March 2020 Issue

CHRONICLE tHE HaRvaRd wEstLakE

Studio City • Volume 29 • Issue 6 • March 3, 2020 • hwchronicle.com

By ruoshan Dong anD Frank Jiang Glancing outside her window at the nearly empty streets, Catherine Zhu, a student at Harvard-Westlake’s sister school WLSA Shanghai Academy, could think only of how badly she wanted to go outside. But Zhu was stuck, one of the millions across China confined to their homes under the mandatory 14-day coronavirus incubation period.

“We had to stay at home for 14 days,” Zhu said. “I was generally peaceful and I just accepted everything calmly. I believe that prevention and control is very developed now in China, and people will pay high attention to the issue of coronavirus. The people around me, [are] focused on protecting themselves as • Continued on B2

School releases curriculum guide for new block schedule

By Tammer BagDasarian The school released its 2020-2021 Curriculum Guide, which includes an array of new courses and modifications that will go into effect next year alongside the school’s redesigned block schedule. The revised curriculum is intended to allow teachers more freedom to construct and teach their courses and provide students the opportunity to take greater control over their education, Head of Upper School Laura Ross said.

“In advance of the new schedule, we charged every department with looking at

their entire slate of course offerings and gave them the freedom to talk about what they would like to offer across the board,” Ross said. “While we were providing structure and funding and time for curriculum redesign, we wanted to really look at what we offer and think about if it’s exactly what we wanted it to be.”

The updated Curriculum Guide includes new directed study courses, more non-Advanced Placement options and alternatives to a few existing science classes. The Curriculum Guide lists 20 directed study topics, ranging from performing and visual arts

programs to courses within the Kutler Center that focus on subsets of social and governmental studies. Though the curriculum has included directed studies in the past, recent changes have standardized these courses to encourage students to study specific topics in more depth than standard classes allow, Ross said.

“We wanted the opportunity for students to experiment with their areas of interest without adding a full extra class or something that would conflict with their full courses,” Ross said. “What we hear from students all the time is ‘I’d

“

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SIOBHAN HARMS AND SPENCER KLINK

We wanted the opportunity for students to experiment with their areas of interest without adding a full extra class or something that would conflict with their full courses.”

— Laura Ross Head of Upper School

love to learn more about that cool subject, but I can’t take away a whole slot for it,’ so it gives us the opportunity to let our students learn about what truly interests them.”

Many of the changes originated from teachers’ requests to shift courses away from the structure of the College Board’s AP curriculum, Ross said. The science department, for example, has chosen to discontinue AP Biology, but will instead offer two classes, Advanced Topics in Evolution

white’s

and Ecology and Advanced Topics in Molecular and Cellular Biology, that focus on different sections of the former AP course. Ross said the move was essential to promote indepth learning of the subject rather than just the AP exams.

“We asked the faculty, ‘what would you do differently?’”

Ross said. “They told us that the AP [Biology] curriculum as it was previously structured was so content-heavy, just • Continued on A5

Girls’ water polo wins D1 CIF

By Charlie Wang

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF WOO SIM

CIF CHAMPS: Attacker Alex Button ’21 rises above her opponent, looking to pass in the 13-12 win against San Clemente on Feb. 22.

Two years ago, the girls’ water polo team exited the Woollett Aquatic Center empty-handed after losing the CIFSS Division III Championship 6-5 to Woodrow Wilson High School. The team was forced to watch as Wilson’s coaching staff and players jumped in the pool and celebrated the win, propelled by a go-ahead goal with less than a minute left in the game.

On Feb. 22, in the CIF Championship, attacker Juliette O’Brien ’21 and the rest of the Wolverines would not let history repeat itself. With 1:18 to go in the game, O’Brien scored the go-ahead goal on a

cross-pass from fellow attacker Alex Button ’21 to give the Wolverines a 13-12 lead. Moments later, it was first-year head coach Matt Kubeck and his staff who were leaping into the Woollett Aquatic Center pool to celebrate their CIF-SS Division II win.

“We just really wanted it,” O’Brien said. “We lost the last time, but [Button] made a great pass and I happened to be in the right place at the right time” The girls’ team defeated San Clemente High School 13-12 and won its first CIFSS Division II Championship, while the boys’ team, winners of the CIF-SS Division I Championship, watched in support.

The title is the program’s third Southern Section Championship overall and its highestlevel championship to date.

The program’s first two came in 2011 and 2012 when it won consecutive Division IV titles.

Head of Athletics Terry Barnum commended the team on its historic victory.

“Coach Kubeck and his staff did a great job of leading the team, giving them confidence, and getting them ready to play every day,” Barnum said.

Entering the playoffs, the common fan would not have expected the Wolverines to make the run that they did, with the Wolverines ranked • Continued on D1

A2 News

The chroNicle

March 3, 2020

Teachers complete surveys

By Frank Jiang Over the past four months, faculty and staff have provided anonymous feedback for the school’s division heads through online surveys conducted by FNS Consulting.

Division heads include President Rick Commons, Head of Upper School Laura Ross, Head of Middle School Jon Wimbish and Head of Athletics Terry Barnum. The survey included a variety of questions that covered four main topics: leadership, communication skills, organizational capacities and team-building behaviors.

The majority of the survey’s questions utilized a numerical rating system in which the faculty could rate each administrator’s performance in a certain area from one to five. In addition, there were several short answer sections. After recording and analyzing data from the survey, administrative leaders met with their respective divisions and discussed concerns about the results.

Science teacher Richard Vo said that, due to his lack of interactions with both Commons and Ross, he discovered that he could not answer many of the questions for fear of providing misinformation.

“Even though I feel that I don’t interact with the administration that much, I feel like that is by design,” Vo said.

“They don’t want to get in the way of me doing my job, and so the most efficient way for me to do my job is to interact with people who help me do my job better, and that’s my department, that’s my team. I • Continued on A6

CRYSTAL BAIK/CHRONICLE

JUST DANCE: Makeda Neavill ’21 dances with fellow students in Hamilton Gym during the BLACC Out Dance event on Friday.

BLACC leaders organized the event to encourage students of color from around Los Angeles to celebrate their cultural identities.

BLACC hosts dance for Black History Month

By Sophia MuSanTe The Black Leadership Awareness and Culture Club (BLACC) hosted the BLACC Out Dance in honor of Black History Month on Friday.

BLACC leader Skylar Graham ’20, who coordinated the event, said she intended the dance to be a celebration of Black History Month for students from high schools within the Los Angeles area, not just African American students or members of BLACC. “This party was designed to bring together black students from all over the city of Los Angeles to culminate Black History Month,” Graham said.

“We are hoping that this will become an [annual] Black His-

tory Month event that students on our campus and across Los Angeles look forward to attending.”

The dance was open to students in ninth through twelfth grade, and all attendees were able to bring two guests. While at the event, students enjoyed food and danced with their peers.

Zen-mara Duruisseau ’22 said she enjoyed meeting other students from different schools while at the dance.

“It was amazing to see so many people come together from various schools to have fun,” Duruisseau said. “The vibe was great and everyone was extremely nice. I wish we could have stuff like this more often.”

Chandace Apacanis ’21 said she enjoyed celebrating Black History Month with her friends.

“I love to dance, whether it’s at a party or during a performance,” Apacanis said. “My favorite part was dancing with my friends and other people. It was the best party I’ve been to in a while.”

Graham said the event was successful in bringing together students across Los Angeles and encouraging them to celebrate their cultural roots. She said she hopes the tradition is continued in future years.

“The inaugural BLACC Out dance party was a complete success,” Graham said. “As soon as the room got full, everyone was on their feet until

the lights turned on. There was so much food, but everyone was too busy dancing. My favorite part was the entire event. I wish I had another year at Harvard-Westlake so that I could come back to the dance, and I know the other students will look forward to it next year.”

Olivia Sparks ’22 said she bonded with both old and new friends at the dance. “[The dance] meant a lot because it was a space and environment where a bunch of black people were able to get together and have fun and do whatever we wanted to,” Sparks said. “That is something that doesn’t usually happen in predominately white environments.”

In the issue...

A4 LENDING A HAND: Isabel von Mende ’20 helps pack hygiene kits to be shipped to Los Angeles Family Housing.

A11 CAUCUS TALKS: A student provides a personal reflection regarding her experience at the 2020 Iowa Democratic Caucus.

B3 FINDING OUR ROOTS: Students of color discuss discrimination and coming to terms with their natural hair texture.

The ChroniCle, the student newspaper of Harvard-Westlake School, is published 8 times per year and distributed for free on both the upper and middle school campuses.

There are about 730 students at the Middle School and 870 at the Upper School.

Subscriptions may be purchased for $20 a year for delivery by mail. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the seniors on the Editorial Board. Letters to the

C4 NEXT AMERICAN IDOLS: Choir students pose as they prepare for their performance at Carnegie Hall in New York.

D1 QUEEN OF THE COURT: Kiki Iriafen ’21 asserts her dominance on the court during the game’s final moments.

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 Zack Schwartz at zschwartz1@hwemail.com. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or the school.

march 3, 2020

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news A3

Delegates awarded at MUN

By Austin Lee For their third conference of the year, 15 Model United Nations Club members traveled to the 57th North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN) Conference at Georgetown University from Feb. 13 to 15. Convention participants acted as delegates from various countries, debating topics that ranged from protection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites to climate change, in General Assembly and Specialty Committee meetings.

The following weekend, 11 club members attended GauchoMUN X, a regional conference at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Club President Kate Konvitz ’20, who received an Outstanding Delegate award at NAIMUN, said the club decided to attend the Georgetown convention because of its reputation as one of the highest-level and most well-operated events.

“We chose this conference because it’s one of the world’s most challenging and because there were some really good committee options,” Konvitz said. “I also attended this particular convention sophomore

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF KYRA HUDSON

DELEGATES ON THE MOVE: Members of the Model United Nations club pose for a picture in the Los Angeles International Airport on Feb.19. The delegates all participated in the North American Invitational Model United Nations Conference (NAIMUN) in Washington D.C.

year and loved it.”

Several other participants received awards at the conclusion of NAIMUN: Daniel Ju ’22, Dylan Field ’21 and Chronicle Assistant A&E Editor Celine Park ’21 were presented with Verbal Commendation awards, and Emma Walther ’21 received the World Bank Innovators’ Award.

Walther said she joined the delegation to the George-

town convention because of her positive experience at last year’s UCLA Model UN Conference and because she hoped to gain a deeper understanding of international relations in a familiar setting.

“I decided to go because I thought it would be an incredible opportunity, and I absolutely love Washington D.C.,” Walther said. “I learned so much, talking to people from

around the world and discussing major issues of today’s societies. It was also fun being able to bond with other members of the Model UN team.”

Ju said he also attended the UC Santa Barbara conference so that he could sample a new debating style at a less competitive convention and because he simply enjoys the trips. “[GauchoMUN] was an op-

portunity for me to try a different style of MUN in a more relaxed environment. Model UN conferences are something I really look forward to, so it was just another conference for me to go have fun in,” Ju said.

“Whether or not it’s a Model UN conference, it’s always eyeopening to talk to different people because there might be a different perspective or solution you’ve never thought of.”

Commons responds to councilmember

By HAnnAH HAn And Austin Lee

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF HEATHER AUDESIRK

HIT THE BUZZER: Jacky Zhang ’21, Anjee Feng ’20, William Tao ’21 and Sebastian Li ’20 answer questions about STEM-related topics, including biology, energy and physics, during the Science Bowl on Feb. 22.

Science Bowl team places fourth

By HAnnAH HAn Science Bowl Team A, cocaptained by Sebastian Li ’20 and Tyler Weigand ’21, earned fourth place out of 42 teams in the Regional High School Science Bowl on Feb. 22, while Team B, led by Micah Gold ’22, finished in eighth place.

At the tournament, the teams competed against high school students from across Southern California at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Headquarters.

In preparation for the event, Science Bowl participants met twice a week for six months and self-studied STEM topics not traditionally taught in the classroom, including machine learning, science teacher and faculty adviser Heather Audesirk said.

Team A suffered its first loss against Venice High School

during the double-elimination rounds, in which teams were removed from the tournament after two losses. However, the squad ultimately recovered, rising to the top of its bracket.

“By the end of the first half [of the double-elimination rounds], we were 14 points behind [Venice A],” Li said. “In the second half, we put [aside] our reservations and secured the toss-up questions with aggressive buzzes, which helped us win the game.”

Team A member William Tao ’21, who has participated in Science Bowl every year since seventh grade, said that the questions asked over the years have become progressively more complex.

“Science Bowl has gotten more difficult, and my baseline level of knowledge hasn’t risen quickly enough to keep up,” Tao said. “While we made it to the nationals in seventh and

eighth grade, we didn’t make it to nationals this year.”

Nevertheless, Tao said that the relationships he has forged with his teammates have become one of the reasons why he has remained in the club.

“I had a lot of fun experiences with my friends,” Tao said. “I also learned how to teach myself various topics efficiently and picked up a slew of facts.”

Audesirk said she was most impressed by both teams’ abilities to quickly perform calculations and recall disparate facts under pressure.

“I’m really proud of the work the students put in,” Audesirk said. “I don’t have a clue what the question is asking, let alone what the answer to the question is, and they know it in five seconds. It’s rewarding to watch them learn so much science and buzz in on all these questions.”

and protect the environment.

In a letter to the school community, Commons said President Rick Commons the school has taken Krekoriupdated the school commu- an’s suggestions into account nity in an email regarding the and is currently working with River Park athletic facility’s Studio City leaders and memdevelopment plan and pledged bers of the project design team to enact the changes sug- to revise the draft plan.

“The Councilmember regested by Los Angeles Second District Councilmember Paul cently wrote a letter that was Krekorian. In his letter, Kreko- complimentary of the school’s rian requested that school comprehensive outreach efadministrators fulfill 18 ad- forts and outlined changes he would like to ditional consee the school ditions before beginning the [We] are gratified make to the draft plan,” construction of by the enthusiasm Commons said River Park. in the letter.

Krekorian that stakeholders have “In the comalso said he expressed for the River ing months, appreciated Park project.” the school anthe school’s filing compliance —Rick Commons ticipates official plans with his initial President with the city request that that will reabove-ground parking structures or housing flect the feedback we have rebe built on the property but ceived.”

Commons said the school that the school had to implement further changes before also collaborated with comthe proposal could be ap- munity members, requesting their opinions on the draft proved.

“With the plans presented plan. Studio City residents this summer to the commu- praised features such as the nity, this project appears to be public recreational facilities a significant step in the right and the stormwater recladirection, especially compared mation system in particular, to all of the previous propos- Commons said.

“During these meetings als,” Krekorian said in the letter. “The importance of this [with members of the commusite in Studio City is so great, nity], our approach has been however, that being better one of open and honest conthan the previous proposals is versation highlighted by a collaborative spirit,” Commons not good enough.”

Krekorian’s letter divided said in the letter. “We have the requests into three lists enjoyed getting to know our asking that the school admin- neighbors and are gratified by istration work further to mini- the enthusiasm that stakemize traffic and noise pollu- holders have expressed for the tion, increase public benefits River Park project.”

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A4 News

The chroNicle

March 3, 2020

CRYSTAL BAIK/CHRONICLE

HANNAH HAN/CHRONICLE

CAITLIN CHUNG/CHRONICLE

JOIE ZHANG/CHRONICLE

SERVICE FOR ALL: (Clockwise from top) Jenna Kronenberg ’20 and Sapir Levy ’20 package hygiene kits. Former L.A. City Controller Wendy Greuel speaks about the homelessness crisis. Community Council members Grant Keller ’21 and Amy Kronenberg ’20 sell pastries to Felicity Phelan ’21. Isabel von Mende ’20 and Sapir Levy ’20 pack toiletries.

Reaching Out

By Joie Zhang

Members of Community Council hosted Community Service Week to raise awareness about the homelessness crisis and encourage students to take action from Feb. 24 to 27.

Sophomores and juniors listened to activists’ lectures, while seniors packed hygiene kits.

letting it disappear in their house. Hopefully, packaging the kits makes these students realize the sheer scale of how many people are missing these daily supplies.”

Community Council coordinated the second Community Service Week of the year from Feb. 24 to 27 in order to raise awareness about homelessness. The week included Monday: Community Couna bake sale, speakers at the cil hosts a bake sale for the sophomore and junior class North Hollywood Interfaith meetings and a hands-on ac- Food Pantry (NHIFP). tivity to assemble hygiene kits Community Council memat the senior class meeting.

Interdisciplinary Studies bers Keller, Delaney Klace and Independent Research ’21, Amy Kronenberg ’20 and Teacher, Counselor and Com- Chronicle Assistant A&E Edimunity Council Adviser Mi- tor Celine Park ’21 coordinated the bake sale chelle Bracken said Feb. 24 and raised Community Service $1240 for ComWeek was aimed at munity Council to changing students’ purchase cans and perspectives on comfresh produce for munity service. the NHIFP. “The goal of ComJoy Ho ’22, who munity Service Week bought banana is to find creative bread from the ways for us to come ’ bake sale, said she together and be inAlex thought the fundspired to look at comMieszala ’20 raiser benefited evmunity service as part of a lifestyle as opposed to eryone involved.

“I find it interesting how just a 12-hour requirement at the end of the year,” Bracken I’m buying food to help my hunger, while the money is said.

Community Council mem- also going to someone else to ber Grant Keller ’21 said end their hunger,” Ho said. he wanted the hygiene kits’ “In this way, this bake sale seemingly mundane compo- helps both parties.” nents to make students realize how much they take their Tuesday: Gabriele Hayes and Mark Hayes speak at privilege for granted.

“I hope [students] recog- the Sophomore Class Meetnize that small stuff like a ing. toothbrush or a shaving kit Producer Gabriele Hayes can make a difference,” Keller said. “For a lot of Harvard- and Director Mark Hayes Westlake kids, that stuff spoke to the sophomore class their documentary comes naturally from parents about or buying it themselves and “Skid Row Marathon” on Feb. white s

25. The film follows Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Craig Mitchell’s journey to kick-start a running club on Skid Row to give second chances to 12 people experiencing homelessness.

Kronenberg said she hoped Mitchell’s selfless journey with the Skid Row runners motivated students. “[Mitchell] thought it was unfair to put people in jail and not care about what happens to the rest of their lives,” Kronenberg said. “I hoped the sophomores would be inspired by these people who went out of their way to make an impact on people’s lives.”

Julia Coffey ’22 said the documentary clip from the assembly taught her to put her setbacks in perspective.

“This assembly has given me a better understanding and a better attitude for when I have my downfalls in life,” Coffey said. “If some people who have an even worse situation [than me] can bounce back up, then so can I.” Wednesday: Wendy Greuel lectures at the Junior Class Meeting.

Former L.A. City Controller and Councilmember and current Commissioner of the L.A. Homeless Services Authority Wendy Greuel (Thomas Schramm ’21) spoke at the junior class meeting about her work surrounding homelessness and how students can help by volunteering hours, donating books and serving the homeless on Christmas morning.

“It’s not only about what ful impact for the hundreds you get out of doing this,” of families that L.A. Family Greuel said. “It is also for the Housing serves. people we serve to understand “These hygiene kits go to that someone cares, and they individuals that we house are not just a blank face. It at our bridge housing locais incumbent upon all of us tions as well as to people on to see that there is hope and the streets who are not ready there is something we can do.” to come indoors yet,” Puerto Andrew Gong ’21 said he said. “Each week, we turn thought the documentary clip around about 200 hygiene provided him with a more prokits, so this is going to be a found connection to the stohuge impact.” ries of people experiencing Alex Mieszala ’20 said the homelessness. speed with which the senior “[In the video], the moclass was able to assemble ment when [marathon runthe hygiene kits ner Rebecca underscored how Hayes] just I hope [students] easy and simple broke down it can be to help crying in recognize that small happiness stuff like a toothbrush or out.

“Each dean and said a shaving kit can make group only spent that she a difference.” hoped her a few minutes children —Grant Keller ’21 packaging, which didn’t have showed me that a Community Council little bit of effort to experience what goes a long way to she did really puts in perspec- help,” Mieszala said. tive how hard homeless life Puerto said individuals can be and how similar all of can become a part of the soluus are to the people we walk tion by starting with a shift in by on the streets,” Gong said. mindset.

“I want to emphasize that Thursday: Hygiene kits are homelessness is an issue in assembled at the Senior L.A. but not necessarily an Class Meeting. identity, which is why we like Community Council mem- to refer to the people we serve ber Carli Cooperstein ’20, as people experiencing homeKeller and Park purchased lessness and not homeless toiletries for seniors to assem- people because that marginble 500 hygiene kits at the se- alizes their identity,” Puerto said. “On the day-to-day, nior class meeting.

L.A. Family Housing Pro- [youth can help by] acknowlgrams Coordinator Lesem edging that people who are exPuerto said the hygiene pack- periencing homelessness are ages will make a meaning- still people.”

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march 3, 2020

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news A5

Course catalog revised • Continued from A1

ETHAN LACHMAN/CHRONICLE

CODING TO THE TOP: Hackathon organizer Lukas Seklir ’21 relays the details of his Hackathon project to Leader of HW Venture Coco Kaleel ’20. Seklir won first place for his app, Melodica, which generates a song with violin and flute accompaniment after the user hums a melody.

Entrepreneurs tackle STEM issues

By Ethan Lachman After receiving positive feedback from students, the school hosted its second Hackathon of the year where students applied programming skills to creative projects Feb. 15 to 16 in the Mudd Library, Hackathon Organizing Team member Jacky Zhang ’21 said.

To ensure that participants remained well-rested, the Hackathon Organizing Team split up the traditionally continuous 30-hour period into two separate days, both of which lasted from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Zhang said that although he appreciated the extra rest, without the normal overnight experience, partic-

ipants lost the ability to enjoy the recreational side of the Hackathon.

“From an organizer’s point of view, I think it was definitely less tiring to be able to go home after the first day and actually get some decent amount of sleep compared to the last time where I think most of us got three or four hours of sleep,” Zhang said. “But I think a lot of the participants would very much have preferred an overnight Hackathon because that’s more fun.”

Lukas Seklir ’21, Kosi Nwabueze ’21 and Matthew Redford ’21 won the competition for their music engine program, earning both a speaker and a subscription from one

of the Hackathon’s sponsors, WolframAlpha.

Coco Kaleel ’20 won second place for her program, “Bibdropper,” and received a power bank and a subscription to WolframAlpha as well. In third place, Tyler Weigand ’21, Eli Friedman ’21 and William Tao ’21 earned scholarships courtesy of the Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Games and Animation.

Kaleel said she was impressed by her peers’ projects, which involved augmented reality, mathematics-based games and eye detection. Additionally, Kaleel said she was proud of the final product of her own project.

“I built a Google Docs add-

on that lets you build bibliographies in-document, and then click a button to add footnotes quickly and easily throughout documents,” Kaleel said. “My project this year was my favorite so far. I plan on continuing it and hopefully publishing it to the Google [Play] Store by the end of the school year.”

Kaleel said that, although the commitment can seem daunting, the Hackathon gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the gratifying activity of coding.

“It’s sometimes hard to find time to sit down and code for two days, and when I go to Hackathon, I remember how much I enjoy coding and creating,” Kaleel said.

moving rapidly from concept to concept. Our students want to go in deeper, and they felt like [the curriculum] wasn’t serving them in the way we’d like to, so we split the course into those two sections.”

In order to encourage curriculum innovation, the school offered more grants for teachers to design new courses.

English Department Chair Laurence Weber said that the department jumped on the opportunity to introduce new courses. The additions include two non-AP senior courses, “English IV: What’s New” and “English IV: Criminal Minds,” as well as the elective course “Senior Advanced Seminar: One Life’s Worth,” which will allow seniors to take two English courses simultaneously.

“For a long time, the department has felt a need to try to help our students feel more invested in their English classes,” Weber said. “Giving more choice is a big part of that, both in terms of course selection, alternating types of writing styles and so forth.”

In addition, there will be fewer barriers for students across different grades to take courses at their level, fostering a freer and livelier learning environment, Commons said.

“The changes allow students to concentrate on what they are fascinated by, and it allows teachers to use what they know to put together unique courses that are not tied to some other organization,” Commons said.

Gaming Club forms online sports league

By SydnEy FEnEr

has enjoyed playing on the esports team thus far.

“The esports team has been Science teacher Richard Vo, the sponsor of the Gaming a phenomenal experience,” Club, and several students Shapoff said. “Being able have formed the school’s first to compete with other high esports team. The group has schools in League of Legends already begun competing in a is new to all of us and very exleague with other West Coast citing. We are thankful for the high schools using a website opportunity to represent Harcalled PlayVS, an official on- vard-Westlake in the growing field of esports.” line esports league.

Vo described the Vo said he hopes to success of the inhelp fulfill the goals of dustry, mentioning students who are pasthe the millions of sionate about gaming people who tune into like Larry Lee ’20, who streams to watch has been attempting their favorite comto launch an esports petitors play against team for the past few one another. The years. ’ next front for this “We now have Richard new form of sports seven people on the Vo is, naturally, high team, and they all schools and colplay fairly regularly,” Vo said. “[On Feb. 25], they leges, he said.

“I don’t know if in the fuplayed their first official game ture [high school esports] will against another school.”

The team primarily com- expand,” Vo said. “I think a lot petes in League of Legends, of students hope it will. There a multiplayer game, in which are a lot of benefits to esports participants are pitted against for students that really just player-controlled or comput- want to find a place and want er-generated “champions” in to find their niche and so I a virtual battle arena. The es- think this is a great way that ports team gathers for a prac- they can do that.”

The esports team’s most tice meet once a week.

Gaming Club member recent competition was held Nicholas Shapoff ’21 said he yesterday in Chalmers 304. white s

CRYSTAL BAIK/CHRONICLE

ENFORCING JUSTICE: Los Angeles Police Department Detective David Sun ’98 and LA Deputy District Attorney Irene Lee McLeod ’99 discuss their experiences working in the field of criminal law.

HWSAA hosts criminal law forum By caroLinE Jacoby District attorney Irene Lee McLeod ’99 and detective David Sun ’98 discussed jobs in criminal law at the HW4L Campus: Law and Order panel Feb. 27. The event, organized

by HW Works and the HW Student Alumni Association, is their first panel of the year.

The panels are designed to let students learn more about their career options; this one featured two speakers who work in law enforcement.

McLeod offered her perspective as a deputy district attorney for Los Angeles County

while Sun spoke about his job as a detective for the Los Angeles Police Department.

McLeod and Sun explained how their jobs function together and addressed misconceptions about the relationship between district attorneys and police officers. The speakers also gave students advice about how to pursue a career in the legal profession and start to explore their interests through internships or the LAPD Cadet Program.

“We want to make sure we cover a vast range of fields, so it’s not just all lawyers, it’s not just all detectives,” Alumni As-

sociation Co-Chair Noah Aire ’20 said. “So for this one, it would be an officer and a district attorney [to] get different perspectives.”

Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions about working in law enforcement.

Students said that the panel was a chance for them to learn more about a career path that they could be interested in.

“I learned more about the intricacies of getting into criminal law and the truth behind what the prosecutors and the detectives do in their daily lives and in their jobs,” Cory Porter ’22 said.

A6 News

The chroNicle

March 3, 2020

Artists showcase photos in gallery

By Tanisha Gunby

CRYSTAL BAIK/CHRONICLE

WHY NOT GIVE IT A SHOT: Valentina Gaxiola ’21 views various photography projects located in the Feldman- Horn Gallery. The art exhibit showcased works taken by Photography I and II students.

Faculty sends constructive feedback to administrators • Continued from A2

imagine that if I had a lot of meetings with the administration it would feel onerous like it was overhead, and I don’t think they would want that so I do appreciate that.”

Science teacher Steve Yang ’08 said he felt that the effects of the survey were very similar to those he witnessed with the annual questionnaires he administers to his students.

“It’s nice to know what works and what doesn’t work

so I do find them useful,” Yang said. “But sometimes I personally dread opening [feedback] up because it’s a little nerve-wracking since I have to try to separate who I am as a person and who I am as a teacher because [the feedback doesn’t] normally critique me on who I am as a person.”

Commons said that he, through the results of the survey, noticed his lack of involvement at the middle school.

“For me personally there was a third area [of improve-

ment], particularly noticed by the middle school [faculty], an observation that I wasn’t as present for the middle school,” Commons said. “And so I’ve already begun to do certain things [to be more involved at the middle school like participating] in the [weekly] middle school stand up meeting on Thursday.”

Commons said that he felt the survey was very beneficial for all of the administrators, and that the faculty feedback survey results helped him rec-

Photography I and II students displayed artwork that they have developed throughout the 2019-2020 school year at the opening reception of the Photography Student Showcase in Feldman-Horn Gallery on Feb. 21. The showcase will be on display until March 13.

Photography I students displayed self-portraits and re-creations of personal or historical memories, while Photography II students exhibited their best work from the entire year. In addition, darkroom-based projects made without the use of film were exhibited. The showcase celebrated other art forms as well, including dance and music through Boot Squad and Jazz Ensemble performances.

Visual arts teacher Alexandra Pacheco Garcia said that the showcase gave students the opportunity to share the work they have been polishing throughout the year with their peers and teachers.

“I thought this year was really successful,” Pacheco Garcia said. “I thought that it was the best show that I have seen on campus and outside of here in quite a long time. I

felt really proud of the entire showcase and the students.”

Photography II student Mia Hutchinson ’21 said her project focused on stories that students around campus had heard or experienced. She photographed the locations where each story took place and then wrote a short narrative about the particular event.

“I really enjoyed seeing other people’s reactions,” Hutchinson said. “I liked seeing that other people were enjoying my work. It was nice knowing that I put in work and people appreciated it and asked questions about it.”

Boot Squad Club leader Chandace Apacanis ’21 said the dance performance during the showcase was a very personal experience compared to the club’s previous performances in front of students, faculty and staff members at all-school assemblies.

“I was so honored because I only envisioned Boot Squad being a little piece of culture during the all school assembly,” Apacanis said. “I love performing and sharing any piece of culture, any piece of knowledge of dance or anything with other people.”

“

Sometimes I personally dread opening [feedback] up because it’s a little nerve-wracking since I have to try to separate who I am as a person and who I am as a teacher.”

— Steve Yang ’08 Science Teacher

ognize the need to help the faculty grow. Although Commons said that he will continue to work on specific areas, he said he felt that the division heads were still performing their jobs very well.

“There hasn’t been this general sense that ‘I’ve got to make sure that Mr. Wimbish

white’s

is doing is his job well,’ of course, he’s doing his job well but can he do it better? Yes, and of course in many ways, I hope that I’m doing my job well but can I do it better?

Obviously, and I’ve got a lot of good feedback that is going to help me to do so in the future,” Commons said.

Students take part in schoolwide game By ausTin Lee After three weeks of play, fewer than 10 players remain in the running for the title of Tap Out Champion. Formerly known as Assassin, the game commenced its second annual round of play Feb. 5.

After discontinuing Assassin in 2018 due to a lack of organizers, Prefect Council revived the game last year under a new name and modified rules in observance of the gun violence plaguing the nation, Prefect Chelsea Cho ’21 said.

Tap Out involves players tapping assigned targets on the back while filming to eliminate opponents before posting the video to a Facebook group for official confirmation. Once a student eliminates an assigned target, they assume the old target’s mark until only one player remains.

This year, Prefect Council members modified operating

procedures to ensure smooth and fair play, Prefect and Gamemaster Jonathan Cosgrove ’21 said. The game modifications changed the way prefect organizers utilize the Facebook group chat to review eliminations.

“We created a system that the Gamemasters use to approve posts to the Facebook, assign new targets and ensure we have records of all tap outs,” Cosgrove said. “It also helps ensure all outs are fair and are reviewed by multiple people.”

Cosgrove also said that Prefect Council decided to host the game again because of its value in bringing the community together.

“It made sense for Prefect Council to continue running [Tap Out] and make it into a Harvard-Westlake tradition,” Cosgrove said. “And even though it’s a competition, it’s a great opportunity for people to meet new people in new

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF JUSTIN SPITZ

IT’S A T(R)AP: Liam Weetman ’21, JP Wong ’20 and Neema Mansouri ’20 react to being eliminated from the schoolwide Tap Out competition by Justin Spitz ’20 on the Harvard-Westlake Facebook Tap Out Group.

grades.”

Kellan McCarthy ’21, who finished in 12th place this year, said he decided to play because he did not sign up last year and felt that he had missed the opportunity.

“I played this year because I

feel like people had a lot of fun last year,” McCarthy said. “I really didn’t want to miss out [on] the game this year, and there’s also really no downside to playing [Tap Out].”

On Feb. 27, the Gamemasters suspended Tap Out play

with eight players remaining and announced that the grand finale will be held March 18 on Ted Slavin Field. According to a post on the Facebook group, the eight finalists will attempt to eliminate each other using water weapons.

mArch 3, 2020

hwchronicle.com/news

news A7

HWGo! artwork displayed

By Gemma Lippman HWGo! Storytelling Adventure students showcased their artwork, which was inspired by their visits to Southern California water ecology sites, Thursday in Feldman Horn.

Six of the 14 students who attended the program presented their projects: Chronicle Presentation Editor and Big Red Editor-in-Chief Keila McCabe ’20, Lucy Ingold ’21, Ally Landecker ’21, Gabriela MartinezCelaya ’20, Capri Woss ’21 and Cleo Maloney ’21. During the HWGo! trip, which took place in November, the group went to the Sepulveda Basin, the Los Angeles River, the Salton Sea and the Long Beach Port.

Visual arts teachers Reb Limerick and Jesse Chehak both ran and planned the program.

“Students across grade levels all came together for this adventure,” Limerick said. “It was an experience to be sightresponsive in our art-making process, to have a play-space connection and also to be fluid in our making, just like the bodies of water that we were experiencing.”

Woss and Maloney both displayed the drawings and paintings they made about the experiences that impacted them during the trip, such as their visit to the Salton Sea. Landecker also displayed a series of photos that she took of the landscapes and people she saw.

Next, Limerick played the films created by many of the other artists, including McCabe and Martinez-Celaya.

Limerick stressed the importance of remembering the trip, in addition to appreciating the films.

“Along the way we had a very playful experience,” Limerick said. “We really focused on the process more so than the product, and reflecting throughout our entire experience together.”

HANNAH HAN/CHRONICLE

Sustaining Their Future A DRIVE TO HELP: Assistant Features Editor Marina Nascimento ’21 and Mimi Offor ’21 encourage their peers to purchase student-donated clothing. In order to raise awareness about the harmful effects of the fast fashion industry, Advanced Placement Environmental Science students hosted a sustainable clothing sale and donated the profits and remaining clothing to Goodwill.

LAHSO holds banquet to discuss diversity By ethan Lachman The Latin American and Hispanic Student Organization (LAHSO) held its third Unity Banquet to start conversations about diversity on campus Feb. 24 in Feldman Horn Art Gallery.

LAHSO worked with other affinity groups such as the Black Leadership Awareness and Culture Club and Gender and Sexuality Awareness club to advertise the event, and invited the entire community to attend.

To begin the banquet, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Associate Director of Admission Janine Jones spoke about the challenges people of color face and how stu-

dents can support each other.

Students discussed these topics in pairs and came together toward the end of the event to talk as a group.

Alexandra Du Manoir ’21 said her favorite part of the event was learning about Latinx representation in the media, which helped further her goal to support her community.

“It was really great to come together and speak about how the affinity groups can work together to create dialogue for the underrepresented voices in our community,” Du Manoir said.

“I feel like I learned so much about how to be a better leader and be a better ally for other affinity groups.”

LAHSO leader Josue Martin ’20 said he was proud of the event’s turnout, particularly the participants’ engagement throughout the banquet.

“I really loved that all of the participants at the banquet were willing to be vulnerable for all of us,” Martin said. “[The banquet] really helped me be more aware of the different experiences we all face, especially in the world we live in today.

Topics like diversity and racism are really hard to talk about, so being able to contribute to this discussion was an awesome experience.”

Grace Shin ’21 said she thought that LAHSO hosted a successful event.

“I thought the event was very well planned and executed smoothly,” Shin said. “Even though it was a smaller group, this allowed for a deeper, more personal discussion.”

Likewise, Shin said she appreciated the opportunity to further the cause of equality in the school community.

“I attended the event to support my friends in LAHSO and because I was interested in the theme of addressing discrimination and advocating for diversity,” Shin said. “I feel it is an important topic to discuss at Harvard-Westlake and also is significant in my personal life because I have been affected by racial prejudice.”

Broadcast Journalism students visit FOX Sports headquarters

By Jaidev pant

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF MAX TASH

CAMERA READY: Broadcast Journalism students pose for a picture after meeting with FOX Executive Producer Brad Zager on Feb. 19.

Broadcast journalism students toured the Fox Sports Headquarters and met with executives to learn more about digital reporting and broadcast journalism Feb. 19.

Adviser Max Tash, who accompanied the students, said he hoped the tour would increase student awareness about the broadcast journalism classes offered on both the middle and upper school campuses.

“Every year we do the trip, we get more kids talking to other kids at school and making them aware of the program we are building here with broadcast journalism, HWTV and the live sports broadcasting class next year,” Tash said. “All of this is fitting in to kids every year being more aware of another opportunity they have to make media and have fun at school.”

On the trip, students par-

ticipated in a Q&A session with President of National Networks Mark Silverman and Head of Production and Operations Brad Zager.

Chronicle Broadcast Producer Yoohan Ko ’20 said that though this was her third trip to the studio, she felt that each visit was unique and taught her something new.

“While in other years I was captivated by the discussion with producers at Fox , this time around I was most interested in watching the final result of an audio mix for Daytona 500,” Ko said. “The different elements required for three seconds of sound were of a different scale than what I do in school, so it made me want to test my capabilities.”

Broadcast assistant Jack Coleman ’21 said that in the future, the broadcast program should try to extend the length of the trip.

“I would definitely go again,” Coleman said. “I think it was a great trip, but I would have liked to see more and been there a little bit longer. Overall, it was well-planned and well-executed, making it an amazing trip.”

Students also watched a live recording of “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” a sports talk radio show which also airs on television. Tash said his favorite part of the visit was watching his students interact with Cowherd at the Q&A session.

“When Colin Cowherd was talking to all of the kids there, I looked down the line at everybody looking at him and saw how focused they were listening to him,” Tash said. “There’s nothing for a teacher better than looking across and seeing all their students really in the moment and really enjoying what they’re doing. That’s what I saw in that moment, and it was really fun.”

A8 News

The chroNicle

March 3, 2020

The Door to a Star’s Success Students performed in the spring play production “Stage Door,” written by Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman, in Rugby Auditorium from Feb. 7 to 9. The play follows the stories of young women living in the Footlights Club, a boarding home for rising actresses, in New York City during the 1930’s.

CAITLIN CHUNG/CHRONICLE

CAITLIN CHUNG/CHRONICLE

DRESSED TO IMPRESS: College student Jimmy Devereaux (Abe Kaye ’20) lounges in the Footlights Club prior to going on a dinner date with theatre actress Susan Paige (Naomi Ogden ’20).

DREAMING OF YOU: Bernice Niemeyer (Scarlett Strasberg ’20) speaks about meeting director David Kingsley (Charlie Doris ’22).

CAITLIN CHUNG/CHRONICLE

RISING TO THE TOP: Theatre actress Terry Randall (Andrea Yagher ’20) expresses excitement to her fellow actresses and roommates at the Footlights Club about an opportunity that she received to be able to act in a new play. However, after performing in only four productions of the play, Randall soon loses her job.

TANISHA GUNBY/CHRONICLE

TANISHA GUNBY/CHRONICLE

FAMILY FEUD: Kaye Hamilton (Emery Genga ’21) and Judith Canfield (Leila Dall’Olmo ’20) discuss the latter’s family.

STOOD UP: Playwright Keith Burgess (Jake Schroeder ’20) waits for actress Jean Maitland (Taylor Dees ’21). Maitland decides to go to dinner with movie director David Kingsley (Charlie Doris ’22).

C HRONICLE tHE HaRvaRd-wEstLakE

editors-in-Chief: Tammer Bagdasarian, Lindsay Wu Print Managing editors: Kyra Hudson, Casey Kim, WiLLiam seymour

OpINION The Chronicle • March 3, 2020

Los Angeles • Volume 29• Issue 6 • March 3, 2020 • hwchronicle.com

editorial

digital Managing editors: LuKe CasoLa, Jessa gLassman Presentation editors: spenCer KLinK, KeiLa mCCaBe exeCutive editors: Jeanine Kim, WiLL maLLory news editor: LuKe sCHneider assistant news editors: CrysTaL BaiK, HannaH Han, TanisHa gunBy, FranK Jiang oPinion editors: emma sHapiro, ameLie ZiLBer assistant oPinion editors: eTHan LaCHman, ausTin Lee features editors: Joanna im, Lauren neHorai assistant features editors: Lauren CHo, ruosHan dong, sioBHan Harms, marina nasCimenTo a&e editors: Jordan murray, saraH reiFF assistant a&e editors: emma Limor, CeLine parK, CHLoe sCHaeFFer sPorts editors: ZaCK sCHWarTZ, eugene Wyman assistant sPorts editors: eugean CHoi, LuCas Lee, Jaidev panT, KyLe reims, CHarLie Wang MultiMedia editor: annie BeCKman PhotograPhy editors: CaiTLin CHung, Jay LassiTer, asTor Wu BroadCast ProduCers: CoLeman KaTZ, yooHan Ko, aLex morK Business Manager: ZaCK sCHWarTZ CoMMunity news engageMent editors: saraH HeaLy, Zoe redLiCH events engageMent editor: madison Huggins assistant Business Managers: LuCas Lee, emma Limor assistant BroadCast editors: aLex amsTer, aLiCe He, KyLe reims Junior art direCtor: evie de ruBerTis senior staff writer: Lee niCHoLs freelanCe artist: HannaH miTTLeman freelanCe writers: aLLie LandeCKer, anusHa maTHur, maK KriKsCiun, Joie ZHang layout assistants and staff writers: Tessa augsBerger, JuLian andreone, miLLa Ben-eZra, KaTHerine Burry, eLise CHen, marine degryse, QuinCey dern, aLexa druyanoFF, ava FaTTaHi, mia FeiZBaKsH, sydney Fener, JusTin goLdsTein, Jane HamiLTon, CaroLine JaCoBy, Keira Jameson, sandra KoreTZ, gemma Lippman, saraH miTTLeman, CaiTLin munoZ, Jason morganBesser, sopHia musanTe, Liam raZmJoo, ryan raZmJoo, ameLia sCHarFF, KaTHarine sTeers, meLody Tang, Joie ZHang, maxine ZuriFF BroadCast assistants: WiLLiam moon, ZaCHary Berg, JoHn CoLeman, eLy diCKson, BenJamin JaCoBy, miKey sCHWarTZ layout assistants: aLexis arinsBurg, BriTTany BraHn advisers: Jim Burns, max TasH 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 Zack Schwartz at zschwartz1@ hwemail.com. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or school.

ILLUSTRATION BY KEILA MCCABE

Sports bring our city together There is no doubt that Los Angeles prides itself on its sports teams. From the college level to the professional level, sports are an integral part of Angeleno culture. With friendly rivalries—between the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins, Lakers and Clippers and Dodgers and Angels—our city is filled with passion for athletics and team pride.

Whether individuals are devoted fans of L.A. teams or not, the sports culture in our city connects and unifies us across boundaries that can often seem insurmountable.

When the tragic news of the death of basketball legend and future Hall-of-Famer Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna spread just over a month ago, we saw avid Lakers fans and casual observers alike impacted immensely.

Celebrities spoke out in his memory, tearyeyed fans flocked to the Staples Center with thousands of personal tributes, and artists created mural artwork to celebrate the lost lives.

Throughout the days following the tragedy, it was visible that many of our peers were moved by his passing. Some even showed up to school wearing his jersey or other Lakers gear in his honor. On Jan. 29, to honor the late legend, our very own varsity boys’ basketball team wore his jersey during warmups. Before tipoff, there was a 26-second moment of silence, honoring Bryant and his daughter’s jersey numbers, 24 and two respectively. Nearly a month after the tragic event, Angelenos were brought together in remembrance of Kobe’s greatest moments as a father, husband and Los Angeles hero at the Celebration of Life on Feb. 24. Among the thousands of people who visited Bryant’s memorial outside of Staples Center, differences of skin color, gender and socioeconomic status dissipated into thin air.

As people from all walks of life joined together in mourning a sports legend, our city once again highlighted how we are rooted in sports culture, but one that spreads far beyond cheering on the athletes representing our hometown.

Similarly, in wake of the Major League Baseball cheating scandal, Dodgers fans were brought together over the hope that the Houston Astros’ 2017 World Series championship would be vacated as a result of their illegal sign stealing. As painful as the 2017 Game Seven loss may have been at the time for the city, the fact that the Dodgers missed out on claiming its first World Series title since 1988 hurt fans even more knowing the Astros were caught cheating. On March 26, the Astros will play in Anaheim on Opening Day. Flocks of Dodgers fans have purchased tickets to the game and plan to express their outrage at the scandal and the Astros’ behavior. And, by swarming the stadium, Angelenos will stand unified against the immorality of cheating. In a way, their cloud of bright blue blemishing the orange crowd of the Astros fans will project the message that we will not tolerate the principle of gaining unfair advantages, especially when they violate the standards of nationally-accepted rules. As a city, we have come together not only to stand by our team but also our values and our ethics.

While Bryant’s passing and the MLB cheating scandal have united the L.A. community, the teams themselves have had their own reactions.

The Lakers are using Bryant’s legacy as inspiration to compete in the NBA Finals, and the Dodgers are using their resentment and anger as fuel to win the 2020 World Series title.

Ultimately, L.A. coheres itself around sports.

LED light displays on Metro buses show phrases like “Go Dodgers,” during the season exhibit the entire city’s spirit and builds excitement in support of our team. We flock to stadiums, sport jerseys on the regular and get into heated debates over trades and draft picks.

In L.A., a city that’s population is so often characterized by our differences from one another, sports culture plays a unique role. It gives us players, teams and dynasties that we can unite around, but past that, it gives us ideals to look up to.

A10 OpiniOn

The ChrOniCle

MarCh 3, 2020

Finding L.A.’s hidden beauty

By Jessa Glassman

T

he clock strikes four and an orchestra of horns starts to blare loudly, drowning out thoughts and radio static with harmonic familiarity.

But this tune, while certainly impassioned, is not the work of any old Classical master like Mozart, Bach or Beethoven.

It is the sound of the 101 Freeway during rush-hour as the freeway overflows with cars moving at a frustratingly slow pace, and it may as well be music because it is an unavoidable part of every Angeleno’s day.

Sitting virtually motionless day after day and listening to the city’s theme song, whether I like it or not, has given me too much time to dwell on my least favorite parts of Los Angeles. Traffic aside, there are fires, blazing hot summers, poor public transportation systems and scattered city centers to complain about.

But as much as my gridlock-induced agitation makes me spite my hometown, I could not be more grateful for having grown up here, and I urge us all to appreciate our aptly named City of Angels for the following reasons.

The average Angeleno is so much more than the superficial stereotype that portrays us as shallow and avocado toast-obsessed. Yes, many of us can’t tough it out in sub-60-degree weather, and yes, we do enjoy postspin class acai bowls. But regardless, I believe Los Angeles builds valuable character traits like no other city.

We learn to be patient from traffic-filled commutes, to care for our neighbors in need when fires terrorize our communities and to be conscious of our resource consumption after years of droughts.

Similarly, while I value well-known locations like Universal Studios, Rodeo

Drive and the Santa Monica Pier, to me these tourist attractions are not wholly representative of the magic L.A. has to offer.

Behind the rows of palm trees, Mickey Mouse ears and star-covered sidewalks is a rich and vibrant culture and history waiting to be explored.

My mission is not only to urge all Angelenos to appreciate their city, but also to motivate them to take advantage of all it has to offer.

Like the fortune seekers who came here nearly 200 years ago during the Gold Rush, we have all struck gold with nearly endless museums, restaurants and historic sites at our disposal just a short drive away.

So, instead of opting for the same old excursion to the mall, discover the flavors of Little Ethiopia, visit Watts Towers or crack open a good book and admire the stunning dome at the Central Li-

brary.

Choose the enthralling views and collection at the Getty Villa over the movie theater or take a short drive to a historic Spanish mission.

Get out of The Flats and take a ride on Angels Flight or lift weights alongside bodybuilders at Muscle Beach. Wake up early one New Year’s Day and go see the floats at the Rose Parade.

Wear blue and stuff your face with overpriced garlic fries at an intense Dodgers vs. Giants game. Take a tour of the renowned and elegant Queen Mary ship or leave bouquet of flowers at the Judy Garland Pavilion at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Long story short, we should not hesitate to break out of our comfortable rou-

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tines and capitalize on the innumerable opportunities our city has to offer.

The next time you are sitting in rush-hour traffic and it feels like no matter how loud you turn up the radio you cannot tune out the sound of honking car horns, try to shift your focus and take a moment to remember how fortunate you are to live in Los Angeles, the most culturally diverse, hectic and influential city on earth.

Recall our past By ethan lachman

A

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

Comparing school systems By tanisha Gunby

W

hen my multinational family meets during the holidays, many of us hailing from high schools and countries around the world, we discuss and compare the education systems.

Though Harvard-Westlake ranks highly among other private schools in the United States, my cousins, who go to school in France, India, England, Canada and Ireland, seem to be so far ahead of me in education, and the same applies for others in our country. As I list the courses I currently take, they respond by remembering their experience of those courses when they were in ninth grade. However, it is not only me. Some of our other family friends who go to Ivy Leagues, including one who is a teen Jeopardy champion, hear the same.

I am proud of the rigorous and high standards that the school is academically known for. Our school is ranked as the number two private high school in California and number six private high school in the country, according to Niche.com. However, what is disappointing is that California, despite being such a

progressive and wealthy state, was ranked only 37th in the country for Pre-K to 12 education in 2018, according to the U.S. News and World Report.

These extremely low rankings surprised me and raised the question of where the U.S. is ranked in the world for education. Surely a developed country like the U.S. that fosters the lofty American dream must also uphold ambitions to achieve the highest levels of education. I was taken aback to learn that the U.S. spends the second-highest amount per student on public education out of 36 countries (Norway being the first). These statistics were calculated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and reported by the National Center for Education Statistics. The U.S. spent $12,800 per student in 2017, which is a whopping 35 percent higher per fulltime-equivalent student at the elementary and secondary school level than the average OECD member country.

Despite these statistics, the U.S. ranked 38th place out of 71 countries in math scores and 24th in science scores,

according to Business Insider in 2018. While the U.S. is heavily funding educational institutions, the country is receiving disproportionately poor results from students’ academic success.

Studies on longitudinal learning have shown a higher retention of information among students. Translating it to the school educational model would mean introducing science in early elementary school and building it in layers in elementary and middle school education.

This approach allows the fundamentals to sink in more deeply and allows the student to apply them in daily life.

All these concerns are relevant as we now compete in global markets and struggle to get jobs even after receiving an education from prestigious schools and colleges. In order to rectify this situation and achieve a better status in the world, we must prioritize the discussion of education in Congress. We need to open the floor of discussion at every educational institution and have our thoughts represented at the political level to bring about necessary change.

s I scrolled through YouTube in one last attempt to productively procrastinate my homework due the next day, I came across a tune that reminded me of my childhood. According to the comments section underneath the “Upside Down” music video, individuals who were born between 1998 and 2003 must keep the song alive.

The iconic melody is known for its ties to “Curious George,’’ and currently, for representing a rapidly aging group of young adults desperate to hold onto their last moments of youth.

Growing up, I never watched “Curious George,” but when anybody mentions the show, I immediately think of Forrest’s fantastical journey in “Forrest Gump,” one of my earliest favorite movies. As a young child, Forrest reads “Curious George” with his childhood friend, Jenny, and as an adult, Forrest carries that very book in his briefcase, all while waiting to visit her.

When I hear “Upside Down,” I travel down this rabbit-hole of nostalgia abundant with unbreakable cinematic relationships and simpler times where things worked out magically.

For students busy with schoolwork, extracurriculars and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the day has no end. Nevertheless, there is a sense of individuality and purpose that can break up the monotonous routine, one derived from occasional sentimentality. We need a bit of nostalgia among busy times to happily remind us of how we used to be, how far we have come and more importantly, what “now” will mean to us later in life. As we move toward the end of the schoolyear, an increased workload paired with dwindling opportunities can induce tunnel vision, but by pausing to remember the past, students can understand the bigger picture beyond just good grades.

It is easy to say that society today is too complicated and the old days are far more

desirable, but in some ways it seems people’s remembrance tricks them. As high school students still connected to our elementary and middle school selves, we tend to glorify past events. Sometimes, people may feel so fondly of memories that they become overly discouraged by the possible bleakness of their situations. From there, they may think that the best is not yet to come. As long as reminiscing does not occur in excess, bringing our most basic, original feelings to the surface helps us understand the underlying sadness we all face and the intangible things we may be missing in our lives.

Frequently reminding us of the past, our school holds countless fundraisers and gatherings throughout the year, events that normally end in a reception serving Krispy Kreme donuts. Most people can agree that the fried dough rings do taste amazing, but even the chain’s most devout supporters can recognize their relative “lack of quality” in comparison to fancier donuts that may be available. Still, we always choose Krispy Kreme because, from the time of first and second grade birthday party extravaganzas, these donuts were what we looked forward to throughout the day.

Whenever we bite into one at convocation, we can taste the promise of a prosperous year and hear the echoes of past joy.

In Johnson’s song, he writes that he does not want his feeling of curiosity and optimism to go away. People should not get bogged down in the past so much that their prosperous futures begin to recede, yet it seems Johnson’s statement should be refined to include nostalgia. As multifaceted individuals, people must remember the past to understand their true cores. Our interests will ebb and flow, but are also derived from our younger selves; in the end, we have fundamental values and needs that must be respected.

hwchronicle.com/opinion

march 3, 2020

A broken system

Stay gold, USA

By Spencer KlinK

T

he United States is supposedly the most developed nation in the world, yet one look at the country’s poorly-structured healthcare system indicates otherwise.

Although the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010 made important strides for healthcare accessibility by offering insurance subsidies to lowincome families, 29 million Americans still lack healthcare coverage altogether, according to a Gallup poll.

This problem is not a minor oversight; rather, the widespread lack of healthcare coverage is embedded within the very structure of the U.S. healthcare system. Because private insurance companies have the power to set premiums at unreasonable prices, poor families with incomes barely above the threshold for ACA subsidies risk losing access to necessary medical treatments and procedures.

The best solution to the issue is single-payer healthcare in which the federal government is the sole financial contributor and provider of medical services.

A socialized program of this sort would certainly be effective.

A 2012 study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine found that three states with substantial Medicaid increases were more effective at minimizing disease and infection-related deaths than neighboring states. Additionally, Canada’s universal healthcare system proves that, even in large and decentralized states, government-sponsored medical programs can be managed and organized properly.

Although many are quick to label single-payer healthcare as economically unwise, this position relies on an idealized and inaccurate vision of the current U.S. healthcare system.

The current decentralized model has created a patchwork of public and private healthcare, which results in a significant waste of resources, according to Ed Weisbart, assistant professor of clinical medicine at Washington University in St. Louis.

Additionally, according to City University of New York health policy professor David Himmelstein, the excessive resources given to the U.S. healthcare industry results in a direct trade-off with the wellbeing of other industries.

Single-payer healthcare is a cure to both of these flaws.

Another counterargument to single-payer healthcare is that such a program stifles the private sector’s ability to innovate.

However, this argument is oblivious to reality, as non-profit, publicly-funded research is largely responsible for producing the latest groundbreaking medical innovations, as Harvard Medical School professor Aaron Kesselheim writes.

Similarly, while privatelyproduced insulin and EpiPen technologies have seen no drastic improvements, their prices have surged throughout the past decade. This demonstrates the necessity of government intervention in the healthcare industry.

The U.S. can take two courses of action as the healthcare predicament festers: either address the symptoms of a broken system with small-scale reforms or stop the virus at its core by enacting single-payer healthcare.

Failure to embrace nationalized healthcare will continue to leave 29 million lives on the line.

By lucaS lee

A

s the 2020 presidential candidate field narrows, healthcare has emerged as a central issue this election, being debated and discussed extensively on the national stage. On the progressive end of the spectrum, Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren lead the initiative for Medicare for All, whereas the more moderate candidates such as former mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Vice President Joe Biden and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg simply advocate for a public healthcare program.

Despite the small differences between the plans, the candidates all support greater government involvement and increased spending on healthcare.

While the healthcare debate typically examines the implications of specific plans, the more important issues to consider are the overarching moral implications of these new programs, instead of dwelling on minute details of highly specific plans for universal healthcare. The greatest flaw to any form of universal healthcare in America is the unconstitutional precedent that it sets.

Currently, President Donald Trump is working to undo former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, which raised taxes on citizens in order to provide accessible healthcare for those with financial constraints. With another four years of Trump, we can expect to see little change in the healthcare world. It is clear that Trump is trying to restore the private sector and, even if Democrats hold majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate, Trump’s veto power would prevent any changes.

The idea of universal healthcare oversteps the role of the government. Under the constitution, people are

The primary narrative

By Siobhan harmS

I

could not help but feel energized as I pushed my way through dozens of supporters, all committed to making their way to the front of the line. At the doorway of Democratic Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang’s brimming conference room, I slipped past the security guards fighting to hold back the growing crowd.

Inside, the energy was palpable. Almost everyone, excluding the reporters, was clad in Yang’s signature navy blue ‘math’ merchandise.

Yang’s rally was the first event I attended during the weekend of the Iowa Caucuses, and it did not disappoint, less because of the rally itself, but more because of who I met. Outside of the conference room where Yang held his rally, our Chronicle

adviser Jim Burns and former Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Sammi Handler ’17 were kind enough to point out that MSNBC’s Katy Tur was interviewing supporters. My eyes widened as I excitedly replied, “Where?” I had no clue where to look, and it seemed almost impossible to quickly locate someone in the crowd.

But, lucky for me, an older woman grabbed my arm and guided me a few feet away to a clearer vantage point. She extended her arm and pointed. I thanked her profusely and went in search of one of my all-time favorite reporters, Katy Tur. I introduced myself to her and we talked about our

opinion A11

given the right to “life,” not a subscription to a service that they will not necessarily use or need. Universal healthcare would be similar to the benefits we get as citizens from libraries and parks. We have these services and we can choose to use them as little or much as we want, but regardless of how much we use them, we all get taxed for it. With the introduction of government-controlled healthcare, the government assumes the responsibility of protecting one’s health.

The implications of such a duty are far too vast for any government to provide.

Once the government becomes the agency that maintains public health, it assumes all the normal roles that an insurance provider would carry out. Serving as the national healthcare provider, the government would profit when members pay for the subscription and do not use it. Therefore, it would be in the government’s best interest to ensure the overall health of its citizens to cut medical expenses.

While universal healthcare produces an incentive for a healthier population, it also gives the government enormous control over our free choice. This means that the government would be motivated to ban or disincentivize anything that it deems as a potential threat to public health, with the justification that it would be for the greater good of the public.

This entails sin taxes and national bans that would disrupt one of the most prided features of America—the free market economy. Universal healthcare gives the government dangerous control over civil activities which are even slightly detrimental to one’s overall health.

Of 152 students polled,

ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE SCHAEFFER AND ALEXA DRUYANOFF

A Chronicle Assistant Features Editor writes about her experiences at various Democratic candidates’ rallies during the Iowa Caucus ahead of the 2020 primary election.

school’s rivalries. She was a Brentwood alumna, and she told me her colleague, Jacob Soboroff, was a Harvard-Westlake alumnus. Tur brought up the rivalry we have between our two schools and I jokingly tossed back that there was not much of a rivalry.

Her advice to me was simple: never take no for an answer and never give up. This resonated to my core because it not only applies to journalism but to everyday life. We would be nowhere if not for the risks we take.

The next few days were a blur. I spoke to countless campaign staffers, most notably Lis Smith, SY Lee and TJ Ducklo. At a Joe Biden rally,

I snapped a picture with the former Vice President and he told me to remember the meeting when I become the next President of the United States. The line was clearly a signature of his, but it nonetheless made me feel special.

I never imagined that the former Vice President would ever speak to me.

On the day of the caucuses, I went to a taping of Tur’s show at Java Joes, a coffee shop. When she wrapped up her show, she came over and gave me a hug. Then she had the executive producer of the show give me a tour of the backstage area and show me the satellite trucks. Later that night, as Tur went around the gym where this particular caucus was being held, the crowd started to loudly chant

her name.

Looking back, I do not think anything can match the adrenaline rush of that weekend. It was fun to meet extraordinarily talented journalists and campaign staffers, all while getting an eyeful of the nuances surrounding American democracy. In the midst of the political fervor, I realized how often we take for granted our ability to share our opinions and thoughts.

Not everyone in the world is guaranteed that privilege. So, during the coming presidential election, I ask that everyone fully immerse themselves in politics. To not do so would be a slap in the face to everyone who fought for the opportunities we currently have.

ILLUSTRATION BY CAROLINE JACOBY

Community The Chronicle • March 3, 2020

Studio City residents to vote in local, primary elections

By Sarah healy and Zoe redlich

WHEN TO VOTE 7 A.M.-8 P.M, March 3, 2020

WHERE TO VOTE IN STUDIO CITY Tree People Bridges Academy Walter Reed Middle School

WHAT TO BRING 1. Official Sample Ballot 2. Vote by Mail Ballot (if applicable) 3. Photo identification, utility bill or government-issued document with name and residence address

Today, citizens will vote in the primary elections for both Democratic presidential candidates and numerous local officials, propositions and policies for their district.

For the San Fernando Valley, which includes Studio City, there are two other notable elections taking place: United States Representative of District 30 and the State Assemblymember of District 46.

Four candidates will run against incumbent Rep. Brad Sherman in District 30 and one will challenge Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian in District 46. Since 2012, Sherman and Nazarian have represented California’s 30th congressional district and the 46th State Assembly District, respectively.

Since his election, Nazarian has advocated for the protection and expansion of the film industry in the San Fernando Valley, an increase in mass transit and infrastructure improvements to better manage vital water resources, according to his campaign website. Nazarian hopes that his work on the Assembly speaks for itself in gaining votes among the district “I’m hoping that people are taking notice of that work and that I don’t need to constantly focus on campaigning to say the wonderful work that I’m doing but that they actually see it, feel it, touch it and know that the important investments are being made,” Nazarian said.

Mark Reed is a Republican candidate running against Sherman for Congress in District 30. His main priority is to improve the severe homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, but he is also concerned about the growing property taxes and cost of living in the San Fernando Valley, Reed said.

This year, California has implemented a new system in order to encourage more voters to participate. The votADVERTISEMENT

Scan for more information on the candidates and propositions

ILLUSTRATIONS BY EVIE DE RUBERTIS AND HANNAH MITTLEMAN

ing period began Feb. 22, allowing voters 11 consecutive days to fill out ballots. Additionally, voters are now able to visit any polling center in the country and can use the new ballot marking devices, designed to be efficient and faster, according to the Los Angeles County Clerk.

Nevertheless, Nazarian said that, while local elections are very important for each district, they are not noticed as much by voters, especially during such an important election year like this one.

He said that he was underwhelmed by the low number of votes from his district as the election was drawing nearer.

“As of [Feb. 26], only 10 percent of my district had voted,” Nazarian said. “I represent a very influential district.

I represent an area that has a very significant part of the entertainment industry, a lot of different technical industries, so it’s got the best of the best in many arenas. It is surprising to see that my constituents are not performing where they need to be performing, given that it’s a presidential year and a very important primary.”

Although she is 18, Neeku Sharifi ’20 said she will not participate in the primaries because she feels her vote will not matter until the election day for the presidential candidate in November.

“Even though I’m old enough to vote in the primaries, I don’t intend to because I feel as if my vote in the primary election won’t make that much of a difference,” Sharifi said. “I’m going to vote for the Democratic candidate no matter who the Democratic candidate is for this election.”

However, the ballot also includes propositions such as Proposition 13, a $15-billion bond measure to improve school and college facilities in California, will show up on the ballot. This proposition, while supported by many schools in California,

has raised concerns from the Los Angeles Unified School District, according to the Los Angeles Times. The voters will decide the fate of this legislation March 3.

Dean Reiter ’20 said he will be voting in the primaries but is not aware of any of the local elections that are occurring in his district. While he believes they are important, he finds the presidential race more interesting.

“I think [the local elections] are actually probably more important, but I haven’t researched them as much because they aren’t as much fun to talk about,” Reiter said.

“But I think the local laws are more important because those are more likely to affect me directly.”

Reed said that he believes that voters should place more emphasis on local politics in these elections, regardless of party, because only a local representative can give full consideration to the values of a community.

“I do not want to be driven out of here by policies that make it impossible for my kids to buy a house, for my kids to start businesses, for my kids to walk the street safely or for my wife to walk the streets safely,” Reed said. “I want somebody to implement policies that will help guarantee those aspects of life.”

Nazarian said he has a similar outlook and emphasized the importance of effective policymakers that hold local positions.

“We have to look at society in a zero-sum game way where if you don’t make the appropriate investment now, there will be a lack of opportunities in the future,” Nazarian said. “Those lack of opportunities could lead to folks making poor decisions that then impact all of us when we are trying to do our best to make our environment a better place. All it takes is a few individuals making a few mistakes that have severe consequences for many.”

Features The Chronicle •March 3, 2020

Addicted to A’s Students discuss their thoughts on how abusing study drugs as a way to be better focused is becoming commonplace at school.

• Continued on B7

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA DRUYONOFF

B2 Features

March 3, 2020

the chronicle

GOING VIRAL In light of the recent spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, students reflect on how it may affect educational environments.

By Ruoshan Dong anD FRank Jiang

were forced to return home four days earlier than initially planned.

The exchange students arrived • Continued from A1 in the U.S. on Jan. 19 and arrived at their host families’ homes Jan. well, so I’m not that worried.”

25. The students were tested at a According to the World Health health clinic for coronavirus on Organization (WHO), the corona- Jan. 27 and spent the first week virus, or COVID-19, is a conta- of their exchange participating in gious respiratory illness that first off-campus cultural activities in the appeared in Wuhan, China in De- L.A. Area. cember. Since then, the virus has Director of The Kutler Center been detected in 32 countries. As of and Summer Programs Jim Patterpress time, 3,038 people have died son said that the schedule of the exfrom coronavirus and there are over change program was altered in an 83,652 confirmed cases globally. attempt to ensure the safety of the The United States has reported school community. over 69 confirmed cases of coro“Based on the initial assessnavirus including 33 in California, ment, the doctor cleared them to two of which originated from an be with us for the duration of the unknown source. Neither patient exchange,” Patterson said. “Still, we had recently traveled outside of made the decision to reverse some the country, nor had come of our normal activities for into contact with anyone our WLSA students. Norwho did, and are believed mally, [during] the first to have contracted the virus week, students spend from “community spread,” time on campus, and the according to The New York second week they spend Times. time out in the commuThough a Korean Air nity doing cultural activflight attendant who was ities. We made the decidiagnosed with the virus in sion to swap the order in ’ South Korea recently visited an abundance of caution, Sterling Los Angeles, public health even though there was no Kim ’21 officials said that there is no indication of the disease, evidence of person-to-perand it seemed unlikely son spread of the virus within L.A. that anyone had it or was going to County, according to CBS. contract it.”

“The immediate health risk to Although the students were the general public of exposure to healthy and risk-free, the travel rethis virus in L.A. County is still con- strictions caused by the outbreak sidered low,” the Public Health De- forced WLSA to send them back to partment said in a statement Feb. China four days earlier than origi28. “[We will] continue to take steps nally planned. to prevent the spread of this novel “Because of the continued outcoronavirus.” break of the coronavirus in China, In an all-school email sent Feb. we were concerned that flights were 28, President Rick Commons urged being canceled between the U.S. the community to take precaution- and China,” Patterson said. “And ary steps in protecting themselves so, WLSA made the decision to try and each other from illness. to get them home early because “Our Community Health Of- they were quite concerned that if fice is in frequent contact with the they waited too long, they would L.A. County Department of Public not have been able to get home, or it Health and a number of infectious would have been extremely difficult disease experts here in Los Ange- to route them from the U.S. back to les,” Commons wrote in the email. China.”

“We will listen to their advice, we The school did not make inforare developing plans for a range of mation about the exchange stucontingencies, and we will always dents and their departure available put the health and safety of our to the school community due to the school community first.” belief that there was no threat to In attempts to limit the spread of the safety of students and faculty, the coronavirus, U.S. airlines such Patterson said. as American, Delta and United have “We did deliberate over whethsuspended all flights between the er or not it would be appropriU.S. and Mainland China. ate given the circumstances Due to these travel restrictions, and the facts, whether it six Shanghai WLSA Academy stu- was important for the dents participating in the two-week entire student body WLSA Cultural Exchange Program to know [about white s

the departure of the exchange stu- I know that the virus is extremely dents],” Patterson said. “Given the contagious, I wasn’t too worried befact that the students had been cause I didn’t interact with [the stuhere for a long time and the fact dents] too much.” that they were cleared by a medical Although Choi believes the professional and that there was no school handled the situation to the indication of any coronavirus, we best of its ability, one concern that felt that we took all the necessary she had was how late the students steps to keep our students safe. I were tested. can say with confidence that we “I feel like if they came here they spent a long time evaluating this should know if they had [coronasituation and based on the informa- virus] and should’ve been checked tion we had,” before they even came on campus Sterling Kim ’21 said that rather than after,” Choi said. though the exchange students were Unlike Kim, Joy Ho ’22, a memultimately free from the risk of coro- ber of the WLSA Welcoming Comnavirus, the rumors and lack of in- mittee, said that she agreed with formation about the disease worried the school’s decisions regarding him about the safety of the school what information should be distribcommunity. uted to the entire student body.

“Hearing all the rumors about “But since they didn’t [show the exchange students made me any symptoms] and I didn’t think feel scared,” Kim said. they had such a “There were a lot of huge presence on rumors going around the student body, I I wasn’t really but no one knew exthink it was fine if actly what was go- worried, but my they didn’t let eving on. The school parents were because eryone know since definitely could have I previously had not everyone saw done more to keep the them and were paypneumonia. ” rest of us informed so ing all that much that we could know attention to them,” —Kayla Choi ’22 Ho said that we were safe and there was no All schools in risk. They definitely China have been could’ve handled things more re- closed indefinitely, as the coronavisponsibly instead of keeping us in rus outbreak continues to escalate. the dark the whole time.”

On Jan. 17, the Chinese Ministry Another student, Kayla Choi ’22, of Education introduced a “nationsaid that her parents were mainly al Internet cloud classroom” deconcerned with the arrival of pos- signed to replace traditional classsibly infected students on campus room-based learning. because their presence could have “We are planning to have online had lethal consequences for her. courses,” Zhu said. “It’s similar to “I wasn’t really worried, but my normal courses, but we’ll be video parents were because I previously calling instead. Everything will be had pneumonia,” Choi said. “I’ve at the same time, and the school heard that coronavirus, although schedule will remain the same. The not too serious, could be lethal for school has published everything on people with weak immune systems, our social media so they’ve been like old people, or people who’ve had very clear about everything. Nothpneumonia in ing [is] too [out of the ordinary] or the past like wrong, just very normal.” me. Even Zhu said that despite the ont h o u g h going epidemic, she was confident that the situation would eventually return to normalcy.

“I believe the prevention and control is very developed now in China,” Zhu said. “ The people around me [are] focused on protecting themselves and paying high attention to [coronavirus], so I’m not that worried. Nobody in my neighborhood has caught coronavirus, and I hope it will end soon and we can return to our normal lives.

“

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CASEY KIM AND SPENCER KLINK

march 3, 2020

hwchronicle.com/features

features B3

Beyond the Braids Students explore discrimination they have experienced, especially toward their natural hair texture.

PHOTO PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF SKYLAR GRAHAM

By Jordan Murray

coinciding with a push for black individuals to accept their natural When Makeda Neavill ’21 was hair. In current times, there has in middle school, she associated also been a large shift in the ways straight hair with professionalism that black people perceive their feaand maturity. With the texture of her tures, with more wearing their hair hair suppressed, she believed that in its natural state and sporting she would be treated more favorably historically black hairstyles such as by the individuals whose opinions braids and dreads.

“Social media has, in a way, mattered, she said. Though she stopped straightening her hair in normalized the woes and beauty of ninth grade to prevent further heat black hair for people who are not damage, her natural hair pattern is of color; braids, twists, dreads and afros are not this big mystery anynow permamently altered.

“I was trying to be someone I more,” Graham said. “There is a wasn’t,” Neavill said. “There is noth- more positive narrative of black hair ing wrong with straightening your being promoted.”

To express her love for natural hair, it is just that my intention behind why I straightened it was so hair and its versatility, Neavill cretoxic. I only did it because I thought ated an Instagram account dedicatI would fit in more, and I didn’t do it ed to showcasing her different hairfor myself. It took me a little while, styles.

“I started [the Instagram account] but I finally started to feel comfortbecause I love how many able with myself and who I different styles I can do was, and my heat-damaged with my natural hair,” hair just started to bother Neavill said. “Sometimes, me.” it is hard for me to articThe pressure for African ulate my thoughts and to American women and men truly show my personalito straighten their hair is ty, and my hair helps me not unique to Neavill, but feel fulfilled in my jourrather is an issue that stems ’ ney of expressing myself from the lasting impacts of Makeda better. After spending so slavery, she said. As black Neavill ’21 much time with my hair, individuals became more I realized it was a huge integrated into white society following the ratification of the 13th part of who I was and I wanted to amendment in 1865, they looked share that with the world.”

Recently, efforts to spread the towards white beauty standards for ways to assimilate, one of which in- idea of embracing natural hair are cluded smoothing hair texture, ac- evidenced in television and movies.

These themes have been reflected in cording to BBC. “There are so many different ste- “Hair Love,” a short film about stylreotypes that come with black hair ing black hair that won this year’s like ‘kinks aren’t cute,’ or ‘good hair Academy Award for Best Animated versus bad hair,’ or being ‘nap- Short Film, as well as in the “Barpy-headed,’” said Skylar Graham bershop” series and Netflix’s “Nap’20. “I think black women straight- pily Ever After.”

“Our hair is so unique in its veren their hair [now] not because they want to be white, but because it is satility not only with the individuone less thing to be judged for when al, but also with the range [of the we walk out the door: one less thing hairstyles we can wear],” Josephine Amakye ’21 said. “It also is somethat puts us at a disadvantage.”

During the Civil Rights Era, the thing that takes so long to appreafro-style increased in popularity, ciate [while] growing up, and the white s

resolution of that internal conflict strides in this area, black people makes our hair that much more continue to face discrimination bemeaningful because it’s representa- cause of their hair. In January, Detive of accepting and celebrating our Andre Arnold, a black teenager from identity.”

Texas, was told that he would not be As the world has grown more ac- permitted to walk his school gradcepting of natural hair, many non- uation unless he cut off his dreadblack people have attempted to locks, according to The Hill. adopt these styles. Celebrities like According to ABC News, Andre the Kardashians, who have worn Johnson, a New Jersey high-school braids, and designers like Marc Ja- wrestler, and Faith Kennedy, an cobs, who had non-black models 11-year-old girl from Louisiana, wear colorful dreadlocks during his have also had their struggles shared New York Fashion Week show in across the internet during the past 2016, have been accused of cultural two years. appropriation.

“People shouldn’t be punished “I believe that people are entitled or judged for having a particular to whichever style they like,” Holden hairstyle, and it’s a shame that this McRae ’20 said. “However, I believe type of discrimination still occurs,” it’s also important to recognize the McRae said. cultural meaning behind certain In order to spread awareness hairstyles. It definitely becomes a about the hair discrimination that problem whenever someone takes black people continue to face, Arfrom a culture withnolds attended the out having to ex2020 Oscars with perience the same the short film Hair People discrimination that Love to promote the shouldn’t be punished that culture faces. I CROWN Act, acthink that hair is a or judged for having a cording to Refinery difficult subject to particular hairstyle, and 29. The CROWN Act categorize because it’s a shame that this stands for “Create a a particular style is type of discrimination Respectful and Open often simply a choWorld for Natural sen aesthetic, [but] still occurs.”

Hair” and was pro—Holden McRae ’20 posed in order preblack people are often the only ones vent hair discriminawho face discrimination because of tion in schools and places of work, it.” according to The CROWN Act’s webMuthee Githara ’20 said he be- site. lieves that, in order to take on a “Your hair is the most irrelevant specific style, individuals must un- thing to your learning and that of derstand the meaning behind it. your classmates,” Amakye said. “It’s “We are not a monolithic culture targeting and distracting towards where we all have to take a stance young children who not only cannot against one thing like cultural ap- stand up for themselves but canpropriation when it comes to things not understand why they are being like cornrows, dreads and edges,” treated this way. If some black kids Githara said. “[However], the person already feel afraid to style their natwho borrows from the culture must ural hair without any criticism bepay homage to where the hairstyle cause of its inherent uniqueness, came from, not take claim for in- how much more [afraid will they venting a hairstyle because they are feel] now that it’s an actual issue the first non-black person to wear at their school? No kid should be it.” expected to perform well in such a Although society has made hostile environment.”

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B4 Features

the ChroniCle

In Loving Memory of Rabbi Emily Feigenson

“My experience at the middle school has been transformed by Rabbi Feigenson’s presence on campus. From Big Sibs to the programs on the prevention of drug use, the programs that she led helped our community become more conscious, welcoming and informed.” —Julia Im ’23 “Everyone I’ve talked to about Rabbi Feigenson said she had a big impact on their lives and influenced the way they thought about the world.” —Olivia Feldman ’22 “Rabbi Feigenson was an incredible teacher, counselor and mentor. The school community will not be the same without her. ” —Kylie Azizzadeh ’21

MarCh

arCh

3, 2020

hwChroniCle.CoM/Features

By Joanna Im Lauren nehoraI

and

Compassionate, bright and devoted to students’ wellbeing, Rabbi Emily Feigenson touched the entire Harvard-Westlake community during her 14 years at the school.

On Jan. 23, Feigenson passed away after a two-year battle with brain cancer, surrounded by her husband Dennis Perluss and her children Netanya ’15, Talia ’18 and Gabriel.

Students, faculty, parents and members of Feigenson’s synagogue gathered to pay their respects at a funeral service held Jan. 28 at Mount Sinai Simi Valley.

Since 2004, Feigenson filled many roles at the middle school campus, including leading initiatives such as the Crisis and Support Team, the eighth grade Wellness Workshops, the ninth grade Freedom from Chemical Dependency program and the Big Sibs program. Feigenson also directed various parent education projects that focused on the prevention of teen alcohol and drug usage.

President Rick Commons reflected on the impact that Feigenson left on the school and how her passing has affected the community.

“It’s hard to capture her impact in a few brief words, but I think that she of course in many ways embodied the focus that the school makes it as part of its mission on integrity and character,” Commons

said. “She looked after colleagues and students as a spiritual guide and as a human source of compassion and wisdom.”

Maya Mathur ’22 shared stories of her first interactions at the school with Feigenson.

“I met [Feigenson] on the first day of school when I was in seventh grade,” Mathur said. “She took the time to remember my name and said hello to me throughout the scary experience of being a new student on such a large campus. She made sure that I felt welcomed during my first weeks at school as I started to make friends.”

As a Big Sib leader during her freshman year, Mathur said she was able to further bond with Feigenson and gain a deeper understanding about her passions for the school.

“I didn’t know why we connected so quickly until I was a Big Sib leader in ninth grade,” Mathur said. “[Feigenson] took the time to learn about each individual student in the school to pair them with the big sib who could best relate to them. It was a painstaking process, but [Feigenson] cared enough about the Harvard-Westlake community and everyone in it to work tirelessly to make sure that everyone felt welcome on campus.”

Jake Schroeder ’20 said that Feigenson was a key figure in helping him transition smoothly from his elementary school to middle school. “[Feigenson] helped me immensely in my tran-

Features B5

sition from a Jewish day school to Harvard-Westlake,” Schroeder said. “As the spiritual presence on campus, she was not only an ally and supporter in the religious programs, but she also made everyone feel welcomed in all aspects of spiritual life. Be it a new seventh grader being matched with a Big Sib or a ninth grader transitioning to the upper school, she was always there to help.”

Justin Park ’20, who grew close with Feigenson during his Human Development class and as a ninth-grade leader of the Big Sibs program, said that Feigenson was a guiding force within the school community. “[Feigenson] was truly a beam of sunshine,” Park said. “She approached every aspect of her day with optimism and possessed a unique ability to make others feel welcome and appreciated. It was in Human Development where we really got a chance to connect. [Feigenson] made it clear from the start that she was there for us in any way and had valuable insights to share not just on topics related to the class but to life in general.”

Feigenson made a large impact not only as a teacher at the school but also as a member of her synagogue, Commons said.

“I attended her funeral, and there was a really large number of teachers, some students [and] alumni, who were there to celebrate her life and it was a fitting, very sad tribute to her impact on [the school]

that there were so many people there,” Commons said. “There was an even greater number of people who were there from her temple. She was effectively a centerpiece of that temple and that population, and they were at that funeral.”

Middle school dean and history teacher Karen Fukushima said Feigenson never failed to support members of the school community, both on campus and outside of school.

“Personally, Feigenson was there for my family when my father-in-law passed away and she offered support and resources on how to deal with grief for my young daughter who was only three at the time,” Fukushima said. “She always remembered to ask about my daughter, Olive, even years afterwards.”

Feigenson will be remembered not only for her accomplishments as a leader but for the ways in which she brightened the lives of others on a daily basis.

“We learned that we lived near each other in Westwood, and she urged me to try the saffron ice cream from Saffron and Rose,” Park said. “In my ninth grade year, my school service was again with her and each cycle she would ask to see if I had gone to try the ice cream. At the end of the year, I finally got to try the saffron ice cream she had raved about. It was waiting for me when I walked into her office for my last school service session. That’s the kind of loving person she was.”

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA DRUYONOFF

B6 Features

March 3, 2020

the chronicle

Students and faculty discuss how the 2020 Census will affect the future of politics and the lives of U.S. citizens.

By Marina nasciMento

tatives.

“Congressional repreImages of California sentation is the biggest residents and immigrants benefit coming out of the hard at work gleamed atop Census,” Shinderman said. the stack of Census com- “The reason why it’s immitment cards that Hope portant to fill out the CenShinderman ’21 carried sus is that it dictates how from door to door. many representatives a Walking through her state has in the [House of neighborhood and around Representatives]. For exschool to spread the word ample, in the last census, and increase participa- California lost two repretion in the 2020 Census, sentatives because of the Shinderman said the im- Census. So if everyone ages served as a constant accurately reports, that reminder of the impor- means that there is accutance of representing voic- rate representation [in the es across various types of House of Representatives] communities. and [the United States popEvery 10 years, a Cen- ulation] can more easily get sus is conducted within all their agendas passed.”

50 states and territories of According to the U.S. the United States. Accord- Census Bureau, the Cening to the Population Ref- sus affects not only polierence Bureau, the Census tics, but also highway and takes a count of the popu- roadway planning, fundlation, which serves as a ing of local schools and basis for fair poprograms geared litical representatoward supporting tion. Participation human rights proin the Census is grams. mandatory, as deFurthermore, scribed in Title 13 the Census conof the U.S. Code. tributes in creatShinderman, ing new jobs for a member of the the unemployed ’ West L.A. Mayor’s population in the Tatiana Youth Council, U.S. said her role as Washington ’21 Through the a Census Youth U.S. Census BuAmbassador has helped fa- reau, thousands of temmiliarize her with the 2020 porary jobs are offered to Census and take a deeper Americans of all ages, from look into its significance. teens to elderly individuals.

“The census is essen- The jobs range from Centially gathering information sus takers to recruiting asfrom the head of each res- sistants, office staffers and idential unit living in the supervisory staffers. The United States and its ter- bureau offers a solid salaritories,” Shinderman said. ry while including flexible “It is basic information hours and offering support such as the number of peo- to different communities, ple living in a household, according to the U.S. Centhe number of people living sus Bureau. in a family and gender.”

Although the Census This year, the Census provides benefits to the began collecting data in ru- population, it does not ral Alaska on Jan. 31. The come without controverCensus questions are pro- sy. Tatiana Washington jected to reach the entire ’21 said she thinks that country between March the value of the citizenship 12 to April 30, as stated question asking if a person by the Census Outreach. is documented or undocuIf a household fails to re- mented on the Census is spond, the Census takers up for debate. will show up to homes from “[The immigrants] might May 13 to July 31. be scared to not even take Shinderman said that the census, and states she believes participation which have a large populais essential because of the tion of undocumented imcrucial role of the Census migrants would be losing in determining the politi- federal aid because these cal structure of the United people wouldn’t be countStates House of Represen- ed and they wouldn’t have white s

proportional representa- time soon to expand the tion in Congress,” Wash- number of seats in the ington said.

House, so the country has Washington said she to divide up 425 seats,” also believes that President Clement said. “Given that Donald Trump is taking reality, as California’s advantage of his execu- population grows and the tive power over the Census population diminishes in questions in order to com- other states, it’s going to pel immigrants not to par- be controversial. California ticipate. has one of the most diverse “I think that [adding the populations in the councitizenship question] made try, it’s the most populated it so that this is a very state in the country and scary time for immigrants it doesn’t seem likely that and a lot of people felt like many are going to accept a [the question] is another state like that.” attack from Trump on the The primary challenge state of immigrants and his facing the U.S. Census attempts to alienate people Bureau is the undercountwho might not be secure ing of certain population in their standing here in groups, according to the America and to discourage California Complete Count people from immigrating Committee. That challenge to America,” Washington is amplified in California, said. where more residents are History teacher and traditionally hard to count, former 2000 Census-taker including foreign-born inChristopher dividuals, Clement renters and said he bethose living Census or not, lieves that [data] shows that [the close to or there will below the be disagree- country’s] racial and poverty line ment in the ethnic compositions are and children 2020 Cen- changing. ” younger than sus that are five years old. very simi—Christopher Clement The Commitlar to what tee said that History teacher it is focused he saw 20 years ago. on getting “The controversies are responses from residents coming just as they did,” who are the most difficult Clement said. “Nothing to count. has changed since 2000 Looking forward, Shindin how people self-describe erman said she believes themselves in terms of race that it is important for stuand ethnicity, which was dents to pay attention to controversy then and it the upcoming Census bewill continue to be a con- cause it will have a direct troversy now. The fact is, impact on their lives in the Census or not, other data future. shows that the country is “Students are not the changing and its racial and heads of the households, ethnic compositions are therefore they cannot dichanging, and I think there rectly fill out the Census are many who are uncer- forms,” Shinderman said. tain and hostile to those “However, the [people who demographic shifts, and are of age] are able to vote those who feel that way are in elections [and] will have trying to find a way to stop more political representathe census from collecting tion. When we, as students what they regard as sen- [are able to vote], then we sitive data regarding race too will have more repreand ethnicity.” sentation in the [House of Clement said he be- Representatives],” Shindlieves that the diverse de- erman said. “However, the mographics of California, seniors who are 18 and especially in comparison to able to vote in elections other states, create issues will have more political regarding representation of representation. When we, certain races and ethnicity as students reach adultin the Census. hood, then we too will have “It doesn’t seem like more representation in the Congress has plans any- house.”

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SPENCER KLINK

march 3, 2020

hwchronicle.com/features

By Siobhan harmS

severe danger to their health.

The study drug can cause exOn a particularly over- tensive damage to the heart and whelming school night last cardiovascular system if used for year, Jill* turned to her best a prolonged period of time. This friend and asked if she could damage can result in a stroke, take some of his prescribed heart attack or seizure, accordAdderall. He handed her a pill, ing to Healthline. and after only the briefest moEdmund*, who said he has ment of hesitation, she swal- abused Adderall in the past, lowed—the effects hit her just thinks that the nature of the moments later. school’s high-intensity environ“I don’t even know how to ment can make the drug a necdescribe it,” Jill said. “It just essary evil. feels like you are really, real“I think for school some kids ly focused [and] have a lot of are just up to two in the morning energy. They’re [combination] every night,” Edmund said. “It’s amphetamines.” not natural to do that According to a so they do need an Chronicle poll of 155 edge in a way, which respondents, 4.5 permakes sense.” cent of students have Jill said she takes reported abusing a the medication spostudy drug out of radically in an effort 155 respondents, but to avoid developing 52.6 percent of stuan addiction. She dents reported knowpoints to the drug’s ’ Dylan ing someone who addictive quality as Field ’21 abused a study drug the one reason she out of 154 responwould never recomdents. A 2017 study by New mend the drug to her peers.

York University showed that “I don’t let myself take it 6.9 percent of high school enough to the point where I do seniors reported nonmedi- it three days in a row because cal Adderall use. then you get withdrawals and it Jill said Adderall allows sucks,” Jill said. her to study for longer peAccording to Addiction Cenriods of time without get- ter, over 116,000 people were ting distracted. She said admitted to rehab for an addicthat from what she has ob- tion to amphetamines like Adserved, the students who derall in 2012 alone. regularly abuse the medicaDylan Field ’21, who has tion are more successful in noticed an increases in usage school. among his peers, said he be“That’s the thing about lieves that Adderall abuse at Adderall, it’s not you do- school is a huge issue. He said ing the work anymore,” that he thinks abusing the drug Jill said. “You are just so will result in addiction and an focused on [the work] it inability to do work without the just does it in a way if that drug. makes any sense.”

“Students, because of [AdThe willingness of some derall], have the ability to work students to resort to Ad- and try less, knowing they can derall use when under ac- fall back onto Adderall if they ademic pressure lose focus,” Field said. “Thus, is a by putting in less effort, they become more dependent on Adwhite s

features B7

derall which then allows them edges that the school says stuto use even less effort, which in- dents can come to them with creases the vicious cycle of Ad- addiction help, he thinks most derall dependency.” people go to outside support if Edmund agrees that stu- they ever do get help. He said dents should not take the med- that he believes the school ication nightly due to the risk of would prioritize their image addiction. However, he said he over the students’ wellbeing. is adamant that taking the drug “The school [has] a big occasionally can make sense. name,” Edmund said. “[They] “I mean it’s kind of crazy if do not want to associate thempeople are doing it like every selves with that. I think people night,” Edmund said. “But, once know better than to go to the in a while, I mean school is cra- school with that kind of stuff.” zy. [Taking] it makes sense.”

Head of School Laura Ross From what she has seen at said she believes that Adderschool, Jill said that most peo- all abuse is no more prevalent ple who abuse the drug are us- at the Upper School school ing it to cope than it is at with their heavy any other [Adderall abuse workloads. high-achiev“ E v e r y o n e has] been an issue for ing high has so much many years at high school. stuff to do [in“It’s been schools all over the side and] outside an issue for country.” of school,” Jill many years —Laura Ross at said. “It’s crazy. high Most of them are Head of Upper School schools all looking to actuover the ally [use it to] do country,” their work which is one of the Ross said. “If we are in line saddest things about it. They are with national statistics, then using drugs to actually get by in it’s likely that we might have high school, and that sucks.” students abusing these preJill said she thinks students scription medications.” are primarily motivated to try Although the school medication such as Adderall or makes efforts to monitor Ritalin because they are both students’ mental health, overwhelmed and desperate to Ross said she believes that do better in school. the school is limited in its “I just think that the people ability to prevent such at this school are so depressed abuses. that they turn to [drugs] as an “There aren’t many option,” Jill said. “I know about measures the school can two people that are addicted to take to stop students from Ritalin that don’t have a pre- sharing their medications scription.

The fact that [we] with others to whom they even have access [to these drugs] are not prescribed,” Ross is what is kind of messed up.” said. “However, we do Field said he believes that monitor student health Adderall abuse should never be and wellness (physical condoned. and mental) every week “Unless used in cases where and are on the lookout for there is a legitimate medical con- signs of abuse.” cern, Adderall abuse is a terrible issue in academics,” Field said. *Names have been Although Edmund acknowl- changed

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ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

B8 Features

March 3, 2020

the chronicle

Lettuce Eat Plant-based diets have become increasingly trendy. Students discuss the environmental and health benefits of adapting these diets.

By Lauren Cho

healthier lifestyles. In a study conducted by the Harris Poll Determined to both con- in 2019, two and four percent tribute to a bake sale fund- of American adults considraiser for sustainable forestry ered themselves vegan and and to comply with her newly vegetarian, respectively. In vegan diet, Lexie Warlick ’21 addition, according to Nielsen mixed dark chocolate, vegan Holdings, six times as many butter and applesauce into consumers in the United her chocolate chip cookie bat- States identified as vegan in ter. The next morn2017 than in 2012. ing, she left her The increasing goods out on the danger of climate sale table, expecting change has encourthem not to receive aged more people to much appeal due shift to plant-based to the recipe’s undiets, Advanced conventional subPlacement Envistitutions. To her ronmental Science surprise, her baked teacher Nancy Chen ’ goods sold out. said.

Sophie “One of my fa“I believe that Johnson ’21 vorite things about people are going being vegan was baking,” vegan and vegetarian because Warlick said. “It allowed me it helps our planet,” Chen to explore new alternatives said. “Right now, our planet to animal products and have is being exploited to suit our wants, which dramatically infun with the possibilities.”

Though making plant- fluences the effects of climate based dishes can be enter- change.”

Chen said that there is still taining, understanding the environmental impacts of dif- a lack of awareness about the ferent diets is far more signif- specific ways an individual’s diet can promote sustainabilicant, John Szijjarto ’21 said.

“If the whole world were ity.

“There are people who conto go vegan at once, it would drastically decrease the verted to veganism or vegeamount of carbon dioxide tarianism because they know and methane in the world,” what the environmental efSzijjarto said. “The way that fects are,” Chen said. “There we raise animals and process are also others who know meat uses a ton of water and that there are environmental greenhouse gases, so ad- impacts but can’t say for cerjusting to a plant-based diet tain what the impacts are.”

Following plant-based diwould definitely bring enviets may also result in ecoronmental benefits.”

According to the Veg- nomic benefits, according to an Society, veganism findings from the Proceedings and vegetarianism have of the National Academy of recently increased in Science. The study showed popularity, and have that if Americans continue to been driving the follow meat-based diets rathmarket to ca- er than a plant-based ones, ter towards the U.S. economy could lose white s

up to 1.6 trillion dollars by that an absence of meat 2050 due to reduced health- in one’s diet may not be care costs and fewer environ- enough to support one’s mental damages. health.

“I think that the potential “I think that there’s a lot economic impact of a larger of nutrients and proteins vegetarian population is out- in meat that are definitely weighed by the need for veg- possible to get from vegan etarianism in order to help or vegetarian food sourcthe environment,” Warlick es, but it’s harder,” said said.

“It’s Szijjarto. comparable “There just to replacing aren’t that Not eating fossil fuels many promeat has definitely left with renewteins in leable resourca lasting impact on me gumes which es, where is one really and I don’t think I can’t old business big source becomes out- ever go back now. ” of food that dated and many people new indus—Lexi Warlick ‘21 look to.” tries open up Sophie with more Johnson ’21 economic opportunities, said that while some people while still providing a better may be more inclined to go and more sustainable future vegan or vegetarian because for the earth.” of the environmental benefits, However, in a study con- many do so in order to follow ducted by Mintel, under 25 current trends. percent of those interested “I think it depends on the in reducing their meat con- individual, but some people sumption said they would do I’ve talked to are really uninso primarily because of en- formed and are going along vironmental consequences, with the trend,” Johnson while 49 percent cited health said. “Some other people do reasons. understand that what they “It’s a cleaner diet,” Szijjar- are doing benefits the envito said. “Eating too much red ronment and are changmeat could lead to some car- ing their diets to help diac health complications the cause.” and certainly a plant-based As a vegetarian diet would eliminate those herself, Warlick said concerns.” she wants to encourAccording to the Proceed- age more people to ings of the National Acade- work on exploring my of Sciences, a widespread plant-based diets. adoption of such a diet could “Becoming vegetarian help save around 8 million is a lot easier than most lives by 2050 and a vegetar- people think,” Warlick ian diet would save about 7.3 said. “Not eating meat million. has definitely left a Although many people lasting impact on me, look forward to the health ad- and I don’t think I can vantages, Szijjarto also said ever go back now.”

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ASTOR WU AND SIOBHAN HARMS

Arts & EntErtAinmEnt The Chronicle•March 3, 2020

Museums attract people for many different reasons; students and teachers discuss why they like to visit them.

By Chloe SChaeffer When she observed Shirin Neshat’s “I Will Greet the Sun Again” exhibition at The Broad museum in downtown Los Angeles, Kate Konvitz ’20 was deeply moved by the themes of exile, identity and beauty expressed in the art. However, as she left the exhibition, she noticed that her experience differed from those of many of the other visitors, who seemed to be there only for the photo opportunities, she said.

Swarms of smiling teenagers and tourists surrounded famous installations like Jeff Koons’ shiny blue “Balloon Dog,” Yayoi Kasoma’s “Infinity Mirrored Rooms” and Robert Therrien’s “Under the Table.”

“A lot of people were under [Therrien’s] giant table installation, acting like they were really small in comparison to try to make a cool Instagram photo,” Konvitz said. “While I think taking trendy photos at museums to post on social media can be fun, I don’t think it should be the sole purpose of going to museums.”

Los Angeles is home to over 840 museums, according to the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Together, the Getty Villa and the Getty Center drew a total of almost 3.5 million individuals in 2019, according to the Getty Fact Book 2019. With access to numerous museums in Los Angeles, Art History teacher Katherine Holmes-Chuba said she understands why individuals choose to visit these attractions in their free time.

“Some people go to museums because it is one of humanity’s ways of expressing themselves, and we’ve been doing it since before we even wrote,” Holmes-Chuba said. “I do think some people go for relaxation and stay in the Impressionist Room because it’s understandable and comfortable.

Also, there’s the buzz around museums when there is a really great show that people feel they need to see.”

Holmes-Chuba requires that her Art History Honors students study a work of art in person when writing their term papers because she believes the experience offers perspectives that cannot be conveyed through computer screens, she said.

Emily Nutting ’20, one of Holmes-Chuba’s students, used the Getty Center as a resource for conducting research.

“When viewing a work in person, you are able to see the color, texture and size, which you are often unable to see accurately online,” Nutting said.

“Being able to be in front of the work and react to it proved to be very helpful when writing my paper.”

Skylar Liu ’21, an aspiring artist, said she draws inspiration from the installations she visits. Liu said she prefers to spend her free time enjoying art rather than watching movies or going to the mall.

“There are so many reasons why I love museums,” Liu said.

“The main one being that I love

seeing different perspectives of However, some students the past and present, whether avoid museums entirely. Mateo it be done consciously by the Dall’Olmo ’22 said he only visits artist or is simply a product of art museums if he feels obligatthe time. As a painter, I love ed. going to museums for inspira“Museums are boring and tion. There’s a sort of dynamic there’s not much to do there,” relationship that can only be Dall’Olmo said. “I’m usually achieved when viewing art in forced to go, so it’s not like I go person instead of internet im- because I have a purpose. There ages.” are a million other things that Artist Cleo Maloney ’21 said are a better use of my time.” she visits an art museum or On the other hand, Dottie gallery every weekend, as she Shayegan ’21 said that viewing enjoys immersing herself in Los art does not need to be the main Angeles’ climate of artisattraction at exhibits. tic talent. Maloney said She said that, while her favorite museum is living in Paris, she the Museum of Contemenjoyed visiting muporary Art, primarily beseums because they cause of its large Mark provided a place for Rothko collection. her to relax as well as “I personally like complete work during to visit museums to stressful times. see how different art“My favorite mu’ ists work,” Maloney seum is the Musée Kate said. “Every person has Rodin, [which showKonvitz ’20 a unique experience cases the words of and narrative, and oftentimes the] French sculptor,” Shayegan that’s expressed through their said. “They turned [Rodin’s] old work regardless of abstraction. property in Paris into a museum In many ways, it feels like I’m and a garden. Inside, there are meeting a new person each time different exhibits, but I think I see a new piece.” the most beautiful thing [there] Though he is not a visual is the garden because it is like arts student, Jonathan Cos- this oasis within the very metrogrove ’21 said he believes that politan city of Paris.” museums are important destiShayegan, who does not nations for everyone. In addition participate in visual arts, said to local exhibits, Cosgrove said she still believes that visiting that he enjoys exploring muse- museums is valuable for stuums in other countries when he dents who do not take classes travels in order to expand his like Art History or Drawing and knowledge of the artistic world.

Painting.

“I love visiting museums “It’s important to surround across the world because it is an yourself with art, especially excellent way to immerse my- when you spend so much time self in the culture of the places focusing on things that are good I visit,” Cosgrove said. “I think for your mind, but not for your that museums allow non-artists soul,” said Shayegan. “At mulike me to understand artistic seums you can allow yourself trends throughout history and to exist a little bit inside of the modern times.” artists’ world as well.” white s

ILLUSTRATION BY EVIE DE RUBERTIS AND CHLOE SCHAEFFER

C2 arts and EntErtainMEnt

thE chroniclE

March 3, 2020

FOOT IN THE DOOR Delving into themes of representation and love, students and director of “Stage Door” discuss the play’s impact on them.

they attempt to land roles in Broadway plays. The actresses share their experiences while residing in the Footlights Club, a boarding home in New York City.

Pugh also chose to include an LGBTQ relationship involving Olga Brandt, played

by Nicole Austen ’21, and Louise Mitchell, played by Felicity Phelan ’21.

“Including [LGBTQ] characters in the play was an admirable idea, but it was difficult to do without changing the script at all,” Austen said.

“Olga’s relationship with Louise was a compelling aspect of the story and I thought it was a good addition, but I’m not sure the audience picked up

By Tanisha GunBy on it.”

The main story revolves When Greta Zumbrun- around Terry Randall, played nen ’21 was cast to play Billy by Andrea Yahger ’20 whose in “Stage Door,” they said that dream is to become a leading they were prepared to play Broadway actress, despite the the character as a male, just challenges posed by Broadway as the writers Edna Ferber and the lure of Hollywood. and George S. Kaufman had During Randall’s three imagined in the 1930s. How- years living at the Footlights ever, performing arts teacher Club, she becomes romantiRees Pugh chose to have Billy cally involved with two very identify as different men. non-binary.

The first, I am immensely Z u m Keith Burgess brunnen Schrograteful to everyone who (Jake said they eder ’20), is an had a hand in telling this appreciated unknown playbeautiful story.” that Billy’s wright who inigender was tially appears —Rees Pugh, to be passionmodified and that having Performing Arts Teacher ate about repa character resenting the without any masses, but is mention of gender was a wel- eventually seduced by the film come addition to the play. industry. Terry also pursues a “The inclusion of LGBTQ relationship with film produccharacters in the play was er David Kingsley (Charlie Dohandled relatively well,” Zum- ris ’22), who decides to return brunnen said. “While obvi- to support Broadway. ously the best representation Many of these actors and is clearly stated represen- actresses experience some tation, we also have to take form of character development. into account that it is likely Jean Matiland, played by Taythat Edna Ferber didn’t write lor Dees ’21, transitions from most of these characters to be a young, naive girl to a very queer, and even if she did, the deeply damaged actress in the extreme homophobia of the span of just a few scenes. Dees time period necessitated a cer- said that playing Jean allowed tain subtlety.” her to bond with the other cast “Stage Door” tells the sto- members in the play. ry of actresses struggling to “The Footlights Club, survive and find their place as where the show takes place, is

‘‘

all about sisterhood and bonding,” Dees said. “Building the ensemble for this show was [like] building a family. We all got so close. It was as if we all really lived in a boarding house together.”

Emery Genga ’21 said playing Kaye Hamilton was an incredible experience for her to be a part of.

She said she consistently found herself lost in the heavy emotions and feelings of the character, and that exploring Kaye’s dark past was an eye-opening experience.

“In our society, we are often expected to hide our emotions,” Genga said. “People who laugh too loud or cry in front of people are seen as strange. We have been so conditioned to hide our true emotions. In acting, however, all of that is different. We are able to wasn’t as big as the musical.” express emotions and not be Pugh said that he was seen as strange or out of the pleased to see that the audiordinary and instead are em- ences really enjoyed the show braced for our honesty.” and its impressive stage set.

Genga also said that per“Putting ‘Stage Door’ toforming on stage has a freeing gether with this bunch of stuquality about it. dents was one of the most re“There is something so warding experiences in my 20 liberating for me about being years here at [Harvard-Weston stage and crying lake],” Pugh said. in front of a big au“This group never dience,” Genga said.” stopped working, I feel like I am showlearning, growing ing everyone that I’m and improving from not afraid to show my the first table read true emotions, and through closing they shouldn’t be einight and in so dother.” ing, made the whole J P ’20 Behind the thing look utterly Emery scenes, students and easy, which, as anyGenga ’21 professional producone who has tried it tion staff worked together with knows, is not. I am immensely the cast to bring the show to grateful to everyone who had a its final three performances. hand in telling this beautiful Students in the Techni- story. It was a very, very specal Theatre class helped with cial show that I will remember dressing the entire cast, di- for a long, long time.” recting the play and managGenga said she made ing the stage. Assistant stage many new friends with the manager and soundboard op- cast members while rehearserator Maya Doyle ’21 said she ing for the play. enjoyed being part of the play “Everyone is so supportive set up and production. of each other in every possible “I had a wonderful time,” way,” Genga said. “Nothing Doyle said. “This was one of brings people together like domy first times doing a show, ing a show. This cast was full and it’s crazy how much work of talented, wonderful, kind everyone including the ac- individuals, and they are what tors and tech crew put in for that I’m going to miss most a show even though the play about this whole experience.” ustin

ark

ILLUSTRATION BY SYDNEY FENER

hwchronicle.com/ae

march 3, 2020

Creating Choreography From Newton’s laws of motion to American consumerism, the Dance Concert captures themes of polarization.

By Emma Limor ter ’22 said that through Over the course of the movement, the concert’s past three months, creat- emphasis has allowed her ing and rehearsing chore- the opportunity to express ography has encouraged her sentiments, specifically Advanced Dance II com- with regard to how divisivepany member Carli Coo- ness plays a role in our curperstein ’20 to explore dif- rent society. ferent styles of movement, “Now more than ever, increase her versatility as a we see polarization present dancer and become a stron- in our everyday life, in the ger leader. In less than two news, in our government weeks, Cooperstein will and even at school,” Porter take the stage alongside 26 said. “Hopefully, the dances of her peers to perform in we’ve created can help inthis year’s annual Dance spire people to accept othConcert, “The Endless Cy- ers and their views.” cles of a Straight Line,” The topics of individufrom March 13 to 15. al pieces focus on various “Since all of us have a aspects of polarization, hand in creating ranging from the the movement, importance of indiwe all get to put viduality to the rein our styles and jection of political perspectives, but dogma, interperit also gives us sonal connections the flexibility to to chaos and Newlearn new styles ton’s laws of motion and adapt to othto consumerism. ’ ers’ movement,” This year, firstCarli Cooperstein said. time Advanced Cooperstein ’20 “Seeing as it’s a Dance II teacher process that we all work to- Anne Moore has assumed gether on, I think different the lead role in directing pieces of choreography the show. For each number, are made to highlight peo- Moore selected suitable muple’s strengths sic and provided each group at different of dancers with a specific moments in the directive to build on. show.”

“I’m really proud of the This year’s innovative and thoughttheme of polar- ful choreography that the ization not only dancers have generated focuses on its throughout our collaboraideological, psycho- tive process,” Moore said. logical and physical Advanced Dance II comaspects, but also on pany member Jenna Krodiffering life experi- nenberg ’20 said that Moore ences and how di- brings a fresh perspective visiveness plays a to the show and the dance large role in current program as a whole. society.

“I really like [Moore],” Advanced Dance Kronenberg said. “Her ideas I student Cory Por- are really creative, out of white s

ILLUSTRATION BY SYDNEY FENER AND EMMA LIMOR

the box, modern and excit- berg said. “There are some ing. Once you understand really big dances so you get what they are they’re really to work with a lot of peobeautiful. Change is a chal- ple with different skills and lenge, but I think it’s been a availability so I’ve gotten really good adjustment.” better at becoming more Cooperstein said Moore patient and seeing how othhas made the process of er people’s ideas can lead to choreographing more open, really cool transitions and ensuring that each dancer’s can weave together beautivoice is heard. fully with my ideas. As a se“[Moore] has a really nior, I have a little bit more unique style that’s super responsibility so this year interesting and very fun I’ve gotten to show up and for us to work with,” Coo- organize.” perstein said. “[It’s easy to] Porter said that she have creative input and she is pleased with how far the really values our opinion show has come. when creating the concert.”

“Every time I go to reAdvanced Dance II com- hearsal I think about what p a n y we have acmember complished C l a i r e and feel a Though having Wacziarg sense of to choreograph in such ’21 said pride, knowlarge groups is very rehearsing that we challenging at times, it als have still have opened another few pushes us to work with her mind weeks to others.” to new —Cory Porter ’22 m a k e ideas in maaddition j o r to furthering her dance improvements,” technique.

Porter said.

“Throughout the proAs the final weeks cess of creating the show, of rehearsal approach, we learn to be flexible and Paige Corman ’20 said she collaborate with others,” looks forward to the culWacziarg said. “Though mination of the company’s having to choreograph [to- preparations. gether with so many people] “Everyone should defiis very challenging at times, nitely come to see the show it pushes us to work with because it’s really importothers.” ant to everyone involved, Since returning from especially because we’ve winter break, dancers have been working on it for [so been working together in long],” Corman said. “As a multiple small and large senior, this is my last dance groups to translate their show at Harvard-Westlake, ideas and visions into com- which is really crazy to plete choreographic works. think about but that defi“I’ve gotten better at my nitely pushes me to work teamwork skills and my even harder and enjoy the leadership skills,” Kronen- product of our work more.”

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a&e c3

C4 arts and EntErtainMEnt

thE chroniclE

March 3, 2020

Choir travels to New York City to perform at famous Carnegie Hall

By Sophia MuSante

Bel Canto member Camryn Williams ’22 said she enjoyed Members of Chamber Sing- singing in the National Treble ers, Bel Canto and Wolverine Chorus because it allowed her Chorus performed in Carnegie to meet singers of varying ages Hall during a trip to New York and backgrounds. on Feb. 13 to 17.

“The most special part of The concert, titled “What is it for me was when all of the Home,” included performanc- Harvard-Westlake choirs came es by the Natogether to tional Concert sing the songs I was on the Chorus, the in our showverge of tears hearing National Trecase,” Williams the echo of the applause said. “Our perble Chorus and two additional formance was from the audience.” featured chophenomenal —Camryn Williams ‘22 and as we were ruses.

National Treble Chorus finishing singMembers of Chamber Singing our last ers and Wolsong, ‘Lift Every verine Chorus sang with the Voice and Sing,’ I was on the National Concert Chorus and verge of tears hearing the echo members of Bel Canto per- of the applause from the audiformed in conjunction with ence. It was an experience I’ll the National Treble Chorus. All never forget.” three ensembles, led by choral Bel Canto member Marieteacher Zanaida Robles, sang la Breidsprecher ’21 said that together in one of the featured singing in Carnegie Hall was performances. incredibly memorable and she “We were striving to per- felt emotional after the final form with excellence, demon- performance. strating our skills on a grand “I’ve [sung] in Carnegie Hall and historic stage under the once before, but I didn’t feel guidance of world-class choral the way I felt performing with conductors [and] composers in my old school choir than what the presence of other student I did with my Harvard-Westsingers from across the coun- lake choir,” Breidsprecher try,” Robles said. “I feel con- said. “I think my biggest goal fident that we achieved this was not [to get] every note and goal.” every lyric right but instead to

“

Cross My Heart, Hope to Die Across 1. Popular German name 5. Bambi’s tail 9. Outfitters or dictionary, say 14. Scythe action 15. Nonsense 16. Dots or dance 17. Las Vegas resort 18. U.K. river 19. Young (edible) pigeon 20. Steve Jobs or Zhang Yiming, say 23. Old English letter 24. Great poetic form to pay tribute to your Valentine 25. Can’t escape them on your iPhone 28. Condescend to 30. Krugman or Revere 32. To pen your love letter 33. Churchill’s hat of choice 36. Opposed 37. In the process of investigation 39. Wind instrument 41. A distinguished figure 42. Ursula’s pet of choice

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feel like I was a part of something. I definitely feel like I achieved this goal, because I felt this incredible sense of belonging with my choir and I felt really powerful.”

Exploring the city strengthened the choir’s camaraderie and its ability listen to each other while singing, Chamber Singers member Lilah Weisman ’20 said.

“My goals for this trip had to do with my memories of the choir trip to Canada in my sophomore year, which was such a memorable experience and chance to make friends with the upperclassmen in choir,” Weisman said. “I hoped that I could get closer with some underclassmen during this trip to New York and make this trip their Canada.”

Weisman also said the trip helped her forge deeper connections with the younger members of the choir.

“I hoped that I could get closer with some underclassmen during this trip to New York,” Weisman said. “In general, I thought that our choir needed a stronger overall bond to motivate us to perform our best, and I think this trip fulfilled that necessity.”

Bel Canto member Hope Shinderman ’21 said she is looking forward to developing

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF NAOMI OGDEN

ART INSPIRATIONS: Alto I and II Chamber Singers smile for the camera on Valentine’s Day during their trip to Carnegie Hall. the relationships she formed on the trip to an even further extent.

“This is my second year in Bel Canto and I have no intention of leaving that group,” Shinderman said. “Being in a women’s ensemble is such an amazing experience because of the unique repertoire we get to perform and the deeper bonds that we develop with our peers through shared experiences as women.”

Robles said she noticed

how well the students bonded with singers from other choirs that performed at Carnegie Hall with them.

“My favorite part of the trip was watching my students interact and perform brilliantly both on their own and with participants from other choirs,” Robles said. “I grew so much from this trip. I learned how to be flexible with my students, while still honoring boundaries which were necessary for our safety.”

English teacher Amanda Foushee presents Harvard-Westlake with another crossword puzzle. For this issue, the theme is love.

43. One teaspoon, maybe 44. Rage 48. A temperature-controlled truck 50. The day before Sunday 52. Suffix denoting inhabitance 53. A service or vigil 57. Light purple color means first love 59. A rough pile 60. A feverish fit 61. For your car rental needs 62. About or around 63. Tool to guide or check 64. Less used synonym of 41 across 65. Sweet and starchy 66. Long ago Down 1. Made a speech 2. Botany term 3. Practice unifying health, meditation and martial art 4. Moonfish 5. Got up 6. Tom Buchanan’s blue one 7. “Back in the ______” 8. “How do I love _____?”

9. Matilda’s dad’s notorious used-car strategy, for example 10. Croquet, off the grass 11. Obscuring 12. Letters before an alias 13. Grab 21. Taboos 22. Nothing 26. Big blast maker 27. Hit the slopes 29. Clarified butter enjoying health store buzz 30. Blender setting 31. Rainbows

CROSSWORD BY AMANDA FOUSHEE

34. Dickinson’s “Remorse is _____ awake” 35. Meadow sounds 36. Shortly 37. Act out 38. Great anger 39. “Oft in my waking dreams do I / Live _______ again that

happy hour” 40. A frequent visitor in 34 down’s poet’s work 43. Priest assistant 45. Radiation counter 46. Troubles 47. Royal substitute in case of illness

49.

50.

51.

54.

55.

56.

57.

58.

Set up Obsequious flattery Zeus’ shield Catch a glimpse of Moon of Saturn Container weight Sonny boy U.N. workers’ GRP

SportS The Chronicle • March 3, 2020

Girls’ BasketBall

Girls surge to league, CIF titles

By Jaidev Pant After securing the title of Mission League Champions in its final game of the regular season, the girls’ basketball team won CIF Division I Southern Section Playoffs and qualified for state playoffs.

Following a 63-62 win against Chaminade High School on Jan. 16, the squad faced Marlborough School on the road Jan. 23 and fell to the Mustangs 51-38, marking the Wolverines’ first and only league loss of the season. After this match, the team won five games in a row, including a 47-44 win on the road against the Eagles on Feb. 4, earning the Wolverines its share of the league title.

The team faced a rematch against the Mustangs in its final regular season game on Senior Night, and defeated them 7559 to clinch the outright league championship. Forward Rileigh Repovich ’20 said she felt that this pressure encouraged the girls to avenge their loss.

“During the first Marlborough game, we were playing well, but fell apart at the end because two starters got injured and another starter fouled out,” Repovich said. “We got disorganized and that led to ultimately losing. Playing Marlborough the second time was a completely different experience because it was Senior Night and we had the title of sole

JAIDEV PANT/CHRONICLE

UNA(PAULA)GETIC: Guard Paula Gonzalez ’21 surveys the frontcourt in a 75-31 win at home against La Cañada High School on Dec. 4 in the Brentwood Invitational. The Wolverines went on to win the Mission League title after finishing with a 7-1 league record. league champions on the line.”

The squad finished its regular season as the first-ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs, which earned the girls a first round bye. After winning its first two games in playoffs and clinching its state playoffs berth, the Wolverines faced West Torrance High School, which they defeated 58-56 in the first win of their season Nov. 29, in the semifinals. After overcoming a late push by the Warriors, the squad won the game 64-49, with forward Kiki Iriafen ’21 finishing with 31 points. Guard Mirabella Wong ’20 said she believes that the impending end to the season spurred the squad’s

eight- game win streak heading into the championship game.

“The whole team definitely feels the pressure of this being the last season for the seniors because of how close we all are, so that has fueled us to want to do our best for each other to keep the season alive,” Wong said.

Throughout playoffs, the squad has won in convincing fashion, with its average margin of victory being 20.3 points, Wong said.

“We leave everything we’ve got on the court every game,” Wong said.

With this win, the squad faced a rematch against Troy High School, which it defeated 40-23 Nov. 30 in the cham-

pionship. The Wolverines ultimately defeated the Warriors 55-42 Feb. 28 and were crowned CIF Division I champions. Iriafen finished with 27 points for the Wolverines.

Repovich felt that playing tough opponents at the beginning of the year and overcoming these losses allowed the squad to be successful this season.

“After beginning our season with four losses in a row, we really had the drive to bounce back,” Repovich said. “We played some of the best teams in the nation and were able to learn from our mistakes and apply this knowledge to our future games. We knew that in order for us to be successful we

needed to pick ourselves up and not let the past losses define us and to just learn from them.”

Looking to next year, guard Krista Semaan ’21 said that the close-knit junior class will be key for the squad’s success in the future.

“It will obviously be hard to lose the seniors next year who bring life to our team, but we will only get stronger next year, as we will become smarter and more mature because we have played with each other for over four years,” Semaan said.

The girls will begin their CIF State Basketball Championship run March 3. Neither their opponent nor their seeding was available as of press time.

Girls’ Water Polo

Team wins CIF Division II Title • Continued from A1

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF WOO SIM

THE(A) GREATEST OF ALL TIME: Goalkeeper Thea Pine ’23 defends the net during the CIF-SS Division II championship Feb. 22.

third to last in the final CIFSS Division II regular season standings. The team finished the regular season with a record of 14-14 and a non-league record of 8-14. It was a season marked with a plethora of close losses and heartbreaking finishes, nine of its losses coming by two goals or less.

Captain and defender Abby Wiesenthal ’20 said that she felt like the team could not stop losing games but knew they would get another shot at winning.

“It really seemed like we were losing every game,” Wiesenthal said. “I remember always saying after a loss, ‘We’ll get them when it counts,’ and we did just that.”

In the first round, the squad defeated Woodrow Wilson 10-6 after losing to the Mighty Mules in the championship game two years ago. In the next round, though, the Wolverines were matched up with the tournament’s number one seed and a team that had already beaten them twice this season: Oaks Christian School.

“Them being seeded so much higher than us relieved a lot of the pressure in a way, because according to the numbers, we weren’t supposed to win,” Wiesenthal said.

While they may have been considered an underdog, the Wolverines did not shy away from the challenge, defeating the tournament favorite 9-8.

The team advanced to the semifinals where it was matched up against fifth-ranked Mira Costa High School. The Wolverines used a balanced attack to defeat the Mustangs 10-8, with goals coming from six players.

O’Brien said that, after the win against Mira Costa, the team members felt driven for the championship game.

“We really didn’t want to lose because we don’t want this to be our last game together,” O’Brien said. “We want to bring to the heat and win the title.”

O’Brien brought the heat in the championship, as she scored three goals and was named the Los Angeles Daily News Girls Athlete of the Week.

Captain Namlhun Jachung ’20 led the team with five goals.

This season marked the second time that the team has been in the Open Division, and with the abrupt departure of former Program Head Emily Greenwood, the team knew that it would be an uphill battle.

O’Brien said that while the girls’ have dominated the Mission League over the last few years with no league losses in the last two seasons, success in arguably the nation’s most competitive girls’ water polo division would definitely be a challenge.

Kubeck stepped into his position two months before the season began and inherited a team with three seniors, a freshman goalie and only a year of experience in the Open Division.

Players said that, while

Greenwood had stressed speed training, Kubeck focused more on the technical attributes of the game. Because of this, players not only felt like they were faster than their opponents but also felt more skilled than them, center Adeline Jackson ’21 said.

“Girls made shots I felt like we wouldn’t make before, and [the shooting practice] showed in the games,” Jackson said.

Even though they felt more athletic than their opponents, the results did not come during the regular season. The season was characterized by close losses, but the team flipped the script when it mattered most, Jackson said. The Wolverines used the earlier losses as learning experiences and they stayed ready for when they would face earlier opponents again. The team spent hours studying film of their earlier losses in the season and became familiar with their opponents’ tendencies, Jackson said.

“Matt does a really good job of prepping for our opponents,” Jackson said. “We scout them, we have videos of them, we know the player’s tendencies are and what plays they have.

We prepare more than our opponents and that’s what separated us in playoffs.”

In 2018, the Wolverines left the Woollett Aquatic Center empty-handed. Just two years later, the Wolverines leave as the highest-achieving girls’ water polo team in school history.

D2 SportS

the chronicle

Game to watch

March 3, 2020

girls’ soccer

MARCH 3-6 Baseball vs. Loyola High School The baseball team will play rival Loyola High School in its first series of the 2020 season. Loyola will also be the Wolverines’ first Mission League opponent of the season.

Harvard-Westlake swept the series 3-0 last season and have not lost a game to the Cubs since the 2016 season. The Wolverines entered the season ranked ninth in the country according to MaxPreps.com.

KEY PLAYER Drew Bowser Stanford commit Drew Bowser ’20 looks to lead the Wolverines to a CIF Championship. The shortstop has had a quick start to the season, hitting two grand slams in the team's first two games. This summer, Bowser was named to the USA 18U National Baseball team and travelled to Korea for the U-18 World Cup, along with teammate Pete CrowArmstrong ’20.

& Figures Facts

Points Kiki Iriafen ’21 scored in girls' basketball's first three playoff games

86

Average points boys’ basketball scored in league playoffs

Margin of victory in girls’ water polo’s CIF Finals win

6

81

1

Consecutive games that girls’ soccer won to finish league play

Final Regular Season Records Boys’ Basketball Final Record: 21-4

Girls’ Basketball Final Record: 19-8

Boys’ Soccer Final Record: 13-5-4

Girls’ Soccer Final Record: 13-2-3

Girls’ Water Polo Final Record: 14-14

JUSTIN GOLDSTEIN/CHRONICLE

AMAZING ARIANA: Midfielder Ariana Azarbal ’22 looks for open teamates in the backline in a 3-1 win against Chaminade College Preparatory on Jan. 17. The Wolverines were eventually crowned league champions and reached the quarterfinals of CIF-SS playoffs.

Squad fails to achieve its CIF goals

By Justin goldstein

from referees.

“Upland High School had After making the CIF Divi- the biggest crowd we have had sion I playoffs, the girls’ soccer all year and a lot of people team reached the quarterfi- were heckling and they had a nals and lost to Upland High public announcer talking after every play which got annoySchool 2-1 in overtime.

The squad finished with ing,” Haynes said.

Despite this loss, girls’ socan overall record of 15-3-3 and a league record of 7-1. cer Program Head Richard Throughout the year, the girls Simms said that the team performed well against a showed dominance tough crowd. on both sides of the “I thought we did field, which carried an amazing job of over into the first controlling the temtwo rounds of playpo of the game by offs, forward Sophia keeping possession Haynes ’22 said. and frustrating [UpAgainst the land],” Simms said.

Highlanders, de“We kept the crowd fender Ella Watkins ’ out of the game for ’22 scored in the Sophia long periods, though first half, but was Haynes ’22 there were certainly matched by an Uptimes when they got land goal that forced the game to go into overtime. the adrenaline pumping. OverThe Wolverines conceded all, we handled exceptionally the winning goal, ending the well.”

Earlier, the team beat Sunsquad’s playoff run. Haynes said the quarterfinal loss was ny Hills High School in the first due to an intimidating envi- round of playoffs 2-0 Feb. 13 ronment and unfavorable calls at Ted Slavin Field. The Wolwhite s

verines struck first with a goal from forward Daniela Quintero ’22, and forward Brooke Stanford ’21 subsequently scored as well. Haynes said that Sunny Hills’s unique playing style proved challenging for the Wolverines.

“We knew that Sunny Hills was man-marking all of us, which was something we didn’t come across during the season, so adapting to that was a little bit of a challenge but once we got it we were able to overcome and take over the game,” Haynes said.

In the second round of the CIF Playoffs, the team beat Corona Centennial High School 4-0, with goals from Quintero, midfielder Natalie Barnouw ’21 and Haynes. Watkins said that the team’s commitment to its game plan was a big reason for success.

“Our team is made up of such talented girls, all with such great athleticism and technical skill,” Watkins said.

“During the Corona game we had to remember to stick to

our game plan and play the same way we have been for the past three months.”

Simms said that if the season could be summarized in one word, it would be gratifying.

“We had a fantastic group of players who treated each other with respect and worked their hardest,” Simms said.

“The group just had a flawless and selfless attitude. I’m very proud of the people that they are.”

Quintero said the impact of the loss was not as great as that of previous playoff runs, due to the lack of senior players.

“I don’t feel like the loss was as sad as we don’t have any seniors, and it was more of a feeling of more upset than sad because we played so hard and we had good chances,” Quintero said.

Next season, the team hopes to continue what it started, Simms said.

“We intend to finish what we started this year,” Simms said. “We believe we can go all the way.”

Wrestling

Wrestler wins league to make CIF state playoffs

By Maxine Zuriff and Marine degryse The wrestling team ended its season with success in the CIF Individuals Meet and the Southern Section Masters meet after finishing the regular season with a 2-2 league record.

Kanoa Young ’21 and five others qualified for the Individuals Meet. Young placed third in the Individuals Tournament and sixth place in CIF Masters. He was the sole wrestler to qualify for the CIF State Tournament, but was unable to compete due to a knee injury.

Young advanced to the Mission League finals along with Daniel Guerrero ’20 and Isaac Weiner ’24. Young and Guerrero were both champions in their respective weight classes.

Wrestler Billy Johnson ’22 said he is proud of the

work that the team has put in throughout the season, even though its efforts have not always paid off.

“I think this season went really well,” Johnson said. “We didn’t always win our matches, but we learned from our losses to improve and make some exciting upset wins.”

Johnson said practices were demanding but as worth it. The outcome and improvement the team has achieved has made the wrestlers stronger and more prepared for the upcoming seasons, Johnson said.

This season, the Athletics Department hired new Program Head Junior Amazan, a former college wrestler and founder of a sports performance firm. Wrestler Hunter Griswold ’22 said that Amazan has brought new and improved techniques to practices which will lead to future success.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF RYAN ALBERT

PAUL WE DO IS WIN: Wrestler Paul Boardman ’21 covers his opponent in a match versus Crespi Carmelite High School last season.

march 3, 2020

hwchronicle.com/sports

sports D3

inbrief

Boys’ soccer

Baseball ranked by Los Angeles Times The Los Angeles Times ranked the baseball team fourth in its preseason rankings.

The squad kicked off the season with an 11-3 win against Mira Costa High School on Feb. 20 at O’Malley Family Field in the Newport Elks tournament.

The team will play their next game March 6 against league opponent Loyola High School at O’Malley Family Field.

— Liam Razmjoo

EUGEAN CHOI/ CHRONICLE

GABE GOT GAME: On Senior Night, midfielder Gabe Palacios ’20 passes the ball as forward Eric Guo (NDHS ’21) trails behind.

The game ended in a 2-2 tie Feb. 3, marking the last time that the 11 seniors suited up in the regular season on Ted Slavin Field.

Season ends with first round playoff loss

By EugEan Choi The first round of CIF Playoffs concluded with the boys’ soccer team losing 3-2 to Santa Barbara High School on Feb. 12. Although the loss marked the last time he would play with his high school teammates, UCLA commit and midfielder Pablo Greenlee ’20 said he held his head high and took pride in what his team had achieved over the past months.

“Of course, losing in the first round was a disappointment, but I am really happy with the effort that we put in,” Greenlee said. “That game was probably the most cohesive game we’ve had as a unit and the fact that we dominated the majority of playing time shows that we had real quality and could have gone much further in CIF. [As] a low ranked team, that is impressive in itself and ADVERTISEMENT

I’m proud that we were able to prove ourselves.”

Though satisfied with the season, defender Liam Weetman ’21 said he wished that the team’s playoff run had continued.

“I feel like we lost a lot of potential by losing the first round, as this was one of our strongest teams to ever come through, so I’m sad that it came up short,” Weetman said. “But I am happy with how we came together as a team.”

The squad finished with an overall record of 13-6-4 and league record of 7-3-2.

Program Head Kris Ward said he will remember this season fondly, and that the team did everything it could.

“The season was largely positive,” Ward said. “We accomplished quite a bit, showed our opponents what we were capable of and qualified for the

playoffs yet again. I am proud of the way we attacked each and every game. Also, I am proud of the way we tried to implement our style regardless of who played.”

Greenlee said that his last loss was an emotional one, but that he is excited for the future of the program.

“I’m very sad to leave behind the team, especially the other seniors because I have been playing with some of them since I was a young kid,” Greenlee said. “I’ve formed very deep bonds with them that we’ll keep the rest of our lives.”

Ward said that this year’s seniors all hold a special place in his heart and that he is excited to see what they achieve in the future.

“The seniors are near and dear to me, as they were all freshmen when I came to the program,” Ward said. “They

were key components to the success over the last four years. It has been a really great process of helping to build the program and seeing where it is heading.”

The team will lose 11 seniors as they depart for college prior to next season. However, the squad’s younger players will fill the resulting gap next year, Ward said.

“We have always had people step up and we have some really solid players moving up from the Middle School.” Ward said.

Weetman said that he has been preparing himself to lead his peers since the season began.

“The senior class was very strong and I’ll miss them so much,” Weetman said. “We will need to come together so that we can come back next year and keep improving.”

Equestrian earns multiple awards Members of the school’s equestrian club competed in three fences classes, a flat class and two dressage classes at a regional competition Feb. 9. Leading the charge, senior captain Skyler Calkins ’20 won three of the six categories.

“This was my first competition with [my horse] Brando, so I am proud that we were able to win.”

Though Calkins said that equestrian events do not usually draw many supporters, five faculty members attended the event: Tara Eitner, Jesse Reiner, Blaise Eitner, Cheyenne Coyle and Gabriel Preciado.

“It was great seeing my teachers show up, especially since the competition was on a Sunday,” Calkins said. “I got such a nice feeling knowing that my teachers were there supporting and cheering me on and I think it’s great that teachers are able to see what students devote so much time to outside of the classroom.”

— Eugean Choi and Lucas Lee

D4 SportS

the ChroniCle

MarCh 3, 2020

Next Man Up The boys’ basketball program has lost multiple key contributors since 2016, including two DI NCAA players.

Neverthless, they have improved.

By Kyle Reims Over the past five years, the boys’ basketball team has lost class after class of high profile talent, with several stars, including two current NCAA Division I players, transferring after short stints with the team. Since winning the CIF Division IV State Championship in 2016, the Wolverines should have been crippled by the loss of key players. In the face of that adversity, however, the squad weathered the storm, coming out the other end qualifying for the 2020 CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs.

This year marks the first season the boys’ team has qualified for California’s highest division.

The latest era for this team began in 2016, when the squad went 27-8 on the season, led by first-year program head David Rebibo and freshman phenom shooting guard Cassius Stanley. Despite a loss in the Southern Section Tournament, the Wolverines received an at-large bid to make the state playoffs, winning five straight games to take home a state title for the first time since 1997.

The next season, the team received an influx of talent in the form of incoming varsity freshmen: small forward Johnny Juzang ’19, power forward Terren Frank and Princeton commit and center Mason Hooks ’20.

The Wolverines won the 2017 Division 1A Southern Section Championship and made it to the semifinals in the Division II state tournament. The team’s success would be overshadowed, though, by the news that three of the squad’s key contributors, Stanley, Frank and shooting guard L Simpson, all transferred to Sierra Canyon High School. In one fell swoop, the Wolverines lost their definitive star player, in addition to two key contributors. The new-look 2018 team, led by Juzang, fought through those departures to reach back-to-back Division 1 State tournaments.

After the 2019 season, however, Juzang announced his reclassification to the class of ’19 and promptly committed to the University of Kentucky.

Despite the loss of talent, this year’s team has surpassed milestone after milestone during a historic season. After unexpectedly losing their star player Juzang, the boys have

secured the team’s best overall record in a decade at 24-6, qualified for the Open Division Southern Section semifinals and potentially earned a spot in the Open Division state playoffs. Power forward Trumann Gettings ’21 explained how this historic season was not a surprise for the players, noting that the chemistry that developed this season was unique and palpable. “[Our success] was definitely expected, with everything we have been through and how hard we have all worked,” Gettings said. “We have all put in the time and I truly believe that everyone on the team loves playing with each other. Last year we were a very solid, wellrounded team, and we knew how to play with each other but I don’t think our chemistry was there. This year we have probably the best chemistry of any team I’ve been on. Playing with most of these guys for three years makes it much easier to know what they’re going to do and how to play off them.”

Rebibo said the Wolverines’ willingness to sacrifice personal opportunity has impacted the games the most. “[Our defining trait is] selflessness,” Rebibo said. “Every guy is willing to sacrifice for the greater good, for the betterment of the team. They are willing to lay it on the line, and when it’s not their night they accept it.

There is not a night that goes by where [Hooks] couldn't score 30 if he wanted to. He could force and bully his way and do whatever. But he knows when teams are keying on him to find [his] guys and let them go to work.

That selflessness is infectious, and it infects our entire team and forces them to be selfless.”

Discussing the former players, the current Wolverines only had positive words about their old teammates, with many expressing how proud they were.

The loss of talent seems to have been more than made up for in spirit, however, as the team acknowledges that it was forced to step up as a group.

“I think that [Juzang leav-

ing] almost brought our team closer,” Gettings said. “We no longer were able to just give him the ball and get out of the way.

We had to learn to trust each other and rely on everyone on the floor to get the job done.”

Rebibo discussed how the lack of one focal point on offense made way for the team’s depth and improved its work ethic, which he considers to be the team’s biggest strengths this season.

“I think [Juzang] leaving motivated a lot of guys to work harder and do a lot more, and that in turn led to a successful season,” Rebibo said. “With him departing I think guys felt opportunity ahead, and they really worked for it. I think what we’re seeing is a product of their hard work and commitment to getting better and wanting to step up. One of the things that’s made our team incredibly hard to guard is that every night, it can be a different guy. That depth has been a tremendous factor in our success.”

Looking back at this group compared to teams of the past, point guard Spencer Hubbard ’20 found the biggest distinction between the two years to be the team-wide devotion he has seen this year.

“I think the difference is that we have true leadership this year,” Hubbard said. “Everyone really bought into winning.

We’re led by not just one, but multiple guys. When there’s more than one leader, every one has the ability to hold themselves accountable and lift each other

up when things maybe aren’t going our way. Truthfully, all of our seniors solely are focused on winning, and when that’s the only thing that matters, combined with the skill and talent that everyone on the team has, it’s hard to beat.”

The Wolverines were tough to beat all season, compiling an undefeated 6-0 record in league play, en route to a second consecutive Mission League Championship. Although they lost in the semifinals of the Open Division Southern Section playoffs, they still have the State Championship in their sights. After the team’s loss, Hubbard said that although the team may not have achieved all he’d hoped, the process of getting there was the most important for him.

“It’s felt like all these years have led up and been dedicated to making Open Division and competing at the highest level possible,” Hubbard said. “Even though we only completed part of our goal, for me, all the hard work and preparation that went toward achieving that goal meant more to me than anything. Everyone drops a game, it happens, and that’s something I’ve learned over my career here.

We may have lost a game, and it may have been heartbreaking to feel like you’ve failed at something you’ve worked so hard for the past three years, but, in all honesty, we’ve won.”

All of that effort and perseverance will culminate in this year's State tournament.

Placements have not yet been announced, though the Wolverines will either be in Open Division or Division I. Many of the players said they hope to be placed in the tougher Open Division where they could prove their mettle against the stronger competition. Regardless, the fact that the team is here at all is a testament to the strength of these Wolverines.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KYLE REIMS