THE PROSPECTOR
P
FEATURES Avid teachers and students pg. 8
OPINIONS Female rappers and body autonomy pg. 14
LIFESTYLES
Review on the Social Dilemma pg. 20
POSTSCRIPT Tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg pg. 32
ZERO EMISSION CARS BY 2035
ISSUE 2, VOL. 63
Banning the sale of fossil fuel powered vehicles in CA
IN THIS ISSUE
courtesy of Google
news
Draining the Anderson Dam........ 04 No Gas Emission Cars by 2035... 05 CHS Campus Renovations ......... 06
features
Emission Free 05: Gas Cars by 2035 05:
AVID Teachers & Students ........... 08
opinions
Saviorism vs Activism .................12 Female Rappers and Body Autonomy ....................................14
investigations
Online Hate Speech ......................16
32: Tribute to RBG
lifestyles
Review on the Social Dilemma .... 20 Evolution of Trends Through Quarantine .................................. 22
sports
What it Means to Be the GOAT... 24 The Bicycle Boom ..................... 28
perspectives Among Us Short Story .............. 30 Satire Comic on Gender Reveals in the Future .................................. 31
postscript
Tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg.. 32 Column: Leaving Good Memories Behind ........................................ 34 COVER DESIGNED BY ALEXANDRIA HUNT
THE PROSPECTOR
STAFF 2020-2021
editors-in-chief Alexandria Hunt Lawrence Fan Stella Jia
copy editors Ankita Acharya Juliet Shearin Avi Pandit
news editor Juliet Shearin
photo editors Megumi Ondo
opinions editor Rachel Park
online editors Keerthi Lakshmanan Sanat Singhal
features editor Krithika Vekatasubramanian
business manager Ankita Acharya
assistants Anand Ashar, Arnav Vishwakarma, Arushi Arora, Hyunjun Kim, investigations editor Joshua Lee, Katelyn Joan Thyagarajan Chu, Kavya Kaushal, Kevin Jia, Kriti sports editor Kaushal, Megana Henry Ma Kashyap, Meghana perspectives editor Vinjamury, Nachiket Sarah Pollans Kerai, Norman Chow, Raissa Ji, Rajasi postscript editor Laddha, Saniya Megumi Ondo Laungani, Sonia Patil, Theresa Nguyen advisor Ann Peck lifestyles editor Jenny Wu
Editorial Policy
“The Prospector” is an open forum of expression for student editors to inform and educate their readers. It will not be reviewed by or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisors may and should coach and discuss content during the writing process. The staff of “The Prospector” seeks to recognize individuals, events and ideas and bring news to the Cupertino community in an accurate, professional and unbiased manner. “The Prospector” will not avoid publishing a story solely on the basis of possible dissent or controversy. If you believe an error has been made or wish to have your opinion expressed in “The Prospector,” please contact us via mail or email. Letters sent become the sole property of “The Prospector” and can be edited for length, clarity or accuracy. “The Prospector” editorial board reserves the right to accept or reject any ad in accordance with its advertising policy.
Contact Us: prospector.chs@gmail.com The Prospector 10100 Finch Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014
A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Dear Reader, Imagine stepping into a time capsule. Take a trip down memory lane, and into your childhood — the old sports you played, the elementary school friendships, and playground slides. The sweet nostalgia of our childhood lives in our memories, and writer Joan Thyagarajan brings it to life in her article on page 34. Wow, that was a long trip into the past! Let’s reel it forward a little into March of 2020 — which seemed like years ago, but was only a few months ago. March saw the advent of Instagram story bingos, whipped coffee, baking bread, and Chloe Ting’s background music becoming our quarantine anthem. Reminisce these trends with writer Alexandria Hunt on page 22. It just seemed like yesterday when we heard the news of RBG’s passing. Still, in our country’s impending political uncertainty and possible turmoil, her legacy lives on. Check out Megana Kashyap’s tribute to former Supreme Court Justice, Ruther Bader Ginsburg, on page 32. Looking into the future as kids, we would always think the future promised flying cars and floating cities. Little did we know, before making flying cars, we must first tackle more immediate challenges — one being climate change. Although the near future may not hold flying cars, writer Anand Ashar on page 5 reveals that it does have cars that don’t run on fossil fuels. As we reflect on the past, live in the present, and gaze into the future, don’t forget that there are always moments to appreciate and look forward to. Stay positive and test negative, Alexandria Hunt, Lawrence Fan, and Stella Jia
NEWS
Draining the Anderson Dam
ANKITA ACHARYA copy editor/business manager
4 | THE PROSPECTOR
Anderson Dam will be torn down and reconstructed over the next ten years. The dam is Santa Clara County’s largest reservoir, located in San Jose, Calif. It was built in 1950 to create a surface water reservoir to provide for the county’s water needs. It dams Coyote Creek near its conjunction with San Felipe Creek, and the artificial lake holds over a hundred million cubic meters of water when full. Due to seismic concerns, the dam currently contains around 58 percent of its capacity. A project began on October 1st to tear down and rebuild the dam. The project is budgeted at $576 million, though some predictions say it will cost over a billion dollars. The project is expected to take ten years, finishing in 2030. Considerations such as environmental review have extended the expected time period. Draining the dam itself could take up to six months, though it hasn’t been at full capacity since 2009 due to safety concerns. Several other lakes in the Bay Area are being drained due to similar seismic safety concerns involving their dams. Its sheer size and age combined with the higher levels of seismic activity in the Bay Area make it a target for earthquakes. State authorities determined in 2009 that the dam will not withstand a major earthquake. If an earthquake does happen, the dam will crash on the Mor-
Image courtesty of Valley Water
gan Hill and Coyote Creek communities, submerging Morgan Hill in water. Along with earthquake concerns, flooding also has the potential to cause problems. If rainfall causes the dam’s water level to rise above its peak capacity, the water spills over and reaches neighboring communities. The most recent flooding was in 2017 due to unusually heavy rainfall in the Coyote Creek community, keeping safety concerns about the dam fresh in residents’ minds. The city also plans to restructure water infrastructure along the Hayward Fault soon. The district currently provides water for two million people in Santa Clara County. Officials have reassured residents that the water loss in the reservoir after draining will not cause shortages in the area. Much of the county’s water will come from underground sources such as aquifers and the district’s currently stored water. Although the purpose of draining the dam is to increase public safety, resident opinion varies. Some are pleased that the county is finally making progress on safety considerations and protecting the residents in the dam’s neighboring communities. However, 2030 is far enough away that many feel the project’s downsides more acutely than the positives. Some are upset about potential landslides, the community disturbance and property value depreciation from consistent construction, and the loss of water for firefighters in case of an emergency.
Zero Emissions Cars by 2035 ANAND ASHAR writer
On September 23, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that bans the sale of new fossil fuel-powered vehicles, including cars and trucks, by 2035. All new vehicles, including heavy-duty vehicles used for commercial transportation and other critical infrastructure, will be required to adopt the policy by 2045. While California has always been an advocate for clean air regulations, this regulation is monumental as California becomes the first state in the United States to forbid the sales of all fossil fuel-burning vehicles.
California has been spearheading the effort to reduce climate change with some of the most robust regulations in the country.
NEWS | 5
Many countries, especially France and Germany, do more to combat climate change than California. However, in the United States, a country where climate change has been historically downplayed, California has been spearheading the effort to reduce climate change with some of the most robust regulations in the country. It was the first state to pass a law regulating economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions, in 2006. In 2002, it ordered automakers to reduce vehicle emissions by 30% by 2016. Abhimanyu Jayaraman, a junior at Cupertino High School and State Advocacy Lead at the Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action Summit, believes that California’s recognition as a global leader in climate change allows them to set a precedent for the world. Further, after former California Governor Jerry Brown signed an executive order to commit to 100% renewable energy sources for electricity by 2045 in 2018, California has also substantially increased its investment in renew-
able energy and pioneering technologies. California’s climate investments through grants, incentives, developments, and projects surpassed 2 billion dollars in 2019, hitting a new milestone. However, there have been many obstacles towards California’s goal towards 100% clean energy, including irate Californian companies suing the orders’ legality and the Trump Administration undermining their efforts. Once passing the law to reduce vehicle emissions by 30%, California was sued by prominent automakers, accentuating that returns are more meaningful than public health for companies. Further, in December 2015, 195 countries, including the United States, pledged to reduce global warming by signing the momentous Paris Agreement. However, on June 1, 2017, President Trump withdrew from the agreement citing “an unfair economic burden imposed on American(s),” a blow to the already slow environmental progress. Today, Californians are affected by the ravaging wildfires, pollution, droughts, coastal threats, and heatwaves, all of which are detrimental to public health. Trump’s denial of climate change was demonstrated when California officials met with him to discuss their concerns. He vigorously advocated his beliefs when California Natural Resource Secretary, Wade Crowfoot, desired the President to acknowledge that forest management is not the sole cause of wildfires on September 14, 2020. By mentioning, “It’ll start getting cooler, you just watch … I don’t think science knows actually,” and ‘’vowing” to cut emergency funding to pacify the wildfires, he has demonstrated how an administration’s disbelief of global warming and climate change can hinder the progress of California’s environmental goals. While California has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to below 1990 levels by 2030, little has been done. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s order to ban the sale of new fossil fuel-powered vehicles is remarkable as it is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over forty percent. Other states will likely follow suit as California is a role model for other states regarding climate change. Further, large automakers, producing cars in the millions like Honda and Toyota, will be forced to make electric vehicles for California. According to Abhimanyu, because the California market is a significant player, large automakers will be forced to sell electric cars worldwide with this ban.
OVERVIEW OF
CAMPUS RENOVATIONS ARNAV VISHWAKARMA writer
In early 2017, Cupertino High School had a significant addition to the school with its expansion of the 6000’s building and various campus improvements. Three years later, it continues to undergo renovations to improve student life and its footprint. Early in 2020, the science department teachers asked students to survey what science classes students intended to take the following school year to gauge how relocation between buildings should be handled. While this was ultimately not so important as the next semester began virtually, it was one of the first steps CHS took to planning its renovations around student life. One of the most critical updates to the building is a new roof, which replaces the faulty, old one which leaked quite often. In addition to alleviating this problem, Cupertino High School has also taken measures to increase energy efficiency. Like in the units installed within the 6000’s classrooms, new motion detected ambient lighting and increasingly energy-efficient HVAC systems will be put in place. Finally, new speakers will be put in, as well as a fresh coat of paint. Steps away from these renovations, the campus will gain a sig-
nificant upgrade with the addition of a “bike plaza.” One of the major renovations to directly impact students will be the new “bike plaza” currently being constructed. Replacing the portable classrooms between the 500’s wing and the wagon wheel, a new area will be put in for students to safely park their bikes. The new bike racks will allow students to directly lock bikes to the frame, instead of the previous racks that were secured to the wheels. Said Junior Saaketh Kanduri, “I think [the new racks] will help because people will have to care about the safety of their bike a lot more, because before this people were kind of relying on the safety as a group of bikes” The new plaza will bring the capacity to 624 bikes, doubling the current capacity. Cupertino High School is also working with Safe Routes To School to ensure that bike traffic can safely be directed towards the new plaza. The campus will also see major updates to its athletic field and student parking area. A small improvement that will make a big difference is changing the baseball field from grass to synthetic turf. The synthetic turf will be far easier to maintain and save a lot of water. The new field also adds a practice field that can be utilized by other sports between seasons.
6 | THE PROSPECTOR
“One of the most critical updates to the building is a new roof, which replaces the faulty, old one that leaked quite often [...] the campus will gain a significant upgrade.”
312 new bike rack spaces installed
$5.2 million to renovate the 500s building
10 months of planning and executing the renovations NEWS | 7
Said CHS Principal Kami Tomberlain, “Without turf on the outfield, the baseball field was off-limits for other sports’ practice, leading to overcrowding or challenging scheduling between seasons. This will help because the extra play will not damage the turf fields.” To further improve the campus layout, the practice field next to the baseball field is being replaced and converted into a new entrance. It will include a new ticket booth, landscaping, and a direct entrance to the athletic fields, eliminating the need to navigate the campus. Said CHS Assistant Principal Steven Puccinelli, “During football games, we’ll lock the old gate, and you can either come through the new entrance or the once along Tilson Avenue.” The new entrance will open up from the expanded parking lot, bringing 20 additional parking spots and a few electric chargers. In total, Cupertino High School has updated the 500’s wing with a new roof, improved utilities, expanded the area for bike parking with a new “bike plaza” and revamped the front of the school with additional parking and a direct entrance to the athletic fields. The changes will not only reduce CHS’s footprint but also positively impact student life. Renovations are expected to be completed by the end of the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year, with future renovations planned to modernize the 300’s wing in the coming years.
the renovation in numbers:
FEATURES
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AVID Darya Abtahi
Pallavi Kondayapalepu
Hana Jones
Ms. Benson
Nina Mobe
Antonio Sena
8 | THE PROSPECTOR
ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF INTERVIEWEES
COURTESY OF PINTEREST
A reflection from students and teachers alike about their experiences in CHS’s AVID program
about the
Program HYUNJUN KIM social media assistant
FEATURES | 9
When high school students struggle in an academic class, what is their go-to place or person for academic support? Christopher Cho, a senior at Cupertino High School, said, “My first place to ask for academic help is my family because they are probably the closest to me and are knowledgeable on the subjects that I struggle with.” Veronica Fu, a junior at Cupertino High School, said, “Depending on which class I am struggling in, but I mostly seek academic help from my siblings.” Regardless of the accessible resources, some students also participate in the AVID program for academic help and col- COURTESY OF CHS FACEBOOK lege outreach. Said junior Antonio Sena, “My final source for help is AVID; I can get help for classes that I have questions in. Also, they provide college tour information, informing me about the requirements that I need to get into college.” AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is an in-school academic support program that helps students achieve academic success and college eligibility. The program aims to create a close-knit community to uplift students who have high academic potential and recruits AVID coordinators from the existing school staff.
Misconceptions hold, however, for students who are not familiar with the program’s chief mission and curriculum. Said AVID coordinator Lillie Phares, “I want to clarify since I cannot say it any better: AVID by no means is a “remedial” program … At the core of AVID’s mission is the belief that all students can successfully achieve when they are held to high expectations and adequately supported.” Also, students can reach out to any AVID coordinators to discuss the rigorous courses and materials and plan beyond high school for college. Aware of the novel shift in education, AVID is actively adjusting to remote learning to ensure students have full access to office hours, activities, and college information. Said Phares, “A variety of guest speakers visit the classrooms yearly to speak with our students. With COVID and the remote environment, we now have more flexibility to bring more people (Project Manager from Apple, Surgeon, Venture Capitalist)!” As an AVID student herself in high school, Lillie Phares also shares, “I have nothing but amazing things to say about the AVID program and I do want to say that I don’t think it gets the attention it deserves … Many go through life trying to “figure it all out,” but with AVID, I found my calling and developed the confidence that allowed me to thrive not just academically, but socially, emotionally, professionally, and personally.”
from the
Teachers A V I D teachers work hard to create a new learning environment for college-oriented students that hope to gain skills for higher achievement, and over the years, they have learned a lot from their own experiences. The class has a variety of resources embedded in their class that expose students to opportunities post-graduation. Said AVID-11 teacher Jenny Padgett, “I think a lot of students have an idea of a career, but it’s usually pretty general, and what we’re going to do is really get into specifics… AVID is a chance to really explore. It isn’t just someone sitting at home sort of googling things they might be interested in, but really a specific pathway about an area of interest.” In our very academic-oriented school, students often lose sight that not everyone begins high school with the same knowledge and resources. Many do not necessarily have access to private tutoring or fancy SAT prep. AVID helps shorten that gap and help prepare students. Said last year’s AVID12 teacher, Amy Benson, “Freshman year, we do really simple things like research a few colleges, like learn what a major is, and some people don’t know what a major is. [...] And as we go through the years, we start to focus on applying to college and choosing colleges that are right for people. Not all students are exposed to this information and it’s not their fault.” Unfortunately, there can be lower expectations set for certain students in a classroom based on perceived judgment or bias. Said Benson, “Whether it’s direct or not, students can feel that. That feeling like, ‘oh she doesn’t think I can do it’. Then it can really start to be internalized … A [...] kid could have zeros in geometry and we would sit down to talk about it, but you can’t make assumptions. AVID has so many goals, but just to foster an enSONIA PATIL
lifestyles assistant
vironment where students can succeed and have that expectation.” A large part of AVID is the allotted time to create insightful questions and share them in a process called tutorial At the start of the year, students tend to have weak questions, but they begin to create insightful questions with rising difficulty in classes over the years. Said Benson, “Freshman year, the struggle was real. Sometimes they would come in with weaker questions like ‘I don’t know what a cell is’ and I’m like, that’s not true, you do know something about a cell, let’s rewrite that question … At the end, it’s kind of cool when you think about seniors’ questions are so far from when they started off, asking about econ and advanced literature or calculus compared to, ‘how do I find the slope of a line?’” Overall, teaching AVID students and getting to see their growth is very rewarding for teachers. Said Padgett, “They’re older, they’re busier, they’re taller, their voices have changed, their look has changed. And it’s been really cool. Nobody is exactly like they were freshman year.” Benson recalls, “ Towards the later years, more kinds of milestones happen. Students giving me a picture of their prom, and like senior year, when students started getting college acceptances, that was definitely like, this was all worth it.”
10 | THE PROSPECTOR
“Not all students are exposed to this information and it’s not their fault”
students from the
AVID creates a welcoming, diverse environment that benefits many Cupertino students. One such individual is Hana Jones, a sophomore who joined AVID after she heard about the program in 8th grade with the hope of gaining more knowledge about the college research and application process. Said Jones, “Our main goal in AVID is to attend a 4-year college or university after high school, so it is important that we not only meet the college requirements but that our application is competitive.” Despite being in the program for only 1 ½ years, AVID has already created a positive impact on Jones’s life. Said Jones, “The AVID community is incredibly unique for each member. It all depends on how much you’re willing to put yourself out there, but regardless of the path you choose, the community is super supportive, and we are always willing to help each other out.” Seniors such as Darya Abtahi and Nina Mobe, who have been a part of the program for the entirety of high school, share ideas similar to Jones. Said Mobe, “I admire how our class has become an environment where we are openly comfortable addressing and discussing serious topics such as modern societal issues, political issues, self-care, and self-accountability. Our AVID teacher always keeps us informed and in-check with ourselves, making sure we are being kind KAVYA KAUSHAL photo assistant
and respectable humans.” Said Abtahi, “I like coming to the classroom knowing I have a workspace where I typically had a plan set-up but could also request assistance all while being encouraged and educated about relevant news pertaining to college.” There are other ways students can get involved with AVID. Pallavi Kondayapalepu is among a small select group of students who serve as teaching assistants in the program. This year will mark Kondayapalepu’s second as a TA. Said Kondayapalepu, “My goal is to help students in any way I can, whether that be tutoring in academic subjects, or just being there to listen. At the same time, I think there’s a lot of room for personal growth on my end as well because AVID gives me a unique classroom experience that I wouldn’t have in any of my other classes. I need to tutor someone and help them learn a challenging concept which forces me to properly know concepts to the point where I am able to teach it to someone else.” These student tutors are essential to the program and benefit students in AVID. Said Jones, “AVID tutors are really attentive to the concerns a student might have and are quite generous with their time. They give us helpful feedback and have made us realize that the skills we are being taught are useful for the rest of high school and beyond.” Reflecting on her journey in the program, said Mobe, “I have learned that we each have distinct paths and we should not be compared nor be defined by others and how they succeed. Rankings, numbers, or letters manipulate us into thinking they define how far we can get in life; however, we are humans who are more than capable of crossing boundaries so we should never settle on these values. As an AVID class, we are a family like any other who shares laughter, tears, struggles, and cherished memories.”
“We are a family like any other who shares [...] cherished memories.”
FEATURES | 11
OPINIONS
ACTIVISM OR SAVIOURISM RAJASI LADDHA
12 | DESIGNED BY RACHEL PARK
opinions assisstant
With the continuous rise of activism in mainstream media, it is crucial to discern the difference between activism and saviorism and recognize the deeply ingrained savior mentality that middle-class and upper-class Americans and Europeans have adopted towards developing nations. The savior complex is a subset of performative activism, in which a person of privilege attempts to resolve an issue or conflict that they have little to no experience or knowledge about and forces a short-term solution that may cause more harm than good. Despite the term “white saviorism” from which the concept of saviors emerged, saviors are not always white in skin color, although the word is derived from the white savior complex. One’s national identity and other privileges, such as gender or sexual orientation, can also manifest a savior relationship. Author Teju Cole describes the savior complex as an ongoing reality for Africa, “From the colonial project to Out of Africa to The Constant Gardener and Kony 2012, Africa has provided a space onto which egos can conveniently be projected. It is a liberated space in which the usual rules do not apply: a nobody from America or Europe can go to Africa and become a godlike savior or, at the very least, have his or her emotional needs satisfied. Many have done it under the banner of making a difference.” As an activist, one needs to discern if they are attempting to solve an issue to satisfy their own emotional needs or create a permanent long-term impact on the said issue. The people impacted by the problems are real people going through hardships, not objects to manipulate to their benefit. These issues are not conquests for one to post on social media or use to ease their guilt. It has become
easier for people to share and blog about their mission trips or service projects with social media. Mission trips and Service projects have become increasingly problematic as their history and __ have come to light. These trips are a perfect representation of how savorism disguises itself as activism. Missionaries and colonizers worked hand in hand, leading to colonialism, genocide, and assimilation, all in the name of faith. Missionaries are often described in the past as heroes who bring salvation. Salvation to those in other countries who seem to desperately need their help according to them. The whole idea of a mission trip has been savorism from the start. Modern-day mission trips are influenced by the neoliberal, empowering ideology that suggests Americans can and should fix other countries’ problems in the name of service, progress, and faith. Many volunteers are trying to “do the right thing” and give back to those in need while completely ignoring the neocolonial undertones their work produces. As Flaherty explains in his book No More Heroes: Grassroots Challenges to the Savior Mentality, the mentality cannot exist without turning people into objects who need rescuing. Alongside the problem within mission trips, it has become easier for people to share and blog about their mission trips or service projects with social media. Most commonly, mission trips or service trip posts often talk about how the individual has learned so much throughout their journey. Through social media, the self-serving side of humanitarianism has become more and more apparent. The trip’s motivation and the person play an important role in distinguishing the difference between activism and saviorism. Generosity drives many young Americans and Europeans to volunteer in developing countries despite lacking the skills and qualifications. It is essential to realize that posting about personal growth on the said trip, while necessary, gives the impression that the trip was only to serve for personal development instead of
the issue they were trying to resolve. It is incredibly selfish to build a school in a community you know very little about because you are searching for a humbling experience. Renee Bach, a US Missionary, built a hospital in Uganda for her mission project, except she was not a doctor. She was a 20 year-old high school graduate who had no prior medical experience. Yet, she did not employ one single doctor in her hospital. When she took in over 940 ill children in her hospital, over 100 of her patients died. When interviewed by NPR, she simply stated, “It was a very, very profound feeling and experience. It’s kind of hard to even describe in words. Like there was
it for their gain or satisfaction or the need to save someone. Real activism
“Real activism is doing something
for the good of another community by bringing long-term positive change and understanding the depth and importance of the issue.” is doing something for the good of another community by bringing longterm positive change and under-
“ Africa has provided a space onto which egos can conveniently be projected. It is a liberated space in which the usual rules do not apply” standing the depth and importance of the issue. Instead of a mission trip that builds a hospital in Africa, one could organize a protest to target the government to fund pre-existing hospitals. One brings short-term change while promoting saviorism, and the other provides long-term growth while bringing awareness to an issue. It should not be a need to save someone but rather empathizing with the people and their problems with the sincerity they deserve. However, some might say that help is help, and people will take whatever they can get. Although some may accept whatever aid they may receive, they do not deserve to have their problems used
what are the intentions behind the aid that was given. In Bach’s case, her intentions led her to kill nearly a tenth of her patients. Intentions matter because how one acts on those intentions can affect so many people. To help differentiate whether something is activism or savorism, check one’s privilege and real intentions before addressing an issue. As important as identifying it within oneself, it is equally important to call out others on saviorism and not to allow other people marginalize problems and issues.
OPINIONS | 13
something that I was supposed to do.” In an attempt to help the children because she believed that she, specifically, needed to save them, Bach ended up killing nearly ten percent of the patients she had, all while blogging about her profound life-changing experience on social media. There are many ways to experience humility, and some of them would get fewer likes on social media. Often, volunteers treat the people they claim to help in a culturally insensitive manner. Even thinking that it is appropriate in any context to take a photo with a hospitalized child or a group of children playing outside is such a blatant example of how Western imperialist ideas still exist. In Bach’s case, she had a blog for her hospital where she posted every week although children in her hospital were dying there every week. With activism, one is attempting to resolve an issue without doing
as objects to satisfy someone else’s emotional needs. Help is help, but
Images courtesty of Google
FEMALE RAPPERS’ PROMOTION OF BODY AUTONOMY KEERTHI LAKSHMANAN
14 | THE PROSPECTOR
online editor
Released on August 7th, rappers Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s song “WAP” broke records with 93 million streams in its opening week alone to become No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Its music video currently has 116 million views on Youtube, and a dance to its chorus went viral—#WAP has about 10 billion views on TikTok alone. Despite its wild success, the song has also brought along heavy criticism from politicians and conservative people in the media. James P. Bradley, a California Republican congressional candidate, said, “Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion are what happens when children are raised without God.” DeAnna Lorraine, a Republican commentator and previous California congressional candidate, tweeted that “Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion just set the entire female gender back by 100 years with their disgusting & vile ‘WAP’ song”. Not to mention Ben Shapiro’s infamous tirade on his show produced by The Daily Wire, where he said, “This is what feminists fought for [...] It’s not really about women being treated as independent, full rounded human beings. It’s about wet-a** p-word. And if you say anything different you’re a misogynist” Why has a three-minute song garnered such simultaneous hate and appreciation? “WAP” sets itself apart because of its unusually sexually explicit lyrics. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion rap with veiled and blatant sexual innuendos, talking about how they want men to please them. It is fresh and seemingly unlike anything the media has listened to before.
However, “WAP” is not the first of its kind. Black women in hip-hop have a history of so-called sex talk. Journalist DaLyah Jones from Okayplayer analyzed sexually empowering artists from the past: Lil Kim (Kimberly Denise Jones), Foxy Brown (Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand), Trina (Katrina Laverne Taylor), and Khia (Khia Shamone Finch)— all of whom are black female rappers that debuted in the late 1990s. Their songs fought both misogyny and homophobia in rap culture, and they received criticism for it, too. Khia’s 2001 single “My Neck, My Back” hit No. 42 on Billboard’s Hot 100, but it was also slammed for its explicitness. Rapper Too Short even released a corresponding diss track called “My D***, My Sack” and was quoted saying, “There’s too many females out here celebrating.” So “WAP”’s reception in popular culture is an example of a much larger trend, one that began three decades ago. Male artists with graphic mentions of sex are hardly anything to blink at. It is commonplace, the normal, and so are the often misogynistic themes within their lyrics that objectify women. It never attracts a slew of insults from conservative politicians. In contrast, these sexual anthems are never examples of toxic content or an objectification of men. Khia said about “My Neck, My Back”: “A lot of them hard heads feel like I’m just trying to bash guys, and that’s not really what the song is about. It’s just about a man and a woman [...] pleasing each other when y’all making love”. These female rappers use uncensored and maybe unconventional lyrics, admit-
tedly, but in doing so, they emphasize a necessary theme of consent, mutual pleasure and depict women on equal footing. So the issue isn’t actually subject matter. It comes down to the creators. Explicit music is only widely accepted by a certain demographic. By terming songs similar to “WAP” as shallow, ‘without God’, or too vulgar, we are actively drawing the line between male artists and female artists, condoning one but condemning the other. It creates a double standard within the music industry. Of course, breaking down the double standard does not mean female rappers should suddenly be immune to criticism. But when conservative figures verbalize hatred towards Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion specifically because of media that displays positive female sexuality from a female’s perspective, they are gatekeeping who gets to speak about sex. If the sole reason for these angry Tweets is that Cardi B raps about... women enjoying sex, then it becomes a clear demonstration of a barrier in media that accepts explicit lyrics as long as they don’t orig-
inate from...gasp, a woman. The longer we condemn females being vocal about sex, the longer we are complacent in the sexual objectification of women. Whether or not you like listening to “WAP”, it is crucial to acknowledge the strides in empowerment derived from its incredible popularity. Ben Shapiro’s sarcasm may have accidentally struck true. Songs like “WAP” are partially what feminists are fighting for— or, to rephrase his words, it is a beautiful product of how far the feminist movement has progressed. Sex-positive talk that encourages females is relatively new and still a process, but “WAP” and its skyrocketing number of streams is a milestone. It has not been an inherent right for women to be sexually explicit in society. Christi Carras from the Los Angeles Times wrote that “WAP” “carries a political weight that men rapping about s e x
doesn’t”. Female rappers leading the way with their sexual anthems should not be considered too ‘disgusting’, or ‘vile’, or viewed as inconsequential for their songs. They demonstrate women reclaiming their bodies and their independence to choice in an extremely male-dominated genre. They are spreading a powerful message of body autonomy and sex-positive feminity that overturns long-held societal standards.
“ women reclaiming their bodies and their independence to choice in an extremely male-dominated genre” Today’s generation of female rappers contributing to the ongoing revolution includes City Girls, Rico Nasty, Saweetie, and Noname, with millions of streams each.
OPINIONS | 15
Images courtesty of Google
INVESTIGATIONS
hate speech and its
16 | THE PROSPECTOR
history at Cupertino
STUDENT PERSPECTIVES ANANYA ANAND writer
in various forms. “I’ve been called slurs and have been a target of racial and gender discrimination.” The most effective way to minimize hate speech at CHS is direct confrontation of the perpetrator with valid reasoning. In addition, bringing the issue up to an adult can provide a neutral party to resolve the incident and make Cupertino High School a safer place to be. In combination with student perspectives, Cupertino High School should re-evaluate what is being done to minimize the use of hate speech at our school for the sake of not only the current students but those of future graduating classes as well cial and gender discrimination.” The most effective way to minimize hate speech at CHS is direct confrontation of the perpetrator with valid reasoning. In addition, bringing the issue up to an adult can provide a neutral party to resolve the incident and make Cupertino High School a safer place to be. In combination with student perspectives, Cupertino High School should re-evaluate what is being done to minimize the use of hate speech at our school for the sake of not only the current students but those of future graduating classes as well.
INVESTIGATIONS | 17
Roughly three out of four high school students have been targeted by some form of hate speech. Whether they are targeted because of religion, ethnicity, gender, race, or any other identity, this type of behavior should be stopped immediately for the sake of the present and future generations. Cupertino High School strives to create an atmosphere where everyone can express themselves freely. However, freely can mean different things to different people. Some forms of expression can be accepted while others are inappropriate or even categorized as hate speech. When does speech become hate speech, and is hate speech a prominent issue at our school? According to most Cupertino High School students, free speech and hate speech can be mistaken for each other quite frequently, leading to a lot of confusion. Senior Niyati Mummidivarapu brings up several new and valid perspectives on this subject. She argues that there is a clear difference between the two forms of expression, citing her own experiences with hate speech. “When you think of free speech,
you are talking about the use of media or press used by the people to fight for a positive change, but the goal of hate speech is to solely hurt and attack a specific group.” She emphasized the fact that hate speech has a negative connotation can easily be spotted. Mummidivarapu also added “there are countries out there that believe that freedom of speech is different from hate speech, for example, in India the citizens have a right to free speech but would get arrested for spewing messages filled with violence and hatred. So yes, I believe there is a difference, and the bottom line is that if you are exercising your right of free speech you should not be attacking a group of people.” Similar arguments are supported by many other students. Senior Grace Olumofin and sophomore Amit Rand both weighed in on the most common forms of hate speech at CHS. Olumofin stated that “the use of slurs, physical demonstrations like writing or drawing, and posting on social media” are the most common examples of hate speech at our school. Rand voiced similar thoughts but also added that racial hate speech is the most common at CHS. Additionally, Olumofin expressed that she has experienced hate speech
m
KRITI KAUSHAL writer
When hate speech is not prevented during adolescence, perpetrators bring their prejudiced attitudes forward with them, manifesting into broader and more harmful detriments to society. These effects include spurring violence, introducing hate speech into the political system, and negatively affecting the mental health
ident Donald Trump was heavily scrutinized when he refused to condemn white supremacists in the first presidential debate and told the Proud Boys, an overtly racist pro-action organization, to “stand back” and “stand by.” The Proud Boys are known for using anti-Semitic slurs and engaging in Muslim and Islamic denigration, which are both forms of hate speech. By normalizing the Proud Boys and allowing them to contin-
18 18 || THE THE PROSPECTOR PROSPECTOR
BROADER iMPLICATIONS of students here in Cupertino. Propagated by prejudiced thoughts, hate speech takes on a more damaging character in the form of xenophobic and discriminatory violence. Both are considered “violent crimes” by the Bureau of Justice and are heavily penalized, with most criminals facing some degree of incarceration. For example, earlier this year, in Novato, a developmentally disabled victim was sprayed with non-lethal bear repellant, leading to the assailant’s imprisonment as he made derogatory comments about the victim having a mental illness. Furthering these crimes is the influence of politicians who serve as “accelerants” by encouraging hate groups. Recently, Pres-
ue their actions, President Trump avoids and emboldens the issue
spikes in counties where President Trump won by a large margin. These hate crime rates are only surpassed by those following September 11, 2001, a reminder of the impact politics has on hate crimes. Fortunately, with the growing prevalence of hate speech, the faculty at Cupertino High School is responding to the best of their abilities. Through advisory lessons, there is a concerted effort to minimize hate and increase awareness about discrimination, which is reflected in school regulations that do not tolerate hate crimes. Said school therapist Denise Salin, “Hate speech attacks the
“Hate speech attacks the identity of a person [...] and is traumatizing not only to the recipient but all students” of hate speech and violence as revealed through data; The Global Terrorism Database shows the scope of President Trump’s actions: since 2016, hate crimes by white supremacists have nearly doubled in rate. From a federal standpoint, FBI data displays a significant surge in reported hate crimes in the US following President Trump’s election, with larger
identity of a person such that it instills fear, depression, anxiety, [...] and is traumatizing not only to the recipient but all students who witness it. [...] Ultimately, our goal [through advisory] is to encourage all staff, students, and parents to speak up about hate and address it. [...] This way, we promote a culture of kindness and tolerance at Cupertino.”
JOSHUA LEE writer
With social distancing ubiquitous, group chats have become an important tool for people to connect with each other. Most of the group chats are used to talk about the weirdest things like how Spongebob and Patrick can each beat Michael Jordan 1 on 1. However, group chats can also be twisted to focus on bullying or hate speech. In some group chats, such speech is common or a central focus of the chat. Many go so far as to brutally humiliate certain groups or people, often using derogatory slurs or screenshots taken without consent to target them. An-
Today, “At least half of players report experiencing some form of harassment.” They reported racist, homophobic and anti-semitic slurs directed towards them because of their dialects or usernames. An anonymous Jewish “Overwatch” player reported another player for telling him that he belonged in Auschwitz. Cupertino High School
group Chat bullying Because the admin team cannot eradicate hate speech in group chats completely, it falls to students to combat this problem. The biggest step is to spread awareness that hate speech is commonly used in everyday human speech in a very concerning way. It is also important to support people who have been targeted, and to encourage action against hate speech. A final option is to report any instance to a reliable organization that actively fights against hate, such as the Cupertino High School administration. Group chats have the potential to be used for hate speech, but they also have the potential to connect and help students support each other.
INVESTIGATIONS INVESTIGATIONS | 19 || 19 INVESTIGATIONS 19
has been working to curb hate speech in group chats by individually reprimanding students who take part. However, many students allege that these investigations fail to discipline all students who use hate speech. It is school administrations’ responsibility to ensure that students are safe at Cupertino High School. The only incident that led to Cupertino High School administration taking publicized action was when several students used hate speech in their group chat during
“An anonymous Jewish “Overwatch” player reported another player for telling him that he belonged in Auschwitz.” other common tactic is to invite a member of a marginalized group into a group chat, then bombard them with hateful comments. Similar problems are visible in other forms of online connection. In online video game voice chats, many players use prejudiced, hateful speech against other players. According to USA
the 2018 – 2019 school year. “A bunch of people seemed to be trying to one-up each other and the conversations kept using more offensive and derogatory language as things went in,” said a junior familiar with the incident. A few students were sent home and were suspended after the admin got more background information on what happened.
20 | DESIGNED BY JENNY WU
LIFESTYLES
review of the social Dilemma
AVINASH PANDIT copy editor
It is a well-known fact that social media can be addicting, but The Social Dilemma, directed by Jeff Orlowski, informs us that social media often nurtures addiction and implements it into many of their features. The film takes an interesting perspective on social media, bringing in many of the social media founders responsible for some aspects of social media. Through various interviews and dramatizations, the film explores the rise of social media and the damage it has caused to society as a whole, focusing on its exploitation of user data through data mining and surveillance capitalism; its effect on politics and mental health; and its role in spreading conspiracy theories. After I first watched the film, I felt like I wanted to throw my phone in the garbage and then chuck the garbage can into the office of a Facebook executive. As soon as the movie ended, I rushed to get my phone and deleted all of my social media applications. Although it felt rewarding, I could not help but redownload some of those apps just to communicate with other people. Social media is so omnipresent that it is ingrained in every person’s mind, movements, and actions. The extent to which social media dominates students’ lives is off the charts. Facebook groups are formed for clubs and classes, Messenger is used in communicating amongst classmates, and group chats on Instagram are used for homework help. Especially while shelter-in-place and social distancing measures remain in place, deleting social media means losing touch with almost all of your friends and classmates outside of remote learning. Social media has even changed the culture of responding to mes-
sages. If I leave someone on read for an hour, I look as if I do not care about the message’s sender, making them feel bad about themselves. If I don’t respond to someone for a day or two, it is considered “ghosting,” a term that portrays me as a bad person who lost interest in the conversation. Perhaps the scariest part of the whole documentary was listening to interviews with the people who created many social media aspects. Justin Rosenstein, the creator of the infamous “like” button, claimed that its idea was to spread positivity. On the contrary, likes are used as a proxy for popularity, and those who do not get as many likes look down upon themselves. The Social Dilemma proves a strong correlation
sonalized recommendations to influence our actions, making users easy prey for advertisers and propagandists. According to the film, our degrading mental health and security of personal data are not the only problems. Social media, through filtration of news and facts, is also rapidly diminishing our critical thinking skills. The documentary cites a recent poll that states people who identify strongly with one party often believe the other political party is a “threat to society.” This same polarization results in social media companies limiting their users’ feeds so that the content almost aligns exclusively with their political preferences. Calculations show that this polarization of news keeps individuals online longer, making more a profit for them. Because everyone sees different information, everyone operates on a different set of facts. Another product of social media’s “attention-extraction model,” according to the documentary, is fake news. According to Tristan Harris, a former Google employee, fake news spreads six times faster than factual news. Communities like flat-earthers, anti-vaxxers, QAnon and other conspiracy groups rise from the projection of these fake stories. The Social Dilemma suggests government regulation as a solution to keep these companies in check, but is that realistic? Without a fiscal incentive for these companies, there are zero reasons for them to change their methods of manipulating users for profit. As long as corporations like Facebook wield unlimited power over Congress, the proposed government regulation may become “self-regulation” by the companies themselves. What can we do unless—or until—Congress cracks down on social media firms?
SOCIAL MEDIA IS SO OMNIPRESENT THAT IT IS INGRAINED IN EVERY PERSON’S MIND, MOVEMENTS, AND ACTIONS
LIFESTYLES | 21
with the rise in social media and the spikes in anxiety, depression, self-harm, and, worst of all, suicide amongst Gen Z girls. There is a new term in plastic surgery: “Snapchat Dysmorphia,” describing people who want plastic surgery to look more like the filters in Snapchat. The documentary explains how social media was created to be a place where people could connect, interact, and spread positivity. The documentary explains how manipulating human behavior for profit is coded into the company’s roots with high precision. The interviewees describe how, through data mining and surveillance capitalism, they create per-
Evolution of quarantine trends ALEXANDRIA HUNT print editor-in-chief
22 | THE PROSPECTOR
As the world around us has changed amidst the pandemic, various trends have surfaced and made their way into our lives. These trends, such as dalgona coffee and playing Among Us with friends, have helped us all find a sense of solace. Continue reading to take a walk through time — beginning with trends from March, all the way through October.
baking bread As COVID-19 cases continued to spike in the United States in April, students found other healthy distractions and ways to calm their minds. For many, this took form as baking bread — most commonly, banana bread and cloud bread. Baking these recipes provided students with a sense of control and an outlet for stress-relief.
Instagram Story Bingos
Dalgona Coffee
During the first few weeks following March, the virus was just starting to make its way into our own lives — canceling school, prom, and other traditional school activities. Many students took to filling out bingos and posting these on their Instagram stories to make up for the lack of social interaction. Example bingos that students filled out were “class of 2021 bingos” and “quarantine bingos.”
Besides banana bread, another treat also rose to popularity when quarantine first started — Dalgona Coffee. Gaining popularity initially on TikTok, the beverage contains a creamy, whipped coffee layer sitting atop iced milk. As its sweet flavors appealed to the taste buds of many, Dalgona Coffee soon made its way into many kitchens.
Images courtesty of Google
Chloe ting
Holiday excitement
Throughout quarantine, many students have found themselves setting goals; a popular one is working out and being more healthy. One particular workout series on Youtube became quite popular — Chloe Ting’s “2 week ab shred.” The 11-minute video currently has 254 million views, with more views — from those who still are looking to get fit — yet to come.
As December inches closer and closer, excitement for the holidays has grown. For one, many students have started listening to their Christmas music playlists. Many have also discovered “hot chocolate bombs/balls” — which have a spherical dark chocolate outer shell and hot cocoa powder and marshmallows on the inside. When placed into hot milk, the dark chocolate coating melts, and a warm hot chocolate drink soon takes form.
puppy boom
among us
Many students and families have also experienced new feelings of loneliness and isolation due to quarantine. As a direct result, a trend called the “puppy boom” has arisen: many families are adopting new puppies and other pets. According to USA Today, sales for dog diapers have increased by over 202% since this same time last year, pointing to a rise in pet owners.
One of the more recent trends that has surfaced is the game Among Us. The game has a total of 4-10 players or “crewmates”, with 1-3 of these being “impostors.” In the game, as crewmates do various tasks, the impostors set out to secretly kill crewmates. The game’s sudden popularity can be attributed to the fact that it offers a form of socialization without requiring people to be physically near their friends.
LIFESTYLES | 23
24 | THE PROSPECTOR
SPORTS
SPORTS | 25
NACHIKET KERAI
26 | THE PROSPECTOR
writer
What does it mean when people call an athlete the GOAT? No, it does not mean they are actually a goat. GOAT stands for the greatest of all time. It is often used in a sports context to describe the best athlete ever to play the sport in its entire history. On many sports talk shows, commentators debate whether a player is the GOAT or not. Sports stations like ESPN and FOX Sports often host GOAT debates which rack in millions of views. These debates often draw attention by featuring outlandish statements and loud accusations. While they often contain facts, these debates are subject to personal bias. Many players are involved in the GOAT debates. When it comes to basketball In, many people differ in opinion. Most people are split between LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. People who believe LeBron is the greatest are accused of having recency bias, while people who believe Jordan is the greatest are called LeBron haters. Often many different arguments and statistics are brought up in these debates but most are not comparable. For example, some argue that an athlete deserves the title of GOAT more than another because they have more championships. Another may argue that a different athlete should earn the title because that player scored more. These statistics cannot be compared because the number of championships and scoring ability are not in the same category. Many factors de-
termine the greatness of an athlete. Bias often plays a huge factor in who someone believes is the GOAT. Therefore these debates are often unfactual and do not make sense. Players often leave it to the media to decide who is the GOAT. After the Los Angeles Lakers won the 2020 championship, LeBron stated, “That’s not for me to question or wonder or debate. For me personally, I have a way that I play the game. I have a way that I lead. I have a way that I challenge my guys and myself.” While every player dreams of being the greatest of all time, it is not in their hands to decide whether the public or the media believes they are the greatest.
SPORTS | 27
LAWRENCE FAN, HENRY MA
28 | THE PROSPECTOR
online editor-in-chief, sports page editor
As an escape from the unique challenges from this year’s pandemic, Cupertino students and residents are taking up a distinctly liberating pastime: Bicycling. This outdoor trend is evident in the Cupertino High School community with increased activity both on Strava and in Tino Cycling Club meetings. Senior Pritish Budhrani, for example, has been logging 40+ mile rides shortly after taking up cycling over quarantine. Said Budhrani, “I tried to find a hobby that would help me see more places. I started biking to these beautiful places, and I just got more and more into it. It’s just to get my mind off of things.” Meanwhile, previous bikers are finding more time to explore new trails and conquer additional challenges. Said sophomore and Cycling Club treasurer Nischal Chakravarthi, “I’d say definitely after being cooped up in my room for seven hours for school, I am more incentivized to ride my bike. On weekends, I see a lot more people out on the more popular trails.” It is not hard to identify the cause of this novel outdoor trend; regulations have put a hiatus on most team-sports. As social distancing measures severely limit the participation of prior recreational activities, residents have turned to the allure of nature. Particularly, many are discovering the thrills and enjoyment that comes with biking. Said Senior Pritish Budhrani, “One of my favorite things is after a really bad uphill, the wind in your face going downhill is enduring. You’re just cruising through a cold breeze. And you get an adrenaline rush. It’s amazing.” Contrary to many local businesses, the bike industry has seen an increase in sales and revenue. After being closed for three days, the Cupertino Bike Shop reopened their physical store with a few changes.
Said Vance Sprock, proprietor of the Cupertino Bike Shop, “ We were closed for about three or four days. Then the county deemed bicycle service as essential and we were able to reopen at that time and we limited our hours slightly. We cut one day out, which is five hours. So we reduced our hours a little bit due to Covid-19.” Just like other restaurants and essential businesses, the bike shop can reopen as long as they follow county guidelines. “We’ve got to wipe things down with our anti-bacterial sprays, and try to maintain social distancing with customers. We wear our masks all the time and fortunately… every now and then have to limit the amount of customers in our shop.” explained Sprock. Because of the recent demand in biking, the Cupertino Bike shop has seen a huge increase in sales. Said Sprock, “There has probably been a 25 percent increase in revenue over the past 30 to year. A lot of service industries and restaurants have been really impacted by Covid-19, however we’ve had increased sales, increased services, and we’re benefiting.”
SPORTS || 29 29 SPORTS
The Evolution of Gender Reveals
PERSPECTIVES
30 | DESIGNED BY SARAH POLLANS
AKA How to Start Wildfires 101
MEGHANA VINJAMURY social media assistant
Crewmate A 100% True Story About Betrayal and Deceit KEVIN JIA podcast assistant
Fshh. The sound of the engine room leaks all the way to the cafeteria. It’s been two weeks since we entered the Skeld and three dead bodies have already been found. We believe that there is a parasite on the ship that has taken over the body of a crewmate. I look outside into space, tiny specks of white lights scattered around the void. For a moment I could see Blue get sucked into the vacuum of space as he loses his breath. I look towards Red, “Do you think voting out Blue was the right choice?” Red tries to stay optimistic. “We can’t be sure, but he did act suspicious around the other crewmates. There are six of us left so we should distance ourselves from the other four.” We walk to the medbay room and Red fills up the beakers while I scan myself. Red gives the thumbs up as we head out to the security room to check for dead bodies on the camera. Red looks at the security cameras. “Yellow and Lime are together. If one of them dies we should be able toss the other out.” The lights flicker off and I lose sight of Red for a moment. “Stick together. If we separate and one of us dies, we won’t be able to figure out who the parasite is.” He grabs my arm and pulls me closer as we creep towards the electrical room to fix the lights. We walk into the electrical room where Lime is fixing the lights and Yellow is fixing the wires and turning on the ship’s shield power. Purple walks in too, looking around confused. “Have you guys seen Cyan? We were together in the upper engine room, but then the lights went out and he disappeared.” The four of us shake our heads. I begin to grow suspicious of Cyan and ask Purple if they were near a vent.
“I think there was a vent next to us while we were in the upper engine room,” Purple realizes. “I think Cyan is the parasite.” Red chimes in, “I think so too. We’re too small to fit in the vents, but if the parasite can morph into us, it can definitely shrink its size and crawl through the vents.” We all run towards the cafeteria to call the meeting, but as we begin to run, the doors close. As I walk around trying to find another way to get to the cafeteria I stumble upon Purple standing right next to Cyan’s dead body. Purple looks at me as he grabs his megaphone and calls a meeting. As we group up, I look at everyone and say, “I think it’s Purple.” I get bombarded with questions like. “Where was the body?” “Why do you think it’s Purple?” “It’s not me! I found the body before Cyan but I was in so much shock, I couldn’t call the meeting until I saw you.” Purple says in defense. It sounded very suspicious as if he was in so much shock, he wouldn’t even have called the meeting. We look at each other nodding as an agreement to vote out purple. Right as we toss out purple, the oxygen malfunctions and I split from the group to fix the oxygen in the admin room while the rest go to the oxygen room. I fixed the oxygen only to hear the loud megaphone indicating another dead body. It was Yellow this time. “I saw Lime kill Yellow! Lime was originally going to kill me but Yellow stood in front to defend me.” Red exclaims. “No! I was literally about to say that, but YOU killed him!” Lime panics. I recall all the things I have done with Red and how many opportunities he has had to kill me. The three of us vote, with Red and I kicking out Lime. “Thank god we’re done with this,” smiled Red. It was odd to see him smile but then I realized that what I saw smiling was not his face, but his suit.
not impostor
PERSPECTIVES | 31
POSTSCRIPT
Dear RBG,
32 | THE PROSPECTOR
You created the change that I needed in this country in order to be successful, not only as a woman but as a member of society. You were an inspiration that continues to transcend political party lines, gender, and race. You are, after all, the Notorious RBG. Thank you. Rest in power.
MEGANA KASHYAP investigations assistant
Amid the life-changing pandemic we were and are in, I felt that little more could happen would truly make 2020 a more challenging year. Then my phone lit up one Friday afternoon. It was breaking news: Ruth Bader Ginsburg has passed away at the age of 87. In seconds, the news station reported it, my friends texted me, everyone was talking about it. When I read of Ginsburg’s passing, I felt powerless. The world was already undergoing one of the most significant changes I have seen in my lifetime, and Ginsburg’s passing meant that our country was going to go through another drastic change with consequences that last generations. In the muddy waters of politics today, with an unsteady, COVID-19 infested White House and Congress constantly at war with itself, it was comforting knowing a beacon of light was sitting on the Supreme Court bench. That beacon of light was an eighty-seven-year-old judge going through a fourth fight against cancer. It was unfair of us to put the country’s state on her shoulders for decades, but she took the role she had in our future very seriously. Even in her last days, undergoing cancer treatment, she went to work hearing cases on her hospital bed. She knew the American people needed her. Ginsberg is the reason I, a young woman living in America, can dream equally with my male counterparts. I am allowed to dream of applying to any college I want and having an equal chance of being accepted through her decision in United States v.
POSTSCRIPT | 33
COURTESY OF GOOGLE
Virginia. I can even look beyond college: owning a credit card is a sign of independence for any adult. Until 1974 it would not have been an option for me. Ginsburg laid the groundwork for the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974. This act allowed women to have credit cards, bank accounts, and even house mortgages in their own names, without a male co-signer. It’s hard to understand how Ginsburg led her life breaking so many barriers. It was perhaps Ginsburg’s career that allowed her to view the world differently. In the extremely male-dominated industry of law, she struggled to get a job. It was ironic: she had graduated at the top of her class at Harvard Law School, beating out all of her male peers, yet those peers were getting hired at the same law firms she was being rejected from. Ruth Bader Ginsburg never compromised herself for society’s beliefs about women. She cleared a path for herself and millions of women that followed behind her. Whether we choose to go down a similar path as a lawyer and judge or another path like I am, it is the same determination that she had for decades that I constantly push myself towards. She broke barriers, earned the name “The Notorious RBG” and then changed the meaning of “notorious”. Notorious no longer meant infamous, no, of course not! It meant living life on your terms, breaking the molds that society had molded us into. Ruth Bader Ginsburg represented the best of America: it was her humor and kindness that allowed us to feel that her fight was ours too. Even after her passing, we still find ourselves fighting her battle for equality for everyone in America.
34 | THE PROSPECTOR
leaving good memories behind
JOAN THYAGARAJAN investigations editor
For the past fifteen years, my life has been a continuous cycle of change: when I was three months old my family moved to Canada, when I was five years old I became an older sister, when I was eight my family moved to Cupertino. Amidst this never ending change, soccer remained a faithful, reliable and sometimes monotonous constant in my life. That is how it has been for the past nine years: I played with the Sunnyvale Alliance Soccer Club for nearly a decade and that club has always been a place where I could forget about all the other worries in life and imagine I was five and all I had to do was play my heart out. I essentially grew up with the girls on my team and the complex where we had trained is a bonanza of cherished memories. This year, I left the team. I wasn’t happy anymore and I needed a fresh start. It was only when I left that I realized how much of an impact SASC had had on my life, and how difficult it would be to leave those sweet childhood memories behind. What really slapped me in the face when I left was the fact that I would most likely never play soccer
“Leaving soccer behind was leaving my childhood behind.”
time, I hope that I remember this first time. While losing my friends was hard to ignore, another aspect of leaving was the overwhelming nostalgia. I never realized it, but the complex I played at, the jersey I wore, the nighttime practices I hated so much because they didn’t let me study for my Algebra 2/Trig tests, were such a fundamental part of my life for the past five years that leaving soccer behind was leaving my childhood behind. When the nostalgia hit me I began to think I had made a horrible decision by leaving: I missed my old team so much, and I felt as if the base that had always been there to support me had suddenly up and left. To be frank, I was miserable, but I stuck by my decision. After a month, the nostalgia hadn’t left, but I had come to accept that I might never get to make more memories with that soccer team. Instead, I would keep the memories I had made in a special place in my heart and look back on them when things get tough, but persevere because change is inevitable. When something loved is lost, there is no other option but to look forward, and never forget. Those memories make us who we are.
POSTSCRIPT | 35
again with my former teammates. A close friend of mine left the team this year as well. At first we commiserated about the gaping hole we felt in our lives without the childhood team, but as time progressed we began to talk less as we realized that the main thing we had in common no longer existed. We got past it, but what worried me more was the fact that I had lost touch with a handful of other girls once I left the team. I can still go and start talking to them again, but it hurt when I realized how I had let all of those important people in my life slip through my fingers. I didn’t try to save those friendships. All the memories that I treasured did not have to fade; all I had to do was keep the people with whom I made those memories close. I did not recognize that. Instead, I agonized over how I would never be able to spend nights out on the turf with the stadium lights on us as we messed around even though we had a math test test the next day which none of us were prepared for. Just because I was never going to relive those exact moments, I let all of those relationships go. When I realized that, I began to reforge those friendships. So far, it’s going well, but next
