Even if you don’t keep up with the news, you’ve heard of the infamous Coronavirus. This gobal pandemic has brought life to a stand still, and it’s important to be informed. Here are some fast facts about COVID-19 and a look at how Johnson county is coming together as a community in the wake of the virus.
BY ALAINA GREENLEE
Facility Reopenings
*All businesses/facilities can reopen following strict guidelines, including maintaining social distancing and limiting capacity. Restaurants, retail stores, malls, gyms, salons, and barbershops are now allowed to reopen, with movie theaters, museums, swimming pools, and more in Johnson county allowed to reopen on May 28. Coralville Farmers’ Market opened May 18, and takes place on Mondays from 5-7 p.m.
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Social distance
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Wash hands often
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Avoid touching your face
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Clean and disinfect surfaces
How to Protect Yourself and your Community The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Stay atleast six feet waway from others, and avoid gathering in large groups. When in public, wear a face mask to protect others in case you’re infected. Always cover coughs and sneezes and wash hands after for atleast 20 seconds. Lastly, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces to prevent spread of germs.
COVID-19 in Iowa
*As of May 25 according to Test Iowa • • • •
17,577 confirmed Coronavirus cases and 112,996 Iowans tested negative. 495 COVID-19 related deaths, only 7 in Johnson County. 13.2% of Iowans tested are positive. The week of May 17, new daily death highs were recorded twice. 2020 Trojan Epic yearbook themed “ReVision 2020”
West High Community
683 Trojan Epic yearbooks were claimed at the drive-thru distribution. If you were unable to pick up your copy or didn’t pre-purchase a yearbook, check the Trojan Epic yearbook information on wsspaper.com for details on how to get your yearbook. Individual in-person graduation ceremonies will be held in Arganbright Auditorium at various times on May 28, 29, and 30. Five families can sign up for a time spot in each 15 minute window. Graduation includes recieving the diploma in person and an online video containing pictures of the ceremony listing the graduate’s name and honors. Class of 2019 graduation cap
Johnson County Community
Good news going on around Johnson County Many students and parents, such as Zoe Nolte ‘22, Annie Iglehart, and Janice Baldes, are making and giving out masks. Local Iowa City restaurateur, Matt Swift, supplies food pantries with 5,000 pounds of rice. The Coralville Recreation Department made activity bags and passed them out to school children.
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NEWS
MAY 25, 2020
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CONTENTS FEATURE PROFILES SPORTS
Music Community 4 Senioritis 5 An Angle From Abroad 6
Timeout 8
COVER ENTERTAINMENT OPINION
The New Normal 9 Nothing But Time 12 Temporary 13 Real Fake News 14
STAFF
Maya Chu
Camille Gretter
Krisha Kapoor
Heidi Du
Alaina Greenlee
Musi usiC Community Along with the shift to online learning came the need for a more accessible method of music instruction, and MusiCommunity is here to help. BY MAYA CHU Music has acted as a source of comfort, entertainment, and hope throughout this unusual and difficult time. From John Legend’s Instagram livestreams to Dua Lipa’s early album release, numerous celebrities have used music as a way to combat loneliness and isolation. Also helping in times of crisis is a local organization run primarily by West High students called MusiCommunity, whose mission is to educate students in various musical endeavors. Due to school closings, millions of K-12 students no longer have access to music resources and education. Zoom, although a useful platform for many, is far from ideal for music directors that wish to rehearse in groups, and district or state regulations often prevent oneon-one instruction. While MusiCommunity started off with in-person education at neighborhood centers, the organization has been forced to go virtual. “This posed numerous challenges, like creating an entirely new set of guidelines and curricula, as well as the usual issues with the platform that I’m sure every reader is all too familiar with,” founder Andrew Burgess ‘20 said. MusiCommunity has become a helpful facilitator of music education during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its founding originally spurred from the ICCSD’s decision to cut music programs for 4th graders a few years ago. Now that the first wave of students impacted by this learning gap are freshmen, the district’s decision is “noticeably impacting the quality of ensembles and teacher resources in all district high schools,” as Burgess said. “Filling this huge gap by setting up programs in districts that allow instruction to continue remains our main goal.” MusiCommunity has nearly a dozen volunteer teachers in Iowa City and has expanded to Illinois and Wisconsin as well. The organization currently has five advisors who are full-time professors at Julliard, Eastman, University of Southern California, and more. “Our advisors are helping implement MusiCommunity in multiple school districts and develop individual curricula for each music program.
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FEATURE MAY 26, 2020
Caroline Mascardo ‘22, Mathilde Brandenburg ‘20, Andrew Burgess ‘20, and Yulong Shao ‘21 with kids at Pheasant Ridge.
Additionally, they’ve been giving advice for volunteers first starting teaching, and helping spread the word to get others involved,” Burgess said. Caroline Mascardo ‘22 is involved with MusiCommunity as a volunteer instructor and core team member. She is a violinist in West High’s symphony orchestra and plays in a couple groups at the Preucil School in Iowa City as well. With music being such an impactful part of her life, she strongly believes that everyone should have the opportunity to learn an instrument. “As a MusiCommunity volunteer, I hope to bring music to as many people’s lives as possible.” Before the pandemic, Mascardo helped out with one in-person session with kids at the Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood Center. “We taught the kiddos about rhythm, pitch, and different types of music through the song ‘We are the Dinosaurs.’” Since the end of physical school, she’s been participating in executive meetings, including one with ICCSD music teachers where they discussed a district-wide implementation of MusiCommunity, hopefully before summer begins. In the future, MusiCommunity will continue to provide online lessons to accommodate slow restarting of in-person school activities and other factors. “Online lessons remove or address several complications involving transportation, equitable access, and liability,” Burgess said. In terms of teaching, MusiCommunity is
flexible with its curriculum and adapts to each student because they all have different levels of experience and ability. “This means that if a student wants to learn a certain song on the piano, for example, we’ll teach them that song while also incorporating aspects of music theory into the lesson,” Mascardo said. With this less structured method, students can pursue what they enjoy without it feeling like a burden or assignment. Through the usual 15-30 minute weekly lessons, MusiCommunity strives to create a strong musical foundation that can prepare students for further education.
West High alumni Daniel Burgess teaches a virtual guitar lesson.
Above all, Mascardo’s favorite aspect of being on the MusiCommunity team is making meaningful connections, whether that be with students or fellow volunteers. “I enjoy working with new people, and teaching something I love to underprivileged kids means even more to me. It’s such an amazing feeling to know you’ve made a difference in someone else’s life.” With a substantial team and foundation, the ultimate goal of MusiCommunity moving forward is for the program to be adopted by districts nationwide. Especially in the uncertain educational circumstances brought on by COVID-19, it’s increasingly important to have an alternative way for students to learn music. Larry J. Livingston, chair of the Department of Conducting at USC and advisory board member predicts “that MusiCommunity will be adopted across the country in the ensuing months.” From district volunteering to potential nationwide adoption, MusiCommunity aims to make a positive impact on students, locally and beyond.
Senioritis By: Camille Gretter
Pictured: Chloe Gretter ‘20
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or many students, the rest of the school year is a very saddening time, but for seniors at West High, it’s especially emotional. With an unexpected end to their high school experience, it’s very hard to cope with the idea that they probably won’t be going back to West anytime soon. Even with high hopes of some form of a graduation ceremony in July, the thought that they are essentially done with high school brings on an early case of what teachers call “senioritis”. Without pressure from teachers and peers, the motivation to actually do schoolwork instead of taking a pass is surely low. Many seniors have also already committed to a higher level of education for next fall, so worrying about grades isn’t necessarily the first thing on their mind. Sydney Sherwood ‘20 is among those who have decided to continue their schooling. With her having made the decision to attend Iowa State University, she has the next couple years of her life planned out. “I have definitely had less motivation to do schoolwork at home but I was lucky and mostly just had Kirkwood to do, which I was used to doing at home,” Sherwood said, “College was for sure the reason that I finished my work, but it was also the reason that I took the pass in most classes.”
Another senior, Chloe Gretter, also plans to attend a four-year college next year. Having already committed to the University of Georgia, the only thing on her mind right now is: “When can I move in?” “It doesn’t really feel like we ever ended high school the right way, we just ended it. Just the day before spring break I thought I was going to see everyone again. So to me...ending high school is more of a sad thing because we didn’t get to do it the right way, but starting college has been exciting for me for a long time.”
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TO ME...ENDING HIGH SCHOOL IS MORE OF A SAD THING BECAUSE WE DIDN’T GET TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY, BUT STARTING COLLEGE HAS BEEN EXCITING FOR ME FOR A LONG TIME”
Another concern for a lot of students is AP testing. Finding a strong WiFi connection, and a quiet place is especially hard when everyone is quarantined with their families. “I’m scared to take AP tests from home just because it’s so different and I don’t want anything to go wrong with WiFi,” Sherwood said. AP tests also offer students the chance to receive college credit. “There’s a lot on the line because those tests can save a lot of money and time. And so the thought of doing it at home and trying to find a quiet place while everyone else is trying to do their work,” Gretter said, “It’s just not an ideal situation to learn in nor is it an ideal situation to take such important tests.” For the class of 2020 at West High, graduating from high school will be much different than they had dreamed. But, there is still hope to walk up a stage and accept a diploma just like most students have been wanting to do since their freshman year.
- CHLOE GRETTER ‘20
FEATURE MAY 26, 2020
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AN ANGLE FROM ABROAD Caught in Wuhan, a doctor recounts his experience of the pandemic under totalitarian rule while his daughter, an MD in America, operates in a contrasting world. BY HEIDI DU Three days prior to the lockdown of Wuhan and a month too late, a renowned doctor named Zhong Nan San visited a hospital in Wuhan on January 20th and confirmed that COVID-19 could indeed be transmitted person-to-person, forcing the Chinese government to take action after weeks of denial and empty assurances. Prior to Zhong’s visit, the government and Zhong himself denied that the virus could possibly be spread person-to-person despite facts that desperately screamed otherwise. As cases outside China continued to emerge and hospitals in Wuhan became crammed with coronavirus patients, the CCP turned a blind eye and continued to downplay the severity of the spread. Repeatedly stating the situation was completely under control, the Party hoped that the world would believe them and the problem would simply disappear. The doctors of Wuhan knew better. Dr. Wang*, who works at the hospital that Zhong visited, says all the doctors knew for weeks beforehand the virus could spread person-to-person. But no one spoke up. “With a government like China’s, nobody dares to tell the truth. If you tell the truth, you lose your job and have no means to live. You’ll be punished if you say something they don’t want you to say,” said Wang. When the city finally went under lockdown, the doctors were relieved. But by then, it was too late. The virus had already traveled far out of the gates of Wuhan and any government’s control. For Wuhan residents, life changed drastically. After the city was sealed off, food and materials disappeared in a blink. When citizens were informed that they were no longer allowed to buy food unless they were mass purchasing for a government-designated group of 90-200 people, Wang’s elderly parents weren’t tech-savvy enough to operate the online system. He rode his bicycle *Wang chooses to stay anonymous
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PROFILE MAY 26, 2020
"WITH A GOVERNMENT LIKE CHINA'S, NOBODY DARES TO TELL THE TRUTH. YOU'LL BE PUNISHED IF YOU SAY SOMETHING THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO SAY." - DR. WANG
across town to deliver their share of food. After the city underwent neighborhood quarantine, Wang luckily got in touch with a volunteer who was available to deliver his parents’ food. Others did not receive such aid. An elderly father of Dr. Wang’s mutual friend was too afraid of going outside to retrieve his food. He died at his home, and wasn’t discovered for several days. “We were always afraid,” said Wang. “Already, it was rumored that there were 30 families in my neighborhood that had contracted the virus… I was too scared to use the elevator for fear of touching the buttons.” For months, the street below his apartment was ghostly and silent, a stark contrast to the honking, tire squeals and shouts from the past. The entire city seemed to wilt. The few who ventured out wore rain ponchos or slick material in the hopes that per-
haps the virus germs could slide off rather than linger in knitted clothing. The hospital was converted almost entirely to battle the coronavirus. Doctors 50 years and younger, regardless of their medical profession, were called upon along with doctors from other provinces to help. Over 50 years old, Wang was told to stay home. “I was glad to stay home. People my age have a much larger chance of getting critically sick. My friend, who graduated from medical school in the same year as me, got sick in January. He has been in the hospital for three months now, in a coma.” At home, Dr. Wang entertained himself by reading books, surfing online, and watching TV. Except to get food, he didn’t set foot outside his apartment building for nearly 3 months. “I FaceTime my family too, but they’re still working [in the U.S.] and more busy than I am,” Wang said. After the lockdown was partially lifted in early April, the government devised a new way to track cases. Using a smartphone’s location, the government calculates the individual’s risk of infection on 3 levels: your phone’s QR code would indicate red for infected, green for healthy and eligible to go outside and yellow for possible infection. For example, if you rode the same bus as someone who later was admitted to the hospital for COVID, your code would be yellow. Unsurprisingly, Dr. Wang’s parents can’t figure out how to use the app and are stuck at home. “I think it’s perfect, " said Wang. “That way, they stay in their house and can be safer.”
Between his parents and his daughter, a resident doctor in St. Louis, Dr. Wang is more concerned about his daughter’s health and safety regarding the coronavirus. He says his daughter’s hospital isn’t going through enough precautions compared to his and that though she’s young, there is always a possibility. In Wang’s opinion, “America is not doing a good job.” If she was in China, he says, she would never get the virus due to the hospital’s precautions. China’s totalitarian system is able to exercise tighter, complete control over citizens in a shorter timespan, allowing more efficient restrictions, Wang says, that serve to better contain the virus. The U.S.’ government “acted too late”, preventing the best counterattack on the virus. “I don’t think America can do what China does because they’re democratic… American people just don’t have to listen to the government.” The fact that there are even protests against stay-at-home orders is foreign to Dr. Wang. “In China, citizens don’t dare to disobey the government. I’m not saying the CCP is good, but in this situation their control is effective. If you don’t obey, you lose everything.” Back at the hospital, Dr. Wang now
works 2 days a week and sees half the patients he used to. Also, doctors now have a daily protective procedure. First they change out of their clothes and put on a mask, gown and a pair of gloves. They then put on another more protective suit, heavy-duty gloves, another mask, a full head and face cover and thick footwear. Of course, they wash their hands and thoroughly disinfect between every layer of clothing and throughout the process. After work, doctors wash their hands 6 or 7 times as they follow a selective protocol and travel through separate rooms for stages of cleanliness while removing protective clothing in a specific order. “Because the hospital is very clean and there’s lots of protection, I’m not even scared of getting the virus anymore,” said Wang.
Dr. Yan, Wang’s daughter, is a resident in internal medicine at a hospital in St. Louis, MO. Regarding her father’s safety, she says of course she worries, but agrees “they have much better protection than us here.” When asked if she’s afraid of contracting the virus through a regular, non-covid patient, Dr. Yan says, “Always.” Born in Wuhan and living in the states since she was a young teenager, Yan is a person of both worlds. As a healthcare worker up against the virus, she is frustrated at the U.S. government for their feeble response. “It should’ve been taken seriously from the very beginning, as soon as we first heard about a new virus that is very contagious and causing severe disease even if it’s across the world.” She shares similar views with her father, stating, “The individualist idealism in the U.S. is hurting us in comparison to the collective culture in Asia. Cities, counties, states, etc., all act somewhat independently and people value their individual needs more than the overall collective health of all citizens.” The coronavirus has added an hour or more to Dr. Yan’s daily routine, which consists of new additions such as screening at the entrance, getting appropriate PPEs, sterilizing her work station at least 2x a day, going to the restroom often to wash her hands and changing out of her dirty scrubs to avoid bringing germs to her home. Additionally, the coronavirus’ uncertainty is casting a shadow of pressure over hospital life. “Because it’s a novel virus,” Yan says, “we don’t fully understand it - there’s no standard treatment and of course no vaccines.” Coronavirus patients make up a lesser percentage of patients at the St. Louis hos-
“PEOPLE AT THE TOP BRUSHED THE VIRUS ASIDE, REACTING L ATE AND INADEQUATELY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY SO THAT THEREAFTER HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE ALWAYS PL AYING CATCH UP.” -DR. YAN
pital compared to others such as NYU, where almost all patients are COVID. However, Yan says it's the lost revenue that poses a huge threat for all hospitals. For example, UI Vice President for Medical Affairs Brooks Jackson via The Daily Iowan in early April, “Instead of paying 50 cents per protective mask, UIHC now pays $8, and the hospital estimated that the pandemic will ultimately cost it about $40 to $50 million”. Furthermore, money is lost in hospitals all around due to the plummet in the number of elective procedures, surgeries scheduled in advance for non-emergent patients. Despite assistance, it’s difficult for hospitals to keep up with the intake of COVID patients with current supplies while losing revenue. “People at the top brushed the virus aside, reacting late and inadequately every step of the way so that thereafter healthcare workers are always playing catch up,” says Dr. Yan. Not unlike China’s initial response to the virus, President Trump dismissed the threat and said on January 22nd that the virus was “totally under control” and that everything was “going to be just fine”. By the time he imposed travel restrictions and only on China, it was again too late. Although they are doctors in different worlds, each with contrasting methods of containing and battling COVID-19, Dr. Yan and Dr. Wang agree that their respective governments acted too late, and without enough fervor - a fatal mistake. Additionally, both doctors agree that the U.S. needs to step up its game regarding the protection of healthcare workers as a few tentative steps are taken to begin returning to normal. As for what changes will persist in everyone's lives after this outbreak hopefully dies out, we’ll just have to wait and see.
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PROFILE MAY 26, 2020
Timeout
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By: Camille Gretter
t the beginning of 2020, no one was thinking that in May, they would be watching previous PGA Tours instead of baseball on ESPN. Sadly, that is the world everyone is living in right now. All of America is experiencing a sudden halt in all of their normal routines. Iowa City is no exception. With high hopes that things would be back to normal on May 1, Governor Reynolds released a statement explaining that Johnson County couldn’t start the slow process of reopening businesses until May 15. On May 20th, Governor Reynolds announced that Iowa would allow high school baseball and softball to start on June 1st. While the question of whether spectators will be allowed is still up in the air, summer athletes are pleased to know they will still have a season. Although summer sports have hope, all spring sports were officially canceled, along with the rest of the school year. Still, these teams have been doing a good job keeping in touch. From Zoom meetings, to group chats, teams are working hard to stay involved with each other. Freshman Jayden Shin was looking forward to starting his first year of tennis at West. Although there are no official practices, Shin still stays in shape by playing tennis with his father. As far as keeping in touch, the team has
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SPORTS MAY 26, 2020
been doing their fair share of staying connected. “We honored our senior, Piero, with a drive-through goodbye. Everyone stayed in their cars, and we had posters and cards to say goodbye to him. We also have a group chat where we talk about the season,” Shin said. While the boys’ tennis team is staying tightly knit, there are some teams that haven’t been communicating as much. Payton Devena ‘22 says that on the track team, there aren’t many attempts to keep the team connected. “We haven’t done any zoom meetings, but we do have a group chat but it isn’t active at all,” Devena said. For coaches, this time is also very disappointing. Boys’ tennis coach Mitch Gross was planning for this to be his last year. However, amidst the pandemic, he has decided to stay for another year. “As many know, [Gross] planned for 2020 to be his last season,” Shin said, “However, he told us that he did not want to go out this way. It’s an honor to have him back next year.”
“HE TOLD US HE DID NOT WA NT TO GO OUT THIS WAY. IT’S A N HONOR TO HAVE HIM BACK NEXT YEAR .” -JAYDEN SHIN ‘23
Throughout the many years West High has been open, never once has it closed down for almost a whole trimester. Although the year is almost to its end, and spring sports never had a full season, student athletes are doing their best to keep their spirits high, and try to do that together.
BY MAYA CHU, HEIDI DU AND KRISHA KAPOOR It’s a new day at school and you walk excitedly in the building with your freshly sewn mask. Suddenly, the long-anticipated moment of finally seeing your friends dissipates as you’re struck by the sight of way too many students milling in the halls. You’re suddenly acutely aware of every cough, sneeze, or sniffle. Uh oh...are you less than six feet apart from that kid? As you approach the stairs, you feel hot and your nose is suspiciously itchy. Trojan smiles hidden by masks, desks six feet apart. No more assemblies and even part-time online school. In times of uncertainty, it’s difficult to predict what the future could possibly hold. With over 1.6 million ases in the US and over 17,000 right here in Iowa, these times are highly unusual. When school starts up in the fall, will it be a wave of familiarity or another irregularity of the year? With help from experts, WSS interns predict the new normal.
A Day In The Life
A global pandemic and more than 300,000 deaths later, a day in the life of a student will be far different than before. Even though our age group is unlikely to be significantly affected by COVID-19, we are potential carriers and could play a major role in transmitting the virus to those who
ART AND DESIGN BY MAYA CHU AND HEIDI DU are most vulnerable. School is a place for interaction and learning and if we return in the fall, precautions must be taken. “Ensuring that there are adequate health resources and support throughout the district will be paramount,” Murley said. This would include supplying health offices with enough PPE, making sure that custodial staff can complete optimal and frequent cleaning of communal areas, developing cleanliness etiquette, and taking note of immunocompromised students and faculty members. The district will also consider the need to reduce congestion in common areas through altered scheduling. If in-person learning returns in the fall, steps such as stationing desks farther apart could be taken to partially social distance. Dr. Jessie Abbate, an infectious disease researcher at the IRD in France, suggests that schools could have smaller class sizes and perhaps even build new schools or buildings.
Additionally, schools may have to limit building access points to regulate traffic in and out of buildings. Dr. Abbate proposes some protocol that schools might have to take. “No group activities unless by Zoom, no field trips, delaying team sports or assemblies, and lunch time may look very different too,” Abbate wrote. If the district feels the need for these changes, implementation will require resources, planning, and time. “This is an incredibly large and complex issue,” Murley said. “In 27 years in public education I have never seen our K-12 schools put into this type of planning challenge.”
Online School
For the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, the ICCSD turned to online learning. If a second wave of COVID-19 occurs around the fall, full or part-time online school may be necessary. Remote learning is an effective way to social distance but it comes with many disadvantages. Answers as to what school will look like in the fall come with time, but the district wants to be prepared. “At this time we are developing plans that range from required continuous learning, hybrid learning and a full return to on-site education,” Murley said. Although online school provides some challenges, he thinks “it is something that we have to make serious plans for.” One of the main issues with tis that some students lack adequate access to necessary technology and don’t have appropriate support at home. At the beginning of May, teachers reported that nearly 65% of students were actively participating in online learning activities. If online school continues in the fall, that number would have to increase. Murley also argues that the social isolation adds to the mental health stress on students and staff. Zola Gross ‘23 explains her experience with online school. “I feel like it’s harder to learn and interact with your classmates and teachers. Some things just seem more difficult than they need to be.” The situation isn’t ideal for teachers either. Math teacher Ms. Meyer thinks the expectation for students has been set too low, given the option of taking a pass rather than continuing their education throughout the spring. “Set the bar low and that’s what you get but set the bar high and kids will get further!” Another problem lies in the lack of interaction. Classes that would normally take place every weekday have been condensed into a once-aweek zoom meeting with a couple office hours. “The only way to make on-line school work is if kids meet
EVERY day as they would at school. That is really the only way it works,” Ms. Meyer said. West High Principal Gregg Shoultz agrees, stating, “We do not think online learning has been as impactful as learning in the same space as a teacher.” Although the situation is far from ideal, the School Board plans to work with teachers over the summer to retool classes if we have to go online. The best option may be part-time online learning if we are to ensure safety when reopening in the fall. Shoultz said the School Board is “anticipating that we may have to blend live and online instruction throughout the year.”
Mental Health
Being cooped up at home all day can be anxiety and stress-inducing for some but liberating for others. Quarantine could either provide a relaxed environment or be a suffocating trap that prevents interaction and collaboration, or somewhere in between. Advika Shah ‘22 explains her experience adjusting to online school. “Quarantine was really bad at first, I would catch myself feeling lonely and miserable.” However, she’s adapted to try and make the best of the situation. “Lately, it has become better because I have managed to create a balance between working and talking to people.” Others have also found a balance while adapting to quarantined life, such as Gautam Sharda ‘22. On one hand, he wants to go out and do things with friends. On the other, he says he’s
less stressed and doesn’t mind being alone. “I appreciate the extra time to do things I enjoy,” he added. For Joseph Wan ‘20, quarantine is definitely a turn for the worse, especially because it’s his senior year. “[I’m] kind of bored everyday with nothing to do, and not being able to see friends makes it so boring and sad. Also with graduation being so different and online classes, it’s obviously overall a depressing experience.” The class of 2020 is being stripped of senior year festivities that were an exciting prospect for most, causing waves of disappointment. Regardless of whether quarantine has been stressful or relaxing, it’s a barrier to communication with peers and teachers. “Teachers expect us to cover a similar amount of work as a regular week at school, but in our home environment, it’s hard,” Shah said. With only one class per subject every week, the workload and lack of guidance can cause anxiety and make instructions unclear. Many learners thrive off of interaction with others, and working alone can cause extra stress or encourage a lack of motivation. Ava Smithey ‘23 said, “I’m an extrovert and I hate laying around with nobody to interact with all day, everyday.” To combat loneliness, she’s been FaceTiming friends and has socially distanced hangouts outside. If online school were to continue into the fall, steps would likely be taken to improve the mental health of students. This could include forming support groups and providing Zooms for extracurriculars. Increasing oneon-one interaction between students and teachers may also be beneficial for a greater understanding of each individuals’ situation. Overall, better advertising of mental health and guidance resources would be beneficial for many. Whether online school benefits or worsens student mental health, the possibility that we will continue re-
mote schooling in the fall is still on the table. Schools will have to develop stronger relationships with students and provide improved resources for students to turn to in order to achieve a better connection for optimal learning.
The Long Run
History shows that pandemics often occur in two or more waves, which is why plans for school in the fall are still up in the air. Even as the school district prepares for changes, another outbreak could foil the plans just like that. Dr. Abbate and many scientists predict that as soon as we stop social distancing, there will be another wave. With states gradually reopening, a second outbreak seems even more likely, and could possibly cause more destruction. In the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, the second and third waves of infection caused many millions of more deaths than the first.
Currently, most countries are far from achieving herd immunity, meaning that the virus is still easily contractible. “For almost every place in the US (except NYC), only 0.5-2% of the population has been infected and could be immune,” Abbate said. That being said, the only way we can safely relax social distancing measures without a vaccine is if we can keep the spread at a low enough level by testing and isolating people that may have been exposed. This way, natural herd immunity will slowly build up and hospitals will not become overcrowded. Director of Stanford Health Communication Initiative, Dr. Seema Yasmin wrote, “It’s unlikely that a new pathogen will completely disappear - humans have only ever eradicated two pathogens, and that’s smallpox and rinderpest,” Yasmin said. She thinks that COVID-19 is here to stay, but will have a lesser impact in subsequent years. Dr. Yasmin compares this scenario to the H1N1 flu, “which caused a pandemic in 2009 but which now circulates each year causing flu outbreaks but not a pandemic.” According to Dr. Abbate, the virus will always be around unless we “find a vaccine that works and is safe
enough to vaccinate nearly every human on the planet...and do all of this before it evolves.” It’s estimated that approximately 80% of all people in a population need to be vaccinated to keep another epidemic from happening. Even after a suitable vaccine is found, it would need to go through strict safety tests and would have to be widely produced. The discovery of a vaccine doesn’t necessarily guarantee the end of physical distancing. Around the world, researchers and scientists agree that COVID-19 will not simply disappear, rather become a recurring disease like the flu is. The best we can do is be prepared for the changes in our lives to continue in the long run and accept this as the new normal.
With nothing but free time, you may be going stir-crazy, like many others. Here are various popular quarantine activities to help pass time during isolation. By Alaina Greenlee
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s the world is social distancing at home to help protect communities and fight the infamous Coronavirus, the walls in your home might seem to be closing in or your favorite TV show might become dull as the days of isolation turn into weeks, and the weeks turn into months. Without being able to go outside and socialize with friends, go dine at your favorite restaurant, or play your favorite sport, you might be finding yourself with all the time in the world, yet nothing to do with yourself. Now is the perfect opportunity to try new things or better yourself.
Many students are turning to the kitchen and experimenting with recipes ranging from something as simple as mac and cheese, to creations as complex as Ratatouille to bring back some childhood nostalgia. Cooking is a great way to keep occupied, try something new, and create a delicious meal. It is something you can put your own touch on, substituting ingredients, creating whatever meal you want, and tweaking your recipe to your own
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ENTERTAINMENT MAY 25, 2020
liking. Cooking is very relaxed and a productive way to spend your days. Another popular way students are staying busy is exercise; whether that’s something as intense as high-intensity interval training (HIIT workout), or simply going on a walk, socially distanced of course. Free videos or programs for any type of workout can be found online: low-intensity, body area specific programs, cardio, it’s out there. The idea of physical self-improvement has taken the world by storm with at-home fitness videos increasing views by over 515%. Among the most popular YouTube fitness channels is Blogilates, Chloe Ting, POPSUGAR Fitness, and FitnessBlender; each channel provides a variety of free programs. Users can choose a program that fits their needs, a program several weeks long, or a quick workout here and there. Not only is it important to get off the couch every once in a while, your mental health is also important. Without having talked to anyone besides your family in-person for the past 2 months, it’s important to keep in touch with the outside world. Calling or facetiming friends can be a good way to catch up and feel a sense of normalcy talking like one would outside the walls of their home. In fact, person-to-person contact releases neurotransmitters which regulates stress and anxiety according to psychologist Susan
Pinker. Chatting with friends is a great way to forget about whatever stress you may be experiencing. Finally, take a second to yourself and reminisce. Not being able to go about your day to day life helps you realize what you took for granted. Walking down West’s ceilingless hallways with your friends, daydreaming in the back of a class, or simply being able to walk within six feet of one another. Although these memories seem distant, one day we’ll be able to walk back into Arganbright Auditorium and listen to Triple G’s dad jokes.
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ONE DAY W E’LL BE ABLE TO WALK BACK INTO ARGA NBR IGHT AUDITOR IUM A ND LISTEN TO TR IPLE G’S DAD JOK ES.” -AL AINA GR EENLEE ‘23
TEMPORARY BY HEIDI DU “Where’ve you been? I thought you had gone back to China.” She says it genuinely, soft white curls framing her smiling face. Having not seen me for a couple months, my neighbor immediately assumed that I had simply gone back to my “home country”. To her, it was a rational explanation for my absence, and she meant no harm in her assumption. To me, it was a punch, albeit a nice punch, to the gut. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 that labeled us as job-stealers and inferior, to the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II, the “Japan bashing” and disdain of the 80’s when Japanese automobile industries rose in the global market, and the ignorant hate crimes towards Muslims as well as South Asians in the 9/11 era, there has been always been a distinct frame of mind that says Asian Americans are not fully American. That we’re temporary. That we don’t belong, and that if we’re going to be here, we should at least conform to the “model minority” to retain our spot.
Despite the masquerade of full acceptance, the historical errors have resurfaced due to the coronavirus’ place of initial discovery being in Wuhan, China. The returned racist beliefs combined with xenophobic virus fears have fueled a spike in reports of racist harassment towards Asian Americans, following the distinct pattern that appears every time there’s a crisis that can be linked to us in any way. Before our eyes, history repeats itself as Asian Americans are again blamed and attacked based solely on their race, for a crisis they had nothing more to do with than the next American. Aspects of this legacy are rooted so deep that some nowadays, such as my neighbor, don’t
even realize they continue it. When Chinese American teenager Valerie Xu decided she’d raise funds for masks to aid her local hospital, she was described by CNN as “armed with resourcefulness and a teenager’s urge to fit in.” In that final phrase, CNN incorrectly and ignorantly frames Xu’s incentive for helping out by basing her hard work on a sculpted desire to prove her American-ness. CNN has inadvertently supported the Eurocentric ideal of the model minority: obedient Asian Americans who quietly turn the wheel, in this case simply repaying what they owe due to the horror they’ve brought upon America, their temporary home. Former Democratic candidate Andrew Yang believes that Asian Americans should fight the stigma by showcasing their “American-ness.” Examples include “wearing red, white and blue,” and stepping up to fight the virus and help it come to a close. At first glance, it may seem to be a logical solution. But Yang does the complete opposite of fighting racism. Instead of berating it, he puts the pressure on Asians rather than the racists, to change. He even draws light to how stressed everyone must be in this uncertain era, and how easy it is to look for someone to blame as if that somehow justifies the spitting, kicking, and beatings of Asian Americans.
“Yang might as well direct us to put in blue contact lenses and dye our hair blonde.” -Heidi Du ‘23
He encourages us to appear more American in order to better adhere to the model minority standard so that when racist people encounter an Asian American on the street wearing red, white and blue, their racist ideals will magically blow away in the wind, all slurs forgotten.
As a Chinese American myself, I’m app alled that someone could get it so utterly wrong. Yang might as well direct us to put in blue contact lenses and dye our hair blonde. The problem isn’t how much Asian Americans are doing to help, or how Americanized we appear in this time of crisis. The problem is simply racism, and how easily one event can reveal the stigma that was between the lines all this time. As the preconceived discriminatory ideas about Asian Americans are called back into action, it seems that society will just let it pass as a blip without realizing that when the outbreak ends, it will simply slink back into the shadows, waiting to attack when the next opportunity arises. If an Asian American makes an effort to help the virus come to a close, it should not be because they’re trying to fit in, or validate themselves as Americans in order to deter racism. The idea that we should, or we are, is simply continuing the discriminatory model minority stigma that directly reflects the prejudice towards the first Asian Americans. Fighting the virus in any way possible is plainly a moral responsibility of all people, because at the end of the day, the virus doesn’t discriminate.
OPINION
MAY 26, 2020
13
Real Fake News
A SATIRE
BY MAYA CHU March 26, 2021, marked one year after the United States surpassed the rest of the world in COVID-19 cases. The past 12 months have been a rollercoaster of political turmoil and flying fatality, whether that be a coronavirus or killer hornets. It’s time to take a look back on the chaos of this past year.
What in the quarantine is going on? As states began to reopen, a surge of COVID-19 cases was expected. So it was quite a surprise when exactly the opposite happened. The United States experienced an eerie flattening of the curve right as people were heading back to work. Scientists struggled to explain the drop. Even President Trump was baffled. In a press briefing, he proclaimed that he “just attract[s] miracles.” With all the confusion, it was up to Gen Z to clear the air. Teenagers took to Tik Tok to spread a new conspiracy theory. In a viral video with over 15 million views, a user declared that the world was a simulation, and COVID-19 was a way of countering exponential population growth that would supposedly “crash the system.” Once enough people had been infected, the supposed “simulation-runners” flipped off the switch and the virus disappeared. Although the theory was deemed improbable by experts, #StoptheSimulation spread just as fast as the virus and was trending on Twitter in a matter of days. But out of this came yet another conspiracy. Tik Tok, a famously Chinese-run app, has been rumored to take down content that makes its government look bad, and promote videos that bolster its reputation. No wonder the simulation video went viral, people said. The power of the Tik Tok algorithm provided a perfect opportunity to rid China of responsibility for the pandemic, and place it on a more “favorable” option: a dystopian simulation.
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OPINION MAY 26, 2020
All hooped up Regardless of the conspiracies, it’s no secret that the spread of the virus started up again just as suddenly as it had stopped. Social distancing measures were slapped back into place, but in a new-andimproved...fashion. The history of social distancing reflects not only plagues and disease, but also mannerisms dating back to the Victorian era. Back in the day, maintaining distance between people, especially of opposite genders, was standard and classy behavior. This is where women’s fashion came into play. Caged hoop skirts, known as crinolines, were a voluminous reflection of status. Over time, they became an increasingly common fashion statement as well as a way to maintain social safety for women. Although President Trump isn’t known for being an avid reader, he somehow caught on to this little piece of history. The effects of his newfound knowledge were seen in a government mandate that ordered Americans to wear six-feet diameter hoops around their waists in all public spaces to facilitate social distancing. “Another one of my brilliant ideas. Nice to know my brain is still sharp in the midst of a pandemic,” Trump tweeted. He must have forgotten about the backlash he received after suggesting people inject disinfectant into their systems.
In the next few weeks, people filled out forms with waist measurements and hoops were swiftly shipped out. As hoop-wearers began to flood the streets, everyone realized just how ugly these contraptions were. The solution? Designer hoops, of course. High-end brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton rolled out their newest and most functional products: printed hoops and masks to match. Going for over $800, these sets became a favorite of celebrities and influencers alike. In times of crisis, it’s nice to know Americans can always count on a Kim K livestream about her branded hoops to keep our spirits high.
Bye Bye Birdie Along with the pandemic, the presidential election was a defining factor of last year. Debates were the usual string of blatant lies and personal attacks, and campaigning was all done virtually. As autumn rolled around, people assumed elections would be done via mail-in ballots. But Trump, who famously despised this method, had an ultramodern solution in mind: drones. Not just ordinary drones; these had identification capabilities and could detect illegal behavior. With ambitious plans often come many mishaps, and sure enough, October was a month of chaos and confusion. Reports of drone crashes and explosions were in the hundreds come November. Pretty blue skies were polluted with flying drones and knocked out birds were strewn across streets. Animal rights activists refused to vote, and instead held protests where they chanted, “Birds over democracy!” On the other side of the spectrum, hunters were struggling with the drones, too. “I was just trying to get a chicken, but turns out I shot one of those voting drones,” one man said. Nevermind that chickens can barely fly over 10 feet in the air. After weeks of disorder, November finally came. On the 3rd, Donald Trump won a second term in office. Partisanship became hatred as suspicions of election tampering grew, and tensions were more extreme than ever. Some even anticipated that conflict would escalate into civil war. In an attempt to calm down supporters, Biden said, “There will not be a third civil war, it just won’t happen. Americans will come together and work through our differences.” The mistake stuck out like a sore thumb, and people were quick to point it out. One tweet read, “I’m pretty sure there’s only been one civil war. Maybe Joe here needs another history class.”
OPINION MAY 26, 2020
15
Got Netflix? Find out what new Netflix show you should watch in quarantine based on this brief quiz. By Alaina Greenlee
When you get together with friends, you guys... A) Get in some exercise B) Go on adventures on your boat C) Tame tigers...or your mom’s dog D) End up in some sort of trouble
What does your typical weekend look like? A) Either partying or chilling with your friends B) Fish on! C) Plotting to off your rival D) There is no “typical”
How would your friends describe you?
What’s your life goal? A) To be a professional athlete B) To get rich C) Be the people’s president D) To make your parents proud
A) Athletic B) Care-free C) Exotic D) Mysterious
What do you wear on a normal day?
A) The more sports I can play in it the better B) Anything that can be found on VSCO C) My trusty flannel, jeans, and baseball cap D) Good ol’ leather or letterman jacket
What’s your go-to place to eat? A) A trendy restaurant in Beverly Hills B) A seafood shack C) Nowhere. My home cookin’ is all I need D) A quaint diner
Mostly A’s: Spencer James, is that you?
Mostly C’s: You are the tiger king.
You’ll love All American, a teenage drama following a rising football star recuited from small neighborhood Crenshaw to Beverly Hills as he battles gang violence, social life, and working to be, well, an All American.
You’ll no doubt love this documentary following Joseph Schreibvogel, better known as Joe Exotic, which brings you along on his wild journey as he does anything from run for president to end up in prison...buckle up.
Mostly B’s: Welcome to the Outer Banks,
Mostly D’s: The town with pep!
paradise on Earth.
With your absolute vibes, be ready to dedicate several days to binging Outer Banks. The new series that took the U.S. by storm follows the Pogues as they face the normal teenage world: sneaking around, partying, the occasional life changing treasure hunt that is tied to your missing father. Just an average summer in the Banks.
Riverdale is the show for you. Although based off Archie Comics, Riverdale is the much darker series covering murders, gangs, and the Gargoyle King. Don’t worry, there’s always a milkshake at Pop’s to bring back the peace.
DESIGN BY ALAINA GREENLEE