Issue 8, 03/22/19

Friday March 22, 2019

The Campanile

Vol. CI, No. 8

PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL 50 EMBARCADERO RD. PALO ALTO, CA 94301 NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE

PAI D PALO ALTO PERMIT #44

Palo Alto High School, 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301

www.thecampanile.org

Former student client discloses personal experiences working with indicted college counselor Rick Singer

Dozens of Bay Area parents implicated in largest college admissions scandal ever prosecuted in U.S. history

By Noah Baum & Kennedy Herron News & Opinion and Managing Editor

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fter the indictment of 50 people — some of them Palo Alto residents — in a college admissions cheating scandal, many community members involved in the college admissions process say current admissions practices are imperfect.

William “Rick” Singer, a forhire college admissions coach who pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud U.S. and obstruction of justice, worked with a number of Palo Alto families. Singer used illegal means, such as bribing coaches and having SAT proctors change students’ answers, to get his clients into competitive universities.

According to a phone transcript used as evidence in the indictment, Singer described how every year there is “a group of families, especially where I am right now in the Bay Area, Palo Alto (...) they want guarantees, they want this thing done,” in ref-

erence to his illegal services.

Singer performed illegal services with his college counseling business, The Edge College & Career Network, and transferred money for the services through his non-profit, The Key Worldwide Foundation.

In the Key Worldwide Foundation’s public tax returns, one of the listed points in the organization’s mission is that “our contributions to major athletic university programs, may help to provide placement to students that may not have access under normal channels.” The tax return document gives no details on the legality of such arrangements.

As many national and local outlets have reported, the family of a current Paly student used Singer’s services and are being charged in the fraud investigation.

The student said he did not want to talk to The Campanile.

However, Singer did not offer illegal services to all his customers. He also offered college counseling services that did not involve bribery to clients such as former Paly student Alex, who agreed to be interviewed only if The Campanile didn't use his real name.

The scandal has allegedly been going on since 2011

Parents paid between $15,000-$75,000 per standardized test

50 individuals were indicted

33 parents were charged

ART BY ANNIE CHEN/THE CAMPANILE

Alex said he used Singer’s college counseling services because Singer had worked with many students before with a lot of success.

According to Alex, Singer’s counseling services offered him

help with the Common Application, editing his essays and tutoring for SAT, SAT Subject tests and Advanced Placement tests.

However, Alex said Singer’s guidance was not helpful.

“He was kind of a scummy

guy and had very little process in helping,” Alex said. “I would send him essay revisions, and he would come back with grammatical mistakes and stuff like that, which anyone can do.”

Throughout the process, Alex

said Singer never explicitly offered him potentially illegal pathways into college; however, Alex said there were multiple instances where Singer or his employees

College Scandal

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CAASPP testing incentivized

Prizes such as free parking permits used to increase participation

By Paige Knoblock

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ROBERT M. WILEN/USED WITH PERMISSION

Senior Robert Vetter poses in character with castmates and juniors Aida Mohamed and Isabel Harding.

'Guys and Dolls' controversial plotline prompts discussions

By Eve Donnelly

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Staff Writer

he 1950s in New York City was a golden era for musical theatre. Classics from this time, such as “Singin’ in the Rain,” “A Star is Born” and “The King and I” were all popular Broadway shows that helped the musical industry flourish. But along with the beauty of the dazzling song and dance, some see an ugly reminder of 1950s misogynistic gender norms in some of these shows including “Guys and Dolls,” which premiered this year at The Performing Arts Center on March 8. Despite what some people see as sexist undertones, director Kathleen Woods said the art in the musical outweighs any controversy.

“It is a golden musical,” Woods said. “The music is absolutely fantastic. It is a kind of singing and dancing that no matter how much things are changing, these are still experiences and skills (that) are very important for young performers to have.”

Selecting “Guys and Dolls” as this year’s musical was a collaborative decision made by Woods, Choir Director Michael Najar and Band Director Jeff Willner.

According to Woods, the talent is available and the roles that best fit the auditioning students are both

INSIDE

factors she considers when choosing a production. When the decision to perform “Guys and Dolls” was made, Woods said some students discussed with her their reservations in auditioning.

“The students and I, before we started the play, had some conversations (regarding the play’s sexism),” Woods said. “So I was very aware of those concerns and struggles that everybody has, but the job of a performer is to inhabit the character and inhabit the world, and the students are doing an amazing job of that.”

Woods said students could choose not to audition if the play interfered too strongly with their beliefs and some chose not to audition for this reason.

However, she said the age of theatre when “Guys and Dolls" was written should not be disregarded even if it contains both good and bad elements from the past.

“It wouldn't make any sense to throw out that whole time period or that whole generation and say there's no value,” Woods said. “If you can kind of get beyond the parts that make you cringe, the music really is unforgettable and just fun.”

One student who felt uncomfortable auditioning for the play was sophomore Zoe Russell, who opted to be a makeup artist and

deck crew member. She said she felt that being a part of the cast would open her up to unwanted objectification throughout the show.

"I was very aware of those concerns and struggles that everybody has, but the job of a performer is to inhabit the character and inhabit the world.”

Kathleen Woods “It bothers me a lot,” Russell said. “I don't particularly like that we are doing a show that's as sexist as this. I feel that at the age that we are, it's not the best to be giving the impression that that's how relationships should be. I don't think it's OK to have girls as young as 14 be stripping in any capacity on stage.”

Although Russell said she admires the talent and effort that went into the making of the musical, she still thinks “Guys and Dolls” was an inappropriate choice.

Full Story Online

Opinion

Staff Writer

aly juniors will be taking the two-day California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) tests from after lunch to 3:30 p.m. on March 25 and 26. This year, Paly admin is taking new steps to incentivize students to take the exams.

In his weekly newsletter on Feb. 22, Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Superintendent Don Austin detailed the benefits of such tests, the importance of taking them and the ways in which they can help the PAUSD community.

In addition to academic achievements recognized by the state, Assistant Principal Tom Keating notified juniors of the incentives offered to students taking the tests.

“We are working on a number of incentives for students who complete all of the CAASPP tests,” Keating said in a Schoology

message. “Every student completing all tests will receive an item of Paly swag. In addition, we will hold a raffle.”

"Paly was asked by the District Office to come up with a plan to increase student participation in CAASPP testing."

Tom Keating These new incentives come after previous years attendance was around 25 percent for these stateadministered standardized testing over the past few years. In previous years, many students chose to opt out of these tests for various reasons. This year, Paly administration has decided to incentivize test takers, hoping these new prizes may increase participation.

“Paly was asked by the District

Office to come up with a plan to increase student participation in CAASPP testing,” Keating said.

The raffle will contain a range of highly coveted items, some with values over $100. Student parking passes, athletic passes, yearbooks and VIP parking for the junior class graduation ceremony in 2020 are among the potential prizes.

According to senior Esme Stotland, students didn’t take the tests in past years lack of information and incentives.

“I didn't take the test because there wasn’t really any benefit,” Stotland said.

According to Keating, the District wanted more students to take the tests, so providing incentives was the most efficient way to effectively increase students excitement for participation.

“In a meeting at the District Office early in the school year, Gunn High School administrators shared a list of incentives they

CAASPP Testing

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Students participate in climate strike Activists protest government inaction on environment issues

By Jaures Yip

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Staff Writer

ozens of Paly students joined thousands of youth activists from over 120 countries after school on March 15 to protest against government inaction on climate change issues.

Gathering at the intersection of Embarcadero Road and El Camino Real, students carried rallying signs and posters to participate in what national organizers dubbed as the Youth Climate Strike.

With over 100 walkouts in the U.S. alone, the movement first gained traction last summer after 16-year-old Greta Thunberg began protesting outside the Swedish parliament during school hours. Inspired by her environmental activism, thousands of students began partaking in similar strikes, including Paly students.

As president of the Paly Democrats Club, which often coordinates student involvement

Lifestyle

JAURES YIP/THE CAMPANILE

Senior Evan Baldonado participates in the climate walkout on El Camino. with political issues, senior Warren Wagner organized the event with junior Rohin Ghosh, vice president of the club. Leading chants such as “no more coal, no more oil, keep your carbon in the soil,” Wagner emphasized the vital role of youth as the driving force behind the climate change movement.

“I wanted to help generate some interest among Paly students

Spotlight

to hopefully show them what they can do to help our planet,” Wagner said. “We kind of own this issue as young people since it’s going to be our life and our world going forward, so I think we’re the most important voice.”

Wagner, who was also involved in the organization of Paly’s protest against gun violence last year,

Climate Walkout

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Sports

the edition

News. . . . . . . . . A1-A4 Opinion. . . . . . . A5-A7 Editorials. . . . . . . . . A8 Lifestyle. . . . . B1-B3, B6 Spotlight. . . . . . . . B4-B5 Science & Tech. . . B7-B8 Sports. . . . C1-C3, C6-C8 Sports Spread. . . . . C4-C5

KAITLYN LEE/THE CAMPANILE

Student Center

Bond money ought to be used to remodel the Student Center.

PAGE A5

LISETTE BRODEY/CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

Free libraries

Learn about the Little Free Library network and ownership.

PAGE B1

KEMBERLEY GROUE/FAIR USE

Rehabilitation

A look into how therapy programs offer support to recovery.

PAGE B4-B5

MALCOLM SLANEY/CC BY 2.0

Los Gatos rivalry

Find out why admin has opted to ban student spectators at select games.

PAGE C1

Friday, March 22, 2019

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The Campanile

NEWS

ANTONIA MOU/THE CAMPANILE

The Student Center now opens at 7:15 a.m., offering another study space.

JOHNNY YANG/THE CAMPANILE

Symphonic band rehearses for the Instrumental Music Pops Concert, which features instrumental renditions of popular songs.

Second annual Pops concert to premier tonight

By Leela Srinivasan

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Lifestyle Editor

fter bringing back the event last spring, the Instrumental Music department will host its second annual Instrumental Music Pops Concert tonight, March 22, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Peery Center.

The name, just like that of the Choir Pops Concert held six weeks ago, originates from the atypical genre and selection of music, according to senior flutist Natalie Churchley.

“The Paly concert band, symphonic band and orchestra all play a selection of ‘pops’ pieces that are generally more recognizable pieces,” Churchley said. “This year, the band is going to be playing 'Aladdin' as well as some selections from Aretha Franklin.”

“Everyone gets onto the dance floor, and anyone who wants to can just pick a partner and jump in.”

Natalie Churchley

The orchestra has been actively narrowing down their full selection for the concert, but two pieces in particular can be expected to be played at the event, according to senior violinist Ronald Or.

“This year, we’re going to play most of the soundtrack from ‘La La Land,’” Or said. “It’s a piece that incorporates most of the different sections from the movie.

We’re also playing a piece from Star Wars, so a lot of people of all ages will be able to recognize that tune. It usually takes around two or three months of diligent practice to play a piece to perfection."

Both the band and orchestra have been busy preparing for the event, but the band members have simultaneously been gearing up for another event that’s scheduled to follow the Pops concert.

“While we have been practicing Aladdin and our other piece frequently, we’re preparing for (California Music Education Association)’s right now, which is in Adjudication,” Churchley said. “That means that we play for judges and they give us scores. It’s hosted at right here at Paly, and other bands come here and compete with us.”

According to Churchley, the timing of the event forced the band to divide up their practice time accordingly. “The pieces we’re playing for CMEA are harder, so we’re devoting at least half our time to preparing for those pieces,” Churchley said. “Those types of songs are more obscure, although a lot of them are fairly modern. One that we’re working on right now is supposed to be an incantation of a dance, kind of like people dancing around a fire.”

The gym is the ideal location for the performance, as this is no ordinary concert — it is known for the festivities that follow the musical numbers, according to Churchley. “After the concert portion, dinner is served, and then afterwards, a swing dance instructor comes in,” Churchley said.

“From what I've heard, when they used to hold this concert before the renovation, it was pretty popular among students.”

Ronald Or

According to senior Zach Weitzman, at this point in the concert, the jazz band plays a selection while the symphonic band, orchestra and obliging audience members learn how to swing dance in the center of the gym. Though mandatory for performers, it’s an entertaining experience, Churchley said.

“It’s extremely casual,” Churchley said. “Everyone gets onto the dance floor, and anyone who wants to can just pick a partner and jump in, though we don’t really have a choice in the matter.

Then the jazz band begins to play, and we dance.”

The jazz band, according to

Churchley, though affiliated with the band, is an entirely separate group with an independent practice schedule.

“They are technically an eighth period class, so they meet Monday during lunches and on Thursday afternoon for practices,” Churchley said. “They really get their own time to practice, so while all of the members are also in band, they have their own sound.”

Or said the concert definitely hosted more parents than students in the audience last year, and believes that this disproportionality is due to a lack of awareness of the event among the student body.

“From what I’ve heard, when they used to hold this concert before the renovation, it was pretty popular among students,” Or said.

“I’m pretty sure that they stopped because while the gym was torn down, there wasn’t a good replacement location. But now that it’s been so long without it, fewer people know about it at all.”

Churchley echoed Or’s statement, and said the student musicians had difficulty publicizing the 2018 Pops concert.

“We’re trying to get more people to come this year because since no one knew what it was, it was tougher for us to sell tickets,” Churchley said. “I’m hoping that this time, more people will come, because they’ll have heard about it from last year from their friends and want to see what it’s like," Churchley said.

Student Center to open early before school

By Siddhartha Sahasrabuddhe Staff Writer

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ith funding from the Site Council, Paly is now opening the Student Center before school to give students a warm place to be. According to Site Council member and junior Ben Gordon, the Student Center will be open by 7:15 a.m. “each and every school day.”

According to meeting minutes from Dec. 10, Site Council members Gordon, teacher Lucy Filppu and parent Anna Itoi proposed that the Site Council approve an expenditure of $2,500 to pilot the program for two months, beginning in mid-January 2019.

The goal stated in the minutes was to “give students who have been arriving at school early a warm and welcoming place to obtain academic support and/or do homework.”

The cost of $2,500 was the estimated amount required to hire a Paly teacher or staff member to open the Student Center from 7:15 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. every morning.

The proposal made by three Site Council members also included providing students with a healthy snack, an expense included in the $2,500 estimate.

"A lot of students are here before school starts, and the student center is a perfect place for students to be."

Adam Paulson

Itoi estimated that the cost of funding the program for the remainder of the school year would be $6,100, including the $2,500 for the pilot. Principal Adam

Paulson then suggested inviting Miguel Fittoria, a 2008 Paly graduate who works at DreamCatchers (a program that is working to close the achievement gap in Palo Alto schools), to help with the tutoring and homework help aspect of the program.

The Site Council unanimously approved the proposal. Despite the initial proposed start date of mid-January, the program was postponed, and began on Feb. 12.

In an email, Principal Adam Paulson said that “a lot of students are here before school starts, and a student center is a perfect place for students to be."

“We want to make sure you're not coming in instead of getting sleep."

Medha Atla Addressing the Site Council plans of offering homework help and breakfast, Paulson said that they are not currently serving breakfast nor offering homework help in the morning.

“I would like to be able to offer both (breakfast and homework help), but there needs to be more conversation and planning to make this happen,” Paulson wrote in an email.

Site Council member and sophomore Medha Atla said, “People who come early, we’ve had people tell us, Site Council specifically, that there are a lot of kids that come early, and that the temperature hasn't been really that good lately."

Atla also said that students should not forgo sleep to take advantage of the program. She said, “It’s just we want to make sure you’re not coming in instead of getting sleep, it’s important to get sleep, but if you are there early, just drop in and there’s not a sign in or check in process or anything."

UPCOMING EVENTS MAR.

25

MAR.

31

FIRST DAY OF CAASPP TESTING Who doesn't love state mandated standardized testing?

MINIMUM DAY The District had to cram in instructional minutes somewhere.

APR.

FIRST DAY OF SPRING BREAK Watch everyone else travel to exotic countries while you sit at home.

APR.

MARCH MADNESS FINALS Something to numb your post-Spring Break pain.

1

8

APR.

13

APR.

19

APR.

21

APR.

22

PROM Finally, everybody will stop talking about their prom dress.

GOOD FRIDAY & PASSOVER Two religious holidays, one day.

EASTER An excuse to stuff yourself with chocolate and immediately regret it.

EARTH DAY Watch corporations tweet "Happy Earth Day!" while they singlehandedly destroy the planet.

Friday, March 22, 2019

The Campanile

College Scandal Continued from A1

conveyed false information on his Common Application.

“There were situations where I would be reviewing some of the stuff that he put in (to the Common Application), and it was not truthful,” Alex said.

In one occurrence, Alex said that Singer and his subordinates falsely wrote that he had received an impressive award in the Honors section of his Common Application.

“The honor was some ridiculous award that was given to very minimal people in the state of California,” Alex said.

Alex said he then told Singer’s employees to take out the false award and replace it with a truthful one. Subsequently, Alex said he confronted Singer and his subordinates about the dishonest information.

“When I elaborated and asked about why they were doing this — because, quite frankly, I was offended — (Singer and his employees) were saying how it increases your chances of getting into college,” Alex said.

Singer and the Key Worldwide Foundation did not respond when contacted for an interview.

When asked about how colleges should deal with students accepted using false scores or information, Alex said it is a tricky situation, because it is not completely apparent whether students knew about the illegal activity.

CAASPP Testing Continued from A1

put in place last school year,” Keating said.

This change may have had the desired impact, as some students are reconsidering their original stance. Junior Kaitlin Meyer said that, originally, the tests seemed unimportant, but she may reconsider opting out because of the new added incentives.

“The incentives have definitely made my decision harder because before I would have just opted out," Meyer said. "I would really like a free parking pass but I don’t want to miss the material we are learning in class."

However, the new prizes may not have been successful in convincing all students.

Paly junior Malia Chun thinks the addition of these prizes may

“For bribes, there should be a serious consequence and obviously, if the student knew what was going on, (colleges) should consider (expelling the student),” Alex said.

"The honor was some ridiculous award that was given to very minimal people in the state of California."

Alex

Despite the negative aspects of the scandal, Alex said the situation may shed light onto the integrity and fairness of the college admissions process and the factors it considers.

“If anything, it's a good segue into how the college admissions system right now is a little fraudulent and, in general, is not the best system,” Alex said. “I think things like SAT scores, which hold a lot of importance in the college admission process, shouldn't even really be in there.”

Alan Young, a local private college counselor, agrees that the current college admissions process could be improved.

“Part of me is thinking that maybe some other admissions processes are a little bit better,” Young said.

Young said people may re-examine several ideas after this inhave been a kind gesture to test takers, but is unsure that they are worth rearranging her schedule and taking up large chunks of her class time.

"The incentives have definitely made my decision harder because before I would have just opted out."

Kaitlyn Meyer

"I was planning on taking the test but I am not sure if I will be able to," Chun said. "It is unfortunate that the testing is in the afternoon instead of the morning because then I would definitely be taking it. ”

NEWS

dictment, such as the hysteria that surrounds getting into college, the process of recruiting student athletes and standardized testing.

“I think we’re just at the tip of the iceberg,” Young said. “There’s so many other things that are going to be coming out.”

Young said individuals can easily begin a college counseling service with little professional experience.

“The barriers to entry aren’t very high,” Young said. “So anybody can do it and claim that they do it.”

This lack of regulation of college counseling services can lead to individuals like Singer basing their businesses on fraudulent practices.

“There are a lot of (counselors) that aren’t that qualified, don’t know a lot about college advising, (or) don’t have the best interests of the student or the families at heart,” Young said.

"Students who don't necessarily end up at their first choice ... after a year, can't imagine themselves anywhere else."

Sandra Cernobori

Although a variety of highprofile Silicon Valley families used Singer’s services, Young predicts that if someone had asked 10 local

Climate Walkout Continued from A1

reached out to Paly Environmental Clubs Organization (ECO), a coalition of environmentally-focused clubs, and Alex Von Feldt, the Executive Director of Grassroots Ecology, a local nonprofit, as guest speakers during the protest.

When addressing the student protestors on March 15, Feldt discussed the Zero Waste Campaign, which “advocates for corporate responsibility for waste, government policies for resource conservation and sustainable jobs from discards,” according to its website.

Reverend Doctor Eileen Altman, an Associate Minister at First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, was also invited to offer a moral, faith-based perspective on climate change.

“For me, the climate crisis is

college counselors about Singer, nine would not have known who he is.

Paly College Advisor Sandra Cernobori also said she had never heard of Singer before the current investigation.

Cernobori said she tells students and parents to consider colleges they may not have heard of before to find the college of best fit, rather than focusing on “the name brand recognition or the reputation” of the school.

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ASB busy planning end-of-year activities

By Sophia Moore

“I would argue that those that don't choose by fit don't always end up staying and might transfer,” Cernobori said. “It's not only about getting in, it's about what you're going to do once you're there, and it bums me out sometimes, because this, theoretically, could be a really fun and exciting time in your life.”

However, Cernobori said regardless of prestige, many students end up content with their choice once they are at a college that is a good fit for them, in her personal experience.

Cernobori said, “Students who don't necessarily end up at their first choice … after a year, can't imagine themselves anywhere else.”

ith Prom quickly approaching and spring just around the corner, Paly’s Associated Student Body (ASB) has been busy keeping up with their many scheduled events.

According to senior Sarthak Pant, ASB Social Commissioner, Paly’s annual promposal asking competition has started, though final prizes have yet to be determined. Prom tickets are still for sale and will be available for purchase until Mar. 27.

Over the last few weeks, ASB has been discussing the possibility of making changes to their constitutions, according to senior Ashutosh Bhown, ASB Senior Site Council Representative.

Despite these discussions, no huge alterations have been made thus far.

“We did make some amendments, nothing too game-changing,” Bhown said. “Some new rules, new delegations of responsibilities, along with the removal of the videographer position.”

According to Bhown, ASB was considering adding an “Executive Coordinator” position, which would have served as a liaison between ASB and the admin-

istrators at Paly, mainly in order to help with scheduling and other logistical issues.

However, Bhown felt these loose ends could be tied up within one position, making an Executive Coordinator position unnecessary.

“Others in ASB agreed with this assessment, so we ultimately pushed those responsibilities back to the existing site council representatives,” Bhown said.

In addition to these changes, Pant said ASB is currently planning Field Day, which should take place on May 17.

Hosted during the middle of AP testing and finals preparation, “Field Day is a yearly event put on by ASB in order to increase student morale,” Pant said. “We use the extended lunch as an opportunity to let everyone have a good time during this busy period in order to provide students with stress relief.”

ASB hopes to have many activities and fun opportunities for students during Field Day, Pant said.

“Last year we had an obstacle course, human foosball and a rock wall,” Pant said. “We will be working the logistics of these events over the next two weeks, so nothing has been confirmed for this year yet.”

the greatest moral crisis facing the world today,” Altman said. “I think it’s important for students to participate, because your moral urgency really will push political leaders to enact changes that are difficult for them to enact.”

According to junior Miles Breen, who attended the event, the main goal of the walkout was to prevent the movement from being disregarded as merely a sporadic smattering of discontent ,and instead showcase it as a global mass initiative.

“I don’t claim to be helping that much just by being here,” Breen said. “But coming out and showing that you support the Green New Deal or any form of legislation that'll help solve climate change is important.”

To encourage more individual action among communities, Lisa Altieri, founder of Community

Climate Solutions and Climate Solutions Net, attended the rally to promote her new app. The app educates users on different methods of contributing to the prevention of climate change in a collaborative and engaging way.

“Most people in the U.S. care about climate change and want to help, but they don’t know what the solutions are, and they don’t know what to do,” Altieri said. “Everybody can make a difference.”

Currently, nearly 40 percent of U.S. carbon emissions are produced from household activities, according to Altieri, with electricity, heating, transportation, food and waste being the main categories.

The app offers affordable and accessible alternatives that can lower negative impact up to 70 to 100 percent in each category.

“We’re working right now

with 20 cities and counties in the U.S.,” Altieri said. “We’re working with high school students in every one of our communities, and they continually blow us away. It's inspiring and honestly keeps us going when we hear from students.”

Several students who participated in the protest are continuing to advocate for climate change awareness.

Altman has made an effort to urge students, as well as any others, to follow their lead and reach out to different communities and organizations in order to promote the shift that they are pushing for towards environmental betterment.

Altman said, “My message to Paly students is to find how your particular gifts can contribute to the movement, and look for people in your community that you can partner with to make change.”

"He was kind of a scummy guy and had very little process in helping."

Alex

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Staff Writer

The Campanile

Friday, March 22, 2019

NEWS

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Paly Robotics succeeds in competitions Local restaurants face Team 8 ranks eighth at Del Mar Regional, 11th at Great Northern Regional

growing turnover rate

By Nicholas Le & Henry Queen

By Kris Risano

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Staff Writer

aly Robotics Team 8 advanced to do something that had not been done by a Paly team in nine years — they captained an alliance.

Team 8 has accomplished this feat in back-to-back competitions this season; they were able to captain an alliance at the Del Mar Regional competition on March 3 and the Great Northern regional competition on March 16.

According to team member and sophomore Alan Zhang, captaining an alliance means the teams selected are able to choose three other teams they would like to work alongside to complete the competition’s task.

“In my opinion, making decisions faster throughout the subteams was a big improvement over last year, and has allowed us to be more successful this year.”

Alan Zhang

Only the top eight teams out of 35 are able to captain alliances — these eight teams are determined by the qualifying rounds.

Team 8 clinched the eighth seed, and was able to select three other teams to join its alliance.

Each year, the teams participating in the competitions must build a robot from scratch. The robots must be able to complete the tasks that are announced at the beginning of the season on “Kickoff Day” in January.

This year, the robots’ task was to place cargo (large rubber balls) or hatches (polycarbonate plates) onto a “cargo ship,” according to sophomore team member Andrew Pham.

According to Zhang, the team has improved since last year, partly thanks to a few new members.

“I think our upcoming fresh-

I

Senior Staff Writers

t isn’t easy to find continued success in running a restaurant in Palo Alto. During the past few years, there has been a revolving door of businesses coming in and out of the city. Within the last few months, restaurants such as Calafia Cafe, Tony’s Fast Chicken, The Cheesecake Factory, Classico Gelato and more have gone out of business, leaving many to wonder why Palo Alto businesses are constantly struggling to survive.

JULIAN KOBAYOSHI/USED WITH PERMISSION

Sophomore Andrew Pham works on robot repairs between matches at Del Mar Regional on March 3. men and our new recruits have shown promise,” Zhang said.

“Our results have been better so far, as we have not captained an alliance since 2010.”

The teams have six weeks to construct the robot and make sure it fits within the parameters of the competition, an intense period known as build season.

“During build season, while the build and software teams are working on the robot, our business and art teams are hard at work writing the essays we need for awards, cranking out the buttons and pins we hand out at competitions and putting together presentations we present to judges,” Team 8 co-captain and senior Jennifer Xu said.

Throughout the season, subteams within Team 8 — including the build team, design team, business team, art team and software team — work on different aspects of the competition.

Zhang credits each of the subteams for the success the team as a whole has achieved this year.

“In my opinion, making decisions faster throughout the subteams was a big improvement over last year, and has allowed us to be more successful this year,”

Zhang said.

Once build season comes to a close, the teams must put the robot in a large bag, a process known as “bag and tag,” and begin to prepare for competition season.

“I think our upcoming freshmen and our new recruits have shown promise.”

Alan Zhang

“You can not work on the robot once it is placed in the bag; this will lead to disqualification,” Pham said.

Xu said the enthusiasm and hard work the team has demonstrated this season fueled its success.

“I think the cumulated efforts of built-up knowledge over time, the successful training of members, the hard work of all our subteams and our really wonderful student leaders, have all been allowing us to grow more successful as an organization,” Xu said.

Team 8 advanced to the quarter finals at their most recent

competition, Great Northern Regional, which took place from March 13-16.

According to Pham, the team prepared for Great Northern Regional like they would any other competition.

Part of the process was training with a nearly identical robot that was also built during build season. The team refers to this robot as the practice bot.

“Before competition, our software sub-team tests the code on our practice bot,” Pham said. “Our practice bot allows the software team to work out the issues the bot has.”

Zhang said this process is another reason the team has been more successful, as the prototypes have helped them find and correct errors. The team has increased the use of such prototypes since last year.

According to Xu, the team is preparing for future competitions by building off of what they saw in the last competition.

Team 8 looks to continue the successful season in upcoming competitions. According to Zhang, this year’s team has made the necessary improvements to be successful.

“I am not a fan of the turnover of businesses. I prefer family-run mom and pop style restaurants versus a chain.”

Conor Kennedy

The business turnover rate has disappointed citizens and business owners alike. Steve Wong, former co-owner of Michaela’s Flower Shop and longtime citizen of Palo Alto, is disappointed to see the traditions leaving Palo Alto.

“It makes me sad,” Wong said.

“I like things to stick around for a while. It seems like every business from yesterday is gone now. I had a good offer on the building, but I decided to sell it to someone who could keep it going. All the tradition (in Palo Alto) is gone.”

Locals are also upset with constant change of businesses. Conor Kennedy, a longtime resident of Palo Alto, believes the turnover has driven away family businesses in favor of chain restaurants and big brands.

“I am not a fan of the turnover of businesses,” Kennedy said. “I prefer family-run mom and pop style restaurants versus a chain.”

The cost of running a business in Palo Alto is very high. In 2015, the average retail rent in urban areas was $19.51 per square foot,

according to National Real Estate Investor.

Some business owners grew sick of high rents, according to Wong. He believes change was needed a long time ago.

“I think that rent control right around when I bought — around 2000 — would’ve been good,” Wong said. “There were a lot of locals that had to move because of the rent increase.”

According to CNBC, around 60 percent of restaurants fail within the first year and approximately 80 percent close by their fifth year, making restauranteering quite the risky venture.

One of the newest restaurants to open in downtown Palo Alto is Pho & Banh Mi, specializing in Vietnamese food. The owner, Ngoc Tran knows it is a high-risk area, but believes there is a lot of potential.

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to open a business in Palo Alto,” Tran said. “I know many businesses come and go very quick here, but University Avenue is a great area to open a business. There’s a lot of foot traffic and people who come from out of town, I can see Pho & Banh Mi doing well here.”

Palo Alto residents may have mixed feelings on the constant overturning of businesses, but Wong is firm in his belief that the turnover of businesses sacrifices a feeling of tradition in Downtown Palo Alto.

“It makes me sad.

I like things to stick around for a while. It seems like every business from yesterday is gone now.”

Steve Wong

“I think the people who have been here in a long time feel the same way I do,” Wong said. “All their favorite shops are gone, but (that) has little effect on the young people because they were not familiar with those places.”

DECA qualifies for Computer science to be incorporated States, internationals into Algebra 1, 1A curriculum next year

By Andy Wang

A

Staff Writer

fter initially disbanding in 2017, the newly formed Paly DECA club, a business and entrepreneurial development club, has come back stronger, qualifying two teams to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC). The club, which was only rebooted a few months ago, now has over 30 completely new members and competed in its first competition: the Anaheim State Development Conference in March 2019.

“The State Career Development Conference (SCDC) is the biggest and most exciting California DECA event of the year,” the official DECA website said.

“Members from across California gather each year for competitions, workshops, state officer campaigns, networking and countless other opportunities. The best competitors at SCDC qualify to attend ICDC.”

“The trip was a triumph. I not only gained insight from all the workshops, but also gained experience heading up a brand new club.”

Ria Pai

Sophomore Jun Hyuk Kwak, Vice President of Business for Paly DECA, is one of the members who placed top 10 in his event, Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making, and qualified for ICDC. Kwak was particularly impressed by Paly’s success at the event, given the small size and novelty of the club.

“The trip was an incredible event and gave us a welcoming surprise,” Kwak said. “We came in as a brand new DECA club with only 11 students going up against other giant clubs with huge reputations.”

At the conference, Paly DECA was one of the smaller clubs and

was outnumbered exponentially compared to other schools. Despite being short in numbers, Kwak said he was thrilled to be able to place in his event.

“My partner and I studied hard and gave it our best with what we had and we never expected to win,” Kwak said. “It felt amazing hearing our names being called for the finalist position. Initially, there was doubt: ‘How could I have won, especially considering both our, and our club’s, extreme lack of experience?’”

In order to prepare for the event, Kwak and his partner prepared extensively.

“There was both a 100 question exam and a role play,” Kwak said. “To prepare for the exam, we looked at sample exams in addition to the review of business terminologies and concepts. For the role play, we examined sample case studies online and practiced sample case questions.”

When asked about the most valuable and memorable experience throughout the conference, Kwak said winning was one of the best parts. However, he also stated that building friendships, with his partner and other club members , contributed to the overall positive experience.

Junior and co-president of Paly DECA Ria Pai also saw SCDC as a success. As co-president, Pai took on the task of leading the brand new club to Anaheim, hoping for success. Competing for the first time, Pai believes she gained invaluable experience and knowledge from the trip.

“The trip was a triumph,” Pai said. “Seeing how other DECA clubs work in different parts of California really showed me how we can improve our DECA club.”

For the next DECA competition season, Pai looks to gain new members and take more competitors to the State conference.

“I would definitely recommend this trip to those who are interested in business and who would like to compete and travel,” Pai said. “It allows one to understand various aspects of the business and economic world. Equally as important, the whole jaunt allows new connections to be made and old ones to be strengthened.”

By Kiana Tavakoli

S

Staff Writer

tarting next year, the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) will pilot an initiative to implement computer science (CS) curriculum into Algebra 1 and 1A courses. The integration of computer science into algebra classes will be done using the platform “Bootstrap: Algebra,” which focuses on the application of mathematical concepts in programming.

The Bootstrap platform is aligned with both California Common Core Math Standards and the national K-12 CS Framework, according to the recent Superintendent Board update announcing the decision to pilot the class.

Paly computer science teacher Christopher Kuszmaul has been supportive of using Bootstrap in class. He has been involved with the platform, created by Emmanuel Schanzer, for many years and has hosted a Bootstrap workshop at Paly.

“In 2012, I invited Emmanuel Schanzer, the founder of Bootstrap, to present his work at the Silicon Valley Computer Science Teachers Association,” Kuszmaul said. “I have continued to support and advocate for that curriculum, including serving as the host teacher for the first summer Bootstrap workshop in California.”

The District was compelled to implement the Bootstrap platform, suggested by Kuszmaul, after research demonstrated the success of the program.

“Research about student progress due to the use of Bootstrap: Algebra indicates that students improve in their successful completion of algebraic word problems,” according to the Board update.

The research was mostly conducted at Brown University and was performed by Emmanuel Schanzer, Kathi Fisler and Shriram Krishnamurthi, the directors of Bootstrap. According to a research paper published by the directors, “integrating CS education with existing disciplines is appealing for both intellectual and logis-

ALYSSA LEONG/THE CAMPANILE

Teacher and Bootstrap advocate Chris Kuszmaul lectures during his AP Computer Science Principles class. tical reasons. Effective integration helps advance student learning in both computing and the host discipline.”

According to the directors of Bootstrap, the program is unique because it delves deeper into aligning the problem-solving process across math and computer science.

Kuszmaul said he supports the Bootstrap platform and its implementation into Paly algebra classes.

“Adding a CS component to math gives kids the exposure to decide if the CS pathway appeals to them.”

Mitali Kessinger

“I am glad the District is finally taking my recommendation to employ this well thought out curriculum,” Kuszmaul said.

Junior Mitali Kessinger, who is currently taking computer science

at Paly, said the District’s decision to integrate computer science into algebra is beneficial because it will introduce younger students to the subject of computer science, which can initially seem daunting.

“I think that many students are afraid of computer science, and personally, if my middle school didn’t require it, I might not have ever considered it,” Kessinger said.

“Adding a CS component to math gives kids the exposure to decide if the CS pathway appeals to them.”

According to Kessinger, computer science is beneficial in many ways, such as opening the door to potential career pathways and learning new ways to approach problem-solving.

“Computer science is prevalent in many careers, especially as the tech industry continues to gain momentum,” Kessinger said.

“While not all jobs directly require coding, the foundation and understanding of code is critical for most. (I also) believe that CS teaches a problem-solving way of thinking that can be applied to countless jobs and life in general.”

Kessinger said her experience with computer science has taught her many skills beyond coding.

“My work ethic when things are challenging has gotten better, and I have a slightly different approach to (solving) problems in general,” Kessinger said. “I also intend to major in CS or something related, so computer science has given me an academic purpose, so to speak.”

According to Kessinger, introducing computer science to more students through the District’s integration plan is a step in the right direction in increasing diversity in the field.

“I think it’s important to get a wider range of people in computer science, because it’s a very limited group of people currently,” Kessinger said. “There is not much racial diversity, and there are far less girls than guys, which ultimately translates to guys being in higher positions in the workforce.”

Kessinger said computer science integration into algebra is an essential first step, and eventually, computer science should be incorporated into more requirements.

Kessinger said, “I ultimately believe CS should be mandatory and a separate class, but I think that this is progress and I’m glad that it’s being done.”

The Campanile

Friday, March 22, 2019

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OPINION

Bond money should be spent on renovating Student Center

ART BY KAITLYN LEE AND KIANNA TAVAKOLI

By Kaitlyn Lee Staff Writer

W

hile Paly has unveiled several newly constructed and remodeled buildings since 2014 such as the Media Arts Center (MAC), the Performing Arts Center (PAC), the Peery Center and the new library, others remain in desperate need of renovation. One such building is the Student Center.

During the colder months, many students prefer to spend their lunch indoors.

PAUSD placed a $460 million bond measure on the 2018 ballot, which would give the District money to renovate and repair buildings. With this bond money, the school

ought to renovate the Student Center, which appears old and outdated compared to the new, glistening buildings on campus.

During the colder months, many students prefer to spend their lunch indoors. However, students’ ability to spend lunch inside is extremely limited.

The MAC is closed for lunch to prevent messes and the library does not permit food or drinks inside.

Of course, students are always given the option to eat at restaurants across the street at Town and Country. However, this can get pricey, and students that bring their own lunch cannot eat inside these establishments. Junior Ella Jones said that she and her friends often sit inside Gott’s Roadside, but the manager asks them to

leave when they don’t buy any or enough food. Apart from clubs, this leaves the Student Center as one of the only buildings on or off campus that students can eat their lunch in.

However, the Student Center is often cramped with tables clumped close together and long lines of students waiting to buy food. The Student Center currently seems dirty, loud and uninviting. There is often litter left behind from cafeteria lunches and cramped crowds of students sitting or buying their lunch. When the lights aren’t at full brightness, the room is pretty dark due to a lack of natural lighting, but when they are, it’s blinding and artificial.

The Student Center should be renovated to provide students with a more spacious and welcoming

area to spend their lunch.

PAUSD Nutrition Services Director Alva Spence and Paly food service worker Melanie Gomez spoke to members of the Paly Associated Student Body (ASB) on Nov. 18 about a possible renovation of the Student Center, which would include new furniture, decorations, vending machines, menu items and more. Spence and Gomez proposed alterations to improve the overall aesthetic of the Student Center, such as napping pods, more natural lighting, new chairs with cushions, more work areas with outlets and arcade games for students.

They not only hope to remodel the building itself, but also alter the cafeteria system to be more efficient and enjoyable for students.

Additionally, they proposed implementing an order-in-

advance system that could possibly take credit cards and a self-checkout system to minimize lines.

These changes would be extremely beneficial and would make the Student Center a nicer, more inviting place for students to spend time. According to ASB Secretary Charlize Nguyen, who attended the meeting with Spence and Gomez, the Student Center has lots of potential but is currently very underutilized. It should be refurbished or redesigned in order for more people to spend time in it, especially on a rainy or cold day.

While students can eat indoors if they’re a part of a club or a teacher opens up their classroom for them, a renovated Student Center would result in many benefits that classrooms don’t offer.

Incorporating the napping pods proposed by Spence and Gomez would make the space a great place to relax in between classes — there aren’t any spaces on campus designed for the sole purpose of allowing students to peacefully nap.

The Student Center currently seems dirty, loud and uninviting.

Additionally, the installation of arcade games for student use would allow students to kick back and relax, a contrast to the stress of school.

Along with providing students a nice place to eat lunch indoors, the Student Center can also function as a place for students to wind down.

Legacy preference is affirmative action for wealthy

By Shannon Zhao Senior Staff Writer

T

he recent bribery scandal surrounding Rick Singer and college admissions has made local and national headlines. But the notion of bribing your way into college is not new, especially for students living in the Bay Area, where a culture of extreme wealth and a desire for academic prestige have existed for some time. Curiously, while many across the country were shocked by the lengths some parents took to guarantee their child’s admission to elite universities, many Paly students were unsurprised by the news — perhaps because they have seen the same systemic inbalances taken advantage of by the parents of their own classmates.

Practices employed by some Palo Alto parents include using their socioeconomic status to bend the rules of meritocracy through a process referred to as “back door” admissions.

Since colleges have every incentive to keep the “back door” open, it will be nearly impossible to eliminate.

Singer, the man charged with masterminding the recent college admissions scam, has explained the college acceptance process using three doors: the “front door,” through which students are accepted into universities on their own merit; the “back door,” where students’ parents donate large sums of money to the university to better their chances of acceptance; and his own creation, the “side door,” where unqualified students are guaranteed admis-

ART BY NOA LEHRER

sions to top-tier universities without having to make building-sized dents in their parents’ wallets or face public scrutiny for abusing their wealth to gain admission.

The current scandal has reignited the debate about the imbalances of the college admissions process, with some claiming there is only a fine line between the side and back door admission schemes, and that endowing a building to a school is no better than bribing a college coach. However, the back door admissions scheme is not as despicable as many make it sound.

In an ideal world, the college process should serve as a meritocracy, and all students should gain admissions to colleges through the “front door.” However, we live in a society driven by capitalism, where parents and universities make decisions with the lowest opportunity cost. If a wealthy parent has the financial means to legally give

their kid a leg up in the college admissions process by donating money, then it is their right to do so.

Similarly, when an educational institution is presented with the tradeoff between admitting one underachieving student and receiving funds or a new facility that would benefit thousands of other students, it is understandable why admitting the student whose parents have made large donations is in the school’s best interest.

Additionally, a large portion of donors’ money is allocated towards subsidizing tuition and scholarships for low-income and highachieving students. The back door admissions scheme is a two-way street. Since colleges have every incentive to keep the “back door” open, it will be nearly impossible to eliminate.

Politicians and educational institutions say they want to make the college

admissions process as equitable as possible. But, while money fuels the existence of “back door” admissions, there is no such force that keeps the legacy component of the college admissions process in place. The very purpose for its creation is deeply rooted in discrimination and anti-Semitism.

When Ivy League universities saw their applicant pools become increasingly filled by Jewish students in the 1900s, they adopted legacy admissions processes to maintain their traditional student body of upperclass children. According to the chairman of the Princeton Board of Admissions at the time, the legacy policies aimed to address the “Jewish problem” that many universities experienced.

A recent lawsuit brought against Harvard by the Students for Fair Admissions over the university’s practice of affirmative action sparked a national conversation

about the role of race in the college admissions process.

Unfortunately, there has been no widespread discussion about how the use of legacy preferences can create the same inequity, essentially serving as a form of affirmative action for the wealthy.

Legacy preferences extend the institutional disadvantages faced by students of minority backgrounds by disproportionately benefitting white, affluent students, who tend to be the alumni of prestigious universities.

For instance, according to a 2008 study by Duke, the university’s legacy students were more likely to be white and private high school graduates than the rest of the student body.

Institutional priorities reserve so many spots for legacy students that those who have to depend on their own merits for admission are forced to compete with harsher admissions criteria for the remaining spots. In

a study conducted by The Harvard Crimson, 29 percent of Harvard University’s incoming class of 2021 was made up of legacy students.

Factoring legacy into the college admissions process robs hard-working students from low socioeconomic backgrounds of the opportunity to move up the social ladder through higher education.

However, the “back door” admissions scheme is not as despicable as it is made out to be.

If we want to make progress in closing the achievement and wealth gaps in our country, educators and politicians can help. They can stop preaching idealism and start changing policy to fix these systemic injustices, not hide behind scandals to mask the real problems.

The Campanile

Friday, March 22, 2019

OPINION

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Political correctness in comedy is important, to an extent

By Lucy Nemerov

P

Business Manager

osing for a picture, Kathy Griffin rests her face in a stern stare. In her right hand, she holds the bloodied model head of Donald Trump.

Although trying to provide comedic commentary on her hatred for the President, many were appalled by her graphic photoshoot, deeming it inappropriate and offensive. Comedians taking things too far is nothing new — it just seems like the public is now less tolerant to such inappropriate behavior. “Political correctness.” By definition, political correctness is “the avoidance, often considered as taken to extremes, of forms of expression or action that are perceived to exclude, marginalize, or insult groups of people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against.” Recently, this term seems to be thrown around more than ever. In a time when our President is admittedly antipolitically correct, many feel the need to revolt against anti-politically correct rhetoric. This debate over the importance of political correctness has seeped into many forms of media, such as television and music. Arguably the most controversial media platform is comedy.

Although audience reactions may be overly sensitive at times, the sad truth for many of the complaining comedians is that their old, demeaning jokes are lazy.

There is a line between being hateful and making an edgy joke, and many argue any restriction on a comedian’s right to be “edgy” kills comedy by limiting a

ART BY SHANNON LIN

performer’s comedic reach. Commonly referred to as PC culture, many comedians worry that this growing concern over causing offense to marginalized groups is limiting their ability to be controversial and ‘funny’. However, there is a distinction between being funny and being offensive.

At the end of the day, comedy is still about getting a reaction and pushing boundaries, which can be done without being demeaning or discriminating against others.

Many comedians think the new politically correct atmosphere, especially present within younger generations, has discouraged them from delivering a slightly controversial joke. But this shift in political correctness reflects a shift towards a more inclusive society concerned with gender equality, LGBTQ rights and racial equality.

Social justice movements have progressed in the past couple years

as well, with developments such as the #MeToo movement. Through social media and protest, more Americans have a voice to share their experiences with inequalities, inherently creating a more politically correct atmosphere in mainstream media.

This increasingly liberal environment in comedy has raised concern among comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld, who refuses to perform on college campuses due to what he says is the extreme environment of political correctness.

In an interview with Late Night host Seth Meyers, Seinfeld described a joke where he did an impersonation of a gay French king.

This joke did not get a positive reaction from the audience, Seinfeld claiming the audience was too fearful to laugh out of fear of appearing homophobic.

Although audience reactions may be overly sensitive at times, the sad truth for many of these

complaining comedians is that their old, demeaning jokes are lazy. Good comedy can effectively comment on current social and political issues, poking fun at the ridiculousness of a situation while not being discriminatory. A modern audience will now rarely laugh at an impersonation of a flamboyant gay stereotype or an inappropriate sexist joke due to the heightened awareness around inequalities.

Political correctness forces comedians to be more creative. They can no longer make lazy joke attempts calling certain things “gay” or making fun of women.

Comedians taking the road to a more socially inclusive environment should be acknowledged for their refusal to use easy targets as punching bags.

This raised awareness around politically correct culture has been called a restriction of free speech.

But it’s not. Rather it is a chance

to open up the world of comedy to a more inclusive conversation. Comedians need to learn to adapt to their audiences. They still possess the right to freedom of speech, yet they must face the consequences when their free speech offends others.

Politically correct culture does not mean all sensitive topics are out of bounds, it simply means comedians have to tackle them respectfully.

Being unaccepting of discriminatory comedy gives those who used to be the punchline a chance to be in on the jokes. Politically correct culture does not mean all sensitive topics are out of bounds, it simply means comedians have to tackle them respectfully.

Community service options should become better publicized

By Alex Liu

P

Staff Writer

arents and peers constantly bombard high schoolers with reminders that community service, among other things, bolsters college applications and sets them apart from other applicants. However, the community service is rarely discussed in school and as such, students often miss critical opportunities to gain hours.

Community service — defined as voluntary work intended to help people or unpaid work, intended to be of social use — is described by many as having many benefits. For example, for some, community service is able to counteract the effect of stress, anger and anxiety and bring fulfillment and enjoyment to one’s life. Additionally, community service is especially valuable to high schoolers seeking skills relevant to their intended career path. Thus, it is especially important for high schoolers to seek out community service opportunities as all the aforementioned things are especially beneficial to high schoolers.

Even though Paly offers many resources for students who wish to volunteer, not many students realize they exist.

While many community service opportunities exist, oftentimes students must first go through a complex process to sign up, a daunting task for those who have never volunteered before.

Enter the words “community service” into the Google search bar and millions of websites, each boasting information about community service, pop up. However, each website is different,

ART BY KHADIJA ABID

and nearly all sites require one to register an account and fill out a long-winded application in order to gain hours.

In order to help students sign up for community service opportunities, Paly should take on the responsibility of better publicizing these opportunities.

Currently, a “volunteer opportunities” Google Calendar exists on the Paly website, a bulletin near the College and Career Center, and a list of volunteering opportunities offered by Guidance and Career Vocational Education Assistant Karla Larson.

But even though Paly offers many resources for students who wish to volunteer, not many students realize these resources exist.

In order to make students aware of the resources the College and Career Center provides, an introduction to the calendar and list of volunteering opportunities should be incorporated into advisory. An additional idea to make students more aware would be to incorporate the topic of community service into an assembly.

According to Larson, community service will be covered in advisory on April 11 for sophomores and juniors and April 17 for freshman.

However, this happens at the end of the year and as such, students, in the months before April, do not have the valuable information that would help them with all things related to community

service.

Furthermore, the Living Skills course, a graduation requirement, requires students to gain community service hours. Although the Living Skills teachers hand out sheets containing community service opportunities, one must be in Living Skills to receive this sheet.

This has the potential to limit a student’s exposure to these opportunities if they are not enrolled in Living Skills.

As a result, Paly students who have no hours and decide to take Living Skills as second-semester seniors may find themselves under pressure to gain their hours last minute in order to graduate.

Paly should make these sheets available to all Paly students by

handing them out during advisory, preferably in the months before April. Additionally, community service ought to be a topic discussed outside of Living Skills, such as in the months before April in advisory and in assemblies, where Paly administrators well-versed in all things community service could give a presentation to students.

Currently, resources that help students with community service are not very well-konwn.

Thus, in order to fix this, Paly ought to more thoroughly incorporate the topic of community service into advisory and assemblies, and spend more time publicizing the calendar containing community service opportunities.

The Campanile

Friday, March 22, 2019

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Friday, March 22, 2019

The Campanile

A8

EDITORIALS

Paly ought to publicize lesser- AP finals should be before AP tests known classes outside of catalog D

E

very year, rising freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors face the same struggle: choosing classes. The course catalog, almost 100 pages of course descriptions, graduation requirements and subject pathways, is an intimidating read.

Consequently, it is understandable that students predominantly pick popular courses, often choosing exclusively between the “normal” lane of a class and an AP or Honors version of said class. The course catalog system, though it helpfully provides a single place to find information about the classes Paly offers, often fails to explain or publicize lesser known courses.

One example of this was the mass enrollment of juniors and seniors in AP English Language this year. As reported earlier this school year, over 400 students signed up. This mass enrollment naturally decreased sign-ups for almost every other English class offered to juniors and seniors, causing some unique English electives, such as Film Composition and Escape Literature, to be cancelled due to under-enrollment.

According to English Department Instructional Leader Shirley Tokheim, English teachers conducted a survey this year of sophomores and juniors so they could run in-demand classes. While The Campanile believes this is a good start, it doesn’t fully address the

crux of the problem: the lack of publicity and advertisement of lesser known classes.

Students primarily turn to the course catalog or consult their friends to choose courses, which puts niche or less well-known courses at a disadvantage when it comes to enrollment. This is problematic because it robs Paly students of the opportunity to take more out-of-the-box classes.

To combat this problem, some teachers have taken initiative in advertising their classes. Human Anatomy Teacher Randy Scilingo is one such teacher. Last year, while advertising Human Anatomy, which was offered at Paly for the first time this year, Scilingo created a 2 ½ minute screencast that mapped out his course. The screencast showed off the different parts of the classroom he would be utilizing as a part of the course, as well as some sample lessons, activities and projects. He then distributed the screencast to other teachers in the science department. These teachers, including physics, chemistry and biology teachers, gave a short spiel about the new class and showed the screencast to their students.

Scilingo said this was an effective way to advertise Human Anatomy, as the class is running with two full sections.

The Campanile thinks Paly administration, as well as the different Paly departments, should

follow Scilingo’s lead and make a more concerted effort to raise awareness of the many courses that might otherwise escape the notice of students.

One idea is to hold an elective fair during lunch or tutorial, where teachers could promote their classes and answer questions from students face-to-face.

The last school Scilingo taught at, Homestead High School in Cupertino, held an elective fair, and, according to Scilingo, the fair was effective. Holding such a fair would be a good first step towards providing students with better resources choose classes.

Another possible solution is more class-to-class presentations modeled on Scilingo’s Human Anatomy screencast. Though this places more onus on individual teachers to raise awareness for their courses, it also allows for teachers to have more control over their courses’ description, as well as talk about their class with more specific detail.

Courses such as Human Anatomy and Positive Psychology touch on topics that aren’t discussed in more popular classes, topics which nonetheless make up an important part of a student’s education. It is only to the detriment of students that they are not made aware of these opportunities — expanding course selection resources beyond the course catalog would be a good first step.

uring the first two weeks of May each year, students are invariably stressed by the arrival of Advanced Placement (AP) exams, strictly administered national tests that cover an entire year’s worth of content taught in their respective AP classes.

For most AP classes, the final is often cumulative and spans much of the same material tested on the AP exam. Because of this, many AP teachers opt to have their finals before May to prepare students for the real AP exam.

However, several teachers schedule their finals later, in the designated week before the end of the semester. The Campanile thinks all AP classes should have their final before the AP exam.

The Campanile thinks having the final before the AP exam is most beneficial to students.

AP Chemistry teacher Ashwini Avadhani, whose students take three complete mock AP exams before the test and have their best score as their grade on the final, agrees with this sentiment.

According to Avadhani, nothing can prepare a student for an exam better than taking a practice exam that simulates the test.

By taking a test that is the same difficulty, length and format, students get a fair idea of what

to expect from the AP exam and what they need to focus on while studying. This simulation helps students feel more relaxed and prepared on the AP exam test day.

Additionally, having the final before the AP exam can reduce stress for students, since taking class finals earlier would lighten the workload on students in May. However, The Campanile does understand scheduling the final before the AP exam may not always be possible. According to AP Calculus BC teacher David Peters, with the new alternating block schedule, he sees his class fewer times in the year. As a result of this schedule, there are only six review days before the AP test, making it nearly impossible to finish teaching all the content, review for the AP test and fit a final exam in before the AP test.

According to Peters, reviewing material that will be tested is just as important as actually practicing for the format of the test. For this reason, during the review days, Peters’ class solves AP problems from the past six years that cover a wide variety of concepts and question formats. Given the time restraints, The Campanile appreciates these efforts to maximize review that is relevant and practical for the students.

Ultimately, Peters said the order of the tests should not really matter, and taking the final first is not necessarily going to be the best way to prepare for the AP test. The tight schedule only adds to the case for having the final af-

ter the AP exam, since Peters said there is no time to schedule a final into the six review days without taking away from the crucial and limited time students get to review with their teachers.

Another issue with having finals earlier is keeping students focused and motivated in class.

AP Spanish teacher Kevin Duffy has his final exam after the AP test because he said it is difficult for many students to stay on task in class without a looming final to impact their grade.

However, The Campanile thinks that after months of studying and preparation for AP exams, students deserve a chance to catch their breaths. Teachers should also trust students’ work ethic and ability to cooperate. It is not fair to subject everyone to the added stress of finals under the presumption that a few students will be disruptive. If teachers want to continue student learning, they could do so through other means, such as assessments and final projects. At the same time, it is on the students to respect this trust and privilege and continue to pay attention in class in an attempt to actively learn.

The issue of when the final in AP classes takes place is a significant one. The Campanile thinks having the final before the AP exam is most beneficial to students, both academically and for their mental health, and urges AP teachers to consider making space in their class schedule to administer their final before the AP test.

ASB, administration should increase underclassmen community building

I

n the coming months, the Class of 2019 will engage in several bonding activities, including graduation festivities, a grade-wide game of elimination and a series of traditional senior pranks, all of which will foster a tight-knit community.

However, such a community does little to enhance students’ high school experiences when it is developed just before graduation. Leaving Paly with a united high school class is still beneficial to students, as it strengthens their networks and makes it more likely they will maintain their friendships through their postgraduation endeavors. However, if the same community could be formed early in students’ high school experiences, it could serve them throughout their four years at Paly as well.

The Campanile urges the Associated Student Body (ASB) and Paly administrators to increase their focus on underclassmen community building through more grade-wide bonding events and better utilization of Link Crew as a resource to welcome students into the Paly community.

ASB School Climate Commissioner senior Noor Navaid said that, while there is a sense of camaraderie within grade levels, this community is developed through classes, sports and other extracurriculars. Navaid said she believes there aren’t many opportunities provided by school specifically for grade-integrated socialization.

Prompted by questions from The Campanile, ASB held a discussion and collectively responded with information about the current situation. ASB said they agree there should be more grade-wide bonding events in lower grade levels, and are open to suggestions about what sorts of

activities students would find interesting — however, they specifically vetoed running elimination in lower grade levels for logistical reasons.

While openness is the first step to implementing change, The Campanile urges ASB to take initiative in the organization of grade-wide bonding events. According to ASB Board Correspondent senior Caroline Furrier, who has been an ASB member for four years, the dedication to grade-wide bonding varies year to year based on the ambition of the class presidents.

The Campanile thinks the most effective approach to lower grade level bonding is to have several annual, class-wide events that the ASB President can work with class presidents to carry out. Once a tradition is established, there will be less dependency on individual class presidents to organize new events each year, which would then guarantee community building regardless of class leadership.

The Campanile thinks the most effective apprach to lower grade level bonding is to have several annual, classwide events.

According to Furrier, another obstacle standing in the way of class-wide events is funding. Because ASB funds can only be used for activities that involve 51 percent or more of the student body, classes have to run their own fundraisers for class-exclusive activities. Creating annual class-wide events that each class has an opportunity to take part in — for

example, a series of class picnics or friendly competitions within classes — would enable ASB to fund such activities.

Another aspect of underclassmen community building that could be improved is the way incoming freshmen are welcomed into Paly. Currently, Link Crew — a group of around 110 upperclassmen volunteers — runs freshman orientation and give incoming freshmen upperclassmen as guides whom they can connect with throughout high school. However, a lack of Link Crew bonding events results in weak connections between Link Crew upperclassmen and underclassmen.

ASB Treasurer senior Riya Kumar piloted Paly Pals this year, an organization that aims to build off of Link Crew by giving interested freshmen an opportunity to be paired with an upperclassman buddy. The upperclassmen buddies serve as a go-to person for freshman to eat lunch with, seek advice from and attend school performances and sporting events with. According to ASB, Paly Pals has potential for growth, though this year its participation was low.

The Campanile encourages upperclassmen to sign up for both Paly Pals and Link Crew in order to actively get involved with the shift toward a tight-knit community — currently, only about 10 to 20 percent of upperclassmen volunteer for Link Crew each year, according to ASB. A warm school community is vital to creating a healthy environment for students’ well being and academic pursuits, both of which should be the school’s top priorities. In order to welcome all students, ASB and administrators must take community building more seriously, both in grade-wide events and cross-grade bonding.

MARCH'S TOP SEVEN LIST Top Seven Ways to Celebrate Spring 7) Forget to plan a summer trip when it is still affordable (but not really affordable).

6) Plant a seed.

5) Take longer showers.

4) Buy festival tickets before you know you can attend.

3) Get hooked on "Game of Thrones" right before Finals.

2) Lose your elimination ball.

1) Get rejected from college in better weather.

Bonus Three 3) Take advice from a groundhog.

2) Watch Paly flood.

1) Forget to bring your rain jacket to school.

–NOAH BAUM AND HENRY QUEEN

"I said no twin."

The Campanile

Editors-in-Chief Leyton Ho • Waverly Long • Kaylie Nguyen Ethan Nissim • Ujwal Srivastava Online Editor Managing Editors Yusra Rafeeqi Kennedy Herron • Byron Zhang

News and Opinion Editors

Lifestyle Editors

Noah Baum • Neil Kapoor

Annie Chen • Leela Srinivasan

Science & Tech Editor

Sports Editors

Miranda Li

Navid Najmabadi • Ben van Zyll

Multimedia Editor

Business Managers

Vivian Feng

Lucy Nemerov • John Tayeri

Distribution Manager Khadija Abid Emily Asher Loic Bosch Eve Donnelly Olivia Ericsson Leila Khan Bruno Klass Paige Knoblock Bernie Koen Kaitlyn Lee Nicholas Le Cameron Legrand Rebekah Limb

Photo Editor Alyssa Leong

Board Correspondent Samantha Hwang

Staff Writers

Alex Liu Anna Meyer Shiva Mohsenian Sophia Moore Antonia Mou Lara Nakamura Tien Nguyen Sarah O'Riordan Henry Queen Yusra Rafeeqi Maya Rathore Kris Risano

Photographers Khadija Abid • Emily Asher • Leila Khan Alyssa Leong • Yusra Rafeeqi • Shiva Mohsenian Antonia Mou • Johnny Yang

Frida Rivera Hyunah Roh Sid Sahasrabuddhe Kiana Tavakoli Emma Todd Kai Vetteth Andy Wang Jeffrey Wang Johnny Yang Jaures Yip Shannon Zhao Adora Zheng

Illustrators Annie Chen • Frida Rivera • Kiana Tavakoli Miranda Li • Shannon Lin • Lucy Nemerov Kaitlyn Lee • Noa Lehrer • Jaures Yip

Advisers Rodney Satterthwaite • Esther Wojcicki

Writing Coaches Evelyn Richards • Elisabeth Rubinfien

Letters to the Editors: Email all letters to editors to theeds19@googlegroups.com The Campanile prints letters on a space-available basis.

We reserve the right to edit submissions.

The Campanile only prints signed letters.

Advertisements: Advertisements with The Campanile are printed with signed contracts.

For more information regarding advertisements or

sponsors in The Campanile and their size options and prices, please contact The Campanile Business Managers by email at campanile.ads@gmail.com.

Note: It is the policy of The Campanile to refrain from printing articles that misrepresent or alienate specific individuals within the Palo Alto community.

The Campanile would like to thank the PTSA for supporting the mailing of our newspaper!

Our Vision Statement: The Campanile has upheld the highest standard of student journalism for the last century by engaging the community through various mediums of storytelling. Our coverage of news, culture and athletics aims to represent the diverse perspectives of our student body.

The Campanile

L FESTYLE

Friday, March 22, 2019

Little Free Libraries Unconventional method of book sharing rapidly growing in Palo Alto

I

n any other neighborhood, continued to thrive. In fact, so people might look at Marilee many people continued to bring Anderson strangely for walk- books that Sam Anderson added ing down the street with a pile of a shelf to their LFL, allowing for books. But on her street, Iris Way, more book storage. “(The LFL) has attracted a everyone knows she is on her way to donate them to the neighbor- wonderful variety of books of all types,” Sam Anderson said. “Myshood’s Little Free Library.

With the slogan “Take a book, teries, children’s books, novels, leave a book,” Little Free Librar- self-help books, how-to-do-it ies (LFLs) have been taking the books, classics, history books, text world by storm, with over 75,000 books — the entire range.”

While Marilee Anderson iniofficial LFLs across 88 countries, according to their website. Palo tially wasn’t sure about how many people would use it, she is quite Alto has 13 of them.

Palo Alto residents Marilee satisfied with the results.

“I thought I’d have to be, you and Sam Anderson were inspired to start a LFL on Iris Way, after know, kind of next door ‘please seeing others installed throughout bring some books in,’ but it’s been quite good,” Marilee Anderson Palo Alto and San Francisco.

Although the official LFL said. “There have been little sursells kits to build them (which prises.”

These “little surprises,” includinclude blueprints and wood pieces), the Andersons built theirs ing lights inside the library, toys for kids and a bench underneath from scratch in 2015.

“I went around measuring the library, have come anonymously from other LFLs, neighbors taking picover the tures, sizing years. up details,” “SomeSam Anbody, I derson said.

“People are just have no “My grandso excited about idea who son was 12 it is, put at the time, these, I think it’s so a little the perfect much fun. It’s just bench,” age to dig Marilee post-holes a nice way to have Anderson and to start a neighborhood said. “And working then every with power togetherness.” once in a tools. We while, on collabothe bench, rated for a is a box or couple of a bag full of weekends, books that putting someone’s trying to get rid of.” it together, As a steward, Marilee Anderadjusting dimensions, painting, son does a lot of upkeep on the trying things out.”

Marilee Anderson registered LFL to make sure it is clean, ortheir LFL for a charter number ganized and runs smoothly.

“Someone has to keep watch and bought a customized sign on that it doesn’t get dirty,” Marilee the official website.

“You had to fill out a whole Anderson said. “With all this rain, application … for the title on your (the wood) can swell and then the library,” Marilee Anderson said. door doesn’t quite shut.”

She also regularly donates new “You fill out the papers, and then they give you a charter number, books to the library and gets rid of old ones by going to the Palo making it official.”

Eventually, their efforts paid Alto, Menlo Park or Los Altos off. To celebrate the opening, the library sales.

“Wednesday mornings, Andersons held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the LFL with the (Menlo Park Library neighborhood book club, declar- gives) away tons of ing all of the neighbors as stew- books,” Marilee Anderson said. ards.

Since then, the library has “And I have

Marilee Anderson

picked up really good books and However, she doesn’t often brought them over and those just take books from them, as she seem to go very fast. At Menlo finds the books are not always Park Library and Los Altos Li- interesting to her. brary and Palo Alto Library …

“I think that if the free lithey have books for sale right baries did have more genres there in the library for a dollar.” that interested me ... it probably Marilee Anderson said that would affect my reading intake she doesn’t mind buying the books and remind me to keep readat library sales, ing, because as they are inas life gets expensive and busier people enjoy I often the books. tend to “So few things in She also forget life are free, and trades books how much from her I love doI was touched by LFL with ing it,” this neighborhood Salvatierra n e a r by ones. said. effort that was “If a Mickpurely based on book has elsen said been sither LFL has trust.” ting there brought her or we neighborhave duhoods closer plicates together. …

I’ve “I have walked had more around to H e a t h e r conversations with neighbors as (Lane),” Marilee Anderson said. a result,” Mickelsen said. “A few “I think I’m always on the look- times, when I have told people out for what’s needed, you know, where I live, they ask if that’s neatening up, maybe bringing in ‘the house with the little library,’ more books.” and then they tell me how much Heidi Mickelsen is the stew- they appreciate having it in the ard of the Channing Avenue neighborhood.”

Little Free Library. She was also Marilee Anderson echoes inspired by seeing other LFLs Mickelsen’s statement — she around Palo Alto, and thought said she also enjoys the way the it would be a great way to get to LFL has unified her neighborknow her neighbors. hood.

“There are so few things in “People are just so excited life that are free, and I was really about these,” Marilee Anderson touched by this neighborhood said. “I think it’s so much fun. effort that was purely based on It’s just a nice way… to have trust,” Mickelsen said. “You can a neighborhood togetherness take books without asking per- kind of thing.” mission with the understanding Salvatierra also believes the that you will also share books with LFLs are crucial in a busy world. others.”

“Overall, I think the concept Freshman Eva S al vatier- of having Little Free Librarra enjoys visiting the LFLs ies around our town can be a around her street. grounding reminder,” Salvatier“I have al ways thought ra said. “Taking time to read or the libraries were super donating books matter and are a genuine,” S al- simplistic sense of joy.” vatierra said.

Heidi Mickelsen

Iris Way

Little Free Library

Little Free Library

Text, Art & Design by Alyssa Leong

305 Iris Way 1892 Channing Avenue 3218 Louis Road 3125 Maddux Drive 878 Marshall Drive 180 Heather Lane 979 Amarillo Avenue 2802 Louis Road 991 Loma Verde Avenue

T A K E A B O O K

L E A V E A B O O K

Design by John Tayeri & Shannon Zhao Prom

SPOTLIGHT

Find a Little Free Library:

Culture

Art by Jaures Yip Science & Tech

Rehabilitation facilities

Through creating support systems, teaching methods to avoid relapse and healing relationships, rehabilitation centers help students deal with substance abuse and anorexia.

ALLISON WILDMAN/CC BY 2.0

PAGE B4-B5

JIM THE PHOTOGRAPHER/CC BY 2.0

The history of prom

Diving into the roots of a national high school tradition.

PAGE B3

SHIVA MOHENSENIAN/THE CAMPANILE

Persian New Year

Read about Nowruz, a Persian holiday celebrating the new year.

PAGE B6

WILLIAM BRAWLEY/CC BY 2.0

Allergy season

Students speak about their experiences with food allergies.

PAGE B8

Friday, March 22, 2019

The Campanile

LIFESTYLE

B2

Local restaurant owner discusses contributions to community Zareen Khan shares pride in cultural heritage, support for female empowerment through Michelin-starred diner

By Yusra Rafeeqi & Byron Zhang Online Editor & Managing Editor

A

vibrant yellow mural of women raising their hands together, with the caption “Chara” (Urdu for ‘sisterhood’) draws attention to the painting of Pakistani celebrity Qandeel Baloch, her piercing eyes overlooking the bustling atmosphere of Zareen’s restaurant. Zareen Khan points to the eye-catching art, describing the significance of Baloch as a symbol of feminist power in Pakistan. Her eyes run over the words “Rest in Power” and “Chomp the Patriarchy.”

“Qandeel Baloch was a little bit of an activist, but also a social celebrity in Pakistan,” Khan said.

“People didn’t really approve of her openness, and she was really pushing the boundaries. She died in an honor killing. But it doesn’t matter what other people believe; nobody should control anybody’s life like that. So, this mural is dedicated to the women in the world.”

To Khan, Zareen’s, a Pakistani and Indian-styled cuisine located in Palo Alto and Mountain View, is not only a product of her pride in cultural heritage, but also serves as an attribute to women empowerment and gender equality.

Khan, ethnically Indian, spent her childhood in Karachi, the financial capital of Pakistan.

Her parents moved into a culture of unique, high-quality food stemming from the popular fishing port in Karachi.

Khan grew up appreciating the importance of rich, flavorful food.

After moving to the U.S., she

longed for the authentic food she could only experience back home.

From a young age, Khan dreamed of becoming a doctor.

When she graduated from high school and was initially considering entering medical school, however, the Pakistani government discouraged women students from taking A-levels, exams necessary for college entrance.

Khan explained that the government-issued cutoff of acceptance into medical school required her to achieve extremely high scores.

Although Khan earned higher-than-average grades in her Alevels, she was unable to attend medical school.

“Not in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever own a restaurant.”

Zareen Khan “That day, my dream got crushed,” Khan said. “They reversed the ruling because it was stupid, but that one year that I wanted to get into medical school I couldn’t, not because I wasn’t good enough, but because the politician wanted to play some card.”

Following this obstacle in her pursuit of a career, Khan decided to take life’s events as they came to her.

“After that, there wasn’t anybody to guide me to apply again or take a (different route), so whatever came my way I just did,” Khan said.

After completing a master’s

degree in business administration (MBA) at Northeastern University, Khan arrived in Silicon Valley, searching for a job in technology.

“Not in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever own a restaurant,” Khan said.

After working in the corporate sector for over 10 years, Khan, who envisioned a smaller, more creative environment, grew tired of the routine of sitting in an office every day. She wanted to create something of her own — something she was passionate about.

Reminiscing about her childhood days at the fishport in Pakistan and recalling the flavors from food truck delicacies, Khan started taking gradual steps toward opening a restaurant. She began with taking small cooking classes and catering events, ultimately launching her first restaurant in Mountain View, next to the Googleplex.

“I discovered that I feel like an artist — I can express myself through food and do things around it,” Khan said.

An amateur entrepreneur, Khan soon discovered the challenges and obstacles that come with running a business. She had no clue about how to figure out a budget plan, hire restaurant workers and train her employees.

“It was a lot of learning initially,” Khan said. “My biggest challenge the first six months was (that) I had essentially nobody at one point, and I had no workers in the restaurant except me. I had to call, whoever — my kids and everybody — to pitch in.”

After settling the logistics and resolving hiring problems, Khan dedicated her time to perfecting the quality of the food

MARK TUSCHMAN/USED WITH PERMISSION

Zareen Khan, who immigrated from Pakistan, now runs a Bay Area Indian-Pakistani style restaurant. served in her restaurant. When constructing the Zareen's menu, she did not intend to target a specific group of diners, but instead wanted everyone to get a “taste” of Pakistani culture. By blending authentic Pakistani and Indian dishes with a hint of fusion, customers from different cultural backgrounds were able to ponder the complexity behind the flavor of every bite. As the popularity of Zareen’s grew, Khan opened a second restaurant in Palo Alto in 2016. She had never expected her childhood street food to attract so many local students, residents and community members. During a casual online search for famous local restaurants, Khan spotted the name “Zareen’s” in the 2017 Michelin Guide.

“We have been very blessed with the crowd, but to see (Zareen’s) being recognized — it feels great,” Khan said. “I feel re-

ally welcomed by the surrounding community; they are very supportive and so thankful.”

To Khan, the ambiance created at Zareen’s is the embodiment of Pakistani values, the most important of which, to her, is hospitality.

Amid the skyrocketing housing prices in Silicon Valley, many of Zareen’s staff finds it difficult to support themselves financially.

To solve this problem, Khan purchased a house in Menlo Park, and rented it to six of her employees.

“It's like a two-way road — I benefit by having employees live close by, (since) they will be able to show up to work without commuting one hour, and the employees benefit because they don't have to pay the high market trends,” Khan said. “So I subsidised rent and they appreciate it and for me too, I have stable employees.”

She also reflected on her difficulty going into an unstable career as a restaurant owner, specifically as a woman, and how this experience inspired her to give meaning to Zareen’s.

“A lot of other restaurant owners, who were men, were like ‘oh, how can a woman run a restaurant by herself,’” Khan said. “They expected it to close down, for me to give up. So I feel proud that, not only have we survived, that we have made a big impact. Maybe some women will see that it’s not just a man’s work to be a chef, and hopefully they will take a chance.

I really want to see women go far and beyond. We have achieved a lot, and so I want to use my time and effort into movers and shakers that are geared towards education girls all over the world. I like to support them with our product, food or donation or however little I can do.”

Exploring local ramen restaurants Senior Riya Sinha organizes Comparing three restaurants' food quality, hospitality online female writing platform Student creates new stage for girls to express their issues

By Shannon Zhao

A

Senior Staff Writer

t the budding age of ten, senior Riya Sinha discovered her innate ability to empower others — in authoring a novel about the adventure of two sisters escaping their evil babysitter together, called Runaway Twins, Sinha unknowingly took her first step in becoming a social entrepreneur, feminist and founder of a multi-million user company called Fuzia.

When a younger girl saw Sinha’s book displayed on the shelves of their local bookstore, she realized age does not define her ability to achieve.

VIVIAN FENG/THE CAMPANILE

The number of ramen resturants in the Bay Area has increased as a result of the dish's popularity.

By Samantha Hwang

F

Board Correspondent

rom Ramen Nagi to Taro San Noodle bar, there has been a surge in ramen shops opening in the Bay Area.

Here are a few to check out.

Shalala Ramen (698 W Dana St) Shalala Ramen offers a wide variety of traditional Japanese dishes, its speciality being its Shalala Miso ($12 for a small bowl, $14 for a medium).

At Shalala, hospitality is made a priority — all customers are greeted with a friendly “Irasshaimase” ( Japanese for “welcome to the store”). The intimate seating area adds to the warm atmosphere of the restaurant, although it can get cramped for groups of three or more.

In addition to the attentive staff and cozy layout, the reason why Shalala can always be found with a line out the door is because of its consistently flavorful bowls of ramen.

The Shalala Miso, the most popular dish, has a tonkotsu (pork) and miso based broth with thick chewy noodles, cilantro and corn, all topped with a well-seasoned and tender piece of pork.

As for appetizers, Shalala has many classic Japanese dishes served in small portions, perfect for sharing. They have karaage ( Japanese fried chicken, $6.50), and gyoza ( Japanese style potstickers, $6.50).

Aside from these staples, Shalala also has some more interesting appetizers such as Agedashi tofu, a deep fried tofu served with

soy sauce and Yaki Onigiri (grilled rice balls), both $6.50.

With its pleasant atmosphere and mouth-watering dishes, the only drawback to Shalala is its popularity — the wait for a table can take up to 30 minutes, and Shalala doesn’t accept reservations or do take-out. The optimal time for dining at Shalala is close to opening, which is 11:30 a.m. for lunch and 5:30 p.m. for dinner.

However, if planning ahead isn’t an option, the Shalala experience is worth the wait.

Maruichi (368 Castro St) Everything about Maruichi is fast. Getting seated takes seconds, the ordering is straightforward and the food comes out in a blink of an eye. With a large seating area and casual atmosphere, Maruichi is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.

Like many ramen shops, the menu centers around a few main ramen dishes. Maruchi offers six types, including the Kuro Ramen, Tonkotsu Ramen, Shoyu Ramen and Miso Ramen, all priced at $10.48.

What makes Maruichi stand out vanety of their economic combinations. For only an additional $3, customers can add a rice bowl of their choice to any ramen dish, options ranging from spicy tuna rice bowls to pork curry rice.

This combination option is possibly one of the best deals in the Bay Area.

As for the ramen itself, the Tonkotsu Ramen is pretty standard.

The broth is flavorful, but nothing spectacular. The meat is tender, but slightly too thin and

lacking in interesting toppings and seasoning.

The best component of Maruichi’s ramen is its noodles.

If you peek into the open area of the kitchen, you can see people stretching and cutting the noodles by hand, which is difficult to find at other locations.

Ramen Nagi (541 Bryant St) Ramen Nagi is easy to identify from its ever-present snaking line.

Since opening its first U.S. location in Downtown Palo Alto this June, the crowds outside the door have barely subsided.

Despite the average wait time of 45 minutes, customers always appear eager to return. Ramen Nagi operates in an efficient way, making sure customers can be in and out as quickly as possible without feeling too rushed.

Unlike Shalala and Maruichi, Ramen Nagi has a more modern interior and offers a more asian fusion style take.

Ramen Nagi incorporates twists such as squid ink, basil and cauliflower to traditional tonkotsu and vegetable broth dishes.

All dishes are priced at $14.50, except for the standard Tonkotsu Ramen bowl which is pried at $13.50 Along with the unconventional spins, Ramen Nagi also incorporates a customizable ordering method.

Customers can choose between the different broths and strength of flavor, noodle thicknesses, selections of toppings and the various types of meat. In addition, the staff are quick to help, recognizing the dauntingness of a menu with so many options.

“People could come online and write whatever they wanted and get support from one and another.”

Riya Sinha

“This little girl — she was like four or five — told me, ‘I’ve been reading your book every night before bed and because of you, I want to write my own book too,” Sinha said. “I was really surprised that I could impact someone just by doing what I loved — it was really uplifting.”

This feeling of gratification fueled Sinha's devotion to empowering women through not only writing, but all forms of creative expression.

Sinha launched Fuzia in 2012 with the vision of creating a supportive, online writing platform for girls to share their ideas.

“It was a writing club at first — super small and low-key.” Sinha said. “People could come online and write whatever they wanted and get support from one another.”

Fuzia’s first two years were slow. However, the company blew up seemingly overnight after a relaunch in 2014, when the online writing forum was expanded into a global social media site and mobile app designed exclusively for women to creatively express themselves and share ideas.

Sinha became interested in women’s rights from a young age when a conversation with a family maid in India revealed to her the underlying misogyny in facets of everyday life.

“She was a 30 year-old grandmother and it just surprised me

because she was so smart and wonderful to talk to, but she had been subjected to a life of just cooking and cleaning," Sinha said. “(I realized women) have the ability to achieve so much more if they had the resources, so I wanted to have an online community that could support women.”

The media platform allows its users, called Fuziates, to “express, connect and get featured” through its various blogging features, chat rooms and creative contests, where contributors can enter to win money and gift cards.

According to Fuzia's website, Fuziates can post about nearly anything they want, as the site has a variety of unique categories ranging from Poetry and Quotes to Current Affairs and Food & Travel.

In order to create a safe and open environment for girls to converse freely about topics of their choice, the site does not currently accept male users, a trademark that distinguishes Fuzia from other social media apps.

“We have different channels that girls can talk on, on topics like body image, or issues with your periods or the taboo around menstruation,” Sinha said. “A lot of the users are women from places like India and Bangladesh, where they can’t talk openly about a lot of things.”

However, Fuzia has not only provided its users with opportunities to connect with others and voice their opinions, it has led to many opportunities for Sinha.

Sinha has been invited to speak at numerous conferences, such as the Women Economic Forum, where she spoke about using technology to promote women's rights and was awarded the Iconic Teen Entrepreneur Award.

"Empathizing is one of the most important things you do as an entrepreneur and founder."

Riya Sinha

“Speaking at the conference was nerve-wracking, but also rewarding because you’re able to meet and network with other people and they help you connect to other people — it kind of becomes a chain reaction,” Sinha said. “Last November, I spoke at TEDX Sonoma County literally just because

the woman I met at the conference helped run TEDX.” Sinha’s Ted Talk about youth leadership encouraged young people to discover their interests and run with their passions.

Following her own passion for writing, Sinha has learned many unexpected lessons about herself and the dynamics of the world around her.

“I was surprised that I could impact someone just by doing what I loved — it was really uplifting.”

Riya Sinha

“I would say the most important lesson I learned from this whole experience is about empathy,” Sinha said. “You don’t think you would need to empathize when you launch a website because you think it’s really methodical, but I actually think it’s one of the most important things you do as an entrepreneur and founder because you need to be able to empathize with the person on the other side.”

Learning to create a website interface that optimizes the user experience has given many realworld parallels that Sinha believes will serve her well beyond her work as a company founder.

“I think being able to get experience like that before I’ve gone to college will allow me to bring a different perspective to the conversation,” Sinha said. “Being able to empathize with someone who is from a completely different part of the world than you is really important because it gives you perspective into how they live.”

Seeing how much she has been able to achieve at just eighteen has led Sinha to want to encourage other young students to take on entrepreneurial efforts of their own.

She said that in an age heavily reliant on networking, as long as students communicate and share their ideas with other people, they will be able to find the help they need to manifest and achieve their goals.

“In the world today, I feel like people really value efforts to promote social change,” Sinha said.

“I think it’s not as hard as people think it is to launch your own entrepreneurial adventure if you’re really passionate about it."

Friday, March 22, 2019

The Campanile

LIFESTYLE

B3

Exploring Paly's extensive prom culture, history

Yearly American high school tradition has transformed to feature grand, expensive preparations

By Lara Nakamura

P

Senior Staff Writer

romenade: the formal introductory parading of guests at a party. More commonly known today as, simply, prom.

Prom started as a tradition in the Northeastern part of the U.S., serving as an event to promote social etiquette and manners at colleges and universities. By the 1930s, however, the concept of prom had spread across the U.S. Today, the word prom is associated with finding the perfect dress or the right pair of shoes.

Corsage, check. Cute date? Eh. Boutonniere, maybe?

For high school girls, when prom season comes around, it’s hard to not get caught up in the chatter about what dress you’re wearing, how you’re going to do your hair and how uncomfortable your heels are going to be. Just one night out of the whole school year can take weeks of meticulous preparation and thought.

Having attended prom twice as a sophomore and a junior, senior Sydney Schwan said she is ready for a break from the craziness that can be prom preparation.

“My first year, I went as a sophomore,” Schwan said. “I was asked two weeks before prom, so I made all my appointments super speedy. I went from my nail appointment to my hair appoint-

ment to my makeup appointment, and then put my dress on, and then took pictures — it’s basically the same routine that I've done every year, which is why I’m not going again.”

Schwan is instead opting to go to Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, a popular annual festival held in Indio, California from April 12 to 21.

“It’s the progressive dinners, the limo rides, going hot tubbing afterwards — those are the memories that I have."

Kim Amsbaugh

On top of not enjoying the preparation process, Schwan also finds the actual duration of prom too long.

“I think if it were shorter I would enjoy it more, it just feels like it was lagged on and you sit there and do nothing,” Schwan said.

Senior Sam Cook also agrees that the extensive time length of the dance took away from his overall prom experience.

“I asked this girl to prom as a friend; it was kind of weird, she was taller than me in heels, and it

ANTONIA MOU/THE CAMPANILE

MELISSA ANDERSON/USED WITH PERMISSION

Seniors Lia Salvatierra, Emily Filter, Emily Wood and Sydney Schwan wait to depart for the 2018 Prom. was kind of too long,” Cook said.

While for girls, finding the perfect dress may be the key to prom preparation, for guys, preparation can be more straightforward. Senior Eric Aboytes said his getting-ready process for prom was simple.

“A month before, me and my friends went to Men’s Warehouse and rented a suit,” Aboytes said.

“Then I asked a girl ... it was pretty successful.”

Though standard prom attire for guys is a black suit and tie, some like to switch it up. Senior Wyatt Thayer opted for an unconventional route last year.

“I bought (a) light blue suit,” Thayer said. “I didn’t even tell my date that I was getting it — it was

going to be a huge shock.”

However, prom memories aren’t always the preparation that comes before.

Paly parent and alumna Kim Amsbaugh reminisced about her prom memories from back when she was a Viking.

“Leading up to prom, I imagine it was a lot like it is today,” Amsbaugh said. “‘Who are you going to ask?’ ‘Who do you hope asks you?’”

According to Amsbaugh, during her high school days students stayed local to find the perfect dress, taking advantage of the stores nearby. “(For dress shopping) it was all about Stanford Shopping Center,” Amsbaugh said. “Macy’s,

Nordstrom, some of the smaller boutiques at Stanford was where you purchased your dress. There was no social sharing on what you bought — you simply hoped that no one would choose your same dress.”

Amsbaugh said what stuck with her was not the dance itself, but rather the pre- and post-prom activities and the planning that went into them.

“As the date approached, it was all about planning what you were going to do before and after prom with your friends,” Amsbaugh said. “It’s the progressive dinners, the limo rides, dinner at MacArthur Park, going hot tubbing afterwards — those are the memories that I have.”

Shoplifting affects Students enjoy freelance work businesses in T&C Self-employed teens use passions to forge a future career path

By Cameron Legrand

T

Senior Staff Writer

hough the aisles of his local grocery store are filled with regular weekly customers, Paly student James Smith, who agreed to be interviewed if his name was changed, isn’t there to purchase food. Instead, his eyes are focused on the employees and the constant uncertainty of their movements, prepared to exit at the slightest turn of their backs.

For Smith, shoplifting has become part of his daily life. It all started in his freshman year when he would get hungry.

“I didn’t have much money, so I would go after school and try to (steal) some food,” Smith said. “As time went on, I just kept doing it whenever I got hungry. It weirdly kind of became a lifestyle.”

Teenagers in particular have long been guilty of shoplifting, and make up 25 percent of the general shoplifting population, with 55 percent of adult shoplifters having started the unethical practice during their adolescent years, according to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP).

Large retail chains are constantly attempting to combat shoplifters by using specialized tags, cameras and sensors. These methods have mixed results, and some shoplifters attempt to steal despite sensors and alarms blaring, according to Town and Country CVS Pharmacy shift supervisor Shantel Connor.

“Adults will come in late at night with plastic containers, fill them with products and then run for it,” Connor said. “The sensors go off anyways, but they don’t care.”

Connor said shoplifters are a persistent issue, and require employees to be constantly vigilant for anyone displaying suspicious behavior.

“We get shoplifters every day, all day,” Connor said. “It doesn’t matter what the product is — if they want it, they take it. It happens throughout the day, but around lunch we get more student shoplifters, and near the evening it’s mostly adults.”

Connor said employees greet all customers, thus subtly acknowledging customers with eye contact and keeping an eye on them. This tactic has been successful in preventing some shoplifters, instilling fear in them as soon as they enter the store.

“There was this one lady who literally looked at me and couldn’t do it — she just turned around and walked right back out,” Connor said.

Some shoplifters go into stores without any intention of stealing, but end up deciding to commit the crime while in the store. According to the NASP, 72 percent of juvenile shoplifters do not plan in advance. Smith, however, is not part of that majority, as he often plans out his actions beforehand.

“It really depends on the store, but most times I’ll scope out what kind of security they have and see if their cameras are placed in spots where they can view everything,” Smith said. “As corny as this sounds, I try to go in and examine the store as if I was in one of those heist films.”

Some smaller retail businesses have a tougher time preventing theft due to the lack of resources.

Paly senior Maddie Lindsay, an employee at Brandy Melville, said shoplifting occurs daily.

“A ton of people do it, and you only kind of see when it’s clothes because they have sensors,” Lindsay said. “Our jewelry does not have sensors on it, and I know dozens of people take our jewelry every day.”

Brandy Melville has a security system that consists of a large sensor and cameras, and as more people started to steal, the employees began to individually check customer’s purchases and receipts.

“If the sensor goes off, we’re allowed to check their shopping bags and their backpacks, and a lot of the times what they do is they’ll come to the store wearing a big sweatshirt, and stuff clothing underneath,” Lindsay said. “Shoplifters used to know that we only checked bags, so once we realized that they would hide in their sweatshirts, we started to catch them more frequently.”

However, legal ramifications don't always deter shoplifters — 33 percent of adolescents continue to shoplift even after being caught, according to the NASP. “I’ve been caught once, and all they did was ban me from the store, but I was right back there a few days later,” Smith said. “They really didn’t try to keep me out, it feels like.”

According to Lindsay, workers' approaches to shoplifters can differ based on the age of the thief.

Lindsay recalls an incident where two middle school girls attempted to shoplift by having one put an article of clothing underneath her shirt while the other bought a product, staging a distraction. The sensor went off, and Lindsay proceeded to check the customer for any stolen goods.

“The girl tried to act as if the product had just appeared there under her shirt, and of course we weren’t buying it,” Lindsay said.

“We don’t call security because they’re so young; we just call their parents, and that’s usually a lot scarier than traditional security.”

For most shoplifters, there is a sort of “high” that comes with getting away with stealing that has been compared to the rush of doing drugs.

“I think there is definitely a thrill involved with it, like a sort of an adrenaline rush associated with it, but that’s not why I typically do it,” Smith said. “When I do it, I think I usually try to take something I might need, food and stuff like that, but once in a while, I’ll do it as a dare for my friends.”

CHANG XU/USED WITH PERMISSION

Freelance filmmaker junior Ashley Xu adjusts the sensitivity on her camera to achieve more precise content.

By Annie Chen

C

Lifestyle Editor

lick. Two minutes before midnight, junior Maya Levine submits “The Golden Bird,” her take on the existing story in which a king decrees that whoever catches a golden bird for him will be the next ruler. She spins in her chair in relief, recalling the moment when her editor first sent her the information for this fantasy-themed magazine, just two days before the entry submission date.

In those two days, while sacrificing other commitments, Levine devoted her time to reading dozens of fairy tales, Brothers Grimm stories and Wikipedia analyses of the critical components that make up these fantastical stories. Having written an entire piece in only one hour, without the usual two or three rounds of edits, Levine smiles to herself, proud of what she has accomplished.

“I love having the freedom to choose the work that I want to do, and freelancing gives me that freedom.”

Maya Levine

This is just one example of Levine’s work as a student freelance writer. She is one of many Paly students who have chosen to become freelancers — those who pursue a profession without a long-term commitment to one employer.

According to “Freelancing in America: 2017,” a comprehensive measure of the U.S. independent workforce released by Upwork and Freelancers, nearly 50 percent of millennial workers are already freelancing; the top motivations for freelancing are the freedom and flexibility it provides. This is especially beneficial for a busy high school student with a packed schedule, according to Levine.

“I love writing, but because I’m also a student, I don't have the ability to make it a full-time employment time thing,” Levine said.

“I have more freedom to choose the work that I'm interested in and take breaks when I'm feeling burned out or am stressed from school. It makes it more calming than a full-time job might be.”

Senior Isaiah Schoenberger decided to pursue freelancing because it allows him to work on what he is passionate about.

Schoenberger has been an online tutor in various subjects, including music, math and history.

“I feel proud because I love teaching and helping children, and it makes me happy to see them succeed,” Schoenberger said. “(Freelancing) has helped me (develop) different types of skills for the future and has helped me grow as a student and as a person.”

Junior Ashley Xu also decided to pursue a freelance path through creating promotional videos and advertisements for local nonprofit organizations. According to Xu, since she does not have enough experience under her belt to pursue a full-time job, freelancing is an opportunity for her to develop her skills in the film-making area.

Xu has also learnt how to interact with clients in the professional world.

“Working with all kinds of different people has really opened my eyes to the spectrum of personalities out there,” Xu said.

“Some people have been super easy and fun to work with, and others have been condescending and rude; however, no matter the client, I’ve gotten to build my people skills.”

Levine agrees with this sentiment and said it is important to create and maintain a respectable reputation to ensure future offers, especially in the publishing world.

“This applies everywhere in life, but it’s incredibly importantly to be at least constantly polite,” Levine said. “You want to establish yourself as (someone) that’s good-natured and easy to work with so that editors will come back to solicit your work, and give you good recommendations when you submit to other magazines.

The publishing world is fairly interconnected, and your reputation gets around.”

According to Levine and Xu, becoming involved in freelance work has also forced them to hone their time management skills, as it is often difficult to balance freelancing, extracurriculars and schoolwork all at once. Prioritizing between freelance projects is also key.

“Sometimes there are two or three (offers) that close in the same week that I feel I would do well in, but I've learned that I

can't submit my best work in all of them,” Levine said. “I have to choose what is the most interesting or what I have the best chance at and say goodbye to the others.”

Despite the benefits and opportunities that freelancing offers, as well as the skills students are able to develop, there are potential setbacks to choosing this path instead of the safety of a full-time job. According to “Freelancing in America: 2017,” one major downside to this type of work is lack of income predictability.

“While I earn some money from my work, the pay is usually very low, and is not regular,” Levine said. “I think my pay was higher when I was working a minimum wage job. It is also a very competitive market, and it can be hard to establish myself, especially as a minor.”

Both Xu and Levine’s experiences in freelance work have influenced their future educational and professional aspirations. Xu would like to become a filmmaker and is looking to continue freelancing.

“I feel proud because I love teaching and helping children, and it makes me happy to see them succeed.”

Isaiah Schoenberger

“From what I gather, filmmakers work best freelance,” Xu said. “Not all companies require a constant production of ads, since they can’t crank out products that quickly. Thus, it’d be much more beneficial to work with multiple companies at once and constantly be at work.”

For Levine, though she prefers the stability of full-time employment, freelancing has given her a unique opportunity to pursue her passion for writing on the side.

“I used to consider being a writer as a career path, but that has seemed less and less viable over the years,” Levine said. “Entering the world of freelancing helped me realize that there will still be a way for me to write. Even if I have another full-time job. I love having the freedom to choose the work that I want to do, and freelancing gives me that freedom.”

Column: How to get teachers to round up your grade

By Khadija Abid Distribution Manager

T

ime moves fast. One second, you’re scrambling to get acquainted with a new set of classes and teachers, stammering as you recite a not-so-fun fact about yourself to a new set of peers, and then BAM, out of nowhere, the term is almost over.

The end of the semester always seems to roll around faster than expected, and sometimes your grades simply aren’t as immaculate as you had envisioned.

All the tests that you forgot to study for and all the assignments you “left at home” have begun to add up, and the nauseating feeling you get whenever you check Infinite Campus is a fraction of the dread you’ll experience when your parents receive the lackluster report card that’s bound to follow.

Despite your best efforts and sudden interest in community service (karma, where you at?), Rogerhub maintains that it’s going to require a miracle (aka an 113% on the AP Bio final) in order to obtain that coveted A. Fear not, for I have compiled a list of foolproof tricks to help you scrounge those last few percentage points (and don’t forget, if all else fails, you can always bribe the Stanford sailing coach).

1. Emotional blackmail An oldie but goodie, guilttripping your teacher is guaranteed to get results. Though some may prefer a more subtle approach, I say go big or go home.

Bawl your eyes out, let snot drip from your nose and scream in anguish. Embrace your inner child, and relive your glory days as a tantrum throwing three-year-old.

Amid the uncontrollable sniffing and hiccups, don’t forget to choke out a few remarks about how this semester has been “oh so hard,” and how getting a B+ in APUSH will ruin your chances of getting into college. Though morally questionable, there’s no doubt that emotional blackmail is effective.

2. Actual blackmail This one’s definitely morally reprehensible, but who cares if it means you get the grade you want. As the latest college admission scandal shows, money works; try slipping your teacher a 20 or staple a giftcard to your next late homework. If that doesn’t work, threaten your teacher with a bad review on the end of the semester survey and they’re bound to cave to your demands. *this strategy is more effective on teachers without tenure.

3. Bribe away Give your teacher their end of the semester gift a little bit early, and make sure it’s extra nice.

Slip your coffee addicted science teacher a $100 gift card to Peets, or your Broadway obsessed history teacher tickets to the next Hamilton show. Hell, if you’re really dedicated, you might as well just sign over a blank check and ask for a letter of rec. while you’re at it. It might make a dent in your bank account, but it’s better than letting your GPA take the hit.

Plus, you’ll earn the money back once your spotless grades earn you admission into one of the schools on the top ten paid grads list.

4. Compromise Need a 3 percent grade boost?

Ask for a 13 percent raise instead!

Then, using your renowned debate skills, negotiate a compromise for the 3 percent increase that you needed to begin with. Not only will you get the grade that you needed, but you’ll also get to feel like the bigger person for offering a compromise.

5. Reverse psychology Send your teacher an email asking them to round your grade down a few percent. Explain that being so close to an A is too upsetting, and that your parents would be more understanding if you were to end with a solid B, as they would understand that it was impossible to raise it an entire letter grade. Confused? Good! If you’re lucky, it might just confuse your teacher enough to give you an A.

Friday, March 22, 2019

B4

The Campanile

SPOTLIGHT

Road to R

Rehabilitative treatment centers help students overcome anorexia and

T

housands of miles from his Palo Alto home, former Paly student Arian Chandra folds his tent, shoulders his day pack and sets off on his daily trek to a new campsite. For almost three months, he’s lived enveloped by nature in the heart of North Carolina’s wilderness as part of the Trails Carolina substance abuse therapy program. Deprived of all but his most basic needs, Chandra reflects on his recent behavior with a mix of disappointment, regret and shame.

He is just one of many people who has undergone such an experience. In recent years, schools across the nation have experienced an unprecedented spike in the prevalence of mental health disorders — one in five teenagers is diagnosed, according to Health and Human Services.

These issues often permeate every aspect of one’s life, from health to academics to relationships.

According to Paly Wellness Outreach Worker Angelina Michael, some students are able to manage less severe issues with support from their community and campus therapists; others, however, require drastic changes in their lifestyle.

“It’s really hard to get the type of mental health support that you need if it (falls outside of ) the scope of our school (services), which are really limited,” Michael said.

Rehabilitative facilities can fill the gap between students’ issues and those covered by school services. These issues range from anorexia to drugs, as in Chandra’s case.

Although some students may not report their personal issues to the school, the Wellness Center has a protocol for when they do. If it becomes apparent that a problem is beyond the breadth of the Wellness Center, faculty usually refer students to independent organizations. The Children’s Health Council (CHC), one such organization, provides therapy and other counseling services to students.

“I think people that are struggling just need a lot of support and in a nonjudgmental way,” Ramsey Khasho, Chief Clinical Officer of CHC, said. “I think it’s critical to let young people know that there are adults that really care and that want to support them and help them through a really, really difficult time.”

Khasho said this support manifests itself in a variety of ways — often, CHC refers students with substance abuse problems or anorexia to consulting firms such as the Bodin Group. Douglas Bodin, who founded the Bodin Group in 1979, works with his team of education and therapeutic consultants to combat high-risk mental health disorders.

According to Bodin, while the firm encounters a multitude of issues, children most commonly struggle with substance

abuse of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Still, Bodin maintains that every patient requires a unique approach — his team makes it a priority to connect with each individual to develop personalized strategies.

“When a family hires us, we then need to go through what I call (a) mutual education process, where we educate them about the options,” Bodin said.

“Sending (students) somewhere without a cohesive plan doesn’t work, so our job is to become a planner.”

According to Khasho, the addictive nature of certain substances can result individuals developing many debilitating issues. “(Students) get into the cycle of using (substances) to cope with difficult feelings or experiences, and then it just becomes a vicious cycle ... that needs to be addressed,” Khasho said.

This was certainly the case for Chandra, who said he struggled with substance abuse disorder throughout high school.

“Paly is a pretty harsh environment for a lot of people, which puts a lot of pressure on students to do well and compare themselves to others, and a lot of the time that results in drug use (as a form) of release,” Chandra said.

During his junior year, Chandra’s substance abuse disorder began to impact his life significantly, and his parents urged him to seek treatment.

“Throughout my junior year, I cut a lot of classes to go and smoke and tried a couple other drugs,” Chandra said. “I was barely ever at home, so my parents decided that I couldn’t keep going like that.”

In April 2018, Chandra left Paly to attend Trails Carolina, a North Carolina-based wilderness therapy program designed to help students overcome substance abuse and foster healthier relationships.

“(The) wilderness is sort of like a rude awakening, where you realize how bad all of the s--- you were doing was,” Chandra said. “It deprives you of everything except for the most basic things like food and water, and you spend all of your time in nature figuring your s--out and talking to your parents (on the phone).”

Chandra currently attends boarding school at New Summit Academy Costa Rica, which specializes in teaching students who are recovering from substance abuse.

Chandra said the relaxed environment of the school gives him valuable time to reflect on his behavior and plan for his future.

“I don’t think anybody fully ‘recovers’ because addiction is always a part of your life,” Chandra said. “You can obviously make progress and have a better understanding of your limits and how it affects you, but not (trying harmful substances) again is really challenging for anybody.”

Chandra said his experience in treatment has not only helped him cope with substance abuse, but also develop emotionally. “ ( Tr e a t ment) definitely benefited my life in that I know how to handle myself and make better decisions instead of only ever smoking, but I can’t say for sure that I’ll never do it again,” Chandra said. “I do know how to deal with it properly and prevent it from affecting my life negatively, though.”

While Chandra’s parents significantly influenced his decision to seek treatment, many students learn about their treatment options in other ways. Audrey, a current senior whose name has been changed to protect her identity upon her request, said doctors played a more major role in her experience treating anorexia.

According to Audrey, her condition developed from consuming an insufficient amount of calories and nutrients to

“One thing they don’t tell you is that your kid’s probably never coming back.”

Jane

“(The) wilderness is like a rude awakening‚ where you realize how bad all of the s--- you were doing was.”

Arian Chandra

self-induced vomiting in the summer between her sophomore and junior year.

Her concern grew after she fainted twice due to orthostatic hypotension, a form of low blood pressure.

After another student in her regular therapy group mentioned their struggle with anorexia, Audrey grew concerned and made a confidential doctor’s appointment at Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF).

“California has a law that states that all minors are entitled to a confidential doctor’s appointment, and so you can see a doctor without your parents ever knowing,” Audrey said.

PAMF Scheduling Representative Jordan Mincarelli said employees are prohibited from disclosing information about minors’ confidential appointments, even to patients’ parents, under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule.

“The doctors (are) the only ones who have authority to release things like that regardless if it’s confidential,” Mincarelli said. “If it does become serious, then it is up to the doctor.”

According to Audrey, after telling her doctor about her recent behavior, she was diagnosed with anorexia nerviosa, an eating disorder characterized by extreme weight loss and difficulty maintaining a healthy body. Audrey said her doctor informed her psychiatrist of the condition, who in turn explained the situation to Audrey’s family.

“She (said) ‘this is a real problem,’ and then the devastating part was she couldn’t keep confidentiality, which was the whole point,” Audrey said.

According to Audrey, she dreaded discussing her eating disorder with her family at the time, to the point where she left the room before her psychiatrist began discussing her anorexia with her family.

“I think (my mother) was really confused (when the psychiatrist told her about my disorder),” Audrey said “I don’t think it really like settled into her mind that I had a real problem.”

After several weeks of discussion, Audrey began attending an intensive outpatient program at the Healthy Teen Projects (HTP) for up to five hours each day. Audrey said each

The Campanile

Friday, March 22, 2019

SPOTLIGHT

Recovery

d substance abuse by building support and strengthening relationships session included a variety of activities such as art projects, mindfulness exercises and yoga.

According to Audrey, the activities, while occasionally therapeutic, were not as valuable in comparison to the emotional support provided by the staff and patients on a daily basis.

“The girls there knew exactly how I felt, and that was something I’ve never experienced before,” Audrey said. “They knew every single thing that I was afraid to say — things that someone without an eating disorder just wouldn’t understand.”

The treatment, however, was cut short when Audrey’s insurance provider suddenly informed her that they would no longer cover the $1,000 to $5,000 cost for each day of treatment.

“I wasn’t even close to remission or anything,” Audrey said. “I think the excuse that insurance gave us was I hadn’t thrown up for the month that I’d been there.”

Audrey said she reacted erratically to leaving treatment on her last day, sparking concern among the HTP staff.

“I just completely freaked out, and they thought it wasn’t safe for me to go home,” Audrey said. “So they just sent me straight from the treatment center to the hospital.”

The HTP staff placed Audrey at the Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, where she underwent an involuntary assessment and evaluation under California Code 5150, which takes patients into custody at a specialized facility for up to 72 hours if the patient is considered to be a danger to themself or others as a result of a mental health disorder. Audrey said she spent a total of four days at the center after the psychologist recommended she remain for an additional day beyond the standard 72-hour stay.

According to Audrey, this time allowed her to reflect on her experience in treatment and its effects on her life.

“I felt really supported by the other patients there and by the staff,” Audrey said. “I think the worst part was coming home every night, because at home… I lost all that support, even though (I knew) I was going back the next day.”

Audrey said the support system established during her time in HTP and at the Mills-Peninsula Medical

Center was integral to her eventual reDespite this, she recalls some of the mission. difficulties of seeing her son leave home.

“I mean, (it) was the right choice to “You feel guilty, wishing you had done go to treatment,” Audrey said. “I didn’t things differently so that this hadn’t endknow how affected I was (by anorexia) ed up happening,” Jane said. and how awful my life was.”

Bodin said underlying issues of a paWhile the child is at the center of tient’s family dynamic are common and the treatment programs, the process addressed by successful experiences in can have an equally profound impact treatment. on the parents. Jane, the “A lot of people try to point finmother of a former gers at parents, but that’s Paly student not usually the case,” whose name Bodin said. “Usuhas been ally parents are dochanged ing the best they to protect can, and the kid her idengets unlucky and of high tity upon falls in with the schoolers her request, wrong crowd. It’s watched her their friends, who have used son particithey are exposed to, marijuana pate in treatand their depresment for his sion and they start substance smoking weed, and abuse disorit’s off to the races.” der.

According to Jane said Bodin, however, a she noticed high pressure enchanges in vironment and a of treatment her son’s patient’s friendbehavior ships rather than programs are after he parents’ actions play specialized transferred a significant role in for teens to Foothill the prevalence of Middle Colcertain substance lege, where abuse issues.

Jane said “Being in the older stushadow of Standents influford itself has got enced him. to be difficult,” “ H e Bodin said. “So if of people who pretty much you think about the stopped goanxiety it creates for need drug ing to class, kids, and the fact treatment don’t and his that THC relieves recieve it whole life anxiety for a minwas about ute, it’s going to besmoking come appealing.” pot,” Jane For the first cousaid. “So, my ple weeks, Jane said Source: Statistica‚ American Addiction Centers husband and she had no comI decided munication with her that that was not an acceptable thing son, but as the program progressed, it to do, and hired Bodin to get an idea of became more frequent. However, both what our options were.” parents maintained constant communiAccording to Jane, she sent her son cation with their son’s therapist throughto Aspiro, a wilderness therapy program out the program. and then a therapeutic boarding school.

“We would talk on the phone with Jane said she sent her son to treatment (the therapist) and go over things,” Jane without hesitation, knowing he would said. “Some of it was just logistical — receive the help he needed. they had been hiking different places, “It’s like when you have a problem and they would send pictures for awarethat you have been thinking about for ness of what was going on.” a long time, and you make a decision,” However, treatment programs are Jane said. “You know it’s the right deci- not solely focused on the children; many sion, and you feel relieved.” parents also go through programs to help themselves throughout the process.

36%

56%

90%

Text & Design by Emily Asher‚ Anna Meyer & Kai Vetteth Art by Frida Rivera & Jaures Yip

“We need to make sure parents are also getting their needs met because, more often than not, we want the kid to be able to return home,” Bodin said.

“So the family has to get healthier too. If the parents aren’t doing their work, it is going to be harder for the kid to return home successfully.”

Treatment centers, as well as consultant offices, often offer therapy or support groups for parents to help alleviate the issues they experience.

“Families come out for family events, multi-family therapy events, and connect with other families who are in similar situations,” said Kreg Edgmon, director of Catalyst Residential Treatment Center, the therapeutic boarding school that Jane’s son attended.

Edgmon said students’ behavioral changes result from the nurturing environment and positive reinforcement cultivated at treatment facilities.

“Kids are kind of getting all of their needs met,” Edgmon said. “They’re living there in a supportive atmosphere attending school full time while also getting therapy and they have well balanced meals… with a lot of fun activities.”

Jane said she noticed tremendous progress when her son returned home from Catalyst. “(There was) just an amazing difference, like even in that short period of time,” Jane said. “You’re stuck in the wilderness and you learn to do hard things.

He was a lot calmer, more organized, more focused and a lot more confident.”

Jane said that despite these positive changes, she was unprepared to face the fact that her son would never live at home again.

“One thing they don’t tell you is that your kid’s probably never coming back,” Jane said. “If you think about sending your 16-year-old son away, and he may never come back or live at home again, it’s a weird thing to think about.”

According to Edgmon, many students retain the benefits that they gain from treatment. Although some will experiment with drugs again at some point, they will be able to use the lessons that they learned in treatment to prevent themselves from relapsing.

In addition to learning how to prevent themselves from relapsing, students gain insight about their own capabilities.

“Probably the biggest takeaway from this therapeutic stuff was letting your kid know that they can do hard things, because a lot of times they don’t think they can,” Jane said.

According to Edmond, developing these skills can have a profound impact on students’ lives.

Edgmon said, “It’s pretty common for students to report that the whole experience saved their life.”

B5

Friday, March 22, 2019

The Campanile

LIFESTYLE

B6

Students explore ‘hidden’ electives

Lesser-known social studies courses offer new perspectives

By Maya Rathore

A SHIVA MOHSENIAN/THE CAMPANILE

Sophomore Nessa Orumchian prepares haftsin with specific items to celebrate Persian New Year.

Nowruz celebrates arrival of spring

Persian New Year provides sense of identity to families

By Shiva Mohsenian

M

Staff Writer

inutes before the official start of the vernal equinox, junior Sanaz Ebrahimi leans in close to her traditionally decorated Iranian table alongside her family, eagerly anticipating the start of the Persian New Year, more formally known as Nowruz.

The explicit timing at the beginning of spring for the commemoration of Nowruz is derived entirely from ancestral notions that all life is restored with each spring. Each celebratory event affiliated with Nowruz is utilized to display the interrelation between man and nature.

In Farsi, the designated language of Iran, the combination of the words “now,” which translates to the English word “new,” and “ruz,” which means both time and day, form “Nowruz,” literally translating to “new day.”

The celebration of Nowruz is not religious or even patriotic in nature, as individuals of many different religious, cultural and ethnic origins celebrate the holiday.

For over 3,000 years, Nowruz has been widely in many countries throughout the Middle East, including not only Iran, but also Afghanistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Albania and India. Although the celebration of Now-

ruz initially originated with the religion of Zoroastrianism, an ancient Iranian religion, Nowruz rapidly grew in popularity and hence became celebrated widely around the world.

The sense of identity associated with Nowruz many Iranians feel is due to the incredible importance of the holiday in Iran, as it is the longest-established tradition in Iranian history. Thus, Nowruz is often referred to as Persian New Year.

“Celebrating Nowruz has always been very important to both me and my family members,” Ebrahimi said. “I love going to all the parties and events to celebrate it. Nowruz plays a very important role in both Iranian culture and heritage, and its celebration teaches future generations to appreciate and learn from it.”

To prepare for the celebration, many families often spend weeks collecting specific items that symbolize different aspects to hope for in the upcoming year.

The items are laid out on a table, which, when put together, are referred to as haftsin. There are seven of these essential components that must be placed on the haftsin to prepare for the celebration.

“Sib,” or an apple, must be included for good health and beauty in the new year.

“Senjed,” which could be any sweet, dried fruit, for love and

romance. “Sabzeh,” which could be some variation of grass that must be grown in the weeks prior to the celebration, for the rebirth of nature.

“Seer,” or garlic, is for selfcare and medication. “Samanu,” which is a sweet pudding, for prolificacy and wealth. “Serkeh,” which could be any type of vinegar, for the wisdom that comes naturally with age.

To complete the set up, “Sumac,” a traditional Persian spice made from sour red berries, is placed on the podium for the sunrise of a new day.

With time, many families have adapted to the cultural necessity to abide by these requirements by placing their own personal belongings on display atop their haftsin.

Sophomore Nessa Orumchian has celebrated Nowruz with her family for years, and enjoys creating her haftsin each year.

“It always takes a while to finish growing the Sabzeh because my grandma grows them every year for us in her house,” Orumchian said. “Sometimes we put pictures or any kind of memorabilia to remember family members in other generations, but we always love setting up haftsin. It is my favorite time of year because I get to celebrate my culture with my family and friends, and also because the Persian community really comes together around this time.”

Staff Writer

s course selection shuts its doors and the process of piecing together schedules for next year begins, counselors start their yearly struggle of packing kids into extremely popular classes — the kind of courses where five teachers juggle three periods each and the classes are still at maximum capacity.

For social studies, that class is Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology or AP Macroeconomics, while for English, it seems like everybody is enrolling in the newly introduced AP English Language.

While counselors struggle to fit enrollees into these classes, some classes remain relatively untouched in the course guide, like niche “hidden” electives such as Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies and Positive Psychology.

Because of their typical lowenrollment, and overall niche topic, these classes are often dubbed “hidden classes” –– classes that don’t run every year nor attract many people, but that delve into an important part of social curriculum that is often brushed over in core classes.

“Positive Psychology is about what makes people happy. We talk about how to lead more meaningful and happy lives.”

Rachel Richmond

Among some of these lowenrollment hidden classes is Gender Studies, which was first technically offered in the course guide in 2006, and ran for the very first time this year with 12 students.

Social Science Instructional Leader and teacher Jaclyn Edwards taught the flagship class this year.

The course is about examining gender through politics and history, a topic left completely untouched in any social stud-

ies or English class. The small class size forms a much different learning environment than those typical packed core classes.

“There’s nowhere to hide,” Edwards said, in regards to the small class size. “Over time, (students) really benefit and they become much more comfortable with one another when talking about sensitive topics.”

Another similar niche, low enrollment class is Ethnic Studies, with a single class that hosts fewer than 20 people.

“Ethnic studies is the study of different ethnicities and their history,” junior enrollee Isabel Armstrong said. “It explores racism, the relationship between politics and race and current events.”

Armstrong decided to take the class because of a personal desire to take the most interesting and pigeonholed classes at Paly, so when course registration rolled around spring of her sophomore year, she immediately signed up for the class.

“When I saw that they offered Ethnic Studies, I thought it would be a really fascinating topic to explore,” Armstrong said.

According to Armstrong, the small class size makes the learning space unique and more tight-knit, as opposed to the more impersonal larger required classes.

“It is definitely an intimate learning environment, and it is based on group discussions, which can lead to really interesting debates and revelations,” Armstrong said. “My opinions are challenged in a way that makes my argument and synthesis skills a lot better, and my horizons are widened.”

AP Psychology is one of the most popular social science electives at Paly, however, Positive Psychology — a semester long class that delves into what makes people happy — is another psychology course that is often left neglected in the shadow of its broader AP sibling.

Instead of taking any number of other more popular social studies electives, junior Rachel Richmond decided to take a chance and try something new with Positive Psychology.

“Positive Psychology is about what makes people happy,” junior Richmond said. “We talk about how to lead more meaningful and happy lives.”

The class is blended and, unlike most classes, only runs once a week after school on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. as a Twilight class, which gives the average students’ schedule a little more flexibility.

“My opinions are challenged in a way that makes my argument and synthesis skills a lot better, and my horizons are widened.”

Isabel Armstrong

“The class has actually been much more interesting than I had anticipated,” Richmond said. “Since I’ve started taking it, I’ve begun to understand more about what makes me happy and how I can be more happy in my day to day life.”

While core classes such as U.S. History or World History cover more broad, factual points of views, Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies & Positive Psychology hone in on niche, specific parts of culture or history that core classes tend to skimp on.

Instead of cramming every last possible rigorous class and AP into their schedule every year, students should not forget about these niche social studies electives.

These courses brush over and delve into what core classes completely forgets and leave out — not only satisfying personal interests, but building a more competent, educated and wellrounded point of view of society as a whole.

“Whether it’s Ethnic Studies or Gender Studies, it really gives us teachers the opportunities to talk about topics we don’t have time for in the core classes,” Edwards said. “You just don’t have time to dive into more specific things that may perk student interest.”

Seniors reflect on difference between first, second semester lifestyle

End of college applications changes students’ methods of balancing their schoolwork, extracurriculars

By Johnny Yang

A

Staff Writer

t this stage in the game, most seniors have either received the bulk of their college decisions or will get them within the next few weeks. Without college applications serving as a motivator, some seniors find themselves lacking the same internal drive that’s compelled them forward for the past four years.

Whether it be a result of burning out or a lack of an end goal, students find themselves gaining what is most commonly referred to as the Second Semester Senior (SSS) mindset.

According to senior Jared Yang, though the workload of school did not change much at the turn of the semester, the change of mindset as a SSS has made school much less stressful for him.

“The type of work you are doing is still fairly high-level, but you no longer feel the pressure to get as high grades in every class,” Yang said. “You don’t really have the overachiever mentality anymore.”

Though grades and class performance don’t necessarily have as great of an impact as before, Yang said it is important to keep learning and be ready for potential challenges in college.

“The real school starts in college,” Yang said. “It’s not like you go to college and just have fun.

The real school will keep on go-

ing, and you need to make sure you don’t drop the ball and just stop studying.”

During the last couple months, Yang said he found it hard to keep up his motivation.

“It’s all about the standard you set for yourself,” Yang said.

“You can perform at a high level when (the standard) is there, but it could be difficult when the hard standard is no longer there.”

Though the academic standard created by college applications has put pressure on students, many seniors who have gone through the process appreciate the personal growth that the applications brought them.

While facing the same struggle as Yang, senior Jōsh Singh said that he misses the college application process.

“I can tell that there is a clear difference between first semester seniors and second semester seniors.”

Gul Eris

“It felt amazing when I was done with college applications,” Singh said. “But now I miss them in a weird way. Writing college essays were a great way to find out about my motivations and future goals.”

According to Singh, the lack of motivation has been directly reflected in his grades, which he isn’t pleased with which he did not feel good.

“I am much more lazy and less motivated to complete work,” Singh said. “It reflects in the bad grades, and I usually feel burnt out. I have been trying to make changes, but nothing has really worked.”

From the perspective of students in other grade levels, however, the impression that “second semester seniors lack motivation” is not necessarily true.

Junior Brion Ye, who is currently taking AP Physics C, AP Statistics and AP Language, which all that host a healthy mix of juniors and seniors, said that the seniors in his classes are all dedicated and knowledgeable.

“I can see how a stereotypical SSS attitude could appear, but so far I haven’t seen any evidence of it manifesting,” Ye said. “(The seniors) are still all responsible and friendly. The only difference I can pinpoint between them and juniors like me is probably that they are generally more knowledgeable about stuff related to Paly.”

According to Ye, the ambition and dedication shown by his senior friends inspired him to act the same way in the upcoming school year.

“Almost everybody I’m friends with have been ambitious and smart people,” Ye said.

“They get good grades, contribute to group projects and are generally kind people. Like many students, they also sometimes do homework the morning it’s due, fool around during flex or get into arguments, but I don’t hold it against them. The behavior of my friends inspires me to just act as a responsible and kind student all the way until my graduation.”

Gul Eris, who teaches AP Physics C at Paly, agrees with Ye. According to Eris, even though SSS mindset is an existing problem, there are still many seniors who are on top of their work.

“I can tell that there is a clear difference between first semester seniors and second semester seniors,” Eris said. “But this does not apply to everyone.There are still a solid number of students who perform just the same.”

According to Eris, the SSS mindset tends to have less of an impact on students who usually demonstrate strong academic performance, and more of an impact on students who have struggled in their classes throughout high school.

“Vulnerable students are more likely to be impacted (by the SSS mindset),” Eris said.

“They usually need to put in more efforts to keep up their grades, and when they stop trying, it immediately reflects on their grades. The top students, however, are usually not affected.”

Eris said seniors should con-

JOHNNY YANG/THE CAMPANILE

Senior Jōsh Singh walks to class with his elimination ball in hand. tinue to take their education seriously, because everything they learn now will benefit them in college, where the workload is even more rigorous.

“If you got into the college you want, good for you,” Eris said. “But you will have a long

summer to relax yourself and you don’t have to risk everything in the school year. It doesn’t have to be everything or nothing — the healthiest way is always to put efforts into everything and find a balance between working and relaxing.”

Friday, March 22, 2019

The Campanile

B7

SCIENCE & TECH

Students challenge themselves in Olympiads Web, app terms and STEM competitions provide opportunity to test knowledge, think creatively conditions pose risks

By Neil Kapoor

I

By Bruno Klass

News & Opinion Editor

f there’s any one component of high school that Paly students have plenty of experience in, it’s test-taking.

Whether for school, standardized tests or extracurriculars, testtaking has become an integral part of high school — and many would shudder at the idea of taking difficult exams not required for school or standardized testing.

However, for junior Brion Ye, solving complex math and science questions has been a lifelong passion, and a skill demanded by some of the nation’s most challenging STEM competitions administered every spring, known as Olympiads.

“I participate in the math and physics Olympiads every year,” Ye said. “The biggest reason is that my interests lie in those subjects, and they are the most rigorous and accessible way for me to test or demonstrate my abilities.”

These exams generally begin at a local level, with students who score exceptionally well advancing to more challenging exams.

The ultimate purpose is to select a handful of students to represent the U.S. at international competitions.

In recent years, an increasing number of Paly students have turned to Olympiad exams in biology, chemistry and physics.

For example, junior and biology enthusiast Jenny Shi found that the Biology Olympiad, known as USABO, was particularly instructive for her.

“I think the appeal of USABO for me was that I could learn a lot across many disciplines of biology, from popular subjects such as anatomy and cell biology, to aspects that are taught less in school, such as biosystematics and plants,” Shi said. “It gives me an excuse to study and read biology.”

While Ye and Shi have long had a passion for the Olympiads

A

CHARLENE HUANG/USED WITH PERMISSION

Junior Jenny Shi studies plant biology concepts for this year’s USABO test, which was held on March 21. they participate in, senior Nathan Ramrakhiani was initially drawn to the US National Chemistry Olympiad local exam last year because of the extra credit being offered by Paly’s AP Chemistry course, which he was taking at the time.

“Though most students may not reach past the first round of the (Olympiad) exam, it pushes kids to think creatively and challenge themselves.”

Ashwini Avadhani “When I looked at a local exam online, I realized the tests are actually pretty challenging and are a lot harder (and) more indepth than just the AP material,” Ramrakhiani said. “To prep for the Chemistry Olympiad, I basically studied for the AP Chemistry exam early, which saved me time later, so it was worth it.”

After taking the local exam

in March last year, Ramrakhiani scored in the top 5 percent of the country and was a top two scorer at Paly, qualifying him for the national exam.

Though the extra credit is the main incentive for most Paly AP Chemistry students taking the exam, AP Chemistry teacher Ashwini Avadhani believes there are additional benefits to taking the exam.

“One of my main goals as an educator is to push kids to learn new topics and apply their classroom knowledge to the real world,” Avadhani said. “The Olympiad exam allows my students to test their knowledge of chemistry in a relaxed, stress-free environment. Though most students may not reach past the first round of the exam, it pushes kids to think creatively and challenge themselves, yet not have any consequences for their performance.”

Although Olympiads are an inherently competitive activity, according to Ramrakhiani, the culture around Olympiads at Paly remains quite healthy.

“In my opinion, the culture around the science Olympiads is very relaxed,” Ramrakhiani said.

“There’s not a lot of pressure, and

it’s kind of just a fun way to test your knowledge on a significantly harder test … I think it can be enjoyable to challenge yourself and push yourself academically.”

Chemistry aficionado and Paly junior Roland Hu, who hopes to succeed in the Chemistry Olympiad this year, agrees with Ramrakhiani.

“The culture at Paly for these types of tests is pretty diverse,” Hu said. “I do it because chemistry is known as the ‘Central Science,’ the title of the AP Chemistry textbook. The reason it’s ‘central’ is because it connects all the other sciences like physics and biology. When I first started to learn chemistry, I started to understand a lot concepts we took for granted in biology, like how photosynthesis really works.”

Although different Olympiads test a wide range of subject matter, sophomore Noah Holbrook, who recently advanced to the second round in the math Olympiad (known as the AIME), believes there is an underlying strategy to approaching Olympiads.

Holbrook said, “You have to think outside the box and invent ways to solve problems that you haven’t been taught.”

Staff Writer

lmost every website or app requires users to agree to its terms and conditions in order to use or access its product.

However, the average user doesn’t have the time to read the fine print or the knowledge to truly understand the terminology used. That said, by clicking “agree,” “join” or sometimes just staying on the page, we are agreeing to abide by the company’s terms of service.

A study conducted by Jonathan Obar of York University in Toronto and Anne OeldorfHirsch of the University of Connecticut found that only 3 percent of people aged 18-34 read online contracts, other agreements. The researchers created a fake social networking site called Name Drop, and wrote up a terms and services agreement for users to agree to before signing up.

In the agreement, they included the requirement that users would give up their first born child and that anything they shared would be passed along to the National Security Agency.

Not reading any of these conditions, an astounding 98 percent of participants agreed.

“(Some websites) have hidden terms and conditions that give access to personal information.”

Pascale Roy While the study showed that the majority of users click “agree” without knowing exactly what they are agreeing to, Paly junior Kai Douglas attempts to read the terms and conditions before downloading software or an app.

“I read certain sections of the

terms and conditions before using most apps because of privacy concerns,” Douglas said. “There are parts that are confusing because of the way they are written. While I don’t read everything, I try and get an understanding of how invasive the app will be (such as) the company’s privacy policy and what I am liable for if I use the app.”

An example of an absurd policy is giving up your right to sue whenever you use an app, meaning that in exchange for using any service you agree not to sue should a dispute arise. Nevertheless, reading the average American’s yearly digital contracts would take almost 250 hours a year, according to David Berreby of The Guardian.

Paly parent and lawyer Pascale Roy said she would not agree to the terms and conditions of a website if she only used it once. “(Some websites) have hidden terms and conditions that give access to personal information,” Roy said. “Because I’m a lawyer, I understand (the policies) but normal people wouldn’t.”

Roy’s statement gives a deeper understanding on how risky it can be when a user agrees to terms and conditions because most people cannot comprehend the language used.

According to Roy, even if the terms are short and concise, a regular user still may not understand the hidden meanings and risks.

CEO of Spotify Daniel Ek has complied with these complaints, about the conditions being too long and confusing, as Spotify came out with the new terms and conditions recently. When worries came up about the app being able to access your camera roll, Ek clarified that the only purpose was to use the photos if you wanted to have a custom image on a playlist.

Douglas said, “Although there is nothing I can do to change the terms and conditions, I still read them because I can always decide not to use an app.”

Habit of skipping Note-taking increases learning retention meals harms health Students remember information better through alternative organization methods

By Tien Nguyen Staff Writer

W

ith the only sound in the class being the frantic flipping of the test pages, the majority of the class is focused on making sure they fill in the right bubbles. Junior Sasha Poor is the exception, with her mind stuck on all the kinds of food she could be eating.

All of a sudden, her stomach lets out a loud growl and the heads of her classmates swivel towards her.

People tend to skip meals for a variety of reasons, including not having enough time in the morning, being worried about their calorie intake or simply not being hungry. Nationally, about 60 percent of high school students skip breakfast each morning and 14 percent skip meals most or every day of the week, according to a study conducted by the School of Public Health.

“I skip breakfast because I don’t really like to eat right after I wake up, and I usually don’t have the time to eat before going to school either,” Poor said. “I can probably make the change; I just don’t have the motivation to.”

School nurse Jennifer Kleckner feels that all meals are equally important, with the most essential thing being how regular the meals are.

“Generally speaking, we are all better off if we can eat regular meals, even though we may miss one from time to time for various reasons,” Kleckner said.

“I regularly see students come to the Health Office who feel dizzy, have a headache, or feel nauseous because they didn’t get a breakfast before school or skipped lunch.”

According to Paly Human Anatomy and Physiology teacher Randy Scilingo, skipping meals may result in hunger pains. Without eating food soon after waking up, the body’s blood sugar continues to stay low, which can trigger hormones that affect mental stability and mild depression. In addition, an insufficient calorie intake will cause fatigue and a decrease in the body’s metabolic rate. The body looks for something to digest for energy and will start by breaking down fat and protein from muscles.

Skipping meals can also lead to weight gain. The body senses a lack of food and goes into “star-

vation” mode, a survival instinct that occurs when the body does not know when the next meal will come. During this time, one is at risk of becoming anorexic or developing binge eating disorder.

Senior Livia Juniper Tibbetts Carlson said she suffered from the harmful physical effects of skipping meals when she struggled with anorexia. One of the negative effects she felt was heart damage, which Kleckner said is a result of a constant lack of food.

“My body was extremely affected by my restrictive eating as I wasn’t providing it with enough calories to do its job,” Carlson said. “I started to lose fat and body weight, but then I started to lose muscle and it even affected my heart and lungs. I never had enough energy in my system so I was always fatigued and was tired and out of breath after just walking up a small flight of stairs.”

According to Scilingo, though many students cite a lack of time as a reason for not eating, any food is essential, whether it be a banana or just a breakfast bar. A little bit of food is better than none at all.

“Generally speaking, we are all better off if we can eat regular meals.”

Jennifer Kleckner The recommended time to wait between meals is disputed.

According to Scilingo, it depends on the individual — many factors affect a person’s ideal time between meals, such as lifestyle, genetics and physical makeup.

In general, three meals a day and snacks in between is good, with each meal consisting of balanced protein, carbohydrates and fats.

“In order to get a quick breakfast or lunch, it’s helpful to see if you can plan ahead for a simple breakfast in the morning, and something easy but satisfying for lunch, including fruits and vegetables,” Kleckner said. “I loved overhearing one student say, ‘You know, apples are so overrated.’”

National Eating Disorders Association Hotline (800) 931-2237

By Miranda Li

Science & Tech Editor

T

he furious clicking of keyboards fills the air as students scramble to type out every word their teacher says while flying through a lecture. With technology becoming increasingly accessible, the use of computers in classrooms has become so common that many find it difficult to get through a school day without one. However, when it comes to learning and memorization, Paly junior Taylor Yamashita finds that writing her notes by hand, rather than typing them, helps her retain information better.

“I’ve tried out a lot of different methods over the past few years,” Yamashita said. “Once I figured out what worked best for me, I stuck with it. Typing up notes might be faster, but I feel like the information doesn’t stay in my brain as well.”

Though some find handwriting to be tedious, the fact that taking notes by hand is slower than typing helps students retain information, according to Paly Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology teacher Christopher Farina.

“The studies that have been done on (handwriting) theorize that if you’re taking notes during lecture, (handwriting) forces you to pay attention to the information that’s really important, because you can’t possibly write it all down,” Farina said.

A 2014 study conducted by Pam A. Mueller of Princeton University and Daniel M. Oppenheimer of the University of California, Los Angeles found that students who took notes digitally could write down information more quickly and tended to practice what they called “non generative note-taking,” in which words were copied verbatim and content was processed on a more shallow level.

On the other hand, students who handwrote their notes had to turn to “generative note-taking,” where they were forced to summarize and paraphrase information. This extra processing of information allowed for improved memory of content.

Yamashita found the conclusion of the experiment holds true for her experiences.

“When I type up my notes, I usually end up typing too much,” Yamashita said. “I think the pro-

CAROL UYENO/USED WITH PERMISSION

Junior Taylor Yamashita handwrites notes in her notebook, learning and retaining information better. cess of summarizing and prioritizing information (when I handwrite notes) is really helpful.”

In addition to taking notes by hand, another effective strategy Paly junior Ella Jones practices to improve her retention of information when taking notes is connecting each point to a question.

“After I am through the section, I reflect on each note by pairing it with a question so that when I look over my notes, I can ask myself the corresponding question to see if I can remember the note,” Jones said.

According to Farina, the process of asking questions and attempting to recall material is imperative to long-term memorization.

“All the evidence suggests that if you’re thinking deeply about a topic, you’re more likely to remember it,” Farina said. “So even if you’re not taking notes, if you’re listening to something or reading something and you’re formulating questions or connections in your head, that helps you to retain that information better.”

Jones also utilizes creative acronyms to help her remember lists of information.

“Making wacky acronyms helps (with memorization),” Jones said. “For example, if you want to remember the order of territories Hitler invaded in World War II — Rhineland, Austria, Sudetenland — you would say ‘rhinos are sorry.’”

Acronyms are an example of a psychological technique called

chunking, where individual pieces of information are grouped into larger units to increase the amount of information that can be memorized.

“With acronyms, you can take one word and unpack it and access three, five, seven elements that are within it,” Farina said. “When you take large sums of things and pack them together into one group, then you can remember that group instead of remembering all the individual items.”

Another trend becoming increasingly popular among students such as senior Rosa Schaefer Bastian is taking bullet journal notes, characterized by the use of color and non-traditional arrangement around the page, rather than writing line after line.

“All the evidence suggests that if you’re thinking deeply about a topic, you’re more likely to remember it.”

Christopher Farina “I do think having some sort of different organization to your note helps you remember it, because when people get stuck on having it be a line-by-line type of thing they don’t put the information that belongs together together,” Schaefer Bastian said.

Farina agrees that a unique organization of notes allows the

information to stick in the mind.

“Arranging information gives it a sense of place, and going through information in a particular pattern can help,” Farina said.

According to Farina, taking notes laid out in a specific way has an effect comparable to that of the memory house technique, often used by those who compete at memory championships to memorize the numbers and suits of an entire deck of 52 cards.

The general strategy for the memory house technique is to call up a vivid mental picture of what your house looks like, and visualize yourself walking through every room, looking at all the objects.

Memory champions assign the cards to different objects in their homes and always take the same path through their mental house.

This specific path, as well as the assignment of a card to a random object, allows them to retrieve the information when they “walk” back through their house.

However, while all of these strategies in note-taking provide for a more effective recall of information, the most important part to memorizing information is being exposed to it multiple times.

“There’s really two parts to note-taking,” Farina said. “One would be taking the notes, and you learn something by taking notes just because you’re focused on gathering information, deciding what’s important deciding how to write it down. But then in theory, the notes should be used later on in review or studying.”

The Campanile

Friday, March 22, 2019

SCIENCE & TECH

B8

The Technicalities of Allergies How students deal with and treat allergies in their everyday life

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s the so-called “gluten-free” pasta arrives at the dinner table in a downtown Palo Alto restaurant, sophomore Rachel Lysaght was eager to begin eating. Thinking the dish used a new brand of gluten free pasta since it tasted so good, she stuffed her mouth with the deliciousness. Soon after she finished the meal, Lysaght realized that the plate of pasta was purely composed of wheat. A couple of hours later, she was suffering from excruciating pains in her stomach due to a severe allergic reaction to the pasta.

An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to a certain food, plant, or dust in a particular person’s body, which may cause life-threatening outcomes or potential external outbreaks.

According to Healthline, 54.6 percent of the U.S. population deal with allergies ranging from certain foods to severe outdoor sensitivity; Lysaght is not alone in her affliction.

According to Food Allergy Research and Education, in the United States the most severe allergies in children include: milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat and soy.

As the number of allergies in children in the world continue to rise, they may also experience severe conditions of asthma or eczema due to their allergies.

While peanuts and treenuts are generally lifelong, some allergies including milk, eggs, wheat and soy are often outgrown over time. This may be because many children and adults become more exposed to the food continually.

This creates a small tolerance in the body that can increase over time the more interactions a person may have with whatever is causing their allergy.

In order to help relieve and combat symptoms of allergies, it is important to understand what is happening inside the body when an allergic reaction occurs.

Stanford Professor of Allergies and Immunology Sean Austin McGhee has been studying the effects of allergies as well as the immune system.

According to McGhee, an antibody in the immune system called Immunoglobulin E is created when the body becomes sensitive to something in the environment.

“The Immunoglobulin E coats the surface of specialized cells called mast cells in the skin and intestines,” McGhee said.

“Once there, it sits and waits, sometimes for years, for that food or pollen to come along. When it binds to the food or pollen, that triggers the mast cell to make a bunch of chemical messengers that instruct your body to make the symptoms you

associate with allergy.”

Not only do allergies affecting the human body cause physical reactions such as rashes and hives, but they also have a huge effect on the immune system.

“Allergies have their biggest effect on the immune system by biasing [it] to make more and different kinds of allergic responses in the future,” McGee said.

“This is known as the allergic march, and describes how babies start with eczema, then develop food allergies, then asthma, then nasal allergies (hay fever). This is why it is important to control eczema in

Lysaght has been dealing with allergies for almost all her life due to the fact that she has Celiac disease, an immune disease where people cannot eat gluten because it may damage their small intestine.

“It started when I was about four years old,” Lysaght said. “I would always have these really intense stomach pains and my mom had no idea why. She took me to an allergist and I took this test to see if I was allergic to things like tree nuts, dairy and other stuff but they all came out as negative. That’s when the nurse who

“Over the last 12 years I ’ v e w o r ke d f o r t h e s c h o o l district, I have only had to give an Epipen injection four times. Most students who have an allergy try to watch what they are eating, but there can be surprises.”

Jennifer Kleckner babies and children so that we can stop this process from starting in the first place.”

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, some of the common outcomes of the allergic reactions include hives, fever, itchy skin, vomiting, difficulty breathing and possibly fainting.

Depending on the kind of allergies one may experience, the side effects will vary.

At Paly, there are a number of students who have allergies, whether it’s a serious allergy to eggs or peanut butter, or a mild one to pollen from neighboring trees in the springtime. Many allergies are very common around campus, and the reactions can be life-threatening to some.

took the test recommended that I get a blood test and endoscopy to see if I had Celiac disease. Celiac disease is a test for your body treats gluten and wheat like it’s poison and so whenever I eat it, my body attacks itself pretty much which results in the really bad stomach pain.”

Whenever Lysaght consumes gluten by accident, she feels what she describes as knives stabbing into her stomach.

In order to

prevent her allergic reactions she avoids eating any gluten, as she even experiences stomach pains from certain oats such as barley. Paly sophomore Andie Tetzlaff suffers from nut and peanut allergies and experiences severe symptoms when she gets consumes them.

“I’m allergic to all tree nuts and peanuts and I found out that I was allergic to these foods when I was super young,” Tetzlaff said. “I ate something that had nuts and I started reacting to it and we ended up going to the hospital and that’s when they told my family that I had allergies to nuts.”

In addition to Tetzlaff, many other people experiences reactions when eating; nut allergies, in particular, are common.

“When I accidentally eat tree nuts or peanuts I have an allergic reaction,” Tetzlaff said. “My reactions are all similar and involve me having a stomach ache, an itchy throat that usually leads to me struggling to breathe, hives, nausea and sometimes vomiting. Reactions happen pretty often for me because I’m not very responsible with this stuff but I do carry an epipen with me most times and I have Benadryl for smaller reactions.”

Despite the difficulties that people with allergies have to navigate, the Paly nurse, Jennifer Kleckner, as well as the Paly health office is well equipped to help students with allergic reactions.

“Over the last 12 years I’ve worked for the school district, I have only had to give an Epipen injection four times,” Kleckner said. “Most students who have an allergy try to watch what they are eating, but there can be surprises.”

20 Million People in the U.S suffer from wheat Allergie s

n e a r ly 3 p e r c e n t of children have a peanut allergy

7 Million People in the U.s.suffer from SEAFOOD allergies

Te

xt & ivia Design by Ol Er icss d o n & E m m a To d De sign qi

by Yusra Rafee Art

by Miranda Li

DATA FROM VERYWELLHEALTH.COM

Fewer than 1 4 percent of a d u lt s h a v e f o o d allergies DATA FROM VERYWELLHEALTH.COM

in 25 Americans suffer from allergies DATA FROM WEB.MD

The Campanile

Friday, March 22, 2019

SPORTS

CLashING ’cats with the

THE TUMULTUOUS PALY - GATOS RIVALRY

I

Yet despite their attempts, with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, amid roaring crowds and twinkle fingers, junior Jamir Shepard set up to take a free throw when a student seated in the Los Gatos student section threw an Old Spice deodorant can at him. The can missed Shepard and landed on the court, but the gesture sparked conflict nonetheless.

“FLG” (F--- Los Gatos) chants came from the Paly student section, middle fingers The girls lacrosse game was were thrown up by Paly students the first athletic contest between while exiting the gym and sevthe two schools that followed eral fights took place around the the newly established regulaparking lots after the game. Actions of student admission. This cording to Berkson game would serve as and Christiansen, an initial test for atthe Los Gatos adtendance protocol ministration found for the rest of the the student who school year. threw the Old Spice The protocol “WHEN YOU’RE IN THE can the night of the comes as a result of a basketball game and meeting between the have discplined the administrations and GAME, YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING for his acathletic departments YOU CAN TO THROW THE OTHER PERSON OFF. students tions. of both schools on “It didn’t feel March 6 to create a I BELIEVE IT’S ALL A PART OF COMPETING, good, but at the joint plan to encoursame time ... it moage sportsmanship HOWEVER, I THINK ONCE IT’S ALL SAID AND tivated me to work and safety.

DONE, THINGS SHOULD BE DROPPED AND I harder and win the The meeting was game,” Shepard prompted by months REGRET NOT DOING THAT.” said. of animosity between Despite the brief the two schools that interruption of play, culminated in overNICK GORE the Vikings conthe-top competitivetinued to put forth ness and various jabs their best foot and exchanged at a boys ultimately defeated varsity basketball the Cats 62-50, game between Palo scoring 27 points Alto and Los Gatos during the second on Feb. 1.

Conflicts that occurred dur- conduct. One varsity basketball half of the game.

“The game went well, we ing the varsity boys basketball player and one senior from each game caused this decision. Un- school stood before the student won,” Berkson said. “(The game) like most sporting events, the sections and shared the task of was fine until our kids were boys basketball matchup was reading the code of conduct on leaving and they did the ‘FLG’ carefully planned to avoid con- behalf of their respective student thing, which is totally classless and embarrassing. The pre-game flicts amongst players and fans bodies.

“The script that I read aloud game plan (helped). I think we, by both the Palo Alto and Los Gatos administration and ath- stated that sportsmanship was (Los Gatos and Paly admin), did letic directors. However, the important to a healthy athletic as good of a job as possible. We measures taken did not fully environment and that the fan had 200 kids who we were supprevent quarrels from happen- bases of each side should engage pose to get the out of a gym and ing on the court and after the in healthy sportsmanship in or- home. With four or five adminder to perpetuate a safe athletic istrators, that’s not an easy task. game.

“Their athletic director con- environment,” senior Walker The fact that nothing big happened: I think that is a success.” tacted me and Therren, just Rosenthal said. nstead of the traditional roaring of both Paly and Los Gatos fans at sports games, the student section was desolate at the girls varsity lacrosse game on March 18. The bleachers will continue to be free of students for the rest of the athletic contests between the two schools in the 2019 school year.

BANNED

about a game plan for the game such as where people would be standing, where people would be entering (and) where people were going to leave,” Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson said.

“We talked about how the students would be on the same side instead of facing each other and talking smack; it probably would be better off on the same side. So we had a little bit of a map diagram going on of what it would look like.”

According to Assistant Principal John Christiansen, the administrators and athletic directors also wanted to preface the game by reading the code of

ART BY FRIDA RIVERA TEXT AND DESIGN BY VIVIAN FENG & LEILA KHAN

DESIGN BY SOPHIA MOORE SPORTS SPREAD

Underage sports betting

Exploring the hidden culture of underage betting on professional and collegiate sports between high school students at Paly.

BAISHAMPAYAN GHOSE/ CREATIVE COMMONS

PAGE C4-C5

HISTORY

Gunn have not played in football for years, according to Berkson. The Gatos-Paly rivalry is so contested because both teams are historically good at sports. It has escalated to the point that a larger police presence at games is now necessary and helpful, according to Christiansen.

“When you have two schools that are both exceptional at sports, there’s a high level of competition which is why a rivalry starts,” Gore said. “The reason it has continued is because of how students from both schools have chosen to conduct themselves off the field.”

Students, parents and coaches alike have noticed the increasing administrative presence attending Paly vs. Los Gatos games as the rivalry has reached new levels of intensity and the consequences for students who take negative actions have risen.

“I just notice more administrators at the games (now),” Los Gatos girls varsity basketball coach Sarah Quilici said. “I think they’re just kind of ready for something to break out just in case; they’re more of a precautionary tale, not necessarily doing things differently just showing more of a presence.”

The feud between the two schools appears to have taken According to Christianshape for the first time around sen, the principals from both three years ago during the laschools met with the heads of crosse season, but has since the athletic department from become a school-wide rivalry the county to discuss strategies involving almost every sport moving forward. As a result, in at Paly, according to varsity laa joint statement released by crosse and football player Kevin both schools, not only will stuCullen. dents be banned from attend“Nobody started it,” Chrising sports contests between the tiansen said. “The Gatos kids say two schools, there will also be something, then we say somea Positive Sportsmanship Sumthing and it’s all because of this mit held on April 29 at Fremont thing that the other school said, High School. so it’s self-perpetuating.”

At this summit, 10 studentAccording to Berkson, some athlete leaders from each school, Paly students point to a racathletic directors, ist prom asking a the Santa Clara ValGatos student used ley Athletic League two years ago as the (SCVAL) league source of the rivalry. commissioner and According to 2018 the Central Coast Paly graduate Mat“EVERYBODY WANTS Section (CCS) tie Orloff, the rivalry Commissioner are first began to boil TO HAVE A RIVAL AND EVERYBODY scheduled to meet when Gatos playto work towards an ers were heckling at WANTS TO HAVE AN ENEMY. IT DOESN’T alliance between the her and other girls on the lacrosse team REALLY MATTER WHO IT IS, BUT FOR SOME schools to promote and ensure positive during a game.

“My junior year, REASON, GATOS ARE THE FOLKS WHERE THAT sportsmanship and respectful behavior I was new at goalie SPOTLIGHT HAS BEEN PUT ON.” at all future contests and was still getbetween the two ting the hang of it schools. when we played Los JOHN CHRISTIANSEN “(The culture) Gatos the first time is going to change that season,” Orloff when we don’t alsaid. “After the first low students to go half, both the JV and to Gatos games, varsity boys teams and they won’t allow from Gatos showed their kids to go to up and were sitting our games,” Berkson right behind me and said. “That’s what I would do. started screaming things like, ing week, according to Orloff Then you got to do that for four ‘You suck,’ ‘You’ve already let so and Cullen.

“What I see happening is years because then, that fifth many in,’ and then it escalated to year, people don’t know anything them yelling, ‘S---’ and ‘W----’ this in-group, out-group stuff,” about (the rivalry).” at me throughout the entire rest Christiansen said. “Everybody wants to have a rival and everyIn the joint statement, it of the game.” also stated that “both schools According to Orloff, the JV body wants to have an enemy. It will implement disciplinary reand varsity boys teams contin- doesn’t really matter who it is, percussions for egregious social ued to say things about her be- but for some reason, Gatos are media postings that incite or ing ugly and fat, and the disre- the folks where that spotlight aggravate tensions between our spectful name-calling continued has been put on, which is ridicuschools prior to athletic conuntil she was crying so hard it lous to me because their demotests.” was difficult for her to see the graphics are the same type of students, same type of families, The new restrictions on stufield. dent attendance may or may not “When you’re in the game, same type of teachers, same type carry over to future school years, you want to say anything you of income, all that stuff.”

As opposed to the Gunnaccording to Christiansen. can to throw the other person Christiansen said, “If you ask off,” Los Gatos senior basketball Paly rivalry, the Gatos-Paly rime, I probably would say that and lacrosse player Nick Gore valry is also fueled by a sense of (student attendance) needs to be said. “I believe it’s all a part of importance because of what is earned back, and that there will competing, however, I think at stake. Gunn basketball games be a slow roll out.” once it’s all said and done, things are non-league and Paly and

Coaches

ANTONIA MOU/THE CAMPANILE

Danny Dye

A profile on Palyís varsity swim coach of 15 years.

PAGE C6

should be dropped and I regret not doing that.”

According to Berkson, these incidents may have started the rivalry, but it doesn’t make sense for Paly students to blame the whole Los Gatos school for the misbehavior of individual students.

Another form of conflict between the students of both schools is through social media.

According to Cullen, the rivalry became more widespread and easily accessible once negative comments were posted about each other’s sports teams between lacrosse players from both schools.

The most prominent thread of comments between the two schools, according to Orloff, was in the comment section of senior varsity lacrosse player Teagan Felt’s Instagram post.

“On Teagan’s post, I was mostly responding to a #f--losgatos as a joke more than anything, but it got blown out of proportion,” Gore said.

Several students, current and graduated, from both high schools began to chime in and comment things to provoke the other school.

This social media incident ended up in the hands of the Paly administration the follow-

Rituals

VIVIAN FENG/THE CAMPANILE

Team rituals

The impact of athletesí traditions on team dynamic.

PAGE C7

NEXT STEPS

Post High School

DAVID HICKEY/VIKING MAGAZINE

Life after athletics

Inside the lives of students who stop playing sports before college.

PAGE C8

Friday, March 22, 2019

The Campanile

SPORTS

C2

SPORTS REPORT

Girls lacrosse starts slow due to injuries

BOYS LACROSSE

By Emma Todd

T

RECENT SCORES

he girls lacrosse team’s season started slow after losing to Saint Francis High School, Castilleja High School and Archbishop Mitty High School by scores of 12-8, 10-8 and 15-11 respectively.

However, the team’s luck turned around after winning its first game of the season against Willow Glen High School by a score of 20-8.

Palo Alto vs. Menlo-Atherton 3/14, L, 7-8 Palo Alto vs. Burlingame 3/12, W, 11-6 Palo Alto vs. Archbishop Mitty 3/9, W, 13-6 UPCOMING GAMES

Palo Alto vs. Los Altos 3/26, 7 p.m.

GIRLS LACROSSE RECENT SCORES

Palo Alto @ Los Gatos 3/18, L, 8-15 Palo Alto @ Menlo School 3/14, L, 5-15 Palo Alto vs. Willow Glen 3/8, W, 20-8 UPCOMING GAMES

Palo Alto vs. Los Altos 3/27, 7 p.m.

BASEBALL RECENT SCORES

Palo Alto vs. Gunn 3/16, W, 6-3 Palo Alto vs. Homestead 3/15, W, 3-1 Palo Alto @ Homestead 3/13, W, 8-1 UPCOMING GAMES

Palo Alto @ Mountain View 3/22, 4 p.m.

SOFTBALL RECENT SCORES

Palo Alto vs. Marin Catholic 3/16, L, 0-10 Palo Alto @ Lynbrook 3/13, W, 21-2 Palo Alto @ Milpitas 3/5, L, 0-2 UPCOMING GAMES

Palo Alto vs. Gunn 3/22, 4 p.m.

BOYS GOLF RECENT SCORES

Palo Alto vs. Gunn 3/7, W, 211-196 Palo Alto vs. Cupertino 3/13, L, 209-196 Palo Alto vs. Saratoga 3/13, L, 198-193 UPCOMING GAMES

Palo Alto vs. Milpitas 3/26, 3:30 p.m.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL RECENT SCORES

Palo Alto vs. Santa Clara 3/16, W, 2-0 Palo Alto vs. Silver Creek 3/16, W, 2-0 Palo Alto vs. Independence 3/16, L, 2-1 UPCOMING GAMES

Palo Alto vs. Eastside Prep 3/27, 5:30 p.m.

BOYS TENNIS RECENT SCORES

Palo Alto @ Milpitas 3/14, W, 6-1 Palo Alto @ Cupertino 3/12, L, 4-3 Palo Alto vs. Santa Clara 3/11, W, 7-0 UPCOMING GAMES

Palo Alto vs. Cupertino 3/26, 4 p.m.

Staff Writer

DAVID HICKEY/VIKING MAGAZINE

Senior and starting defender Wes Walters cradles the ball down the field against Menlo Atherton High School.

Boys lacrosse looks to improve

By Olivia Ericsson

B

Staff Writer

oys varsity lacrosse has a team goal for the season to dominate in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) and become the best public school in the area.

Despite strong competition against Redwood early in the season, the team has kept up its spirit and has set the standard for the rest of the season, hoping to dominate.

Paly senior midfielder Aidan Gans, an experienced player on the lacrosse team, emphasizes the importance of team dynamics.

“The main way it affects the dynamic is that we are all a lot closer,” Gans said. “A lot of the team has been playing together

for four years and it has helped the overall chemistry.”

After defeating Bellarmine College Preparatory 3-2, the team holds an overall record of 3-2 in leagues and hopes to continue playing strong moving forward.

“A lot of the team has been playing together for four years and it has really helped the overall chemistry.”

Aidan Gans

Coach DJ Shelton has been with the varsity lacrosse team during all of their ups and downs, and he hopes to go undefeated in league this year with

the strong and experienced team of 15 players.

“As for goals, I’m sure the boys would tell you they would love to go undefeated in league and win the SCVAL for the third time in a row, but honestly, I would just love them to start playing team lacrosse, and not having things as scripted for them, especially on offense,” Shelton said. “We have some amazingly talented players — Gans, (Ryan) Strathern, (Cole) Sotnick, (Quintin) Dwight — that can be serious weapons on offense. I would love to just sit back and watch them play organically (abiding by the principals they learn in practice) and enjoy the success that will undoubtedly stem from that, not just making the goal success itself.”

Track and field anticipates win despite early losses, multiple injuries this season

By Adora Zheng

T

Staff Writer

he track and field season has started with numerous personal records (PRs) and team wins just three weeks into the season.

“We have some kids who have done exceptionally well, (and) had some great PRs and seasonal PRs,” head coach Michael Davidson said. “The team goal is to win our league, and to qualify as many kids as we can through the postseason into sectionals and into states, if possible.”

The first meet of the season was away at Lynbrook on Feb. 26 and the boys frosh/soph team took home a win.

Paly runners also found individual success. In the 3200 meter race, senior and boys varsity captain Henry Saul and senior Donald Taggart placed first and second, respectively.

Girls varsity captain and junior Miranda Jimenez placed first in the 1600 meter race by a margin of over 20 seconds.

Despite these strong individual performances, both varsity teams as well as the girls JV team lost.

“From a team perspective, not off to (as) strong (a) start as we had hoped, but we’ve had

some really good individual performances,” Davidson said.

“If you look at us on the scorecard, unfortunately we’ve lost — (with) most of the groups, it’s been kind of hit or miss.”

At the Bellarmine Kiwanis K-Bell Track and Field Classic on March 9, the boys frosh/soph team placed third among nearly 30 other schools.

“If you look at us on the scorecard, unfortunately we’ve lost (with) most of the groups, it’s been kind of hit or miss.”

Michael Davidson

Saul snagged first in the 3200 meter with a season record of 9:21.81, while Taggart came in fourth running a PR of 9:39.78.

Sophomore Aleksei Seletskiy placed first and ran a PR of 4:36.49 in the 1600 meter, and freshman Rishi Tella achieved a PR and placed first in the boys frosh/soph long jump.

On March 12, the team competed against Los Altos at home — all teams but girls JV lost.

However, several Vikings exhibited great individual performances: in the girls JV 1600 meter, sophomores Gretchen Berndt, Emilie Difide and Anna Roth took first, second and third, respectively.

“We really wanted to do well against (Los Altos),” Davidson said. “Unfortunately, there were a lot of injuries going on and a lot of people who could not compete — which made that kind of difficult.”

Last Saturday, March 16, the team competed at the Saint Francis Invitational, where several athletes placed in the top three and dozens earned PRs. The Arcadia Invitational, which will take place April 5-6, is one of the biggest upcoming meets the team has to look forward to in the next few weeks.

The meet is exceptionally difficult to qualify for — as of now, only Saul has qualified for the meet in the 3200 meter.

“A lot of people want to get to Arcadia,” varsity girls captain and junior Kai Douglas said.

“That’s definitely a big goal that a bunch of people are looking (to achieve)”.

Next week, the team is competing at the Serra Top 7 Invitational on March 23 followed by an away meet against Los Gatos on March 26.

Badminton team shows promise, hopes to improve performance from last year

By Paige Knoblock

T

Staff Writer

he badminton team comes off from a rough season after having a record of 2-10 in 2018. This year, the team hopes to return back better than ever, winning their most recent game against Gunn.

This year the team has been working hard to improve on past areas of weakness. Senior captain Dylan Zou explains the practice the team has been putting in this season.

“We’ve been doing a lot of conditioning this season, we are 1-2 at the moment,” Zou said.

The team has been building on its recent win against cross-town rival Gunn High School. This is a major step in the team’s path to success, as Gunn is known to have a competitive and skilled team.

“We got our first taste of victory at our last game against Gunn, and we’d like to build some momentum off that, we’re also looking to bond as a team,” Zou said.

“Our team has a lot of new players this year, but I hope that we can break through and continue to bring the wins.”

Laura Kim

Though many of the teams players graduated last year, they are hoping to help new players and see them grow.

“Our team has a lot of new players this year, but I hope that

we can break through and continue to bring the (wins),” jumior Laura Kim said.

The team has focused on helping new players acclimate to the new environment, but the biggest change players are facing this season are the team’s new coaches.

“We have new coaches this year, so that’s definitely a new change for the team,” Kim said.

“For past players, adjusting to the new practice style is quite a struggle.”

Though the addition of the new coaches’ practice style has been difficult for players at times, the team and coaches are all working hard to do the best they can.

Kim said, “Our players are still trying to do their best. I can see that the coaches are trying their best to bring out the best out of our team.”

“Every day at practice we’re improving as individuals and as a team.”

Lulu Gaither

Sophomore midfielder Lulu Gaither believes that the team has built chemistry faster than expected after losing several graduating players from last year.

“We have a lot of new players on the team that moved up from last year, but overall we’ve been able to work really well together,” Gaither said. “I think the rest of the season is going to be really fun.

Every day at practice we’re improving as individuals and as a team. We are all super excited to continue the season and hopefully make it back to the league championships.”

Gaither sees comradery as a vital factor for the team’s success going forward.

“We all complement each other and our strengths and that’s what has and will make this season successful for us,” Gaither said.“The team this year is super rad. It’s great not being the youngest in the team anymore and (freshman) Phoebe (Kim) is doing an awesome job of filling that spot.”

Sophomore Heidi McIntosh is working hard to get back into game shape after missing out on

the beginning of the season.

“I have been out due to injury but I have mostly been perfecting my stick work and shots on goal,” McIntosh said. “Our season just started and I think it will be a really good one.”

McIntosh also talked about the important upcoming games with Paly’s biggest rival, Los Gatos High School.

“We beat (Los Gatos High School) in the semi finals last year and it will be interesting to see how our team will come together to play them this year,” McIntosh said. “So far this season has been either really simple games or super tough competition that we haven’t played in the past. This coming week playing Los Gatos and Gunn who are in our league will be our closest competition for sure.”

Coach Jamie Nesbitt has been coaching girls lacrosse at Paly for 10 years and talked about the overall season of the team.

“We all complement each other and our strengths and that’s what has and will make this season successful for us.”

Lulu Gaither

“The season is off to a great start, despite numerous injuries to some key players,” Nesbitt said.

“We’ve played some tough teams to get us ready for league games which are just starting.”

When asked about the team’s goals for this season, Coach Nesbitt focused on the upcoming slate of league games.

“We are very focused on all our division league games, which include Gunn, Los Gatos, Los Altos and Mountain View,” Nesbitt said.

“There is no CCS for lacrosse yet, so the SCVAL league becomes the main focus.”

DAVID HICKEY/VIKING MAGAZINE

Junior Dean Casey pitches during a game against Gunn High School.

Baseball starts season strong, secures initial winning streak

By Siddartha Sahasrabuddhe

B

Staff Writer

aseball is riding a 10-gamewinning streak following two losses to start the sea-

son.

The team is now tied for first place in the De Anza League standings.

Sophomore Matthew Caren spoke about the team’s rebound following two back-to-back losses to start the season.

“We’re a growing team with some great veteran leaders and a lot of young players,” Caren said.

“I think it’s natural that we experience some growing pains, but we’ve really come together in the last few weeks, and I think we’re only going to continue to get better from here.”

Caren also spoke about how the team would overcome any challenges they may face the future.

“I think it’s inevitable that every team will face its own challenges but we have a strong and resilient group, so I’m confident we’ll find a way to overcome whatever adversity we’ll experience,” Caren said.

Paly has boasted some impressive wins so far in the season, starting with a 1-0 victory over

Sacred Heart Prep and a 6-3 win against crosstown rival Gunn on March 16.

Sophomore Stephen Lee saidhe is looking forward to playing against Los Gatos High School on March 27-29, stating that “there’s a lot of bad blood between these schools.”

Paly has not played too many tough games so far this year, with all but one of their first 10 games having a score difference of at least two runs.

“We’re a growing team with some great veteran leaders and a lot of young players.”

Matthew Caren

Caren said the team managed to find their groove after two consecutive losses at the beginning of the season.

“At the beginning of the season, we went through a couple rough games while we were still figuring out our identity as a team,” Caren said. “We picked up a couple losses along the way, but after that we really found who we are as a team, and that shows in our record.”

The Campanile

Friday, March 22, 2019

SPORTS

C3

Boys golf rallies after star seniors graduate

By Shiva Mohsenian

T

ANTONIA MOU/THE CAMPANILE

During the March 15 meet against Los Gatos, the swimmers from both teams dive into the pool at the beginning of the 500 meter race.

Girls, boys swim teams optimistic for new season after recent win against Los Gatos

By Tien Nguyen Staff Writer

T

he boys swim team kicked off its season with a good start, winning all of the meets thus far, while the girls team is currently 1-3, having won their most recent meet against Los Gatos.

As the swim season begins to gain speed with more frequent meets, the swimmers get more excited for what’s to come.

“Last year, (we were) pretty fast but this year, we’re really fast,” junior Thomas Galetti said. “Last year, Gunn (made us) really nervous and Gatos’ was really tense, but this year, we’re just killing everybody. It’s so fun.”

Junior Jack Hogan agrees, saying the team’s performance compared to last year’s leads him to believe they are going to have a successsful season.

“Only one of our seniors qualified for CCS last year,” Hogan said. “(Currently), we have an entire team that’s returning, so

we are expected to win CCS this year,” Hogan said.

Though the start of a new year and new season is often challenging due to the departure of recent graduates, this year’s incoming freshman and returning seniors bring a new outlook, according to varsity coach Danny Dye.

“We want people to work on getting stronger and dropping times.”

Kate Milne “The team is young this year, but it’s a good young,” Dye said.

“They’re energetic (and) they’re upbeat, so it’s really fun to see that mixture. Over the past couple of years, we had a lot of people graduate, but we’ve had a really good influx of young swimmers that would come in and make it really fun.”

According to girls varsity team captain and junior Kate Milne, the past couple years’ undefeated seasons have contributed to the pressure the team has felt this year. However, after recent losses, the team grappled with accepting a blemished season.

“Since we graduated a lot of powerhouses last year, in some ways, it has actually been pretty liberating to not have to worry about keeping our winning streak going,” Milne said. “That doesn’t mean we’re losing everything, obviously, but our goal is to get up and do our best and have fun.”

As a result of the recent losses, the team has decided to shift their expectations for the season, according to Milne.

“The goals for the rest of the season are mostly personal times, so we want people to work on getting stronger and dropping times, along with trying to get a CCS cut; that’s our focus,” Milne said.

Dye echoed Milne’s sentiment, saying that the swimmers look forward to the rest of the season

and that they are already on the right track to becoming better.

“I think (the team goal) is to just swim fast (and) have good times,” Dye said. “The boys have some really big expectations for leagues and CCS, and I believe the girls do as well, so the focus for us is to keep training hard and look forward to having those times drop and see where it all ends up falling down.”

“We’ve had a lot of people graduate, but we’ve had a really good influx of young swimmers ... come in and make it really fun.”

Danny Dye Both the boys and girls teams will compete in a meet against Los Altos’ swim teams on March 29 at Los Altos High School.

Staff Writer

he boys golf team hopes to regain their winning momentum after starting off the season with losses to Saratoga High School and Cupertino High School by scores of 198-193 and 209-196, respectively.

The team is currently behind after suffering two losses out of three games this season, however they showed promise in their match against Gunn High School, beating them 196-211.

The boys golf team hopes it’s recent win will be the start to an upward trend after kicking off the season with two losses to Saratoga High School and Cupertino High School.

“The biggest blow to our team was losing two top players from last year and it has been really hard to play without them.”

Anthony Ha According to coach Doyle Knight, the team’s sluggish start is not entirely unexpected.

“This year is more of a rebuilding year for (the team),” Knight said.

In spite of losing valuable seniors from last season, including alumni Sergi Matta and Ahmed Ali, who are now playing Division I golf at UCLA and UCSD respectively, players on the boys golf team vow to assume the leadership necessary to make it to the Central Coast Section (CCS) Championships this season. The graduates left the team feeling a lack of the comradery between teammates that was prevalent in years past.

Sophomore Austin Harrison sees the beginning of the season as a valuable transition period for the team.

“I do not know everyone as well as I would like to yet, but it

is a good group of guys and we are all friends,” Harrison said.

Junior Anthony Ha has been playing Paly golf for two years, and has proven himself to be an asset to the team.

“The biggest blow to our team was losing two top players from last year and it has been really hard to play without them,” Ha said. “I still feel like the team has a lot of room to improve, and I attribute the two losses to my poor play. Our new players need to get used to playing matches and not feeling pressured.”

“We received a good group of remarkable players coming in with a lot of potential.”

Doyle Knight However, according to Knight, new additions to the team make him optimistic for the upcoming season.

“We had a lot more kids trying out this season,” Knight said. “We received a good group of remarkable players coming in with a lot of potential.”

For the past seven seasons, the golf team has won the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL).

This year, however, the competition in the league is extremely tough, leading to a more challenging journey to the CCS championships.

Ha and Knight are confident that if all team members make an effort to better themselves and their relationships within the team, they will be able to recover from their slow start and advance to CCS. “We are losing right now, which may not always be the best feeling, but it is encouraging because I know for a fact that we have the capability to get back on our game and take it all the way to CCS,” Knight said. “I know that the newer players will step up and benefit the team. We can definitely do this.”

Boys volleyball team starts off new season with multiple wins

By Leila Khan

W

Staff Writer

ith one full season under its belt, the boys varsity volleyball team kicked off the 2019 spring sports season with four wins and three losses.

“Our season is off to a pretty good start,” senior captain Raymon Chen said. “So far, we are 4-3, with our first loss being to an upper league team. It was a really close game, 15-12 in the fifth set.”

Despite only having one year of experience, the team has quickly adjusted to the new team environment and competition.

“As all new programs (do), we struggled with team chemistry a lot last season,” junior Dejo AlNajjar said. “However, this season we are all getting to know each other quite well.”

The team has adjusted to losing a few seniors last year, and being one of the newest sports teams

at Paly. The team has proven to have sustained its highly competitive spirit and is continuing to cause trouble for opponents.

“Even though we did lose a couple seniors last year, I feel like overall as a team we are more skilled this year.”

Raymon Chen “The team has progressed quite a bit (since last year); a lot of the returning players have really put in the work and gotten a lot better,” Chen said. “Even though we did lose a couple seniors last year, I feel like overall as a team we are a lot more skilled this year.”

The boys and fans are expecting an action-packed season to parallel its newly established strong team chemistry, according

to Al-Najjar.

“This season, we have three teams that we play that everyone should clear their schedules for: Gunn, Sacred Heart Prep, and Wilcox,” Al-Najjar said.

Last week, the team faced off against both Wilcox and Gunn High School.

“We lost 3-2 to Wilcox, but the game went better than expected,” junior Lachlan Stayte said. “(Two days later), we played Gunn and won in four sets.”

Moving forward, the team will face-off against Fremont High School away on March 20, followed by two back-to back games against Saratoga High School.

The squad hopes to carry its winning ways into the upcoming matches.

“Our goal is obviously to win leagues this year,” Chen said. “I feel like we definitely are good enough, and I’m excited to see how far we can make it in the offseason playoffs.”

HYUNAH ROH/THE CAMPANILE

Junior Samuel Xing keeps his eyes on the ball during after-school practice, preparing for his match.

Boys tennis experiences losses after dropping down a division

Softball getting into rhythm of game with new underclassmen A

By Hyunah Roh

By Navid Najmabadi

A

Sports Editor

fter playing six games, the softball team stands with a record of 3-5. Despite early struggles, the team currently stands in first place in the El Camino League with a 2-0 record.

According to senior captain Lindsey Kim, the team’s initial focus at the start of the season was just to get into rhythm and gain familiarity with one another, not so much in getting victories.

“I think right now the team isn’t looking to win games, but to improve our team as a whole by working together and communicating on the field so when league starts we can focus on reaching our goal,” Kim said.

Now that league games have started, however, Kim attributes

the team’s recent success to their strong group of underclassmen that recently came in.

“This season statistically speaking, started out rough with a 2-5 record,” Kim said. “However, this was due to us playing many teams that are in a better league.

We have also added many underclassmen to fill in the gaps from last year. I think we are still trying to figure out the dynamics of our team.”

The team’s first two league games were against Lynbrook and Saratoga, in which they blew out both teams and won by the scores of 21-2 and 12-4, respectively.

While many individuals are new to the team, the team dynamics have improved through various bonding activities and have helped foster a sense of belonging in the underclassmen.

“Our team goals are to grow

really close together in the short amount of time that we have and do as well in league as we can,” senior Abby Black said. “I feel the chemistry is great between our team. We do a lot of team dinners after games and all went camping together one weekend. I think we can improve by focusing more during practice because we tend to goof off with each other a lot and not pay attention.”

More recently, however, the team faced Monta Vista on March 20 where they cruised onto a 14-1 win.

“Our goal for this season is to win league and get into CCS,” Kim said.

The team will play its next game in a league game at home on March 22 against Gunn High School, and will play an away game against Cupertino on March 27 at 4 p.m.

Staff Writer

fter placing second in their division at the Fresno Tournament in early March, the boys varsity tennis team is off to a promising start with an overall record of 6-3-0.

Despite the fact that the team was moved down to the El Camino League following last year’s poor performance, boys tennis was able to win most of their league matches.

“I think our team has accomplished a lot in the sense that we’re all getting better every single day.”

Aaron Li The team won against Santa Clara High School 7-0, Aragon High School 4-3, Santa Barbara High School 3-3 and Redwood High School 4-2. The only team

they have lost to so far is Cupertino High School, which has been their biggest competitor this season thus far.

According to junior Samuel Xing, one of the main reasons the team lost against Cupertino was their lack of team chemistry.

“We have trouble focusing and closing out the matches where we have leads,” Xing said.

Another challenge that the team is facing is poor attendance — not enough players are showing up to games, so there is barely a full lineup. Even players who do show up frequently forget their uniforms, which stops them from playing, according to junior Aaron Li. However, Xing believes the only way to overcome this struggle is to keep practicing every day by doing drills, practice matches and occasionally going to the weight room.

“I think as we play more matches we’ll get more experiences playing in pressure situations,” Xing said. “We’ll be able to stay in the moment and focus.”

Despite a mixed record this season, boys tennis still has over

half the season left to improve and prepare for upcoming matches.

“I think our team has accomplished a lot in the sense that we’re all getting better every single day,” Li said.

“As we play more matches we’ll get more experiences playing in pressure situations.”

Samuel Xing As the season goes on, Xing is looking forward to playing in the California Coast Section (CCS) playoffs, which will take place from May 1-3.

“The teams in our division aren’t nearly as good as the teams we played last year, so we should be able to go far in CCS,” Xing said.

Varsity boys tennis will have a packed schedule with several matches per week. The Vikings will be playing Milpitas on March 21, Cupertino on March 26 and Wilcox on March 28.

Friday, March 22, 2019

The Campanile

BETT NG

C4

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UNPACKING THE SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS AND DY

90%

OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GAMBLED AT LEAST ONCE IN THE PAST YEAR

21

IS THE LEGAL AGE FOR GAMBLING IN THE U.S.

2.6%

OF AMERICANS STRUGGLE WITH GAMBLING ADDICTION

6

BILLION DOLLARS SPENT ANNUALLY THROUGH COMPULSIVE BETTING BEHAVIOR

Source: North America Foundation for Gambling Addiction Help

TEXT & DESIGN BY BERNIE KOEN ART & DESIGN BY LUCY NEMEROV

DESIGN BY NEIL KAPOOR

ART BY KHADIJA ABID & FRIDA RIVERA

. he Tom Brady jersey is on proud display and the trash talk has already started. It’s Feb. 3, 2019 — the morning of Super Bowl LIII. Paly senior Albert, whose name has been changed to preserve his anonymity, eagerly awaits the kickoff of the big game, confident that it will be a good day.

Albert’s favorite team, the New England Patriots, will play the Los Angeles Rams for their sixth Lombardi trophy. Albert sits at the edge of his seat. He’s placed a $20 bet with another student that the Patriots would win the Super Bowl.

Albert is one of several students at Paly who choose to engage in illegal, underage sports gambling. For Albert, gambling is a way to strengthen his friendships and reap monetary benefits.

“I engage in sports betting because it’s a fun, social thing, and you can also get money out of it,” Albert said. “People like to bet, and they know if they want to make bets, I’m the person to go to.”

The illegal nature of underage betting forces such gambling into unregulated territory. Without security down payments, the betting depends on bettors trusting each other to pay up, resulting in many bets going unpaid.

According to Albert, he has had personal experience with underage gambling backfiring.

“I just won $20 from the Super Bowl, and the person hasn’t paid me yet,” Albert said, adding that he’s followed up multiple times with the person he bet with, and while the person hasn’t explicitly refused to pay him, they’ve prolonged the payment and haven’t shown a sense of responsibility to pay the money they lost.

T

The Palo Alto Police Depart- erally consist of anywhere bement declined to comment on tween four and 20 participants their procedure for dealing with who draft a team and gain points underage sports betting and the based on the performance of the way they’ve dealt with any prior players they drafted. Although incidents of underage gambling ESPN won’t verify a league with an entry payment for underage on sports. participants, According Stephen said to a survey he and his

by Know The “When I get into a friends still Odds, 90 percent of high heated argument with agree to put school stusomeone and I have in money.

“I play dents gambled at least once in a strong disagreement fantasy basketball every the past year.

According to and I’m very confident year, and we have a pool of the The North in my opinion, I see money, so evAmerican Fo u n d a t i o n (betting) as a fun way ery contestant in our league for Gambling A d d i c t i o n to have a competitive puts in a certain amount Help, roughly atmosphere with of money and 2.6 percent the winner of Americans my friends.” gets most of deal with it, and second gambling adplace (gets diction, and STEPHEN the second public fundmost) and so ing for probforth,” Stelem gambling phen said. exceeds $70 Accordmillion a year.

For Paly junior Stephen, a ing to Stephen, he hasn’t lost too sports gambler whose name has much money from sports gamalso been changed, sports gam- bling, thanks to his conservative bling is a way of backing up his betting style.

“I always make sure to not bet sports-related arguments.

“I’m a very passionate sports too much — (I bet) an amount I fan,” Stephen said. “So when I know I would’ve used on someget into a heated argument with thing extraneous otherwise,” Stesomeone and I have a strong dis- phen said.

Similarly, Albert said he agreement and I’m very confident in my opinion, I see (betting) as a also refrains from betting large fun way to have a competitive at- amounts of money — the most he’s ever lost on a bet was $25. mosphere with my friends.”

“I usually bet under $20 so I’m For Stephen, gambling spans beyond the outcomes of single not losing a significant amount of sporting events; his bets include money,” Albert said. “It’s more for the fun.” fantasy sports.

Both Stephen and Albert said Fantasy sports leagues gen-

BETT NG

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Friday, March 22, 2019

The Campanile

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Sports Betting

YNAMICS OF CASUAL SPORTS BETTING CULTURE the enjoyment they get out of layer to the excitement of betting gambling makes the bets worth on that team — they see betting it, even when they don’t come out as a way of showing support.

“I usually pick (my favorite victorious.

“I think of it like this — I team) in betting,” Albert said. have $20 I could either spend on “Usually, teams I like (tend) to win — I some game on pick them to Amazon, or I can spend “Every once in a while win.”

Advanced it on laughing it out with you win, and especially P l a c e m e n t Psycholmy friends and having a if you win big, because ogy teacher heated comyou bet on something Christopher Farina said petition and the volatil… having a lot that other people ity of betting of fun with it,” were betting against, helps reinStephen said. force peoStephen there’s just a huge ple’s love for and Albert both said they reinforcement boost it, possibly manifesting feel more k n o w l e d g e - where you’re like ‘I’m itself as an addiction. able about absolutely going to “Every sports than once in a those they bet keep gambling.’” while you with, making win, and esthem always pecially if feel comfortCHRISTOPHER you win big, able with takFARINA because you ing a gamble. bet on some“I know thing that a lot about other people sports, so I think that helps me,” Albert said. were betting against, there’s just a “I’m usually pretty informed when huge reinforcement boost where you’re like, ‘I’m absolutely going I bet.”

While the benefits of having to keep gambling,’” Farina said.

The legal age for gambling in superior sports knowledge over one’s betting opponent are clear, California is 21, but Farina said he Stephen also said there are down- doesn’t think the illegal nature of sides, such as guilt after winning gambling contributes to students’ desire to participate in it. a bet.

“In a lot of cases I think that “Sometimes I start to feel a little bad,” Stephen said. “I know something being illegal might that I know more than the people drive younger people to do it gambling against me … but then more,” Farina said. “I’m not sure if again, they made an active deci- gambling is one of them.”

Stephen agrees. To him, betsion (to bet with me).”

Both Stephen and Albert said ting has not become an addiction. being a fan of a sports team adds a Stephen said because he gambles

for the social aspect, he doesn’t feel a need to gamble for the sake of gambling.

“I do not think that when I gamble, I desire to gamble more,” Stephen said. “I see it as a fun social activity, but I don’t feel the need to do it ever.”

According to Know The Odds, people who are exposed to gambling at a young age and begin gambling by the age of 12 are four times more likely to develop a gambling problem later on in life.

Responsible gambling, Stephen said, is the key to making sure a person doesn’t cost themselves too much money while betting. He said if students know how much money they have and they keep it to the couple extra bucks they had on the side, then it’s a totally legitimate thing to do that doesn’t cause any harm.

Stephen said despite his confidence in his betting skills, gambling is not a way to make money.

“I don’t gamble to make money, I gamble with money that I know I’m OK with losing,” Stephen said.

According to Farina, the feeling of knowing more than others helps drive the motivations for betting on sports.

Farina said, “Especially when it comes to sports betting as opposed to just pure gambling, there’s an element of thinking … ‘I know more about this sport or this game or whatever they’re betting on than other people, or even just compared to their friend group.’”

National Problem Gambling Helpline 1-800-522-4700

149

Friday, March 22, 2019

C6

The Campanile

SPORTS

Danny Dye inspires varsity swim team with passion, dedication In 15 seasons, Paly swimming has been lead to 19 league championships, 6 state championships, 10 CCS individual records

By Hyunah Roh

E

Staff Writer

ntering his 15th season at the helm of Paly’s varsity swim team, Danny Dye has lead Paly to 19 league championships, 10 Central Coast Section individual records, six individual state championships and much more.

Dye’s inspiration for becoming a coach came from his passion for swimming, as he was a competitive swimmer until college.

As a coach, he enjoys being able to watch young men and women grow, both in swimming and in maturity.

Dye began his coaching career as an assistant coach for Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, before moving on to coaching the Los Altos High School swim team for eight years. Then a job opened up at Paly, and the rich history of Paly swimming and his dedication to build a community and a team convinced him to switch schools.

“Paly has the richest tradition of swimming in the area of any public schools, from the days when they were in North Coast Section and won 19 section titles to their dominance of the Santa Clara Valley Athletes League,” Dye said.

With 28 years of coaching experience, Dye believes that, in order to have a successful team, all individual swimmers need to recognize that they are part of a team.

“He stresses the idea of pushing each other in practice, which really brings the team together, making swimming very enjoyable.”

Aaron Kuo

“Your job is not just to think about yourself, but (instead) to motivate others and make oth-

ANTONIA MOU/THE CAMPANILE

Coach Danny Dye watches his teams in a rivalry matchup on March 15. Both teams defeated Los Gatos, resulting in the girls’ first win of the season. The boys remain undefeated. ers better,” Dye said. “And the more you work on that, stronger the bond builds and stronger the bonds build, the team will swim faster.”

Although swimming is primarily an individual sport where swimmers spend most of practices in the water, senior Aaron Kuo mentions how Dye values team unity and focuses on building a strong team culture with good work ethic.

“He stresses the idea of pushing each other in practice, which really brings the team together making swimming very enjoyable,” Kuo said. “Danny being able to create such a close-knit team in such a short amount of time is amazing.”

According to junior Ashley Guo, he is reasonable when it comes to prioritizing school work, since he sees himself as a teacher first.

“He realizes that we are stu-

dent athletes, and helps us make sure swimming isn’t an additional source of stress,” Guo said.

“He’s most definitely helped me grow into more of a leader. He puts focus on the team captains, (who) essentially take charge of the time.”

Marcus Hong

Since Dye coaches school season, he has the least amount of time to get the entire team to improve compared to other coaches who coach swimming year-long.

So he pushes the team hard in a short amount of time. Even though he makes the swimmers swim over 7,000 yards everyday,

not including the yardages during morning practices, he wants the best for his swimmers and believes that results should follow.

“I like how he emphasizes that our success is based on ourselves and how much work we put in, both as a team and individually,” Guo said.

But in order to reach this level of success, he uses his “old fashioned,” “tried-and-true” method, which involves piling a lot yardages, offering honest encouragement and feedback to his swimmers and helping develop stroke techniques and race strategies.

“Personally, this has worked out great for me,” Guo said. “The past few seasons I’ve swam with Paly, I’ve seen great improvements.”

Besides swimming skills, Dye has encouraged his swimmers to become leaders by giving them responsibility over the team. Senior Marcus Hong was rewarded with

the captain position for the boy’s team.

“I am blessed. I have had some of the best (swimmers) in Paly history and regardless of their speed, it is their personality and the different individuals that make up the team.”

Danny Dye

“He’s most definitely helped me grow into more of a leader,” Hong said. “He puts the focus on the team captains, (who) essentially take charge of the time.”

From his many coaching experiences, Dye has come upon

many challenges, whether differences of opinions with athletes and parents or trying to work towards what the team is trying to accomplish. In order to overcome these hurdles, Dye motivates and gives inspiration to his swimmers by expressing to them that they can do more than they think they can.

“The key is to not be dismayed, and keep yourself focused on your accomplishments,” Dye said.

Throughout his 15 years coaching at Paly, Dye still remembers the moment when the girls varsity team won CCS during his first year coaching in 2005. Besides these individual moments, Dye also enjoys coaching because of the entire team.

“I am blessed,” Dye said. “I’ve had some of the best (swimmers) in Paly history, and regardless of their speed, it’s their personality and the different individuals that make up the team.”

Friday, March 22, 2019

The Campanile

SPORTS C7 Varsity baseball’s annual pre-playoff season rituals From shaved mohawks to frosted blonde tips, the team carries out its yearly haircuts

By Adora Zheng

T

Staff Writer

he buzz of the razor is all varsity baseball player Hyunwoo Roh can hear, his teammates cheering muffled as the first lock of hair falls to the ground.

Unbeknownst to anyone but the varsity baseball team, the players will show up to school the next morning donning matching mohawks.

At the start of playoffs every year, the varsity baseball team gets matching hairstyles, from shaved mohawks to frosted tips, in which just the tips of the hair are dyed bright blonde.

“You’re not forced to (participate) — if you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”

Josh Kasevich Roh was pulled up to the varsity team during the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs during his freshman year. That season, the team got matching mohawks. Last year, however, the players decided that they would do frosted tips.

“It’s been a tradition (that the hairstyle) is all decided by the seniors that year,” Roh said. “Last year, the seniors all thought doing frosted tips would be cool — they [also] didn’t want to look bad for their graduation pictures.”

The haircuts are typically done by players who opt to do the cuts for one another in an effort to bond.

“The hope is (that) everyone does it with each other,” Roh said.

“For the mohawks, we had team gatherings and a couple of the seniors would do it for everybody.”

However, according to senior Josh Kasevich, players who are more picky about their hair will go to a professional to get the cut done.

Ultimately, regardless of the style or who does the cut, some players are still reluctant to partake in the ritual.

“You’re not forced to (participate) — if you don’t want to, you don’t have to,” Kasevich said. “But usually, most of the (players) do it.”

HYUNAH ROH /THE CAMPANILE

Senior Josh Kasevich takes off his baseball hat during practice to show his hair, which once was a mohawk and had frosted tips, a ritual the team follows every year.

For those who refuse, the alternative is relatively straightforward — however, according to Kasevich, backing out also comes with a few jokes and light jabs.

“The people who (don’t) get the hair have (had) to pay a fine of around $100 — a couple (players) actually did that,” Roh said. “The money (goes toward) a team party at the end of the year.”

The nature of these rituals is often questioned by some, whether it be administration, parents or the players themselves — in the past, many teams have done rituals that some believe verge on hazing.

“Anything that is not voluntary, anything that is degrading, embarrassing, dangerous — those would be the top four words I could think of (that define hazing),” Assistant Principal Jerry

Berkson said. “If you’ve got a freshman on a varsity team with seniors in the same group, I think the freshman will (sometimes) say, ‘no, I was willing to do it’ but really didn’t want to do it.”

“It’s been a tradition (that the hairstyle) is all decided by the seniors that year.”

Hyunwoo Roh However, according to Kasevich and Roh, the baseball team’s annual ritual is a team bonding experience rather than a hazing ritual and brings the team together before arguably the most important time of the season — CCS playoffs in May.

It involves the entire team, not just a select few players, and is a voluntary decision for the whole team.

“I feel like a lot of people might think it’s like a hazing event, but it’s definitely not like that,” Roh said. “It’s something we all enjoy, and once everyone does it, it gives us something to laugh about and it’s a positive thing.”

According to Roh, the haircuts help the team get dialed in a little bit more, and brings the team closer together.

When the team enters playoffs, one loss means immediate elimination from the tournament — thus, the shift from a regular season mindset can be sudden and difficult. “(The haircuts are) a good way to transition from a long season with a lot of games to play-

off mode, where one game could change everything,” Roh said.

However, plans for this season are still unclear.

“Anything that is not voluntary, anything that is degrading, embarrassing, dangerous — those would be the top four words I could think of (that define hazing).”

Jerry Berkson According to Roh, the seniors are currently unsure of whether or not they will continue the tradition because of the team’s poor

playoff performance in past seasons.

“Every year we’ve done it, we’ve lost in the first round,” Kasevich said.

Though the style of cut may change from year to year, this tradition retains the same values through every season.

What may seem like just a hairstyle brings teammates together before a contentious and critical time, and represents a shift in the team dynamic — bonding the team on both a mental and physical level.

According to Roh, the seniors on the team are in talks about what to do for the ritual for this season and have not yet made a definitive decision.

“We might need to come up with some new tradition or maybe not do (anything),” Roh said.

Friday, March 22, 2019

The Campanile

SPOR S LIFE AFTER THE GAME

STUDENT ATHLETES SHARE EXPERIENCES ABOUT DIFFERENCES IN DAILY ROUTINE AFTER QUITTING LIFELONG SPORTS

TEXT & DESIGN BY REBEKAH LIMB ART & DESIGN BY FRIDA RIVERA DESIGN BY LOIC BOEHLER-BOSCH

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wice a month, senior Mallory Kuppe would turn off her 4 a.m. alarm, pack a bag and board a plane to a volleyball tournament. Three times a week, Kuppe would lace up her shoes and spend countless hours on the court perfecting her craft. Whether it was flying across the nation for tournaments or spending extra hours in the weight room, Kuppe’s sport was an integral aspect of her identity.

Athletes who have played sports extensively for many years, often devote many

hours and make several personal sacrifices for the game. For athletes who are immersed in the thrill of competition and the relentless training, suddenly stopping can be a tough experience.

For as long as she can remember, Kuppe has had a volleyball in her hand.

So, according to Kuppe, who didn’t wish to play in college, when the time came to conclude her competitive volleyball career, her life changed dramatically.

“Life after sports is totally different,” Kuppe said. “The last game is really bittersweet, you feel a little relief and achievement for having come this far, but also sad that it won’t be such a big part of your life anymore.”

According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), nearly 8 million high school students participate in athletics in the U.S., but only about 480,000 (6 percent) of them will compete at NCAA schools. Furthermore, out of the handful of athletes who continue their sports careers

in collegiate athletics, only 2 percent will go on to professional sports.

Clearly, the odds of pursuing sports in the long run is unlikely. So, for the 94 percent of high school athletes and the 98 percent of collegiate athletes who won’t play sports for a living, life after the game, while inevitable, is a heavy affliction according to Kuppe.

Many players who don’t want to continue their sport in college will find themselves having to withdraw from competitive sports teams when the end of high school draws near.

“O f c o u r s e , e v e r yo n e w ill miss playi ng their sport, but that day comes soo ner or later no m atter w h o yo u a r e.”

“Well, it’s weird, because junior and senior year can be the years where people really step up their athletic careers in order to get recruited and play at the college level,” Kuppe said. “But when you don’t have the intentions of playing in college, then you find yourself in a funny place where you don’t quite have anything to work for except to simply just make yourself better, until it is time to stop playing.”

Senior Ben Civjan has played baseball since he was 5 years old. As the years passed, season after season, according to Civjan, he started to grow apart from his sport. After he made the arduous decision to stop playing, he later saw the advantages to the change in his life.

“I would say not playing baseball has been positive for me,” Civjan said. “I have played it my whole life, but in high school I began enjoying it less and less. Last year, I would dread going to practices, and was looking forward to the end of the season.

It wasn’t a hard decision for me to stop, and I felt such a relief from it.”

MALLORY KU

PPE

Like many other high school athletes, Civjan dedicated numerous hours throughout the week to baseball. As a result, the absence of weekly practices, games and workouts drastically affected his schedule. According to Civjan, the shift in his commitments has turned out to benefit him in many ways.

“The main difference is that the way you spend your time changes,” Civijan said. “I’ve had a lot more time to spend on school, and enough to get a job, hang out with my friends and play basketball for fun.”

to her horseback riding career.

“I was super sad at first,” Thie said. “It was something I was doing almost every day for my whole life, and to suddenly stop was hard. I left under rather sad circumstances, so getting over that took a really long time. A few years have passed, and now I feel much better, but there are times where it does feel like something is missing.”

Aside from the joy and competition that sports can give athletes, sports also provide most with their main source of exercise. For Thie, not horseback riding has not only changed the way she spends her time, but also the way she stays physically fit.

“I try to go hiking or running every weekend and I go to the gym five or six times a week to workout,” Thie said. “I have tried to fill the time with other things I really enjoy.”

Kuppe stresses the importance of remaining active after quitting a sport, and keeping the same strict exercise regime as an athlete can be extremely beneficial.

For athletes who have devoted many years to the sport, quitting may be a huge adjustment to get used to. However, adapting to life after sports can help one appreciate the love for the game.

“Of course, everyone will miss playing their sport, but that day comes sooner or later no matter who you are,” Kuppe said.

“So I think the only important thing is to enjoy the time you have playing it, because that’s all you can really do.”

h av e s r a e y “A few wI o n d n a pa s s e d tter, e b h c u feel m times e r a e r but the feel s e o d t i where hing t e m o s like g. ” n i s s i m s i

For Kuppe, o n the other hand, not having a strict schedule after school has negatively affected other aspects of her life. For high school volleyball, Kuppe attended five practices a week with occasional games per week that outlined her schedule everyday. By not having a sport with such a demanding time commitment, Kuppe underwent a tough transition period.

“I have way more time to do school work and spend time with friends, but I feel less focused,” Kuppe said. “Having practice at night motivated me to be more responsible and efficiently get my work done. Now I’ve replaced my practices with some designated time frames to work out, which sort of functions the same way now.”

For senior Anna Thie, who was deeply committed to horseback riding for 15 years of her life, not driving to the barn every day was a large difference to her lifestyle. Thie had to adjust to the sudden end

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