Chronicle the 30-year anniversary of the
Harvard-Westlake • Studio City • Volume 30 • Issue 4 • March 24, 2021 • hwchronicle.com
Anti-Asian hate crimes fuel outrage
Media reacts to anti-racist initiatives
The community gains international attention after revising its curriculum.
The school grapples with the racist implications of the Atlanta shootings.
By Ethan Lachman and Kyle Reims
By Quincey Dern and Caitlin Muñoz Six Asian American women were killed during multiple shootings in Atlanta on March 16. The attacks occurred in three different Asian-owned spas, and eight people suffered from fatal bullet wounds. The racial identities of the spa owners and six of the victims have brought clarity to the racially-charged intentions of the suspect, and the mass-murder is being widely received as a hate crime. Asian Students in Action (ASiA) leader Mia Shelton ’21 said she felt devastated when she heard about the shooting, an emotion that was only amplified by the media’s hesitancy to identify the attack as racist. “Eight people were killed, six [of whom were] Asian American women, and it was not the most prevalent thing that was populating my news feed or my social media,” Shelton said. “As more information has been found and released, as the press conference occurred, as there is a refusal to call this a hate crime, that sadness very quickly turned to anger.” At the start of the pandemic, former President Donald Trump referred to COVID-19 as the “Chinese Virus” and the “Kung Flu” on multiple occasions, placing blame on the Asian community for the spreading of the virus and instigating a rise in anti-Asian sentiment, as detailed by ABC News. Between March 2020 and February 2021, 3,795 racially-charged attacks against Asian Americans were documented, according to a report published by the non-profit organization Stop AAPI Hate, which records incidents of racism against people who identify as Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) in the U.S. The group was founded in response to the racially-motivated assaults on Asian Americans as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese Teacher Bin He said he has observed higher rates of racism against Asian Americans since the term “Chinese Virus” emerged. He said in China, people associate America with freedom and equality and that the • Continued on A3
Guest Editorial: Thomas Schramm ’21 responds to journalist Bari Weiss’s article, “The Miseducation of America’s Elites,” which was published March 9 in City Journal magazine. The letter provides a firsthand perspective of the school’s initiatives. hwchronicle.com
Max Thompson ’23 said he greatly enjoyed his days on campus and the opportunity to rekindle friendships, an aspect of in-person school he longed for while learning remotely. “It felt like real school; it felt like everything was going back to normal,” Thompson said. “The best part of [being on campus again] was seeing people that I hadn’t talked to in a while or wasn’t even friends with before the pandemic. I feel like that’s the experience that I’m missing out on the most during quarantine: meeting new people or being pushed into those social interactions that you don’t really get when you’re just on Zoom.” While on campus, students in art courses were able to utilize visual and performing arts facilities. Sculpture II student Adrienne Usher ’22 said that having access to on-campus resources has completely changed the dynamic of her artistic production. “I definitely feel more motivated because, before we were
Media outlets such as City Journal, Newsweek, Fox News and The Atlantic published articles criticizing the school over the past weeks, with much of their focus on the community’s anti-racism and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. All referenced @wokeathw, an anonymous Instagram account that posts its critiques of these initiatives. At the forefront was an article titled “The Miseducation of America’s Elites,” written by former New York Times staff writer and Opinion section editor Bari Weiss and published in City Journal magazine on March 9. The piece, which focused on multiple “elite” private schools across the United States, interviewed anonymous parents, teachers and students who talked about their specific grievances regarding the DEI and anti-racist curricula changes implemented across the institutions. The article was promoted by prominent conservative figures such as Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Political Commentator Ben Shapiro, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and author and psychology professor Jordan Peterson. On March 8, Newsweek published its own piece on the school. The headline, “L.A. Prep School Graphic Teaching Students ‘Fat, Short, Unattractive’ People Are Oppressed,” was used to describe the content of a post from @wokeathw. The post featured a graphic displayed in an eighth grade human development course that presented different characteristics and circumstances that contribute to the privilege people may or may not have. Fox News also put out a story covering the same post. Former Harvard-Westlake Upper School Dean and English Teacher Caitlin Flanagan wrote an article in The Atlantic about the hypocrisy and inequity of the private school system. Flanagan went into depth on academic institutions across the country and used examples from @wokeathw and her own experiences as a faculty member.
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PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ALYSSA THOMPSON
SPINNING INTO SPRING BREAK: In between online classes on campus, Chloe Fribourg ’23 and Lauren LaPorta ’23 catch up as they spin together in the bright red chairs outside the visual arts department March 9.
One year later, students return to campus following drop in COVID-19 case rates By Milla Ben-Ezra
assigned two days out of the sixday cycle. As students arrive on Nearly a year after the campus, they must present the school’s initial closure due to the Aux Safety App Screening, Trace COVID-19 pandemic, students App and iHW check-in screen to and faculty returned to campus allow for contact tracing, ensurMarch 9 while the school begins ing that the school community is to implement the new cohort kept safe. Vita Saffari ’22 said the school learning structure and precaumade her feel more tionary COVID-19 comfortable by taksafety systems. As Los ing extensive efforts Angeles County conto prevent exposure to tinues to distribute COVID-19. vaccinations and coro“The amount of navirus cases decrease, precautions there are students will enter a is what really made me full-scale hybrid modfeel safe,” Saffari said. el, moving between “We have to have three different classrooms on white’s different apps and they campus alongside their Adrienne really do enforce the peers beginning April Usher ’22 social distancing; like 19. Each cohort, assigned based when we were all out on the on English classes, is allocat- quad during our breaks, there ed a designated classroom and were teachers everywhere reoutdoor space where students minding us. Everyone has to are able to attend online Zoom wear a mask, and just especially classes and spend free time with how thorough [the school is has] their classmates. The specific days helped me.” Although he initially feared in which students can physically attend school in-person are di- the cohorts would not feel similar vided by grade level; each grade is to a natural school environment,
KHWS Anniversary:
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Students celebrate 10 years of KHWS radio, a platform which connects listeners through a shared love of music. KHWS members commemorate the friendships formed and the music played in the last decade.
To stay up to date on academic and athletic events, follow The Chronicle on Instagram, @hwchronicle, and on Twitter, @hw_chronicle. In addition, check out our redesigned website at hwchronicle.com for breaking news and updates.
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Jewish Voices:
Members of the HarvardWestlake Jewish Family Alliance (HWJFA) learn about three Jewish students’ experiences navigating college life during a Zoom meeting March 3.
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A2 News
The Chronicle
Westflix kicks off virtually
March 24, 2021
By Natalie Cosgrove
Westflix members hosted the first virtual Westflix Film Festival for students in Southern California using the virtual screening platforms BingeWave and Zoom on Friday and Saturday. Golden Globe Award-winning actress Beanie Feldstein ’11 gave a speech about her experiences in the entertainment industry Friday, and filmmaker and actress Olivia Wilde, who directed the critically acclaimed movie “Booksmart,” hosted a feedback session Saturday. A series of workshops about filmmaking and an awards ceremony for the best overall movies, directors, editors and actors followed the film screenings. Westflix Director of Operations Lucy Ingold ’21 said that although the festival was online this year, she was still excited about rewatching the submitted movies with other members of the club. “I have seen these films many times now, but I am excited to show them to the world,” Ingold said. “We have brought in some really cool speakers, like this year with Olivia and Beanie and last year with Spike Jonze, who is an amazing director, and Bo Burnham. The people that we bring in are astounding.” A panel of judges comprised of Westflix members selected 14 movies from a pool of more than 150 submissions to be shown at the festival. The event usually takes place in person at ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood. Westflix member Ana Carina Villalona ’22 said that while the shows hosted in the past have been grander, the virtual event was successful. “I enjoyed seeing all the films and ideas that so many students have,” Villalona said.
NATALIE COSGROVE/CHRONICLE
SHARING THEIR STORIES: Bring Change To Mind members hosted actor Ben Platt ’10 and playwright Natalie Margolin ’10 to discuss their experiences regarding how they dealt with mental health as high school teenagers and also in current times amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Performing arts alumni speak on mental health By Katharine Steers
Award-winning playwright Natalie Margolin ’10 and actor Ben Platt ’10 spoke to students about their experiences with mental health during a Community Flex Time webinar Thursday. Members of Bring Change To Mind (BCTM), a club dedicated to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, Carina Villalona ’22 and Maya Mathur ’22 kicked off the virtual event. “Community Flex Time is one of the few opportunities [when] the entire Upper School comes together,” Villalona said. “We thought it would be the
perfectplace to address mental health, an issue impacting all of us right now.” Community Council member Chance Walker ’21 presented the guest speakers in a video showcasing moments of their professional careers. Walker and fellow Community Council member Izzy Welsh ’22 moderated a Q&A session, prompting the guest speakers to talk about their experiences with current students. In the Q&A, Platt and Margolin said it’s easy to feel weird about reaching out to friends but that socializing in pandemic-safe ways is crucial. “As an annoying millennial,
before this time, the phone was not my favorite thing in general,” Platt said. “I don’t love [FaceTiming or calling] and now those are just really important.” Margolin advised students to let their high school experiences play out naturally without the pressure of a mental checklist. She also touched on the positive side of virtual school. “To have [all these things that you were excited for] taken away is totally traumatic,” Margolin said. “It’s so hard and this is not easy, but there are going to be things that are happening to you and that you’re learning about yourself that you wouldn’t have otherwise learned.”
Platt also shared how his experience at the school prepared him for his future. “[The school] is the first place where I learned to really channel [my anxiety] into focus and and not get overwhelmed,” Platt said. Emery Genga ’21 said she was thrilled when Platt said that many of his best friends were forged through the school’s performing arts program. “[Platt] mentioned several times that he’s met a lot of people, but his closest friends are still his theater friends,” Genga said. “It made me happy to see how long the friendships formed through the performing arts.”
In the issue...
A6-7
A11
COMEBACK ON CAMPUS: Stu- A COMPARISON CRISIS: Instadents return to campus for academic gram is a danger to teen girls as they presclasses for the first time in nearly a year. sure themselves to look like influencers.
B3 TRAGEDY IN TEXAS: Students reflect on the recent power outages and temperature drops in Texas.
IT’S ALL ON (THE) LINE: As the world becomes more and more virtual, The Chronicle is following suit. Every article is posted online on our website, HWChronicle. com, which also hosts additional online exclusives. The Chronicle recently revamped the entire website, teaming up with SNOSites to make the site more user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. A variety of podcasts, such as the award-winning “3 and Out,”
C2 MANIPULATIVE MEDIA: Sexualization of women in media has large effects on mental health.
D2 FOOTBALL RETURNS: Football
resumes their competitive season, recently scrimmaging against Brentwood.
are available through the Chronicle Podcast Network, accessible on the website. Our broadcast program is constantly creating content produced and written by students, which can be viewed from the broadcast tab on the Harvard-Westlake Broadcast Journalism YouTube channel. To stay up to date with future releases of all forms, follow The Chronicle’s Instagram page, @HWChronicle, and Twitter, @HW_Chronicle.
March 24, 2021
hwchronicle.com/news
News A3
Atlanta shootings, rise in antiAsian terror alarm community • Continued from A1
FALLON DERN/CHRONICLE
SAWTELLE SUNSHINE: Chronicle Staff Writer Fallon Dern '23 poses with other ASiA members on Sawtelle after handing out pamphlets.
anti-Asian hate crimes have been jarring. "I'm a foreigner," He said. "I'm Chinese. When we talk about [America], we believe in the Constitution, we believe in freedom, we believe in equality, we believe in constitutional rights, but this year we obviously can feel this anti-Asian [sentiment].” Like He, Joy Ho ’22 said she feels outraged by the increase in reported hate crimes that have targeted Asian Americans throughout the pandemic. “Seeing such a sudden increase in anti-Asian hate crimes and xenophobia towards the community definitely opened my eyes to the overall situation happening around me,” Ho said. “I'm shocked, I'm frustrated and I know things need to change.” ASiA sent a school-wide email addressing recently recorded instances of racially-motivated crimes against Asian Americans
on March 16. The email highlighted a 1900% increase in anti-Asian hate crimes across the United States and encouraged all students to attend an All Community Reflection to discuss the prevalence of anti-Asian sentiment March 19. While ASiA has made efforts to raise awareness and support for the Asian American community, Ho said she feels disheartened that the school has yet to fully address the racism against the Asian American community. “The lack of support by the administration right now is incredibly frustrating,” Ho said. Like Ho, Natalie Chan ’23 said she was upset by the limited initiative taken by the school. “It's just kind of disheartening not seeing the school be really active [or] speaking out about the issue,” Chan said. “[The] reflection going on Friday [was] organized by [ASiA], and I'm really glad it’s taking place, but [it’s] an initiative that the club has been taking. I just feel like this school
could definitely be doing more in terms of reaching out [and] spreading awareness.” While some students said the school has yet to efficiently address the rise in violent racism against Asian Americans, He said the school's anti-racism work has reaffirmed the strength of the community. “For me, I just feel I’m cured by my colleagues,” He said. “One of my students just made some materials for Asian Americans who [don’t] speak English [and] who have encountered these kinds of situations. I’m a member of [a faculty] who cares about what will be happening next. And yesterday our [ASiA] club sent us the email to invite us to join the school-wide conversation, so I think the students and my colleagues had a very fast reaction and I just thought, ‘yes, this is my school, and we really care about the different ethnic[ities] in our communities.’” • Continued on hwchronicle.com
DEI Alumni Advisory Council convenes for inaugural meeting to fight inequality
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the presence of teachers in classrooms. “Whether a teacher would necessarily be in that classroom with [their block's students] would depend on a variety of factors, and whether that’s the most crucial thing that particular group needs, and how many kids are actually in that classroom together,” Ross said. Ross said the school hopes to accommodate the safety needs of the community while fostering a socially and academically strong environment. “We still feel very confident that we want families to make the decisions for themselves that feel right and [that feel right for their] kids,” Ross said. “We’ve had
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allowed back on campus, my sculpture teacher had sent us a box of materials to use, so we were working with really limited materials, so it was really hard to stay motivated when you don’t have access to everything you need,” Usher said. “Being back on campus and being in an environment that’s really conducive to creativity and the production of art really helps keep the motivation up rather than doing [art] in your room where you do your other classes. You just get a lot more inspired.” In a school-wide email, President Rick Commons announced that following spring break, the
structure of in-person school will change. A week of complete remote learning will take place in preparation for the new on-campus learning model April 19, which will see days still divided by grade level, but students who come to campus will then be able to freely transition from class to class. Associate Head of School Laura Ross said the administration considered various factors when developing the new return-to-campus plan, from the percentage of students returning to the evolving Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regulations. Ross said these circumstances will affect aspects of the school day, such as
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dom to ensure our main focus, the students, have the best experience possible." DEI Alumni Advisory Council member Terry O’Neal ’07 said he is excited about the committee and hopes it will help the community become more inclusive. “The understanding and actually knowing that [the school] as an institution and as a community is being very intentional in the journey to showcase that diversity is indeed a catalyst and a vehicle for excellence and not an antonym for it,” O’Neal said. “At the end of the day, when it’s all said and done, we want everyone to leave [the school] with a positive experience and feeling as if they were a part of something special and a place where their voice was not only
BA eN Th Club
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Alumni Advisory Council, comprised of volunteer alumni working in conjunction with school administrators from the Office of DEI, hosted its inaugural meeting March 8. The meeting consisted of 26 alumni members and was moderated by President Rick Commons. DEI Alumni Advisory Council member Jonah Platt ’04 said he is grateful that alumni are taking initiative to make the school more inclusive. “I was so pleased to see [the school] taking such a thoughtful and humble approach to creating the truly inclusive school and community all of us on the committee want to see,” Platt said. “The school, led by Rick Commons, has clearly been listening to those in the community who
have felt excluded and is taking every necessary step, large and small, to create a better [school], brick by brick.” Platt said it is important that the school is including alumni in its DEI work and that he is glad the school is amplifying their voices in an effort to make the school more inclusive. “Bringing the alumni in as a partner in this work is absolutely necessary, as we too, like students, staff and parents, are all members of the community,” Platt said. “I’m proud to be on a committee with so many smart and experienced individuals who each have valuable insight to offer from their own school experiences [and their] personal and professional lives. Not only will the committee help ensure that all our fellow alumni feel safe and heard and included in the work [the school] is doing, but it will also provide perspective and wis-
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some students that feel like, ‘I’m in my junior year — I really feel like I have a good rhythm at home and I want to keep doing that.’ We want to respect that too; we’re trying to meet everybody’s needs the best we can.”
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A4 News
Venture hosts female entrepreneurial panel
By Annabelle Nickoll
HW Venture hosted a Women in Entrepreneurship panel in honor of Women’s History Month with speakers Anna Barber and Kalika Yap on March 10. Barber is a partner at M13 Ventures, a venture capital firm in Los Angeles, and Yap is an entrepreneur. They spoke to students about their careers in entrepreneurship and shared business lessons, while also touching on gender discrimination. Barber talked about how her mother helped her work towards her potential as a woman. “I think that if I was facing discrimination, I wasn’t noticing it, and I was kind of just punching through the barriers because I had been taught that I was very capable and to go out and do the things that I wanted to do,” Barber said. Yap spoke about her experience attending events through an entrepreneurship organization. She said people would often mistake her for the administrator or assume her husband was the entrepreneur instead of her. “I have definitely experienced [gender discrimination], but it didn’t keep me from pursuing my goals,” Yap said. Like Yap, Barber talked about gender discrimination in the venture capital industry, the importance of recognizing it and the need to push for change. Barber said that false excuses are commonly used to account for female misrepresentation. “Sometimes people refer to what we call the pipeline problem,” Barber said. “The pipeline problem in venture [refers to] an investor who says something like, ‘Well, I just can’t find women to invest in, so that means that in my pipeline, there are just not enough great
women-founded companies.’ And what I always say to that is, ‘You don’t have a pipeline problem; you have a network problem. If you expand your network in an intentional way to groups of people who don’t necessarily look like you, will suddenly find that you no longer have a pipeline problem.” After the presentation, students asked the speakers about their careers in a Q&A session. “One of the pieces of advice that I live by is [to] never make the same mistake twice,” Yap said. “Incrementally, if you stop making the same mistakes again and again, you will save a lot more time and be more productive and efficient.” Barber, on the other hand, said that students should become more comfortable with being wrong. “If you can get to [the] point where you have a baseline level of confidence that you’re a smart human [and] that you’re going to figure it out but that you’re okay [with] being a beginner and changing your mind about something, that feels like success to me,” Barber said. Discussing the importance of taking the initiative, Yap said that there are dangers of misconceptions in entrepreneurship that discourage people from taking action in their careers. “In their minds, they have these limiting beliefs, and then you have to just say, ‘Yes, it’s possible,” Yap said. Students who attended the panel said they felt that it was helpful and inspiring. “I enjoyed hearing about [Barber’s and Yap’s] experiences and what they did to create their business, as well as the challenges they faced throughout their journey,” Venture panel attendee Chandace Apacanis ’21 said.
The Chronicle
March 24, 2021
ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA EVANS
Delegates win at Marymount MUN By Julian Andreone
A group of 12 members of the school’s Model United Nations (MUN) club participated in the virtual Marymount Model United Nations Conference (MM-MUN) on March 14. Students served as delegates for Afghanistan, Estonia, the Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia. They were separated into committees such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP-A) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to discuss a wide array of dilemmas. The conference culminated with a closing ceremony where awards were presented to delegates based on their performances. Georgia Goldberg ’23 and Grace Hudson ’23 received commenda-
tion awards for their performances in the UNESCO committee. Greg Damelin ’22 also received a commendation award for his performance in the UNHCR committee. Finally, CC Mesa ’22, received an outstanding delegate award for her performance in the UNEP-A committee. Mesa said it was exciting to receive an award at the conference because it signaled that her hard work paid off. “It felt great to get an award at Marymount MUN,” Mesa said. “It was a fun time overall, and it’s nice to have your hard work recognized. This wasn’t my first time winning Outstanding at a conference, but it was my first time winning it on my own without a partner delegate [...] It’s always a good feeling to know you’re getting it right.” Damelin said he enjoyed the conference and learned from his
fellow members of the UNHCR committee. “Model UN always provides for such a fun and inspiring experience,” Damelin said. “For this particular committee, I was representing the Russian Federation. To prepare for the committee, I had to conduct research on Russia’s refugee policies and past action taken by the UNHCR. It’s always fascinating to educate yourself regarding international policy, especially when you care deeply about the topic at hand.” Although he has never attended an in-person conference, Damelin said that participating in the virtual event was engaging. “Having started MUN not long ago, I haven’t experienced an in-person committee,” Damelin said. “With that being said, virtual committees allow for interactive experiences, all of which I have loved participating in.”
College Board changes AP curriculum, exams
By Mimi Landes
MILLA BEN-EZRA / CHRONICLE
SAT STUDENTS: Students wait in line while wearing masks and maintaining social distance protocol in order to register to take the SAT on March 13. The school hosted several groups of students to take the test.
School hosts distanced in-person SAT By Milla Ben-Ezra
Despite the cancellation of SAT testing locations in Los Angeles, students gathered on campus to take the SAT on March 13. Upon their arrival, students filled out precautionary COVID-19 safety forms and lined up to have their temperatures taken. Tom Baker ’22 said the COVID-19 safety measures made him feel secure while taking an already stressful exam. “[Administrators] were handing KN95 masks out, and I was in a huge classroom with only five or six people in it, and they took everyone’s temperature, so I felt very safe,” Baker said. Isa Sylbert ’22 said she was happy that she took her SAT
at school, which was a comfortable environment for her. “I’m super grateful that we were able to come to campus, first of all, because I know that taking it at home would have been a lot worse, even though this was a little bit weird because we had to wear a mask,” Sylbert said. “I just know that taking it at home alone and online would’ve been worse.” Sylbert is one of many students who faced SAT test center cancellations due to unsafe testing conditions. “I signed up for my first SAT in November, and every single one that I’ve signed up for since has been canceled until now, so it’s been several months now that I’ve been waiting to take an SAT, so I’m so happy that Harvard-West-
lake was open,” Sylbert said. The College Board recently announced the discontinuation of the SAT with Essay, effective June 2021, and eliminated the cancellation deadline to remove the essay from a test-taker’s registration. Because of this change, students were able to cancel their essay portions on the spot. Sophia Haynes ’22 registered to take the SAT with Essay but opted out when exam day arrived. Haynes said the convenience of changing her testing plan was a big relief. “When I got [to campus], I was signed up for the SAT with Essay,” Haynes said. “[The proctor] asked everyone in my room to raise their hand to either opt in or opt out of the essay. It was really easy and convenient.”
The College Board announced a new schedule for Advanced Placement (AP) exams for the school year. The school will administer the tests both in-person on paper and at home online over a three-week period in May. The school emailed students with a form containing information about format, times and dates for the tests. Those planning to take an AP exam were required to fill out a form by March 2 at 8 p.m. to confirm which tests they will take. In past school years, AP exams were required to complete the course and gain college credits. This year, the school’s faculty decided to make the exams optional. Upper School Registrar and AP Coordinator Krista McClain said the faculty made the decision due to the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It did not seem reasonable to require the AP exams for students,” McClain said. “There are a lot of variables this year that students and faculty are navigating, [and it] seems unfair to make the exams required.” The decision to make tests optional was made only for this school year. McClain said she thinks most students will still take the AP exams even though
they are no longer required. “I expect that the turnout will be fairly similar to before the announcement,” McClain said. “Many students use the AP exams for college credit or list them on their college applications.” According to Gabe Glassman ’22, the option of taking AP tests in person is beneficial. “I think it’s super helpful to take the AP test in person, at least for me,” Glassman said. “I think it’s really great that the school offers this option for students.” Emilio Cue ’22 agreed with McClain and said he plans to take the exam for his AP French class. “I want to take [the AP exam] because there is no harm in taking it even if it is not required,” Cue said. “Only good can come out of taking the exam.” Ariana Azarbal ’22 said she also plans to take the AP exam for her classes that would normally require it. “I think it’s considerate that the school gave us the option not to [take the test] in light of the pandemic and the challenges it created for students this past year,” Azarbal said. “I’m still taking the exam, though, because it can only help me, there is no reason I wouldn’t.”
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
A5 News
The Chronicle
•
March 24, 2021
VOICES
Students and alumni share their thoughts on the importance of Women’s History Month.
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice • Kamala Harris, Vice President • Stacey Abrams, Senator • Oprah Winfrey, philanthropist • Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court Justice • Susan B. Anthony, women’s rights activist • Amy Tan, author • Jane Addams, social work activist • Toni Morrison, novelist • Maya Angelou, poet • Abigail Adams, Former First Lady • Rosalind Franklin, chemist • Chien-Shiung Wu, physicist • Ida B. Wells, journalist • Elizabeth Cady Stanton, women’s rights author • Sally Ride, astronaut • Greta Thunberg, climate change activist • Serena Williams, tennis player • Rosa Parks, civil rights activist • Taylor Swift, Grammy-winning musician • Frida Kahlo, painter • Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales • Marie Curie, scientist • Aretha Franklin, jazz singer
WHITE’S
“WHM is a chance to reflect on society and the progress women have made in it.” —Vita Saffari ’22
Every March, the nation celebrates the achievements of diverse women of the past, present and future. By Tanisha Gunby Every year, Women’s History Month is celebrated in March to recognize women’s accomplishments throughout American history. EMPOWER Club co-president Maddie Boudov ’21 said women have not been fairly represented in history and that Women’s History Month encourages classes to discuss landmark female achievements. “I think [Women’s History Month is] important because women have so frequently been written out of history,” Boudov said. “In most classes, I and many other students have had the experience of learning about a time period or an important historical issue and then at the end of the unit had the one token day where we learn about what women were doing during that period, and that is not enough. Women’s History Month allows us to delve deeper into a history that is often forgotten and learn about the women that we should have learned about all along.” In 1981, Congress enacted a law allowing the president to declare the week of March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week,” according to the Women’s History Month website. After multiple resolutions, Congress took legislative action again in 1987, designating March as Women’s History Month to celebrate women’s achievements in the United States. Allison Park ’21 emphasized the importance and relevance of Women’s History Month for all generations. “Women’s History Month offers an opportunity to truly hone in and com-
mend the achievements of women,” Park said. “As women are commonly given only obligatory blurbs in textbooks, I find that normalizing the accomplishments of women so that those in my generation and future generations don’t face the same hurdles is extremely important.” Park said learning about various female figures who played vital roles in history can empower and positively influence women. “Reading about women who are often overlooked throughout history is truly inspiring,” Park said. “I’ve learned about composers, such as Clara Schumann and Rebecca Clarke, who weren’t able to release their own works under their own names, as well as women like Dolores Huerta and Maud Wood Park, who were strong activists in their respective fields but unfortunately aren’t considered ‘household names’ in this day and age.” Zoe Shapiro ’23 said a woman in history whom she strongly admires is the late Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “She was such a powerful woman and stopped at nothing to fight for equal rights for everyone,” Shapiro said. “Her death was extremely devastating, and I just hope that we all can thrive in her beautiful legacy.” Zoe Shin ’23 said she looks up to many women in history, including activist Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who dedicated her life to drawing global attention to the threat to girls’ education in Pakistan. In addition, she admires Angela Davis, who has been at the forefront of many movements, such
as the feminist movement and the Black Panther Party, for over 50 years. “[Malala Yousafzai] so passionately advocated for girls’ education that she risked her life for the cause,” Shin said. “I admire Malala’s selflessness in the name of the greater good of girls around the world. While I don’t think I could sacrifice as much as she did, Malala inspires me to fight for what I believe in. I [also] admire that despite the state of California wrongfully imprisoning [Angela Davis], after release, she was undeterred and continues to advocate for civil rights and gender equity. I admire Angela’s passion; she truly inspires me to never give up on what I believe in.” While women’s achievements should be celebrated, Leila Pagel ’22 said that people should also recognize the challenges women have faced throughout history. “I think it is important to remember all of the important things women have accomplished throughout history but also acknowledge the inequalities women have suffered and continue to suffer today,” Pagel said. “Bringing attention to these problems and working to solve them with awareness and legislation is a very important and often overlooked issue.” EMPOWER Club co-president Olivia Smith ’21 said Women’s History Month is a time to appreciate women who have made remarkable accomplishments but were ignored throughout history. “In my mind, Women’s History Month gives women time and space to reflect on the patriarchy and how it has impacted our individual and greater gender narrative,” Smith said.
JON KOPALOFF
“Growing up, I was [lucky to be] surrounded by extraordinary women.” —Jake Gyllenhaal ’98
WHITE’S
“Women’s History Month provides time to highlight the resounding difference women have made in history.” —Greg Damelin ’22
GETTY/AFP
“If it wasn’t for the women’s movement, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” —Sally Ride ’68
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MELODY TANG
Back2campus
A6 News
The Chronicle
March 24, 2021
Back2campus A year after school shut down, Chronicle staff members reflect on their first days back on campus, where they attended their classes virtually in cohorts.
fallon dern I often overthink the little things only to ignore the big issues in front of me. Returning to school meant I would ponder my outfit for hours and completely forget to download the Trace App or take my Student Covid Survey. However, as I stood in the upper school parking lot clutching my fur coat, tapping my feet and praying for my heinous WiFi connection, I had a chance to see how the whole operation was running. In lieu of an image, just imagine an eerily quiet and more complicated Disneyland entrance. Students checked in twice with their green pass and iHW app, and then received a K N 9 5
face mask, waited in a line to get their temperatures checked, shared the green pass again and made sure to stand on the designated stickers. While I was instructed to catch up, other students would show their three signals once more, enter a checkin line for their name, face another line for their designated cohort and then find their classroom. All of these steps required cooperation and patience but felt somewhat normal. As much as it was weird to identify friends by their eyes alone, or by what car they drive now, it was comforting to be with my community again. Through Peer Support, Asian Students in Action (ASiA), field hockey, on-campus social activities and theater, I have been able
to come to campus on occasion. Of course, I miss the middle school and its lack of stairs, but I feel my grade is defined by the people in it rather than the place we are in. My cohort is also filled with lovely individuals, so I felt excited to see them in real life. The welcome was weird, to be honest. You can’t hug your friends, they’re way, way taller than you remembered and you might shudder a bit when people start closing in to have a conversation. Right now, I’m writing from Chalmers 304, making eye contact with Aerin Duke ’23, whose Chinese teacher instructed her to stand up and face to the right to learn directions. Outside the open window, tables and chairs are provided for kids who
want to take courses there. In my Spanish Zoom breakout room, I can see at least two students taking advantage of that offering, though I have no idea where they are on campus right now. I can only hear the same speeding cars or overhead planes echoing through their computers. Despite the new environment and protocol, I applaud the school for handling the situation with this much care. Sure, I had to coordinate my mask layers with my undershirts, and yes, the angle of the sun is burning my pant leg as I type. However,
any semblance of normalcy is a spark of hope, and I would much rather be safe than sorry.
caroline jacoby Anyone who knows me would agree that I am definitely not a morning person, but I was eager to get out of bed early and get dressed for my first day back at school. Wearing jeans and a sweater was a welcoming change, and I felt optimistic about the transition back to normal. When I arrived on campus, I was greeted by a multipart check in process. As I waited in the line of spaced out stickers, I realized that I had yet to download the new Trace app, one of the three items required to
check in, and I had to wait in a separate line while I waited for the app to download. I use a hearing aid and a cochlear implant, so hearing on Zoom has been a challenge all year, but the added background noise coming from other students talking in their classes and the rain outside the open windows only exacerbated these challenges. Several times, my cohort captain gave our group instructions during class time; in these instances, as I tried to listen to both my teacher on Zoom and my cohort captain, I probably missed about 90% of what was said. When—despite the complete lack of rain all winter—it started hailing during lunch, my first
thought was: “Of course it’s hailing today.” After all, the next day marked our one year anniversary of Zoom classes, and this whole year has felt like one long experiment with how ridiculous reality can possibly be. My English class even pointed out that watching some students masked in a classroom on Zoom was on par with the comical absurdity of William Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying.” Thankfully, my day was much less morbid than the Bundren family’s journey in “As I Lay Dying,” though at some points it felt equally chaotic. However, these hurdles were countered by a lot of funny moments which served as a reminder of why I miss in-person classes so much.
The spontaneous conversations with my peers during breaks struck me as refreshingly normal. The little things, whether it was my cohort’s excitement about the rain or making a beaded bracelet on the quad during my free period, all felt like a return to “real life.” I appreciated the opportunity to break up the monotony of Zoom classes with some much needed social interaction, though I hope we will be able to move forward and have more of a real classroom experience later this year.
hannah han March 11, 2020. Weiler Hall 106. Whispered rumors rushed through the Chalmers classrooms, wound through the lounge and tripped down the narrow flight of stairs to Weiler Hall. The thrum of voices built slowly, an uneasy crescendo, before bursting into a triumphant uproar. On the quad, seniors danced as an amorphous mass, and in Weiler Hall, I hugged my friends, our smiles mirrored on each other’s faces. School had been canceled for the rest of the week and would be held virtually until spring break. At the time, I was a sleep-deprived junior, functioning only on Earl Grey tea and Chessmen cookies. When I received the email from President Rick Commons, I selfishly saw it as a miracle. I could almost see it: a semi-normal sleep routine, dinners with my family, online classes taken using an innovative platform called “Zoom.” (Oh, how ignorant I was back then.) Naively, I believed that quarantine would last for two weeks at most. Yet the pandemic
stretched on for a month, and then two, and soon, isolation had lost its novelty completely. Hours of Zoom classes melted together, and when I stood up at the end of the day, a field of blurred rectangles had been imprinted on my eyelids. I missed my friends, and I felt myself growing numb. I forgot what walking around campus was like. Speaking to someone, let alone hugging them, seemed unthinkable. And then junior year ended. March 11, 2021. Rugby Hall 207. A security guard and a nurse tested my temperature and motioned me to the quad. I drifted toward the cluster of picnic tables with only the unfamiliar weight of my backpack grounding me. As the figures moving across the quad grew more distinct, I tried to determine which pair of eyes belonged to which person. That must be Matty Ice; that was Ethan with his blue water bottle; there was Ford in his pink shirt. I took another step, and the crackling energy of the crowd enveloped me. As I spoke with friends
whom I hadn’t seen in a year, I thought: This is what real school feels like. By 10 a.m., we dispersed and found our respective classrooms. In Rugby 207, I logged into Art History Honors as members of my cohort joined their respective Zoom classes six feet away. The room was quiet, beyond the occasional murmurs when we participated in class. Midway through the art history lecture, it began to hail, and my cohort lapsed into silence and gazed beyond the water-streaked windows at the monochrome landscape. At 11:15 a.m., we entered the cafeteria in small groups, monitored by faculty members. Everything seemed different: the cafeteria annex space overlooking the quad, the thrumming vending machines stocked with Harvard-Westlake-branded water bottles (pH-balanced with electrolytes, of course) and the newly planted cherry blossom trees smelling of petrichor. However, it was the familiar interactions that I missed the most. After a year, I finally elbow-bumped Phairot at the cafeteria register and said “hi”
to June in the lounge. It felt at once so normal and so exhilarating. When we returned to the classroom, a nurse swabbed all of our noses. The samples were taken anonymously, so we understood that if one person tested positive in our cohort, we would all be sent home. Classes resumed uneventfully, and at 3:25 p.m., I left the Chronicle Zoom room and stepped outside of Rugby Hall into the blinding afternoon, the sky swollen with light. It was disorientingly similar to junior year, when my friends and I emerged from intense discussions about the American Dream in our English class. But now our actions were clouded by the lingering reminder that our high school careers were almost over. As I turned to leave, I wondered: How many more times will I sit in a classroom on this campus? How many more times will I venture into the science office for
Starbursts and stay for a conversation with my teachers? How many more times will I wander through the cafeteria with my friends, only to leave empty-handed? But I’ve realized that counting only causes me to dwell more on the time we’ve lost. Now I can only hope to make the most of every moment we’ve been given. See you on campus soon, Class of 2021.
March 24, 2021
hwchronicle.com/news
News A7 Are you attending online classes from campus?
No: 42.6%
Do you feel like the school has taken appropriate measures to keep students safe on campus? 86.0%
Yes
No
Would you be willing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes: 57.4%
Did you enjoy the experience?
Yes: 91.6% vs. No: 8.38%
14.0%
If you have been on campus, what extracurricular activities have you participated in? 56.0%
Yes: 76.0%
How has COVID-19 affected you?
Sports Club Meetings Performing Arts Other
31.0%
No: 24.0%
I have contracted COVID-19: 1.5% I know someone who has contracted COVID-19: 71.6% I know someone who has been hospitalized because of COVID-19: 17.3%
4.3%
8.6%
I know someone who has died of COVID-19: 9.6%
the chronicle s on-campus essentials
Wednesday,
March 24, 2021 HW Health Questionnaire
HEADPHONES Having a pair of headphones for class will minimize background noises and help you focus. PHONE Don’t forget your phone! You’ll need to have the Trace App open for contact tracing, check in with the iHW app and fill out the AUXS survey.
SWEATER Not only are they a closet staple, but sweaters will also keep you warm with all the open windows and air conditioning.
LAPTOP AND CHARGER Since you’ll still be attending your classes via Zoom, you definitely need your laptop. A long day of school will quickly drain your battery, so make sure to bring a charger for your Zoom classes.
KN95 MASK To stay safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19, the school will provide you with your very own mask. Keep this on at all times so everybody around you stays healthy! ILLUSTRATIONS BY MELODY TANG
News Feature:
Read more Chronicle staff reflections:
NEW PERSPECTIVES: Members of the school community share their thoughts about returning to campus for a more interactive learning experience surrounded by their peers during the COVID-19 pandemic. B1
RETURNING REFLECTIONS: The school offered students the opportunity to attend their virtual classes on campus in socially distanced cohorts. Chronicle Staff Writers Natalie Cosgrove ’23, Leo Saperstein ’23 and Fallon Dern ’23, Assistant Features Editors Kate Bur-
ry ’22 and Quincy Dern ’22, Assistant Opinion Editor Caroline Jacoby ’22 and Editor-in-Chief Hannah Han ’21 reflect on their experiences of navigating through the school’s newly implemented safety protocols.
hwchronicle.com
Video content: DAY IN THE LIFE: Back on the upper school campus, Assistant Sports Editor Amelia Scharff ’22 records her day, documenting her experience attending school as a junior. hwchronicle.com
A8 News
The Chronicle
Back to School Again
March 24, 2021
(Continued from A1) Student cohorts returned to campus for the first time since November to attend online class on the days assigned to their grades (gallery continued online).
KATE BURRY/CHRONICLE
BACK TO WORK: Prefect Jason Thompson ’22 completes his homework for the day and eats lunch from the cafeteria. He wears the KN95 mask provided to him by the school while sitting near Munger Science Center on March 15.
QUINCEY DERN/CHRONICLE
CAROLINE JACOBY/CHRONICLE
A WARM WELCOME: Senior Prefect Chelsea Cho ’21 staffs the Prefect Council activities table, which provided bracelet-making kits and games.
SOCIALLY DISTANCED LEARNING: Sadye Lackman ’22 and CC Mesa ’22 participate in their respective online courses six feet apart from each other while sharing a Chalmers classroom with their English class cohort.
HANNAH HAN/CHRONICLE
HANNAH HAN/CHRONICLE
TABLE FOR TWO: Athalia Meron ’21 and Grace Shin ’21 smile and pose while eating lunch together at the new cafeteria. While Meron eats a snack from the cafeteria, Shin eats a sandwich that she brought from home.
SIX FEET APART: Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Ethan Lachman ’21 and William Ruden-Sella ’21 chat on the quad with proper social distancing.
Comic
Introducing Comic-Chron! Comic-Chron is a new series by The Chronicle. Every issue, we publish a comic illustrating important news updates and interesting stories. This issue, Comic-Chron emphasizes the long-awaited return to campus. The Chronicle welcomes your design ideas. Please email chronicle@ hw.com with your submissions. ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA EVANS
Opinion
The harvard-westlake
Chronicle
The Chronicle • March 24, 2021
Studio City • Volume 30 • Issue 4 • March 24, 2021 • hwchronicle.com
Editors-in-Chief: Hannah Han, Ethan Lachman Print Managing Editors: Austin Lee, Jaidev Pant, Celine Park
editorial
Digital Managing Editor: Kyle Reims Presentation Managing Editors: Siobhan Harms, Lucas Lee News Editors: Tanisha Gunby, Frank Jiang Assistant News Editors: Tessa Augsburger, Ava Fattahi, Sandra Koretz, Will Sheehy, Melody Tang Opinion Editor: Emma Limor Assistant Opinion Editors: Julian Andreone, Caroline Jacoby, Sarah Mittleman, Alec Rosenthal Features Editors: Ruoshan Dong, Marina Nascimento Assistant Features Editors: Milla Ben-Ezra, Kate Burry, Quincey Dern, Mia Feizbakhsh, Sophia Musante, Katharine Steers A&E Editor: Chloe Schaeffer Assistant A&E Editors: Sydney Fener, Keira Jameson, Mimi Landes, Caitlin Muñoz Sports Editor: Charlie Wang Assistant Sports Editors: Justin Goldstein, Ben Jacoby, Liam Razmjoo, Ryan Razmjoo, Amelia Scharff, Maxine Zuriff Engagement and Multimedia Editor: Marina Nascimento Photography Editors: Crystal Baik, Eugean Choi Broadcast Producers: Alex Amster, Kyle Reims, Charlie Wang Business Managers: Lucas Lee, Emma Limor Assistant Broadcast Editors: Zachary Berg, John Coleman, Ely Dickson, William Moon, Mikey Schwartz Art Director: Evie de Rubertis Junior Art Director: Alexa Druyanoff Freelance Artist: Sophia Evans Layout Assistants and Staff Writers: Grace Belgrader, Rebecca Berlin, Lucas Cohen-d’Arbeloff, Claire Conner, Natalie Cosgrove, Daphne Davie, Fallon Dern, Allegra Drago, Konnie Duan, Georgia Goldberg, Alex Hahn, James Hess, Julia Im, Jina Jeon, Paul Kugan, Lily Lee, Annabelle Nickoll, Andrew Park, Max Ruden-Sella, Leo Saperstein, Charles Seymour, William Sherwood, Josh Silbermann, Natasha Speiss, Harry Tarses, Karen Wu, Vasilia Yordanova, Emmy Zhang Advisers: Jim Burns, Max Tash Layout Assistant: Alexis Arinsburg
The Chronicle is the student newspaper of Harvard-Westlake School. It is published eight 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 Business Managers Emma Limor and Lucas Lee at elimor1@hwemail.com and llee3@ hwemail.com, respectively. Publication of an advertisement does not imply any endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or school.
ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF
The Dangers of Anonymity
In October of 2020, The Chronicle published an article about the Instagram account @wokeathw, a platform dedicated to “documenting the self-destruction of an elite private school.” The article was harshly criticized by the account, which described the publication’s writing as lacking “neutrality, balance and factual accuracy.” These contentions were raised in its Instagram post without any evidence, and though they privately messaged our staff about two specific corrections (the issues they had were clarified in an updated piece), the publication still saw no evidence behind the rest of these claims. @wokeathw also criticized the writers for not using many of their quotes, which was strictly a matter of word count, as we provided them with the same number of quotes as we did for the school administration. This editorial is not “anti-@wokeathw.” We are not writing this piece to degrade the account. In fact, @wokeathw serves an important conceptual purpose; a way to air criticisms and grievances is needed at every institution, especially one with a mission so important as to educate adolescents. While the account proclaims itself an outlet for students to freely speak their minds, @wokeathw does anything but this. Instead of using their Instagram posts to spark conversations, the account attempts to find faults in the administration’s actions or simply shames the institution for its efforts to be more inclusive. Some of their posts are factually inaccurate, or, at the very least, dangerously misleading in their wording, syntax and sometimes lack of context. The account is entirely anonymous, going so far as to not follow back any of their over 1,000 followers. They do not show the same care for the community as they do for remaining anonymous—the account posts captions overtly insulting faculty and students, sometimes without censoring names, and other times even mentions their targets in their posts. It is clear that fostering political acceptance and open discussion is not the account’s priority—they only widen the gap further, preventing mem-
bers of the school from engaging in conversation. Some people have attempted to draw connections between @wokeathw and @blackathw, an account created prior to the former that highlights various incidents of racism experienced by students of color within the school community. However, the two accounts share far more differences than similarities. @blackathw’s Instagram feed solely posts the stories of anonymous students submitted through Google Forms, turning on the commenting feature for the entirety of social media to express their feelings, concerns and sentiments. Even further, the founders of the account themselves—while remaining anonymous publicly—actively communicated with both the administration and The Chronicle without complaint. Because their goal was to truly create a safe space for students to share their traumatic experiences at the school, the founders of @blackathw were openly willing to address their feelings with the administration and actively collaborate to find solutions for ways anti-racist work could be better executed. And due to this candid back-and-forth, the administration itself has become more aware of the fact that their work is far from complete; making sure everyone’s voices are heard is a continuous mission. @wokeathw has chosen the other route by asserting that the administration simply won’t listen to them thanks to an alleged school-wide silencing of conservative beliefs. Staying nameless, continuing to prevent students from responding to their posts, cold-shaming specific members of the school community and neglecting to communicate with the administration are only hurting the account’s chances of enacting any of the changes they demand. If they continue to feign ignorance of their misconduct, the “self-destruction of an elite private school” will in turn result in the self-destruction of their own integrity. The only solution is for the account’s founders to reveal themselves and agree to the open dialogue that has been offered to them. They claim to want it, and it is time for them to take it.
Our Story
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PUBLICATION INFO:
Founded in 1990, The Chronicle is the Harvard-Westlake Upper School’s student-led newspaper. In the midst of its 30-year anniversary, The Chronicle strives to uphold its legacy of journalistic integrity and to report stories accurately and fairly. The newspaper is published eight times per year and is distributed to students, parents, faculty and staff at the Upper School. Additionally, the paper is affiliated with two Upper School magazines, Big Red and Panorama.
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Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of staffers and are written by the seniors on the Editorial Board, which is composed of the Editors-in-Chief, the Managing Editors and the Section Editors.
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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. We are committed to uplifting the voices of marginalized or underrepresented individuals and groups in accordance with our efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
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March 24, 2021
hwchronicle.com/opinion
Opinion A10
Defining ‘good personhood’ By Sophia Musante
ILLUSTRATION BY CAROLINE JACOBY
Y
ears ago, a stranger on the street caught my eye. She looked frazzled, carefully balancing a pile of boxes, prominent purple bags looming under her eyes. As I approached, a string of curses and sighs left her mouth. I offered my help and together we walked, boxes in hand. I did not pry into her situation, nor did she explain; the smile on her face was satisfactory enough. “You’re a good person,” she told me in parting, and although I replied that it was the right thing to do, I left feeling lighter than before. It’s almost funny, but certainly unsurprising, how much pleasure I was able to
derive from a stranger’s words. After all, “good personhood,” or moral worth, is arguably what we value most as a society. As I have grown older, pursuing moral worth has begun to bother me, as morality is unquantifiable and varies based on a number of factors like perspective, experience and culture. Even if we assume that there are certain universally good or bad acts, good personhood remains complex. Philosopher Immanuel Kant argued that a good person is solely motivated by morality and duty; if one’s desires serve as an underlying motivator, the action cannot contribute to their moral
worth. The consequences of one’s actions do not affect one’s moral worth, as good actions should be good in all cases. Motivation should matter most in regard to one’s goodness; to judge one for the consequences of their actions is to judge them for circumstances out of their control. Two people who commit the same moral or immoral act are equally good or bad, respectively, regardless of whether or not they face different consequences. We often assume good people are selfless, but it is impossible to escape one’s own desires. We as human beings pursue “selfless” and “good” actions
because they make us feel good. Even the pursuit of moral worth is somewhat selfish; we want to consider ourselves “good” people because it brings us comfort. Neither Kant nor I argue that one should not pursue individual happiness. According to Kant, moral worth can be derived from an action that you gain happiness from, so long as the intended consequence is not to make yourself happy. In my eyes, a subconscious priority of personal happiness is inescapable; however, it is good to pursue our happiness morally. Our modern idea of good personhood is flawed. In pursuing moral worth, we make al-
lowances or punish ourselves for incredibly neutral actions. Moral goodness is unachievable; it is impossible to deny your subconscious desires to improve your own material and mental conditions. Being overly concerned with whether or not you are a good person is futile; instead, focus on optimizing the happiness of yourself and others. Perhaps it was selfish to stop and help the stranger two years ago. Or maybe my desire to help was altruistic. Ultimately, whether or not I was selfish is insignificant; our encounter was mutually beneficial and to me the right thing to do. What else truly matters?
Saving ourselves By Tessa Augsberger
E
ILLUSTRATION BY CAROLINE JACOBY
Packing in hyperpartisan politics By James Hess
I
n his 2017 opening statement to Congress, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, a staunch Conservative appointed by former President Donald Trump, outlined the role of the Supreme Court. “If Judges were secret legislators, declaring not what the law is but what they would like it to be, the idea of a government by the people and for the people would be at risk,” Gorsuch stated. “My decisions have never reflected a judgement about the people before me, only a judgement about the law and facts at issue in each particular case.” With a Democratic majority in the Senate and a newlyelected president, changing the number of Justices on the Supreme Court has made its way back into political discourse. Segments of moderate and progressive Democrats believe the Court’s current six-to-three Conservative majority is a threat to their legislative policies and see expansion as a necessary corrective to the three Justices appointed by Trump. Calls for court-packing from left-wing activists are understandable, but they fail to realize both the role of Justices and the long-term implications of their ideas. The only responsibility of a Justice is to honestly interpret the U.S. Constitution. We can expect nothing more and nothing less. Political parties nominate Justices based on the belief that they will rule with them
on important issues, but this is never certain. Since 2000, nineto-zero decisions on the Court have been far more probable than any other, as 36% of all votes were unanimous. Nine-toone and eight-to-one votes made up 15% of those cases, and fiveto-four decisions were only 19%, according to The Supreme Court Database. While Democrats and Republicans nominate certain people to the Supreme Court for a reason, the way those Justices rule is wholly independent of political partisanship. Expanding the Court would undercut its legitimacy as a distinct branch of government that actively participates in checks and balances. There may be a greater chance of landmark five-to-four cases where the deciding vote is a Trump-appointed Justice, but a temporary complexion of the Court does not and should not merit its corruption. Because the United States needs serious institutional reform, it may be tempting as a young activist to think that all bets are off: If packing the Court can move us closer to universal health care and abortion rights, why not do it? Adding Justices could make these realities possible in the short-term, but they could also spell disaster for progressive priorities. Courtpacking is rooted in the idea that Congress has the constitutional authority to decide the number of Justices. If a party holds the majority in Congress and the
presidency, it could easily change the number of Justices serving on the Supreme Court. President Joe Biden could add, say, six more Justices to codify Roe v. Wade and overturn Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission (FEC), but if Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley or Florida Gov. Ron Desantis was serving as the president, he could just as easily add six more to roll back those decisions. It’s a dangerous political football that government officials are throwing around, one that would eventually cause the Court to lose all of its judicial independence and become a political arm of whichever party is in power. Here’s how the late Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg put it in a 2019 interview with NPR: “If anything would make the Court appear partisan, it would be [adding Justices]. I am not at all in favor of that solution to what I see as a temporary situation.” Leaving law-making up to our elected officials and case verdicts up to the nine Justices on the court is our only option. Although they may not rule “correctly” in every case, maintaining the current balance is the only way our political system can work. Supreme Court Justices are not our representatives: they are a collection of accomplished legal scholars who hold very specific positions in our government. The day we begin treating them as anything else is the day our democracy crumbles.
very morning before I went to school, I announced the daily weather forecast and the number of days until it would rain to my siblings. Of course, I started this tradition in elementary school in the middle of the 2011-17 California drought, so rain was quite a rare occurrence. However, in middle school, I began to notice a surprising new trend. Instead of being disappointed by the lack of rain on the forecast, I became increasingly concerned about looming days with extremely poor air quality as a result of catastrophic local fires. After I learned that wildfires in California were increasing in severity and intensity as a result of climate change, I made modifications to my daily routine, which included reading all of the environmental news that I could find and keeping track of the ever-increasing evidence of global warming. In 2020, the climate action movement made considerable progress, but it simultaneously faced various setbacks. The year began with the continuation of the Australian wildfires of late 2019, which affected about three billion animals and caused the deaths of almost 500 people, according to The Guardian and BBC News, respectively. As the year progressed, the world witnessed the most active Atlantic hurricane season on record, Californians experienced the largest wildfire in state history and carbon dioxide levels reached their highest point ever over the summer, according to the Washington Post. In perhaps the most telling example of the immediacy of climate change, 2020 is essentially tied with 2016 as the warmest year in human history, NASA reported. In other words, we are already seeing the effects of climate change as temperatures rise and natural disasters become increasingly severe, which means we not only have to prevent the worst impacts of climate change from occurring, but we must also adapt to the effects of climate change in a warming world. Fortunately, as governments turned their attention to economic recovery from the
pandemic, many began to consider fighting climate change as a national priority. For example, the European Union included a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 in its economic recovery plan, with 30% of the budget going towards fighting climate change. Countries in East Asia also signaled their commitment to taking climate action last year, with China and Japan setting goals to reach net zero emissions by 2060 and South Korea pledging to reach net zero emissions by 2050. At the end of 2020, the United Nations, United Kingdom and France held the virtual Climate Ambition Summit in December, committing 76 countries and member states of the European Union to pledge more ambitious emissions reductions and other climate-friendly policies. Nevertheless, any positive strides for climate action this year have come too late and have not gone far enough. With every passing year, climate change increasingly becomes a major policy issue, but the window for taking effective climate action narrows. In 2021, 63 years after geochemist and oceanographer Charles Keeling first observed a steady upward trend in the carbon dioxide levels in Earth's atmosphere and discovered the Keeling Curve, carbon dioxide levels have increased by over 100 parts per million (ppm). We have less than a decade until our carbon budget permanently runs out, leaving us to experience the worst consequences of climate change. Why, only now, are we taking widespread action? Whereas 30 years ago we could afford to simply protest plastic bags or straws, we no longer have the luxury to act as though we are trying to save the Earth out of the goodness of our hearts. The Earth has existed for billions of years before us, and it will continue to exist for billions of years after we have made it inhospitable for our species and others alike. At this point, we’re fighting climate change not only to save our planet, but to save ourselves.
hwchronicle.com/opinion
March 24, 2021
Opinion A11
The costs of comparison culture By Ava Fattahi
I
n a world where self-worth is derived from likes and comments on Instagram posts and replies to Snapchat stories, teenage girls are extremely likely to fall prey to impossibly high standards set by celebrities' social media accounts. Scrolling through the Instagram Explore page or TikTok’s “For You” Page may seem harmless, but seeing certain posts can pressure teens to look, act or dress a certain way to conform to unrealistic standards. Now more than ever, girls are at risk to the danger that lies in comparison culture–– comparing and eventually altering themselves to resemble the oftentimes highly edited photos they see on their social feeds Although social media apps, specifically Instagram, allow users to be connected with friends and keep up with the latest trends, they can be detrimental to teen girls as they strive to meet the ever-changing beauty standards that represent society’s “perfect woman.” Modernday representatives of these standards include the likes of internet celebrities Kylie Jenner, Kaia Gerber and Madison Beer, whose photos look effortlessly perfect. When Instagram users visit model Kendall Jenner’s profile, they see photos of her supermodel-tall figure with her toned abs and slim legs, large, pouty lips and flawless, glowing skin. Jenner’s younger sister, Kylie, displays a wildly different yet equally desirable body type in her posts: her shorter yet curvy hourglass figure highlights her wide hips, large breasts and unusually small waist. Both of these women have over 150 million followers on Instagram, and both show off bodies that girls strive to attain by working out excessively, dieting and, in more severe cases, developing eating disorders. The Jenner sisters are simply examples of the thousands of influ-
encers who also promote harmful diet and weight loss products to their teen-dominated audiences, such as laxative diet teas, sweat-enhancing corsets and appetite suppressant lollipops. As the years change, so do these nearly impossible beauty norms. In 2021, these trends include small, upturned noses, huge Bratz Doll-like lips, thick and arched eyebrows, long legs and curved figures with snatched waists. These standards have undoubtedly been set by social media posts and the rise of influencers who girls see every single day on their feeds. We can’t help but compare ourselves to these women—many of whom ironically preach self-love—and feel inclined to change ourselves to look and act just like them. Data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reveals that of over 1.8 million cosmetic surgeries performed in 2018, the top five were breast augmentation, liposuction, nose
reshaping, eyelid surgery and tummy tuck. All of the surgeries listed perfectly match current ideals and the features they promote. Shockingly, over 19% of these surgeries were performed on females from ages 13 to 19. Beauty standards clearly correspond with plastic surgery trends in recent years as teens pay thousands of dollars to alter their appearances to look like their favorite influencers because they don’t feel comfortable with their own looks. Eating disorders are increas-
ingly common in high schoolers nationwide, as the National Eating Disorder Association reported in 2019 that anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents, after asthma and obesity. Although obesity ranks higher than eating disorders, comparison culture is still an extremely concerning issue, as it is directly correlated with anorexia. The desire to be skinny is a disease that is plaguing young women and has landed hundreds of thousands of them in hospitals in need of recovery treatment. As girls immerse themselves further into the deep, dark hole that is social media, they grow to dislike their appearances more, as they differ from the ideal looks created by public figures. Another way in which girls change their appearances to conform with society’s standards is by using apps such as FaceTune, which warp their bodies and faces. A study conducted by Grazia Magazine in 2020 revealed that 71% of women from ages 14 to 23 will not post an Instagram photo without editing their appearances. It is incredibly unfortunate that teenage girls and young women feel the need to change so many of their features in order to feel confident about a photo of themselves, but they do so because of recurring photos of seemingly “flawless” women that they see online. As influencers continue to grow their fanbases, the likelihood of teenage girls comparing themselves to these perfectlyposed women will increase dangerously. These internet celebrities need to tell the truth and clarify that their glamorized photos are not reality—the health and self-esteem of millions of young girls across the world depend on it.
Has a celebrity's post on social media influenced you to act or appear a certain way? Yes: 29.1% No: 70.9 % *175 students polled
“When you see people on social media consistently get hundreds of thousands of likes for looking a certain way, it can make you feel that their features are those expected of or desired in every girl in America.”
Alanah Dakar ’22
PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ALANAH DAKAR
Natalia Quintero ’21 “I think that social media has set some cultural standard of beauty for girls that tells us to look a certain way, which may actually be unhealthy or impossible.”
PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF NATALIA QUINTERO
“Social media, especially Instagram, defiinitely pressures me into acting a certain way. It encourages girls to compare themselves to influencers and unrealsitic, Eurocentric beauty standards.”
• Read more about the subject on C2
Chloe Fribourg ’23
PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF CHLOE FRIBOURG
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF
G
ov. Gavin Newsom has failed Californians––it's time to say goodbye. On March 11 last year, we left school for what most believed would be a two-week experiment with online learning. As two weeks turned into months, and months turned into a year, our lives remain completely altered. Under the leadership of Newsom, California has suffered soaring COVID-19 case numbers and a painfully slow vaccine rollout. Indeed, the pandemic has laid bare the extent to which our elected leaders have failed us. The only remedy is to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom’s most glaring failure has been his inability to reopen schools throughout the state. Reopenings are not a choice between our safety and our education––clear evidence from the CDC suggests that
schools can reopen safely, and Newsom’s approach seems to have been politically motivated. According to the LA Times, the biggest supporter of school closures, the California Teachers Association, was also Newsom’s largest donor during his 2018 campaign. Disastrously, Newsom has failed to stand up for California’s students against his pro-closure megadonors. As online learning has dragged on, students have fallen dangerously behind, but the damage hasn’t been equal. A study by McKinsey and Co. that was mentioned in The Washington Post estimates that online school has set back caucasian students by one to three months in mathematics compared to three to five months for students of color. Much of this divide is due to the different approaches of public and private schools; many
private schools have continued full coursework on Zoom, but, at the behest of teachers unions, public schools have gotten by offering pathetically little instruction that relies on often unsupervised students to complete asynchronous work. The issue of schools harms far more than just students. School closures have contributed to California’s exceedingly high unemployment rate. When students are learning virtually, parents must choose between working or quitting their jobs to stay home. Without a ready workforce, we will not be able to recover from the pandemic. This already disastrous situation has only become worse with the snail-paced vaccine rollout. When the FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Dec. 11 as expected, California wasn’t ready. Despite knowing that a vaccine would
arrive, Newsom seems to have been caught off-guard. The state received millions of doses from the federal government, yet California's poorly planned distribution program has left it behind 37 states, according to Beckers Hospital Review. For too long, Newsom refused to modify his plans even as other states more effectively vaccinated their populations. Now, overwhelmed by the failure of its systems, the state government waves a white flag by quietly turning over vaccinations to Blue Shield of California. Newsom has lost the public trust of Californians. A recent University of California, Berkeley poll suggests that Newsom’s approval rating has dropped by almost 20 points since September. As Newsom begged people to stay home and suggested that Californians cancel Thanksgiving plans, he privately
dined indoors with at least 10 people at The French Laundry restaurant. Since August, he has been sending his children to private, in-person schools while proclaiming that it is too dangerous for schools to reopen. It is no surprise that our cases have skyrocketed despite harsh lockdowns. How can we expect people to follow COVID-19 guidelines when our own governor flagrantly ignores them? This recall movement is a broad, non-partisan coalition of fed-up Californians. A recall election in the fall is highly likely, and these are just a few of the reasons to recall Newsom. Each of us will have to make our own choice. If you believe that Gov. Newsom is the best California can do, then vote 'no' on the recall, but if you, like so many others, believe that the Golden State deserves better, then your only option is to vote 'yes.'
Community The Chronicle • March 24, 2021
River Park permit report formulated By Tessa Augsberger
PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF CHELSEA CHO
PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF CHELSEA CHO
SUPPORTING SAWTELLE: Several upper school students visited Sawtelle Boulevard to show their support of local Asian-owned businesses.
HELPING OTHERS: While wearing a mask and holding pamphlets with further information, Mia Shelton ’21 helps a floral nursery employee.
ASiA Club speaks with Sawtelle businesses By Charlie Seymour
Asian Students in Action (ASiA) club members gathered on Sawtelle Boulevard in Japantown to spread awareness about the increase in Asian-targeted hate crimes. Participants distributed pamphlets to businesses containing information on recent attacks March 8. According to NBC News, anti-Asian hate crimes rose 150% across the country during the pandemic. ASiA co-leader Chelsea Cho ’21 said the club organized the event to educate the Asian community in Los Angeles and remind ASiA members of the importance of sticking together. “I think many ASiA members
have felt isolated, alone and honestly helpless, as we’ve all been seeing news about anti-Asian attacks,” Cho said. “It’s exhausting to see that people who look like your grandparents and parents are being killed or beaten every day.” The event’s participants handed out 750 of their pamphlets to businesses on Sawtelle. To accommodate many older Asian Americans who prefer to communicate in their native languages, the club printed instructions translated in Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and Korean, in addition to English. Aside from supporting the local Asian community, Cho said she believes the event strengthened bonds within the club.
“My biggest takeaway from going to Sawtelle on Monday was just a general sense of pride at how active and engaged ASiA members are in our community,” Cho said. “It was such a breath of fresh air to be together with a goal and to accomplish something—it made me really appreciate all the meetings we’ve had this past year, even if they were on Zoom.” ASiA member Yoshimi Kimura ’23 reflected on the planning process and the payoff from participating in the event. “From organization to execution, everyone contributed to the event in different ways,” Kimura said. “It’s also nerve-wracking but so illuminating to be able to advocate for a cause you believe
in to strangers in a safe environment with chaperones who are willing to step in if things get out of hand.” Science Teacher Melody Lee, who chaperoned the event, said spreading awareness taught an important lesson to the club. “The major takeaway from the students I worked with specifically was that with courage and determination, they can convey personally how anti-Asian biases affect them, and people will respond empathetically,” Lee said. “Some storefronts initially refused to pass out the pamphlets at their stores, but after speaking to our thoughtful students, they too bought into the cause and decided to help raise awareness in the Sawtelle community.”
The school is preparing an Environmental Impact Report for its proposed River Park facility after applying to the City of Los Angeles for a Conditional Use Permit last March. The River Park project sits atop 16-acre Weddington Golf & Tennis, which the school purchased in 2017. Head of Communications and Strategic Initiatives Ari Engelberg ’89 said the administration hopes to gain support prior to public hearings, which will start once an Environmental Impact Report is filed. “Later on this year, we expect to have a series of public hearings about the project as part of the City’s approval process, and it will be important for the community to turn out in support of the project,” Engelberg said. The school engaged in outreach through the approval process, with school representatives attending over 100 stakeholder meetings, according to the project website. Despite objections from Studio City locals, Engelberg said the project will benefit the community. Cross country runner and track and field athlete Will Samuels ’22 said the River Park’s running trails will diversify the cross country team’s practices. “The proposed plans would definitely affect the way cross country runners practice,” Samuels said. “Currently, we are confined to running on the upper school track and in a small area alongside the LA River. River Park will provide more running trails, so there should be more options changing the way we practice.”
Construction at Studio City hotel moves ahead By Ava Fattahi
The centuries-old Studio City gathering place known as Sportsmen’s Lodge is currently in the process of a $100 million renovation to become an outdoor mall with locally-based chain restaurants and name-brand retail stores. The project, funded by Midwood Investment & Development, is set for completion by June 2021. Construction began in August 2019, and the 94,000-squarefoot shopping and dining promenade was scheduled to open in late 2020, but construction delays and COVID-19 guidelines have slowed the project’s progress. The site, located a minute’s walk from the upper school campus, was founded in the 1880s as a hotel with a lake, patio and restaurant. The hotel will continue to operate on the existing land, but 23 shops and restaurants will open in the remaining land located at
12833 W. Ventura Blvd. Anchor tenants include the fitness brand Equinox and the organic grocery store Erewhon. The Midwood group, which also developed the Malibu Country Mart, purchased the property in 2017 and drew plans and acquired permits in the twoyear period between the land’s purchase time and the start of construction. The space is set to look like an open-air park with grassy trails and water features resembling the nearby Los Angeles River and Coldwater Canyon. Until demolition began in 2019, the lodge had not been renovated since 1962. Studio City resident Tom Baker ’22 said he appreciates the renovation and plans on visiting the new lodge often, since it is within walking distance from his house. “When I first heard about the construction, I was really excited,” Baker said. “I feel like there are only limited places to go with-
PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF KEVIN PEAKE
CONSTRUCTION CREW: Construction continues at a building within Studio City’s Sportsman’s Lodge. The site will become the newest location of Next Health, a health optimization center within the newly-renovated development. in walking distance from campus, and we need a change from the usual Sharky’s [Woodfired Mexican Grill] or Philz [Coffee]. I live really close, so I definitely will go to the lodge once it’s open pretty often. I think the Valley has needed a place like this for awhile, and I’m glad it will open before my senior year starts.” Upper School Mathematics Teacher Joshua Helston said he passes the construction site every day and feels that the renovation work has its benefits and drawbacks.
“If the area is zoned for business, and the city approved the plans, then I assume best intentions of all involved and that appropriate research and impact reports have been performed,” Helston said. “In fact, perhaps having a shopping center like this close to school might increase traffic density during non-peak times and thereby slow down the commuters who cruise down Coldwater Canyon at freeway speeds. However, this area near Coldwater and Ventura already gets very congested at the begin-
ning and end of the school [or] workday, so this will probably get far worse.” Confirmed tenants include sushi restaurant Sugarfish, grassfed burger joint Hiho Cheeseburger and handmade pasta bar Uovo, all of which are owned by the Sugarfish Company. Physical training center Next Health, organic Mexican restaurant Tocaya and New York City-based ice cream shop Van Leeuwen have also signed year-long leases. No other retailers have been announced in the lodge’s plans.
Features The Chronicle • March 24, 2021
Zooming into the Classroom
Politics: A Family Affair
Members of the community share their perspectives on the return to campus.
Descendants of famous political figures contemplate their families’ legacies.
By Julian Andreone and Ryan Razmjoo
By Fallon Dern
Alon Moradi ’21 opened his computer Feb. 23 to an email from President Rick Commons announcing that students would be allowed to return to campus March 9. Mixed reactions echoed throughout the school community. Many students, like Moradi, could practically hear the quad erupting in chatter before their 8:30 a.m. classes, anxiously anticipating the moment they would step foot on campus to be greeted by their peers and teachers. At the end of the third quarter, however, other students like Sofia Li ’22 were more hesitant to return to an in-person school environment, as they have adapted to their domestic work settings. Although individual circumstances may vary, each grade level faces a unique set of circumstances when deciding whether to return back to school or not. As a junior, Li doesn’t see a potential return to in-person school as necessary, whereas Moradi, a senior, sees it as a pivotal step to concluding his high school experience. Moradi said that being in-person for the final months of the semester is important because he seeks tangible experiences that he can link with his memories of senior year. “I am a very spatial person,” Moradi said. “To have memories and experiences of my senior year which are particularly at Harvard-Westlake is something that I really value. It is absolutely worth it to return to school.” Moradi, an actor and Chamber Singers section leader, said that learning on Zoom makes it especially difficult to immerse himself in the performing arts community. He said he hopes that returning to school can salvage some of the experiences he missed this year and allow him to make an impression on his peers. “At Harvard-Westlake, senior year is set up as the year that you are able to give back and leave a great impact on your community,” Moradi said. “We haven’t been able to achieve the same sense of camaraderie as a cast or ensemble and that really hinders our work.”
It is half-past six on a Wednesday. A family of five sets plates on a table, grabbing cups, silverware and servings of shepherd’s pie. It smells like home, and it looks like any other family eating any other meal in any other place in the United States. It’s not. At the end of the table, the family’s middle child, Lavinia Tyagi ’23, has become a champion. Her older sister laughs and checks the younger’s 14th win in the GamePigeon mobile game Anagrams. Tyagi sends a kissy Bitmoji, promising her grandmother that she’ll go easy on her when they play after dinner. 3,000 miles away, Sen. Elizabeth Warren puts down her phone with a laugh. Tyagi said she is grateful for her close relationship with her ‘Gammy’ and that her public role as a political figure never hindered her ability to be a loving grandmother. In fact, Warren’s work as a senator has led her grandchildren to stay up to date on news. “With the help of my grandma’s immersion in politics, my political evolution was able to begin at a fairly informed starting point from a young age,” Tyagi said. “I was grateful to be able to involve myself in political happenings and witness discussions up close because it taught me how difficult it is to implement substantial change.” Tyagi has introduced her grandmother at town halls, attended presidential debates and spoken to national and local news outlets before. Warren makes a great teacher and grandmother, but Tyagi said that she hopes young people, regardless of their political connections, remain passionate about what they want to see in the world. “Just one individual in the Senate pushing and campaigning for programs and reform wasn’t enough, which is painful to see as a kid, as I believed my grandma’s strength to be an unstoppable force,” Tyagi said. “Despite some of these aspects of working in politics making her work difficult, she has always remained resilient, and I admire her for that.”
Teens in Teletherapy
Students reflect on their relationships with therapy and discuss how the pandemic has affected their sessions. By Quincey Dern and Mia Feizbakhsh When Upper School Psychologist Sophie Wasson recommended to Lauren Lee ’20 that she meet with a therapist, Lee initially felt resistant to the suggestion. She said she had adopted the common perception that meeting with a licensed mental health professional automatically signifies one’s instability. However, Lee recognized she needed support to combat the grueling academic and social challenges of her junior year and knew her mental health suffered the consequences of struggling in silence. “At first, I was pretty adverse to [the idea of going to therapy],” Lee said. “I think there is a certain stigma around it that I personally felt and bought into. [Wasson] made [the introduction to therapy] really easy. She
laid the groundwork a little bit for me by talking to the therapist, and so I just felt more comfortable going in.” As a Peer Support Leader, Lee said she had experience in helping her peers with mental health issues through the guidance and personal support of Wasson and Peer Support Advisor Tina McGraw. When the pandemic pushed school to virtual learning, Lee said that online-only interactions took away the safe space that Peer Support offers to students. “With virtual Peer Support, a lot of the time, unfortunately, problems are about home and people at home,” Lee said. “Family is complicated, and I just think that being in [a certain] place and talking about [a certain situation] is hard.” In light of student isolation as a result of the pandemic, the school has made efforts to host speakers, such as Tony
• Continued on hwchronicle.com
Award-winning actor Ben Platt ’10 and Jackie Greenberg ’19, who talked about their own experiences with mental health. Maddie Morrison ’22 said that while transitioning to online learning has been challenging, she has become more attuned to her emotions. “Constantly being by myself during online school has had a huge impact on my mental health,” Morrison said. “I think that online learning has forced me to take a step back and consider how I feel throughout the day, whereas at school, I never had time to think about how I felt. The beginning of quarantine was a really tough adjustment for me, but I think that it has allowed me to find value in being alone sometimes.” Morrison, who has been in therapy for roughly four years, said virtual sessions pose a new concern that family members can overhear her discussions. • Continued on B3
Day in the Life: Holden McRae ’20
Shedding the Stigma Around Menstruation
Pandemic: Past Through Present
Holden McRae ’20 spends his days in quarantine taking online college courses at the USC Thornton School of Music and running a selfowned takeout business. B8
Often feeling pressure to push through the pain, female students share their experiences tackling menstrual symptoms at school and throughout society. B2
The school faces the impacts of a pandemic in 2020, similar to the one faced by the Harvard Military School and the Westlake School for Girls in 1918. B4-5
• Continued on B3
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF, SIOBHAN HARMS AND KYLE REIMS
B2 Features
The Chronicle
March 24, 2021
Students share their experiences with concealing menstruation symptoms both at school and in society. By Quincey Dern and Amelia Scharff
with a female adult or peer, she generally finds herself embarrassed to display any sign that she is on Fighting nausea and her period. Williams said she, counting on Ad- along with many others, fears that vil to alleviate they will embarrass themselves in her menstrual front of their male classmates due cramps, Cam- to the stigmatization of periods. ryn Williams “I don’t even think about [hid’22 trudged to ing my period] really, it’s just Chalmers Hall for something that I just feel obligatfirst period. Clutching ed to do,” Williams said. “It’s just her stomach and taking something that feels natural, like, deep breaths to conceal her ‘Oh, I shouldn’t tell other people pain, Williams persevered through about it; I should just keep it to the school day, fearing that the myself.” repercussions of missing a day of Williams said she believes she school would be worse than rush- shares a similar sentiment with ing to vomit in the restroom. women throughout society. From “I’ll just wipe my tears a young age, she said she was if I’m in class,” Wil- ingrained with a subconscious liams said. “Or shame of her period: she believes I’ll just keeping it a secret makes close my her seem more feminine. eyes and “I guess as women, just try we try to put up a facade to tune of how we want men to everything see us, and dealing with out.” periods, in their eyes, When Williams could be a gross expehas to attend school on rience, or not our most her period, she said her beautiful,” Williams white’s pain is an excruciating said. Camryn and immobilizing expeKate Hassett ’22 Williams ’22 rience that hinders also experiences intense her ability to concentrate, periods with mood swings and negatively impacting painful cramps but takes birth her learning. control pills to help alleviate her “[My period is] symptoms. Hassett said that her my main focus, try- mother is the only person who has ing to conceal the empathized with her experience pain and trying to and was the one who guided her fight through it rather to seek medical treatment. than retaining the infor“Luckily, I learned from [my mation that I’m taking in,” mom] that it’s not normal to go Williams said. “I would say that through period pains that harshit affects my learning.” ly,” Hassett said. “And so, medical During her volleyball season, attention was needed. My mom Williams skips practice and, to really helped me normalize that. avoid the discomfort of explaining [My pain] was not normal.” she is on her period, tells her Unlike Williams, Hassett said coach she is sick. that she spoke with her dean “I do kind of re- about her intense cramps but felt gret that I had to lie invalidated when she was told to in order to get out attend class. of going to practice “I told my dean, and said, ‘I because of my pain,” can’t go to class; there’s literally Williams said. “I wish nothing I can do,’” Hassett said. I just was straight up “And I was crying, and I was on about it.” the verge of vomiting. But then, While Williams said she [told me I] have to go to class. that she would feel com- And so, I don’t know, I just feel fortable discussing her cramps like it’s misinterpreted.”
Associate Head of School Laura be labeled as weakness or Ross said that although the school laziness, which will ultimatehas no specific policy regarding ly reduce the amount of menstrual symptoms, she believes crucial feedback she all pain should be treated equally. receives from her “I think if you’re in pain, it coach. doesn’t really matter what it’s “The whole from, right?” Ross said. “So there sport is being are no specific policies. [A specific critiqued by the policy] would separate period pain coach,” Tyagi from any other kind of pain.” said. “So, if your Period cramps cause 32% to coach isn’t paying 40% of people who menstruate to attention to you, you miss school, work or other com- could spend your two hours of mitments, according to a study practice there and not get much published by the U.S. National out of the practice because he feels Library of Medicine. Due to the like you weren’t putting in work, school’s academic and athletic but it was because of your period.” rigor, Williams said that girls likeWilliams said that in ly don’t view staying home as an the future, she hopes option because they fear they may to have more transstruggle to catch up in their classes. “I think there I remember a is definitely a pressure for all stulot of the girls on the dents in general team would just stop to come to school parsaying it was their despite not feelent conperiod.” ing their best beversations with cause of the fear teachers about —Lavinia Tyagi ’23 menstruation in of falling behind Diving Athlete order to make or missing something important in sure there one of their classa re es,” Williams said. “Also, in some no negative impacts circumstances, girls may feel like on her learning. period pain isn’t a good enough “I definitely excuse to miss school, so they en- wish that we could dure the pain that they experience be open with our no matter how excruciating it may teachers and [that be.” periods] could be Despite the commonality of treated the same way intense period symptoms, female as a sickness,” Wilathletes and students said they liams said. “It does feel still feel as though their suffering like a sickness, when it affects how is not taken seriously. In order to we function day to day. I wish it receive an understanding response [was] something that we could be from their club diving coach, La- more open about with our male vinia Tyagi ’23 said she and her counterparts. People feel like it’s teammates use physical illness as an awkward conversation they an excuse. don’t want to have, but we “I remember a lot of the girls should feel more comon the team would just stop say- fortable opening up ing it was their period,” Tyagi said. to our teach“Like, they would just avoid that ers. I don’t because they knew it would make k n o w him get defensive and not really w h e n acknowledge it.” that will Tyagi said that keeping her pain start and a secret is imperative to ensure her how that success in the sport. She said she will happen, but worries that her period pain might I wish it [would].”
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ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF
March 24, 2021
hwchronicle.com/features
Features B3
Frozen in Time Students, faculty and alumni who were affected by the recent Texas power outages share their experiences during the crisis.
By Kate Burry Waking up to a bright, snowy landscape on Presidents’ Day, Allison Park ’21 was baking brownies and playing outside with her cousin when, suddenly, the house went dark. Upon learning that Texas was facing a statewide power grid failure, her uncooked brownie batter and melting snow creations became the least of her concerns. “We saw the reports of an incoming snowstorm, but nobody took it seriously,” Park said. “On Sunday, we had snowball fights and made snowmen. The next morning our power went out and didn’t come back on for four days. I’ve never experienced anything like that before. It was shocking and scary because you never knew what would happen next.” As severe winter storms caused record-breaking low temperatures in early February, Park, along with over four million Texans, endured power outages, food and water shortages and extreme temperatures affecting the state. Icy and unsafe road conditions prevented many from traveling by car, frozen and burst pipes caused floods and many residents were forced to invent ways to access drinkable water, such as melting snow or boiling faucet water. Although the exact death toll is unknown, sources such as The Hill estimate the crisis caused around 70 deaths. Chloe Zoller ’17, a college senior currently enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin, said despite not being in direct danger, the conditions she faced during the “snowpocalypse,” as she and her classmates coined it, were completely unprecedented. “Having no food other than what was left in our freezer and no running water was something I never expected, especially in Texas,” Zoller said. “By the third day, panic definitely ensued. Water bottles were nearly out of stock at every
market, and we couldn’t get in a car and drive elsewhere. Three of our pipes burst and flooded the building where 500 students live. We were using pool water to flush our toilets and wipes to clean our bodies. We were definitely fortunate, though, for what we did have compared to what other people in Texas were experiencing.” When Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency for his state of 29 million people Feb.
demanding answers from the company, sparking multiple investigations run by the state legislature and federal government. History Teacher Lilas Lane, who has family in three cities across Texas, was not able to connect with her sister who lost both power and water during the crisis. She said that the situation as a whole was frustrating, especially in light of the privatized power system that failed to guarantee basic necessities. “The way the state handles their electrical system is ridiculous,” Lane said. “I believe in regulation and more nationalization of utilities. To me, it was problematic in the ’80s when they deregulated and privatized all of On Sunday, we had those public utilities. Everybody snowball fights and made should have access to electricity and water. That’s just a basic husnowmen. The next morning our man right.” power went out and didn’t come According to the Environback on for four days.” mental Protection Agency, the frequency of extreme tem—Allison Park ’21 peratures continues to grow because of the effects of climate change. After February, it was unclear why the state was unprepared 12, people for the winter storm and why the utiliwere perties weren’t strong enough to withstand plexed as to the temperatures. Max Silver ’20, who how they expehad to be evacuated from his building rienced an isolated at Southern Methodist University after crisis of such a large numerous pipe bursts and floods, said he magnitude, according to e i g h t was infuriated by both his school and the interviewees from the school commu- state’s ineffective response to the winter nity. For over 50 years, the Texas Inter- storms. connection power grid, managed by the “It was a clusterf*** of idiocracy,” Silprivate agency Electric Reliability Coun- ver said. “The government wasn’t doing cil of Texas (ERCOT), has been outside the right thing for the people, [it] was bethe regulatory jurisdiction of the federal ing selfish and it got a lot of people hurt. government. According to the Texas Tri- There were easy ways to get past all that bune, ERCOT has come under fire for without people getting hurt. There are mismanaging the situation and failing cold winters everywhere.” to updating infrastructure to withstand In the state of panic, people looked extreme weather. The publication to their elected officials for prosaid that many Americans, cedural and emotional guidnot only Texans, are ance, Chronicle Staff angry and Writer Natasha Speiss ’23, who was in Tex-
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as at the time of the power outages, said. However, Speiss said that to the dismay of the people, the Texas power grid failure devolved into a partisan issue when Abbott used the situation as an opportunity to publicly blame renewable energy and denounce the Green New Deal in a series of tweets and interviews with Fox News. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was also publicly admonished by many liberally-leaning media outlets such as CNN and MSNBC for flying to Cancun, Mexico, while the people whom he represents were stuck in the confines of their dark and freezing homes. Sadye Lackman ’22, who has multiple grandparents affected by the crisis, said she was disappointed in the priorities of many politicians and the legislature as they handled the state’s crisis. “It just felt really impersonal,” Lackman said. “Nobody was acknowledging that people were suffering as a result of it, and it seemed like they just needed a problem to blame [the crisis] on. There comes a point where politics are irrelevant and the problem is more pressing than party lines.” Although power has returned for many, Texas will continue to deal with the repercussions of the storms for months to come due to the billions of dollars in damages. Speiss said that the crisis has not only proven to be pivotal in Texan policy and the discussion of the role of state governments, but also has revealed the threat of climate change. “I think people in Texas, regardless of party or political views, now distrust their elected officials to do what is best for the citizens” Speiss said. “Texas can no longer afford to use its own power grid. The state has to join together with other states rather than be its own island. Overall, this event has shown how formidable climate change is as an enemy that we all are facing, not just Texans.”
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B4 Features
The Chronicle
Two Pandemics: From the Past to the Present By Katharine Steers
Flash-forward a century later, students like Kendra Ross ’23 are still very morning at 7:45 a.m., actively engaged in current affairs. Sofia Llevat ’22 wakes up to “The pandemic definitely heighther phone alarm. She stands ens the importance of giving in times in front of her closet, contemplatof hardship,” Ross said. “[It] highing what to wear to virtual school. lights, even more, the circumstancWhile Llevat resists the urge to stay es we’re living in and the amount of in her pajamas, she still can’t remem- help needed [within] the communiber the last time she wore a pair of ty.” jeans. From there, she sits at her Following in the history of Westdesk for the remainder of the day, lake service, Ross, in tandem with besides exercise and food breaks. The her sister Julianna Ross ’22, has ornext day, it happens all over again. ganized COVID-19-safe “[Staying motivated community service opporhas] been difficult,” Llevat tunities, such as a toy drive said. “But you have to find for orphaned children. the silver linings every day. Upper School LibrarThat’s so cheesy, but it’s ian Jessica Wahl has foltrue.” lowed history in a different For Llevat, that silver way. As a silent film lover, lining has come in the form her extensive research on of finding ways to keep the subject led her to crebusy. 102 years ago, prior white’s ate an Instagram account to the merger in 1991, stuLillian called “Silence is Platidents at both the Harvard Miller, 1919 num” in 2010 to feature Military School and the lesser-known silent film Westlake School for Girls performers. found themselves in a similar situIn her research of the early 20th ation. The first cases of the H1N1 century, she found that while other virus pandemic, colloquially known age groups were not spared, the influas the Spanish Influenza, emerged in Los Angeles during the fall of 1918. enza overwhelmingly targeted young Shortly after, schools were closed for adults, killing many up-and-coming silent film performers. Upon further approximately eight weeks. investigation into the impacts of the While the influenza spread 1918 pandemic, the circumstancthroughout the states, World War I es became increasingly familiar, she was simultaneously coming to a close said. abroad. Although women were pre“Even though [the Influenza of cluded from combat during WWI, 1918] was so long ago, we’re lookWestlake girls were on the front lines ing at a lot of the same stuff today,” during the influenza. The students Wahl said. “It would be interesting if raised money, crocheted bandages we did have people that survived the and worked as nurses. Many Harpandemic alive today to talk about vard Military School alumni directly it, but we don’t. It’s just a matter of advanced into the War as soldiers.
E
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THE FOOTBALL TEAM: The Harvard Military School football team gathers for a photo in 1922, less than five years after the influenza pandemic in 1918. looking back and seeing how things fared then and how we can apply it to what’s happening now.” Wahl said she equates the satire she discovered in poetry and songs to contemporary memes and the war-related volunteer work to recent protests and community service. “Reading through these articles from like 100 years ago, where it talks about the importance of wearing a mask and talking about how theaters and restaurants closed, it’s so parallel,” Wahl said. Last May, archivist Alexis Arinsburg ’98 began researching the influenza’s impact on both Harvard Military School and Westlake School for Girls. After sifting through Harvard’s school paper, The Sentinel,
and Westlake’s Vox Puellarum, which is Latin for “The Voice of the Girls,” Arinsburg discovered several references to the influenza. Although the case count at the Westlake School for Girls is unknown, The Sentinel recorded that there were 45 cases among the boarders at Harvard Military School. All but two students recovered. “The cases are all light—scarcely more than severe colds, but they are so numerous that I considered it unwise to keep the school open the remainder of the week,” Headmaster of Harvard Military School Robert B. Gooden told The Los Angeles Times on Oct. 11, 1918. “All of the boys are recovering. There are 290 pupils enrolled but most of them are boys who
1918
An illustration included in the Society section of the Westlake School for Girls 1919 newspaper, the Vox Puellarum, which depicts a soldier and a Westlake student.
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March
24, 2021 hwchronicle.com/features
Features B5
2021
Beginning on March 9, cohorts of students signed up to return to campus by grade level. Classrooms were designed to accomodate social distancing while allowing students to attend virtual classes in the same room as their peers.
KATE BURRY/CHRONICLE
LUNCHING ON CAMPUS: Billy Johnson ’22, Charlotte Massey ’22 and Shanti Hinkin ’22 pose for a photo together while socializing and eating at table in front of the newly built cafeteria.
1900
1904
1918
1991
2020
Grenville C. Emery opens the Harvard Military School in September in Los Angeles. Frederica de Laguna and Jessica Smith Vance open the Westlake School for Girls in Los Angeles.
The H1N1 Pandemic results in an approximately eight-week-long school closure.
Two years after the decision to merge the schools, full coeducation begins in September.
reside at home. The sickness broke out and spring break. The suspension of athamong those who board at the school.” letics meant that Harvard forfeited its Carlton Canfield, a 17-year-old stu- football season in favor of basketball—a dent from a well-known family in Santa decision that was backed by the city. Cruz, died from the virus on campus While the school was able to repliafter it developed into a severe case of cate many aspects of in-person school pneumonia. It is unknown whether or virtually during the current pandemic, not his parents made it to his bedside two seasons of athletics were indefinitein time to say goodbye. An article from ly postponed or canceled. Llevat, who the Santa Cruz Evening News, published plays field hockey, said she predicted losOct. 15, 1918, described the funeral ser- ing the upcoming season of field hockey vice, noting the exquisite floral offerings because of how difficult it was to pracand “two appropriate duets.” tice under the safety guidelines when the “His sudden death will be a shock to school opened for athletics. scores of girls and boys in this city and “I was excited because I love my the universal sympathy of the commu- team, and I was so happy to play with nity will be extended [to] the parents in them again after a whole year,” Lletheir great grief,” wrote vat said. “There were the Santa Cruz Evening practices in person at News on Oct. 12, 1918 school socially distant, [The pandemic] which is very difficult During the 1918 highlights, even more, to do with a sport like Influenza outbreak, the the circumstances we’re field hockey. It was reHarvard gym was converted into a hospital living in and the amount ally hard to adjust to practicing a sport that’s with a doctor accomof help needed [within] pretty face-to-face.” panied by 12 full-time the community. ” nurses. In addition, Arinsburg said Harvard Military School both school papers —Kendra Ross ’23 painted a rosy picture built a hospital at a separate location with a resiof the 1918 Influenza’s dent nurse to address any potential cases. impact. And while the current pandemic According to an email from Pres- isn’t over yet, she said she is encouraged ident Rick Commons sent Jan. 8, the by their upbeat reflections. school hired two registered nurses on “As summer comes and books are each campus and invested in PPE sup- laid aside for a few weeks of recreation, plies, HVAC upgrades, improvements I am sure that we can all look back and to classroom technology and a contact say that this has been a very happy and tracing app. successful year,” Lillian Miller, a member “We didn’t miss a beat,” Arinsburg of the Westlake School for Girls Class of said. “Two days later, everyone’s back 1919, wrote in Vox Puellarum. “It was online. It was more disruptive back then not without interruption, however, for because we couldn’t continue with aca- we were obliged to lose seven weeks of demics, the way that students are able to lessons in the first semester during the today. So much of their social life was quarantine. But with the assistance of upended, and in sports, they lost a whole our teachers and greater personal effort, we succeeded in covering the ground by season.” Harvard Military School made up the beginning of the second term. So we the lost time by holding school until 1 find that bad beginnings usually have p.m. on Saturdays and omitting winter good endings.”
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The COVID-19 pandemic results in indefinite virtual instruction, although in 2021, students were allowed to return to campus in cohorts. KATE BURRY/CHRONICLE
Illustrations by alexa druyanoff
BACK ON CAMPUS: Prentiss Corbin ’ 22, Junior Prefect Jade Stanford ’22, Tom Baker ’22 and Kate Hassett ’22 spell out the word “love” outside of Rugby Hall on March 15.
B6 Features
The Chronicle
March 24, 2021
Students of color reflect on how they have assimilated into American culture by changing their given names to more traditionally Western names.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY EVIE DE RUBERTIS AND CHLOE SCHAEFFER
By Alec Rosenthal and Melody Tang
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ate in her junior year, Kimberly Wang ’21 arrived at the Upper School to take her SAT Subject Test. She felt extremely nervous, but her stress for the exam was outweighed by an awkward situation. Instead of calling Wang by her given name, Xiaoyang, her proctor addressed her as “Mr. Wang.” For Wang, who identifies as a woman, the proctor’s ignorance was not something new, as she has struggled with others mispronouncing her name for her entire life. “There have been countless incidents for as long as I can remember with pronunciation, which I completely understand because it is a hard word for [English] speakers to say,” Wang wrote in an email. “I choose to go by my English name because I have gone by Kim or Kimberly ever since I could speak English. Also, overall it is easier for people around me to pronounce, which means [correcting others less often]. ”
For students with names originating from different countries, having their names mispronounced is a common occurrence. In a 2020 study from the University of Alberta, 75% of the surveyed students with ‘ethnic’ last names said their names have been mispronounced. Many students with these names have chosen to adopt new, easier-to-pronounce names in order to assimilate into American norms. A 2018 study conducted by the University of Toronto explored the prevalence of international students adopting “Anglo names.” From the surveyed group of Chinese international students, more than half took on “Amer-
ican-sounding” names. Cultural assimilation is the practice of minority groups changing one’s presentation and behavior to better integrate with the societal majority. Canadian etymologist Mike Campbell traced the origins of English and American names to the 13th century when the Catholic Church encouraged people to name their children after saints and other religious figures. The United States Social Security Administration documented 100 of the most common names from 1920 to 2019, in which six out of the 10 most common male names and five out of the 10 most common female names had roots within Abrahamic religions. While Wang said she has grown accustomed to people calling her Kimberly, she still feels a strong connection to both of her names. “I was not born in America but still in an English-speaking environment—I think [my parents] wanted me to have a name that would be easier for me and those around me,” Wang said. “I go by my given name whenever I am speaking Chinese, [and] all my family and friends who speak Chinese refer to me by my given name.” Similar to Wang, when Eghosasere Asemota ’22 immigrated to the United States from Nigeria, he said he started going by his middle name, Michael, so other people could address him more easily. After reflecting on his identity, however, he began using his given name in the classroom, a move that has since prompted varied reactions, he said. “Most people were okay with [Eghosasere],” Asemota said. “I’ve had times where people try to say ‘Oh, can I just call you this nickname?’ Or like, ‘Can I shorten it?’ I’ve just said ‘no’ because I am not trying to change myself for anybody else this year.” Asemota said this decision was part of an internal battle about becoming more comfortable with his name and taking pride in his African heritage. “Why have I always tried to make other people feel more comfortable with what they call me rather than [being] comfortable myself?” Asemota said. “I’ve noticed that I have such discomfort with my own first name that I shouldn’t have. I shouldn’t be uncomfortable when I hear people say Eghosasere instead of Michael. I need to change that. I shouldn’t be allowing how others see my name [to change] my perception of my own name.” Although Asemota said he would like to embrace his given name, he acknowledges the privileges that come with using an American name, especially
with racial bias. “When people see my [American] name, they don’t automatically assume that I’m Black,” Asemota said. “[I’ve had a] conversation
with my parents about being in a professional setting [and how an American name] would help. A lot of the time people make assumptions based off of our names and how we look, so having a different name does get you through the door a lot of times.” Aiden Cho ’22, who has used an American name since he arrived to the United States from South Korea, said he had a similarly uncomfortable experience when using his given name at school. “The main reason why I didn’t like using my Korean name is that my name has a different pronunciation in Korean than in English,” Cho said. “It’s supposed to be pronounced YOONJAE, but the English spelling is Y-U-N. So then people wouldn’t take it as seriously as I would’ve liked. They would be like ‘Yunjae, Yunjae’ whenever teachers called my name for attendance. It made me uncomfortable in that way, when kids are laughing. And it wasn’t the students purposely making [fun of my name], it was just natural, but it made me feel uncomfortable at school.” Cho said his parents asked him to start using Aiden as his name because his Korean name would not be American enough. “It would be hard for people to take me seriously as an American, and it would be hard to become accustomed to American culture,” Cho said. “So, even then, I knew there was always something about using a foreign name on American soil—it’s hard for you to become American.” While Cho said he will continue using his American name in the United States, he uses his Korean name with his family, almost all of whom live in Korea. There, Cho said he feels most comfortable going by both names because many Korean people speak En-
glish as well. In contrast, Colin Yuan ’22, who is Chinese American, said he identifies more with his American name because he has used it regularly since emigrating from China at a young age. “I kind of have to assimilate, [and not] in a bad way,” Yuan said. “It’s not inherently uncomfortable for me. I don’t really feel forced to. Or I don’t feel bad about [using] an American name. [...] I think I fit in more with this American name. I do feel I have this dual identity with these two names. [My American name has] pretty much grown on me. My mom sometimes also calls me Colin. Yeah, I’m Colin now. I don’t have this desire to go back to my other name. I would just say I’m pretty used to it now.” Simon Lee ’23 also said he felt accustomed to his American name because he has used it since preschool. He said his family, friends and classmates call him Simon, the Catholic name from his baptism. Nevertheless, he said his Korean name, Sang-hyun, leads teachers to squint and pause at their atten-
dance sheets every year. Lee said he feels that certain environments often force people to assimilate, regardless of their openness to doing so. “There’s this subconscious thing where you have to adjust to what is comfortable for the people around you who [aren’t familiar with foreign cultures],” Lee said. “I don’t think any of my friends were like ‘you have to be 100% American, and you can’t be Korean.’ That didn’t happen, but [assimilation] was definitely something subconscious.” Asemota said understanding how forced assimilation can be harmful is key to creating a more inclusive society. “[I would like people to recognize] how damaging it is to always have to feel like you have to change a big part of your identity to feel accepted,” Asemota said.
March 24, 2021
hwchronicle.com/features
Features B7
In times of self-isolation during the pandemic, students reflect on how a virtual setting has affected the quality of their experiences with therapy and the state of their mental health. ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE SCHAEFFER
get to know over time,” Morrison said. “And I think that’s beautiful in a way that “I definitely do worry that my parents you form a relationship with someone that are listening, but that's not a really big is- you didn’t even know before, and they besue for me because my parents don’t real- come such an integral role in your mental ly care,” Morrison said. “But I do share a health.” Dylan Perkins ’23, who has met with wall with my sister's room, and I feel like sometimes it's uncomfortable because you his therapist once a week for the past three know people are in your house, and you years, said that despite worrying that a shift to virtual sessions don’t know if anyone can might be difficult, he dehear you. But it's okay as cided to continue therapy long as everything is safe I am a huge for his mental health. and distanced.” advocate that therapy is Perkins and his therWhile she said her vidapist hold sessions using eo call therapy meetings for anyone and everyone. the video call application are less intimate, MorYou don't have to be in a Simple Practice, and alrison feels they are just crisis to receive it.” though he said that he as effective, if not more now experiences someeffective, than in-person —Brittany Bronson what of a disconnect sessions. She said she enUpper School Counselor being online, his strong joys the convenience of relationship with his thermeeting from home, as apist has made the virtual scheduling has become easier. Ultimately, Morrison sincerely val- transition more comfortable. “I have had a great experience with ues her experience with therapy, she said. “Especially over Zoom, it’s gotten a therapy,” Perkins said. “It is really importlot harder when you’re separated from ev- ant that you find the right person, and if eryone else, and I think that talking to a that takes a few tries, that is alright, but therapist is such a profound and deeply once you do, therapy provides a great place personal experience to share intimate de- for you to talk to someone completely septails of your life with a stranger that you arate from your own life, and I have seen a • Continued from B1
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Diplomatic dinnertime discussions • Continued from B1
Tyagi said her experience with both politics, her family and their intersection has been positive, akin to that of Marlborough School student Helena Hudlin ’23. As the niece of Vice President Kamala Harris, Hudlin is a political and social activist in her community. She has introduced her aunt at rallies and attended the inauguration of President Joe Biden. “As you can imagine, I am so, so proud of my godmother,” Hudlin said. “She’s my MVP.” As the son of Dee Dee Myers, the first woman and second-youngest White House Press Secretary, Stephen Purdum ’22 said that he feels pride on behalf of his family, despite politics having only played a causal role in his home. He said he gained gradual exposure from overheard conversations and breakfast table small talk. Myers served under Bill Clinton at age 31, hosted “Equal Time” on CNBC, won Celebrity “Jeopardy” and wrote The New York Times bestselling novel “Why Women Should Rule the World” in 2009. Her intellect, Purdum said, teaches him to
analyze information critically and be more aware of the laws that form our society. “Having my parents be so involved in politics exposed me to political issues much earlier than I probably otherwise would have,” Purdum said. “Because it was just what was always talked about in my house, I learned a lot more than I would have left to my own devices. I think it made me consider political issues for most of my life. As a result of that, I’ve always been interested in and concerned about politics, and far more politically active, and I think that does come as a direct result of my parents.” Both politics and family dynamics fall on a spectrum, and the point in which they meet is sometimes bound to be messy. Notre Dame High School student Lillie Bush ’23 has become an expert at navigating these moments. She said that, like a delicious Thanksgiving meal, sometimes the best option is to appreciate what’s good and ignore the political debates circling the table. Every summer, her family of five travels to Walker’s Point Estate in Maine. The Kennebunkport residence, otherwise known as the “Bush Compound,” boasts nine bedrooms, four sitting rooms and at least 10 different political viewpoints. Former President George H.W. Bush’s six children have given her plenty of cousins with whom to roam the island. However, as a seasoned Lincoln-Douglas debater and self-proclaimed oversharer, Bush said she struggles to enjoy the New England
lot of improvement because of it.” in your life.” According to Perkins, what makes therBronson said that therapy can be an apy such a valuable experience is the op- incredibly beneficial experience for anyone portunity clients have to speak freely in a and encourages people to explore it. safe space. “I am a huge advocate that therapy is “Everyone should go to therapy in my for anyone and everyone,” Bronson said. opinion, though I know that isn’t possi- “You don’t have to be in a crisis in order ble, as it tends to be very expensive,” Per- to receive it. Therapy can be a space where kins said. “It’s good to have a place where you want to work on increasing your you feel safe to talk about anyself-esteem [and] learning how to thing without having to worry cope with stress [and] body imabout what someone else might age. Therapy is a tool to help you say.” increase your overall well-being, Similar to Perkins, Upper which all of us can benefit from and Middle School Counselor at any point in our lives.” and licensed therapist Brittany Bronson has continued Bronson said she feels passionate to hold sessions with clients about the importance of meetthroughout the pandemic via ing with a therapist, especially video and voice call applications. white’s with regard to teenagers. “I do miss seeing clients in Maddie “I think teens meeting with person, but I feel like telehealth Morrison ’22 a therapist is an invaluable exis a lot easier for clients to show perience and one I wish I had up to therapy and not worry when I was a teen,” Bronson said. “What about traffic, parking [and] commuting,” makes therapy valuable is being able to Bronson said. “I even have some clients have a safe space to talk with someone who live in Northern California and who isn’t a family member or friend. [You would not be able to see me for therapy meet] someone who is supportive and otherwise. But other than not seeing clineutral and truly encourages you to be ents in person, I still feel that therapy is your best self and help you get through just as impactful and helpful as it was bewhatever challenges you are experiencing fore the pandemic.”
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SELFIE TIME: (From left to right) Senator Elizabeth Warren holds the camera for a fun family photo of Lavinia Tyagi ’23, Octavia Tyagi ’19, herself and Bruce H. Mann. utopia without a few flare ups. debate lesson for help formatting evidence “I just remember a dinner at Kenne- for an upcoming tournament. She said bunkport watching my father and his that, upon entering the classroom, her brother talk about business,” Bush said. “I goal of citations and sourcing was eclipsed was in seventh grade and hadn’t formed by a much more intriguing aspect of the any big political opinions, but something course: politics. Seniors in navy and khaabout the way they were willing to put ki were bent over excerpts of “The Commoney over human rights felt wrong. I re- munist Manifesto” and “Das Kapital.” A member the line, ‘we can’t fix these things freshman looking to rise the ranks of high without the money to do so,’ and some- school debate, Bush read up on Marxism thing just scared me about how that mon- to prepare for what was to come. ey was going to be made.” “I wanted to be ahead of the curve,” After that moment, Bush decided to Bush said. “I knew we’d have to read Karl reflect upon what felt Marx eventually, so I just so off about that interordered every book of his action. Bush said she I could find. I was surPolitical ideology still loves and admires prised. Everything he said is everyone's independent just clicked with me.” her family and that she would always be open to Now a Marxist Anarjourney. Family doesn't discussing differences in cho-Communist, Bush and shouldn't shape your still sets sail, swims and their beliefs. stance.” “I respect them, but spends summer nights there’s so many things with her family under a —Lillie Bush '23 Republican legacy. From I can’t talk about anyNotre Dame Student her childhood to that more,” Bush said with a sigh. “I was surprised to night in the compound have lost a lot of respect to now, Bush said she was from my family just from them knowing able to learn about politics through three I’m left-leaning. I told my dad I wanted to different phases: watching, listening and vote as a Democrat, and he threatened to learning for herself. disown me. When I started getting visibly “In being surrounded by politics from upset, he said it was a joke. And honestly, a young age, I learned early-on that poI bet it was. I just still think that, especial- litical ideology is everyone’s independent ly as a kid, you shouldn’t get threatened journey,” Bush said. “Family doesn’t and by your parents for having independent shouldn’t shape your stance. It is up to beliefs.” you and you alone to research and support Two years later, Bush entered a varsity what you believe.”
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SMILE FOR THE CAMERA: (From left to right) Atticus Tyagi, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Lavinia Tyagi ’23 embrace with a big smile as they pose together for a photo.
B8 Features
The Chronicle
March 24, 2021
Day in the Life: Holden McRae ’20
Secret Life of Pets (in Quarantine)
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By Natalie Cosgrove will open up, leaving pets home alone for takeout company, the day. As adoption rates of pets in shelMixed Foods. hen Olivia Rahhal ’23 re- ters, breeders and rescues have surged, so itting at his piano, chords humming, McRae said turned to her house after leav- has the concern for the mental and physibeats tapping, Holden McRae ’20 throughout middle ing her sheepadoodle puppy cal health of these pets, according to ABC7 shifts between music production, col- school, he prepared home for the first time, she noticed her News. After getting used to their owners lege work and a self-owned takeout busi- nearly every family dindog’s overly exaggerated behavior—spe- being home over quarantine, many pets ness. Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ner and fell in love with cifically, her intense tail wagging and will start to experience separation anxMcRae fills his days with various passions cooking, a passion that has excited barking. Rahhal said her fam- iety, which could include symptoms of and hobbies, ranging from songwriting to stuck with him throughout ily used this instance as a test run trembling, excessive panting, destructive entrepreneurship. his life. For McRae, cooking because they knew they would behavior or changes in sleep and appetite, A student at the University of Southern was simply a hobby until one need to leave the dog alone according to an article written by the OakCalifornia Thorton School of Music (USC), of his friends revealed his interest for prolonged periods of land Veterinary Services (OVRS) staff. McRae starts his day off attending online in buying his dishes, sparking his time after quarantine. classes, which mainly consist of Veterinarian Andrea Richter, who has initial inspiration for a “Pretty clearly studying music and production. worked at the Sherman Oaks Veterinary business. when we were leav- Group since 2015, said she thinks the job He said his college experience is “At the beginning of ing she was really market will drastically change after quarquite a significant shift from his quarantine, I put on my sad, and we left antine and consequently, more people high school routine. Snapchat story [asking] if her in her crate will stay home. For the people who do “It’s really different, I’d other people would be interwith some toys and not, however, their pets will likely experisay, than high school because I ested in buying food, and way treats, but she could ence the effects of the stay-at-home order. wasn’t even in choir or jazz band more people [responded] than I tell we were leaving or anything like that in school, “Do I think that separation anxiety is thought were going to,” McRae her,” Rahhal said. going to increase?” Richter said. “100%. so I didn’t have anything musaid. “I started delivering food “When we got back I am already seeing it now. I think people sic-based in my curriculum,” to a couple of my friends that after an hour or two, McRae said. “It’s so different bewill start trying holistic medicines, would reach out. At first, Holden she was barking cause I have only one class that’s and I eventually think that I didn’t have any strucMcRae ’20 pretty loudly non-music, and now my whole animals will be put on tured plan; it was whatand whimperday is music: studying music, learning about ever they wanted me to make, I’d Prozac because it is either ing.” music, whether it’s songwriting class or [mu- make.” that or getting kicked This behavior sic] theory or listening skills.” out of their apartment. McRae opened Mixed is not unusual for Although McRae never enrolled in mu- Foods for business during We are already seeing pets during quaransic classes during his high school career, he spring break of his senior animals getting retine. Ever since Governor tried his best to incorporate music into his year of high school, and homed.” Gavin Newsom’s stay-atlife, spending his breaks in school practice almost a year later, the Prozac, or fluoxetine, is home order was put in place rooms exploring and developing his sing- Mixed Foods menu an antidepressant used to in mid-March of last year, ing and piano-playing abilities. Music has mainly features pizzas, treat a number of disorders pets have remained home with always been a pastime he was passionate which McRae said he Olivia and has been FDA-approved Rahhal ’23 their owners for months on end about, and when his older sister graduated makes as ordered. In for dogs. The tablet can be with little breaks in between. The from the USC Thorton School of Music, he addition to working given to treat behavioral problems coronavirus has taken a large toll on the such as the effects of separation anxiety, was inspired to follow in her footsteps, he on school assignments, mental and physical health of individu- according to the Veterinary Centers of said. McRae works to prepare als, according to the Centers for Disease America Inc. (VCA), in an article written When McRae’s school days are over, and fulfill these orders in Control and Prevention (CDC), but it is by Rania Gollakner about fluoxetine. and he is not logged into a Zoom course the afternoons, developimportant to note what the effects will studying harmonies, he often ing his business. Students have also seen these issues be on pets. finds himself of attachment while at home with their “If I get an order, I’ll While the vaccine gets dis- pets. Lauren LaPorta ’23 rescued a kitten in the get it two days in advance,” tributed and coronavirus cases in October and has made a bed for her in kitchen McRae said. “Two days in adbegin to decrease, jobs and workher room. vance, I’ll start making the dough schools i n g and getting everything ready, going • Continued on hwchronicle.com on his to get ingredients.” By Milla Ben-Ezra
PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF HOLDEN MCRAE
PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF OLIVIA RAHHAL
• Continued on hwchronicle.com
ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF
Arts &Entertainment The Chronicle • March 24, 2021
By Caitlin Muñoz When India Spencer ’21 clicked on a Zoom link for the Community Flex Time webinar Jan. 14, she anticipated that the school would acknowledge a trend of depleted mental health and hoped for a sensitive discussion to validate students’ struggles. Instead, she said she left the meeting feeling mentally exhausted after open discussion about mental illness with Lauren Lee ’20 and Jackie Greenberg ’19. “To be honest, the meeting was very overwhelming for me and some people I know,” Spencer said. “I’ve suffered from depression and self-harm, and going into the meeting, I wasn’t expecting that kind of material. I don’t think it was the best idea to have [former] students share in grim detail their mental health experiences, especially when [students] are all so isolated and clearly struggling. The assembly resulted in the rest of my energy that day being devoted to reliving things that I would rather not, especially when I am already feeling so alone.
Having
the topic
of
thrown
suicide
in your
face without
any
warning can be
extremely
triggering.” Like Spencer, Savannah Walske ’22 said the webinar was a problematic setting for exposure to and discussion of self-harm and suicide. Walske said that considering they are incredibly sensitive topics, warnings should have been given prior to the meeting. “I understand their intent was to raise awareness and make people know that they weren’t alone, but at the same time, people who have already overcome things such as self-harm don’t need to hear about it again,” Walske said. “Many self-harm victims can relapse as a result of such discussions, even if [the speaker’s] experience, in the end, was of a positive net benefit.” The warnings Walske and Spencer wished had been utilized are often referred to as “trigger warnings.”---------------------------------------------- Leslie Martin, a psychologist from Studio City who specializes in trauma treatment, said that triggers are any sensory input that may evoke a memory or reference a traumatic event in someone’s life that they are insufficiently coping with. In the media, trigger warnings are generally provided in the form of alerts before movies or temporarily blurred posts on Instagram, and they
serve to alert audience members of potentially violent or sensitive content -------------------------------------------------------------. A rising number of trigger warnings in 2013 sparked their further implementation in educational settings. Martin said she thinks there are educational settings where trigger warnings benefit students struggling with trauma or post traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) because they give them control over their trauma. However, Martin recognizes the potential long-term complications of extreme accommodations for a student audience. She said she views education as a partnership and believes the issue of trauma management in the classroom falls on both the educator and the student. “I think it’s incumbent on any good teacher to inform a student about what they’re about to encounter in an assignment, whether you’re reading ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ coming from a family of Holocaust survivors, or there’s a rape scene, and there’s been some sexual trauma,” Martin said. “On the other hand, we don’t want to spoonfeed our students too much, so if you’re the child of a Holocaust survivor, do some research on the topic of the book. But I think it would be wildly irresponsible for a teacher not to say, ‘Just know this is coming, and if there’s an issue, come see me after class.’” School Counselor, Interdisciplinary Studies Teacher and Psychology Teacher Michelle Bracken said that while in her own classroom she often warns students before playing graphic or potentially disturbing videos -------------------, she finds it unrealistic to assume that she can protect those struggling with PTSD from every potential trigger of their personal trauma. “I think with PTSD, images, sounds and smells can set you off and usually trigger those emotions, [but] there are so many different variables involved with the trauma that it’s hard to say,” Bracken said. “I think [trigger warnings] make the person giving [them] feel better because at least [they] tried to warn you about it, but I’m not sure [they’re] always as effective as we hope [they are]. For people who know what they’re afraid of or disturbed by, I think it helps on some level, but there isn’t anything you can do that’s 100% effective 100% of the time.” Although teachers like Bracken support trigger warnings in some cases, Rafael Singer ’21 said he views the excessive use of trigger warnings as a practice to be wary of and believes that implementing them in schools will be problematic in the long run. “I think the intentions behind trigger warnings come from a good place–wanting to protect distressed people from potentially traumatic ideas or perspectives,” Singer said. “However, I think the premise of trigger warnings is too idealistic, especially for school, and they actually have pretty adverse ramifications. I believe that it’s the function of school to expose its students to new and challenging
perspectives, even if those might be offensive or hurtful. This teaches students how to cope with offensive material as well as broaden and complicate their world views.” Singer expanded on his belief that trigger warnings are detrimental to the intellectual growth of students. “I’m not fully sure if there are valid scenarios where trigger warnings have a wholly positive effect without dissuading people from grappling with differing ideas,” Singer said. “I think it’s generally good to understand how what you say might affect someone else, but trying to envelop students in protective bubble wrap with content warnings and labels just seems like a recipe for a less open and understanding society.”
In contrast to Singer’s wariness of trigger warnings, Walske said she believes that forewarning of sensitive content from teachers should be a more standardized practice. While she said she has had teachers who were mindful of triggers, she has often experienced discomfort in situations where she feels a teacher has fallen short in addressing a sensitive topic. “[In English] this year, [Tony Morrison’s] ‘Beloved’ had a lot of very violent themes, and for some people, that could have been triggering to read about,” Walske said. “[My teacher] did mention to us before we started reading the book that there was violence, and it had dark themes, but he didn’t specify which themes they were, and it could have been really triggering to some people if they had similar experiences to the characters in the books. And when my history teacher last year talked about the Holocaust, he didn’t really seem to put much sensitivity into how he talked about it or consideration of people who might have pasts associated [with] that historical event.” Walske said she thinks such situations -------------- place students in uncomfortable learning environments and are counterproductive to their education. “I don’t see how students should be expected to learn anything when they are triggered by something that they’re supposed to be learning about,” Walske said. “I really don’t think trigger warnings are that broad in their impact; it’s just preventing further trauma for most people, and you can still enjoy and reap the benefits of literature without having to be constantly triggered by sensitive topics.” Throughout the media and within the classroom, young people like Walske continue to call for the wider implementation of trigger warnings ------------------------------, prompting studies whose conclusions complicate the debate over whether or not they actually benefit their audiences. While clinical research has generally endorsed trigger warnings, a 2017 study published by the American Psychologi-
cal Association countered assumptions of the positive effects. The study concluded that the recipient does not benefit long-term by evading their triggers; rather, the practice is problematic in that it may exacerbate or prolong PTSD symptoms. Other studies featured in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology examining the long-term effectiveness of trigger warnings similarly suggest that while warnings are proven to reduce immediate distress and make reactions more manageable for survivors, treatments like exposure therapy are far more effective than avoidance of one’s triggers. Walske said that while concerns of stunting the recovery of people struggling with PTSD are understandable, exposure therapy is not something that should be undergone in the classroom or through the media, but in an appropriate setting with a professional. xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx . “There’s been discourse on social media about adding trigger warnings to food for people with eating disorders,” Walske said. “In that case, it does make sense to argue that putting a trigger warning on that reinforces the negative connotation of food. But I think with triggering things that aren’t connected to taking care of yourself, a social media app should not serve
as your exposure therapy, and you should rather seek professional help. If you have PTSD, seeing and hearing [triggering things] on social media or in a class when you don’t intend to be exposed to [them] is just others disregarding [your] trauma, and in my mind is dismissive of others.” Like Walske, Spencer believes the proper implementation of warnings in classroom settings is important and said the practice should be taken more seriously. She also spoke against the increasingly lighthearted use of the word “trigger” and said using it in an inappropriate context invalidates and dismisses the struggles of one’s peers. “I think that trigger warnings should always be announced way ahead of a lesson or community meeting to ensure that students know what they will be discussing and can either prepare for it or not go,” Spencer said. “Trigger warnings should be taken very seriously and it angers me that the word ‘ trigger ’ has morphed into a joke. Treating triggers like a joke results in people who have experienced traumatic events feeling invalidated or [feeling as though] what they went through wasn’t a serious ordeal.”
illustration by sydney fener and caitlin muñoz
C2 A&E
The Chronicle
March 24, 2021
Oversexualization in the media has proven to be increasingly problematic. Students discuss social media’s impact on mental health. By Mimi Landes and Caitlin Muñoz “I’m not looking, are you looking?” “They looked at me first, I swear.” When Ash Wright ’22 opened the comment section of a TikTok video featuring an underage creator wearing a bikini, she stared for a moment at a series of comments posted by men insinuating their sexualization of the young woman’s body before closing the app in disgust. Wright said coming across these comments is not a rare occurrence on any social media platform she uses. She said she believes these types of comments are a direct result of the “male gaze,” a term coined in 1973 to define the phenomenon of men projecting their sexual desires upon women. “People talk about the female gaze versus the male gaze, but I feel like men will over-sexualize each other just for fun, as a joke,” Wright said. “Boys will comment on other boys’ posts, but it’ll be totally joking. But for women, when [men] comment, it’s just really gross and obscene.” Like Wright, Savannah Shaub ’23 said she will often scroll through the comments on a female celebrity’s Instagram post and find an alarming number of male comments sexualizing the celebrity. Shaub believes this over-sexualization is responsible for most of the body-image issues that women experience on social media. “I think that the sexual desires of men are the main reason for women’s insecurities, and that’s especially because men have all these needs for how women physically look,” Shaub said. “You have girls who grow up with this indoctrination of needing to fit this beauty standard. And then they tell their daughters and younger generations that they need to fit this beauty standard the mom had to fit. So it’s a cycle of [the] younger generations becoming their mothers and grandmothers, all of [whom] were following ideas that came from men.” Shaub said she believes men’s systematic sexualization of women outweighs anything men experience in media. A 2011 study conducted by the University at Buffalo examined the content in The Rolling Stone, a magazine owned and run primarily by males. The study concluded that on average, 83% of women featured in the magazine were sexualized, in contrast to 17% of men. It was discovered that within those statistics, women were 1000% more likely to be featured in “hyper-sexualized images,” defined as images objectifying the subjects by portraying them as “ready and available for sex” rather than “sexy.” Olivia Smith ’21, co-president of the EMPOWER Club, an organization dedicated to uplifting women, said she views sexualization in social media as an issue that affects both men and women. Still, she believes the historical power dynamic between genders has been translated
into the culture of younger generations. Smith said the inherent inequity of this traditional dynamic is largely responsible for higher rates of female sexualization. “Both men and women are sexualized in the media, a phenomenon that is grotesque and predatory,” Smith said. “The difference is the power imbalance. Women have been systematically oppressed, harassed, silenced and belittled, making the degradation in the media even more poignant and harmful.” Research published by the American Psychological Association addressed the cognitive and emotional consequences of sexualization in the media, specifically regarding women. The study suggested that the repercussions of consistent sexualization of women often include development of mental disorders such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders. Shaub said she often feels as though social media negatively impacts her
mental health. Even when she is not witnessing or experiencing overt sexualization in the media, she said the effects of it still linger in her daily interactions on Instagram. “It just makes me feel really bad about myself pretty much every single day, ” Shaub said. “If I’m sitting in bed, and then I see a model in a bikini, it’s not great for my mental health. I think that the worst part about social media is how addicting it is. And most of our generation is so addicted to the point that even if we want to give up, we can’t because it’s been a part of our lives for so long. And so we get these feelings of depression, feeling bad about ourselves, anxiety or whatever feelings we have that come from our insecurities projected through social media.” Shaub is not the only one experiencing the negative effects of constantly using social media. EMPOWER Club co-president Maddie Boudov ’21 said she often gets caught up in unrealistic beauty standards,
and she expanded on certain consequences she has seen regarding declining mental health. “So many of the beauty standards that are pushed to young people are very unrealistic, whether it’s due to [the use of ] Photoshop and editing or standards being set by people whose job it is to maintain a certain physique,” Boudov said. “[This makes] it impossible for most people to live up to these expectations. This can have a wide array of effects from simply feeling bad about oneself to serious body dysmorphia and really serious negative self-image. It really just leads to an overall sense of inadequacy that I think is really harmful to young people.” Psychology Teacher and Head of Peer Support Tina McGraw ’01 said teenagers fall into the age group with the highest chance of facing severe psychological consequences because of overexposure to media. She said issues with body image often reflect adolescent insecurities heightened by the media. “The most common manifestations o f
[adolescent] insecurity are likely disordered eating patterns, low self-esteem and feelings of not fitting in with others in their age group,” McGraw said. “There have been many studies in
the last decade that have examined how social media influences body image in adolescents. Most of those findings show that it is the amount of exposure which predicts the negative effects.” Psychologist and Ph.D. candidate of Mass Communications Stefanie E. Davis researches the repercussions of young adult exposure in sexualized media content. In one study, Davis differentiated between the psychological effects on men and women and concluded that female and male body parts are talked about in different ways. While her data shows a trend of audiences viewing the male body as desirable, female bodies are often objectified. In her published study, Davis argues specifically that media sources often portray the male chest as a desirable trait and women’s breasts as shameful. In alignment with Davis’s research, Boudov said in her experience, beauty standards on social media are harmful toward both men and women. “I constantly see the media telling girls that they need to be smaller, skinnier [and] happier,” Boudov said. “I see the exact opposite for boys, [who] they need to be taller, bigger and stronger. Although these are two opposite ends of the spectrum, they are effectively doing the same thing to both boys and girls: pushing a physical expectation that is challenging, if not impossible, to achieve.” Boudov said that while sexualization and objectification in the media has impacts on both men and women, society’s beauty standards have greater psychological repercussions on women and girls due to the constant and negative attention their bodies receive. “There is always a tabloid or headline about someone gaining some weight and wearing a bikini to the beach or so and so’s ‘new beach bod,’” Boudov said. “It frequently seems like women come under scrutiny for anything they do, whether society deems it as positive or not. I think that it leads to the self-perception of young girls to often be very tied to the praise of others and external validation.” McGraw said she is optimistic about the future of the body positivity movement. She said although there is still room for growth, media sources’ attempts to move past their histories of hyper-sexualization are positive steps toward the production of less destructive content. “I have noticed a significant shift in awareness over the last [few] years as people begin to push back against the narrow lens of advertising ideals,” McGraw said. “Companies are portraying lots of different types of bodies, and many are discontinuing the practice of editing images with Photoshop. These changes will eventually add up to a new awareness for young people as they continue to consume media images.”
illustrations by sydney fener and chloe schaeffer
C3 A&E
The Chronicle
March 24, 2021
FARMERS MARKET MADNESS By Amelia Scharff
Every Sunday, Tom Baker ’22 looks forward to the sweet, fresh grapefruits he buys at his local farmers market in Studio City. While he strolls along the tentlined pavement with his mom, he feels connected to his community and looks forward to eating what he knows to be the best produce in Los Angeles. “Every week, we get the grapefruits, and the stand is run by a person named Cassie and her husb a n d Nacho, and t h e y’r e this
sweet old couple that just lives on the farm,” Baker said. “They are super cute, and they like doing it just for fun.” In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, getting out of the house has been hard for Baker, who not only prioritizes his safety but also finds himself constantly occupied with school and volleyball practice. Since the pandemic began, he has started visiting the farmers market weekly. “I’ve been going probably for three months or four months,” Baker said. “My mom and I go every weekend, and it’s nice to get out and go somewhere.” Baker said that going to the farmers market makes him excited to eat the delicious produce he bought over the course of the week and brings him a moment of peace in what he feels to be a stressful world. “Just slowing down and taking a moment to just walk and get some fruit is something so simple, but [I like] not having to
CHASING TRAILS By Tessa Augsberger
From the dusty browns of Fryman Canyon to the dazzling blues of Temescal Canyon and the murky greens of Will Rogers State Historic Park, the hiking trails of Los Angeles paint a picture of the city as it once was. That is, before the gray concrete and shining silver skyscrapers began to paste over the blues, greens and browns of the land. Yet, through decades of urbanization, the earthy tones of the hills have endured and continue to provide respite and recreation for city dwellers like English Teacher Jeremy Michaelson. “Hiking, for me, is physical and mental wandering,” Michaelson said in an email. “The quiet, the views, the steady pace. When I hike, it’s like the analytical part of my mind politely steps aside to let other thoughts and feelings in.” While describing a particularly memorable hiking experience in the Santa Monica Mountains, Michaelson noted the unique dichotomy of the city’s natural landscape of gently sloping hills in the east and the sparkling Pacific Ocean in the west. “A few years ago, when my son was home from college, I went with him and my daughter to Sandstone Peak,” Michaelson said. “It was a beautiful day, it was early
and when we got to the top, the view was perfect. No fog, no haze, just the ocean on one side and a string of valleys on the other. It was one of those moments when peace kind of descends and nobody is saying a word but you know you’re all feeling the same thing.” Sofia Llevat ’22 said Los Angeles provides students with access to a vast array of trail types and hiking experiences. In turn, she said hiking allows students to admire the city in all of its duality between the natural and artificial world. “Normally, during school breaks I do like to hike just to get away, especially during COVID when we’re on our screens all the time,” Llevat said. “[Hiking is] a way to get away from all the technology that [you’re] always on, turn your phone off and be present with nature and your family or friends or whoever you’re hiking with, [and it also allows us to be] able to appreciate the city we live in. It’s cool to live in a city as big as [Los Angeles] and still have all of these hikes easily available to us.” Liam Sullivan ’21 said the physical landscape of the city, with its plethora of hiking trails, influences his active lifestyle. “Honestly, living in LA gives me great access to different trails,” Sullivan said.
worry about college or tests and all that long-term stuff,” Baker said. “I think it always makes my mood better and [gives me] the space to feel relaxed.” Josie Jennings ’22 also attends the farmers market in Studio City, but she said she especially enjoys it because it fits into her environmentally sustainable lifestyle. “We go because it gives us access to more local and sustainably grown food and organic food,” Jennings said. “I think there is a lot less packaging at the farmers market than at the supermarket, and you can bring your own bags and stuff, which we also like.” Unlike Jennings and Baker, World Languages Teacher Simona Ghirlanda stopped going to the farmers market when the pandemic began. “Because going there is typically a pleasant experience, the tendency would
be to hang around, run into acquaintances and take one’s time,” Ghirlanda said. “I hang around people as little as I can, both indoors and outdoors, and so I do my groceries, fast and furious, in one run a week.” Although she hasn’t been able to visit any farmers markets for almost a year, Ghirlanda said that she enjoyed going before the pandemic because they reminded her of the markets in France, where she grew up. “Going to those markets ‘en plein air’ has always been a treat to me since I was a child, and I would go with my grandmother and my mom,” Ghirlanda said. “I also believe in supporting small farmers and businesses the European way, and so it is one less nice thing that I can do at this hard time.”
Students and teachers take advantage of their newfound free time over quarantine to explore Los Angeles’s scenic hiking trails. “The natural landscape of LA allows for amazing hikes that I enjoy exploring.” Because of the pandemic, options to safely socialize in accordance with state and local restrictions are limited. However, passive open-air recreation, including hiking, running and walking, is not currently prohibited by the city. As of publication time, most hiking trails are open, although some are operating under limited capacity or with other restrictions. On every trail, hikers must wear facial coverings and maintain appropriate social distance at all times. Katherine Doble ’22 said hiking allows her to break up the monotony of attending daily online classes and reconnect with nature. “I think especially when we’re inside doing Zoom a lot, it just feels good to get outside, and especially when you’re surrounded by a natural setting, it’s nicer than being [on] a street,” Doble said. “It’s a nice break from the inside routine we’ve had these last few months.” In addition to providing a space in which students can safely socialize, hiking can improve students’ mental health by providing an
opportunity for exercise. Physical activity positively contributes to mental health by decreasing anxiety and depression and also leads to higher self-esteem, among other impacts, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. In fact, Stanford University News reported that simply spending time in nature can potentially decrease the risk of depression. Llevat said she enjoys the sense of achievement she feels after completing a challenging hike. “I like hikes that are more out in nature, […] and especially ones that are hillier, because although they might be a little more strenuous, you feel more accomplished at the end,” Llevat said. “It just feels a lot better to get out more in nature than just walking on your street in your neighborhood. At least for me, there’s not much to see in my neighborhood, so going on a hike is a lot more rewarding.”
C4 A&E
Art students return to in-person school events
last Friday—the protocol was pretty much the same as any othAs the rest of the community er [on-campus] school activity,” has begun its return to campus, Lippman said. “Around 13 of the school has welcomed back us went up to the art classrooms visual and performing arts stu- after school and worked on our dents. Those taking performing paintings with masks on and disarts have had the opportunity to tanced easels and everything. It return to campus and either prac- was really nice to see everyone tice in rooms by themselves free in person since it’s been really of distractions or outdoors with hard to actually get good looks at another classmate. Visual arts other people’s work and have the students have same meaningbeen able to ful connection work in groups while working I really love art, in select art stuover Zoom.” and I especially love dios. Students in doing art with my The school AP Studio Art friends because then has been followreturned to camthey can critique you ing strict protopus on more cols, which althan one occaand inspire you.” low for students sion, but other —Kate Hassett ’22 visual arts stuto convene in small groups dents were reprovided they maintain a six- cently allowed to return to school foot distance between each other, for one day to reconnect with wear KN95 masks and partake their peers. in mandatory COVID-19 tests As students reenter the physibefore returning. This helps al- cal classroom, Visual Arts Teachlow for a safe environment that er Connor Thompson said it has both follows Los Angeles Coun- been difficult at times to adjust. ty Department of Public Health “The trickiest aspect is co(LADPH) guidelines and gives ordinating all the supplies that students a chance to reconnect our students use,” Thompson with their classmates and get said. “In some examples, those back into a school routine. supplies are not easily transVisual arts student Gemma portable, such as oil paintings Lippman ’22 returned to campus or sculptures. I think the social on her assigned day of the cycle and emotional learning aspects of and said she was happy to finally having students back on campus see her classmates in person. are paramount, so I will do my “A few of us went on campus best to be flexible with our class
The Chronicle
March 24, 2021
By Keira Jameson
“
printed with permission of gemma lippman
FRIENDLY FACES: Lena Bagley ’22, Kate Hassett ’22 and Eve Levy ’22 reconnect in the art classroom back on campus Feb. 26. They work on their new paintings socially distanced while wearing school-provided masks. time and not stress out too much about supplies for the moment.” During the school’s closure, the administration made changes for in-person learning, such as installing air filtration systems and placing markings six-feet apart to serve as guidelines for students and faculty. With regard to the recent protocol put in place for those who have returned to campus, visual arts student Lena Bagley ’22 said that the guidelines are being followed and she is excited to be back. “We sign in and get our temperature taken, then we can choose to paint outside or in the
Composition Contemplations
By Leo Saperstein
hours.” Kimura said that in order to “Composition” and “creativ- truly express herself, her compoity” versus “quarantine” and sition requires determination and “global pandemic”. These two energy alongside mental bandsets of terms appear as opposites width and time. in sentiment. No past artist has “Something that most peoever had to cope with the unique ple don’t usually consider is the circumstances brought about by amount of emotional energy COVID-19. For the that goes into the procurrent music-making cess,” Kimura said. “It’s members of the comexhausting and rathmunity, though, the er unrewarding in the scene has changed, and moment to put all your COVID-19 restrictions effort into trying to have tested the core teconvey the most convonets of creativity—the luted subjects we know: diligence, openness, teour feelings.” white’s nacity and time that go Not all artists apGabe into making music. proach musical expresYaron ’22 Yoshimi Kimura ’23 sion in the same way. said she was inspired to embrace Gabe Yaron ’22, who produces music production in ninth grade pop music, said the most imwithin the walls of Performing portant part of song-writing is reArts Teacher Greg Goddu’s mid- shaping and refining his first few dle school Music Technology takes until it sounds just right to course. She now uses her piano his ear. and a music-production software “The initial writing of a song called Logic to create “cinematic” might only be 10% of the whole music, like something that might process,” Yaron said. “The revibe the score of a short film. sion of the lyrics, chords, record“It’s funny because you think ings and mixes is what takes the that you have a lot more time longest time.” on your hands, and there’s a lot English Teacher Adam Levine more inspiration because every- said composing music has been one’s feeling everything a little bit part of life since his college days, more,” Kimura said. “But for me, when he played improvisational there’s a lot of mental blockage in piano for a comedy troupe and just starting to work on things. I composed an eco-themed origknow that once I sit down, I’m inal musical about the issue of not leaving the chair for three carbon neutrality.
studio where they have a couple of fans going,” Bagley said. “Everyone wears masks, and it’s been great to be able to work in the studio space again.” Though visual arts students can take their classes in groups in their studios, students taking performing arts follow different procedures. These students are not able to practice with their entire class, but Chamber Singers member Billy Johnson ’22 said he was grateful to sing with his friends once again. “On the first day, [my friend] and I went outside and set up by the stairs,” Johnson said. “We got to sing together for a little while,
which was so cool. It was such a relief to finally be able to hear another person’s voice and actually harmonize for once.” Kate Hassett ’22 said that she and other students are lacking in-person connections and said she is ready to finally be able to reconnect with her friends and work in a communal art studio as a group. “I really love art, and I especially love doing art with my friends because then they can critique you and inspire you,” Hassett said. “Being in an art classroom is more than just using art supplies; it’s [about] being a community again.”
Student and faculty composers discuss their difficulties with writing and producing music in quarantine and explain how they stay motivated.
Levine has not finished a compositional project since quarantine began, though, and he pondered the potential causes for that. “Part of what inspires me to write music is the experiences I have,” Levine said. “When we’re just not as social and we’re just kind of limited in terms of what we can do, there’s kind of a limited material, I guess. At least for me. I almost need to live more to write more.” Levine then took some time to think about what music requires from him before saying that that it takes a lot. “I use the keyboard, so even just playing with the effects to get that perfect sound you want takes a lot of time and patience,” Levine said. “I think it also requires me to be open-minded and willing to experiment.” With all that music requires from him, Levine said the sort of composing he has been able to do recently isn’t in the form of complete songs, but instead in brief melodies that often come and go. “I guess I would compare it to doodling versus drawing a really ornate finished piece,” Levine said. “I’m doing a lot of doodling, and I’m not doing a lot of fixing that up into something, or converting that into some kind of polished piece.” Kimura echoed Levine’s doodling metaphor as she described
the most challenging part of cre- past 11 months, each artist evenating music. tually guides themselves to where “Recording yourself hitting they’re headed: the finished projkeys is easy,” Kimura said. “Mak- ect. ing music is often vulnerable and In Levine’s case, the real satisscary. It’s part of the reason I nev- faction comes from being able to er stop editing my pieces; they look upon his creation through don’t yet feel the way I feel.” a different lens once it finally Yaron has had a different ex- comes to completion. perience than “You have a Levine in that vision or a sense he hasn’t just that kind of exSomething that been doodling. ists in the abmost people don’t Instead, Yaron stract, and part usually consider is the had used his of the challenge amount of emotional free time to fully of art and the energy that goes into sculpt his pieces goal is to actualbefore sticking ize that vision— the process.” them in the kiln kind of make it —Yoshimi Kimura ’23 happen,” Levine and slapping polish on them. said. “And then, Yaron said he’s produced more when you can make it happen, than he would have if everybody whether it’s the actual ‘Here’s my had not been gone into isolation. story’ or ‘Here’s my painting’ or “I’ve definitely had slumps of ‘Here’s my music’, you get to be low motivation and low creativ- the listener. You get to be the auity, but I’m always getting re-in- dience of your own art, and that’s spired by other people’s goals really cool for me.” music,” Yaron said. “Also, taking Kimura said her hope for her week-long or even month-long music is more long-term, with breaks has certainly helped re- the aim of preserving her feelstore my motivation to create.” ings through the emotional time In each case, the artist gets to capsule that is music so that her be the conductor of their own art can eventually serve the larger locomotive of creative thought. community. When it is all said and done, each “I don’t need to have people of these individuals has the goal like my music, although admitof making art and, whether the tedly I think it would be nice,” coal is being shoveled like there’s Kimura said. no tomorrow or the shovels have been sitting on the floor for the • Continued on hwchronicle.com
“
Sports The Chronicle • March 24, 2021
Cross Country
Team starts season with new format By Amelia Scharff
After a long sports hiatus due to COVID-19, the cross country team is now in season, with the recent meet at home leaving the girls team undefeated at 3-0 and the boys team 2-3 thus far in the season. After practicing since the beginning of the school year, the squad started its season with its first meet against Loyola High School on Feb. 13 at Ted Slavin Field, which was the first athletic competition held on campus since COVID-19 began. Although the boys team lost to Loyola High School at the meet, the squad defeated Crespi Carmelite High School for its first win of the season Feb. 20. During these meets against all-boys schools, the runners on the girls team competed against each other. The girls team also competed and won against Marymount High School on Feb. 27, where sister-duo Daniela Quintero ’22 and Natalia Quintero ’21 came in first and second place, respectively. Daniela Quintero has had a strong start to the season, coming in first place in all of her races so far. “After not being able to race for months, it’s encouraging to see the consistent training that I put in pay off,” Quintero said. The cross country team also hosted Notre Dame High School on March 6, with the girls team defeating the Knights and the
JUSTIN GOLDSTEIN/CHRONICLE
GETTING WARM: Runners Daniela Quintero ’22 and Natalia Quintero ’21 warm up before their first meet of the season against Loyola High School. The boys team lost 15-50 in this contest. The girls team did not end up competing in this meet, as Marymount High School canceled prior to their match. boys losing. Chronicle Assistant News Editor Will Sheehy ’22 had the fastest time in the boys race of 15:52.4, while Daniela Quintero won the girls race with a time of 17:33.4. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the format of the meets has changed, as the races are now conducted for two to three miles on the track. This is different from a typical cross country meet that occurs on open-air courses where runners run on dirt and grass. In addition, the squad com-
Girls Tennis
peted in Mission League meets last year against various schools all at once, but now the meets are smaller. Masks must be worn at all times until the beginning of each race, and restrictions have shortened the cross country season, which will end March 27 after just seven meets. Violet Barron ’22 said that because of the modifications, she has missed the team aspect of cross country. “It’s definitely been a little sad not being able to cheer [my teammates] on [during] the other
races,” Barron said. “Although things certainly changed this year, I think we’re all just glad to be racing again.” Despite fewer competing seniors on the team due to the pandemic, Will Samuels ’22 said the group hasn’t lacked leadership. “It has also been tough losing so many teammates who don’t feel comfortable with the current state of the pandemic, especially seniors, but the leadership has hardly been impaired,” Samuels said. “Everyone is motivated to succeed in such an odd season,
so we are all kind of leading each other right now.” Samuels said he and his teammates are excited to be racing again after the hiatus. “Overall, everyone is happy to be running and competing again, so we haven’t been complaining about the changes in the way we practice and race,” Samuels said. In their most recent match, the girls team beat Flintridge Sacred Heart to improve to 3-0, and the boys lost to Chaminade College Prep, making their overall record 2-3.
Squad builds on early season successes By Justin Goldstein
JUSTIN GOLDSTEIN/CHRONICLE
STRIKING FIRST: Jade Zoller ’22 prepares to hit a forehand cross-court in a match against Notre Dame High School at Weddington Tennis Center.
Despite initial postponements due to the coronavirus pandemic, the girls tennis team has started their season off strong, going 3-0 overall. The squad beat Notre Dame 11-7 and Calabasas 14-4 in its first two matches of the season. Calabasas High School is the girls team’s rivals, so it was refreshing to get a win against them. There have been numerous new saftey precautions placed upon the team, such as wearing masks at all times. There are also no spectators allowed at matches this year. Singles and doubles player Jade Zoller ’22 said she is grateful for any opportunity to play with her teammates. “My teammates and I have adopted a growth mindset for this season,” Zoller said. “I am super excited to be back competing with my friends in any capacity, and I am thankful that my team
has been given the go-ahead to have a full season. I think I can speak for all my teammates when saying we hope to continue this positive momentum for the rest of the year.” Because of the extensive time off due to COVID-19 shutdowns, the team has had to train individually to stay in shape for the season. Singles and doubles player Maya Mathur ’22 said it has been difficult to build a team dynamic given the limited time they have had to interact in person. “It was really hard not being able to see each other for so long, but each team member worked to improve their skills individually and are bringing that to the games this year,” Mathur said. “We used the time away to focus on ourselves, but now we are working together as a team in practices and during matches to find the team dynamic.” Following an extended offsea-
son, the squad had little time to train as a team before their first preseason match against Notre Dame High School. Singles and doubles player Kimberly Tan ’22 said the team has been doing numerous drills to improve upon specific skills in preparation for their matches. “Although it’s been tough to practice during COVID-19, I think our team has been working really hard to improve for the upcoming season,” Tan said. “We have been gaining confidence training and spending time together on court, and I believe that we have the potential to grow and achieve success, especially with our new players. The team has been drilling and playing points in addition to sharpening skills and strokes during the offseason to prepare for the upcoming season.” • Continued on D2
D2 Sports
Tennis team remains undefeated
March 24, 2021
The Chronicle Football
• Continued from D1
Last year, the team had an overall record of 10-5 and a league record of 8-1. The squad won the division but then lost in the semi-finals of CIF to Woodbridge High School 108. Members of the squad said they intend to take full advantage of the opportunity to have a spring season. Zoller said she has high expectations for the rest of the season. “This year, my goals are to make CIFs with my team and to hopefully go further than last year,” Zoller said. “With the new sophomores added to the team this season, I believe we are stronger than ever, and so I am really looking forward to making a deep run in playoffs.” Sam Plageman ’23 said she has less tangible goals for the year given the circumstances brought about by COVID-19. “Our goals for the season are of course to improve but also to have fun,” Plageman said. “We are lucky to have the opportunity to compete, especially with everything that has happened this year. We are so excited to get back on the court.” Zoller said she is very optimistic about the upcoming team’s ability to work together this season because of the new members and the amount of strong leadership on the team. “I think our team has some great new additions, and we did not lose many seniors, so I am excited to see how we work as a cohesive unit,” Zoller said.
printed with permisson of woo sim
PROTECTING THE BALL: Wide receiver Jason Thompson ’22 defends the ball as he sprints down the field towards the end zone in a scrimmage against Brentwood School on March 6. The Wolverines have gone 2-0 this season, and their most recent win was against Salesian High School 48-29.
Football kicks off season with narrow victory By Ryan Razmjoo
Because of the recent decrease in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in Los Angeles County, the football team was recently able to begin participating in interscholastic competitions. In order to minimize the risk of COVID-19 exposure, the team has focused on adapting their workouts and practices. As mandated by California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new order, coaches and players participating in high-contact sports must get tested weekly. Because of the new guidelines, wide receiver Mark Cho ’22 said that the team has had to adapt by moving certain training exercises outdoors. “Even though we are limited to an outdoor weight room, the lifting coaches have us on a great program that we know will give
us the same benefits as being inside the weight room,” Cho said “Other than that, our team has been functioning similarly to last year without COVID-19, and we’ve experienced no issues.” This year, the school scheduled only three league games, as opposed to six in last year’s season. There are some teams who faced the Wolverines in last year’s league matches but will not be playing this year. Quarterback Marshall Howe ’21 said that the team will have to adjust to a shorter season. “We’re going to have a sixgame schedule, which is really exciting for all of us,” Howe said. “It’ll be a season unlike any other with so few weeks of preparation, so learning and improving will happen on the move. I think we’ll be able to adjust well and play at a really high level this year. I love the talent we have on both sides of the ball, and we have an
incredible coaching staff. I think we’re going to positively surprise a lot of people.” Even though this season will be different, the players have expressed their anticipation to return to the field. For seniors, the new change in the guidelines outlined by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) means that they will finally get the chance to play their last high school season in person before graduating in a few short months. Offensive and defensive lineman Sonny Heyes ’22 said that the team has been maintaining a high level of focus because of the shortened season. “The anticipation for this season has been really high, and people are hungry to play, so along with a shortened season, I think we’re going to leave everything on the field,” Heyes said.
The team is now led by Football Program Head Aaron Huerta, who for the past two years was the head coach at Notre Dame High School in Riverside. Players have expressed excitement about the new opportunities that the head coach brings for this season and beyond. Huerta led the Wolverines to a 20-19 win in their first game of the season at home against St. Genevieve High School on March 12. Cho said that the football team has worked as a cohesive unit under the new leadership. “The football season has been going great so far,” Cho said. “We feel well prepared for the upcoming challenges we expect to face and have a positive outlook about our ability to have a season and be able to play in all our scheduled games. Our practices have been going well, and the team is running smoothly with our new coaching staff.”
Boys Water Polo
Squad splashes into the season with 6-1 record By Liam Razmjoo
After deeming water polo a high-risk sport and not allowing high school teams to compete earlier in the year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted the ban on water polo competitions and other outdoor sports Feb. 26. As the boys water polo team embarks on its first few matches of the year, the team looks to repeat its success in 2019, when the squad went 31-2 overall and won the CIF-SS Division 1 title match 6-4 against Newport Harbor High School on Nov. 16. They then defeated Newport Harbor 11-10 on Nov. 23 to win the CIF-State Southern Regional Championships. As difficult as it was to attain the kind of success the team had last season, guard and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps commit Len Korol ’21 said it will be even more difficult to be as successful again due to COVID-19. “Although it’s sad our CIF playoffs were canceled and our season was cut short, our team is adapting and making
tremendous progress in the little time we have left to play,” Korol said. “I believe we have already shown how successful this team could have been, and I look forward to continuing to improve and succeed in our last few games.” Like other sports, all players and coaches must adhere to COVID-19 protocols such as testing twice a week. “The foundation of our program is caring for one another and helping each other reach our full potentials. This has made following the COVID guidelines quite simple,” Korol said. “It is our responsibility as people to do what we can to help others during these times, and it is our responsibility as athletes to be able to overcome adversity.” The team started off the season strong with wins against Crespi Carmelite High School and Oaks Christian School. The Wolverines then lost to fellow CIF-SS powerhouse Newport Harbor 6-9. “Our season is going pretty well so far,” starting center Ilias Stohart ’22 said. “We’re all excited to keep playing games and see how we do, but unfortunately
SANDRA KORETZ/CHRONICLE
EYES ON THE PRIZE: Baxter Chelsom ’23 eyes the goal in his game against Oaks Christian High School at home March 4. The Wolverines will have a shortened season because their playoff games were canceled this year. CIF isn’t happening this year, so we won’t have a chance to play for another championship. I think we’re all trying to use this season to show everyone what we can do and to improve our game so we can take home another championship next year.” While the season has been shortened, attacker Andy Seol ’22 said the squad looks to capitalize on its remaining games. “Our season was shortened because of delays due to the virus, which means that a lot more activity is squeezed into a couple weeks of play,” Seol said.
With the loss of many seniors last year and only a few on the team this year, the team is looking to its underclassmen as the future of the program. Seol said upperclassmen and coaches are keen to see younger players assume greater roles. Although there are less senior players this year than last, Stohart said that the younger players still look to the more experienced upperclassmen to provide leadership and guidance during these difficult circumstances. “Although we only have three seniors this year, they’re all guys
we all look up to inside and outside the pool,” Stohart said. “Our starting guard Len Korol is a great leader, and I think a lot of our success this year is thanks to him.” Korol said he is enjoying working through the difficulties of mentoring his teammates during the pandemic. “It's been a privilege to be one of the leaders of this team,” Korol said. “This year has presented some unique challenges, so it's been a learning process of how to put our team in the best possible position to succeed.”
March 24, 2021
hwchronicle.com/Sports
Sports D3
inbrief
Athletics Restart
Juarez joins Wellesley College field hockey
SANDRA KORETZ/CHRONICLE
BACK TO BASICS: Golfers Alexa Sen ’22, Marine Degryse ’22 and Chronicle Assistant Sports Editor Maxine Zuriff ’22 all get ready to putt at their first practice since the reopening of athletics. Girls golf holds practices at Weddington Golf and Tennis and will have its first match against Marlborough on March 22.
Athletic program officially resumes seasons
By Ben Jacoby and Maxine Zuriff
Head of Athletics Terry Barnum announced the reopening of sports on campus and specified the guidelines all athletes must follow in an email Feb. 23. In the email, Barnum attached a COVID-19 testing consent form that students and parents will have to fill out so that they can be tested when necessary. Concentric by Ginkgo and Mend Urgent Care partnered with the school to provide these PCR tests on campus. The football, water polo, soccer and lacrosse programs require their athletes to get a PCR test weekly because of the athletes’ close contact while playing and practicing. Sports teams that require less contact between players do not have to get PCR tested as
frequently. Lacrosse player Owen Hudgins ’21 said he isn’t concerned about getting tested every week in order to play on campus. For him, COVID-19 testing is a minor inconvenience, and he said he is appreciative of this opportunity. “It was awesome to receive that email from Barnum, and I wasn’t annoyed or upset that we would have to get COVID-19 tested every week in order to play,” Hudgins said. “I was more really focused on the idea of playing with my team and [the idea that] the work I put in [over] the past four years wasn’t for nothing.” Girls tennis player Taylor Chanaratsopon ’23 said she thinks the tennis restrictions are appropriate and that she is looking forward to getting back on the court. “The rules are fair and help
everyone stay safe during COVID-19,” Chanratsopon said. “I am really excited to play with the HW team again and get closer with my teammates as the season progresses. This is my first year on varsity, and I will take every opportunity I can to practice with the teammates.” Football had its first game March 12, which they won 2019. Additionally, boys water polo is undefeated within their league, and many other sports have started back up with their competitive seasons. Boys tennis player Jordan Assil ’22 said he’s thrilled to be back in action. “Every day that I get to go to practice, I am very thankful to be doing the thing I love,” Assil said. “Getting back on the court is the best thing that happened to me this year.”
Assil said he doesn’t think the COVID-19 restrictions will affect his team. “My team is taking the saftey precautions very seriously, so I don’t think it will be a problem,” Assil said. Girls golf player Kimberly Wang ’21, who received the news in February that golf would restart, said she is grateful that she can join her teammates on the course once again. “This being my final year I get to play on the HW girls golf team, all I wanted to do was get back on the course,” Wang said. “Having missed our fall season due to COVID-19, I was skeptical I would even play this year. After hearing that our season would start back up again, I was so thankful that I would get an opportunity to play one last season with my team.”
Girls Water Polo
Team looks to bounce back after shaky start By Maxine Zuriff
The girls water polo team struggled at the beginning of its season and currently stands at an overall record of 6-3. The team started off strong with an 8-5 win over Mira Costa High School but since then has dealt with multiple losses. The squad played their second game against Oaks Christian High School on March 4 and lost 8-14. They later competed against Los Alamitos High School on March 6, losing the game with a score of 8-18. Last season, the team finished its season with an overall record of 18-15. Center defender Ayva Magna ’22 has high hopes for the season despite the fact that the squad lost strong players and valuable time. “This season, I feel that even though we haven’t had much practice as usual, and members of our team graduated last year, we feel more motivated than ever because we get the chance to play again,” Magna said. “I believe our team will improve, and it can only get better from here.” Last season, the team was undefeated in league with a 6-0 record. This season, the team has only played two league games, and its
current record is 2-0. Even though the team has sustained some losses this season, attacker Alex Button ’21 said she feels the team has improved and found its strengths and weaknesses. “Although our season was unfortunately cut short this year due to the pandemic, I think the team is doing a great job of learning how to play cohesively,” Button said. “We have been able to really hone in on our weaknesses and take advantage of our strengths against some great competition.” The girls played against Newport Harbor High School on March 8, losing 6-18. In addition, they competed against Marymount High School on March 9, winning 17-2, and Notre Dame High School on March 12, winning 22-9. Button said she is grateful to be a part of this team and that no matter the outcome of the season, she is happy to be surrounded by her teammates. “When it comes down to it, I never focus on our wins or how many goals I did or did not score [but] rather the amazing experiences I’ve had with some of my closest friends,” Button said.
Penny Juarez ’21 has committed to attend and play women’s field hockey at Wellesley College next fall. Juarez has been playing field hockey for many years and joined the varsity team as a sophomore. “The commitment process was long but rewarding in the end,” Juarez said. “In 10th grade, I started going to camps and tournaments by myself. Since field hockey is primarily an East Coast sport, I had to travel frequently back and forth. It was such a fulfilling experience seeing all my hard work pay off.” In addition, Wellesley provides the option for their students to “cross-register” with other colleges in the Boston area, giving Juarez the opportunity to take classes at other top schools. Juarez is looking forward to not only the athletic opportunities that Wellesley provides but also the academic endeavors that await her. “I anticipate taking classes that I am super passionate about and exploring new interests,” Juarez said. —Danny Johnson
Gallagher resigns as head of sports medicine Director of Sports Medicine Brian Gallagher announced his resignation Feb. 12. He will become the Director of Operations and Sports Testing at Comprehensive Drug Testing Inc. and manage drug testing of professional sports leagues including Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer. Gallagher worked in the athletic department for four years where he led the school’s athletic training staff. Gallagher said he enjoyed working with students and coaches in his press release. “I wish everyone in the Wolverine community the best of luck for a healthy and successful future,” Gallagher said in his press release Feb. 12.
—Claire Conner
Iriafen picked for AllAmerican girls team
MAXINE ZURIFF/CHRONICLE
SHE SHOOTS, SHE SCORES: Center defender Ayva Magna ’22 gets ready to shoot the ball against Oaks Christian High School during her game March 4.
Kiki Iriafen ’21 was named to the McDonald’s All-American girls basketball team Feb. 28. Following her nomination Feb. 18, Iriafen was chosen among 700 boys and girls to be on the final roster, which consists of only 48 players from across the country. “It feels amazing to officially be a McDonald’s All-American player,” Iriafen said. “Also to have my name in the books with amazing players from the WNBA and NBA will be incredible.” Despite the cancellation of the 2021 All-American games and events due to COVID-19 restrictions, the completed roster was announced. Iriafen, who is committed to play at Stanford University next fall and who is ranked the best female basketball player from the class of 2021 according to ESPN, said she is really proud of all of her hard work. “It just shows that you can accomplish your goals by working hard,” Iriafen said. —Amelia Scharff
D4 Sports
The Chronicle
March 24, 2021
WOLVERINES ONLY
BY
ELLIE BARON PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ELLIE BARON
M
y foray into soccer began as a way for an overly hyper 4-year-old to get out some of her energy. Every August, I would eagerly await my American Youth Soccer Organization team assignment, hoping for a good uniform color. At first, soccer was a oncea-week practice with one game a weekend during the fall, and for me, it came along with swim practices and ski team. But there comes a point when one must prioritize a sport or risk being left behind. For most soccer players, that age is eight, when they join their first club team. I started club at 11, already a little behind my peers. I loved club soccer instantly. There were extra practices and more games, and we played year-round as we prepared for the future. I still remember the intimidation I felt my first day of tryouts freshman year. I had met most of the girls at summer and preseason lifts, but playing with them was a whole different ball game. I was dual-rostered that year; I’d practice with varsity but played for junior varsity or varsity depending on the opponent. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to play in a few varsity games. Unfortunately, I dislocated my kneecap right before winter break and was out for a month. By the time I was back at full strength, the varsity team was preparing for CIF sectional playoffs. Five minutes before the first game, our goalkeeper got a concussion, and one of our seniors
had to fill in. Boosted by legendary performances from Denise Shkurovich '18 in goal, we made it to the quarterfinals, where we lost to a very tall Upland High School team. Though I didn’t play in the playoffs that year, I was happy to be there watching my teammates and experiencing the excitement and stress of single-elimination. I started my sophomore season filled with excitement. Nearly all of last year’s roster was back; we were going to a tournament in Texas to play some of the best teams in the country. After missing out on the Mission League title and losing in the playoffs, we had something to prove. And then, I tore my ACL 15 minutes into the first game of the season. My sophomore season was over. I would need surgery followed by nine months of decently painful and incredibly boring rehab. I tried to stay involved with the team. I went to games and did color commentary on the live streams and even got to go to Texas and help broadcast games from an iPad. Our parents watched from home as we tied the best team in the country at their home stadium, which seats 11,000 spectators. In the playoffs that year, we won the program’s first penalty shootout in 15 years to advance to the semifinals. Though we lost to Los Alamitos High School, reaching the semifinals in the Southern Section qualified us for the regional tournament. After beating Carlsbad High School in the quarterfinals, we faced Los Alamitos again.
It was the furthest we had ever gone in Division I playoffs for both sectionals and regionals. Of course, none of this success on the field was mine, but I still look back on that season with infinite gratitude. Without my teammates, who have become lifelong friends, I would not have stayed sane throughout my ACL rehab. The team looked very different when we came back that summer. We had graduated players. With no seniors on the team, the burden of leadership fell to the junior class. Despite being the youngest and shortest team, we won the Mission League title and reached the quarterfinals of playoffs, where we lost to—you guessed it—Upland (a team that was still tall). In Texas, on top of successes on the field, we discovered that some people (*cough* Claremont McKenna commit Natalie Phillips '21 *cough*) are awful at bowling, our coaches aren’t half bad at pool and we get way too competitive when it comes to laser tag. We knew that we would have almost the same team this season, just with more experience and ready to tear through our opponents. Of course, our season is looking completely different. We’re practicing less, we have fewer games and almost the entire varsity team is playing club at the same time (which is usually strictly forbidden by the CIF). Still, we are excited to have a senior season. Our season began March 16—nearly four months late—with the exact same goals in mind as every year: win Mission League and win CIF.