September 2021

the arcadia quill @arcadiaquill

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ISSUE 1 VOLUME 69

SEPTEMBER 2021

EST. 1952

Homecoming 2021

ARCADIA HIGH SCHOOL 180 CAMPUS DRIVE ARCADIA, CA 91006

By ASHLEY CHAN Staff Writer Due to the pandemic, Arcadia High School (AHS) was unable to host a Homecoming event in the 2020-2021 school year.

However, with the emergence of COVID-19 safety protocols, Homecoming has been made possible this year. The theme for the 20212022 Homecoming is Chasing Sunsets! This was announced on Sept. 7 at lunch in the rally court. Additionally, this event will be located at the Petersen Automotive Museum. The Petersen Automotive Museum is in Los Angeles, and is a nonprofit organization that is all about automobile history.

Along with the Homecoming dance, there are Homecoming festivities leading up to it.

The AHS ASB has created a spirit week that will occur from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1. In that week, there will be entertaining activities, including games at the rally court and an AHS spirit day. Another festivity is the Homecom-

ing royalty nominations. Nominations were open from Aug. 31 to Sept. 8, and nominations were posted on the ASB website on Sept. 10.

The final royalty voting is sent out to students through email, scheduled for Sept. 22. Homecoming royalty will be officially revealed on Sept. 23 during lunch at the rally court.

In total, there will be one princess and one prince per grade level, with an exception to the seniors. The seniors will have three princesses and three princes, and one of those princesses and princes will become Homecoming queen and king. There is also a football game on Oct. 1 at AHS. AHS’ football team will be playing Burroughs High School at 7 p.m. This game will be followed by the Homecoming tailgate party, and then the actual Homecoming dance.

AHS’ Homecoming does not restrict any student from attending, meaning all grade levels are welcome to attend. Students are also allowed to bring outside guests, as long as they submit the guest form by Sept. 13.

Homecoming is a formal event, so dress to impress! Formal attire is classified as a dress

suit, dress shirt, slacks, and dress shoes. This dress code also includes short or long dresses.

Students should wear what they feel most comfortable in so they will have an optimal time at Homecoming!

Although businesses and schools have reopened, this does not signify that the pandemic has ceased to exist. COVID-19 is still a dangerous and potentially deadly virus that needs to be taken seriously. Therefore, AHS has issued a mask mandate for Homecoming, meaning masks must be worn at all times.

Students in all grade levels are looking forward to Homecoming at AHS! Sampathkumar Anitha.

Homecoming is just around the corner!

Attend with your friends and create memories that will last a lifetime!

achan@arcadiaquill.com Photos by WESLEY CHEN

what's inside free museum day in LA county [pg 5]

Photo by LALIVE.COM

In honor of the treacherous times all of us have endured throughout California and globally, we have been gifted with the opportunity to attend our favorite museums for FREE! On Sept. 18, the Smithsonian Magazine is hosting its annual event; bring your friends and family to accompany you in attending the following museums...

the wellness center [pg 4] public perception of law enforcement [pg 7] Arcadia High School recently unveiled its new Wellness Center, started and directed by Dr. Deja Anderson, one of the counselors on campus. The space is located in A-Building, in the middle of the counseling office. It is open to all students during lunch and after school, and can be visited during the school day with a pass. The center is a small, cozy space, characterized by its comfortable seating and warm atmosphere. It’s part of Dr. Anderson’s initiative to prioritize and facilitate good mental health, provide students with opportunities to learn more about their mental and emotional needs, and offer them...

Photo by KDVR.COM

Law enforcement around the country has come under fire due to a string of controversial encounters between officers and members of the public, especially since the beginning of 2020. From my perspective, the public opinion of law enforcement has shifted in a direction that portrays all of law enforcement as aggressors and disruptors of order, rather than protectors of it...

this issue: policy 2 | editorial 3 | news 4 | opinion 6 | features 8 | center spread 10 | arts & entertainment 12 | sports 14 | campus focus 16

2

POLICY

arcadiaquill.com

SEPTEMBER 2021

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.

Staff Writers: Dania Azher, 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, Vanessa Valentino, Lorin Teng, Kate De Prima, Wesley Chen, Ainsley Najafzadeh, Emmaline Pan, Madison Yee Advisor: Mrs. Lesley Lee

Editors-in-Chief: Robinson Lee, Anya Yang, Kylie Ha 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: Ashley Zhao and Chloe Wong Publicity Managers: Becky Chen and Rebecca Tao

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.

SEPTEMBER 2021

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EDITORIAL

RETURN TO SCHOOL:

03

REFLECTIONS, EXPECTIATIONS, AND REALITY

A year ago, at this time, Arcadia High School (AHS) students were still in isolation, an ordeal that challenged the creativity, resourcefulness, and patience of youth stuck at home during the pandemic. Black screens, muted mics, awkward silences, and rows and rows of pixelated faces became the norm to us.

Looking back at quarantine and the reflections we’ve made this past year, it was a dark, stagnant time: no seeing familiar faces, no sports to play or football games to cheer at, no plays and dances to attend. By Apr. 1, students were hopeful as schools across California tentatively opened their doors to a few anxious, and optimistic families, in hopes that everything would be back to exactly how it was before. But now that students are finally back on campus with inperson learning, the pandemic is still ongoing, and things haven’t returned to normal quite as easily as we expected.

SOCIAL INTERACTION If there was one aspect of normal life that we sorely missed during quarantine, it was the frequent social interaction that went hand-inhand with regular school. We transitioned from strolling the halls and chatting with friends to entering the occasional awkward breakout rooms, working alone in our bedrooms and never seeing classmates outside of a 5x5 Zoom screen. Online school was strange, lonely, and at times bitterly isolating—it was those lost connections with friends and classmates that felt missing from our daily lives.

To get through it, we clung to the idea that once quarantine was over, our social lives would go back to normal. In some ways, they have.

Today, chattering students fill the corridors of AHS. The rally court bustles loudly at lunchtime again; the Homecoming dance is another essential high school experience saved by in-

person learning. We laugh with others in class and see our friends and teachers daily—and yet things still aren’t quite the same. We wear masks for our health and others’ and, after so many months away from school, we struggle to recognize classmates we didn’t see throughout quarantine. Despite being entertaining, learning with others sometimes proves to be a distraction. Virtual learning inevitably caused some friendships to ebb away with distance and time.

With the pandemic hanging over our heads at all times, it can also be hard to forget that socializing puts us at risk of contracting COVID-19— but although our social lives may not be what we hoped they would, at least our worlds have begun to open up beyond the virtual classroom.

DIFFERENCES IN SCHEDULE & CONVENIENCE OF BEING ONLINE A major difference between online and in-person school is the school day scheduling.

During online school, block scheduling made it so students alternated between their first and last three classes every other day except on Monday when all six classes were in session. On the rest of the schooldays, classes were almost twice as long, which allowed for more productivity during class, but were also sometimes mentally draining.

Despite the longer class periods, there were undeniable conveniences that came with being at home. There was no need to lug around a heavy backpack as we went to each of our classes, which relieved some stress, as it was impossible to forget anything we needed for school since we were at home. But there were also definitely consequences of not being at school in-person. We couldn’t freely interact with our classmates. During group projects, the mute and camera buttons were our worst enemies, as people often didn’t feel the need

to participate since they weren’t face to face.

These restrictions on social interaction greatly impacted extroverts and people who felt alone in group projects in a way that could only be cured by going to school in-person.

During school on campus, there was definitely a more communal and inviting atmosphere. We could easily chat with our friends and ask peers for help during class. We also didn’t have to make a separate appointment and spend time outside of class to privately ask our teachers a small question like we would have had to online. Overall, the in-person school environment has felt less lonely and more open for communication.

SPORTS Amidst the announcement of online learning, came the inevitable disappointments and hurdles of California Interscholastic Federation seasons being cut short, combined, or completely cancelled for student-athletes. With California in lockdown, some athletes traveled out of state in search of better opportunities, while others remained in waning optimism. If we were fortunate enough to play a sport outside of school, the freedom of not having to attend in-person might have allowed us the opportunity to pursue athletics with more flexibility.

But for the majority of AHS student-athletes, being forced to wait and watch our hard work go to waste was a bleak reality. For seniors, the notion of not having a season was even more significant. With college approaching fast on the horizon, senior year was a make it or break it season for many. With the pandemic, many wouldn’t ever have the chance to prove themselves. Still, even as games were cancelled, we trained online, by ourselves, and under the guidance of our coaches (who never gave up on us) in hopes that we would eventually return to

some semblance of normalcy.

Now that restrictions have been lifted, whether we are able to participate in a sport or another extracurricular activity that we love, there is much to be thankful for. We know the rules may change, and that the return to play may be temporary, but we aren’t going to let that stop us. Because whether we are an athlete, dancer, or musician these are the things that make us stand out as individuals, drive us to be our best, and bring us together.

A year later, the return to in-person learning feels too incomplete and out-of-place to be called “a return to normalcy.” Just like how the world was put to a pause a year before, we are now forced to adapt to these new circumstances as we return to in-person. Yet some things have not changed much since we were last on campus. We still experience the burden of unexpected workloads, the timed tests, the last minute assignments dragging us into late hours, and the hassle of getting to school on time. We’re all stressed in some way. Whether it’s the physical burden of a long day or the mental strain of keeping up with a balanced life, all in all, we’re learning to acknowledge that this feeling of being overwhelmed is shared among us all. Even so, this harsh side of reality shouldn’t dishearten us from finding a happy ending. We’re gradually seeing progress within our world: the administration of COVID vaccines, the implementation of health safety regulations, the decline of COVID hospital admission rates.

In some ways, the transition back to inperson learning hasn’t been as smooth as we hoped it would be. But with this new school year, we’re returning to a more animated, involved environment. This school year may have its challenges––but just as we did in quarantine, we’ll keep moving forward.

04

NEWS

arcadiaquill.com

SEPTEMBER 2021

AHS WELLNESS CENTER Q&A

By DHRUTI KULKARNI

Staff Writer

Arcadia High School recently unveiled its new Wellness Center, started and directed by Dr. Deja Anderson, one of the counselors on campus. The space is located in A-Building, in the middle of the counseling office. It is open to all students during lunch and after school, and can be visited during the school day with a pass. The center is a small, cozy space, characterized by its comfortable seating and warm atmosphere. It’s part of Dr. Anderson’s initiative to prioritize and facilitate good mental health, provide students with opportunities to learn more about their mental and emotional needs, and offer them a break from stressful environments.

I asked students about their thoughts on the Wellness Center, and how they plan to utilize it.

“I go to the Wellness Center every day.

It is one of the only places I find relaxing at school. It helps me calm down, and allows me to spend time detached from the active chaos going on in school halls,” said sophomore Ekaterina Medvedeva.

I also asked Dr. Anderson a few questions about the Center:

Dhruti Kulkarni: Was there any specific reason that made you decide to establish a Wellness Center?

Dr. Anderson: Well, I wish I could take all the credit, but really, this was an idea from Ms. Dillman [principal of AHS] and the other counselors at our school. They were seeing a need for our students to have a place to go to when they’re stressed, to not necessarily have to go to the bathroom to deal with their emotions, so from that need of our students, that’s how the center came to be. We were actually going to open the center in the 2020 school year, but then March ‘20 happened, so we ended up changing the format.

Dhruti: What are some examples of activities that you plan on doing throughout the year?

Dr. Anderson: So one of the things that I want to do is host something called Wellness Wednesdays, just practicing mindfulness, because they say that mindfulness kind of helps us become present, and it’s just a good way to start your day. We’ll have chair yoga, mindful meditation, and muscle relaxation. I’m also wanting to work with different student groups, to host workshops and presentations around mental health. The reason I want to work with students and student groups is because you

all know what it is you’re going through, and what it is we can help you with. We have a student panel about mental health coming up in a couple of weeks, and we had a group reach out to me because they want to partner together, as well.

Dhruti: How did the virtual Wellness Center work, and how will this one be similar/different to that one?

Dr. Anderson: For the virtual Wellness Center, we hosted a lot of workshops that took place after school, and there was also a virtual room for students to utilize. I think what will be similar to last year is that we still want to hold workshops for our students. I think what will be different is that we have the physical space, and I think with the physical space, we’ll have more students accessing it, versus virtually, I can’t say student’s weren’t accessing it, but since it was a website, I don’t know how much traffic we had.

Dhruti: How is the current student turnout for the Wellness Center, and how do you expect it to change?

Dr. Anderson: Right now, we’re getting a good amount of students to come in; a lot of our students do come in during lunch and after school. Because we want to make sure

students are taking care of themselves but still at the same time going to class, we do tell students that if they need to use it during class, it needs to be specific. That’s how they’re able to access it during class time. So we are getting a good amount of traffic, and I hope for it to stay at least at the number it’s at, or grow, once students get more comfortable with the concept, and say, yeah, I’ll go use the Wellness Center.

Dhruti: Do you have any closing/final remarks or comments?

Dr. Anderson: One thing I’ve noticed being here at Arcadia is that often students don’t think a lot about their mental health, they put a lot on their plates, they have a lot of stress, and I just want to make sure that they move mental health up to the top of their plates and that they’re taking care of themselves. I think that just having this conversation more and more, because I think that the more that we talk about it, the more normal it becomes. I think it’s just growing the conversation and normalizing it.

dkulkarni@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of THENOUNPROJECT.COM

ARCADIA RESIDENTS VOICE OPINIONS ON HOMELESSNESS

ARCADIA RESIDENTS VOICE OPINIONS ON HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM IN PUBLIC FORUM

PROBLEM IN PUBLIC FORU M

By KIRA CAMACHO

Staff Writer The Tiny Homes project has been a subject of much controversy lately. To let citizens of Arcadia voice their opinions about this topic, Arcadia’s City Council held a public forum on August 7; it covered plans on dealing with the homeless problem within our city and the Tiny Homes project. The entire recording was streamed live on Zoom, and Arcadia residents were able to view the discussion take place.

The forum was heated, with both sides voicing their doubts and concerns in figuring out what to do about the rising issue on homelessness throughout Arcadia and Los Angeles County.

“The forum came as the next step in a months-long debate over how to address the issue” reported Annakai Geshlider.

This public forum was divided into seven sections, specifically on “public safety, crime, and encampments; maintenance and encampment clean-up; homelessness and property values; statistics and services related to Arcadia’s unhoused residents; housing for the unhoused;

and library and museum services.”

The Tiny Homes project is a housing development that would address the need for emergency housing. This project would have about 15 shelters with food, restrooms, showers, possible laundry, case management, security, and other services that deprived individuals need.

Citizens of Arcadia experiencing homelessness will have priority in this shelter. The Union Station Homeless Services would also use their list of homeless residents from Arcadia, who qualify for this type of housing.

Once someone is placed into a tiny shelter, a case manager will continue to work with the individual to secure more permanent housing.

All of this would be paid for by grant funds.

The Tiny Homes project has not been approved yet. However, on Feb. 16, the City Council voted to submit a letter of intent to the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments to examine the possibility of Tiny Shelters in Arcadia on County property at the Peck Park access to road site.

Homelessness is a big, and real issue in Arcadia. Currently, Arcadia has over 100 people experiencing homelessness in Arcadia.

The City of Arcadia is “proposing the shelters as part of a more comprehensive approach to reducing the number of homeless we have in the City. We want to fix the problem in Arcadia while we still can. We already have people on our streets doing drugs and committing small crimes as part of trying to survive.

We are trying to get them off the streets to protect our community.”

Annakai Geshlider recorded Dominic Lazzaretto, Arcadia City Council’s city manager’s reasoning for the Tiny Homes project, “According to Lazzaretto, the increase in Arcadia’s unhoused population during the past few years has created the need for new solutions. In 2016, the city counted 16 unhoused residents, Lazzaretto said. In 2019, the number of unhoused Arcadians was 77. In 2020, the unhoused population reached 106.”

Despite this reasoning, the Tiny Homes project is still a controversial topic. Some Arcadia residents are protesting the project; they

think the project will only invite more homeless people to Arcadia and create additional problems. Much of this backlash is due to the planned location of these Tiny Homes, along the Peck Park utility Access Road. This road is near many homes, schools, and parks.

“We want to protect our neighbors, both housed and unhoused. And to do that we need to have some place that’s safe, clean, provides restrooms, showers, 24/7 security, housing, navigators, case managers, mental health assessments, all the things and resources that those who are unhoused need.” April Verlato, Arcadia City councilwoman, told Fox 11.

Others think that the Tiny Homes project will hurt property values. On their website, the Arcadia City Council debunks this.

“There is no evidence that a temporary shelter negatively impacts property values nearby. On the other hand, homeless encampments on sidewalks, in parks, and in business districts do tend to bring down property values because they are seen as a sign of economic

kcamacho@arcadiaquill.com Graphic courtesy of PIXABAY.COM

NEWS

news.arcadiaquill@gmail.com

SEPTEMBER 2021

05

Education of Afghani Women Jeopardized by the Return of the Taliban

By SOHANA SAHNI

Staff Writer

Following the U.S. evacuation of troops from Afghanistan on Aug. 30, the country has been terrorized by a recent resurgence of the Taliban. Due to the re-establishment of this repressive regime, the future and safety of women’s education and other humanitarian rights have been threatened.

During the Taliban rule which encompassed the late 1990s, the organization ruled through intimidation rather than direct restrictions or decrees. From 1996 to 2001, women’s education was banned in Afghanistan and those who rebelled against these rules were punished with violence and social isolation. In 2001, American troops invaded Afghanistan, seizing the Taliban’s control and reopening schools for girls. Following this change in power, Afghani women were opened to opportunities in careers in business, government, medicine, and law. In fact, the Afghani literacy rate for women reached 30% in 2018. With such advances in women’s education and rights in the past 20 years, taking a step backwards can be disastrous.

On Sept. 18, when schools reopened, only male students were notified to return to their studies. The Taliban has made it clear

that they will be imposing their own interpretation of Sharia law, one which restricts the extent of women’s education. Though they have released statements saying some education of girls will be permitted, it is currently unclear what extent these freedoms reach to. The Taliban has also stated they will not allow men to teach girls, a decree which exacerbates the already dire shortage of teachers in Afghanistan. Female students will also be required by staff to wear an “Islamic hijab.”

Additionally, women will be allowed to pursue higher education in universities and graduate programs as long as they are taught in gendersegregated classrooms.

“We are working on a mechanism to provide transportation and other facilities that are required for a safer and better educational environment,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman and the acting deputy minister of information and culture.

Mujahid also states that classes for girls in or above seventh grade will return soon.

Despite promises of security for women’s education, the Taliban continues to make contradictory moves which signal a threatening future. In fact, recently the Ministry of Women’s Affairs compound was converted into the Ministry of Invitation, Guidance and Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

Free Museum Day in los angeles county

By MARYAM SADEGHIFARD Staff Writer In honor of the treacherous times all of us have endured throughout California and globally, we have been gifted with the opportunity to attend our favorite museums for FREE! On Sept. 18, the Smithsonian Magazine hosted its annual event. The following museums in Los Angeles (LA) County have participated in the exciting event: GRAMMY Museum, International Printing Museum, Flight Path Museum & Learning Center, and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes.

For avid music fans, the GRAMMY museum has plenty to offer as you take in the historical landmarks of music. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, the GRAMMY museum exhibits musical artifacts which surround you in an aura filled with creativity, as well as hands- on interactive touchscreens, sound booths, and many more. Instruments and costumes from past grammy awards, and hand-written lyric sheets from artists ranging from Taylor Swift to 2Pac are also available for viewing.

The largest collection of antique printing presses present at the International Printing museum brings admirers of literature a closer look into the origins of journalism that shaped the modern world. After the museum’s founding in 1988, their dedicated mission curates the spread of knowledge of the extensive history behind printing and books to diverse audiences. The third oldest printing press made in America is available for viewing at this museum, which was used by historical figure, Benjamin Franklin to write renowned works of literature such as the Pennsylvania Gazette and Poor Richard’s Almanac. Revolutionary inventions that ultimately led to the enlightenment of the modern world, all started with the creations of these printing presses.

“No other museum offers such a perspective on contemporary aircraft and aviation.”, the Flight Path museum gives exclusive viewings as to how aviation works as well as experiencing aviation throughout history first-hand

through historical showings. As a non-profit organization, their main mission is to honor and recognize those in history who shaped aviation today and to inspire future generations to pursue higher education in aviation fields. Located in the LAX Imperial terminal, this is the only museum of it’s kind to be positioned at a major airport. Experience the magic of aerospace technology and visit the Flight Path museum to view large collections of airline accessories, and look into a real DC-3 aircraft.

LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes honors the past, inspires the future, and goes in depth about the deep influences rooted in society that were planted by Latinos and Latinas in this museum. You can understand the treacherous times in which many Latinos had to endure and how they were able to still keep a sense of community. Starting from a pueblo, to now the city of Los Angeles, the museum celebrates the rich origins of Hispanics in America. You’ll be able to educate yourself more thoroughly through reading overlooked narratives from Mexicans and Mexican Americans that prosper from the precolonial era, to the modern age. Get a deeper

With the return of Taliban occupation, all time morale for female teachers and students is extremely low. For female students who previously viewed school with hope and as a place of opportunity, the classroom is filled with a sense of dread and futility.

Sanam, a 16 year old girl who survived a traumatizing bombing at her school last May, expressed her fear for the future of her education.

“I can’t concentrate in my studies. When we think about our future, we can’t see anything,” said Sanam.

Despite this loss of motivation, Sanam hopes the Taliban will acknowledge the advances women have made in Afghanistan in the last 20 years and accept them as a driving force in the fate of this country.

“If they learn that women can be part of this country and they can do whatever the men can, then they may allow us to go to school,” she said.

ssahni@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy by PIXNIO.COM

understanding of Mexican culture by looking at historical artifacts, photographs, testimonies and much more in visiting LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes.

Even though most museums “have already adjusted to full Covid protocols, and so now that you’re vaccinated, your chance of getting infected in the museum is probably pretty low.” Medical analyst Dr. Leanna Wen suggests taking these measures to stay safe.

Following up with each museum with specific rules and guidelines they follow allow for further protection against COVID-19.

In 2020, this event had to be cancelled due to ongoing uncertainties about what the future had to offer. Because of this, museums decided to host virtual viewings and exhibitions.

As a result, this caused a massive deduction off their yearly revenue from showcases. This year, we hope to see our museums recover, and we hold pure appreciation to those museums participating.

Not only in Los Angeles County was Museum Day being held, but throughout the country. Over 1000 museums participated in the Smithsonian Magazine 2021 Museum Day. A variety of different exhibitions will be available, such as historical, space museums, art galleries, and even select zoos!

The Smithsonian Magazine’s Twitter describes this event as “an annual celebration of boundless curiosity” in order to lift spirits and spread the joy of the arts.

msadeghifard@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of PIXABAY.COM and FLICKR.COM

06

OPINION The Problem With South Asians Not Being Considered Asian opinion.arcadiaquill@gmail.com

By VRITTI GODANI

Staff Writer For as long as I can remember, I have always been considered Indian but not Asian.

I was never associated with the typical Asian stereotype. I always envied the East Asian girls who possessed a light skin tone with thin, straight hair that was not compared to the hair of an electrocuted monkey during recess. It wasn’t the physical appearance that I was most jealous of, but the fact that these girls had an identity and they knew who they were. Most importantly, it seemed like people recognized who these girls were and respected their culture most of the time.

South Asians have always been excluded from the “Asian” persona and still are excluded. Although racism against East Asians is extremely prevalent today, it is recognized whether it be through Instagram infographics or local news. News and media fail to acknowledge the harm done to South Asians and even when it is recognized, it is briefly discussed. A great example of this would be how back in 2015, Rohit Patel, an elderly Indian man, was taking his usual walk around his neighborhood in New Jersey. Nyle Kilgore followed him for less than a minute before attacking him with a blow to the head and brutally beating him just because he was

Indian. Patel suffered from several horrific and permanent injuries such as broken teeth, stitches to the mouth, and a damaged forehead.

While researching this attack, I could barely find any articles or videos outside of Indian media outlets reporting on this event. Not only did this take place in the U.S., but it was also racially motivated and during the time that it took place, racially motivated attacks were not as prevalent as they are today, so one would assume that media outlets would cover this story.

However, this story was barely mentioned in any major news outlets and makes me wonder if the same thing were to happen to a Chinese American, would it be talked about more openly?

South Asians (Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, etc.) are also considered to be their own people, similar to a tribe, and are separated from the rest of Asia (countries like Singapore, China, Japan, etc.), which has led to the normalization of racist comments and actions against South Asians. “Asians” are a part of the model minority myth, which classifies them as a kind and obedient group who gained their success by talent and the typical hard-working immigrant mentality. South Asians are also considered part of the model minority myth, but only when it comes to school and education. South Asians are expected to be straight-A students and easily excel through all their courses. However, when

SEPTEMBER 2021

South Asians struggle in a class, some teach- countless jokes, whether it be comparing any ers assume that they will figure it out on their Indian guy to Baljeet, or any Indian girl to own and ignore their falling grades which may Devi. We have never been taken seriously. be a cry for help. Although the model minority The most frustrating part of this dilemma is myth is extremely harmful to the mental health the fact that South Asians have the potential of East Asians, it also excludes and promotes to excel in all fields, like East Asians, but racism against South Asians by suggesting that when any South Asian makes progress and takes a step forward, racism pushes them they are rowdy and uncivil.

Back in June, I was at Target with my three steps back.

Junior Amish Jha said, “I was always dad and went up to an employee to ask her a question. I didn’t realize that she was already scared to open my lunch in elementary in a conversation with another customer and school because everyone would always say it I quickly apologized and let them finish their smells like dog food. It was always my lunch conversation. While the other customer was they would make fun of.”

South Asians possess all the qualities walking away, she looked at my dad and me and made multiple racist comments. “I hope that the model minority myth gives East you guys don’t have a green card so you can Asians. However, internalized racism prebe deported,” she stated. Not to mention, this vents people from viewing South Asians as lady was bragging about the fact that she was anything but people who work in customer a professor at UCLA, a university with more service.

South Asians are Asians too. Stop judgthan 1000 international students. After her racist comments, my dad and I sat in the car in si- ing people off their looks and spend time lence and I was on the verge of tears question- learning about someone before you develop ing what I had done wrong and if the same thing an opinion. We deserve respect and appreciawould’ve happened to me if I was “Asian” or tion. Blatant racism and degrading comparijust not Indian. This experience proves that the sons aren’t only detrimental to us as a race, model minority myth contributes to more than but to society as a whole. just East Asian racism– it encourages South Asian racism and views us as the complete opposite of stereotypical East Asians. vgodani@arcadiaquill.com South Asians are also the punchline of Graphic courtesy of PINTEREST.COM

Organic Grocery Stores Can Be Worth It!

By SOPHIA LI Staff Writer In the U.S., most organic grocery store products can cost up to 20% more than regular grocery store products. For example, if a can of tuna costs $1 at a regular grocery store, it could cost $1.20 at an organic grocery store. Because of the price difference, many consumers shy away from purchasing organic foods and groceries. However, I believe that if the right items are purchased, paying a little extra can go a long way as the benefits can far outweigh the costs.

Even though organic grocery stores have a wide variety of products, it doesn’t mean that every single one of them has to be bought. From vegetables to tortilla chips, I believe it’s important to buy products that specifically cater to one’s needs. By this, I mean that it’s a game of picking and choosing what products to buy and where. Not all grocery shopping has to be done at organic grocery stores, but customers can be smart about what they pick to buy. For example, regular lettuce and organic lettuce are identical to me. Organic lettuce doesn’t taste any better, nor does it have any special health benefits.

Since all lettuce is the same, it wouldn’t make sense to spend extra money on organic lettuce, so I wouldn’t reach for it at organic grocery stores. Instead, I would purchase it at regular grocery stores, where a cheaper cost

would result in the same product.

However, some products aren’t created equally in organic and regular grocery stores.

Now, these are the types of produce worth spending money on. According to the EWG Science Team, produce that remains at the top of the list to buy organically includes strawberries, spinach, kale, collards, and mustard greens. These products are among the topranked fruits and vegetables to buy. They contain a lot of pesticides when grown regularly, which can be avoided if customers take the organic route.

According to Lawrence Robinson, Jeanne Segal, and Robert Segal, “the use of toxic herbicides like Roundup (glyphosate) has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced.” This is huge, since buying organic strawberries would mean no more of those pesticides.”

The EWG Science Team supports this, as it commented, “a fungicide that can change hormone levels and [can cause cancer] was detected on nearly 90 percent of citrus samples tested by EWG in 2020.”

On the other hand, buying a snack bar that contains 50% less sugar than ones traditionally sold at a Vons or Costco would make more sense. This product has value to it since it’s hard to find at other places, and suits the needs of a yummy snack on the go. It’s special and unique to the store, and it couldn’t be found anywhere else. Snacks that are worth the value and are unique to organic grocery stores are generally

worth it to buy.

Many snacks sold in grocery stores are nutritious, and paying just a little more to get a much higher quality product would be a win-win for both the store and the customer. It’s a simple way to pay a little extra in exchange for a lot more.

Additionally, organic grocery stores are worthwhile because of the health benefits that it carries. According to Lawrence Robinson, Jeanne Segal, and Robert Segal, conventionally grown produce can be grown with synthetic or chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides,and herbicides.

Livestock is also given growth hormones, GMO feed, antibiotics, medication, and fed animal byproducts.

Not only this, but according to the EWG Science Team, many crops like pepper contain chemicals that are hard to even pronounce like acephate chlorpyrifos, which can harm a child’s developing brain. In order to get rid of the hassle and worry about what’s going into your body, shopping for the right product is the way to go.

Shopping at an organic store also reduces stress due to the trust that stores build with customers. At an organic grocery store, I know

that the products in front of me are generally very healthy, and contain less sugar and processed ingredients. I don’t have to search for labels on every product, looking for sugar content in the ‘Nutrition Facts’ label on the back. Instead, I’m able to shop freely and get rid of any second thoughts on if a product is relatively healthy or not. Organic shopping is a much more conscientious way to shop. It can turn your average ‘picking up groceries on a weekend’ into a de-stressing and fun activity to look forward to.

Organic grocery stores are more than just a store where prices are raised. Prices are raised for a reason, like how strawberries and spinach are produced organically, but it all comes down to the consumer to make smart decisions about what to purchase. Organic grocery stores provide many benefits and authentic products that are hard to replicate anywhere else.

sli@arcadiaquill.com Grahpic courtesy of EATING-MADE-EASY.COM

SEPTEMBER 2021

opinion.arcadiaquill@gmail.com

OPINION

07

PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT DARIN BUENALUZ By

Staff Writer

Law enforcement around the country has come under fire due to a string of controversial encounters between officers and members of the public, especially since the beginning of 2020. From my perspective, the public opinion of law enforcement has shifted in a direction that portrays all of law enforcement as aggressors and disruptors of order, rather than protectors of it. Furthermore, the current public perception of law enforcement doesn’t always fully encompass the complexity of the job. It also often paints all law enforcement workers with the same brush, subjecting people who are detectives, crime scene investigators, or those who work in forensics to the same judgement as the uniformed officers you see everyday.

As such, does the law enforcement community as a whole deserve to be negatively viewed and treated poorly because of the actions of a handful of bad officers? And what do police officers truly stand for as they work every day to try to protect their communities? To find information, I spent nine days at a MasterAt-Arms (MAA) - an individual in the Navy tasked with law enforcement - training at the Ben Clark Training Center frequently used by the Riverside Police and Fire Departments.

After learning from current and former law enforcement in the civilian and military sector, I feel that I have gained a better understanding about the law enforcement community.

I learned in great detail that the job of police officers is far more complex than simply pulling people over and putting handcuffs on individuals caught breaking the law. At the training I attended, all trainees are members of the United States Naval Sea Cadets Corps, most between the ages of 14 to 17. They learn about nearly every aspect of what law enforcement does in the field every day, and they put what they have learned into practice during Patrol Nights, which are done on the training grounds. This includes different types of car stops, pedestrian stops and searches, self-defense (using both one’s body as well as batons and pepper spray, firearm usage and safety), room clearing, and understanding how to properly detain an individual. The different “suspects” are staff cadets and adult staff from the training.

Cadets conduct Patrol Nights in assigned squads in a controlled, but realistic environment. Each team is evaluated by the training instructors. Some are real, active duty law enforcement, while others have been chosen by the head of the training for their experience.

Cadets have no one but their fellow squad members to rely on for assistance during each simulation, which adds additional pressure.

Several Patrol Nights are held in a row towards

the later end of training, and they give cadets the opportunity to gain a clearer image of what police officers do everyday for months, if not years on end.

As part of this training, cadets learn from their adult staff who are experienced in the field of law enforcement. The cadets are also given presentations from special guests who currently work in law enforcement across various fields such as narcotics, or serve on canine units. Furthermore, cadets wear a heavy bulletproof jacket, a duty belt, carrying most of their gear, and combat boots everywhere they go in order to fully experience the physical stress that officers have to endure.

Everything I learned at MAA training is practiced by law enforcement everyday, and from my experience, there is considerably more pressure serving in law enforcement than meets the eye. I experienced this pressure firsthand from my evaluators, who observed everything we did in the assigned scenarios down to the smallest details. This included having to remember the important things to ask about individuals, knowing where every component of one’s gear is at all times, and understanding how to de-escalate situations.

This is all while being under the eye and criticism of the public.

My experience made me realize that the job of police officers, like the job of all men and women of any working field in society, comes with human error. There will be decisions made by officers that will attract controversy or disagreement. Especially under this kind of immense pressure, human error can have dire consequences, as it can result in individuals suffering from injuries or even death. To combat this, Congress has been working to pass the Justice in Policing Act, which includes major factors such as requiring all police officers to be trained on religious and racial profiling, have body and dashboard cameras at all times, and limiting the amount of military-grade gear they carry.

In recent months, the actions of police officers have received attention from a large number of media outlets on both sides of the political spectrum. These incidents have, in part, led to protests around the country, demanding reform and the defunding of law enforcement agencies in several states, notably in major cities such as Seattle, Portland, and Minneapolis. Unfortunately, some protests, including the summer 2020 protests in Los Angeles and the gathering in Minneapolis on the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death, escalated into riots as demonstrators began to physically express their emotions towards law enforcement.

In Seattle, demonstrators established a Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), that lasted for most of the month of June in response to the events in Minneapolis in May

2020, affecting many businesses and residents example, in the current day and age of social who lived within the self-declared exclusion media and technology, anyone can be their zone. In addition, some took advantage of the own news reporter. However, this does not riots for their own benefit, resulting in many necessarily mean the individual who is recordbusinesses being looted or destroyed. Demon- ing it shows everything that happened or has strations like this have, in part, led to an in- an unbiased narrative. Police body cameras recrease of officer resignations and retirements, cord everything that happens from an officer’s as well as a decrease in new officer hirings. perspective, meaning that when they are re “More than 200 officers left their jobs viewed in court all that the officer does can be since last year, citing an anti-police climate clearly and closely examined. In comparison, in Seattle, City Council policies and disagree- spectators on the street are not obliged to rements with department leadership,” said a cord everything that happens if they don’t feel statement by the Seattle’s Chief of Police it’s necessary to share. In addition, beliefs can Adrian Diaz. Seattle, like many other Ameri- be easily influenced or swayed by what is read can cities, experienced an uproar throughout on Instagram, or heard on the news. Social methe summer of 2020 following the death of dia has been used by millions to express their George Floyd. support or conversely anger towards the po “We have lost about one-third of our staff lice, where users can state their opinions with to resignation and retirement. Certainly with little to no information so long as it fits a supthe way that police have been portrayed and ported narrative. vilified in some cases, they have decided that While it is true that social media has it is not the life for them,’” said Chief David brought to light grave injustices, such as the Zack of North Carolina’s Asheville Police De- treatment of George Floyd during his arrest partment in an article by The New York Times. and the eventual conviction of Minneapo Police officers leaving their jobs at un- lis police officer Derek Chauvin, it has also precedented rates has been seen across the played a significant part in creating a negacountry in many cities that have been in the tive portrayal of all law enforcement workers spotlight by the media. whether they were involved in these incidents

As seen in Minneapolis, “105 officers left or not. the department last year, which is more than Without a doubt, there are bad police ofdouble the average attrition rate,” said Brandt ficers, or officers who make bad decisions as Williams in a report by MPR News. individuals. But by no means are their actions

An article from The Oregonian in Port- reflective of all members of law enforcement. land, which also experienced protests and later Lieutenant John Eaden, who was the riots over the death of George Floyd, said, most senior staff member of my training, told “Since July 1, (2020), 115 officers have left us that police officers should have an instinct the Police Bureau, including 74 who retired to protect. They are not trained to kill, but inand 41 who resigned.” stead are trained to neutralize a threat against

“About 15% of its force (more than 5,300 themselves or others. However, neutralizing officers) leave in 2020, a 75% spike from the threats sometimes results in an individual losyear before,” said Jemima McEvoy in a report ing his or her life.

by Forbes, regarding the New York Police The lives of police officers are a lot more Department, one of the largest departments in complicated than they are portrayed. It is easy the nation that has suffered from severe bud- to be an armchair critic and say what the police get cuts since the beginning of the coronavirus did was right or wrong in X or Y situation, but pandemic. what I learned is that things change the second

When the narrative that the police are an the one in the field dealing with these types enemy of the people is spread, that means that of situations is you. Therefore, we shouldn’t the hard working and honest men and women immediately come to the conclusion that law that make up the majority of the United States enforcement as a whole is bad. Incidents such police force must work to protect people who as the George Floyd case should be reminddon’t want them. This can have disastrous re- ers that even the police, who serve as our prosults. tectors, are not faultless. We can learn from

“Mostly law-abiding population in our these incidents so that we can improve both distressed communities, those communities law enforcement and the society that officers that need the police the most, will ultimately have been tasked with serving. However, we suffer the most as a result of pandering to ri- shouldn’t limit our view of law enforcement to diculous demands for reduction or elimination the uniformed men and women we call police of police resources’” said William C. O’Toole, officers, nor by the controversial events that a retired assistant chief of police and writer for draw media attention. the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

While there is no singular answer as to dbuenaluz@arcadiaquill.com why the job of law enforcement is portrayed Graphic courtesy of UNSPLASH.COM negatively, there are some major factors. For

08

FEATURES

arcadiaquill.com

SEPTEMBER 2021

Could High School Animes Ever Reflect Real High School

By DARIN BUENALUZ Staff Writer Anime has become a more and more popular form of entertainment over the past several years. According to a Summary Report by The Association of Japanese Animations, Japan’s animation market has consecutively grown from 2009 to 2019, with seven of those years breaking records.

The plots of anime vary from series to series, with some being more fantasy fiction focused such as Demon Slayer and Naruto, to sports such as Kuroko’s Basketball and Haikyuu, to “Slice of Life” such as Blend S. In light of this, many aspects of anime plots are intentionally exaggerated or reflections of fantasies, including character appearances and capabilities, as well as cliche situations that the characters find themselves in. But there are some themes or takeaways of anime that are very realistic and sometimes are meant to put the viewers into the shoes of the characters. Many anime that do this the most effectively are anime that revolve around high school life.

One particular anime that masterfully creates relatable characters is My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected, also known as Oregairu. The story follows the experiences of Hachiman Hikigaya, the cynical loner of his class who refuses to get

along with his classmates due to a distorted view of life. However, his outlook on his remaining time in high school and his attitude towards others change once he is forced to join his school’s Volunteer/Service Club and meets two girls, Yukino and Yui. Hachiman begins to better understand the people around him and that life should be enjoyed to the maximum, while he develops his own feelings for Yukino. This reflects how high school students sometimes have a narrowed perspective of life, which affects one’s mood and even personality, and highlights the importance of social interaction.

Despite this, there are some aspects of Oregairu that are difficult or impossible to see happening in real life. This includes the relationship between Hachiman and his teacher, Shizuka Hiratsuka, who constantly guides him throughout his personal struggles in determining what he wants his relationship with Yukino and Yui to be.

Hiratsuka goes as far as driving him to a batting cage late at night to talk with him alone while casually smoking cigarettes next to him, something that very few if any teachers would do.

Some anime seek to emphasize the pursuit of one’s true passions and interests. The anime Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, which began airing at the beginning of 2020, follows three girls, Asakusa, Mizusaki, and Kanamori. Both Asakusa and Mizusaki have a passion for creating anime, but Mizusaki’s parents want her to become an actress, as she is already a prominent child star. Despite this, Mizusaki continues to work with Asakusa and Kanamori, starting the Film Club, or Eizouken, and creating multiple successful animations while eventually making her parents see that she enjoys what she does, gaining their approval. Many high school students arrive at a crossroads, where they must choose between pursuing what they are passionate about or pursuing what others expect of them. Personally, I felt that this anime taught me that even when others may disapprove of what you want to pursue in life, if and when you convince them through your own efforts that you know what you’re doing, we as people can do anything we set our minds to.

Once again, however, there are some scenes in the anime that fail to live up to

reality. One major scene is when Mizusaki and Asakusa must make it to the auditorium where their anime will be shown during the school culture festival. With the help of the Robotics Club, the two race across their school campus using a zipline while being chased by the Security Club, whose members are all dressed in riot gear. Meanwhile, Kanamori blackmails the students in charge of setting the air conditioning for every building in the school to set the auditorium to a lower temperature. These are all considerably exaggerated measures that the three girls take in order to have their anime succeed at the festival, and would likely never happen in real life.

All of these anime highlight many aspects of high school life. However, they can’t really serve as a mirror of high school as a whole. While anime can represent certain parts of a high schooler’s life, it’s difficult to capture a whole experience, as not everyone has the same high school experience. It’s also worth noting that high school anime often are based on high school life in Japan, which has some differences compared to American high school life. Nonetheless, while anime is often meant to be a source of entertainment, it can also serve as a teaching dbuenaluz@arcadiaquill.com Graphic courtesy of PIXABAY.COM

Places to Chill After-School

By HENRINA ZHANG

Staff Writer

Now that school has started, most students need places to ‘chill’ after school.

Parents aren’t always able to pick up their kids, so finding fun, accessible, and secure places to stay is a priority. Of the many spots near Arcadia High School (AHS), three potential places recommended are Bon Appetea Cafe, Arcadia County Park, and the 85 °C Bakery Cafe.

The first location, Bon Appetea Cafe, is a cozy and enjoyable cafe on Duarte Road. This spot is a hidden gem, with everything a student could want. To start off, it has mouthwatering food. From crispy fries and fried chicken to full meals, these treats are fairly affordable, ranging from around $4 to $10. Most food varies with spice level, suiting any personal needs. Along with the food are the refreshing drinks offered, allaround $5 to $7. Bon Appetea sells fruit teas, milk teas, yogurts, smoothies, lattes, slushes, juices, and oolong teas. The drinks, of course, come with a variety of toppings, like boba, lychee, and pudding!

When asked about his favorite or-

der, Sophomore Oscar Zhao comments, “I like their green teas. They’re really good.”

Drink-wise, there are definitely drinks that stand out, but they’re all insanely tasty. Food aside, Bon Appetea also has top-notch customer service and seating. Students can comfortably sit in the restaurant, with AC and modern songs t o listen to. Another outstanding factor to Bon Appetea’s excellence is the free wifi! It’s quite simple to pick a seat and start on whatever I need to finish for the day. Bon Appetea often houses many students; it’s a convenient place to go after school. All of these luxuries are only 0.8 miles away from AHS. Only a 16-minute walk!

The second potential location is Arcadia County Park, just across from AHS. Many students overlook the park due to factors like wifi or the outdoors in general, but nonetheless, the park is worth it. Some fresh air is always refreshing, and there’s a lot of activities, including

a playground with a set of very delightful swings.

“I go to the park to go on the swings,” says Sophomore Jing Huang.

Going to the park will provide a feeling of freeness and relaxation, both much-needed things to a high schooler. The park is also a suitable place to sit on a bench or the grass and finish up any work that needs to be done. Being out in nature is soothing, and sometimes even helps productivity and focusing. There are also several attractions within walking distance of the park. From AHS to this location, a 20 minute walk is needed, around 1 mile. Bringing a friend along is advised, as going alone contains a few risks. Overall, Arcadia County Park is the perfect place to reset mental and physical well being.

The next spot is 85 °C Bakery, a well of delicious bread and desserts on Duarte Road. The bakery consists of a haven of desserts, with bread, cake, cookies, and drinks. The full menu to 85 °C Bakery contains many more options.

Sophomore Jolene Shen states that her favorite thing about the cafe is “the comfort-

able atmosphere. And of course the bread.”

It’s safe to say the main attraction of 85 °C Bakery is definitely the bread! The seating layout is fitting for students too, with plentiful tables and space. Additionally, there’s AC and free wifi, which will be necessary for comfortably completing any priorities. 85 °C Bakery is generally close to AHS, being 0.6 miles away, or a 14-minute walk.

This ‘homey’ bakery is a top contender for the best places to chill after school.

For any of these locations, the main challenge is the walking distance. But getting a few steps in helps more than not. Additionally, they’re all safe and populated by students. If tasty food and drinks, affordable prices, and specially adapted places for students are what you need, then Bon Appetea Cafe, Arcadia County Park, and 85 °C Bakery are some top contenders to check out!

hzhang@arcadiaquill.com Graphic courtesy of PIXABAY.COM

Variant Naming System

SEPTEMBER 2021

features.arcadiaquill@gmail.com

By STEPHANIE WANG Staff Writer

With new variants of the coronavirus being discovered every week, and their official classifications becoming longer and increasingly complex, it’s hardly surprising that scientific names have proven incompatible with the rapid, red-hot, highly scrutinized media coverage that COVID-19 has received over a year into the pandemic.

In May 2021 -- to the probable relief of journalists, radio hosts, and politicians everywhere -- the World Health Organization (WHO) assigned “simple, easy to say and remember labels” for variants of COVID-19 using the Greek alphabet, with each notable variant assigned its own letter for easy identification among the general populace.

That being said, Greek names won’t replace scientific names, which will still be used in scientific circles.

Other naming system candidates the WHO considered include simple twosyllable names with no meaning, Greek gods and goddesses, and the numbering system.

However, many two-syllable words were already in use by other entities, and the numbering system (labeling variants “1, 2, 3...”) was rejected out of concern that the numbers would be confused with the scientific names of the variants, which also use numbers.

In the WHO’s current system, only notable variants receive names as either variants of concern or variants of interest.

Variants of interest (VOI) are classified as posing a risk to public health “with genetic changes that are predicted or known to affect virus characteristics such as transmissibility, disease severity, immune escape, diagnostic or therapeutic escape.” These include the Eta, Iota, Kappa, and Lambda variants, all of which were first documented in late 2020 in various countries and formally classified as variants of interest earlier in 2021. The newest addition to this group is the mu variant, which was actually first documented in Colombia in January 2021, and has only formally been identified as a variant of interest in August 2021.

Variants of concern (VOC) have all the characteristics of variants of interest, but pose an additional risk to public health by being even more transmissible, virulent, or damaging to measures of disease prevention.

These include the more well-documented alpha, beta, gamma, and delta variants. Prior to the induction of the Greek alphabet naming system, all four of these variants were better known by their country of origin. The alpha variant, previously known as the UK or British variant, was first detected in September 2020, and along with the beta variant, previously known as the South African variant first detected in May 2020, was officially classified as a variant of concern in December 2020. The gamma variant, previously known as the Brazilian variant, was first

detected in November 2020 and designated as a VOC in January 2021, and the delta variant, which was previously known as the Indian variant and made up 93% of all US coronavirus cases in early August, was first detected in October 2020 and first identified as a VOI in April 2021 and a VOC a month later.

The CDC has also reserved another category for even more damaging variants -- variants of high consequence -- but so far, no variants have been classified as such. Variants that would fit into this category could be more resistant to vaccines and contribute to a higher number of breakthrough cases, be less susceptible to standard COVID-19 treatments, or lead to more severe disease and increased hospitalizations.

While previous names for COVID variants existed before the official naming system was implemented, the use of the Greek alphabet is a better alternative to other naming methods; scientific names were accurate and precise, but far more inconvenient -- inclusion of the “bee-one-six-two-one variant” into everyday discussion hardly makes for a good conversation compared to simply saying “mu variant,” after all. Naming variants after their countries of origin -- a popular, informal naming system widely used in the media before the WHO system -- is just as convenient as using Greek letters, but is often inaccurate and damaging.

An example of this is the Spanish flu, also known as the H1N1 virus that caused the Great Influenza Epidemic of 1918. Although its origins are still unknown, most scientists agree that it likely didn’t originate from Spain, despite what its misnomer suggests. However, Spain was the first country to openly report the epidemic, as it was a neutral power during WWI when the virus was spreading, and warring countries like the US and other European states suppressed reports of the virus to avoid showing weakness to their enemies. For that reason, the “first” cases of the flu seemed to originate in Madrid, and so Spain was cast as the scapegoat for the outbreak of the flu.

A more recent example is NDM-1, or New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1, an antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection named after its detection in a Swedish patient admitted into a hospital in India. After reports of this case were published in academic journals, Indian officials criticized its naming as exaggerated, unfair, damaging, and incorrectly implicating India as the source, causing researchers to apologize and retract the name.

In this vein, naming diseases after their places of origin isn’t just inaccurate; it can seriously hamper public health efforts to combat these diseases. In the case of the Spanish flu, for example, the (inaccurate) identification of the disease originating from Spain gave other countries the idea that the virus was a foreign issue and unlikely to impact them directly. In reality, only 260,000 of the estimated 50 million people who died were Spanish nationals,

FEATURES

and the virus went on to decimate poorlyprepared countries.

Similarly, as the current COVID-19 pandemic rages on, labeling variants -- as well as the virus itself -- by their places of origin have had tangible, often negative, effects.

The early designation of the coronavirus as the “China virus,” “Wuhan virus,” and other inflammatory names like the “Kung flu” has perpetuated discriminatory behavior against people of Asian descent, who may be perceived as more likely carriers of the virus as a result. Despite the debate over whether these terms are racist or not, it’s undebatable that the naming of the virus in this way has inhibited efforts for unity in the face of the coronavirus; there has been a significant increase in hate crimes against Asian-Americans, to the point where President Joe Biden signed a law to prevent COVID-19 related hate crimes following a mass shooting in Atlanta, Georgia that killed eight people of East Asian descent.

The labeling of variants by their place of origin prior to the WHO naming system has led to similarly negative consequences. Racism against Indians and people of Indian descent increased after the announcement of the discovery of the “Indian variant” (the Delta variant), and the Indian government also ordered social media platforms to censor the term, claiming that it perpetuated miscommunication and hurt the country’s image. According to Tulio de Oliveira, director of the team that first identified the Beta variant in South Africa, some health ministers in the region have been reluctant to disclose information about new local variants in fear of being stigmatized by the naming of the variant -- a move that would hamper efforts for transparency and truth about the COVID-19 and formulating strategies to counter it.

Months after the first announcement of their Greek alphabet naming system, the WHO’s efforts seem to have come to fruition; use of Greek labels to identify COVID variants is the new norm, and variant names connected to geographic locations or ethnic groups are no longer common in the media -- when concern over the new mu variant was publicated recently, most sources didn’t headline of the variant’s origin at all. While discrimination linked to the coronavirus surely hasn’t been fully resolved, and misinformation and error still clouds reporting of COVID-19, the successful implementation of this efficient but neutral naming system for COVID variants represents a step forward for unity and clarity in the face of the pandemic.

swang@arcadiaquill.com Graphic courtesy of MAXPIXEL.COM

09

10

BACK TO

By CHLOE WONG

arcadiaquill.com

Campus Focus Editor

school couldn’t even begin to replicate the feeling of seeing AHS’ massive student body, three thousand people strong, nor the school’s vast, sprawling campus and the frenetic energy that comes from being surrounded by so many students all at once. As a freshman, I got used to the quiet humming energy of virtual clubs and online meetings, but in-person school isn’t half as calm. There’s always a service club packing the lecture hall. It’s impossible to walk the courtyard without running into a spirit rally.

And although we’re all adjusting to inperson school, the sophomores in particular seem to occupy a unique position. We’re not freshmen, but we might as well be. We’re not seasoned high school students, but we should be, right? I was supposed to have caught my stride in high school by now, considering the year of experience under my belt––instead, I still find myself asking upperclassmen for directions to the CTE building, and I wonder frequently if the second-year workload is meant to feel this impossible.

That isn’t to say that I’m not enjoying being back in-person––can you go back to something you never properly experienced at all? In freshman year, I should have expanded my horizons, met new people, and involved myself in extracurriculars. The pandemic nixed most of that: I joined the clubs and organizations I could last year, but I wasn’t able to interact with other students the way I can now, and the return has allowed me to properly connect with the few friends I made online.

So even if I’ve taken to occasionally commiserating with others over late-night homework sessions, cramped schedules, and exam prep, at least there are others to share my troubles with, friends to make me feel less isolated and alone. No matter how overwhelming school can feel at times now, having that support system makes the return wholly worth it...although the convenience of online learning will always have a place in my heart, that which allowed me to attend class in my pajamas.

I don’t know if I can say that I’ve gotten used to being on campus. It’s only a few weeks into the school year, and there’s a long, long way to go.

Last September, AHS students were still online. The past months have been daunting for millions of high school students, but our lives are slowly shifting back to what they used to be, beginning with the return to in-person school. I made it through virtual learning, but being thrust into a new environment so suddenly has presented difficulties of its own.

Through it all, I’ll try to optimistically think of this year as an introduction to what real high school is like: the crash course I desperately need in order to become a competent upperclassman by next fall.

Even if it doesn’t feel like it, I’m a sophomore at Arcadia High School now. I can only hope that with time, this campus will feel as familiar to me as home.

It was raining on Mar. 13, 2020, and across the state of California, public schools were shutting down. At the time, it all seemed novel: cheers went up in the hallways of Foothills Middle School (FMS) when our principal delivered the news. I left my math project in my geometry classroom in my haste to hurry home, assuming that after a two-week break brought on by the coronavirus, I’d have time to pick it back up again.

I didn’t, of course. Those two weeks turned into four weeks stretched into six months into a summer. I finished up eighth grade virtually; I saw my family and my cats and no one else. A few tests I’d been panicking over were cancelled. So were the annual trip to Knotts, and my eighth grade promotion dance.

And though I grieved the latter briefly––I’d already bought a dress to wear––my disappointment was short-lived. Summer passed in the blink of an eye, and before I knew it, I was a freshman trying desperately to adjust to online school, though the fact that I was now in high school barely registered with me.

How could it? The pandemic meant that there was no bustling lunch hour, no first Homecoming dance, no freshman orientation, no promise of this being the first of the best four years of my life.

I’d always anticipated that ninth grade would be a milestone in my life, but my first year of high school didn’t feel as momentous as it should have. Stuck online and confined to Zoom classrooms, emotionally, I was still frozen in the late stages of eighth grade.

I didn’t mind at the time––I would have rather stayed at home than taken my chances with a deadly virus––but I never realized how much of high school I missed out on until the start of my sophomore year. This August, half of all Arcadia High School (AHS) students walked on-campus for the first time.

I was one of them. While it wasn’t my first day as a high school student, I couldn’t have felt more adrift.

Usually it’s the freshmen who can’t figure out where to find J-building or D-row; usually it’s the freshmen who stand around wide-eyed and unsure of themselves, having only recently graduated from middle school.

I was just as clueless as a ninth-grader, if not more. At FMS, classrooms were labeled with numbers, not letters! We didn’t have to sprint halfway across campus for PE! I remembered the names of my freshmen teachers, but couldn’t tell you which hallway their classrooms were located on. And that was when I realized it: no matter how much I wanted to believe I’d matured over quarantine, when it came to how well I knew my own high school, I was still fresh out of eighth grade.

Everything was brand-new to me. Everything seemed to move so fast. Sometimes I still struggle to comprehend how bizarre my first year of high school was. I got through my classes, sure, but online cwong@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of PNGWING.com

SEPTEMBER 2021

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By ASHLEY ZHAO

Campus Focus Editor

Mar. 13, 2020, was like every other school day: I found myself staring off into the cloudy skies outside my fourth-period classroom’s window, daydreaming of soft covers and getting to sleep in for the weekend. But what would be announced over the speakers a few moments later would change the course of my entire high school journey. Public schools across California would be going on a twoweek break because of something called the “coronavirus”.

That brief two weeks I used to catch up on sleep quickly morphed into a month, then a few months, and then into an entire summer. Soon enough, the afternoon naps I so longed for became part of my daily routine to fill up all the newfound time I had in the day. My motivation and focus slowly slipped away as I completed my sophomore year online—if you could even consider it a proper education with the number of classes I attended.

In the span of a short-lived summer, I was suddenly a junior. Without the familiar sight of my friends at lunch or the classroom ambiance of peers and teachers, each day I spent behind my computer felt as if I was living through some bizarre dream.

I had heard from upperclassmen that junior year is where my performance would matter the most in preparing for college applications, but with the way the year proceeded, my motivation to keep focused only dwindled. Distractions were especially hard to ignore, with no one to reprimand me if I took a look at my phone or opened up Youtube on my laptop.

But through all the hardships that quarantine threw at me, I was strangely grateful for all the time I suddenly had to myself. For the first time as a student, I was truly and completely alone with myself. No longer were the majority of my school days buried in assignments and endless extracurriculars meant to occupy me. With all this time to myself, I had the chance to discover new interests and pursue all the things I was passionate about but never had the opportunity to dive into. In those moments where I found what truly brought me joy, I felt like a real human being, not just someone whose sole purpose was to maintain straight A’s and a 4.0 GPA. The year proceeded, and COVID-19 restrictions began to be lifted. My days would only get busier and busier once life returned to normal, but the growth quarantine provided would continue to stay with me.

Without noticing it, I had already become a senior. Although reality hadn’t sunk in yet, being able to walk on campus for the first time in over a year felt bizarrely nostalgic. I was able to wear the same backpack, walk across the same halls, and sit with my friends in the same lunch spot as if last year had never happened. But in their own ways, things were still different. A new set of teachers and

SCHOOL

classes. Clubs on campus I had never heard of before. But most daunting of all, the start of the college applications process.

In less than a month from now, I have to finalize my choice for the path the rest of my life is supposed to take. In less than a year from now, I’ll be off to college living alone in a dorm room. Perhaps it was because last year was entirely online or because I had always pushed aside thoughts of the future, but I barely felt prepared to make such a jump. How am I supposed to decide the direction of my life when part of me still feels like a sophomore struggling to write lab reports for chemistry class?

My uncertainty is coupled with the fact that online school made it more difficult for me, and many other current seniors, to foster deep connections with the teachers from junior year.

For students like me who were shy or just felt disconnected from online classes in general, actively participating in class and getting a teacher to remember me as a person felt like an impossible task. But to have to ask those same teachers for letters of recommendation now as seniors?

When meeting with one of my junior year teachers to ask for a recommendation, I was confident in getting rejected because of how I didn’t talk as much in class compared to her other students. But to my surprise, my teacher happily agreed to write a letter for me. I walked out of her classroom that day with a smile on my face and a peculiar certainty that despite my struggles, everything would work out in the end.

Though I can no longer deny it, I am a senior at Arcadia High School now. No matter where I find myself at the end of the year, I hope to look to the future with confidence that all the challenges I’ve overcome throughout my high school journey have helped mold me into the person I am today.

azhao@arcadiaquill.com

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A&E

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Marvel’s New “SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS”” RINGS

By ANNA ODELL

Staff Writer

Marvel’s most recent release ShangChi and the Legend of the Ten Rings came out on Sept. 3 and viewers are already raving about the movie. Getting a 92% overall on Rotten Tomatoes, some say this movie is Marvel’s best since Black Panther. Not only has it been getting incredible reviews, the movie broke the all-time U.S. Labor Day box office record earning $75.5 million just in North America according to mymodernmet.com.

Actor Simu Liu’s character and role in the movie, the protagonist Shang Chi, is what he’s wanted since he started acting.

“I’ve been manifesting this kind of superhero role for myself,” Liu said.

Marvel’s racial inclusion of this movie is yet another way the company is trying to make themselves more diverse. Starting with the inclusion in the Black Panther and Captain Marvel movies, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings aids in their goal of increased diversity.

This movie is the first to have an “Asian lead” who breaks the stereotype of the “kung-fu Asian dude” said Daniel Cretton, the director of the movie.

During auditions for the main role, Liu was described as having a “billion dollar smile” according to hollywoodreporter. com. The amount of work he put into getting the part was impressive, even ending his first audition with a backflip.

A main difference between this movie and many other Marvel movies is the lack of information extracted from the comics.

The Shang-Chi comic was full of politically

incorrect and culturally offensive lines.

“In terms of what we actually extracted from the comic books, I think it was a name and the fact that he was a really good fighter, and the fact that he had a very complicated relationship with his dad,” Liu told The Washington Post, referring to the Shang-Chi character.

Although the movie is incredibly popular right now, some Marvel fans were worried about the lack of excitement from other fans.

A user on TikTok stated that “it feels racially motivated,” referring to the absence of popularity when the movie was being advertised. Other fans believed that the movie was barely being promoted in general and Simu Liu was doing all of the publicity himself.

“Simu Liu has taken the entire promotional campaign into his own hands at this point,” the user @slickla34 stated. Thankfully, the movie has risen in popularity since its release.

Marvel Studios has been releasing incredibly popular films since its creation in 1993. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is no exception to this rule. In fact, the amount of praise it has been getting from fans says the exact opposite. The outbreak of COVID-19 halted the release of movies from Marvel, however the recent publication of this movie has proven to be a very strong comeback. Marvel fans have always expected the studio’s movies to be great and most of them agree that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has exceeded their expectations in terms of content and inclusivity.

aodell@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of UNSPLASH.COM Graphics courtesy of ICONIZAR and FREEPIK

SEPTEMBER 2021

ABBA RELEASES FIRST MUSIC ALBUM SINCE 1982

By AAHANA DUTTA

Staff Writer

ABBA is a Swedish pop group that was one of the most popular groups in the 1970s.

ABBA consists of four members with Agnetha Fӓltskog, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad as the group’s vocalists, and Bjӧrn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson as the group’s guitarist and pianist, respectively.

The band is popular for their upbeat music. Some of their most popular songs such as “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia” are from the musical Mamma Mia!. Other popular songs include “Money, Money, Money” and “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”.

However in 1982, the pop group broke up because they felt like their creative juices had run out, and they weren’t having much fun. The members of the group also went through two divorces within a year. Agnetha Fӓltskog and Bjӧrn Ulvaeus were a married couple and so were Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Benny Andersson, which made it harder for the group to keep going.

The group didn’t come together for almost 40 years, as they all focused on their solo careers.

However, recently ABBA announced during a YouTube livestream on Sept. 2 that they were reuniting for their new album Voyage.

Two of the songs, lead singles from the album “I Still Have Faith in You” and “Don’t Shut Me Down” were released on the same day as the live. Voyage is the group’s ninth album and is scheduled to release on Nov. 5.

The album will contain 10 songs total.

The songs include “When You Danced With Me”, “Little Things”, “Just a Notion”, “I Can Be That Woman”, “Keep an Eye on Dan”, “Bumblebee”, “No Doubt About It”, “Ode to Freedom”, plus the two singles.

The album broke the record for the most pre-ordered album ever for Universal Music Group UK. The pop group will also be doing a digital avatar concert, during which virtual avatars will be performing instead of the real members, with a 10-piece live band starting May 27 2022. The digital avatars, ABBAtars, are basically pseudo-holograms. The ABBAtars will be the younger version of the group’s four members.

The concert will take place at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. The venue, ABBA Arena, can hold up to 3,000 people. The official website about the same was launched on Aug. 26, the website can be found at abbavoyage.com. The tickets for the concert range from $76.65 to $194.57 per person.

Fans are excited about the group getting together, the new album, and virtual tour.

Jocelyn Soo, freshmen says “It’s really cool to see an old band come back together, and I am excited to hear their new album.”

adutta@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of WIKIPEDIA.COM, FREEPIK, and SURANG

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SEPTEMBER 2021

A&E

THE VIRAL HARRY STYLES CARDIGAN

By MICHELLE SO Staff Writer I, like many others, am a victim of a crafting addiction. First came the unending boredom of lockdown, which I curbed by downing endless hours of DIY tutorials. In a time when everything felt like it was unraveling, I was drawn in by the small diligent task of creating. One thing led to another, and soon I was leaving Michael’s with armfuls of hooks, needles, and yarn. The craft that called out to me most was crocheting.

I had been an on and off crocheter since sixth grade. Unlike knitting, which uses straight needles, crocheting uses a hook.

The hook, which looks exactly as it sounds, is used to draw yarn or string through loops, creating a patchwork of knots. My list of completed projects had included only several beanies for my teachers’ babies. It wasn’t until the pandemic that I discovered the full potential of crocheting.

Enter: the Harry Styles cardigan. The sweater in question has a quilted-patchwork style trimmed with a red border. The entire design feels so effortless, and with the seams showing, honest as well. The sweater itself first gained popularity when former One Direction member Harry Styles wore it to the Today show in February 2020. Although the event was just a rehearsal for a later performance, fans became obsessed with the cardigan. So much so that some began releasing tutorials on how to crochet the “Harry Styles Cardi,” mainly on TikTok and Instagram.

The makers behind the brand of JW Anderson caught wind of the popularity and did something unimaginable for big companies. The brand’s Youtube channel released an Official ‘Harry Styles’ Cardigan Knitting Tutorial, in which Janni Vepsäläinen, a senior knitwear designer for JW Anderson, goes throughthe steps of creating the viral sweater. Vepsäläinen even includes yarn type and needle size recommendations. At the end of the video, there is a short montage of the finished product along with the brand logo across the screen. The most shocking part of their pattern release is that the original, worn by Styles, retailed for $1,600.

While JW Anderson may have shocked the world of high fashion due to their decision, they have definitely gained a huge following and created a new culture around the creation of garments at home. Their tutorial only provided instructions for the knitted pattern, but creative influencers around the world have been uploading their crocheted versions of the cardigan. A quick Instagram search for #harrystylescardigan brings up 18.2k results. It’s obvious by looking at the search results that the meaning of the phrase

has evolved into something other than just its literal interpretation. The joint patches of red, green, orange, and yellow have taken on pastel pinks and greens in some, or even stripes.

In some posts, creators have gone the liberty to create Harry Styles sweater vests and beanies, bearing the same color scheme as the JW Anderson piece.

I, too, created my own rendition of the cardigan, a fluffy mermaid-scale colored body with an equally thick white border. Although my creation bears almost no resemblance to what is considered the original “Harry Styles Cardigan,” it does have several similar features.

The oversized nature of the jacket allows it to slip over a variety of outfits. Plus the bright colors and buttons symbolize youthfulness of the wearer.

“The basic inspiration around this piece comes from old children’s toys--the colors in them, the checkerboards, children’s color books and picture books--and it’s all worked into this very [Rubik’s] cube kind of patchwork,” Vepsäläinen said. Her inspiration seems to have been quite impactful, seeing as the majority of people who have been gaining interest in this trend are Gen-Z. Doing DIYs, particularly for clothing, can make a huge impact on our future.

“Crocheting or knitting homemade clothing enables people to create long-lasting, meaningful pieces,” said senior Nicole Klatt.

Nicole is an avid crocheter, and has created projects ranging from hats to small pouches.

She enjoys the hobby both as a recreation and as an environmentally friendly step. The fash -ion industry is one of the leading causes of carbon emissions due to factories and exporting, as well as filling up landfills with old and unused fabric. Putting more effort into each piece of clothing can help reduce the environmental problems while denouncing the labor issues of garment making.

“Presumably, the emotional attachment to the piece would prevent excessive, wasteful behavior from its creator (such as over-purchasing or constantly throwing away clothing),” said Nicole. “Such clothing is more sustainable than easily worn out fast fashion and its industrial methods.”

As for the iconic Harry Styles Cardigan,it now resides in the V&A Museum in London, among a collection of iconic fashion pieces ranging from ribbon corsets to downy coats.

Though it will no longer make an impact upon the shoulders of a celebrity, there is no doubt that home crafters are busy filling up the legacy of the cardigan.

As Jonathan Anderson, founder of JW Anderson, told CNN, “The make is what is important; the brand comes second.”

mso@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of FREEPIK Photo courtesy of Kayla Christoffer

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SPORTS AHS XC CROSSES THE FINISH LINE

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SEPTEMBER 2021

By SOPHIA LI Staff Writer The Arcadia High School (AHS) Cross Country team competed in their first race at the La Serna Lancer Invitational on Sep. 11 at La Serna High School. It was a great experience for everyone, with the AHS Cross Country Team starting off strong.

Due to the pandemic, many sports training were called off during the previous school year, making it harder for team sports like cross country to train together. However, members of the Cross Country team have been able to get in a good amount of practice throughout last summer, working as a team to improve.

Under the coaching of Coach Chris Lee for the Boys Cross Country team and Coach Jacques Sallberg for the Girls Cross Country team, the runners were able to get back into the swing of things.

“Over the summer, [the team has] kind of developed a more serious attitude towards running and [Coach Jacques has] really encouraged us to do our best and believe that we can,” said Girls Cross Country Team Captain senior Grace Lee. However, starting to run again has not always been easy for the team.

“With that said, running with school starting in person again after almost two years has been a tiring transition, but after the summer, we’ve gotten used to the physical toll, and we got a lot closer as a team, so adding school on top of everything definitely wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been,” she added.

As for the race, the day started early for the runners. Everyone met up at school on a dim Saturday morning and was ready to take

off on the school bus at 6 a.m.

Both the Boys and Girls teams were split up into Varsity, JV, and Frosh/Soph teams. The race was tough for everyone, as each individual runner faced their own struggles, but the runners, coaches, and parents all pushed through the heat. Overall, the race was a great one to start off with for all the runners.

Lee also reflected on the race: “Now that we’ve run our first race of the season, I think we’re not only going to improve in terms of ability, but also motivation and mental strength.

A lot of us had a good first race, so I’m really excited to see what we’ll do with the rest of the season, which we’ll see at league finals in November.”

Coach Sallberg mentioned, “There wasn’t one runner that did bad, and everyone did a great job here.”

As for highlights of the meet, the Boys Varsity team took first place, with a total score of 27 from the top five runners. Girls Frosh/ Soph was the runner-up in their division, winning second place with a combined score of 88.

The Boys Frosh/Soph also placed second, with a score of 60. Last but not least, the Boys JV team took a very close second place, just behind La Serna with a one-point difference, coming out to a score of 28.

The La Serna Invitational was overall a great experience for the coaches, runners, and parents. Hopefully, it will be the start for an amazing season to look forward to.

sli@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of SOPHIA LI

AHS GIRLS TENNIS TOURNAMENT

By SERENA CHIN Staff Writer After summer break, the fall sports are up and running with their season’s schedule. One of the teams competing at the moment is Arcadia High Schools’ (AHS) Girls Tennis team.

The Varsity team is directed by Coach Ruth Lagace while the JV team is led by Coach Damon Lieu.

The tennis tournament, which took place on Sept. 1 and 2 at Portola High School, lasted about five to six hours, with the matches typically lasting from thirty minutes to one hour.

Before the tournament, the girls spent time practicing with their practices ending at around 4:30. Many of the players have had prior experiences with practicing and participating in competitions and matches.

“Before we would just play sets against each other because we were determining the line-up, but since there are not enough courts, not everyone was able to play. Some wouldn’t play at all,” said freshman Emma Wang, who is a part of the JV team.

According to Wang, the team they were going against seemed especially skilled because when they were warming up, their serves and hits looked very quick.

To calculate the total number of points, all the sets in total for a team are for the match,

and there are six games in a set. For the six games, each consists of four points that are usually counted by fifteen, thirty, forty, and fortyfive points.

In usual matches, they would only play against one school, while in tournaments, multiple schools and matches are played. This tournament had a total of five matches spread out over two days.

On Sept. 1, the tennis team won two of the matches but lost the third. However, on Sept. 2, both matches were won.

In Wang’s experience, she said, “It was pretty challenging. The set that I played, the score was so close that we ended up doing a tiebreaker.”

While it is not easy to play a season during unprecedented times, the Girls Tennis team is doing a great job with the season just beginning.

While there will always be ups and downs along the way, it is only expected to happen with the sudden return for many back to school. Even with failures and setbacks, preservation and resilience to these will allow them to become stronger players.

schin@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of SERENA CHIN

SEPTEMBER 2021

SPORTS

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FIRST HOME FOOTBALL GAME OF THE SEASON: ARCADIA VS. MARINA

By VRITTI GODANI For the first time this school year, students and families gathered at the Salter Stadium on Aug. 20 to cheer on AHS’ Varsity Football team for their game against Marina High School (MHS).

Coach Antyone Sims said, “What makes this group special is that [the players] show up every day and give us everything they got.”

Enthusiastic and spirited energy filled the air and the Apaches won the game with an ending score of 43-25.

Two players who stood out were senior Ty Pierson from AHS and junior Dominic Harvey from MHS. Pierson carried the Apaches and brought in a whopping five touchdowns throughout the game. Harvey also brought in most of the points for the Vikings.

The Vikings were not tough competition for the Apaches, and AHS had a some-

Staff Writer what easy game. Pierson from the Apaches got the first 10. The first down for Arcadia was 19 yards. After going incomplete with the ball hitting the ground before a player could touch it, senior David La from AHS had a very intense completion but unfortunately, did not bring in any points for AHS. AHS was playing just as viewers had expected and Manuel Ortiz made the reception and multiple moves. The score was 20-6 and Ty Pierson was carrying the team. Junior Luke Lastra from the Vikings brought in a touchdown, but Pierson brought in three more touchdowns after.

This game was a great way to start the season for AHS and hopefully, the rest of the season runs as smoothly as this game!

vgodani@arcadiaquill.com Photo by WESLEY CHEN from DCI

GIRLS TENNIS SEPT. 7 ARCADIA VS. SAN MARINO

By SABRINO LO Staff Writer On Tuesday, Sept. 7, the Arcadia High share many fun and entertaining discussions Schools’ (AHS) Girls Tennis Varsity and JV outside of practice. Although COVID-19 reteams competed against San Marino High quires everyone to wear a mask, that doesn’t School. Varsity and JV both won, despite the stop their connections that they build during JV match taking place at San Marino. Fresh- and after the season is over. man Leia Mar and Freshman Emma Wang “One time we went to a Shabu Shabu place gave us an inside scoop on the tournament for lunch, and it was really fun because we got and their own experiences on playing tennis. to talk about stuff other than tennis, like school Leia and Emma are both on the JV Girls and Kpop! It was super beneficial because I got Tennis team. Their favorite things about ten- to know many things about the other girls that nis include “volleying”, which is when a I’ve never known before.” player goes up to the net to hit the ball, and Finally, both shared that tennis has taught playing doubles because it allows her to com- not only to build coordination and be a good municate and support their teammates. athlete, but also many life lessons.

The match at San Marino was not an “Tennis has taught me to always have coneasy feat. fidence and to never give up because there’s “The opposing team only had six peo- always a chance that you can catch up if you’re ple, which happened to be the starters. It was losing.” says Leia. really tough because we had 19 players, and “Playing tennis has really helped me rechad to keep switching out to go against their ognize what it feels like to be part of a team. starters. But nevertheless, we were really I really love and treasure all the friendly mooverjoyed that we won.” said Leia. ments created between players, and tennis will Though it’s Leia’s first year being on the always be a big part of my life.” said Emma. tennis team at AHS, she says that the more This lesson is applicable to all of us, not experienced girls have been extremely help- only tennis players, especially in these tough ful to her. times. Arcadia High School will continue to “They always support everyone by cheer on our girls tennis team! cheering them on and making sure that we can ask them questions whenever we have any,” she stated.

This is a true demonstration of how strong the bond is between fellow Apach- slo@arcadiaquill.com Photo by hansmurkett on PIXABAY es. In addition to playing tennis, the girls

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CAMPUS FOCUS

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SEPTEMBER 2021