Volume 14, Issue 6 by The Roundtable

The student-run publication of Stuart Hall High School | 1715 Octavia Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Volume 14, Issue 6 | Friday, February 14, 2020

E-scooter injuries rise among youth

Spring musical to cast all divisions Middle schoolers to join production

Nik Chupkin | The Roundtable

SCOOTERING AROUND Senior Cole Slater and junior Trieu Tran wait for the school shuttle next to a Jump scooter parked in front of the Pine/Octavia campus. Electric scooter-sharing systems like Jump, Skip, Spin and Lime brought thousands of new scooter units to San Francisco after securing city permits in 2019, but the rise in scooters is correlated with a rise in injuries.

Study finds correlation between scooter accessibility and hospital admissions

Sartaj Rajpal

Senior Reporter

ith a rapid increase in the accessibility of rentable electric scooters in San Francisco, injuries are becoming more common, according to a study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco. “Every San Franciscan knows that about two years ago, there was an explosion in the amount of scooters in the city,” Dr. Benjamin Breyer, senior author of the study, said. “On balance, I think scooters are really good, but if they’re ridden carefully and with a helmet, I think they’re much better.” Breyer’s study notes that hospital admissions have increased

354 percent for individuals aged 18 to 34 since the scooters started being used. San Francisco e-scooter companies require users to have a driver license and

be at least 18 years of age. Of those admitted to a hospital, the study states, “nearly one-third of patients had a head

injury, more than double the rate of head injuries experienced by bicyclists.” Breyer says he believes that while scooters are useful and beneficial to society, safety is key. Your center of gravity, you’re very upright,” Breyer said. “The chance that you fall and can’t protect your head is high.” Convent & Stuart Hall students say they frequently ride e-scooters, oftentimes without taking safety precautions. “I was riding down a hill without a helmet on, and I lost control of the scooter for a second,” junior Liam Walker said. “Next thing I knew, I was on the ground, and I knew something was wrong.”

Injuries on e-scooters are not limited to students. “My fiancee and I and a few members of my family were riding scooters over the holidays,”

biology teacher Alex Broussard said. “We sped up, and when I looked back [my fiancee] had Study continues on 2

Will Burns

Reporter

he middle school division will join the high school theater program for the production of “The Addams Family” this spring, and although high school students may play the lead characters, all four divisions will be on stage together. “This model is challenging the way we think theatre should be created and by whom,” Theater Programs Director Margaret Hee said. “It is encouraging students of all ages to work together and empathize with one another.” The change was made to promote an all-inclusive K-12 model, according to Hee. Since becoming Theater Programs Director in 2018, Hee has also implemented a mentorship program in which high school students assist the crew of middle school productions. “It has been wonderful to see the divisions collaborate,” Hee said. “After the final performance of the sixth-to-eighth grade play, many of the cast and crew reflected how much they valued the opportunity to work with students in different grades.” The middle school cast and crew are held to the same standards as their high school counterparts, according to junior Peter Wolfe. “I worked with the middle schoolers in their musical last year, and they’re a talented group,” Wolfe said. “’The Addams Family’ is the perfect play to join our two casts. It’s iconic and prestigious, yet equally fun and wacky.” Wolfe is one of 26 actors in All ages continues on 2

NewsBriefs BASKETBALL WINS Knights varsity basketball won their last league game against the Lick-Wilmerding High School Tigers 74-55 on Feb 7. The Knights defeated the Tigers in their previous game by a margin of 22 points and are currently second in their league with a record of 7-3. League playoffs began Feb. 12, and are followed by NCS and the state championship. The Knights’ next game is Feb. 15.

GRANDPARENTS DAY Grandparents and special guests are invited to experience a day in the life of students from noon to 3 p.m. on Feb. 13 at the Broadway campus and Feb. 14 at Pine/Octavia. Visitors on Grandparents and Special Friends Day will be able to take master classes, engage in community building activities, view visual art installations from all four divisions and see musical performances.

MUSIC CLUB BEGINS Juniors Eon Kounalakis, David Louie-Grover and Oliver Whalen started a music club, meeting on Tuesdays at 8 a.m. outside the Syufy Theatre. Grade 10 Chair Jordan Lewis is the club’s teacher sponsor. Kounalakis says the club’s main goal is for music lovers to get together and play some music, but he hopes to hold a performance near the end of the school year.

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News

The Roundtable | February 14, 2020

Knights end season with 4-6 record Team members say they will get better in postseason sent to us,” Dragone said. “We watch the footage as a team to see what we can improve on.” Players say that they’re working on being more concentrated during games. “One goal for the season is improving on not losing focus when we have a lead or score in a game,” junior Aidan Settles said, “because the oppositions have caught us off guard a few times and scored when we were too relaxed.” Members say the team has lofty goals for the postseason. “This year, we are looking to make NCS and bring back a banner to The Hall, something that we fell short of last year,” Ryan said. The Knights won their final game of the season against The Urban School 2-1. “We’re getting back into it,” Settles said. “This season has been fun so far, and I think we’re going to keep getting better.”

Sartaj Rajpal

Senior Reporter

ven though Knights varsity soccer had a league record of 4-6, team members say they have been working hard to improve for the postseason. “We started off well in the season, but hit a rough patch,” senior Will Ryan said. “We are looking to get back on track for the postseason.” Regardless of the team’s recent losses, players say chemistry is very high. “Our team is really working well together, and our chemistry is looking great as we are all friends with each other,” center-mid Sam Dragone said. “We are truly a team of brothers.” Team members say they have started doing things off the field to improve. “Something new that we’re doing is that we are finally getting footage of our games

Michael Hong for Convent & Stuart Hall | With Permission

PLAYING STRONG Junior Eamonn Kenny retains possession of the ball at Stuart Hall’s away game against the Urban School at Beach Chalet Soccer Fields on Jan. 16. Varsity ended the season 7-10-1, with players saying they hope to win at NCS.

Study stresses rider safety

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Nik Chupkin | The Roundtable

All ages to play lead roles Spring musical from 1

the upcoming production who are supported by backstage crew members like junior Mark Smith. “I think it’s a great way to improve the theater program as a whole,” Smith said. “I’m excited to see how it’ll turn out, especially since I know a lot of middle schoolers after working on the middle school play.” While the decision is valued by some, not all students are in favor of combining the theater programs for the spring musical. “Being a lead in the Stuart Hall middle school musical was what really made me enjoy being on stage,” senior Trip Gorman said. “Now future boys and girls won’t get that opportunity to discover their passion for theater.”

This will be the first production Gorman won’t be a part of after participating in the theater program’s past three productions. “Change is inevitably met with some resistance,” Hee said. “I see all the students who take part in this new model for the musical as agents of change.” Hee says she does not yet know if the bridge between middle school and high school productions will be extended in the future. “There are several exciting things on the horizon for the theatre program,” Hee said, “however, you’ll have to wait until we are ready to bring you all the news.” Rehearsals will take place starting Feb. 24 and the musical will run April 30 to May 3.

fallen on the ground.” Although wearing a helmet can protect riders from suffering the most serious injuries, the head is not the only organ that can be damaged in a scooter accident. “She was screaming when we tried to help her up — she had broken her tibia,” Broussard said. She’s definitely not going to want to get back on one of them, and I don’t know if I am going to either.” Even when trying to ride safely, injuries on e-scooters can still happen, as top speeds often exceed 20 miles per hour. “Obviously, you want to wear a helmet,” Broussard said. “It would have been way worse if she had hit her head.” Students often use e-scooters

to travel easily and cheaply, as they provide a convenient mode of transport. “I think the scooters are a pretty nice thing, as they allow me to get around the city very easily,” Walker said. “They can be extremely dangerous sometimes if you don’t know what you’re doing.” The study stresses the importance of safety when riding bicycles, e-scooters or any other form of individual means of transportation. “Head injuries can be minor, but they can [also] be catastrophic and lead to long term disability,” Breyer said. “That, on a lot of levels, is kind of scary. You have a whole life ahead of you. Your head is the most important organ in your body, and it’s a great investment to protect it.”

CAST of the SPRING MUSICAL BY DIVISION

BY GRADE 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

11 10

Grade

Source: Margaret Grace Hee Nik Chupkin | The Roundtable

Op-Ed

The Roundtable | February 14, 2020

Staff Editorial

Teens should refrain from riding scooters Underage riders endanger themselves when bypassing verification systems

an Francisco was one of the first major cities to allow e-scooters on its streets, but as injuries grow more common, people worry about their safety while riding. The e-scooter is a convenient way to travel small distances without paying for rideshare or waiting for municipal transit. All San Francisco based e-scooter companies have mobile apps for users, making scooters easily accessible to teens. The accessibility is great for consumers but creates a problem with underage teens who may have limited knowledge of traffic laws riding scooters. Scoot, a popular e-scooter service in San Francisco, states in its Terms and Conditions that its services are “not intended for individuals under the age of 18” and has riders check a box acknowledging they are legal adults, despite California motor laws stating that scooter operators only need a driver license, which can be obtained at age 16. In response to underage teenagers being able to easily check that box, some companies added another step requiring users to scan their driver license when creating an account. However, teens can take many shortcuts to bypass the verification system. Teenagers have bypassed the license scan by using false identification and “Siblings’ or parents’ licenses,” according to

Owen’s Opinion

Owen Murray Editor-in-Chief

uipped Eq

WARNING! You are about to go down a steep hill at a high speed. : not available

"I always have my drivers license on me and I stay attentive. I don’t text and scooter."

Do you wish to proceed?

— Maxi Tellini, 12

"I follow traffic laws in order not to get hit by a car." Nik Chupkin | The Roundtable

The Verge. Uninformed and unlicensed teens who drive motorized scooters on busy roads not only endanger themselves but also the drivers and pedestrians around them. No one is born with the knowledge of traffic laws and general road safety. People learn that through drivers education and experience on the road. Most people’s brains develop up until their twenties, so any form of brain trauma can create long-lasting health issues.

The last thing anyone wants is a teen illegally riding a scooter permanently injuring himself in a crash. Another way riders can stay safe on scooters is by wearing helmets, but teens are unlikely to carry a helmet around every day. A helmet is ideal when riding on any motorized machine. Scoot’s moped-style vehicles already come with helmets, so scooter companies should not have a problem with providing helmets for scooters. Sharing helmets, however, can be unsani-

tary, so riders should keep cloths that go over their heads in their bags or pockets so that they can more safely use shared helmets. In order to keep riders safe, scooter companies need to include helmets not just with their moped-style vehicles, but also with their e-scooters. Teens should also do their part in ensuring rider safety and refrain from attempting to bypass companies’ verification systems. If they do decide to ride, they should be licensed and aware of the danger an accident poses.

New district attorney makes city less safe

Mayor, police officers association oppose DA Boudin’s radical criminal justice reforms

an Francisco elected Chesa Boudin as its new District Attorney in November of 2019, and in less than a month of his incumbency, the city has already become more dangerous. Weeks after he was sworn in in early January, Boudin made national news for dropping charges against a man who savagely attacked a police officer’s face with broken vodka bottles, leaving him with severe head and neck injuries. Since then, the San Francisco Police Officers Association has set up the website BoudinBlunders.com to raise awareness about Boudin’s dangerous choices. It reports on instances where Boudin refused to prosecute various crimes and accepts user submissions. The website’s front page features a headline that reads “Chesa Declares Open Season on Police Officers.” Tony Montoya, the head of the association, is quoted saying, “This case represents another instance where

What safety precautions do you take when riding scooters?

Boudin blundered and is not prosecuting an individual that attacked police officers. We have a duty to expose these dangerous decisions.” The San Francisco Police Officers Association is right. By refusing to charge the man who attacked the police officer with broken bottles, Boudin is telling the public it is totally acceptable to assault men and women in uniforms. The attack was caught on the officer’s body camera and clearly shows the assailant pursuing the officer from across the street with the glass weapon. Nothing in the video warranted Boudin to drop charges. California considers broken glass a deadly weapon, and assault with a deadly weapon can be prosecuted as a felony. Instead of putting the assailant behind bars, Boudin kept him free. This act shouldn’t come as a surprise though, as many of Boudin’s policies encourage prosecutors to go easy on criminals. According to his campaign

website, ChesaBoudin.com, Boudin wants to get rid of gang enhancements in prosecutions. “Gang enhancements” is a term for a California penal code that illegalizes participation in street gangs, and makes sure gang-affiliated convicts serve more time for crime. Instead of keeping gang members off the streets, Boudin’s policy would allow them to continue terrorizing neighborhoods. The reasoning behind Boudin’s absurd policy is that gang enhancements lead to racism in the justice system, though he hasn’t explained how. Boudin also said he will not contest early release dates on violent felons, which would allow any felon who merited an early release date in prison to go free without a judge’s approval. There is no question these policies are beyond dangerous. Philadelphia serves as an example. Chesa Boudin and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry

Krasner ran on two identical platforms, with goals of reforming the justice system by ending mass incarceration and stopping the prosecution of “harmless” crimes. Krasner made national news last fall for dropping a first-degree murder charge to a manslaughter charge, even though the suspect admitted to killing a man in a rap song. Krasner offered no public statement for the reasoning behind his choice. Boudin’s policies are already proving to have the same negative effect. Even progressive mayor London Breed opposed Boudin because she knew his soft policies would increase crime rates and give criminals freedom. While Boudin is single-handedly making the city more dangerous, something good may come of his incumbency. Hopefully, he will teach San Franciscans that mindlessly voting for the most radical candidate has dangerous consequences.

— Chase Mack, 11

"I keep my head up to look out for cars and am ready to brake just in case."

— Sam Yancey, 10

"I don’t listen to music while riding, and watch for cars and opening doors when I ride on busy two-way streets." — Wendell Laidley, 10

@shhs_roundtable

Staff Owen Murray | Editor-in-Chief Sartaj Rajpal | Senior Reporter Nik Chupkin | Design & Web Editor Owen Akel | Reporter Will Burns | Reporter Henry Murray | Reporter Tracy Anne Sena, CJE | Adviser Stuart Hall High School Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco School Address 1715 Octavia St. San Francisco, CA 94109 Mailing Address 2222 Broadway San Francisco, CA 94115 Contact the Staff roundtable@sacredsf.org 415.292.3161 Unsigned pieces are the opinion of the editorial staff. Reviews and personal columns are the opinions of the individual author and are not necessarily those of Stuart Hall High School or Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco. Corrections and letters may be addressed to the editors at roundtable@sacredsf.org

Trips

The Roundtable | February 14, 2020

¡Pura vida!

Sophomores return from annual trip ophomores spent seven days engaging in class bonding, service and recreational activities in Dominical, Costa Rica, Jan. 18-25. “The snorkeling trip was definitely one of my favorite parts,” Bo Darwin said. “It doesn’t get much better than riding along the coast, with perfect weather and lots of fresh fruits.” Trip organizers divided students into random groups to participate in daytime activities including horseback riding, visiting Nauyaca Falls, ziplining in Hacienda Baru and serving at three Costa Rican schools. “Random groups made the whole experience better as it allowed me to talk to people I

would normally not talk to,” Greg Kosmowski said. Students were asked to refrain from bringing their phones on the trip. “Not having my phone made me realize how much phones can detach [us] from what is happening around us,” Joe Shea said. Students spent the day whitewater rafting and cleaning up a beach on Jan. 23 and drove back to San José on Jan. 24 to prepare for their flights the following morning. One of the two flights was delayed 25 hours and arrived in San Francisco on Jan. 26. “I really liked the trip,” Darwin said. I thought the whole experience was great. It allowed me to get a lot closer with my classmates and converse with people without the distractions of phones around.”

1. Will Burns, Will Yancey, James O’Leary, Toby Slater and Connor Caba paddle through a rapid with their guide. Sophomores descended to the river in a 30-minute shuttle ride before getting in rafts. 2. Asher Thomson, Robin Tsai, Sophia Pollak-Hurst, Jean-Luc Desnoyers-Piña, Kavi Gandhi and Will Yancey dance at the class-wide talent show. Grade 10 Chair Jordan Lewis hosted the event, and non-faculty chaperones helped decide the winners. 3. A guide helps Mia Sassi attach to a zipline at Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge. Sophomores took turns touring the eco-resort

in three different groups and were given the opportunity to zipline backward. 4. Ronnie Ottaway, Wendell Laidley and Bo Darwin watch a sloth through a telescope at Hacienda Baru. Jose Figueres, Former Costa Rica President, signed a decree in 1995 that officially declared the park a National Wildlife Refuge as part of a decades-long restoration process. 5. Will Yancey practices dancing the salsa in the hotel's meeting room. Boys and girls learned the dance separately and then had the opportunity to dance together in a competition.

Owen Akel

Reporter

Heart-to-heart in Mexico Service-immersion trip changes perspectives wenty students from Convent & Stuart Hall returned from a service immersion trip in Mexico that took place Jan. 18-24, bringing back new experiences and global perspectives. “I learned that living with only the essentials helps you focus on the more important aspects of your life,” junior Jake Falconer said. The group — comprised of freshmen, juniors and seniors — spent time in Mexico City, where they visited historic landmarks and Convent & Stuart Hall’s sister school Colegio Sagrado

Corazón. “I loved visiting the famous churches and staying in such a historic place,” freshman Sebastian Seidenberg said. “Playing soccer with girls from our sister school made me realize how connected we are through the Sacred Heart community. Students painted murals and helped locals plant sustainable gardens in the rural town Tecuanipan, where they stayed for two days. “My experience in Mexico showed me that I can be welcomed in new communities no matter how far away from home I am,” Falconer said.

1. Juniors Trieu Tran, Chase Mack and Owen O’Dell build Lego robots in the robotics facility at Colegio Sagrado Corazon. Participants of the immersion trip met students and toured the campus during their visit to Convent & Stuart Hall’s sister school in Mexico City. 2. Senior Kameron Makras hugs Cancha, his homestay host, before leaving Tecuanipan, as junior Owen O’Dell prepares to do the same. Local families provided food and housing to students for the duration of their stay. 3. Town local Juan shows Trieu Tran, Kameron Makras and Harriet

Ritchie how to transfer a plant into soil. Students planted sustainable gardens to provide families with a steady food source and fertile soil. 4. Freshman Callie Akel and junior Owen O’ Dell color in a mural of shapes on a bathroom in Tecuanipan, Mexico. Students painted walls and planted sustainable gardens during their two-day stay with local families. 5. Students draw artistic reflections on the last night of the trip. The group stayed in Cholula, a town located between Mexico City and Tecuanipan, before their return to the airport.

Henry Murray

Reporter

Ray O’Connor | With Permission