April 2023

The Arcadia Quill

The official student newspaper of Arcadia High School since 1952

Required Reading

By ELLIE GLADSON-PANG Staff Writer

The basis of high school English lies in the literature students read and analyze throughout the year. Each level of English class at Arcadia High School reads multiple full length books, a set curriculum that is repeated each year. However, teachers at Arcadia High School have long been discussing an update to the reading lists; the growing demand for diversity in the curriculum is being addressed, and teachers still strive to give students an understanding of the classics of the past.

The elusive balance between contemporary and traditional literature centers around the issue of sensitivity to mature topics; like modern books reflect modern issues, older pieces of literature almost always carry relics of the time in which they were written. This reflection of the author’s experience can often be jarring to modern readers, with interpretations of social issues that would be unacceptable to- day. Despite this, English teachers still

strive to discuss these issues when teaching the books.

Some of the most well-known books read in Arcadia High School (AHS) English courses, like The Great Gatsby, Of Mice and Men, and To Kill a Mockingbird are prime examples of this controversy.

The Great Gatsby, has raised concerns over depictions of violence, adultery, and language, while Of Mice and Men has a somewhat myopic portrayal of disabilities and racism and as integral themes. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee addressed a whole slew of controversial issues, including race, religion, gender, economic class, sexual assault, and disabilities.

Seeing as To Kill a Mockingbird was written in the 1950s, the usage of offensive language and scenarios no longer acceptable today is striking to students reading the book in English in 10th grade. However, it’s critical for students to analyze Lee’s purpose further. She makes a distinct criticism of the problems in the fictional Maycomb society, with complicated and enlightening themes of discrimination. The central theme of considering situations from other points-of-view is yet another way Lee communicated her purpose, advising the reader to be open-minded.

In this novel lies the true value of challenging content and controversial books in the curriculum. Certainly, Harper Lee cannot be perpetually regarded as flawless, and the standards for tolerance of human diversity should continue to rise, but there is more to the issue. It’s impossible to hold people accountable for social standards that were only enacted long after they wrote their books. This is why, as readers, it’s our responsibility to view older literature through a lens of historical analysis and exploration of point-ofview.

Misogyny in Politics is Real. And it Needs to End.

Juliette Fang’26 highlights the need for gender equity in politics Opinion • P6

cognizant of the flaws, but consider the value of reading and what you can learn.

According to the English Department Chairperson, Mr. Christopher Schultz, this open-minded attitude can be incorporated into the creation of required reading lists by teachers themselves.

“We offer options when we say teachers need to teach a certain book; we have required readings, and then we have a list of optional books for each quarter and semester at each one of the grade levels. That’s up to teacher discretion, because they can select readings they feel more connected to,” said Mr. Schultz.

That being said, there’s still some flexibility for teachers in the current curriculum.

“I don’t think there’s anything that should be taught hard set, and that’s because I believe we can teach the same themes and literary analysis skills by using different books each year. I’ve done it many times,” he continued.

Students do benefit reading books from a variety of different perspectives and settings, meaning there is a need for adaptation and adoption of more modern options. There is something to be gained by students studying older works, but there is still a need for the powerful learning opportunities in new books. By pushing students to examine the world and setting around them critically, growth and change become real options.

Really, students should put in an effort to adopt the mantle of mature and responsible world citizens, examining any material with a critical but open mind. Nevertheless, AHS teachers should continue to work hard on putting forth the best possible material.

The

American Tipping Culture

Sarah Wang’24 shares her take on the American tipping culture Features • P8

The 55th Arcadia Invitational

Breeanna Pham’25 covers the largest high school track meet Sports • P14

Oscars: First Asian American Best Actress

Justina Liu ‘24 reports on Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar Award Arts & Entertainment • P13

Arcadia High School

180 Campus Drive Arcadia, CA 91006

@arcadiaquill

The Arcadia Quill

Editors-in-Chief:

Catherine Chan, Lilian Chong, Enzo Goebel

News Editors:

Stephanie Wang, Madison Yee

Opinion Editors:

Ashley Chan, Chloe Wong

Features Editors:

Darin Buenaluz, Pamina Yung

Arts & Entertainment Editors: Anna Odell, Maryam Sadeghifard

Sports Editors: Sophia Li, Sohana Sahni

Media Editor:

Amanda Chang

Campus Focus Editor: Michelle So

Publicity Manager: Vritti Godani

Staf Writers:

Ryan Chai, Nathan Chen, Niyah (Elliot) Davis, Harini Devaguptapu, Juliette Fang, Jose Gama, Eleanor Gladson-Pang, Michelle Ho, Michael Hum, Amish Jha, Annie Jiang, Emily Lee, Caroline Li, Lisa Li, Justina Liu, Zhilin Liu, Samantha Luan, Victoria Thalia Mair, Emmaline Pan, Breeanna Pham, Ava Shaw, Sofa Payan Siegrist, Clarissa Suryapranata, Kaitlynn Trinnh, Ziming (Sarah) Wang, Kathy Wong, Lin Zhang

Media Staf:

Lauryn Chao, Skye Escobedo, Veronica Meyers, Ainsley Najafzadeh, Katrina Reghitto, Lorin Teng, Vanessa Valentino, May Wang, Olivia Zheng

Advisor: Mrs. Lesley Lee

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy

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 afect 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 staf 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 Unifed 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 eforts 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, ofensive, 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 signifcant 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 staf 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 ofensive or inappropriate, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s justifed standards. Rights are reserved to postpone, edit or withhold from publication anything submitted which does not meet the specifcations.

Unsigned editorials represent the view of The Arcadia Quill Editorial Board. It does not necessarily represent the view of other Quill staf 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 fnal 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 of 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.

Staf 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 staf. 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 staf. Quotes are to be written in past tense with the correct style guide format.

National Poetry Month

3. Rediscover famous poets

By KATHY WONG Staf Writer

Poetry: an art form that expresses feeling, emotions, and tells a story through its words. There are over 50 types of poetry, but the main two types are narrative and dramatic. When you think of poetry, Shakespeare or Edgar Allan Poe may come to mind, and you may think of it as boring—but it’s quite the contrary!

With this month being National Poetry Month, here are some ways you can celebrate it and get in the mood!

1. Write poetry daily

In honor of National poetry month, what better way to celebrate than getting into the habit of writing a poem every day or week? Whether it’s love, nature, friendship or another topic, you get to decide and write about it! Having a daily routine of writing poetry is not only a good way to honor the holiday, but also a good way to exercise and work your brain!

2. Read diferent forms of poetry for fun

If you don’t particularly enjoy writing poetry, then there’s always the option of reading poems. By reading diferent forms of poetry, your interest in poetry may increase, and you will truly understand the beauty of it.

There are many famous poems that are forgotten, but are incredible works. Reading and analyzing poetry can help you rediscover the extraordinary world of poetry, and that writing can be simple and fascinating at the same time! If you’re new to poetry, “To Two Beautiful Eyes” by Theophile Gautier and “Starlings in Winter” by Mary Oliver are two great poems to start with!

Poetry can be a form of self-expression, personal experience, or purely imagination. Perhaps one of the best things about poetry is that you can allow it to be as creative as you’d like it to be. When you read or write poetry, you enter a diferent world where your imagination has no bounds. There is no wrong way to write poetry, so whatever works for you, just go for it! It may take some time to perfect your stanzas, so don’t be discouraged and use it as an opportunity to grow and improve!

Poetry is an underappreciated form of literature that deserves more love and attention. So the next time you pick up your phone, consider checking out a poem or two, or grab a pencil and a piece of paper and take a few minutes to focus on poetry!

Poetry samples available on page 10 & 11

Graphics courtesy of PIXABAY.COM

AHS WELLNESS CENTER HOSTS: 2023 Wellness Week

By MICHELLE HO Staff Writer

Maintaining the mental health and sanity of 4,000 highschoolers is not an easy task, but the Wellness Center works hard to raise awareness for mental health and provide a safe space for students. Arcadia High School (AHS) Wellness Counselor Dr. Deja Anderson and several other AHS organizations hosted Wellness Week in the Rally Court from Apr. 17 to 20 during lunch.

“Our goal is to encourage our students to take a moment for themselves and make sure they are making their mental health and wellness a priority,” said Dr. Anderson.

Ranging from tattoos to rock painting, the activities were fun and simple to help students take their mind off school.

Starting off the week, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee hosted

“Tattoos and Twine” at the Rally Court. Members of EDI handed out crowns of twine stars and a huge variety of temporary tattoos, ranging from tiny red hearts to rabbits and cars.

Next, the Mental Health Awareness Club worked with Music Makes Miracles to host arts and crafts, while student musicians played songs in the background. In the Rally Court, an abundance of different brightly colored beads were laid out for students to choose and make their own customized bracelets.

When asked if she would recommend students participate in the activities, freshman Cathleen Lu said, “Yes! A break in the middle of the school day is vital to taking care of your mental health. [The activities] were therapeutic and diverse, and there were definitely a lot of options throughout the week.”

The next activity, which was a fun origamimaking session, was hosted by Seniors of Merit at Work. Origami has been proven to have positive effects on students’ brains and mental health, and its benefits are more thoroughly covered in “Appreciate Origami,” by The Arcadia Quill Staff Writer junior Caroline Li. Students can benefit from the art of origami as a

break from their screens with a little hands-on arts and crafts.

The final activity was rock painting. Members of Link Crew worked together to make this event happen, setting out tin foil, rocks of different sizes and shapes, and pastel pens for students to draw whatever their hearts desired.

In addition to the activities in the Rally Court, Dr. Anderson shared some tips and strategies with teachers for students to practice throughout their day.

On Tuesday, teachers were sent mindfulness videos that they could share with their classes. Wednesday was designated as a day for community building, and quick yoga sessions were held on Thursday.

“In the spirit of wellness week, the class discussed the term mindfulness, and the benefits of mindfulness activities in general,” said Ms. Neda Kuso. “We went to the APES garden to do a mindful walk, and [ended] the week with a social activity.”

“At the start of class the students wrote either in their science notebook, or somewhere [in private] where no one else would see their

said Ms. Barbara Young.

The class also practiced several different exercises, including a body scan, yoga, mindful journaling, and movement activities.

Overall, this year’s Wellness Week was a major success! Dozens of students joined the Wellness Center in the Rally Court for each activity, and it was clear that these activities were fun and exciting for many of the students.

“Our goal is to encourage our students to take a moment for themselves and make sure they are making their mental health and wellness a priority,” said Dr. Anderson. “I hope our students understand the value of carving out a little down time for themselves, [and that it] actually helps in the long run.”

Thank you Dr. Anderson and members of the clubs and organizations that helped make Wellness Week possible!

mho@arcadiaquill.com

Graphics courtesy of AHS Wellness Center

CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE BILL SCA 2:

LOWERING THE VOTING AGE

By ELLIE GLADSON-PANG Staff Writer

“The question is, how much faith do we have in our young people?” said California State Senator Henry Stern, as he introduced Senate Constitutional Amendment (SCA) 2 in February of this year. SCA 2, a bill aiming to lower the voting age in California to 17, was brought to the floor on Feb. 16, and carried some major implications for the civic process with it.

Senator Stern, a Democrat representing California District 27 (including parts of Los Angeles County), presented a strong argument for the bill, citing national issues pertaining to young people that he believes California can take early steps on: “The challenges [our youth] meet upon their entrance to adulthood are more pressing now than ever with rising gun violence rates, climate change looming, student debt increasing, civil rights movements mobilizing, the ongoing pandemic, and a host of other issues that disproportionately impact disenfranchised young people. We must seize the chance to offer them a well deserved opportunity to activate their voices on issues they did not create but are soon to inherit.”

“If we can ask 17-year-olds to join our military, and allow 16-year-olds to drive a car, then we must surely trust them to vote,” said Stern.

Stern makes a point that has historically been resonant in the United States; as ever burgeoning numbers of young men were conscripted to fight in the Vietnam War, this argument was invoked by anti-war protestors. Lyndon B. Johnson’s troop buildup efforts in 1965, including doubling the number drafted in

the military from 17,000 to 35,000, incited the campaign that eventually succeeded in lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.

This proposition is monumental; with voting rights extended a year younger than every other state’s minimum age, the state of California would rapidly experience an ideological frameshift and change political tides. The Los Angeles County Democratic Party overwhelmingly endorsed the bill, and it’s quickly gaining traction with voters.

So what do high school students, especially 16 and 17-year-olds, need to know about SCA 2? For starters, it will mean earlier voter eligibility in California elections, and a broader reach for younger voices. Lowering the voting age to 17 will mean more support for communities, education, and other issues, considering the fact that many at this age are still in school and living at home. Proponents of SCA 2 hope the bill will also serve to build a lifelong habit of voting in young people, creating long term implications for voter turnout and demographics.

In Austria, where the minimum voting age is 16, voter turnout is significantly higher among 16 and 17-year-olds than among 18 to 21-year-olds. A University of Utah study also found that young people are more likely to vote if they do so for the first time while still living with parents or guardians who vote.

“I fully support lowering the voting age to 17,” said junior Addison Kwan. “Many young people are already civically engaged, and I think that their voices should be heard, as they are the future!”

SCA 2’s passing in the State Senate would mean Kwan and many of her classmates would soon be able to vote in state elections, including races for Governor, State Legislature,

Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Controller, and State Superintendent of California.

A robust body of evidence demonstrates that kids of this age have the necessary cognitive skills and civic knowledge to vote responsibly, but just require education and support from their school and family.

Though its implementation is not widespread, the idea of lowering the voting age is not entirely new. SCA 2 proposes lowering the overall voting age to 17, but in a few places a lesser degree of this is in practice. Already, in 22 states and the District of Columbia, 17-yearolds can already vote in primary elections if the voter turns 18 before the general election.

California’s Proposition 18, introduced in 2020 followed the same principle, but failed to pass by about 6%. Arguments in opposition included concerns over the minor status of 17-year-old voters and the possible influence their parents might hold over their voting patterns. The 11 other measures being voted on at the time may have overshadowed focus on the proposition, which also may have impacted its passage. With the approval of SCA 2, however, California can make up for this delay and become the first state to allow all 17-yearolds to vote in primary and general elections.

But make no mistake; this is only the beginning of a wider push to expand the accessibility of the voting process. Only 82% of California’s eligible voters were registered to do so in May of 2022, reflecting patterns of racial and economic inequality in the state. Six in ten unregistered adults are Latino. The National Center for Education Statistics has presented data stating that the US Latino student dropout rate is 65% higher than white students

and almost 40% higher than black students. This is only one example of a correlation between voting demographics and indicators of available high school resources, clarifying the need for additional support in voter equity laws. Many Californians hope that SCA 2 will contribute to social change efforts, marking an early implementation of expansion of voter accessibility if it passes.

As of Mar. 1, the bill has been referred to the California Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments, and the new possible voters in question await new information.

SCA 2 is certainly an impactful idea; engaging youth in the electoral process and civic education may help pave the way toward a stronger democracy, and Arcadia High School (AHS) students should keep an eye out for any new updates to come if they hope to share their voice in the democratic process sooner than expected.

“I think the bill would be a great idea, because then I would be allowed to vote in elections in my state just next year,” said sophomore Josh Lee.

“Age restrictions in America are pretty senseless. If kids can drive and enlist in the army at that age, I don’t see a reason why 17-year-olds can’t vote as long as they have developed opinions,” added sophomore Jake Chung, clearly mirroring Stern’s stance.

In 1968, President Johnson called the effort “a national affirmation of faith in our youth.” Now, we have a unique opportunity to make the same choice.

2023 Spring Preview

By SARAH WANG Staff Writer

On a cloudy Thursday afternoon, Arca dia High School (AHS) hosted its 2023 an nual Spring Preview with AHS students and staff planning a campus tour on Mar. 30 to introduce parents and future students to high school life. The AHS athletic and perform ing arts organizations set up booths to attract new members, and food and performances were provided for the attendees as well.

The booths that attracted the most at tention were definitely those of the AHS clubs, where club officers provided snacks and fun activities to help attendees explore the respective clubs that suit their interests.

President of the AHS French Club, junior Nikini Wathithantrige hopes to immerse high school students in French language and culture. The club hosts occasional events to help members learn about French holi days and cuisine. It is also associated with the French language program, which helps host opportunities for French stu dents to visit Los Angeles, and AHS stu dents taking French class to visit France.

“I’ve been taking [French Club] for the past three years. I’m a junior now and I think people should take it since it’s pretty fun, ” said Wathithant

rige. “You’re also more likely to meet your friends in French class since we have less periods of classes compared to other courses.”

around the community, such as in elementary schools, and we host other events around Arcadia,” said Interact Club Com

Speech Follies

By MICHAEL HUM Staff Writer

Arcadia High School’s (AHS) Speech and Debate team recently hosted their annual Speech Follies show from Mar. 24 to Mar. 26. This year, Speech Follies showcased all the different sections Speech and Debate offers. The twohour event was marked with intrigue, drama, and showcased the talented individuals from the team, demonstrating the parts of Speech and Debate: declamation, oratorical interpretation, dramatic interpretation, prose and poetry, advocacy, spontaneous argumentation, and improvisation.

Most of these acts relate to taking an existing piece of literature and modifying it for dramatic appeal. Declamation takes a speech given publicly and modifies it to demonstrate the new speaker’s eloquence and articulation. For example, a speaker can change Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech by preserving the same effect and meaning but modifying the subject matter to relate to the speaker. For Friday’s show, the declamations were mainly about serious issues, such

as domestic abuse and negative comments.

Prose and poetry consist of speeches the speakers write, which contain poetic elements or are registered as stories. Speakers’ topics in this category vary, but many are personal stories or experiences they can write about.

Dramatic interpretation takes an existing literary work, and the speaker modifies it for dramatic purposes when performing it for an audience. Actions like monologuing, acting out different characters, and changing the voice’s tone and body position are frequently used to convey the dramatic effect. Regarding the books selected, most speakers chose a work with some horror elements,

such as Edgar Allen Poe’s “A Tell-Tale Heart.”

The second improvisation opens up the show to the audience; the audience chooses the location and the central conflict for the story, with two people from the audience having to act out the entire scene in the same amount of time. With their infinite creativity and wisdom, the audience came up with eclectic and extremely exaggerated stories, an example from one show being a boy finding out his father is Santa after a therapy session. The show has two improvisations, one from Speech and Debate and the other from the audience, and both were incredibly entertaining to watch.

Lastly, speakers in original advocacy gave a speech relating to advocacy, usu-

Sign Language Club is a club dedicated to teaching American sign language to students so that they can excel at this communication skill by the end of the year. The club also teaches deaf culture and deaf interaction to those interested.

“It’s a language class, so you do gain a small amount of language proficiency,” said Amercan Sign Language Club President senior Annika Bullock. “But it’s also kind of a culture club so people can gain more knowledge in this regard and get in contact with a larger community that’s also interested in learning sign language.”

After visiting the variety of booths, students could get some snacks from the food trucks and enjoy the performances brought by the AHS Performing Arts groups.

First up, Orchesis did an intriguing preview of their upcoming performance “The Muses’ Canvas,” coming up on April 27 to 29. Then came Pep Cheer and Pep Song, demonstrating their acrobatic skills and dance moves. Finally, Pep Band performed, determined to bring the audience their best performance despite playing their instruments in the heavy rain. In the end, Spring Preview ended in success and managed to infuse many visitors with school spirit.

swang@arcadiaquill.com

REGHITTO

AHS SPEECH & DEBATE TEAM

ally a speech to propose legislation. Speakers must define a societal problem, identify causes and effects, propose a solution to the problem, and try to persuade the audience to support the cause they are campaigning for.

“I consider Speech Follies to be one of, if not the most important event of the Speech and Debate season,” commented Junior Euan Laru-an. “In tournaments, we perform in front of friends, families and peers.”

“This year, I played a bigger role, doing two events, and performing on two days,” further commented Laru-an. “I definitely worked harder, but it was well worth it being able to entertain the audience.”

With various topics and works showcased, Speech Follies was highly entertaining and informative, demonstrating the hard work the members of Speech and Debate put in to perform for the audience. Congratulations to the members for an excellent show this year!

Photo by KATRINA

Misogyny in Politics is Real. and it needs to end.

By JULIETTE FANG Staff Writer

From Queen Elizabeth I all the way to Vice President Kamala Harris, women have held crucial roles in politics all over the world. Despite the contributions of women like them, it is oftentimes difficult for their voices to be heard. Misogyny, or prejudice against women, is unfortunately still present in governmental bodies today, and makes it difficult for women to become politically involved.

Of course, great leaps and bounds have been made in terms of equality in politics. As

bodies will only achieve true gender parity by at least 2063, four decades from now.

One of the reasons for this increased misogyny is that women are likely to face more backlash than men. Take Sanna Marin, for instance, the youngest prime minister of Finland who successfully led her country through the COVID-19 pandemic. In fall of 2022, video footage of her was leaked that showed her dancing at a party. For having the audacity to enjoy herself, Marin was met with an enormous scandal that labeled her as a “party girl”, resulting in her being forced to take a drug test (that turned out to be negative). In contrast, the United Kingdom’s former prime minister, Boris Johnson,

thought of as abnormal and some take it upon themselves to put them back in what they believe is their proper place. Obviously, this isn’t true, as there have been plenty of powerful women throughout history and there is no reason for them to be less capable than men in this department. Regardless, many still view them as transgressing on natural societal norms.

Another leading obstacle for women in politics is abundant online harassment. The internet and social media are convenient and mostly consequence-free tools for those who want to oust women from government through intimidation and aggression. Unfortunately, many women politicians, and women in general, face these misogynistic attacks, which discourage many from participating in politics

Although most of the abuse that women politicians receive comes from the internet, some still face very real danger. Just look at New York Representative Alexandra OcasioCortez, who receives death threats on a daily basis and must constantly fear for her life whenever she walks out the door. Or Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal from Washington, who was stalked by a man with a gun who reportedly harassed her and told her to “go back to India”. In fact, according to the Threats and Harassment Dataset, women are more than three

not about one incident,” said Ocasio-Cortez in a 2020 speech. “It is cultural. It is a culture of a lack of impunity, of acceptance of violence and violent language against women, an entire structure of power that supports that.”

Understandably, these severe threats dissuade many women from participating in government and push many existing women politicians out, which is an unfortunate loss. Gender representation in politics is important, as it leads to more gender equality in general and brings to light a much wider host of solutions to a more varied range of issues. Research also shows that women in office increase policy making that benefits other women, families, and minorities, whose voices are not always heard.

“The endless ‘you stupid woman’, where woman is quite definitely directed as an insult; the whole ‘get back in the kitchen’ narrative, which even now, in 2023, is still really common,” Caroline Nokes, a member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, in an interview with The Guardian.

The fact that women politicians and those who aspire to be ones must fear for their lives and are criticized for stepping out of their “traditional” roles speaks volumes about the state of democracy today. In an age where equality is encouraged, attacking women in

Lessons from Diogenes the Cynic

By CAROLINE LI Staff Writer

Hailed widely as the founder of cynicism, Diogenes of Sinope was one of the most unconventional and irreverent Greek philosophers of his time. A contemporary of Plato known for living in a ceramic wine jar called a pithos, Diogenes rejected conventional desire in favor for simple, ascetic living; although his philosophy was met with widespread disgust and disapproval, many of his arguments can be applied to our current world of overcomplexity, blind faith, superficiality, and materialism. Following Diogenes’ legacy, we must shed our imposed social norms and extricate our identities from the society that has shaped them in order to become our genuine selves.

Diogenes championed the power of

spawned a host of internet memes of pictures of “Plato’s Man” (i.e. a T-Rex) in modern times, as well as a now-famous response from Diogenes, who upon hearing this plucked a chicken and entered the lecture room crying, “Behold, a man!”, forcing Plato to change his definition to “a featherless biped with flat, broad nails” and illustrating the often constructive effects of a healthy skepticism.

Similarly, in the present day, TikTok and social media have been notoriously enabled the spread of misinformation, fear mongering, and witch trial-esque social retribution. For example, videos purporting to be of the Russo-Ukrainian war circulat ing throughout TikTok were, in actuality, found to have been taken years before the war actually began or ripped from realistic video games and reposted for the sake of gathering “donations’’ or accruing millions of views.

instance where could be ap is in the media’s over com mer cializa tion of contro versial topics or celebri ties’ lives. Both were prevalent in the media surrounding the 2022 viral Depp v. Heard trial (which was televised and live streamed) and had damag ing real world effects. Regardless of the verdict, the stag gering amounts of hate Heard received perpetuated the demonizing stereotype of women being whistleblowers using domestic abuse claims to attain fame and money. The Depp v. Heard trial was an opportunity to create a more nuanced discussion surrounding domestic violence (such as by increasing awareness for male abuse survivors or exposing its double standards) that instead devolved into a social media circus and content farm. This ex

plosive, exploitative capitalization upon hot news topics for clicks is a prime example of the importance of cynicism and initiative when seeking out reliable news sources.

Diogenes was nicknamed kuōn, or “the Dog,” for his status as a beggar and frequent acts of public defecation.

vices (like Alexander’s offer) normalizes detrimental physical insecurities and the “playing it cool” phenomenon (like waiting a few minutes before replying to a text and pretending to not be too interested in someone), where people never want to give or express more love than they receive in order to maintain their appeal of “unattainability” or “scarcity.” As such, Diogenes’ wisdom warns against relationship commodification, which can result in the toxic romanticization of emotional unavailability, insecure relationships, and

As high schoolers navigating a chronically online existence, contending with the sociocultural forces pushing on our personhood from all sides, and reconciling the warring zeitgeists of hyperconnectedness and plummeting mental health, Diogenes reminds us that to maintain our autarkeia, we must look past the mirrors of social values that we have become to familiarize ourselves with the inner workings of the society that has shaped us, then discern for ourselves our true

cli@arcadiaquill.com

Graphics courtesy of PNGEGG.com and PNGWING.com

ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN STUDIES CLASS

By ANNIE JIANG and CLARISSA SURYAPRANATA

Staff Writers

As the 2023-2024 school year is approaching, Arcadia High School (AHS) students are starting to decide on the classes they are going to take, and preparing for the upcoming course selection process. If you are a rising sophomore, junior, or senior, you are eligible to take the new social science elective, Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies (AAPI Studies).

AAPI Studies is a semester-long class that is recommended to be paired with any other semester elective. According to the Course Curriculum Guide, AAPI Studies focuses on the historic and contemporary AAPI migration from East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands; the struggle for civil rights, equality, and justice in the U.S.; and contemporary issues that affect the AAPI community. Students will learn about the experience of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders from their historical origins to modern-day challenges that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders continue to face. By taking this course, students can obtain a deeper understanding of AAPI culture.

Mr. Matthew Wong, who teaches a wide range of social studies at AHS, emphasized the importance and uniqueness of this class.

“It is an awesome class; it really is an opportunity for students to learn more about themselves, particularly for students who [identify] as AAPI,” said Mr. Wong. “Given how a majority of our student population is AAPI, this class is designed for students to learn and cover a full story of AAPI here in the United States. It will cover topics you will not find in other classes such as popular culture, music, arts, and entertainment.”

Beyond that, Mr. Wong also highlighted that AAPI Studies is an ethnic studies class, which may “fulfill a graduation requirement in the future.” He also mentioned that many previous seniors have eagerly asked for this course, as they wanted to see themselves being represented in the curriculum.

“The class is meant to be enlightening and empowering,” said Mr. Gerry Wang, one of the teachers in the Social Science Department who helped in the creation of the AAPI Studies class. “We aim for students taking it to feel emboldened to take actions to create the society that they want to live in. We want to celebrate AAPI culture, expression, and voice.”

Aside from covering the history of the AAPI experience, this class will also include

present-day topics, events, and issues. In addition, this class will partly fill in some areas that other social science classes like Modern World History, AP Human Geography, and U.S. History don’t have time to cover.

In this class, students will analyze racial issues and systems of power which impact the lives and interactions of minority groups inside American society. This class does not use textbooks, but there will be short readings related to the topics that students will study.

Both Mr. Wong and Mr. Wang agreed upon the objective for AAPI Studies, claiming that it should be “seminar-based” rather than a traditional history course. It should be the class where students have the opportunity to explore their identities and will all be graded on their effort, participation, and engagement.

“We don’t want only AAPI students to take the class,” commented Mr. Wang. “The way to make a better world is through allyship between all ethnic groups.”

The upcoming academic year offers all students an exciting opportunity to broaden their perspectives and improve their comprehension of the history and culture of AAPIs. Taking AAPI Studies is a chance to expand your knowledge of the environment we live in and the various groups that make up our school and community!

Graphic courtesy of Mr. Wang

THE AMERICAN TIPPING CULTURE

By SARAH WANG

Staff Writer

Although tipping has become almost customary in today’s society, many are still unfamiliar with the present “tipping culture” that exists as to how much should be tipped after services. Whether it’s buying a drink from a tea shop compared to eating a meal at a restaurant, or, whether you should tip the barber who just spent 40 minutes on your fresh haircut, it’s always a pain to know exactly how much tip is appropriate—enough to please the worker but also spend as little as possible. Learning the general trends of tipping culture can prove to be a great source of help in paying the most reasonable amount while also providing service workers with a fair amount of income.

Tipping was first made the norm in the 1850s and 1860s when rich Americans discovered the tradition in Europe and brought it

back to the U.S. in order to feel “aristocratic”. Tipping has been a major part of European culture since the Middle Ages when serfs were tipped by their masters when completing a job with excellence. However, this culture was not so welcomed in the U.S., as Americans with lower incomes could not afford to tip extra for already-expensive services. The rule of tipping was changed constantly by the government for its conflicting nature but still has become more prevalent today as people become wealthier and as technology developed for easier tipping. Nowadays, many restaurants refrain from paying their employees hourly, and they make their wages off of the customer’s tips because of how many tips are received.

Recently, total tips from service restaurants are up 25%, as customers were encouraged to tip more generously to keep businesses afloat in the pandemic. Most restaurants have replaced tipping jars with touch-screen machines that, after a purchase, give the customer the option to

tip 10%, 15%, 20%, or no tip. Many customers, when facing these options, feel obliged to tip even when the service is as simple as filling up a cup with soda. However, it should be noted that the machines are made for sparing customers the embarrassment of tipping compared to using a jar.

Despite tipping being a major source of their income, some Starbucks baristas stated that customers should “never feel obligated to tip every time”. Indeed, the obligation to tip mostly comes with a consideration of public image, and the hope to receive better service. However, tipping stays a free option and solely depends on different people’s opinions on service quality. When talking about how much tip is standard, however, restaurants usually receive 15-20% while voluntary services such as Uber usually receive no tips at all. When considering how much to tip, there is definitely a trend to follow that is most definitely not required.

Arcadia High School students are asked

for their decision on how much they usually tip in restaurants that require less service, such as fast food restaurants and cafes.

“I tip a little change sometimes since I have a lot of allergies, and it can be challenging for restaurants to fulfill my request on which ingredients they can put in my food,” said Arcadia High School (AHS) junior Tanya Ingels.

“I usually tip about 18% for regular restaurants, but for cafes where I don’t sit down and eat, I don’t tip at all,” said AHS sophomore Minjun Cha.

When considering American tipping culture, it is mostly built on the need to follow norms and to keep up one’s own image. But no matter how much tip one is required or expected to give, it’s always important to consider personal circumstances rather than the pressure to follow a trend.

swang@arcadiaquill.com

APRIL

By JULIETTE FANG

features.arcadiaquill@gmail.com

Can You TrusT Your MeMories?

Staff Writer

Since we were barely able to talk, our brains have been storing information in the form of memories. Sometimes they are forgotten over time, other times they are vivid and detailed, and oftentimes they are in between. But even though we’re constantly relying on memories for information, can you really trust these mental imprints? Research has shown that you actually can’t, and that, sometimes, your brain actually makes up entirely false memories.

“There’s the obvious, it could be wrong, and there could be gaps in your memory– which can sometimes lead to devastating consequences,” said freshman Hazel Wong when asked about the dangers of relying on memory.

There are a couple of reasons why memories are unreliable. First off, our perception of events is usually recorded incompletely. Recalling memories is less like a pristine video recording and more like piecing together bits and pieces, then filling in the rest. Secondly, memories can become distorted and altered, whether on your own or because of outside influences. It’s a bit less like a dictionary, with firm, unchanging definitions, and a bit more like a Wikipediapage, constantly updated with information that isn’t always entirely accurate.

By MICHELLE HO

“Our brains do not function like a video recorder, instead we build our memories from many different inputs or senses. It’s like assembling a puzzle and when a piece is missing, we automatically fill it with something that is made up, but logical,” said Arcadia High School (AHS) psychology teacher Mr. David Jones. “A lot has to do with perspective as well. For example, if something happens in the front of a class, the student in the back, middle, and front rows will have seen the same event but from different perspectives and interpretations.”

Even the clearest, most lifelike memories were not first perceived that way. For instance, try to recall what you had for breakfast two days ago. Chances are, you don’t remember exactly, which goes to show that our brains do not memorize every single detail. In fact, even our eyes are flawed. As images pass through the lens, retina, optic nerve, fovea, and the various blood vessels and neurons of our eyes, they get transformed into a blurry picture lined with veins and a blind spot.

“In addition, there are some things that we don’t (or rather, can’t) pay attention to at the same time, which can lead to false memories,” stated Wong.

But if our memories are recorded so badly, why can we still remember them in perfect clar ity years later? The answer lies in the fact that our brains fill in the blank spaces with made-up

details. This is the same process as the great dress color debate of 2015, or the Yanny vs. Laurel audio. When our senses are confused, the brain picks an option, no matter if it’s right or not. So when memories are presented as fillin-the-blanks, we simply fill them in with whatever works best.

“Your memories are pieces and batches of information that your brain cobbles together and serves up to you, not to present the past as accurately as possible, but to provide you with information that you will likely find to be useful in the present,” states Guy P. Harrison in his book Think: Why You Should Question Everything.

Time and misinformation also plays a crucial role in false memories. For example, in a 1992 study, researchers asked people what they were doing when they found out about the Challenger space shuttle explosion. Two and a half years later, they asked the same question to the same participant. The logical expectation is that their answers would be the same, but as it turns out, only 7% of participants responded with the same or similar answers to their ones from before.

Memory can also be influenced by outside factors. In 1995, psychologist Elizabeth Loftus conducted an experiment in which 75% of participants recounted in near-perfect detail an experience where they got lost in a mall as toddlers. The plot twist is that none of them actually experienced this and were only told by the researchers that it had happened to them. In this way, Loftus successfully implanted memories in what she coined the “misinformation

effect”, where inaccurate information leads to flawed recollections.

“Just because somebody tells you something and they say it with confidence, just because they say it with lots of details, just because they express emotion when they say it, doesn’t mean that it really happened,” explained Loftus in her 2013 TED Talk. “We can’t reliably distinguish real memories from false memories, we need independent corroboration.”

“By far, one of the most real world consequences would be eyewitness testimony during criminal trials,” said Jones. “A lawyer can change a few words around and manipulate a person’s recollection of an event during testimony and essentially change the course of a trial.”

The fact that entirely made-up memories can be so easily implanted is a scary thought. This wrong information could convict the wrong person of a crime, create false accusations, or influence opinions in dangerous ways. It’s important that memory is treated as a flexible and fallible construct rather than ironclad fact. The next time you call to mind a memory, just remember that it may not be as lifelike as it seems.

kwong@arcadiaquill.com

Images Courtesy of PIXABAY.COM and WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Society and Avian Flu

supply-and-demand of eggs.

Staff Writer

The avian influenza virus, known for its highly contagious nature and deadly effects on poultry, is capable of infecting mammals. While the virus is ill-adapted to infect humans at the moment, mutations may change the virus to infect more mammals, and ultimately, humans. Here’s a rundown of how the avian flu is affecting not only our health, but society as a whole.

Known more commonly as “bird flu”, avian influenza has the potential to infect both wild bird populations and domesticated poultry. In 2022, an avian flu outbreak in the U.S. killed over 52 million birds, including both domesticated and wild birds. The virus is highly contagious, spreading quickly via surface contamination or direct contact with infected poultry.

“Some birds have died from the disease itself, but the vast majority are being culled through flock “depopulation,” to try to stop the virus from spreading,” said correspondent and editor Bill Chappell from NPR. In an attempt to prevent the further spread of the disease, many chicken farms have had to purge their chicken populations, resulting in millions of bird deaths nationwide.

The bird flu led to a decrease in hen population, and as a result, a slower egg production that created an imbalance in the

“I volunteer and bake cookies for a charity, and I’ve noticed the prices for ingredients are definitely getting more expensive,” said freshman Ellie Wu.

Combined with the skyrocketing inflation levels in the U.S. economy, egg prices have nearly tripled in price as of 2023. This has led to increases in prices of egg-containing products in grocery stores and restaurants, with groceries rising 12% in prices and restaurant meals peaking at 8%.

“Since I eat eggs almost every day, [the egg crisis] has been a bit of a disappointment,” said freshman Acer Dong. “Inflation is hitting home.”

Consequently, many people are searching for cheaper ways to obtain eggs. In particular, Americans are evading the egg prices by purchasing their own backyard chickens.

Suzanne Chandler, who sells chicks at Flower Feather Farm, says the demand in chicks “is up 300% from January…[and] January is usually kind of a slow month.”

In the rush to raise their own flock, people overlook the risks of disease that come with the chicks. Although the avian flu has not become a human pathogen yet, it is still possible for a human to become infected with the virus; plus, the bird flu isn’t the only disease spread by chickens. Salmonella is easily spread to humans and quite common among chicks.

To study mutations in bird flu, scientists have experimented with the virus to outline the different “steps” that the avian influenza would need to take to mutate into a human virus.

First, scientists identified the polymerase PB2 that replicates RNA in the virus. Modifications to the enzyme known as E627K swaps an amino acid and results in an enzyme being better fitted to mammalian cells.

“But for H5N1 to cause a pandemic it also needs multiple changes in hemagglutinin, a protein on the surface of the virus that helps it attach to carbohydrates on host cells,” said Kai Kupferschmidt.

These changes would allow the avian influenza virus to transmit through the air while keeping the hemagglutinin in a stable form, and it would reshape the protein to bind to human cells.

Although the avian flu is far from be- coming a human virus, each new case brings it closer and closer to the right combination of mutations. Bird flu became pertinent to our society in 2022, and though the worst of the outbreak is over, the more information we can learn about the virus, the better prepared we will be if it ever mutates into a human pathogen.

mho@arcadiaquill.com

Photos Courtesy of UNSPLASH.COM and WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

POETRY poetry

Dusk

Caroline Li

The forest crawls in of and into the darkening horizon

Nostalgia

Caroline Li

twirling autumn leaves futter in and out of sight goodbye my dear friend

words with meaning are like scarecrows driving cars fckle and fnite

wing away, old bird to vistas far and grand for the good old days

your boundless gaze drifts lingers in the golden glens like a frefy

“listen closely stay with me now don’t fall asleep” but I always lose you by the time the story

without you seasons still pass I just stop counting

Dreaded socks, Muddy clogs, Twisted lock Just pass me the aux,

“What a day,” to say today, What a day, an average day

Muddled by school, Huddled in plain, You silly ghoul, Puddled by rain.

Rain? In california? Still cant see right through my cornea

Average days, Average pays? No raise?

We’ll see, They say.

PRESERVING CLASSIC FILMS

By JULIETTE FANG Staff Writer

Just as paintings and photographs provide a snapshot of life in earlier days, cinema lets us experience history in the most immersive way possible. Today, movies portray recent trends, aspects of everyday life, and even moral standards and life lessons that are widely accepted in our society. The same holds true for movies from a century ago, so preserving these films can be seen as a way of preserving history.

The first movie camera was introduced in 1893 by Thomas Edison, but movies truly became popular in the 1910s. Unfortunately, only about 20% of films from this era in the U.S. are documented. According to the Library of Congress, only half of films from before 1950 have survived. From obscure works to films such as the first production of The Great Gatsby (1926) or the 1917 film Cleopatra, an alarming number of old movies have been lost to time.

“The more [classic films] are lost to time, the less that the art of a historic film is shown therefore leading to less effort put into the recovery of such media,” said freshman Lucas Sun. “They hold a great significance as a testimony to ancient methods of not only filmmaking, but entertainment too.”

One of the main reasons why these films have not been preserved is because of poor preservation programs. Film takes up space, and once the movie had finished its run it was dis-

films were especially impacted as they were promptly considered archaic and useless once sound films were invented. Many movies were also permanently lost as production companies went bankrupt.

“So personally, it really hurts to see historical films being lost. Up to hundreds, even thousands of hours are put towards the creation of films and all those hours would be wasted with the destruction of a film,” remarked Sun.

The material of the physical film was also a large factor in the lack of preservation. The film stock that was most commonly used before 1950 was nitrate cellulose, whose flammability and ability to deteriorate also contributed to the loss of many films. Huge fires destroyed countless works, such as at 20th Century Fox in 1937, and the material decayed or turned to dust past the point of return. Even when acetate film stock, which was more stable, began being used in 1950, color would often fade beyond recognition.

The rise of streaming services has also contributed to the loss of many movies, as many older films can only be found in video stores, which are now treated as a thing of the past. Many people are not aware of films and series that aren’t able to be streamed at their fingertips, so many films are simply forgotten. Moreover, the astounding amount of media available to us nowadays makes it much more difficult to choose what to watch, and it’s often easier to find recent series or films than dig deeper to find older ones.

“If you can’t access something immediately, very few people will go to the trouble to find it, to buy it,” explained Arcadia High School (AHS) Classic Film teacher Ms. Christine Ma. “Also, there’s just so much content now that it’s hard to sift through what should stay [or] what would be a classic film today.”

So why should films be preserved?

For one, movies provide a snapshot of life in the past in a very realistic and tangible way. But not only do they portray a physical representation of life, they also represent the general values and creative goals of the time, both negative and positive.

One of the most controversial examples is the 1915 film The Birth of a Nation.

Set during the Civil War and using several revolutionizing cinematic techniques, it is now heavily criticized for its explicitly racist propaganda, glorification of the Ku Klux Klan, and extremely harmful impact on Black people

across the U.S. While it is important that this film’s prejudiced influence doesn’t spread, viewing it teaches us how some in history viewed the Reconstruction and Civil War, as well as the Ku Klux Klan’s rising acts of violence. In turn, we can compare these views to today as a symbol of how far we’ve progressed.

According to Ms. Ma, The Birth of a Nation “would be totally, totally wrong and messed up today. But…back then, it still wasn’t great, it was still controversial, but it was still very famous.”

Of course, not all classic films are negative examples of history, and movies like It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) and The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) convey positive outlooks on life that we can learn important lessons from while learning about life in those years. This extends to animated films and short films as well, such as Krtek (1957), a Czech series of short cartoon films that teaches valuable lessons about kindness and sharing.

“It’s a kid’s cartoon but even to this day, I still find it fascinating how intuitively it’s made. I have never heard this mentioned anywhere and I really hope this doesn’t die,” commented Sun, adding that “many great ideas will remain unknown if these old films remain undiscovered.”

Even today, films reflect society’s values. For instance, the popularity of international films such as Parasite or the rise of people of color in the film industry, like in Everything Everywhere All at Once or Moonlight, nods to increasing inclusivity and representation in today’s movies. But watching films, even the controversial ones, from back in the day reminds us that, someday, people will too look back on our films to learn from them.

“Films are a reflection of our culture and can be seen as an indication of where society’s values and interests lie,” expressed Ms. Ma. “When we preserve films, we preserve a bit of history.”

Fortunately, professionals are able to expertly restore and preserve films in controlled environments that slow decay. Organizations such as the National Film Preservation Foundation and the International Federation of Film Archives are specifically dedicated to maintaining film. But one of the ways everyday people can contribute to preserving classic films is simply by watching them. Perhaps dig a little deeper into films of the past, and in the process, help save a part of history.

Earworms: Why Can’t I Get That Song Out of My Head

By JULIETTE FANG Staff Writer

Disneyland’s “It’s a Small World,” Kit Kat’s “Give Me a Break,”and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” What do these songs have in common? Each of them are known as an “earworm,” and the ones mentioned above are among the most common. At some point in their lives, many people have had pieces like these stuck in their heads on a loop for seemingly no reason whatsoever. However, while it may seem like earworms strike at random, several key reasons contribute to their unrelenting catchiness.

According to a 2016 study, earworms, or involuntary musical imagery, frequently have melodies and chords that are common across the globe. For instance, the popular tune “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” rises in pitch during the phrase “twinkle twinkle little star,” then descends in pitch in the “how I wonder what you are.” But you can also find this ascending and descending pitch in a recurring melody in The Simpsons theme or the opening of Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” (which happens to be another top earworm). These generic tunes and rhythms feel familiar and straightforward while being combined with just the right amount of novelty, contributing to why it is so easy for them to stick.

When asked what she thought was catchy, Arcadia High School (AHS) sophomore Juliana Wong replied, “Taylor Swift ‘Message in a Bottle’ or ‘The Very First Night’ [because] some of them popped up in my playlist when I was working out, and I

was like ‘these are so soothing; the beat is good for working out, and…catchy.”

“Our findings show that you can, to some extent, predict which songs will get stuck in people’s heads based on the song’s melodic content. This could help aspiring song-writers or advertisers write a jingle everyone will remember for days or months afterward,” said the study’s author, music psychologist Kelly Jakubowski, in an article by the American Psychological Association.

The study also found that earworms tend to have upbeat tempos. Think of the infamously catchy “Baby Shark” by Pinkfong, with a tempo of 100 beats per minute (BPM). because fast rhythms usually cor relate with movement, especially periodic movements like jogging or brushing teeth. They also have unusual intervals or leaps from low notes to high notes that are particularly large or numerous. For example, think of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz, especially the jump from “some” to “where.”

“The catchiest song I can think of would be ‘Purple Town’ by Junko Yagami,” said AHS freshman Karin Yamakawa. “The tempo is fast, many beats are going on every second, and the singer’s voice is magnificent! Her high-pitched voice is really beautiful.”

Repetition is also crucial in earworms. Songs with repeating melodies and lyrics logically have a higher chance of becoming earworms, especially if they contain the

above qualities. Unsurprisingly, songs heard repeatedly can quickly become stuck in a loop inside our heads. When this occurs, the brain uses a “phonological loop” in the shortterm memory system of the auditory cortex to keep repeating the song.

“I think what makes [a song] catchy is probably the lyrics and how it is appealing based on the meanings,” expressed AHS freshman Andrew Jung. “Some songs are catchy because it has a repetition of some words that can really stick with the listener, but without the melody, the word is pretty useless. ing a meaningful lyric with melody that transitions the lyrics, [the song] can stick

Besides the music itself, earworms are triggered by several factors. Songs that were recently heard, such as on the radio, are more susceptible to becoming earworms. Memory and keywords or phrases can also trigger earworms. For example, the word “umbrella” might cause some people to think “ella, ella, ella” to the beat of Rihanna’s “Umbrella.”

Psychologically, earworms are considered a uniquely persistent form of mental imagery, which can be auditory or visual. But why is music specifically so intrusive? Why don’t we visualize famous paintings or recall the taste of breakfast cereal? An excellent way to explain this is to try and pinpoint the exact pitch of the “all” in “Jingle Bells.”

Most people have to mentally sing the first part of the tune to reach the pitch of the “all.” Music is challenging to isolate independently and is closely associated with memory or sequences. So once we start a tune, we automatically feel that we must continue it, creating a melody that becomes an earworm.

On average, around 90% of the general population experience earworms on the regular. In most cases, they aren’t harmful but can get annoying. Fortunately, there are several to deworm. Listen to the entirety of a song to eliminate a single melody being on a loop or add variety to your playlist. You can also distract yourself with other activities or songs or move at a different tempo than the music to throw yourself off. Interestingly, chewing gum is a simple and effective way to combat earworms because it distracts your brain, as stated by The Journal of Experimental Psychology.

Even though earworms seem like a nuisance, they have many applications. One of the most obvious is for advertisers, who want a catchy jingle that people can associate with their product. But since earworms are linked to mood, spontaneous thoughts, and memory, studying them can provide valuable insight. So the next time you find yourself with a tune stuck in your head, think twice before you try to get rid of it, as it may be the unexpected key to the subsequent great psychological discovery.

Oscars: First Asian American Best Actress

By JUSTINA LIU Staff Writer

On a historic night for diversity in Hollywood in 2023, Michelle Yeoh made history as the first Asian American actress to win an Oscar for Best Actress. Yeoh received the award for her powerful performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once, a film that explores the complexities of identity and the human experience. is significant not she is the American to receive gious award because it the ongoing representation inclusivity in the entertainment industry. For years, Hollywood has been criticized for its lack of diversity

and the underrepresentation of people of color, particularly Asian Americans.

“She is really amazing and her art is great. As an Asian, I feel proud and feel like everything is possible” said freshman Koen Shum.

As Yeoh acknowledged in her ac ceptance speech, her win represents a beacon of hope for all Asians and who have been waiting for their moment to shine. She spoke directly to the young children who might have been watching the Oscars and see ing someone who looks like them being recognized for their talents and hard work.

Yeoh’s win comes at a time when the Asian American com munity is fac ing increased discrimination and violence, particularly in the wake of the CO VID-19 pandemic. The rise in hate

crimes against Asian Americans has highlighted the urgent need for greater representation and visibility in all areas of society, including the entertainment industry.

By breaking barriers and making history, Yeoh has shown that Asian Americans can and should have a place in Hol lywood. Her win is a step in the right direction, but there is still much work to be done to ensure that all voices are heard and all stories are

In addition to her win, Yeoh has also been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusivity in Hollywood. She has spoken out against the lack of op portunities for people of color in the industry and has called on Hol lywood to do more to address the

“I think it is really important for greater representation even on Broadway.

I am very happy for Michelle and hope that more people can be like her,” said senior Shuy

As Yeoh said in her acceptance speech, “For all the little boys and girls who look like

me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities.”

Her win is a reminder that representation matters, and that everyone deserves to see themselves reflected on screen. By celebrating

The 55th Arcadia Invitational

By BREEANNA PHAM Staff Writer

Known for being the “Home of National Records”, the Arcadia Invitational is the most prestigious meet a high school track and field athlete could experience. Being the only meet in the top five in the country held by a high school, the Arcadia Invitational brought together 690 schools from 36 states with 1,281 marks being broken at this meet. Two National Federation marks were broken and 15 new national marks were made at this meet. The Arcadia Invitational took place on Apr. 7 and Apr. 8.

Boys Varsity Volleyball vs. Pasadena

the pole vault and vaulted 15 ft. on their first attempt. Additionally, Brennen McHenry from Brophy College Prep High School won the high jump, clearing 6’9 and winning the High Jump in the Invitational and coming in 10th for Long Jump.

This year, five Arcadia Distance runners, discus thrower Emma Samvelian, and sophomore Reena Hsieh competed in the Arcadia Invitational. Senior Brandon Chang ran the 3200m on as well as the Mens’ Distance Medley Relay (DMR) on Saturday with teammates senior Weber Lin, junior Jack Lu, and sophomore Khalil Roslan. Hsieh ran a PR of 2:15, coming in 3rd in her heat.

By CLARISSA SURYAPRANATA Staff Writer

Arcadia’s Varsity and Junior Varsity Coed swim teams have long been a point of pride in Arcadia High School (AHS) athletics, and their meet against Pasadena High School (PHS) on Tuesday, Apr. 11 was no exception. With the sun shining on AHS’s Aquatics Center, the meet ended with an overwhelming victory of 42-1 overall. Individually, Varsity Girls scored 134-23, Varsity Boys scored 116-50, and both Girls and Boys JV scored 127-0.

The meet started off strong, with a score of 16-1 by 4:10 p.m., when a 10 minute break was taken. Some highlights from before the break include the Boys Varsity’s Individual Medley, with Zackary Zhou in lane three finishing first with a time of 2:18, more than 10 seconds ahead of the second place winner, Ethan Hang, also from Arcadia. Girls Varsity also took the win in their Individual Medley event, with Arcadia winning the top three

didn’t have any JV teams,” said freshman Melinda Yu, who is a member of the Girls JV team. “Both Varsity teams won also, so we all won in the end, which is why I think the team performed well overall as we came in with a four way win.”

“My team performed pretty well, especially coming out from the break, but what could have been better for this meet was that Pasadena had a JV team, so our JV team could practice racing against other teams,” said Girls Varsity member freshman Olivia Deng.

“As far as focus, that’s just people not being focused on what they need to do and being ready to get up on the blocks on time,” said Coach Clark, adding that “it’s just up to each individual swimmer to be focused and know how to do their job.” In this way, Coach Clark explained, “the JV’s, in a way, did better than the Varsity [swimmers].”

One of the most unique and challenging aspects of the meet was that it was the first time the swimmers competed since coming

In this meet, runner Sadie Englehart of Ventura High School ran the second fastest mile time in meet history with a time of 4:36.26, barely off her time of 4:35.16 from 2022. Additionally, runner Aaron Sahlman of Newbury Park High School ran the 800 in a time of 1:49.07, winning his heat. MacKenzie Browne from JW North-Riverside High School broke the invitational record by 10 milliseconds, running a 2:03.07. Dominating the 3000m and 3200m, Irene Riggs of Morgan Town, WV High School ran a personal record (PR) of 9:16.07 in the 3000m en Route and 9:52.66 in the 3200m.

In the field events, the twins from Capital High School in Olympia Washington, seniors Amanda and Hannah Moll broke the record for

In preparation for their race, Lu stated that “prior to the race, we made sure to fuel our bodies with nutritious foods and stay properly hydrated. We took time to mentally prepare ourselves for the event and visualize ourselves successfully competing.”

In general, the Arcadia Invitational was the best meet in its history and it is all due to the success of the athletes that competed here. In addition to their successes, this meet would not have been possible without Coach Schultz,

places.

The meet continued to go well after the break, with the JV teams continuing to compete against each other in events such as the 50 yd breaststroke. The first place winner, Aaron Kwok, who was from the Boys JV team, clocked in at 33 seconds, but the second place winner, Marin Lu from the Girls JV team, wasn’t far behind with a time of 36 seconds. The meet ended with the Varsity Boys team participating in the 400 yd Freestyle Relay, with lane three from Arcadia taking the victory.

“Being that it was our first meet back from the break… we swam better than I thought might have been the case,” explained swim coach Janice Clark. “We did have a fair number of best times that I updated, so I was really happy about that and I feel like that means we’re still on track for the end of the season to end up where we want to be.”

PHS did not have a JV team, forfeiting their events in that field as a result. Since the JV members still had to compete, however, the boys and girls teams swam against each other, scoring free points in the process.

bpham@arcadiaquill.com

“I think I performed well overall during the meet. Both JV teams didn’t have any competition other than themselves as PHS

back from spring break. Although the team did hold practices over the break, many athletes were out of town and only just got back into practices once school resumed. Fortunately, this meet ended up being a good way to get the team back into their usual system before the next few meets.

“Coming back from break, we’ll get a good bounce off this meeting…everyone’s back in the groove now,” expressed Coach Clark.

Overall, the meet went well for Arcadia’s swim team, with several best times being achieved and a definite victory, despite it occurring directly after spring break. The swim team will only have a few more meets, including against Crescenta Valley, before their preliminaries and league finals. In these, they hope for “clean meets”, or meets without any disqualifications. Good luck to the Arcadia swim team on all their future endeavors, and congratulations on all their accomplishments so far!

csuryapranta@arcadiaquill.com

Photos by AUSD DCI Intern Rachel Saw

Rich Gonzalez, and the volunteers from the track team and the National Honors Society.

Photo by AUSD DCI Intern Angela Ren

2023 ARCADIA HIGH SCHOOL BADMINTON: VARSITY OPEN BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

By KATHY WONG

Staff Writer

The 2023 Varsity Open Badminton Championships were held in the North Gym at Arcadia High School (AHS) on Saturday, Mar. 25, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The gym was filled with the cheers of students and the sound of rackets against birdies as the Apaches gave it their all against many different schools such as Mark Keppel, Fountain Valley, Choksey, Mira Costa, East Valley, San Marino and Cerritos, among others. The Apaches started off by warming up for the first 30 minutes, before facing against each other with doubles. AHS Badminton players won all five events and the results are below:

Boys Singles Winner: Matthew Yu

Girls Singles Winner: Reanne Chan, 2nd place: Angelina Chai

Girls Doubles Winner: Salina Tang/Vivian Pei, 2nd place: Annie Shih/Amanda Chang

Semifinalists: Leanne Cong/Charlene Lau

Boys Doubles Winner: Andrew Wu/Sidney Chang, 2nd place: Ricky Li/Lorin Leung

Mixed Doubles Winner: Angelina Chai/ Andy Wu

Reflecting on the tournament, senior Reanne Chan and junior Amanda Chang shared their thoughts.

“I had some good ideas during the match but I never used any of it because I was kind of scared it wouldn’t work…I feel like I could’ve just tried it out during the game. Usually I’m not too confident, but this time I was because I had good draws, I knew who I was gonna play so I think it was pretty smooth,“ said Chan.

“I think my partner and I did pretty well; what we could have done better is probably talk to each other more because it’s our first tournament together and we don’t usually play together, so I guess communication,” expressed Chang.

By JULIETTE FANG

When asked if they were well prepared for the tournament, the girls described how they felt.

“I think I was very well prepared for this tournament because as the badminton season started, we’ve been having 3 to 4 days of training every week for high school badminton and on the other side, I also do outside of school badminton so that’s just like more training,” explained Chan.

a senior, this is my fourth year on the team. Usually in our Arcadia varsity tournament; schools in our league play, and I’ve played all of them for like a while, so I’m pretty confident in my skills,” Chan said.

“I guess sort of, because I think our school’s badminton team is pretty good and I think this year’s players are stronger than last year’s,” Chang stated.

When asked how they felt winning a

winning and when you represent something that’s a lot bigger than just a team,” Chan replied.

“Even though I’m not really that close to my partner; I think we did pretty well, we tried to be encouraging with each other and I feel like winning a medal as a fellow teammate and as a member of the team feels nice because you’re winning for the team,” Chang explained.

With more than five schools from the area in the gym and everyone watching, it’s easy to feel intimidated and nervous.

Chang admitted, “I guess [I feel nervous] a little bit because there’s like a lot of schools and the gym is full of people, like everyone everywhere, and when you’re playing, they’re all looking at you.”

Playing with other schools can open your eyes to specific areas that you can improve in or work on. Chan and Chang expressed whether they were lacking motivation or confident in their skills.

“A specific area I think I can work on is like supporting my teammates when they’re playing, like cheering them on because that can be very important in a game and like a close game. I guess skills, there’s still improvement that can be made,” Chang said.

After playing against many schools and winning the tournament, the girls reflected on what they could work on to improve on in future games.

Chang agreed with Chan, stating that the Boys and Girls Badminton teams have been training and preparing for the tournament and their coaches have helped them as well. Considering the fact that both members won a medal and that Arcadia won all five events, the girls talked about whether or not they expected these results.

“I think I did see this coming as I am

medal and reaching an accomplishment both as a member of the team and with their teammates, they both expressed how happy they were.

“I felt …very happy to win first in my last Arcadia varsity tournament. I was just really happy and also very thankful to my school coaches and my teammates because with them, I’ve improved and I think just representing Arcadia just makes it feel more satisfying when

“I’d say probably like my preparation towards a tournament, like maybe sleeping early or drinking more water, stuff like that before a tournament because I think that’s very important,” Chan reflected.

Congratulations to all the Apache medalists and thank you to all the high schools that showed up for the tournament! Best of luck to the AHS Badminton teams for future tournaments ahead!

kwong@arcadiaquill.com

Photo courtesy of AHS BADMINTON

SWIM MEET VS. PASADENA

Staff Writer

Arcadia’s Varsity and Junior Varsity Coed swim teams have long been a point of pride in Arcadia High School (AHS) athletics, and their meet against Pasadena High School (PHS) on Tuesday, Apr. 11 was no exception. With the sun shining on AHS’s Aquatics Center, the meet ended with an overwhelming victory of 42-1 overall. Individually, Varsity Girls scored 13423, Varsity Boys scored 116-50, and both Girls and Boys JV scored 127-0.

The meet started off strong, with a score of 16-1 by 4:10 p.m., when a 10 minute break was taken. Some highlights from before the break include the Boys Varsity’s Individual Medley, with Zackary Zhou in lane three finishing first with a time of 2:18, more than 10 seconds ahead of the second place winner, Ethan Hang, also from Arcadia. Girls Varsity also took the win in their Individual Medley event, with Arcadia winning the top three places.

The meet continued to go well after the

break, with the JV teams continuing to compete against each other in events such as the 50 yd breaststroke. The first place winner, Aaron Kwok, who was from the Boys JV team, clocked in at 33 seconds, but the second place winner, Marin Lu from the Girls JV team, wasn’t far behind with a time of 36 seconds. The meet ended with the Varsity Boys team participating in the 400 yd Freestyle Relay, with lane three from Arcadia taking the victory.

“Being that it was our first meet back from the break… we swam better than I thought might have been the case,” explained swim coach Janice Clark. “We did have a fair number of best times that I updated, so I was really happy about that and I feel like that means we’re still on track for the end of the season to end up where we want to be.”

PHS did not have a JV team, forfeiting their events in that field as a result. Since the JV members still had to compete, however, the boys and girls teams swam against each other, scoring free points in the process.

“I think I performed well overall during

the meet. Both JV teams didn’t have any competition other than themselves as PHS didn’t have any JV teams,” said freshman Melinda Yu, who is a member of the Girls JV team. “Both Varsity teams won also, so we all won in the end, which is why I think the team performed well overall as we came in with a four way win.”

“My team performed pretty well, especially coming out from the break, but what could have been better for this meet was that Pasadena had a JV team, so our JV team could practice racing against other teams,” said Girls Varsity member freshman Olivia Deng.

“As far as focus, that’s just people not being focused on what they need to do and being ready to get up on the blocks on time,” said Coach Clark, adding that “it’s just up to each individual swimmer to be focused and know how to do their job.” In this way, Coach Clark explained, “the JV’s, in a way, did better than the Varsity [swimmers].”

One of the most unique and challenging aspects of the meet was that it was the first

time the swimmers competed since coming back from spring break. Although the team did hold practices over the break, many athletes were out of town and only just got back into practices once school resumed. Fortunately, this meet ended up being a good way to get the team back into their usual system before the next few meets.

“Coming back from break, we’ll get a good bounce off this meeting…everyone’s back in the groove now,” expressed Coach Clark.

Overall, the meet went well for Arcadia’s swim team, with several best times being achieved and a definite victory, despite it occurring directly after spring break. The swim team will only have a few more meets, including against Crescenta Valley, before their preliminaries and league finals. In these, they hope for “clean meets”, or meets without any disqualifications. Good luck to the Arcadia swim team on all their future endeavors, and congratulations on all their accomplishments so far!