March 2019 Issue by The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

CHRONICLE THE HARVARD WESTLAKE

Studio City • Volume 28 • Issue 7 • March 20, 2019 • hwchronicle.com

School receives subpoenas By SOFIA HELLER KAITLIN MUSANTE

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Prosecutors subpoenaed the records of two alumni March 14 as part of a further investigation into what is being called the largest college admissions cheating scam ever prosecuted, Head of Communications Ari Engelberg ’89 said. More than 50 people allegedly participated in a nationwide scheme to gain admission into prestigious universities through fraud, bribery and lies, according to the Los Angeles Times. College counselor William “Rick” Singer orchestrated the scheme and helped students cheat on standardized testing exams and fabricate sports recruitment proﬁles in exchange for large sums of money, ranging from $200,000 to $6.5 million, according to CNN. U.S. Federal Prosecutors from the District of Massachusetts indicted the accused March 12. Former and current Harvard-Westlake students used Singer’s services in their college processes, student Violet* ’19 said. Violet said she started using Singer as a college counselor two and a half years ago when friends recommended him. After Singer helped her discover one of her current top-choice schools, she said he offered to set up a meeting with that school’s athletic director, despite the fact that Violet does not play any sports. Singer did not offer to help Violet’s family raise her standardized test scores through illegal means, she said. “It came about as a natural extension of ‘How can we get you into these schools?’” Violet said. “It was just another thing on his list. It struck us as a red ﬂag.” Violet and her family declined this proposition but continued using Singer as a college counselor, she said.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ZOË CASDIN

CALL TO ACTION: Eighty students at Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York lock themselves inside of a building to protest bias, bigotry and racism on campus in light of the administration’s response to a racist video that surfaced this month.

High schools nation-wide grapple with racism, homophobia, anti-semitism By SOPHIE HABER AND JENNY LI

Sixty African-American and Puerto Rican students barricaded themselves inside the administration building at Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York on March 23, 1970. The students protested the school’s failure to implement long-standing demands to enroll more African-American students, hire more faculty of color and integrate the African-American and Latin-American experiences into the curriculum, according to the New York Times. Almost exactly 49 years later, 80 Fieldston students barricaded themselves in the administration building once again March 11. Catalyzed by the school’s response to a video released of Fieldston students using the phrase “crack n****r,” this protest, organized by the newly created group Students of Color Matter, aimed to bring to light

the still-pervasive racism at the school, student leader Elisabeth Di Domenico (Fieldston ’20) said. “The video was not an isolated incident,” Di Domenico said. “There have been so many incidents like that, and it’s created a culture that is unresponsive to racism. It would be a little bit different if our school didn’t claim to be super ethical, progressive, supposed to produce the leaders of the world, accepting of everyone. If you say we’re going to be like that, then we should actually be like that. There were cultural changes that needed to happen, but there [are] systemic changes that needed to happen in our institution.” The protesting students outlined a list of immediate and longer-term demands, many of which were the same as those created almost half a century ago, Di Domenico said, including updating the curriculum and accepting more students and faculty of color. “It makes us nervous because

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Faculty to vote on schedules for 2020 By SABA NIA

Following the second pair of late-start block schedule days March 11-12, members of the Scheduling Committee have prepared two proposals for altering the current schedule, Head of Upper School Laura Ross said. Academic departments are currently reviewing the proposed changes to the schedule, and the Faculty Academic Committee will vote on the two ﬁnal proposals April 16. Ross said both proposals

will include more community time, at least one late start day per cycle and longer blocks of time for classes. During the second pair of trial days, students met for 60-minute classes with 15-minute breaks and no ‘X’ periods. Periods four, three, two and one met the ﬁrst day, and periods eight, seven, six and ﬁve met the second, in that order. In a Chronicle poll of 281 students, 45 percent said they liked the 15-minute breaks

during the second trial block schedule days. In response to feedback from the ﬁrst pair of late start block schedule days, the Scheduling Committee also extended the common lunch period from 25 minutes to 45 minutes. Students said that while they support the administration’s desire to alter the current schedule, the late start block schedule days were an adjustment. “The [block days are] better

what if we are back in 49 years, instructing the next group for almost the same thing we are asking for?” Di Domenico said. After two days of the lockout, the administration sufficiently agreed to the list of immediate demands, including a written apology, releasing the official disciplinary records of the students in the video and an investigation into the systemic racism at the school, Di Domenico said. By the end of the lockout, most of the student body, as well as middle schoolers, had been participating in sit-ins and workshops in various buildings at the school, Di Domenico said. High schools across the nation have recently come under scrutiny for similar incidents. On March 15, staffers discovered racist and homophobic graffiti spray-painted on William G. Enloe High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. Eight days before that, racist usernames and swastika symbols, anonymously

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• Continued on A7

The [block days are] better than what we currently have, that’s for certain. However, there is much room for improvement. Classes were too long, and school ended too late.”

than what we currently have, that’s for certain,” Will Evans ’19 said. “However there is much room for improvement. Classes were too long, and school ended too late.” The Scheduling Committee has compiled research gath-

— Will Evans ’19

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ered from trips to other schools and from a study conducted by Challenge Success, a company associated with Stanford University, based on a survey students took last year. English teacher and Scheduling • Continued on A5

A2 NEWS

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 20, 2019

Klein to lead history department By CASEY KIM AND LINDSAY WU

Current Interdisciplinary Studies Department Head and history teacher Larry Klein will serve as History Department Head starting next school year. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on crafting the future of the history department and building on the strong foundation that we have,” Klein said. Klein has worked in the history department for 24 years. He currently teaches Advanced Placement Human Geography Urban Studies, Assimilation and Difference in American Society and Human Conflict: From Intolerance to Genocide. Next year, Klein will serve as both department heads. Holden McRae ’20 said he enjoys learning in Klein’s class. “[Klein] manages to take virtually any topic and teach it in an exciting and engaging manner,” McRae said. “He never misses an opportunity to make class entertaining or share a lighthearted joke with a student. That being said, he is extremely knowledgeable, and I definitely retained a lot of information from his class. [Klein] is definitely one of my favorite teachers that I have ever had.” Starting in the fall, Klein will succeed current Interim History Department Head Katherine Holmes-Chuba. “[Working with Klein] has been invigorating and exciting,” history teacher Katherine Holmes-Chuba said. “[Klein] keeps me on my toes. He is a wonderful colleague, and I can’t think of anyone better to assume the stewardship of the department.”

CAITLIN CHUNG/CHRONICLE

LEARNING TO LEAD: Gabe Palacios ’20 interviews entertainer Will Ferrell (Magnus ’22) at the Unconvention. Ferrell encouraged students to focus on the qualitative rather than the quantitative aspects of life and to enjoy their time while in high school.

Will Ferrell discusses leadership at Unconvention By LUKE SCHNEIDER

Actor and comedian Will Ferrell (Magnus ’22) advised aspiring comedians to persevere through challenges and discussed the effect that his success has had on him at the annual Unconvention on Saturday in Chalmers East. Ferrell said that while he was initially unsuccessful, he was able to push through his doubt and uncertainty. Ferrell discussed his need to move back in with his parents after college and his struggle with poor reviews when he begun his career. “There were times when I ﬁrst started out when I literally had $20 in my bank account,” Ferrell said. “I had to put mustard on my spaghetti. What I tried to do was not think about anything in too big of a chunk [of time]. I’d just think about

the next ﬁve years, and if I ry is really inspiring because it kept making progress, I’d keep teaches us how we can better going.” make ourselves heard and get Unconventional Leadership our ideas across.” student Jaya Nayar ’20 said Ferrell also encouraged stuthat the class dents considerinvited Ferrell ing a career in because he can comedy not to What may be teach and inoverthink their seen as unglamorous spire the stucareer choices. dents. “I thought, things you have to “First of ‘this is kind of a do are actually great all, he’s a big crapshoot anyname in the building blocks, and they way, I’m just community, so going to have will lead to bigger and he’s managed fun,’” Ferrell bigger opportunities.” to attract a lot said. “I rememmore people that base—Will Ferrell ber than in years ball players before, which can’t hold the is exciting because the event bat too tight, or you’ll never hit itself is really valuable,” Nayar the ball. I use that approach said. “He’s a really good role with whatever [I’m working model for young people aspir- on].” ing to get their voice heard. He Ferrell discussed the imhad to work his way up to get portance of making the best jobs, and listening to that sto- of all of the opportunities that

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one has. “There are small one-act plays in North Hollywood that are great things to go audition for,” Ferrell said. “What may be seen as unglamorous things you have to do are actually these great building blocks, and they will lead to bigger and bigger opportunities.” Attendees also participated in activities including a seminar on advertising, a studentrun escape room and leadership-based games. Unconventional Leadership student Isabela Llevat ’20 said that the activities allowed for enthusiastic participation and a more memorable experience. “You know going in that you’re not going to get the typical slideshow presentation,” Llevat said. “Instead, you’re going to get something that’s really engaging and will spark intellectual curiosity.”

In the issue ...

A5 YOU’RE MY ROCK: Geology students journey to Death Valley, where they gained handson experience in earth science.

A10 SPEAK YOUR MIND: Criti-

cal anonymous sources are essential in maintaining the wellbeing of the school community.

B1 STICKS

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STONES:

Students discuss how they respond to and combat microaggressions on campus.

THE CHRONICLE, the student newspaper of Harvard-Westlake School, is published 10 times per year and distributed free on both the upper and middle school campuses. There are 732 students at the Middle School and 870 students at the Upper School. Subscriptions may be purchased for $20 a year for delivery by mail. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the seniors on the Editorial Board. Letters to the

C2 KNOCK, KNOCK: Students

interested in pursing comedy as a profession discuss their experiences thus far.

D1 WHAT A RACQUET: The

Boys’ tennis team looks to win third consecutive CIF championship this spring.

editor may be submitted to chronicle@hw.com or mailed to 3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Studio City, CA 91604. Letters must be signed and may be edited for space and to conform to Chronicle style and format. Advertising questions may be directed to Cameron Stokes at cstokes1@hwemail.com. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or the school.

MARCH 20, 2019

HWCHRONICLE.COM/NEWS

NEWS A3

HW Works hosts medical roundtable

By CRYSTAL BAIK

Students learned about career options in medicine and healthcare at the second HW Works Industry Roundtable on March 13. The event was hosted by the Harvard-Westlake Student Alumni Association and featured clinical social worker Rebecca Neubauer ’07 and obstetrician-gynecologist Layne Kumetz ’94, who discussed their experiences and answered questions. Neubauer has worked at Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Services and as a psychiatric social worker for the Los Angeles Uniﬁed School District. In addition to her current psychotherapy private practice, Neubauer provides prevention and crisis intervention services at the UCLA Rape Treatment Center. “I wish people understood how vast social work is,” Neubauer said. “You can do so many different things with a social work degree.” When working at an LAUSD middle school, Neubauer said she was responsible for 1,800 students. Over 300 were high risk, she said. “I would have to tell one kid

with suicidal thoughts that I’m too busy to see them because I’d be hospitalizing another,” Neubauer said. Kumetz completed her residency and currently works at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She’s been interviewed for National Public Radio, Cosmopolitan Magazine and appeared in medical-based TV shows. “Getting into medical school requires a really deep commitment to what you’re doing,” Kumetz said. “I really encourage people to think of it like a calling. You’re in school a really really really long time and in training a really long time after that before you’re out in the real world. It really has to be something that you have to be drawn to.” Attendee Elaine Liu ’20 said the roundtable deepened her knowledge on medicine. “I think one thing I really got was that there’s a lot of interdisciplinary work,” Liu said. “Maybe other roundtable sessions will help me find a specific degree I want to work towards.” HWSAA will hold the next roundtable session April 16, which will feature alumni in the financial sector.

CRYSTAL BAIK/CHRONICLE

PRO-TIPS: Obstetrcian-gynecologist Layne Kumetz ’94 provides students with advice on pursuing medical careers. Clinical social worker Rebecca Neubauer ’07 joined Kumetz to answer questions.

Life lessons: Business of Life class welcomes student, alumni speakers By HANNAH HAN AND ETHAN LACHMAN

Student entrepreneurs, alumni and industry professionals spoke to the Business of Life class to teach students how to apply their business skills in economics, law and leadership to their own lives. Chief of Staff for Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu Nick Greif ’07, VP and Chief Communications Ofﬁcer at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Bid Committee Jeff Millman ’99 and CEO of the real

Watch the HW Impact Venture kickoff event livestream here:

estate firm Jamison Realty Jaime Lee ’03 spoke to the class March 11. Attorney and legal educator Alan Croll taught an accelerated law course March 13-20. Of the students who presented, Digital Managing Editor Lucas Gelfond ’19 spoke about the importance of active listening and his experience receiving calls on Teen Line, a non-profit, confidential hotline based in Cedars Sinai, March 5. Jonathan Damico ’19 and Cameron Schiller ’19 gave presentations about their entre-

Five percent of the general population has a learning disability, according to the National Center for Learning Disabilities.

— Jakob Amster ’19 Business of Life student

attention to [Los Angeles] as they move on with their careers and lives.” Starting in late August, Interdisciplinary Studies and Independent Research Teacher Rob Levin began inviting guest speakers to the Business of Life class as a part of the course’s ongoing tradition. Founder and CEO of Coolhaus Natasha Chase ’01, COO

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of Swell Energy Andrew Meyer ’03 and Harvard News Editorin-Chief Justin Rascoff ’91 are among those scheduled to speak in the future. “I learned to carry business strategies into life and vise versa,” Business of Life student Jacob Amster ’19 said. “This is just the tip of the iceberg, and there is so much more we learn on a daily basis.”

Alumni encourage students to pursue social entrepreneurship at HW Venture Impact event By HANNAH HAN AND ETHAN LACHMAN

Corrections

preneurship venture, in which they founded a startup backpack company called Prova. Damico, who spoke about the importance of focusing on the big picture Nov. 12, revisited the class as a moderator on a panel discussing the future of Los Angeles. “We had a panel with ﬁve alumni and parents who had different backgrounds in civic service,” Damico said. “I asked them about the housing crisis in Los Angeles and the future of transportation here, as well as why students should pay

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“I would say the main theme of all the presentations is how you can carry over business strategies into life. Although that is just the tip of the iceberg, there is so much more we learn on a daily basis.”

In an effort to teach students about social entrepreneurship, HW Venture Impact hosted its kickoff event March 4 in Chalmers East and West. HW Impact Co-Founders Amaan Irfan ’21 and Alec Katz ’19 invited ﬁve alumni speakers, all of whom began organizations to serve their respective communities. The event allowed applicants for the upcoming Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship learn from experienced business owners and receive feedback on their proposals, Irfan said. To begin the event, Group Brand Director of Minds Matter of Los Angeles Jon Levine introduced fundamental ideas behind entrepreneurship. “Social entrepreneurship is taking social and environ-

mental impact and bringing “There was a real opportunity that together with commercial for business here, but also a methods that are ﬁnancially need to help people navigate stable,” Levine said. “You can our healthcare system and get have a vision to make as much them to the best doctors.” money as possible, Following Pompan but you can also want and Ulene’s presento do something good tation, Apryl Sims in the world.” introduced Simply When presenting Wholesome, a healththeir business, Cofood store that she Founders of Clear renovated with her Health Advisors Dr. late father. Since Valerie Ulene and his passing, SimByrdie Pompan also ply Wholesome has ’ explained their misgrown and now supAmaan sion to provide thorports over 100 indeIrfan ’21 ough medical counpendent vendors of seling to mitigate the risk of color, as well as marginalized misdiagnosis. and disabled individuals. “The concept of our busi“I had a vested interest ness was that if you have a to make sure that business diagnosis that you feel is not stayed there,” Sims said. being appropriately treated, Sims also recently then there is a need for a third launched Apryl’s Life in a Botparty, [who is] preferably not a tle, a nonproﬁt organization family member,” Pompan said. that sells cold-pressed raw WHITE S

juices packaged by previously incarcerated people who hope to reintegrate into society. Sims said she will begin selling her bottled juices at both the middle and upper school cafeterias and will contribute the profits toward students who receive financial aid. Lastly, founder of The Meaning Foundation Taylor Adams presented his company’s goal to serve underprivileged, formerly incarcerated individuals and aid them in finding meaningful job opportunities. To close the event, HW Venture Impact provided a catered meal for attendees. Students also brainstormed ideas for the Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship proposals, which they submitted March 8. Irfan and Katz began preparations for the event in December.

A4 NEWS

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 20, 2019

MUN club travels to New York By SIOBHAN HARMS

Eleven students from the Model United Nations club attended their ﬁrst out-of-state conference of the year, the National High School Model United Nations conference, in New York. Students participated in the conference at the UN Headquarters and New York Hilton Midtown, where they debated issues regarding international affairs through the perspective of a country assigned and researched about prior to the conference. Countries that Harvard-Westlake students represented included South Sudan and Luxembourg. Club president Will Evans ’19 said that the club took a small group of delegates, compared to the high number of attendees from other schools. “Actually, in many schools, Model UN isn’t a club or an extracurricular activity but taught as a class where your performance [at the conference] determines your grade or a sport where your position on the team is dependent on your performance,” Evans said. The school did not win any awards as a collective. However, Kate Konvitz ’20 represented Luxembourg and

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF WILL EVANS

MUN-DERFUL: MUN members visit the U.N. Headquarters in New York, where they participated in the National High School MUN conference from March 6-9. During the event, most of the club represented South Sudan over multiple different committees. won second place in her specialized committee of 30 participants. “This conference was a little peculiar in that unlike most conferences, they only gave awards for what they called crisis committees and awards for entire delegations as a

whole,” Evans said. Evans said he enjoyed his time at the conference and recommends the club to those interested in politics. “I had a great time being in New York City,” Evans said. “I would highly recommend Model United Nations to any-

body who has any interest in international affairs. It is not as high intensity as debate, but it is certainly just as fun.” MUN club member and attendee Will Lake ’21 said that he enjoyed exploring New York and looks forward to going back to the conference again

next year with more experience. “It was so much fun being in the city,” Lake said. “The Model United Nations work itself was rewarding, but it was also great to bond with the rest of the club. I’m excited to come back next year.”

Students, faculty reflect on college cheating scandals

caused some concern for current students awaiting admis“He helped me find a lot of sions decisions. In a Chronicle great schools I wouldn’t have poll of 279 students, 25 perotherwise have looked at,” Vi- cent said they were worried olet said. “In that regard, I al- that the scandal will affect ways thought he was great un- their college process. Howevtil I opened the newspaper on er, Upper School Dean Adam [March 12].” Howard said he does not feel If prosecutors release a that colleges will change their complete list of Singer’s cli- admissions decisions for curents, Violet said she is not rent students due to the scam. concerned that action will be “Admissions departments taken against are probably her family. going to go “Of course, [The school] offers back to review one of the a team of leadership and some of their things that decisions, but came out in deans who are looking at the same this case was time, this all for the best interest of all that a lot of seems to be families.” kids didn’t down a certain know that their —Adam Howard path in terms parents were falsifying using these Upper School Dean of athletic abiliservices, so ties and hooks who am I to say that we are not that my parents didn’t do anything sketchy,” Violet said. dealing with in terms of regular decision,” Howard said. “But, I severely doubt it.” Howard said he believes With the knowledge that former and current students this scandal will help students have used Singer as a pri- appreciate the full-time college vate college counselor, Har- counselors available at school. “I hope the lesson with vard-Westlake is conducting an internal review to fully un- this ultimately is that there derstand the nature of Singer’s are kids trying to take shortservices, Engelberg said. He cuts, and they are also putting also said the school has been their money and confidence in providing authorities with all people outside the school who information they have request- clearly are not the best people to [put] that confidence in,” ed for their investigation. “Harvard-Westlake has an Howard said. “[The school] ofunwavering commitment to in- fers a team of leadership and tegrity and fairness in the col- deans who are looking for the lege admissions process,” En- best interest of all families.” gelberg said in a press release. *Names have been changed The news of the scandal • Continued from A1

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF JESSA GLASSMAN

DREAM TEAM: Debaters accept the ﬁrst place prize at the Meadows Invitational in Las Vegas, where Chronicle Assistant Opinion Editor Jessa Glassman ’20 and Jaya Nayar ’20 closed out.

Debaters complete season with record number of bids, prepare for the TOC By EMMA SHAPIRO

Members of the varsity debate team received a record number of 58 bids for the Tournament of Champions which is a national debate competition hosted in Lexington, KY over April 27-29. Jaya Nayar ’20 and Ari Davidson ’19 received their bids for Policy style debate, whereas Chronicle Assistant Opinion Editor Jessa Glassman ’20, Chronicle Opinion Editor Vishan Chaudhary ’19, Spencer Paul ’19, Alexandra Mork ’20, Will Berlin ’19, Matthew Gross ’19, Chronicle Assistant Features Editor Spencer Klink

’20, Chronicle Assistant A&E Editor Joanna Im ’20, Nayar, Davidson, Samantha McLoughlin ’21, Andrew Gong ’21 and Matthew Paul ’21 received their qualiﬁcations through Lincoln-Douglas debate. “When I look up and see what we’ve accomplished, I feel really proud of the team and our assistant coaches, Jasmine Stidham and Scott Phillips,” Head Debate Coach Mike Bietz said. The debate season, which included multiple tournaments and invitationals that granted the debaters bids for the TOC, took place from October to March 1. The team received one bid,

which qualiﬁes them for the Tournament of Champions and two bids qualify the debaters for the tournament, in the Alan Nichols Tournament at USC, the last qualifying tournament, from March 3-5. The debate team is now putting their effort into extra drills and practices to prepare for the Tournament of Champions, Nayar said. In preparation, the team has added extra weekend practices, Nayar said. “We’ve been getting a lot of debates in on a bunch of different things which will hopefully hone our abilities to answer speciﬁc arguments that we struggle with,” Nayar said.

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MARCH 20, 2019

HWCHRONICLE.COM/NEWS

NEWS A5

School holds second late start trial

• Continued from A1

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF NANCY CHEN

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF KATHERINE KIHICZAK

ROCKY ROAD: Left: Students hike down a mountain trail. Top right: Students explore a rock formation in the national park. Bottom right: Science teacher Nancy Chen and her students observe their surroundings in the park. Students were required to attend the trip.

Rock on: Geology students travel to Death Valley By CELINE PARK

As the third of three separate trips this year, Geology and Geology Honors students traveled to Death Valley National Park from March 1-3 to further their knowledge about earth science. “The trip deﬁnitely helped me learn about geology because I was able to see the things in real life,” Geology student Lexie Warlick ’21 said. “In class, it’s just pictures, so it was nice to connect what we see in class with actual geolog-

ical features.” The group departed campus March 1 by bus. On their way to Death Valley, participants visited Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park, as well as a section of the San Andres Fault. These sites allowed students to observe the Californian landscape and the ecological changes in the area, science teacher Nancy Chen said. After arriving in Death Valley, the group visited Mesquite Sand Dunes, Dante’s View, Salt Creek and Zabriskie

Point. Along with Chen, science teacher Blaise Eitner, Transportation and Equipment Coordinator Miguel Acevedo and Head Librarian Shannon Acedo chaperoned geology ﬁeldtrips. Chen said these annual excursions allow her students to make new friendships. “My students form relationships with other peers that they may not connect with in their everyday life at Harvard-Westlake,” Chen said. “High school is not only about

Going green: Students protest to raise awareness for environmental problems By LINDSAY WU

To demand action regarding climate change, students skipped class to participate in an international, youth-led strike at Los Angeles City Hall on March 15. In the past four years, global temperatures have reached unprecedented highs, according to CNN. Extreme weather conditions such as ﬂoods, wildﬁres and droughts occur with increasing frequency, Environmental Club member

Guy Hartstein said. “Climate change is an issue that everyone in our community knows about but doesn’t care enough about,” Environmental Club President and strike participant Anja Clark ’19 said. “I can’t stress enough how integral it is that we are engaged in the issue and are pushing for positive change. There is no one besides us students pressing the issue. I hope that the movement was seen so that the administration, local and federal,

sees that this is a matter that really cannot be overlooked.” Protesters supported immediate reform and the Green New Deal, a legislation to decarbonize the country. In addition to recently increased greenhouse gas emission rates, decades of government inaction have left only 11 years to implement change, according to a 2018 report from the United Nations governmental panel on Climate Change. Approximately ten thousand students missed school

academics, but also about the relationships that you form with your peers and teachers.” Geology student Alexandra du Manoir ’21 said that her favorite part of the trip was the journey itself. “My favorite part of the trip was during the bus rides [to Death Valley]. We spent a lot of time on the bus, which would seem boring but I actually really liked,” du Manoir said. “We got to get to know everyone, and it was a good time to build closer friendships with people I didn’t really know.”

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Committee member Jenna Gasparino said that almost all of the research supports a learning environment with more breaks and longer and less frequent periods. “I feel like [the pursuit of joyful excellence] is the one part of our mission statement that I don’t experience on a regular basis through observing my students, and I really feel like this schedule will make student lives at Harvard-Westlake a lot happier,” Gasparino said. The Committee is currently composed of a teacher from each department, three student representatives, a faculty member from the Middle School and a parent. Student representative Lucy Kim ’19 said that since the ﬁnal proposal has not been decided yet, the community should feel free to reach out to the Schedule Committee with any comments or concerns. “I’ve heard negative feedback from students about an ‘undemocratic’ process,” Kim said. “I hope we can come to understand that it really is impossible to satisfy every individual when it comes to any change, and I encourage students to come talk to representatives. [We] are trying to come up with ways to allow for every student’s voice to be heard.” The future schedule will go into effect for the 2020-2021 school year. “We want to be successful of the academic tradition of excellence and give people the time and space to redesign their courses and learn to have professional development, because at Harvard-Westlake, if we’re going to do anything, we want to do it right,” Ross said.

To see thousands of kids holding signs about global warming shows that we live in a society where students are better educated on environmental abuses.” — Guy Hartstein ’20 Environmental Club member

to strike, according to CNN. “I generally ﬁnd strikes to be ineffective ways of achieving political change but to see thousands of kids holding signs about global warming shows that we live in a society where students are better educated on environmental abuses,” Hartstein ’20 said. Upper School Student Dis-

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cipline and Attendance Coordinator Gabe Preciado said students were not penalized for their absence. “It’s exciting that kids are united globally for a truly universal cause,” Clark said. “By skipping a day of school, we show that this is something that we value as much as our education.”

Students and faculty will participate in games and activities before departing for Spring Break.

School will be dismissed for two weeks in the spring. Students will resume classes April 8.

Juniors attend college event: The upper school deans will host a college admissions workshop for juniors and their families.

4/26

The top candidates for Head Perfect will address the sophomore and junior classes at an assembly.

Spring Break begins:

4/25

Annual Spring Festival held:

3/23

Head Prefect finalists to speak:

3/22

3/20

Upcoming Events School to host athletes: Community Council will host its second Service Week, which will culminate with the Special Olympics.

A6 NEWS

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 20, 2019

Babel invites students to submit language pieces By TAMMER BAGDASARIAN

LUCAS LEE/CHRONICLE

AWED BY ART: Chronicle Staff Writer Jaidev Pant ’21 observes the faculty artists’ artwork displayed in Feldman-Horn Gallery. The opening reception for the display took place March 4.

Faculty showcases artwork in gallery

By EUGENE WYMAN

Faculty artists displayed their artwork, sculptures, photography and paintings at the Visual Arts Department Faculty Exhibit in Feldman-Horn gallery. Jesse Chehak ’97, Claire Cochran ’06, Cheri Gaulke, Nicole Stahl, Gustavo Godoy and Alexandra Pacheco Garcia created the showcased art. Stahl said that she created her art over the course of the last few years and chose pieces for the exhibit that she thought students and staff

members could identify with. “I’m new, and it’s a way for the students and staff to get to know me on a much more personal level,” Stahl said. Visual arts student Sophia Nunez ’20 said that she enjoyed viewing her teachers’ work. “I love seeing what teachers make outside of school,” Nunez said. “It is super interesting to see how their own personal work is reﬂected by how they teach and their assignments.” Stahl said it was a new experience for her to have com-

munity members admire her work. “It feels a little weird,” Stahl said. “It feels just a little different. I thought it more of like an example for students to see what’s possible with the medium.” The opening reception for the display took place March 4, but the art is still on display. “I love going into the gallery and just looking around, even though I have seen all of the pieces multiple times by now, because they all have such different voices and styles,” Nunez said.

also offered extra credit to students who sent their work to Babel, the Upper School’s Babel. “A lot of the time, students foreign language publication, received a record number of are too busy with schoolwork, Spanish submissions for its and they need an incentive to annual issue coming out in do something that they should be doing already,” Spanish early May. The magazine publishes teacher Javier Zaragoza said. [Advanced Placement essays, recipes, poems, short “In stories, song lyrics and photos Spanish Language and Culto publicize different languag- ture], we do an enormous amount of learning about cules on campus. “Babel helps give people tures, current issues and peoa broader perspective of how ple. When students can turn many different cultures are around and write about it, it represented in the world and in is really good for their understanding.” the school communiBefore foreign lanty,” Babel Italian Edguage students can itor Carli Cooperstein submit to the maga’20 said. “Submitting zine, their teachers work from languages must proofread their in or outside of the work and approve it school curriculum for publishing. helps bring people The paper recomtogether, and it’s just mends that students a great way to furwho write in languagther pursue your lan’ es that are not offered guage and culture.” Carli Babel Co-Head Cooperstein ’20 at school consult a family member or adEditor Sonya Ribner ’19 said that the magazine ex- viser who speaks the language tended its deadline in order to for edits. Babel staff will start comallow more students the oppiling the issue when they reportunity to contribute. Most students submit- turn from Spring Break. “For this issue, we really ted work in Latin, Spanish, French, Chinese and Italian want to produce and present this issue, but students also content that would be of incontributed pieces in languag- terest to the student body,” es not included in the school Ribner said. “If it is poetry, curriculum, such as Hebrew it’s poetry that is relevant to and Korean. the students’ lives, and if it’s The editors added that they an essay, it’s about a topic received a lot of Spanish sub- that they are really interested missions due to class projects in. Ultimately, we want to be that coincided with the sub- able to offer students another mission period. look at expression within the Some Spanish teachers [school community].” WHITE S

Students participate in first pop-up play festival By KEILA MCCABE

commitment event for people to try new roles like director The school hosted its ﬁrst and writer,” Redlich said. Spears said she was pop-up play festival March 9, in which students wrote, amazed by the talented and directed, cast and performed driven students. “I was excited to be a part eight plays in a 24-hour time of the festival,” Spears said. “I period. Assistant Features Editor was inspired by the creativity Zoe Redlich ’20 proposed and and the fearlessness. Everyorganized the event, with the one worked together to do the help of Performing Arts teach- impossible.” Event coordinator and acer Michele Spears and Justin tor Michael Lehrhoff ’20 said Park ’20. About 30 total students the festival provided a unique opportunity for participated students to exin the festiplore performval, which inI was inspired by ing arts and cluded actors the creativity and the that he is lookand writers, ing forward to Redlich said. fearlessness. Everyone the future. On March worked together to do “I’m ex8, writers the impossible.” cited for next spent the night year’s festival crafting their —Michele Spears because at its plays. Actors rehearsed Performing arts teacher core, this festival opens opMarch 9, and portunities for the festival culminated with performances of any student to express themall the plays at 7 p.m. in Rug- selves through theater,” Lehby Theater that night. Tickets rhoff said. “I’m proud that we were free, and the event was can share our love of theater open to the entire school com- with many others in years to come.” munity. Redlich said she enjoyed Redlich said that she was inspired to start this initiative witnessing her project come when she met other students together. “My favorite part was who led a similar project at watching the performance and their school. “I think most of the op- watching how excited everyone portunities for theater at [the was in rehearsals,” Redlich school] are a time commit- said. “I’m really glad [the event] ment, and I wanted a low time turned out well.”

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AUSTIN LEE/CHRONICLE

RECITING THE WRITING: Nina Neumann ’20 reads aloud her literary piece during Stone-Cutter’s ﬁrst display of the year. Students showcased their artwork and read their poems at the display.

Stone-Cutters contributors recite poetry, display paintings at first showcase this year By AUSTIN LEE

Contributors to the upper school visual and literary arts magazine Stone-Cutters recited poetry and showcased paintings featured in the group’s winter publication during their ﬁrst display of the year. The publication has had an eventful year with many changes, staff member Anna Katz ’20 said. Katz also said that the winter publication was the second of the three Stone-Cutters publications planned for this year: the ﬁrst was a smaller magazine, and the last will be the large spring publication.

The magazine featured paintings by Capri Woss ’21, Katz, Eunice Kiang ’20 and Jasper Wong ’19. In addition, Felicity Phelan ’21, Nina Neumann ’20, Maya Doyle ’21 and Nicole Austen ’21 read aloud their poems and short stories. “I’ve been writing for a really long time, and I like the idea of getting my work out at a local level,” Doyle said. “I really liked reading other people’s work and seeing other people’s art.” Several attendees said that they enjoyed the showcase and hope that the Stone-Cutters staff will host another one. “I liked the gathering a lot,” said Phelan. “I think there’s

such a difference between poetry or stories on the page and poetry or stories performed, so viewing both sides of the art is really good.” While audience members ﬁlled the chairs set out, several contributors to Stone-Cutters said they hope for more attendees at the next meeting. “In the future, I think if we could get more people in the audience that would be wonderful,” Phelan said. “There were several people there, but those who attended were mostly people who had contributed, or an immediate friend. Hopefully we could have something a little more public or further-reaching.”

MARCH 20, 2019

HWCHRONICLE.COM/NEWS

NEWS A7

Students showcase short films By WILL SEYMOUR

Multiple films by Harvard-Westlake filmmakers will be highlighted in the Los Angeles Student Film Festival from March 25 -27. The North Hollywood CineFest will host the festival, which Los Angeles city councilman Paul Krekorian started six years ago. The screenings are free and do not require tickets. Students created the films through school programs, Summer Film, Righteous Conversations Project and Digital Storytelling Adventures. Students also submitted films created during their Senior Independent Study semesters and Video Art III classes. These films include “Hold the Sun in Your Hands: The Erika Jacoby Story,” “What Do You Reach For?,” “Storm Drain,” “Honey, Baby, Doll,” “Signal,” “Mom,” “In Time,” “First Love,” “Glass Mirrors,” “Mario” and “Mayan Dreams Through Education.” “I am proud of all the students whose films have been selected,” visual arts teacher Cheri Gaulke said. “One thing that makes me especially proud is the range of programs represented and the range of work. [There are] narratives like comedy and drama, international documentaries, social justice films and experimental works.” Students also said they are pleased that their work has paid off. “It feels really, really great to be a part of a festival that is so well respected,” Lucca Dohr ’20 said. “I am also so excited to attend the festival and see all of the other great films that will be screened.”

CAITLIN CHUNG/CHRONICLE

3-2-1, ACTION: Annie Wendorf ’19 and Jack Saﬁr ’19 interview performing arts teacher Ted Walch, visual arts teacher Cheri Gaulke and visual arts teacher Jesse Chehak ’97 at the Westﬂix red carpet premier. The event featured writer and director Bo Burnham.

Westflix hosts professional filmmakers, speakers By CAITLIN CHUNG

Bo Burnham, a comedian, writer and director of the movie “Eighth Grade,” spoke about his experience in the entertainment industry at the annual Westflix festival March 15. Five upper school student films screened at the event among 16 other films produced by student directors across California. The event, which took place at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood, was open to the public for free. Jack Nordstrom ’19, who directed the short film “Park-

ing Lot,” said he learned a lot helped her and other students about the process of film de- who did not get a chance to direct a film gain invelopment through sight about a field his Westflix experithey are interested in ence at the school. pursuing. “In 2017, I was a “It was really great little more nervous to experience to get see my movie on the more access to seeing big screen, but this other student filmyear I was a lot more makers,” Poe said. “It comfortable and rewas a stepping stone laxed,” Nordstrom ’ for all of us who are said. “I had a really Alex interested in pursugood time. I feel like Poe ’20 ing the entertainment taking feedback and finding new ideas from others business in the future.” Attendee Tosh Le ’19 said really helps in the creative prothat he is grateful to be at a cess.” Student volunteer Alex Poe school that provides unique ’20 said that the experience opportunities for aspiring teen WHITE S

Administration responds to recent acts of racism in schools across the nation • Continued from A1

entered by students, were projected during an all-school assembly at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. Three days before that, students from Newport Harbor High School and other Orange County high schools were pictured in a Nazi salute, gathered around a beer pong table with cups arranged in the shape of a swastika. Despite the outcry over the image at Newport Harbor, the school was vandalized with Nazi posters a week later. These incidents represent a larger case of anti-semitism in the Orange County area, Newport Harbor parent Michelle Cassini ’88 said. “The ignorance doesn’t surprise me, but doing such a blatant manifestation of hate and disrespect is deplorable,” Cassini said. “I learned that kids have to go in the bathroom on a daily basis and urinate next to swastikas grafﬁtied on the wall or sit at desks

in various classrooms that have swastikas carved into the desk. My kids [felt] the minute they arrived to the high school, they were so uncomfortable with their Jewish identity that they basically had to disrobe themselves of it and keep it to themselves. This kind of stuff is rampant and met with pure complacency from the administration.” Cassini said she is planning to lead a team of parents and teachers with resources from the Jewish Federation & Family Services, Orange County and Anti-Defamation League to hold schools accountable for potentially complacent behavior. “There needs to be absolutely a lot more education and not just teaching kids district standards,” Cassini said. “In my opinion, what my kids learned [in] biology class about the ﬁsh down under the sea, I don’t care at this point. I would rather them learn about the gas chambers.” President Rick Commons

said that the increased attention to these issues in high schools can be attributed to growing empowerment and activism among students. “I think that students, high school students, are demanding that institutions be places where those identities can be expressed without fear and can be celebrated throughout,” Commons said. “That, in a way, makes my job a little harder, but I’m grateful for it. That’s part of why we’re doing more, because students are asking us to. We’re seeing it at other schools, and of course we want to prevent that from happening, but I also think our students are asking for more of this kind of attention to community and identity.” In the wake of these stories of racism and intolerance at peer institutions, the Harvard-Westlake administrative team met March 11 to discuss ways in which the school can foster a culture of respect, Head of Upper School Laura Ross said. The meeting fo-

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directors in the wider Los Angeles community. “I think it’s really great that Harvard-Westlake is able to put on something that students can actually make real ﬁlms and then host them at an ArcLight Cinema,” Le said. “It’s really awesome to see that.” In addition to the screenings, several industry professionals, including Burnham, led workshops at the Upper School on March 16. This year’s speakers included Slamdance Film Festival Director Peter Baxter, ﬁlm composer Hans Zimmer (Annabel ’20) and journalist Nonny de la Peña.

There is nothing that is more destructive to the sense of community here than when individuals feel like they are being treated unfairly or are not supported by the administration and the faculty .” — Rick Commons Head of School

cused not only on how to educate students about how to responsibly use social media, but also on how to intentionally teach students beginning in seventh grade how to treat people who are different from them with respect, Ross said. “You guys are teenagers and teenagers make mistakes, so what we want is to ﬁgure out how we can make sure that, as a community, we are talking about these important things so that hopefully [intolerant behavior] is not one of the range of mistakes that people at Harvard-Westlake would make,” Ross said. Harvard-Westlake has faced its own issues regarding insensitive behavior. This year, a middle school student distributed “n-word passes” condoning racist epithets. Last year, a student used racist,

WHITE’S

homophobic and anti-semitic slurs in an online chatroom on Twitch, an online video streaming platform. Two years ago, students faced discipline for using racial and homophobic slurs in a social media post. The recent events brought to light by the media this month in high schools across the country prompted administrators to re-evaluate how they bring up conversations about the schools commitment to ensuring every identity is welcome and celebrated, Commons said. “There is nothing that is more destructive to the sense of community here than when individuals feel like they are being treated unfairly or are not supported by the administration and the faculty,” Commons said.

A8 News

The Chronicle

The Art of Dance

March 20, 2019

The annual Upper School Dance Concert opened March 1 and closed March 3. In this year’s performance, dancers from the Advanced Dance II class choreographed interpretive dances to different pieces of art in order to honor the artists and appreciate the beauty behind their work.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW: The dancers open up the show with a collaborative dance piece to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The entire performance consisted of 24 self-choreographed dances.

THE LITTLE DANCER: Sorcha Whitley ’19 performs a solo to the song “Madrigal” from Act One of Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

THIS IS FAMILY: (Clockwise from left to right) Echo Seireeni ’21, Conner Corley ’20, Upper School Dean Celso Cardenas, World Languages teacher Veronica Cherry, Maddie Boudov ’21, Alejandra Leal ’19, Naomi Ogden ’20, Caroline Cook ’19 and Fernando Diaz-Ojeda ’20 construct an abstract illustration of mutual human connection.

ALL PHOTOS BY CAITLIN CHUNG/CHRONICLE

OH FRIDA: Paige Corman ’20 and Victoria Steckel ’19 perform an interpretive dance of Frida Kahlo’s “The Two Fridas” (1939).

“CHAGALL” WE DANCE?: Emma Poveda ’20 (left), motions towards Daniel Arriaza ’19 as he is carried away by his fellow dancers. The group’s performance emulated the artwork of Marc Chagall.

C HRONICLE the harvard-westlake

Editors-in-Chief: Sophie Haber, Jenny Li Print Managing Editors: Alex Goldstein, Sofia Heller, Kaitlin Musante

Opinion The Chronicle•March 20, 2019

Studio City • Volume 28• Issue 7 • March 20, 2019 • hwchronicle.com

editorial

Digital Managing Editor: Lucas Gelfond Presentation Managing Editors: Ryan Albert, Kendall Dees Engagement Managing Editor and News Editor: Saba Nia Assistant News Editors: Casey Kim, Luke Schneider, Lindsay Wu Opinion Editor: Vishan Chaudhary Assistant Opinion Editors: Tammer Bagdasarian, Jessa Glassman, Emma Shapiro, Amelie Zilber Features Editors: Kaelyn Bowers, Alison Oh Assistant Features Editors: Kyra Hudson, Madison Huggins, Jeanine Kim, Spencer Klink, Anusha Mathur, Lauren Nehorai, Zoe Redlich A&E Editor: Lexi So Assistant A&E Editors: Annie Beckman, Jordan Murray, Sarah Reiff Sports Editors: Jackie Greenberg, Ben Tenzer Assistant Sports Editors: Luke Casola, Jay Lassiter, Will Mallory, Keila McCabe, Zack Schwartz William Seymour, Eugene Wyman Multimedia Editor and Business Manager: Cameron Stokes Assistant Business Managers: Sarah Healy, Joanna Im Art Director: Samantha Ko Assistant Photography Editors: Caitlin Chung, Jay Lassiter Assistant Broadcast Editors: Ty Goodrich, Cole Katz, Yoohan Ko, Alex Mork, Dylan Shenson Freelance Writers: Noah Aire, Valerie Velazquez Layout Assistants and Staff Writers: Olivia Baer, Crystal Baik, Mariela Breidsprecher, Lola Butan, Lauren Cho, Eugean Choi, Eva de Rubertis, Ruoshan Dong, Olivia Gubel, Tanisha Gunby, Hannah Han, Siobhan Harms, Frank Jiang, Ethan Lachman, Alexandra Landecker, Austin Lee, Lucas Lee, Emma Limor, Lee Nichols, Celine Park, Chloe Schaeffer, Andrew So, Khyra Stiner Broadcast Assistants: Alex Amster, Alice He, Madeleine Massey, Marina Nascimento, Jaidev Pant, Kyle Reims, Charles Wang Adviser: Jim Burns

The Chronicle is the student newspaper of HarvardWestlake School. It is published ten times per year. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the seniors on the Editorial Board. Letters to the editor may be submitted to chronicle@hw.com or mailed to 3700 Coldwater Canyon, Studio City, CA 91604. Letters must be signed and may be edited for space and to conform to Chronicle style and format. Advertising questions may be directed to Cameron Stokes at cstokes1@ hwemail.com. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or school.

ILLUSTRATION BY SAMANTHA KO

A Case for Integrity

On March 12, the Federal Bureau of Investigation indicted over 30 parents across the country, in addition to college coaches and a college counselor, on charges including mail fraud, tax fraud and bribery. This exposition may only be the beginning, as prosecutors indicated that more indictments may follow. Walking into class that Tuesday, talk of the scandal was unavoidable. Even though no Harvard-Westlake parents appeared on the list, the news hit close to home. Many of the people involved in the scandal are members of neighboring school communities, some with personal connections to Harvard-Westlake families. For many of these families, it is clear that getting into what they have deemed a “good” college was a top priority. Harvard-Westlake is definitely no stranger to the stress and desperation that can surround the college process. We understand how the pursuit of college admissions can become a singular focus and can sometimes seem to guide our decisions, dominating our high school lives. However, the news that those indicted were willing to allegedly commit fraud in order to secure a spot at prestigious universities shocked many of us. But perhaps not as much as it should have. While the severity of these alleged crimes is uniquely extreme, this is not the first time that news of immoral or unethical behavior in the college process has reached our campus. In some occasions, it has even occurred within our walls. Cheating and academic dishonesty are obvious violations of the Honor Code, but unfortunately they often go undetected and, in some cases, have become normalized. The appeal of this dishonest behavior often stems from a similar mindset, prioritizing acceptance at a top university instead of preserv-

ing morality. Although the magnitude of the actions in these criminal cases are more serious than we would ever hope to see in college process, it provides the perfect opportunity for us to reflect on the lengths some will go to obtain an acceptance letter. College shouldn’t be the only reason we attend high school and strive for academic success. When students choose to cut corners, they are cheating themselves out of the full potential of their education and experience. There is so much more to an education than the grade we receive or the recognition that we get; it’s about developing the person and thinker that we want to be when we leave high school. If we cheat our way through the process, then we are depriving ourselves of an opportunity to grow. Our community should take these allegations as an important reminder to conduct ourselves with integrity and to not sacrifice our good judgement or morals for the sake of an admissions decision. We should all respect ourselves enough to know that our best effort is enough, and the way to achieve success is not through pretending to be something that we are not. This does not mean that immoral behavior should be avoided at the risk of being caught. Instead, we should uphold moral standards simply because it’s the right thing to do. There is no question that when you put your own work into something, the experience is more gratifying than the end result, no matter what it is. No one can ever take away the pride in your work that you earn on your own. If we are completely true and honest with ourselves, we will be able to hold our heads high and know that our work was enough and that we are enough.

A10 Opinion

The Chronicle

March 20, 2019

Accept competition By Jessa Glassman

ompetition will inevitably thrive between actors auditioning for the same lead role in the school play, baseball players turning as many double plays as they can to make the Varsity team and yearbook students trying to prove their commitment to their publication with the hopes of becoming an editor. Feeling pressure to succeed, especially at a school like ours that puts such a large emphasis on excellence in all domains, comes from multiple different places and motivates students to compete with each other to be the best. Striving to be number one can often require intense competition to beat out peers. While competitiveness can take toxic forms that harm friendships and lead to an unabated obsession with perfection, a healthy dosage can motivate students to work harder to achieve their goals. For example, an award-winning artist who stays at the studio an hour longer to work on her painting might be encouraging other painters in her class to do the same without realizing it. Similarly, an athlete that decides to try lifting a heavier weight demonstrates a certain drive and determination that his teammates are more likely to adopt in an effort to be better, which makes the entire team stronger. Even though our peers can push us to be better, it is vital not to forget the importance of self-motivation. Hard work with the goal of improvement should be something that is truly wanted and not just something that feels mandatory because of external pressure from coaches or family members. While competition among peers can propel students to build their skills up to impressive heights, self-motivation should be thought of as a prerequisite. If a student doesn’t feel an instinctual desire to pursue excellence in a certain field, no matter how hard their peers are working, drive to improve in the activity will not magically appear. Students have to want to succeed

ear College Freshman Saba,

Today, I applied to work at my summer job for the last time. I expect several more lasts this year–my last night at home, my last stroll through the Quad–but this last feels more final. After this summer, I will no longer spend my mornings navigating the winding roads to this little park; I will no longer get to work with the kids I have seen grow over the last

in order for healthy competition to give them the extra push toward greatness. However, when competition mutates into comparison, it can become extremely harmful. It is an inevitability that there will always be someone better at something, and to a certain extent, measuring personal success by using others as a baseline is human nature. But, someone who fixates on comparing their flaws to others’ perceived perfection is putting themselves in a position that could make it difficult for them to improve at their own pace and be proud of their progress. Finding things to be proud of and understanding that everyone is different is a necessary aspect of positive self-growth. Competition doesn’t just exist in a school environment– it is an inevitable part of society at large. Getting a promotion or succeeding in the workplace is certainly an example of this; however, there are more instances of competitiveness that are equally if not more prevalent in our day to day lives. Having a strong urge to beat your friends when playing games like charades or Scrabble, taking a spot on the leaderboard at a spin class or even investing hours researching college basketball to try to make a perfect March Madness bracket are just a few ways that competition remains an integral aspect of life. Cultivating healthy practices as early as possible, like finding the right amount of competition to encourage motivation while avoiding comparison, is crucial to propel people to new heights when it comes to achievement. Playing a part in creating a place that both facilitates fine-tuning skill and welcomes learning can be the basis for a little bit of friendly competition among peers, ultimately fostering an environment for people to grow into their best selves.of friendly competition among peers, ultimately fostering an environment for people to grow into their best selves.

four years; I will be no longer be a part of their lives at all. I will be at a new institution, as lost and confused as my youngest campers on their first day. Instead of being a seasoned guide and mentor, I will be the shy and curious student, relying on my elders to help me adapt to a different environment. You will leaf through the flyers, swaying in the light breeze, as you’ll read the descriptions of volunteer opportunities available for university students.

ILLUSTRATION BY SAMANTHA KO

Putting Name* on trial By Tammer Bagdasarian

ouis*, Megan*, Lauren*, Gordon*, Phoebe*. A name and a star, the Chronicle’s method of citing anonymous quotes, can elicit powerful reactions within the school community. When a source who criticizes the school is cloaked in anonymity, backlash often follows. Some question the accuracy of the quote. Others wonder whether it is ethical for students to potentially damage reputations without putting their own names behind it. Though many anonymous quotes are not critical towards the school, those which are present a complicated issue. It is not lost on the writers that such quotes can have a significant impact on the reputations of the targets. Nevertheless, the school paper is a necessary channel for members of the community to air their concerns, whether they choose to remain anonymous or not. When students have issues with members of the faculty, though, they should not immediately turn to the paper. In many cases, the easiest way to resolve a problem is to speak directly to the source or talk to deans and other trusted advisers. Our administrators are trained to deal with sensitive issues and attempt to resolve them privately. However, the answer may not always be that simple.

Only the student fully understands the situation that they are in, and it is not appropriate for others to tell them the best approach to take. For example, to some athletes, the thought of voicing concerns to the coaching staff may raise fear of retribution like getting benched in the next game or possibly endangering their playing future. And while the school administration can speak to teachers and coaches on behalf of students, the message they convey may be diluted or distorted in translation. The paper presents another option–one that guarantees unfiltered communication, a wide audience and protection through anonymity. Students who choose to speak to the paper anonymously often do so because they have exhausted all other options, their opinions stifled but not ready to be silenced. The paper can give them voice, projecting it through a megaphone heard by the entire school community. Controversial quotes also spark a constructive dialogue among all stakeholders. When someone speaks up in a public forum about an issue, it can motivate others to do the same. Rather than keeping the discussion confined to just a few people, the quotes draw the larger school community

into the conversation and can lead to a successful resolution. The decision to publish anonymous criticisms comes, of course, with substantial responsibility. Though all readers may see are harsh words on a page, hidden behind each anonymous quote are weeks of hard, meticulous work. Writers do all that they can to corroborate quotes. They contact a litany of other sources, ask for a wide variety of opinions on the subject and make sure that the quote is factually correct. In addition, writers give all interested parties the opportunity to respond to criticisms in order to present a holistic story. Even after taking these steps, it is never guaranteed that the quote will be fully representative. That is a risk that the paper must nevertheless be willing to take for the health of the community. At the end of the day, students must be able to hold the school accountable. Eliminating the anonymous quote, a device specifically designed to let students fearlessly tell the uncomfortable truth, would do just the opposite. We cannot live in an environment where we are afraid to ruffle feathers, where comfort takes priority over controversy and where complacency prevails. Expression that could lead to positive change is simply too important to silence.

Though you’ll know you could be content engaging in almost any type of community service, you will examine the papers closely, willing yourself to feel some type of connection with the causes, like how you felt instantly at home when you entered this college. You will be aware that it takes time to find your passions–and you will sigh as you recall you’ll only have a year or so to discover your calling–but in this hectic period of upheaval, you’ll want to find something that you don’t have to mull over or try to get used to; you’ll want to find something that just feels right. And just as you’ll turn away from the table, an organization will catch your eye. So, during this transition period, Saba, do not agonize over the reversal of your roles. Though you will not chant camp songs to kick off your new beginning, there is something undeniably exciting about this change. Embrace that. And welcome the

fact that as you continue to cultivate your interests from high school, you will need to try new things. And it will take time for you to settle in your classes and finalize your extracurriculars. But didn’t you love that? Helping your campers learn new games and how to work as a group and how to express themselves? When you step inside the tutoring center, you’ll find yourself feeling like that little timid kindergarten girl again. Your new boots will scuff against the polished linoleum floor, and you’ll flash a quick smile to the receptionist as you get your name tag and are assigned a partner. But once you’ll enter that classroom, once you’ll see the children playing with blocks and coloring designs, you know you’ll be fine. Oh, Saba, make sure to enjoy every aspect of student life at college. I know you’d much rather listen to indie music or rewatch a period drama for the upteenth time, but leave your

dorm room. Appreciate guest speakers and attend assemblies. Create an intramural sports team and laugh with your teammates about how inexperienced you all are. And of course, while you’ll try other extracurriculars as well, don’t stop writing. Because there’s always more we can do to learn and grow and improve; and even if we are satisfied with our personal growth, there’s always a friend we can help or stranger who could use a helping hand. Isn’t that a true education? You’ll watch a little girl struggling to scrawl a sentence. As you’ll approach her, you’ll briefly think about how you still don’t know your way around campus and that your bed feels too small and that you have too many assignments already. As you’ll take your seat, all of that will go away. You’ll smile at the girl. “Let’s get started.” Love, High School Senior Saba

HWCHRONICLE.COM/OPINION

MARCH 20, 2019

OPINION A11

Calling out call-out culture By Spencer Klink

osetta Lee, educator and diversity consultant, made a resounding political statement in her speech to the Upper School: in addressing microaggressions, students ought to maintain respect for the person with whom they are engaging in dialogue. Lee’s speech came at a time of heightened political division under “call-out culture” across the American political spectrum. While many liberals have begun to publicly denounce or “cancel” those who do not maintain political correctness in their everyday lives, a number of conservatives are increasingly reliant upon publicly shaming those who maintain leftist beliefs by referring to them as “triggered” or “snowflakes.” The problem with “call-out culture” is that it is entirely performance—although it may feel empowering to expose others, it ultimately is a way for people to avoid the difficult work that goes into politics. Although boycotting celebrities that have made bad comments and demonizing their fans may feel like political activism, it doesn’t accomplish anything beyond that initial condemnation. Additionally, this approach obscures the source of prejudice since it overwhelmingly focuses on individual flaws and not on the structures and institutions that perpetuate issues, like racism or homophobia. In searching for points of conflict rather than points of agreement to foster engagement, generating solidarity also becomes impossible and thus renders resistance to prejudice far more difficult than if individuals formed coalitions with like-minded people. The solution to “call-

out culture” does not entail punishing those who willingly participate in it. That would be hypocritical and replicate all the ﬂaws of call-out culture. Instead, individuals ought to engage in forms of healthy dialogue, which entails listening to the opposing side and then offering one’s own perspective. This is preferable for a number of reasons. First, this culture doesn’t enable growth or encourage others to challenge their viewpoints. Rather, it causes people to run to the margins of their political beliefs instead of ﬁnding points of agreement with others. According to a study conducted by researchers from Cornell University, the best arguments use

moderate, calmer language, which reveals that denouncing others is ultimately dissuasive. Second, a study published in the journal Science found that active conversations most effectively change people’s opinions. The study, which focused on prejudice against transgender individuals, recognized the malleable nature of people’s mindsets and the importance of recognizing each other’s humanity. As high school students,

the importance of engagement is even more signiﬁcant. We’re still in the process of developing our own viewpoints, so making some mistakes is inevitable. An approach that demonizes individuals who make a mistake may seem to increase accountability but ultimately just knocks others down without giving a chance for improvement. This is not to say that it is the responsibility of students who experience oppression to educate everyone else on their personal experiences. Instead, when interacting with people they trust, individuals ought to listen to the other side and understand where their perspective comes from before informing them that their opinion is insensitive or based on implicit bias. This also does not mean that people who boycott individual celebrities should stop doing so. They are also entitled to their own political beliefs, and they should take pride in this individual resistance if they ﬁnd it valuable. However, it is also important to recognize the limitations of this political strategy as one should do with every form of resistance. Overall, the relevant question individuals ought to ask is whether they think it is more important to call others out as opposed to calling them in and informing them of a wrongdoing. Establishing dialogue is ultimately a healthier approach that can generate long-term change.

An analysis of Affirmative Action By Lucas Gelfond

ast year, the Chronicle published an article called “Slipping Through the Safety Net: Students deal with lower acceptance rates at universities.” The matriculation statistics in big text were terrifying, and I recall loud, panicked discussion of our college prospects. Students seemed worried that the “Harvard-Westlake advantage” had been lost. Too often do students seem to weigh the prospect of a stronger academic record at a public school versus the college boost of Harvard-Westlake, and in light of such damning statistics for our school, the former seemed to be more desirable. I disagree with the absurdly conceited idea that any Harvard-Westlake student would be guaranteed to academically dominate at other schools. I also take issue with the idea that Harvard-Westlake has “lost its edge;” acceptance rates for Harvard-Westlake

students seem to be dropping at the same pace (or slower) than those nationwide. As the college process progressed, discussion around the perceived unfairness of attending Harvard-Westlake seemed to continue, and much more aggressively. “Why would they take a bunch of public school kids who aren’t going to do as well?” I heard. “My school is just a bunch of public school valedictorians,” a friend in college told me. “They only got in there because they were a minority,” someone else hypothesized. As we sat in on college information sessions, the ideas of ‘holistic review’ and ‘context matters’ terriﬁed us as many of my peers seemed to believe that we were doomed as the wealthy kids from a competitive private school. The original Chronicle article cited that decreased acceptance rates nationwide can be largely attributed to more outreach toward and therefore

more applications from lowincome students, especially those eligible for Pell Grants, a government education subsidy for those who “display exceptional ﬁnancial need.” For example, the percentage of freshmen at Vassar College eligible for Pell Grants rose from 12 percent in 2007 to 23 percent in 2015, according to the Washington Post. These tend to be people of color as well; according to the New York Times, the percentage of white freshmen at Harvard University has declined from 83 percent in 1980 to 47 percent in 2015. In reality, the college process is deeply unfair, and the scales are tipped toward many Harvard-Westlake students. The process beneﬁts people whose college counselors wrote 30 recommendations instead of 300, whose college educated parents proofread their essays, who have private admissions counselors, hooks and even advantages

What do you think is the best way to address a microagression? Ignore: 26 percent Approach: 59 percent Call out: 15 percent *276 students polled

“I think it’s usually better to call [a microagression] out, but I know it’s not really easy to do that especially if you feel uncomfortable. ”

Evan Roderick ’21

Maddie Dupee ’20

EMMA SHAPIRO/CHRONICLE

“I would recognize [microagressions], but I don’t think I would make too much of a deal about it.”

EMMA SHAPIRO/CHRONICLE

“It depends... If the person said something that is genuinely offensive, you should let them know in a concrete and straight forward way.”

Will Evans ’19

EMMA SHAPIRO/CHRONICLE

Digital Managing Editor Lucas Gelfond reflects on the importance of supporting Affirmative Action programs regardless of personal benefit. that extend beyond the college process. Many see education as the ‘great equalizer;’ when the admissions process deeply favors students of immense privilege, its power to equalize is profoundly diminished. In turn, I think any calls that our “spots are being taken” or that we’re disadvantaged in the college process make no sense. The Atlantic published an article in December of last year titled “Does It Matter Where You Go to College?” Research suggests that elite colleges don’t really help rich white guys. But they can have a big effect if you’re not rich, not white, or not a guy. Many of us (but admittedly not all) at Harvard-Westlake are afforded an absurd amount of opportunities, even if we end up matriculating to community colleges or no college at all. As such, for many of us, university admission should not be the object of obsession. The Onion, a satirical newspa-

per, recently ran the headline: “Report: Just Go Ahead And Tell Yourself Bribery Is The Only Reason You Didn’t Get Into Columbia.” In light of the recent scandal and continued attitudes about afﬁrmative action, it’s easy to blame others for our college results. This is counterproductive; here we’re given opportunities near unparalleled at other schools, and we should be thankful. Instead of complaining about the admissions of other successful students, we should be grateful for the advantages we have already. Even if it means we don’t get in. As we at Harvard-Westlake see fewer kids matriculate to elite schools, we should do our best to look on these statistics as gratefully as we can. Fewer Harvard-Westlake students getting elite school educations should not be a tragedy if we consider who is. Maybe context really does matter.

COMMUNITY The Chronicle • March 20, 2019

State halts high-speed railroad plan By JESSA GLASSMAN

With roughly 120 miles of track already under construction in the Central Valley of California, Governor Gavin Newsom decided to halt plans to build a high-speed railroad that would have spanned from Los Angeles to San Francisco. “The project, as currently planned, would cost too much and take too long,” Newsom said during his ﬁrst State of the State address. “There’s been too little oversight and not enough transparency.” The railroad would have spanned 800 miles and reached speeds nearing 220 miles per hour. The construction was halted after the Trump administration’s decision to cancel the transfer of $929 million in grant funds. Newsom said the funding cut is a political move. “It’s no coincidence that the Administration’s threat comes 24 hours after California led 16 states in challenging the President’s farcical ‘national emergency,’” Newsom said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. Chief of the Federal Railroad Administration Ronald Batory claimed that the cut was a result of the state failing to comply with a grant agreement by not spending required matching funds, not submitting ﬁnancial information and missing expected deadlines. The state administration is also seeking legal means to get back the original $2.5 billion grant. George Grube ’20 said that he thinks the railroad would have made a strong impact on both California and the world at large. “The high speed rail could’ve been the future for California,” Grube said. “We are the eighth largest economy in the world and have to set the example.”

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF DIANA CASTELLANOS

Butterflies migrate across Southern California TAKING FLIGHT: Millions of painted lady butterﬂies have migrated north from the Mojave and Colorado desert regions in Southern California to Oregon, Washington and Alaska. Though the local butterﬂy population reached an all-time low in 2018, this year’s migration is the largest since 2005 due to increased vegetation from recent rains, according to CNN.

Locals oppose new plans to expand Burbank airport By LINDSAY WU

As part of their ongoing protest regarding recently increased air trafﬁc, Los Angeles residents submitted comprehensive comments to the Federal Aviation Administration opposing its plans to expand the Bob Hope “Hollywood Burbank” Airport terminal March 1. Over 1,600 residents have also signed an online petition created by Studio City for Quiet Skies, an organization working to improve air trafﬁc conditions. In January, the Burbank airport announced its inten-

tion to renovate in order to meet current FAA standards and California Building Codes. To comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, the FAA will also prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. Throughout the project, current buildings will be demolished and replaced by a new fourteen-seat passenger terminal. Runways will also be expanded. Due to a change in ﬂight paths the FAA implemented in 2017, the Burbank airport currently directs approximately two hundred planes over residential areas each day,

according to Studio City for Quiet Skies Founder Kimberly Turner (Sophie ’12). Studio City for Quiet Skies sent in two different comments objecting to the airport’s future plans. “Our position is that we oppose the New Expanded Terminal, unless and until fundamental and permanent changes in procedures — including a change in the departure ﬂight path that will entirely avoid public parklands and terrain — are made,” Turner said. The organization’s primary comment emphasized the negative results a new and expanded terminal would cause

for hillside valley communities, which have already been impacted. “The expanded terminal will guarantee increased operations,” Turner said. “Its greater size, increased amenities and improved airside facilities will increase efﬁciency, allow for processing of more passengers and result in more of ﬂights and larger jets. Growth already skyrocketed with a 31 percent increase at the Burbank airport over the last three years, and that is without a new terminal.” Read the extended article online

HAVE NEWS? SEND US A TIP: hwchronicle.com/contact

Features The Chronicle • March 20, 2019

More than Words Underrepresented students share their experiences with subtle and often unintentional discrimination on and off campus, known as microaggressions.

By Alison Oh and Kaelyn Bowers

276 students, 49% of respondents said they didn’t think microaggressions are a serious issue. As Xenia Bernal ’19 flipped Although the school has taken through the pages of the 2017 measures in the past to start a seriyearbook, she was taken aback. ous discussion about the impact of Alongside silly photos of seniors in microaggressions, including a stuheart-shaped sunglasses and chee- dent-led presentation in Nov. 2016, tah-print hats was a large photo of Meera Sastry ’19 said she believed a group of boys in sombreros and these attempts were not successful. fake mustaches posing with a huge “I remember seeing a bunch of bottle of Tapatío hot sauce. Bernal, slides that had real instances of a leader of the Latin American and microaggressions that people had Hispanic Student Organization, heard around campus,” Sastry said she was surprised as a new said. “The reception to that was student to see stereotypes being people trying to guess who said perpetrated in the yearit and just taking those book. phrases and basically “I remember my friend making them into memes. saw it before I did, so he It basically just made the was trying to make me not phrases seem meaningnotice so that I wouldn’t less. It raised people’s get upset,” Bernal said. awareness about micro“It’s interesting to see how aggressions, but it only people didn’t really know made them want to make how to address microagit into a joke rather than ’ gressions because he just do anything about it.” Xenia didn’t want me to cause a Sastry said she thought Bernal ’19 scene.” educator and diversity The Oxford English speaker Rosetta Lee, who Dictionary defines a microaggres- was recently invited to speak at sion as “a statement, action or in- the school by the office of Diversicident regarded as an instance of ty, Equity and Inclusion, was more indirect, subtle or unintentional effective at raising awareness about discrimination against members of microaggressions. a marginalized group such as a ra“People will still make jokes cial or ethnic minority.” about it because people make jokes Bernal said she has become less about all all-school speakers,” Sassensitive about these situations try said. “I think [Rosetta Lee] was since coming to Harvard-Westlake. better. I think some things that the “I don’t feel the same way I did in speaker succeeded on were that tenth grade,” Bernal said. “I think she didn’t really talk down to us people don’t mean things intention- and she tried to give us good solually when they do dress up and do tions. I could actually see myself or stuff like that. People just like to people I know using some of those poke fun at things.” tools, sort of thinking about apClay Skaggs ’20 said students proaching the situation in a more are too sensitive to some instances rational way.” of microaggressions. However, Black “Our modern society incentiviz- Leadership Awarees being offended b e - ness and Culture cause the more things you determine to be offensive, the more ‘woke’ you are,” Skaggs said. “Next time you feel offended, ask yourself if you genuinely feel attacked or if you think you should feel attacked.” In a Chronicle poll of white s

Club leader Leyah Barris ’19 said man Geography when we talk she believes the assembly, al- about immigration, people look at though it helped start discussions, me for an answer,” Arriaza said. “I may not have changed students’ don’t necessarily feel offended by mindsets about microaggressions. it because my parents were immi“I don’t know if the message got grants and I’m kind of comfortable across to students, but I think I with it, but I see how it’s easy for heard a lot of teachers talk about it someone who is not as comfortable and how it helped them talk about with the idea.” having discussions,” Barris said. “I While microaggressions can imalso think it helps people who are pact people negatively, Josh Lee microaggressed figure out how to ’19 said he believes they are not indeal with it. I think that maybe it tended to cause harm. helped [students who are microag“Of course, all microaggressions gressed more than those who ar- are unintentional because that’s en’t]. It asked a lot of people who the whole point of a microaggresare microaggressed sion,” Josh Lee to try to teach othsaid. “They’re not er people, which I like macroaggresFor people think is hard somesions. It’s not like times.” something straight who don’t see Director of DEI to their face. I think microaggressions as Janine Jones said most microaggresreal, I’m very happy inviting Rosetta sions aren’t meant Lee to speak to the that they haven’t had to to be said. You have school community to be aware of such experience them.” was the first step things, but I think toward addressing —Sophia Nuñez ’20 people also need to microaggressions toughen up.” on campus. One Jones said she common microaggression seen in hopes new DEI initiatives like ineducational environments is when viting speakers will encourage the teachers expect students from school community to rethink and marginalized groups to represent recommit to creating a more incluthe perspective of the entire group sive environment. in classroom discussions, Jones “There is certainly a perception said. Other common microaggres- by some that microaggressions sions include confusing students of ‘don’t really matter’ or ‘aren’t a big color with each other and refusing deal,’” Jones said. “However, we to use students’ preferred gender bring speakers like Rosetta Lee to pronouns. campus to educate our communiAs a Latino student, Daniel Ar- ty because it strikes me as unlikeriaza ’19, said he sometimes feels ly that people who are empathetic singled out in class discussions and compassionate truly want to about race because of his ethnicity. ignore the feelings of others.” “I feel like there are times LAHSO member Sophia Nuñez throughout the day, especially in ’20 said she hoped those who do [Advanced Placement] Hunot believe that microaggressions are serious would try to empathize with other students’ experiences. “For people who don’t see microaggressions as real, I’m very happy that they haven’t had to experience them,” Nuñez said. “But, I would also consider telling them that it’s just so important to listen to what other people have been through and experienced and not even necessarily put yourself in their shoes. Just listen to what someone has felt because of what has been said to them.”

“

ILLUSTRATION BY SAMANTHA KO

B2 Features

March 20, 2019

The Chronicle

Students and faculty share their own conspiracy theories and address theories recent growth in mainstream media. By Kyra Hudson and Jeanine Kim

ally popular [now] , but what we might be seeing is that it is just easier to find conspiracy theories Abraham Gallardo ’20 may than ever before.” Conspiracy theories have also seem crazy, but he swears he isn’t. Standing in an empty Rug- become more popular through by classroom, Gallardo wildly the rise of YouTube videos that gestured at the chalkboard filled dive into different suspicions, acwith arrows and names, explain- cording to the New York Times. ing how it was possible for Hitler One of the most popular YouTubers Shane Dawson has gotten to have escaped to Argentina. Gallardo is not the only one millions of views on his conspirwho believes in such theories. acy videos, which cover modern Conspiracy theories have be- pop culture theories in a docucome more popular in main- mentary and investigation style. As conspiracy theories are stream media in recent years, as over 50 percent of Americans becoming more popular, many believe in some sort of theory, groups and publications have according to Psychology Today. been formed for discussions of these conspiracies, The growth of the Infounder of the Skeptics ternet has enabled evSociety and author of eryone with any sort many publications on of conspiracy theory to conspiracy theories Micreate their own mechael Shermer said. dium to promote it, “I founded Skeptic author of many publimagazine and the Skepcations on conspiracy tics Society in 1992 with theories M. R. X. Denthe goal of exploring tith said. mysteries and promotA conspiracy theory ’ ing science and reason is an alternative exAbraham as the best tools we have planation for certain Gallardo ’20 for solving mysteries,” events or phenomena, Shermer said. often supported by unAlthough conspiracy theories reliable “evidence” or false beliefs, according to the New York have grown in popularity all over Times. Although they are often the country, young people are dismissed as fake or crazy, there some of the main consumers of are many groups who maintain these theories, according to the New York Times. Especially at strong beliefs in these theories. “I think conspiracy theories schools with many young peohave been with us for a while ple, there are large numbers of now, and some research indi- people who believe in conspiracy cates there are actually fewer theories, according to the New conspiracy theories now than York Times. Students like Naomi there were fifty or sixty years Ogden ’20 and Gallardo said that ago,” Dentith said. “Rather, I conspiracy theories give them a think they are easier to find be- unique perspective on the world. Conspiracy theories have cause of the Internet. In the old days, if you wanted to write about been an important part of Ameria particular conspiracy theo- can culture since before the Civil ry, you had to write a book or a war, according to the Guardian. magazine article, and then wait In fact, a popular theory derived months and months to get feed- from Abraham Lincoln’s assassiback on your theory. Now, you nation was that the some highcan post your conspiracy theory placed Roman Catholics, includonline, and it can be picked up ing the Pope, were responsible or critiqued almost immediately. for his death, according to Vox. So, it can look like they are re- Theory is based on the fact that white s

there was a large group of cath- specifically is the only actor in olic Irish-Americans living in the these situations, but they are at United States who hated Lincoln least involved in them,” Gallarand the democratic party. do said. “For example, they may While conspiracy theories are have not done something but present in other countries, they knew it was going to happen and do not play the same role in pol- let it be.” itics as they do in America, New Part of the attraction is due to Zealand native Dentith said. the fact that conspiracy theories While theories have been men- are often hard to disprove, Wationed in many American history terhouse said. Although many courses, their rise in media has seem crazy and outrageous, peosparked growth of classes who ple are always able to say that focus on the theories, Shermer the lack of proof is due to the said, who is currently writing a party in question covering it up class guide for teaching about well. Because they’re often imconspiracy theories. possible to completely disqualify, However, with the rise of the people have an easier time of beInternet, he said he’s seen an lieving them, Waterhouse said. expansion in the reach of these While Waterhouse thinks that theories. Although there have al- conspiracy theories can detract ways been groups from true hiswho subscribed torical analysis, to “fringe meI think conspiracy he said he finds dia,” their ideas entertaintheories have been with them have become ing and interestus for a while now, [but more widespread ing to explore. in recent years, People often atnow] they are easier history and social tribute misforto find because of the studies teacher tunes or unpreDave Waterhouse dictable events internet.” said. to conspiracies, —M. R. X. Dentith such as people Many students believe in consaying aliens spiracy theories, often because control the world, he said. they say they feel skeptical about Waterhouse said he thinks the explanations given by either people believe in these theories mainstream media or the govern- because they provide a simment. Gallardo believes in many ple explanation and solution conspiracy theories, specifically to many of the problems of the ones that are government-relat- world. Especially in times of tured, he said. moil, like the last few years, con“I believe that in some in- spiracy theories have been very stances media or government attractive because they provide a hide essential facts to stories,” panacea for events that seem to Gallardo said. “In other cases, be out of people’s control, Waterthe conspirators just hid their house said. evidence so much that these inGallardo, on the other hand, stitutions don’t know it either.” said he thinks conspiracy theoAlthough he says that some ries teach students to be skeptheories are “just for jokes,” he tical of the world and look at does truly believe in the ones events with different perspecwhere the logic is thoroughly tives. presented in a reasonable se“I don’t think it’s important quence. Many of the theories he for people to believe in conspirbelieves in have to do with the acy theories per se, but at the government’s role in major is- very least [they should] always sues, Gallardo said. be ready to critique and analyze “I don’t think the government our world,” Gallardo said.

“

ILLUSTRATION BY SAMANTHA KO

March 20, 2019

hwchronicle.com/features

By Anusha Mathur

how I stay informed.” History teacher Dave WaterCoco Kaleel ’20 sighed when house said that students are more she heard her morning alarm go off in touch with current events beon her nightstand. She rolled over cause of access to social media on her side, picked up her phone but do not spend much time unand opened up Daily Mail on the derstanding the material they are Snapchat Discover Page. Kaleel reading in depth. “[Students] know a little bit tapped through the updates on the latest celebrity scandal or political about more things, but they do controversy that popped up at the not know a lot about much of anything,” Waterhouse said. “They top of her newsfeed. “I just need a break and then I know a little bit about more beend up tapping,” Kaleel said. “It is cause they can get these flashes all a break, a distraction. It is so di- the time, but as far as the in-depth gestible, you can just tap through understanding of those things, I in five minutes or even less and think it is probably in decline.” Though Kaleel said that she read all the headlines.” Kaleel said that the accessi- does not think that news stories on social media are the most bility of social media platreliable, the headlines forms, such as Facebook, and articles are short Snapchat and Twitter, and digestible, making it has made them the prieasy for students to stay mary way that students up to date on current stay informed about curevents even if they do not rent events. Checking the get the most accurate news on social media is portrayal of the news. an increasing phenome“A lot of those headnon that extends beyond ’ lines are made to catch Harvard- Westlake. AcAlex your eye, and they profit cording to the Pew ReDaum’20 off of the views because search Center, in 2018, they have ads in their 68 percent of American adults said they at least occasion- articles, so I would not trust Daily ally get their news from social me- Mail to be the most accurate repdia. Social media sites have also resentation of American politics,” surpassed print newspapers as Kaleel said. “So, if it is a really seria news source for Americans, ac- ous story, I would probably follow up with the Wall Street Journal cording to Pew Research Center. Alex Daum ’20 said he checks or something else. But, if you are the Apple News app daily for top trying to get a general picture of stories of the day. Daum enjoys what’s happening, I think Snapreading the news on social media chat Discover is adequate. If I did as a way to stay up to date about not have that, I probably would not be up to date on what is happeninteresting topics, he said. “The simplest way to stay up ing.” Waterhouse said that getting to date is just to check my phone when I am bored to look for sto- the news in this short form can be ries that interest me,” Daum said. problematic and deceptive. “It is kind of dangerous,” Wa“Even if it is not big news, I look for stories that interest me, and that is terhouse said. “Getting that superficial up-to-the-minute informawhite s

Features B3

tion doesn’t give the full picture. up to date on the news because of Sometimes the initial headline how widely accessible social media doesn’t exactly get the story right. is, but oftentimes, students are not It gives it in a distorted way.” driven to check it on a regular baVishal Prashant ’20 said that sis. with increased accessibility to “I have a phone and I could be news, it is important for students up to date if I wanted to,” Graham to be sure that what they are read- said. “Is the motivation there? Not ing is accurate. necessarily. It is definitely at our “If I read something on a social hands, but I do not think we are media article and I want to know if motivated to go out and find it.” it was fake or not, I would probably Kaleel said that people check look up the same topic on a reliable the news more frequently when source online,” Prashant said. “I there is a big event, but sometimes think reading social media news is current events can be overwhelmfine for entertainment, but I do not ing. She said she uses celebrity think you should ever completely gossip as an escape from serious trust it without confirming from news. other sources.” “We have the most access to the Monica Martell ’20 said that world than we have ever had, and although the apyou are able to peal of social mesee what is more dia is the ability wrong about We have the most to get informathe world than access to the world than we tion immediateyou did before,” have ever had, and you are ly, often times Kaleel said. “Ceshe waits before lebrity news is a able to see what is more believing the invaluable escape, wrong about the world formation preeven if it doesn’t than you did before.” sented. She said really matter bethat this is the cause, with such — Coco Kaleel ’20 best way to allow high information for other sources access, you need to do more ina happy thing depth research and reporting on once in a while.” the topic. Graham said that sometimes “You do not have to discredit social media over-emphasizes cethe information immediately,” Mar- lebrity gossip, sidelining other imtell said. “People are always cau- portant topics. She said she wishes tious about what they are reading, there was a better balance between and if there are lies and not facts in the two types of articles. the story, it usually comes to light. “There are other topics that Holding on to information instead should be part of the conversaof immediately reacting to it could tion,” Graham said. “When regular give stories the time they need to people are suffering, it does not albe discredited or confirmed.” ways get on the front page. But as Skylar Graham ’20 said that soon as the celebrity has an issue, she tries to read the newspaper it’s life-changing and everyone is that comes to her doorstep twice a talking about it. People are losing week and check her Discover page their lives every day. Sometimes, on Snapchat daily. Graham said celebrities need to take a backseat that it is easy for students to stay so we can have real conversations.”

“

ILLUSTRATION BY KYRA HUDSON

B4 FEATURES

MARCH 20, 2018

THE CHRONICLE

Second semester seniors discuss their employment decisions after going through the college application process. By LAUREN NEHORAI AND ZOE REDLICH

job with Surfside Volleyball Club. It was an offer she couldn’t resist, she said. Between Peer Support, manag“I love being able to see [the ing boys’ tennis, his KHWS radio kids’] improvement with every show and a heavy workload, Wil- practice, as it brings back a lot of liam Newhart ’19 never had a free my own memories with the sport,” day during his junior year. As a se- Bergsneider said. “It allows me to nior, he pulls into his driveway at stay connected to an activity that 3 p.m. on most weekdays, makes was such a momentous part of my himself a snack, watches some TV life, especially now that I have a and attempts to find new ways to much less stressful workload.” occupy the seven hours of evening Bergsneider said that in additime which were previously allotted tion to a declining workload in secto the school-related activities that ond semester, she had been lookconsumed his junior year. While he ing for ways to fill the time that she spent the first two months used to dedicate to SAT after receiving his college work or history reading. acceptance letter exploring She said that coaching new hobbies and having has helped her find other an amount of free time he jobs as well. hadn’t had since middle “[Coaching] is honschool, Newhart said he estly one of the best jobs grew tired of this inactivity I could have asked for,” and sought a job. Bergsneider said. “I actu“I started coaching ally have also been looking ’ tennis at [Weddington into getting another job as Will Golf and Tennis] when my either a tutor or a babysitNewhart ’19 friend got a concussion ter.” and asked me to cover for her, and While Newhart and BergsneiI just kept coming back,” Newhart der found jobs to fill their time, othsaid. “It gave me an excuse to get er students feel motivated to get a out of the house while rekindling job for other reasons my childhood love for tennis. It In a Chronicle poll of 177 reis also really rewarding to see the spondents, 75 percent of students kids’ improvement, and with them, said they think being a second seeach day is new and exciting.” mester senior makes it easier to Similarly, Bianca Bergsneider have a job, and their primary mo’19 found more free time on her tives are experience, money and hands with the start of the second boredom. semester of her senior year and a History teacher Francine Werdesire to continue her high school ner said she thinks jobs can be very passions for as long as possible. valuable to high school seniors. Bergsneider said she felt the logical “[Jobs] expose kids to different thing to do with the second semes- areas of life, and they start them on ter of her senior year was obvious: the road to a little financial indeget a job. pendence,” Werner said. After playing club volleyball, Mia Nelson ’19 has worked Bergsneider was offered a regular at Arclight Cinemas, Barnes and WHITE S

Noble, Chipotle and Val Surf. Al- tracurriculars, said that she is too though she said her jobs have lent busy to get a job. her useful life experience, Nelson “Even as a second semester sesaid she has always had other mo- nior, I still have the same amount tives for working. of work I always have had, so that “One reason that I have a job is doesn’t make a difference,” Sugerthat I enjoy the financial indepen- man said. “People who have a job dence from my parents, and I defi- during the week while also getting nitely feel pressure to start saving school work done and doing extrafor college and so on,” Nelson said. curriculars amaze me.” Nelson said that her work beFounder of Napkin Finance, comes less enjoyable when there a multimedia site that simplifies are specific pressures behind the money and finance Tina Hay said job. Specifically, Nelson said she she has had mixed experiences has had trouble fitting jobs into her with high school interns. already busy schedule. “Over the years, I have hired “A while ago, I many high school had to work almost seniors,” Hay said. Hello, my name is... everyday after “It often brings in school till 9 P.M. a new perspective and it was brutal, and [is] a great Getting a job is but I ended up way to get somethe perfect opportunity finding a new job one who deeply to gain experience and with more flexible understands sohours which saved cial media and life skills that we aren’t me,” Nelson said. marketing. Sometraditionally taught.” Similarly, Kala times, [howevFejzo ’19, who er,] we bring on a —Oliver Goldring ’19 works at Tocaya student where it Organica in Westis clear they just wood, said she has worked out her want to use it as a resume builder, schedule to fit nicely in with her as opposed to being excited about other schoolwork and extra-curric- the learning opportunity.” ular commitments and thus doesn’t Oliver Goldring ’19 worked for feel the same pressures in her life a travel agency earlier this year. He as other employed students do. said he found having a job useful “I would say having a job but ultimately decided to focus on doesn’t add too much stress to high school. school because I tend to work on “Getting a job is the perfect opthe weekends anyway,” Fejzo said. portunity to gain experience and “I decided to get a job because I life skills that we aren’t traditionalhad a lot of free time and wanted to ly taught in a classroom, and you make some extra money so when I can get paid in the process,” Golgo to college I won’t be broke.” dring said. “But at the end of the On the other hand, some se- day, I realized that I have my whole niors said they have not gained life ahead of me to work at a job, enough free time to take on a job. and only a few months left of high Rebecca Sugerman ’19, who is in- school, and I want to make sure volved with dance and other ex- they are memorable.”

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PHOTOPHOTO ILLUSTRATION ILLUSTRATION BY SPENCER BY JEANINE KLINKKIM ANDAND LAUREN KYRANEHORAI HUDSON

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Chronicle•March 20, 2019

Students share their thoughts on whether or not dating shows promote heteronormativty and toxic dating practices. By JOANNA IM At the beginning of every year, Nathan Russel ’21 observes all the buzz surrounding the new mystery man of “The Bachelor.” Due to the show’s popularity and older teens being the majority of dating show audiences according to a 2018 Statista study, Russel said he’s faced with a dilemma. He either has to watch a show he is ideologically opposed to or risk being excluded from conversations of ‘last night episode’ with his peers. “All of my friends watch [dating shows] and then talk about it at school, which pressures me to watch it, regardless of my actual interest in the show,” Russel said. A problem that Russell said he noticed in dating shows was the promotion of unhealthy relationship habits. “Dating shows promote an unrealistic vision of dating because they make relationships entirely transactional, with little time for the contestants to meet each person and make an informed decision as to whether they would be a good life partner,” Russell said. Dahlia Low ’20, who occasionally watches reality dating shows, said she wants the shows to include more gender diversity. “I wish that there was more diversity with shows like ‘The Bachelor,’ and I would love to see them move away from the heteronormative relationship struc-

ture of the show,” Low said. “[Entertainment corporations] don’t want to take risks and prefer to stay with what they have been doing for the past 20 or more seasons, even if it is long overdue for a change.” Russell also said that this depiction of relationships is due to differences between the structure of dating shows and other forms of entertainment and media. “I think that these images of romance are like those seen in the media in other places that treat relationships as a plot tool, which contrasts [with] romance movies, where the relationship is the focus and is allowed to develop,” Russell said. “I think dating shows are an unhealthy depiction of relationships and [shows that] everything in the media is distorted.” Some students, such as Ari Davidson ’19, said that they choose not to watch dating shows because of their problematic representations of gender and relationship practices. “‘The Bachelor’ is an extremely heteronormative show, and its propaganda should not be distributed to the healthy minds of our students,” Davidson said. “It valorizes heterosexual monogamy as the ultimate life goal, while encouraging the main contestant to both engage in polygamy throughout the weeks on the show and erasing the beauty that could be produced from representation of queer love in the show. I don’t enjoy subjecting myself to witness nauseatingly artiﬁcial love, and nothing about

my friends watching the show will change that.” However, many other views of dating shows recognize the social problems present in the program but still continue to watch and support the show. Nathan Lee ’20, who said he occasionally watches dating shows such as “The Bachelor,” said that dating shows’ overrepresentation of straight relationships does not promote a heteronormative view on romance. “I don’t think TV shows have the power or influence to promote a certain ideology, especially something as artificial as a dating show,” Lee said. “Yes, most of the popular TV shows like ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The Bachelorette’ do include straight relationships, but [I don’t think they] actively exclude other forms of relationships, not to mention the gender diversity in other dating shows, even if they are less popular.” According to a New York Film Academy study, discrimination and misrepresentation of gender minorities has not declined more than 10 percent within the past decade. Lee, however, said he does not think media as a whole should be viewed through the lens of political or social progress. “I want to criticize the notion that movies and TV shows have the burden to reflect social progress within our society as a whole,” Lee said. “While me-

dia, such as news sites, should be accurate to society, I believe that entertainment media should just be seen as entertainment, rather than the political statement that I have seen a lot of people make it out to be.” Lee also said that many criticisms that he has observed of media, and dating shows specifically, may be miscontextualized to justify certain political agendas. “The criticism of dating shows as the U.S. entertainment industry being heteronormative or otherwise politically incorrect is a perfect example of how people tend to use these examples and misapply them to justify their own beliefs,” Lee said. “This seems petty, but it’s a pretty good example – I’ve seen people talk about ‘Love Island’ showing the artificiality of U.S. entertainment, even though it’s a European TV show.” Ultimately, while dating shows may be insensitive to social problems, Low said should not be taken as a reflection of the real world. “I don’t think of ‘The Bachelor’ as an ideal way to find love, I think of it as a television show created to entertain audiences and make money,” Low said. “‘The Bachelor’ should not be marketed as an ideal way to find love, it should be marketed as entertainment. ‘The Bachelor’ is a television show above everything else, and its main purpose is to entertain.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOANNA IM AND SPENCER KLINK

C2 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

By ANNIE BECKMAN With an increase in public playlists, some teens are easily able to see their peers’ music choices, and style their choices based on what they think will aid them in appearing elevated amongst their peers. 267 of 282 people use Spotify, Apple Music, or SoundCloud, and about 60 percent of those people publicize their playlists, making their music choices incredibly accessible to whoever is interested. There are two very relevant phenomena as it relates to this issue: conformity of music choices to fit in, and nonconformity of music choices for the sake of being unique. Often, neither result in one’s own enjoyment. Muthee Githara ’20, who mainly uses Spotify, commends the idea of reflecting friends’ music choices in ones own but finds fault with it under the circumstance of listening to music because it’s commercially in demand. “I think enjoying music is based on other people enjoying music with you,” Githara said. “It is not just individual, and I don’t think that’s necessarily a negative thing until you claim you like music in a certain way, but you only listen to that music because it is popular. Then it becomes a problem. If you listen to music because your other friends listen to that music, then it’s fine.” In contrast, singer Graham Berger-Sacks ’20, avid user of Spotify, Apple Music and SoundCloud for both listening to music and releasing his own music, takes issue in pretending to have a diverse music taste when one only really likes and connects with one or two genres of music. However, Berger-Sacks said he understands why people fall into this tendency as he was guilty of it earlier in his life. “I think the older we get, there’s a new wave of people trying to find more originality in their music choice,” Berger-Sacks said. “I have some friends that only really listen to hip-hop—probably the majority of my guy friends—and they will say they like other genres but not really. Up until maybe two years ago, I was one of those people. I didn’t really know much better, and I was just influenced by my peers. Hip-hop is a great genre, and it’s probably one of my favorites, but the older I’ve gotten, I’ve definitely diversified my taste and gotten into more alternative stuff because I’ve become more of an independent thinker.” Unlike both Githara and Berger-Sacks entirely, Rileigh Goldsmith ’20 said she doesn’t think her friends base their music choices off of what’s popular. “I don’t feel as though teens base their music choices on the choices of others, but rather, they spread music options through platforms like Soundcloud, iTunes, Spotify, etcetera,” Goldsmith said. “This could allow someone else to discover new artists, but I don’t really think it’s a pressure thing.” Regarding public playlists, Githa-

MARCH 20, 2019

ra, Berger-Sacks and Goldsmith view them positively. They all find public playlists as a useful method of finding enjoyable music, rather than as pathways leading to imitation of others’ music choices. “I think [public playlists] are way better because when you add stuff to your playlist, it’s not always necessarily popular,” Githara said. “A lot of times, people’s playlists are not exactly the same, so if I go to one of my friend’s playlists, I might find a song that I’ve never heard of before, and I might enjoy it.” Berger-Sacks also makes great use out of public playlists and has benefitted as an artist from Spotify’s generated playlists. “I look at my carpool’s playlist all the time because I hear songs and styles in the car that I’ve never heard or don’t generally listen to very much, and I go to her playlist to find those songs later, which I love,” Berger-Sacks said. “Spotify’s Discover Weekly and Daily Mix playlists have been good for me as an artist too, as they got me streams. It’s cool for people like me, who are artists with no real industry platform, because we can still get recognition through Spotify.” As it relates to their own music choices, both Goldsmith and Githara readily accept the influence that their friends have on them. “I’m neither proud nor embarrassed about it, it just happens,” Githara said. “I think forming your own music taste comes from other people’s opinions sometimes, and that’s not a problem. Sometimes you can derive what you like from what other people like.” As an artist, Berger-Sacks has analyzed how his music choices have actually influenced the art he produces and vice versa. “Becoming an artist, I realized that the type of music I was making, and the type of music I was listening to were very different,” Berger-Sacks said. “I started making different types of music—now I do a little bit of hiphop, alternative, rock—and I’ve really tried to start listening to all those genres. I also try to listen to artists who are a little more similar to me for inspiration and to see what types of artists are out there as far as male bedroom pop artists. I like to keep it unique and stylistically different, but becoming an artist has definitely influenced me to broaden my horizons a little bit.” As time progresses and society develops, the trend of changing one’s music choices based on the desire to either conform or be distinctively individual can just as easily develop further or diminish. Githara thinks there will be a little bit of both. “A lot of people are going to keep liking music because it’s popular,” Githara said. “It’s just going to happen. And with time, I definitely think it’s going to happen more because there’s more of a connection with social media. But as individuals, the more we appreciate music, the more we form our own taste.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SAMANTHA KO

MARCH 20, 2019

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Comedy is No Joke Students who want to pursue comedy as a profession reflect on their careers so far, and their hopes for the future. By CASEY KIM When Dahlia Low ’20 began sharing stories at her cousin’s bat mitzvah in front of her friends and family, she was met with the last response she expected: roaring laughter. Ever since, Low’s family has encouraged her to pursue her passion for comedy. “It wasn’t on purpose either,” Low said. “I just started talking, and then I accidentally became a comedian. I love to make other people laugh, and when they started to engage with the stories and the material, I just kept going.” Though she is unsure if she wants to be a professional comedian, Low said she is interested in working in a ﬁeld that deals with comedy and writing in the future. “Ever since I was little, my go-to in any situation was to just think of the funniest thing I could do or say in that moment, and then do it,” Low said. “Realizing I could actually make money behind the scenes of television shows and movies by doing that same thing [in writing] was the best day of my life.” Low recalled her inspiration for wanting to pursue comedy. “It was Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Mark Twain acceptance speech on hour four of my YouTube binge that really brought me that moment of clarity,” Low said. “[Louis-Dreyfus] told the audience that laughter truly is the best medicine. I don’t want to be a doctor, but I want to help people in that way, and comedy seems to be the best option for me to do that, the way that it was for [Lou-

is-Dreyfus] Not that I’m Julia Louis-Dreyfus; she’s so good. I’m not that good.” In a Chronicle poll of 283 students, 20 percent of respondents said that they have considered or are interested in pursuing comedy as a profession. “While comedy can be considered an unconventional profession, comedy is so healing that even if you can’t reach a large number of people, making people laugh in any shape or form is positive for the world,” Low said. “Also, I can always become a Supreme Court Justice. That’s my backup plan.” Abe Kaye ’20 said he began practicing comedy for the ﬁrst time when he joined the school’s improvisation group, Scene Monkeys, this year. “[Being in Scene Monkeys] has given me conﬁdence and guidance on what comedy really is, and it’s always exhilarating when you are making stuff up on the spot and have no idea what will happen next,” Kaye said. “It’s embarrassing and disappointing when you say something stupid, but so rewarding when you are working with others and just making people laugh.” To entertain others, however, comedians do not necessarily need to use offensive or controversial jokes, Low said. “I think that it is important to be respectful with comedy,” Low said. “The best comedians don’t have to disrespect in order to get a laugh.” Michael Lehrhoff ’20, who performed stand-up at the February Coffeehouse, said that

though he used to believe there ence for me,” Padney said. “I was a line people shouldn’t think the treatment I received cross when making jokes about as a result was more a prodcontroversial topics, his per- uct of my identity rather than being a satire writer. Satire spective has recently shifted. “There’s no doubt that some can be a powerful way to extopics are riskier than others, press an alternate perspective but the respect that you give to on culture, world events and them can transform [depend- more. It all starts with being ing on] how an audience per- informed about the world. I think the comedy flows natuceives a joke,” Lehrhoff said. As the political climate rally from there.” Though Kaye said he does has become more polarized, it has influenced the issues that not want to give up on comemainstream comedy address- dy and dreams of working for es, Low said. A study published variety show “Saturday Night in the Journal of Communi- Live,” he plans to pursue other cation, conducted by Ohio passions at the same time. “A career in comedy State University is terrifying since it’s so communications difficult to get a steady professor Silvia job with it,” Kaye said. Knobloch-Wester“I do not think being a wick and graduate lawyer or doctor is any student Simon Laless scary. For me, I vis suggested that would rather pursue political satire can something I love [that is serve as a gateway scary] than feel safe in a into more serious job that gives me montopics for people ey and security. Risky who are not as en’ boy.” gaged in politics. Michael Performing arts “Comedy is a Lehrhoff ’20 teacher and Scene Mongreat tool for communicating ideas that would keys advisor Michele Spears otherwise be difficult to get said she encourages students across without seeming ag- to pursue comedy, despite the gressive or confrontational,” field being an unconventional Low said. “It’s a great way to profession. “Like anything, if you have diffuse the tensions of the cura passion for it, if it speaks to rent political climate.” Indu Pandey ’18, who used you, if you feel you have someto write political satire, said thing to say through it, then she believes that being aware go for it,” Spears said. “It’s not of her surroundings was easy and at some point you the first step to getting have to make that decision if involved with you are pursuing any of the arts. A plus B will not equal satire. “ [ W r i t i n g C in these professions, and satire] was a there’s no guarantee, but if fun and empow- that doesn’t scare you off, then ering experi- go for it.” WHITE S

ILLUSTRATED BY HANNAH MITTLEMAN

C4 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 20, 2019

You are going to

Hollywood!

Alum sings on “American Idol”

By ALEXANDRA SO Elizabeth Gaba ’17 advanced through the audition stage of “American Idol” with “All I Ask” by Adele, which premiered on ABC on March 17. “I was mostly surprised at how genuine and kind all of the other contestants were,” Gaba said. “Everybody sat in the audience for everyone’s performances and cheered everyone on. We all got close because we were together all day, and it was really fun. Being able to perform for Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Gaba received the opportunity to audition for the show after her manager sent videos of her singing to the casting directors. “I went in and they really

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ELIZABETH GABA

HITTING THE NOTE: Elizabeth Gaba ’17 (center) stands with her mother (left) and egg donor (right) at her American Idol audition. The episode Gaba appeared in premiered on March 17, 2019. She advanced past auditions and will continue on to live performances with “American Idol.” liked me and it all just became so exciting and surreal,” Gaba said. “This show has made history and is really a huge part of American culture. So, to be able to be a part of it and experience that ﬁrst hand was just crazy.” Gaba began singing lessons when she was seven years old but said she only began enjoying it in fourth grade after per-

forming in her school’s talent show. “Since then I have been really obsessed and never thought about anything else,” Gaba said. Before “American Idol,” Gaba sang in ten different a cappella groups, including Flashback, a group consisted of Gaba, Youtuber James Charles, Anthony Gargiula, Zoe Deandrea, Reno Selmser

Music In The Making: Senior becomes National Youth Orchestra apprentice By JORDAN MURRAY

As Ben Beckman ’19 sat down to ﬁlm a last-minute audition tape for one of the most prestigious music programs in the country, he made sure to position the camera so his pajama pants would not be seen. At that moment, Beckman had no idea that this last minute video would get him the opportunity of a lifetime, a composition apprenticeship with the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. “I was kind of dumbfounded,” Beckman said. “I applied just on a whim. The night it was due, [I was thinking] there’s no chance I’ll actually get it this year, but I was just

like ‘Screw it, I’ll just make the [audition] video.’ I was walking down the stairs right by the cafeteria, and I saw an email from Carnegie Hall, saying ‘Congratulations, you’ve been selected for the apprenticeship with NYO.’ I nearly fell over. I ran down the stairs, and I was feeling faint and sat down. It was unreal.” Every summer, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute sends out an online application for students to apply to be part of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. The students are taken on a tour to musical capitals all over the globe. This year’s tour begins with performances at Carnegie Hall and

Tanglewood Music Center and then continues with concerts in Great Britain, Germany and the Netherlands. Beckman said he has begun taking music composition more seriously the past few years. “I started taking formal lessons at around 11, and I had a breakthrough in ninth grade when I realized that everything written up to that point was a bad knockoff, of Mozart,” Beckman said. “Then, I really started taking composition very seriously around junior year.” The program asked Beckman to write a three to four-minute piece. He is currently still working on the

and Noah Davis. Additionally, she attended A Cappella Academy, a summer program co-founded by Pentatonix member Avi Kaplan, for four years. Gaba said that because of this summer program, she decided to form an a cappella group at Harvard-Westlake. Gaba also sang in Madrigals and Chamber Singers and participated in the musicals

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during her time at the school. “My favorite part about performing is that there are so many different aspects that go into a good performance and being able to move people by telling a story is something that has always been really important to me,” Gaba said. “So, I think [I love] just having the opportunity to share my voice and my story with people.”

I had a breakthrough in ninth grade when l realized that everything written up to that point was a bad knockoff of Mozart. Then, I starter taking composition very seriously around junior year.” — Ben Beckman ’19 WHITE’S

piece but has an idea of what he wants it to be about. “I’ve been thinking about what this orchestra is and how we are going on tour to Europe and [how the orchestra] is playing a bunch of European music,” Beckman said. “I really wanted to write a piece in some sort of sense that was about America, but I didn’t want to make it a cliche or overly generalized, so [I was] thinking of America as kind of the new world or the new West of Europe, back in the days of colonization and imperialism.

The idea is to capture the idea of what it meant to go West.” Beckman said that he is really excited about the opportunities this program will bring him and hopes that he will gain more exposure in Europe. “I want to be a professional composer,” Beckman said. “My music has never been performed in Europe. It’s never been performed outside of the U.S., I don’t think, so that’s really exciting. Hopefully, this could be the start of an actual [career].”

Sports The Chronicle • March 20, 2019

Baseball

Early wins fuel strong league start

Track & Field

By Keila McCabe

Baseball has begun its season with a strong 9-1 record after losing to Valencia High School in the first round of the CIF Playoffs last season. The team won the Easton Tournament to start the year, defeating the Notre Dame Knights in the final. Outfielder Tyler Ganus ’20 said close bonds between members of the team have aided their victories. “Our team chemistry has been one of the most important keys to our success,” Ganus said. “This team truly feels like a family. I am really grateful to be a part of it; I look forward to every moment I get to spend with them.” In addition to a cohesive group of players, pitcher Sam Hilboki ’19 said that the team’s hard work and dedication is unique. “Our team’s work ethic is the best I’ve ever been a part of,” Hilboki said. “Each and every guy busts their butt day in and day out. Each individual is able to hold themselves and everyone else accountable for their actions.” Hilboki is one of ten pitchers on the Wolverines’ roster this season. So far, program head Jim Halpert continues to rotate the pitching lineup, giving young pitchers the opportunity to grow and letting older pitchers hone in on their craft. The squad took its only loss to the Birmingham Patriots 11-4 Feb. 26. Prior to the game, the Wolverines beat the Patriots twice. Pitcher Jack Hassett ’20 said that weak mindsets during the game hurt them. “We just need to keep trusting each other, and things will continue to come together,” Hassett said. “I think during the loss we lost sight of that, but from here on out, it will be in the front of our minds.”

JAY LASSITER/CHRONICLE

LIGHTNING SPEED: University of Southern California track and field commit Brayden Borquez ’19 competes in the 91-27 win against St. Francis High School on March 5. Borquez set a state record March 9, running a 38.12 second 300 meter hurdles race.

Full Speed Ahead: Boys’ and girls’ varsity teams kick off the season undefeated, break school record times

By Kyle Reims

The Track and Field team is off to a strong start, with both the boys’ and girls’ teams jumping out to 3-0 records. Both of the teams have been dominant in meets with a margin of victory of over 30 points in each match. University of Southern California commit Brayden Borquez ’19 said he was proud about the team’s start and expects their success to continue. “Considering the season kicked off especially early given the new CIF scheduling, I believe that the team has done a fantastic job so far,” Borquez said. “We have faced

Boys’ Tennis

strong Mission League opponents and have come out on top on the varsity level from all of these meets. The road does not get easier ahead, however. With the proper focus, work and determination, I’m confident that our boys can secure the Mission League title for the second year in a row and the second time in Harvard-Westlake boys history. I believe in all of us and I believe that we have a successful journey ahead.” India Spencer ’21 said that she believes the team has already built a strong bond. “So far this season I’ve been feeling pretty good and I’ve been putting up times that I’ve been really happy

with,” Spencer said. “I love the group of girls that I get to run with everyday. They have become my closest friends and basically my family. I can’t wait for the rest of the season.” At this meet, which featured over 25 different schools, the Wolverines placed first in 10 different events. Notably, Borquez ran the 300 meter hurdles in 37.28 seconds. He now holds the number two current time in California in this race, as well as top five in the nation. Borquez said after injuries ended last year’s season for him, this race was a great way for him to begin the year, though he doesn’t put too

much stock into early season rankings. “It was great for me to be able to go out in a less competitive meet and run my own race for the first time this season,” Borquez said. “It’s early, and the early season leader boards aren’t what I’m shooting for.” The team is more focused on CIF and State playoffs, Borquez said. “The end of the season is what matters,” Borquez said. “Making noise and performing when it matters is what I aim to do. Ask me about where my times stand when the season is done, not when it has just started. The mission to the top has just barely begun.”

Squad looks to maintain league streak By Luke Casola Lucas Lee

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LUCAS LEE/CHRONICLE

FRESHLY SERVED: David Arkow ’20 serves in his first singles match in a 15-3 victory against St. Francis High School on Feb. 27.

Boys’ tennis looks to win a third consecutive CIF-SS Division 1 title under a new head coach following a strong season, varsity doubles player Amaan Irfan ’21 said. The team beat Peninsula High School in the CIF championship and finished with a 22-1 and 10-0 league record last season. “Going forward, [the goals] are difficult to accomplish,” Irfan said. “There are a lot of expectations, but we’re hoping to three-peat.” The squad is currently 6-1 overall after defeating Crespi High School 16-2 Thursday. The results of the match against Chaminade High School yesterday were un-

available as of press time. “We are playing really well overall and keeping our focus in Mission League matches to keep the streak alive, as well as build up confidence for the bigger matches down the road,” doubles player Avi Carson ’22 said. After an 18-year tenure at Harvard-Westlake, boys’ tennis head coach Chris Simpson resigned in early November. He led the Wolverines to four CIF championships, two CIF-Regional finals and 18 straight league titles during his 18 seasons. Since then, Bo Hardt has become the new program head. “[Hardt] was practically our head coach last year,” varsity team member Patrick Otero ’21 said. “It’s nice [that] he’s gotten a promotion.”

The season started with a pre-season loss to University High School in the Wolverines’ home opener. Despite the loss, the team has been undefeated since then and is looking to continue their winning legacy, Irfan said. “We are like 205-0 or something like that [in league] in the last however many seasons,” varsity team member Timothy Li ’20 said. “It’s getting hard to count.” The Wolverines’ next matchup is against Mira Costa High School today. “We plan to continue what we have been doing, which is training hard in practice and getting the job done in matches, whether it be at singles, doubles or cheering our teammates on,” Carson said.

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Lacrosse

Boys’ Volleyball

Squad hopes record improves in league By WILL MALLORY

After reaching the CIF Finals last year, the boys’ lacrosse team struggled to match last season’s success, starting the season with an overall record of 3-3 as they prepare to start league play. “Considering all of the circumstances, I would say our season has been pretty mediocre so far,” junior midfielder Gideon Hyman ’20 said. “We’ve been playing well, but we definitely haven’t been playing to the best of our abilities.” The Wolverines kicked off the season with a win over Thousand Oaks High School, defeating the Lancers 8-2 in their first match Feb. 27. “It felt really good to beat [Thousand Oaks] in our first game back,” Hyman said. “We stepped up as a team and played well on both offense and defense.” The squad then hosted Oaks Christian High School on March 1 in their home opener at Ted Slavin Field. The Wolverines struggled to find success early against the Lions’ defense, finishing the third quarter down 7-3. The team then responded with four goals in the fourth quarter, but it still did not defeat the Lions, as they fell 8-7 on their home turf. ADVERTISEMENT

Just four days later, the Wolverines were tasked with another challenge as they travelled to Palos Verdes High School to face the Sea Kings on March 5. Once again, the squad fell short, losing by just one goal and sending them to a 1-2 overall record. “It is frustrating to lose by just one goal multiple times,” Hyman said. “We need to do a better job of establishing a lead early so we won’t find ourselves in these situations.” After two losses, the Wolverines looked to bounce back with a strong effort against Santa Margarita High School. This time, the squad finished on the right side of onepoint victories, defeating the Eagles 13-12 in a March 8 matchup under the lights at Ted Slavin Field. The squad then fell 11-5 to St. Margaret’s Episcopal School March 15. They bounced back with a 10-9 victory against Agoura High School on March 20, bringing their overall record to 3-3. “We started out slow today and went down early,” senior midfielder Harrison Listen ’19 said. “We brought ourselves out of the hole, and I am proud that we found a way to win.” The Wolverines will begin league play March 20 against Loyola High School.

MARCH 20, 2019

JAY LASSITER/CHRONICLE

READY SET GO: Chronicle Assistant Sports Editor and Setter Will Mallory ’20 sets the ball to Jasper Richards ’20 in the teams 3-0 loss to El Camino Real High School on March 4.

Squad hopes to win division By JAY LASSITER

Following a 3-1 victory against Cathedral High School on March 14, the boys’ volleyball team improved to an overall record of 10-5 and 1-0 in league. The team started the season off with a four game winning streak, followed by a 6-5 run. Outside hitter Jasper Richards ’20 said he believes better communication is the key to winning close games. “We faced losses that I think we could have won, but, overall, I think we are getting a lot better as the season progresses,” Richards said. “Communication on the court

would be beneﬁcial for our season because [there have been a] lot of stupid plays that we could have converted.” The team’s only league match was March 12 against Chaminade where it won 3-0. Outside hitter Rafa Carbonell ’20 said he believes that the season has been successful, but that the team can still work to improve. “The season has been pretty good, and we are coming together as a team more and more with every game and every practice,” Carbonell said. “I think in the future, we will be playing really well. To improve, I think we have all of the right components, I just

think we need to be a little bit more mentally tough.” Last season, the squad ﬁnished 10-12-3, with a league record of 6-7, which was enough to make it to the CIF Division II Southern Section playoffs. They played in one of ﬁve Division II Wild Card matches, where the team lost 3-1 to Arcadia High School. “It might be hard to win league because we have Loyola [High School], but I think we have a good shot at winning CIF this year,” Richards said. The squad will face league rival Loyola March 19, where they hope to upset the Cubs.

MARCH 20, 2019

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SPORTS D3 Swim & Dive

Softball

Both teams undefeated this season

Squad looks to bounce back from slow start

By CHARLIE WANG AND W ILLIAM S EYMOUR

The softball team is off to a slow start, starting the season with an overall record of 1-4 and 0-1 in league as of press time. The Wolverines started off the year with consecutive 10-0 losses to Carson Senior High School and Royal High School. Despite the early losses, the team got back to form in a 5-1 victory over Bell High School on March 9 but then fell 12-0 to Chaminade College Preparatory High school in their first league matchup. Last season, the squad made it to the CIF-Southern Section Division V Quarterfinals where they lost 6-1 to Templeton High School. After starting last year’s season 2-4, the Wolverines finished with an overall record of 12-8-1 and of 7-1 in league. Since then, the team lost

three seniors to graduation, including University of Pennsylvania commit and former Mission-League MVP Ashley Waco ’18 and Southwestern University commit Kinly McCaffrey ’18. The Wolverines are optimistic for the rest of the season and have their goals set on making the playoffs. “Even though we lost some key players, we have a strong bond, and I’m conﬁdent that we can have a good season,” second baseman Yujung Park ’19 said. “Our goal this year is to get to playoffs, which I think is very possible, as long as we come up strong every game.” The team looks to bounce back to the success it obtained last year. It will face Notre Dame High School on March 19 and Marlborough School on March 21. Last year, the squad split the season when facing the Marlborough Mustangs. The

Boys’ Golf

By ZACK SCHWARTZ

JAY LASSITER/CHRONICLE

COOL KAT: Shortstop Kat Swander ’19 throws the ball to a teammate in a 7-0 loss against Bishop Alemany High School. Wolverines won their ﬁrst matchup 8-2, but fell to Mustangs 8-6 later in the year. “We’ve started strong in our tournaments, which is the big-

gest change from last year,” ﬁrst baseman Anna Shell ’21 said. “We’ve worked hard to get where we are, and I think it really shows.”

Program head puts forth changes in first year back By WILLIAM SEYMOUR

JAY LASSITER/CHRONICLE

BABY DRIVER: Jacob Futterman ’21 starts to drive the ball in the Wolverines’ 186-197 loss to Loyola High School on Feb. 28.

Boys’ golf has started the season with a record of 3-2 overall and 2-2 record in league, under new program head Scott Wood, with their biggest score differential in their 204-251 win against Bishop Alemany High School on March 7. Their only loss was against Loyola High School on Feb. 28, ending 186-197 in favor of the Cubs. This is the ﬁrst season the team has played under program head Scott Wood since his return to the school. He served as the boys’ golf program head for ten years, until resigning in 2011. “Having the opportunity to work with [Harvard-Westlake] kids is always enjoyable, stimulating and challenging all at once,” Wood said. “Working together to inject new spirit and culture into the program is a great honor. I look forward to

building on what the previous program head did and seeing how good we can be. I couldn’t be happier.” The Wolverines started this season winning two straight games 214-219 against Chaminade College Preparatory School on Feb. 27, and 211222 against Brentwood School on Feb. 20. The squad will compete in the ﬁrst of three Mission League Tournaments on March 20. Members of the team, however, said they are not pleased with the performance so far. “Our team is not doing well this year, performancewise,” Clay Skaggs ’20 said. “We are making lots of necessary changes to the program which will help ensure success in the future. We are now seeing mental game coaches and physical therapists at [Urban Golf Performance], which allows us to develop as golfers in a broader sense.”

The boys’ and girls’ swim and diving teams jumped out to perfect starts, each with undefeated records. Boys are 5-0 with a 4-0 league record, and girls are 3-0, participating in only league meets this year. Both teams are on pace with last year, where boys finished 6-1, and girls went undefeated on their way to a third straight Mission League title. Athletes said they are excited for the rest of the season. “We want to win CIF this year and hopefully go on to win state,” Nick Velayos ’21 said. “This is our first year having a deep team of fast enough kids [to win].” Namlhun Jachung ’20 said coaches have emphasized teammwork and optimism. “The team has lots of positive energy, and I try my best to [emphasize that],” Jachung said. “I definitely need to improve on technique, but the coaches are doing a fantastic job at helping in that area.” Similarly, Adam Copses ’20 said he attributes the team’s success this season in part to a greater emphasis on team cohesion. “Teamwork has really improved this year,” Copses said. “We are supporting each other at all meets and across all grade levels.” Boys’ captain and Brown University commit Jameson McMullen ’19 also said teammates have gotten closer this year. “For an individual sport, our team is great at bringing out the best in each other,” McMullen said. “We’ve developed a team culture focused on winning, and we know that can’t be done alone. We’re pushing each other in practice every day to put in that extra effort.” Dive captain Will Rains ’19 said he hopes the school community will continue to support the swim and dive team. “The team is really starting to grow, and I’m really happy that diving has become more popular with students at Harvard-Westlake,” Rains said.

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MARCH 20, 2019

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"I love sports because I love people." I believe sports have the power to connect people like little else can: from championships to heartbreaks, long bus rides to brutal conditioning, every member of the team is engaged and connected. While I love to train, compete and push myself to new goals, my favorite part of playing sports at HarvardWestlake over the past four years has been the teams I have been a part of. More than breaking the surface of the water, working on my shot or practicing sliding (my teammates would be laughing), my love for sports is cheering with the girls by my side, faces pressed to the fence of the dugout and knowing that when I call, they will respond in unison. It is knowing that every one of my field hockey teammates has memorized the entirety of the rap to Kanye Westâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s six minute long "Monster." It is laughing hysterically at something one of my diving teammates said as we shiver outside in the wintertime, taking turns pouring the pail of warm water over our heads. It starts with the everyday commitment. The pursuit of perfection begins at practice, and bonds are built from the bottom-up. The little day-to-day victories that

we achieve in practice are what ultimately lead to championships, and success only comes once we commit to bringing our best for each other because every girl with a number on her back depends on it. Through these daily demands of repetition, conditioning and drills, we inevitably grow together. I know what each of my teammates has been working on, excels at and struggles with. We have become a unit so I can know that when I send the ball up to the goal someone will be on the post to tip it in, and if I miss a ball at third base, my left fielder will be ready, backing me up. This strength in togetherness fosters an unbreakable bond. We celebrate everyday triumphs together and push each other through hiccups along the way. The little moments that I did not expect to mean anything have become some of my fondest memories and people I would not expect to bond with have become some of my best friends. I can say without a doubt that these strong relationships are what drive our success. Sports have given me a family at Harvard-Westlake. When I first came to the upper school as a notso-shy tenth grader, when all I knew

of the campus were the memories I had made during summer field hockey preseason, the girls locker room quickly became my sanctuary. But it was not the quiet, peaceful space that many would call to mind; rather, it was a buzzing frenzy of energy vibrating to the beat of rap music. And it was really my field hockey teammates, the people who formed that pregame dance circle, who made me feel at home. I loved that locker room because I knew that I would always find people who would make me laugh until I cried, dance until I fell on the floor and talk like it was a therapy session. The dugout filled that space in the spring, with organized cheers, chants and laughter that never ceased. I love playing for Harvard-Westlake not just for my teammates, but for the greater school community, which encompasses all of the people I interact with on a daily basis. I love wearing 'HW' on the front of my jersey because it means I am playing for my teachers, my friends, those who came before me and those who will follow. That 'HW' logo unites us and makes us proud to be Wolverines.