January 2018 Issue by The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

CHRONICLE the harvard-westlake

Los Angeles • Volume 27 • Issue 4 • Jan. 9, 2018 • hwchronicle.com

Risky Business By Jenny Li

When Brandon Porter ’18 saw his 2013 Bitcoin investment triple in value in less than six months, he felt a sense of victory. He quickly sold his investment, congratulating himself on profiting off the “passing fad” as much as he could. Little did he know that the value of Bitcoin would continue to exponentially grow. Had he kept his initial investment, he would have more than $50,000 today. Bitcoin’s first recorded value was at about eight hundredths of a cent in 2009. As of publication date, one Bitcoin is equal to 16,930 U.S. dollars. “People look at Bitcoin like a kind of virtual gold, something they invest in, hoping that it will go up,” Porter said. “People go in completely unaware of the risks of Bitcoin, driven by others • Continued on B8

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SAM KO/CHRONICLE

Math department head leaves suddenly By Josie Abugov and Danielle Spitz Upper School Math Department Head Suzanne Lee resigned from the school effective immediately, Head of School Laura Ross announced in an email to her students Jan. 1. Lee resigned for personal reasons, according to Ross. During Lee’s tenure at the school, she taught math classes for over 20 years and was appointed department chair in 2016. She also served as student council adviser from 2002 to 2007. “She’s OK and her family’s OK, but it is her decision for personal reasons to step

away mid-year, which obviously is a disruption for her students and for her department since she is department chair,” President Rick Commons said. Lee did not respond to The Chronicle’s request for a comment. Math teacher and head of the Faculty Academic Committee Kent Nealis will step in as interim department head, and several math teachers will take over Lee’s AP Calculus BC 11, Introduction to Calculus Honors and Precalculus: Trigonometry and Functions classes. As interim department head, Nealis will focus on organizing placement tests and course selections toward

the end of the year, as well well to the unplanned resas having general oversight ignation, complimenting the of the department. He said flexibility and helpfulness of transitioning into his new his colleagues. position has not been espe“The transition was nearcially difficult so far ly seamless,” Neabecause of his long lis said. “That’s the tenure at the school. advantage of having “This is my 27th really good people, year here, so I’m obyou can do things viously well-trained like this without with how things having too much run,” Nealis said. disruption.” “I’ve been the FAC Math teachers chair for a long, Laffite Lamberto’ long time so I have Egan and Woo Sim Kent Nealis a pretty deep underare teaching Lee’s standing of how departments Introduction to Calculus run, and I’m familiar with all Honors classes, math teachthe people here who can help er Kasia Williams took on the you get the job done.” AP Calculus BC 11 section He said the entire math • Continued on A3 department has adjusted white s

INSIDE

VOICES OF VIETNAM: Photography III students revisit the effects of the war through visual art.

ONLINE

Football program welcomes new head coach, teacher to upper school campus By Aaron Park Michael Burnett will take over as the Football Program Head for the 2018 season after the team has failed to advance out of the first round of playoffs for two consecutive years, the Athletic Department announced Jan. 2. “My family is excited that the values and mission of the school complement our own, with a commitment to building young men of character who will positively impact our world,” Burnett said in a press

release on the athletic department’s website. Burnett most recently coached at Tuscarora High in Leesburg, Virginia, leading the Huskies to an overall 77-24 record. He was the program’s inaugural coach, helming the Huskies since the school’s inception in 2010. He previously coached at Broad Run High in Ashburn, Virginia. Burnett’s accolades include recognition as the NFL Don Shula National High School Coach of the Year in 2015 and three nominations

for the Potomac District & Northern Region Coach of the Year in 2014, 2015 and 2017. “What attracted us most is that we know he’s going to be able to evaluate our talent, see what our strengths are and then implement a system that’s going to play to our strengths,” Head of Athletics Terry Barnum said. Burnett also taught history and was the chair of the social science department at Tuscarora. Head of Upper School Laura Ross said she believes Burnett will become a promi-

nent figure on campus among both football players and the general student body. Burnett will teach either history or economics at Harvard-Westlake, President Rick Commons said. “He represents an opportunity for us to have a great football coach who is also, we expect, a great teacher,” Commons said. “We think that that will help bridge what is sometimes a divide between upper school faculty and coaches. • Continued on D6

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A2 NEWS

THE CHRONICLE

JAN. 9, 2018

Jones to hold DEI meetings By ALENA RUBIN AND ANTHONY WEINRAUB

KAITLIN MUSANTE/CHRONICLE

A DISASTER IN THE DISTANCE: Smoke from the nearby ﬁres loom over the quad. Over the course of the week, four ﬁres broke out in the Los Angeles area in Bel Air, Sylmar, Ventura and Santa Clarita. Due to the poor air quality, school was cancelled for two days.

Fires cause midterm schedule to change By SOPHIE HABER

six, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The When Grace Burton’s ’20 Skirball fire, as well as the dad woke her up in the middle Thomas fire in Ventura, Rye of the night and told her they fire in Santa Clarita and the had to evacuate, her trumpet, Creek fire in Sylmar, caused poor air quality family photos that shut down and a handful both campuses of clothes were I didn’t have an Dec. 6 and 7. some of the opportunity to study, As a reonly items she sult, students could grab. so it was helpful that lost two days The Skirwe could have an extra of review and ball fire was day off before midterms preparation bespreading fore Mid-Year through Bel started.” Assessments, Air early on —Grace Burton ’20 which were the morning of supposed to beDec. 6, leaving gin Dec. 11. To her with little time to decide what to bring as she left her compensate, the administration altered the assessment home. “I wanted to take all of the schedule. Students returned to stuff I wouldn’t be able to reschool Dec. 8 and had a review place,” Burton said. An illegal cooking fire at day with no X periods. The an encampment in the brush reading day, which was originext to Sepulveda Boulevard nally scheduled for the middle caused the Skirball fire, which of the assessment week, was burned 422 acres, damaged moved to the beginning of the 12 structures and destroyed week.

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In the issue

News

Without all of the materials that she needed to study for Mid-Year Assessments, Burton said she was grateful for the amended schedule. “It was just really stressful and I didn’t have an opportunity to study, so it was very helpful that we could have the extra day off before midterms started,” Burton said. President Rick Commons said that most students he talked to echoed Burton’s sentiment, saying they were appreciative of the schedule that the administration made in response to the ﬁres. However, Rileigh Goldsmith ’20, who also had to evacuate, said that she wished there had been one more review day. “I didn’t have time to take all of my books with me, which made it a lot more difﬁcult,” Goldsmith said. “I think it was an added stress that they weren’t really sensitive of. I wish I could have had one more day of class instead of just a day off.”

Some teachers altered assessments to compensate for lost review time and to accommodate those who were affected by the fires. Additionally, classes including Precalculus: Trigonometry and Functions, AP Human Geography and Unconventional Leadership postponed assessments until after winter break. “I feel very lucky that I was not affected by the fire,” Eve Baxter ’19 said. “However, I know that a few people in the community had to evacuate and students and their families or teachers were affected in a very devastating way, so it was very considerate of some departments to amend the finals with those who were affected in mind. I think it definitely lifted a lot of stress from those students who were affected.” Although most students and faculty were not affected by the fires, at least one fam• Continued on A4

Arts & Entertainment

THIS TOWN IS OUR TOWN: Eager to

expose their peers to the ordinary pleasures in life, students prepare for the production of the winter play “Our Town.” C3

4/20 24/7: Students and faculty members discuss the ways in which the legalization of marijuana in California will impact their lives. A4

Features UNDER

PRESSURE: First-generation students reﬂect on how coming from an immigrant background has affected their academic experience. B8

LET’S TALK ABOUT SETS: Set de-

signer Jim Fenhagen offers advice to students about pursuing a career in art and discusses past projects. A6

Opinion

CAN A FELLA GO TO COACHELLA?:

Lucas Gelfond ’19 explains why the school’s detention policy is contrary to the school’s vision of happiness and balance. A10

New Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Janine Jones (Taylor ’18, Avery ’23) has implemented critical changes in the school’s hiring policies to create a more diverse faculty. Jones held a forum on incorporating cultural awareness when hiring new faculty in front of the Faculty Academic Committee on Tuesday. “When we are hiring our faculty and staff we ensure that we are doing it in a culturally aware fashion,” Jones said. “So that’s not only with respect to the process but also with the candidates, with the people we are bringing in and making sure they are going to be a good match for our school, with respect to where we are going, with respect to diversity, equity and inclusion.” Meetings will be held alongside Director of Human Resources Marisol Ordonez and Associate Head of School Liz Resnick. Jones said that hiring will become a greater focus for the DEI ofﬁce this semester as hiring for next school year ramps up. She Last year’s climate assessment identiﬁed hiring as an area that the school needed to work on, she said. Implicit bias training is scheduled for later this month, with a goal of educating deans and department heads; Jones plans to meet with deans in January. Conversation with department heads will occur throughout the semester. “I’m going to be doing case studies with our faculty during their meetings,” Jones said. “Basically, just giving them scenarios and having them talk out how to handle these scenarios. There will obviously be scenarios that are within the DEI realm and things that students have talked about having experiences in classrooms, so we can talk them out as a faculty.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SOFIA HELLER AND NICOLE KIM

#METOO: Students and alumni share their perspectives on

sexual violence on college campuses and the recent surge of allegations. The prevalence of sexual violence has inﬂuenced students’ decisions in the college process. B1

THE CHRONICLE, the student newspaper of Harvard-Westlake School, is published eight times per year and distributed free on both the upper and middle school campuses. There are 727 students at the Middle School and 873 students at the Upper School. Subscriptions may be purchased for $20 a year for delivery by mail. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the seniors on the Editorial Board. Letters

Sports

BASKETBALL ADJUSTS TO PLAYER DEPARTURES: In spite of several key

players graduating or going to other schools, the young team has found early success. D1

to the editor may be submitted to chronicle@hw.com or mailed to 3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Studio City, CA 91604. Letters must be signed and may be edited for space and to conform to Chronicle style and format. Advertising questions may be directed to Jiwon Park at jpark3@hwemail.com. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or the school.

JAN. 9, 2018

HWCHRONICLE.COM/NEWS

NEWS A3

Students react to FCC vote BY SABA NIA

Students expressed their opposition to the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to repeal net neutrality Dec. 14 by signing petitions and speaking out about their positions. According to CNN, net neutrality refers to the rules the FCC adopted in 2015 that stated that Internet service providers were not allowed to alter the speed of trafﬁc of certain apps or websites. The day after the FCC vote, supporters of net neutrality, like Charlotte Weinman ’18, stared at their computers, dismayed. After hours of posting links on social media and texting numbers that sent letters of her support to senators, the event that Weinman feared had occurred: the future of a free Internet was no longer guaranteed.

GRAPHIC BY SPENCER KLINK

“Net neutrality is important because social media is the way we get our news,” Weinman said. “Newspaper websites, blogs, proﬁles of politicians — that’s how we stay informed [about] current events.” When the Republican-led agency decided to get rid of the net neutrality rules, internet

providers, such as Verizon and Comcast, were no longer prohibited from prioritizing access to different online content. “If we wanted to read scholarly articles that were posted independently like for essays or research, those are the ones that will be out of funding or given slower Internet,” Weinman said. “This is a huge ob-

Math department head resigns mid-year • Continued from A1

and math teacher Adam Varney is teaching Lee’s former Precalculus: Trigonometry and Functions class. All teachers ﬁlling in for Lee are already teaching the courses in other sections this year, which made the transition much easier, Nealis said. The only teacher taking on a new course is Williams, who will now be teaching the only section of AP Calculus BC 11. Nealis said Williams is well-acquainted with the material from her experience teaching AP Calculus BC 12. “I can understand that her former students are going to feel somewhat uncertain about this unexpected turn of events,

but we are so fortunate to have a talented and committed math department faculty to draw upon as we go forward,” Nealis said. “I can conﬁdently speak for the entire math department in saying we are going to work tirelessly to assure that we fully meet the needs of our students.” Commons said he appreciated Nealis’ willingness to step in on such short notice as interim department head. “It’s obviously not going to be without a little bit of disruption, but because we have internal people handling the transition I feel conﬁdent, as do [Ross] and [Nealis], that we’re taking as good care of the students as we can,” Commons said.

Lee, who taught four junior courses, will still be available to write recommendation letters for college, upper school dean Celso Cardenas said. “I’m a math and science person, so I was going to have [Lee] and my physics teacher write my recs,” Caroline Tilton ’19 said. “It’s kind of disappointing knowing that she’s gone, because now I’ll have to rethink that.” Despite initial confusion, some of Lee’s students said the transition in their math classes has been smooth. “I think the department has dealt with it quite well,” Anja Clark ’19 said. “[Varney] has been really good about saying, ‘If there’s anything I do differently from Ms. Lee, tell

stacle in our lives as students.” Opponents of the vote said that although the school community may not be as affected by the decision, the vote still troubles them. Sam Baron ’19 signed petitions to spread the word about the issue leading up the vote. “A free Internet is the best Internet, where everybody has

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equal access to every site without extra cost,” Baron said. Supporters of net neutrality said they will continue to ﬁght for the protection of a free Internet. “Everyone should get vocal in as many ways as possible,” Weinman said. “It’s deﬁnitely a conversation, but not a loud enough one.”

I can confidently speak for the entire math department in saying that we are going to work tirelessly to assure that we fully meet the needs of our students.” —Kent Nealis Interim Math Department Head WHITE’S

me.’ I think [the math department] is deﬁnitely doing what they can to make it as seamless as possible and so far it’s working pretty well.” Clark said she is still curious to learn about the reasoning behind Lee’s departure. “I deﬁnitely respect that she wants her privacy, but I also think I would appreciate some more information just because it is a bit weird the day before school starts to suddenly have

a new teacher,” Clark said. “A bit of explanation would be fine but I definitely respect the fact that stuff needs to be kept private.” The administration decided against bringing in a new faculty member mid-way through the year since it could make Lee’s students’ transition more difficult, Ross said. The school plans to hire a new math teacher for the next school year.

New Director of Admission joins faculty

BY ALEX GOLDSTEIN

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF AARON MIESZCZANSKI

NEW MAN ON CAMPUS: Newly appointed Director of Admission

Aaron Mieszczanski poses for a picture. He will begin the job July 1.

Aaron Mieszczanski will replace Elizabeth Riordan as Director of Admission, President Rick Commons announced in an email Jan. 2. Riordan is stepping down at the end of the school year to focus on public education. She has been the Director of Admission for 26 years at both Harvard-Westlake and the Westlake School for Girls. Mieszczanski earned his Bachelor of Arts from Williams College in history and his Master of Science in Education degree from the University of Pennsylvania in School Leadership. Currently, Mieszczanski is the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at San Francisco University High School. “I am excited to dive in and immerse myself in all aspects of school life as best I can,” Mieszczanski said. “Once I can better understand the school and articulate its narrative in my own words, I’m looking for-

ward to working with our team ment Head and selection comto share that with anyone will- mittee member Kate Benton ing to listen.” said. “What we liked about Commons said he is excit- [Mieszczanski] were many ed to welcome Mieszczanski of the things that Commons into the school community. mentioned in his letter: his “He has done really good experience with private school work up at University High admissions, his educational School in San Francisco, background [and] his ability which is a school that is sim- to connect with all different ilar to ours in a number of kinds of constituencies: stuways academically dents, faculty [and] [and] in terms of its parents.” prominence in the Mieszczanski said city of San Francishe is looking forward co,” Commons said. to assuming the posi“I am excited to work tion and implementwith him and have ing his ideas for exhim lead us in some tending the school’s new directions.” inﬂuence. A selection comW ’ “I’m excited to mittee of teachers Kate help shape what the and administrators Benton future of the school chose Mieszczanski. will look and feel like During the selection process, for our kids, our faculty, and Mieszczanski met with teachour families, and what our ers and seniors on Prefect standing will represent in the Council. “I think that he was the Los Angeles community, and ‘complete package’ if you will,” in the national educational diMiddle School Dean Depart- alogue,” Mieszczanski said. HITE S

A4 News

The Chronicle

Jan. 9, 2018

New law lights up future of marijuana By Kaitlin Musante

have never smoked marijuana, the threat of potential Hazy clouds of smoke prosecution is enough to concurled from the joint dangling vince them to refrain from recout of the dispensary owner’s reational use. “Weed being illegal federmouth as Violet* ’19 flashed her fake I.D. and completed ally discourages me from usher latest purchase: gummy ing it even more,” Parker* ’19 said. “There is still a huge stigedibles and a vape pen. “Buying my own weed and ma around smoking weed and being in an environment that it would feel weird and wrong supports this makes me feel doing it knowing that it is ilso much more independent legal almost everywhere else.” Parker’s viewpoint is reand normalizes using,” Violet flected in a survey by the said. This was Violet’s first time Substance Abuse and Mental purchasing marijuana since Health Services AdministraCalifornia officially legalized tion, which showed that teen marijuana usage the sale and cultivadecreased after rection of recreational reational marijuana marijuana for adults was legalized in Col21 and older through orado due to a fear of Proposition 64, which the increase in govwent into effect Jan. ernment authority. 1. California is now Similarly, upper one of eight states school dean Adam with legal recreational Howard ’93 said he marijuana usage. ’ feels that the federal 20 percent of 266 Adam laws and the morstudents who reHoward ’93 al compass of stusponded to a Janudents will prevent ary poll said that they have smoked weed, and of this increased marijuana usage percentage, 80 percent said among students. “I would hope that [the that they are in support of the new law] does not affect stunew law. For many, like Camille* dent usage, in the same way ’18, the law offers the poten- that alcohol is illegal and stutial destigmatization of recre- dents know that they are not supposed to be partaking in ational marijuana use. “I’m stoked because it is that either,” Howard said. normalizing weed and recog- “Obviously, the legalization nizing it as something different makes it more available, but from heroin and cocaine,” Ca- I would like to think that our mille said. “Weed never should students are able to make have been underground in the smart choices.” Many students, however, first place, and it never really was in California, but I think it have expressed little concern should be considered a differ- about the federal legality of marijuana. ent type of drug for sure.” “I’m not nervous about it Despite the fact that marijuana is legal under Califor- being illegal federally; I just nia state law, it remains illegal think it’s stupid,” Camille federally. Consequently, fed- said. “In no way should it be eral agents retain the right to considered with the same prosecute anyone caught with weight that heroin is. But, [I’m marijuana from a recreational happy] my state isn’t run that way.” store. Joey* ’19 said that he sees The Trump administration recently authorized federal the recreational marijuana prosecutors to more forcefully industry expanding in the fuenforce marijuana laws after ture. “I think that a lot more Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded a policy made by for- people will be willing to try it mer president Barack Obama. because this law will help peoThis policy discouraged feder- ple understand weed more,” al prosecutors from bringing Joey said. “When more people charges of marijuana-related try it, more people will realize crimes into states where usage there is nothing crazy about it.” is legal. *Names have been changed For some students who nathanson s

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF HENRY JUGAN

SMOKEY SKIES: Smoke from the Thomas County fire covers Lake Casitas in Ventura. The fire, which was the largest wildfire in California history, forced some community members to evacuate.

Los Angeles fires spark outpour of support and community outreach • Continued from A2

ily’s house was damaged or destroyed, Commons said. “Even one tragedy is enough to be sobering and to deserve our sympathy,” Commons said. Almost 300 students showed support for those who were affected by the fires by joining the HW Fire Relief page on Facebook, which was started by sophomore prefect Michael Lehrhoff ’20 and sponsored by Prefect Council as a platform for students who were displaced to reach out for help. “The idea is to foster a centralized platform for the HW Community to help each other throughout and after the fires,” Lehrhoff said. “I hope that it remains a beneficial space for the community to support and thrive in the coming days and

weeks. There is still a lot of work to be done, and hopefully this platform can connect and spread support throughout our Harvard-Westlake community.” Kyle Hearlihy ’19 took to the page to ask students to donate clothes to victims of the Ventura fire, which Cal Fire declared the largest wildfire in California history. He and his mother, girls’ basketball coach Melissa Hearlihy, collected enough clothes to fill a suburban and flatbed truck in Hamilton Gym on Dec. 10. Melissa Hearlihy decided to collect clothes after she spoke to basketball coaches at Ventura High School, who said that four families in the basketball program at their school had lost their homes in the fire. “People wanted to help,”

Kyle Hearlihy said. “They just had no outlet, and this was their outlet.” He dropped off the clothes at Ventura High School after the drive. “I felt helpless, but now that I could do this for those people it made me feel way better,” Kyle Hearlihy said. In order to donate, Esther Grover ’19 took a bus to the Upper School from West Hollywood and walked up Coldwater carrying two bags filled with clothes. Grover said she had been affected by house fires before, so she empathized with the victims of the recent fires and wanted to help. “I know how scary and devastating it is, so I wanted to help in any way that I could,” Grover said. “I was just glad that my family’s old clothes could help.”

End of an era: FJ retires

By Maddy Daum

After 21 years of working at the school, Chaplain J. Young will retire to travel and assume the position of Chaplain for the Los Angeles FBI. Young has always worked as a chaplain, but he also assisted with the Honor Board, Community Council and Prefect Council during his time at the school. Young has been a priest for 30 years. He said that he hopes he will be remembered as trustworthy and reliable at the school. “He has been an ethical presence and a person students and faculty alike have looked to in times of trouble or sadness for spiritual solace,” President Rick Commons said. “Even in good times, he is a

person who by his very presence reminds us of what’s important.” His impact on the community was mostly seen in his relationships with the students and dedication to helping guide families in crisis, Young said. “He is one of the most caring teachers I’ve ever had,” Caroline Cook ’19 said. “He makes me feel confident and safe, and he has taught me so much about leadership and how to be a decent human being.” Head of Upper School Laura Ross will lead the search for his replacement, who will hold the position of Director of Ethics, Leadership and Service. Ross hopes to find somebody who can help shape the new position, Commons said.

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

TWO THUMBS UP: Chaplain J. Young poses with a group of children during the Special Olympics event in Dec. 2016. Young has worked as the Chaplain for the Upper School for the past 21 years.

JAN. 9, 2018

HWCHRONICLE.COM/NEWS

NEWS A5

Student wins music competition BY JEANINE KIM

ASTOR WU/CHRONICLE

Students help the community during Winterfest

WINTER WONDERLAND: Alexandria Ankai ’19, Jack Riley ’19 and Caroline Cook ’19 make sandwiches for the homeless. Although Winterfest, which was organized by Prefect Council, was supposed to last throughout the week of Dec 4, it only lasted for two days due to the ﬁres. Students were not able to participate in the ﬁnal three themed dress-up days.

Judgment day: committee to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of school, offer advice for improvement

BY ALEX GOLDSTEIN AND SOPHIE HABER

The California Association of Independent Schools will evaluate both campuses Jan. 28-31 to accredit the school and compose a report that offers suggestions on areas of improvement. The school becomes re-accredited every six to seven years, which helps them set goals that stay true to its mission and philosophy, according to the CAIS website. Coordinator and history teacher Katherine Holmes-Chuba led a team

of teachers and administrators to draw up a 75 page self study on the strengths and weaknesses of the school. The report included eight categories, such as climate and community, education process and financial sustainability. Members of different departments filled out the portions of the report that pertained to them. After reading the report, President Rick Commons wrote a summary document where he reflected on what he learned and described what he wants to focus on in the fu-

a plan of action outlining how ture. “It has got different voices,” it will address these issues beHolmes-Chuba said. “In a way fore December of this year. “I don’t that’s a good think that thing because What we should there’s any the school doubt that they is made up of learn from that visiting will acredit multiple peoteam is things that Harvard-Westple.” they see that we can do lake, but what After a comwe should mittee of leadbetter.” learn from that ers from other —Rick Commons visiting team private schools President is things that visits Harthey see that vard-Westlake we can do betto complete the evaluation and the school ter and ways in which they hears what it must improve think we’re doing really well,” upon, the school must create Commons said.

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Ben Beckman ’19 won ﬁrst place in the high school division of the Frost Composition Competition at the University of Miami for his original piece “Three Views” for Piano Quartet. Beckman plays French horn for the upper school symphony, and his compositions have been played by the symphony in previous concerts. A frequent participant of music competitions, Beckman has been both composing and playing music for many years. Despite having dabbled in composition as a child, Beckman began seriously writing music when he was in ninth grade. His newest piece, titled “Three Views,” is the product of his work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Associate Composer Program, which is designed to help young musicians compose their own music. “The piece was originally titled ‘Three Views in the City’ and was inspired by three different cities we had visited during our travels: New York, Bogotá and Los Angeles,” Beckman said. Beckman has been playing music for most of life, beginning with piano when he was ﬁve. Because classical music has been a part of him for so long, winning this competition has been an unbelievably wonderful surprise for him, he said. “Music has always guided me,” Beckman said. “Playing music with others has a way of bringing people together in a way that’s unique.”

Current currency: alum explains future of Bitcoin BY ANUSHA MATHUR

dents to understand the underlying technology behind Founder of HW Inc. Nick Bitcoin and to experiment with Abouzeid ’15 spoke to stu- trading. “No one is quite sure what dents about his experience with cryptocurrency, speciﬁ- is going on,” Abouzeid said. cally Bitcoin and its power to “That is part of the fun.” He said he became pascompete with modern banks sionate about Bitcoin during Jan 2. Cryptocurrency is an on- his time as a student at Harvard-Westlake. line medium of de“It is just geeky centralized exchange and fun,” Abouzeid using cryptography said. “I was sitting to secure transacin Krista McClain’s tions rather than a AP Chemistry class, central bank or adtiddling around on ministrator. my laptop when Ja“The beneﬁt is cob Gold ’15 poked that Bitcoin is an W ’ me and asked me if untouchable, provAri I heard of Dogecoin. able store of wealth,” Sokolov ’19 That kicked off everyAbouzeid said. “Also, thing.” all of the software is He said that his time at open source. Anyone can contribute to the code and build Harvard-Westlake gave him the tools to succeed profestheir own Bitcoin network.” Abouzeid does marketing sionally and he advised stuand product management for dents about how to make the the technology company Prod- most of their high school expeuct Hunt, which curates and riences and take advantage of ranks new products every day. any and all opportunities preAbouzeid encouraged stu- sented to them. HITE S

LUCAS GELFOND/CHRONICLE

A BIT ABOUT BITCOIN: Founder of HW Inc. Nick Abouzeid ’15 speaks to students about the power and inﬂuence of cryptocurrency. He ﬁrst became involved with Bitcoin during his time at Harvard-Westlake.

“Find the place that lets you do what you want to do,” Abouzeid said. “Do more research. You have the whole Internet at your ﬁngertips.” Interdisciplinary studies and independent research teacher Rob Levin and HW Venture invited Abouzeid to speak about his business experience and experience with cryptocurrency. “The most important product is having students connect

with somebody who is three years further up the hill that everybody is climbing,” Levin said. “He has a whole different perspective on the whole ride.” Many students went into Abouzeid’s presentation with little to no experience with Bitcoin. Ariana Sokolov ’19 said she felt that she gained a better idea of the beneﬁts and drawbacks of cryptocurrency by attending.

“I learned a lot about Bitcoin that I would not have known without this presentation,” Sokolov said. “I also learned about the problems that come with it.” Abouzeid will be teaching at HW Inc. this June. He said that he is looking forward to sharing his knowledge. “I am excited to meet all the new students, the next generation,” Abouzeid said. “Everybody [should] sign up.”

THE CHRONICLE

A6 News

inbrief

JAN. 9, 2018

Holiday harmony: students host drive

Encouraging the school community to raise money and donate to children in need, students who volunteer for United in Harmony hosted a toy drive and bake sale Dec. 4-8 on the quad. They set up a Christmas tree and Hanukkah display in Chalmers East where students could drop off gift donations, which volunteers gave to underprivileged children afﬁliated with the organization. As a non-proﬁt, United in Harmony aims to help economically disadvantaged children develop positive self-esteem and help them in their future endeavors, counselor Natalie Blut ’18 said. —Astor Wu

Massage therapists help students relax LA Massage Factory provided students with massages Dec. 12 and 14 during Mid Year Assessments. The administration said that they recruited massage therapists to combat the stress and anxiety students were facing during their midterms. The Founder and CEO of LA Massage Factory, Serge Nicolas, said the company has provided massages to students around Los Angeles. He also said the company goes to corporations and gives massages to employees. “The massage was amazing,” Avery Keare ’19 said. “It made me feel like I was ﬂoating on a cloud. Deﬁnitely a good way to relieve stress.” —Luke Schneider

HW Life publishes new design this year The most recent winter issue of HWLife, a magazine that highlights the school’s notable alumni, showcased a new, modern design. Alumni in the magazine featured Broadway actor Ben Platt ’11, LAUSD District 4 board member Nick Melvoin ’04 and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Daniel Hogsta ’05. The magazine included articles from the Chronicle as well as a few pieces about the school’s history. —Casey Kim

Students and alumni discuss the class gift

The student-alumni association held a meeting on Jan. 8 to discuss the Senior Gift campaign. Every year, the senior class decides on an item they want to pool their money towards to give back to the HW community as their departing gift. The senior representatives from the HWSAA serve on a committee headed by Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Hannah Platt ’08, who said that she hopes that the process of selecting a gift will teach students about bring the senior class together. —Anusha Mathur

SABA NIA /CHRONICLE

SETTING UP: (Top) Jim Fenhagen speaks to students in Photography II. (Bottom left) Ava Payman ’19 and Fenhagen examine various photos of the Beatles for an upcoming project. (Bottom right) Fenhagen shows students a model of the set design for “Our Town.”

Ready, set, design: set designer visits classes and discusses work with students

By SABA NIA

Television and theater set designer Jim Fenhagen, who is building the set for the school’s production of “Our Town” visited several art, language and history classes last week to speak to students about his career. Fenhagen said that his former mentor, performing arts teacher Ted Walch, asked him to come to the school and help with the set of the spring production. The administration also wished for him to discuss his past works with students. He visited eight classes, including Photography II, Business of Life, French Literature and

Arts Honors and AP Government and Politics: United States. “It appeals to me because I like sharing what I’ve learned and what I’ve done with students,” Fenhagen said. “So I was very happy to speak with students, and it may be something that I do more of as I get further along. I do find it enjoyable. Sometimes you think, ‘What’s the next chapter? What would you do if you’re not doing as much of this?’” Students said that they appreciated his presentation because they felt that they gained a new understanding about the field of set design, in addition to finding his previous projects interesting. When he visited visual arts teacher

Kevin O’Malley’s photography joyed Fenhagen’s lectures beclasses, Fenhagen described cause he was able to include the process of building the set a variety of anecdotes with his of The Late Show with Stephen lessons. “[The students] really enColbert. “When I watch TV, these joyed it,” O’Malley said. “They are the type of things that I liked his stories. He was laid never think about,” back, he was sincere, Photography II stuhe was funny and he’s very, very knowledgedent Whitney Elson able.” ’19 said. “To see him Though the school tell us about all the research and the does not offer a set thought process that design course, participants said they were goes into producing inspired nonetheless these intricate sets, W ’ by Fenhagen’s visit it was very impresWhitney and work. sive to me. Just like Elson ’19 the trial and error “You can commuand the compromise nicate what it’s like to that is so essential to this ﬁeld be a creative person in a world that might not appreciate creof work was really cool.” Teachers also said they en- ativity,” O’Malley said. HITE S

New advancement administrator joins staff

By SOPHIE HABER AND SABA NIA

Following former Senior Advancement Administrator Brenda Janowitz’s retirement, Advancement Administrator Amber Kasongo joined the advancement team. Janowitz’s departure caused a shift in the advancement department: former Advancement Administrator Marla Scholm took over as Senior Advancement Administrator and Kasongo joined the team to ﬁll Schlom’s position. As part of the Advancement Ofﬁce, Kasongo will be responsible for the school’s ledger,

which includes reconciling annual giving and advancement credit card transactions. She will also review reports and prepare agreements for bank and investment accounts and is responsible for processing all bank transactions, donations, reimbursements and account transfers. Prior to joining the advancement department, Kasongo worked in accounting at certiﬁed public accounting ﬁrms including Miller Stephens Tiller and Henderson Hurcherson & McCullough, as well as medical device company Immucor Inc. Kasongo said she believes

that her prior experience in the ﬁeld of accounting will aid her in her new position at the school. “Accounting just kind of prepared me to be very detailoriented and data-driven,” Kasongo said. “The role I do now is making sure everything is accurate and correct in the giving process so that’s how it helps me now.” Kasongo also said she is looking forward to joining the school community and helping the Advancement Ofﬁce anyway she can. In addition to depositing checks from other departments and assisting with the

year-end audit, Kasongo will aid the HW Black and Red groups and assist with other Business Ofﬁce duties as needed. Kasongo said she is excited to get to know the school community better, and that she appreciates how passionate everyone is about their respective role at the school. “I think it’s a great organization,” Kasongo said. “It’s a great school. There are really, really happy people here and the teachers are really, really great, so the students are getting an awesome education and you can tell that from the history of the school.”

JAN. 9, 2018

HWCHRONICLE.COM/NEWS

NEWS A7

inbrief

In the eye of the storm: debaters get snowed in By JORDAN MURRAY AND SARAH REIFF

The bomb cyclone, an East Coast snowstorm, caused the cancellation of a portion of the Newark Invitational debate tournament, which two students attended from Jan. 5-7. Lauren Morganbesser ’19 and Chronicle staff writer Alexandra Mork ’20 took part in both the tournament and in the invitation-only Round Robin tournament which had been scheduled to take place before the regular tournament began. The Round Robin portion of the tournament, however, was canceled due to bad weather conditions and the inability of many debaters to make it to New Jersey. Even though only the Round Robin was canceled, nearly half of the tournament competitors were forced to drop out because of the blizzard hitting the North East. Mork ﬁnished the preliminary rounds tied for second place with a total of four wins and won her Octaﬁnals round,

advancing to quarterfinals. Morganbesser tied for third place at the end of the preliminary rounds, with three wins, but lost in her Octafinals round. Mork said that although the tournament didn’t necessarily go as they had hoped, since it was one of the first tournaments on their latest topic, the team is looking at this as an opportunity to look back on what they struggled with and work to improve for the future. Morganbesser agreed that the tournament proved to be a great learning opportunity. “This tournament was great practice for the next couple of months,” Morganbesser said. “It was also incredibly interesting because a lot of the arguments we debated were a lot different than the ones you usually hear on the west coast. Because of that, I think that the tournament was a success because we learned so much.” Following the tournament, Mork and Morganbesser visited New York City.

Babel invites students to submit their work

“Babel,” the Upper School’s foreign language magazine, is open to submissions for this year’s publication. The magazine is accepting all types of works in foreign languages, including essays, poems, reviews and artwork. The works can be in languages offered as classes at the school as well as those not offered. The pieces submitted in languages offered at the school must be edited by a teacher. Pieces in languages not offered are recommended to be edited by someone who speaks the language. All pieces submitted must be accompanied by an English translation. — Kyra Hudson

Chronicle reaches finals in competition PHOTO PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF LAUREN MORGANBESSER ’19

SNOW MUCH FUN: Alexandra Mork ’20 and Lauren Morganbesser ’19 explore Newark after a day of preparing for their next debates.

Speaking out: BLACC to host youth activism event By KAITLIN MUSANTE

ald Trump, increasing the need for youth activism and The Black Leadership discussion amongst students. “I’ve always known people Awareness and Culture Club aims to spark forward-think- were racist and rude, but I ing discussions on the current think that now that our president is open about political climate and how he feels about encourage students A f r i c a n-Am er i cans to take action at a and other minoriconference Jan 15. ty groups, it makes The conference people feel as though aims to provide a focoming out of the rum for attendees to closet about their discuss how the shift racism is totally okay in national politics now and there will be affects students and ’ no consequences,” consider ways to take Taylor Redmond said. “So, action. Redmond ’18 I think talking about BLACC club leadthis stuff is extremeer Taylor Redmond ’18 said that she has noticed a growth ly helpful because it creates in racial prejudice following a sense of togetherness that the election of President Don- makes everything a little bit WHITE S

better.” During the conference, four panelists, author Bakari Kitwana, motivational speaker Yusef Salaam, rapper and activist Jasiri X and UCLA professor and author Gaye Theresa Johnson, will examine activist successes not extensively covered by the national media and how celebrities can use their power to drive and distract from social justice efforts. BLACC club leader Taylor Jones ’18 said that she is excited to listen to both the panelists’ and her fellow students’ perspectives. “I am excited to hear what the differences are between the speakers’ and the students’ experiences because we can

have a window into the world of those who are older and a window into the world of those who are younger,” Jones said. Students said they are grateful for the opportunity to speak out against social injustices. “I love events like this because I think that kids oftentimes think that their voices don’t matter, whatever we do won’t make a difference and what’s happening to us isn’t happening anywhere else,” Redmond said. “However, when you bring very inﬂuential people to speak on issues that they have that you also have, especially when they look like you, it brings a little bit of peace knowing you aren’t alone.”

Foreign exchange students to visit campus from China

By ZOE REDLICH

GRAPHIC BY SAM KO ’19

Five students from Shanghai will stay with families of upper school students Feb. 1-13. This exchange has occurred at this same time for the past three years and will again be organized by the World Leading School Association, an organization that Harvard-Westlake is a founding member of. This year the international students will come from the High School afﬁliated with Fudan University. “We have a group of families that has volunteered to host these kids while they’re here,” director of Kutler Center and Summer Programs Jim Patterson said. “They’ll live with their family, come to school with their host sibling and then be here at school most of the day. They also do some other things off-site and then go home with the student at night.”

The exchange students will stay with families of Chinese students. This summer there will be homestay options in China for Harvard-Westlake students participating in an internship program there. “Part of the way that these homestay experiences work is that we provide homestays here when students come here, so that when our students go there, they’ll provide homestays as well,” Patterson said. In the past, the school has hosted students from Japan and Russia. This year is one of the smallest groups coming from Shanghai as last year there were eight. “Whenever you have an opportunity to interact with somebody who grew up in a culture different from your own or a place different from your own, I think it can be an incredible learning experience and incredibly enriching,” Patterson said.

The Chronicle moved on to the ﬁnal round of the First Amendment Press Freedom Award competition, which is presented to a school that supports the First Amendment through its student media. The Chronicle was one of seven publications in the U.S. selected as a ﬁnalist. When the “Right on Point” podcast was published in September, it received backlash. Chronicle adviser Jim Burns said he was impressed by how the administration responded to the criticism and upheld freedom of the press for the Chronicle, prompting him to enter into the competition. —Anusha Mathur

Patterson discusses Brownstein fellowship Director of Kutler Center and Summer Programs Jim Patterson presented gap year fellowship opportunities to the senior class Jan 5. Patterson played a video to explain the history of the Brownstein fellowship. Following the video, Jordan Brown ’16, recipient of the Brownstein fellowship, spoke to the senior class about her experiences and strongly advised students to consider the opportunity. A gap year fair will be held Feb. 22 in the Hamilton Gym to further students’ knowledge regarding fellowships. —Lauren Nehorai

Senior wins national Chinese essay contest Chinese student Strauss Cooperstein ’18 won the Gold Award in the 2017 Chinese Language Association of Secondary Schools National Essay Contest Jan. 5. The contest tests students in categories including grammar. Cooperstein won the award in the Advanced category, where non-native Chinese speaking students nationwide can enter. 10 Harvard-Westlake students entered the contest, and eight students were awarded honorable mentions. —Sarah Healy and Joanna Im

A8 NEWS

THE CHRONICLE

JAN. 9, 2018

Photography students win contest BY ALISON OH

Photography students Cole Heine ’19 and Assistant News Editor Kaitlin Musante ’19 earned recognition for their submissions to the 2017 Drexel University High School Photography Contest, which chose 120 students nationwide. Their winning photographs will be on exhibit at Drexel’s photography gallery in February. “It’s really nice to be recognized, especially for something [like photography] that I feel like is usually very intangible,” Heine said. Though both students are enrolled in Photography II, they completed their work outside of the classroom. “I told the students that there was a contest they could enter, and then it was up to them to do the work,” upper school visual arts teacher Kevin O’Malley said. “They did it completely on their own.” While O’Malley did not help his students put together their portfolios, he encouraged them to be proud of their work and helped them select pieces to submit to the competition, Musante said. “[O’Malley] was really encouraging about pushing me

KAITLIN MUSANTE/CHRONICLE

MAKING A SPLASH: Mia Nelson ’19 poses for a photo in Palos Verdes, taken by Chronicle Assistant News Editor Kaitlin Musante ’19. The

photo was recognized in the Drexel University High School photography contest and will be displayed in the Drexel art gallery in February.

to submit and let other people view my work and recognize my talent,” Musante said. “I consulted [O’Malley] to see which one of my photos he thought would be well received and which ones were his favorite, and we came to a conclusion.” The students submitted their work to the contest digitally in November. Each submission consisted of one to three images, and Drexel University selected one photo-

graph from each winning portfolio for exhibition. Heine’s photograph, titled “Happily Encapsulated,” focused on the beauty of nature and was taken in the Daintree Rainforest in Australia. “There was this little watering hole, and I was taking pictures of it under the light and [looking at] the positioning of the trees and such,” Heine said. Musante’s photograph, titled “The Tempest,” featured

Mia Nelson ’19 and drew inspiration from Shakespeare. “We ended up on the cliffs of Palos Verdes and it was very windy and the waves were crashing against the rocks,” Musante said. “I had dressed Mia in a very long, flowy dress that was blowing in the wind, and the first thing that popped into my head was ‘The Tempest.’ I really wanted to emulate that in my photo.” Musante, who used a film camera to take her submitted

photographs, said she also appreciated the opportunity to see the value of different types of photographic processes. “I was one of very few people to continue using film after Photography I,” Musante said. “It’s really incredible to see that film is still appreciated in the field of photography because I think that it’s become more of a dying art form in recent years.” The University will name cash prize recipients Jan. 18.

Mind, body, soul: Students host show on body language

BY CASEY KIM

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ARI SOKOLOV ’19

VENTURE TO THE VORTEX: Jonathan Damico ’19 presents in the new Vortex room during the HW

Inc. summer program. The Vortex, located in Kutler Center 201, is a space for students to collaborate.

Collaboration station: HW Venture hosts Vortex meet-up to discuss latest projects BY LINDSAY WU HW Venture held a Vortex Meet-up Jan. 8 at break to allow students to present their latest businesses and hear feedback, as well as inform participants about other students’ businesses, personal projects, apps and other innovations at Harvard-Westlake. Presenting students included HW Venture Senior Communications Lead Nick Settelmayer ’18, who shared his clothing brand “Natural Division LA,” and Jenna Wong ’19, who spoke about how she used her girl scout project to encourage more girls to pursue activities in STEM and science ﬁelds. “Participants were able to see what others around Har-

vard-Westlake are doing and understand how other students have learned from developing their projects,” HW Venture Communications Lead Ari Sokolov ’19 said. “[The Vortex Meet-up] is also a way that more people can get involved. We hope that all the participants gained a general awareness and hopefully, they’ll all be eager to start their own project or become inspired [by] some of the people that are presenting.” The meet-up also allowed students to improve on their own projects. “In many meet-ups like this one, we have consulting groups for outsider opinions, business advice and pitch practicing,” HW Venture Vortex Leader Coco Kaleel ’20

said. “Participants also learn how to properly present ideas at these events. Meet-ups are also for further development of those ideas, and the goal is often to bring these ideas to the next level.” The Vortex Meet-up is the ﬁrst of many events designed to promote collaboration in HW Venture. “We really want to make the HW Venture classroom a space where people are constantly bouncing ideas off each other whether they’re working together or just in conversation,” Sokolov said. “We want to show how the space can be used and what kind of collaboration and innovation can happen in the Vortex. I look forward to the coming events in January.”

in the show’s subject matter. “[O’Malley] always gives us Blingo Blango, a photogra- assignments where we have phy showcase that focused on full autonomy to do what we body language and expression, want to and explore what we held its reception Jan. 8 at the want to,” Spencer said. “I’m so Feldman-Horn Gallery during excited for people to see the showcase because I think they break. Visual arts teacher Kev- will ﬁnd the body language asin O’Malley said he was in- pect of the showcase and how trigued how many students it is translated in our society are unaware of the meaning interesting.” Prior to the reception, stubehind various types of body language, even though it is a dents displayed posters to profundamental way people com- mote the event, which included a question municate. meant to grab Each stupeople’s attendent photoI think they tion. graphed four “[The postwill find the body different gestures and dislanguage aspect of the ers] are from the actual lecplayed their showcase and how it is ture I gave images in the translated in our society on body langallery alongguage,” O’Malside photos interesting.” ley said. “For from pop cul—Emma Spencer ’18 example, if ture and poliyou cross your tics. O’Malley said he wanted the show to be arms in class, you will not more lighthearted to contrast be able to retain 38 percent the serious nature of their up- of what your teacher is tellcoming show about the Viet- ing you. When you do this, something shuts down in your nam War. “It’s supposed be a fun brain.” Attendees said that the show, because our next show is going to be a very serious posters helped spark their inshow on Vietnam,” O’Malley terest in the show. “I appreciate how the postsaid. “I just wanted the students to just have fun doing ers take seemingly nonsensical it and learning how their fel- questions, merging emotion low creatures communicate as well as reality and project these themes and interests non-verbally.” Photography III student into our community,” Michael Emma Spencer ’18 said she Lehrhoff ’20 said. “They speak appreciated that she was giv- to how art can convey realism en the creative freedom to in- and idealism, so I [was] interpret the project and hoped trigued to see the ‘Blingo Blanthat attendees were interested go’ debut.”

“

C HRONICLE the harvard-westlake

Editors-in-Chief: Josie Abugov, Danielle Spitz Print Managing Editors: Maddy Daum, Alena Rubin, Anthony Weinraub

Opinion The Chronicle • Jan. 9, 2018

Los Angeles • Volume 27• Issue 4 • Jan 9, 2018 • hwchronicle.com

editorial

Digital Managing Editors: Eli Adler, Noa Schwartz Executive Editors: Ellis Becker, Elly Choi Presentation Editors: Nicole Kim, Kitty Luo News Editor: Emory Kim Assistant News Editors: Kendall Dees, Alex Goldstein, Sophie Haber, Saba Nia, Kaitlin Musante Opinion Editors: Brittany Hong, Claire Keller Assistant Opinion Editor: Vishan Chaudhary Features Editors: Kristin Kuwada, Kate Schrage Assistant Features Editors: Sofia Heller, Sam Ko, Jenny Li, Alison Oh, Cameron Stokes A&E Editors: Gabi Berchtold, Sarah Lee Assistant A&E Editors: Kaelyn Bowers, Alexandra So Senior A&E Writer: Caty Szeto Sports Editors: Aaron Park, Matthew Yam Assistant Sports Editors: Ryan Albert, Lucas Gelfond, Jackie Greenberg, Ryan Kim, Asa Saperstein, Ben Tenzer Multimedia Editor: Isabelle Eshraghi Engagement Editors: Oliver Akhtarzad, Zach Swartz Innovation Editors: Sam McCabe, Adam Yu Business Editor: Jiwon Park Assistant Business Editor: Cameron Stokes Photography Editor: Pavan Tauh Freelance Cartoonist: Anna Gong Layout Assistants And Staff Writers: Noah Aire, Tammer Bagdasarian, Marcelo Blander, Salvatore Casola, Caitlin Chung, Jessa Glassman, Ty Goodrich, Sarah Healy, Kyra Hudson, Joanna Im, Madison Huggins, Cole Katz, Casey Kim, Sun Jae Kim, Spencer Klink, Yoohan Ko, James Lassiter, Isabela Llevat, William Mallory, Anusha Mathur, Keila McCabe, Alex Mork, Jordan Murray, Lauren Nehorai, Grant Palmer, Zoe Redlich, Sarah Reiff, Luke Schneider, Zack Schwartz, William Seymour, Emma Shapiro, Dylan Shenson, Valerie Velazquez, Astor Wu, Lindsay Wu, Eugene Wyman, Amelie Zilber Layout Assistant Adviser: Juliet Suess Adviser: Jim Burns 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 Jiwon Park at jpark3@ hwemail.com. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or school.

Emphasizing Empathy

Skimming through the most recent issue of HW Life, one article in particular caught our eye. We learned that last spring, middle school faculty were given the opportunity to shadow students for a day—an exercise designed to promote a greater understanding of the range of perspectives in our community. The article included teacher reflections detailing their shock at the rigor and pressure students face daily, which in turn led to reconsideration of teaching strategy and classroom policies. Though an unconventional experiment, its results emphasize the importance of having empathy guide our actions and relationships. While a common refrain, the new year and the new semester present an opportunity to reevaluate how we judge and respect ourselves and others. We can begin by expressing this empathy toward our peers, those whom we are able to relate to the most. In late December, many seniors received news on Early Action and Decision applications. While some were elated, others were disappointed. Either way, we should continue to support both those who were accepted and those who are still waiting to hear their decisions. Admitted students have worked hard to achieve this milestone and deserve to celebrate their accomplishments. However, this excitement must be met with mindfulness toward equally hardworking students who didn’t receive the news they had hoped for. This is just one example of where we can put empathetic ideals into practice; whether college-related or more general, we all face challenges dur-

NICOLE KIM/CHRONICLE

ing our time in high school, and going the extra mile to be compassionate never goes unappreciated. Just as some teachers from the Middle School made an effort to understand their students’ struggles, we should do the same with ours. It’s easy to forget that teachers devote their lives to enriching our own. They are not required to stay in their offices beyond the school day, but most are more than willing to. Mr. Kochar and Mr. Nealis arrive at school before most of us are even awake and open their doors to anyone willing to wake up as early as they do. Ms. Medawar writes personal letters of encouragement to her students for the holidays. Other teachers sacrifice their personal lives and time with their families to respond to panicked, late-night emails. Few people in our lives care as deeply about us as our teachers do, and we should remember to reciprocate this by recognizing and appreciating their efforts. Seniors, although passing into second semester is an easy excuse to give up on our schoolwork, slacking off is disrespectful and inconsiderate to our teachers, who work hard to prepare meaningful lessons without an endgoal other than seeing us succeed. Remembering compassion should extend beyond the walls of our campus. It is imperative that we show appreciation for everyone who touches our lives, be it in the line at the grocery store or across the dinner table. Too often, we take out pent-up frustration on our parents or other authority figures, but we should remember the sacrifices they continue to make to support us.

A10 Opinion

The Chronicle

Jan 9, 2018

Don’t hesitate to procrastinate By Jessa Glassman and Amelie Zilber

SAMANTHA KO/CHRONICLE

No-chella: Have some chill By Lucas Gelfond

yes half open, restless from hours of driving and exhausted from a pitiful night of sleep, I walked onto campus and into my second period history class. It was April 17. I had just returned from one of the best weekends of my life, the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. I had left my hotel room at 4 a.m. on two and a half hours of sleep in hopes of returning to school on time and not getting a detention. My story is far from unusual. 120 students missed school that Monday in a combination of absences from the festival and Senior Ditch Day. In 2016, the school served 110 Coachella-related detentions after former Head of Upper School Audrius Barzdukas introduced the “Own It” policy in 2013, encouraging students to admit to missing school for the festival instead of using excuses. The problem isn’t even unique to our school — the Atlantic reported in 2013 that many Los Angeles teachers plan around anticipated low attendance around the festival weekends. Students should clearly be honest about why they are missing school, especially to be in line with the school’s Honor Code. It also seems at least somewhat reasonable that students should not be able to miss school without a consequence. However, the school should allow some more leniency in re-

sponse to such widespread attendance of the event and allow students to attend with less or no punishment. Students who don’t miss days of school and want to stay in good disciplinary standing must miss one third of the festival if it falls during a school week; the venue opens at 11 a.m. every day and an entire day of acts are booked on Friday. Students who choose to stay for later acts on Sunday (for example, headliner Kendrick Lamar who began playing at 10:35 p.m. last year) are forced to either miss the day of school and receive a detention, lie about why they are missing school, or drive home on little or no sleep. This is particularly troubling given that students may be intoxicated or affected by a lack of sleep on their nearly 150 mile drive from the festival to school. The school should develop a solution to allow students to attend the festival more reasonably. In 2015, the school published its Visions for 2020, a series of values meant to accomplish the mission statement. If the school hopes to follow these values, one of which states that “Happiness and balance will become primary values in the HW culture and in shaping the experience of students,” it seems nonsensical for students to be so harshly punished for missing a day of school. Currently, an unexcused absence results in detention. If

the school emphasizes balance for students in strong standing, it seems hypocritical to punish them for missing minimal school to attend one of the most notable music festivals in the world. On Windward School’s official 2017 calendar, April 22 and 23 were marked as “Music Festival,” with the school closed April 24, coinciding with weekend two of the festival. The Atlantic reported in 2013 that Crossroads School purposefully planned a grading day after the festival. Harvard-Westlake would not be alone in cancelling school around the festival and allowing students to more easily attend would be in line with the school’s visions of “happiness and balance”. Overall, with such a momentous cultural event nearly in our backyard, it seems nonsensical that the school would punish students for attending. While detention is a fairly mild punishment, the school would be best off with a lighter punishment or cancelling school entirely if it hopes to remain faithful to its visions. Let’s avoid forcing students to stroll into history class on two hours of sleep because they wanted to see Kendrick. Let’s stop dangerous drives in the middle of the night to make it to campus on time. And finally, let’s allow students to sometimes enjoy themselves in spite of school. Here’s to happiness, balance and live music.

The Indu-sputed truth

By Indu Pandey

Trump, Bannon engage in gentleman’s duel

resident Trump challenged former Chief Strategist Stephen Bannon to a gentleman’s duel in the White House Rose Garden on Tuesday. “Steve hurt my feelings!” Trump tweeted. “There is no truth to his claims. I have the smartest and loyalest administration in history!” Wayne LaPierre of the NRA personally supplied Trump and Bannon with dueling guns. “Karen and I would just be so devastated if Donald didn’t make it out of this one,” Vice President Mike Pence said, gesturing to the handcuffs between him and his wife. “It’s not like we have ‘President Pence: Bringing the 6th Century Back’ on buttons already or anything like that. Go Trump!” White House staff invited the Fake News Media to watch the duel, describing it as “UFC meets that one

scene of Hamilton” in invitations. “We’re airing a duel analysis ahead of the fight complete with usage of holograms and we already have a cute, little countdown clock in the bottom of the screen,” CNN’s only recognizable reporter Jake Tapper said giddily. Tensions between these besties seem to have boiled over some locker room talk. “You were my brother, Donald!” Bannon screeched before the duel. “You were supposed to destroy the establishment, not join them!” Mitch McConnell officiated the duel as part of his official duties as Senate Majority Leader. He and Senator Orrin Hatch also chaired the Cleaning Committee and concessions stand. The duel will air on primetime next Tuesday. Michael Wolff is expected to commentate.

fter a long day of strenuous schoolwork, the devil on your shoulder urging you to put off all your work and play Candy Crush can seem like the deadliest thing to your high school career, but in reality it may not be completely in the wrong. Studies have shown that procrastinating will boost creativity and enhance attentiveness when done correctly. For many, school-related stress can seemingly force us to sacrifice our mental health or even right to live a balanced, teenage life. This is why procrastination’s reputation is so notorious. We are told to stay focused at all times in order to make sure we finish all of our work, but should this always be a hard and fast rule? According to The Atlantic, taking a 17 minute break after every 52 minutes of studying can not only help you become more imaginative, but also increase accuracy and efficiency. Though these exact time intervals have been proven to ensure the best results, following them roughly would still be beneficial. These strategic breaks make sure you’re able to get the most done, in the most productive way, while still giving yourself time to unwind. Procrastination can take many forms, but for most, postponing your work can lead to never-ending distractions by social media, online streaming, video games or even a sidetracked study call. However, none of these are strictly negative if you learn to manage your time correctly and practice procrastination like a pro. Spending time after school to recharge by watching an episode of your favorite show can allow your brain relief from academic stress, a break necessary for achieving intensified productivity later (unless of course you fall into the endless pit of Netflix bing-

ing). If you find yourself struggling to keep your eyes open as you read the next three chapters of your school-required novel, allow yourself a short power-nap to relax and rejuvenate, giving yourself the energy needed to complete the rest of your homework effectively. However, make sure to set an alarm for 30 minutes so you don’t find yourself waking in a late-night panic, without having time to complete all of your assignments. If you procrastinate right, you won’t need to feel guilty for slacking. Doing work consistently for hours upon hours without breaks can lead to poor function when you need it most, even though it may seem like you are just being a hard worker. Whether you’re cramming for an exam or preparing for a presentation, on the day that you’re required to utilize that knowledge, your performance will not be optimal if you’ve overwhelmed yourself with work. In moments when a math question is too difficult or your eyes glaze over a reading passage, a common instinct is to refresh Instagram or check the latest Snapchat stories, but establishing specific times for breaks right when you get home from school is the best thing to keep on track. It will also prevent putting off that dreaded assignment until late at night when you are tired, overworked and in need of sleep. Overall, using your time wisely and maintaining a balanced approach towards free time and school work can prove to be effective in the long run, as well as make you happier in the moment. Taking 22 minutes to watch Dwight Schrute throw himself into a dumpster and scream “Parkour!” may improve your mental health and in fact make you smarter.

Former Chronicle News Associate gives her take on current pop culture and politics in a recurring satire column. In this issue, she discusses foreign policy and conservative speakers on campus.

Student vows to up SoulCycle to six days a week

t’s that time of the year again! Val Lee has vowed to turn up her SoulCycle regimen to six days a week as her New Year’s resolution. “Twice a week wasn’t cutting it,” Lee said, pausing to chug a Pressed Juice. “I’m not living my best life!” SoulCycle WEHO agreed to reserve a bike for her seshes. “I just love Val’s energy when she steps on the bike,” a mononymous SoulCycle instructor Michael said. “She’s our only rider for our Kanye vs Taylor ride at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday. I’m looking forward to unlocking her full potential!” Lee turned to SoulCycle after her previous years’ failed resolutions. “I tried hot yoga last year, but it was too much commitment to choose between Bikram and Hot 8,” Lee said. “I did Instagram hiking the year before

but after posting like six pictures at Runyon, it got kinda tacky.” Other students have also decided to pursue athletic resolutions this year. “I started going to the gym so I could send Snapchat streaks from there,” Bebe Sic said, while deciding between the dog and flow crown filters. One sophomore attempted to run up and down the Seaver stairs for exercise, but a senior kicked them down the stairs after they tried doing it between first and second period. “I really wanted start weight lifting,” Brandon Boder said. “But since Amazon started delivering groceries, what’s the point in being swole? Picking up Gelson’s grocery bags for my mom was my only opportunity to flex.” It’s all about the summer Instagram aesthetic.

Jan 9, 2018

Opinion A11

quadtalk:

Logan Paul: Using suicide for success By Kitty Luo

Poll

Did the recent LA fires affect your mid-year assesments? Yes: 66% No: 34%

291 students weighed in on the Jan 5-6 poll INFOGRAPHIC BY CLAIRE KELLER

Izzy Yanover ’19

“I think it did a little bit. Not to a degree that I’m unhappy about, but I would have liked to have more review.” VISHAN CHAUDHARY/CHRONICLE

Benjamin Major ’18

“The fires did not affect my midyear assessments, but I think that’s mostly circumstantial because my assessments were not too hard to begin with.” Muthee Githara ’20

VISHAN CHAUDHARY/CHRONICLE

“They did not really affect me that much, except that I could not meet with teachers the week before, so that might have made it a little more difficult.” VISHAN CHAUDHARY/CHRONICLE

Extinguishing the effects of the fire

By Noa Schwartz

month ago around five a.m., I was woken to the sound of helicopters and the smell of smoke. I had around five minutes to evacuate my house entirely, with little time to grab any of my belongings. Just minutes later, I watched from the television in my grandparents’ house as the two homes directly across the street from mine were engulfed in flames. That morning was full of uncertainty. As the fire continued to spread, I eventually had to tear myself away from watching the news as the potential of losing my own home became more real. I knew I was not alone in my fears, and I certainly did not feel alone that day. I was surround-

ed by family, and my friends were incredibly generous and supportive: checking in on me, offering to bring clothes and food and sending simple messages trying to cheer me up. In an extremely difficult time, I found a lot to be thankful for. That being said, watching newscasters display what felt to be a lack empathy throughout the day was far from easy. They interviewed distressed people without expressing ample condolences, asking questions that made interviewees clearly uncomfortable. I did not understand the intensity of emotion in a situation like this until I was in that position myself. Similarly, watching many of my peers enjoy their days off without a care in the world felt like a personal

etween tangled branches and moss-lined trunks, a man sways from a tree. Though he had entered the forest not long ago, he’ll never set foot out of it again. It’s a cloudy day. Mount Fuji continues to sleep on, and the Aokigahara is calm. Until a burst of laughter pierces through the air. “Yo, are you alive?” an energetic and clueless Logan Paul shouts at the body. “Are you fucking with us?” Donning a green alien hat with video camera in hand, he and his friends tramp through the sacred forest, eagerly trying to get a closer shot. Horror soon sinks in as the group realizes what they have stumbled upon. “Oh no, I’m so sorry,” Paul says to his viewers. “This was supposed to be a fun vlog.” What a location for a “fun vlog” indeed. On the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan, the Aokigahara Forest sits nestled at the base of Mount Fuji. The Japanese landmark is traditionally known as a home for ghosts in local mythology. Internationally, it has earned a reputation as one of the most prevalent suicide sites with an increasing rate of bodies found every year. This New Year’s Eve, Paul, a 21-year-old Youtube sensation, closed his year with a highly controversial video of him and his friends vlogging their way through the Aokigahara, showing his 15 million subscribers close-ups of a recently deceased man. Although the man’s face was blurred out, the rest of him remained in crystal clear focus. Always close on his brother’s heels, white Youtuber Jake Paul posted a video of himself rapping the n-word within the same week. It seems that as they left 2017, the brothers also left behind their basic sense of morality, abandoning any respect the world had for them. Logan excused his disrespectful behavior with a quick explanation that this was just his coping mechanism. Yet, when he edited the video later, he actively made a choice to keep the zoomed

in shots of the deceased man, the distasteful comments on death and the bursts of crude laughter in the arboreal graveyard. The apologies he posted to Twitter and to Youtube were also widely regarded as insincere. Logan’s instinct to keep these shots in his video is a testament to the growing sentiment among Youtubers and other online figures to put out content that is most appealing and intriguing. The consensus seems to be that the crazier and more shocking a video is, the more views it will receive. There exists, however, a line between entertaining and distasteful content, and the Paul brothers stepped grossly over it. “This is not clickbait,” Logan claims at the beginning of his video. Yet with a title like “We found a dead body in the Japanese Suicide Forest…,” one cannot help but question the validity of the assertion. In a digital and media-saturated age, online celebrities like the Paul brothers hold more influence than ever. There is an entire rising generation of young teens who look up to these figures and aspire to be like them. Subscribers are now facing a harsh reality check that the people they admire and watch weekly think it’s ok to vlog bodies of suicide victims or to spew racist and vulgar raps. Social media stars, whether it’s Youtube or Instagram, usually have a relatively quick climb to fame. Once they’ve reached the top, they are eager to reap the benefits of being a celebrity, yet sometimes forget the responsibilities that come with the job. What they choose to forget is that the creative and expressive content they put out has to now also uphold basic, respectable principles. With media becoming increasingly accessible, these young influencers must accept liability and hold themselves accountable for the messages they send out. The platforms on which these stars communicate with their fans may have changed, but that does not mean standards of decency have too.

Reflecting on how the recent Southern California fires struck our community, including how the administration responded and how students supported one another.

attack, even though I knew it wasn’t. Though many students had midterms lingering in the back of their mind during this time, midterms were my last priority. For the two days we had off from school, I was worried that strong winds would restart fires in my neighborhood. My teachers and dean were nothing but accommodating and understanding, but I did not feel that the administration showed enough sensitivity in returning the school to a state of normalcy. I received many emails reminding me to keep up with work and studying and was disappointed to find that my midterm was altered and revised for content in only one of my classes.

With the imminent release of college decisions, the fires forced me to reevaluate what’s truly important. While I understand that the school runs on an extremely well-thought-out schedule and a multitude of exceptions to that schedule were made in light of the fire, I wish more thought had been given to the bigger picture. The best way to respond to an issue as unexpected and destructive as a natural disaster is to emphasize a sense of community. Only one of my teachers acknowledged the fire at the start of class. I would have appreciated more brief opportunities for discussion or reflection. In general, I felt that following the immediate shock of

our local fires, there was not adequate awareness or government action. This problem persists: as recently as Jan. 1, a no-burn alert was in effect for all of Los Angeles — dangerous particles in the air continue to impact us. Writing this piece, I feel slightly self-righteous. Yes, my family and I faced a difficult few weeks; however, compared to our neighbors and many others in California, we are incredibly lucky. Three weeks after evacuating, I returned to my home to find remarkably little damage. The Skirball Fire serves as a reminder to us all not to take anything for granted, and I hope that going forward, the community approaches issues like these with heightened care and sensitivity.

A12

All around the world

spotlight

JAN. 9, 2018

Students traveled all over the globe during winter break and explored different countries and cities. While on vacation, they tried new cuisines, participated in activities and immersed themselves in the local culture.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF MATTEO LAUTO ’18

JETSET SUNSET: Matteo Lauto ’18 smiles in front of a Mumbai sunset. On his trip, Lauto spent time with family and friends and visited local temples.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF CATHERINE CROUCH ’19

THE JUNGLE BOOK: Catherine Crouch ’19 feeds palm fronds to an elephant during winter break while on vacation in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF WHITNEY ELSON ’19

ALL TIRE-D OUT: (Left to right) Whitney Elson ’19, Cate Elson ’22 and Lauren Elson ’20 ride in the back of a

truck in Ranthambore, India. While on their vacation, they also visited Mihir Garh, Jaswant Thada and Jaipur.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ASHER EARLY ’19

STORMTROOPERS AND SNOWTROOPERS: A group of juniors pose for a picture in the snow in Aspen, Colo., where they met up to spend time together.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF JACK BORRIS ’18

SLAYING THE SLOPES: Jonathan Damico ’19 skis while in Deer Valley, Utah. Damico traveled with Jack Borris ’18, Chronicle Digital Managing Editor Eli Adler ’18, Nick Plummer ’18 and Brandon Porter ’18.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF EMMA SESAR ’18

TIGER MOMS: Emma Sesar ’18 (right) and her sister Chloe Sesar feed baby tigers in Bangkok, Thailand. In addition to Thailand, they went to Malaysia.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF KATE KONVITZ ’20

COCO FOR COCONUTS: Kate Konvitz ’20 drinks from a fresh coconut while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with friends during winter break.

Features The Chronicle â&#x20AC;¢ Jan. 9, 2018

Yes Means Yes Students and alumni share their perspectives on college rape culture and the onslaught of sexual violence allegations in recent news.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SOFIA HELLER AND NICOLE KIM

B2 Features

The Chronicle

Jan. 9, 2018

Striving to Serve

Despite the availability of on-campus resources, some students lie about their community service hours in order to fulfill the 12-hour requirement. By Kendall Dees

ago, he found it difficult to maintain his level of commitment to Shelly* ’19 handed in her com- volunteering. Preoccupied with munity service form nonchalantly. juggling school and extracurricuThe form read ‘12 hours complet- lar activities, Mark said he no loned,’ enough to fulfill the year-long ger had enough time to work long hours. requirement. He speculated that most kids, In reality, Shelly had only worked a few hours baking cook- busy with schoolwork and college ies for her local humane shelter, applications, feel that they could but the dishonesty did not stop use potential time spent volunteering in more productive ways, her from submitting. Shelly said she did not feel such as studying. “I feel like I don’t always have ashamed that she wasn’t completely truthful because it is com- enough time,” Mark said. “Also, I don’t think that me doing two more mon among students. 14 percent of 287 respondents hours of a certain thing that I do to a Chronicle poll said they have with helping the elderly is going to reported inaccurate community make that much of a difference.” Young said he trusts students service hours in the past. “They gave me twelve hours for to submit an honest amount of doing basically nothing,” Shelly hours. However, he is aware that is not always the case. said. “I feel like there is “If and when we do a need to do community catch it, it would become service. I just don’t have an Honor Board case,” enough time to commit Young said, “But the botmyself to going a lot.” tom line is we are trying to Students report their promote an honorable sohours by submitting a ciety in this school where form to Chaplain J. Young your word is good.” or Director of Student AfYoung said he hopes fairs Jordan Church dethe requirement proscribing the community ’ vides an opportunity for service they completed Chaplain J. students to find a cause and how many hours they Young that they are passionate worked. Even though Shelly believes it about, or something that they othis wrong to fake your community erwise may not have discovered on service hours, she argues that it is their own. Before Young and Church took too difficult for her to find opporover the community service protunities to get involved. Between schoolwork and oth- gram, students were rewarded for er commitments, Shelly said she accumulating large volumes of doesn’t have the time necessary to hours. However, Young said that he commit to a service program. “For me, I don’t really know and Church modified the program what I can get involved in for com- in order to emphasize quality of munity service because in order work over quantity. “Doing a hundred and someto participate in a lot of the things that I have seen, you need to apply, thing hours is great, but let’s look and it’s kind of a process,” Shelly at what you are really doing and said. “I just want to do something what the quality is and the expeon the weekend or something rience that you are having and the experience that the people who where I can just show up.” Likewise, Mark* ’18 admitted you are serving are having,” Young to occasionally reporting hours said. Young said that he is not opthat he did not actually complete. Although Mark volunteers at timistic enough to think that stuhis great aunt’s retirement home, dents always develop a lifelong after she passed away a few years habit of community service, but is white s

happy when it does happen. a person and as a student. I feel “It’s kind of like an English like community service, for me, teacher requiring you to read a has been the best way that I can book,” Young said. “The English experience that kind of maturity teacher’s real goal is to get you in and growth.” the habit of reading and making Like Choi, Rachel Grode ’19 volthat something you want to do on unteers in community service proyour own, but they have to start grams that continue year-round by saying, ‘You have to read this and require continuous work and book.’ That’s [the kind of habit] attendance. Grode works at Camp that we have to start by saying Harmony, where she has since that you need twelve hours.” earned over 230 hours of commuCommunity Council, which nity service per year. aims to help students get involved Grode recalled a morning at the in community service, is one of the camp when she helped encourage resources available on campus. a nervous young girl to participate They provide students with op- in the group field games with the portunities to participate in com- rest of her peers. munity service, primarily through Grode said moments like these organizing events for students in have been very emotional for her collaboration with clubs on cam- and have emphasized how meanpus, such as last year’s Make-a- ingful the camp is and how much Wish event and it can impact chilblood drives. dren’s lives. “I feel like Com“Her face just munity Council is lit up and she was I feel like community a really great way holding my hand service, for me, has been for students to and smiling and get involved with having the time the best way that I can community serof her life,” Grode experience that kind of vice on campus,” said. “It was realmaturity and growth.” club member Naly cool to see her talie Choi ’18 said. shift from being —Natalie Choi ‘18 quiet and shy to “I think it is also a really great gatesmiling and laughway into finding ing just because initiatives that she had a friend to really speak to you and that you play with her.” want to make a difference in, and Grode first heard about the then students can go further by organization from friends in the themselves.” grade above her who were previChoi volunteers in the art stu- ously involved. dio at the Skirball Center, partic“The program itself is so special ipates in the Skirball Teen Coun- and working to provide children cil and has an internship with with opportunities and hope is one the Red Cross. She said that she of the best feelings,” Grode said. hopes students will be encouraged Grode said the feeling of joy and by the community service require- fulfillment that a volunteer can get ment to get even more involved in in return for participating in comtheir communities. munity service is unparalleled. “Most kids at Harvard-West“I would hope that what we are lake are born with so much priv- doing, or what we are trying to do, ilege, and we have so much just is to at least introduce kids to the handed to us and so many people idea of service,” Young said. “[We don’t,” Choi said. “Going out into want] for them to have a good exyour community and meeting peo- perience doing it and, in the best ple with different socioeconomic of all worlds, for it to develop into backgrounds and different ethnic a lifelong habit for them.” backgrounds, different everything, is a really great chance to grow as *Names have been changed.

“

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SAM KO AND ALISON OH

Jan. 9, 2018

hwchronicle.com/features

Features B3

Jam-packed

Students and faculty discuss whether the school’s physical education and art requirements stifle or encourage passion and creativity. By Sophie Haber

Despite the fact that some students find their passion as a result of reWatching her new classmates slide quirements and continue to take classinto a split on the black floor, Jess Gro- es in those areas, others said that the restrictions the requirements cause dy ’19 felt nervous and out of place. “What if everyone’s better than me? outweigh the possible benefits. Although he did not have specific What if it’s too difficult?” she thought, scanning the room through the mir- statistics, Cardenas also said that a very high percentage of students only rors that lined the wall. She had only signed up for the fulfill the bare minimum arts and athletics requirements. He said that class to fulfill her P.E. requirement. “I wasn’t excited at all,” Grody said. the majority of students who take the “At the beginning I was just really ner- minimum amount of arts and athletvous and kind of resented the require- ics classes do so in order to have more time and space in their schedules to ment.” However, as the course progressed, delve deeper into academic subjects. Since the school it became one of her faimplemented a policy vorite classes. She said that requires lunch she came to appreciate periods in 2015, limThe job of a the supportive environiting students to sevment, academic break school is to educate en classes per year, and exercise it provided, the whole person, and some students think and continued to take that the requirements dance for another full I think art classes are a inhibit their ability to year at the Upper School. part of that.” take the classes that “The studio ended up being a really nice place —Cheri Gaulke they are genuinely interested in. to hangout where I felt Visual Arts Mason Hooks ’20 comfortable,” Grody said. took computer sci“I think it’s important to Department Head ence for two years do things that are outat the Middle School side of your comfort zone and take classes you wouldn’t normal- but could not take it again this year because he takes Three-Dimensional ly take.” Every student is required to com- Art to fulfill the requirement. He was plete six trimesters of P.E. or inter- advised to complete the requirement scholastic sports and one year of during sophomore year and said he performing or visual arts before grad- didn’t have any other option than to uation. The art and athletic require- take a break from computer science. “I’m not really interested in art in ments are set in place to ensure that students are well informed across all general,” Hooks said. “The class is disciplines, upper school dean Celso fine but I’m not passionate about it. Computer science is just Cardenas said. “The job of a school is to educate something I’d rather be takthe whole person, and I think art class- ing, to be honest.” Similarly, Octavia es are a part of that,” Visual Arts Department Head Cheri Gaulke said. “It’s Tyagi ’19 was hoping to take Philosophy in developing that voice within all of us.” Even though she knows some stu- Art and Science or AP dents feel restricted by the require- Microeconomics and ment, Gaulke said she has also seen it Macroeconomics her spark a passion in students who never senior year, but will not have room in her expected it to. because She remembered Alex Popof ’10, schedule who took Video Art I as a senior be- she has not yet fulcause he still needed art credit. As an filled her art requireadult and professional, he revisited the ment. “It’s just frustratskills that he was exposed to in high school to start his own company that ing that I’m not provides body cameras to police officers. Students attending LAUSD schools are required to complete one year of visual or performing arts and one year of physical education in addition to the academic core, according to the LAUSD website. Since the University of California system expects students to have taken those courses, and many students apply to UC schools, the Harvard-Westlake requirements serve to ensure that students are eligible, Cardenas said. “There’s so much that students can benefit from having enrollment in art classes,” Cardenas said. “It’s the idea of having one class in your day that allows you to think very differently about your work and gives you a very clear sense of mind. There’s this great benefit to creating, so I would encourage students to do the art classes.” Gaulke and Director of Upper School Dance Cynthia Winter both said they have had many students who take their classes with the goal of fulfilling a requirement but are inspired to continue studying a specific discipline for the remainder of high school. “I have students who take a video class because they think, ‘Well, if I have to take art, I’ll take video because I can’t draw or paint,’” Gaulke said. “Somehow, video is technology so it feels more accessible. Then after taking it, they realize that they love it and they take it for three years.”

“

going to be able to take more classes legally adults, they should be able to that I want to pursue in the future,” make that choice.” Tyagi said. “We have so much freedom Out of 291 people polled, 80 perto take classes senior year, yet I still cent said that they would not take athhave to take pottery, which is not a letics, and 25 percent said they would particular interest of mine, and I don’t not take arts if there was no requirethink it’s a necessity.” ment. As the school moves in a direction There are some reasons that stuto encourage students to take classes dents can be exempt from the athletics that they are interested in by instating requirement, such as playing a sport a new AP limit and unweighing GPAs, outside of school, Cardenas said. HowCardenas said he hopes the art depart- ever, he also said the administration ment will grow. would rather students complete the “I think one of the biggest deter- requirements in school, and thus offer rents right now with regards to spe- after-school yoga and in-school P.E. cifically the arts is students are con“We still want them to get the benstantly thinking about their efit of doing these classes at GPAs,” Cardenas said. “If you Harvard-Westlake with our take that out of the equation, faculty here,” Cardenas said. students will dive into some of Caity Baskin ’19, who the robust offerings that we rows up to 15 hours each have in the art department.” week, will receive one credit Tyagi said that both the per each year of rowing outrequirement and the new limside of school because the it stifle students’ abilities to school does not offer rowing. take the classes that they are However, if she had played a ’ passionate about. sport that the school does ofOctavia “I believe that with the profer or had taken after-school Tyagi ’19 gressive freedom to choose our yoga, she would receive one classes as we move [through] credit per trimester of particthe Upper School, it seems strange to ipation. have a requirement to take a specific “If this is the sport I want to do, this class,” Tyagi said. “If someone wants to is the path I have to take,” Baskin said. take entirely APs and no art, I “Since I can’t get a lot of credit, it feels think that by senior year, like they’re not really supportive of it.” when most of them are Although some students do not think the requirements are necessary, Cardenas said he thinks it is a valuable part of the education that the school provides. “I think having an art requirement and a P.E. requirement ensures that students are delving into all areas that, sometimes, once they get to college, they don’t have to do,” Cardenas said. “Doing them in high school allows them to be able to flex those creative muscles.” white s

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SOFIA HELLER, SAM KO AND ALISON OH

The Chronicle

B4 Features

Jan. 9

A Whole New World

First-generation American students discuss the lens through which they view life and how their parents have shaped their perspectives.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KRISTIN KUWADA AND NICOLE KIM

9, 2018

hWChroniCle.CoM/Features

By SABA NIA

According to the Pew Research Center, there are cur“Apple,” Jenny Yoon ’19 rently 76 million first-genertried to sound out again as ation Americans living in the her first grade teacher peered U.S. 42 percent of first-genat her from above. Her teacher smiled softly eration American students and tapped the word on her who responded to the Janupaper. Sound it out slower, ary Chronicle poll said their her teacher said, and don’t background has affected their school experience. give up. Farid Adibi ’19, whose parYoon sighed and stared at the letters before her. She had ents moved from Iran to the been laboriously mimicking U.S., said he feels implicit her teacher for over twenty pressure to do well academminutes now, but to no avail. ically. “They obviously want me This new language was as foreign to her as her new to reach my fullest potential home: the strange, sugary and they kind of came to this foods, the mystical night country for me,” Adibi said. where children dressed up “And I wouldn’t want to let and begged for candies from them down, so there’s obvistrangers, even the tinkling ously that pressure to do your music that blared from the best because your parents moved from their homeland radio. But even though she still to here.” Though many first-generahadn’t assimilated to her new country—and still had to tion students said they place learn how to pronounce hun- pressure to succeed academdreds of more words—Yoon ically on themselves, others said that their parents have felt hopeful about her future. Yoon, who immigrated set explicit goals for them. “Since I’m the only from South Korea, part of the family to is a first-generation be in America—I American, like 47 don’t have any other percent of 279 stufamily in America—I dents at the school feel a more added who responded to pressure to get into a the January Chronigood college and get cle poll. “First genera good job because I ation” American, as have to prove to my defined by the Mer’ family back in my riam-Webster dictioGenesis native country that nary, refers to both Aire ’19 moving to America an individual born in was worth it, and I want to the U.S. with immigrant parents, and foreign-born natu- return the investment that my parents have made in my ralized citizens. Though she has now ac- future,” Yoon said. However, some students climated to American culture after nearly a decade of living have a different academic exin the U.S. completely fluent perience, not because they in English, Yoon said she feel more pressure to do well, believes that being an immi- but because their families are grant has altered her school unfamiliar with the education system in the U.S. experience. “That’s one of the things “I think there is an added pressure for first-generation my mom is kind of nervous immigrants to kind of live up about with me especially: goto the family expectations being to college,” Genesis Aire cause we’re in a new country,” ’19, whose mother lived in Yoon said. “No other people Hungary and father in Nigefrom our family have been in ria, said. “I’m the first kid, this country, and I feel a sort and she didn’t go to college of pressure to live up to my here.” Members of the adminisparents’ expectations more than native-born Americans.” tration, including the upper WHITE S

Features B5 school deans, are cognizant of the varying amounts of exposure families have had to the college process and, as a result, offer several information sessions throughout the year regarding college applications, standardized testing and other aspects of the admission process. “It’s a different conversation that has to be had when families haven’t gone through the process previously—either with an older sibling or if they themselves haven’t gone through the process,” upper school dean Celso Cardenas said. “And the reason I say it’s different is because there are always families that have gone through this years ago where there are things that have changed about it, but I would say with first-generation families, sometimes there’s more filling in holes when it comes to how the process works. Especially because it is so different in other countries.” Cardenas, whose parents are Mexican immigrants, said the deans often draw on their own personal experiences to help explain different processes and resolve conflicts. “Often times when I am dealing with families that are first-gen, I can think to my own perspective about what it was that was the most ambiguous or difficult to wrap my head around,” Cardenas said. Immigrant families said they also appreciate how other members of the community will help them, often informally, with understanding the American education system. “The school does provide a lot of opportunities for you to learn about the processes and stuff, [but] I just wish that there were more opportunities to learn about them because my mom doesn’t really have any knowledge about American schooling and the certain tests and all that stuff,” Aire said. “But she is learning from other parents and there are some things like talks she’s gone to that have helped that the school has offered.”

Pinning Perspectives

47%

of students identify as first-generation Americans.

Some first-generation stu- forward and speak out. I think dents, on the other hand, it’s mostly the peers and the said their backgrounds have students in the school who changed their school experi- should maybe, I don’t know, ence not due to pressure in maybe take a fresh look and academics, but because they understand that there might see life through a different be some outside pressures lens than that of their peers. that they may not under“I don’t really feel like I’m stand, but that first-generathat influenced by the fact tion immigrants are facing.” that I’m a first-generation stuThough several students dent here at Harvard-West- said that they often struggle lake,” Sabina Yampolsky ’20, under the burden of increased whose parents immigrated pressure to succeed and acafrom the former Soviet Union, demic differences, many said said. “I mean it’s impacted that they are proud of their my view on life and the things backgrounds as immigrants. that I value and kind of my “I would say that it’s an adperspective on things, but not vantage,” Aire said. “I really so much my academic expe- like the fact that my parents rience.” come from different cultures Though they still feel con- because it’s like I’m experinected to their heritage, sev- encing three different culeral students said that they tures: American, Hungarian don’t think their experience and Nigerian, and it’s really differs much from their peers’. interesting.” “I can definitely see how Like Aire, Yoon said she an immigrant family would ultimately feels empowwant their child to fulfill their ered by the fact that she is American dream but I think a first-generation American, that [for] my parents—I think as was exemplified when she they’ve been here for 25 years performed a poem about bealready—they’re really used ing an Asian-American and to the culture how her herihere, and I tage shouldn’t don’t personrestrict her The school ally feel like at the Wider I have much Than the Sky has offered so many pressure,” poetry festival programs for minority Dylan Wan last year. children to come out, ’18, whose Nearly ten parents are step forward and speak years after she Chinese immifirst arrived in out.” grants, said. the U.S., Yoon “I don’t have —Jenny Yoon ’19 stepped onto a an accent, my stage. mom doesn’t The girl who even have an accent anymore once stumbled over her words and, as of so far, I don’t feel and was ridiculed by her any pressure from society or peers for her accent strode from school that I am a first- confidently into the spotlight. generation student.” As she glided to the miNevertheless, the admin- crophone and looked onto istration remains commit- the crowd, she didn’t just see ted to supporting immigrant her fellow slam poets, but her families and encouraging any parents and all they reprefirst-generation Americans to sent: the airplane flight from take advantage of the school’s Korea, her first day of Amerresources, such as attending ican school and all the sacrithe college information ses- fices her family made so she sions the deans provide. could be here. “I’m pretty happy about Yoon took a deep breath what the school is doing in and started her performance. matters of diversity,” Yoon The words flowed smoothly said. “The school has offered without a stutter. so many programs for minority children to come out, step *Names have been changed.

“

The Chronicle polled 279 students Jan. 6 about how being a first-generation American affects their lives and their academic experiences.

42%

of students said that being first-generation American has affected their school experience. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KRISTIN KUWADA

B6 Features

The Chronicle

Jan. 9, 2018

Living Through Language Students with a cultural connection to the languages they learn at school explain how their language classes connect them to their families and culture.

By Alison Oh

inside jokes,” Ogden said. “There are words in Spanish that we don’t Chinese idioms, or chengyu, are have in English, and being able to difficult to learn, culturally complex use them now, I feel like I can comand grammatically irregular. For municate better with my family.” Even beyond practical benemost students of Chinese, they're a nightmare. But as her classmates fits like communication, students groaned at the sight of a new list of credited their language classes characters to memorize, Taia Cheng with helping them better connect to '19 tapped her pencil on her desk, their culture. For heritage language eager to learn each new phrase and learners, language and culture are inextricably woven together, Jasper its unique meaning. "I was really excited when we Wong '19 said. Wong, who speaks Cantonese, started learning idioms this year," Cheng said. "They're so concise and said that he decided to start taking effective, but they're also so poetic. Mandarin classes at school for both Both of my grandpas love idioms, practical and cultural reasons, citand they really enjoy hearing about ing both the utility of learning Manthe ones I learn in class. We even darin, the most commonly spoken Chinese dialect, and his desire to make jokes about them." Cheng, whose family speaks learn more about his roots. Wong pointed to the emphasis Mandarin Chinese, is a heritage language learner, defined by the that his teachers placed on learning about Chinese culture Center for Applied Linas particularly helpful. guistics as a person study"[My teacher] talks a ing a language who has lot about the culture and some proficiency in or a stories relating to the lancultural connection to that guage, so I think that I’ve language through family, learned more about Chicommunity or country of na and Chinese [culture,]" origin. Wong said. "The cultural While the majority of side of it is probably more students on campus take interesting to me than ’ classes in foreign languagother students because I es with which they have no Taia actually can experience Cheng ’19 prior connection, 20.1 peror have experienced what cent of the 289 students who responded to a Chronicle poll we’re talking about in language said they study a language they class." Studying culture and language have ties to already. Many heritage language learn- simultaneously is one of the world ers said that they started taking languages department's primary language classes in order to com- goals, said upper school World Lanmunicate more comfortably with guages Department Head Jerome their families and to reinforce those Hermeline. "There is a mutual understandpersonal ties. That's why Cheng, whose rela- ing and a shared principle in our tives speak Mandarin, Cantonese department that a language is or a dialect from Suzhou, said she learned through its culture and culture through its language," Hermeldecided to enroll in Chinese. “I wanted to be able to better ine said. "Grammar and vocabulary communicate with my great-grand- are tools used in order to explore ma, although she recently passed different cultural perspectives than away, and with my grandparents in our own, by studying and discussing authentic sources." general,” Cheng said. Not only do heritage language Similarly, Naomi Ogden ’20 explained that learning Spanish at learners gain an understanding of school has helped her understand their broader cultural roots, but her mother, who immigrated from they also gain the ability to relate Mexico as a child and is fluent in more intimately to their personal family histories. Spanish. While both of Opal Lambert's “Learning Spanish at school, I feel like I get more of my family’s '19 parents are fluent English white s

speakers, Lambert said that Span- we're just beginning to learn the ish is still key to her personal iden- language," Rodriguez said. "During tity. Learning Spanish at school has the first couple of years, we probahelped her get in touch with her bly have had more exposure to it. maternal relatives' unique experi- But, I do think that the advantage ences in the United States as Mexi- quickly expires as we progress with can immigrants. the language." “My grandmother talks a lot The school offers no classes about the discrimination [she’s specifically tailored for heritage lanfaced] for being Mexican, so for guage learners, but heritage speakher, being able to speak Spanish is ers who already possess a degree of something she’s proud of,” Lambert proficiency in a language often skip said. "Learning Spanish is some- introductory courses and enroll in thing that helps me connect to her advanced classes. and understand her personal expeAnthony Khaiat '19, whose dad rience.” is French, said that he specifically Some students said there is a chose to take advanced courses bestigma against learning heritage cause he already had a basic unlanguages at school because of the derstanding of the language. belief that these learners have an "It wasn't something completely unfair advantage over their peers. unfamiliar to me when I first started 95 percent of poll respondents taking it," Khaiat said. "I got used thought that such to speaking French students had an pretty quickly, and advantage in the I already underclassroom, and 36 Spanish is a part of stood some of the percent of respongrammar concepts, my family. That connection so that helped me dents thought that the advantage was a lot." with the language allows unfair. Chinese speakfor a basis to understand Middle and upers can also enwho we are and where per school world roll in Chinese IC, languages teacher a course for 7th we’re from.“ Kun Li said that grade students while such stu—Opal Lambert ‘19 with prior exposure dents usually have to Chinese. Accorda deeper culturing to Li, although al understanding of Chinese, they many of the enrolled students are don't come into the classroom with heritage language learners, Chinese an advanced understanding of IC is a class open to anyone with grammar or usage. Li said that hav- prior knowledge of the language, reing these students in her classroom gardless of their personal or culturactually helps her other students al connection to it. learn about Chinese culture and “Anyone who can converse traditions. in Chinese fluently but has little “The advantage that heritage knowledge about reading and writstudents bring to the class is their ing will be enrolled in 1C,” Li said. knowledge about the Chinese cul- “The students are at the same levture,” Li said. “When we discuss el, and they don’t feel pressured by [Chinese] food, for example, they others who seem to speak much can explain it to their classmates.” more and better than them.” On the other hand, Mason RoUltimately, no matter their level driguez '18 said that he understood of fluency, heritage language learnwhy his peers would think that he ers said that they gain more from had an unfair advantage. Rodriguez their language classes than just a started taking Spanish classes at simple knowledge of grammar rules school at the encouragement of his and vocabulary words. parents, who were not able to speak “Spanish is a part of my famiSpanish with him or his siblings at ly,” Lambert said. “That connection home. with the language allows for a ba"I think people definitely do sis to understand who we are and think that we have an advantage, where we’re from. That's why I deand I think that we do, at least while cided to take it at school.”

“

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SAM KO AND ALISON OH

#MeToo By Sofia Heller

lywood producer, of sexual assault and harassment. Staring into her bath- Since then, 84 women and room mirror, Tiana Coles men have accused Wein‘16 carefully applied mas- stein of sexual misconduct. Beckinsale-Sheen’s cara while humming the tune of “Supermodel” by mom, actress Kate BeckinSZA. Getting ready to go to sale, was one of the women a fraternity party, she left who accused Weinstein of her dorm and began her sexual harassment. When Beckinsale-Sheen walk toward frat row. Coles was struck by the found out her mom had darkness and the quiet of decided to publicly accuse the night, which brought on Weinstein, she said she a sudden wave of anxiety. felt proud of her mom’s deWhat should have been an cision, especially since it exciting walk to a party was was an issue that they had riddled with the frightening discussed throughout her potential of sexual violence. childhood. “It was obviously a really “It’s frustrating because before I go out, I always difficult decision but a rehave to be ready for the ally important one,” Beckpossibility of sexual as- insale-Sheen said. “Seeing sault,” Coles said. “Because how many people she’s imthese years are so forma- pacted by sharing was realtive, it should be a priority ly special to me and made that we make sure that the me really have faith in our same [sexual assault] situ- female society.” After the Weinstein alleations don’t keep happengations, sexual mising from year to conduct allegations year. It’s importcame out against ant to see change 50 other prominent every year, and men. The #MeToo I feel like we’re movement erupted not seeing a lot on social media in of that on college an attempt to raise campuses.” awareness about the Coles is one of prevalence of sexumany students ’ al violence. Nearly who said they Eva 680,000 people have find sexual vioWiener ’19 used the Instagram lence on college campuses to be an import- hashtag, and at the Golden ant issue. In a Chronicle Globe Awards on Sunday, poll of 260 students, 84 celebrities wore black to percent said they believe make a statement. Eva Wiener ’19 said in that sexual assault is prevalent on college campuses. addition to the Weinstein In fact, according to the Na- allegations, she thinks Dontional Sexual Violence Re- ald Trump’s presidency and source Center, 1 in 5 wom- the sexual harassment and en are sexually assaulted in assault allegations against him inspired the movement. college. Although Lily Beckin- She said she hopes these sale-Sheen ’17 has not per- allegations spark change in sonally experienced sexual our society. “I think people are just violence in college, she said she has found the recent trying to bring to light the sexual assault allegations fact that sometimes having power doesn’t necessariin the news very powerful. “[The allegations] made ly mean that you’re a reme see how important it is spectable person,” Wiener to call out your abuser and said. “Women aren’t going get that kind of closure,” stay quiet anymore. I think Beckinsale-Sheen said. “I these allegations are going found it really strong, and it to make women a lot more helped me to see that I don’t empowered when they hear need to carry secrets or feel about something like this happening.” shame.” Like Coles, Maddy HarLast October, numerous women accused Harvey bert ’17, a member of Alpha Weinstein, a prominent Hol- Epsilon Phi sorority at the white s

Culture Shock

University of Michigan, said she has heard frightening stories about dangerous situations at fraternity parties. She said she has seen boys at parties taking advantage of girls who are not sober enough to give consent and has heard of boys who put roofies in drinks. Harbert also said she thinks Greek life greatly contributes to the rape culture on college campuses. “Greek life provides a lot of parties, and drugs and alcohol are used by perpetrators to take advantage of their victims,” Harbert said. “When you’re at a frat party, there is an endless supply of alcohol and no adults. A lot of people are uneducated about the problems, so it’s a never-ending cycle.” Southern Connecticut State University defines rape culture as an environment in which sexual violence is normalized and excused. According to Connecticut State University, examples of rape culture include blaming or shaming the victim, trivializing sexual violence, assuming only promiscuous women get raped, dismissing sexual violence accusations and teaching how to avoid rape rather than teaching not to rape. Harbert’s observations about Greek life parallel studies done about sexual violence on college campuses. According to a study published by CNN, men who join fraternities are three times more likely to rape than men not in fraternities. Also, women in sororities are 74 percent more likely to be raped than other college women. The Interfraternity Council at the University of Michigan suspended all fraternity social activities Nov. 9 in response to sexual misconduct cases that involved fraternity brothers. Kent Sheridan ’17, a fraternity brother at Michigan, said he thought the suspension was a smart course of action and a necessary opportunity to address issues in the community. “When a certain culture is set up and isn’t changing, then the same thing keeps

happening,” Sheridan said. horrible things happening Before students enter to them,” Nadel said. “Also, college, Chronicle freelanc- we definitely want to make er Indu Pandey ’18 said sure that there are healthy she thinks it is crucial for sexual relationships where students to be aware of communication is always the rape culture present in flowing and that consent Greek life. is always given. I think the When she started apply- program I’m a part of is reing to schools, Pandey said ally important to educate she kept in mind the prev- kids more fully about how alence of sexual assault to stay safe as well as how on college campuses and to be a good participant in a looked for a university with sexual relationship.” a strict sexual violence polIf colleges don’t properly icy and strong support sys- handle sexual violence, the tem for survivors. federal government penal“If this is an issue that’s izes them by pulling federal important to you, and I funding and forcing them think it should be import- to pay fines, according to ant to everyone, look up the Myra Sadker Foundathe colleges you’re think- tion. This results in some ing of applying to,” Pandey colleges trying to silence said. “Skim through their sexual violence survivors or own policies that they have deal with the case internally on sexual assault, but also in an attempt to avoid the read news articles about penalty. them because that’s a litSome colleges have intle more telling about what stalled a “Blue Light” systheir attitude tem on their really is tocampuses to wards sextry to create You should ual violence a safer endefinitely be aware issues. You vironment. when you’re applying to The should defiBlue nitely be colleges what they do to Light sysaware when tem funcmitigate the effects of you’re applytions as an sexual assault.” ing to colemergency leges what calling sys—Indu Pandey ’18 tem they do to that mitigate the allows stueffects of sexual assault.” dents to immediately reach 29 percent of 152 stu- campus security if they feel dents who identify as female unsafe. who responded to a ChronColes said she appreicle poll said the prevalence ciates knowing the Blue of sexual violence on college Light system is there if any campuses has also influ- threatening situation were enced where they are inter- to arise. ested in going to college. “I think it’s important to To help prevent dan- know that there’s a backgerous situations and up if something really goes foster a more positive wrong,” Coles said. sexual climate, former EdiDespite measures in tor-in-Chief of the Chronicle place to help protect college Jesse Nadel ’17, who cur- students, Coles said there rently attends Yale College, is still a level of injustice for is a part of a program called women since women have Communication and Con- to take the threat into consent Educators. The pro- sideration more than men gram holds events on cam- do. pus throughout the year, “I think [sexual assault] including bystander-inter- completely alters the college vention training and con- experience gender to gensent and communication der, which isn’t fair,” Coles workshops, which Nadel said. “I know a lot of great said he hopes can promote things are happening as far safe practices. as equality among the gen“We want students to ders, but I think a place we be able to go out and have really feel inequality is defia good time without fear of nitely college campuses.”

“

The Chronicle polled 156 students Jan. 6 about their opinions on sexual violence on college campuses.

62% of students who identify as female take the threat of sexual assault into consideration when deciding whether or not to join Greek life.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SOFIA HELLER

B8 Features

The Chronicle

Jan. 9, 2018

Coining a New Currency

• Continued from A1

safer and easier, and [drugs can be delivered to your] home and like them who view it as a get- basically anywhere. However, rich-quick scheme.” although [cryptocurrencies are] Bitcoin was developed in 2008 used in black markets, I don’t by an unknown coder under the think that’s an excuse that they screen name of Satoshi Naka- won’t be used in mainstream somoto as an untraceable curren- ciety.” cy operating beyond government Nealis said cryptocurrencies oversight. Because Bitcoin and fail to serve as a true form of curother cryptocurrencies, or virtu- rency for several reasons: lack al currencies, are decentralized of acceptability, relative value and exist virtually, they bypass and function as a medium of exmiddleman institutions, such as change. credit-card companies, banks “The idea is that it is supposed and other government institu- to be money,” Nealis said. “I don’t tions, that people currently rely think it is right now. For someon to transfer thing to be money, money. it has to be a mediI think blockchain um of exchange. You A key tenet of Bitcoin and don’t want it to be is the future. I don’t most cryptoeroded by inflation think we have scratched and deflation, and currencies is the surface for what the blockchain, in that regard, Bitwhich records coin fails miserably. blockchain can do yet. each transacIt behaves more like —Oliver Richards ’17 a speculative investtion on a public ledger to verify ment than it does a each transfer’s true currency.” authenticity, prevent fraud and Porter said that if Bitcoin stops maintain accountability. behaving like a speculative inBecause the records are not vestment, it will have the ability held by a centralized authority, to transform the future. there is a perceived anonymity “It needs to stop being viewed in transferring cryptocurrencies, as an appreciating asset and which attracts black market pa- needs to actually be viewed as a trons and promotes illegitimate currency,” Porter said. “People are actions, interim math department using Bitcoin for a purpose it was head and AP Economics teacher never intended for. People think Kent Nealis said. they are investing in Bitcoin like Even though transfers are al- it’s an asset, not converting their ready recorded under anonymous U.S. dollars to a new type of curpasskeys, investors can use “mix- rency. Bitcoin has the potential to ers” to further encrypt their de- create a financial revolution, but posit information. it won’t happen until it is acceptThis process makes purchased by the public as something es more secure, but it also al- more than a risky gamble.” lows investors to purchase from Porter admits this change is online drug markets, Jeff* ’18 not likely to happen soon. He said. He said that those who said the majority of users are unchoose to purchase drugs prefer willing to use cryptocurrencies the increased safety and lowered as a form of money and instead chance of substance contamina- choose to hold on to the hope of tion that comes from purchasing continued profit. using cryptocurrency. Nealis said that as this cycle “It takes a lot of research to progresses and demand heightactually do it, so it’s a barrier ens, the value will simply grow of entry for most people,” Jeff more volatile. said. “But in the end, it’s a lot “It’s supply and demand,” Ne-

“

alis said. “The supply can only centralized ledger.” grow at a certain rate, but people However, Tao said the inhave been bidding up the price, creased use of digital currencies demanding it and wanting to hold comes with a price. While the deit because they see a profit in it. centralized nature of cryptocurThis has caused the incredible in- rencies may theoretically be safer crease in value.” or prevent the abuse of currency Cryptocurrencies have the by the government, he said cryppossibility to change the concept tocurrencies will not be able to of money and institutions, pro- stabilize the economy during a fessor at University of California, recession or any minor hack. Los Angeles Terence Tao (William “If a bank collapses and you ’21) said. lose all of your money, the govBecause cryptocurrencies are ernment can restore a big fracdecentralized and fraud is theo- tion of your funds,” Tao said. retically blocked due to the au- “There’s nothing like that for Bitthentication of the blockchain, coin. There’s no central authorimany believe that govty, so there’s no one you ernment institutions can call. [When you’re uswill not have the abiliing cryptocurrencies], you ty to print money irrecan’t get oppressed by the sponsibly or promote government, but you also inflation, he said. can’t get rescued by the John Villanova, an government. You’re on adviser for the cryptoyour own.” currency research cenNealis said he is skepti’ ter Coin Center, said he cal that cryptocurrencies Kent sees an even broader will ever be able to serve Nealis future. as a widespread form of “The concept of decurrency. centralized trust is fascinating, “If it ever got to the point that it and the implications go well be- was functioning as a real currenyond currency,” Villanova said. cy, I can’t see major governments “The currency is managed in a not taking it over and regulating distributed manner by a network. it,” Nealis said. “They just aren’t Even though no single node in the going to give up the means of paynetwork is trusted, the network ment. It’s just too valuable and as a whole can act in a trusted too powerful.” manner. Smart contacts enabled While the future remains unby blockchain technologies have clear for cryptocurrencies, Nealis enormous potential in a range of said that many can agree that applications, including in the fi- they are extremely volatile and nancial markets.” an immense risk to invest in for Oliver Richards ’17, a consul- profit. tant for blockchain storage com“If you are not making a type pany Drobo, said this technology of calculation and not willing to can also change the way people take a type of risk with the exsave information online. He said pectation to get some sort of rethe company works to store peo- turn, then all you are really doing ples’ data less expensively and is gambling,” Nealis said. “If you more efficiently than hard drives don’t have any reasonable justior cloud storage. fication for saying that a value is “I think blockchain really is going to go up or down, then you the future,” Richards said. “I shouldn’t be making it in the first don’t think we have scratched the place. Then, you really are just surface of what blockchain can going to Las Vegas and using the do yet. In the future, more and coin slot handle.” more people are going to figure *Names have been changed. out more applications for a dewhite s

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ALISON OH

Arts & Entertainment The Chronicle • Jan. 9, 2018

Cutting Edge

Clear layout and anonymous submissions helped StoneCutters, the upper school literary and visual arts magazine, win a gold medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

By Kaelyn Bowers StoneCutters, the upper school literary and visual arts magazine, won a gold medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for their 20162017 issue. The magazine received its highest scores for its reader-friendliness and visual content. “The art and photos are presented well and show creativity,” the judge said. “The subjects are not trite but instead sophisticated.” Former literary editor Liz Kim ’17 said she, arts editor Talia Ratnavale ’17 and digital editor Jenny Lange ’17, wanted to maintain a similar design to previous issues while still making the magazine stand out among other publications.

“Our main goal, as usual, was to exhibit the best of students’ art and writing in an aesthetically pleasing way, and because we really liked the previous year’s layout, we kept a lot of aspects of the magazine the same,” Kim said. Lange said her favorite part about working on the issue was the weekend in which the editors reviewed the anonymous pieces of work and paired the literary pieces with visuals to create an overall theme. “In laying out the magazine, we definitely tried to pair the art alongside literary pieces on a full spread that evoked the same emotional response when read or seen,” Lange said. “In that way the coherency of the magazine is upheld and no image or literary piece feels out of place.” CSPA has been evaluating student publications since 1925. A single judge evaluates each publication and critiques the students work based on essentials deemed necessary for reader-friendliness, verbal elements and the visual content of the magazine.

One of the contributors to StoneCutters, Emma Poveda ’20, with her poem titled “bath,” said she felt rewarded when she heard her work had been chosen. “I had just finished reading ‘The Bell Jar’ by Sylvia Plath, and its overall tone and attitude inspired me to write a poem encapsulating that self reflective and almost nostalgic style,” Poveda said. Poveda said she wants to submit to this year’s issue as well. “I hope to write something longer and more extensive; something that is able to express a larger message,” Poveda said. Upper School Visual Arts Department Head and magazine adviser Cheri Gaulke said the magazine strives to celebrate excellence and innovation. “I love the eclectic nature of our work,” Gaulke said. “We have such a wide range of artistic expressions from drawing and painting, to clay and glass, to quirky illustrations and mixed media. We prefer to not limit or steer our students in a particular direction. We see our publication as a showcase for the

best literary and visual art produced at our school.” The judge advised the publication to include more variation in their styles of poetry and more inter-character interactions. This year’s editors Iman Akram ’18 and Sarah Conway ’18 are currently working on this year’s issue and encourage all upper school students to submit anonymous work to the magazine. Because this is one of the StoneCutter’s first awards, Gaulke hopes the magazine will continue to improve and place well in competitions for many years to come. “Since we are fairly new at submitting to contests we haven’t been that aware of certain publication standards,” Gaulke said. “This year we are going to look very carefully at where points were deducted and be sure we have addressed those details.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH LEE AND PAVAN TAUH

C2 A&E

The Chronicle

Jan. 9, 2018

Don’t Lose Focus Photography III students created an exhibit showcasing the stories of people involved in the Vietnam War.

By Gabi Berchtold Emma Spencer ’18 led her Photography III class in creating a photography show focused on the Vietnam War, those who were involved in it and the effects it continues to have on the U.S. to this day. The show, titled “Vietnam 50 Years Later: Then and Now,” will be installed in Feldman-Horn Gallery Jan. 12, with an opening reception the following week. Spencer and her classmates photographed veterans and others involved in the war. The gallery will feature biographical write-ups of the subjects the students interviewed and photographed. Spencer began working on the exhibit over the summer after her internship was canceled, giving her time to interview veterans. Visual arts teacher Kevin O’Malley encouraged students to begin interviewing Vietnam veterans in light of the recent Ken Burns documentary about the Vietnam War, Spencer said. At first, Spencer was only able to talk to American veterans, who she was able to access through her grandfather who had served in the war. She was able to talk to a wide variety of American veterans in the Vietnam War in order to showcase the varying roles people played in the conflict. “I interviewed people from my grandfather, who was on a minesweeper, to pilots who were part of the Laos-Cambodia illegal bombing, to a doctor who s a v e d

people off a ship,” Spencer said. “I was just kind of going around and learning these incredible stories and taking photos of people.” After learning more about the history of the war, Spencer thought she should expand her interviews to include Vietnamese subjects to give a more balanced look at both sides involved in the war. Once Spencer returned to school, she got the rest of the class involved in the continuation and expansion of the project. During the process of interviewing and researching for the project, Spencer was able to gain a greater understanding of the topic covered in the school’s U.S. history classes. “[The exhibit] is just going to try to make people understand the effect [of the war].” Spencer said. “When I was learning about this and researching, I started getting sucked into this vortex of understanding how these people had to deal with what was going on. We were in a place we didn’t need to be in, fighting a war we didn’t need to be fighting, and we were losing teenagers, which is crazy to think about.” The exhibit is a chance for people to educate themselves on the Vietnam War and the lives of those involved, as well as what the war means as a part of the history of the United States. Other educational resources will be available in the gallery as another means for those who are interested to learn more. The aim of

the exhibit is that people will gain a greater understanding of what happened during the war. Books about the Vietnam War will be in the photo gallery for people who would like to read and learn more about the war. The upper school librarians have also agreed to a teach-in as a part of the exhibit. During the war, students were educated on the war by teachins because many college students were unaware of the details of the Vietnam War. Spencer said she hopes to shed light on the negative aspects of the war in order to educate other students on the country’s history. “The show is going to deal with issues from the war itself and the race riots that were going [on],” Spencer said. “We interviewed some teachers which was really interesting. We are going to try to cover all the different parts of the war and I think that it’ll be really cool.” Spencer said this exhibit is important because it depicts a time when life was very different, especially for teenagers and young adults. Spencer said the exhibit is especially important for seniors. “In 1968, most of our grandparents were dealing with the issue of ‘should I go to Vietnam or not?’” Spencer said. “They were put in a position as graduating seniors of potentially having to go to war the next year. [Imagine] you’re having a fun second semester as a senior, and you get a draft letter. How do you handle that?”

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF EMMA SPENCER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KAELYN BOWERS/CHRONICLE

Jan. 9, 2018

hwchronicle.com/ae

Welcome to ‘Our Town’ By Caty Szeto

Rehearsals are underway for the upcoming winter play “Our Town,” will take place Feb. 1-3 in Rugby Auditorium. “Our Town” is a metatheatrical play that follows the storyline of a young couple, Emily and George, and their daily lives in the small town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. The play’s lead character, the Stage Manager, guides the audience as they watch the young couple grow up, get married and eventually pass away. Students began the audition process in late October, where they participated in a ten minute interview with performing arts teacher and director of the play Ted Walch. Walch resumed the casting process with a second round of auditions and meetings with the actors during the second week of November. The final cast of 29 students gathered for their first rehearsal the following week. This will be Walch’s fourth time putting on the play at

Harvard-Westlake over his 53 years at the school. The last production was in 2010. Walch made the decision to do the play again both out of his own personal affinity for the show as well as his belief that “Our Town” is a play that everyone should be exposed to. “I think it speaks to such universal truths in such a simple and beautiful way, that every generation should know about it,” Walch said. One aspect that Walch said he admires about the play is its ability to welcome the audience into the storyline in an easy and natural way. “The play kind of sneaks up on you because it starts in just the most ordinary of ways.” Walch said. “This play is truly about the dailyness of life, about the ordinary pleasures of life, about the simple things in life.” As a testimony to the play’s ability to speak to audiences, “Our Town” is the only play written by an American that has been produced somewhere every day since it was written 80 years ago, Walch said. Another unique characteristic of the play is its metatheatrical nature, where the Stage Manager breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience directly during the play. Rather than acting as a character from the times of the main storyline, he acts more as a representative of the audience to actively invite them into the story. The rehearsal process for the play began mid-November and has since been an extensive and intensive project, according to Walch. Over the last month and a half, the actors followed a packed rehearsal schedule, working on both group scenes as well as individual moments. Walch estimates that by the time the show opens, the cast will have spent around 100 hours in rehearsal alone. This process for “Our Town” has been particularly intense compared to past productions, due to the loss

A&E C3

Students prepare to be in “Our Town,” a metatheatrical play with a minimalist set. The show will take place in early February. of time from the fires in December. With the closure of school for two days along with mid-year assessments and winter break, the cast has been away from the play for almost a month. However, Walch is not concerned as he feels that his cast is quite strong and can quickly get back on their feet. “They’re on top of it,” he said. “So much so, that I’m giving them the semester break weekend off, where ordinarily would have rehearsed over that weekend.” Also helping out with preparations for the show are two of Walch’s former students turned colleagues, one of them a Harvard-Westlake graduate. Both are professional designers and have come to assist in the production’s set and light design. “It’s just a confluence of events that made this all possible,” Walch said. “If you’ve seen this set that’s going up, it’s wonderful.” ‘Our Town’ is set to open the first week of February in Rugby Auditorium. The show will run for three days from the first to the third.

ALL PHOTOS BY PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE: Actors rehearse for the upcoming performances of the metatheatrical winter play, “Our Town.” From left to right: Maté Major ’18 practices his performance for the play, Andrea Yagher ’20 and Ari Yaron ’18 run through lines, Clay Hollander ’19 and Charlotte Weinman ’18 block a scene.

ILLUSTRATION BY ESTHER GROVER

C4 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Bharatana-Time

By ALEXANDRA SO

Surrounded by friends, family and teachers in the crowd, Anita Anand ’19 stood center stage, feeling a rush of adrenaline as she Bharatanatyam-danced through religious stories for her solo performance. Bharatanatyam is a genre of classical Indian dance that incorporates religious stories and themes from Hinduism. It is most popular in Southern India. Like other types of dances, Bharatanatyam utilizes many techniques, including intricate footwork and use of expressions. “There are a lot of big movements,” Anand said. “It is different from ballet because it is a very grounding artform. For me, I really like the technique pieces. There are some pieces that are all technique and some pieces that are all expression and storytelling. I like the ones that are technique dances, because that’s my strong point.” Anand has been practicing Bharatanatyam dance for 10 years, starting at the age of six. She was following in the footsteps of her mother, who also danced while growing up in India. “For me, dance is like a cultural thing, and there is a lot of tradition behind it,” Anand said. “My mom danced when she was in India so she always wanted this for me. She is always able to help me out with hand gestures and what

everything means in the [reli- told the story of Krishna, one gious] text.” of the deities in Hinduism. In Anand became friends with the story, Krishna eats dirt other dancers from her studio and gets caught by his mother. who she said she shared a lot When he opens his mouth, his in common with. mother sees the whole world “They had the same values and unveils his supernatural and family life that I have, so abilities. it was really good for me when “That is one of the ﬁrst I was younger stories that because I got to I learned,” see people who Anand said. I didn’t really were similar to “In dance, [the have a connection to all story] is really me who were not at school,” easy to show, the stories and religion Anand said. “I so, it was subehind [Hinduism], but just didn’t have per fun.” with dance I do.” a lot of Indian For her friends when I Arangetram, — Anita Anand ’19 Anand spent was in school. At dance, I got a year practo meet a lot of ticing various new people who I connected dances, including expression with.” and technique pieces. In ninth As she grew older, Anand grade, Anand trained for three was able to connect with hours each day for ﬁve to six dance on a new level. She days a week. felt a connection through the “It was crazy because I had stories that she told through my own stuff that I had to be dance, both on a cultural and learning, and I was in group a religious level. dances,” Anand said. “So, I “Later, I took dance more had to go to two group classseriously as a cultural thing,” es, and the rest of the classAnand said. “All of the stories es were private classes for I tell in dance are part of reli- my show. It was a lot of gious texts or religious stories, rigorous work.” so for me, this was a connection to religion, which I didn’t really have. I didn’t really have a connection to all the stories and religion behind [Hinduism], but with dance I do.” One of Anand’s dances during her Arangetram, the three-hour solo performance that would prove her as advanced in Bharatanatyam,

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CROSSWORD BY NATE CARDIN

Across 1. “Aladdin” bad guy 6. “Be quiet!” 10. Kindergarten lesson 14. Admire lovingly 15. Georgetown athlete 16. Legendary Brazilian soccer player 17. “We’ve only just _____...” 18. Not closed

The audience of the showcase was made up of Anand’s friends from her dance company and school, along with family members and teachers, who all came to support her and watch her dance. “I thought that it was very impressive how long she danced for,” Tierni Kaufman ’19 said about Anand’s showcase. “She worked really hard, and it was cool to see how different it was from a regular dance performance.” Ever since her solo performance, Anand has been ofﬁcially part of her dance company. Her routine consists of classes for herself as well as classes that she helps teach. “Although I have a lot more to learn, because, with dance, there i s

never really an end, I am allowed to start helping out in the studio and I can help teach, so I’ve been doing that too,” Anand said. Anand said Bharatanatyam is a good outlet for her and allows her to clear her mind. “I don’t have to think about school,” Anand said. “It is three hours away from work. It’s super nice. I don’t have to think about anything else. [Dance] is a release for me. I love to dance and I want to continue for as long as I can.”

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ANITA ANAND PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXANDRA SO

Science teacher Nate Cardin created a crossword puzzle to commemorate the start of the second semester and 2018. Crossword puzzles will be featured in every issue.

JAN. 9, 2018

Anita Anand ’19 talks about her experience in Bharatanatyam dance, her preparation for her culminating solo performance and her cultural and religious connection with dance.

New Year’s Solutions 1

THE CHRONICLE

19. Stair part 20. Body part often metaphorically told to be still 23. When the sun rises 26. Mine is Nate (or Dr. Cardin) 27. Compete (for) 28. Popular fraternity at many colleges 29. _____ Arbor, home of the

University of Michigan 31. Inﬂuence 33. Site of Lakers home games 37. Part of NAACP: abbr. 38. Shark part that sticks out above the water 39. Exploits 42. Strip of grass or cement between opposite lanes of

trafﬁc 47. Revolutionary War hero Paul 49. Goal 50. Buckeyes’ school: abbr. 51. Historic time 52. Former ﬂings 55. Famous ‘90s saxophonist who was in Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night (TGIF)” music video 57. Well-known Bon Jovi lyric...and, with the last word of each long across entry, a nod to where we are in the school year 60. Small bit of land in the ocean 61. Actor Richard of “Pretty Woman” 62. Not asleep 66. Liberal arts college in Portland, Orgeon 67. “Then again...” in textspeak 68. Yellow citrus fruit 69. Popular ice cream brand 70. Alaskan city where the Iditarod ends 71. Celtic priest

lease 12. Priest 13. Set of seven 21. Diarist Frank 22. Weighty significance 23. Org. 24. “Toodles!” 25. Geology field trip destination 30. Warning letters next to a potentially inappropriate online link 32. Quarrel 34. Ballet bend 35. US spy organization 36. One-named Irish singer of New Age music 40. Not difficult 41. Comfy 43. Matured 44. Six-sided figure 45. Karaoke need 46. Green gem 47. Employ again 48. Got rid of writing, in a way 53. With an _____ (taking into account) 54. Anti-civil rights South Carolina senator _____ Thurmond 56. More recent 58. Govt. agents 59. Sinister internet laugh 63. Units used when weighing individual molecules 64. Japanese pond fish 65. Finish

Down 1. Poke 2. Summer fruit drink ending 3. Common San Francisco weather 4. Caribbean island 5. Extension of a magazine subscription 6. Attempt (on goal) 7. “Climb aboard!” Scan 8. Villainous animal in “The for Lion King” Answers! 9. Word-guessing game 10. Church area 11. Software made available for testing before ofﬁcial re-

SPORTS The Chronicle • Jan. 9, 2018

Boys’ Basketball

Girls’ Water Polo

Team aims for CIF title

By RYAN ALBERT

AARON PARK/CHRONICLE

FANTASTIC FOURWARD: Forward Johnny Juzang ’20 pushes upcourt in a fast break with teammates Simon Pompan ’18 and Mason Hooks ’20 after stealing the ball in a 63-56 win over rival Notre Dame. Juzang scored 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

Team winning despite injury issues By LUCAS GELFOND

Center Mason Hooks ’20 said that the team will imDespite the departure prove with more experience of key players like Cassius because of the young talent Stanley, L Simpson and Neil and since many are in their Iken ’18, the boys’ basket- first year playing on varsity. Forward Brase Dottin ball team is off to a strong ’20 added that the start with a 14-2 team’s youth forces overall record and it to focus more on 2-0 league. keeping its compoAs a result of sure in the second these departures half of games. and the gradu“As a young team, ation of several I feel like we can get strong seniors, the out on teams in the team structure has first and second changed drastically: W ’ quarter but in the many of the team’s Johnny fourth, as a young players are in their Juzang ’20 team, we have to first or second year make it a priority to playing. The team is also very thin stay composed, and not get on upperclassmen with one into the crowd and what the freshman, seven sopho- other team is doing,” Dottin mores, only two juniors and said. Despite the team shakeone senior this year, compared to five freshmen, two up, the Wolverines have sophomores, one junior and started strong in season. Head coach David Rebibo six seniors last year. HITE S

attributed the team’s wins Hooks, Dottin and Juzang as to the players’ ability to col- standouts on the team. laborate and build a strong Despite several leading team dynamic. players, Rebibo still focused “These guys love each on the team’s strength as other,” Rebibo said. “It’s a great group of guys. They re- reason for their win. “It’s a colally care. They lective effort,” are really in tune to one It’s a great group Rebibo said. another and to of guys. They really care. “ E v e r y b o d y winning and chipped in, They are really in tune to and I think at the everyend of the day one another.” body played a that’s what — David Rebibo huge part.” they’re about. The team They’re going Boys’ Basketball played Alemato do whatever Program Head ny on Monit takes, and they are gonna day. Results find a way.” are unavailable as of press The team’s two league time. wins were against ChamiThe Wolverines have had nade and Notre Dame, wina mixed record against Alening 72-57 and 63-56, remany, though, with finishes spectively. After the most recent of 45-61, 52-74 and most game against Notre Dame on recently 72-64 in games Friday, Rebibo highlighted against them.

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The girls’ water polo team began its season with a strong 10-1 record and solid tournament performances. In December, the team beat five teams to come in first in the Claremont Tournament at Diamond Bar High School. After winter break, the squad defeated St. Lucy’s in its first out of tournament game in a heated 14-11 match. Goalie Emily Hilliard ’19 said that the match was competitive but that the team was excited for the win. “The game was a rollercoaster but getting up in the second quarter was key to winning the game,” Hilliard said. The Wolverines took their first losses of the season in the Arroyo Grande Tournament on Jan. 5 and Jan. 6. They finished in third place this year. Last year they finished with two wins and three losses in the same tournament. Center Taylor Lacour ’19 said the losses might set the team back but anticipates a recovery in the coming games. “We took a couple hard losses today so it is going to put us in a more difficult position for the rest of the season but we are hoping to make a comeback this Tuesday at our game against Claremont,” Lacour said. The season will become more intense Jan. 11 when the girls play their first league game at home against Alemany. Last season the squad beat Alemany twice, 17-8 in league play and 21-3 during the Mission League Tournament. Although the season is just beginning, members of the team said they have high hopes for league and CIF. “I feel as though our team has a real shot to win the championship this year,” Hilliard said. The squad’s success so far • Continued on D3

Girls’ Soccer

Squad starts season with new offense

By LUCAS GELFOND ASA SAPERSTEIN

AND

Fueled by a balanced offense focused on speed and possession—a drastic shift in gameplay from last season— the girls’ soccer team is off to a strong 6-2-1 record as of press time. The squad only lost a few seniors last year, but that group included starting goalkeeper Lindsay Avant ’17 and leading scorer Paige Howard ’17. The team relied on Howard for most of the goals, players said.

The season started with various winter tournaments. The team participated in the O.C. Winter Showcase (in which the team went 3-1) and the Aliso Cup (in which the team went 1-1-1). Head Coach Richard Simms said that he uses tournaments that are like these at the beginning of the season. Simms said that he likes the early part of the season to ﬁgure out what does and does not work for the team. “That’s what [the early] part of the season is for, [to] see • Continued on D7

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

NIKE NIKKI: Nikki Smith ’19 dribbles upﬁeld after stealing the ball in a 2-0 victory over Hart at

home Jan. 20. Smith tore her ACL as a freshman and, after recovering last season, is ﬁnally healthy.

D2 SPORTS

THE CHRONICLE

Game to watch

JAN. 9, 2018

Girls’ Basketball

JANUARY 12 Boys’ Basketball vs. Loyola Loyola Gym The boys’ basketball team will face off against Loyola High School in a huge rivalry game. Last season, the Wolverines were 2-0 against the Cubs in league play and beat them a third time during CIF Playoffs. All three games were within a 10-point differential, with the Wolverines coming out on top each time. The Wolverines are 14-2 overall and 2-0 in league play after defeating Chaminade and Notre Dame High School. Loyola is 8-4 overall and 0-1 in the Mission League.

KEY PLAYER Mason Hooks ’20 6-10 forward Mason Hooks ’20 is averaging a doubledouble with 13.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. He leads the team in rebounds and blocks per game and is second to Johnny Juzang ’20 in points per game. Hooks is currently shooting 60 percent from the ﬁeld this season.

& Figures Facts

62 .44 Points per game by girls’ basketball

Boys’ basketball shooting percentage

Goal advantage by girls’ soccer this season

.66

Boys’ basketball win percentage last season

Junior Varsity Boys’ Basketball Next Game:

Jan. 12 @ Loyola

Girls' Soccer Next Game:

Jan. 12 vs. Chaminade

Boys' Soccer Next Game: Jan. 12 @ Loyola

Girls’ Basketball Next Game: Oct. 17 @ Marymount

RYAN KIM/CHRONICLE

THE QUEENS OF THE COURT: (Left) Ashlee Wong ’18 scans the courts in a game against Flintridge Sacred Heart last season. (Right) Jayla Ruffus-Milner ’18 crosses over her opponent in the same game. The Wolverines defeated the Tolongs 55-41.

Squad bonds through winter tournament victories By LUKE CASOLA

they placed second, losing to Duncanville in the championDespite losing in the CIF ship Dec. 30. Ashlee Wong ’18, Playoff Finals last year after Jayda Ruffus-Milner ’18 and finishing with a 25-5 overall Kiki Iriafen ’21 were named to the All-Tournament record and 6-2 league team and Jayla Rufrecord, the girls’ basfus-Milner ’18 was ketball team is looking named offensive MVP to have a strong seaof the tournament. son. “[Jayla RuffusDuring the fall, the Milner] scoring the team played in several last shot at the buzzcompetitive tournaer in the semi-final ments, beating Windgame to send us to ward Dec. 2 to win the the championship ’ Redondo Union Battle was a self-defining of the Beach TournaElla moment for her and ment and defeating Price ’20 everyone watching Clovis North Dec. 23 to win the Harvard-Westlake her,” head coach Melissa Hearlihy said. “A real feel good moHoliday Classic. The team also travelled to ment. [Jayla Ruffus-Milner] Dallas, Texas to compete in was named offensive MVP of the Sandra Meadows Classic the tournament, an impressive tournament Dec. 28-30 where honor.” WHITE S

Wong said she was pleased with the opportunity to play in Texas at a national level. “It was fun being back in Texas, especially since there were a lot of amazing teams,” Wong said. “Being able to play talented players from across the country was a fun and new opportunity. Getting to the championship and playing Duncanville was an achievement in itself, so I’m proud of the team and happy with all we accomplished this tournament.” Before the season, the team got closer on a camping retreat and bonded off the court in Texas. “Team chemistry this year has been really good, “ Wong said. “Everyone is meshing well. In Dallas, we had a lot of team meals so we all got

to know each other better, we went to the movies and played board games at night. I think everyone feels closer after the trip, which will help us have a better season.” This year’s team consists of 11 players: four seniors, three juniors, one sophomore and three freshmen. “The seniors have really been a good role model for me this season,” guard Ella Price ’20 said. “This is my second season playing varsity, and there is still a lot I need to learn about playing at this level. They always go hard in practices and communicate on the ﬂoor.” The team’s ﬁrst league game is against Flintridge Sacred Heart Jan. 9. The Wolverines were 2-0 against Flintridge Sacred Heart last year.

Boys’ Soccer

Young team hopes to succeed with new offensive approach BY MATTHEW YAM AND BEN TENZER After a first round exit in last year’s CIF playoffs, the boys’ soccer team is looking to bounce back with aspirations of winning both the Mission league and a CIF title. Second year head coach Kris Ward said he feels confident in the team’s ability this season. “We definitely have the ability to win our league,” Ward said. “We definitely have the ability to win CIF. Those are my goals every year.” Ward said he seeks to create a flowing, ball-dominant, high-octane offense rather than a nitty-gritty lock-down defensive style. “We want to carry the ball,” Ward said. “We want to carry the play. We want to dominate the other teams and we have the ability to do that. It means that we’re going to be a little more open in terms of defending.” Forward Borna Shoa ’18 said that the team’s camaraderie is its greatest strength. “It’s a really well-rounded team with some really good freshmen and sophomores that

help to provide competition with the other players in practice and elevate the team as a whole,” Shoa said. This year’s team is unique in that it starts multiple freshmen and sophomores. However, Ward said that what they lack in size, they make up for in skill and knowledge of the game. “I think we are more talented than last year, and we are also still very young,” Ward said. “Against Chaminade we started three freshmen, three sophomores, three juniors and two seniors, whereas other teams we play have no sophomores or freshmen on the team, [they have] all juniors and seniors.” The main issues that arise from having such a young team are fighting through fatigue and inexperience. “Fatigue is due to a variety of reasons,” Ward said. “You run into finals week here, which is a difficult thing, and when you talk to other schools, they don’t deal with the same kinds of things that we do. Furthermore, the highspeed pace of high school soccer means that the underclassmen must learn to adapt on the

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

QUICK FEET: Henry Sanderson ’20 receives and controls a pass downfield in a 3-0 victory against St. Francis last season. fly. Ward said he believes they have done a good job of this and will continue to succeed. “They can solve problems in different ways,” Ward said. “I have to show them problems we have to solve, and help them to be able to solve them in different ways that they see fit. Their potential is untapped.” Ward has expressed his pleasure in his players’ performance this season. He emphasized their ability to make their

own ajustments without much critique from the coaches. “They’ve showed some things in the games that are extremely high level,” Ward said. “Extremely high level decisions. Extremely high level problem solving. If we see glaring issues we might yell at them about something, but otherwise they’re solving it. That’s why we could be extremely dangerous this year and years to come.”

D4 SPORTS

THE CHRONICLE

JAN.

9, 2018

HWCHRONICLE.COM/SPORTS

SPORTS D5

ILLUSTRATION BY SPENCER KLINK

D6 sports

Football coach steps into role

the chronicle

Jan. 9, 2018

Equestrian

• Continued from A1

That divide plays out largely in people not being as aware of the commitments that students are making academically or athletically as they could be.” On the sidelines, Burnett will succeed former program head Scot Ruggles, who compiled a record of 36-30 over his six years at HarvardWestlake. The athletic department announced Ruggles’ resignation shortly after the season ended Nov. 16. “Word travels fast, so as soon as it got out that coach Ruggles had stepped away and that we were looking for a new coach, we got a lot of resumes,” Barnum said. “That was exciting for us. We had known about [Burnett] through different connections, so it was one of those things where we were able to have a conversation with him.” Burnett inherits a team that went 8-3 last season. Sophomore quarterback Jameson Wang ’20 had a breakout season, throwing for 2,120 yards and 25 touchdowns against just six interceptions. He also led the Wolverines in rushing yards, racking up 755 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. “I am honored to become a part of the Harvard-Westlake family and to contribute to the traditions of academic and athletic excellence that are well entrenched in the community,” Burnett said in a press release. “I believe the foundations and support necessary to build a competitive football program are in place.” Additionally, Deron Braswell, who served as offensive coordinator last season, will transition to Associate Head Coach and teach physical education.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF SKYLER CALKINS ’20

HORSING AROUND: Skyler Calkins ’20 and her horse Latte Z practice. Calkins says she practices four to ﬁve times per week. Calkins is the team captain for equestrian and said that the team’s small size has made it difﬁcult for the team to place and succeed in shows.

Equestrian struggles in early season By LUCAS GELFOND AARON PARK

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Despite a series of setbacks, the equestrian team has found several successes in their first two shows. “It’s such a hard sport to talk about because you can’t really say an overall team goal for us because we are such a small team,” team captain Skyler Calkins ’20 said. Equestrian is unique in that players only come together as a team during tournaments because of the practical difficulties of trailing all the horses together. Calkins said she practices four to five times a week, as much as her other sport, volleyball, permits. “The team’s lack of players makes winning the

shows outright near-impossi- ’21 said that despite individual practicing, there is a sense of ble,” Calkins said. Tournaments are scored teamwork and camaraderie. based on the production of the Drago was disqualified from entire team, so being at a nu- the team’s first show at Hansen merical disadvantage means Dam because she was disqualithat the Wolfied because her verines face an horse was unuphill battle able to go over You can learn the jump. Drago to earn a victory. In their more about your horse initially rode a first meet, and said and get to understand pony Calkins took that her transihow you can ride better.” tion from a pony second, Sophia Ekstrand to a horse has — Katherine been a difficult ’20 won both of her classKihiczak ’21 adjustment, but es in varsity that she thinks dressage and a new horse will Sophie Bekins ’21 took third help her do better in future place in her novice equitation shows. flat class. Bekins said the riders bond The other two riders in over their mutual love for horsthe event, Katherine Kihiczak es. ’21 and Anneliese Ardizzone “Because we all love horses ’21 also performed well in the and compete with our horses, I meet. Team rider Allegra Drago think that it kind of ties us to-

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gether in a way,” Bekins said. Kihiczak added that equestrian is unique because of all of the riders’ relationships with their horses and spoke on her relationship with her horse, West Side Story. “There’s a relationship with the horses that is really unique,” Kihiczak said. “You can learn more about your horse and get to understand how you can ride better as you continue, not because of personal skills but because you are gaining more knowledge about your relationship with the horse.” Because of the difﬁculties of winning meets with such a small team, Drago said she would encourage others to join the team in the future. The team competes in four meets per year. Its third meet is at Hansen Dam and registration begins Jan. 14.

Squad adapts to player departures

as leaders, Simms highlighted Nikki Smith ’19 as an important player for the team. She possession play, Simms said. Simms said that the team’s tore her ACL as a freshman strategy last year relied on get- and spent last year recovering, ting the ball to Howard and but is finally healthy this year. “She’s a really exciting playcounting on her to make most er to watch,” Simms of the goals in game said. “She’s really because of her strong fun to coach, and shooting skills and as super creative and such focused less on technical.” posession. So far Smith has “This year we’re one assist in season. a lot more paPlayers said that tient in possession, the group’s closeness Simms said. “We’re not is a key factor in just trying to get it into ’ their strong season the center forward. and early victories. Nikki We’re trying to work “We’re just very Smith ’20 the ball around a little close friends,” capbit more. We’re a little tain Denise Shkurovich ’18 more dynamic offensively.” With these departures, the said. “There’s just not a lot of team has gaps that allow for divisions in the team. We’re new leaders to step up and just one group, which is really cool to see. Knowing that you take on larger roles. In addition to mentioning have friends behind you helps current seniors Bridget Stok- you to be more confident on dyk ’18 and Ariana Miles ’18 the field.”

• Continued from D1

WHITE S

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

JUMP ON IT: Annabel Heisel ’19, Bridget Stokdyk ’18 and two of their teammates jump in celebration

after a goal. The team beat Hart 2-0 on Friday – their sixth win so far. The team plays Chaminade Jan 12.

Jan. 9, 2018

hwchronicle.com/sports

Sports D7

The Chronicle

D8 Sports

Q&A

Jan. 9, 2018

Bridget Stokdyk Girls’ Soccer

By Jackie Greenberg When did you start playing soccer? I started [in the under-6 division], just AYSO. I’ve been playing since then and only started club about five or six years ago. When did you realize you were passionate about soccer? Once I started playing club. I had played both soccer and tennis up until then, and then I decided that I was more far passionate about soccer and stopped playing tennis. I moved to club, which is supposed to be more intense and played it more often. Has your relationship with Coach Simms changed anything or helped you out? Yes, over the years I’ve gotten closer with [Simms], who’s the coach, and I think it helps me because he knows what I’m capable of after seeing me play for so long. I always have to play the best that I can, because he expects so much from me. How do you motivate the team during a tough game? Just always being positive and encouraging the team, good or bad plays and being vocal. What’s your favorite thing about being on the field? I like the team aspect, that’s why I chose soccer over tennis because just being there with all of your teammates and everyone helping each other - it was like having a family out there rather than just by yourself on the court. As captain, do you feel responsible for the team? Yes, I think as a senior, captain or not, you still have to be the one that’s not goofing off at practice and always giving your 100 percent, because that’s what helps the team. Setting an example is the biggest thing. Soccer is a team sport. It’s not just one player can do it all, so if the whole team is focused, you know you’re going to do well. What’s been your favorite Wolverines moment? My favorite moment was last year when we won the Orange County tournament. Orange County teams are usually really good and winning the tournament was basically like, “Okay, we’re pretty good, we can play with these teams.” Also, we have lost in penalty kicks for the past four or five years in playoffs, and in that tournament, we won in penalty kicks, so that was like turning a corner. What was the peak of your high school career?

Stats

6-2-1

Overall season record

Goal scored this season

0.55

Goals given up per game

The peak was my freshman year. I came into a team with really good sophomores, juniors and seniors, and I think that’s been the best team I’ve been on so far. Being so young and playing with all these experienced players was the best, and we did super well. Do you have any advice for incoming freshman? Just stick with it and put in the work. Showing up to practice is not enough. I remember as a freshman, keeping up with those girls was hard work, so I had to do work outside of practice, in order to keep my game up and improve to a level where they were at, because they have been playing longer than I have. If you really want it, then put in that extra work. What do you look forward to most playing soccer at Brown? I look forward to the same thing as here: playing for a school is a big deal. There’s a lot of pride in that and representing the name. I’m looking forward to having that same experience and being able to play at a high level.

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE