Epic Issue 4, 2020 by the Epic

Intersections Club participates in the Women’s March SI

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embers of Lynbrook’s social justice club, Intersections, attended the annual Women’s March in San Francisco, walking with thousands of others from the Bay Area hoping to have their voices heard. The procession of men, women and children marched the streets of San Francisco with heavy police escorts. The protestors held signs with slogans such as “Hella Feminist” and “Our Republic, Our Time to Resist.” Various communities under the umbrella of intersectional feminism, such as activists and members of LGBTQ, ethnic, religious and immigrant groups, all marched together. The March also featured various speakers including San Francisco Mayor London Breed, the �irst African-American woman to serve in this position, Rabi’a Keeble, founder of the Qalbu Maryam Women’s Mosque and Laura Millar, a disability and queer rights activist. In addition, many of those participating wore knitted pink hats, a symbol of the female resistance against Donald Trump’s past misogynistic comments most commonly associated with the March. The Women’s March �irst took place in 2017 in response to the election of Trump. The �irst of its single-day demonstrations was one of the largest in U.S. history, with 680 marches in total taking place nationwide. The March quickly gained momentum in its early stages due to widespread outrage at Trump’s election. Various controversial actions during his campaign, such as openly mocking disabled journalist Serge Kovaleski on live television, sparked apprehension among women and minorities about the future of social equality. Many worried about whether their voices would still be heard after Trump’s election, and the March was born to �ill such a need. Over the years, Intersections’ participation has evolved from simply attending the street demonstrations and listening to speakers at

BY ALARA DASDAN

“For the Intersections members Nikita Sehgal, Angelika Shakirova, m y rally Tiffany Tran and Rhea Anand pose with their club, it’s into a posters at the Women’s March. something personal I can do to get bonding event for people who have many members of the never been to a Women’s club, particularly the seniors in Intersections, who have attended multiple March before out into a March. It’s a way I can show my club, ‘This is how we’re getting previous Marches. “I think the March is a really effective way hands-on. We’re not just stuck in a classroom to communicate your ideas with other people in Lynbrook at lunch on a Friday, we’re and share in that activist environment,” said actually showing our activism elsewhere.’” The view that the March is a way to senior Natalie Semersky. Intersections members’ reasons for express activist opinions is not limited to Intersections members. Lynbrook staff who attending mirror those of local protestors. “It’s a way I can show support of things have attended along with the club have I believe in, like women’s rights, LGBTQ similar views to the students. “I think it’s just a way to express rights and things like that,” said senior and Intersections Vice President Rhea Anand. frustration with policies and things that

Shadow Day brings in middle school students BY MEI CORRICELLO

n Jan. 17, 50 eighth grade students participated in Lynbrook’s annual Shadow Day. The event was organized by Assistant Principal Eric Wong and led by Link Crew students to give prospective students a taste of Lynbrook before the coming school year. Throughout the day, shadowing students accompanied their guides through classes, breaks and other activities. ¨I think [Shadow Day] is a great opportunity for students to get a �lavor of Lynbrook,” Wong said. “Students like having the freedom to go to any class they want. I think the most valuable part is being able to see Lynbrook students in action.” Four years ago, FUHSD administrators decided to implement the Lynbrook Supplemental School Assignment Program (LSSAP) in an effort to address Lynbrook’s declining enrollment. The initiative grants all students from Miller Middle School and McAuliffe Middle School and 16 Hyde Middle School students to enroll at Lynbrook through an application process. To help parents make an informed

decision with their child, Wong and Principal Maria Jackson hosted an information session in the auditorium on Jan. 15. The meeting included a slideshow presentation about Lynbrook, featured current Lynbrook student speakers and dedicated time for questions from the audience. Lynbrook has hosted Shadow Day since 2017, offering prospective students the opportunity to see what Lynbrook has to offer and help them make the choice between attending Lynbrook and the school they are currently zoned for. “I make a point when I’m talking about incoming freshmen to remember to include these students coming from other middle schools,” Wong said. “Instead of saying ‘Miller middle-schoolers,’ I try to say ‘students from a few different middle schools.’” Before arriving, prospective students �illed out a survey expressing what they were interested in learning about. Based on that information, organizers sort students with common interests into groups of three, which were each led by two Link Crew Leaders. For example, a student who played soccer was paired with other student athletes. “Not only do [the students] get to see

the classrooms, but walking around during brunch and tutorial also allows them to experience Lynbrook culture before they make a decision,” said Link Crew Commissioner senior Amy Tse. After attending an introductory presentation where students received a preview of Lynbrook’s athletic, academic and performing arts programs, they began visiting classrooms and facilities to get a feel for the campus. Around 1 p.m., the students gathered in the auditorium for a debrief followed by a pizza lunch while ASB played music in the quad. “It’s great knowing where everything is already, and I’ll know recognize people already,” said Hyde student Elliot Bossetti. “The teachers were nice and funny, and it seems like a great environment.” Many shadowing students found the day a success. They were excited to step foot on a high school campus and enjoyed experiencing a day in the life of a Lynbrook student. “I think I will have a better understanding about how the school works, and I will have the connections I formed today,” said Miller student Nithila Rajan.

we can’t control,” said Spanish teacher Kim Revilla. “So for me, it’s kind of an outpouring of opinion from the public.” On the of�icial Women’s March website, they state that the March’s mission is “to harness the political power of diverse women and their communities to create transformative social change.” Although many participants believe that the event has made steps in such a direction, the March has garnered criticism in the past for its lack of accessibility to disabled protestors and being too centered on cis-gendered, straight, white feminism. “When we think of the word feminism, we like to think of it as intersectional feminism,” Anand said. “It doesn’t just include the basics like white, cisgender feminism. You have to include transgender women. You have to include the LGBTQ community and women of color.” Despite the controversy around those managing the Women’s March, the majority of protestors still see the movement’s potential. They are hopeful about the future and say that the March has already led to progress. Although they acknowledge that they have yet to see major concrete impacts, they believe that the March’s goal to spread awareness has already been working. “I think for me, like many other girls in my life, I’ve encountered some situations where I feel less than or just discriminated against in any way,” said senior Zahra Batlivala. “I feel like the March is putting it out there and raising awareness that this is happening and that there are so many things happening to women that are unacceptable. I feel like if I can do nothing else, at least raising awareness is something I can do.” Lynbrook Intersections members join the masses in the streets of San Francisco. The protestors maintain that hoping for the best will not �ix things. They believe that change can happen, however, through protests, picket signs and a common goal: equality. Loud, colorful and large, the San Francisco Women’s March was a roaring display of those who demand to have their voices heard.

WRESTLING // pg. 13 Team starts off the season strong

JANUARY 29, 2020

NEWS

Saratoga teen commission leaders serve city and youth BY YOUQI HUANG

uniors Pranav Chittaranjan and Nivi Madhan are members of Saratoga’s Youth Commission, serving as the liaison between Saratoga’s youth and City Council. The commission also organizes activities for children and teens around the city and volunteers at community events. To �ill one of 11 positions, interested middle and high school students �ill out an application and complete an interview with City Council members. Once selected, each member serves a two-year term and can choose to run for either Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer or PR/Marketing Chair. Members of the commission are held responsible for creating and planning events, but they work with adult liaisons, such as recreation coordinator Kayla Nakamoto, who help them handle moneyrelated aspects of events and coordinate with other city of�icials. “Council members are just there to guide us,” Chittaranjan said. “Most of it is teen run, and as a second-year members, it’s my responsibility to lead the �irst-year commissioners.” Both Chittaranjan and Madhan found out about the commission through their parents. Chittaranjan became a member in his sophomore year and is now serving the last year of his term as Chair of the commission. His responsibilities include facilitating meetings, approving agendas and budgets and meeting with other city of�icials. “I wanted to make a change in my city,” Chittaranjan said. “Being part of

Miller Leadership and ASB, enlarged my desire to help the community. Through the commission, I’ve learned how to organize events, and as Chair, I’ve learned how to manage others and stay accountable.” Madhan is serving her �irst year in the commission as Treasurer. She handles �inances, allocates monetary resources for their projects and oversees fundraisers. “I wanted to be more involved with my community and apply the skills I was learning in ASB to a different environment.” Madhan said. This year, the commission hopes to bridge the gap between youths, teens and seniors in Saratoga and have planned their events around this central theme.

They are also planning to hold several annual events, such as Color Dash and Kahoot Night, to help teens reduce stress. “Color Dash would be one of the best examples of how we try to unite the community,” Madhan said. “It’s one of our most popular events as it helps to connect people, which is the whole reason why the Youth Commission plans these events.” The commission’s next event is a “SED” Talk, a speaker series modeled after TED talks. They are working with the Saratoga Library Teen Advisory Board and are aiming to invite teen and adult speakers to address topics such as mental wellness and career opportunities. To promote healthy living among the youth in

SUNNY LI—EPIC

Saratoga, the board has also worked with local elementary schools to hold events that encourage students to walk to school. They are also looking to partner with FUHSD for its Wellness Week Carnival later this year. The commission has also taken on a larger project that involves building a park accessible for children with physical disabilities. To fund the project, the commission is holding several events, such as a boba fundraiser and ArtExtravaganza, during which community members display their work, whether it be dance, art, photography or music. “Because we are a teen-oriented commission, we tend to focus on the teen side of things,” Chittaranjan said. “Most of our events are geared toward teen enjoyment, but the park is one of our larger, main projects.” In addition, commission members also volunteer at community events to serve the city and publicize the commission to attendees. They have attended events such as the Celebrating Difference Carnival, Witchy Walk and Celebration of Lights, where members manned a booth and helped with various activities, such as face painting. Through their experiences serving on the commission, Chittaranjan and Madhan have been able to give back to the community and develop invaluable soft and hard skills. “Being on the commission really showed me the importance of time management and collaboration, because we all make decisions and plan events as a collective in the commission,” Madhan said.

Lynbrook switches to S choology BY PRANAV MISHRA

Letter from the Editors Dear readers, Ready for 2020? To open up the new decade, dive into our newspaper and discover what has been happening in the new year, ranging from the district’s switch to Schoology to uncovering the realities of where recycling goes. Learn more about Lynbrook’s new online student-teacher platform Schoology and how teachers and students feel about the change (pg. 2). Remember to check out our article about San Jose’s plan to address the problem of rising housing costs through the development of accessory development units (pg. 3). Move on to the opinion section to read the Epic staff’s continuation of our Staff Editorial on absence policies regarding students going to school when are sick (pg. 6). As Valentine’s Day draws near, read about our takes on classic dates from widely-loved rom-coms (pg. 8). Of course, don’t forget to meet the young and aspiring entrepreneurs right from Viking territory (pg. 7). The staff takes an in-depth view into the California Consumer Privacy Act and how it affects people across the Golden State (pg. 10). Additionally, catch up on current events and dive deeper into understanding the con�lict between America and Iran (pg. 11). If you’re not sure what to serve at your Super Bowl party, gear up for the event by reading our guide to classic Super Bowl snacks (pg. 13). Finally, be sure to visit our website lhsepic.com and follow our Instagram @lhs. epic for exclusive content. Your Editor-in-Chiefs, Nicole Ong & Aileen Xue

any Vikings have lynbrook. schoolloop.com bookmarked on their laptops as their goto student portal. However, in the past months, FUHSD has decided to conclude its partnership with School Loop and switch to Schoology for the upcoming school year. Although School Loop has served as Lynbrook’s online student-teacher interface for more than 10 years, the FUHSD board recently decided to upgrade the current learning management system. They had representatives research and familiarize themselves with all the options available to get a feel for newer learning management systems. The FUHSD technology team also piloted other learning management systems, such as Canvas. However, after listening to a presentation by Schoology, a startup founded in 2009 whose product has now been adopted by 60,000 schools across the country, the district representatives almost unanimously agreed that this would be the best option. “The reason we liked Schoology was that it had a very sophisticated, comprehensive feel that we felt would suit the needs of the district well,” said Assistant Principal David Erwin. “There’s a very ef�icient connection between students and teachers, and the platform takes on the burden of coordinating assignment submissions, making course materials accessible and automatically posting grades.” Schoology offers many unique features which FUHSD administrators hope will improve the learning experience of its students. For instance, Schoology has a detailed “discussions” platform that

allows students and teachers to interact online, as opposed to School Loop, which only offered Loop Mail. Additionally, Schoology provides detailed data analyses of student performance on assignments to interpret trends in grades throughout the year. “What I love about Schoology is how expansive its features are,” said history teacher Mike Williams. “I can click on students and see all the assignments they have in other classes, so that I will not overload any of them. It really gives me the space to tailor their learning experiences.” On Jan. 3, the district held a training session for teachers who wanted to test Schoology prior to its formal release at Lynbrook. This “early adopter” group was strategically chosen to incorporate faculty who taught a variety of subjects in order to ensure that each department had at least one teacher who would be well-versed with the new platform. In the new academic year, teachers from this group will be tasked with mentoring their colleagues on how to implement the new platform and take advantage of its novel features.

“Schoology is as simple or as complex as you want to make it,” said living skills teacher Megan Miller. “I started out using the platform for smaller, simpler things because the features and platform are very broad, but I’m slowly working on incorporating more online features for my classes. I’m already starting to use online submissions, something I didn’t do much on School Loop, because Schoology makes it super easy to integrate all the other platforms that my students may be using, like Google Classroom.” When it comes to the student community at Lynbrook, there are mixed feelings about FUHSD’s decision to transition to Schoology. “We’ve started using Schoology in some of my classes,” said senior Grace Huang. “On one hand, it feels much more re�ined and has more features than School Loop. However, it’s kind of complicated and confusing to use at times. I think I’ll just have to get used to it.” Although Schoology is currently unfamiliar to many students, the Lynbrook community can expect to see students and staff switching over to the platform in the 2020-2021 academic year.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY NEWS SECTION

JANUARY 29, 2020

NEWS

Competitive students qualify for ICDC

News in Brief Winter Rally To end a busy week of spirit days and coin wars, come to the Olympic-themed winter rally on Friday, January 31 and support your class!

French Club Mardi Gras The French Honor Society will be holding its annual Mardi Gras celebration on February 14. The event is from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Students from all levels of French are welcome to come join the fun. Vertigo Bittergrams Vertigo Literary Magazine will be selling these in February. They are cards with sarcastic messages that you can send to your friends!

President’s Week School is off the entire week from February 17 to 21! Take a break to prepare yourself for the rest of second semester!

Spring Sports Parent Info Night The spring sports season is approaching! Parents are welcome to attend an informational meeting about spring sports in the gym from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on February 24. by Melissa Chen, Stella Huang, Diana Kohr, Teresa Arisawa and Youqi Huang

DHRITI IYER — EPIC

Start of Spring Sports As winter sports draw to a close, spring sports start to kick off into action! Look out for tryout date announcements for sports such as track and �ield, badminton, and swimming!

BY CLAIRE CHIU

very year, a handful of Lynbrook DECA members qualify for the international DECA conference (ICDC), which draws more than 21,000 attendees from around the globe. This year, 13 Lynbrook DECA members quali�ied for ICDC through Virtual Business Challenge (VBC), an all-time high for Lynbrook and the most quali�iers out of any school in DECA’s western region. Through VBC, competitors apply their business knowledge to online business simulations. There are seven tracks to compete in, from managing a restaurant through VBC Restaurant to over-seeing the pro�its of hotels through VBC Hotel Management, and students can participate in as many tracks as they like. VBC’s two qualifying rounds are held online during October and January, lasting 11 days each.

Participants can compete individually or in groups of up to three people, and every round, the top two teams of each track in each region advance to ICDC. Juniors Gaby Tran, Vincent Su, Naman Singhal, Arjun Kumar and Aman Kumpawat and seniors Aayush Seth, Anay Deshpande, Arnav Doshi, Pranav Kadiyala and Bharath Kumar quali�ied during round one, and seniors Aditya Guruprusad, Samyak Navad and Snehith Nayak quali�ied during round two. Deshpande, Bharath Kumar and Arjun Kumar quali�ied for ICDC through two events, VBC Restaurant and VBC Retail, and attribute their success to their competitive mentality. Bharath Kumar went above and beyond by reaching out to retail company employees to understand how he could apply real-world retail concepts to his VBC projects. “We thought of VBC as more of an actual

business versus a lot of people who thought of VBC as just a game,” Bharath Kumar said. “That’s really the difference between winning and losing. You can spend more than 80 hours and still not win or spend 25 quality hours and still do the same.” With ICDC only three months away, Lynbrook’s quali�iers are hard at work preparing for the high pressure atmosphere and gathering of ambitious students. “It is important to understand that VBC at ICDC is much more challenging than it was during the qualifying rounds,” Arjun Kumar said. “You need to think and work much more ef�iciently as you only have 15 minutes to generate the most pro�it, as opposed to almost two weeks.” Regardless of their strategies, these competitors have quali�ied for ICDC. Their hard work in the following months leading up to ICDC will hopefully result in success.

Changes in ADU laws help provide affordable housing BY SHAMITA GURUSU

est San Jose holds the title of being one of the most expensive areas in the nation. With the current average house price standing at roughly $1.5 million and peaking at $1.6 million in 2019, the housing crisis has driven thousands out of the city. The lack of affordable housing is a widespread issue in California and has caused the state to examine the development of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a potential solution. ADUs, also known colloquially as “in-law units” or “granny-homes,” are small living units that are built on the property of a single home. They are usually around 750 square feet and have their own home address. ADUs

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can either have their own separate utilities or share utilities with the main house. On Jan. 1, California state legislators enacted Senate Bill 13 (SB13) to facilitate the development of ADUs and provide amnesty for unauthorized ADUs — units that have not been legally approved and registered as compliant with state standards. To lower the cost of building ADUs, SB13 waives the development impact fees paid to the local government for ADUs smaller than 750 square feet. These impact fees help offset the cost of new growth in the community and include parkland and school fees. Although there is a possibility that homeowners may abuse the protections offered by SB13, the City of San Jose has already placed multiple restrictions to protect ADU residents. First and foremost, the city mandates the safety of all ADU residents and requires all homeowners intending to build an ADU to meet certain

health and safety requirements. In addition, San Jose homeowners are required to work with the city’s third party consultant and an ADU amnesty coordinator to perform a preapplication inspection of the unit, a permit application review and a �inal inspection before the homeowner can submit their ADU application to the city. “Many ADUs have violations related to electrical lines, which is a big safety concern,” councilmember Pam Foley said. “The amnesty program allows homeowners to make their units safe with few repercussions.” San Jose lawmakers originally brought up discussions about ADUs and amnesty for owners without permits in 2017; however, the �inalized law was not brought into effect until Jan. 7. The San Jose amnesty program waives certain fees and taxes, such as a business license tax and a penalty fee for unpermitted construction. City of�icials estimate that 50 permit fees for ADUs can be

waived this �iscal year, averaging $5,862 per application and totaling $293,000 in waived fees. In the �iscal 2020-2021 year, the city will accept 100 waived permit fee applications, totaling $586,200. “ADU Amnesty helps us fully realize how many ADUs are in the City of San Jose,” said Senior Policy Aide Michael Lomio. “It adds to our housing stock by becoming of�icially recognized under our Regional Housing Needs Assessment count, and creates more safety. For instance, if an earthquake occurs, and an ADU is not up to code, that ADU is more likely to cause injury than a legalized ADU that is up to code.” SB13 and the new San Jose amnesty law allow for the construction of more ADUs and their integration into the public market. ADUs are more affordable than many of the other housing options in San Jose, providing people with median and low incomes with an affordable alternative.

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GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ETHAN LEE AND DHRITI IYER

Lynbrook High School | the Epic lhsepic.com

The CAA and NRC are taking away India's secular nature

database for all the SU KA legal citizens LO S Y NB TIO of the country RA ST U L IL which would require those seeking to prove their citizenship to provide evidence of ancestors’ Indian citizenship. In April 2019, BJP president, Amit Shah, tweeted, “We will remove every single in�iltrator from the country, except [Buddhists], Hindus and Sikhs.” In the context of BJP’s past statements and the ideology of “Hindutva,” or far-right Hindu nationalism, Shah implied that the “in�iltrators” were Muslims, primarily because Islam was not created in India. This belief is especially worrisome as Muslims make up more than 15 percent of the country’s population of 1.3 billion, amounting to more than 200 million people. The NRC is a mutated form of ethnic cleansing, as it aims to not only exclude Muslims but also those of lower socioeconomic status. Many people in poverty do not have access to ancestral proof or even the means to �ind it, resulting in an almost direct displacement from their homes. In October 2019, the NRC was implemented as a trial in the northeastern state of Assam, resulting in more than two million people being displaced; the majority of those displaced were actually Bengali Hindus, thus not even ful�illing BJP’s “nationalistic” notions. “If you think about the intersection between socioeconomic status and religion, the people on the bottom of the list are Muslims because they have been discriminated against over generations,” said Hatim Saifee, a Lynbrook alum. “But, that does not mean there aren’t other groups with low socioeconomic status. So, no one can really be disregarded.” By excluding these minorities, the CAA has become the latest installment in the actions of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party that further the “Hindutva” H

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BY PRIYANKA ANAND

very morning, students across India recite the country’s National Pledge, beginning, “India is my country and all Indians are my brothers and sisters.” The pledge celebrates the country’s democracy and traditions. On Dec. 9, the pledge found a new meaning when it was announced that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was to be signed within three days. The law clashes not only with the pledge’s values, but also with India’s constitutional principles of secularism and equality. The CAA is an amendment to the Citizenship Act of 1955, which details the requirements for a refugee to be considered an Indian citizen. It is the �irst act to consider religion a factor for refugee status and citizenship, contradicting the country’s most touted ideal of secularism; it states that only Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from India’s neighboring, Muslim-majority countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh will be eligible to gain citizenship within �ive years of living in India, instead of the previous requirement of 11 years. The act does not help any other persecuted minorities, such as Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, Sri Lankan Tamils or any Muslim seeking refuge or looking for opportunity in India, because it directly states that the only factor allowing an individual to gain expedited citizenship is to be a member of the speci�ic religions and the three countries. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (translated as the “Indian People’s Party”, BJP) also announced the possible creation of a National Register Citizens (NRC) by 2021, a

PRANAV MISHRA//IN MY OPINION

Home: more than one place

hey told me that this was the day I had been dreaming of since I was a child, but as I stepped into the airport, all I felt was a sense of dread. The air here had an impolite nip to it, and the palm trees hung low like green, otherworldly saucers. Even the English here seemed unfamiliar: rough, heavy, imposing. I had packed whatever little I could salvage

from the past fourteen years into the duffel bag around my shoulder; the rest I had to leave behind. Cards from friends, money from relatives, letters from teachers whom I would never see again. A customs of�icer smiled as he stamped my passport. “Welcome home,” he said. My return to the United States seemed little more than a mockery of the time I had left it. Nine years earlier, I had left the Land of the Free for someplace less familiar, where mosquitoes bred furiously in foaming yellow lakes and stray dogs nosed through piles of trash. I hated it. I hated falling asleep to the squeal of rickshaws, and I hated each painful hour in the morning Bangalore traf�ic, where cows roamed the streets with unbridled abandon and beggars rapped their skeletal knuckles on my car window. I hated the absence of Autumn, how the sweet strawberries of my childhood were replaced by rough papaya. I hated how my tongue struggled to adapt to the wobbly dialects there, I hated it all.

opinion

immigrate.” T h e protests in India have been continuously growing in intensity after the announcement of the acts, and the issue has also sparked many international protests: students from universities like Columbia University and University of ideology, California, Berkeley have demonstrated on which has become a prominent campus, as have citizens in cities like London characteristic of the rhetoric of the and San Francisco. Unity among the different ruling party. voices around the world has become the most Although the dates for when the CAA powerful characteristic of all the protests. will go into effect and the bill for the NRC “I see the protests as a sign of hope,” Saifee will be signed have not been announced, said. “To me, it signi�ies that the public is the premise of the two acts have inspired starting to become aware of the complicated massive protests within India. In situation. It just shows that the public has northeastern India, indigenous populations a mind of its own and hopefully that puts are protesting as they believe they will pressure on the government.” lose their opportunities to Bangladeshi The future for India and its government immigrants who can easily enter their states. is uncertain. The protesters, wary of the In northern India, college students at Aligarh creation of an authoritarian state with a failing Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia economy, have been courageously persisting, and Jawaharlal Nehru University began with protests being held around the country protesting soon after the announcement almost daily. Meanwhile, Modi’s government of CAA and NRC, fearing the development has been enacting laws that punish sedition of a fascist government. Soon after, police and even military law in certain parts of attempted to curtail the massive protests the country. Internet shutdowns, another with violence, using stones, tear gas and of Modi’s common defenses, are also being stun grenades and arresting any dissenters. implemented in parts of the country. Many have been seriously injured, at least “In today's day and age, having access to the 27 people have lost their lives and more internet is as fundamental as having access to than 1,000 people have been arrested. water,” said history teacher Steven Roy. “I do The government and police’s poor not think [any government] should have the response to the protests has caused fear power to take that away except under extreme within the Indian Muslim community. circumstances.” Riots, especially in the The protests are no northern Indian state longer simply about of Uttar Pradesh, have “Having access to the internet is dissent, but the �ight claimed lives and led to as fundamental as having access for basic human rights. the complete desertion to water, I do not think [any Even though there are of many villages. government] should have the four more years before The government had the next general power to take that away." provided aid for the election in 2024, Steven Roy the progress of the victimized in similar History teacher country, either toward situations in the past, but this time, democracy or fascism, the people were not depends on the power so lucky, as the Chief of the protesters and Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, politicians �ighting against the NRC and CAA. is a Hindu priest appointed by Modi and History has proven that far-right nationalism a �lagbearer for in�lammatory Hindutva and authoritarian governments are almost rhetoric. Adityanath showed no sympathy always detrimental to the wellbeing of the for the victims. people. With 200 million Indian Muslims, “There have been people I have met who the impact of India’s movement toward had to live out of a water tank earlier this either improved inclusivity or destructive year because of similar riots in the past,” divisiveness is especially huge. The protesters said junior Haadia Tanveer. “It is just scary, now have the power to create a future that because no one knows what they are going embraces diversity and secularism, not only to do, especially because it is so hard to even in India but around the world. “Take us back to America!” I would yell at my parents. To me, America was a distant dream, one that tasted of M&Ms and clean streets and unlimited hot water in the shower. Even the simple memory of the expansive cereal aisles at Walmart �illed me with immeasurable joy and wonder. I wanted to go back home. Little did I know that I would soon fall in love. The chaotic routines of life in India swallowed me whole: pinning wet cloth to the clotheslines on the terrace, digging borewells into the soil to prepare for the rainy season. Even the scenes from my bus window grew familiar, whether it was the ropy tresses of the banyan tree or the rattling ox-cart in the rice �ields by the Kaveri river. Little did I know that nine years later, I would miss the daily creak of the milkman’s, the twittering fruit vendors crowding into the narrow streets, and the snap of cricket ball against cricket bat. Little did I know that I would grow to miss the feeling of doughy parathas, fresh and steaming from the tandoor. I was so stubborn in my hatred

for the ugly that I couldn’t confess my love for India until it was too late. Now returning to America, my wish has been granted: clean streets, M&Ms, hot water. But something about it just doesn’t feel right. Where are the people? Where is the gracious gardener, the cheerful chaiwalla, the loquacious laundromat? Where is the life, the bustling dirt paths full of schoolchildren and wedding processions? And where am I, now the “Indian kid,” the obvious outsider, a stray thread in a seemingly perfect fabric? Perhaps I’m split in half. I’m from the heavy monsoons of Bangalore, rich and swollen and abundant; yet I also revel in the golden, sundappled drought that swallows the hills of Santa Clara. I see myself in the sparkling explosions across the sky on the Fourth, yet still relate to the bubbly gunpowder �irecrackers during Diwali. I am the swift, organized freeways of San Francisco, but also the dramatic dirt roads of Allahabad, dragged and split into a thousand different directions. Life takes me here, life takes me there. But I’m learning to �ind pieces of me everywhere.

JANUARY 29, 2020

OPINION

Consequences of college packaging BY SHARLENE CHEN

s a result of Lynbrook’s competitive atmosphere, students often look for ways to build a promising resume. Many choose to participate in college “packaging” programs offered by various counseling services. Despite the allure of a single program resolving the struggle to craft a convincing resume, these programs reduce the individuality of students and decrease their chances of getting into their dream college. One of the opportunities provided by these college “packaging” services is to send students on trips costing thousands of dollars to remote, impoverished countries to help build a school in exchange for community service hours. Or, students may present a speech in front of a few people and receive an “International Speaker” award. These services sometimes even assist students in creating clubs outside of school that only have a few members, so students can claim to be the presidents of numerous clubs. However, all of these are purely super�icial titles that do not bene�it the student. Oftentimes, students and parents harbor the misconception that if they do certain things the way their friend or relative did, they can easily gain admission into the same college. Consequently, many of the college applications that admissions of�icers review look identical. In reality, the problem comes in the fact that diversity among students is important, as colleges typically choose applicants who showcase their unique talents and experiences. However, there is a misconception that colleges want a wellrounded student, when what they truly seek is a well-rounded class. “Admissions of�icers really care about the students for whom they advocate, but often it comes down to the needs of the school and the desire to have a well-rounded incoming class,” said Natalia Ostrowski, Former Assistant Director of Admissions, University of Chicago, in an article for Business Insider. This college “packaging” phenomenon occurs often due to competitive culture at Lynbrook and the bay area, with parents

and students alike constantly comparing themselves to others. Instead of squeezing themselves into basic stereotypes of what is expected, students should explore other opportunities aside from those typically recommended. These opportunities include �inding a job, volunteering at a local shelter, joining clubs on campus, and much more. Through these means, students can develop important qualities such as leadership and communication skills, as well as step out of their comfort zone—all of which are bene�icial to the student. When students jump to the conclusion that the only way to be admitted to their dream college is to participate in college “packaging” services, they are actually doing the opposite and reducing their chances. These services prepare everything for the student in advance, meaning that the students do not have the opportunity to learn the lessons that come with organizing or managing their supposed achievement; even if the program did aid their chances, it does not help them learn the skills for future successes. Further, the student’s intentions are completely misplaced: they focus on their own individual status instead of improving the world and society. When college admission of�icers pick applicants, they do not just look at a list of achievements— instead, they want to see how the student has developed as a person and what he or she could contribute to the school. “Just doing activities because someone’s telling you ‘do A, B and C to stand out’ is not the way,” said guidance counselor Malissa Goldstein. “They are probably giving that same advice to every student whom they meet with. Then again, if you’re not interested, it’s not as genuine.” However, joining an outside college counseling service can be bene�icial for some students. Some counselors can help students determine what is suited for them and provide them with personalized advice for the direction they would like to follow. “My service HS2 gave me some freedom to choose my path in high school, which I’m very thankful for, as I’ve heard of services that

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY OPINION SECTION

micromanage students for an expensive price,” said Helen Sun, a Lynbrook alumna and sophomore at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Regardless, students should be aware that plenty of resources are already available at Lynbrook and FUHSD, free of charge, such as various meetings, workshops and classes. “We offer individual appointments to students and parents when they need assistance with college planning information,” Goldstein said. “The district provides college planning and essay workshops, beginning in the spring of the junior year and summer and fall of senior year. For seniors speci�ically, we will read essays and provide feedback as often as students need. Some mini workshops try to help students really focus so they target how to write that essay for engineering schools.” Applying for a college is not simply a checklist that once �illed, guarantees a student a spot. Every student is different. When they join these programs, they effectively erase traces of themselves, since everyone else is already doing the same exact thing. “I don’t think there is a recipe to be an optimal candidate. If everyone tries to become optimal through resumes and gpas it becomes a bit monotonous for colleges,” said Daniel Cai, a Lynbrook alumni and freshman at Boston University. “Colleges want a diverse population so the student body can develop their perspectives through exposure.” In the end, college admissions is a complicated process to understand. Participating in a college “packaging” program will make it even more confusing and dif�icult. Just because someone does not get into an Ivy League school or their dream college does not mean that they have ruined their future. College is only the beginning of a long path. High school students should focus more on their growth during these eventful four years instead of forcing themselves to become someone they are not for the sake of their resume.

ETHAN LEE//IN MY OPINION

Starwars loses its “force”

he release of the newest Star Wars movie, “The Rise of Skywalker,” was met with signi�icant excitement and a social media frenzy. My friends could not wait to watch it in the theaters as soon as it came out, but I did not feel the same way. To identify why I felt this way, I re�lected on my elementary school years when I used to be an avid Star Wars fan. My Star Wars obsession began when I was about 6 years old. I had overheard my brother and his friend discussing the franchise and was immediately drawn in. After a few days, I knew the entire plot up until the most recent storyline at that time, “The Clone Wars.” As my love for the series grew stronger, my brother and I would beg our parents to buy us Star Wars legos. Together, we reenacted scenes and made skits with the Legos in which we created our own storyline, adjusting the plot to our liking. However, our interest in the most recent movie trilogy began to dwindle when the creative team made the decision to kill off some of our favorite characters on screen. With all the original characters such as Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker, among others, playing big roles in the “Lego Star Wars” video game that I owned, their deaths had me questioning what Star Wars would become without them. I realized that these characters were what de�ined Star Wars for me, and having them die had a huge impact on my view of what was to come in the later parts of the series. These characters �irst drew me in with their ability to use the Force and wield lightsabers, which all fascinated me since it was a new �ictional method of combat that I had never seen before. The characters were all so intelligent and smooth which ultimately intrigued me. Although some of them still play important roles in becoming Force ghosts and coming back to talk to other characters in visions, I was still heartbroken when they died, and subsequently lost hope and interest in the movie series. Another major factor that played into me losing interest was the 2015 Star Wars movie, “The Force Awakens.” I watched this movie in an attempt to give Star Wars a second chance, but I just did not enjoy it at all. The plot was really slow and boring, and it did not keep my attention. I walked out of the theater unsatis�ied and went home to discuss how terrible it was with my brother and friends. I decided that I will never watch another Star Wars movie again. This was the last Star Wars movie I watched, and it is what �inally made me realize that I will never be as much of a Star Wars fan as I used to be. This really makes me sad since I have been a Star Wars fan throughout my whole childhood. Despite my loss in interest, Star Wars was de�initely a prominent part of my childhood and I can thank the movie series for helping me grow up. Star Wars was always a topic I could bring up when talking to my brother and my friends since it was something we all had in common; whether we were debating which character was stronger and more skilled or what would happen in the next episode, we always had lots to share. We would go to each others’ houses and play games related to Star Wars such as the “Lego Star Wars” video game. The characters will always be important to me, but despite being an important part of my childhood, the plot has failed to grow up with me. It is disappointing for me to realize that I will never appreciate this movie franchise as much as I did before, but I will always recognize how it helped me bond with my brother and childhood friends.

OPINION

JANUARY 29, 2020

BY RON AICH

n the new year, student workers across the Bay Area received significant raises as several cities such as San Jose, Oakland and South San Francisco increased the minimum wage. In fact, most cities in the Bay now have a $15 minimum wage. For these workers, a raise seems like the perfect New Years’ present, since many were already struggling to find higher-paying jobs in the competitive job market. However, raising the minimum wage will have unintended consequences that will make it harder for full-time workers to receive higher-paying jobs. Many will come away with less money and a lower quality of life. At first, this seems counterintuitive — why would workers receive less money when their wages increase? The answer lies in the reduction of business hours that comes when businesses cannot afford wage raises. Workers spend less time on the clock, which lowers their overall pay. In Seattle, for example, workers lost hours after a minimum wage increase and came away with less

money as a result; this primarily affected the poorest workers who worked multiple jobs just to live in the Seattle area. Another unprecedented effect of Seattle’s minimum wage experiment was the number of jobs eliminated due to the wage increase. Because employers would need to pay workers more, they were more likely to hire someone more experienced for a minimum wage job. In the Bay Area’s already cutthroat job market, raising the minimum wage may make these positions even harder to obtain. Increasingly qualified people will begin to apply for these jobs, driving out less experienced workers who needed the wage increase the most. These results defeat the purpose of a minimum wage job. These positions are meant as a starting point for workers to move up the corporate ladder. Instead, the poorest and least experienced workers for whom minimum wage was raised will be systematically excluded from the job market. A similar effect may damage the Bay Area job market, especially in cities where the minimum wage has been increased significantly. In cities such as Oakland, for example, low-income residents will be frozen out of jobs as wealthier, more qualified

individuals take their places. With all this said, cities can’t do much to reverse the effects of the new wage increases at the moment. After this year, however, cities can revote to lower the minimum wage again, which should reset the status quo. Some Bay Area cities, such as Sonoma, have already cut back on their goals for future wages; rather than setting the minimum wage to $15 immediately, they are gradually increasing wages in order to give small businesses time to adjust to the new legislation. Sonoma should serve as a model for other Bay Area cities on how to slowly introduce a higher standard of living for its minimum wage workers. Instead of hiring fewer workers or reducing working hours, some businesses have resorted to making products and services more expensive. This is usually the case in more affluent suburbs, such as Sunnyvale and Menlo Park, where residents can afford to spend extra cash to keep their favorite businesses afloat. This strategy, however, will not work in poorer neighborhoods like Oakland. Small businesses in these locations cannot afford to hike prices, or they risk losing their customer base. Inability to raise revenue

in the face of growing costs may cause the deaths of many influential smaller businesses. For a city as culturally diverse as Oakland or San Jose, the loss of these stores would be catastrophic. These cities would lose businesses that helped create the town’s unique atmosphere and lose their distinct culture in the process. This would encourage large corporations to encroach upon a city and would accelerate the gentrification of these neighborhoods. Even though increasing the minimum wage negatively impacts the poor, small businesses and consumers, city legislators still insist on raising the minimum wage to at least $15. This is a result of California’s stated goal to raise its minimum wage of $12 to $15 by the end of 2023. Such a short timeline leaves little to no room for city council members, small businesses or consumers to prepare for the repercussions that come with increasing the minimum wage. While raising the minimum wage is necessary to combat inflation and rising housing costs, the sudden, drastic measures that several Bay Area cities have taken will endanger workers’ livelihoods in the future.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA CIONCA

The real cost of increasing minimum wage

Communication clears confusion about absence policies Staff Editorial The Voice of the Epic classes, helps me develop a realistic plan to get a kid back on track fairly quickly,” said teacher Ally Smith*. Some teachers have implemented measures to promote proper communication with their students, such as providing templates for emails, enforcing deadlines for communication or inputting zeros in the gradebook until the missing assignments are completed. The guidance counselors have also introduced a guide to sophomores that aids them in planning make-up work after an absence. More similar and speci�ic measures throughout the school, if made known to students, will help support better communication with teachers. Although improved communication on the student’s part is necessary for make-up work and deadlines, teachers should also remain empathetic to the fact that students often have to contact many teachers after returning to school. This can be especially dif�icult since there are only two tutorials per week. In order to support communication, teachers should explicitly state whether

they prefer to be contacted through email or in person and post their of�ice hours in an accessible place, such as a website, School Loop portal or classroom door. “I remember so many times I would go to a classroom during brunch or lunch and the teacher wasn't there, they weren't available,” Chaudhary said. “For most of the make-up work I got, I wasn't actually able to get it from the teacher, I had to go to my friends in that class. It was stressful to �igure out and complete all of my makeup work in addition to [managing] my normal coursework.” By taking speci�ic actions to support communication, teachers can ensure effective discourse with students. Nevertheless, students are responsible for facilitating that communication, as teachers have many students to keep track of. A school-wide absence policy is one suggested solution that could encompass these ideas to improve both student health and communication around campus. Students should not feel the need to sacri�ice the quality of their work or face

KAVYA IYER —EPIC

ast issue, the Epic’s staff editorial introduced the issues of missing school when sick, tackling make-up work and the lack of student-teacher communication in these scenarios. An initial survey �illed out by 126 students in December revealed a range of challenges faced by students, including fear of an overwhelming amount of make-up work and the possibility of missing important classwork. This issue, the Epic’s staff editorial will focus on attempting to unpack the complex sides involved with the dif�iculties students and teachers face regarding make-up work. Sometimes, students hesitate to approach their teachers to discuss missed work because they fear that teachers will reject their request for an extension; however, the idea that communicating with teachers will be tense is often a misconception. In fact, in a survey of 437 students, 71.3 percent of students said that when they talk to teachers about absences and make-up work, the teachers seem understanding and helpful. “I feel like teachers are more empathetic than you would expect, especially if you go to them, have a genuine conversation, and make an effort to explain your situation,” said junior Ria Chaudhary. Proper communication between students and teachers is imperative when trying to mitigate issues regarding absences and making up work. Students need to ensure that they work with each of their teachers to set up new deadlines for make up work, either prior to their absence or on the day that they return. Without this communication, teachers face dif�iculties when grading assignments, organizing make up work and tests and planning future assignments for their classes. Additionally, if students fail to indicate the reason for their absence, teachers may feel compelled to assign a deadline without enough information about the student’s situation. “I have found that taking the time to talk to each student when they return and �igure out what is going on with them, as well as what is going on or expected in their other

earning lower scores because they fall sick. Thus, the schoolwide policy should include speci�ic instructions for different types of assignments in order to help students complete work effectively. For general assignments, students should get at least the amount of days that they were absent to submit the assignment. Many teachers do not allow extensions for long-term projects; however, they should be considered based on the health of the student and the effort they have put into the project up until the time they fell sick. Students should not be required to make up a test the day they return from an absence, and all teachers should utilize the test make-up center when applicable, as the environment resembles a testing period in class. There are some concerns that students purposefully miss school to study for tests. Though this does happen, there are reasons students feel compelled to do so, including having an overwhelming workload. “I think students should get the bene�it of the doubt,” said senior Kavish Trivedi. “There are some exceptions, but the norm when students miss school is that they genuinely need a day off, whether it’s due to illness, or to get some work done.” Addressing concerns about student absences and make-up work is imperative for creating a school environment that supports student wellbeing. In order to do so, students, teachers and administration should work together to create an improved culture of communication and �lexibility. “Getting sick is just [part of] life,” said government and economics teacher Jeffery Bale. “If you don't have any degree of �lexibility on that, and if you make students feel like it's impossible to make things up, it's going to put students in a situation where they're going to come [to school sick] and parents will feel like they have to send their kids [to school].” *Teacher name kept anonymous due to response on anonymous survey **The Epic staff voted 37-0 in favor of this stance.

features

Lynbrook High School | the Epic lhsepic.com

On-campus entrepreneurs pave their own path BY KAVYA IYER AND JASMINE HOU

unning a business requires grit, time and patience. While Lynbrook is typically renowned for students that excel in STEM, there are also students who have found their passion within the realm of business. Follow the journeys of several Lynbrook students that have found success in starting their own businesses, pushing their personal boundaries while showcasing their skills as high school entrepreneurs.

Yash Godiwala

ne such entrepreneur is senior Yash Godiwala, who is part of the holdings company The Hype Advisor. The company was initially started by students at the University of California, Berkeley in January 2018, who then partnered with students at local high schools, such as Godiwala, who joined the company in July 2018. The Hype Advisor began as a broadcasting Instagram account, but as it progressed, another facet of the company was created: The Hype Fund. The Hype Fund is the world’s �irst hedge fund operating on one of this generation’s most dynamic markets: sneakers. Godiwala always harbored an interest in business, and the company provided him with the unique opportunity to pursue his interests in both �inance and street-wear fashion. “I think our generation has become more interested in style and pop culture, so I think it’s a good place for those two industries to meet,” Godiwala said. The Hype Advisor works by taking money, holding it for six months, making investments, and then returning them. Godiwala began as the sole member in the marketing department. He was in charge of Instagram promotion and writing articles to reach their target audience. However, he has now shifted gears and is moving into the business development aspect of the company. “I’m more focused on business law,” Godiwala said. “I worry about things such as what we can do to better protect ourselves from lawsuits and how we can strategize in the future.” Financial dif�iculties were one of the biggest challenges of running The Hype Advisor. Since the company was founded by college students, the team had to work together to �igure out how to operate with the limited money supply. Another issue they continue to face is scalability. Although the company has potential, it only has 11 members, so it is dif�icult to manage all the different aspects of the company. By the summer of 2020, the company hopes to have their entire website and rebranding complete and intends to begin seeking out venture capitalist investments. Godiwala hopes that the company will also work to educate others in streetwear fashion investment. “We don’t want to just take all of the market for ourselves, we want to help other people grow the market alongside us,” Godiwala said.

enior Shree Phadke is the founder of Nexus Graphics, a motion graphics and video editing studio that produces graphic designs and animations for content creators. He founded the company in the summer of 2016; since then it has grown into a reputable business with ten current employees who are motion designers and video editors. Phadke was an avid gamer during his middle school years and became a member of an online YouTube community consisting of other gamers and content creators. After recognizing that many content creators had a need for motion graphics in videos and animations, Phadke decided to create a business that could help meet this demand. Phadke recalls one of Nexus Graphics’s early challenges — gaining traction. Business was slow in the beginning, when he found a client around once a month through word-of-mouth referrals. However, Nexus Graphics eventually gained a reputation in the motion graphics community; Phadke then began to witness a steady increase in the number of clients which his business received. One of Nexus Graphics’s biggest projects was its partnership with Physics Girl, a two million-subscriber educational platform run by PBS digital studios. Phadke worked with a creative team of �ive people to create two 3D renditions of exoplanets for a series of videos regarding exoplanets and life on other planets. Currently Nexus Graphics, has ten clients, including creators like the Obey Alliance, PBS Digital Studios, and several other big-name creators. Phadke pairs each client with an available motion designer or video editor, occasionally taking on a client himself. Phadke also holds routine meetings with his employees to discuss any updates and create plans for current partnerships. Phadke advises aspiring entrepreneurs to avoid feeling forced to start a business. It was only through his passion for visual effects, CGI, and 3-D animation that Phadke was able to create a tangible business to help others. “Don’t start a business just for a college application or resume,” Phadke said. “Do it because you are truly passionate about it.”

DIANA XU//FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Breaking up with my food

n middle school, I was one of those annoying kids who stood by the classroom door every day, ready to sprint to the lunch line for my bag of Hot Cheetos and �ight anyone who stood in my way. Looking back at that girl now, I would have never thought that I would willingly push away the �lamin’ hot snack, along with some of my other favorite foods from my diet. As my dad comes from Sichuan, a province in China famous for its extremely spicy

food, I grew up eating spicy… everything. I developed a love for it, and my high tolerance for spice allowed me to enjoy whatever food I wanted with no restrictions. I could munch away on a bag of Takis while many of my friends could only handle one or two chips before reaching for water. In high school, however, it became dif�icult to eat my favorite foods without upsetting my stomach. As someone passionate about food, this was worse than anything I could have ever imagined. For months, I had gone to Cafe Lattea almost every day after school to study with my friends, where I drank a sugary drink on a daily basis, sometimes even ordering fries or popcorn chicken as well. Being at the café so often strengthened my connections with my existing friends and even helped me make some new ones. That café brought me many of my most cherished high school memories, and I know that my friends and I will continue the tradition even after we graduate. However, when I went home on those nights, my belly full of coffee and fried chicken, it was a different story. I would experience a lot of pain from the food; it wasn’t a pretty sight (no details needed, but

you get the picture). Eventually, I stopped going to the café in order to cut out coffee and boba from my diet. At that point, I had also slowly stopped buying Hot Cheetos and eating anything that had caused me to feel ill, even though I often craved those foods. No longer able to handle spice as well as I could in the past, my dad stopped cooking a lot of his delicious spicy dishes as we were the ones in the family who enjoyed them. When I realized that dairy was also a trigger, I was completely caught off guard. I used to drink a cup of milk every morning without any trouble, but I now had to limit my intake of Fruity Pebbles and Rice Krispies to only on the weekends so I wouldn’t have any trouble at school. With the realization of how sensitive my stomach had become, I decided it was time to say goodbye to many of my favorite foods. Despite how miserable I was after cutting out these foods, I became motivated to adopt a healthier diet. I stopped eating just for the sake of eating and consciously scooped less rice and more vegetables onto my plate during meals. Baby steps. One day, I decided to step on the scale and, to my surprise, I had lost seven pounds in a couple of months

MEDHA UPADHYAY - EPIC GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY FEATURES SECTION

Shree Phadke

without noticing. I didn’t cut out these foods with the intention to lose weight. I used to try dieting, but it had never worked because skipping meals made me slip up even more. I would convince myself to eat a snack to satisfy my hunger, but a whole bag of chips would be gone before I knew it. Instead of cutting out meals, cutting out these unhealthy foods made me feel better in my day-to-day life and more motivated to become healthier. While my diet has taken a turn, I still miss the foods I’ve given up as each reminds me of different times in my life. Although I am unable to eat many of the foods I crave without feeling terrible afterward, I am glad that through it all, I have become more invested in my overall health. If I never had those negative experiences, I don’t think I would have cared too much about my diet. I haven’t completely stopped drinking boba or eating Hot Cheetos. They are so easily accessible and so addicting. It’s hard to give it all up, but I’m grateful for the push I got to live healthier, and I’m glad that I’m progressing through my cravings slowly, one less boba drink and one less bag of Hot Cheetos at a time.

FEATURES

Talking BY STELLA HUANG

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY YOUQI HUANG

very morning, Japanese teacher Jeremy Kitchen, known as Kitchen-sensei by his students, prepares for a busy day as he enters his classroom. As the only Japanese teacher on campus, he is tasked with teaching all �ive levels of the language’s classes, from Level 1 to AP. Lynbrook Japanese classes foster appreciation for Japanese language and traditions; similarly, Kitchen’s passion for the subject developed during his years as a student at Menlo Atherton High School. “I thought that [study abroad programs] would be a good excuse to leave home,” Kitchen said. “So I spent the summer between my sophomore and junior year of high school in this southern village of Japan where nobody spoke English. That was when I �irst became interested in studying Japanese.” Kitchen continued his pursuit of learning Japanese at Colgate University, studying the language for the full four years that he attended the college. He eventually earned a degree in Asian Studies and Economics before moving to Japan, where he became an English teacher. “After being a teacher [in Japan], I then thought about what it would be like to be able to do that back [in America],” Kitchen said. In Japan, Kitchen was also able to help others by stepping in as

JANUARY 29, 2020

sense

with

Kitchen

a translator. One of his most memorable to refresh and get re-excited about what I moments was when he helped one of his was doing, and I also wanted my children to students connect with their family that had experience life in Japan.” When he returned, he had become the moved to America before World War II. “World War II caused poverty and sole Japanese teacher on campus, as previous hunger throughout Japan,” Kitchen said. Japanese teacher Kumi Kobayashi decided to “The student’s grandparents and relatives teach elsewhere. This proved to be a challenge were cared for by part of the family that had as all �ive levels require unique lesson plans and styles of teaching. Despite this, the moved to the US prior to the war. The hard work is often rewarding. children of the relatives who Kitchen cherishes the took care of them came to opportunity to be in the Japan to meet them, and classroom providing they asked me to be a safe space for an interpreter for students to grow their meeting. The as Japanese value of personal speakers and as stories within people. history and “A foreign learning about language is the individual something that experience you continue really impressed to learn upon me.” throughout your In addition life,” Kitchen said. to his current “You don’t have to be role as a full time good at it right away, Japanese teacher, TERESA ARISAWA - EPIC you just have to continue Kitchen has taught history, to make progress.” economics and PE after His efforts re�lect well on his earning credentials for all of them starting in 2005. Kitchen has experienced a students, and many of them look forward to lot of change in his role at Lynbrook, as the attending his class every day. He is able to �luctuating nature of an elective course like connect with all his students, even if he has not taught them before. Japanese brought him into other subjects. “I didn’t have him when I �irst came here In 2017, Kitchen decided to take a sabbatical, returning to Japan for a year with because he returned when I was in junior year,” said senior Emily Wei. “When he �irst his family. “I wasn’t as excited as I wanted to be returned, he �it in really well. By the end of coming to work every day and just wanted to the year, he made the class really engaging do different things,” Kitchen said. “I wanted and fun.”

Many students see him as their favorite teacher, as he is able to make the classroom environment less strict, and create more of a welcoming place that students want to be in. “He’s not as uptight as other teachers,” said freshman Kelly Mcleod. “He gets our jokes and has fun with us. It’s less like a teacher and a lesson, and the classroom environment feels more like a study group with friends.” Kitchen also loves to watch his students take part of and put in effort into homecoming, one of Kitchen’s favorite oncampus event. “I think the reason that I really like going to games, seeing homecoming and watching all the other activities that happen around Lynbrook is that I get to see the different sides of students,” Kitchen said. “I feel like when I am only in my classroom, I get a one dimensional picture of who my students are. Seeing students do the things they love to do helps me to have a fuller appreciation of who they are.” Kitchen looks forward to each day helping his students learn and grow. With a desire to see his students improve and enjoy studying Japanese, Kitchen appreciates the opportunity to create strong bonds with his students and teach his class diligently. “To be able to see them day in and day out for four years is a special thing that teachers don’t normally get to do,” Kitchen said. “To see them at level one and then to see them passing an AP exam, to see that amount of growth, is a really cool opportunity. So on that level, I’m grateful.”

GRAPHIC HEADLINE BY DIANA KOHR

BY NICOLE ONG AND DHRITI IYER

h, Valentine’s Day: the time of year when grocery stores start carrying sappy heart-wielding teddy bears and corny (almost cringeworthy) greeting cards. Whether it means cheesy pickup lines or the biggest bouquet of roses you can muster for you, �inding the perfect place for a date can be the hardest part of this holiday. Drawing inspiration from the iconic romantic movies of our generationromance icons of the movie scene, we tried out these classic date ideas from widely-loved rom coms.

NICOLE ONG - EPIC

Sensei

et me be clear: most things are better when Rachel McAdams does it. This is no exception. In the scene from “The Vow” where they tasted chocolates and attempted to guess the �lavors over dinner, both parties were happily munching on their chocolates and laughing over the assortment. We tried to do the same, tasting these chocolates alongside a meal at a local restaurant. We picked a $12 box of chocolates, but regardless of our choices, the idea is pretty accessible overall – whether you prefer an expensive, fair-trade, smallbatch chocolate or the standard grocery store Valentine’s Day box, the experience comes out relatively similar. I went into this hoping that any of the typical �irst date awkward conversations could be recentered around the chocolate; don’t get me wrong, I love chocolate (really, who doesn’t?), but most of the chocolate-centered talk consists of “Yeah. I think this one’s got hazelnuts,” or “I don’t really like white chocolate.” This date idea seems pretty hit or miss to begin with: if you don’t have anything to talk about from the start, chocolate tasting won’t �ill any awkward silences. - Nicole

espite the sweet scene from “The Vow” where Rachel McAdams and her husband have a dinner date tasting chocolates, this idea is a bit weak for a �irst date. In the movie, the couple enjoyed a night of laughter, enjoying their chocolate assortment. On our date, we attempted to replicate their date at a local cafe. Before purchasing our breakfast, we snacked on the chocolate and attempted the guess the �lavors. While the chocolate itself was enjoyable, it only held our attention for so long. I found that after a while I started feeling sick from the overwhelming sweetness and eventually all the �lavors began to blend together. As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of chocolate, this date was de�initely not as enjoyable as it could have been. The idea would de�initely work much better incorporated into another date such as a dinner or a picnic, where there is more time to get to know the other person. Diving straight into a chocolate-picking competition may hinder the process of the two people getting to know each other. Get to know each other a bit before diving into the challenge. - Dhriti

s a huge book nerd, I think this one’s a hit. You can tell a lot about a person from their taste in books, and someone’s most favorite and most hated books can spark instant discussion. Even if one speci�ic book isn’t your or your date’s favorite, there are plenty more to peruse. Independently-owned bookstores in downtown areas tend be my favorite for this: there’s not much of that polished feel that a Target book aisle has—it’s far more genuine. Some bookstores even do “blind dates with a book,” where they wrap up books and label them with key features like genre and subject, and you pick what you fancy; it’s the perfect surprise for a morning date. Following up the bookstore visit with breakfast is a great idea—even if you both have nothing great to talk about during the meal, at least you can bring up the books (whether to laugh at or discuss them with admiration, that’s up to you). If you’re a bookworm, this might be the �irst date for you; if not, perhaps switch the bookstore for a shopping experience that �its you or your date. Regardless, this setup is a perfect opportunity to comfortably ease into getting to know your date. - Nicole

vid booklovers and rom-com fans will adore this date. Small, local bookstores often hold unexpected treasures, which are always fun to discover and share with others. We modeled our date after a date from the movie “Dan in Real Life,” where the lead character Dan selects books for Marie, based on her favorite genres. The pair enjoy an adorable evening discussing their interests and bonding over their mutual love for literature. We planned out a variation of this date for ourselves, including breakfast and a trip to a local bookstore. After indulging in some delicious breakfast, we walked over to a recycled bookstore that offered various used books, leather-bound books and a “book-blind date” that allowed you to purchase a book from a certain genre without seeing the cover. I really enjoyed this experience and found that it really offered up numerous opportunities for conversation. A way to spice this idea would be to choose a book for your partner based on their preferences and spend time reading it after. This date allows you to truly get to know the other person and learn about the way they perceive the world around them. - Dhriti

JANUARY 29, 2020

FEATURES

in-depth

Lynbrook High School | the Epic lhsepic.com

CCPA: Privacy, anonymity and equality

California consumers can now opt out of data collection good at ignoring the ads anyway,” said Peggy Eisenhauer, Because of this I’m really mindful of when a business tracks privacy law consultant and founder of Privacy & Information the items that I purchase and browse through. So [if] the Management Services. “But we also live in a world where CCPA is enforced, it [will] be a big milestone for California.” Opting out of data mining, however, doesn’t always mean these algorithms are being used for other purposes; to shape political opinions, to in�luence elections, to spread that the collected data is deleted since the CCPA permits misinformation, to sow geopolitical division, et cetera. There anonymous data collection. Companies have the opportunity are enormous social and civil liberties issues here, and the to decline requests if the data is used for “business purposes,” the scope of which must be clearly de�ined to consumers for platforms are wholly unprepared to manage these risks.” Customers may opt-out of data mining on eligible the duration of all data collection. There are seven “business businesses’ websites through links that say, “Do not sell purposes” protected by the CCPA: auditing; protecting against my information,” which will be accessible on most CCPA- security incidents; debugging to identify and repair errors; applicable businesses’ websites by July 1. Some companies, short-term transient use; performing services on behalf of such as Vizio and Amazon, have already implemented this the business or provider, such as providing customer service or processing orders; undertaking feature, with many others currently in the internal research for technological process of doing so. Social media platforms like Facebook have also added features “The CCPA gives consumers development and demonstration and verifying or maintaining the to meet CCPA requirements, including a disconnect feature that removes any several tools to take more quality of a service controlled by association between a person’s name and control of their privacy, but it the business. “The CCPA gives consumers their collected information. Beginning July does not prevent businesses several tools to take more control 1, companies in violation will be �ined for from collecting information of their privacy, but only if they noncompliance with the CCPA. This penalty choose to use them,” Sanderson can range from $2,500 for an unintentional about consumers.” said. “It does not prevent violation of the CCPA to $7,500 for an intentional violation, with each case Ginny Sanderson businesses from collecting assessed by the Attorney General. Internet Law Attorney information about consumers. It only requires companies to be “Businesses have been collecting more transparent about what information about their customers for they are doing. So if you are the so long that many of them do not fully understand what data they are collecting, where they are type of internet or mobile app user that always clicks to storing it, how they are using it or who they are sharing it agree to privacy policies without reading them, you will not with,” said Ginny Sanderson, an internet advertising attorney be better off as a result of the CCPA.” Though the CCPA represents a leap toward user privacy, and partner at Kronenberger Rosenfeld. “Thus, the �irst thing any business that is required to comply with the CCPA must there are downsides to these new privacy laws. By asking do is �igure out these things. In addition, business websites a company to delete all of their information on a user, that must be updated to clearly explain to users, through their user’s whole account may be deleted, as without their privacy policy, how their information is being collected and personal data there would be almost nothing left. Another downside of the CCPA is its ambiguity. Some sections of the used. They must also respond to certain user requests.” Provisions under the CCPA also prevent businesses from act seem rushed and unclear, forcing companies to guess at discriminating in pricing, products or service based on a their meanings and causing confusion for both businesses consumer’s choice to opt-out of the sale of personal data. and consumers. Moreover, since advertisements contribute However, companies can still vary their pricing as long as the majority of revenue for many websites, fewer targeted they can prove the price difference is based on the value of the ads based on personal data may lead to a shortage of free consumers’ data. To explain this price difference, businesses content being put out on websites. “CCPA compliance is needlessly dif�icult in certain contexts. are required to disclose to customers the value of their data In other aspects, the language is unclear, and businesses and as well as the methods they used to calculate it. Free services, such as streaming companies and news their lawyers are forced to guess what it means or how it will sites, are also subject to the CCPA requirements; however, be interpreted,” Sanderson said. “That said, I believe that an they are exempt from the product and service discrimination increased emphasis on privacy is a good thing.” The CCPA is a major step toward greater consumer privacy provision of the act. Because of this, free services may penalize users who opt out of data mining by lowering the rights and personal data protection. Consumers will be able to better protect their information, which can be especially quality of their web service. “Online ecommerce is largely driven by businesses vulnerable in this digital age. For businesses and consumers analyzing their customers’ buying behaviors,” said senior alike, the CCPA will mean more accountability, privacy and Cindy Xu. “Amazon for example de�initely tracks user data. transparency.

BY SLOKA SURESH AND TERESA ARISAWA

ollected, bought and sold. For decades, personal data has been used by businesses to learn everything about their consumers — from names to shopping preferences and addresses — and commodi�ied for greater pro�it at the price of consumer privacy. However, as of Jan. 1, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) has created a massive shift in the data privacy sector by requiring all businesses to inform consumers of their data being collected and provide the option to opt out of the sale of personal information. Passed by the California State Legislature as Assembly Bill 25, the CCPA is a new initiative focused on ensuring data privacy for California residents. For the CCPA to apply to a business, it must earn more than $25 million in gross annual revenue, come into contact with the personal information of more than 50,000 consumers, households or devices and derive 50 percent or more of their annual revenue from selling consumers’ personal information. Additionally, the CCPA applies not only to California-based businesses, but any company engaging in business with California residents. Although fairly new to the U.S., comprehensive internet privacy laws based on the globally understood Fair Information Practices have already been passed in many other countries, including Canada, Brazil, Russia and Europe. Similar to the United Kingdom’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the CCPA focuses on consumer privacy rights. However, it is unique because it also focuses on existing privacy abuses not covered in the GDPR, like online advertisement targeting. While ad targeting has existed for decades, it has never been as extreme as it is currently. Expanding on the old strategies of targeted commercials on television programs, the digital age of the Internet has brought “microtargeting”, a new type of marketing in which consumers are shown extremely speci�ic ads based on their previous online behavior. The bill gives California consumers the right to request all information about them which companies have saved, including a full list of third parties with whom their data is shared. It also gives them the choice to opt out of data mining, the process of companies collecting data from consumers. Data can be collected by companies in several ways, many of which are disregarded by consumers as they are subtly placed on the company’s websites. One example is cookies — small �iles in a user’s computer that hold data speci�ic to each client or website. Cookies are one of the most commonly used tracking tools for companies, as they allow the website to tailor content to the user through their recorded preferences and keep that data for future visits. Strength of WiFi, Bluetooth and cellular communication are also used to track users’ day-to-day activities and determine whether advertisers were successful in prompting consumers to make in-store purchases. “From a consumer standpoint, it’s pretty easy to say, I don’t care that much about the ad targeting — we are all pretty

Features of the CCPA

Data Mining Opt Out Provisions

GRAP

N RATIO LUST HIC IL

A BY AL

SDAN RA DA

collection of consumers’ data customers may opt out of the sale of personal information

users who opt out cannot be discriminated against

Anonymous

data can still be collected anonymously

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY IN-DEPTH SECTION

IN-DEPTH

JANUARY 29, 2020

Drone strike increases U.S. and Iran tensions BY AUDREY WONG AND MICHELLE ZHU

n Jan. 3, 50 years of con�licts between the U.S. and Iran came to a head: a U.S.-ordered drone strike on Baghdad, Iraq resulted in the death of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Sources con�irmed that in June 2018, President Trump authorized Soleimani’s assassination with the knowledge that in doing so, Iran would be prompted to become more hostile towards the U.S. and kill an American contractor. Soleimani was the lead general of the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, the elite sector of the Iranian military that handles overseas operations, a group carefully watched by U.S. intelligence forces. “The Pentagon usually gives the president options —they give them conservative, moderate and extreme options for what to do,” said Junior State of America president Stephen Yang. “I would assume that there are a lot of other moderate options to combat Iran's in�luence in the Middle East than to assassinate the highest general of the Iranian army, and personally, I would think that you can apply economic sanctions to accomplish these goals. But using force in an attempt to stabilize the situation in the Middle East makes things uncertain of what the future could be.” The Pentagon, headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense, blamed Solemani for approving the Dec. 27 rocket base attack that killed U.S. contractor Nawres Hamid and wounded several U.S. forces. The rockets used to kill the contractor were launched by Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shia militia group. The attack that killed Soleimani also killed the leader of Kataib Hezbollah, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, an Iraqi military commander in Iran who attacked U.S. and allied forces. On Dec. 29, U.S. planes bombed three sites in Iraq that were known to be tied to Kataib Hezbollah, including weapon storage sites. In 2015, during the Obama administration, Iran and six other major powers, including the U.S., signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), more commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal. The agreement restrained

Iran’s development of nuclear technology and its production of uranium. The JCPOA required Iran to reduce the number of operational centrifuges — devices used to make enriched uranium, an element necessary for the production of nuclear weapons and reactors. On May 8, 2018, the U.S. withdrew themselves from the Iran nuclear deal, resulting in Iran taking action to enrich their uranium to weapons grade. A year later, Iran followed through with the threat of surpassing the limit set by the nuclear deal. “A nuclear agreement is like Pandora’s box,” said World History and AP U.S. History teacher Steven Roy. “Any state with the time, resources and money can achieve it. It’s a matter of whether or not the bene�its of the development outweigh the risks and potential for blowback.” On Aug. 7, 2019, the U.S. reimposed the �irst round of sanctions on Iran, which were originally lifted as part of the JCPOA. As a result, Iran’s economy suffered major losses, and the Iraninan currency lost some of its power. Three

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MICHELLE ZHU

months later, the U.S. announced a new round of sanctions targeting Iran’s oil and banking sectors. Following the Jan. 3 attack, on Jan. 5, Iran stated that it would no longer obey the nuclear deal and intends to expel all U.S. troops. Trump promised that if the Iranian military tried to remove any forces, he would impose sanctions. On Jan. 8, Iran launched a counter strike against the U.S., launching 16 missiles at two military bases in Iraq. This attack injured 11 U.S. soldiers, but there were no casualties. The same day, Iran shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, killing 176 passengers. Iran acknowledged responsibility for the attack, stating that the accident was due to “human error.” Iran announced it would pull out of the global nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) two weeks later, on Jan. 22. Since 1968, the NPT has been the foundation of global nuclear arms control. Amid these tensions, Iran also declared that it would pull out of World Economic Forum. Britain, Germany and France triggered the agreement's dispute resolution mechanism, which allowed the U.N. to reimpose its sanctions. On Jan. 23, the U.S. Treasury Department blacklisted four companies from Hong Kong, Shanghai and Dubai who supported Iran’s petroleum sector. These companies had sold products to Iran’s state-owned oil company and continued to do so after the U.S. had imposed sanctions on Iran’s economy. The tight restrictions have been imposed in an effort to pressure Iran into accepting greater restraints on nuclear development, regional activities and the pursuit of ballistic missiles. Recently, major European powers have of�icially called on Iran to slow its nuclear expansion before it develops enough technology for a full weapon. The delay would ideally buy time between the U.S. and Iran to reach a new nuclear agreement. Though the tensions stemming from drone strike have not yet abated, the public now anticipates and watches with hope that relations between the two world powers will ease.

Recycling efforts are ending up in the trash BY EMMA CIONCA AND SUNNY LI

tems go in recycling bins and disappear, supposedly given a new life as another product and reducing the environmental damage caused by trash. In reality, many of these items, if not recycled correctly, end up in land�ills. The concept of recycling is repurposing items and reduce the amount of waste that goes into land�ills. However, materials that can be considered recyclable have continued to end up in land�ills due to contamination and economic reasons. The practice of recycling is not new to Americans, but many misunderstand the process by which materials are repurposed. Most of the U.S. uses a system called singlestream recycling, in which consumers place all types of recyclables, including plastic, paper, glass and metal, into a curbside bin. From there, the recyclables are transported to a materials recovery facility where they are sorted by both people and machines. By improperly sorting materials consumers complicates the sorting processes and reduces the amount of usable recyclable material. Items that contain residue, such as greasy pizza boxes, can contaminate whole truckloads of recycling, making them unusable for recycling. In the U.S., the amount of contaminated recycling has increased over the years, from 12 percent in 2010 to 25 percent in 2018. “It’s important to throw out the correct materials in the correct trash bins,” said Conservation Action Association (CAA) of�icer junior Danielle Lowe. “I know that some teachers have speci�ic bins for cans and other bins for paper, but sometimes they are not labeled clearly so students might put the materials in incorrect bins, which ends up contaminating everything in there.”

Another issue in the process is that recycling facilities stockpile materials such as cardboard outside to process later, which can be easily damaged by weather and the sun, forcing the facilities to throw them out into land�ills. Facilities may also �ind that recycling certain materials causes them to lose money. For example, the cost to recycle glass is greater than its market value. As a result, some recycling centers have even stopped accepting glass. In 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that 11.3 million tons of glass were generated in the U.S., but only 3 million tons were recycled. After local recycling facilities collect and sort the materials, the bales of recylable goods must be sent to reclaimers that remake scrap material into new material. The U.S. recycling industry heavily depends on China for this, but as of January 2018, China has tightened its restrictions on the quality of the materials which means recycling facilities in the U.S. must �ind new markets for their goods. Domestically, U.S. infrastructure is not built to handle the entire country’s recycling. These issues lead to recycling centers closing down because they cannot sell their materials to generate enough revenue to stay open. However, even when the U.S. was selling its recycling to China, not all of the material sold was repurposed. In fact, only 25 percent of certain low-quality bales of plastic could be recycled, while the rest was burned or sent to land�ills. Sending the materials to China had given Americans the illusion of recycling: a large amount of the waste actually ended up in land�ills. “I think it's actually bene�icial to [the U.S.] that we don’t export to China because that makes us do something about our problem in America, and not push the problem onto other countries,” said Conservation Action Association of�icer

senior and CAA of�icer Chap-Lum Lau. “It might have some economic setbacks, but in the long term I think that it would be better for our environment.” On the consumer level, people can be more mindful of what items they are tossing in the recycle bin. Organizations such as San Jose Recycles help consumers determine which items they can recycle and where certain items, such as plastic bags and �ilms, should go. In general, containers should be cleaned of food and liquids before they are put in recycling bins to prevent contaminating entire loads of recycling. “There's a lot of logistics of what you can recycle so a lot of people have misconceptions about it. [One should] make sure the things that you're recycling are clean, more or less, or else the whole thing has to go to the garbage,” Lau said. Aspirational recycling — which occurs when one is unsure whether to recycle an item and decides to recycle it anyway out of the belief that they are doing something good for the environment — plays a role in decreasing the effectiveness of recycling. In addition, properly separating the two types of waste are an important step to increasing the effectiveness of recycling. “What [my students] are �inding is that people are not paying a lot of attention to the difference between the regular garbage can and recycling can, so there's lots of garbage in the recycling cans,” said David Herz, an Academic Community and Transition teacher who helps students recycle cans and bottles. “They have to actually pull the recyclable materials out of the garbage and then dump the garbage into a garbage can.” As the trash piles up on planet Earth, it is important to know about managing and reducing waste. While recycling can be a way to reduce the growth of land�ills, there are limits and rules to know in order to do it effectively.

When left outside, materials such as carboard can be easily damaged by weather and the sun and become unrecyclable.

The cost to recycle glass can be greater than its market value, causing some recycling centers to stop accepting glass.

Food containers with residue, such as unwashed yogurt containers, can contaminate whole loads of recycling.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY IN-DEPTH SECTION

IN-DEPTH

JANUARY 29, 2020

sports

Lynbrook High School | the Epic lhsepic.com

Wrestling team takes down competition BY MEIlSSA CHEN

ALLEN BEREZOVSKY—GETTY IMAGES

Remembering Kobe

n the morning of Jan. 26, basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-yearold daughter Gianna were among nine people that passed away in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif. People across the world experienced sheer shock and overwhelming sadness. Casual fans and sports fanatics alike felt his in�luence on a personal level. It is hard to believe that such a monumental �igure has left us forever. The world lost a hero who was just beginning to unleash all that he had to offer in sports, entertainment, activism and fatherhood. Although the height of Bryant’s statistical achievements with the Los Angeles Lakers is undeniable, his true legacy was de�ined by his legendary competitiveness and work ethic — his Mamba Mentality. His thrilling clutch performances inspired the ubiquitous “Kobe” expression that people utter while tossing an object into a basket. Bryant was the iconic sports �igure of the 2000s — a role model for kids and adults alike. Despite no longer playing, his presence could be felt off-the-court. Bryant touched the hearts of many with his Oscar-winning �ilm “Dear Basketball,” and was a passionate supporter of women’s basketball. His daughter Gianna was touted by many to carry his legacy as a future WNBA star. “Crying won’t bring [Bryant] back but I’ll do it anyway,” said senior Jayson Lee in an Instagram post. “Rest in peace.” Kobe and Gianna Bryant are survived by their family, friends and dedicated fans.

sports

On Dec. 7, varsity wrestling took ninth in the Half Moon Bay Varsity Tournament and JV wrestlers placed in the top three at a twelve-school tournament hosted by Gonzales High School, starting off the season strong. Due to their exceptional performance last year, the team started the season by moving up to the De Anza upper division. The wrestling season began on Nov. 4 and will end the week before February break. Tournaments, which can involve schools from outside the leagues, began Dec. 7. The Half Moon Bay varsity tournament was one of the varsity team’s strongest performances so far this season. Dual meets, which are only between the upper league Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) teams, began a month later on Jan. 9. The team hosted a home meet on Jan. 9, where they defeated a tough opponent, Gunn High School. Many wrestlers have worked to achieve their personal goals this season. Junior Pranav Chittaranjan hopes to

qualify and place for the second day of struggle,” Wang said. Unlike most sports, the JV and varsity Central Coast Section (CCS), or take �irst in a varsity tournament. So far he has taken �ifth wrestling teams train together, so in two tournaments, but he is still practicing varsity wrestlers can give advice to the rigorously, looking forward to placing higher underclassmen during practices. Practices involve conditioning, warm ups and drills, in the future. Freshman Mohong Li has centered his followed by time spent perfecting speci�ic goals more around personal �itness. He techniques either requested by a wrestler wants to get stronger and quicker. So far, he or decided upon by the coach based on his has taken 13 wins and had only 6 losses, but observations at recent competitions. Steve Weng, an assistant coach last he pushes himself to keep improving. “Sometimes I just realize I'm not strong season, took over as the new head coach enough for the other guy I’m facing, but this year. Weng has also worked for almost I always try to push through and use my 15 years with the wrestling team at Miller Middle School, where he mentored many of technique to try to beat them,” Li said. For some, wrestling is a new experience. the current Lynbrook wrestlers. “For a lot of these kids, it's a seven year At �irst, freshman Faith Wang found it dif�icult to learn all the different components journey through Miller and Lynbrook that I'm of wrestling, but soon demonstrated her going with them on,” Weng said. “Watching ability and drive. Wang, the only girl on the them grow and achieve [as a wrestler] is Lynbrook High School | the Epic team this season, initially joined with her pretty incredible.” More dual meetslhsepic.com are coming up for the friend, who later dropped out. Although Wang found it somewhat discouraging, she wrestling team on Jan. 30 and Feb. 4, as well as SCVAL League Finals and CCS tournaments decided to stay with the team. “Near the middle of the season, the team later in February. The wrestling team looks and I got super close and now we're like forward to continuing to train hard together family, so that helped me overcome that to achieve their goals and improve.

USED WITH PERMISSION OF PRANAV CHITTHARANJAN

HALF NELSON | Sophomore Nolan Nyugen pins opponent with a half wnelson at the JV Lynbrook 2nd Man Tournament.

COLLAR TIE | Junior Ron Aich gets ready to snap his opponent down with a collar tie at the Half Moon Bay Varsity Tournament.

READY STANCE | Junior Isaac Yoon prepares to take a shot at the Half Moon Bay Varsity Tournament.

Use this QR code to check out the Epic's infographic on Super Bowl food consumption on Feb. 3.

BY RENEE GE

uarterback it up, the Super Bowl is approaching! Whether you’ll be watching alone or going the whole nine yards and throwing a party, here are four snacks to kick off the San Francisco 49ers game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

A super bowl of nachos

Sideline sliders

Hail Mary: Just wing it

Championion rings

To start the game off strong, grab a bowl of nachos and enjoy them with salsa, cheese or guacamole. Toss in jalapeños for an added kick, or even add in bacon. Nachos are easy to prepare and perfect for groups.

Sliders are small hamburgers originating from the Midwest, where the Chiefs are from, and excellent as a halftime show snack. There’s room for customization — ham and cheese dinner rolls or pizza sliders.

Picture this: the �inal minutes of the fourth quarter are winding down, your team has one last chance at victory with the Hail Mary play. You’re on the edge of your seat. Take a bite out of some buffalo wings to help you cope.

As the winning team secures their championship rings, sink your teeth into an onion ring. The outside coating will �ill your mouth with deep fried bread crumbs, and the onion’s sweetness will taste like victory.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY RENEE GE

SPORTS

JANUARY 29, 2020

c c h c BY LILLIAN FU

â&#x20AC;&#x153;[I particularly enjoy] surviving really hard [practice] sets with my teammates and [when] eve r yo ne pushes each other towards the same goal, like to qualify for a meet or to drop [time].â&#x20AC;?

Jessica Chu

UC Davis Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Swimming

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of being with friends, a lot of getting your mind off of any stress that you have in your life. When Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m playing soccer, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to be completely focused on that and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to worry about anything else.â&#x20AC;?

Luka Mandic Cal Poly Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Soccer

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just kept on going just b e c a u s e [squash] was always a big constant in my life. School is hard [and] friends are annoying, but you still have that one thing to fall back on.â&#x20AC;?

Avni Anand

University of Pennsylvania Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Squash

Confessions of a Seahawks fan

he San Francisco 49ers are moving on to the Super Bowl after winning the National Football Conference (NFC) Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers. For the ďż˝irst time since 2012, the team is advancing to the Super Bowl, eliciting

Anika Kanchi

Columbia University Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Squash

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My favorite tournament would be the USTA Zone Team Championships. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really close to how college tennis is. I had to learn a lot, [to] not keep looking at my failures and learn to come back from that.â&#x20AC;?

Pooja Muvva

NYU Stern Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tennis

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always doing handstands everywhere; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been walking on my hands from a really young age so I think I just loved being upside down. I always just thought that was really fun.â&#x20AC;?

Lauren Okamoto

Princeton University Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Diving GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY JASMINE HOU AND LILLIAN FU

LILLIAN FU â&#x20AC;&#x201D; EPIC

BENNIE CHANG// IN MY OPINION

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whenever Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m on the court during a tournament, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always composed on the outside but on the inside Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m raging. That kind of feeling on the court just feels amazing and I really enjoy that.â&#x20AC;?

excitement from local fans â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but not me. Although I am content with the fact that the 49ers are moving on to the Super Bowl, and not Aaron Rodgers and his Packers, I crave to see the Seattle Seahawks advance. Personally, our local 49ers and the Oakland Raiders donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean much to me. Although I respect and appreciate them, only the Seahawks have captured my heart because I grew up watching them play. Since I was about 5 years old, I would watch football with my dad and root for the Seahawks because their head coach, Pete Carroll, had previously taught at the University of Southern California, my dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s graduate school. Although my dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s connection to Carroll isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t signiďż˝icant to me, I grew to support the Seahawks players, such as Russel Wilson. When I ďż˝irst began watching games between the 49ers and the Seahawks, I would be torn over who to support: the local team or the team that I was more fond of. In

the end, I decided that I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let where I lived stop me from supporting the Seahawks. In elementary school, I followed the major league sports and frequently talked about the scores with classmates. Coming from diverse backgrounds, students in my school cheered for a wide variety of teams and players, so they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see my supporting of the Seahawks as a crime. Today, however, whenever I tell others that I like the Seahawks, I get countless questions regarding my support of the team. Did I live in Seattle? No. Why do I like the Seahawks? Because I do. For Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, I went to a party to watch the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos. The people there mostly supported the Broncos because the Seahawks defeated the 49ers in the NFC Division Championships, robbing the Niners of the Super Bowl spot. As the Broncos continued to give up possessions, I would see others clutching their head and wanting to

rip their hair out, as I stared gleefully at the screen. In a room full of grumpy football fans, I suppressed my urge to cheer, fearing that I would elicit even more negative emotions in others. For me, not cheering wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t because I was afraid to show my pride as a Seahawks fan; it was because I was worried about rubbing in our victory. Although I am not particularly outspoken about my support for the Seahawks, I have noticed that when I share my differing perspective, it can spark meaningful discussions â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or as you may frankly call them â&#x20AC;&#x201D; arguments. These sports rivalries can become intense, but I ďż˝ind that talking and watching sports with others, even if we disagree, is a fantastic way to bond. Often, I have more to say when I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see eye to eye with someone than when I agree with them. Living in the Bay Area and supporting the rival Seahawks can sometimes be challenging, but I have found that it has helped me build connections rather than fumble them.

JANUARY 29, 2020

SPORTS

photoessay

Lynbrook High School | the Epic lhsepic.com

Art murals highlight classrooms around campus BY MELISSA CHEN

DECA and Business (Room 606) Mrs. Badger’s mural features business terms such as “assets” and “liabilities”, and a colorful bar graph.

alking to class, students may have occasionally noticed colorful murals next to classroom doors. Many of the murals have been there for years, as part of an ongoing project by art students in which they hand-sculpt the tiles using a technique called “bas-relief ”. The students work in groups to communicate with classroom teachers and decide on a final design for each mural. “This is ‘project based learning’ at it’s finest. [It teaches] communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creative problem solving and builds character and citizenship,” said art teacher Charlotte Kruk. This year, 17 more murals are in the making. Take a closer look at some of the current mural designs, centered around themes like biology, coding and literature.

Historical Symbols (Room 502) Mr. Roy’s mural contains historical references like Rosie the Riveter, an icon representing working women during WW2.

Antigone and Macbeth (Room 212) Mrs. Albaker’s mural reveals her love for teaching interactive plays like “Macbeth” and “Antigone”.

Natural Science (Room 307) Mr. Pallone’s mural shows a simple diagram of the human body, and other natural systems.

Bridges and Calculus (Room 402) Mr. Dybdhal’s mural blends calculus functions and their applications, like in bridge construction and space travel.

American Eagle (Room 504) Mr. Howden’s mural has a patriotic symbol of a bald eagle bearing an olive branch and arrows.

Programming and Games (Room 608) The mural outside of Mr. Kwong and Mr. Fulk’s room shows videogames and the inner-workings of computers.

Literary Allusions (Room 210) Some of Mrs. Fill’s classroom literature —“The Scarlet Letter” and “The Odyssey”— are alluded to in this busy mural.

Wildlife and Biology (Room 306) Mrs. Schmalz’s simple mural has a gene tree and a giraffe against a beautiful sunset background.

Graphs and Pi (Room 409) Mrs. Frazita’s mural is decorated with graphs and a large slice of pie for the similar-sounding number.

More Personalized Mural (Room 112) Former Japanese teacher Kobayashi Sensei was more involved in picking ideas for her mural, resulting in a very unique design.