September 2021 by The Affair Magazine

CURRENT AFFAIRS IN A WAY YOU'LL LOVE

Sahithi Lingampalli founder art co-director

Kavya Gurunath

vice executive science co-director

Geethikaa Tarra

Vrinda Gandhi

vice executive layout co-director

Juee Deshmukh

science co-director

Parker McElroy

Taruni Manam

vice executive lifestyle co-director

Manushri Bapat

art & media director

Samita Pandit

art & media, opinion codirector

politics & world events director

lifestyle co-director

Evelyn Chen

Ashmita Annamalai

politics & world events codirector

Grace Yoon

art co-director

public relations co-director

Harvi Karatha

editing co-director

COVER ART BY EVELYN CHEN

Uday Lingampalli editing co-director

Aathmika Radhachandran public relations co-director

Cindy Zhang

opinion co-director

Inchara J

layout co-director

meet the staff

WRITERS: Ananya V Angelikka Factor Ashmita Annamalai Gunkriti Kaur Hafiza Samath Harshvir Chahal Juee Deshmukh Kavya Gurunath Mia Davis Nitya Baratam Rachel Adam Sahithi Lingampalli Samita Pandit Shrawani Pradhan Tanishka Gangavelli Thejo Tattala ARTISTS: Ananya V Evelyn Chen Juee Deshmukh Sahithi Lingampalli Sharon Pan Thejo Tattala

EDITORS: Arushi Patil Ashmita Annamalai Cindy Zhang Dominique Suniadji Geethikaa Tarra Gunkriti Kaur Harini Akurathi Harshvir Chahal Harvi Karatha Helen Bian Jason Liu Jeet Parikh Juee Deshmukh Kavya Gurunath Mia Davis Nitya Baratam Ritika Soni Samita Pandit Shoffana Sundaramoorthy Tanishka Gangavelli Taruni Manam Uday Lingampalli

LAYOUT DESIGNERS:

Arushi Patil Harini Akurathi Helen Bian Inchara J Leesha Pilla Sahithi Lingampalli Shoffana Sundaramoorthy Sierra Tan Tristan Castro Vrinda Gandhi PUBLIC RELATIONS: Abigail Manuella Ameya Aneja Grace Yoon Sahithi Lingampalli Sierra Tan

contents

ART & MEDIA

43 WHAT IS THE CEREBRUM?

ASTROLOGY 101

45 HOW AN EXPERIENCE-BASED

WHAT IS FAST FASHION?

CURRICULUM CAN IMPROVE THE

CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS

LONG-TERM MEMORY OF STUDENT

POLITICS & WORLD EVENTS

SIMONE BILES AND THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ON HER SHOULDERS

CRISIS IN BEIRUT, LEBANON, WORSENS A YEAR AFTER THE

49 LIFESTYLE 51 COPING WITH BACK-TO-SCHOOL STRESS 53 THE GUIDE TO ORGANIZATION: PART 2

EXPLOSION

55 SELF CARE & SCHOOL

OVERVIEW OF THE TOKYO

57 SUPER SUPERFOOD SNACKS

OLYMPICS

61 OPINION

CUOMO’S CASE AND THE

63 IS THE “THAT GIRL” TREND ON

MISTREATMENT OF WOMEN BY MEN IN POWER

SOCIAL MEDIA DAMAGING? 66 SHOULD SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES,

TECH & DESIGN

PARENTS, ETC. BE ALLOWED TO

CLOUD SEEDING: DOES IT DO MORE

BAN BOOKS?

HARM THAN GOOD?

69 IS CREATIVITY CRUCIAL?

IMPORTANCE OF BROADBAND

73 QUESTION OF THE MONTH

SCIENCE

75 MEMBER OF THE MONTH

PLACEBO EFFECT

77 SPONSORS

THE ETHICS SURROUNDING HYPNOTHERAPY

art a n d

astrology 101 Recently, zodiac signs have been trending on social media platforms. However, you don’t have only one zodiac sign: you have a whole chart! This article explains the fundamentals of astrology.

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censorship of books The censorship and banning of books is a highly debated topic, as it spurs questions of why and whether a book should be banned by a government, library, or school. This article discusses famously banned books, the reasons behind why they were banned, as well as why it may be deemed problematic.

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intro to astrology

We’ve all seen astrology plastered all over our Instagram feeds recently. . But what exactly is astrology? Astrology is the study of cosmic objects and their influence on human lives; the specific position of the sun, moon, stars, and planets on their axes at the time of a person’s birth. According to their fate, one’s future can be changed too. Astrological predictions are checked through sun signs, moon signs, and rising signs. Instagram, newspapers, and magazines most commonly discuss sun signs.

what are moon signs?

Along with a sun sign, a person has a moon sign as well. The moon unveils our instincts and emotions. In astrology, the moon represents a mother figure and can reflect our childhood experiences. Your moon sign can appear in private settings. Donna Page describes the moon sign as vital in “determining your overall personality” (Miller, 2021). The moon moves through the 12 constellations every 2.5 days. To determine your moon sign, you must know the date, time, and place of your birth. Knowing your moon sign helps you learn more about yourself, including how you respond to situations and why you experience certain emotions.

astrolo g what are sun signs? Sun signs are the signs that describe one’s personality traits. Sun signs remain constant according to the 12 constellations during the ups and downs of life. These signs are representative of the ‘truest’ version of yourself; the predictions, however,are not always correct. The sun is at the center of the solar system. Similarly, our sun signs describe our unique personal center. Each of the 12 signs have specific traits, ego, and nature that differentiate them from signs. Sun signs depict the particular way we live and what situations we can thrive in. For example, it is said that people who are born under the Gemini sign are the social butterflies and are indecisive. So, the sun sign of Gemini predicts this trait. From partners to careers, each sign has characteristics to distinguish them from one another.

what are rising signs?

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When you were born, there was a zodiac sign rising on the Eastern horizon. That zodiac sign is the ascendant or rising sign that describes your social personality. This sign represents the body and its outward style. It also reveals how you react to your environment. To know your rising sign, the exact time, location, and date of your birth must be known. Every 2.5 hours, a new zodiac sign rises on the Eastern horizon. Knowing the element of your rising sign shows how you engage with your surroundings and how you approach life.

conclusion There are three main placements in your birth chart: your sun, moon, and rising signs. Your sun sign determines your personality and ego. Your moon sign reveals your inner emotions and instincts. Finally, your rising sign signifies your interaction with the environment and physical looks. These three fundamental signs are important to understanding yourself. With knowledge of your sun, moon, and rising signs, you can uncover the motivations and achievements that drive you through life.

written by edited by layout by art by

ananya v, gunkriti kaur, & juee deshmukh harvi karatha, cindy zhang, & mia davis inchara j. evelyn chen

TW: Brief mentions of sexual assault, verbal abuse, and acts of physical violence. Fast fashion is when brands replicate luxury styles seen on the runway and quickly mass produce them at a low cost to themselves and consumers. Some infamous retailers of fast fashion are Zara, Shein, H&M, Uniqlo, and Forever 21. Over the years, the demand for fast fashion has rapidly increased because the cost to mass produce items has decreased and shipping times have decreased. Not only that, but the internet has perpetuated quicker trend cycles, decreasing how long an item will be trendy. With millions of clothes available to purchase at your fingertips, it has never been easier to go on a shopping spree from the comfort of your home. While fast fashion allows people to fill their wardrobes with the latest trends and express themselves at a low price, it encourages a mode of production that is greatly harmful. According to Earth.Org, the fashion industry is the second largest consumer of water worldwide. When

textiles are dyed, the leftover water from the dying process is dumped into bodies of water, polluting the Earth’s water supply. Recently, the use of synthetic fibers such as polyester and rayon have increased. The materials in some synthetic fibers take hundreds of years to biodegrade. When the fiber finally degrades, aquatic animals can mistake the microplastics for food, damaging their organs and eventually enabling microplastics to end up on our dinner plates. Also, the toxic chemicals used to produce rayon can kill factory workers. The manufacture of cotton clothes can negatively affect the environment too. Oftentimes, the cotton is treated with pesticides that seriously harm farmers’ health. Additionally, since clothes produced by fast fashion brands tend to be lowquality, they don’t have a long lifespan. When consumers inevitably end up throwing them out, 57% of the time, they end up in landfills. Once the landfill is filled to capacity, the clothes are incinerated, releasing poisonous gases into the atmosphere. Surprisingly, the fashion industry emits more CO2 per year than international flights and maritime shipping (the transport of goods by sea) combined.

What Is

Fast Fashion? 9

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You don’t have to kick your fast fashion habit altogether. However, when you want to buy an item, ask yourself if you’ll still want to wear it one or two years from now. A good alternative to shopping at fast fashion retailers is thrifting! Thrift stores typically set their prices low and have one-of-a-kind items. Another option is to buy clothes from local small businesses. The prices may be higher, but they are typically more durable than fast fashion brands’ clothes. You can also thoroughly research brands to ensure that they sustainably and ethically produce their clothes - again, the prices are also higher, but the clothes will last longer. Finally, a way to prevent your clothes from ending up in landfills and harming the environment is to donate them to your local homeless shelter or thrift store!

Art by

Sharon Pan

mployees at fast fashion factories face hostile and unsafe work onments. The majority of workers hese factories (mainly located in ) are young women. In a horrifying rt by the Global Labor Justice nization, it is revealed that women ing at H&M factories frequently rience sexual assault, physical nce, and verbal abuse from their supervisors. One woman said her supervisor assaulted her due not meeting unreasonably high uction quotas. When she reported to HR, they asked the supervisor pologize to her, then warned her to mention the incident again. men are rarely promoted to tions of power despite making up majority of workers at these ories. In a factory in Cambodia, en were forced to work overtime ng the sweltering summer (where peratures can rise to 100°F) out access to clean water or ar breaks. Workers are also paid emely low wages - the minimum e in many countries hasn’t caught o the cost of living yet. A woman Tiruppur, India said she wasn’t able to afford lunch from the ory’s cafeteria.

Written By Rachel Adam Edited by Geethi Tarra, Gunkriti Kaur, Shoffana Sundaramoorthy, & Cindy Zhang

Censorship of Books

written by Harshvir Chahal edited by Gunkriti Kaur & Cindy Zhang layout by Vrinda Gandhi art by Evelyn Chen

If it makes you uncomfortable, you’re probably the audience for it: this is a well-known philosophy used to counteract the act of banning books. The list of books that have been banned by international governments and school districts, thus far, is plentiful and long; a perfect example of irony, considering Fahrenheit 451 is on that list. Elsewhere in places like North Korea, all foreign material is banned. Under Taliban rule, all books are banned in Afghanistan. Clearly, the list of books banned by governments internationally is painfully extensive, and it’s about time we examine why.

Books are generally depending on the cultural said countries or places. Whe be banned by governments by schools and libraries, cens books is nothing new. Politi and religious reasons may g banned. Sexually expl misinforming material may a book on the banned list. . Ex these instances are, onc plentiful. For instance, in Ca Hoax of the Twentieth Ce Arthur Butz was banned main its misinformation, as it Holocaust-denying material Orwell’s 1984 was banned communist ideology” as we Catcher in the Rye by J. D which was otherwise ba language, violence, and material. Both are perfect ex books being banned for reasons, which is more problematic.

One of the most famous banned books was that of th To Kill a Mockingbird by Ha Not only did the novel conta amounts of racial slurs, discussed themes such as racism, all of which pe important societal issues th be discussed. On a similar book behind the famously Netflix show Thirteen Reas was banned for its discussion and teen suicide. The Hate U also banned in many school d

y banned norms in ether they or simply sorship of cal, moral et a book licit or lso land a amples of ce again, nada, The entury by nly due to included l. George for “proell as The D. Salinger, nned for explicit amples of political obviously

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for the conversations brought up regarding police brutality and racism, as well as the language used in the book. At some point, it was implied to be banned for its “anti-cop propaganda,” when in reality the book simply discussed real issues of police brutality. Books are written to be thought provoking and controversial, hence why it's seen as ironic when specific books are banned over others, especially when some criticise governmental structures or discuss morally tendentious topics. These three examples show how society shies away from discussing important topics for the sake of comfort, when in reality that reason is exactly why said topics should be discussed. The censorship of books holds society back from examination of it’s significant issues, thus slowing social progress as a whole. In much the same manner, books like I am Jazz by Jazz Jennings & Jessica Herthel and Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell were both banned in schools at the request of parents. Both involve LGBTQ+ related themes and topics: I am Jazz discusses the life of a transgender girl, while Tango Makes Three displays a same-sex penguin couple. These instances reveal the overall bigotry and misconceptions about LGBTQ+ communities by parents, despite how important it is to keep children informed and to keep such topics normalized to prevent issues with bullying and intolerance

later in life. Banning informative books that help familiarize children with the concept of being queer will only prove to be an obstacle, once again, when it comes to the social advancement of society as well as between queer children and their identities. Oscar Wilde, a gay classic literature author, was widely known for his disdain for censorship (especially since his books discussed homosexuality, which was severely looked down upon in his time). He famously stated that “the books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame,” as well as, “an idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all.” Information and literature, regardless of topic, should always be freely available, hence the driving ideas of freedom regarding religion, press, speech, and more. It goes without saying that there are several problems with censorship of books. Not only is creative freedom restricted, but as is the general advancement of society through the acknowledgement of societal issues discussed in banned books. One should have the freedom to not only write but also consume material as they please, considering how many censored books prove to be thoughtprovoking. To conclude, being able to pick up a charmingly controversial book and learn moral lessons from it (as well as open your mind to new ideas) is a privilege all should be able to have.

astrology 101

refere

Grabianowski, E. (2005, May 26). What is astrology? HowStuffWorks. https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/horoscopesastrology/question749.ht m. Heese, A. (2002). Home. Cafe Astrology. https://cafeastrology.com/articles/mooninsigns.html. Miller, K. (2021, July 1). Your moon sign has a huge impact on how you react to difficult situations. Women's Health. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/g19448039/what-is-my-moon-sign/. TRACEY, A. S. H. L. E. Y. (2019, April 15). What does Your sun, moon, and Rising sign really mean? Mindbody. https://explore.mindbodyonline.com/blog/wellness/what-does-your-sun-moonand-rising-sign-really-mean.

censorship of books

Banned & Challenged Classics. (2021, April 23). Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics Oscar Wilde Quotes About Censorship. (n.d.). A-Z Quotes. Retrieved August 29, 2021, from https://www.azquotes.com/author/15644Oscar_Wilde/tag/censorship Top 10 Most Challenged Books Lists. (2021, April 5). Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

13 3

s e c en

what is fast fashion?

Feuer, A. R., Lee, P., Goldwyn, A., Hoover, C., Leifer, N., Silliman Bhattacharjee, S., & Zurcher-Hamm, C. (2018, June 15). Gender Based Violence in the H&M Garment Supply Chain. Global Labor Justice. https://globallaborjustice.org/handm-report/. Hayes, A. (2021, April 1). Fast Fashion Definition. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fast-fashion.asp. Le, N. (2020, July 20). The impact of fast fashion on the environment . Princeton University. https://psci.princeton.edu/tips/2020/7/20/the-impact-of-fastfashion-on-the-environment. Maiti, R. (2020, January 29). Fast fashion: Its detrimental effect on the environment. Earth.Org . https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-onthe-environment/. Rauturier, S. (2021, July 26). What is fast fashion? Good On You. https://goodonyou.eco/what-is-fast-fashion/. Thompson, A. (2018, September 4). From Fish to Humans, A Microplastic Invasion May Be Taking a Toll. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/from-fish-to-humans-amicroplastic-invasion-may-be-taking-a-toll/.

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Politics & World Events

Simone Biles and the Weight of the World on her Shoulders

Crisis in Beirut, Lebanon, Worsens a Year After Explosion

Simone Biles’s controversial pullout from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was a feeder for criticism from sports enthusiasts and was crucial in opening the conversation about mental health and the pressure faced by athletes to perform their utmost best.

An Overview of the Tokyo Olympics

Cuomo's Case and the Mistreatment of Women by Men in Power

The Tokyo Olympics proved to be an eventful couple of weeks. Here’s a brief run-through of what went down.

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently left his position with a tarnished reputation after numerous sexual misconduct allegations against him were proven to be true.

Simone Biles and the Weight of the World on her Shoulders Written by Harshvir Chahal & Tanishka Gangavelli Edited by Helen Bian & Dominique Suniadji

Source: Secretaría de Deportes

Recognized as one of the most successful athletes of all time, Simone Biles reigns as the most decorated gymnast in history, winning a total of 36 medals throughout her career as of August 2021. Starting gymnastics at the age of six, she began her career at the 2011 American Classic, placing third all-round, and later burst into the international spotlight at the 2013 American Cup, finishing second overall. She is currently a five-time World AllAround Champion and a seven-time Olympic medalist with four gold, one silver and three bronze medals under her belt. Despite being countlessly referred to as the G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time) by the media because of her jaw-dropping capabilities, Biles has drawn her fair share of criticism, for being a black woman in the public eye as well as a sexual assault survivor. The immense pressure to win gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was apparent to any bystander, and it was just enough to affect anyone’s mental health. On Tuesday, July 27 (Pesce, 2021), Simone Biles pulled out of the team

gymnastics final, along with the allaround competition later that week. Though the American team still won silver (Armour, 2021), people are still wondering; what happened? According to The Atlantic, Biles had been struggling with some issues regarding her mental health. “You have to be there 100%," Biles said. "If not, you get hurt. Today has been really stressful. I was shaking. I couldn't nap. I have never felt like this going into a competition, and I tried to go out and have fun. But once I came out, I was like, No. My mental is not there,” she says, according to Esquire (Langmann, 2021). This not only has started a conversation regarding the mental health of athletes, but also a thread of both praise and criticism for Biles. In response to the positive responses (as well as the support she received from the USA Gymnastics organization), Biles had tweeted, “The outpouring love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before.”

Simone Biles is one of many athletes with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurological disorder that impacts executive functions and may cause emotional dysregulation. With this, on top of the issues she’d already been facing with her mental health, it’s no surprise that she hadn’t felt ready during one of the most important events of her life. Critics, however, had come back once again to condemn her decision, speaking out on social media with razor-sharp criticism. "We know a quitter when we see one, and right now the biggest quitter in sports is Simone Biles. She raised the white flag ... Biles has been universally praised for showing ‘bravery.’ Making excuses for failure seems to be the rage of the times,” says Ben Maller on the Ben Maller Show.

Source: Robert Gauthier

Charlie Kirk calls Simone Biles a "selfish sociopath" and a "shame to the country" "We are raising a generation of weak people like Simone Biles" - Jason Campbell, 2021 “USA gymnastics should pull Simone Biles’s ability to compete as an individual going forward & elevate the next best gymnast to the all around competitions. Reward the gymnast who didn’t quit on her teammates. If Biles can’t go for the team, she shouldn’t go individually either.” - Clay Travis, 2021 “Biles should have toughed it out for her peers. She didn't. She deserves ridicule. Stop. Celebrating. Fake. Victimhood.” - Amanda Presto, 2021

However, with this criticism also came a hurdle of love and support from fans and public figures alike. Fellow athlete, Jayson Tatum, had spoken out. “Is it that hard to be supportive and empathetic to what others are going through? This is someone’s daughter and her health your referring to. Wonder if he has kids and how he would feel as a parent someone talking about his kids this way.” (Tatum, 2021) Olympic champion Micheal Phelps, another athlete who has struggled with mental health, also demonstrated his support via an interview with TODAY. It's so important, especially to teach

Art by Sahithi Lingampalli Layout by Tristan Castro

kids at a young age to take control of their physical and mental health. You guys hear me talk about that so much, [but] if we're not taking care of both, how are we ever expecting to be 100 percent?" (Hanson, 2021) Not only has Simone Biles once again demonstrated positive, rolemodel behavior for athletes and fans, but she has also started a conversation regarding the mental health of athletes and people under the spotlight. Simone Biles is, and perhaps always has been, under a lot of pressure and scrutiny, especially as a black woman facing stereotypes of black women needing to be stronger than their white counterparts. Simone Biles is a strong woman, yes, but she deserves a break, and she deserves empathy.

CRISIS IN BEIR worsens a year aft The devastating explosion in Beirut which killed hundreds of people, injured thousands more, and left about $15 billion of damage was expected to bring upon a sense of responsibility in the corrupt government. However, this has not happened. The investigation that would uncover the cause of the explosion has been stalled, and political officials are closing in on the judge that is currently pressing for it to happen. The explosion is known as one of the largest accidental non-nuclear explosions in history. This negligence is the product of decades of political and economic problems since the civil war in 1990. President Michel Aoun seems to dismiss the catastrophe by ignoring its effect and claiming that he is not responsible. “I am not responsible,” he says, “I don’t know where it was put and I don’t know how dangerous it was.” The victims’ relatives have been pressuring the Lebanese government to continue investing and even urging them to request an international investigation led by the United Nations. These requests have been dismissed by the ruling class and ignored by the Lebanese government. Protests across the country have gravitated from demanding a change

edited by

SHOFFANA sundaramoorthy art & layout by SAHITHI lingampalli

RUT, LEBANON ter the explosion written by SHRAWANI pradhan

in the corrupt government to demanding the promise of survival. Due to hyperinflation, a majority of the Lebanese population cannot afford food, water or electricity. In fact, a recent United Nations survey shows that 77% of the Lebanese population cannot afford a meal on the table. The World Bank describes the economic collapse to rank in the top 10 or even the top 3 most severe financial crises in the world since the 1850s. This financial crisis has been going on since 2019 and it does not show any hints of improving. A solution to this massive problem is to create a new government. In fact, the alternative would have even more catastrophic results. Officials believe that a structural change is needed as they must rid the country of their religion-based system. The public is demanding opposing parties to take a stance as their belief in the current ruling party has been weakening for years. The citizens and officials of Lebanon are worried that neglecting the demand for change will create a new series of violence and a social crisis.

The competition consisted of 33 total sports and 339 events held across 42 different venues. It was a blast to see athletes from various countries breaking world records and winning medals. It was also the firstever debut of karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing in the Olympics. The new events were a great addition for both the cmpetitors and the spectators. By the end of the two weeks, the United States had won the most gold medals with a count of 39. China came in 2nd place with 38 and Japan came in 3rd with 27. The Tokyo 2021 Olympics brought

OV E

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The Tokyo Olympics made history for countries and was kick-started with the opening ceremony. After Emperor Naruhito of Japan officially commenced the artistic event, Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka performed the lighting of the cauldron, and a parade of athletes representing 206 nations followed.

WO E I V F R

The Tokyo Olympics that were meant to take place last year began this year on July 23rd and ended on August 8th. The world’s best athletes not only brought medals and pride to their home countries, but also brought back the enthusiasm of Olympics fans. Although some countries did not participate due to the pandemic and the stadiums were mostly empty throughout the games, it was a significant way to announce the gradual opening up of our world.

YO M Y OL

no shortage of highlights. Competitors such as Sydney McLaughlin, Carissa Moore, Noah Lyles and Allyson Felix delivered surprising and inspirational moments in their respective sports. 22-year old Sydney McLaughlin, an athletic prodigy, faced Dalilah Muhammad, the defending Olympic and world champion, in the final sprint of the women’s 400-m track and field final. Muhammad led most of the way but on the final 40-m sprint, McLaughlin pushed her way to the finish line with a time of 51.46 seconds, beating her own world record, which she set at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Muhammad ran the second-fastest time in the history of

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women’s 400-m hurdles. Carissa Moore, Olympic surfer, made a sudden decision to compete in the Olympics. With barely any time to prepare, she beautifully surfed the waves, outperforming her opponent, Bianca Buitendag. Buitendag praises Moore as “the most significant female surfer in the world[...]and has the most impact” (Buitendag). Noah Lyles, a defending 200-m track and field world champion, discussed mental health after he finished at third in the race. Reporters expected a conversation about Lyles’ disappointment and of what went wrong, which is how Lyles began the interview. However, he started to cry a few minutes in as he discussed feelings of guilt attached to his brother. His older brother’s dream was to come to the Olympics, which is what Lyle hoped to accomplish. He has the weight of that on him while he struggles with antidepressants and mental health issues. To finish off, he stated, “I am not defined by being an i kaur & annamalai Olympics bronze medalist, or a world champion, or the high schooler that went pro. That’s not who I am. I’m Noah Lyles. I’m not Usain Bolt’s successor. gangavelli I’m not Andre de Grasse’s successor. I’m nobody’s successor. I am me. And y zhang that’s who I’ll always be” (Lyle, 2021). Allyson Felix, a phenomenal track runner, is “a mother who overcame a life-threatening emergency C-section” (Gregory, 2021), juggled parenthood and competition, advocates for equity in maternal health care, and is an athlete who publicly criticized the pregnancy policy of her sponsor, Nike.

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Felix was going to go up against runners who were at the peak of their careers while raising a young daughter and trying to launch a new company. She had been very successful several years ago, but her athletic performance has been slowly deteriorating in recent years. But at the Tokyo 400-m race, she pushed hard and crossed the line in third, flashing a little grin. It was really hard for her to win, but she came through to become the most decorated female track-and-field athlete. After that, she was put on the all-star 4x400-m relay team and ended up winning gold for the U.S. One of the biggest and widely talked about occurrences was gymnast Simone Biles taking time off for her mental and physical well-being during the competition. Regardless of the controversy it has stirred up, she has truly inspired many individuals and asserted that it is alright to step down and prioritize your health over anything else. The Tokyo Olympics 2021 was an eventful two weeks and a very proud time for many competitors, families, and nations. It has brought our world back together after over a year of seclusion and signifies that society is positively moving on. It has brought back spirit and motivation in many individuals and hopefully, as the Covid-19 nightmare comes to an end, we can celebrate together as a world once again.

CUOMO

& the mistreatment of w August 3rd, 2021. A group of independent investigators, appointed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, released a report confirming the sexual harassment allegations made against former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. 179 individuals were interviewed and over 74,000 pieces of evidence were analyzed before the investigation came to a conclusion: Cuomo sexually harassed eleven women -- including both former and current staff members and women outside his office -- by repeatedly groping, kissing, and hugging them without their consent, along with making inappropriate and offensive comments. The investigative report also found that the environment of the Executive Chamber was “one filled with fear and intimidation” and one that “[normalized] the Governor’s frequent flirtations and gender-based comments” (Clark, A. L., Grant, Y., Kim, J. H., Park, J. K., Mainoo, A., Mukji, R., 2021).

Though the report that sparked the firestorm that is Cuomo’s career was released in early August, allegations had begun long before that. Lindsey Boylan was the first to come out with her story in December 2020. Karen Hinton and Charlotte Bennett were soon to follow in late February. After months of stewing in a sea of scandal, Cuomo finally caved and agreed to Attorney General James’ demands to have an independent investigator look into the allegations. Throughout the five painstaking months of the investigation, more women began to emerge with their stories of Cuomo’s solicitous behavior. Anna Ruch, Ana Liss, Alyssa McGrath, Sherry Vill, and a woman who chose to remain anonymous all released their anecdotes to the world. The deceptive flower that was Cuomo’s reputation was wilting, petal by petal. The release of the investigative report was the final nail in the coffin.

'S CASE

women by men in power In the days after August 3rd, Cuomo, armed by his lawyers and his aide Melissa DeRosa, determinedly put up a fight until his resignation on August 10th. Despite this decision, he refuses to drop his ardent claims of innocence.

Cuomo may be out of office, but his case isn’t over -- and neither is the impact of his actions. In the annals of political history, Cuomo is far from unique. Brett Kavanaugh was famously under fire in 2018, when he was charged with multiple accusations of sexual assault after his Supreme Court nomination by Donald Trump. Despite the allegations, he was sworn in. Although new details have come out in the ensuing months and years, his position as a Supreme Court justice remains unwavering. The higher-profile Donald Trump carries an even greater wealth of sexual misconduct allegations under his belt; at least 26 women have come out with

accusations against him since the 1970s. Though Trump has faced threats of impeachment and hellfire for many of his actions, he consistently escapes relatively unscathed. Additionally, Trump’s presidential successor, Joe Biden, has multiple allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior tacked to his record. It seems that in every sector of the political sphere, there is a man who has crossed too many boundaries with women. Even beyond his actions of sexual harassment, the report released by Attorney General James found that the environment of his Executive Chamber normalized the gender-based power imbalance between Cuomo and his female staff. What do the actions of Cuomo and similar men say about our society?

Sexism exists both overtly and discreetly. It poisons the upper echelons and the lower; it exists within leaders and followers. Men in power need to be punished for their mistreatment of women. Overlooked sexism within an environment must be actively extinguished, or else its normalization will linger in American society like smoke.

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REFERENCES

Simone Biles and the Weight of the World on her Shoulders

Armour, N. (2021, July 27). US women’s gymnastics team claims silver in team final after Simone Biles withdraws at Tokyo Olympics. USA TODAY. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2021/07/27/us-womens-gymnastics-silver-tokyo-olympics-simonebiles/5383082001/ Campbell, J. S. [Jason Campbell]. (2021, July 27). Charlie Kirk calls Simone Biles a “selfish sociopath” and a “shame to the country” "We are raising a generation [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/JasonSCampbell/status/1420122875323985920? ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Hanson, K. (2021, July 28). Michael Phelps on Simone Biles and mental health: “Can’t brush it under the rug anymore.” TODAY.Com. https://www.today.com/news/michael-phelps-shares-emotional-reaction-simone-biles-withdrawal-team-event-t226677 Hill, J. (2021, July 30). Simone Biles’s Critics Don’t Understand This Generation of Athletes. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/07/simone-biles-doesnt-need-to-look-invincible/619606/ Langmann, B. (2021, July 28). If You’re Criticizing Simone Biles, This Is the Company You Keep. Esquire. https://www.esquire.com/sports/a37154782/simone-biles-olympics-mental-health-criticism/. Mead, W. (2021, August 3). Simone Biles. Biography. https://www.biography.com/athlete/simone-biles Morgan, P. [Piers Morgan]. (2021, July 28). *NEW: Simon Biles calls herself the Greatest of All Time - but no GOAT would quit on their teammates like [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1420370415923482631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Pesce, N. L. (2021, July 28). Why did Simone Biles withdraw? Let’s look at why she’s at the Tokyo Olympics in the first place. MarketWatch. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-did-simone-biles-withdraw-lets-look-at-why-shes-at-the-tokyoolympics-in-the-first-place-11627497630 Team USA. (n.d.). Simone Biles. Retrieved August 12, 2021, from https://www.teamusa.org/usa-gymnastics/athletes/simone-biles Travis, C. [Clay Travis]. (2021, July 27). USA gymnastics should pull Simone Biles’s ability to compete as an individual going forward & elevate the next best gymnast [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/ClayTravis/status/1420136003600277511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw USA Gymnastics. (n.d.). USA Gymnastics | Simone Biles. Retrieved August 12, 2021, from https://usagym.org/pages/athletes/athleteListDetail.html?id=164887 USA Gymnastics [USA Gymnastics ]. (2021, July 27). After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition. We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/USAGym/status/1420266286441922562

Overview of Tokyo Olympics

Draper, K. (2021, August 31). Highlights from the Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/07/23/sports/opening-ceremony-olympics. Olympic Schedule & Results. Tokyo 2020 Olympics. (n.d.). https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/allsports/olympicschedule.htm#:~:text=Olympic%20competition%20schedule&text=The%20Tokyo%202020%20Olympic%20Games,held%20across %2042%20competition%20venues. Gregory, S. (2021, August 9). The 9 best moments of the Tokyo Olympics. Time. https://time.com/6088465/best-olympicsmoments-2021/.

Cuomo's Case and the Mistreatment of Women by Men in Power

Clark, A. L., Grant, Y., Kim, J. H., Park, J. K., Mainoo, A., Mukji, R. (2021). REPORT OF INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO. STATE OF NEW YORK OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES. https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2021.08.03_nyag_-_investigative_report.pdf Letitia James NY Attorney General. (2021, August 03). Independent Investigators Find Governor Cuomo Sexually Harassed Multiple Women, Violated State and Federal Laws. Retrieved from https://ag.ny.gov/pressrelease/2021/independent-investigators-find-governor-cuomo-sexually-harassed-multiple-women Mahtani, M., Wagner, M., Hayes, M., Rocha, V. (2021, August 04). August 3, 2021 Gov. Andrew Cuomo investigation. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/new-york-andrew-cuomo-investigation-08-03-21/index.html Greene, L. (2021, August 10). Key moments in Gov. Cuomo’s fall from grace. NY Daily News. Retrieved from https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-timeline-cuomos-fall-from-grace-20210810-czx73lqbufhsldlzv4it5ghjee-story.html Watkins, E. (2018, September 17). Timeline: How the Kavanaugh accusations have unfolded. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/17/politics/kavanaugh-ford-timeline/index.html https://www.businessinsider.com/women-accused-trump-sexual-misconduct-list-2017-12 https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-allegations-women-2020-campaign-2019-6#lucy-flores-alleged-in-march-2019that-biden-grasped-her-shoulders-from-behind-and-kissed-the-back-of-her-head-without-her-consent-during-a-campaignevent-in-2014-2

technolog cloud seeding Cloud seeding, as a new technology, has many advantages and disadvantages. Here we explore what cloud seeding is, how it works, how it’s used and the pros and cons of using it.

gy & design THE BROADBAND DISPARITY The world runs on the internet, but not everyone has equal access to high-speed, reliable internet. This article will explain why there is a disparity in internet access and how we can fix it.

cloud seeding: does it do more harm than good? water vapor. However, we’ve also learned that clouds do as they please; they’re not going to rain somewhere just because it's needed there. By artificially adding condensation to the atmosphere, cloud seeding helps turn this around. The structure of a cloud is altered to work around this issue: allowing for humans to essentially control rain. It doesn’t create clouds: it adds to them (Pop, 2019). There are many pros to using cloud seeding, as it creates a 10-15% increase in rainfall. It’s been used to increase snowfall for ski resorts, thus increasing runoff water in the spring for hydroelectric companies to use. It’s also been used for airports to clear away the fog, turn it into precipitation and manage hail in Alberta. It's even

Source: Vajiram & Ravi, 2019

According to Let's Talk Science, cloud seeding was used to ward off rain during the opening ceremonies at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Weather modification technology was also used to increase rainfall during the Vietnam war to flood roads and rivers of enemy troops. Similarly, cloud seeding has also been used to increase the quantity yet reduce the size of hail in Alberta to reduce damages, which later had encouraged insurance companies to fund weather modification projects (Pop, 2019). This sets up two major questions: what is cloud seeding, and is it more harmful or harmless overall? Cloud seeding, as previously mentioned, is a type of weather modification. Clouds are made up of

been used China, Russ looking into more wate droughts ( also crea advantage. crops, and creating mo activities. C jobs and e drought (M Howev there are seeding is s its effects largely un potential c or drought. seeding, sil aquatic life while f contaminat scientists a like calcium long-term are still unk Obje also a few concept of For one, th cloud seed must ask th Would it ha seeding? Is enough cloud seed (negatively resorts and

d to put out forest fires in sia and Thailand. Australia is o using cloud seeding to get r from clouds to save it for Pop, 2019). Cloud seeding ates a huge economic Farmers can use it for it aids tourism efforts by ore recreational water/snow Cloud seeding creates new even helps limit famine and iller, 2019). ver, as many pros as it has, also several cons. Cloud still new and unpredictable; on nearby weather are still nknown, considering any connections to flash floods . The material used in cloud lver Iodide, is toxic to both e (Pop, 2019) and human life further causing soil tion (Miller, 2019). Though are looking into alternatives m chloride (Pop, 2019), the impacts of cloud seeding known. ectively speaking, there are w more issues with the f cloud seeding as a whole. here is no guarantee that ing is entirely effective. One he question: ave rained regardless of the

Is this impact worth it (considering how expensive cloud seeding is)? (R, 2020) One must also consider one last thing: the root issue. Countries spend millions on weather modification. As it’s used mostly in areas affected by climate change, would it be simpler to continue to use it, or would it be simpler to invest in long-term solutions to tackle the root issue instead? All in all, one must weigh the pros against the cons and look into an issue further before taking a solid stance on an issue like this. Cloud seeding is just another way to avoid taking responsibility for climate change: a way with several consequences that we aren’t entirely prepared for. Do the benefits outweigh the consequences?

written by harshvir chahal edited by Kavya gurunath, taruni manam, & harvi karatha Art by thejo tattala Layout by Sahithi Lingampalli

snow or rain generated by ding to impact the budget or positively) for ski d hydroelectric companies?

Food, water, air, and the internet: the four necessities needed for human survival. In all seriousness though, we seem to be more and more reliant on the internet with each passing day. I can’t imagine a world where I would have to look up something in a library rather than just typing it into Google. This whole magazine is run through the internet, from communicating with each other to actually publishing the magazine. In fact, you are probably reading this article using internet access. However, not everyone has access to high-speed reliable internet, also known as broadband. About 19 million Americans don’t have access to fixed broadband. Rural areas in the United States are particularly suffering without broadband access. One-fourth of rural America, about 14.5 million people, don’t have access to high-speed, reliable internet (FCC, 2012). Lowincome Americans and tribal areas are also affected severely. Students aren’t able to do their homework due to a lack of internet access. There are

D A O R B D

students who stay outside in McDonald’s parking lots so that they can connect to the free Wifi to do their homework (Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj [Netflix], 2019). This puts these students and these communities at a disadvantage. There are two major problems causing the broadband crisis. The first being that we are nearing the capacity of the wireless spectrum. This basically means that with so many people on so many different devices, we are running out of airwaves to support them. Another is that there are only two main companies that command the market of providing fixed internet: Comcast and Charter. These two companies don’t have any other competition. They command the market, so they pretty much do what they want. Spreading broadband access to rural areas costs too much money and doesn’t lead to much revenue for the companies.

DB AND

Since there is no competition to motivate these companies to spread to these areas, they don’t, resulting in the lack of broadband access (Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj [Netflix], 2019). Luckily, solutions are starting to emerge to reduce the broadband disparity. There are some short-term solutions that have been proposed, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students lost access to the internet that they previously had when the country went into lockdown. One proposed solution is for college campuses to increase their Wi-fi to outdoors and throughout campus, so students can work there rather than have to use their phone’s data. Another solution would be to distribute mobile hotspots to students who need them (Stone, 2021). Long-term solutions are a work in progress. Some cities have taken it into their own hands to create internet access for their residents, such as Chattanooga, Tennessee

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layout by sierra tan art by juee deshmukh (Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj [Netflix], 2019). President Biden is planning a $65 billion operation to achieve 100% broadband coverage in the United States (Brodkin, 2021). Improving broadband access will improve lives. It will help the healthcare industry by allowing them to get better access to electronic medical records. It can improve safety by allowing first responders to communicate with each other wirelessly. It will help students bolster their education and allow them to keep up with their peers. It helps to improve economic development since broadband access will help their businesses grow and attract more jobs (Why Is Broadband Important, n.d.). If all of these lives are improved, the country itself will be improved. Overall, the more resources the citizens of a country have, the more potential a country has to grow.

THE

B D A A N O R D B D

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References Cloud Seeding: Does it Do More Harm Than Good?

Miller, K. (2019, October 7). 17 Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud Seeding. FutureofWorking.Com. https://futureofworking.com/8-advantages-and-disadvantagesof-cloud-seeding/ Pop, M. (2019, July 23). What is Cloud Seeding? Let’s Talk Science. https://letstalkscience.ca/educational-resources/stem-in-context/what-cloud-seeding R. (2020, June 18). How Does Cloud Seeding Work? Various Types and Negative Effects of Cloud Seeding. Conserve Energy Future. https://www.conserve-energyfuture.com/types-effects-cloud-seeding.php

Cloud Seeding: Does it Do More Harm Than Good?

America’s Broadband Crisis. (n.d.). Wireless for America. Retrieved August 15, 2021, from https://wirelessforamerica.org/the-facts/americas-broadband-crisis/ Brodkin, J. (2021, May 24). Biden cuts broadband plan from $100 billion to $65 billion to match GOP offer. Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/05/bidencuts-35b-from-broadband-plan-amid-gop-opposition-deal-still-unlikely/ FCC. (2012, August 23). Eighth Broadband Progress Report. Federal Communications Commission. https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/broadband-progressreports/eighth-broadband-progress-report Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj [Netflix]. (2019, June 16). Why Your Internet Sucks [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw87-zP2VNA&t=162s Stone, A. (2021, July 10). 6 Ways to Close the Broadband Gap Between Rural and Urban Students. Technology Solutions That Drive Education. https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2021/03/6-ways-close-broadband-gapbetween-rural-and-urban-students Why is Broadband Important. (n.d.). CT.Gov. Retrieved August 15, 2021, from https://portal.ct.gov/OCC/Telecom/Broadband/Broadband/Why-is-BroadbandImportant

Scie Placebo Effect The placebo effect is an interesting phenomenon where patient expectatio-ns (regardless of medica-tion) can help treat their condition. Discussing its history, use, psychology and ethics will help us understand the concepts behind it. page 39

The Ethics Surrounding Hypnotherapy This article discusses the practice of hypnotherapy, the fear and skepticism around it, and how to overcome that fear and skepticism. page 41

ence What is the Cerebrum? The human brain is responsible for sending and receiving chemical and electrical signals throughout the body. In fact, there is one region of the brain that plays a major role in receiving and interpreting information from the sense organs: the cerebrum. page 43

Experience on Students’ Memory Using experiences and engaging learning methods can allow students’ memory to strengthen and help them remember information in the long run. page 45

Placebo

Effect

Essentially, the placebo effect is your body giving you a false treatment. According to The Mental Elf, the placebo effect is defined as “a phenomenon whereby a fake treatment (usually a relatively inactive substance such as saline or sugar) can mimic the action of a real, active treatment and lead to an improvement in a person’s symptoms because they are expecting the fake treatment to be effective” (Steele, 2015). British physician John Haygarth first demonstrated the effect in 1799 using Perkins tractors. Perkins tractors are long, expensive metal rods that were purported to draw disease from the body (Mestel, 2017). Haygarth set the rods against artificial wooden Perkins tractors that looked similar to the expensive ones and found that 4 out of 5 patients with rheumatism noticed improvements in their pain (Mestel, 2017). However, the term “placebo effect” entered the clinical atmosphere due to American

anesthesiologist, Henry K. Beecher. Afterwards, scientists conducted many studies to put the effect into play in the modern scientific era. For a long time, placebos have been used in clinical trials. They are a vital part of medical research, as they help test the effectiveness of new treatments. In clinical trials, one group of people take the medication while the control group takes the placebo. Sometimes, none of the participants know whether they are taking the placebo or active medication. Researchers then compare the results of both groups to evaluate effects of the medication (Placebo effect, n.d.). The placebo effect is also famously utilized in psychiatry. Not only is it crucial in medical trials when put up against drugs like antidepressants, but also an interesting phenomenon to observe in terms of how powerful the human mind can be. Studies show

that the effect placebo effect on the severity basically, the p was far more those with a lo conditions schizophrenia, autism, obsess disorder, atte hyperactivity d eating diso depression (Ste

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is associated with the neurotransmitter dopamine) (Steele, 2015). Research shows that those who, for example, experienced greater pain relief from chronic pain-related conditions also experienced more activity in the frontal lobe of the brain (Harvard Health, 2019). The relation between the body, mind, and its expectations are closely linked in this case. When the mind expects one thing, the body is also anticipated to expect the same (and therefore stimulate the same reaction), thus causing the results of a successful experiment with the placebo effect. “For instance, in one study, people were given a placebo and told it was a stimulant. After taking the pill, their pulse rate sped up, their blood pressure increased, and their reaction speeds improved. When people were given the same pill and told it was to help them get to sleep, they experienced the opposite effects.” (DerSarkissan, 2020) Negative effects of placebo include the ‘nocebo effect,’ which describes unwanted outcomes such as pain, nausea or drowsiness (Saling, 2012). This occurs because the patient was expecting to experience such symptoms (Placebo Effect, n.d.). It can occur if a patient takes active medicine or a placebo pill. The effects can be triggered if the patient is informed of the unfavorable outcomes they can potentially experience. Other negative side effects may include worsening of the

state of the body or mind, if the placebo effect is deemed ineffective on a patient. The ethics regarding using the placebo effect in clinical trials has been and still is greatly debated. Because of the inherent level of deception involved needing a patient to believe one thing while another is going on, many wonder if using placebos in clinical trials is morally correct. On one hand, the patient has not consented to this method of “treatment”, while on the other hand, said treatment is inherently harmless depending on the given circumstances, and the patient is likely to have consented to participating in the said trial in the first place. Though this situation of blanket consent generally is considered enough, many consider this idea controversial, and say that patients should have access to all available information about their treatment.

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The Ethics Surrounding Hypnotherapy Each Mind x The Affair Collab Written by Ashmita Annamalai, Hafiza Samath, & Sahithi Lingampalli Edited by Taruni Manam & Sahithi Lingampalli Art by Thejo Tattala Layout by Tristan Castro

Hypnotherapy has been perceived as a skeptical method used in psychiatry since the 19th century. Although more than 50% would seek such therapy in the future, a 2019 study of hypnotherapy found that 20% of Americans are skeptical and do not believe in the method. What resulted in the general public being skeptical about hypnotherapy? The ethical side of hypnotherapy has been a major contributing factor. A common practice of hypnotherapy is to cause the client to enter a trance-like state. This state is parallel to being engulfed into a book or movie. Everyone achieves this state when sleeping. The thoughts of clients will be turned inwards just like when one is daydreaming or thinking deeply. However, the client will still have control of their body and actions. This

form of therapy has been used in many psychological treatments along with psychiatric medications, behavioral therapies and many other means. Hypnotherapy is successfully used on those suffering with anxiety disorder, learning problems, relationship issues, depression or even chronic/severe pain. It is not the preferred treatment by most doctors. They usually resort to cognitive behavioral therapy first. Unlike its portrayal in movies or television, the person undergoing hypnosis is aware that they are undergoing it, and can acutely remember what has happened afterwards. The person undergoing hypnosis also does not lose control of their body. Hypnosis can be quite an effective tool when straightforward methods of therapy fail to work. However, the

usage of hypnosis has remained a controversial topic for many years because of its function and effects on the human mind. Some fear that the hypnotist might obtain complete control of their mind or might reveal personal and sensitive information while in the trance. Others fear the possibility of dangerous post-hypnotic effects or that the process goes terribly wrong. If the hypnotist is not honest or clear with the individual on what exactly will happen, it is hard to understand and stay calm while the hypnotist manipulates the mind. There are ways to avoid instilling these fears. One is to obtain highly experienced and trusted hypnotists to administer the hypnotherapy. The function of hypnosis, the pros and

cons and the effects must all be clearly stated to the individual before beginning the session. A confidentiality agreement must also be outlined to protect the security of the individual if they do end up revealing personal information. Finally, hypnosis must only be used if absolutely needed. If there is a safer alternative to help the individual that may benefit them more, the option should be given. Hypnosis is a complex, yet a deeply impacting method of helping an individual with matters of the mind. As effective as it may be, there are various ethical concerns surrounding the usage of it in therapy. To resolve the concerns, steps can be taken to ensure the individual a safe and impactful experience.

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Sharon Pan

WHAT IS THE

CEREBRUM? cerebrum? The cerebrum, scientifically known as the telencephalon, is the largest and uppermost division of the brain. In the human skull, the cerebrum sits atop the brainstem, with the cerebellum underneath the rearmost portion. In general, the cerebrum controls all voluntary actions. It’s divided into two hemispheres, each with four lobes. Areas in the cerebrum are responsible for receiving and interpreting much of the physical world around the body. The cerebrum initiates and coordinates movement while simultaneously regulating temperature. The frontal lobe is primarily in control of cognitive functions, such as speech production, judgment, thinking and reasoning, problem-solving, emotions, learning, and voluntary movement. The occipital lobe is responsible for vision, and the parietal lobe processes temperature, taste, touch, and movement. The temporal lobe processes memories and integrates them with sensory information.

Just as with the brain, the cerebrum itself has multiple divisions, which neuroscientists generally use to classify the functions of the different areas. The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the cerebrum, or its gray matter. In humans, this gray matter has an uneven surface with many folds. ridges called gyri and valleys, or folds, called sulci help increase the surface area of the cerebral cortex. Beneath the cerebral cortex lies the deeper structures, often known as white matter. This includes nerve fibers called axons, which help connect and transmit information to various areas of the cerebral cortex.

While the cerebral cortex and white matter make up the cerebrum, there are other regions located within it. The cerebrum contains different sets of arteries; separated into the anterior, middle, and posterior, each of the branches help provide blood to the different regions of the brain. The olfactory bulb, the structure that receives information regarding the sense of smell, lies beneath the frontal lobe and delivers information regarding smell directly to the cerebral cortex for interpretation. Additionally, the hippocampus plays a role in learning and memory.

The cerebrum is no more immune from harm than any other part of the body. Some of the most common causes of brain damage are strokes and concussions, though it can also occur through chemical exposure. Cerebral damage can have varying effects, depending on which hemisphere and lobe is harmed. Damage to the back part of the frontal lobe can result in weakness, paralysis and sensory impairment on the opposite side of the body from the side of the brain that sustained damage; the same is true for vision after occipital lobe damage. Memory loss is a common symptom when one faces damage to the limbic lobe, which is responsible for memory retrieval, integration, and formation. Unique effects of right hemisphere damage can include spatial issues with depth perception and direction, lacking awareness of the position and movement of the body (especially with damage to the middle part of the parietal lobe), being unable to use maps or locate items, and behavior problems like apathy, depression, impulsiveness, or inappropriateness. Unique effects of left hemisphere damage can include aphasia (especially when the middle back part of the left frontal lobe is damaged), impaired mathematical, organizational, reasoning, and analytical ability, impaired ability to read, write, and learn new information, especially with damage to the temporal lobe, and behavior problems, like depression and hesitancy. The brain is arguably the most important organ in the body; cerebral damage can be as critical as the brain is crucial.

experience on students' memory written By Ashmita Annamalai

Edited by Kavya Gurunath, Helen Bian, & Juee Deshmukh Students across the world go through many years of schooling to prepare them for the real world and to give them the skills to flourish as accomplished individuals. As much as students acquire skills from the countless hours of instruction administered by teachers, a lot of it is forgotten in both the short and long term. Citing an 1880 study conducted by Hermann Ebbinghaus, without any reinforcement of what one has learned, information is forgotten at a rate of around 56% in one hour, 66% after twenty-four hours and 75% after 144 hours (Terada, 2017). The effort teachers and students put in every day at school is not supported by the current methods of traditional teaching, as mostly all of the information drilled into a student’s brain has no value in future circumstances after it is forgotten.

Memory is consolidated through a time-dependent process in which the recent experiences of an individual are transformed into long-term memory. This occurs through structural and chemical changes, such as the strengthening of synaptic connections between neurons, in the nervous system. Memory consolidation has three main steps: encoding, storage and retrieval. Encoding is when the actual memory is imported into the brain, allowing information to be converted into a construct that is stored in the brain for a long time. The process of encoding begins with perception, or the identification, organization and interpretation of sensory information in order to understand it within the context of a certain environment. Stimuli are perceived by the senses and cause signals to travel to the thalamus of the brain.

There, they are synthesized into one coherent experience. The hippocampus then analyzes this experience and decides if it is worth committing to long-term memory. Encoding is done by using chemicals and electric impulses within the brain. Neural pathways are formed and strengthened through a process called long-term potentiation, which alters the flow of information within the brain. In simpler terms, as a person experiences events, the brain “rewires” itself to store those new experiences in their memory. Once the information has been encoded, our brains take that information and place it in storage, where a permanent record of information is created. Retrieval is the act of getting information out of storage and back into conscious awareness.

Our minds can retrieve accessible information as opposed to available information. Available information is what is stored in memory, but exactly how much and what types are stored is not known. On the other hand, accessible information is everything we know and information we can retrieve (Boundless Psychology, n.d.). Experience is the best way to learn because of systems-level memory consolidation, which is the process by which memories are transferred from the hippocampus to areas of the cortex as part of long-term retention. Through this mechanism, the most

declarative memories are acquired through episodic learning, or the process of storing experiences in one’s episodic memory (the memory associated with past life experiences and events) or retrieving that information and using it to improve behavior. Within this framework, postencoding interactions between the hippocampus and the cortex, particularly the sensory cortex, associated with encoding stabilizes information in long-term memory. Thus, episodic memory is much stronger than semantic memory, proving that experiences are much stronger than facts. Using experiences and hands-on learning to teach students would aid in the process of memory consolidation. This process is weakened when teacher-centered curriculums apply passive methods of teaching. In other words, this occurs when teachers merely instruct students on what to do and send information up to their brains for them to memorize and recite. Instead, resorting to active methods of teaching and allowing students to learn top-down, or motivating students through engagement and allowing them to find salience in a subject by applying their own experiences, can help students interact with the learning process.

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Science

Placebo Effect

Harvard Health. (2019, August 9). The power of the placebo effect. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mental-health/the-power-ofthe-placebo-effect Mestel, R. (2017, October 25). The imagination effect: A history of placebo power. Knowable Magazine. https://knowablemagazine.org/article/mind/2017/imagination-effect-history-placebo-power Placebo effect. (n.d.). Better Health Channel. Retrieved August 17, 2021, from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/placebo-effect#bhc-content Saling, J. (2012, January 31). What Is the Placebo Effect? WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/what-is-theplacebo-effect Science and Technology Committee. (2010, February 22). Www.Parliament.Uk. https://web.archive.org/web/20120224202602/http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-archive/sciencetechnology/s-t-homeopathy-inquiry/ Steele, D. (2015, June 8). Placebo Effect in Psychiatry: What do we Really Know? The Mental Elf. https://www.nationalelfservice.net/publication-types/literature-review/placebo-effect-in-psychiatry-what-do-we-really-know/

The Ethics Surrounding Hypnotherapy The Ethics of Hypnosis. The ethics of hypnosis. (n.d.). http://changingminds.org/techniques/hypnosis/articles/hypnosis_ethics.htm. Cherry, K. (2020, July 24). 5 Myths About Hypnosis Debunked. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-hypnosis2795921. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2020, November 14). Hypnosis. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hypnosis/about/pac-20394405.

What is the Cerebrum? Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d). Effects of Stroke. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/stroke/effectsof-stroke Huang, J. (2020, September). Brain Dysfunction by Location. Merck Manual. https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/brain,-spinalcord,-and-nerve-disorders/brain-dysfunction/brain-dysfunction-by-location Mayo Clinic (n.d) Brain lobes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/brain-lobes/img-20008887 Johnson. J. (2020, May 20). Everything you need to know about the cerebrum. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cerebrum#definition Johns Hopkins Medicine (n.d). Brain Anatomy and How the Brain Works. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-anddiseases/anatomy-of-the-brain

Experience on Students’ Memory Bhatt, S. (2019, April 23). Explaining Reinforcement Learning: Active vs Passive. Medium. https://towardsdatascience.com/explainingreinforcement-learning-active-vs-passive-a389f41e7195 Boundless Psychology. (n.d.). Introduction to Memory. Lumen. Retrieved August 17, 2021, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-psychology/chapter/introduction-to-memory/ Patil, A., Murthy, V. P., Dunsmoor, J. E., Phelps, E. A., & Davachi, L. (2016). Reward retroactively enhances memory consolidation for related items. Learning & Memory. https://doi.org/10.1101/lm.042978.116 Quain, S. (2018, June 25). The Difference Between Top-Down Teaching & Bottom-up Teaching. Classroom.Synonym. https://classroom.synonym.com/difference-between-topdown-teaching-bottomup-teaching-12059397.html Terada, Y. (2017, July 20). Why Students Forget—and What You Can Do About It. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/whystudents-forget-and-what-you-can-do-about-it

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coping with

back to school stress

the guide to

organization part 2

Stress can be defined as a type of change that causes physical, emotional or psychological strain on one’s well-being. Stress is your body's response to a stressor: anything that requires attention or action. In fact, the way you respond to stress makes a considerable impact on your overall well-being.

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super

superfood snacks

Switching your lifestyle from the leisurely days of summer to the hustle and bustle of school can be difficult. Luckily, there are ways to make the transition easier and help you enjoy your school life a little more!

Superfoods have a variety of health benefits that can improve your wellbeing. Read on to learn more about superfoods, and how to easily incorporate them into your diet!

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not all types of stress are harmful or even negative. To start off, there are four main categories of stress: acute, episodic acute, chronic stress, and eustress. As the most common classification of stress, acute stress is the body’s response to a recent or anticipated challenge or unexpected event. At times, acute stress is beneficial in short periods. Similar to acute stress, episodic acute stress occurs when an individual experiences acute stress in a rather frequent manner. Chronic stress, being the most threatening stress of the four, is ongoing stress resulting from long-term emotional pressure. A stressful job, an unhappy family situation or even financial issues are a few instances of chronic stress. Being the only “positive” category of stress, eustress is a fun and exciting type of stress that keeps you energized. In fact, it is associated with surges of adrenaline as well. Although stress is something that everyone experiences, what causes stress itself differs from person to person. According to the American Psychological Association, otherwise known as the APA, money is the leading cause of stress in the United States. Another source of stress is associated with work; too much work, job insecurity, dissatisfaction with a job or career, and conflicts with a boss or co-workers are a couple of examples. Sometimes, individuals that are part of our life bring about stress as well. Be it a family member, an

intimate partner, friend or even a coworker, all may affect our physical and mental health. Day-to-day stressors are also our daily inconveniences. Usually, these are just minor setbacks, but if they become frequent, they become a source of anxiety affecting physical and psychological health. All in all, there are many reasons why an individual may face stress. Stress is not always easy to recognize, but there are some ways to identify the many signs that you might be experiencing too much pressure. If you think stress might be affecting you, there are a few things you can keep a lookout for: Psychological signs: difficulty concentrating, worrying, anxiety, and trouble remembering. Emotional signs: being angry, irritated, moody, or frustrated. Physical signs: high blood pressure, changes in weight, and frequent colds or infections. Behavioral signs: poor self-care, not having time for the things you enjoy, or relying on drugs and alcohol.

Although stress is inevitable for the human race, it can nevertheless be manageable. When you understand the steps to combat stress, you can take charge of your health and reduce the impact stress has on your life. Learn to recognize the signs of burnout. High levels of stress may place you at a high risk of burnout. Burnout can leave you feeling exhausted and apathetic about yourself. Try to get regular exercise. Physical activity has a major impact on your mind and your body. Whether you enjoy yoga or jogging, any form of exercise reduces stress and improves the many symptoms associated with mental illness. Take care of yourself. Incorporating regular self-care activities into your daily life is essential to stress management. Practice mindfulness in your life. Mindfulness is not only something you practice for 10 minutes each day, it can also be a way of life. Learning how to live more mindfully throughout your day allows you to be more awake and conscious throughout your life.

by nitya baratam edited by harshvir chahal, jason liu, & taruni manam art by thejo tattala layout by sahithi lingampalli

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O R G A N I Z A T I O N

In part 1 of The Guide to Organization (last issue) we went over how you can organize your information for school, school supplies, backpack, and closet. In Part 2 of The Guide to Organization we will provide you with tips and tricks on how you can organize your home study/office spaces and kitchen. When organizing your home study space, you can start with books. Instead of piling up books in the same area, you can sort them by purpose. For example, you can separate the textbooks (or course materials) from the general books. Once your textbooks are grouped based on subject (history, science, math, english, foreign language, etc) and placed

Art by Evelyn Chen Layout by Sierra Tan

vertically so that you can spine, you can start orga general books and novels (nonfiction, fantasy, fiction, romance, etc). It is preferabl these books in (a) separat from your textbooks, but no You can put your books in bookcase for decorative disp can put them in a closed boo choose a few personal fa display around the room. Now have your books organized move on to the supplies. It have cabinets or storage un supplies. For example, you stationery (pens, pencils, highlighters, tape, paper clip groups, and use desk org containers to categorize them put notebooks (new and another shelf. You can notebooks from past years in

Written by Samita Pandit & Thejo Tattala Edited by Taruni Manam, Jashan Mehta, Ameya Aneja

n see the anizing the by genre n, mystery, le to place te shelf(s) ot required. n an open play or you okcase and avorites to ow that you d, you can is best to nits for the u can put s, erasers, ps, etc) in ganizers or m. You can used) on also put na

separate section in the bookshelf. Folders can be put in a separate section. Finally, you can put art supplies, robotics materials, and other custom materials in their own shelves/cabinets/containers, grouped by item or purpose. However, if you are organizing your office space, your other supplies may differ based on your profession and needs. If that is the case, just remember CLASSIFICATION (based on item, purpose, recently used, or any other category of your choice). It is also always helpful to have a miscellaneous cabinet for items you cannot classify. Now that your supplies are organized, it is important to find a flat space that you can work on. It is ideal to work on a desk, a table, or a lap desk, however, you can work on the ground if preferred. It is preferable to keep your desk free of any dirt or clutter. If you have a computer, make sure that you have a charging socket near your desk/flat surface or an extension cord so that you can attend meetings, group study sessions, lessons, etc. Finally, a personal touch makes any place much more lovable, so be sure to decorate using pictures. When organizing your house, it is important to avoid clutter and unnecessary items. Always make sure that the environment is kept neat. For example, when organizing the kitchen, you need to store spices, ready-made food, cooking utensils, etc. It is

preferable to put the spices, seasonings, and any other fine, powdery ingredient (salt, pepper, etc) in identical containers and organize them in rows. You may organize them in rows based on how often you use them or on a spice rack to have easy access to all of them. To store commonly used ingredients with much larger quantities such as sugar and flour, you can pour them into larger containers and put them in a separate shelf or cabinet. Make sure that you label every container to prevent confusing ingredients. You can organize cereals and breakfast food in a separate cabinet, placed right next to each other so that you can see their labels. Plates and bowls should be stacked horizontally on top of each other, each put in their pile. Cups and glasses should be placed in arrays (NOT STACKED). It is preferable to separate them and group the ones that look alike. It is always helpful to have a pantry for food that you cannot classify. The countertops should be empty except for a few items, such as a toaster, knife set, coffee machine, dish rack, or any other appliances you use daily. Your fridge can be organized based on the category of food (ie: grains, vegetables, dairy, etc). Either way, make sure that you do not stuff your fridge or clutter it. Stacking food is helpful when trying to fit it in a confined space.

Gu ru na th

Ka vy a

Back to School: the most wonderful time of the year. I’m just kidding. After 2 months of summer, away from stress and work, going back to school is a huge adjustment. Suddenly, you have to manage studying, extracurriculars, homework, sports practice, and are still expected to behave like a sane, rational person. Going back to school can be hard when there are so many expectations of you and so much you expect of yourself. However, it is important to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Despite the importance of schoolwork, feeling happy, healthy and strong is really important as well.

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self care

Here are some tips to remain calm and collected during the school year: 1. Get regular exercise. Exercise helps you stay fresh, alert, and happy. When you exercise, your body releases serotonin and endorphins which make you happy. Exercise also reduces stress. Taking a short 15-minute walk can improve your mood and help you feel more energized so that you can get through the rest of your day. 2. Eat healthy and sleep well. When tests and homework start to pile up, eating and sleeping start to have less priority. However, it is important to eat healthy, have full meals, and sleep 7-9 hours a day. Eating nutritious foods and getting enough sleep will help you study better. 3. Set goals and schedules for yourself. Planning out your time in advance will help you prioritize your activities and can prevent you from rushing to get it all done.. Buying a calendar or using an online one can help with scheduling your activities, as well as keeping track of important deadlines such as upcoming tests, assignment due dates, etc.. Be sure to schedule time for leisure activities, such as time to hang out with friends and family, attend concerts, watch movies, among others. School may be your first priority, but that doesn’t mean you have to completely throw yourself into it. Make sure that you set time to enjoy yourself.

4. Know how to boost your mood. Sometimes life can catch up to you and make you feel annoyed, irritated, sad, or even hopeless. When you start to feel like this, know that there are ways for you to gain your motivation back. If you're ever worried about a bad grade, look at the bigger picture. Realize that one test grade may seem like a big deal now, but will probably be forgotten years later. If you start to lose motivation while studying, take a small break from it. Give yourself things to look forward to by starting the day doing something you enjoy, like listening to your favorite song or eating your favorite breakfast. If something is bothering you, know that there is always someone you can talk to: a friend, family member, teacher, or counselor. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Be kind to others; realize that everyone is going through something in their lives that you may not know about. If you are kind to someone, not only will you help them, but you will also make yourself feel better. Hopefully, these tips can help you better manage your life when school is back in session. You should know that everyone is different, and what may work for some may not work for you. So, choose the tips that best benefit you! Good luck for the 2021-2022 school year!

Super Superfood Snacks

Written By Rachel Adam

Superfoods offer multiple health benefits (like reducing the risk of multiple diseases) and contain high levels of many vital nutrients. Here’s 3 superfoods that you can start to incorporate into your snacks!

Superfood #1: Blueberries Blueberries are full of antioxidants, which protect your body from “free radicals” that can damage your cells and cause cancer. They also contain nutrients that can increase your shortterm memory, make you feel full for a longer period of time, and improve coordination. Your chances of having a heart attack are also reduced, thanks to their high fiber, vitamin B6, and folate content.

Blueberry Muffin Recipe: Ingredients: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ¾ cup granulated sugar ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt or table salt 2 teaspoons baking powder ⅓ cup canola or vegetable oil 1 large egg ⅓ to ½ cup milk 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup blueberries Materials: Large bowl Measuring jug/medium sized bowl Whisk Muffin tin 10 cupcake liners Cooling rack Process: 1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line the muffin tin with 10 cupcake liners. 2. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

3.Pour the oil into the measuring jug/medium sized bowl and add the egg. Fill the jug with milk until it reaches the 1 cup line (or add about ⅓ to a ½ cup of milk). Add the vanilla, then whisk to combine. 4.Pour the wet ingredients into the large bowl. Use a fork to mix everything, until just combined (don’t overmix!). 5.Fold in the blueberries. 6.Pour the batter into the cupcake liners. 7.Bake muffins for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 8.Transfer to a cooling rack, let cool for 25 minutes. Tips: The batter should be thick, yet scoopable. If the batter is too dry, add 1 tbsp of milk, if it is too runny, add 1 tbsp of flour.

Superfood #2: Tomatoes Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that protects the eyes from sun and age-related damage and reduces your risk of developing cancer. Tomatoes also have nutrients that reduce your risk of heart disease, protect the muscles from deterioration, and decrease damage to your skin from sunlight, pollution, and smoke.

Salsa Fresca Recipe: Ingredients: 3 tomatoes 1 small onion ¼ green bell or jalapeño pepper ¾ teaspoon olive or vegetable oil ¾ teaspoon vinegar ¼ teaspoon cilantro ¼ teaspoon lime juice ¼ teaspoon ground cumin ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ garlic clove Materials: Large bowl Chef’s knife Cutting board Large spoon Disposable gloves Plastic wrap Process: 1. Put on your gloves - jalapeño peppers can burn your skin. 2. Dice the onion and pepper. Put them into the large bowl. Add the lime juice, vinegar, and salt. Mix everything together. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. 3. Chop the tomatoes and cilantro, and add them to the bowl. Mix again. 4. Dice the garlic clove. Add the diced garlic, oil, and cumin to the bowl. Mix again, until all ingredients are combined. Add more salt, if needed. 5. Wrap the bowl with plastic wrap and let the mixture sit for 1 hour in

the refrigerator. 6.Enjoy! I suggest dipping tortilla chips into the salsa fresca, it tastes amazing!

Superfood #3: Carrots Carrots are rich in antioxidants that can lower your risk of lung cancer, and kill leukemia cells or slow or stop their progression. Carrots also contain nutrients that help prevent age-related eye damage and osteoporosis, reduce your chances of developing colon cancer and the risk of high blood pressure, and improve your immune system.

Carrot Fries Recipe: Ingredients: 2 carrots 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon fresh parsley ½ teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon garlic powder Optional Greek Yogurt Dip: 1 cup plain Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons chives ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Materials: Cutting board Chef’s knife Vegetable peeler Large bowl Parchment paper Baking tray Small bowl (optional - for the dip) Process: 1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. 2. Peel the carrots, then cut them into fries and mince the parsley. 3. Put the carrots into the large bowl and toss with the olive oil, parsley, paprika, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. 4. Line your baking tray with parchment paper and place the carrots on it. Bake them for 20-25 minutes, flipping the fries halfway through. 5. Combine the yogurt, lemon juice, chives, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl, and set aside in the refrigerator, until you are ready to eat. Tips: Slice the carrots thicker than you think they need to be - they shrink A LOT in the oven! Space the carrots far apart - this makes the fries crispier! After baking, set the fries on a paper towel to absorb extra oil. Frequently check on the fries in the oven - they burn easily. Edited by Samita Pandit, Ashmita Annamalai, & Arushi Patil Layout by Vrinda Gandhi Art by Sharon Pan

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Scott, E. (2020a, June 29). The Main Causes of Stress. Verywell Mind; Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-main-causes-of-stress-3145063 Scott, E. (2020b, August 3). Stress: Definition, Symptoms, Traits, Causes, Treatment. Verywell Mind; Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/stress-and-health-3145086#coping Susman, D. (2020, August 3). Stress: Definition, Symptoms, Traits, Causes, Treatment. Verywell Mind; Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/stress-and-health-3145086 Types of Stress | Good Thinking | Good Thinking. (n.d.). NHS Approved Wellbeing Service | Good Thinking; Good Thinking. Retrieved August 15, 2021, from https://www.good-thinking.uk/typesstress/

self care &

school

Boost Your School Performance by Taking Care of You. (n.d.). Mental Health America. Retrieved August 11, 2021, from https://mhanational.org/boost-your-school-performance-taking-care-you Kogan, N. (2013). I went back to high school and learned 10 simple ways to be happier - Happier. Happier. https://www.happier.com/blog/ways-to-be-happier-learned-high-school/ Whitney, S. (2018, February 2). How to Maintain a School-Life Balance. Student Caffé Blog. http://blog.studentcaffe.com/maintain-school-life-balance/

super

superfood snacks

Basini, L. (n.d.). Salsa - Serves 4 People. Huntington. Gallagher, A., & Gallagher, J. (2021, January 24). Quick and Easy Blueberry Muffins. Inspired Taste - Easy Recipes for Home Cooks. https://www.inspiredtaste.net/18982/our-favorite-easyblueberry-muffin-recipe/. Sandoval, M. (2017, July 11). Carrot Fries. Tasty. https://tasty.co/recipe/carrot-fries. Ware, M. (2019, December 4). Carrots: Benefits, nutrition, diet, and risks. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270191#benefits. Ware, M. (2017, September 25). Tomatoes: Benefits, facts, and research. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/273031. Ware, M. (2017, September 5). Blueberries: Health benefits, facts, and research. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287710.

Opin Is the “THAT girl” trend on social media damaging? A recent Tiktok trend, the “that girl” trend, is meant to be a positive influence on individuals to encourage them to pursue an aesthetic and healthy lifestyle. As impactful as this trend is, could it be damaging?

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Is creativity crucial? Creativity in educational systems is crucial for the development of society. The current suppression of creative identity in a professional setting due to societal negligence of the arts leads to a lack of valuable skills. Supporting creative endeavors, however, allows inner bliss and purpose to bloom as passions are utilized.

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“THAT girl” trend dama

Summer is the perfect opportunity for those who are looking to better their lifestyle, clean up some unhealthy habits, and adopt new hobbies, AKA becoming “THAT” girl: a concept that has been trending all over social media. Now, who exactly is “THAT” girl? Some defining factors could include waking up at 5am, exercising daily, drinking green smoothies, practicing early morning meditations, and journaling. While this may sound like a lifestyle taken directly off of a Pinterest board, these content creators don’t realize that this lifestyle they have romanticised on the internet may set up some unrealistic expectations for their audience. Aesthetics used in trends such as these can be used as great motivators and inspiration, but they can also hide ugly reality hidden underneath. If you look up the “THAT girl” trend on TikTok, you’ll be given a plethora of videos showing you the ‘perfect morning routine’ or ‘become THAT girl with me’ or ‘glow-up with me’ videos that entice you to watch with their pretty aesthetics. The issue with these videos is that they give the impression that

self-improvement and productivity is meant to be this perfect picture when we know that self-improvement isn’t always linear or meant to look pretty.

There have been many comparisons between the ‘THAT’ girl trend and ‘toxic’ Tumblr. While I believe that the ‘THAT’ girl trend isn’t as damaging as ‘toxic’ tumblr and is instead meant to be used as a source of inspiration, I can see the comparisons. On Tumblr and in the ‘THAT’ girl trend, only one type of person is presented within the aesthetically pleasing photos and videos: a skinny, considerably wealthy, conventionally attractive white lady. This image then reinforces beauty standards that many young audiences feel pressured to strive for. The whole point of this trend is supposed to be about self-love and becoming the highest version of yourself, but when only one type of body and look is presented, it changes the course from becoming the best version of you to striving for an ideal that simply isn’t realistic.

d on social media

aging?

written by Angelikka Factor

Edited by Geethi Tarra, Harvi Karatha, & Cindy Zhang

I don’t think it’s bad to promote a healthy lifestyle, and I understand wanting to romanticise your healing journey, as it’s not as easy as these videos make it seem. However, it’s important to also acknowledge the parts of the journey that may not be so pretty to look at. I believe that this trend also gives off an ‘I think I'm way better than you’ message; It may put others down because they may not

Layout by Arushi Patil Art by Evelyn Chen

wake up at 5am or go to the gym super early, but rather choose to stay home in bed and binge their favorite Netflix series. Not everyone’s form of self-care or healing journey will look the same or be picture perfect. I think that this trend should provide more emphasis on becoming the best version of YOU rather than becoming the unrealistic standard we see on our Pinterest boards and TikTok pages.

written by Ashmita Annamalai Social media has a way of romanticizing lifestyles, and during the lockdown, it has taken a mental toll on many. The “that girl” trend has been prevalent on Tiktok for a while now. Girls and women post about their aesthetic morning routines and lifestyles. As much as the Tiktoks encourage other individuals to get up and out of bed and to start the day off productively, it can prove to be harmful as well. These influencers and women post unrealistic videos following the “that girl” way of life, which may not be accessible to viewers. For the people that do not have the right resources to apply this type of life into their own goals and pathway, self-hate can fester from the idea that they do not “fit” into the societal standards of waking up early every morning, eating healthy, drinking healthy, going for a run, and writing in a gratitude journal. As for the people who do try the lifestyle out, it could possibly lead to a fixed mindset on how they are supposed to live. This could nurture eating disorders and various other compulsions, causing their mental and physical health to deteriorate (which is essentially the opposite of the trend’s purpose). I agree that the core intention of this trend is to positively impact

people and encourage them to stick in there and keep moving forward. However, as it starts to spread rapidly throughout social media, it has become more of a norm than a positive message and tends to unexpectedly harm individuals. Instead of trying to fit into these societal expectations, understanding what YOU need to make YOURSELF feel better and working towards those goals will allow you to avoid the clutches of society and help you better yourself in your own way. Rather than trying to be “that girl”, work towards being healthy and happy. Do not punish yourself for sleeping in on some days.

Nevertheless, as life throws itself around you, sometimes it would be nice to drink green juice with beautifully laid out strawberry pancakes by the beach and know that you are doing it for yourself and not anyone else.

Should schools, libraries, parents, etc. be allowed to ban books? Edited by Cindy Zhang & Arushi Patil Art by Ananya V Layout by Tristan Castro

written by Kavya Gurunath Books should never be banned. Everyone has the right to explore and enrich their lives with the media they choose: it’s no one’s right to restrict someone else’s ability to choose. Books offer a way to escape this world, expand our knowledge, and change the way we think. By banning a book, you deny a person an opportunity. The only understandable restriction of books is perhaps an age restriction, where explicit or sexual material would be inappropriate to a child of a certain age. However, that is not considered banning. Parents should never state that they will not allow a child to read a book; rather, they should explain that it is not appropriate and they won’t understand it if they read the book at a young age. If parents ban books, they restrict the child from forming their own ideas and opinions. If books are not appropriate, then parents should state that their children can read the books when they are older, but never say that the book is banned.

Many books that are the most commonly challenged or banned are important books, because they cover controversial, uncomfortable topics; these books often start important conversations. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is one of these books. The book is an American classic, which covers the topics of racism and segregation. It is often banned due to its use of the N-word. However, it is important for people to know the meaning and history behind this word. If taught in a classroom, the racism behind the word should be explained to students so they know not to use the word. If we simply ban the book, ignorance will fester. The conversation this book starts and its importance in American history can’t just be banned. People see themselves in stories. Books can change lives. They can make one feel seen and understood. A contemporary book that has been banned is Jay Asher’s 13 Reasons Why. The book covers the topic of suicide and was temporarily banned in a Colorado district. However, Asher

states that it is important for these stories to be out there and he had recently gotten an email from a reader who said the book made them feel understood (Why Books Shouldn’t Be Banned, 2019). Had the book been

banned for that reader, they would not have felt seen. The ability of books to help us escape our world, teach us about our world, and start conversations about our world is why they should never be banned.

written by Rachel Adam

prelude. Wherever they burn books, they will also, in the end, burn human beings.” His words were a disturbing, eerie omen of what was to come. Books allow people to critically think about the world around them and examine the world from a different perspective, which is necessary for humanity’s future. Critical thinking allows us to see the flaws in arguments, to determine what is true or false, and simply helps us become more intelligent, independent, and creative humans. They can also provide readers with a way to see their lives represented and not feel alone. Simon and The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli has ended up being banned by many schools and libraries due to it simply featuring LGBTQ+ characters and relationships. However, this novel has helped many LGBTQ+ people discover who they are and find the courage to come out. In a way, Simon and The Homo Sapiens Agenda helped normalize LGBTQ+ teens and relationships, and has given a voice to all the teens out there who see themselves in Simon. It gave these

For one, the action of banning books is actually violating the First Amendment of the US constitution freedom of speech and the press. Constitutionally, authors have free reign to write the stories of their choice, without censorship from anyone. Shouldn’t the people in the “land of the free” have the freedom to read the books of their choice? Banning books can have disastrous consequences, allowing authoritarian governments to rise. A few months before Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany, university students burned books written by Jewish authors - like Albert Einstein. The reason behind these burnings? The books were considered to be “un-German” and “intellectual filth” by the Nazi regime, and they wanted the popularity of “truly German” books to rise. Many of the authors whose books were blacklisted fled before the start of World War II, but most of those who stayed were sent to jail to die, or immediately executed. The German poet Heinrich Heine wrote, “This was a

teens hope - that one day, they too could eventually have their own happy ending. The novel’s message is simply that it is 100% OK to be different, and that love is love - no matter who you love. The book being banned does nothing but further alienate LGBTQ+ people. It also disallows people from educating themselves about the LGBTQ+ community and eventually accepting and embracing it. A book that educated others on an important topic, yet was banned was The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Why? It apparently spread an “antipolice” message, and had excessive profanity. However, this book gave

readers a look into what the average black teenager has to face in America. The main character, Starr, has been taught how to deal with the police from a young age. She also has to deal with racism at her majority-white private school. Starr is later empowered to become an activist against police brutality after her best friend is wrongly shot by the police. It sparked important conversations about police brutality and racism, which is an everlasting issue in America. Banning the book won’t make discussions about the issue or the issue itself go away. Ultimately, banning books is detrimental to humanity.

written by Gunkriti Kaur

books we create is a thrilling action of taking an author's baby from them, and a reader’s escape.

“In books I have travelled, not only to other worlds, but into my own” that being said, Books are a door to heaven: once you start flipping the page, you travel to another world that is not just out of dreams but also an escape. So, why are we banning them or even thinking of banning them. Knowledge that we seek is mostly what we read and the purpose of reading is gaining, but why are we thinking of losing that by banning books? Schools, librairies, parents, etc. are not allowed to ban books. To young readers it is simply blocking the world that they are supposed to experience once they start exploring. The impact of banning

creativity CRUCIAL? IS

A small head peaks from behind the body of a guitar, brilliant blue eyes crinkling. She struggles to draw the pads of her fingers across the steel strings of the instrument. It is a handme-down with just three strings, but she doesn’t mind. To her, it is nothing but perfect. She takes a deep breath, filling her lungs with oxygen; however, as she exhales, carbon dioxide is not alone - alongside it is a melody. The lyrics that twist together are far from special as she sings of fleas and “ghosties”. Nevertheless, the unfledged four-year-old wraps stories around her tongue and laces them with song. A young creative in the works, already whittling stories - already whittling her story. Twelve years later and the creative has only surged forward. She has released an original song on all streaming platforms and has received numerous accolades for her crafts. She continues to pursue inspiration, holding onto it tightly on the rollercoaster of life. That creative is me. My inventive

perspective has led me to have a growth mindset in every aspect of life. I actively embrace challenges and look forward to them with excitement, invigorated to discover something new. When trouble rises, I continue forward, finding a new solution to the problem at hand. I doubt that I would be nearly as encouraged to face these difficulties with optimism and inspiration if it were not for my creative expression. Educationally, it has been incredibly useful as well. I can apply my creative abilities, such as unique problem solving and writing, to subjects such as mathematics or biology - subjects in which creativity is not often present. My elementary school helped me to seize this creativity and sharpen my skills, guiding me to become an artistic changemaker. I am forever grateful for elementary school which helped me to accelerate my innovative perception through the education system. However, a multitude of students are not offered such opportunities. Numerous education systems fail to support the arts. For example, numerous arts classes are “completely

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Creativity is like an onion with numerous layers. The thin outer shell can be as simple as snapping a spontaneous photo. Deeper within the layers are feats more complicated, such as writing a fantasy novel. Unlike an onion, however, the layers of creativity never cease. There is no end to what is possible through innovation. Every day since I first pulled at guitar strings and produced naïve tunes, I have found hundreds of small-scale opportunities to simply express myself, alongside larger projects that swell with passion. Creativity provides an outlet for me to bring my imaginative thoughts to life. Without creativity, I would feel lost; but with it, I find myself. If the future generations don’t have the assets they need to cultivate creativity, they will soon become lost without return.

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Elected officials can also have an impact by funneling more tax money into artistic education, as it is currently on a decline. When we are young, we’re told to follow our dreams, no matter what. However, this concept is not applied to reality. Once we wish to pursue the arts as a profession, we are met with disagreement: we’re told success is out of reach and that anything regarding creativity is not a lucrative career. Often, those in artistic careers are faced with financial challenges, so worries aren’t entirely

unwarranted. The field of the arts, however, is unsuccessful because society makes it so. Its value is reduced and it is encouraged as solely passion, nothing more. The youth internalize this before they even have a realistic idea of their hopes for the future. Policymakers chose finances over spiritual fulfillment, and society puts capital far above creativity. The result? People become void of artistry when it ignites their soul. Creativity must become a higher focus in the education system and workplace, as the imagination can not only benefit artistic endeavors but every facet of life. Imagination leads to innovation, and innovation leads to creation.

nitya baratam, cindy zhang, ashmita annamalai

cut, because of the perceived need to save money and use it to raise test scores” (McDonald, 2016). I can attest to this at my high school. Because of the lack of artistic support from a young age, children perceive that the arts are not of high value in the professional world. Middle schoolers who engage in electives regarding the arts, however, statistically achieve better grades than those who don’t (George Mason University, 2019). While evidence proves that creative outlets improve academic success, retention, and communication skills, schools continue to minimize their importance. Rather than suppressing those who wish to pursue these fields, we should encourage children to break barriers and find success in what they wish for most. Educators who start with small actions, such as incorporating activities threaded with creative expression into classes, can foster supportive environments and bring essential change.

References Is the “THAT girl” trend on social media damaging? Sharma, R. (n.d.). Who is 'that girl' & why is tiktok obsessed with her? Who Is 'That Girl' And Why Is TikTok Obsessed With Her? https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2021/07/10551994/tiktok-obsession-with-that-girl. WALLIS, J. A. S. M. I. N. E. (2021, June 25). Why the 'THAT Girl' TikTok trend is more sinister than it seems. Fashion Journal. https://fashionjournal.com.au/life/tiktok-trend-that-girl-sinister/.

Should schools, libraries, parents, etc. be allowed to ban books? Gomez, B. (2020, October 2). Banned Spotlight: To Kill a Mockingbird | Banned Books Week. Banned Books Week. https://bannedbooksweek.org/banned-spotlight-to-kill-a-mockingbird/ Why Books Shouldn’t Be Banned. (2019, April 24). The Artifice. https://the-artifice.com/books-banned/ The U.S. Constitution. The Constitution - Full Text | The National Constitution Center. (n.d.). https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/full-text. Fighting the Fires of Hate: America and the Nazi Book Burnings. (2010, April 22). The National WWII Museum. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/media/press-releases/fighting-fires-hate-america-and-nazi-book-burnings . Hasselbach, C. (2018, October 5). When books were burned in Germany. DW. https://www.dw.com/en/when-books-were-burned-in-germany/a-43725960. Krug, N. (2021, April 6). 2020's most challenged books include 'The Hate U Give' and others about race. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/2021-most-challenged-books/2021/04/06/34f89260-96ed-11eb-b28dbfa7bb5cb2a5_story.html. Why books shouldn't be banned. The Artifice. (n.d.). https://the-artifice.com/books-banned/.

Is creativity crucial? McDonald, Jen. “Funding for Schools' Art Programs Ending?” Funding for Schools' Art Programs Ending?, May 2016, www.kmsd.edu/site/default.aspx? DomainID=312&FlexDataID=3316&ModuleInstanceID=1237&PageID=383&PageType=3&RenderLoc=0&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C497E-9316-3F8874B3E108. “Taking Arts Classes Leads to Better Academic Performance.” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 12 Mar. 2019, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190312123720.htm.

question of the month

What’s something that yo

Nitya B

Sahithi L

I prepared for my new classes by studying a bit for each and watching videos! I also attempted to mentally prepare myself for a challenging, junior year ahead! I’m looking forward to meeting my friends and even trying out some new subjects so find where my interest lies!

I prepared for the school year by attempting to study for the classes I was hoping to get (and got! ) -- but mostly just enjoying my summer to ensure that I'd go back into school knowing I got my excessive relaxing out of the way I'm looking forward to AP Computer Science and graphic design! Both sound like really fun classes, and I'm excited to see my friends again :))

Ashmita A I prepared for the school year by going back to school shopping and mentally preparing myself for the workload and transition to in person school which is very tiring btw I'm looking forward to learning lots of stuff in my classes because all of them are super cool and I'm really excited for dance and AP Psych teehee I'M ALSO HYPED FOR ALL THE SCHOOL EVENTS

How did you prepare for

Taruni M I prepared for the school year by literally doing nothing lol. I de-stressed by doing nothing, and it kinda worked! I'm looking forward to socializing and meeting new people :)))

the new school year?

ou look forward to in school? Kavya G

Mia D

I prepared for the new school year by relaxing and taking a break, so that I could enjoy some free time for a bit before starting junior year. I'm looking forward to being able to see my friends in person again!

i prepared myself byyyy waiting til the last minute for all of my summer assignments. I’m looking forward to diving deeper into my passions with my extracurriculars, such as working on the affair magazine!! :)

Rachel A I spent some time on khan academy trying to self-study algebra 2 and i completed a summer assignment for ap world. I’m looking forward to finally going back to school in person and volunteering in my neighborhood with my school’s interact club :)

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