Winged Post Volume 23, Issue 3 by Harker Aquila

WINGED POST

THE HARKER SCHOOL

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THANKSGIVING 22 - 26 BREAK

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021

EVERYTHING FEELS DIFFERENT

NEXT WEEK

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VOL. 23 NO.3

Students, faculty reflect on collective well-being since return to campus MAR. 12, 2020

VIRTUAL PARENT TEACHER STUDENT CONFERENCES

ESHA GOHIL

NOV. 12, 2021

PROVIDED BY SARA WAN

TAKEN FROM BOYS WATER POLO INSTAGRAM

Boys water polo, girls tennis teams win CCS championships

SWEET VICTORY The varsity boys water polo team and varsity girls tennis team pose together.

The upper school began weekly COVID-19 testing for students in the instrumental music programs on Oct. 19 in addition to testing unvaccinated students and indoor athletes since the start of the school year. The nurse’s office has administered 4,351 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests to high school students since August, according to upper school nurse Jennifer Olson. Sophomores underwent mass testing on Oct. 15 after a 10th grader tested positive for COVID-19. Students identified as close contact cases for a freshman who tested positive the week of Oct. 25 also received tests. As the flu season approaches, Olson advises students to “get vaccinated, wear your mask indoors, wash your hands, and stay home and rest if you are sick.”

More than three months into the school year, students continue to feel the lasting effects of the gap in on-campus education left by remote learning. In a survey sent out to the Harker upper school with 182 responses, Harker Journalism found that 57.7 percent of students report feeling more tired this year in comparison to last year based on well-being factors that have been affecting the upper school community such as sleep, time, workload and motivation. 60.3 percent of students reported having missed lunch to study or work so far this year, and 28.4 percent of students students skip lunch at least once a week. The upper school has attempted to reinstate the same daily schedule used prior to the pandemic and remote learning. In the 2020-21 school year, the upper school provided a day of office hour block periods without academic classes once a month, which no longer exists this year during in-person school. Now, students and faculty also face the added commute

time, either to and from school or to extracurricular activities, resulting in less time overall during the day. “I think sometimes we all forget that there were all of those pockets of time that we were using that we don’t have anymore,”upper school counselor Rosalyn Schreiman said. “We’ve all had to relook at our time management and our calendars and schedules and rethink what’s realistic.” Students have also shouldered an increased amount of schoolwork, continuing to feel the effects of the added burden since the start of the school year. Freshmen, especially, have faced difficulties adjusting to the upper school’s 85-minute block periods, in comparison to the middle school’s shorter 45 minute classes. “There’s a lot more workload,” Varun Thydar (9) said. “Classes being much longer isn’t very good, because you’re kind of used to a 45-minute attention span. It’s a lot harder to focus during the entire [85 minutes].” Seniors like Vinay Sundarsanam (12) find it difficult to balance college applications with regular schoolwork and in-

creased social activities, with additional commute times and lessened sleep stacking on top of additional responsibilities. Pressure levels have increased overall, creating an extra burden on students. “Last year was online, and you can tell that the classes were a little bit easier than they were usually,” Vinay said. “This year, of course, there’s college applications and the stress of leaving the school at the end of the year, so I think the stress is a lot higher.” The increased pressures and exhaustion felt by both students and teachers call for a need to step back and reflect on the irreversible impact left by the pandemic, necessitating larger changes in the structuring of daily life at the upper school to help adapt back to campus. “I think everybody is a little less resilient and more easily triggered,” middle school counselor Melinda Gonzales said. “Take it easy on yourself, and allow for time to slow down. Take your foot off the gas pedal.” Read more about our adjustments back to campus life in the editorial on page 12.

A LOOK AHEAD

STAY UPDATED Follow us @harkeraquila!

NOV. 20

TEDx Harker School

Speaker talks, booths, and more! Visit tedx.harker.org for tickets.

ALYSA SULEIMAN

desiree luo & kinnera mulam

alysa suleiman & michelle liu

LUCY GE

SAFETY AS PRIORITY Orchestra member Alex Zhong (9) receives a COVID-19 test.

EMILY TAN

Upper school students undergo COVID-19 testing

19 MONTHS LATER Campus stood empty after the shift to remote learning in March 2020 due to the pandemic closure. Now, as students and teachers adjust to the return three months into the current school year, the Harker community brings life back onto campus.

PROVIDED BY ANDREA THIA

The varsity boys water polo team made Harker history with its victory over Archbishop Mitty 9-5 on Saturday, bringing home the program’s first CCS championship title. The varsity girls tennis team defeated league rival Menlo 6-1 on Saturday, winning CCS for the second year in a row. Continued on Sports page 17.

ESHA GOHIL

vishnu kannan

DEC. 07

Santana Row Tree Lighting

Harker Dance Company, Kinetic Krew and Downbeat perform from 6-7 p.m.

DEC. 10

Big Assembly Day (BAD)

Harker’s beloved holiday show returns to Patil Theater this year. DESIGN BY MICHELLE LIU

2 WINGED POST

23 • ISSUE 3 NEWS VOLUME NOVEMBER 17, 2021

A fun-filled showcase of skill and talent

MEET THE PERFORMERS

31 students, faculty total participate in two-part Quadchella

MOORJ A HA IS

RITU BELANI (10)

LUCY FENG (11) & NINA FRANZ (11)

KAILASH RANGANATHAN (12) PERFORMED DANCE ROUTINE

Closing the talent show, Advanced Placement (AP) Japanese students Ashley Ma (11), Jessica Tang (11), Rahul Mulpuri (11), Trinity Chan (12), Dawson Chen (12), Reagan Ka (12) and Nina Franz (11) performed “Dried Flowers” by Yuuri. Reagan, who also sang at the first Quadchella, appreciated her classmates and those who came to watch her. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

MOORJ A HA IS

MOORJ A HA IS MOORJ A HA IS

A SULEI EN M

ANYA WARRIER (12) & MALAR BALA (12)

A SULEI EN M

DR. JULIE TURCHIN UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY & SOCIAL SCIENCE TEACHER

SELINA CHEN (10) A SULEI EN M

NUPUR GUPTA (11) AN

SAMVITA GAUTHAM (11) & NAMRATA KARRA (11) RUPERT CHEN (11)

A SULEI EN M

“It was very nerve-wracking at first, but I think the crowd was really nice”

Around 150 students attended the sequel to the first Quadchella of the year last Thursday, Nov. 4, to enjoy student and faculty talent. Quadchella occurred during the second half of long lunch, featuring a total eight performances that ranged from singing to dancing to bagpipe-playing. Unlike part one of Quadchella, Associated Student Body (ASB) set up a tarp so that more audience members could attend. Upper school history and social science teacher Dr. Julie Turchin opened the show, performing a heart-wrenching voice cover of “She Used to Be Mine” from the album “Waitress” by Sara Bareilles while also playing the piano. Continuing the heartbreak theme, next, seniors Anya Warrier and Malar Bala sang “Killing Me Softly With His Song” by the Fugees with an edgy twist, accompanying their voices with electric guitar and keyboard. Following the duo, sophomore Selina Chen performed “Six” by Sleeping at Last. Nupur Gupta (11) strutted and

PART 2

CADEN LIN (12) & KAILASH RANGANATHAN (12)

ASHLEY MA (11), JESSICA TANG (11), RAHUL MULPURI (11), NINA FRANZ (11), TRINITY CHAN (12), DAWSON CHEN (12), REAGAN KA (12)

A SULEI EN M

alena suleiman

DIANE MAIN

LEARNING, INNOVATION & DESIGN DIRECTOR

“I love music, and I love to share music, and I typically love The Great American Soundtrack from the 1930s and 1940s, so I am happy to be able to share a song like that,” Witschorik said. Following Witschorik’s performance, Clarice Wang (12) and Reagan Ka (12) performed “Put Your Records On” by Ritt Momney, with Clarice playing the guitar and Reagan singing along. “Over the summer we have been self learning guitar and we thought what a great idea if we played together, as well as sang together in a duet,” Reagan said. The third act featured sophomore Miki Mitarai, who sang a cover of “Just Friends” by Musiq Soulchild. Ritu Belani (10) followed with her performance of a stand-up comedy skit. “I could tell that everyone was kind of enjoying it, which made me feel really good about it,” Ritu said. Following Ritu’s comedy skit, Brandon Park and Kai Due performed the only dance, a choreography to “Roses” by the Chainsmokers.

QUADCHELLA: PART 2 NOVEMBER 4

UPPER SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER, SENIOR CLASS DEAN &

RITU BELANI (10) PERFORMED STAND-UP COMEDY ACT

FERN BISWAS (9) & SAANVI BHARGAVA (9)

CHRISTOPHER HURSHMAN

A SULEI EN M

PROVIDED BY RITU BELANI

“I could tell that everyone was kind of enjoying it, which made me feel really good about it”

twirled to “Butterflies (with Starrah & Four Tet)” by Skrillex, donning a sparkly pink jacket and an infectious smile. Then, Rupert Chen (11) played the bagpipes in a traditional Scottish kilt, impressing the audience with his rare talent. “I think the bagpipes performance was my favorite,” Luke Mehta (10) said. “I just thought it was very different and unique, and I liked the diversity in all the performances.” Following Rupert’s instrumental performance, juniors Samvita Gautham and Namrata Karra sang a mashup of “Burn” from the “Hamilton” soundtrack by Phillipa Soo and “traitor” by Olivia Rodrigo, attracting both musical and pop fans. Seniors Caden Lin and Kailash Ranganathan then performed a self-choreographed routine, which they introduced as an “inspirational and magical dance involving two young males and a yoga ball.” Combined with Adele’s dramatic “Hello,” the duo’s stoic faces yet humorous dance moves drew intense laughter and applause from the audience. “It was very nerve wracking at first, but I think the crowd was really nice,” Kailash said. “We did not expect to get so much cheering, and that made the experience really good.”

claire bauschlicher Quadchella on Oct. 20 featured nine different acts, ranging from singing and guitar to dancing and comedy, and provided students and faculty with an opportunity to showcase their talent. Upper school history and social science teacher Dr. Chuck Witschorik started off the talent show with a solo singing performance of “The Very Thought of You” by Nat King Cole from The Great American Soundtrack.

The next act came from Lucy Feng (11) and Nina Franz (11), another vocal and guitar duo. With Lucy singing and Nina playing the guitar, the two juniors performed a cover of Qing Feng Wu’s “Tai Kong Ren.” Then, Teresa Cai (12) strumed her acoustic guitar to ABBA’s “Mamma Mia,” and Fern Biswas (9) and Saanvi Bhargava (9) sang a duet to the song “1950” by King Princess. “The audience turnout was incredible, I didn’t expect this at all,” Fern said. Students and staff were excited to see diverse songs, acts and a variety of performances to entertain the crowd. “I [had] a lot of fun watching the performances,” Ruby Johnson (10) said. “I honestly wasn’t expecting this much, but yeah it’s enjoyable.” To conclude the event, upper school English teacher and senior class dean Christopher Hurshman and Learning, Innovation and Design Director Diane Main performed a guitar duo.

PROVIDED BY KAILASH RANGANATHAN

QUADCHELLA: PART 1 OCTOBER 20

TERESA CAI (12)

A SULEI EN M

KEYBOARD KEYS Seniors Anya Warrier and Malar Bala sing “Killing Me Softly With His Song” by the Fugees.

MEDHA YARLAGADDA

IS H

A MOOR J

BRANDON PARK (12) & KAI DUE (12)

MOORJ A HA IS

SOLO SONGS Miki Mitarai (10) sings a cover of “Just Friends” by Musiq Soulchild.

MOORJ A HA IS

ISHA MOORJANI

MIKI MITARAI (10)

MUSIC HARMONIES Fern Biswas (9) and Saanvi Bhargava (9) perform a duet. They sang “1950” by King Princess together at the first installment of the fall Quadchella.

CLARICE WANG (12) & REAGAN KA (12) N

N EY H U A

MOORJ A HA IS

H IT

UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY & SOCIAL SCIENCE TEACHER

DR. CHUCK WITSCHORIK

IDED BY

PART 1

DESIGN BY ISHA MOORJANI

WINGED POST 3

23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021 NEWS VOLUME

SDC promotes self-awareness with open meeting

REFLECTION Upper school English teacher Beth Wahl shares her thoughts after the privilege walk. The SDC will also be hosting an open meeting in December.

“There’s nothing wrong with recognizing that certain things don’t affect you, but when you recognize those things, you should also try to work to make those things better for other people” KJ WILLIAMS (11) SDC REPRESENTATIVE

iculed because of your accent or speech impediment” applied to them. Felix Fu (10), one of the attendees who volunteered to speak about their

thoughts in front of the other attendees, also participated in a privilege walk when they were younger. “It’s so weird, because so many things [have] changed since then, like my gender, my pronouns, my sexuality, all of that,” Felix said in an interview after the event. “Back then, I was probably within the front of the line. Now I’m [in] middle back. It’s such a different change, I felt like I needed to talk about it a little bit.” During the fishbowl discussion, attendees gathered in two groups, one led by SDC co-leader Mir Bahri (11) and the other led by SDC co-leader Brooklyn Cicero (12), to discuss the topics of socioeconomic background, LBGTQ+ rights and beauty standards. Students and faculty alike shared their personal experiences surrounding these topics. “It just kind of took me back to some of the things I felt when I was a student on scholarship at a private school and sometimes couldn’t afford things,” upper school English teacher Dr. Beth Wahl said. “I’m aware that that’s something that happens at Harker, and I think we should talk about it more openly.” KJ, who was pleased with the overall turnout, wishes that there could have been a longer discussion with more participant reflections on the privilege walk. “There are a lot of people out there who don’t have the same privileges that we have,” KJ said. “And there’s nothing wrong with recognizing that certain things don’t affect you, but when you recognize those things, you should also try to work to make those things better for other people.” The SDC will host an open meeting in December and organize a Challenge Day event for underclassmen next semester. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

Jared Schonig Quintet performs for Harker Concert Series olivia xu

The nation honored those who have served in the U.S. military through a variety of homages across the country today for Veterans Day. In addition to public schools and workplaces closing to honor this holiday, ceremonies such as parades took place throughout the country to show respect towards U.S. veterans. San Jose’s Veterans Day parade in downtown San Jose returned this year, featuring members of the military, marching bands and politicians. The Arlington National Cemetery held an annual service, which consists of an individual — usually appointed by the president — laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This year, President Biden himself participated in the ceremony by laying the wreath, marking the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and also the first Veterans Day in 20 years in which the U.S. has not been at war. In addition to the national tributes, Veterans Day is also honored internationally; Great Britain and Canada hold remembrance days in November to commemorate the veterans of World War I and World War II. Veterans at the upper school include Bradley Stoll, Karen Haley, Anthony Silk and Clifford Hull. Additional reporting by Catherine Wong.

Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

FLAG ETIQUETTE THE AMERICAN FLAG SHOULD FLY AT FULL STAFF ON VETERANS DAY

Seniors submit early college applications michelle wei

OLIVIA XU

The Jared Schonig Quintet performed for the first act of the 2021-22 season of the Harker Concert Series in the Patil Theater at 7 p.m. last Friday after conducting an open master class at 3 p.m. the same day. During the performance, jazz drummer, composer and bandleader Jared Schonig led bassist Matt Clohesy, pianist Gary Versace, saxophonist Patrick Bartley and trumpeter Michael Olmos in a two-hour performance consisting of eight tunes, all composed by Schonig. The concert was the group’s first time performing together as a group, and for many, the first live concert they’ve attended in over a year and a half. “This is probably the first live concert I’ve seen since quarantine hit,” Richard Zhang (11), who attended the concert, said. “Music feels different when you’re actually focusing on it instead of listening to it.” The ensemble held an open master class from 3 to 4:30 p.m. last Friday, and upper school students could watch the performers rehearse and ask questions. Schonig also worked with upper and middle school orchestra and jazz band and upper school lab band students earlier in the week. “We have this piece called ‘Westside Story,’ and in one section, the rhythm is really complicated,” said Iris Cai (9), a percussionist in the upper school. “[Schonig] played the drum set with us, which added a lot of dimension to the piece, and he gave us tips on how to make the rhythm more steady.” Prior to the concert, audience members enjoyed refreshments outside the Rothschild Performing Arts Center (RPAC) at 6 p.m.

medha yarlagadda

JAZZ QUINTET Pianist Gary Versace, bassist Matt Clohesy, trumpeter Michael Olmos, saxophonist Patrick Bartley and drummer, composer and bandleader Jared Schonig stand together as the audience applauds after the concert on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. in the RPAC.

The concert began at 7 p.m. with an introduction from upper school orchestra and band conductor Dr. David Hart. Afterward, the quintet took the stage and opened with Schonig’s “Sabotage,” followed by his piece “Eight Twenty.” Next, the group played “Tig Mack,” a song that draws inspiration from the Pacific Ocean, and “Nuts.” “I love the ocean and the beach and hiking and the different sounds you can hear out in nature,” Schonig said. “Sometimes, I’ll hear rhythm from the birds that I really like. I think inspiration can come in a myriad of different places, and that’s the beauty about being an artist: taking inspiration from places you may least expect it.” After an intermission, Dr. Hart announced that Schonig would be selling and signing CDs for his album “Two Takes” after the concert. “Two Takes” consists of two volumes, each containing the

eight songs he played during the concert: one volume was played by a quintet led by Schonig, while each song in the second volume was recorded by a different musician commissioned by Schonig. The quintet reassembled and played “Climb,” “Sound Evidence” and “Gibbs St.,” ending with “White Out.” “I really enjoyed the music because it’s all original compositions—draft compositions from a drummer—and drummers generally don’t have the same compositional knowledge as most other musicians,” Richard, an oboist in the upper school, said. “I was really impressed with his group and his talent.” The Emerald Brass Quintet (EBQ) and the Daedalus String Quartet will also perform as part of this season’s Harker Concert Series on Feb. 4 and May 6, respectively, of next year. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

The Class of 2022 sent out their early college applications this month, choosing between early decision (ED), early action (EA), and restrictive early action (REA). Early decision requires a student to commit to a school if accepted while early action does not. Restrictive early action is also nonbinding but restricts students from applying early to other private institutions. Most schools have early application deadlines that fall on Nov. 1, with some earlier deadlines in October. Seniors first met with their college counselors in the second semester of junior year, and they filled out two junior questionnaires in which they responded to prompts about their academic interests and answered reflective questions. “You meet with your counselor individually, about every three weeks, and then you create plans, you write essays and meet with them to discuss things,” Alexa Lowe (12) said. But in the end, it’s all up to you.” Seniors continue to work on their regular applications in the meantime, with some merit scholarship deadlines falling on Nov. 15 and Dec. 1. Applications for the California State Universities and the University of California (UC) colleges are due on Oct. 30. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

HARD AT WORK Andrea Thia (12) takes notes on her laptop during the senior college counseling class on Nov. 9.

DESIGN BY ISHA MOORJANI

EMILY TAN

Over 60 students and faculty participated in a privilege walk and fishbowl discussion at the Student Diversity Coalition (SDC) open meeting kickoff on Davis Field on Tuesday. During the privilege walk, an activity designed to highlight the role privilege plays in everyday life, students and faculty took a step forward for every prompt that applied to them. SDC co-leaders KJ Williams (11) and Dina Ande (10) read out the prompts, which ranged from “if your sex or race is widely represented in the U.S. Congress” to “if you had more than 20 books in your home as a child.” “A lot of the [prompts] in the privilege walk like ‘Take a step forward if you’re right handed’ was really interesting because it’s something that we don’t really think about when it comes to privilege,” Madeleine Hansen (12) said. In the second portion of the walk, KJ and Dina prompted participants to take one step back if statements such as “if

you are ashamed or embarrassed of your code, house or car and wish to change it to avoid being judged” or “if you have ever been hesitant to speak to avoid being rid-

SABRINA ZHU

lucy ge

SABRINA ZHU

Students, faculty engage in discussions and activities at Student Diversity Coalition kickoff

Veterans Day honors those who served across the country

4 WINGED POST

23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021 NEWS VOLUME

margaret cartee

Mandates increase vaccination rates, spark backlash

COP26 discusses on future climate action for this year

Civil war in Ethiopia continues after a year This month marks one year of civil war in Ethiopia between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Ethiopian government. Currently, Tigray forces threaten to claim Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city, according to AP News. Ethiopian Prime Minister and Noble Peace Prize Winner Abiy Ahmed is not willing to negotiate with Tigray forces for peace talks and has instead taken to Facebook to rally support. Tigray is suffering under the Ethiopian government’s blockade and has not been able to receive any humanitarian aid since Oct. 18. Under emergency authorizations, Ethiopian officials are searching Tigrayan houses for evidence to prove affiliation with the civil war and detaining suspects.

WHO approves COVID-19 vaccine made in India The World Health Organization (WHO) approved a coronavirus vaccine created in India with an emergency use license on Nov. 3, after it had already been used for months with certification from the Indian government. Covaxin was developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research as a two-dose vaccine, using an inactive antigen to trigger the antibody response. As of now, Covaxin, with 78% effectiveness, is the eighth vaccine to receive emergency approval from the WHO, and although it did not receive authorization until recently, many Indian health centers have been administering the vaccine since January. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

COVID19.GOVT.NZ

VACCINATIONS FOR YOUTH Sofia Mohammed, younger sister of Sarah Mohammed (11), stands outside a vaccination center after receiving her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine was approved for children from ages 5-11 on Oct. 29, with an efficacy rate of 91%.

NEW ZEALAND COVID-19 UPDATES New Zealand COVID-19 response minister Chris Hipkins speaks at a press conference on Oct. 11 to give COVID-19 updates for workers.

ananya sriram & brandon zau New Zealand and Italy have placed new vaccine mandates and authorized more vaccines in October to increase vaccination amongst education and healthcare workers. New Zealand’s COVID-19 response minister Chris Hipkins announced in a press conference with prime minister Jacinda Ardern on Oct. 11 that all workers in the education sector, along with workers in the healthcare and disability sector— including residential care, home support services and non-government organizations—should have received their first dose by Oct. 30. On Oct. 23, Hipkins also announced that education and healthcare workers will be given until Nov. 15 to receive their first dose, with the exception of prison facilities workers, who will have until Nov. 6. “Any employer is able to set what is required of their workplace, what they believe to be appropriate,” upper school science department chair Anita Chetty said. “Things are mandated because we assign people who are authorities who make decisions for us, that is best for us.” New Zealand vaccination progressed further with the ‘Vaxathon’ event that was held on ‘Super Saturday’ on Oct. 16 through the organization efforts of New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern. Inhan Lee, founder of miRcore—a non profit organization that works to democratize medical research—and WhyVax—a miRcore vaccine advocacy group that attempts to resolve the fears of vaccine hesitant people—noted the importance of Vaxathons. “It is important that we spread awareness of vaccination and its benefits through events like Vaxathons,” Lee said. Italian officials enforced a vaccination

mandate on Oct. 15 according to AP News, requiring all workers in the workforce to show a health pass, a government-issued QR code, in order to enter their workplace. To obtain this pass, Italian workers must show proof of vaccination and a negative swab test or recent COVID-19 recovery. Businesses will withhold the salaries of workers until they are able to present a pass and attend work again. The mandates in Italy have received backlash due to the requirement of needing a health pass in order to get paid. The New Zealand mandates faced similar protests from workers such as NZ Teachers

“If the world would empower the WHO to direct and share resources equally, then there could be a worldwide vaccination mandate, rolling in time, as each place gains full access” LAURA NICHOLSON

In the second week of climate negotiations at the UN Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, world leaders are discussing and finalizing their plans to rectify the climate crisis and draft a statement summarizing COP26 and the future direction of climate action. The focus points of their intended statement include reducing methane emissions, slowing down deforestation, funding more research into green technologies and lowering the use of coal, according to Associated Press (AP). For this year in particular, the wealthier nations at the conference are working to reconcile with the poorer countries by committing to keep their promise which was supposed to be fulfilled in 2020 — mobilizing $100 billion to help low income countries deal with the effects of climate change.

SARAH MOHAMMED

COVID-19 vaccination mandates enforced in New Zealand, Italy and the United States

LAURA NICHOLSON PROFESSOR OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE AT SCRIPPS COLLEGE

Connected, due to the mandates, which could lead them to lose their jobs if unvaccinated. “Mandates really highlight inequalities,” Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine at Scripps University Laura Nicholson said. “A location or group cannot have a mandate until it has made that mandated thing available to everyone. If the world would empower the WHO to direct and share resources equally, then there could be a worldwide vaccination mandate, rolling in time, as each place gains full access.” Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

FDA approves emergency use of Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11 ananya sriram & brandon zau The United States recently focused on vaccination efforts towards children from 5-11 years old. On Oct. 29, the FDA officially authorized the emergency use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children from 5-11 years old with a 91% efficacy rate. The CDC also announced on Nov. 2 a unanimous recommendation on children from 5-11 years old receiving the COVID-19 vaccines, enabling schools to protect students more during in-person learning. Cady Chen (11), director of innovation and strategy at GENup — a social justice organization that uses youth voices to advocate for education — emphasizes the benefits of taking the newly authorized vaccines for children. “Having these blanket vaccine mandates for school aged children is incredibly important because there’s been a lot of talk about children [getting] that sick from COVID,” said Cady Chen (11), who was involved in the GENup campaign for vaccine advocacy. “Another day, we still live in communities, we still go back home to our family. It’s important that if there is a way to decrease infection rates, [to] take it.” According to the CDC, by the end of Nov. 10, 90,000 children had recieved a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, populating 3% of all 5-11 year olds. Continuing into the week, 700,000 more vaccination appointments for chidlren were booked around the United States at various pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens. Local malls and children’s hospitals have played their part in engaging children to recieve the vaccine. New York City has established 1,000 clinics at schools, while Minnesota has created 1,100 available locations where families can take their chidlren to get vaccinated, with malls such as the mall of America vaccinating 1,500 children per day. Children’s hospitals across the country have also provided vaccines to children with playful events offering stickers and stuffed animals.

New COVID-19 cases rapidly increase in Europe

United States population

5.084 million

New Zealand population

doses per 100 people

DATA FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES

329.5 million

153

147 doses per 100 people

59.55 million

Italy population

;ILLUSTRATIONS BY ISHA MOORJANI

132

doses per 100 people

DATA FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES

Dr. Hans Kluge, the WHO Regional Director for Europe, announced in a speech on Nov. 4 that Europe has had an over 55% increase in COVID-19 cases. In the last week of October, Europe had about 1.8 million new cases out of a population of about 900 million, according to Kluge’s speech. As of Nov. 9, 2.9% of people in Europe and central Asia have been fully vaccinated, but three countries, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine, have a vaccination rate of less than 20%, at 8.5%, 11.9% and 18.0% respectively. Vaccinations in Europe have proved effective, according to Kluge. Although there are record numbers of new cases per day, the number of new deaths has not exceeded the peak amount and has stayed at around half of peak levels, according to the WHO. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

DESIGN BY ANANYA SRIRAM

WINGED POST 5

23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021 FEATURES VOLUME

OF THE PEOPLE

‘WE ARE STILL HERE’

Native American Heritage Month pays tribute to tribal history, traditions

The Muwekma Ohlone tribe currently comprises

600

members that live throughout the Bay Area.

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATION

The United States government used

TRIBAL TRADITION Muwekma Ohlone tribal members, including Chairwoman Charlene Nijmeh (far left), sing a traditional song in a May 5 ceremony at the Upper School. The ceremony unveiled a plaque acknowledging that the campus stands on the tribe’s ancestral land.

CHARLENE NIJMEH MUWEKMA OHLONE TRIBE CHAIRWOMAN

In 1982, Alan Leventhal, senior tribal archaeologist and ethnohistorian for the Muwekma Ohlone, began working with tribal members to study their history. According to Levanthal, the Sacramento Agency attributed responsibility of the land to the negligent Lafayette Dorrington, who removed 135 California tribes, including the Muwekma Ohlone under the name of the Verona Band of Alameda County, from the list in 1927. Further, a settlement in the 1950s stripped Native American tribes in California of the legal title the 8.5 million acres in return for $150 in 1952 ($1,104 today) given to each tribe member. The Muwekma Ohlone still lack federal recognition under the name of the Muwekma Ohlone tribe and face a fierce battle in the courts. “The warfare against tribes like the Muwekma is an ongoing process that nobody sees,” Levanthal said. “Without land and without resources, the tribe continues to revitalize their language, rename their

unratified treaties to seize

8.5

million acres of Native American land in California.

In the 1950s, when tribal members received

$1,104 USD each in a settlement, they felt pressure to give up their land to the government.

The Line 3 project encroaches on over

200

HOMAGE TO HISTORY A map that charts the native tribes and languages in the Bay Area circa the 1700s entry of the Spanish.

waterways that Anishinaabe people in Minnesota revere and use to fish, hunt and gather.

DESIGN BY SARAH MOHAMMED & TRISHA IYER

SOURCE: MUWEKMA OHLONE TRIBE

“Muwekma’ means ‘la gente’ — the people — in our Chochenyo language. We are still here. And we are as strong, as persistent and determined as ever to keep our families together”

heritage sites in their own language and are involved in co-authorship and collaborations with scientific archaeological companies [and] universities.” The Muwekma Ohlone are currently working with Stanford University, Santa Clara University and San Jose State University to co-author archaeological works, changing the dynamic of Native American history. Dr. Lee Panich, an associate professor at Santa Clara University who has spent 20 years studying Northern American archeology and researching how native communities persisted despite colonialism, spoke to the initiative’s urgency. “The descendants of people that experienced these things are still here,” Panich said. “We need to honor their ancestors, but also work with the tribal communities to make California a better place for everybody.” By installing the land recognition plaque and following up in conversation, the Harker community continues to keep Native American history alive. Upper school history department chair Mark Janda affirms that through learning about Indigenous experiences, students and teachers alike can become better citizens. “The bottom line for me is making sure that [Native American] people see their place in our community[as ]real and present and not something in our ancient past,” Janda said. “Teaching history boils down to two things: develop[ing] empathy and a sense of your power in the world.” Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

PROVIDED BY ALAN LEVANTHAL

When Aneesha Asthana (11) attended the Women for the Rivers Gathering in Minnesota this summer, she knew little about the cause behind the movement. They had originally attended for their sister, who does extensive activism work, but after researching the generations of injustice that Indigenous tribes have faced, Aneesha felt compelled to take action. “Even though this was in Minnesota, these issues happen in the Bay Area,” Aneesha said. “I couldn’t reconcile the idea that I live on these lands that other people had lived before for thousands of years, and I was there as someone who was part of the country that had taken those lands away from them.” The rally protested against Enbridge’s Line 3 project, an oil pipeline running through over 200 waterways sacred to the Anishinaabe tribe that violates the Anishinaabe people’s right to fish, hunt and gather in the river. Aneesha and about 200 others protested at Shell River, one of the numerous areas violated by the pipeline construction. Some stood in the river, carrying signs calling to “PROTECT OUR WATER” in bright red lettering, while others sat on the pipeline, risking police confrontation and arrest. Standing on the shore, a 16-year-old among the crowd of protesters, Aneesha felt the weight of those who endangered their lives for the movement. “It was a lot of reflection and a lot of apology that I was part of this,” she said. “There was a moment where I went to the river, and I started to pray. And I said, I apologize for having been part of this, and I promise never to do this again. I promise to do everything I can to honor you and protect you.” The month of November, officially recognized as Native American Heritage Month by President George H. W. Bush in 1990, commemorates the history and culture of Native American peoples. Earlier in October, the first official nationwide celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day occurred on Monday, Oct. 11. In May 2021, Harker’s Student Diversity Coalition (SDC) worked with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, which comprises of

600 members, to recognize that the Harker campus is on ancestral native lands in a May 5 ceremony. After SDC and Youth Tribal Members unveiled a plaque of recognition, assistant head of school Jennifer Gargano and Muwekma Ohlone Tribe Chairwoman Charlene Nijmeh spoke. “‘Muwekma’ means ‘la gente’ — the people — in our Chochenyo language,” Chairwoman Nijmeh said. ”We are still here. And we are as strong, as persistent and determined as ever to keep our families together.”

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATION

selina xu & michelle liu

6 WINGED POST

‘An encyclopedia come to life’ Patrick Kelly navigates intersection of biology and business

tiffany chang & anika mani

Campus Compass MANZANITA’S NEW VENDING MACHINE

CAPTURING CONTENT Upper school Principles of Business teacher Patrick Kelly is the creator of Corporis, a Youtube channel that supplies educational science-related content.

“Getting to educate myself about the world and present it to other people who are curious is the best feeling” PATRICK KELLY BUSINESS TEACHER

Sophia Liu (10), who takes Kelly’s Principles of Business class, has found that his extensive experience with different formats of teaching helps him understand his students’ needs. “Mr. Kelly is always making sure that we actually learn the material,” Sophia said. “He re-did a lesson on supply and demand once because he thought that he

didn’t teach it well enough, and we were able to absorb the material better that way.” Upper school biology teacher Eric Johnson, who met Kelly this past summer when they both joined Harker, has observed Kelly’s unique energy firsthand. They encourage everyone to approach Kelly and witness him spit out knowledge as Hank Green would. “Mr. Kelly is a TikToker come to life,” Johnson said. “If you’ve ever talked to him, it feels like you’re talking to an encyclopedia come to life. He’s very smart, very well-versed in how to talk about complicated things, and he presents it in a way that’s really engaging for students.” Johnson had previously used Kelly’s videos in class without knowing the face behind the business — meeting Kelly and making that connection was a surreal experience for them. Since meeting, Johnson has engaged in several conversations over “nerdy things” with Kelly and finds discussing science with someone who also works as a content creator particularly enjoyable. They encourage everyone to approach Kelly and witness him spit out knowledge as Hank Green would in his TikTok videos. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

The wondrous world of pumpkins Returning to pumpkin patches, my middle school fall delight sally zhu Off an endless stretch of black pavement and concrete ground spills a wash of orange. Some perfect orange spheres, some perfect orange ellipsoids, some misshapen orange spheres, some misshapen orange ellipsoids, gather in stacks and paths on pillows of grass and beds of hay. Small children cavort around the hills of orange, and parents watch, sitting on large hay bales. I’m in seventh grade, in my parents’ grey minivan with the seatbelt still on. I’m urgent to unbuckle the belt, which I do right after my mom turns off the engine. I’m out of my seat, my younger sister is out of her carseat, my hand is on the door. The minivan door slides open with a grunt, and my feet are on the dry bronzed dust, running to the trunk. My feet kick up the brown dust, staining my clean white socks, but I don’t care as my dad unlocks the trunk for me.

Soon enough, my sister and I are pulling our small cloth wagon as we enter the pumpkin patch. My eyes gaze in won-

I remember being amazed at how the mass of black concrete transforms into a realm of warmth and love. Even now, I remember my childhood experiences there, amazed by the large orange fruits, my pride and joy before Halloween der at all the orange around me. Some pumpkins are larger than my head, while some fit perfectly in the palm of my tiny seventh-grader hand. The entire pumpkin patch becomes transformed every year:

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ARIANA GOETTING

any other product. “While content creation has a reputation of people alone in their basement making videos, it is a business — dealing with real money coming in and real expenses going out,” Kelly said. Now, Kelly teaches Principles of Business at Harker alongside creating content.

PROVIDED BY PATRICK KELLY

michelle wei & julie shi

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

CrashCourse, with over 12 million subscribers and 1.5 billion total views, is well-known and well-loved by the student community. Despite the channel’s widespread use, few consider the efforts that go into creating the 10-minute videos— efforts that upper school business teacher Patrick Kelly contributes to. Kelly first took interest in creating educational content for his personal YouTube channel, Corporis, in 2017. He soon transitioned from making general science videos supplementing middle school lessons to the topics he had studied in more depth. “My background is in biology, specifically the human body,” Kelly said. “Once I really hammered into the things I know well, that’s when the business took off to be more sustainable. That’s also when the pandemic struck, and when educational videos and remote education became a really big deal.” Soon Kelly was working for SciShow, a subsidiary of CrashCourse created by author and CrashCourse co-founder Hank Green. This year, he also began working for CrashCourse itself, writing scripts for videos. Throughout the pandemic, Kelly was able to explore topics such as the science behind mRNA vaccines and the challenges of vaccine distribution. “I’m genuinely curious about medicine and getting to read primary documents [for] what goes into a vaccine,” Kelly said. “Getting to educate myself about the world and present it to other people who are curious is the best feeling.” As he transitioned from teaching in the classroom to content creation, Kelly found that one of the biggest changes was catering his teaching strategies to his audience; to keep them engaged, he needed to condense the material. “The way we communicate information is a changing landscape,” Kelly said. “That’s always a fun challenge, to see how you can teach the same concepts while still being concise to take advantage of those shorter attention spans.” Creating online content also provided Kelly with valuable insight into the world of business. Though often overlooked as more of a hobby, his videos are a product at their core, one that must be budgeted for, marketed and sold just like

in the winter, the entire ground becomes packed with christmas trees and fake powdered snow; in the summer, it’s just a concrete parking lot; and now, pumpkins. I beg my parents to buy me a cup of warm apple cider and to let me stand on the hay bales and sit in the wagon, surrounded by pumpkins. My siblings and I pile the wagon high with large and small, dark and light, until both my sister and I need both hands to pull the wagon. Before purchasing, my parents make me choose one pumpkin only: I choose a gorgeous smooth pumpkin, small enough for me to hold, a little bit longer than it is wide. I remember being amazed at how the mass of black concrete transforms into a realm of warmth and love every year, a space of tradition and delight. Even now, as I drive past the pumpkin patch on my way to school, I remember my childhood experiences there, amazed by the large orange fruits, my pride and joy before Halloween. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

With a sleek white design and modern finish, Manzanita Hall’s new vending machine sits proudly adjacent to the lunch tables under the back awning. Fluorescent light illuminates the colorful packaging of chips and granola bars stacked inside. Students gather excitedly around the vending machine, pointing out their favorite snacks and drinks. Manzanita Hall’s old vending machine was replaced with a new vending machine in late September. The new vending machine is larger and capable of storing more items. In addition, while the previous vending machine only accepted payment in the form of cash, the new machine is also compatible with Apple Pay, providing hungry students with a more convenient alternative to quickly pay for their snacks. “I really like it — it’s really convenient, much more than just going off campus,” Ishaan Parate (12), who enjoys the machine’s Pop Chips, said. The vending machine contains a total of 35 different items for students to snack on, from trail mix and baked potato chips to fig bars. It also has drinks such as gatorade, chocolate milk, and La Croix sparkling water. The snacks and drinks each cost around one to two dollars. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the vending machine also stores hand sanitizer, which students may purchase for $1. “There’s a lot more variety of snacks,” said Sasha Masson (10), a fan of the machine’s Cheez-its and chocolate milk, who visits the vending machine with her friends around once every other week. Harker relies on Me Fit Vending, a vending machine supplier, to restock the machine weekly with strategically chosen snacks. “We want to make sure that the snacks are healthy, but we also track sales,” Sarah Wollbrink, assistant to the executive chef at Harker, said. “Depending on what items are most popular, we stock [the vending machines] with that.” Me Fit collects and analyzes vending sales data each day in order to identify the snacks often bought and the snacks left untouched. A Me Fit employee then restocks the machine weekly with a selection of snacks that both cater toward student preferences and maintain a supply of nutritious options. During the pandemic, the vending machine remained empty throughout the lockdown. With the reopening of campus this year came the revival of the vending machine, which was restocked with snacks. As student life begins to return to normal, the revitalized vending machine once again becomes a convenient snack option to fuel students through their day. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article

MICHELLE WEI

MEET YOUR TEACHER FEATURE

23 • ISSUE 3 FEATURES VOLUME NOVEMBER 17, 2021

READY FOR YUMMIES Sophomores Shayla He and Ella Lan purchase an item from the new vending machine in Manzanita Hall. The new vending machine contains a total of 35 different items, ranging from chips and energy bars to drinks and even hand sanitizer. DESIGN BY SARAH MOHAMMED

WINGED POST 7

23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021 A&E / LIFESTYLE VOLUME

MEET THE CAST & CREW “I found as many clips as I could on YouTube and other websites to see other people’s interpretations of my character” PR

O VI DE

D BY LUCY FE

What’s behind the scenes of an on-stage success? Looking at “Much Ado About Nothing”’s journey from script to performance

LUCY FENG (11) PLAYED BEATRICE IN THE EVENING CAST

“We actually had a fair amount of [costumes] from the era, and [we were] just trying to find things that fit the actors”

VI DE

D BY JOS H FI

SWING CAST

Sonya Apsey (10) Lucy Feng (11) Paulina Gicqueau (11) Isabella Ribeiro (10) Arushi Sharma (10) Saumi Mehta (12) Hasini Namala (10) Callie Mayer (12) Mariana Ryder (10) Arianna Weaver (12) Hannah Streeper (9) Joanna Bejar (11) Amit Karoshi (9) Harper Brada (11) Avayna Glass (9) Allen Boyce (12) Sasha Masson (10) Aastha Mangla (11) Selina Xu (10) Josh Field (12) Rhiannon Sikand (10) Arely Sun (12) Fern Biswas (9) Namrata Karra (11) Jason Shim (9) Samvita Gautham (11) Shiv Deokar (9) Teresa Cai (12) Ian Gerstner (9) Shreya Balakrishnan (11) Vika Gautham (9) Aishani Singh (9) Teresa Cai (12) Emily Su (9) Ananya Das (9) Abbie Samuel (9) Ruby Johnson (10) Aaron Bao (9) CREW Jeffrey Draper Tanna Kienitz Tony Kienitz Paul Vallerga Natti Pierce-Thomson Caela Fujii Brian Larsen Aren Olson Ruth Krylov (12) Spencer Cha (12)

EMILY TAN

EVENING CAST

Nupur Gupta (11) Jasmine Li (11) Sam Parupudi (9) Aidan Durn (11) Natalie Chen (10) Karina Chen (11) Aniket Singh (11) Cindy Yu (9) Ayla Apsey (11) Alan Jiang (11)

MAKEUP TIME Arely Sun (12) applies makeup backstage in the RPAC dressing room before an after-school dress rehearsal on Oct. 26.

emily tan & sriya batchu

YouTube and other websites to see other people’s interpretations of my character and also the characters Beatrice interacts with,” Lucy said. “I picked what I liked, and I pieced what I didn’t like, and I pieced them together to form a basic structure.” The cast also participated in bonding activities to familiarize themselves through theater games and group character work starting in September, according to evening cast member Josh Field (12). Similarly, preparation for the costume and set began long in advance, with costumes led by the costume designer and prop master Caela Fujii. Fujii, who has worked with the school since 2006, starting with technical theater and transitioning to costumes, researched American World War II-era military attire. Oftentimes, cast members will also supply parts of their own costumes that they already have, such as jewelry, shoes or ties. “There is a costume closet here,” Fujii said. “We actually had a fair amount of stuff from the era, and [we were] just trying to find things that fit the actors.” The technical theater crew also puts together much of the behind-the-scenes crew action These include stage managers, light board operators and sound tech-

As the first production since school reopened, the annual fall play, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” aimed to be a lighthearted comedy to bring joy and smiles. The cast had rehearsed and the crew had practiced to bring this play to life for eight weeks, leading up to their three performances on Oct. 28, Oct. 29 and Oct. 30. The 18-student evening cast, and the 20-student swing cast, and 12-student crew, worked along with other adult staff to perfect the production. Auditions took place on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 for the show, which features a World War II-themed plot of “Much Ado About Nothing.” The cast started preparation for the play through reading scripts and researching their characters in order to find how they would like to act on stage, the beginning of an eight-week process. For example, junior Lucy Feng, who plays Beatrice, the female lead in the evening cast, watched numerous video clips of “Much Ado About Nothing” and performances for inspiration and guidance. “I found as many clips as I could on

Slime and stickers for sale

STUDENT-RUN BUSINESSES SLIMEE COFFEE

GET WELL SOON

DEOBI CROSSING

sells various colors and textures of slimes

creates products to connect patients with clinical trials

sells illustrated stickers, pins, keychains and tape

SALLY ZHU

IG: @slimeecoffee

SELLING SLIME Andrea Thia (12) stretches rainbow slime, made by her small business. Andrea started a slime company, Slimee Coffee in eighth grade, now with 3,000 sales.

sally zhu Andrea Thia (12) started her slime business at the age of 13, a mere eighth grader in a world of massive firms and corporations. She’d been selling handmade slimes to her classmates and soon realized she could make a profit from her sales. Eventually, her passion led to

the founding of Slimee Coffee, an online slime store, now with over 3,000 sales. Andrea expanded her business from working alone at home to a warehouse and part-time employees. Throughout her journey, Andrea has received joys after her hard work, especially through directly seeing children use her products. “It’s [so rewarding] seeing the impact

Founder: Arnav Gupta (12)

SALLY ZHU

Founder: Andrea Thia (12)

SALLY ZHU

Students take charge with small businesses

nicians, such as sound assistant Karina Chen (11). Karina manages the microphones for all the actors, charging them before the show and fixing them if needed. Crew members work on designing and building the set, and even composing music and choreographing routines. Karina hopes that audience members can see the effort put in both by the cast and crew to perform the show. “I want them to know how much effort is put into this performance,” Karina said. “It’s not just the actors, but also technicians and then the directors and everybody else, and also people who build the scenery.” Upper school theater teacher Jeffrey Draper, the director for the evening cast, recalled the difficulties of theater performances last year due to the quarantine and year online, and enjoyed working with students in-person again, during the rehearsals and performances. “Last year was a disaster, but it reminded me about how much we all love this and how much fun it is,” Draper said. “Not having each other around for a year and a half really helps me see how great it is to have everyone there.” Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

PROVIDED BY ASHLEY RUAN

U LD

JOSH FIELD (12) PLAYED DON JOHN IN THE EVENING CAST

Site: getwellsoon.ai

that I’m able to make,” Andrea said. Shifting from slime, Arnav Gupta (12) founded an online business, called Get Well Soon, that connects patients with available clinical trials. Since founding three years ago, Arnav and his team have now produced a number of products for finding or recommending trials. Arnav, who started the business through a prototype app in ninth grade, founded Get Well Soon because of an experience where he himself was searching for clinical trials, yet was unable to browse through all the information. “It’s a much more large-scale issue,” Arnav said. “If we could get this to work

Founder: Ashley Ruan (11)

SALLY ZHU

B AT C H

“[I enjoy] when the cast bonding happens. One rehearsal we got to play theater games, which was a very fun time”

SALLY ZHU

I YA

EMILY TAN

CAELA FUJII COSTUME DESIGNER / PROP MASTER

IG: @deobicrossingshop

the way we want to, we could potentially affect billions of people around the world, which is really motivating.” On the other side of the spectrum, junior Ashley Ruan’s small business is just beginning to blossom. Ashley partnered with a friend this past summer to start Deobi Crossing, a stationery business that sells items like stickers and washi tape with illustrated designs on them. Ashley works on the designs, sketching colorful animals on her iPad, which are sent off to manufacturers to be produced. She enjoys drawing and finally seeing the physical versions of her designs. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

DESIGN BY SALLY ZHU

8 WINGED POST

A&E / LIFESTYLE

VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021

MUSIC AND ARTS CRITIC?

New York Times journalist pursues music criticism through Latinx lens This recurring profile series features stories and experiences of individuals with unique professions

Isabelia Herrera grew up loving music. She was a bookworm from a young age, devouring poems and stories by various authors—but she never imagined that it would be possible for her to listen to music in her home for a living, to get paid to interview artists and organize her thoughts and to think about what it means to tell a specific story. She never thought she would be a critic. But that’s what her career has blossomed into, that’s what she engages in daily today—her byline neatly pressed below dozens of articles in black serif font as a New York Times Art Critic Fellow, her name on the 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in Media list. Herrera, who is the daughter of Dominican parents, grew up in suburban Chicago, Illinois, surrounded by many others from Latin America. She has stayed close to her roots and the fervor that she had towards literary works as a child, consuming pieces that hold her in the way they explore revolutionary ideas using the cadence of language and sound. As an avid listener of music ever since she was a child, Herrera’s tastes in songs have mingled into a diverse set of perspectives—she retains an open mind towards different sounds and genres of music and enjoys listening to the more traditional songs of her childhood in addition to the great variety of songs that she was exposed to as she lived in different areas over the course of her career. Living in the suburbs of Oak Park, Illinois, Herrera never experienced being part of a larger community of Dominicans. Though surrounded by Latin American culture such as bachata and merengue, two Dominican styles of music and dance, Herrera felt a lack of connection to her heritage. In 2010, Herrera moved to New York City to attend Barnard College, staying in the city after graduating. Soon, she started working at different publications, writing about music and music criticism. At these publications, the diversity of New York, specifically of other Dominicans, contrasted with that of Chicago, allowing Herrera to connect with her identity more.

IDENTITY IN MUSIC Isabelia Herrera, a New York Times Arts Critic Fellow, continues her passion for music as a journalist working in music criticism, with a focus on Latinx culture.

Listed in the Forbes 30 Under 30 List for media in 2017

PROVIDED BY ISABELIA HERRERA

sally zhu & sarah mohammed

Bylines published in Rolling Stone and GQ

Currently an Arts Critic Fellow at The New York Times

Holds a master’s degree in Latin American and Carribean studies from New York University

“I felt a lot more pride. I just felt more culturally affirmed all the time and that’s something that I didn’t necessarily feel in Chicago,” Herrera said. “When I moved to New York, I had this newfound sense of community just because it was around me so much.”

continuing her freelancing by contacting editors at larger publications and specializing in music with a focus on culture and diversity. She began writing at publications like Rolling Stone and Billboard, mostly profiles around the topic of music as a way to access identity.

“The beauty of music and art is that it allows you to say certain things that words can’t. My work, more broadly, these days, is talking about how music and art are small rebellions embedded in experiences” Herrera’s first full-time job in media was at Remezcla, a publication centered around Latinx culture in New York. There, she worked as a copy editor for six months, and soon, Remezcla gave Herrera the position of Music Editor. While at Remezcla, Herrera wrote more and more about art, music and Latinx culture. After staying at her editor position for four years, Herrera decided to pursue a master’s degree in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at New York University,

When she caught sight of an opening for a year-long Arts Critic Fellowship program at The New York Times in the last month of her master’s program, Herrera applied. Soon, she was accepted, and through this fellowship program, she continues to hone her own skills in criticism, especially as opportunities for the field in the journalistic world may be declining. “I knew that a place like The New York Times would have a space for cultural criticism,” Herrera said. “Because of the way

the industry is structured, there are less full time positions or publications for critics, so I really wanted to take this fellowship so I could really sharpen those skills.” Claire Austin-Kulat, who has known Herrera since they were eight years old, worked with her on a world-news newspaper in fourth grade and attended Barnard with her, has followed her journey through college and beyond, and believes that Herrera really belongs working as a journalist. “She’s always been a wonderful writer, and always miles ahead in terms of the way she thinks and how she expresses that,” Austin-Kulat said. “It’s been gratifying to see other people appreciate that, like ‘Oh, yeah! This person I’ve loved for 20 years, other people love her too.’” At the Times, Herrera has met positive feedback about covering Latinx culture and topics, and she believes the publication has an interest in expanding their coverage of these topics. Currently, Herrera writes almost exclusively about Latinx culture, helping break the barrier for these communities. As a Dominican woman, Herrera feels that so much of her life and her experiences have been rooted in her identity—she has been drawn to music and culture that relates to that part of herself. The way art can explore these topics of the self continually keeps her excited about writing and holds a special place for her—it’s a “political attachment to art,” being able to use art to open further and provide a mouthpiece for the world’s diverse cultures. “I think the beauty of music and art is that it allows you to say certain things that words can’t,” Herrera said. “My work, more broadly, these days, is talking about how music and art are small rebellions embedded in experiences of listening.” Through her journey of art and music and criticism, Herrera has taken away the importance of connecting with and writing about her true thoughts, rather than shifting to perspectives that to appeal to the masses. She has become more confident in her own analysis instead of attempting to comment on everything. “Part of my journey has been allowing it to be okay to just say, ‘This is my perspective, this is how I encountered this work, this is how I experienced it, this is how I received it,’ and allowing the emotional experience of criticism to happen and not try to be this universal objective voice anymore,” Herrera said. “It really has been this shift towards letting myself let go of some of the anxiety and pressure about having to say everything.”

Yoshitomo Nara: An artist’s sweet and sinister world A column looking beyond the gallery walls of the art world michelle liu You’ve probably seen Yoshitomo Nara’s paintings of bulbous-faced, doeeyed children before. Why does Nara’s work seem to have such an enchanting power to stick in the mind? Although at first glance the faces may seem sweet and innocent, there’s something lurking deeper beneath the surface that seems to subconsciously captivate us. The androgynous children painted seem to belong to their own world, dealing with the harsh realities of inner darkness—mirroring Nara’s own experiences of reconciling with himself.

The longest-running retrospective of Nara’s art, encompassing 30 years of his work, currently resides at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, calling into question all the rich influences that Nara has drawn upon during his long career. I find a surprising sense of refuge when looking into his paintings, as if I’m peering into a universe dominated by Nara’s singular vision, his rare ability to translate his worldview vividly onto the canvas. Nara grew up in the Aomori prefecture of Japan, spending the first few years of his childhood in a home surrounded by an open field. He created his own private, distinctive world in that first house, fascinated by the small things—the grass, the flowers, the animals—that made up his daily sphere. To me, Nara’s paintings project a strong sense of solitary intro-

spection, as if they hail from an entirely different mind—one alive with the childlike ability to lose oneself completely in a state of flow. The children in his drawings, neither supposed to be perceived as male or female, exist in the liminal state of a young mind grappling with the world. They find themselves filled with feelings of angst, rebellion—riding the emotional rollercoaster of being happy, sad, excited or lonely. Most of all, I love Nara’s ability to continually draw from his past and capture the rawness of childhood. He immerses himself in turning his gaze inward, exploring the essence of human nature—following the flow of inner consciousness to always discover something new. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

BULBOUS-FACED CHILDREN The androgynous children painted seem to belong to their own world, mirroring Nara’s own experiences of reconciling with himself.

DESIGN BY SALLY ZHU

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHELLE LIU

Japanese artist captures the raw emotions and wonder of childhood

WINGED POST 9

ILLUSTRATION BY MUTHU PANCHANATHAM

23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021 PERSPECTIVES VOLUME

WEST COAST, BEST COAST EAST COAST, BEAST COAST Best and West were made to rhyme Heading back to where it all began nicole tian Climbing along the boulders that line the cliffs of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, the ocean roils below in bursts of white froth and indigo depths. Delicate drops of ocean spray scatter across the rough rocks as I stake my claim on the tip of the cliff. The gulls, towering cypress trees and endless wind, encapsulate the unmatched beauty of the West Coast. Misty mountains and redwood forests rise up beside sublime snow-white beaches. California alone houses more natural reserves than any other state, with its nine National parks spanning the desert environment of Joshua Tree National Park to the sprawling Sierra Nevada mountain range of Yosemite and even steaming geysers at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Highway 1 gladly takes you through these landmarks and more, running through the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, past countless white sand beaches, ancient forests, vineyards and down to Los Angeles, the indisputable hub of entertainment. If you’re getting hungry on a road trip, where better to stop than In-N-Out? Although the chain restaurant’s fries might not be top tier, its cheeseburgers certainly are. Perfectly bite-sized and never too dry, In-N-Out is also the only burger chain from which I’ve actually been able to finish a burger. If you’re looking for something more nutritious, Chipotle also dots the landscape. With its headquarters in Newport Beach, its tacos and burrito bowls offer an endless array of toppings. Beyond its expansive terrains covering all possible ecosystems and cityscapes, the West Coast boasts an unbeatable climate. Do you really want to be shoveling snow out of your driveway first thing in the morning while enduring freezing temperatures? Is the thought of rolling out of your warm bed to blasts of cold air really that enticing? Throughout winter and early spring,

the West Coast consistently beats out the East for warmer temperatures. And when esha gohil trying to escape from the heat in the summer, the East Coast is smothered with tropical humidity, since warm water from the Gulf of Mexico moves along the seaWhat makes America, America? Is it board, creating unwanted evaporation. the rich natural diversity, from the gloriWinds along the West Coast provide a nat- ous gorges of the Grand Canyon to the ural respite, as wind patterns push cool air flourishing floods of the Niagara Falls?

Do you really want to be shoveling snow out of your driveway first thing in the morning while enduring freezing temperatures? When it comes to weather, the West Coast provides the ideal climate due to differences in geography

We can’t ignore the East Coast’s beautifully distinct seasons and the absolutely iconic fashion choices that come with them. Having lived in California for my entire life, I can say with conviction that our perpetual summertime is overrated

onland. Sunlight is also a powerful mood booster, stimulating areas of the retina that increase serotonin production in the brain, reducing symptoms of seasonal depression. To those who claim that the West Coast lacks in culture since it joined the Union in the 1840’s, we’re not short of museums either. With the Getty Center’s permanent collection of paintings and illuminated manuscripts and California Academy of Sciences’ planetarium and rainforest. Although the West Coast might only consist of three states compared to the East Coast’s jumbled 14, its sights and sounds suit every taste, from the unmatched natural scenery to its unique cityscapes. The old adage rings true: West Coast, best coast.

Perhaps it’s the melting pot of communities that integrate to form an intricately interwoven quilt of cultures, cuisine and creations? And maybe still, America could be defined by its assorted architecture and artistry, buildings and brushstrokes that pay homage to our, quite literally, colorful past. All in all, America is unparagoned. Though this simple characterization applies to each and every one of our 50 nifty states, one cluster of 14 stands out to epitomize this American ideal: the place that started it all, the East Coast. Simply put, the East Coast is everything the West Coast wishes it was, the cool big brother that the latter can never live up to. Sure, I could be a typical Harker kid and bring up the “US News Best National University Rankings,” but that’d just be unfair. I mean Massachusetts

alone beats the entirety of the West Coast. Instead, let me point you to the World Population Review’s “Best States for Education.” The East Coast states make up a whopping 70% of the top 10 states with the best school systems list. Not a single state on the western seaboard makes the cut. But, of course, the East Coast isn’t all work and no play. Truly, whoever said “less is more” was kidding themselves. With 11 more states, the East Coast trumps its western counterpart by sheer quantity alone, satisfying pretty much any travel craving you may long for. Ready for a wild spring break after a long semester? Head down to Key West or Daytona Beach in Florida. Trying to find a mecca of music? Take a trip to good ol’ New York, New York, where you can immerse yourself in every style from reggaeton to showtunes. And, if such scenes are a little too fast paced for your taste, don’t fret. You could always go fishing in the cool waters of Cape Cod, Maine, or live out your best Gilmore Girls dreams as you observe the changing leaves and small town festivals of a Connecticut fall. Speaking of fall, we can’t ignore the East Coast’s beautifully distinct seasons and the absolutely iconic fashion choices that come with them. Having lived in California for my entire life, I can say with conviction that our perpetual summertime is overrated. As I always say, too cold is better than too hot (but that’s an opinion for another time). There’s no better feeling than bundling on some chunky boots and a thick jacket, putting in directions to the nearest ice skating rink and stepping out from the heater into the brisk, snowy winter air as Nat King Cole croons in your ear tales of chestnuts and Jack Frost. On the West Coast, the only thing nipping at your nose is wildfire smoke. So, really, West Coast, best coast? All I can say to that unoriginal and frankly untrue rhyme is East Coast, beast coast. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article. DESIGN BY MUTHU PANCHANATHAM

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VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021

cherishing each other, one moment at a

CALM YOUR MIND Meditate, breathe, and practice a relaxation exercise HAVE A LAUGH Watch a funny video or movie RETREAT IN NATURE Step outside and enjoy sunlight, flora and fresh air

Sitting on the [Rothschild Performing Arts Center] floor in the morning with my friends while we’re studying or listening to music, it starts my day off on a really happy note. - Anaya Mandal (10) Hanging out with friends after a year lockdown and seeing everyone back on campus. - Brandon Zau (10)

Listening to Mr Olivas share his life experiences and identity with the 9th graders at class meeting. - Scott Odekirk

COMPLIMENT YOURSELF Write out positive affirmations on paper and decorate them HEAL WITH ART Let loose your creativity with doodles and color them in SWITCH IT UP Rearrange your bedroom and redecorate your living space INTO ANOTHER WORLD Read an uplifting/fantastical book BACK IN TIME Scroll through your camera roll and look at old photos COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS Make a list of the people and things you are thankful for

My favorite memory on campus in the past month has been participating in my final cross country race of the season. It was a pleasure to see Coach Purnell hand out roses to the senior runners while we wished them good luck racing. - Alex Huang (9)

Members of the upper school community share their g for their fellow classmates, staff and faculty on campu “I am so grateful to my mother, who’s probably witnessed me at my worst, and at my very best. She’s very patient with me, and I am so grateful for that.”

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DR. CHUCK WITSCHORIK UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER

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Kicking the students’ butts in volleyball! Oh wait, that’s this coming month. - Dr. Matthew Harley

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Meeting wonderful new people who genuinely make me smile every morning. - Whitney Huang

Going to get boba after school and making new friends through golf. - Khanhlinh Tran (9)

“I’m grateful for all the many people students, staff members, faculty - who come to school each day with a mindset of kindness toward others” BR

MADDIE HANSEN (12) STUDENT

One day, as a part of Spir Club and [Harker Spir Leadership Team], we go to play music [in front o Manzanita] and have a goo time with people who wer in the lunch line - Lakshmi Mulgund (11

The first open SDC meeting — it brought together different parts of the community. - Susanne Salhab

giving gratitude “I am grateful to Uma Iyer because she is always willing to help me with anything I need. She is thoughtful, compassionate, and empathetic in everything she does”

I have so much fun with my friends in Chemistry. We complete labs together (some with more success than others) and walk endless laps around Nichols, and it always makes my morning! - Laurel Davies

SHAKE IT OFF Put on your favorite song and dance around your room

Taking photos on Fridays with my friends when we’re all in matching clothes, since it’s always fun to organize and plan something with friends, and it’s nice to have the photos for the memories. - Sasvath Ramachandran (12)

Most definitely th Homecoming Dance Even though it wa outdoors, physicall sharing a fun experienc with friends was fulfilling - Kris Estrada (11

A quarter of the way into an in-person school year, many have felt the stress that comes along with adapting to a changed environment. Here is our list of healthy habits you can incorporate into your daily life.

community response: my favorite m from the past month is...

HEALTHFUL HABITS

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memory

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My favorite memory on campus in the past month has been winning first place for the eagle during spirit week, because I have never helped paint the eagle before. It was really fun to meet new people while working on the eagle and spend time painting it together. - Shinjan Ghosh (12)

TICK TOCK

Although our return to “normal” has been filled with unexpected changes, we have also experienced countless moments of happiness and comfort. Quadchella. I distinctly remember looking out at the audience during Mr. Hurshman and Ms. Main’s performance and getting a bit emotional. Thank you to the entire community for creating such a beautifully supportive atmosphere at both Quadchella shows and to the performers for making me laugh, cry, and smile with pride at your talent. - Yejin Song (12)

Students grapple with time management in new in-person year rachel ning & smrithi sambamurthy When Tanya Karpinchyk (10) started school this year, an overload of homework suddenly accosted her. Although the stress to quickly adapt overwhelmed her, Tanya relied on positive studying habits such as time management to grow accustomed to the new experience of inperson learning. Time management is something that always seems to be emphasized in schools. A study from Princeton University found that adopting small habits such as having a routine, having an organized environment, and properly planning out your schedule are important keys to integrating good time management into a daily ritual. Students must choose what they want to participate in during the school year carefully to maximize the use of their time, while also enjoying the activities they are doing. In order to help guide a high school student to success, it ultimately lies within the accountability of the student

The concert in Patil Theater where Jared Schonig played—very good music and fun with friends. - Varun Thvar (9) Quadchella - especially the yoga ball dance. I enjoyed this unique performance for its originality and boldness. It put a smile on my face. - Austin Wang (12) Acting out a scene from one of my favorite musicals in Study of Theatre. - Emily Su (9)

“It’s definitely more difficult because there’s so many other things you have to account for. I started using my calendar more” PROVIDED BY TANYA KARPINCHYK

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VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021

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to carry out these responsibilities. From personal trials and tribulations, Tanya has begun to understand how learning to manage time well can reduce stress levels. “It’s definitely more difficult because there’s so many other things you have to account for, even the commute to school. I started using my calendar more and making sure I write everything down that I’m going to do,” Tanya said. As students traverse further into the school year, upper school counselor Rosalyn Schreiman hopes students can settle into a routine that works best for them. “We can just take a pause, and we can reflect on what we’re doing,” Schreiman said. “And then we can recognize, like, ‘oh, I am only getting six hours of sleep, that’s really not adequate for me and then see where I can make those adjustments.’ ” Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

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gratitude us. “I am grateful to work with an exceptional design team: Paul Vallerga, Natti PierceThomson, Aren Olson and Caela Fujii. They make magic happen”

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BRIAN LARSEN UPPER SCHOOL PRODUCTION MANAGER

“[Shoutout to] the Swing Cast, also known as, Allen, Saumi, and Zee (the fall play cast that likes to sit on a swing) because they are the best theater kids out there” O

ADA PRAUN-PETROVIC (11) STUDENT PE

EN AUSTIN ER SCHOOL ECTOR OF JOURNALISM

“Appreciation moment for Katelyn Abellera she’s so sweet and she always notices little things about people that shows that she cares. She’s also so fun to hang out with”

port team at Harker o make our classes and eep events on track, wer infinite questions”

DESIGN BY EMILY TAN & SABRINA ZHU

12 WINGED POST Editors-in-Chief Michelle Liu Emily Tan

23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021 OPINION VOLUME

Changing our meaning of “normal” Systemic reform needed to effectively address community struggles

Managing Editor Mark Hu News Editor Isha Moorjani Features Editor Sarah Mohammed A&E/ Lifestyle Editor Sally Zhu Opinion Editor Muthu Panchanatham STEM Editor Sabrina Zhu Assistant STEM Editor Arjun Barrett Photo/Video Editor Esha Gohil

Aquila Editors-in-Chief Nicole Tian Alysa Suleiman Aquila Managing Editors Arely Sun Lucy Ge Irene Yuan Vishnu Kannan Columnists Saurav Tewari Nicholas Wei Arjun Barrett Humans of Harker Editors-in-Chief Esha Gohil Erica Cai Humans of Harker Managing Editor Nicholas Wei Reporters Sriya Batchu Shinjan Ghosh Smrithi Sambamurthy Jasleen Hansra Rachel Ning Ritika Rajamani Lakshmi Mulgund Carter Chadwick Tina Xu Visit The Winged Post online at www.harkeraquila.com Follow us on Instagram with the handle @harkeraquila The Winged Post is published every four to six weeks except during vacations by the Journalism: Newspaper Concentration and Advanced Journalism: Newspaper Concentration courses at Harker’s upper school, 500 Saratoga Ave., San Jose, California 95129. The Winged Post staff will publish features, editorials, news, sports and STEM articles in an unbiased and professional manner and serve as a public forum for the students of The Harker School. Editorials represent the official opinions of The Winged Post. Opinions and letters represent the personal viewpoints of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Winged Post. All content decisions are made by student editors, and the content of The Winged Post in no way reflects the official policy of The Harker School. The opinions expressed in this publication reflect those of the student writers and not the Harker board, administration, faculty or adviser. Letters to the Editor may be submitted to Manzanita 70 or emailed to wingedpost2020@gmail.com and must be signed, legible and concise. The staff reserves the right to edit letters to conform to Post style. Baseless accusations, insults, libelous statements, obscenities and letters that call for a disruption of the school day will not be considered for publication. Letters sent to The Winged Post will be published at the discretion of the editorial staff. The Winged Post is the official student newspaper of Harker’s upper school and is distributed free of cost to students. Students hold the copyright to work published in Harker journalism publications. Fall 2021 NSPA Best-in-show, Fourth Place 2020-2021 NSPA Pacemaker Finalist Spring 2020 NSPA Best-in-show, First Place 2019-2020 NSPA Pacemaker Finalist 2018-2019 NSPA Pacemaker Finalist 2017-2018 NSPA Pacemaker Finalist 2016-2017 NSPA Pacemaker Finalist 2021 CSPA Silver Crown 2019 CSPA Gold Crown 2018 CSPA Gold Crown 2017 CSPA Silver Crown

ILLUSTRATION BY EMILY TAN

Adviser Ellen Austin, MJE EDITORIAL: THE OFFICIAL OPINION OF THE WINGED POST

editorial board

We’ve been back for 11 weeks on our upper school campus at Saratoga, finally back to lunches with friends, back to commuting in the morning, back to after-school sports practices and games, performing arts productions and spirit traditions. Before the pandemic began, we were fine with going through a school day like this. So why doesn’t our “Harker normal” feel better? Why do we feel so tired forty minutes into first period? Why do we need breaks in every class so much now? As we come back, we’re questioning what we used to consider “normal.” Sometimes, it all feels like too much. After a missed year and a half spent off campus, coming back in person has meant fulfilling — but draining — face-to-face social interactions. And returning to the rigors of in-person school caught us off guard. We’re also still grappling with the uncertainty of a pandemic as COVID-19 continues to claim over 1000 lives daily in the U.S, with a collective death toll of 750,000 lives lost. In a survey conducted by Harker Journalism,we received 182 responses, consisting of 169 students, 12 faculty and one staff member. Here are some statistics that stood out: Only 6.7% replied that they slept at least 8 hours on average 57.7% of the responses stated that they feel more tired compared to last year 28.4% skip lunch at least once a week More than 50% of students averaged at least 4 assessments or projects per week, over the past month It’s clear that we need systemic adjustments now to address the ongoing wellness struggles our student body and faculty currently face. Consistent breaks in all classes — with no additional work assigned during this time — give us a chance to hydrate, take a breath, use the restroom and interact with peers. Breaks also give our teachers a little time to breathe, as well. Out of 161 students, 60.9% felt that at least five-minute breaks were necessary.

We also support the “office hours days” instituted by the administration during remote learning last year, as do 93.6% of 171 students. Those days provided a well-needed respite which students utilized to meet with their teachers, catch up on sleep, spend time outdoors or plunge into their mountain of assignments. When supplemented with assemblies about larger issues such as diversity and health, these break days also provided opportunities for us to learn about issues concerning our community and possible improvements. Winged Post would also like to commend the Harker Spirit Leadership Team (HSLT), Student Activities Board (SAB) and Student Council who have worked toward creating a positive atmosphere his fall in which we can thrive through lighthearted spirit activities. We loved interacting with others during the two weeks of Homecoming, we love Fantastic Fridays and Winterfest festivities and we love sending Thanksgiving Grams to our close friends. But, we need more. Even with these changes, we might still feel overwhelmed. Some of us suffer in silence, fearing the implications of appearing weak to others. But we’re not alone. The Harker community provides mental health resources — our counselors and advisers are here to support us through our hardships. Our faculty and staff also deserve patience and respect. Our administrators and teachers put on a brave front, reassuring us with their stability, but they experience many of the same adversities we do. To help our teachers, we can plan and assess our needs ahead of time, such as by asking for extensions on assignments or rescheduled assessments ahead of time, using designated office hours to ask for academic help and avoiding emailing faculty over weekends. There are also other, more tangible ways to help our campus. Our kitchen staff is short-handed, as is our facilities crew. We can pitch in to dispose of trash and clean eating areas. In following through with these tangible actions, we can create a healthier environment for our community as the year progresses.

Appreciating the little moments

michelle liu, emily tan & mark hu As we wrap up the first quarter of the school year and get ready to head into Thanksgiving Break, we wanted to take a moment to show our gratitude to you: our readers! Thank you for picking up a copy of The Winged Post and taking a look at the stories inside it. We hope you enjoy

reading the pages written, photographed, illustrated and designed by our staff for each issue. With giving season approaching, we also find ourselves reminded to take a step back and reconsider what we previously took for granted. As we reflect on how the school year has unfolded so far, we can’t help but notice and appreciate the little moments—friendly greetings or impromptu conversations—that we missed out on during remote learning. Finally, as always, please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time to harkeraq@ gmail.com if you have any comments, suggestions, or an opinion you would like to express. We look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Corrections TO ISSUE 2 FRONT PAGE: “‘What do honesty, respect, & accountability mean to you?’”: • Honor Week photo cred: “Arely Sunn” should be “Arely Sun” • Hispanic story photo cred: “Trisha Iyert” should be “Trisha Iyer” FEATURES 5: “A living reminder” • Byline should be “Lucy Ge” SPORTS 17: “Fall sports blaze through start of seasons”: • Girls golf league record says 4-3 instead of 7-0 SPORTS 19: ”Freeze Frame”: • Golf caption should say “drives” not “putts” DESIGN BY MUTHU PANCHANATHAM

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23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021 OPINION VOLUME

Sally’s version

A definitive ranking of Taylor Swift’s top five hits sally zhu In honor of Taylor Swift’s recording of her album “Red” last Friday, today I will present my top five Taylor Swift songs of all time — from debut to “evermore” and :Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” and everything in between. Any other Swiftie will know how difficult it is to rank the 150+ songs from her nine albums, but here are my top picks.

Rise of English-language songs by BTS hurts Asian representation in the west emma gao

Blinding white lights illuminate the backs of the seven still silhouettes on stage, creating an almost halo-like glow. As the crowd chants their names and the first notes start playing, they hop out of their formation and launch into an electrifying performance of their hit single “DNA” at the 2017 American Music Awards (AMAs). The exuberant energy that radiated from their every movement pulsed from my TV screen and captivated 11-year-old me. Heart beating, I stared transfixed: not only had I never witnessed such complex choreography before, but I also couldn’t recall ever seeing an Asian artist perform at a major American award show. For the next four years, I admired the seven people behind the performance: South Korean group known as BTS, currently one of the biggest names in music. The latest development in their careers, the release of “Dynamite” and other English-language songs, have brought the group extraordinary success and exposure in the American music industry, but these decisions undermine their identity as artists and ultimately hurt Asian representation in the west. Moreover, subsequent works where they resume singing in Korean, such as in their November 2020 album “BE,” lack the authenticity that pervaded the group’s pre-“Dynamite” songs and are attracting less attention than their English releases, concretely demonstrating decreased representation. Despite this gradual gain in popularity, the group’s transition into the American music market had brought on several new challenges borne from the biased nature of the industry. Although their accomplishments rivaled those of established western artists, the industry refused to pay them the proper acknowledgements. As a result, when BTS unveiled “Dynamite,” their most extensively-promoted release yet and their first song fully recorded in English, I could imagine why they suddenly decided to cater toward western audiences. As a result, “Dynamite” stands out among BTS’s discography like a sore thumb. Hackneyed lyrics devoid of emotional impact pack the song from start to finish. I couldn’t help but feel that I’d heard the generic and empty phrases “light it up like dynamite” and “dance to the break of dawn” a thousand times before. Compare this with “Black Swan,” where the group agonizes over their fear of losing their passion for music: “If this can no longer

resonate / No longer make my heart vibrate / Then this may be how I die my first death / But what if that moment’s right now.” BTS can authentically relate these deeply personal fears only through the tip of their own pen. Writing and singing in their fluent language of Korean gives BTS the power to convey the intricacies of their thoughts through their own voice. As a Chinese-American, I initially admired BTS as a beacon of Asian representation in America. At a young age, the faces of western singers such as Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Kelly Clarkson dominated my TV screen; the same trend exists today. I remember feeling confused as to why the music world was only excluding Asian artists, and for a time I believed that Asians simply could not be successful singers.

I hope their army of fans will realize the hurtful implications and consider withdrawing their support of these ideals. Authenticity, though difficult to maintain at times, is the only way to spread true representation, and I hope that others, both influential figures and fans alike, will not follow BTS’s example When I learned about BTS a few years later, seeing people who looked like me gaining fame and recognition in America filled me with pride and hope. What moved me the most was the way BTS had continued to sing in their native Korean even after entering the western music industry: I felt represented in their achievements because BTS stuck to their identity as Asian artists to earn them, despite the setbacks it brought. By continuing to release songs in their native language, they sent me the message that accurate communication through their self-written lyrics mattered more than western acceptance and the benefits that came with it. Through their incremental achievements, they showed me that pursuing success in a country often unwelcoming to people like me doesn’t need to come at the expense of our cultural backgrounds. But with “Dynamite,” BTS directly negated these ideas, and I could no longer see them as positive figures for Asian

representation. If they sing English words written by western songwriters, then they are no different from western acts. If they give up making music faithful to their identity as Asian artists, then they aren’t representing Asians positively. As I watched BTS relinquish their cultural roots in pursuit of western approval, I couldn’t help but wonder: was this an inevitable occurrence that would play out in my life, too? I promised myself I would not make that sacrifice. Later that year, in November of 2020, BTS released their fifth studio album “BE,” inspired by the group’s experience during the pandemic. On the surface, the album seemed to mark a return to the “old BTS,” with six Korean-language songs filled with comforting and hopeful words intended to uplift listeners during the difficult pandemic era. But the message felt fake: after “Dynamite,” they had shown me the shallowness of their artistry that they so easily sacrificed for quick and easy success. “BE”’s commercial performance highlights the superficiality of the staggering accomplishments brought by their English releases: BTS’s group’s post-“Dynamite” Korean language releases are not garnering the same success as their English language releases. “Life Goes On,” their second Hot 100 topper, did not receive any nods from major American award shows. Additionally, while “Dynamite” spent 32 on the Hot 100, 13 in the top 10, “Life Goes On” fell from number one to 28 to 93 in its second week and third week, before leaving the chart. This stark disparity demonstrates that BTS’s English language songs are attracting casual listeners searching for the next generic western tune, but they are not amassing devoted fans that will continue to follow their future releases. This is unsurprising: “Dynamite” isn’t displaying anything uniquely BTS, so why would listeners want to dive deeper into their music? Unfortunately, if this trend continues and audiences develop the expectation that English releases are now the norm for BTS, their extensive Korean releases will remain hidden, and isn’t this the exact opposite of representation? With BTS showing signs of continuing down this troubling path, I hope their army of fans will realize the hurtful implications and consider withdrawing their support of these ideals. Authenticity, though difficult to maintain at times, is the only way to spread true representation, and I hope that others, both influential figures and fans alike, will not follow BTS’s example. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

Taylor’s voice flows so beautifully, even between the high riffs in the difficult melody of the song’s chorus, with “oooh… it’s a cruel summer,” and she writes such poetic lyrics such as with “devils roll their dice, angels roll their eyes,” to describe the hopeless gamble of the relationship.

4. “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” “Wildest Dreams,” from Taylor’s first pop-hit album “1989” reflects on a bittersweet breakup, carrying a painful and broken sentiment throughout. Taylor leaves all of her past feelings behind and just gives in to the heartbreak and loss. The chorus has some of her best runs, and her gentle voice rings throughout the entire song, another hint of her sorrow and acceptance.

3. “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” from “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” This was probably the second Taylor Swift song I fell in love with, and it has stayed with me through the years, because it instills a kind of hope and longing near the start that builds up into a sudden burst of passion.

2. “Getaway Car” from “Reputation” The song greatly differs from many of the others on “Reputation,” like the eye of a storm. And like all Taylor Swift songs, there is a wonderful bridge and genius lyrics such as “A circus ain’t a love story, and now we’re both sorry.” This song is underrated—please give it a listen!

1. “All Too Well” from “Red (Taylor’s Version)” I’ve seen “All Too Well” as Taylor Swift’s #1 song of all time in countless lists and rankings, yet I simply can’t disagree. She’s writing poetry through music, all of it being blessed by her forlorn voice and the slow build-up of the melody, until the climax of the bridge. I’ve looped “All Too Well” on Spotify too many times, at the end of a long school day, trying not to sing too loudly and wake up my already-asleep parents, and it’s truly Taylor’s best.

SALLY ZHU

“Dynamite” disappointment

ILLUSTRATION BY ARIANA GOETTING

5. “Cruel Summer” from “Lover”

SWIFTIE SELECTION Taylor Swift released her latest album, Red (Taylor’s Version), last Friday. Sally’s top song is “All Too Well,” released in the original 2021 Red album.

DESIGN BY MUTHU PANCHANATHAM

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23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021 STEM VOLUME

Thrifting reduces fashion industry's carbon emissions

Global Reset covers climate change news relevant to our community

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mark hu

HOME ROBOT

Amazon announces smart home robot at annual devices event

ILLUSTRA TI

INFO CRACKDOWN YouTube bans all anti-vaccine content and information

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The YouTube team specified that content alleging that “vaccines do not reduce transmission or contraction of disease” and containing other misinformation regarding the components in the vaccines would be removed from the platform in a blog post on Sept. 29. The website pledges to continue investing in resources to provide accurate and credible health information to its users. This decision comes after Facebook and Twitter enacted similar policies to reduce the spread of misinformation regarding the virus. ZHU

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European Union plans to implement a single universal phone charger

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The European Union proposed plans in a press release on Sept. 23 that would make the USB-C charger the universal port for cell phones, tablets and other electronic devices. This proposal was made with the intent of improving consumer convenience and reducing the environmental footprint for charger production. The new legislation will need to pass through the European Parliament before adoption by manufacturers. If passed, Apple will be required to switch from their current Lightning charging ports to USB-C ports.

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ALL PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY SABRINA ZHU

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Emma Crook (12) THRIFTED SWEATER “[I] get to find pieces of clothes that other people don’t have”

Luke Mehta (10)

Charlie Folk (9)

THRIFTED PANTS "I like the older style that’s not really around anymore, and it’s super unique"

THRIFTED HOODIE

sabrina zhu & lavanya subramanian When you’re out shopping with friends, and you see a shirt you really like, what do you do? First, you probably check the price tag. Then, you head over to the dressing rooms to try it on. If it fits, you’ll probably ask your friends for their opinions. If all goes well, in twenty minutes, you’ll be walking out of the store with your favorite new shirt. But have you ever looked at the environmental implications

"The textile industry is not the biggest [contributor to climate change], but it is something that everyone can access in their daily lives" MARK HU

N O

ARIANA BY GO

Amazon introduced Astro, a new digital robot on wheels that is able to move around the house and can be sent to monitor people, on Sept. 28. The robot consists of a large screen and cameras attached to a wheeled base; however, it cannot climb stairs and must stop before reaching them. Astro will be available to a select group of individuals based on responses from a survey interest form on the Amazon website, and the company will begin accepting participants for the program later this year. Its retail price is $1,449.99 but costs only $999.99 for members of the early program.

CHRIS SPENNER UPPER SCHOOL RESEARCH TEACHER

KIDS' INSTAGRAM Facebook pauses Instagram app for children 13 and under

I LL U S

Facebook announced that it has paused the development of its “Instagram Kids” project, designed for children 13 years old and under. Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, wrote in a blog post on Sept. 27 that the hiatus will give the company “time to work with parents, experts, policymakers and regulators, to listen to their concerns, and to demonstrate the value and importance of this project for younger teens online today.” The developmental app was halted due to concerns over the potentially detrimental experiences teens receive through the social media platform.

of your purchase? If not, you may want to look at the impacts of the fashion industry. Fast fashion includes garments, usually produced on massive scales and is very popular, largely resulting from the industry's efficiency at following the latest trends. However, fast fashion’s incredible prices and speed bring their own costs. The fashion industry, valued at 2.5 trillion dollars, contributes to 10% of all global carbon emissions and also produces 20% of water waste. Specifically, just one kilogram of cotton, which is the second most popular material in clothes, requires up to 10,000 liters of water to grow and manufacture. In addition, 85% of these clothes are either burnt or end up in landfills. Polyester, which makes up 65% of fabrics, must be converted from an

"You never really know what you’re going to get. It’s a mystery every time"

oil into a plastic to be used, producing 700 million tonnes of carbon dioxide yearly. The sustainable clothing movement has boomed in recent years, as more research is being done on climate change and social media spreads information. Supporters aim to buy clothes with lower impacts on the environment. “The list[s] that I’ve seen of steps we can take to mitigate climate change usually don't have fashion materials or clothing up there,” upper school physics and research teacher Chris Spenner said. “The textile industry is not the biggest [factor], but it is something that everyone can access in their daily lives. That might be our hope of getting [people] to think more deeply about how they consume things.” As of this year, the upper school has switched to having only one class t-shirt throughout the freshman, sophomore and junior years, designed by the Office of Communications. The senior class designs their own and receives a new shirt. “One pro [of this change is] we’re not getting almost a thousand t-shirts a year,” student council representative Jacob Huang (11) said. "I think it’s great that people are being more sustainable.” A simple way to support sustainable clothing is to thrift, or buy clothes from second-hand sources. Many have discovered unique and environmentally-friendly options in thrift stores and resale applications. In an Instagram survey, 25 students, or 32 percent, said thrifted clothes made up ⅓ of their closets, and 2 students, or 3%, said they made up ⅔ of their closets. Joelle Weng (10) thrifts about once or twice a month, and says thrifted clothes make up about half of her closet. “I feel like buying clothing second-hand is much better for the Earth, but also, you have an opportunity to find really interesting pieces that have their own history,” Joelle said. “Fashion is a massive contributor to climate change. [By thrifting], you’re not creating more waste.” Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

Shreya Balakrishnan (11) THRIFTED PANTS

"[Thrifting is] good for the environment because it doesn’t create more waste"

HOW DOES FASHION HARM THE ENVIRONMENT?

85%

of clothes eventually end up in landfills

10%

of global carbon emissions come from the fashion industry

700M

tonnes of carbon are produced by just polyester every year

20%

of global water waste comes from the fashion industry

10K

liters of water are required to produce 1 kilogram of cotton Adapted from the United Nations DESIGN BY SABRINA ZHU

WINGED POST 15

23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021 STEM VOLUME

FDA approves 3 COVID-19 booster vaccines

All 50 states begin administration of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson doses

Pfizer and Moderna boosters available to everyone aged 65 and up

J&J's available to All those aged boosters 18 and up approved by the FDA

CDC recommends "mix and match" dosing

Individuals can receive any booster, regardless of their original vaccine Adapted from FDA and CDC

EDWARD HUANG

become fully vaccinated everyday

“The qualms that I have about the booster shot is more of a social equity issue. We have enough vaccines but it’s not getting to the rest of the world" PROVIDED BY MATTHEW HARLEY

519,714 people receive booster shots everyday in the US 276,539

vaccinated teenagers from COVID-19. The FDA’s views on booster shots for teens may change as new data from clinical trials becomes available. “It’s really important that the FDA proves the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for teens as soon as possible,” Ethan Liu (10) said. “There are so many people on the fence about the vaccine because of its potential side effects.” Booster shots, or the third shot after the initial two doses, serve as an additional layer of protection from COVID-19 by re-strengthening the immune system when the effects of previous COVID-19 vaccines begin to fade over time. This third dose acts as a supplement to the original two doses, which 186 million people in the United States and 23.5 million people in California have already received. BOOSTER DOSE A nurse prepares a Pfizer booster shot at the San Jose Valley Medical “The first time that you get an antiCenter on Oct. 18. The elderly and immunocompromised can receive the booster dose now. gen entering your body, your body creates the age groups of people most susceptible B cells which create antibodies,” upper edward huang to the virus,” upper school biology teacher school biology teacher Anita Chetty said. Dr. Thomas Artiss said. “The older you get, “The first time we get an exposure, the The Food and Drug Administration the less robust your immune system is.” amount of antibodies that our bodies cre(FDA) declared COVID-19 booster shots ate is generally not that high. But if we are from Pfizer to be safe for individuals over vaccinated an additional time, the second the age of 65, people with compromised response is really high.” immune systems and essential workers After the approval of the Moderna on Sept. 22 and approved of booster shots and J&J booster shots, individuals are now from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson able to get a booster shot from a different (J&J) on Oct. 20. Administration of shots company than where they received their are underway in all 50 states. original two doses. The FDA does not recPfizer’s booster shots became availommend any specific combinations of able to the public on Sept. 24, and shots vaccines and boosters. from Moderna and J&J became available According to upper school biology on Oct. 20. Pfizer’s and Moderna’s boostteacher Dr. Matthew Harley, many people DR. MATTHEW HARLEY in developing countries are still waiting er shots are only available to elderly or immunocompromised citizens, and J&J’s for their first dose of the COVID-19 vacUPPER SCHOOL shots are open to everyone ages 18 and cine, while the United States is already in BIOLOGY TEACHER up. Booster shots are being administered possession of millions of booster shots. at various pharmacies and public areas“The qualms that I have about the Currently, the booster shots are only open Due to the confirmed benefits and booster shot is more of a social equity isto senior citizens, people with weakened safety of the booster shots, Pfizer will con- sue,” Dr. Harley said. “We already have immune systems, and essential workers. sider allowing teens to receive them once enough vaccines for the whole world, but “The vaccine is not in short supply, adequate testing on younger age groups it’s not getting to the rest of the world. but they roll out vaccines and boosters to has taken place, further protecting already Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

Space travel expands to public

Inspiration4 opens door to commerical spaceflight

Inspiration4, a space mission managed by SpaceX that carried the first civilian crew into orbit, successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 15. Jared Isaacman, the CEO of Shift4 Payments, captained the mission and bought the flight to support and raise funds for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

the first person with a prosthetic to go into space, and Sian Proctor is the first Black woman to pilot a space shuttle. Cynthia Wang (10), a member of the Aerospace Club, notes that a more diverse range of people will be going to space. “Having a civilian sponsored space mission offers the idea that everyone may have an opportunity to travel to space,” Cynthia said. “I think it just opens a lot of doors for the future of space travel.”

ILLUSTRATION BY NICOLE TIAN AND SABRINA ZHU

margaret cartee

PROVIDED BY CYNTHIA WANG

“Having a civilian sponsored space mission offers the idea that everyone may have an opportunity to travel to space”

He hoped to raise $200 million from the flight, and has since raised over $230 million for St. Jude, $125 million of which came from Isaacman himself. Inspiration4’s crew consists of three other members: Hayley Arceneaux, the youngest American in space, who has been in a long fight against bone cancer; Chris Sembroski, who has worked for many years in aerospace and air force; and Dr. Sian Proctor, a geoscientist, professor and analog astronaut. As a private endeavor, the crew of Inspiration4 comes from a variety of different backgrounds. Hayley Arceneaux is

CYNTHIA WANG (10) AEROSPACE CLUB MEMBER

Although paceflight in today’s age is still limited to the minority of the extremely wealthy, Anthony Silk, upper school math teacher and adviser of the Aerospace Club, believes that in the future, space travel will become more affordable. “We’ve gotten to a point now that commercial space travel is possible,” Silk said. “In the beginning, only the wealthy could pay to fly, and then eventually it became common enough that anyone could do it. I think we’re just going through the same cycle.” As of now, space travel is still in its infancy, but future space missions and

hope

leadership

prosperity

generosity

HAYLEY ARCENEAUX

JARED ISAACMAN

DR. SIAN PROCTOR

CHRIS SEMBROSKI

Youngest American in space and cancer survivor

Leader of mission and CEO of Shift4 Payments

First black woman to pilot shuttle and an analog astronaut

Aerospace engineer and previous Air Force member

Adapted from Inspiration4 media continue to document upcoming astronauts and scientists. In a world that increasingly draws on the limitless possibilities of space, astronautic technology will continue to advance exponentially. “As more people are going into space,

as there’s more developments in that area, [there’s] going to be more technology emerging,” Grant Sims (11), head of design for the Aerospace Club. “It’s a really exciting time to live in.” Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

DESIGN BY SABRINA ZHU

23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021 STEM VOLUME

16 WINGED POST

Tech gadgets provide comfort to community Community members have discovered a variety of gadgets that make life easier in an increasingly digital environment. These nifty devices help students track exercise, take notes and explore virtual worlds with ease.

kinnera mulam

VR HEADSET

FITBIT

WiSTEM

IPAD PRO

3D PRINTER

CATHERINE HE (12) WiSTEM MARKETING & PUBLICITY DIRECTOR

BRIDGING THE GAP WiSTEM officers held a club meeting in the Nichols Atrium on Sept. 20. The club aims to encourage more female students to participate in STEM.

SABRINA ZHU

CONVENIENT MUSIC Alicia Ran (9) scrolls through Spotify, scouring for the next song to blast through her Apple AirPods. She frequently uses AirPods to listen to music.

Alicia Ran (9) uses her AirPods to listen to pop music on Spotify. She appreciates how comfortable they are and sometimes even forgets that she is wearing them but dislikes the pairing process. “My friend wanted to use my AirPods one time...but now it sometimes automatically connects to her phone,” Alicia said.

AT-HOME INVENTIONS April Sun (12) received her Creality Ender 5 Pro 3D Printer two years ago. She uses it to craft small objects such as pencil holders.

April Sun uses her 3D printer to craft trinkets such as pencil holders. “I can make stuff at home without having to go out and buy something,” April said. “I’ve heard that some people are exploring using 3D printers for construction. There’s a pretty wide extensive application for it, but in a domestic context, I can only use it to print small stuff.”

APPLE WATCH

EXERCISE READY Ishani Sood (10) checks her text messages and daily exercise statistics on her Apple Watch. She wears her watch while fencing.

Panting as beads of perspiration trickle down her face, Ishani Sood (10) pushes through the last few seconds of her fencing practice, causing her Apple Watch to vibrate as she finishes the session. Close friend Eira Saraff (10) jokingly responds with auto-generated motivational phrases such as “Nailed it!” Ishani finds the product practical and effective.

The unsung heroes of the software industry Free, open-source software powers all modern technology arjun barrett Building a custom app or website involves writing, testing, and maintaining thousands of lines of code. Even experts with dozens of years of experience struggle to create software on their own. Since writing code is difficult and tedious, programmers frequently use open-source packages, which provide free, high-qualiILLUSTRATION BY ARIANA GOETTING

women to pursue opportunities in STEM just because, typically, women are encouraged away from STEM fields,” Catherine, WiSTEM’s marketing and publicity director, said. “Since we have such a strong base of women in STEM at Harker, we also want to rally the girls over here and boys to empower girls that are not as privileged as we are.” The main initiative supported by the club is STEM Buddies. Each year, WiSTEM members present their findings from exploration in a chosen field at the Research Symposium, an annual science fair for Harker students to showcase their work. The club also helps fund WiSER, an organization for girls interested in STEM education in rural Kenya. After having club meetings over Zoom last year, WiSTEM is finally transitioning back to in-person events. One of it’s largest outreach workshops, STEM Buddies, will be returning for lower and middle school students. “[It] is meant to increase their interest in STEM and build a foundation for them to pursue it. Last year, we had to do it all online, which is still fun, but I think going back in person will be much nicer to engage and talk with all the students,” Eileen, who is WiSTEM’s secretary, said. According to Emily, WiSTEM’s outreach coordinator, the Symposium, STEM Buddies, Tech Girls, where upperclassmen club members can partner with underclassmen, and Wisters are all scheduled to be in-person activities. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

The iPad Pro is an excellent option for taking notes without wasting paper. In 2020, iPad sales surged by 19.8% due to these functions. “It’s convenient because I have all my notebooks basically in one small device,” Nageena Singh (12) said. “It’s really easy to download a document and then write directly on it.”

April Sun (12) owns a Virtual Reality (VR) headset which she plays games on. One of the device’s featured games is a simulation that counteracts pain felt by hospital burn patients. “Technology can play an important part in health or change your life,” April said. “I think the reason why we have these gadgets is for purposes like that.”

APPLE AIRPODS

EASY NOTES Nageena Singh (12) takes notes on her iPad Pro. She finds the device especially valuable since she does not need to carry multiple heavy textbooks.

KINNERA MULAM

PROVIDED BY APRIL SUN

GAME DEVELOPMENT April Sun (12) owns an Oculus Quest 2 Virtual Reality (VR) headset. One of the games created on the device can soothe hospital burn victims.

KINNERA MULAM

Fitbits track steps, sleep, blood oxygen levels, respiratory rates and calories burned. Fitbits even display “Active Zone Minutes” which computes exercise points based on the intensity of the user’s exercise. “I usually compete with my friends and parents to see who gets more [steps],” Ananya Bammi (11) said.

KINNERA MULAM

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATION

“Principally, our goal is to empower women to pursue opportunities in STEM”

HEALTH TRACKER Ananya Bammi (11) takes note of her steps for the day on her Fitbit. She uses the device to track her steps and to monitor her health.

PROVIDED BY APRIL SUN

STEM Spotlight is a repeater exploring what clubs at Harker have been doing as they return to campus. This week’s featured club is HarkerDEV, which creates new software and applications that help the Harker community. The Women in STEM (WiSTEM) club, currently led by presidents Emily Zhou (12) and Kavita Murthy (12) fosters interest in science, technology, engineering and math in young women. Upper school biology teacher and advisor, Anita Chetty. founded WiSTEM sixteen years ago. The club also seeks to raise awareness about the gender discrepancies in STEM and provide members with professional female role models. “Principally, our goal is to empower

KINNERA MULAM

katelyn zhao

Some programs provide a copy of their source code, which allows software engineers to see what happens under the hood ty code to efficiently tackle common problems. In fact, building something as simple as a weather app without borrowing any open-source software could cost up to millions of dollars and years of work. Consumer software is usually closedsource, which means nobody can read the source code for apps like Excel, Chrome, or YouTube. Closed-source developers obfuscate the source code their programs use. Because the code is hidden, users of closed-source software don’t know what

those programs are actually doing. If Microsoft were to add a virus into Word that steals private user data , it would be next to impossible to tell. Installing closed-source software requires users to trust developers with access to their entire digital identity. On the other hand, some programs provide a copy of their source code, which allows software engineers to see what happens under the hood. Since the code is public, anyone can contribute to an open source project by filing bug reports or suggesting improvements. These communi-

ty contributions can make open-source projects faster and more secure. Devon Govett is a software engineer at Adobe who maintains multiple major open-source programs, including a website development tool called Parcel. “I created Parcel while working at Adobe because we were frustrated with existing build tools. I worked on it on my spare time as a side project, but then it became something people actually used,” Govett said. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

DESIGN BY ARJUN BARRETT

WINGED POST 17

23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021 SPORTS VOLUME

PROVIDED BY ELLEN AUSTIN

Coping with the pressures of high school athletics Harker athletes reflect on what it means to take care of their bodies and minds

IN REPOSE Buster Posey stretches before a baseball game at Oracle Park in April 2014.

Take a bow, Buster Posey: the backbone of San Francisco

A TALL TASK Many athletes struggle to prioritize mental health while juggling academic and athletic commitments. A survey conducted by the University of Wisconsin found that 68 percent of student-athletes have anxiety high enough to require therapeutic support.

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGELINA HU

desiree luo

sarah mohammed & tiffany chang

“No athlete wants to step back. It’s the hardest thing to do because we want to be involved in a team. When it comes to being healthy, you should draw the line and prioritize your health.” ALEXA LOWE (12) BASKETBALL AND TRACK ATHLETE PR

D BY ALEXA

ING TO ATHLET

OF C MM U N O

“The most difficult part of being a Harker athlete is juggling the weight of a rigorous academic schedule and then having to go to practice — to be in [two] completely different states of mind [simultaneously].” JAI VIR MEHTA (11) GOLF AND WATER POLO ATHLETE O

“We are playing to win, but the ultimate goal is to make sure the kids are safe and having a good experience. I want all to always come back to that basic foundation if they get lost in competitiveness.” DAN MOLIN UPPER SCHOOL ATHLETICS DIRECTOR F

As he walked away from the microphone, an era of the Giants — over a decade of splash home runs, champagne victories and Buster hugs — came to an abrupt end.

R D B Y J AI VI

Four-time Olympic gold medalist and gymnast Simone Biles drew this line when she dropped out of the 2020 ToBasketball and track and field athlete kyo Olympics after fumbling mid-air on Alexa Lowe (12) remembers the winter the vault. At only 18 years old, tennis US and spring seasons when she would ar- Open winner Emma Raducanu followed rive home late at night after a tiring day of suit, dropping out of the 2021 Wimbledon practice. The pressure to be more efficient Championship in July when she had difwith the time that she has — finishing her ficulty breathing. After taking some time work after a long day of physical rigor — off to reorient her priorities, she went on builds up throughout the week, through- to win the U.S. Open on Sept. 11. out the seasons in which she plays her two Like Raducanu, young athletes strugHarker sports. gle to prioritize mental health while jug“There’s always something to do when gling academic commitments. A 2020 you get home because when you survey by the University of Wisget home, it’s very late,” Alexa consin found that around 68 said. “With sports, you’re percent of student athletes not only physically tired, have anxiety and depresOver 50% but you’re also mentally sion high enough to reof Harker tired, and when you get quire therapeutic supstudents play home you just want to port. at least one sleep and rest.” Orange County What does it mean sports psychotherapist school sport to be a student-athlete Cybil Streett, who priand prioritize rest? For marily works with teen Alexa, it means stopping athletes, faced similar difhomework in the late hours ficulties when she swam in of the night when she realizes college. Street emphasizes that the her limit. It means sending a teacher an looming pressure that comes with playing email for an extension and trying to plan a sport is not a result of the sport or the ahead. It means getting the sleep that she athlete themselves, but rather, the externeeds so that she can focus in school and nal pressures that athletes face, including at practice the next day. the stresses of academics, coaches, par“No athlete wants to step back,” Al- ents, teammates and Instagram. exa said. “It’s the hardest thing to do be“The problem is not within us, it’s not cause we all want to play more. We want inherent,” Streett said. “It’s about looking to be involved in a team. When it comes at the systems in which the individual is to being healthy, you should draw the line thriving and not thriving and identifying and tell yourself that you should prioritize what needs to be fixed in order to have the your physical health.” the success remedied.” Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

DAN

M OLIN

NIKHIL CHADHA (9) WATER POLO ATHLETE

ED BY SARA

“It was really exciting. All of us put in our full effort. We went in pretty confident, but we were also really cautious. [We all] played really well and the team spirit was there.” V ID

EO UN F C OM M

The varsity girls tennis team defeated Menlo 6-1 on Saturday to win CCS for the second year in a row.

FIERCE FOREHAND Anishka Raina (12) swings at the ball during the tennis team’s CCS finals matchup against Menlo on Saturday.

“All of our coaches jumped in the pool after the game. Everyone was excited. Harker has never won CCS in water polo before, so we were really glad to be able to do that.” FF

The varsity boys water polo team defeated Mitty 9-5 on Saturday to bring home the first CCS Championship in Harker water polo program history.

ALYSA SULEIMAN

MUTHU PANCHANATHAM

Boys water polo and girls tennis teams win CCS titles

POWER SHOT Lachlan Rossi (10) throws the ball into the goal during the boys water polo team’s match against Gunn on Oct. 5.

SARA WAN (11) TENNIS ATHLETE

The 2021 Major League Baseball season concluded with the Atlanta Braves winning the World Series over the Houston Astros on Nov. 2. For Giants fans, the offseason offered a welcome respite from the roller coaster of a season we endured, which included a record-breaking regular season record of 107-55, a National League West Division title and a horrific loss to the Dodgers that cut our playoff run short. We could release our breaths, pay more attention to football or basketball until the start of the next season in April 2022. But we were soon collectively thrust into chaos. As I scrolled through social media, a headline caught my eye. I stopped abruptly and reread the words, doubting their credibility despite their presence before my eyes. My shock turned into dread as I clicked on the words blazoned across the screen, words that were so blunt yet piercing, words that should not — no, could not — be true. And despite my stubborn skepticism, my heart dropped with thousands of other fans around the Bay Area. Giants insider Alex Pavlovic just tweeted that Buster Posey planned to announce his retirement the following day.

Ever since the start of his career in 2009, Posey played 1093 games as a catcher, one of the hardest positions to play in baseball. He was also a reliable offensive player, posting a batting average of .302. These numbers alone do not do justice to his impact on the city. You often hear about Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner — three household names of pitchers that shaped the legendary seasons in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Pitchers, aces and relievers alike, rotated year after year. Posey remained behind home plate. Old players’ names faded from memory, and new players’ names seemed trivial, but everyone knew the name Buster Posey. From his years as a promising rookie to recent ones as a seasoned veteran, he was the heart and soul of the Giants. Which is why we panicked when we heard the news. We expected Buster, at a mere age of 34, to extend his contract and play for three or four more years, at least. Frankly, we’d never imagined a team without the player who had always been there. And yet he held the press conference, with his family present, in the afternoon of Nov. 3. As he walked away from the microphone, an era of the Giants — over a decade of splash home runs, champagne victories and Buster hugs — came to an end. Now, the debates begin: will Posey be inducted into the Hall of Fame? Will he return someday to coach the Giants? I truly hope that the answers are yes and yes. But regardless of when he makes it to Cooperstown, his infectious dedication and leadership on and off the field makes him the epitome of a forever Giant. So, in the meantime, let’s retire his number with his legendary career. Then, we can get started on building his statue. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article. DESIGN BY VISHNU KANNAN

18 WINGED POST

23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021 SPORTS VOLUME

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

The APEX repeater profiles Harker athletes who compete at the highest level in their respective sports. This installment features senior Imogene Leneham’s experience as a member of Harker’s cheerleading team for the past four years.

Imogene Leneham (12) finds joy in cheer

“When I make a commitment to something, I very much try to stick to it to the best I can, and cheer is something I really enjoy and that I love, so I wanted to be there for my teammates and still be able to be there for the sport even though I couldn’t participate.” know ‘I will get back to cheer eventually, just it’s going to take time.’” So when school reopened Imogene’s senior year and cheer returned to tis traditional in-person format, Imogene was excited to return to cheer — this time, as the cheer team’s captain. “She is not afraid to take charge in a very positive way,” cheerleading head coach Angelina Metsers, who chose Imogene for the leadership and dependability she demonstrated in her first three seasons, said. “I can depend on her to teach things or create parts of routines for the team and go above and beyond outside of practice to make sure that other team members are aware of the material.” Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

JULIE SHI

Energetic music pumps through the air as Imogene Leneham (12), captain of Harker’s varsity cheerleading team, performs with her cheer members at Harker’s 2021 Spirit Rally. Imogene leaps into the air in her splits and follows with a series of sharply executed moves, a smile on her face as she moves to the beat of the music. Imogene’s passion for performance first drew her towards cheerleading as a child. In her freshman year, Imogene joined the cheerleading team, which she has been involved with ever since. “I really enjoy just performing any sort of [act],” Imogene said. “[I enjoy] just that energy from crowds and being able to learn something and showcase it.” But Imogene’s journey through cheer has not always been easy. During her first two years on the cheer team, she dealt with knee pain that had begun bothering her in seventh grade. Since the exact problem behind the pain was unknown, Imogene tried many different braces and taping methods on her knee to attempt to alleviate the pain. The braces and athletic tape were often short term solutions, becoming useless after a day’s use. Yet, Imogene never let the pain in her knee stop her from going to practice. “It was just progressively getting more painful to do anything,” Imogene said. “But I would just kind of shrug it off and be like, ‘I’m fine,’ and try to keep going even though I was in pain, just because I wanted to be able to still do everything.” During Imogene’s sophomore year, the pain in her knee suddenly worsened to the point that it hurt to just walk. Right before winter break, Imogene was diagnosed with a benign tumor right below her knee. Had the tumor been left to grow

anymore, it would have shattered her knee and forced her to have an knee replacement. Imogene underwent surgery and spent the winter break recovering. “[The surgery] gave me a chance to just be grateful that they could figure out what was wrong,” Imogene said. “Because the pain had been going on for so long, just knowing that they were going to fix it helped a lot mentally — being able to

STRIKE A POSE Senior Imogene Leneham cheers with gold pom-poms on Davis Field.

Cricket, back in session

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGELINA HU

International Cricket Council holds World Cup after pandemic hiatus

TOP OF THE WORLD From left to right, Kieron Pollard from the West Indies, Virat Kohli from India and Rashid Khan from Afghanistan pose together. In their careers, Pollard, Kohli and Khan have cemented their places as top T20 cricket players internationally.

trisha iyer As tropical storm Shaheen made landing on the Arabian peninsula earlier this week, residents of Oman scrambled to find shelter and stay safe. Amidst the

devastation of the storm, several worried officials found a relieving sight: lush, thick grass nourished by the storm’s three to four inches of rainfall—or, in other terms, a perfect green backdrop for several intense matches of cricket. Organized by the International Crick-

et Council (ICC), the Men’s T20 World Cup runs from Oct. 17 to Nov. 14. T20 teams from 16 countries will take part in this tournament: after eight underdog teams play each other in a series of preliminary matches hosted by Oman, the winning four have the chance to compete for the championship in the United Arab Emirates with the current top eight T20 teams. T20 cricket is one of three forms of cricket, as well as the shortest, limiting each team to twenty overs of six balls each. The other two formats are One Day cricket and Test cricket, which can last for up to five days. Afghanistan, Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and the West Indies are the current top eight teams, and the underdogs seeking to challenge them this year will be Bangladesh, Ireland, Namibia, the Netherlands, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Scotland and Sri Lanka. The last cup took place in 2019, when England took the championship. For cricket fans, this upcoming World Cup is a welcome step toward a new normal after the period of limited sports activity brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to safety protocols, the tournament, which was originally slated to take place in 2020 in Australia, was scrapped with hopes that a 2021 cup would go smoothly. “I was very disappointed [at the news] because the World Cup is a very special time for all cricket fans, because their country is up and has the chance to become the international champion,” Riya Gupta (11), an avid follower of cricket, said. “But with COVID, obviously, we want the players to be safe—because when you watch cricket a lot, you develop a lot of care for the players.” The cup changed venues again in June, moving from India to Oman and the UAE due to the spike in India’s COVID-19 cases this summer. Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

Tara Ozdemir (12) signs to play beach volleyball at Stetson University PROVIDED BY TARA OZDEMIR

julie shi

STETSON BOUND Senior Tara Ozdemir signs her letter of intent to play Division 1 beach volleyball at Stetson University.

desiree luo & medha yarlagadda

Tara Ozdemir (12) signed a letter of intent to play Division 1 beach volleyball at Stetson University during the college athlete signing ceremony on Nov. 10. After signing with Stetson, Tara became the second student in Harker history to play beach volleyball at the collegiate level, according to varsity volleyball head coach Theresa “Smitty” Smith, who has coached Tara since freshman year. Tara announced her verbal commitment to Stetson before her junior year on Aug. 12, 2020 via Instagram in a post thanking her coaches, friends and family for their guidance and support. As a four year varsity athlete, Tara has played on the varsity girls volleyball team throughout high school, which made it to CCS finals in 2018 and won CCS in 2019. She was the team captain this year. “[Tara]’s been playing beach [volleyball] for some time and is very successful,” said Coach Smitty. “She carries herself with a positive attitude. I would love for her to be successful at the next level.” DESIGN BY DESIREE LUO

23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021 SPORTS VOLUME

Some of the best photos of the month selected by our sports coverage team

MUTHU PANCHANATHAM

FREEZE FRAME

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ETHAN LIU

FIERY START Varsity football captain John Zeng (12) bursts through the Harker Eagles poster to lead the team onto the field before the annual Homecoming Game on Oct. 9.

BRANDON ZAU

EMMA GAO

WAITING IN WATCH Tina Xu (12) swings at the golf ball while Emi Fujimara (10) looks on during the varsity girls golf team’s match against Notre Dame-Belmont on Sept. 2.

REACH UP HIGH Charlize Wang (9) leaps in the air to hit a tennis ball hit at her. The girls tennis team won their second straight CCS Championship against league rival Menlo 6-1 this Saturday.

KINNERA MULAM

TIME FOR A DRINK Rohan Gorti (11) takes a swig of water during a timeout. The team played Marina High School on Oct. 9.

LAKSHMI MULGUND

CHEER ON THE TEAM Fans of the cross country team hold posters celebrating seniors Ritika Rajamani and Erica Cai. The team competed at Crystal Springs Cross Country Park last Friday.

TIFFANY CHANG

TAKE YOUR SHOT Thomas Wisdom (11) throws the ball into the net during the varsity boys water polo senior night.

PULSE OF JOY The junior varsity girls volleyball team rejoices in a huddle after winning a point against Mercy High School. The Eagles won the match 25-23, 12-25, 15-10. DESIGN BY MARK HU

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20 WINGED POST

VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 17, 2021

The Triumph of over

Lightarkness TRI

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Families gather with sweets, gifts firecrackers and more to celebrate Diwali

GOOD FORTUNE Offerings encircle an idol of Lakshmi in a puja, a Hindu religious ritual.

isha moorjani & emma gao

CELEBRATION CLOTHING Dr. Anu Aiyer wears a traditional Indian saree.

tensive repertoire includes Gulab Jamun, a dough-like, milk-based ball, varieties of Burfi and Laddu as well as Mysore Pak. In addition to making sweets, many people use firecrackers to celebrate the festival of lights to symbolize the victory of light over darkness. They usually do so with friends and family, and community plays a significant role in the celebrations. “It is a time for families to get together,” Aiyer said. “It’s a symbol of prosperity, of good health, and you want to celebrate and be grateful for all those things.” Growing up in India, Aiyer practiced traditions such as waking up early and showering before receiving new clothes. After moving to the U.S., she still maintains several of the same practices, but since the distance from India reduces the presence of Diwali celebrations, Aiyer has started new traditions to rekindle the same feeling of community she felt at home. Every year, she creates gift bags of sweet and savory foods to exchange with friends. “When I was growing up, the whole neighborhood would all just be festive,” Aiyer said. “[The celebration] was pervasive. And so you bring some of that by just saying, ‘Oh, let’s meet. Let’s exchange. Let’s light firecrackers. Let’s have dinner together.’ Just bringing that celebration.”

SCRUMPTIOUS SWEETS Traditional Indian sweets lie ready for customers at Apna Bazar in Sunnyvale.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MICHELLE LIU

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An extensive array of sweets line the table, from round, airy gulab jamuns to sweet, soft laddus and crispy orange jalebis, the fragrant aromas filling the air. Children laugh in the background as they watch bright, sparkling gold firecrackers jump and dance in the wind, and flickering diyas, or lamps, seem to join in the celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Diwali, a religious festival celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, begins on the 13th day of the lunar month Kartika and spans five days; this year, Diwali lasted from Nov. 2 to 6. The word “diwali” originates from “deepavali,” which means “a row of lights.” Commonly associated with Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of pProsperity, Diwali celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. According to Hindu mythology, in northern India, Diwali marks the day that Lord Rama returned to his homeland after being exiled for 14 years, and in southern India, it celebrates the day Krishna defeated Narakasura. In celebrating Diwali, upper school mathematics teacher Dr. Anu Aiyer follows popular traditions such as wearing new clothes and cooking sweets but also incorporates her own twists. Every year, she aims to cook one new sweet: her ex-

DESIGN BY MICHELLE LIU