports teams,” he said. “I’d rate it a 10 out of 10. It’s been pretty great.”

—Written by James Huang

Clair Koo

10

Cente

Staff picks: What to watc Becca’s Choice: “Jennifer’s Body” (2009) “Jennifer’s Body” is a movie that has aged like fine wine.

Its subtle feminist messages were horribly received upon release (or they flew over the audience’s heads), but have been readily accepted by audiences in the last few years.

Rather than the uber-macho viewers the film was intended to reach, “Jennifer’s Body” provides nuanced commentary on female sexuality and female friendships.

In the movie, Jennifer Check, played by Megan Fox, is the perfectly popular and pretty antagonist who obtains a deadly power in a sacrificial ritual gone wrong: immortality in exchange for eating boys. Her best friend Needy, played by Amanda Seyfried, discovers her secret and tries to stop her from using it by stabbing her in the stomach with a grosslooking pool skimmer. This prompts Jennifer to deliver the iconic line: “You got a tampon?”

What’s unique about this horror movie is how it contrasts with how women are typically portrayed.

In most horror movies, a virgin girl is sacrificed in

return for immense power. Examples include Andy Warhol’s “Dracula,” “Conan the Barbarian” and implications in “King Kong.” However, the opposite is true in “Jennifer’s Body.” In the unsuccessful ritual, Jennifer’s female sexuality is what gives her the power. This metamorphosis is commonly labeled as being ahead of its time.

Also, it’s a Megan Fox movie. Enough said.

While “Jennifer’s Body” is easily written off as a chickflick, the characters are truly, deeply complex. At its core, “Jennifer’s Body” is a feminist cult classic that was misinterpreted by movie advertisers as a heterosexual teenage boy’s Halloween fantasy.

While “Jennifer’s Body” certainly does not pass the infamous Bechdel Test, which tracks whether there are conversations between female characters that are not about men, it gets a free pass because they only talk about boys when Jennifer is hungry.

—Written by Becca Wu

James’s Choice: “Ghostbusters” (1984) From the bang of its opening theme to the goofy charm of 1984 special effects, “Ghostbusters” is a timeless autumn classic. Simply put, it’d be wonderful if you watched it this October.

“Ghostbusters” has a pretty straightforward plot. Three professors—Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz and Egon Spengler—get fired from their jobs at Columbia University for wasting funds on investigating ghosts at the New York City public library.

After being fired, the trio forms the Ghostbusters, an organization that uses high-tech, nuclear-powered equipment to capture ghosts in exchange for monetary compensation.

As the demand for their services rises, they put out a helpwanted advertisement for a fourth member. In a show of their professionalism and the rigor of their application process, they instantly hire the first interviewee, Winston Zeddemore. With the team fully formed, the Ghostbusters battle supernatural forces across New York City

while being investigated by a suspicious Environmental Protection Agency.

That said, what makes “Ghostbusters” so good? The movie delivers more than just high-definition graphics; it’s also a comedy and a paranormal sci-fi flick. Venkman, played by Bill Murray, brings most of the film’s charm through his laid-back demeanor. However, it’s the interactions between all four lead characters that truly bring the movie to life.

Plus, the special effects are pretty decent for the time, and they’re used surprisingly well as a complement to the gags and storytelling.

Even though it’s been almost 40 years since its release, “Ghostbusters” jokes are still on point. With its strong character chemistry and its outstandingly original plot, “Ghostbusters” effectively blends genres to form a movie that’s both hilarious and captivating.

—Written by James Huang

Terrifyingly tasty treats t Skittles Skittles are the perfect addition to your Halloween night. These fruit flavored pieces of candy come in a variety of flavors ranging from strawberry to lemon. At first, the Skittles taste a little tart, but as you continue to chew, they turn sweet. As such, they fit a multitude of preferences. The flavor is truly “the taste of the rainbow.”

Because Skittles typically come in bags with little pieces, you can easily pop one into your mouth while walking. Unfortunately, this makes it incredibly easy to eat 30 at once and not even notice. Be sure to eat with moderation so you don’t end up at the dentist the morning after.

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erfold

Friday, October 22, 2021

ch this Halloween season Raphael’s Choice: “Over the Garden Wall” (2014) Created by Patrick McHale for Cartoon Network, “Over the Garden Wall” is the perfect show to binge-watch with friends and family to embrace the fall spirit without becoming frightened.

The 10-episode animated miniseries follows two stepbrothers who encounter a variety of magical creatures on their journey home. Inspired by traditional folk art, children’s books from the 1800s and traditional American music from the early 1900s, McHale incorporates a sense of spookiness and mystery throughout the show. Additionally, he successfully encapsulates the fall aesthetic via various elements such as looming forest trees and vignetted frames, which, combined with an eerie animation style, bring you into a whimsical fall mood.

The miniseries contains 10-minute episodes where the brothers go through different adventures in the forest, stumbling upon countless enchanted creatures and various settings within the forest itself. Despite each

episode revolving around the new characters they meet and their interesting stories, the overarching storyline is connected through themes such as death, prejudice and determination, leaving a lasting impact on the viewer following the end of the series.

Although intense, the themes are up to reader interpretation and are incorporated within the story without making it scary in any way. “Over the Garden Wall” has shown a lot of popularity among viewers following its release on Hulu in Nov. 2014. According to Rotten Tomatoes, 93% of professional critics and 97% of audience members gave the show a positive review.

Overall, “Over the Garden Wall” is a beautiful and captivating show for anyone and everyone to watch over the fall season.

—Written by Raphael Semeria

Arjun’s Choice: “Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost” (2019) Halloween movies are often characterized by countless jump scares, goosebump-inducing monsters and bloody gore that leaves the viewer in a state of panic. “Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost,” however, lacks many of these elements yet still manages to provide a thoroughly enjoyable Halloween movie experience.

The movie features Mystery Incorporation, a gaggle of paranormal detective friends, and the plot plays out in the typical Scooby-Doo fashion: the friends do their best to solve a mystery and fail due to their lack of teamwork, only for them to reunite at the end and solve the case.

As the movie progresses, however, the viewer can see how the dynamics between the titular characters develop. This is best exemplified through the characters of Daphne and Fred.

In this movie, Daphne emerges as a competent leader who guides the group through the many obstacles and dangers that they face. This leaves Fred questioning his role in the group. Fred’s feelings of insecurity resonate

with emotions people face especially after COVID-19.

Like Fred, people have to find their place in a world where things have noticeably changed.

The parallels between the current day and the fictional world of the movie provide a new layer of enjoyment and perspective onto the viewing experience. “Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost” is not a run-of-the-mill Halloween movie, but instead a multifaceted study on the most constant force in the universe: change. So, as you settle down with a pile of candy to watch a movie on Halloween night, make sure “Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost” is on your watchlist.

—Written by Arjun Shah

to satisfy your sweet tooth Milky Way

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Milky Way chocolates are totally out of this world. Introduced to the country almost 100 years ago in 1924, these chocolate coated candy bars are still a nationally loved delight. The balance between caramel, nougat and chocolate is absolutely amazing. The crack of the chocolate followed by soft fluff of the caramel and nougat is the perfect way to indulge your sweet tooth. Milky Way chocolates are the perfect complement to any good night out or cozy night in. Plus, after a long night of eating gummies, fruity candies or anything sour, it’s nice to even it out with a Milky Way.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have the perfect ratio of chocolate to peanut butter. The first bite is packed with milk chocolate goodness followed by a savory yet still sweet peanut flavor. These are the ideal treat on Halloween, whether you’re walking around the neighborhood with your little siblings or hanging out with some friends. Their small size makes them extremely portable. If you’re feeling tired, just pull one out and enjoy the nice little energy boost to keep you going through the night.

—Compiled by Hila Livneh

Graphics by Lydia Cheng, Clair Koo, Chinyoung Shao and Katie Shih

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The Palo Palooza III

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Help wanted: Street team or interns, send a query to earwopa@yahoo.com or Earthwise Productions P.O. Box 60786, Palo Alto, CA 94306 or call (650) 305-0701.

GO, TITANS!

13

Sports

Friday, October 22, 2021

Game themes increase student turnout to sports games While Gunn is traditionally known for its strong academics, this year, the football team is on a home-game winning streak and with a record-breaking number of students attending sports games.

Gunn football’s first home game was against Sequoia High School on Sept. 3. Prior to the game, Sports Commissioner Pooja Bucklin promoted the game’s theme as “Red Out” on the “Gunn 6th Man” Instagram account.

On game day, the student section was a sea of red, with students running onto the track to cheer on the players throughout the game. Recurring chants included “People want to know / who we are / so we tell them / we are the Titans / the mighty, mighty Titans” and “I believe that we will win.”

Senior Sofia Little, who started multiple chants, was overjoyed about her experience at the game. “It was honestly so surreal,” she said. “I had never seen so many

Sophie Fan

people at a game cheering aside from the Homecoming game, so it was really cool to see the entire school come together. It felt straight out of your stereotypical American high school movie.”

Bucklin was excited by the turnout, especially after a year without games due to COVID-19. “It was really nice to see the student section getting really excited and cheering,” she said. “I think it was a nice way to kick off the season and introduce this new vibe of spirit at games.”

The new energy at games has created a positive atmosphere not only for students but also for players. Wide receiver and cornerback senior Noah Panousis thinks the extra support from the student body has had a positive impact on the team’s performance. “Having more fans puts more pressure on me,” Panousis said. “It allows me to do better, and it brings so much energy to the team,” he said.

After the successful “Red Out” theme, Gunn hosted a game against Andrew Hill High School with high attendance and a tropical dress-up theme.

Football is not the only sport with dress-up themes and high attendance. On Sept. 21, the boys and girls water polo and girls volleyball teams both hosted games against Palo Alto High School. Girls water polo had a “White Out” theme, and girls volleyball had a “Red Out” theme.

Motivated by the theme and high attendance, Little also attended the girls water polo game. “It was a very fast-paced game,” she said. “One time, I turned around for one second, and I missed goalie Jayden Kratt scoring a goal. I’m excited to see the girls team play future

Photos courtesy of Butch Garcia

Right: Students watch and cheer on the football team during the Sept. 3 game against Sequoia High School.

Left: The Gunn football team celebrates after beating Sequoia High School on Sept. 3. games.” The themes created a unified atmosphere for the students, which in turn raised the energy and excitement for the players, too. Captain of the girls water polo team senior Siham Arsalane had never experienced such a big fan section at a league game. “We really enjoyed the big crowd at the Paly game,” she said. “It created an energy and atmosphere that helped us accomplish the win.”

­—Written by Mia Knezevic

Student athletes undergo recruitment process throughout high school As October rolls around, seniors are either starting or in the middle of preparing for what comes after high school.

Students have options to go to college, join the workforce, take a gap year or try other paths. However, the path for prospective athletes applying to universities is different from the traditional high school student.

Colleges usually start scouting athletes way before senior year, according to Stanford Associate Athletic Director Mike Eubanks, who is the coordinator for all recruiting activities at Stanford University. “High school athletes recruitment could start anywhere from 10th to 12th grade,” Eubanks said. “It depends on what their playing time opportunity, physical maturation and visibility has been through high school.”

Of course, there are restrictions on how soon colleges can start communicating with high school athletes and how soon they can sign athletes, according to senior Aubrey Cantrell, a swimmer who has competed since she was three years old. “Junior year is when they can reach out to you, which is an National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rule,” she said. “Before that, you aren’t allowed to talk to coaches about recruiting. You can’t call them, and they can’t call you.”

However, Eubanks added that even with the NCAA’s restrictions, technology and videos have made evaluating athletes and their abilities a much faster and easier process. The introduction of video technology has given colleges the avenue to explore the potential of all athletes, including athletes from smaller towns. “A lot more kids get a chance to play in college because they can be seen and they can be found,” he said. “You don’t have to be on a namebrand high school team for someone to see you.”

In an orthodox setting, coaches would alert freshman players that recruitment was an option for college. However, with COVID-19, the process has been prolonged for

most athletes. Senior Shauntel Lim, a diver who has been competing for the past nine years, shares her recruitment experience. “[Recruiting] was very different compared to years past,” she said. “Normally, you would exchange statistics, then they would offer you trips to campus, which includes five official visits, and then you commit in the fall.

With COVID-19, obviously, it has been different.”

COVID-19 has easily made the recruitment process

“A lot more kids get a chance to play in college because they can be seen and they can be found.

You don’t have to be on a name-brand high school team for someone to see you.”

—Associate Athletic Director Mike Eubanks

much more difficult, with emails and Zoom meetings having to happen more frequently instead of other types of personalized interactions between colleges and athletes.

“It was basically just emailing updates, back and forth for like a year,” Lim said.

Cantrell also echoed a similar narrative about the impacts of COVID-19. However, some schools have reinstituted in-person visits, beginning the transition back to normalcy. “It’s different because of COVID-19, but I just had a visit last weekend,” Cantrell said. “They bring you on campus and introduce you to the team. You get to see the facility. You get to shadow a student athlete and see a day in the life.”

Traditionally, the recruitment process for students doesn’t truly kick off until the summer of junior year. How-

ever, colleges will have been looking at prospective athletes far before that year. “Typically, there’s an evaluation during or at the end of that sophomore season,” Eubanks said. “The process is cyclic. There are opportunities during the off-season like camps and games. Then, you are back to the fall again, and now they have junior year film.”

As evaluations and academic reports start to build up, athletes will communicate more with schools. “Communication between athletes and colleges can be mailers, direct messages, text messages or emails,” Eubanks said. “Phone calls and verbal communication comes later down the line, but that stuff starts in earnest around the fall.”

The next step would be visiting the school. For sports, this could mean visiting the university campus, shadowing the practices or going to games. The objective for the college is to determine whether the athlete is a good fit for the team. “If the interest is mutual, then that culminates in the recruit coming to the campus to make a visit,” Eubanks said. “In the off-season, I think that the visits and tours become more robust because there is more time for both parties.”

The final step would be verbal confirmations and exchanging signature, but those steps are personalized to each individual athlete and how the college wishes to inform them of their interest. “At the end of the day, everyone signs in December at the same time,” Eubank said.“[If] it is an efficient market, [you hope] that kids are getting the opportunities they deserve and that coaches are getting the right players.”

­—Written by Cole Ford

Timeline for recruitment In December, colleges begin to evaluate sophomore athletes through videos of the athlete’s events and two evaluations: one during and one after the season.

Freshman

Practice and actively particpate in your sports.

Sophomore

In June, athletes tour campuses and camps. Playing opportunities start to be presented by colleges.

In October, colleges start receiving academic reports and continue evaluating an athlete’s events.

Junior

In August, colleges can start communicating, making verbal offers and offering campus visits to prospective athletes.

In October, final academic transcripts are received by colleges.

Senior

In December, athletes commit to a college.

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Sports

This semester’s fall sports captains 1. Girls golf Girls golf team co-captain senior Athina Chen has high hopes for improvement throughout the golf season. “We have done well in some tournaments, but we’d like to do a little bit better in the second half of the season,” she said. “We’re just trying to shoot our best every time and keep doing well.”

1.

2. cross country Cross country team captain junior Paige Yun shares how the team’s season has progressed. “I think that the season’s gone really well,” Yun said. “We have a lot of new members, so we’re just getting them used to the courses we run, since it’s our first time back in over 20 months. It’s been really exciting to go back and race the courses we raced freshman year. We want to keep training, getting faster and making personal records.”

5. football Football team captain senior Eric Wang reflects on the season so far. “[The season] has gone pretty well,” Wang said. “We lost one game.

We’re still 3-1, so I’ll take it. We haven’t really met my expectations, but a lot of people have been stepping up. For myself, I just want to do better. As a team, I want us to go undefeated in the league and make it to playoffs.”

2.

5.

6.

6. Girls tennis Girls tennis team captain senior Elise Naddell explains the challenges her team has faced through the season. “I think the team is doing really great,” Naddell said. “We had a couple injuries in the beginning of the season for some of our top players, which hindered us for practice matches. Now that we’re really going into the season and playing league matches, we’re doing a lot better. This year, we’re really trying to boost communication and teamwork, especially because tennis is an individual sport and it’s harder to do that. Also, we had a whole year online when not many people were on the team, so we’re trying to bring that teamwork back.”

Photos by Yoochan An, Catherine Chu, Nishi Goyal and Naomi Wang

15

Sports

Friday, October 22, 2021

reflect on teams’ return to campus 3. Girls water polo Girls water polo team captain senior Siham Arsalane outlines the rest of the season. “The season is going pretty well,” Arsalane said. “We’re looking to compete in the league championship, and then hopefully we’re going to get into the Central Coast Sectionals (CCS). We’ve reached the halfway mark, and we have gathered together to try and improve on what we didn’t do at the beginning of the season.”

7. boys water polo

4. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Girls volleyball team captain senior Micaela Leong expresses her worries and hopes for the rest of the season. “The season hasn’t gone as great as we were hoping, but we’re looking to pick it up,” Leong said. “We’re looking to play our hardest against some of the bigger teams that have more experience than we do.”

4.

Boys water polo team senior captain Isaac Zelkha describes his expectations for the team. “So far, I’m pretty impressed,” Zelkha said. “We’re 5-0 in the league, and we’re looking to go undefeated and place highly in CCS. I think that that’s possible, since so far we’ve beaten every team we’ve played.”

3.

8.

7.

8. dance Dance team captain senior McKenna Englhardt is excited to be back in person again. “The season’s been really good so far,” Englhardt said. “It’s exciting to be back in-person and to have live performances because last year we could only put together videos on our own. Prepping for Homecoming week is always a lot of work because we do a lot of dances, but it’s been really fun this year. For the rest of the season, we will be doing some competitions.”

—Compiled by Kenneth Soh

16

A dvertisement

Maple

Lifestyle new season provides tasty, timeless flavors The fall season is known as the maple harvest season because of the multitude of maple products on grocery store shelves.

Both Peet’s Coffee and Trader Joe’s offer maple oat milk, which allows you to make your own maple latte at home. To complement your maple latte, Trader Joe’s also offers sweet options such as maple leaf cookies with maple cream filling, maple kettle corn and maple walnut biscotti.

While it’s normally made with brown sugar, pecan pie can be deliciously made with maple

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Friday, October 22, 2021

places TO Watch the fall transition Arastradero Preserve

syrup, making it the perfect fall pie.

Compared to other pies, pecan pie brings a different texture to the table with the crunchiness of the pecans. It is also relatively simple to make, with most recipes providing one-bowl instructions.

The Arastradero Preserve is known for its hills of ornate, golden grass. This, however, is not all the preserve has to offer. Further down through the path, is the Acorn Trail. Aptly named, the Acorn Trail is distinguished by its plethora of trees, something notably missing in other parts of the preserve. During the fall season, the landscape is filled with russet foliage and tumbling fir-cones.

Bowdoin and Stanford crossing

apple

pumpkin mole burrito and pumpkin ravioli for those wanting something savory rather than sweet. With all these different products, don’t forget about the more traditional pumpkin pie. A Thanksgiving staple, pumpkin pie is a comforting and f lavorful dessert reminiscent of past fall celebrations.

T h e c h a n ge f r o m s u m m e r t o f a l l br i ng s mor e t h a n ju s t or a nge le ave s and cooler weather. Fall also increases the number of apple-f lavored products.

Apples are in their prime season during the fall months and come in a variety of different types, from tart Granny Smith to sweet Honey Crisp. Caramel apples and a new Starbucks drink, the Apple Crisp Macchiato, are on the rise. Along with Starbucks, Trader Joe’s also brings in appleflavored products, including

Pumpkin

With all types of squash in season, pumpkin is arguably the most popular fall flavor. In recent years, the pumpkin flavor has increased in popularity in all forms imaginable. Both Peet’s Coffee and Starbucks offer the well-known Pumpkin Spice Latte during the fall months, along with different versions of pumpkin cream cold-brews.

You can also get all the pumpkin-flavored products you wish at Trader Joe’s, which has one of the most extensive pumpkin product lines including pumpkin Joe-Joe’s, bagels, butter, ice cream, cookies and cinnamon rolls.

They also have a turkey and

Apple Cider Donuts and Spiced Apple Cider.

Besides store-bought items, fall is the perfect time to make homemade apple pie, arguably one of the most classic American desserts.

If you take up the challenge of making the pie yourself, Granny Smith and Honey Crisp apple pies both hold their shape well after baking. They have a tart sweetness to every bite.

The Bowdoin and Stanford street intersection right next to Stanford University is one of the best places to witness the most drastic seasonal change.

In a span of just under a week, the overall viridescence transforms into a crimson red, covering the ground with a layer of crunching feuille-morte leaves.

The intersection also possesses very few people—at least on weekdays—allowing visitors to enjoy the transition without worrying about passing traffic.

Redwood Grove Nature Preserve

Paul Garofolo

In the Redwood Grove Natural Preserve, the stunningly verdant grass lies underneath stately redwoods, which convene in groups of four. A small hut is located in the midst of it, usually filled with people either socializing or unwinding. Besides its lushness, its location next to the Los Altos downtown gives it an advantage. Additionally, with around a three-minute walk, you can reach Shoup Park where anyone can undoubtedly appreciate the countless deciduous trees in the autumn season.

—Compiled by Paul Garofalo

Michelle Koo

—Compiled by Haley Pflasterer

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Lifestyle

Fall season offers outdoor experiences

Apple picking

On a crisp autumn afternoon, there is nothing better than a freshly-baked apple pie—especially if you picked the apples yourself. Rather than buying apples at the store, apple picking provides fresh, ripe apples and is a fun fall activity to do with friends and family. Although most farms are an hour drive away, there are a variety of farms in Watsonville, Brentwood and Modesto where apple-pickers can grab buckets and walk through orchards,

experiencing the bliss of passing under overarching branches while choosing the best apples. Many ranches such as Gizdich Ranch offer delicious pies of their own for after you are done picking apples.

Additionally, apple farms are the perfect setting for a fall Instagram photo shoot. Make sure not to pick too many apples, though—you can only eat so many, and it’s easy to go overboard while apple picking.

Playing in the leaves While you can’t always play in the rain in Palo Alto, you can certainly play in a nice pile of leaves.

One of the best parts of fall is the transition of leaf colors from green to red and yellow. Although this is more visible on the East Coast, there are still places to find fall leaves around Palo Alto. On Stanford Campus, Bowdoin Street is lined with an impressive display of

fall foliage. Toward the end of fall, the yellow-orange leaves cover the street, and you can stomp in them while admiring their beauty. Go with a couple of friends, and you can have a leaf-tossing fight (in place of a snowball fight). Breathing in the crisp fall air while playing with your friends is not only a way to see the beauty of nature in Palo Alto, but also a great way to destress.

Walking in a pumpkin patch Visiting a pumpkin patch is the perfect October morning activity.

After grabbing a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks, head over to Webb Ranch. Not only can you choose any pumpkin imaginable, but there are also a variety of activities to do with friends and family.

You can walk through a haunted house or corn maze or participate in a farm-themed obstacle course.

Other options include taking a tractor hay ride or petting goats in a petting zoo. A pumpkin patch is also a great Instagram photo shoot location with lots of potential for pumpkin or gourd puns (“gourd vibes,” for one). After you have chosen your pumpkin, you can go home and carve a jack-o’-lantern, completing the perfect fall day.

—Compiled by Mia Knezevic

Lydia Cheng

Lifestyle

Friday, October 22, 2021

19

HALLOWEEN DEADLINE PROMPTS EASY COSTUMES fear street characters One idea for a group costume is characters from the movie trilogy “Fear Street.”

A perfect friend group to dress up with as friends is Sam, Denna, Kate, Simon and Josh from “Fear Street Part One: 1994.” Although they are chasing down a supernatural force, they still dress like typical teenagers, making them easy Halloween costumes.

Queen Of Hearts

pacman jellyfish

If you procrastinated on finding a Halloween costume and are just looking for a quick and easy one, a jellyfish is an impressive, creative and do-it-yourself costume idea.

Take some inspiration from Wonderland for your Halloween costume. Although there are many interesting characters to choose from, you can dress up as the Queen of Hearts with a fairly simple do-it-yourself costume.

What you will need:

What you will need:

What you will need:

■ Flannel shirt

■ Red dress/vest

■ Umbrella

■ White shirt

■ Deck of cards

■ Googly eyes

■ Jeans

■ Black stockings

■ Black sweat-

■ White shoes

■ Hair tie

shirt ■ Black pants

—Compiled by Safina Syed

Halloween Crossword Across 3. Scary movie reaction 6. Sign commonly found on empty bowls 7. A candy bar, or ill-mannered laughs 8. Written on a tombstone (abbr.)

10. Maize construction 11. Casper, for one

down 1. Found in pies and lattes 2. Bone structure 4. Brand of crimson licorice 5. Could be a princess, pirate or popstar 6. Rival of 4-down

Lydia Cheng

9. What you’ll win for solving this puzzle —Compiled by Carly Liao

unscramble the pumpkin letters.

Finished? Stop by Room P-115 during 5th period the week of Oct. 25 with the completed crossword puzzle for a prize!

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Features

Students anticipate Día de los Muertos celebration Senior Inés García Senior Inés García is excited to share Día de los Muertos this year with both her family and the Gunn community.

García believes that Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is meant to be a day of celebration rather than a day of mourning. “It’s a chance to remember our ancestors and people we admire who have passed and their contributions to the world around us,” she said.

García enjoys many parts of the holiday, especially the food. “There’s this sweet bread that you eat during Día de los Muertos called pan de muerto,” she said. “It translates to ‘Bread of the Dead,’ and it has a little cross on it that signifies remembering people who have come before us.”

As Student Executive Council’s Diversity Commissioner, García has plans to share what she loves about Día de los Muertos with the campus. “We’ll be hosting our very own school altar,” she said. “I think this year, having these events that symbolize coming together is really meaningful. Día de los Muertos is also just a really fun and exciting event, and it’ll be a great opportunity to clarify what the event means and teach the community about Mexican culture.”

—Written by Carly Liao

Junior Liliana Gomez For junior Liliana Gomez, Día de los Muertos is about the traditions of cooking food, playing games and spending time with loved ones.

While there is great diversity in how people celebrate Día de Los Muertos, Gomez usually celebrates the same way every year. “We celebrate it by putting an altar on our table, and we put a lot of different foods and candles,” she said. “Also, on that day, we pray.”

Gomez notes how while the celebrations are different in the U.S. and Mexico, the central theme of commemorating the lives of the dead remains the same. “The people celebrating it in the U.S. will probably just be family,” she said. “But in Mexico, everyone celebrates it. You can think of it like the Fourth of July. They have parades and decorate the cemetery with flowers, light and food.”

When she was younger, Gomez didn’t always appreciate Día de Los Muertos and its significance, but as she has grown up, her perspective on the holiday has changed. “When I was younger, I didn’t really understand it,” she said. “I thought, ‘We’re getting a bunch of food, but you can’t touch any of the food or the altar, so it’s kind of a waste.’ But over time, I’ve learned to appreciate the holiday more.”

—Written by Arjun Shah

Sophomore Noah Huerta Sophomore Noah Huerta’s favorite part of Día de los Muertos is the memories he makes with his friends and family.

He has many fun memories from the holiday, but one stands out in particular. “One special instance is all of us were going out to buy pan de muerto,” he said. “That year we were actually able to make pan de muerto at the store because there was a special event at Northgate store where we could make our own bread.”

Huerta and his family take part in many traditions over the holiday in addition to making pan de muerto. “We usually make sugar skulls and get pan de muerto,” he said. “We stack the ofrenda with food we think they would like.”

According to Huerta, Día de los Muertos is a day to celebrate and remember the dead. “You can celebrate anybody,’’ he said. “You can celebrate distant family that you haven’t met, pets and even famous people.”

Huerta enjoys the food and decorations, but his favorite part of the holiday is being able to celebrate those who have passed. “My favorite part is just being able to remember and celebrate those we have lost,” he said. “I like to think about the memories we had when they were around.”

This year, Huerta is looking forward to celebrating the holiday again. “I am looking forward to getting together with my family and celebrating even better than we did last year.”

—Written by Katie LaWer Graphics by Irene Hong and Ella Koehler