the arcadia quill ISSUE 7 VOLUME 69
@arcadiaquill
APRIL 2021
EST. 1952
Te a m Fe a t u r e : Arca d ia Tra c k
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ARCADIA HIGH SCHOOL By HENRINA ZHANG
180 CAMPUS DRIVE ARCADIA, CA 91006
Staff Writer With the Arcadia Invitational, from Apr. 9-10, behind us, Arcadia Track has been one of the busiest sports teams at Arcadia High School. From weekly track meets to daily practices even on no-school days, here’s a closer look at the daily life of an Arcadia Track member. At daily practices, Arcadia Track starts off with attendance and announcements, followed by warmups and drills. With the constant exertion of their bodies, track members agree that stretching and warming up is one of the most important things to do to prevent injury and achieve their best performance. Their workouts vary depending on the day, anywhere from 500-meter sprinting to 40-yard dashes to different circuits to get the best acceleration while still keeping up stamina. Along with track workouts, members participating in field events have additional
the race to replace eric garcetti [pg 4] The upcoming Los Angeles mayoral elec-tion holds more importance than ever. On Jun. 7,the people of the second largest city by population will vote in a mayoral election and deter- mine who will take the spot of two time elected Eric Garcetti. Two candidates in the mayoral race... Graphic courtesy of DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM
practice. Depending on their event, practices range from perfecting technique and strength on things like long jump, relays, high jump, and shot put. All of Arcadia Track also trains in the weight room to build their muscles and power. These practices start during 6th period and end around 4-5 p.m. Before a track meet, preparation includes light jogging and strides, keeping it easy for the next day. As a member of Arcadia Track, the most important thing to remember is to try your best to consistently improve and push yourself. Junior Irene Lema also mentioned that “the most important duty of any Track member is being there for your teammates; being there for each other makes everyone do better because you have a support system.” All Track members are also expected to help set up and clean up equipment during practices and volunteer to set up and clean up equipment during meets. “For the Arcadia Invitational, I think I volunteered for 12 hours. I got there really early to help prepare and stayed at school until
11 at night. I liked cheering my teammates on and helping everything go smoothly, but I was really tired,” said sophomore Hailey Tam. Experience-wise, Arcadia Track is a fairly close group of students. They spend multiple hours with each other every day and have outside bonding activities as well. Arcadia Track has been described as an incredibly rewarding experience for many, but it can also be mentally and physically exhausting. It’s a team sport, so when a few people are down, or if a few aren’t willing to pull their weight, the whole team is dragged down with them. However, these runners have remained positive and enthused. They find joy in the exhilarating atmosphere of Track meets and the constant encouraging community.
hzhang@arcadiaquill.com Photos courtesy of AUSD Facebook
what's inside save our bees [pg 7]
joint wind ensemble concert [pg 12] The Arcadia High School (AHS) Wind Ensemble partnered up with Azusa Pacific University School of Music’s (APU) Wind Ensemble for a stellar performance of woodwinds and brasses. On Apr. 1, the two bands performed in the AHS Performing Arts Center. The production was a wonderful way to start off spring break and offered...
Spring has finally sprung, flowers are blooming and fruits are ripening; however, it appears that people have forgotten who is responsible for our vibrant spring season: bees. Our furry pollinators’ work is underappreciated... Photo courtesy of UNSPLASH.COM
Photo courtesy of Ronald Lee
this issue: policy 2 | editorial 3 | news 4 | opinion 6 | features 8 | center spread 10 | arts & entertainment 12 | sports 14 | campus focus 16
02 POLICY
Editors-in-Chief: Kylie Ha, Robinson Lee, Anya Yang News Editors: Leslie Chen and Lilian Chong Opinion Editors: Catherine Chan and Enzo Goebel Features Editor: Jorge Espinoza-Gonzalez Arts & Entertainment Editor: Pamina Yung Sports Editor: Zoe Lin Media Editor: Amanda Chang Campus Focus Editors: Chloe Wong and Ashley Zhao Publicity Managers: Becky Chen and Rebecca Tao
Staff Writers: Caitlyn Chau, Serena Chin, Aahana Dutta, Dhruti Kulkarni, Kai Wetterau, Stephanie Wang, Ainsley Najafzadeh, Emmaline Pan, Vanessa Valentino, Darin Buenaluz, Kate De Prima, Sabrina Lo, Lorin Teng, Michelle So, Henrina Zhang, Ashley Chan, Wesley Chen, Sohana Sahni, Anna Odell, Maryam Sadeghifard, Kira Camacho, Vritti Godani, Madison Yee, Sophia Li Media Staff: Caitlyn Chau, Wesley Chen, Kate De Prima, Lorin Teng, Vanessa Valentino, Ainsley Najafzadeh, Emmaline Pan, Madison Yee Advisor: Mrs. Lesley Lee
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APRIL 2022
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POLICY 03
The Arcadia Quill acknowledges the systemic inequities persistent in our country and community, and therefore we maintain a dedication towards equity, diversity, and inclusion. As a student-led organization, we strive to inspire high school students to use their voices to discuss issues that affect them in conjunction with our goal to provide a space of journalistic integrity and professionalism. We expect ourselves to be inclusive and respectful of everyone regardless of identity—including but not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic identity, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ability, and religious belief. We strive to put our values into action by doing the following: - Highlighting the stories and experiences of students from backgrounds that have historically faced inequality. - Assessing how The Arcadia Quill can improve by taking steps to avoid contributing to cultural appropriation and systemic injustice. - Working to educate our staff on the impact of systemic inequality, and equipping them with tools on how to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion within their own means. - Following standards set by Arcadia Unified School District to confront systemic injustice including racial inequity. We hold ourselves to high standards in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these efforts by The Arcadia Quill, please email eic.arcadiaquill@gmail.com.
Social Media & Comments Social media will be used to promote appropriate media, to promote published content, and to engage with Arcadia and Arcadia High School’s community. The Editorial Board reserves the right to remove comments deemed inappropriate, offensive, or threatening. The information posted on social media platforms (i.e. Instagram) will be held to the same standards as all other reporting in terms of information gathering and fact-checking. Bylines If more than one person works on a story or an editor has to rewrite a significant portion of a story (as determined by the editor), all names of contributing writers will be listed on the byline of the article. All articles, graphics, photos, and other media, with the exception of staff photos, will be bylined with the photographer or contributor’s name. All bylined writers will be held accountable for their work and the information contained within. Editorial Policy The Arcadia Quill will not print anything in our publication (online or print) that is deemed libelous, obscene, or otherwise offensive or inappropriate, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s justified standards. Rights are reserved to postpone, edit or withhold from publication anything submitted which does not meet the specifications. Unsigned editorials represent the view of The Arcadia Quill Editorial Board. It does not necessarily represent the view of other Quill staff members. The Arcadia Quill refuses to print criticism which is not constructive and not supported by fact or evidence. The editors and adviser will make the final decision on all material appearing in The Arcadia Quill. The Arcadia Quill will not intentionally invade the privacy of any person or publish facts and quotes given off the record. Opinions will be clearly marked and found on the editorial pages or as designated on other pages (i.e.- front page). Signed opinion articles and commentary are the expressed opinions of the author and not of The Arcadia Quill and its editorial board, adviser, or Arcadia High School’s faculty or school board. Staff members are guided by the Canons of Journalism of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, a code of ethics which outlines the principles of responsibility, fairness, and accuracy. Corrections Policy Corrections will be printed when brought to the attention of the staff. Original stories will carry bylines but additional contributors to a story will be listed on the byline. Plagiarism Plagiarism of any form will not be tolerated. Story ideas and article content are to remain completely original with the exception of the use of outside graphics/images/quotes, which are to be duly credited. Quotes Quotes are representative of a single opinion; they do not represent the beliefs of the student body and staff. Quotes are to be written in past tense with the correct style guide format.
04
NEWS
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APRIL 2022
CHINA’S LATEST COVID LOCKDOWN By HENRINA ZHANG Staff Writer As the world moves away from the pandemic, Shanghai, China, has been desperately battling the Omicron variant, attempting to hold its zero-COVID-19 policy. According to BBC News, with over 200,000 new cases, none of which are serious, authorities are struggling to find places to isolate their citizens. “Millions are confined to their homes as Shanghai battles a fresh outbreak of the virus. Anyone who tests positive is placed in quarantine,” said BBC News. The government has been locking people in their homes and citizens are screaming for help. They are running out of food and water supplies, not to mention the devastating economic effects of the lockdown. Government drop-offs for food and water have been the
only way citizens in isolation are able to obtain their necessities, and analysts predict that they are running low on supplies. The Washington Post noted how residents are shouting from their windows, screaming, “Save us. We don’t have enough to eat.” Others have been taken away to makeshift quarantine facilities and hospitals. These confined areas contain dozens of beds, with the majority of reluctant citizens quarantined in these areas. There have even been physical altercations in disputes between them and the authorities. In addition, Shanghai, China’s biggest city and a global financial hub, shutting down, along with limited employment labor has greatly impacted China’s production output and income. He Xiaopeng, President of an electric vehicle manufacturer, XPeng, expressed how if Shanghai isn’t reopened in May, all car facto-
ries across the country might have to stop operating. Additionally, even as China’s extremely strict zero-COVID policy becomes increasingly difficult to maintain, the foundational elements still apply. Firstly, travel in and out of China is practically impossible, and internal movement is restricted as well. Travelers entering China are required to take multiple health screenings and quarantine for two weeks. In addition, regular community testing will take place, and residents will be evicted and sent to quarantine if they test positive. Almost all non-essential businesses, schools, and public transportation are shut down as well. The sudden outbreak and the authoritarian government not only put its citizens in an economic crisis but also diminishes their faith in authority. “Even the authoritarian governments,
they still have to take this mass reaction into account, or else will lose the cooperation from the society. We’re going to expect that [the central government] is going to improve the policy implementation, even though the policy itself is not going to change,” Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, told Vox on Friday. Ultimately, government officials and Chinese citizens themselves have determined that China’s zero-COVID policy is no longer effective. With a different pandemic landscape, the policies and legacy of how COVID is being handled have caused an uproar, and people are watching how much longer Shanghai can hold onto its strict policies.
hzhang@arcadiaquill.com Photo by COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG
THE RACE TO REPLACE ERIC GARCETTI By DARIN BUENALUZ Staff Writer The upcoming Los Angeles mayoral election holds more importance than ever. On Jun. 7,the people of the second largest city by population will vote in a mayoral election and determine who will take the spot of two time elected Eric Garcetti. Two candidates in the mayoral race, Karen Bass and Rick Caruso, have risen to the top of the standings and are expected to be the primary challengers to replace Garcetti. Polling with about 23% of voter popularity is Karen Bass, who currently represents the 37th Congressional District of California in the U.S. House of Representatives. As a nativeborn Angeleno, Bass has spent much of her career being an advocate for social and economic justice, founding the Community Coalition in South Los Angeles (LA) as a response to the rise of drug abuse and gang violence in the 1990s and serving as the Chair of the Black Congressional Caucus during the Trump Administration. Much of her vision as mayor
surrounds raising less fortunate Angelenos to a higher quality of life, increasing both temporary and permanent housing locations around the city to address the rapidly increasing cost of living, increasing financial support for small businesses in a period of pandemic recovery, and expand programs to employ Angelenos in critical economic components such as Los Angeles International Airport and the Ports of LA and Long Beach. Leading slightly ahead of Bass with 24% of voter popularity is businessman Rick Caruso, best known for being the mastermind behind the Americana at Brand, one of the largest shopping and dining complexes in LA. Unlike Bass’ social advocate approach to addressing the city’s core issues of homelessness and high crime rates, Caruso’s campaign is aimed at creating the “cleanest and most transparent mayoral administration in the history of Los Angeles,” a stark contrast to the rampant corruption he has seen through charges pressed against several city council members. Some of his most ambitious strategies include work-
ing for a salary of $1, ending City Council involvement in how land is used around the city to prevent bribes, and refusing to accept contributions from corporations or other lobbyists interested in dictating the Angeleno government’s decisions. Caruso has been very vocal in his criticism of the current government, notably Attorney General George Gascon and his push for the passing of Proposition 47, which waives any misdemeanor charges so long as the total value of the misdemeanor is under $950. Like Bass, Caruso also seeks to address the housing issue in Los Angeles by declaring a state of emergency, which will involve the Emergency Management Department in creating projects and allocating funds to get more Angelenos off the street. As for current mayor Eric Garcetti, he’s leaving office on a less than desirable note, being under fire for allegedly witnessing firsthand top aide Rick Jacobs sexually harass his former Director of Communications Naomi Seligman and doing nothing to stop the incident. Los Angeles Police Department Matthew
Garza, alongside several other individuals working in the Garcetti administration, have also filed similar complaints against Jacobs and Garcetti’s indifference towards taking any sort of action to stop him. Though Garcetti cannot run for reelection as LA mayor due to having already served the max of two terms, surrounding controversy has put his potential future career as the U.S. Ambassador to India in jeopardy. LA is coming upon one of its most important elections. With Garcetti leaving office, qualified individuals such as Caruso and Bass are eager to take his place and shape their own vision of the vast city and implement their own approaches to addressing its key issues. However, only time will tell whether those approaches will merit the benefits their creators claim they will have.
dbuenaluz@arcadiaquill.com Photos by FLICKR.COM
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APRIL 2022
NEWS
05
THE “DON’T SAY GAY” BILL By ASHLEY CHAN
Staff Writer In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1557, which bans classroom instruction and discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in school. House Bill 1557 was created mainly because activists are concerned about how schools respond to questioning students about sexality and gender identity. This legislation has gained traction through the media, with Americans taking sides on the righteousness of this bill. Supporters of have dubbed House Bill 1557 as the “Parental Rights in Education” bill, while opponents have deemed it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The most controversial part of the entire bill is found in lines 97-101, and is the reason for the “Don’t Say Gay” nickname. It states, “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” In essence, this means that instruction on gender and sexuality will be constrained in all grade levels, as long as Florida deems it inappropriate for students. Additionally, with this new legislation, schools in Florida will be required to notify parents when their child receives health services, be that mental, emotional, or physical. This parental-notification requirement applies to all students, regardless of whether or not they are seeking health services for gender issues, sexuality, mental health, substance use, parental challenges, and more. There is a section of the bill that gives school staff the right to skip informing parents of their child’s
participation in these services if there is a risk of “abuse, abandonment, or neglect”. However, people still argue that this requirement for parental disclosure can motivate students to not approach counselors or health services when they need it. Counseling is also a prominent topic within House Bill 1557. There is a provision that requires schools to craft an opt-out procedure for health services, which includes individual counseling and support groups. Furthermore, there is an enforcement mechanism that holds schools accountable in which parents could sue schools for vi-
olating the bill and districts have to cover the costs. Not only that, but Florida’s Department of Education is going to review and update school counseling frameworks. These counseling frameworks contains the students’ rights to counseling programs that “‘advocates for and affirms’ diversity in ‘sexual orientation gender, gender identity/expression, family type’ and many other identity categories”. The bill may influence the revision of such identity-promoting frameworks to strengthen parents’ rights over their children. LGBTQ+ activists and advocates have claimed that erasing LGBTQ+ presence in
school instruction alludes to idea that students should be ashamed by their gender identity or sexual orientation. Amit Paley, CEO and executive director of The Trevor Project, stated, “Lawmakers should be supporting LGBTQ students and their families and encouraging schools to be inclusive, not pitting parents against teachers and erasing the LGBTQ community from public education...When lawmakers treat LGBTQ topics as taboo and brand our community as unfit for the classroom, it only adds to the existing stigma and discrimination, which puts LGBTQ young people at greater risk for bullying, depression, and suicide.” The Biden administration has also deemed the bill anti-LGBTQ+. In a Twitter post on Feb. 8, President Biden said, “I want every member of the LGBTQI+ community — especially the kids who will be impacted by this hateful bill — to know that you are loved and accepted just as you are.” Moreover, students, educators, and community members are openly speaking out against House Bill 1557. At Fort Walton Beach High School, “We Say Gay” was the battle cry of those refusing to accept the bill’s legislation. Lauren Sprenkle, the one responsible for the idea of holding Fort Walton Beach High School’s rally, remarked, “We understand that
love is love and everybody deserves love and we respect everyone’s right to say what they want to say inside or outside of school.” Defenders of the bill strongly believe that the legislation will not prohibit people from talking about gender identity and sexual orientation, and that it will only ban school instruction about those topics. DeSantis claimed, “We’re going to make sure that parents are able to send their kids to kindergarten without having some of this stuff injected into their school curriculum.” Christina Pushaw, DeSantis’ spokesperson, labeled the bill as the “anti-grooming bill”. She said, “If you’re against the antigrooming bill, you are probably a groomer, or at least you don’t denounce the grooming of 4-8 year old children...Silence is complicity. This is how it works, Democrats, and I didn’t make the rules.” “What we’re preventing is a school district deciding they’re going to create a curriculum to insert themselves,” Florida Representative Joe Harding stated. “Families are families. Let the families be families. The school district doesn’t need to insert themselves at that point when children are still learning how to read and do basic math.” This incredibly polarized legislation continues to be debated, with activists concerned for the health of LGBTQ+ individuals and supporters firmly standing by the bill.
achan@arcadiaquill.com Photo by KINGPNG.COM
LOS ANGELES APARTMENT FIRE By KAI WETTARAU Staff Writer A fire broke out in the building at 231 E. 87th Place within the Broadway-Manchester neighborhood of Los Angeles(LA), taking less than an hour to extinguish; no injuries have been reported as of yet, as the fire seemed to strike with little to no one in the building. This is just one of many occurrences of fires throughout the city, with the most recent being the Reseda Fire at the South Seas apartment complex. The fire was first reported on Apr. 16 at around 5:18 p.m., with multiple calls all coming in anxiously at once. The LA Fire Department(LAFD), ready for moments like
this, quickly and efficiently got ready to put out the fire. Almost 90 members of the LAFD were present at one time or another to try and end the fire and salvage what was left, all of them working in conjunction with one another as if this was just another one of their drills. In addition to the traditional uses of a large hose, fire trucks, and protective armor, firefighters could be seen using chainsaws on the roof to cut into the building and get multiple points of entry to further stop the flames. One LAFD personnel could also be seen from the rooftop of a nearby building, watching what was going on and most likely taking notes on how the team was doing. In full, everyone knew what they were supposed to do and where they were supposed to go; it was obvious that lots of training went in to be ready for a fire at any moment, as
well as how to properly attack each new unique situation. The LAFD released an official statement on the fire, reporting that the building hit was a split duplex, or one large building that has been split into two or more smaller separate buildings to accommodate more groups of people. This played into how the LAFD approached handling the fire, choosing to split teams up between the sides, middle, and rooftop of the complex. While there is no current knowledge of what started the fire, the building was under construction and so any possible mishaps or fuel left out for industrial machines could have been a key factor in what caused the destruction. An official later reported that the framing and wrap of the building’s construction majorly played a role in dealing with the fire. The LAFD
released that they are “currently investigating the cause of the fire,” and this is most likely to prevent more fires in the greater Los Angeles area as well as spot and fix any major issues with the building as a whole. While news of the fire is frightening to some, it’s important to note that the crew sent in by the LAFD was able to put out the whole thing in under an hour, highlighting the speed and expertise with which the LAFD servicemembers have.
kwetterau@arcadiaquill.com Photo by PNGALL.COM
06
OPINION
By MICHELLE SO
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APRIL 2022
Vertically Challenged: The Phrase No One Needs Staff Writer
Throughout my life, I have been quite content with being called “short”. I cruised along in the 25th percentile for height for years and years and now stand at a slightly unsatisfactory and unchangeable 5 feet 2½ inches. The average female American stands at 5 feet 4 inches, and though it may not seem like much, those 1 ½ inches account for subtle differences in daily life. My stature has provided me with both annoying consequences and advantages. Buying long pants and long dresses is a hassle when society idolizes elongated legs. Trying to see through a crowd is a nightmare–people over 5 feet 6 inches should not be allowed to wear heels! And then there’s also the everlasting topic of height that seeps into conversation. Though I partake in these casual comparisons of height, the topic has been squeezed and wrung out more than necessary. It’s in these discussions of “I wish I could be taller” that the term “vertically challenged” comes into play.
Senior Krystal Dang is 5 feet tall and a self-proclaimed “short person”. “I think vertically challenged, as a word, has a sarcastic connotation. People use it as a way to be sarcastic about [their height],” said Dang. In nearly all online definitions, the phrase is recognized as humorous and of joking origin. In that definition, then I suppose it has an acceptable use. But seriously, the entire usage and origin of the phrase is ironic. Why come up with a longer word to describe someone small? Well, a quick search on thesaurus. com answered this question. Of the synonyms listed for the word “short”,
the most humbling included squatty, undersized, and pocket-sized. Alright, maybe the term “vertically challenged” isn’t as bad as it seems.The debate then becomes: is it appropriate to use the phrase vertically challenged? And when so? I should mention that while I do consider myself to be an un-tall person, I am by no means the best person to judge this topic. For people with medically recognized dwarfism, helping people find the correct words is a struggle. While I do question the use of the words vertically challenged, I do not feel personal offense from its use. Just to better explain the context of the terms I am about to use, the word “dwarf” refers to someone below 4 feet 10 inches and is considered politically correct in literature
or medical settings, but should not be used unless it is the label that one prefers. However, most people with recognized dwarfism refer to themselves as “little people”, which is the standard and acceptable term. According to the Diversity Style Guide, remarks that include “midget” or “vertically challenged” are highly offensive and outdated, reminiscent of “the height of the ‘freak show’ era” when people with dwarfism were displayed for public amusement. But for those of us that are short but not afflicted with dwarfism, the vertically challenged still has a “use it as you please” sort of definition. It feels more proper, almost official, to use the word in a politically correct sense, yet it can still be taken negatively by others who wish to use other words instead. Of course, no one really has the possible offenses in mind when carelessly throwing this term around with a group of friends. But perhaps it is best that we stave off the casual use of the “vc word”. mso@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of FREEPIK.COM
Getting a Job as Soon as You Can
By VRITTI GODANI
Staff Writer Many high school students anticipate the day that they are old enough to get a job, mainly because they want the money. However, there are more benefits of getting a job as a high school student other than the money such as learning about time management and finances, developing collaboration skills, and being introduced to job interviews. For starters, employed high school students are basically forced to learn how to manage their time and prioritize. With different classes at school, perhaps some extracurricular activ-
ities or sports, and making time for yourself to spend with family and friends, employed students are required to prioritize their tasks and decide the best way to spend their time. Not only is developing this skill important in high school, but it is also a skill that will help students optimize their time and productivity in the future. Getting a job as a high school student also introduces students to taxes and teaches them how to manage their money. Taxes and responsibility towards your money are key aspects of adult life and getting a job as a high schooler gives students a headstart with responsibilities that come with money such as how much to put aside for taxes, how much to put into savings, etc. It is rare (although not impossible) that a high school student will be working
alone. Learning to work together with other people in a professional setting is another skill that is developed through a job and prepares students for future internships, jobs, etc. Lastly, the employment process almost always involves an interview, a concept not many high school students are familiar with. By getting early practice with interviewing, students have more time to develop basic interviewing skills and answers, making them more prepared for future job or internship interviews. Furthermore, a resume is also an aspect of the employment process and by participating in the process, students learn how to develop and build a legible and impressive resume. ¨My first interview was a job interview for a fast food restaurant and it was more nerve-racking than I expected. Some of the questions caught me off guard and at points my mind just blanked but I am glad that I had that experience because now I have
an idea of how to prepare myself for future interviews¨, Junior Allison Bernardini said. Overall, there are many benefits to getting a job in high school. Not only does getting a job teach students how to grow and develop key life skills, it also may serve as a fun experience. In short, high school students should consider getting a job if they have the time. vgodani@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of VECTORSTOCK.COM
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APRIL 2022
OPINION
07
Save Our Bees By AINSLEY NAJAFZADEH Staff Writer Spring has finally sprung, flowers are blooming and fruits are ripening; however, it appears that people have forgotten who is responsible for our vibrant spring season: bees. Our furry pollinators’ work is underappreciated and they don’t get the praise they deserve; in fact, our lack of care for our bees is gradually causing them to become extinct, making bees an endangered species. From sunflowers to apples, bees are essential to the growth of our produce and ecosystem. Bees accentuate the beauty of mother nature by pollinating flowers that provide vibrancy to our environment. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Bees
pollinate 80% of the world’s flowers, as well as more than 130 different fruits and vegetables, including kiwis, strawberries, watermelons, and squash. Bees not only improve the environment but also support the economy by bringing billions of dollars into the United States through agriculture. Bees play a significant role in our world’s food supply, as 1 out of every 3 bites of food eaten relies on the ongoing activity of bees. In a lifetime, the typical worker bee produces 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey, which isn’t even close to the quantity of honey we put in a cup of tea. Despite the fact that bees contribute so much to our planet, their population has been rapidly declining, with billions of bees being killed each year throughout North America.
According to the USDA, this can be credited to various factors–parasites and pests, pathogens, poor nutrition, and sublethal exposure to pesticides. Pesticides are not even targeted toward the killing of bees, but unfortunately, bees are one of the species the pesticides affect most. The United States Environmental Protection Agency stated that the Insecticide Sulfoxaflor, a systemic insecticide, is “highly toxic to bees and other pollinating insects.” The loss of bees is directly taking a toll on the ecosystem and economy, and it’s important that we do something about it before it is too late. Organizations such as The Bee Conservancy are trying to spread awareness and teach people how they can help with the declining bee population. Some ways they suggest include: planting a bee garden, avoiding treating
your garden with synthetics, providing trees for bees, creating a bee bath, building homes for native bees, hosting a fundraiser, supporting local beekeepers, and any other way that will be effective in saving bees. Bees serve an important part in our everyday lives, from the food we eat to our ecosystem, it’s only fair that we give bees recognition and prevent their extinction. Next time you see a bee in the wild, give the bee a little thank you for the hard work it does for you and the Earth.
anajafzadeh@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of PINCLIPART.COM
Which Batman is the Best Batman? By KIRA CAMACHO Staff Writer The iconic superhero, Batman, has been an incredibly well-known figure for 83 years. His first debut was in May of 1939, in Detective Comics No. 27 (DC). Due to Batman’s immediate success, the Bat quickly gained his own comic series. Batman #1 was released in the spring of 1940. Since then, Batman has become one of the most famous superheroes in the world. Batman’s first onscreen appearance was in 1966, when Batman aired on ABC. In this instant hit, Adam West played a latex-covered, silly Batman—a stark contrast from The Batman. Since then, a number of actors have played their own version of Batman. In this article, I’ll be comparing my top three—Micheal Keaton, Christian Bale, and Robert Pattinson. In 1989, Batman was released, starring Micheal Keaton as Bruce Wayne, Jack Nicholson as the Joker, and Billy Dee Williams as Two-Face. Tim Burton directed this dark tale, which went on to win many academy awards. Just about any movie with Tim Burton involved will earn my stamp of approval, but
this one is particularly great. Keaton plays an iconic Batman in this film, and I have to give him kudos for being the first in this era of Batmen. To me, he seems to be a mix of Bale and Pattinson’s Batmen. He’s smooth like Bale but is still obviously suffering from his past like Pattinson. Unlike the other two Batmen, he’s awkward and funny at times. It makes him appear much more approachable and “normal.” Overall, this is an excellent movie and Keaton is an outstanding Batman. From 2005 to 2012, Christian Bale played Batman in the Dark Knight trilogy. These movies also star Cillian Murphy, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Heath Ledger, Tom Hardy, and Anne Hathaway. Bale is often crowned the title of best Batman, and this trilogy had a long reign as the best Batman movie. Bale’s Batman is the perfect mix of brooding and snarky, always throwing in a one-liner be-
fore fighting a villain. But in my opinion, Bale is a better Bruce Wayne than Batman. He plays a perfectly suave, rich heir to the Wayne fortune, but his Batman feels unnatural. His voice is incredibly forced and seems to be drowning in his huge suit. The Dark Knight series is fantastic, but I think the overall movie is better than Bale’s specific Batman. Lastly, Robert Pattinson in 2022’s The Batman. This movie was absolutely astounding— I saw it twice in movie theaters and am so excited to stream it on HBO Max. Not only is the cinematography breathtaking, but the plot is captivating, and Pattinson is the perfect Batman. Pattinson’s Batman is a detective, and we get to see him working closely with Commissioner Gordon. Even though he’s the big, bad, Batman in his authoritative Bat-suit, he’s still very human out of it. This Batman is still dealing with the trauma
of his parents’ death, and actively working to make sense of the past. Though it’s nice to see a humorous Batman with plenty of oneliners, that’s not really who Batman is. Batman is traumatized and is constantly re-living the death of his parents. He’s not light, funny, and covered with spandex—his goal is to be feared by criminals, not make them laugh. Pattinson also takes in Batman’s aversion to killing. The other Batmen haven’t exactly ignored this, but it’s more of a clear character decision from Pattinson. The Batman is fantastic, and Pattinson is even more so. It’s hard to come to a conclusion on my favorite Batman; each actor has left their unique mark on the character. It’s a close call, but I think the best Batman is Robert Pattinson. He’s an incredible actor with great range, and the best Batman yet. P.S: a VERY honorable mention to Will Arnett as Lego Batman. If he was in the running for best Batman in this article, he would’ve easily won.
kcamacho@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of CLIPARTMAX.COM and POLYGON.COM
08
FEATURES
arcadiaquill.com
APRIL 2022
What Does It Take To Be A Leader? By SABRINA LO Staff Writer Leaders are present everywhere in society, and atArcadia High School, there are many. I interviewed freshman Amber Cheung, sophomore Mako Amano, junior Shannon Cheng, junior Kevin Wu, senior Michelle Chen, and senior Nicole Klatt; all of whom are leaders in some way at AHS. To begin with, let’s start with introductions. Cheung is the freshman Class President, Cheng is the Symphony Orchestra Concert Mistress, Amano and Wu both played leading roles in AHS’ recent play, Mamma Mia!, Chen is the President of Key Club, and Klatt is the Orchestra Council president as well as the cello section leader in the Symphony Orchestra. A leader must possess many qualities to make them suitable for the role. However, each person’s traits and values are different.
For Wu, hard work is key to being successful. “Being a leader regards putting in the work above the necessary requirement, dedication, and practice,” said Wu. “As a lead role in theatre, you do not have the authority to command others, but you may have to take action in charge of things.” Cheng also believes that a vital part of being a leader is being humble. “Just because one is “labeled” as a leader, they should not overuse their power to make it seem like they are superior to everyone. A leader should instead try to guide everyone in the right direction, not dictate,” stated Cheng. “As a leader, I lead by example of how we can strive for improvement, and not necessarily perfection.” Leaders are not just given their roles complimentarily; in many cases, auditions or a way of selection is required. For Cheung, this meant getting signatures for her ASB petition, campaigning, and making statements to let her peers know why
she was a good candidate. Amano had to audition for his role with confidence and emotion and ultimately, waschosen to play Sam Carmichael, a leading role in Mamma Mia!. Before being elected President in Key Club, Chen needed to undergo an intensive election round, including applications, a speech, questioning, and a caucus session specific to presidential candidateKlatt not only needed to audition to be a cello section leader, which is the leader of all the cellos in the orchestra; she previously had to audition to get into Symphony Orchestra, the highest orchestra at AHS. Being a leader is not just dictate, dictate, dictate. In fact, it is quite the contrary. “The other officers also bear responsibility in managing the club, and as the President, I have to think of how to maintain both the officer board and the club, and how to best delegate tasks to ensure the proper functioning of the club,” said Chen. There also is an added-on responsibility
and workload, to make things run smoothly. “The most challenging part of being a leader is mostly bearing the pressure, stresses, and expectations of the position,” said Wu. Although there are so many challenges and additional responsibilities with being a leader, there are rewards. Amano and Wu share similar feelings of gratitude for the reactions of the audience, giving them thunderous applause after working so hard. “Behind the glory, you look back, reminisce, and remember the hard work and effort you put into the musical for thousands to enjoy,” said Wu. So next time you look at your leader, think of all the work behind the scenes they had to do and appreciate them!
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Graphic courtesy of SGVIMAGES
the history of guitars By KIRA CAMACHO Staff Writer The guitar is the most popular instrument in the world, followed by the piano. About 10% of people in the world have played, or play guitar, which means that 712 million people play guitar. The instrument is beautiful and versatile, especially with today’s various effect pedals. But where did this instrument begin? The guitar we know today derives from the medieval instruments, the oud, and the lute, which predate human history. “Many say that a man known as Lamech, who was Noah’s grandfather and the sixth grandson of Adam and Eve, designed the Arab precursor to the guitar.” wrote the College of Contemporary Music. Apparently, Lamech was inspired to design the oud after hanging the body of his dead son from a tree.
The next shape of guitar was the lute. It had a variety of shapes and sizes, generally with a curved back. The first record of a lute-like stringed instrument appeared in 3500 to 3200 BCE in Southern Mesopotamia. By the end of the Renaissance, the lute had evolved into a 20 to 20 stringed instrument. Eventually, the lute’s popularity diminished, and Baroque guitars became prominent in Spain around 1600 to 1750. They had five strings and moveable frets, making the instrument easy to play. Also popular in Spain was the vihuela, which you might see mariachi groups still use today. By 1790, the evolution of Spanish guitars ended with what is now the standard body time and six strings, but they were still small until Antonio de Torres Jurado changed everything. Jurado’s guitars had a broad body, a thin belly, and an increased
curve at the waist. Instead of wooden tuning pegs, he used machined heads. Europeans copied this instrument with steel strings. When Europeans brought this instrument to America, it became the modern guitar. Christian Frederick Martin was a German guitar maker who immigrated to America, he created the flat top form of the acoustic guitar. He used an Xbracing to help the guitar body cope with modern steel strings, another game-changer. The steel strings made guitarists change their playing style, forcing them to use picks more often. Then came the big names. Orville Gibson, who you may know from the G i b - son guitar company, created the archtop g u i - tar. Gibson is still known for their huge guitars, with bodies similar to cellos, giving the instrument a larger sound. In 1931, George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacker made the first electric
guitar. Rickenbackers are still extremely popular today and used by everyone from The Who to Creedence Clearwater Revival in the 1960s. In 1951, Leo Fender invented the first Fender Telecaster, and in 1952, the first Les Paul was made. “It’s pretty impressive that the companies that made the first electric guitars are still so popular today,” said Alex Rauda, a junior at AHS. From the lute to the classic Les Paul, guitars have come a long way. Today, we have electric guitars shaped like anything you could imagine, and effect pedals that’ll blow you away. tried and true Telecaster and Les Paul
kcamacho@arcadiaquill.com
Graphic courtesy of PIXABAY
features.arcadiaquill@gmail.com
APRIL 2022
FEATURES
09
-STUDENT FEATUREANDREW “GADONSPACE” LOW By DARIN BUENALUZ Staff Writer Attempting to pursue feats such as Twitch streaming while being a fulltime student is no easy task. It requires sacrificing time and effort for important things like academics and personal life to work towards embracing one’s biggest passions. For junior Andrew Low, better known by his Twitch username “GadonSpace, ” streaming is more than just another side project. It’s something he wants to continue even after graduating from high school while also receiving his college education. Though his viewership has been modest with less than 50 viewers per stream, and his content limited by obligations such as school, Low is committed to continuing the growth and presence of his channel. “GadonSpace” was created in March of 2020, after everyone was forced indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Low, like many others during the safer-athome period, was hit hard by quarantine and a lot of time on his hands. He wanted to spend it pursuing previous interests, in this case, Twitch streaming. He began streaming not too long after his account creation but was kept from making content for a couple of months after his computer broke. After replacing it in the middle of 2020, “GadonSpace” began exploring two main sources of content for his Twitch streams: studying and gaming. The former of the two would be streamed during the week, and the latter during the weekends. “I decided to stream because I
needed to do studying and was also doing online school. I thought it would be a good idea to stream me studying,” he stated. Study streams served as one of the main ways that Low maintained communication with other people during the quarantine period. He did collaborations with a few other Twitch streamers but mostly kept to himself and his own group of friends. During his weekend streams, Low would feature games tailored to his own personal interests, including Valorant, Roblox, and Minecraft. However, his opportunities to stream became more limited once school reopened for in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year. “I stopped streaming because I had to go to actual school and I ran out of time. But I plan to continue streaming after high school whenever I’m living by myself.” Another unique aspect of the “GadonSpace” channel is the name itself. Low had originally created the name several years ago after first purchasing Minecraft. He also explained how he felt “Space” was more fitting in his account name than the typical “TTV” (Twitch TV) that is common among most streamers. “When Minecraft 1.9 came out, I created the name Gadon, though I don’t remember why. The reason why I added ‘Space’ is because I needed to make my account more Twitch professional. [My name] used to be Gadon TTV, but someone told me that it looks kind of unprofessional.” Aside from Twitch, Low has a fol-
lowing on several other social media platforms, including YouTube and Instagram, though he isn’t currently active on either. There is more to Andrew Low than his streaming. At school, he considers himself a talkative person and is always
trying to stay on good terms with his friends and most of his classmates, despite being looked at by some as “different” for the hearing aids he has to wear all the time. On the other hand, Low admits one thing he could work on in terms of his personality is putting actions behind his words, as he sees himself in a somewhat hypocritical light. This is due to Low being an advocate for protecting one’s privacy and personal information, yet he recognizes that he doesn’t conduct himself in a way as much as he feels he should. Furthermore, Low views himself as a generally honest person, as displayed through the aforementioned self-admission of hypocrisy. The sense of fashion of “GadonSpace” has changed over the years. Once committed to keeping his clothing restricted to one color, Low has begun to change his everyday attire to be more vibrant in order to reflect his generally positive personality. “I used to wear all black and dark colors, and then somewhere online I saw a video explaining how dark colors can affect your
mental health, and that bright colors can make you happy. So I wear brighter colors to try and become a happy person.” After graduating from high school, Low intends on attending college to major in either the world of politics or philosophy. But regardless of his pursuits as an adult, one thing that he is devoted to continuing is the “GadonSpace” channel. He is working on creating more appealing thumbnails and titles for his streams, though he also pointed out his current disinterest in doing direct advertising or further collaborations. In the end, “GadonSpace” has been and will continue to be more than just a name that Andrew Low created, but rather a community.
dbuenaluz@arcadiaquill.com
Photo courtesy of ANDREW LOW Graphic courtest of SGVIMAGES
10 KEEP AMERICA
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MARCH 2022
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BEAUTIFUL MONTH 11
By CHLOE WONG Campus Focus Editor If there’s one lesson the past few years have taught us, we all know now to never take things for granted—and that includes the privilege of living on our green earth. At a time when snow caps are melting and air pollution rates increase annually, caring for our planet is more important than ever. For most citizens, though, it can be difficult to make environmental change on a grand scale. Tied to the official Keep America Beautiful Foundation (KABF), Keep America Beautiful Month (KABM) “[empowers] individuals to take greater responsibility for their community environment.” KABF was established in 1953, while KABM became widely observed decades later during the 1980s. Observed annually each April, Keep America Beautiful Month promotes ways that the average person can make their community more eco-friendly, while also helping the planet as a whole. Outside the typical habit of making sure to pick up your trash, there are many ways you can participate in KABM this April, according to the KABM website. Consider planting a tree in your backyard and following the “reduce, reuse, recycle” rule on a regular basis. You can begin “plogging” (the act of collecting litter while jogging), or even start your own garden. On an aesthetic level, plant-growing is sure to beautify your neighborhood, but vegetation also provides oxygen for the environment and offers wildlife a place to live. In addition to the resources provided by KABF, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers more options for helping the environment. For instance, NOAA states that conserving water mitigates the amount of runoff that ends up in the ocean, while opting to use long-lasting light bulbs helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To take a more active role in keeping your community beautiful, you can host a community clean-up at your local park. If you’re short on time, though, doing something as simple as taking a reusable bag to the grocery store can help our planet in the long run. It doesn’t take much time, effort, or environmental expertise to make your community beautiful; just the knowledge of how to help and a sense of motivation. This Keep America Beautiful Month, contribute in any way you can!
cwong@arcadiaquill.com Graphic courtesy of CUTEWALLPAPER.org
12
A&E
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JOINT WIND ENSEMBLE C O N C E RT RT By MICHELLE SO
Staff Writer
The Arcadia High School (AHS) Wind Ensemble partnered up with Azusa Pacific University School of Music’s (APU) Wind Ensemble for a stellar performance of woodwinds and brasses. On Apr. 1, the two bands performed in the AHS Performing Arts Center. The production was a wonderful way to start spring break and offered students a glimpse at musicality beyond high school. APU is a local college that offers a variety of music-related majors including composition, commercial music, and performance. Their Wind Ensemble is led by director Dr. John Burdett, who was the founding director and conductor of the Southern California Philharmonic. The AHS Wind
Ensemble was led by Mr. Kevin Sherrill and Mr. Tom Plunkett. The night began with AHS playing “Molly on the Shore” by Percy Grainger, “O Magnum Mysterium” by Morten Lauridsen arr. Reynolds, and “First Suite for Band, I”. March by Alfred Reed. Their brief repertoire was followed by the APU ensemble performing “March, Op. 99” by Sergei Prokofiev, “Second Suite in F for Military Band” by Gustav Holst, “Sleep” by Eric Whitacre, and “Four Dances” from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein. The two groups came together for a concert finale, showcasing “Dedicatory Overture” by Clifton Williams and “First Suite for Band, IV Gallop” by Alfred Reed. Sophomore Gregory Zhu plays clarinet in AHS’ Wind Ensemble. He was particularly struck by the uniformity and musicality
of the APU band. “I think it was compelling to watch them perform, since despite being smaller, their ensemble had a clearer and rounder sound,” said Zhu. “I also think that through their performances and them playing some pieces with us, we [got] a better idea how to balance ourselves when playing.” Jeremiah Jun is a sophomore in the Wind Ensemble and plays the trumpet. There was only one rehearsal with APU, and it was on the day of the concert. “We rehearsed from 5:40 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and that was all we really needed to have a good performance,” said Jun. One thing about the APU ensemble that really struck Jun was their cohesiveness and strict rehearsal etiquette. “Because they are a college group, their etiquette was definitely more professional than what you’d see within our classroom,” he said.
“It wasn’t unexpected but it was fun to be in such a big performance.” Individually, the APU band also had strong players that stood out during wellpracticed solos. “I think there was a baritone solo that was really nice,” said Zhu. “Oh, I also liked their bass clarinet player.” He corrected himself by saying, “I guess overall they were impressive, like with all the pieces they played.” Both players definitely left the concert feeling more awe-inspired by the impressive professionalism and musicality of APU’s Wind Ensemble. The combined concert was a unique experience, and not one the players or audience will forget anytime soon.
mso@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of RONALD LEE
APRIL 2022
“MUSICAL IN MOVIES” By AAHANA DUTTA
Staff Writer
The Arcadia High School (AHS) Choir hosted a concert on Mar. 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center. The theme, as well as the name of the concert, was “Musical in Movies.” The pieces performed rotated around works done in films adapted from musicals, like Lion King, Annie, and The Woods. The show had about 80 people in attendance, and all the audience members were required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken 72-hours prior to the show, at the gate. Masks were optional but were strongly recommended. Tickets were $10, and choir members were selling tickets, but the tickets were also available at the door. The concert featuring Concert Choir, Chanteurs, Ms. Connie Tu, the director, and Sandy Wu, the pianist, was a success and received great support from parents as well. The AHS Choir practiced for this concert two months in advance, with there being 33 Chanteurs members and 14 Concert Choir members. The Chanteurs members were broken up into half, and as Ms. Tu said, it was a good leadership opportunity for students, because there were times when students from one group had to monitor themselves and commit to staying on task, while Ms. Tu was assisting the other group. They gained experience in how to work together as well as independently. In addition to the musical-turnedinto-movies mentioned earlier, the concert also featured pieces from West Side Story, Grease, and Disney Dazzle.
The Concert Choir was led by section leader Catherine Pei, and the Chanteurs was led by Oishika Chattopadhyay, Zayanah Rasyamond, Leo Tan, and Joceyln Zhu. Talking about her experience in Choir, especially the “Musical in Movies” concert, senior Chattopadhyay said that during their practices, they all have “learned so much and our musicianship has really
grown.” She also talked about the choir in general, and called it a very “rewarding experience.” “Our concerts are always incredibly fun, as we practice pretty hard in class and at afterschool practices in order to make sure we’re ready,” said Chattopadhyay. “We’ve been able to have incredible opportunities as well, such as recently performing at Disneyland! Overall it’s a really wonderful experience that I’m happy I get to be a part of.” Succeeding this concert will be a concert on May 20, where AHS Choir will once again come together to put on a spectacular show, featuring jazz pieces, and jazzy tunes. Tickets and flyers will be out sometime in May, so keep an eye out for that! Lastly, if any of this interests you, then check out the open auditions Choir is hosting! No previous experience is needed to audition, and being part of Choir is the perfect place to not only fine-tune your singing skills but also go on fun field trips! For more information, check out the flyers posted around campus.
adutta@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of FLATICON.COM
APRIL 2022
A&E
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13
H OOL S O U THERN CA LIF ORNIA S C HOOL N D AND ORCHE STR A B A ND A SS C ONC E R T FES TIVA L AS S O CIATION CONC
By ASHLEY CHAN
Staff Writer
Arcadia High School (AHS) hosted a Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) Concert Festival in the Performing Arts Center on Mar. 29. Three AHS Concert Bands performed in the festival, including the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band. The SCSBOA is a non-profit organization whose active membership is targeted towards educational institutions, such as elementary schools, junior high and middle schools, high schools, and colleges and universities. “The Association is dedicated to enriching the cultural environment by helping all students develop a greater appreciation of music, providing the means for exploring both vocational and non-vocational opportunities in music, raising performance standards, and improving learning techniques,” stated the SCSBOA. The AHS Wind Ensemble played three songs: “Molly on the Shore”, “O Mag-
numm”.ysterium”, and “First Suit for Band Movement 1”. Junior Andrew Wu, baritonist for the Wind Ensemble, claimed, “I thought that our performance was up to standard but I felt like we, as a group, could’ve done a more thorough job in making the melody smoother and more exciting for the audience.” As for the AHS Symphonic Band, they performed two songs: “Dedicatory Overture” and “Sea of Lullaby”. Junior Rohit Sampathkumar Anitha, tenor saxophonist for the Concert Band, remarked, “I felt that the Symphonic Band’s performance was fairly good and reflected our rehearsals
clearly. Despite fellow performers’ overall dissatisfaction with our playing, we still received superior grading from judges. In the overall lead-up to the concert, practicing occurred daily in class and improvement was very clear. The experience of the concert itself was very special due to it occurring during school hours and although we didn’t get to watch them it was cool seeing many other schools partaking in the massive event.” Finally, the AHS Concert Band played two songs: “Legacy” and “Summer Resounding”. Junior Benjamin Oh, clarinetist for the
Concert Band, said that “the concert was phenomenal, filled with performances from our amazing concert bands and orchestra, along with others from different schools. Each band/orchestra showcased their pieces and was able to be evaluated by talented judges. My section played Legacy by and Summer Resounding. I was very proud of my band playing two lovely pieces and can’t wait for the Pops Concert later in May!” Great work to the three AHS bands that participated in the SCSBOA Concert Festival; thank you for your hard work and dedication to the band program here at AHS!
achan@arcadiaquill.com Graphic courtesy of FREEPIK Photo courtesy of UNSPLASH.COM
DEAF ACTING IN HOLLYWOOD By KAI WETTERAU
Staff Writer
Deaf people have long been hidden from being recognized in Hollywood, which has just recently changed. These actors and actresses are finally being thrust into the limelight after almost 93 years of absence. Their history and presence in the acting community is something not well known or celebrated enough. With the original advent of film, the American Deaf community in particular flourished, mainly due to the lack of sound coming from any motion pictures at the time. Those hard of hearing were finally able to use these archaic videos to more accurately communicate with the audience, either through pantomime or American Sign Language (ASL). One famous deaf actor from this time period was Granville Redmond, who was in many films along with his coworker Charlie Chaplin, and was even featured in A Dog’s Life, one of the many cinema classics both starring and being directed by Chaplin. This whole “golden era” for those with impaired hearing strongly empowered many to fight off efforts by other American groups to end
the use of ASL as a whole in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Nw, in modern times, the Deaf acting community has been thrust into the limelight once again. One such example of this is with the longtime show, The Simpsons, which has recently revealed that they will be incorporating an actor who is hard of hearing into one of their episodes. The actor’s character will be a deaf character who is fluent in ASL and so will use it throughout the episode. This will allow for a new slew of jokes to be used as well as the addition of proper representation. The new addition of someone who speaks in ASL will surely shake things up, as characters in The Simpsons only have four fingers, meaning some of the words or movements will have to be altered. The episode in question will be titled The Sound of Bleeding Gums, and is planned to focus on Lisa Simpson learning about the deaf son of Lisa’s longtime favorite saxophonist, Bleeding Gums Murphy, who has since passed away in past
seasons of the show. Another major win for the Deaf community in Hollywood were the numerous victories of the award-winning movie CODA. The acronym CODA, which stands for “Child of a Deaf Adult,” largely characterizes the film and its premise, which is about the everyday life of a hearing daughter with two deaf parents. CODA won a total of three Oscars at this year’s Academy Awards; the biggest were Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor, with the latter being the first time an actor who is hard of hearing has ever won an Oscar. This marks a momentous occasion in featurelength films, where it can become common for deaf people to be involved with any sort of movie. The reappearance of deaf people in the film industry has gotten many students happy and open to supporting these different types of movies or television shows. One such person, freshman Laila Fonseca, is quite excited for films produced and greatly contributed to by the Deaf
community. “I’m very hopeful for these shows, as they reveal a new inclusive age for Hollywood,” Fonseca said. “This will very well mean more types of action, suspense, drama, and comedy for all of us in the audience to enjoy!” Sharing these thoughts was sophomore Brandon Lee, who was surprised but interested in deaf acting. “Deaf acting is definitely something that intrigues me, which opens up many storylines that haven’t ever been explored before,” said Lee. “While this is exciting, I am a bit worried about keeping things real and respectful, but if things are done right, I think things will go great.” In total, deaf people in acting have had long leaps back into fame but can still go further down the road. The future is bright, and there’s so much to look forward to and to look back on. This Simpsons episode and CODA are just a few examples of the large deaf contribution to Hollywood, but surely are some of the greatest.
kwetterau@arcadiaquill.com Graphic courtesy of FREEPIK Photo courtesy of UNSPLASH.COM
14
SPORTS
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APRIL 2022
Team Feature: Athlete Feature: Arcadia Track Reanne Chan By HENRINA ZHANG Staff Writer With the Arcadia Invitational, from Apr. 9-10, behind us, Arcadia Track has been one of the busiest sports teams at Arcadia High School. From weekly track meets to daily practices even on no-school days, here’s a closer look at the daily life of an Arcadia Track member. At daily practices, Arcadia Track starts off with attendance and announcements, followed by warmups and drills. With the constant exertion of their bodies, track members agree that stretching and warming up is one of the most important things to do to prevent injury and achieve their best performance. Their workouts vary depending on the day, anywhere from 500-meter sprinting to 40-yard dashes to different circuits to get the best acceleration while still keeping up stamina. Along with track workouts, members participating in field events have additional practice. Depending on their event, practices range from perfecting technique and strength on things like long jump, relays, high jump, and shot put. All of Arcadia Track also trains in the weight room to build their muscles and power. These practices start during 6th period and end around 4-5 p.m. Before a track meet, preparation includes light jogging and strides, keeping it easy for the next day. As a member of Arcadia Track, the most important thing to remember is to try your best to consistently improve and push yourself. Members agree that on the team, people are constantly motivated to break through their PRs, since “there’s always room for improvement,” stated junior Leo Liang. Junior Chloe Schell said, “the most important duty of any Track member is to work their hardest at every practice to bring themselves and others up.” Junior Irene Lema also mentioned that
“the most important duty of any Track member is being there for your teammates; being there for each other makes everyone do better because you have a support system.” All Track members are also expected to help set up and clean up equipment during practices and volunteer to set up and clean up equipment during meets. “For the Arcadia Invitational, I think I volunteered for 12 hours. I got there really early to help prepare and stayed at school until 11 at night. I liked cheering my teammates on and helping everything go smoothly, but I was really tired,” said sophomore Hailey Tam. Experience-wise, Arcadia Track is a fairly close group of students. They spend multiple hours with each other every day and have outside bonding activities as well. Lema described how her “experience on the Track team has been really nice. I’ve improved physically but also improved other skills like teamwork and sportsmanship. I have also made so many new friendships and that makes Track so much better.” Well into their season, Lemo also said, “The season is going really well because the team has improved so much. Our times and marks have improved since the beginning of the season and many new PRs have been made during recent meets.” Arcadia Track has been described as an incredibly rewarding experience for many, but it can also be mentally and physically exhausting. Tang said, “the lows [of Track] are when we get punished because other people skip workouts.” It’s a team sport, so when a few people are down, or if a few aren’t willing to pull their weight, the whole team is dragged down with them. However, these runners have remained positive and enthused. They find joy in the exhilarating atmosphere of Track meets and the constant encouraging community. hzhang@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of AUSD FACEBOOK
By ASHLEY CHAN Staff Wrtier Currently, Arcadia High School’s (AHS) Badminton team is undefeated and on its fifth straight Almont League Champion title. Junior Reanne Chan, member of the AHS Badminton team, details her experience with the sport and provides insight into their ongoing season. Chan began her journey in badminton from a young age and sharpened her skills over the years. “I have been playing badminton since I was eight years old, so it has been eight years. I’ve been on the Varsity Badminton team at AHS since I was a freshman, so it has been about three years playing for AHS,” said Chan. From her eight years of playing badminton, she has racked up an enormous amount of memories that she will treasure for the rest of her sports career. “My favorite memory from playing badminton was having the opportunity to represent the United States in my age group playing in an international tournament which was held in Acapulco, Mexico, where I won a gold medal,” stated Chan. “Being able to compete at a high level has been my number one goal since I first started playing local tournaments, so representing my country at an international event was a great experience and helped to develop myself as a badminton player.” The reason for participating in athletics varies from person to person; a couple reasons for joining a sports team would be the camaraderie, the exercise and health benefits, or maybe the pure enjoyment from stepping on the court to represent a broader organization like AHS. As for Chan, she claimed, “To be honest, my parents put me in this sport and at first I didn’t enjoy what badminton had to offer but
as years went on and as I got older, I met some great people, made friends that I’m super close with till today, and gave me opportunities that I wouldn’t have experienced without badminton. I am thankful to my parents, and of course, all my coaches and teammates, for always urging me to keep going.” Recently, on Apr. 18, the AHS Badminton team won a 20-1 game against South Pasadena, which maintained their remarkable winning streak this season! When asked what games are like for the team, Chan describes preparing herself for such events. “I don’t do much before I prepare for practices, but I would say I drink more water than I normally would prior so that I won’t be dehydrated during practices,” remarked Chan. “Before games, I try not to use my phone or look at a screen for too long because from experience, it has made me less focused and more tired the following day.” With the height of badminton’s season gradually approaching, Chan has outlined her personal and team goals that she hopes will be achieved. Chan said, “From this season, I hope that we can defend our CIF title, both as a team and individually, in hopes to also deepen the connections with my teammates from games, tournaments and bonding events!” This spring, make sure to keep an eye out for the AHS Badminton team as they have proved game after game that they are a force to be reckoned with. Good luck to the AHS Badminton team, and keep up the great work!
achan@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of REANNE CHAN
arcadiaquill.com
APRIL 2022
SPORTS
The Arcadia Colorguard’s WGI Championships By KIRA CAMACHO Staff Writer Over spring break, our very own Arcadia Colorguard performed at the Winter Guard International (WGI) Championships in Dayton, Ohio. They proudly came home with 7th place for their show Making Our Scars Gold. In this competition, they competed with teams from all across the country. For those who don’t know, Colorguard is a performance art that combines dance with props like flags, rifles, and sabres. In the fall, the Arcadia Colorguard performs with the band in parades and field shows. This year, their field show was called Spotlight. You can usually catch them during halftime at home football games, or their weekend competitions. During these fall competitions, the colorguard’s score is added to the overall score of the band, and is judged separately. In the fall season, the colorguard and band compete within the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) field show circuit. The winter season is called winterguard, and the world guard competes by itself against other teams. This season is indoors, and instead of live music, the
colorguard performs to pre-recorded music. This year, instead of both a Scholastic World Guard and a Scholastic “A” guard, the whole Arcadia Colorguard is on the World Guard team. Our Arcadia Scholastic World Guard works incredibly hard, with practices on some weeknights from 5-9 p.m., and weekends. WGI produces competitions for colorguard, percussion, and wind instruments. Every year, our Arcadia World Guard goes to compete in the championships in Dayton, Ohio. More than 160,000 spectators watch the competition every year. Not only is the competition a great place to show off your skills, perform, and win something, but it’s a great bonding experience for the team. One of the colorguard’s traditions is to go to the midwest’s famous Waffle House before the big competition. Their show, Making Our Scars Gold, is based on a particular tradition in Japanese ceramics. In this practice, when a ceramic piece breaks, it is repaired with gold or silver. The practice, and this beautiful show represent the beauty in our flaws. “It’s kind of honoring our past Arcadia legacy because we’ve had a rough couple past years and we are just trying to rebuild our program.” said Colorguard Co-Captain Arianna Tear.
The Arcadia Colorguard has had so many important appearances throughout its long history. They performed at the first Super Bowl held in Los Angeles, the 2005 Presidential Inauguration Parade, and at many Rose Parades.
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kcamacho@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of AUSD FACEBOOK
Varsity Boys Volleyball at Burbank By KAI WETTARU Staff Writer The Arcadia Varsity Boys Volleyball team scored yet another win against their rival Burbank High School as of Apr. 12, winning 3-0 in the three sets the two teams played against each other. Arcadia dominated the competition, outscoring the opposing team by at least five points each set. This added onto their winning record, currently being 18 wins and three losses; such a great record places them in the top few teams and third in the local Pacific League. The first set is usually where teams get into their groove; a match can be decided early on if a team isn’t prepared for the start of the game. Arcadia stayed consistent with how they always play, team chemistry brimming with opportunities. While both teams traded points here and there, by the middle of the set, the Apaches were the clear dominant force in the gym, having an eight point lead over the Bulldogs. The team surely knew they were set to win this matchup and so pre-
pared to continue to put immense amounts of pressure on Burbank. With the referee blowing the final whistle for the end of the first set, Arcadia won 25-11. After a quick and easy intermission, the teams assembled back onto the floor for another set. Coming prepared, Arcadia was confident in winning this matchup. Reminded of their past win against Burbank and their victory in the first set, the team decided to push hard and ignore tiredness coming out of past playing. This time, however, Burbank fired back, managing to keep up with Arcadia and make sure everyone was on their toes. By the time Arcadia had 15 points, Burbank had just about eight or nine. With the passage of time and multiple point trades here and there, Arcadia hit 25 total points, with Burbank ending the set at 16. The Apaches, knowing they were in a very good position, celebrated. All they had to do was win one more set to win a best out of five and so secure the game. This break lasted a bit longer, with both teams gearing up for a possible fiery finish. Burbank capitalized on a tired Arcadia to try and mount a comeback into a continued
match. Both teams began to be even closer than before, with teams tied up for the majority of the set. The game came down to a select few saving plays, making the matchup to end it all even more gut-wrenching. Fatigue began to get at a few from either side, until Arcadia vehemently surged back to end the game in full. A couple bits of point trading and some powerful hits on the ball really got Burbank into a frenzy, ultimately ending the third set and so the game 25-20. The team, knowing they’d won again, were happy to keep up their position in the volleyball world; even in victory they knew that the grind never stops and that even more work could be done to completely dominate the rest of the season. One member that shares this belief, senior
Matthew Le, talked about his thoughts. “I believe in my teammates, and I believe in our potential. With that being said, I know there are places to improve and things to fix for an even better outcome, meaning we should all still keep up the practice.” The team performed wonderfully and will continue to do so. As long as a few bits and pieces are refurbished, and the team’s stamina increases, the Varsity Boys Volleyball team will surely come out on top.
kwettaru@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of DCI
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STRESS AWARENESS
arcadiaquill.com
APRIL 2022
STRESS AWARENESS MONTH 01
with ap exams and finals coming up, how are you feeling? “I’m kind of worried since AP Exams came sooner than expected, but I’ve been trying to keep up with my classes and review the material that’s being tested.” - Doris Ma, 12. “I’m feeling pretty stressed about my Spanish and Physics finals, but not as much for my Statistics final since there will be a curve.” - Julianna Jin, 12.
what is one way you manage stress? “One way I manage my stress is by sleeping for 11 hours in a row.” - Ruth Berkun, 12. “If I’m dealing with a lot of stress, I start to procrastinate and not finish class work during class time.” - Julianna Jin, 12.
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what is something that would make your life less stressful? “Something that would make my life less stressful would be getting to have an actual 2-day weekend to rest and relax.” - Julianna Jin, 12.
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