Issue 5 - February 2018

T U ES DAY, F EB RUA RY 27, 2018 FEATURES pages 8 & 9

Communites and school curriculum

Inside the gaming community

Why veganism?

OPINIONS page 4

VOLUME 60 NO. 5

Bias in student organizations

INSIGHTS page 12

LIFESTYLES page 10

Diving into a new hobby

FLIP SIDE page 16

The Prospector

CHSPROSPECTOR.COM

Student Newspaper of Cupertino High School

10100 FINCH AVENUE, CUPERTINO, CA 95014

SCIENCE AND CLASSROOM BUILDING OPENS ALL PHOTOS BY JENN ZARATAN

ANTHONY ZHU sports assistant

ALL PHOTOS BY JENN ZARATAN AND MICHELLE MA

SCHOOL LIBRARY ADDS NEW BOOK SECTION Teachers and staff sponser a section dedicated to literature on mental health and wellness in library

On Feb. 26, Cupertino High School opened its new school building. The new building consists of two L-shaped structures and one freestanding science building in the center, and it is located at the back of the campus next to the old science buildings.

The Fremont Union High School District planned for this building to be built in order to accommodate the growing amount of students at Cupertino High School and prevent overcrowded classrooms.

The new building was built by Blach Construction and designed by Quattrocchi Kwok architects. For this project, Blach Construction utilized pre-engineered panelized construction, meaning that the building process was more efficient while still maintaining high-quality construction. This resulted in a shorter design and construction schedule.

Although there have been a few delays, the building has finally been opened after a little over a year of construction. As a result of this, many teachers and their classes have been moved and shifted around. Teachers in temporary classrooms such as the portables were first priority in being relocated in finding permanent classrooms. Additionally, many of the science teachers, mainly those who teach life sciences, were moved to the central building because that building was designed specifi-

cally for science classes. During the week before President’s week, many teachers prepared for the move by taking things down from their classroom, packing everything up, and getting new keys.

Said vice principal Geoff Wright, “It’s a huge amount of space. Twenty-nine classrooms are going in, along with a Career Technical Education Lab (CTE) that’s going to have machinery for Robotics. There will be enormous additional space for students and teachers at Cupertino High School.”

Many students are excited about the new space that has opened up. During the months of construction, students have complained about how hallways were crowded with people trying to get their classes, but with the amount of open space the new building allows, students are able to move freely and have more places to sit at lunch and do recreational activities. The new building also provides additional area and resources for classes and school clubs.

Although most would agree that the building is overall beneficial to Cupertino High school, there has been both positive and negative feedback from the student community. Many students are excited about the new building but there are many who have concerns.

Said sophomore Tanisha Mandal, “I just saw the new building and it looks like a really

New Building, continued on page 3

CHS BIKE CLUB RIDES

IN BIG BASIN, CALIF. XINYI ZHANG copy editor

SYDNEY LIAO

COURTESY OF CRISTINA PAULUS

features assistant

Freshman Emily Nam and sophomore Melissa Leal recently established the school’s first health and wellness section of the library, with the help of librarian Susan Fratus and teachers Stacey Jacob and Ted McLeod.

The primary purpose of the section is to raise awareness for mental illnesses and provide an accessible resource for struggling students. For some people, talking to a counselor, parent or supervisor is a challenge in itself. Nam and Leal hope that a library will give such students the opportunity to seek help without having to overcome social barriers.

“Most people don’t want to go to the counselor because they might tell their parents,” Leal said.

Said Nam, “We realized how many students were struggling but were afraid to speak up. We decided that it would be a good idea to dedicate a part of the library to books with information on mental health — what it is and how to deal with it.”

Their vision formed before first semester finals, when a combination of firsthand experiences and those of peers encouraged Nam and Leal to take action to address the school’s unique culture of stress. Leal’s personal understanding of the struggle with mental health was a primary source of motivation.

Said Leal, “I remember back in middle school when I would go to the library to look for books about anything related to mental health. I wouldn’t see anything and that let me Library Section, continued on page 2

On Feb. 18, after several months of preparation, 24 students from Cupertino High School partook in an overnight bike ride to Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Organized by CHS Bike Club, the event welcomed both club and non-club members to a 60-mile ride — the club’s longest one yet — and a camping trip.

The bike ride involved students from the school and previous Bike Club members, but parents and one faculty member also drove up to and back from the campsite, carrying tents, clothing, food and sleeping bags. Most students left around noon and returned in the afternoon the next day.

According to sophomore Xi Lin, a Bike Club

officer, initial plans for an overnight ride open to the general student body had been made three years ago but never became reality. Under new leadership, the club decided last year to host the overnight trip as a de-stressing and bonding experience for biking enthusiasts of all levels.

Said Lin regarding the trip objective, “The weeks leading up to the trip for students are pretty busy, with quizzes, tests and studying, so I think it’s a good chance to get [them] outdoors and enjoy nature and get exercise.”

In the months leading up to the Big Basin trip, participants were encouraged to attend regu Bike Club, continued on page 3

2

News The Prospector

S TA F F 2017-2018

The Prospector

NEWS FEATURE: CUPERTINO HIGH SCHOOL’S SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS COURTESY OF THE NUGGET

SANTOSH MURALIDARAN news editor

Cupertino High School Established 1958 Vol LX, No. 5 | 2018 editors-in-chief allison lo ethan qi news editor santosh muralidaran opinions editor leo rassieur features editor nico chilla lifestyles editor catherine seok insights editor christina shao sports editor neerali shah flip side editor caroline gee copy editors esha radhakrishnan saagar sanghavi xinyi zhang amy zeng

CHS ROOM 311B: In the small office in the left-hand corner of room 311, Theresa Wilson, one of Cupertino High School’s two school psychologists (the other being Suzanne Roepke), plans out her day. Wilson has been working as CHS’s school psychologist for over 20 years, and works with special ed. students.

Wilson runs educational assessments on special education students and writes reports based on those assessments to create an educational plan for specific special education students with needs with the Individual Education Plan (IEP) team. She works with students who are already in the IEP program and new ones who are referred, and has the job of determining whether a student qualifies to be under an individual education plan.

Said Wilson, “We have to do some testing to determine whether [the student needs] counseling [and an IEP plan]. Teachers will refer students and we have to make sure it is an appropriate referral, if they qualify for counseling.”

If a student qualifies for counseling, Wilson MICHELLE MA

business managers gene kim christina shao news assistants

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adviser ann peck 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.

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THERESA WILSON | Wilson is one of the school psychologist at CHS who is trained to and works with special edudcation and IEP students

she works with because she is required to re-test all students after three years to see if they still qualify for special education.

“Every three years I have the student’s parents sign an assessment plan and I do the testing to see if the students still qualify. We have an IEP meeting at the end [to discuss the results],” Wilson said.

Growing up, however, Wilson did not initially see herself as a school psychologist. “I thought I wanted to be a lawyer first, and then I wanted to be a teacher — but I also really liked psychology,” she said. Wilson eventually found her niche as a school psychologist by combining two things she loved the most. Said Wilson, “[I] liked psychology and education, [so being a school psychologist] was a good combination.”

Though the school psychologists are trained

IN A CRISIS:

online editors edward hsu lily rosen marvin photo editors michelle ma jenn zaratan

February 27, 2018

ROOM 311 | Front door to psychologist Theresa Wilson’s office, where she writes reports and works with students in the special ed. program

begins the assessment stage. It starts with an assessment paper that must be signed by the student and their parent, and then a conference between the student and either Wilson or the other psychologist, Roepke. “During the meeting, students fill out rating scales and we score those to see if there are any emotional issues the student has,” Wilson said.

If a student has emotional issues, the student is assigned to an IEP and is often referred to student advocates specializing in special education, such as Wilson herself, the other school psychologists or counselors, or school behaviorists.

Wilson familiarizes herself with the students

to work with special education students and do not usually work with students who are not under the IEP program, they will work with other students “if it is a crisis and the counselors aren’t available.”

Last semester, a student who was not part of the IEP program wrote a suicide note in class and placed it on the teacher’s desk. Another student, a CHS junior who wishes to remain anonymous, noticed and aided the writer of the note in talking to a trusted adult on campus. When the counselors were not available, they spoke to one of the school psychologists. Said anonymous, “I helped intervene with somebody’s mental health crisis that they were having, [involving] suicidal ideation.”

The student not only helped the writer of the note in talking to the psychologist, but also spoke to the psychologist themselves as well.

Said anonymous, “I felt like the psychologist was very helpful. The reason I was there was

NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS SUPER MOON

NYT JOURNAL

On Jan. 31, the moon appeared to have a red tint as a Super Blue Blood moon occurred for the first time since 1866. Visible at approximately 5 a.m. in Calif., the moon was unique because its orbit was closer to Earth, it was 14 percent brighter than usual and it was the second full moon of January. Jan. 2018 was the month of a blue moon, supermoon, and eclipse.

Founded in Dec. 2017, the National Youth Tech Journal. created by Tino and Fremont High School students, is described on its online platform as “a Generation Z blog that writes about the latest and most popular technologies in the tech space.” It has been publishing articles electronically about three times per week at nytjournal.org.

FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTINGS The nation grieves the deaths of the 14 students and 3 faculty members of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. who were shot dead on Feb. 14 by 19 year-old Nikolas Cruz. Announcing a March for Our Lives campaign to occur on Mar. 24, these high schoolers, their parents and certain politicians plan to march so that their families can “become a priority” to the USFG. Additionally, a National School Walkout, in which students accross the U.S. will leave schools for 17 minutes, one minute for each victim of the Fla. shooting, is planned for Mar. 14. Many others have been demanding reform to gun laws and regulations using the hashtag, #NeverAgain.

COMPILED BY MICHELLE MA

because of a very shocking event, and I think she helped me process the fact that I did the right thing in the situation I was in.”

Prior to this event, the anonymous student had previously known that there were school psychologists on campus, but did not know where they were or what they did.

In a survey conducted by the Prospector, 80.4

STUDENTS’ VIEW: 80.4% OF CHS STUDENTS DID NOT KNOW THAT CHS HAS PSYCHOLOGISTS percent of many freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors were not aware that CHS has school psychologists on campus.

Said senior Simran Singh, “[The psychologists] are not really advertised. Many students are not told that there are psychologists on campus.

A lot of my [senior] friends were surprised too.”

Singh believes that the psychologists should be available for the school-wide population, a common belief among the majority of the 80 percent of students who did not know about CHS’s oncampus psychologists but stated they would have seen them had they known. “Because the CHS student population is still a lot bigger than the [special education population],” Singh said, “I think having another [psychologist] would really help.”

The anonymous student shared similar beliefs. The student has seen many students at CHS who self-harm, abuse drugs and have suicidal thoughts. The student found the school psychologist helpful; however, stated the student, “I [still] think we have a shortage of help for [students]. We have over 2,000 students and only one therapist and two psychologists on campus.”

However, not all students need counseling.

The majority of the 19.6 percent who stated they knew CHS had school psychologists also stated they had felt the need to see them.

Thus, opinions of students at CHS generally range from expanding the CHS psychologists to serve the whole population to keeping the staff as it is.

Library Section continued from page 1

down.” Wanting to help others who were fighting the same battle, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

According to Jacob, it was only after the two students spoke out that the proposal for the new genre of books was taken under serious consideration.

Said Jacob, “Actions started happening as soon as the girls got involved. That was when people started to listen.”

The process required immense perseverance and time. The girls initially tried to start a mental health club, but after their request was denied due to legal limitations, they approached Jacob for help. After spending many after-school hours, they finally accomplished their goal.

The project is still in its early stages, and there are areas under development. For one, there is the goal of gaining publicity. Leal plans to make posters to spread the word, while Fratus will reach out to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) for support. The organization, whose mission is to support patients and their families, could further raise awareness by giving presentations to students and parents. Additionally, there is the matter of growing the collection of books. Fratus aims to reach out to organizations for pamphlets and acquire donations for more books. She also hopes to include a combination of factual information on mental health and personal stories that students can relate to.

Despite these roadblocks, the group remains optimistic.

“It is important for people to understand that it is an issue and not a death sentence. A lot of people may have a severe form of what they have, and it’s a life [crisis], but there’s hope.”

News

The Prospector

February 27, 2018

3

New Building

Bike Club

great addition to our campus. I think that it not only provides more space for our school but it also improves the overall Cupertino High School environment.”

However, this expansion of Cupertino High School causes some concern as well.

lar club rides that imitated the mountainous terrain that they would encounter on the trip, and were instructed on how to use the equipment they were going to use.

For junior Patrick Wang, the ride was his first with Bike Club. Said Wang, “This was the first ride I could go on. The longest ride I’ve been on before was 15 miles, and that was on flat road, this one was 60 miles round trip on hills.”

Wang was in the very rear and had to walk the uphill parts out of exhaustion. On a downhill section, he did not control his speed and fell from his bike when his front dire hit a ditch in the road. If a rider was not with him at the time, Wang would have been left behind without first-aid assistance. Wang felt better about the return trip. The errors he made on the way there helped him locate his weaknesses, which he then learned how to manage from his fellow riders. “The ride on the way there was definitely a negative [experience], because I was last, because I got cramps, because I fell. But on the way back, I was second-to-last, not last. I improved and knew how to use gears and pace myself so I don’t burn myself out too quickly,” Wang said.

Senior Joseph Deng, on the other hand, was in the very front of the pack for most of the ride. However, he took seven hours to reach the campsite while for most people it took only four or five. “After having no luck [searching campsites], I went to the headquarters and asked to use their phone as mine had died, finally contacting the club president, telling me they were coming to pick me up. [The ride] was definitely not easy, and not manageable if you [did not] have a good bike for long uphill stretches cause otherwise you start walking.”

Although not everything went according to plan for some, the trip was an overall success as it followed through with the intent of the organizers: to have a good time. In the future, Bike Club aims to host one overnight ride every school year.

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I think that the new building improves the overall Cupertino High School environment.”

- Sophomore Tanisha Mandal

I think the new building is cool, but I may be late to class because my classes are so far apart now.”

- Senior Joycelin Liaw Said senior Joycelin Liaw, “I think the new building is pretty cool, but I might be late to class because my classes are so far apart now.”

The new rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, which provide natural light to the classrooms. It is two stories, and its color scheme matches that of the rest of the campus.

There will be an opening ceremony on March 6th from 3:30-5:30 p.m. for the entire community. The ceremony will consist of student performances, a ribbon cutting and public access of the entire building.

CUPERTINO CITY PLANS NEW BIKE TRAIL SAAGAR SANGHAVI copy editor

The Regnart Creek Trail is a project proposal that the City of Cupertino is considering in order to reduce pedestrian traffic on main roads, minimize risk of accidents and encourage healthier and more environmentally-friendly modes of transportation in the community. While currently in the planning phase this trail would open in 2020 and serve several hundred people in the local community daily.

“The Regnart Creek Trail is an extension of the trail from Creekside Park,” junior Emily Fan said. “When I bike to school, I usually go through Creekside Park. The [Regnart Creek] Trail would be helpful for other students who go through the area.”

The movement for this trail was spearheaded by the city’s Safe Routes to School Commission, who aimed to encourage more individuals to walk and bike to school. An initiative that started in Denmark, the Safe Routes to School Program has commissions in local communities around the world.

Said senior and Environmental Club officer, Sruthi Sriram, “Less than half the parent population at Cupertino said that the routes to school encourage students to bike, and the city is making efforts to increase that number. Many of us come to school in personal or family vehicles.”

The creek has had a small dirt path alongside it for the longest time, and the city plans to pave this over and put fences on the side so that the path is nicer and more convenient.

“Many of our officers have attended the City Council’s planning meetings to provide some opinion on what we think about the route and what we want to see happen. They want a lot of student input, which we are providing for them,” Sriram said. “The Environmental Club is also promoting [the proposal] among the student body here by conducting presentations and talking about the health and environmental benefits of walking and biking. Because this trail encourages people to walk and bike, it would reduce the community’s carbon footprint.”

Proponents state that the benefits to this trail are numerous; along with the environmental aspect, this trail would encourage healthier lifestyles. “In addition to being a safer route to school, I feel like this trail would also be a really cool place to go for a walk,” Fan said.

Critics have expressed concerns regarding the privacy and safety for those who live next to the trail.

Said a resident who lives by the creek, “The creek area was open a long time ago to the proposal [the city] is now putting forth. We homeowners along side of this creek will remember what took place. Kids peeing in the creek, kids throwing rocks over our fences, broken windows many times, garbage thrown in

our yards, kids trying to climb fences into our yard, noise during evening hours, camping, and with that said, the beginning of crime issues.”

The city plans to build a large, soundproof brick wall to offer security for those adjacent to the creek. In addition, by better developing the trail and strictly enforcing hours, the city hopes to prevent the concerns voiced by those living nearby and minimize crime.

For the most part, however, the city officials and local population seem to be all for the proposal. Citizens living next to the existing Creekside Park trail claim that they have faced few issues, and the majority of people present at city planning meetings echoed that it would offer a valuable asset to our city.

THE PROSPECTOR’S POSITIVE NEWS BLURBS REDUCE WASTE

ANTI-BULLYING

The city of Cupertino has plans to recycle, compost, and ultimately reuse 80 percent of the city’s trash by the year of 2025. With the implementation of such new plans, Cupertino aims to stop sending waste to landfills and incinerators.

Detailed future plans also include a redistribution of excess food. Cupertino is taking steps to become a more environmentally-friendly city.

The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety hosted a training conference early this month for police officers and prosecutors to learn about bullying. Specifically targeting cyberbullying in secondary schools, the meeting surrounded how to talk to youth and better equip them to address conflicts. This is one step in addressing the occurance of bullying in Silicon Valley schools.

BACKGROUND COURTESY OF ILMARI KARONEN

BACKGROUND COURTESY OF ΑVWVUMOÇ ΒIKIMAIδLOTήÇ

JENN ZARATAN

CREEKSIDE PARK | The Regnart Biking Trail is proposed to be an extension of the trail from Creekside Park, aimed to be a safer bike and walk route

JENN ZARATAN photo editor

BREAD HOLIDAY

BLACK PANTHER

A small town museum in Chillicothe, Miss. has pushed for a bill to declare July 7th as Missouri’s Sliced Bread Day. The date is based off of a newspaper from 1928 that announces sliced bread first being available, but for now, the bill awaits its fate in the state senate. If passed, the small town hopes to receive tourists who are interested in the history of sliced bread.

Just in time for Black History Month, “Black Panther” made history as the first major film to feature a black superhero protagonist, as well as a notable majority black cast. During its opening on President’s Day weekend alone, the blockbuster made an estimated $192 million domestic gross. Its numbers continue to climb, putting the film’s success on par with many of Marvel’s other major hits.

BACKGROUND COURTESY OF RAINER ZENZ

BACKGROUND COURTESY OF SROMERO

POET LAURETE

SNOW-BLOWING

DOG RESCUING

CONCUSSIONS

Santa Clara County has selected Mike McGee as its next poet laureate, who will serve his next two years in the post encouraging and celebrating the literary arts. McGee is best known for his slam poetry, for which he has won several highly coveted awards. Currently, McGee is hosting a poetry workshop in Willow Glen High School, and plans to continue having similar events later on.

On Feb. 9, Aurora, Ill. (along with much of the country) woke up to a harsh snow day. Therefore, it was also the perfect occasion, according to a local man by the name of Scott Mulvoy, to break out an 8-foot-tall tyrannosaurus rex costume and clear snow from his neighborhood.

Videos predictably went viral, as social media blew up quickly about the dinosaur snow-blowing hero.

Not long after the famed Westminster Dog Show stole the public’s attention, Hallmark broadcasted the first “American Dog Rescue Show” as an equivalent for shelter dogs. The winner, a 11-yearold lab mix named Jackie, represented the LA shelter, A Purposeful Rescue.

The program was meant to showcase and encourage dog adoption, especially for senior dogs like Jackie.

The FDA recently approved a breakthrough blood test that would aid in accurate diagnoses of concussions. For the millions of traumatic brain injuries that occur annually, the Banyan Brain Trauma Indicator would potentially replace pricey and radiation-exposing CT scans as a method for diagnosis. The test is expected to be in great use for military personnel in combat.

BACKGROUND COURTESY OF PEARSON SCOTT FORESMAN

BACKGROUND COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

BACKGROUND COURTESY OF ANGELUS

BACKGROUND COURTESY OF MAX ANDREWS

Opinions 4 COMMUNITY CURRICULUM

February 27, 2018

NEERALI SHAH sports editor

TRIPS

MORE FI ELD

CHOICE

NO MULTIPLE

K R O W E M O H O N ECTS

J O R P P U O R G S E V I T C E L E E MOR

Ever since we were kids, we were taught to abide by the cycle of going to school, listening to teachers, doing homework, studying for tests and to repeat. We have been following this incessant routine for over a decade. We live in the country with the richest school system, but America is ranked 30th internationally in academic performance. There are many reasons for our school system lagging behind other countries, but one of the primary reasons for being one step behind is because the system we follow leaves little to no room for community input on education. That is, citizens have little power to vote to change school curricula as necessary to make the school environment more conducive to learning for their children. Currently, no school district provides their community the opportunity to vote directly on their children’s education, whether or not parents have concerns about education standards, curricula, or the teaching methods employed for their sons and daughters.

The school board plays a significant role in the education of our next generation, but many citizens do not even know who is on it. Oftentimes, communities surrounding a school district do not even vote in school board elections. Despite this, the school board makes many decisions in how a school is managed, from what the curriculum will be to what will be served in the cafeteria. Their authority over how teachers teach their students highlights the controversial issue of whether ordinary citizens should have a say in the content taught, or if indirect representation through the school board is enough. Granted, those on the school board are qualified to make these decisions, but even the most devoted civil servant may lose touch with his or her constituents’ needs.

Furthermore, although there is a form of democracy instituted in schools through the PTA and PTSA organizations as well as the school board throughout elementary, middle, and high schools, there is still an evident shortage of parent opinion in the schools. America’s math performance is unusually low for a wealthy, first-world nation, so if the community were to have a greater influence on the curriculum, it might be enough to bring performance back to the level expected by our affluence as a nation. Giving parents this opportunity is not meant to pressure school districts and their boards to implement those opinions, it is simply to allow schools to widen their perspective on what the surrounding community wants to see in the education system. School board members may lose touch with their constituents, especially those who feel disenfranchised to begin with. Feeling as if their vote makes a direct difference in their sons and daughter’s education is thus a crucial part of getting the community involved in lifelong learning.

Moreover, every district has a different elected school board, so although each district follows a standard curriculum, the details of this curriculum vary by district. So if the goal is to allow different communities with different educational needs to choose tailored curricula, then why have parents been excluded from this process? The property tax that citizens pay toward local schools warrants them having a voice in how that school is run. Representation through the school board is not enough for some parents: over 80% of students in the U.S. attend a public school that is almost completely controlled by the government, other than the PTA, many schools do not allow room for intervention from parents. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos strives to “significantly decrease federal involvement in education”; based on this, she ought to prioritize community-based curriculum.

Having the community decide what kind of curriculum should be offered is crucial to the development of the child. For example, a school in Massachusetts — the state with the highest ranked public education system — and a school in Nevada — the state with the lowest ranked public education system — should adopt substantially different curricula to better target the specific needs of the community. In Nevada, if too many children are struggling with the school board’s math benchmarks, then alternative modes of teaching should be adopted. This may mean more hands-on instruction methods, rearranging the order in which concepts are taught, or increasing the rate of testing to more accurately ensure all the students are understanding the material.

This simple change will allow students to thrive in school, and not just scrape by with curriculum that ultimately does not suit them. Further, with communities voting on curriculum, teachers will have a better time understanding what a child needs to become successful. If we can incorporate both aspects of a successful education, home life and school life, then there is no reason we cannot have outstanding academic achievement nationwide.

VOTE

THE MONEY

GAME

Why lobbying is crucial to a healthy democracy ESHA RADHAKRISHNAN copy editor

In the wake of the recent high school shooting on Feb. 14 in Parkland, FL., proponents of gun control took to social media to condemn the use of firearms. With even some conservatives advocating for gun control, it is natural to demand policy change from Capitol Hill.

Historically, however, this has been in vain. In 2017 alone, The National Rifle Association (NRA) spent $5.1 million on influencing gun regulation and successfully lobbied against more than 81 pieces of legislation. Because of this, it is easy to call for the abolishment of lobbying, a legal practice that has allowed the NRA to pursue their goals. However, lobbying is a constitutionally-protected mechanism necessary to uphold America’s democratic values, not merely the monster some may perceive it as.

As defined in the First Amendment, lobbying is the right to “petition the Government for a redress of grievances,” and it thereby forms an integral part of our democracy, allowing citizens to share their interests with government officials. Correspondingly, lobby groups formed by aggregated individual interests are critical to impactful legislation, as they voice the concerns of a specific group of constituents. Thus, while lobbying has allowed the NRA to legally funnel large sums of money into Congress to maintain relaxed gun regulations, it has also allowed students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to travel more than 400 miles to share their experiences from the recent shooting to federal legislators and press for firearm control. In addition to providing access to the government, legalized lobbying allows for continued pressure on issues.

Lobbyists in Washington enable the flow of continuous communication between representatives and lobby groups, and support for special interests. For example, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a long-term lobbying group, successfully filed suits in the judiciary system to help end segregation. Similarly, a 16-member flower farmer delegation traveled to Washington D.C. to explain the challenge in remaining competitive in a market where over 80 percent of the flowers sold in the country are imported. Their stories came to fruition when U.S. representatives introduced the Congressional Cut Flower Caucus to help educate their constituents about the domestic flower industry, and later when the Presidential administration used all American-grown flowers in a White House state dinner with French president Francois Hollande.

The problem with lobbying arises when the law fails to recognize the difference between citizens’ grassroots lobbying and industry lobbying, despite the distinction being clear to the public. When money is involved, it is easy to confuse lobbying for bribery. Politicians, especially congressmen, are concerned with the needs of the public, but because of the unforgiving nature of the Hill, they need immense funding to keep their jobs. Groups like the NRA play this to their advantage and cajole politicians with money to finance, run campaigns and ensure that they are re-elected. While directly giving money to politicians is illegal, there are numerous ways to use the money to gain political influence without directly giving it to a politician. Businesses purchase campaign advertisements and hire people to canvass, swaying voters toward their preferred candidates. The problem becomes complicated when private special interest groups spend additional funds to hire many lobbyists and paid supporters to talk to government officials.

With more lobbyists meeting politicians at local cafes to discuss special interest issues, more lawyers visiting offices to draft bills on behalf of Congressmen and more local people rallying behind a social media campaign, it becomes easier to compel representatives to vote favorably for an industry. This disproportionate effect lobbying has when money is involved is the primary reason why it comes under heavy crossfire: it sometimes puts the interests of a wealthy minority over those of a poor majority. Recognizing the breadth of lobbying and understanding that one Constitutional interpretation cannot apply to all variations of it is the first step in leveling the playing field.

Given the intricacy of the issue, the solution to balancing the impact lobby groups have in Congress will take more than one measure of reform. Nevertheless, the answer is not as simple as making lobbying illegal — clearly the problem is more deeply rooted. Citizens can take advantage of their right to lobby Congress for change, enabling the NRA to have a voice in our American democracy without allowing it to trample over the federal government. A concerted, grassroots effort to raise funds and motivate politicians would finally repair the wounds in American society more than a hasty ban on lobbying ever could.

February 27, 2018

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SAFEGUARDING CHILD ACTORS LILY MARVIN online editor

There is no denying that child stars are a pillar of the entertainment business.

They dominate the Disney channel, dance on reality TV shows and walk the red carpet alongside some of the biggest names in Hollywood. But one needs not look far to find child stars turned adult disasters. It cannot be easy growing up in the public eye, and with few regulations, child stars are almost entirely on their own. The shameful lack of protections for child performers allows them to be put in situations that are not only unethical but also potentially dangerous.

While child actors are technically a form of child labor, a legal loophole exempts studios from following the national regulations while working with them. In fact, it is entirely up to states to regulate child entertainment. Unsurprisingly, this has resulted in substandard protections for young actors — according to the U.S. Department of Labor, fifteen states currently have no regulations on child entertainment.

That means work hours, salary and working conditions go entirely unregulated. The need for legal protections of young performers is most exemplified in the casting of babies; newborns are in high demand in Hollywood, but since they are the most vulnerable of child performers, they have been awarded slightly more protection. A few states, such as Kansas, Oregon and California require that a baby be fifteen days old before they are eligible for a work permit. However, this law creates a problem for scripts that call for a newborn. To solve this predicament, most productions will cast premature babies or “preemies.” These are babies delivered before the thirty-seventh week of pregnancy and thus are much smaller when they are born. By casting a premature baby, productions are able to meet the fifteen-day limit while still getting a baby that looks like a newborn. If a production is filmed outside of California, this casting is perfectly legal. Premature babies are already doing more work just to heal their bodies and catch up to the health of a full term baby; adding in the physical stress of a full workday is not only selfish on the part of parents and producers, but it can also be dangerous for a baby’s health.

Further, there is a lack of regulation surrounding work hours. In New Jersey, a one-month-old baby can work five hours a day five days a week, and in Louisiana, that number shoots up to six hours a day six days a week.

To put this in context, that one-month-old can be required to work for more hours than an eighteenyear-old has to be in school. Given such long work hours, it might be expected for these child hours to earn a decent sum, but this is not the case. Since

the Fair Labor Standards Act does not apply to child actors, there is no enforceable mandatory minimum wage. What little money child actors are able to make may not remain by the time they are adults. Only four states currently abide by the Coogan Law, which requires 15% of a minor’s earnings be placed in a trust until they are 18.

This has unsurprisingly resulted in many child stars reaching adulthood only to find that their parents squandered their hard-earned money. Moreover, the lack of protection for child actors’ earnings allows selfish parents to have them start working solely for their own benefit.

Lackluster regulations are a problem across the board with child actors.The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) currently has no limitations on which types of scenes a child can be in, permitting young children to act in parts with extremely mature content. For instance, in 1978, Brooke Shields starred in Pretty Baby where she played the daughter of a prostitute living in a brothel. Shields’ character eventually becomes a child prostitute with her virginity being auctioned off to the highest bidder. In one scene, Shields, who was only twelve at the time, is even shown fully nude. There is something undeniably unethical in a 12-year-old seeing such a movie, let alone acting out these disturbing scenes. The line does not stop at explicit sexual content, however, as child performers are also featured in scenes of graphic violence. In 2010, at the age of twelve, Chloe Grace-Moretz starred as Hit Girl in the superhero movie Kickass. Moretz plays a child assassin who spouts profanity and brutally murders bad guys, and while the fight sequences throughout the movie are graphic, Moretz’s bloody fight scene at the end is perhaps the goriest. It is obvious that both Kickass and Pretty Baby earned their “R” ratings, but there is an undeniable irony in the fact that both young actresses were allowed to star in movies that they were too young to see in theaters.

Fortunately, these problems are not without solutions. First and foremost, there should be an expansion of the Fair Labor Standards Act to encompass protection of child performers’ wages and working hours. A nation-wide adaptation of California’s limit on working hours for babies and ban on casting premature infants would also be conducive to child actors’ safety. Finally, SAG must set guidelines for the type of scenes child actors can be in and how to best support them through said scenes. As viewers, we too have a responsibility to protect young performers by boycotting shows and films that pay no heed to the ethics surrounding child actors.

After all, these shows must attract viewers, so the best way to support change in the industry is to stop watching.

Anti-bias program at CHS

A reflection on successes, failures and potential improvements SUDYUT YUVARAJ features assistant

During the week of anti-bias advisory sessions earlier this year, students were exposed to videos of various scenarios of discrimination. Many students could relate to the scenarios — either as victims or bystanders — and were able to learn the appropriate ways to respond to them. However, others were unable to benefit and did not pay attention, partly because the appropriate responses seemed somewhat manufactured, and students could not see themselves in the same positions of surety and justice as the upstanders. This was especially the case because the upstanders were often confident adults, rather than the wavering teenagers that exist at the average high school. Another key concern with the way in which the content was presented was that the videos were taken from a reality TV-esque show, creating unfortunate opportunities for students to be dismissive of the intended messages.

Said Sophomore Abhi Arun, “Right now, the whole process can be made fun of. If you talk about [the anti-bias process] on a peer-to-peer scale, how normal people talk to each other, I think it can really start helping.”

The topics of anti-bias and combating bullying can make students uncomfortable, leading to attempts to use humor to resolve the tension. With the subjects of the videos being so distant from CHS students, this humor can escalate to the point where it becomes offensive or a source of distress to the students that do identify with the videos and feel marginalized at school. How-

ever, that’s not to say that all attempts are pointless, or that the current system of combating bias is detrimental.

The issue separating effective anti-bias talks from ineffective ones is personal interaction. Large-scale assemblies where victims are present and speaking have irreplicable power, whereas classroom-based initiatives might be vulnerable to feelings of apa-

Right now, the whole process can be made fun of. If you talk about [the anti-bias process] on a peer-to-peer scale, how normal people talk to each other, I think it can really start helping.”

- Sophomore Abhi Arun thy from the students experiencing them. The key difference here is a feeling of direct emotional connection between the speaker and the listener; while many teachers are well-equipped to discuss the heavy hitting subjects of the anti-bias presentations, it is a safer bet to choose a thoroughly-trained adult.

Last year, students were exposed to a drunk driving aware-

ness program known as “Every 15 Minutes.” The upperclassmen were taken to the field opposite the baseball field, and went through a simulation of a drunk driving accident, down to taking the victims out of school for the rest of the day. The underclassmen were packed into the gym, where a speaker revealed that they had engaged in drunk driving, and had killed almost an entire family. The presentation was incredibly effective, and students were able to see the true effects of drunk driving firsthand from a serious talk by an adult.

This style of presenting the problems that plague teenage and young adult life is exactly what CHS needs more of. It is significantly more difficult to make fun of adults speaking from personal experience than kids in videos, meaning students can internalize the information properly instead of rejecting it before the true meaning of the presentations set in. The “Every 15 Minutes” program felt more real because students were able to make a personal connection to the speaker, whereas the anti-bias presentations were not able to affect students on quite the same emotional level.

Combating bias and ending harassment is no easy ordeal, so it is important to appreciate the priority that the CHS administration places on this noble objective. However, the program must encompass the experiences of all students, not just some, and continue to evolve in the face of new issues that arise in students’ social experiences. Discrimination and bias will continue to make an impact on students’ lives across American high schools, particularly those like CHS with a diverse range of ethnicities among students. The community’s response should reflect the complexity and personal importance of the issue itself.

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February 27, 2018

MICHELLE MA

MICHELLE MA

MICHELLE MA

JENN ZARATAN

MICHELLE MA

MICHELLE MA

MICHELLE MA

MICHELLE MA

MICHELLE MA

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MICHELLE MA

February 27, 2018

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Features

8 TAHA SHAFIEI news assistant

The 1970s was a productive decade, featuring the end of the Beatles, Apollo 13, gay rights, the opening of Disney world, cold war chess and “The Godfather.” But the 70s also saw the introduction of the first-ever commercial arcade system as well as Pong. Since then, video games have grown to become an unstoppable force — a $108.9 billion industry

AASHNA SHAH lifestyles assistant

In today’s society, most people believe that the negative stigma surrounding gaming has diminished. While that may be true to an extent, students at Cupertino struggle with the age-old stereotypes of gamers and the games that they play.

One common stereotype is the idea that gamers dismiss their responsibilities to be able to play games for hours on end. The reality is that many gamers know their priorities, and as addicting as gaming may be, they find ways to finish the balance their work and passions.

Said Defense of the Ancients (“DotA”) player and senior Benjamin Liang, “I just do all my homework over the weekend or I just do it really early, as soon as I come home from school. I finish all my work by 5 p.m. and then

in today’s economy.

To some, this dramatic rise in popularity is difficult to understand. Why have games become so prominent in today’s society? Naturally, the answer is multi-dimensional. A common perception, especially among parents, is that games are a form of escapism: seeking of distraction and relief from areas of stress such as school or work.

Said senior Amanda Ting, “It’s an escape.

With school and college apps, you have to do

till 9 p.m., I do video games, music, homework, studying. It’s a general mix between the four things.”

As a female gamer, senior Amanda Ting has battled stereotypes for years, and continues to do what she loves.

Gaming is stereotyped as an activity only the male gender can flourish in, but Ting has worked to show that girls can be just as successful in gaming.

Said Ting, “I’d say there still is a social stigma around gaming. Especially because I’m a girl, most people think girls don’t play video games. I think I’m the only girl in the [gaming] club that regularly comes.”

Although many games are multiplayer, even singular games are parts of large communities. Almost all games are based off of teamwork one way or another — whether it is a multiplayer game or being a part of a large gaming community.

Said Ting, “ [Gaming] doesn’t have to be something that only appeals to people with no

February 27, 2018

this and that. With an open world game, like Breath of the Wild, you can literally do whatever you want.”

By contrast, other players are drawn to the competitive and collaborative side of games.

This is especially true for team-based strategy games like DotA 2 and League of Legends.

Said senior Benjamin Liang, “We have been invited to a couple [tournaments] before, but since we are students, we can’t fly to places to compete. But since there was a local [DotA tournament,] we were able to go there. They had a pretty small prize pool, and we ended up placing second. It was pretty cool, because we got to play against some semi-professional players.”

Finally, many are drawn to games for the prospect of interacting with and making

friends. People might say, ‘Oh, you’re a gamer.

You just stay inside all day and never meet anyone,’ but we have the Internet. There are all these communities that have formed. You may not be meeting them in person, but you’re still forming bonds with other people. I think that’s something people don’t really think about when they look at someone who plays video games.”

Gaming has also been characterized as an activity frowned upon by parents. However, Java and AP Computer Science teacher Ted McLeod supports his son’s wish to game, and believes that gaming is extremely beneficial in a child’s learning and development.

Said McLeod, “The idea of kids watching too much TV, there’s definitely tons of research out there that concludes that you don’t want [that]. You have to balance. There’s that, but then kids can actually learn real skills watching videos on how to do something then they can go do it. So my kid can go watch a bunch of Minecraft videos, then when we’re playing together, he’ll be like, ‘Look what I learned, I

friends. Junior Oleg Trifonov has learned the in person games like Magic the Gathering lend themselves to this past time. Said Trifonov, “Some of them are very social card games like magic the Gathering. I have large groups, large communities and overall just very nice people in that community.”

Regardless of the motivation, at their core games allow people to have fun. But with all good things, moderation is key. Said Mr. McLeod, “Gaming can be very valuable. But I also know, based on my experience, that it can be very addictive, so you have to have a balance.”

can do this.’”

Unfortunately, many students find that they are judged by others when they talk about gaming. Said Liang, “Actually, there is a lot of stigma, especially at Tino. In freshman year, I used to talk about games all the time, and I wouldn’t really care. Since sophomore year, I became more reclusive about gaming because I felt like a lot of people are not really that interested in listening.”

Some students find that they are more often judged by other gamers. Said senior Dexter Delandro, “Other gamers trash talk games, saying ‘Oh you play DotA, that’s a bad game, play League and be cool.’”

Said Ting, “Just because you don’t know the specifics or details about something doesn’t mean it’s inherently bad. I get that it might not be something that [you’re] interested in, but that’s no way to bash it for others who do enjoy it, as a hobby or career or anything. Find out more about it and you might be surprised.”

February 27, 2018

KENNETH JEON photo assistant

With gaming becoming an increasingly widespread interest in today’s culture, some choose to engage with it on a higher level. At Tino, students play competitively, lead active communities and work to design all-new games.

Popular competitive games like League of Legends, DotA 2 and Counterstrike have devoted player bases that adore the high-pressure, risk-reward nature of each match. Said senior Benjamin Liang, who plays DotA 2 competitively, “I think the commitment to the game makes it that much better when you win. You take the losses more heavily since you have to really commit to the game.”

Commitment is an essential factor to playing such games, due to the length of

GENE KIM business manager

From staying up all night to finding new friends online, video gaming communities have developed a unique and lively culture among players worldwide. Various CHS gamers attribute new friendships to a shared interest in gaming. “I met a lot of my friends in high school playing video games,” Gaming Club officer Amanda Ting said. “One of my closest friends and I started talking because we both liked Super Smash Bros.”

Common interest in particular video games allows students to initiate enthusiastic conversations and cultivate their friendships as they share their thoughts and gameplay. Said Ting, “[The conversation] starts with video games. We talk about some game that someone’s playing at school, like Pokemon: ‘Oh

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matches and the planning and practice needed to remain competitive.

“The most appealing thing is the strategy behind it. It’s not really a game where people jump in and play casually,” continued Liang.

Many others share Liang’s passion for competition in video games. While Liang is not interested in pursuing professional gaming as a career, the eSports industry has grown at a swift rate in past years, producing $493 million in revenue in 2016, a 51.7 percent increase from 2015.

“When we play against really good teams, against semi-professional and professional teams, it’s like a learning experience,” Liang said. “It’s always nice to play against players that are much much better than you because you can see how you need to improve. It doesn’t feel bad when you lose because they’re just so good.”

Some students also plan to create games.

Senior Dexter Delandro plans to major in game design when he attends college, attributing his interest in programming to video games. Said Delandro, “Games are fun to test, you have a whole player base, and a lot of users to give you feedback. Also, coworkers are probably gamers, so you can play games with them. Making a missile move seems a lot more fun than organizing data or whatever boring things other [computer science] people do.”

Java and AP Computer Science teacher Ted McLeod has developed his own turnbased, role-playing video game titled “Seat of Evil.” Drawing inspiration from his favorites, McLeod blended together elements from a variety of games, taking the level systems of dungeon crawlers like Diablo and Rogue, and the world-building of tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons.

Said McLeod, “There are complex systems and actions you can take that are more than just you swinging your sword. It’s kinda like a little chess game. You versus the monsters, and if you make the wrong move, then you pay for it.”

While not a full-time game developer, McLeod was able to complete his project, working on and off in his free time to balance his teaching

and with his interests.

“It’s definitely getting more popular, more people are playing,” Delandro said, regagrding the job outlook for the gaming industry.

This prediction is supported by new developments, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, which are bringing in new waves of games and players. The growing love of eSports also indicates a popular market for new video games. Finally, there are students who simply want to celebrate their enjoyment of games. At Tino’s gaming club, members play a variety of games every week. Officers plan, events, provide consoles to play on and even host biannual Super Smash Bros. tournaments, where participants get together after school and compete.

Joining the club in freshman year, current co-president Amanda Ting became an officer after having gaming influence a large part of her social life. You can go to [friends] for help and assistance. There’s no stigma there. We help each other out,” Ting said, describing the benefits of her community, “I don’t think I would be the person I am today if it wasn’t for video games.”

Ting’s statement rings true for many of these leaders and creators — gaming has played a significant part in shaping who they are.

you’re playing Pokemon, cool.’

That kick-starts a conversation. You get to know them better, [and] all of a sudden, you’re best friends.”

Other video games that involve collaboration as part of a team allow players to connect online. With the growth of Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO) gaming, players are more easily able to meet new people internationally through the internet.

“The single game I played the longest was called Clan Lord. It was a massive multiplayer online game, and that was where I forged friendships online,” Ted McLeod, AP computer Science teacher said. “Also, in Avara, I remember there would be different groups of people playing. Because I played way too much, so eventually everyone from the U.S. was asleep, but then, that’s okay, because Australia is awake …There’s always someone. It’s daytime somewhere. It was pretty interesting. There was even a scientist in Antarctica who had a fast connection.”

Along with McLeod, some gamers share unique experiences playing with friends for extensive lengths of time, often late into the night.

Said junior Oleg Trifonov, vice president of Tabletop Games Club, “My last couple birthdays, all [my friends and I] really did was stay up all night playing video games together and eating. We had a sleepover, and it was really fun.

We played card games and board games.”

Said junior Patrick Wang, a casual League of Legends player, “The first time, I invited three people, then one guy invited someone else, and he came online at 1 a.m. So that became a running joke. And now, all my friends come on at midnight. Now they’re trying to come as late as possible, like 2:30 a.m. Once, my friend said, ‘I’m gonna come at 2.’ Then I’m like, ‘Wait, a.m. or p.m.?’”

In addition to staying up in the night to play video games together, some gamers marathon their playtime, gaming for hours at a time.

Said McLeod, “I played Diablo a lot in college, a lot more than I should have. I remember, I

think When first getting it, I think I played like 23 hours in a row. It was pretty crazy. I remember walking to Jack-in-the-Box through the drive-through at 5 a.m. because I was hungry.

I was playing on network with another friend, and it was pretty awesome.”

Aside from having fun together, some of these friendships have grown so much that gamers are able to support one another through difficult times. These friendships have surpassed the time spent collaborating together during gameplay.

Said McLeod, “I had some online friends who helped me through tough times. We’d talk about real life problems, and there were even a few friends for whom I flew to New Zealand to visit.”

Video games have given individuals at Tino many opportunities to enjoy not only entertainment, but also a supportive and strong gaming community. As the industry progresses, the gaming community will have more games to play and bond over.

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the real cost of college ETHAN QI editor-in-chief

CHRISTINA SHAO insights editor/business manager

At a time when seniors start getting accepted to their first colleges and juniors are bombarded by daily advertisements for college planning workshops in school announcements, college is on many people’s minds. And for nearly everyone, one of the major factors in consideration is cost.

Tuition is staggering in itself; according to the College Board, those expenses totaled to an average of $34,740 at private colleges in the past year, and $9,970 for state residents in public universities. The price is on the rise as well — College Board also estimates that in the past decade, tuition has increased at a rate of 5 percent per year. In fact, the Consumer Price Index found an average tuition increase of 498 percent between 1985 and 2011.

Yet for many, these statistics are not reflective of the real cost of college.

With all the money spent on col- l e g e counseling, test prep, tutors, prestigious summer programs and even AP test registration, these average cost extra costs are ofof sat test ten comparable with essay to tuition itself. Especially in Cupertino, where many students and parents have both the financial means and academic drive to shell out thousands of dollars for these pursuits, these costs have become practically implicit in the quest for admission to certain colleges. nearlY O n e nearly unavoidable part of the admi ssions increase in cost process is the of college tuition slew of mandatory or recommended standardized tests. Just one SAT with Essay costs $60, and corresponding subject tests cost $26. And one oftenoverlooked component is the cost of sending score reports to colleges, a fee which takes many seniors by surprise.

At a cost of $11.25 per report with numerous colleges to send reports to, this process is often more expensive than the test-taking process itself.

Additionally, many students opt for test prep programs to prepare for the SAT or ACT. 36 hours at Excel Test Prep, a prominent college-preparation company in the Bay Area, will run you back $899. Opt for the intensive training course, and expect to spend $2,299. And these figures are not out of the ordinary — organizations all around the Bay Area

$60

charge similarly for their services.

Moreover, students often look to the advice of private counselors, who provide guidance at various stages of a student’s high school career, from course selection to application essay editing.

On college counseling alone, many students and their parents will have spent thousands, possibly even more, by the end of high school.

Finally, there are even costs associated with applying to college. Each submission on the Common Application ranges from $25 to $90, with a majority closer to $90. Even the University of California system, a relatively cheaper option, expects students to pay $70 to apply to just one campus.

Admittedly though, a discussion about the real costs of college would not be complete without a mention to financial aid, along with its derivative forms.

Chief among them, the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), provides the best chances for a significant reduction in college tuition. Yet, Cupertino families are in a tricky situation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2016, the median household income for the city was $147,929, making it difficult for many to qualify for meaningful, if any, aid at all.

No one can ever say for certain whether these tens of thousands of dollars, spent simply in hopes of gaining an edge in college admissions, are worth it in the long run.

But one can be certain that this overspending average cost puts a practically of A college insurmountable application barrier to higher education for those who are not as fortunate to have the financial capacity to spend these many thousands of dollars in pursuit of education.

Nevertheless, the extra costs still stand. Which makes it important to recognize that the discussions surrounding the elitism and accessibility of American higher educacost of sending test scores to tion do not A college start and end at the universities. If anything, they start as soon as parents write their first checks for their students. With this in mind, it’s time to start considering this issue in a broader context — one that is truly holistic. Doing so would not only go toward leveling the educational playing field, but also begin to address issues such as overcommitment and stress in our schools. Which at the end of the day, is more important than getting into that one school.

$90

500%

$11.25

February 27, 2018

cultural motivations for veganism LEO RASSIEUR opinions editor

Living in the Bay Area, it is hard not to notice the unusual prevalence of vegetarians and vegans among the population, despite only five percent and one percent of Americans being vegetarian and vegan respectively, according to the Harris Interactive Service Bureau. New restaurants have emerged locally that do not sell a single meat dish. In fact, some eateries include not one animal product, even if that product is naturally produced by animals, like honey or milk. Some, such as so-called macrobiotics and fruitarians, also make an effort to select foods that can be taken without harming a plant. As a fervent carnivore myself, I sometimes wonder what motivates the myriad vegetarians in our community to seemingly give up the tastiest foods life has to offer. The answer, though, is different from person to person.

Hindus make up a substantial population at CHS, but that is not to say that this group is homogeneous when it comes to diet and attitudes towards foods. In fact, the caste system that some adhere to contributes to a wide range of diet practices among Hindus. For instance, those of middle castes might indulge in foods like meat, fish and eggs which are believed to cause either laxness or excitement, both of which may interfere with meditation. However, those in a higher caste might eat fruits, vegetables and grains rather than animal products to promote orderliness and harmony. A common misconception is that Hindus are by definition forbidden from eating beef or pork. However, even these foods are permitted or precluded based on region, caste and strictness of adherence to Hindu texts.

Other Hindus may not consider the caste system at all when planning meals, and instead, choose to reduce their meat consumption to align with the Hindu value of harmony with one’s environment.

Said junior Shivaani Gajapathy, “Hinduism allows you to choose what diet you want. As times have changed, people have adapted. [My dad’s] family didn’t have much money when he grew up: he had eight siblings, and you have to give food to all of them. Most of the time they could not afford meat, so he just grew up not eating a lot of meat. But my mom got to try [different kinds of meat].

Since I’ve been mixed into both [lifestyles], I can choose what I want to do.”

But Hindus are not the only selective eaters at CHS. Other students choose to eat mostly plant-based foods out of concern for the environment or health reasons. While some want to minimize their intake of unhealthy fats and cholesterol, there are also those who have a broader concern: the health of the earth’s ecosystems. A growing sentiment among vegetarians and vegans is that our diets ought to treat the other life on the planet with the respect we would give to a fellow human being. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports that, for the vast majority of livestock bred in the U.S., life begins and ends on a factory farm. For most animals, this means confinement to insufficient living space, exposure to chemical waste and other hazards, limited to no access to sunlight or fresh air and the removal of the young from their mothers. The vegetarian perspective on this pressing issue is that, through a concerted, global effort to be more conscious of the environmentally unsustainable and cruel ways many of our meat products are manufactured, we can pressure factory farms into adopting more ethical breeding practices. Until this occurs, however, some view eating meat as financially engaging with an industry that is too immoral to support.

Whatever their religious, spiritual or ethical beliefs, vegetarians and vegans in the Bay Area have one thing in common: a respect for the environment and the resources we humans obtain from it.

a how to guide on not being “ a w k wa rd ” CATHERINE SEOK lifestyles editor

We’ve all had that moment – the one where you’re in the middle of a conversation but it just slows to a stop and you’re left with an uncomfortable halfsmile, half-grimace on your face. You abruptly end the conversation with a quick goodbye and walk away replaying the moment in your head while thinking, why are you so awkward?!

Well, here’s your guide. I’m not exactly perfectly unawkward, but here are a few tips I’ve gathered and learned. A step by step tutorial on how to handle those situations a little more casually.

Stop thinking you’re awkward. Really, it just makes things worse because you’ll be selfconscious, ultimately making you distracted and even more uncomfortable. Yikes!

Be engaged. Simply nodding your head, eye contact, and follow up questions show that you’re paying attention and interested.

Unless you’re sure that you’re going to shake hands with or high-five someone, don’t go for it. Getting snubbed after going in for a handshake or congratulatory high-five is best avoided.

A half-ended conversation and two people slinking away uncomfortably is just awful.

Make it clear if you need to go!

No one is going to say, “Hey! Where are you going? Come back and talk to me!” A quick explanation/ excuse will suffice.

Lifestyles

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February 27, 2018

Have some back-up conversation boosters. You know, for those awkward moments. A safe one is, of course, current events or the weather. (Nice weather we’re having, eh?) Personally I only use that as a last ditch attempt — I feel like it exposes me as trying to be less awkward. Try to talk about what you may have in common, such as a mutual friend or the event you are both attending.

In the end , it’s unlikely you’ll be able to handle every situation you encounter flawlessly without being … at least a little awkward. So just be authentic and embrace it!

It’s not just you, everyone has a bit of awkwardness in them, so in the end, it’s really no biggie. In the end, it’s up to you how to handle it.

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the shadier side of small businesses a look into some of the potentially unethical practices by Cupertino’s local businesses - and how they may not be what they necessarily appear to be TAL ASHKENAZI opinions assistant

Cupertino has many small businesses, most of which are trustworthy and reputable, but there are a few that will bend the laws and tread into an illegal territory to ensure their profits over the welfare of their workers. Some Cupertino students have even worked at these unethical companies, but to ensure that we are not risking the students mentioned in this article, we will not state any company’s name. Although it isn’t hard to avoid companies that are unethical, there are ways to ensure that you aren’t caught in a situation where you have no way to respond to possible employer misconduct.

Employers can mistreat their employees in many ways.

One of the students at Cupertino to experience this first hand was Junior Emilie Chung. She was not given breaks and was not required to obtain a work permit. For those that have not yet applied or worked a job in California, it is required by law to give workers lunch breaks after six consecutive hours of work.

Employers and employees are allowed to waive said breaks, but only if the shift in question is under six hours. The waiving process also has to be mutual, something that was not addressed in Chung’s case. These laws were instituted to ensure fair play in the workplace from the employer’s playing field. Bypassing such rules is not only illegal, but it can also get a company shut down depending on how widespread or large the case is. The other issue with Chung’s employer was they did not require the necessary paperwork to employ her legally. Work permits are required by law for minors and employers to complete to work any hours. Law prosecutes fail-

ure to acquire such a permit, and work as deterrents to such illegal companies can be charged thou- behavior, but sometimes mansands of dollars for each viola- agers and even executives can tion. Beyond just legal breaches ignore or not comply with these from one company, Chung had laws. helped assemble and stock two If you are looking for any stores but was only paid for by job, start by picking up your one. Another violation of state work permit at the office and law, as she cannot work hours take the initiative. Talk to your for a company that she isn’t employer if you see something employed that might be by. For some a violation. of these disTalk to your reputable coworkers to businesses ensure that the rabbit such occurhole goes rences are even deeper, rare rather to even more than comblatant violamon. Though tions. these disrepAnother utable busistudent, senesses are nior Chloe quite rare to Huynh, has find, it would encoungreatly bentered similar efit you to employer - Senior Chloe Huynh know that the behav ior. job you’re doAlong with ing can’t get not requiring a work permit, you or your employer can’t get her work conditions were some- in trouble. times unsanitary and unclean.

Sometimes reasoning for Her employer went as far as not companies goes beyond mere paying her for overtime, which money. Sometimes a manager is required by state law. Huynh can be either negligent or just was simply given hours to work lazy, and in these cases, it beand was paid for those hours of comes even more important for work, any time beyond that was an employee to bring this to the left unpaid, and she never re- attention of hire ups that might ceived compensation for hours want to avoid getting caught up beyond her shift. in legal action from the governSuch a misstep on com- ment. Either way, such business panies parts are costly and can practices are problematic and force a shutdown to some of the hurtful to both the company and worst offenders. Health and safe- the employee. ty play one of the largest roles in There is great importance such fines and lawsuits, but work in educating yourself about your permit issues wield a larger legal rights. Not all companies are “stick.” For companies that have required to pay overtime, and repeat violations and hire more for some situations, they can than one minor, the cost for at- waive your breaks, but to assess torneys and the number of times whether or not these laws apply they violate labor laws can stack to you, research provides some up. The fines and the possibility of the best answers to all your of a class action lawsuit should questions.

“The owner would just paid us for the hours she gave us. and we would work overtime a lot and not get paid.”

podcast recommendations NICO CHILLA features editor

Imagine, as you scrub the next filthy dish in your sink sink, or arduously rake leaves in your yard, being able to listen to David Harbour ( Jim Hopper of Stranger Things) tell a story about an alcoholic in love. Or a mother telling a heartfelt story about taking her son to jail. Or former president Joe Biden sharing his favorite news story of the day. This is the power of podcasts, the audio medium for sharing stories and having discussions.

for thoughts:

for laughs:

for stories:

for etc:

Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell: Was Brown vs. Board of Education really the civil rights landmark it was made out to be? Could bad cafeteria food in college actually be a good thing? Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist Malcolm Gladwell provokes you with questions like these in his podcast, which takes a second look at events in the past.

What Should We Draw: You don’t need to be familiar with YouTube show “Drawfee” to enjoy the podcast by Nathan Yaffe and Caldwell Tanner. In each recording these comedians, artists, and master punsters plan out the concepts for the drawings they make on YouTube. This can lead to hysterical ideas and tangents, making for fun listen!

The Moth: The original story podcast; these recordings are taken from live events where anyone can volunteer to tell a story from their lives; this means a grab bag ranging from tales of overcoming failure, to exploring a new place, to dealing with deep loss. I am sad to say I have already gone through all 32 sessions on Spotify.

Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me!: We’ve all heard this 20-year-old radio show on long car rides with our parents, and now it can be found on the NPR website! Listen as Peter Sagal hosts quiz challenges with call-in contestants, alongside guest panelists and announcer Bill Kurtis.

This podcast is a classic and a good way to get your weekly news fix.

Insights 12 SEARCHING FOR LEADERSHIP February 27, 2018 Investigations

when personal bias and connections interfere with officer selections ALLISON LO editor-in-chief

ASHLEY KANG online assistant

CAROLINE GEE flipside editor

We hear it all the time: disagreements over officer selections, complaints about inept leadership and peers favoring their friends. Yet, with little power in club proceedings, students may find it challenging to make effectual steps towards change.

According to a school-wide survey by The Prospector, one-fifth of respondents do not believe that club officer selections are fair. The study found that 42 percent of respondents believe personal connections play the biggest role in the selection process, as opposed to the quality of one’s application or characteristics.

While occasional tension is inevitable in a team dynamic, many conflicts can be attributed to poor choices in leadership higher up in the organization.

1/5

of students agree with officer selections Said junior Sahana Krishnamurthy, “I think one thing that can be seen as unfair is when people who turn things in past deadlines are slid through because of their friends.” Often, students have accused clubs of showing nepotism towards friends and family and securing leadership positions regardless of the achievements and work ethic of chosen applicants. As 20 percent of surveyed students responded that officer selections are unfair, a sizable portion of the school population is dissatisfied with students’ abilities to recognize strong leadership.

Said a student who wishes to remain anonymous, “When we’re denying an opportunity to a lot of people simply because they lack personal connections that others do have, then it sort of makes Tino an unfair, anti-competitive environment for students.” Rewarding students for their connections rather than merit may perpetuate the idea that work ethic is no longer valuable. And while social networking is undoubtedly an important skill, some believe students will unwisely invest their time and efforts into cultivating personal connections rather than building the skills necessary to succeed in student organizations.

“I know that a lot of the time, when it comes to officer decision season, a lot of the underclassmen try to ‘kiss up’ to

nep.o.tism

the seniors and juniors, and I think most of the time a lot of people can tell that it’s fake,” senior Meesha Reiisieh said. “I think that it’s important to have a basic relationship with them but believing that having a close friendship means that you get a high officer position doesn’t always really work out.”

According to The Prospector’s survey, 22 percent of respondents believe personality traits are the most influential in assigning leadership roles. Only 4 percent, meanwhile, stated that the quality of one’s application is the most important. The fact that personal connections outweigh both of these aspects suggests that some club officers’ priorities lie in appointing individuals for their likable personalities rather than for their qualifications — perhaps officers recognize amiability in an applicant as a sign of cooperativity and good team dynamic. However, others warn against placing too heavy of an emphasis on the affability of an applicant, as doing so may interfere with one’s ability to weigh other traits like team skills and work ethic.

Said teacher and Future Business Leaders of America advisor Mark St. John, “It is easy to select someone just because they’re charismatic.

We want to be sure that we don’t, that we select

When we’re denying an opportunity to a lot of people simply because they lack personal connections that others do have, then it sort of makes Tino an unfair, anti-competitive environment for students.

- Anonymous people who are going to work versus just having the most charismatic people.”

Judging an applicant based on their reputation may also hurt the applicant’s chances of obtaining a position before they even apply.

Said anonymous, “My history of getting the shaft from a lot of clubs has sort of become a big in-joke among my friends. They call it the ‘blacklist’ … It sort of makes me feel absolutely terrible, because I honestly can’t tell if they’re actually joking or if I am being shut out of clubs for personal reasons.”

In an effort to pad their college resumes, students may pursue an officer position without understanding the actual demands associated with it. It is not uncommon for a new student leader to become over whelmed by the re-

noun favoritism shown to close friends or relatives by those in power

4 out of 10 students believe personal connections play the biggest role in officer selections

22%

of students believe the selection processes for club officers are fair

sponsibilities that come with their title. Said teacher and former National Honor Society advisor Allison Vernon, “They realize, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have interviewed to be an officer. It was more than I thought, and it’s not worth it.’

Or, they have the title and then don’t want to put in the work to do the job that they have.”

Even when club officers try their best to remain objective, personal connections can still sway the application process. Some officers struggle with feelings of pressure to select applicants who are their friends or may unconsciously rely upon their past impressions of applicants if they are close peers. Said senior Ellie Wong, “I think [personal connections are] a big part because when your friends apply, you feel almost obligated to choose them because you know them and they know that they’re applying to a club where you’re going to be review-

It is easy to select someone just because they’re charismatic. We want to be sure that we don’t, that we select people who are going to work versus just having the most charismatic people.

- Mark St. John ing the application. Also, you just know them and their work ethic a little bit better.” Unfortunately, one’s perception of a friend’s work ethic can be misleading; although a student may be hardworking in school and extracurriculars, this does not ensure that they will prioritize the club.

At the end of the day, someone is going to feel cheated by officer selections — there are only so many positions available. However,

even if the most professional of organizations claimed to disregard personal connections, underlying bias still has the ability to influence the entire selection process. Personal connections and favoritism are, more often than not, the driving force in the hiring of employees. Pessimists may argue that it is pointless to force a bubble of objectivity in student-run processes, especially when most clubs involve little advisor oversight. If Tino wants to prove that quality student leadership is possible, however, holding students to higher standards in their abilities to create open and objective application processes may help appease those who feel wronged by club officers.

Said an anonymous student, “Honestly, the actual workplace will probably be a lot like this with corruption, nepotism, et cetera factoring into the actual decision more than competence, but I think because we’re a school environment, we should try to aspire to a higher ideal.”

Some observers have suggested the school itself work on articulating the definition of “good leadership” to raise the bar in officer selections and weed out those with poor intentions. “It can be challenging to establish good student leadership,” teacher and Interact advisor Oliver Yeh said. “People are often less trained in leadership skills. Problems higher up tend to be the result of having undefined metrics of strong leadership, and it’s important that advisors and team executives articulate their definition of a good leader and create accountability.”

February 27, 2018

Insights

The Prospector

13

Perspectives

Duck Syndrome

The underwater struggles of students

VARUN SHENOY photo assistant

For a moment, imagine Cupertino High School is a bright blue lake. The students are ducks, gracefully wading through the water. From the outside, everyone would agree that the lake is a serene, peaceful environment. However, a whole different story is told from the perspective beneath its surface. While the ducks seem calm from above the water, they paddle furiously with all their might to stay afloat and get from one place to another. The message of this simple thought exercise is as follows: in educational settings, people feel the urge to appear calm on the outside while in reality, they are frantically attempting to tie up the loose ends of their lives.

This phenomenon, known as ‘Duck Syndrome,’ is a result of students choosing to internalize their struggles, rather than sharing their plight with others, in order to make it seem as if they are in full control of their life. In highly competitive environments like CHS, many students juggle numerous AP classes and timeexhausting extracurriculars, all while maintaining an active social life. More often than not, students feel forced into adding more to their plate than they can handle, but fear that complaining or expressing their plight to their peers will come off as show-

sibling sentiments SYDNEY LIAO

features assistant

If you were to ask me a few years ago what I thought of my younger sister, I would have said annoying. That’s the popular choice for most people, given the numerous arguments that siblings have. However, if you were to ask that same question now, my answer would be significantly different.

On weekdays, I remember staying up past midnight with her to jump on the bed and waking up early just to dress up. I also remember the day I started to prefer staying in my room reading and watching YouTube videos rather than jumping on the trampoline with her. At first, she pestered me and refused to accept that I had grown up. Gradually, her visits to bother me shortened until one day, she stopped bothering me at all.

For a brief period of time, I relished the alone time I got.

Suddenly, no person was waiting impatiently for me to finish reading, no person tapping my shoulder every few seconds.

However, that fleeting feeling of joy was soon replaced by an emptiness that made wonder if I would ever be able to rebuild my relationship with my sister. It was not until I witnessed her laughing and running around with our neighbors that I realized how much I missed her.

Flash forward to the first semester of sophomore year. As school became more demanding, I found myself talking to my sister more often. Eventually, it became a daily routine for the two of us to share what happened at school. Even though she cannot understand my struggles, it was comforting to have someone to talk to. Furthermore, after remembering that in just two years I would be leaving for college, I decided to start treasuring the little time I had left with my sister.

Although things will never be the same and I will only get busier, I want to remember all the times when we had fun, when we were there for each other, and even when we fought. After all, it is those moments that make our relationship so unique.

Few people will know you as your sibling does — your deepest regret, favorite corner of the house, biggest insecurity. It is special knowing that there is someone you can talk to without having to watch your words, and that that someone will listen without judging you.

Siblings should value each other and the connection that they have. In difficult times, your friends may not be there for you, but your siblings will sacrifice everything to support you.

They will be the first ones you share good or bad news with, and the first ones to come when you call in the middle of the night. They will forgive you when others might not because of everything that you have gone through together. It is important to look past the arguments and realize that your sibling is really another part of you. They bring out the best in you and help identify and strengthen your weaknesses. I regret ever thinking differently, but am glad that I have overcome the barriers between me and my sister.

ing weakness. Instead, students continue doing more than they can feasibly handle, appearing seemingly unfazed on the outside.

Many students trap themselves in a bubble of stress, overwork and sleep deprivation that is on the verge of bursting.

Said senior Kartik Nighojkar, “It has become the norm for people to take multiple AP classes [and do numerous activities] outside of school … Because of this, students often get bogged down by work … I think a lot of students don’t want to seem weak or inferior in comparison to their peers. As a result, they try to hide the fact that they could be struggling or they might have too much work. They want to appear as if they are on par or superior to their fellow friends.”

Funnily enough, a solution for this problem is in the analogy itself: translate the distraught paddling beneath the surface to above it as well. Confide your academic struggles with your close friends—chances are they share the same difficulties. One creative solution is the ‘Places I’ve Cried’ Facebook groups that have been spawning in various universities around the United States, from Stanford University to the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign, with the goal of providing students with an outlet to

be honest about things that happen to them. Members of these closed groups share, as the name of the group suggests, places they have cried in the hopes of gaining compassion and support from classmates. It is time for CHS to follow suit.

When asked if he knew a possible way to rectify the presence of ‘Duck Syndrome’ at Cupertino High School, said Nighojkar, “I honestly feel that a solution to this kind of problem would not be able to happen until everyone currently at Cupertino High School graduates … it would need to be a long process where the entire culture of overexerting oneself would need to be changed … People should not put others down if they say for instance, ‘this might be too much for me.’ ... it seems that students are pressured into taking higher level classes even if they do not want to, and I think that needs to change.”

Promenades of the Past

ARIANA FAHRI

flip side assistant

While prom has existed since the 19th century and represents a hallmark of the traditional American high school experience, the culture around it has changed dramatically in recent years. One of the biggest additions to the entire prom tradition has been promposals, which can come in the form of a choreographed dance or a colorful poster. Said English teacher Carley Stavis, “It is so much pressure on people. If you are in a relationship or if you are not in a relationship, whatever the case is, to have this big show of what you do.”

With increasing social media influence on students’ daily lives, the barrage of posts featuring promposals can push students into creating unique and often over-the-top ways of asking their date.

The widespread pressure to do a big, public asking and share your prom experience online is unique to current students.

Stavis shares that Facebook became a popular site around the time she and her classmates were applying to college and would ask one another if they were going to create accounts. Their minimal exposure to social media is a far cry from the barrage of glossy prom posts students are exposed to every spring. Even off social media, most students cannot evade the elaborate, public proposals that occur in the quad or in the hallways. Said Stavis, “As social media [is growing] that is where [these promposals have] come from, there’s this audience for it.”

And invariably, one almost unavoidable part of prom is the attitude. While many people think prom dresses have

become more expensive now, she recalls dealing with the hefty price in her teens as well. Said Stavis, “I was actually visiting colleges on the East Coast with my brother and I actually bought my prom dress in Boston. I called my mom afterward, ‘Mom, I just put something on your credit card, it’s really pretty, though! I think you’re going to like it.’”

Renting out an entire block of hotel rooms is a common occurrence at some high schools. Stavis shares how her entire high school had a sleepover the night of prom. Said Stavis, “Basically my entire senior class booked out a hotel and we danced and it was very typical and high school movie-like.”

While social media has its drawbacks, technology has fueled some of the biggest changes that make the prom experience more convenient and affordable. Thanks to the web, you can rent that $1000 dress out for only $80 a night and the same goes for shoes and bags. A key part of the teen experience is prom, but for past generations, the process behind it was less publicized.

Certainly, many prom traditions are still intact, like going out to eat before prom, taking photos your parent’s lawn and the outrageous costs of some prom must-haves. Said Stavis, “One of the craziest things about prom is how universal it is. Across many different high schools, it is consistent from the way people think about prom, what it is and the things that you do.”

14

Sports

YOONI PARK

hurdles.

For the Girls Varsity Volleyball Team, coach Danny Chan was able to carry the team through the second round of Central Coast Sections (CCS) with his advice and coaching. In the beginning of their season, Chan set a variety of goals he wanted the team to reach by the end of the season, forcing them to push harder and improve at a rapid pace. He had an impressive dedication to the program as he took many notes and watched game footage to study his future opponents. At the end of their season, their total record was 20-8, allowing the team to finish with a solid ratio of wins.

Said junior Kaitlin Linne, “[Chan] taught me to be my best and to run plays that were out of my comfort zone. He definitely pushed my team but always kept our best interest at heart.”

A coach must retain a positive yet competitive attitude towards the game, as often a coaches attitude rubs off on the team. It is crucial to understand the importance of the different methods a coach can implement to lead their team to success.

Cupertino’s Girls Varsity Basketball Team has been greatly influenced with the coaching techniques of both social studies teacher Oliver Yeh and math teacher Scott Stevens. These coaches were able to help the players of the team become stronger athletes by constantly correcting their form and technique. Stevens and Yeh also initiated team bondings and fundraisers which improved relationships between team members, bettering their understanding of each other’s weaknesses and strengths. Alongside of Stevens’ and Yeh’s effective coaching and their ability to

February 27, 2018

THE SIGNIFICANE OF A SUPPORTIVE AND CARING COACH sports assistant

MICHELLE MA

COACH TKACH | Tkach talks to his boys in a half time huddle

Effective coaches focus not only on the team in general, but on each individual’s skill set. Coaches are able to offer athletes with a wide range of knowledge/advice/tips regarding comfort, safety, and good exercise habits. They play an influential role in the development of their athletes.

The role of a good coach is far more than scheduling daily practices and manage games. Coaches are able to fill a variety of different roles in their players’ lives, acting as both a mentor and a role model. Many players of the varsity football team look up to their coach as a respectable figure and a substitute parent. Oswald has coached the football team with an immense amount of commitment and responsibility, checking in on each of his players and their status throughout the season.

Said senior Matthew Kimball, “[Oswald] has always been a really strong role model for all of the players and he has always kept us in check if we start to get behind in class. He’s taught us all the importance of teamwork and being young men. I look up to him because he’s always there for all of us if we need him and he cares about us all like we are a part of his family.”

Players with great skill and potential often cannot reach their full capabilities as an athlete due to the numerous mental blocks they face everyday. Whether these obstacles come from academics or simply the challenges of their game, good coaches must have the ability to relieve and ease their players through these

MICHELLE MA

COACH STEVENS | Stevens gives his team a pre game pep talk

Int’l Sports Corruption EDWARD HSU

JENN ZARATAN

COACH OSWALD | Oswald coaches the boys varsity football team

maintain a solid relationship among their players, this team was able to finish as one of the top teams in the league with a winning record of 13-8.

“I have definitely improved as a player thanks to our great coaches. This year, I am a lot more confident on and off the ball and I am more willing to get onto the floor for loose balls throughout the game,” said sophomore Sayesha Chaudhary.

It is crucial for a coach to offer a player with valuable lessons throughout the entirety of the season. Not only do these lessons improve their skill, also resonates within their ability to perform in the real world. Playing a sport can teach a player perseverance, communication skills, and being able to self-reflect. “[Stevens] emphasizes communication and commitment a lot. His commitment to the program has motivated me to work as hard as I can. Even though he’s not that smiley or peppy, he is really encouraging-he believes in me and knows I can do it,” said junior Angela Ding.

Like many teams at our school, coaches that learn to motivate their players throughout the game will find success. Coaches hold the power to help an athlete excel with many valuable lessons that serve them within numerous facets within their lives.

Feature On Conny Yang ALLISON LO editor-in-chief

online editor

United States federal prosecutors issued grand jury indictments in January earlier this year inquiring information from some of the largest sports organizations in the world, including Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The office investigating the case is also that one that has spent years previously investigating FIFA for bribery and corruption charges.

As part of a larger investigation into international sports corruption, the subpoenas are expected to aid the Justice Department in investigating alleged racketeering, money laundering , and other fraudulent act iv it ies w i t h i n t h e s e organizations. Of particular interest to federal prosecutors is possible w rongdo ing within the governing organ i z at i o n of track and field, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which has awarded the 2019 world championships bid to Doha, Qatar, and the 2021 bid to Eugene, Ore. The subpoenas arrived just as sports officials prepared to travel to Pyeongchang, South Korea for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Similarly, the United States Olympic Committee had recently just dealt with the conviction of Lawrence Nassar, former doctor of the American gymnastics team who was found guilty of sexually abusing athletes.

While the USOC and IOC have not yet been contacted by federal prosecutors, the subpoenas have broadly requested emails, text messages, and notes relating to these organizations from as far back as 2013. FIFA, having moved on from its previous corruption scandal, established their intent on cooperating with ongoing investigations into current corruption allegations.

D

D E I EN

For junior Conny Yang, “ball is life” is a true statement. Yang, a member of Tino’s varsity girls’ basketball team, has played the sport since second grade in both recreational and competitive settings.

“Being on the court with my teammates is the most fun, especially seeing everyone working hard,” Yang said. “I love the team chemistry on the court. Some sports focus on individual skill, but in basketball, the focus is on how to use your teammates’ and your own skills to your advantage to achieve goals. I really like that. It’s not just about me, it’s about everyone.”

Yang attributes her success on and off the court to having positive role models. Said Yang, “I think my coaches have helped me the most throughout my development in basketball. I’ve had a lot of coaches throughout my basketball career, and I think the one who sticks with me most is my current coach [in the AAU league.] He’s strict, but he has really taught me about all the aspects of basketball. Without him, I don’t think I would be the person I am now.”

For Yang, one of the most challenging aspects of basketball is prioritizing. “I had to decide between playing for school, West Valley (AAU) and Asian League,” Yang said. “There were so many teams I wanted to [play for], and I didn’t know if I wanted to focus on having fun or doing something more competitive, like through West Valley. [Choosing between these teams] was a huge obstacle for me because it was another decision to make and I felt the same as when I had to choose between basketball and track and field.”

Yang is widely considered to be one of the best players in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, thanks to her stellar record. However, the bulk of Yang’s pressure to succeed still comes from within. “Another obstacle has been my own performance. I always get down on myself,” Yang said. “As of now, there hasn’t been a game that I’m 100 percent satisfied with. People always say, ‘You’re always going to make mistakes in a game,’ but I don’t know if I can make those mistakes and still be satisfied in the end.”

Yang is already planning to play basketball in college, motivated by her love for the sport as well as by the hope of gaining financial benefits. “The way I think during really hard drills is, ‘I want to help my parents financially.’ There are a lot of steps involved [for playing at the collegiate level], but if I’m working hard right now, it’ll pay off later … I’m still having fun in COURTESY OF CONNY YANG basketball and I love it so much, and I hope to keep that passion as CONNY YANG | Yang, #3, gets ready for a layup against Los Altos High School defender I continue.”

Sports

The Prospector

February 27, 2018

15

CHEER TEAM FINISHES IN SECOND PLACE AT STATES CLAIRE WARNER news assistant

On Feb. 3, Cupertino High School’s cheer team placed second in their division, in JAMZ State Competition in Bakersfield, Calif. The event was open to all cheer and dance teams from Northern and Southern California and included a diverse set of categories, each with different divisions.

The categories included performance cheer, show cheer, pom, hip hop, lyrical, co-ed, sideline and middle school.

In total, some 70 teams attended the JAMZ competition. CHS Cheer competed against three other teams in their division, Varsity Level One Large Group Show Cheer.

In this division, teams were expected to perform a music routine consisting of stunts, a dance and a jump section, all within a two minute and thirty-second period. CHS Cheer executed a perfect program with zero deductions.

Cheer also attended its first competition of the year, USA Deer Valley Regionals, in January. Although their performance had zero deductions at that competition as well, they received fifth place due to a lower level of complexity in their routine compared to those of other teams. Consequently, the team decided to create an entirely new program for the state competition rather than reusing its previous one. The team dedicated many hours to developing and refining their routine, having practiced Monday through Friday from three

to five p.m.. Senior cheer captain Sandalina Sattar called this period ‘Hell Week.’

gether their program.

Said Sattar, “We were so stressed because we had such little time to put

the routine they had.

Said Castro, “When we did the routine, I realized that I should have

JENN ZARATAN

CHEER TEAM | Cheer team performs stunts with flyers Muskan Shah, Tatiana Miramontes and Tiffany Lin at a school rally

In cheer vernacular, ‘Hell Week’ generally refers to the week before a competition during which team members are rigorously preparing themselves. However, CHS Cheer’s ‘Hell Week’ took place in the two weeks preceding the competition when the team was rushing to put to-

together a brand new routine. As a captain, I’m supposed to be encouraging, but even I couldn’t find it in myself to be encouraging. None of us were confident going into it.”

Both Sattar and sophomore Grace Castro agree that their performance was the best run-through of

been more confident. [The experience] also taught me to encourage other teams, because sometimes when we walked by other teams [at the competition], they would say ‘good luck’ or ‘good job,’ and it made us feel a lot better.”

Before the team’s first competi-

tion, senior Kelly Choy sustained a concussion and was unable to perform. However, she was able to participate in the state competition and enjoyed the new experience.

Said Choy, “I love to perform and dance, so I went full out and had fun. After the dance everyone [on the team] was jumping and screaming.”

Said cheer coach Joseph Clark, “The performance was amazing for having two weeks of prep. I don’t think any of them expected it to be that well but they went out there, hit a perfect routine and did exactly what they needed to do.”

Clark is already preparing the team for their next competition with conditioning, which includes cardio and upper and lower body strength training. They are also rehearsing a new routine by practicing each piece separately, then combining the dance, stunts and jumps once the cheerleaders are familiar with each contributing factor.

Clark states that the team will compete in states and nationals next year and affirms that the team will have ample time to prepare and avoid unnecessary stress.

Said Clark, “I learned that I’ve got to be on my game as well. There are other coaches in the state that are just as good, if not better than me, so I need to be constantly learning to keep up and beat them as well.”

CHS Cheer has grown tremendously in both confidence and skill in the past year and hopes to improve even more throughout the rest of the season and future competitions.

the ambiguity of foulinG Differentiating between intentional and accidental fouling in sports games KAVYA GUPTA opinions assistant

The act of fouling is generally considered to be “unsportsmanlike” or “inappropriate.” However, many fail to consider the motivation behind these actions in gameplay. Not every foul is necessarily intentional, and if it is not, then is the question of morality even applicable at all?

Conversely, if done on purpose, fouling could easily be a part of a strategy. At the same time, there are always times when a player may be particularly nasty and rough and may even find ways to hide a foul from the referee. If a team finds itself in a losing situation, a player may purposely receive a foul to give their team time to recuperate and reorganize themselves. Considering all of these aspects, determining whether fouling is ethically good or bad may not be possible given its nuances.

There are countless circumstances in which an athlete could mistakenly receive a foul for their team in every sport. In wrestling, a simple false start results in a penalty. Basketball players face offensive fouls if a defender is hit or knocked over or shooting fouls when a player is hit while shooting.

Said junior basketball player Sahana Krishnamurthy, “A lot of fouls are just due to the fact that basketball is a contact sport, so there needs to be some regulation to the contact that goes on in the games and to prevent injuries. An unintentional foul doesn’t really say anything about your ethical mindset.”

There are also intentional strategical fouls.

In basketball, players may begin to make fouls deliberately towards the last few minutes of a game to kill time and avoid too much game-

play. This can enable teams to block off the opponents’ chances to score, a tactic that can be especially beneficial in a close game. In soccer, if the team is unprepared when the opposing team breaks through their line of defense, a player could purposely commit a foul to physically prevent the opposing team from advancing, thus giving their team time to recuperate.

Often times, fouls are not actions of aggression but merely defensive strategies.

Said varsity girls’ basketball coach Scott Stevens, “Towards the end of a game, if you’re down by two or three points and the time’s winding down, you want to try to foul without making it look intentional. It is a good strategy, and I think it is okay to engage in it sometimes.”

Sometimes, a team may play dirty and conceal rough plays from the referee, perhaps by placing their foot in a specific position or hiding their arm with their body. In wrestling, it could be the difference between grabbing one finger or three to break the opponent’s grip. Unfortunately, these players not only break the rules of the sport, but also ignore the importance of good sportsmanship and integrity. However, many teams still practice certain dishonest tricks solely for the purpose of winning.

Said sophomore wrestler Ean Bennett, “When I fight people who foul on purpose, I obviously feel that they have an unfair advantage if they don’t get caught, and I also feel that they are of lower class and do whatever the cost to win, even if it’s dirty. No one likes a cheater and referees stress on that.”

Similarly, spectators must take into consideration the reason behind for those fouls. On the field or court, an aspect of the game that fans do not see is the conversations between players

MICHELLE MA

VARSITY BOYS SOCCER | Devin Riess #4, headers the ball in against Lynbrook High School goalie

of opposing teams. Often times, players aggravate each other to the point that they purposely foul each other. Additionally, players’ frustrations over their own performance can lead to violent actions on the field. For example, if a player is upset over making mistakes or losing in the middle of a game, fouling is a way to relieve that anger.

Said Krishnamurthy, “Usually some shoving and grabbing of jerseys is common behind the referee’s back, but in a rough game, players can get really frustrated sometimes and become violent. I personally have experienced it playing another team, and I have done it myself when on defense. If the player gets distracted, they can

get easily upset and it messes up their game.”

Establishing if fouling is acceptable or unequivocally unethical ultimately depends on one’s moral compass and their reasons behind specific fouls. Accidentally tripping someone while grasping for the ball may be a justifiable and honest mistake, but at the same time, sticking a foot out to trip a player who is about to score is purposeful misconduct and should not be placed in the same category as the former example. However, if fouling does occur, who does the blame fall upon? In the end, it boils down to questioning if fouling helps you win, is it really that wrong to do? Or is it better to lose while playing fairly?

Flip Side

February 27, 2018

16

FEBRUARY IN PHOTOS MICHELLE MA JENN ZARATAN

MICHELLE MA

WORLD HJAB DAY | Students try on hijabs in the quad to demonstrate solidarity with Muslim women

COMEDY HOUR | Senior Alex Gorvitovskiy delivers a hilarious spectacle for Comedy Hour’s Feb. 16 show

JENN ZARATAN

WHAT TO WEAR | Students showcase both the good and the bad at the Junior Prom Fashion Show

MICHELLE JENN ZARATAN MA

JENN JENNZARATAN ZARATAN

CAREER FAIR | Occupational therapist and life coach Ritika Rose speaks about her job

SERENADES | Tino’s Choir and Acapella groups surprise students and teachers with love songs on Valentine’s Day JENN ZARATAN

The History of Slang Words From “cool” to “puke,” slang words pop into our everyday vocabulary without us even thinking about it. Yet the origin behind each slang word is wholly unique—each story reveals a little more about the words we choose to use.

COOL

Now ubiquitous among all ages, the word that is used to positively describe something as fashionable or trendy most likely originated among the African American jazz community of the early 1900s, when the phrase “cool cat” was used often to describe someone who was particularly talented or commanded respect from others.

PUKE

You can thank the great bard Shakespeare for this word, which is both a noun and a verb for throwing up. It appeared in the play As You Like It, perhaps as a variation on the German word “spucken,” meaning “to spit.”

WOKE

This term relates to the idea of being “awake” to reality. It is used to describe a person who is conscientious of social and political issues, especially those that pertain to race, gender, and sexual orientation.

DUDE

The exact origins of the word “dude,” which is now used as a synonym to “guy” or “man,” are unclear, but may be tied to “Yankee Doodle” and “dude ranches.” It was commonly used to negatively describe a man who was overly concerned with keeping up to date with fashionable attire. Eventually it was embraced by surfing communities on the West Coast and was accepted into mainstream culture in the late 20th century.

SHADE

Social media outlets like Twitter and Instagram played a large role in the popularity of this term, which blew up in 2017. Teens and millennials began using the term “shade” to mean acts of passive aggression and contempt, such as when someone “throws shade.” The word has roots in African American and Latino gay communities.

SHIP

This term originated from the Fanfiction community and can be used as both a noun and a verb.

It is a shortening of the word “relationship.” The act of “shipping” is to strongly wish for characters in literature, TV shows, movies, or popular culture to become romantically involved.

COMPILED BY AMY ZENG

Next Month: March Hall of Fame Rally

Junior Prom

Winter Sports Awards

International Week

Friday, March 9

Monday, March 12

Friday, March 16 Tuesday, March 27 - Friday, March 30 COURTESY OF @JULIAMSTARR

diving deep CLAIRE WARNER news assistant

I’ve always felt an uncontrollable attraction to saltwater, but it wasn’t until the summer of 2017 that I realized my passion for marine biodiversity. I looked forward to weekends when I could watch all the ocean documentaries I could get my hands on; however, it wasn’t long before my Netflix suggestions ran dry. Once, I demanded my parents to drive me to Santa Cruz in an attempt to feel more connected with the Pacific. It turns out, however, that physical closeness does not translate to spiritual connection. My family later purchased memberships to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but watching cephalopods propel themselves behind glass didn’t excite me as much as I hoped it would. Eventually, I realized that the only way to satisfy my fascination with marine organisms would be to strip away every barrier between them and me.

No more computer screens, no more distance, no more glass. And through these filters, I found Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA).

My dream of becoming a certified SCUBA diver was vastly different from the process of actually becoming one. From collapsing under seventy pounds of gear to being stung by jellyfish, diving in the ocean was an unforgiving experience at first.

And although I could finally be intimate with the ocean, my vision was obscured by thousands more menacing jellies that made me want to abandon the water and go back home. Still, I stuck with it and received my certification, losing nearly all my enthusiasm in the process.

After two months I apathetically returned to the water for my first recreational dive. Rather than entering from shore, my dive group took a boat to Monterey’s Aumentos Reef, from which I had the worst seasickness of my sixteen years of life.

Regardless, I felt like the certification process, the exhaustion and the sickness were worth it the instant my mask touched the water.

I was surrounded by glowing pink jellies that, thankfully, did not sting me. Sixty feet below the surface, pale green anemones danced on rocks and a school of sizeable black fish swayed with the current. The sight was breathtaking, and rather than peering through the glass, I was dropped straight into the Kelp Forest Exhibit at The Monterey Bay Aquarium. By the time my tank hit 500 psi to cue my ascent, I had an entirely new perspective of the ocean and myself.

Before SCUBA, I was someone who abandoned any undertaking at the first sign of difficulty, but this entire process proved me wrong. Although I encountered numerous challenges that led to declines in my determination to continue, I managed to push through them, for giving up on diving meant giving up on my passion, and I was not about to let that happen. From my journey through the rough seas, I have grown confident in my ability to recognize boundaries and tear them down, allowing myself to descend into the abyss of my imagination.