The Broadview

5 Virtual Tours

Colleges offer online tours and information sessions

8 Plank Space

At-home workout spaces replace gym sessions

Thursday, September 24, 2020

9 Conditioning Sports teams find ways to maintain skills at home

10 Testing

Colleges should abandon standardized tests

12 Dine-Out

Restaurants adapt to meet COVID-19 restrictions

Convent of the Sacred Heart HS | San Francisco, California

Vol. 27, Iss. 1

Double trouble Wildfire smoke produces additional complications to COVID-19 Olivia Rounsaville Senior Reporter

Wildfire smoke, which can be harmful to the lungs, can also intensify a person’s reaction to COVID-19 as it irritates the lungs and damages the immune system which can make a person more susceptible to the virus according to the CDC. With over 3 million acres of land burned across California, the air quality, from over 900 fires and a lack of wind, remained at a dangerous level in the past month. Previous COVID-19 health mandates which encouraged Bay Area residents to find refuge in outdoor activities became dangerous, leaving residents with few safe options other than staying in their own homes.

“We typically want [people] to stay indoors and keep their windows shut because that way it will keep the unhealthy air out of their homes,” CAL FIRE information officer Lynnette Round said. “If they do have to go out they can wear an N95 mask because they keep out the tiny particles.”

N95 masks filter 95% of particles 0.3 microns or larger which are found in wildfire smoke. In order to work, the masks must be fitted well to the face with one strap above and one below the ears, according to the Washington Department of Health.

“The smoke especially affects people who have asthma or any lung compromised systems,” Round said. “They have to make sure that they are checking the AQMD for the weather.”

Local Air Quality Management Districts officially record and predict the Air Quality see SMOKE, p.2

Gensler | WITH PERMISSION

REVAMP A digital

rendering depicts renovations for the Little Theater. The space will include updated design features meant to accommodate the music department, theater program and all-school assemblies and celebrations.

Little Theater returns to roots Renovations inspired by original design

O

Tabitha Parent

Managing Editor

riginally a ballroom when the Flood family first occupied the mansion, the Little Theatre is returning to its roots in stages of renovations that will bring about additional space and design features for the music department, theater program and all-school assemblies.

“Any renovations that we do in any of our buildings we really try to maintain the integrity of the building and go back to the original as much as possible,” Director of Plant and Strategic Design Coordinator Geoff De Santis said. “We're taking that

concept and having kind of an open floor plan to the entire space to really maximize the square footage within there.”

Bleachers and the stage have been removed allowing for a new orientation of the space.

On the right side of the room, where bleachers once stood, a nook has been added to mimic the musician playing space that the Floods maintained when the room functioned as a ballroom.

Staged renovations will take place in three phases. A reevaluation of progress will take place after the completion of phase two when facilities staff will consider factors such as how the space may operate for socially

distanced learning.

“Looking at our music department, we found some deficiencies within that department in the spaces that they were performing in, practicing in and learning in,” De Santis said.

“What prompted us to do the work within the Little Theater was knowing that that space was underutilized, and it wasn't very functional for anything outside of really like an assembly type of thing.”

In the past, the music department has faced challenges in its rehearsing and performance capabilities due to issues with practice space size.

“I am looking forward to the

renovation to the Little Theater especially because it will provide a larger space that could be very inviting to all Convent & Stuart Hall community members,” sophomore Emma Chongo said.

“I believe that an updated and more spacious rehearsal space will bring more musicians into the Jazz Band, thus the music playing quality will improve and the band will gain popularity.”

With the music program growing each year, the need for larger practice space and storage for larger musical instruments quickly arose. About half of the former stage area will become space for this storage. see RENOVATIONS, p.2

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Mackenna Moslander | THE BROADVIEW

Makenna Kramer | WITH PERMISSION

In case you missed it …

School takes next steps towards ­ campus reopening

Remembering a hero: reflecting on the impact of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The day the Bay Area went dark Visit broadview.sacredsf.org

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Little Theater gets makeover from LITTLE THEATER, p.1 “It was challenging to practice in the band room located in Syufy last year because the space was shared by many grade levels,” Chongo said. “We would sometimes have class outside of the band room or located all around the school because there were younger performers meeting during our class time.”

Although the theater program’s primary space is Syufy Theatre, the newly renovated space will also satisfy students’ desires for a more intimate performance space, according to De Santis.

The room’s new features will also include new audiovisual technology and lighting. Architects have also worked on modifying acoustics to combat noise from Syufy Court.

“All the teachers, instrumental music, vocal music and theater will have programs that will be enhanced greatly with space and time,” Director of Performing Arts Bonnie Fraenza said.

All the teachers, instrumental music and the theater, will have programs that will be enhanced greatly — Bonnie Fraenza

“We have so many programs using the stage that having another access point that’s large enough to hold the band will help us.”

Other features include the addition of a garage-like door that will open onto Shakespeare Landing, creating an even larger overflow space. The landing will also be renovated to include audiovisual and lighting features allowing it to function both in conjunction with and independently of the new Little Theatre.

“It’s really going to provide for the music program, a space for all students, no matter what the skill level is to have a place to properly practice and perform,” De Santis said. “I think it’s going to be a huge benefit to the growing program that Ms. Fraenza has already created and provides an opportunity for our faculty as well to expand on their teaching and not be so confined in the classrooms that they currently are in.”

The Broadview

The show must go on Stage crew designs virtual sets for Fall Play Alina Kushner Senior Reporter

The Fall Play will address climate change and environmental issues through a set of monologues and with speciallybuilt virtual sets.

The drama program is partnering with environment groups such as the Marine Mammal Center and Wildcare to further educate and enhance student performances, according to Theater Programs Director Margaret Grace Hee. “Zoom seems like the most effective way to do something for a live audience right now,” Hee said. “I think there is still value in giving students the opportunity to perform live.”

Rather than physically building sets, stage crew will design virtual backgrounds and lighting. Directors will assign one or more stage crew members to an actor with a monologue, and they will be responsible for planning that scene, according to Theater Manager Chris Miller.

“So we're starting with the premise that Zoom is its own medium and we want to be able to use Zoom like you would any tool to help tell our story,” Miller said. “We are going to look a little bit at some of the history of film and talk a little bit about what

Anisha Hu | THE BROADVIEW

VIRTUAL DESIGN Freshman Anisha Hu searches for cottage backgrounds for one of the online backdrops for the fall play. Crew members were partntered with an actor to design their virtual set.

makes a given visual framework or not.”

The virtual production offers a new opportunity for students to experiment with lighting, video and photography.

“I'm insanely excited and I think right now more than ever we need art and we need this form of expression,” student director Anya Hilpert said. “It’s so important that people express themselves and for people to be able to come together as a community during this time, which I think are two things theater will just always be able to provide no matter what.”

The Zoom platform also

allows a chance for students to write original monologues and direct them. In the upcoming fall production, actors will perform three student written monologues, according to Hee. “[Hee] has really allowed for a lot of student driven work to happen this year and we have a couple student writers,” Hilpert said. “She is really letting the students take the lead.”

Despite the shelter-in-place order, incoming freshmen are already making friends and developing a sense of community within the theater program.

“It’s been fun,” freshman Alex-

andra Chua said. “Even though it’s hard to bond with people over Zoom I’m having fun working with them.”

The show is currently scheduled for Oct. 29 and 30. Audience members will be able to attend the play through a Zoom link that will be shared in an email closer to the performances.

“Even if we’re not in the same space, I’ve noticed in auditions, students are still saying how nervous they are, and nerves are a good thing,” Hee said. “You still have the same feeling as you do when you perform and you still get the same acting high afterwards.”

Smoke complicates COVID-19 response

from DOUBLE TROUBLE, p.1 Index for a given area on a 1-500 scale. Good quality air has an AQI below 50; Unhealthy air is above 150, and Hazardous air is above 300, according to Air Now, a federal government agency.

The largest health concern when it comes to wildfire smoke is the microparticles which can get deep into the lungs. The immune cells in the lungs, which fight off bacteria and other particles in the air, are not able to digest many of the particles in the smoke, according to the University of California San Francisco.

“I get more nauseous because the air isn’t clean,” junior Eliza Spaht, who has asthma, said, “but wearing a mask has helped me protect myself from the virus and has helped my lungs with the smoke.”

COVID-19 symptoms can also mirror the symptoms of overexposure to wildfire smoke as both can lead to coughing, sore throat and difficulty breathing. Extreme symptoms can come from prolonged exposure or outdoor exercise

which is especially harmful as a person takes in about ten times more air into their lungs when they are exercising, according to the British Columbia Center for Disease Control.

Exercising indoors can help maintain a semi-normal routine and can take time away from technology and screens. Yoga can be a helpful solution to dealing with stress and anxiety and is also a healthy way to stay active inside, according to Yoga Club founder Bridget Mills said.

“When you are sitting on a screen for hours at a time, yoga can be a good de-stressor and break in the middle of the day,” Mills said. “Practicing yoga can help you center yourself and it can make you focus on the positions rather than the stresses of school or staying inside.”

Coronavirus and the threat of wildfires will continue to inhibit California in the coming months, despite lower rates of COVID-19 cases in the Bay Area and the general containment of the August fires.

“Fires typically in the last 10 years have been a lot warmer, our

Olivia Rounsaville | THE BROADVIEW

DOUBLE TROUBLE Recent state-wide wildfires caused unusually high AQI numbers, making it healthy to exercise outdoors. The coronavirus shelter-in-place order already had Californians feeling stircrazy and curtailed any outdoor relaxation or exercise activities.

fire season has extended about 75 days because of the warmer temperatures,” Round said. “The

land is dry, the weather is hot, and the low humidity just makes it ripe for wildfires.”

The Broadview

SACRED HEART

Thursday, September 24, 2020 | 3

Working on the front line Alumnae medical professionals navigate the COVID-19 pandemic

F

Adele Fratesi & Madeline Thiara

our weeks ago there were zero COVID-19 cases at a Portland, Oregon elderly care facility where newly-qualified nurse Kendra Harvey (’16) works.

Two weeks later there were 40.

“We are starting to wear full personal protective equipment including KN95 masks and face shields until the entire facility tests negative for two weeks,” Harvey said. “I can just feel the tension, especially among people who live with others who have higher risk factors.”

Harvey doesn't treat COVID patients herself because she works in the non-COVID-19 unit of her facility. The care facility had to bring in other nurses and clinical nurse specialists due to short staffing during the outbreak.

“Although I do not work in the COVID-19 positive area, I still try to assume that everyone has COVID,” Harvey said.

“I’m also trying to make sure I take care of myself because if Harvey I get sick or I'm not healthy then I’m not going to be able to take care of other people.”

Claire Kosewic (’18), who started working as an emergency medical technician during her sophomore year at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, deployed to a COVID-19 field hospital in Porterville, California and worked with infected patients in over the summer.

“I could provide supportive care, but we don’t have good information on how to lessen the severity of the virus,” Kosewic said. “A lot of times I was just sitting with people who were really sick. It definitely made me a more empathetic and patient person because there are no quick fixes.”

Kosewic worked 12-hour shifts with coronavirus patients who were overflowing from local hospitals.

“Treating patients was really hard,” Kosewic said. “I often saw people who came in fine one day and two or three days later they had completely tanked, and I couldn’t do anything about it.”

Morgan Kendall (’08) is also navigating her job through the pandemic as a pediatric resident at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. “It has been interesting to witness the evolution of COVID-19,” Kendall said. “This has been an opportunity to learn about medicine in a different format, such as doing physical exams through telemedicine.”

Kendall has not seen many COVID-19 cases as she mostly works with children and many

Image Sources: Centers for Disease Control, Pixabay.com Photo illustration: Adele Fratesi

of her rotations do not involve contact with infected patients.

When treating an infected patient, Kendall wears a protective rebreather helmet, according to her mother, Marisa Orso.

“I was really impressed Kosewic with how the hospital protected their doctors and their excellent protective equipment,” Orso said. “The personal protective equipment that she wore around patients was of a high standard, and I appreciated that.”

Kosewic could only spend up to three hours at a time working with patients during a shift because of the 100 degree weather and the lack of air-conditioning.

“I was definitely exposed to people who were very infected, but thanks to really strong state leadership and preparedness and response to COVID-19, we never had any issues with personal protective gear,” Kosewic said.

“I felt as safe as I possibly could walking into the situation I was putting myself in.”

Staff members at Harvey’s workplace are tested weekly.

Those who test positive must quarantine for 14 days, per Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

“It is worrying in some respects for her to be working with potentially positive COVID-19 patients, but if anyone would be the one to do the job, it is Kendra,” Tom Harvey, Kendra’s father, said. “She has always been the type of person that takes care of everybody and always looks out for people.”

Due to the high agricultural density in the Central Valley, Kosewic saw many farm workers and who had valley fever, which

I still try to assume that everyone has COVID-19.

— Kendra Harvey

intensified the symptoms of COVID-19. Valley fever can occur when one inhales coccidioides fungi that are present in the soil, which can lead to respiratory issues, according to the Mayo Clinic.

“This job is both emotion-

ally exhausting and physically exhausting, but I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else,” Kosewic said. “I got to care for my community in a very tangible way during COVID, which was scary and confusing. Being able to be there and do something was, honestly, incredibly therapeutic.”

Upon coming home to San Francisco, Kosewic took two COVID-19 tests to ensure she wasn’t putting her family at risk.

“I love advocating for patients as an EMT,” Kosewic said.

“There isn't a lot of medical intervention I can do, but my job is to get them to the people that can help them.”

Kendall’s hospital began limiting the number of staff who come in every day beginning in March to protect their health and to preserve the personal protective equipment. Many of Kendall’s residency program opportunities have transferred to virtual learning such as Zoom conferences.

“The hospital staff is mindful about limiting the amount of exposures to other people,” Kendall said. “Given that we work in the healthcare field and we want to be available to take care of patients, it does impact the activities we can do, especially traveling.”

Kosewic attended EMT training in the summer between her freshman and sophomore year at LMU where she spent a month attending lectures, learning skills and working with patients 40 hours a week. After Kendall training, she took the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Exam and earned her license to work in California.

“I was really nervous for my first shift because I had never taken care of a real patient before,” Kosewic said. “I really care about people, and I wanted to be a person who helps others as their chief priority.”

Throughout her sophomore year, Kosewic worked one to two shifts per week, 5 p.m.-8 a.m., trying to balance her EMT schedule with her class and exam schedules.

“I'm working so much that I have to rely on my coworkers to support me,” Harvey said. “I’m taking it one day at a time and trying to remind myself that this is not what my entire nursing career is going to look like."

4 | Thursday, September 24, 2020

Making cents of finance

FEATURES

The Broadview

Financial literacy gives young women skills for future

Y

Darcy Jubb

Senior Reporter

oung women who are financially literate have the tools to make confident economic decisions and take action in the male dominant field of finance.

“There have been instances in the past where someone will make a comment about something I've bought with ‘daddy’s money,’” junior Takouhi Asdorian said. “I work really hard as a grocery store employee and earn the money I make. These comments undermine my effort when people assume that I don't work hard or I can’t earn money for myself.”

Many students hold part-time jobs during the year or full-time jobs over the summer. Financial literacy is a necessary skill to manage the money made in efficient ways.

“I am lucky that my parents taught me the basics of managing money, but I think it’s such a shame that it isn’t taught here,” Student Council Financial Officer Kate Baker said. “It is an incredibly valuable skill to learn how to invest and pay taxes.”

Economically and financially-oriented courses can be

crucial for students to smoothly transition into adulthood, especially during the current economic climate.

“There are so many basics about personal finance that

It is an incredibly valuable skill to learn how to learn how to invest and pay taxes.

— Kate Baker

students just don't know and in Australia, where I am from, it is a mandatory class for at least two years,” social sciences teacher Jason Enevoldson said.

“This pandemic has opened a whole new can of economic worms and we really are walking into a new economic era.”

Expense tracking, accounting software, and financial budgeting apps such as Mint and PocketGaurd are accessible tools for students to learn about managing finances in a

Time block, not mind block Organizing structured time improves balance

A

Gabi Guido & Nicole Klein

s sophomore Sydney Mountain studies for her 2.5 hour online classes, she builds discipline into her study schedule to boost her productivity which leaves her time later to pursue her interests and relax.

“I break my homework up in chunks and I use my free periods to get most of my homeworks done so I can have a free afternoon,” Mountain said. “I don’t take breaks in small chunks because I will get distracted, so I will work two hours straight and then take a longer break.”

Writing to-do lists in a planner by hand increases productivity, according to a study done

by Harvard Medicine. Physically writing things down helps to retain information more clearly.

“I advise students to use a system that you evolve on your own,” Learning Strategist Jennifer Kramer said. “Sometimes I provide templates that they can create on Google Docs or Google calendar, “Some students prefer to handwrite in bullet journals with colors. There’s so many different ways to do it, there’s no right way.”

Doing homework while watching television, texting or checking social media impairs

learning, and lowers test scores, according to the University of Southern California’s Applied Psychology Department. It’s recommended that students dedicate sections of uninterrupted time to one task.

Darcy Jubb | THE BROADVIEW

non-classroom setting.

“When I first started making my own money I was more careful about what I was spending my money on,” Asdorian said. “I learned how to manage my money and spend it on what really matters.”

Organizations such as the Financial Women’s Association are dedicated to educating the next generation of professional women to be successful leaders in economic fields.

“At a young age, you aren't necessarily thinking about long term financial planning and retirement,” Envelvoldson said. “Imagine if you just saved 10% of all the money you earn

— Jennifer Kramer

“Sometimes I'll turn off my phone because it distracts me, or I'll put on some acoustic music,” sophomore Emma Cameron said. “I found a study playlist on Spotify, so I can drown out background noise from my family. “I’ll normally do classes with less homework first to get those out of the way and then do the harder ones last.”

Students can become burnt out through a lack of balance between relaxing and spending too much time online for classes.

Kramer suggests taking online breaks as often as possible to refresh the mind.

When I first started making my own money, I was more careful about what I was spending money on.

— Takouhi Asdorian

Invest in Girls also educates young women about finance

to become financially empowered through online workshops, events and mentorships.

“One reason I love my job so much is that every few weeks during our training sessions, they teach us how to manage our finances and deal with sick hours, ,” Baker said.

Whether learning from a program online or an employer, financial education will help young women be more successful and confident.

“Income should not be defined by gender,” Asdorian said.

“It’s frustrating that women earn less than men, but hopefully our generation can change this.”

to time a schedule HowHow to time blockblock a schedule 8 a.m.

9 a.m.

10 a.m.

History research and presentation

11 a.m.

12 p.m.

1 p.m.

I advise students to use a system that you evolve on your own.

during your entire life, it would be a significant amount later on.”

2 p.m.

3 p.m.

Log service hours Break and lunch Read 100 pages of English book Edit college supplements

Time blocking Dedicate blocks of time to one task Task batching Group together specific tasks Time boxing Set a limit to the amount of work done within a time block

4 p.m.

“I normally advise my students to time block 5-10 minute breaks or just figure out how many pages you can read or how many math problems you can do in that allotted time period,” Kramer said. “Some days it’s not possible to build in many breaks.

I try not to look at myself on the screen to minimize Zoom fatigue.”

Breaking up work by taking breaks can increase productivity, as the brain often needs to sit with new information while studying. Especially during times of online school, taking extra breaks can help you be

Source: Todoist Gabrielle Guido | THE BROADVIEW

more productive in this stressful time.

“During times of quarantine,

I like using a planner.

— Sydney Mountain

it is especially important to keep your heart open to being gentle to yourself,” Krammer said.

Source: Todoist “Even though you| THE may BROADVIEW be less Gabrielle Guido productive during quarantine, it's a stressful time and self care is always first.”

Instead of ruminating on the limitations placed during shelter-in-place, time blocking can be a visual aid in planning more productive days to avoid feeling overwhelmed by work.

“I like using a planner, because I can make check boxes and it feels good to check them off once I finish a task,” Mountain said. “I do my homework in the order it appears on the assignment center."

FEATURES

The Broadview

Senior starts business to encourage young entrepreneurs

E

Thursday, September 24, 2020 | 5

Keeping it

Gabrielle Guido Web Editor

ven as a young girl, senior Isabel Hoppmann longed to be an entrepreneur.

Now, she is taking her interest further by establishing her own company to give young girls the tools to start businesses.

Her two-month-old company, Successful Women Entrepreneurs Everywhere Today, motivates middle and high school girls ages 13-16 to start their own businesses is supported by the advice of the 25 women Hoppmann has recorded.

“I am interviewing successful women entrepreneurs to share their stories, experiences and advice with the younger girls,” Hoppmann said. “The women come from a range of different industries, backgrounds and ages — some are even teenage entrepreneurs themselves.”

Through video chats and her Instagram account Isabelhoppmann, she conducts one-on-one interviews with women who give tips and guidance on how to start businesses. Hoppmann holds “Tuesday Tips” and “Thursday Thoughts” with takeaways and recaps from her interviews.

“I have loved seeing the weekly speaker videos and how each woman has taken their ideas within the field of entrepreneurship into completely different directions,” senior Aly Bannister said. “This account has motivated me to understand that [starting a business] is not an unapproachable step, and anyone can start a business if they have an idea that in-

Screenshot | THE BROADVIEW

TEEN TRIUMPH Senior Isabel Hoppmann recaps tips from expert entrepreneurs. She shared what she found most valuable from her previous interviews.

spired them.”

One of the first women interviewed by Hoppmann was professional high diver and Clean Cliffs founder Ellie Smart, whose business seeks to raise awareness about plastic pollution as she encourages girls to follow through with their ideas and dreams. “[SWEET] provides such useful and inspiring information for young aspiring entrepreneurs,” Smart said.

“I think the best way to get started is to identify other businesses that are similar to yours. Study and research what they are doing and why they are successful.

Then model your idea around

them with your own touch.”

Through SWEET, encouraging young girls goes beyond just interviews as Hoppmann’s colorful graphics present links to each woman’s business for further inquiry and exploration. She also provides a foundation for girls to begin their entrepreneurial journey.

“There is a tab called “How to Start” on the website which provides resources on a range of topics from marketing to blogging,” Hoppmann said.

“Recommended books, blogs, movies and podcasts are also included to give young girls ready to start companies the concrete knowledge they

need to get their businesses off the ground and running.”

The growing movement of female entrepreneurship has 12.3 million women-owned businesses in the United States, a 58% increase since 2007, according to the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.

“Having frequent posts about such highly motivated, intelligent women has taught me so much about female entrepreneurship across various fields, and has certainly made a lasting impact on both myself and the community,” junior Clementine Mohun said.

“I am interested in possibly pursuing a career in business

someday, and the resources and advice SWEET provides have surely reinforced and furthered this desire.”

The advice given by each woman varies based on her field of expertise and backgrounds. The lessons and experiences learned can even extend beyond just business.

“While founding, growing and running SWEET, I have experienced first-hand how much someone can learn from starting a business,” Hoppman said. “I’ve improved my leadership and communication skills as well as how to work through challenges, especially when working with other people.”

Visiting with VR Colleges establish new online college search forums Tala El Qadah & Mackenna Moslander

W

hile college tours no longer include strolls around the campus and in-person discussions with student ambassadors, prospective students and parents to consider schools virtually.

With over 5,000 universities in the United States and countless internationally, not every potential student can visit every school of interest. Senior Ella Holiday says she feels like she’s been able to expand her search because of the easy accessibility of so many schools online..

“I feel like I am visiting a lot more schools online than I would even consider in-person,” Holliday said. “It does feel like a lot more solely academic information than campus life though, and I tend to find a balance more informative.”

Some virtual resources consist of weekly information sessions, student panels and sessions overviewing specific academics. While some universities already provided online resources

before the pandemic, George Washington University also created new ones according to Regional Director of Admissions Andrea Frangi.

“We have developed and augmented a whole suite of ways for prospective students, their families/guardians, and college counselors to engage with GW virtually,” Frangi wrote in an email. “I’m also a visual person so when doing my virtual high school visits, I always share an interactive map so that students can see the actual physical location of GW within the context of Washington, D.C.” Some families did not visit universities in-person even before the pandemic, like parent John Comerford who used college brochures, pictures and articles to learn about Duke University’s social life and academics. Comerford says visiting schools in-person was much less common in past generations.

“I decided not to tour because my brother went and he really enjoyed it,” Comerford wrote. “I

Screenshot | THE BROADVIEW

VIRTUAL REALITY Senior Ella Holliday does YouVisit for the University of California Santa Barbara. YouVisits showed students a 360 view of campus life, with interactive panoramic photos and videos.

didn’t think much about it too much and knew that I wouldn’t be the only one who didn’t go to the college beforehand. I was only nervous about how competitive the school would be.”

The environment of a college campus is more than just the direct campus, as the surrounding city and shops are a part of the community as well, according to College Counseling Director Rebecca Munda.

“Colleges have built such robust offerings for students because of COVID-19. If families

are able to have access to that information online — whether it is a faculty panel or a student panel,— the school’s offerings can help students to decipher what that community offers,” Munda said. “I think they will definitely return to in-person tours when this is all over because for students who can step foot on campus it can be very helpful, but visiting isn’t necessarily always the most feasible in every situation.”

While not being physically on

a campus can have disadvantages, it can also present new alternatives to traditional tours and Q&A sessions. Online tours can provide comfort and less pressure, according to senior Ella Holliday.

“I went on a couple of in-person college tours and I really enjoyed going and feeling the vibe of the campus,” Holliday said.

“I think not as many questions were asked in-person because many students like I find it more comfortable to type a question.”

6 | Thursday, September 24, 2020

FEATURES

The Broadview

Rethinking presidential elections

Social issues, outdated methods start conversations Youth engage in democracy Millions of Gen-Zers become eligible to vote by Nov. 3 Charlotte Ehrlich Editor-in-Chief

With the 2020 election less than 50 days away in a year of chaos and challenge due to the pandemic and racial injustice, Generation Z is stepping up as a new variety of public servants in a new era of change.

“Especially in this time where we need real change on a wide range of topics, we are realizing that it’s time our voices be heard through the democratic system to get what we want,” senior Tara Boyd, who is registered to vote, said. “Our generation is getting more and more educated on politics and the world around us day by day, so I think there is a big push for change.”

With the social movements of the summer and a recent surge in youth activism around the Black Lives Matter movement, projections for youth voter turnout anticipate a motivated Gen Z audience that will engage in a variety of ways this election season.

“Statistics around how young people can participate such as registering others to vote, talk about elections, participating in demonstrations and marches are all higher than we saw in 2016 by far,” Peter de Guzman, CIRCLE Research Program Coordinator, said. “These are really promising signs that young people are ready to express their potential this year.”

Twenty-four percent of poll workers for the 2016 election consisted of workers 71 years old or older and another 32% were between the ages of 61 and 70, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Committee. The current pandemic, however, puts these regular populations of poll workers at risk, leading to a new demand for younger,

healthier volunteers to staff the polls.

“Part of the data we’ve seen with a very high trend of young people wanting to become a poll worker is because there’s so much work being done on the ground on campuses and by nonprofits to engage them in the entire process of voting,” Katya Ehresman, chair of the Student Advisory Board for Campus Vote Project, said. “We’re very optimistic about this especially this year, as there’s such a large ask for youth volunteers.”

In the 2016 presidential election, only 46% of women aged 18-25 who were eligible to vote exercised this civic duty, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. As 2020 marks the campaign of the first African American and South Asian American vice-president and with a new cohort of GenZers voting that is politically motivated from the events of the summer, feminism may become a more frontline issue.

“When we look at the intersection of feminism and politics, we're celebrating the 100th anniversary of a woman's right to vote this year,” Elaina LeGault, Gender, Power and Ethics teacher said. “Something that is really fascinating at this time is I feel like we're finally hitting this moment where there is momentum and things are actually changing at a faster pace.”

With the new circumstances of a pandemic-era election, barriers such as the inability to vote at local polling places to protect public health are only one of the roadblocks to becoming more politically active this November.

“Young people’s lives have been very disrupted due to the current times,” De Guzman

said. “There is data in our poll that shows that unemployment and other struggles will definitely have an effect on the way they vote. How is voting by mail going to work for young people if their state is adopting that? How are they going to be able to get to the polls? There are promising signs, but a lot of work needs to happen to enable young people to get to the polls.”

Certain communities of undocumented, rural and impoverished youth have always faced access barriers when attempting to vote even before the pandemic.

“At Campus Vote Project, we joke that we hope one day we’re unemployed and there’s no job in student voting that is needed because there are no longer structural barriers that are keeping youth from voting,” Ehresman said. “Right now, we’re making sure that voter registration is accessible so youth know how to register to vote and when elections are on college campuses specifically.”

With roughly 24 million Gen Z-ers eligible to vote, many of whom are inspired by climate change and racial equality, this constituency has the chance to make a large social impact through voting, poll working and advocating this election season.

“I definitely hope there is a bigger turn out for youth voters, but also I hope people educate themselves on a variety of propositions and candidates rather than solely worrying about the president,” Boyd said.

“I’ve been waiting for this for my whole life and I feel like it’s a real marker for becoming an adult and an active member in our democratic system.”

Voter representation under consideration

As candidates race to 270, some question Electoral College Grace Krumplitsch Editor-in-Chief

In the five instances in United States history in which the candidate who won the presidency gained the majority of electoral votes needed to win despite failing to gain the majority of the popular vote, two took place the last 20 years, sparking debate over whether or not the Electoral College is an accurate representation of the people’s voice.

“Donald Trump won the num-

ber of electoral votes needed to win in 2016, but he was not backed by the majority of the American people with the popular vote,” senior Halsey Williamson said. “Growing up in a liberal family in South Carolina, it felt discouraging during election cycles since our votes for Democratic candidates were not of much significance as the Republican majority took all the electors for our state.”

The Electoral College current-

ly am tr up an tiv ac I, tio C gr w le

til ne ar w tim fa el

in ca

FEATURES FEATURES

The Broadview

y consists of 538 votes, divided mong all 50 states and the Disrict of Columbia, and are based pon each state’s two senators nd the number of representaves each state has in the House, ccording to Article II, Section Clause II of the U.S. Constituon. Even though the District of Columbia is not a state, it is still ranted three electoral votes, which is the same number as the east populous states.

With just under six weeks unl the presidential election, many ewly eligible and of-age voters re dipping their toes into the world of politics for the very first me as they register to vote and amiliarize themselves with the lection process.

“Every political system, includng the American political system, an be very confusing and while

it may feel overwhelming, that is part of it,” global politics teacher Angelica Allen said. “Sometimes people use the more confusing aspects of the political system to convince people out of using their vote, and this tends to happen a lot with young people.”

Critics of the Electoral College argue that the system causes presidential candidates to only campaign to a select handful of residents in “swing states” — states where the electoral votes could typically fall on either side of the aisle — rather than allocating the time and resources to campaigning to the whole country.

“The reason why National Popular Vote is gaining momentum because the American people are getting tired of a system where candidates for the presidency are only focusing on a handful of

battleground states in their campaigns,” Patrick Rosentiel, Senior Counselor of the National Popular Vote campaign, said. “A vast majority of the American people believe we should have a system where every voter in every state is politically relevant in every presidential election.”

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement among states to ensure every vote matters by granting the majority of electoral votes to the candidate who gains the majority of the popular vote without having to alter the Constitution. In order for the NPV Interstate Compact to go into effect nationwide, it must be enacted by states with at least 270 out of the 538 available electoral votes.

“Those in favor of the Electoral College argue that it actually pro-

Thursday, September 24, 2020 | 7

tects smaller states to some extent because every electoral vote matters, especially in really close elections,” Allen said. “New York, Texas and Florida have 96 electoral votes combined, and the criticism of that is that it is not entirely representative of all American people and political campaign strategies become more like a math problem than focusing on who and what America is at any given time.”

The current presidential election system allows each citizen’s vote to only influence a handful of electors within the state they represent. By enacting National Popular Vote, each person’s vote would influence the distribution of all the electoral votes.

“Four out of five Americans are relegated to a mere spectator status in presidential elections and it affects them in a negative way,”

Rosentiel said. “It is not just in terms of the campaigns focusing their attention on them because it ignores the concerns of issues that are important to the majority of Americans as attention is hyperfocused on the concerns of one out of five voters.”

Regardless of whether or not one lives in a battleground state it is still important to exercise the right to vote and participate in democracy, according to Williamson.

“A popular vote system would boost a lot of American’s confidence in our election system because they would feel that their vote matters,” Williamson said.

“We would be able to avoid what happened in 2016 when the second place candidate in terms of the popular vote ended up winning the presidency.”

8 | Thursday, September 24, 2020

SPORTS&FITNESS

Watching makes perfect

Isabelle Pinard | WITH PERMISSION

Watching pro sports can help performance, skills

A

Gym closures increase alternative workouts

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OFF-SEASON SEASON Varsity basketball captain Audrey Pinard watches the Golden State Warriors play basketball from her home. The Warriors are one of eight teams that was not included in the Disney World Bubble in Florida.

Darcy Jubb Senior Reporter

s one of the first prominent forms of entertainment to return to action with safety modifications during the COVID-19 pandemic, professional sports are proving to be a central part of American culture and inspiration to many young athletes.

“During their respective seasons, I watch women’s professional soccer, the NBA and the MLB,” basketball team captain Audrey Pinard said. “Having the ability to watch professional athletes gives me the opportunity to know what I must improve on.”

As many professional leagues battle with health protocols and regulations that have allowed them to return to their seasons and allow for viewers to watch at home, some fans say the atmosphere of being at a game is a major part of why they love the sport, making watching sports from home less appealing.

“My favorite team is LSU football because my family is from Louisiana,” junior Eliza Spaht said. “The atmosphere in the stadium during games increases my spirits because the cheering and music brings everyone together and helps uplift any sort of down feeling.”

Although fans are not allowed in the stadiums at full capacity, the Premier League in the United Kingdom recently allowed fans to sit socially distanced at the Stamford Bridge Stadium for a Brighton vs Chelsea match.

Other leagues such as the Major League Baseball allowed fans to purchase cardboard cutouts of themselves to place in the stands during televised games.

“Things are coming back at all different rates and I think that professional sports are a big moneymaker that drives a lot of businesses,” Athletics Director Elena De Santis said. “I wish I could say it is for the health of the athletes.”

In addition to watching professional athletes as a tool to further understand a sport at its highest levels, the athletics department has constructed a schedule of workouts and practices over Zoom for students to participate and further their training, “Watching two to three levels ahead of where you are just so you can see the progression as something to aim for,” De Santis said. “You can see how the sport is played at the highest level which can be inspirational.”

During a time where it can be unsafe to play sports, the resources from the athletics department and the internet give students no shortage of ways to learn and improve.

“Watching professional basketball inspires me to be a better captain, because I have seen that a true leader is one who can bring a team together,” Pinard said. “It gives me the chance to follow by example and see how I can strengthen my skills.”

The Broadview

Clara Bonomi & Keira Blattberg

an Francisco fitness centers have reopened as of Sept. 14, but due to various health risks, many students have opted to utilize their at-home workout spaces instead.

Although more businesses, including gyms and workout studios, are now allowing more accessible services to the public, many families, like sophomore Sofia Karti’s, continue to use parts of their homes as makeshift exercise spaces.

“My parents set up some weights, a stationary bike and a yoga mat that we all use,” Karti said. “I have been following online YouTube videos and Peloton for cycling videos.”

Athletics Strength & Conditioning Coach Barclay Spring says it is important to stay in shape while cooped up at home, and provides a variety of ways to stay active.

“Once you have space, there are so many different avenues you can go, from hanging a TRX or a pull-up bar in your doorway to just a simple pair of dumbbells,” Spring said. “I always say that the best exercise is the one you will do, so any modality that you like to do is going to be the best one.”

Senior Nina Sanchez embraces the flexibility that comes with an at-home gym rather than focusing on the restriction of not having a wider variety of workout equipment.

“I used to lift weights at Barclay’s, but now I no longer have that option,” Sanchez said. “Instead, my family uses our back house and we set up a treadmill, a rower and a Peloton bike.”

Sophomore Samantha Calvin, who does not own any traditional workout equipment, incorporates alternative exercise methods, like yoga, into her daily routine.

“I set up a mat and I do yoga in my room every morning during my free period,” Calvin said.

“I like that I can control what I do, but it’s also very hard to stay motivated.”

This lack of incentive, regardless of equipment or the accessibility to virtual workout programs, is due to the absence of in-person guidance from a coach or trainer.

“It’s definitely harder to get motivated now that we’re at home,” Karti said. “When instructors were there to push you, it was easier to stay consistent, but I will probably keep using my own workout materials because it’s more accessible.”

Samantha Calvin | WITH PERMISSION

CORE STRENGTH Samantha Calvin uses her yoga mat in her room at home while holding a plank position. Calvin has practiced yoga every morning since the beginning of virtual learning.

Social isolation takes a toll on mental health Lack of human interaction leads to anxiety

T

Amelia Froyd-Kamrath & Elise Vulakh

here were no excited voices filling Flood Mansion to start the year. Students instead began the year with an unenthusiastic click of a Zoom link and waited for class to begin.

With the City and County of San Francisco's decision to keep high schools closed until at least November, classes remain online, leaving some students feeling isolated and deprived of any face-to-face social interaction during shelter in place.

“Teenagers' brains are wired for socialization,” therapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Alissa Gunsberg said. “They are wired to be individualizing and relying more on peer relationships than ones with parents or family.”

Peer relationships may be harder to maintain when teens do not see their friends at school, and this sentiment resonates with sophomore Audrey Roomian as she considered the beginning of the school year.

“I feel less connected with people,” Roomian said. “Over the summer I

didn't really talk to as many friends as I would have liked to, and it kind of makes me feel worried for what it’s going to be like when we go back.’”

San Francisco is currently in the process of phasing in the reopening of TK-12 schools, provided they have a waiver from the country, according to a Sept. 28 directive from the Department of Public Health.

“Since the start of the quarantine period, event after event has been cancelled which has been really sad,” junior Olivia Williams said. “On top of that, we had to start a new school year online which created a lot of stress because we had to learn how to adapt to a new course load and schedule on our own.”

While students are tackling longer classes and more condensed coursework, Gunsberg urges parents to pay close attention to their children and seek professional help if they are worried about their child's mental health.

“It’s always good for families to reach out to therapists if they notice something off,” Gunsberg said. “You can go to Psychologytoday.com and there is a whole list of therapists in the Bay Area

and so many are offering Zoom meetings now.”

Students have been using social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram to remain connected with friends and family.

“We have been sending lots of text messages on big family group chats and FaceTiming each other when we get the chance,” Williams said about staying in contact with her family. “Social media has made it easier to be away from friends because it allows you to easily stay in touch with them and still talk on a regular basis.”

Gunsberg supports the attempts young people are making to reach out to one another through social media, saying it is developmentally appropriate to want to connect with people and find creative online outlets for that.

“Our brains are still wired like cavemen, so a teen’s brain is focused on going off and creating their own unit, which is why socializing is so important,” Gunsburg said. “When we isolate or self quarantine like we are doing now we’re not allowed to have those same interactions which is why you might be feeling a certain way.”

WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY Video call resources: ӹ FaceTime ӹ Zoom ӹ Skype

Social media: ӹ Instagram ӹ TikTok ӹ Snapchat

Other ideas:

ӹ Zoom workouts ӹ Sending letters ӹ Creating shared playlists

SPORTS

The Broadview

Thursday, September 24, 2020 | 9

OPINION

College recruitment turns virtual

Kerry Krzynowek | WITH PERMISSION

ROW Senior Ella Ghazinouri practices with Marin Rowing Association in Greenbrae during sunset. Ghazinouri is contacting Division-I coaches virtually since the NCAA has banned in-person recruitment.

NCAA bans in-person contact between coaches and athletes Madeline Thiara

T

Senior Reporter

he National Collegiate Athletic Association has banned all inperson Division-I recruiting due to COVID-19 health concerns until Sept. 30, but coaches are allowed to be in contact with athletes as long as it follows the NCAA’s recruiting guidelines.

“We are heavily relying on film to evaluate, but also trying to talk to the players as much as possible,” Kristin Jones, the head women’s soccer coach at University of California San Diego, said.

“Our staff has treated this time as a good way to get to know players on an individual basis and get to know their personality.”

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has declared a recruiting “dead period” during which all in-person contact between athletes and their parents and coaches is

prohibited and all communication is virtual.

“There are both benefits and downfalls to this way of the recruitment,” senior Ella Ghazinouri, who is seeking recruitment for rowing at Division-1 colleges, said. “A benefit is that talking to coaches virtually really speeds up the process and some of my teammates have already committed to schools.”

Ghazinouri is still attending socially-distanced practices where her team rows on individual boats or uses indoor rowing machines at the Marin Rowing Association. To communicate with coaches outside of practice, Ghazinouri uses the app Next College Student Athlete.

“The hardest part of this recruitment process is that I cannot visit any schools or meet any coaches which is a very important part of choosing a school,” Ghazinouri said.

“Also, I can’t watch teams from certain schools practice.”

Because there are no inperson evaluations, students have become creative with their recruiting profiles, such as making videos and YouTube channels which showcase their skills, according to Jones. With most high school sports postponed, athletes are taking time to create these materials on their own.

“The students who are being recruited this upcoming year are the ones that really love the sport,” college counselor Thomas Esponette said. “These athletes will have to step out of their shell and produce materials and make videos for recruiters, whereas before, coaches would come to them.”

Division-I fall sports have been postponed to spring 2021 and will play simultaneously with the spring sports, with the exception of football, which plans to have a fall season in six out of 10 conferences, according to the NCAA. “I can really tell the differ-

ence between athletes during this time because it is pretty obvious which players have put in the work off the field,” Jones said. “I think it will be interesting to see the divide between the athletes from the Class of 2025 with their resilience through COVID-19. I do expect them to be some of the best athletes at any college for this reason.”

Once sports seasons resume, masks and social distancing will be mandated throughout all facilities, as well as frequent health check-ups and COVID-19 testing, according to a statement from the NCAA. “My advice to high schoolers seeking recruitment is to make sure they are overcommunicating and providing all the information coaches need to know,” Jones said. “Players need to stay patient and send in as much film as they can, but understand that it is hard for coaches to evaluate virtually.”

Team conditioning continues online Athletes participate in school-provided workouts

T

Tala El Qadah Reporter

he postponement of fall sports has caused teams and student-athletes to find different ways to stay connected while training and conditioning virtually.

Cross-country coach Michael Buckley and assistant coach Alyson Barrett are sending different types of workouts daily via email to keep their student athletes motivated and in shape. According to Barrett, it is important for the team to stay connected and healthy through this new virtual workout system.

“Right now, we are having our athletes focus on building a mileage base, and we have been assigning a lot of core workouts, ” Barrett said.

“I think this is a great way to support these athletes and help persuade them to do physical activity everyday while connecting them to their community.”

These workouts include strength exercises, endurance training and conditioning.

Athletes record their mileage while running and take photos of themselves working out and email them or confirmation.

“Having Coach Buckley

Takouhi Asdorian | THE BROADVIEW

WORK IT OUT Junior Takouhi Asdorian does squats for her field

hockey workout. Every week, the field hockey team meets every Monday for 30 minutes.

send different types of workouts is so helpful,” sophomore Natalie Posner said. “This has helped me follow a routine of doing a workout and running a mile everyday after school.”

The athletic department has also set up Zoom calls for all teams, including winter and spring season sports. “We hope to follow the routine we had in spring where teams would Zoom once or twice a week and have workouts to do daily until the California Interscholastic Federation allows us to be in person,” athletic director Elena DeSantis said. “It is hard to be on Zoom but it is also a good way to keep people motivated and connected as a team.”

Similarly to Posner, senior Dagny Wallace finds the emails Buckley sends to be highly motivational and says it has helped her have fun while working out.

“Not being around people has honestly caused me to be unmotivated,” Wallace said.

“I’m glad that they’re sending out emails because it feels like my team is with me. ” Many student athletes have been preparing for the start of the fall sport season by attending the Zoom meetings and working out during their own time at home, such as sophomore Elizabeth Woods, who plays JV volleyball.

“I am glad they started doing Zooms for the teams because it has helped me stay focused and motivated,” Woods said.

“It feels like I am still a part of my team and it’s nice to see the team together.

De Santis has recommended various ways to stay in shape and says people should use the extra time given to us by COVID-19 to take advantage of all the opportunities that the school has offered.

“We have more time than ever to work on ourselves and become stronger athletes, even if we have to do it alone,” De Santis said. “Everyone should take advantage of the things that the sports department has offered; the agility workouts, the core workouts and the Zoom gatherings that Barclay has brought.”

Barrett has attended some workouts and says that it has helped her feel less isolated and alone. She also has used this long period of time to work on herself and her work ethic.

“I know this process has been new and tough for everyone but we’re in this together,” Barrett said. “Us coaches are always here for athletes and I recommend talking to friends who are also athletes so they can give each other strategies on staying motivated and lift each other up.”

Madeline Thiara Senior Reporter

T

Regulations control transgender athletes

he international governing body for the sport of athletics, World Athletics, recently banned Olympic gold medalist Caster Semenya from 2021 Olympics track and field events due to a rare genetic health condition.

A recessive intersex condition 5aReductase deficiency causes Semenya to have neither male or female organs.

Semenya has the XY chromosomes that classify her biologically as a male, but she has identified as female her entire life.

Semenya’s condition causes her to have elevated testosterone levels that can enhance her performance on the track. After winning gold at the 2009 World Championships, Semenya was asked to have sexual verification testing and was suspended from international competition for a year.

World Athletics passed regulations in 2018 prohibiting intersex athletes who have male chromosomes from competing in the 400-meter, 800-meter and 1500-meter runs, events that combine both speed and endurance, unless they lowered their hormone levels.

It argues that a female with high testosterone levels has an unfair advantage in muscle mass and oxygen capacity. The organization admitted that their rules were discriminatory, but claims they were necessary and contributed to fair play.

Semenya lost her final appeal to compete in the 2021 Olympics on Sept.

8 after a court ruling at the Swiss Supreme Court. “I am very disappointed with this ruling but refuse to let World Athletics drug me or stop me from being who I am,” Semenya said.

This mandate brings to light potential arguments over transgender women in athletics, however, in the words Semenya’s lawyer Dorothee Schramm, “We cannot allow a sports federation to override the most fundamental of human rights.”

The World Medical Association has deemed this ruling unethical and potentially harmful to anyone who chooses to reduce her hormone levels. Human Rights Watch stated that World Athletics was “policing women’s bodies on the basis of arbitrary definitions of femininity and racial stereotypes.”

World Athletics’ immoral and discriminatory ruling silences transgender women and creates more stigma regarding the LGBTQ+ community.

Women should be able to compete in sports no matter their background and should not have to be drugged to do it.

The World Athletics organization should rethink its decision. Its ruling implies that future transgender women who make the decision to not undergo hormone therapy will have to anyway if they wish to compete.

Instead of making regulations regarding women’s bodies, World Athletics should accept that everyone has unique circumstances.

The ruling is a betrayal to both female and LGBTQ+ athletes and forces us to acknowledge the male-dominated aspect of athletics and who it affects.

OP-ED

The Broadview

STAFF EDITORIAL

Thursday, September 24, 2020 | 10

Testing the waters

Standardized testing can provide unfair advantages in applications

W

ith the pause on standardized testing due to COVID-19 magnifying the role of the SAT and ACT in college admissions, universities should consider the realities of financial inequality when deciding whether or not to keep the requirement.

The original version of the SAT debuted in 1926, 26 years after the formation of the College Board. A record turnout of over 2 million students took the recently redesigned test in 2018, which differed in scoring and the number of sections.

The test should assess a high school student’s readiness for college as well as provide colleges with a method to compare all high schoolers on the same academic scale, however, the playing field is anything but even when considering more than just the basic concept of the test.

Some advantages are obvious, like offerings from compa-

nies such as the Princeton Review that advertise programs that “guarantee” a certain score priced at over $1000. There are other ways some college applicants can gain the upper hand, including access to retakes and extra time evaluations which can be expensive and difficult to come by.

The price of taking the SAT with an essay is $68, and to qualify for extra time, a specialist has to evaluate the student. Even if a student is able to pay for the test, that may be her one shot. Others who can afford to pay the fee multiple times have the opportunity to better their score, and perhaps their chances of admission at a more selective college or university.

Students from families with an annual income of less than $20,000 score 388 points lower on average than those from families who earn more than $200,000 annually according to statistics from 2014 from

the College Board, the creators of the SAT. Much of this disparity boils down to one thing, finances. To put it plainly, those who have access to more financial resources have an unfair advantage, inherent to the system.

Eliminating the opportunity of retakes, tutors and providing free extra time evaluations for those with learning differences could be a step in the right direction, however, there would still be unaddressable issues that linger.

Numerous studies repeatedly show that there is no correlation between the success rate of students who do well on the test and their grades and accomplishments throughout college.

Many highly regarded institutions such as the University of California system have taken going test optional a step farther, and will now not accept test scores at all.

The concept of a universal

Katherine Loomans | THE BROADVIEW

test makes sense, but some people cannot convey their knowledge in that style of assessment, and there is far

too much financial disparity in the current system for the SAT or ACT to be of an use.

DO YOU THINK COLLEGE TESTING MATTERS IN THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS?

"I don’t believe college testing matters immensely, looking at students' grades is a much better judgement." ­­— Orly Cook, freshman

"Many students do not show their full capabilities under timed and stressful conditions." ­— Ginny Cross, sophomore

"Since everyone goes to different schools and has different curriculums, it's a representation of students compared to other students." ­­— Cristina Jackson, junior

"Test taking may not reflect someone’s academic abilities and potential." ­­— Audrey Hunnicutt, senior

"It doesn’t seem very necessary when there are many other ways to show your abilities and that you are an ambitious student." ­­— Linda Karti, senior

LOOKING GLOBALLY Charlotte Ehrlich

I

Editor-in-Chief

Don't let the smoke blind you

t’s one thing to sit in your room in September of your senior year seeing your friends and teachers through your computer screen — we’ve gotten used to that now. But it’s another to glance outside your window to find a dark orange sky looming over your normally foggy city.

Even with choking smoke in the air and a very unhealthy AQI rating of 352, the effects of climate change aren’t always obvious to us teenagers. Yet, we as young adults have to take action now: If not for us, then for our children and grandchildren.

Eighty-nine percent of surveyed youth say that young people can make a difference, according to a survey by the Office of the SecretaryGeneral’s Envoy on Youth, yet only 9% are very confident the world will act quickly enough to address climate change.

This is our time. If we don’t feel confident in our own government and political leadership of Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials, it is all riding on us to make that change and to turn the tides of climate change before it’s too late.

In the meantime, while we’re all stuck at home, there are many ways I have begun to act — in even the smallest capacity - to make a difference.

I turn off the faucet when I brush my teeth, we grow shelter-in-place tomatoes in our backyard,

we have a steady measurement of our carbon footprint. It is incredibly easy to do the research and change your habits: We can all do our part.

Using the orange sky as a catalyst for my research, I looked into many youth activists that are currently tackling this issue as part of their platforms. Wanjiru Wathuti of Kenya has planted more than 30,000 trees at local schools through the Green Generation Initiative and Oladosu Adenike of Nigeria runs community education forums to educate people about the intersection of climate change and poverty.

These are girls that aren’t much older than me that are already doing so much to combat this - so why is it so challenging for us to take the smallest steps to do our parts?

It is understandable to not understand the effects of climate change firsthand as a teena ger. I know that I look outside my window today at the smoggy sky and see everything as it should be: Green trees, chirping birds — signs of life and happiness. Yet this is only temporary, and it’s our job to make it as permanent as we can.

If lifting my shade in the morning only to see the ominous orange sky from a fast-moving wildfire isn’t a wake-up call, I don’t know what is.

1. Breonna Taylor’s wrongful death case finally went to the grand jury.

2. San Francisco plans to spend $500 million on the homeless crisis.

3. Convent & Stuart Hall will require bi-weekly testing for COVID-19 once in-person school resumes.

4. Zendaya broke records as the youngest person to recieve the Emmy for Best Lead Actress.

5. Apple released IOS 14.1 with new features such as screen widgets.

1. Only one officer will be charged, and with lesser charges.

2. Homeless tents in the Tenderloin have risen by 295% due to COVID-19.

3. Allowing students on campus is dependent on unpredictable county-wide case numbers and hospitalization rates.

4. She is only the second Black woman to have ever recieved the award.

5. The new IOS reportedly has major problems.

OP-ED

The Broadview

Zooming towards a certain doom

Thursday, September 24, 2020 | 11 HOW HAS THE BLOCK SCHEDULE AFFECTED YOUR STUDY HABITS?

Virtual learning taxes students’ mental and physical health

"The block schedule has led me to take more time for homework during breaks." ­­— Jardin Davis, sophomore

M

ost teenagers who find themselves a little too attached to their phone or computer, or even ones who just thoroughly enjoy the company of their family’s TV, have heard some variation of these sentences from the guardians in their lives: “You’re on social media too much.

You watch Netflix too much.

You FaceTime and text too much. Screen time is turning your brain into mush.”

Now, the very technology that is “turning our brains into mush” has become a mandatory part of our daily lives as online learning takes center stage in the education world.

Convent & Stuart Hall’s new block schedule was strategically and thoughtfully designed to minimize contact between larger groups of students should classes resume in person on campus, but when transferred

"The block schedule has given me much more time to hone in on each subject individually." ­­— Sarah El Qadah, senior

Kate Loomans | THE BROADVIEW

to a virtual learning system, this schedule becomes extremely draining, making online learning much more difficult.

With campus remaining closed, most students tune in to at least two 2 ½-hour classes on the videotelephony software, Zoom, every day with minimal breaks. A much needed 1 ½-hour lunch break takes place in between each class, but even this time for a potential screen detox is interrupted by a rotation of assemblies, chapels, advisories and clubs.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends

that teens place limits on the use of any technology or media. Whether it be entertainment or education as the effects of too much screen time can be detrimental to both students’ mental and physical health.

The AAP also suggests that children have two hours or less of non-moving screentime per day as a sedentary lifestyle has direct links to obesity. This is about three hours less than the length of a typical virtual school day for students at Convent & Stuart Hall.

A stationary lifestyle can lead to depression in adolescents, ac-

Grace Krumplitsch Editor-in-Chief

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STAFF

Charlotte Ehrlich Editor-in-Chief Grace Krumplitsch Editor-in-Chief Tabitha Parent Managing Editor Gabrielle Guido Web Editor Mackenna Moslander Web Editor Marisa Donovan Art Editor Senior Reporters Adele Fratesi, Nina Gutierrez, Darcy Jubb, Alina Kushner, Paige Retajczyk, Olivia Rounsaville, Madeline Thiara, Elise Vulakh Reporters Keira Blattberg, Clara Bonomi, Roxy Comerford, Kassie DeJean, Tala El Qadah, Amelia Froyd-Kamrath, Chiara Hertsgaard, Nicole Klein, Melanie Koch, Ada Linde, Ella Noblin, Celeste Roam Kate Loomans Cartoonist

2020 CSPA Gold Crown 2019 NSPA Pacemaker Finalist 2020, 2019 JEA First Amendment Press Freedom Award 2019 CSPA Gold Crown 2018 CSPA Silver Crown 2018 JEA/NSPA First Amendment Press Freedom Award 2018 NSPA Print Best of Show, 3rd place 2018 NSPA Pacemaker Finalist 2017 JEA/NSPA First Amendment Press Freedom Award 2017 NSPA Online Pacemaker 2016 Print NSPA Pacemaker 2016 Online NSPA Pacemaker Tracy Anne Sena, CJE Adviser NSPA Hall of Fame | Inducted 2016 “Schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to educate to personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom,” (Goal 5), therefore The Broadview operates as an open forum for free speech and student expression without prior review.

Unsigned pieces are the opinion of the editorial board. Reviews and personal columns are the opinions of the individual author and are not necessarily those of Convent of the Sacred Heart High School or Schools of the Sacred Heart.

We encourage letters to the editor. The Broadview may publish independent opinion pieces 300 words or fewer. The editors may work with writers for clarity and to meet space limitations.

All letters must have a means for verifying authorship before publication.

Corrections and letters may be addressed to the editors at broadview@sacredsf.org

"I now have a lot more time in between classes to study and finish work." ­­— Catherine Fox, freshman

"I find it easier to study and focus because I only have one subject." ­ ­— Natalie Tonkovich, freshman

STATE OF GRACE

Convent of the Sacred Heart High School 2222 Broadway St. | San Francisco, California 94115 broadview@sacredsf.org | broadview.sacredsf.org

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cording to a study reported in The Lancet Psychiatry. Every hour of idle behavior per day at the ages of 14 and 16 was found to have a relation to an increase in the total score of depressive symptoms by 8% and 10.5%, respectively.

And the negative effects don’t stop there. Blue light created by screens can influence melatonin levels and disturb sleep which, in turn, can impact the way that students focus and perform in school. The very tools which students are using to obtain their education are in turn hindering their overall wellbeing.

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Girls Just Wanna Have Funds

nancial independence and general knowledge hen I cashed my first paycheck from thereof. Fifty-one percent of females said that my part-time job at a workout studio financial independence and being able to fully nearly two years ago, I felt overjoyed support oneself without parental support is an to have a sense of responsibility as it meant I important measurement of success — only 40% was able to begin saving money of my own for of males in the survey agreed with this statecollege and to have a little more fiscal freedom ment. at the Corte Madera shopping Contrastingly, the average center. male reported to have $2,000 Part of that initial exciteof savings while the average ment quickly turned into confemale had roughly $1,300, fusion when my best friend I felt overjoyed to and young men doubled the and I looked through our have a sense of amount of young women who paystubs and realized how had created investment portmany terms and concepts we resposibility as it folios. were unfamiliar with because meant I was able The key to breaking down for the majority of our lives, the barriers of gender inequalwe had been told that money to begin saving ity in the workplace begins at was an inappropriate topic to money of my own home and inside the classroom. discuss.

Children and teens should be Women hold between 5% taught basic financial literacy and 12% of the top executive skills and feel comfortable askpositions in the S&P 500, acing questions so that they are set up for success cording to the Pew Research Center. This large later in life in professional environments. gender equality is credited to the fact that young Young women have the power to change the men are taught about finances and begin investworld and we should, but to do that we must ing in the stock market typically far sooner than fully live into that statement beyond the young women. classroom walls. We must educate ourselves on Carrie Schwab Pomerantz, a philanthropist financial matters and make time to ask those and financial literacy advocate, conducted a tougher questions in order to feel confident as survey of 2,000 young adults between the ages young adults entering the professional world. of 16 through 25 to gage a sense of their fi-

CITY LIFE

12 | Thursday, September 24, 2020

The Broadview

RV there yet?

Locals find different ways to get outside during pandemic Kassie DeJean

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Reporter

ost families have postponed or canceled vacations that require a plane order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but that is not stopping locals from exploring the Bay Area.

The Centers for Disease Control’s guidelines suggests staying socially distanced, and camping allows families to be outdoors together. Most national parks have been open during shelter in place, but some of them require visitors to have a reservation prior to entering the park to limit the amount of people going in and out on a daily basis.

“I was supposed to go to Ethiopia this summer, but that got canceled,” senior Sadie Kahn said. “My dad impulsively bought an RV and we went out for like a month and a half this summer up into Oregon, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming to Yellowstone.”

More than 76% of people who have vacationed during the pan-

demic have traveled by car or other motor vehicle, according to travel company Longwoods International. Pinnacles National Park, Yosemite National Park and Lassen National Park are located within a few hours of the Bay Area, but there are also options located in or just a few miles from San Francisco.

“There are a lot of nice little walks in the Presidio, if you don’t feel like driving very far,” mathematics teacher Amy Leaver said.

“Tennessee Valley is nice and close to the City. There's a ton of different hikes, so you can do a short or a long one depending on what you want to do.”

The Tennessee Valley trailhead is located in Southern Marin, however there are also trails located within the City. Popular hikes include Lands End, Twin Peaks and Glen Park Canyon.

“I've gone to Mount Tamalpais a couple times, to this place called the Inkwells, which is in Marin by Point Reyes,” senior Sofia Houts said. “It was nice to get outside and not be inside on a screen. I have my license and

Jonathan Kahn | THE BROADVIEW

SITTING BY THE CAMPFIRE Senior Sadie Kahn visits Idaho with her family during the summer. RV sales in some areas of the country went up by over 170% this summer compared to last, according to the RV Industry Association.

that’s helpful because I can drive wherever.”

Popular swimming holes located in Marin include Three Wells and Cataract Falls. Beach goers can avoid crowds by getting out of the City. It is important to get outside during shelter in place and be able to safely explore new places according to

Houts.

“If you go up to Marin, or even down to Pacifica, even though it's such a short drive, the population I feel like is lessened,” Kahn said. “It's prettier and better than being in the City.”

Before heading out, check the restrictions and social distancing guidelines for the area, Kahn

says, noting it is important to be spontaneous during these unprecedented times.

“No one really wants to plan too far ahead because you never know what's going to happen,” Kahn said. “The way to go right now is spontaneous, because you don't need any more disappointments.”

Restaurants reopen with restrictions Outdoor dining allowed with safety precautions

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Paige Retajczyk Senior Reporter

he decline of new coronavirus cases has resulted in the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) allowing more businesses to open including outdoor dining as long as the restaurants follow safety precautions provided by SFDPH. “I went to Italian Homemade on Union Street where they had outdoor dining,” junior Haya Jadallah said. “They had a place for you to order so you weren’t inside and had tables 6 feet apart.”

The Italian Homemade Company requires restaurant employees to wear masks and plastic face shields. SFDPH mandates that customers must wear a mask at all times except when eating.

“I’ve been getting takeout from multiple restaurants,” senior Linda Karti said. “I don’t

think my family and I are ready to do outside dining just yet, but we will continue to pick up food to support local restaurants.”

Because outdoor dining might not be for everyone, many restaurants have altered their menus to be more takeout friendly, creating an alternative to third-party delivery services such as UberEats of Caviar which cut into the profit margins of restaurants.

“It would be really helpful if customers order takeout or delivery and go pick it up,” Laurie Thomas, Executive Director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association said. “If you order through a delivery app, they take a fee and take a commission component of that.”

Normally a membership program, the GGRA is now offering its services to restaurants free of charge to help owners across the City through legislative advocacy and guiding them in staying

in compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols.

“The City and our organization worked to create a shared spaces program,” Thomas said.

“The program authorized us to put tables and chairs outside and to build parklets where there was once parking spaces.”

Aside from just offering outdoor dining and takeout, some restaurants are selling groceries, meal kits and gift cards to increase business revenue.

“I received a gift card for Souvla and bought a take out meal with it,” sophomore Josie Flanagan said. “I’ve never been given a gift card for a restaurant before, but ever since COVID-19, I’ve seen people use them more often.”

Pacific Heights has had an uptick in restaurants reopening and starting outdoor dining.

“One of my favorite things about Convent is being able to

What’s pumping in the City Pulse

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ince Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered individuals over the age of 2 to wear face coverings when in public or when interacting with anyone outside one's household to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Californians have been getting creative with fabrics and patterns for safe and trendy masks.

Whether they are made of solid colors, paisley or pinstripe patterns, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highly suggests cloth face coverings made of at least two layers of tightly woven cotton or more.

Masks are more than just a fashion statement, they are saving lives.

— Ada Linde

Paige Retajczyk | THE BROADVIEW

NOODLING AROUND Junior Haya Jadallah eats at Italian Homemade on Union Street in an outdoor dining area. Restaurants opened outdoor seating to public with safety precautions.

go on Fillmore and get food,” Jadallah said. “I hope by the time

we return to school there will be multiple options for food.”

Thanks for masking

Fashion and safety combined

Royal Ground Coffee $4.00

Safeway $5.99

Amazon $12.99