Epic Issue 3, 2017

DESENSITIZED Growing indifference amid numerous terror attacks

BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD

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oud cheering faded into panicked screams of terror as a gunman opened fire on concert goers at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas, leaving 58 dead and 515 injured.

Only a month later, another gunman shot and killed 26 churchgoers in a small rural Texas town before fleeing. While some had not even recovered from the emotional impact of the Las Vegas shooting, another act of terror occurring soon after shook the U.S., caused fear to spread through the country. The shootings at Las Vegas and Texas are only a few of the increasingly prevalent terrorist attacks that have occurred in the U.S. As a result of such acts of terror, many have begun to question the ability of the U.S. government to truly ensure their citizens’ security. On the other hand, others, especially post-millennials, seem to have expressed indifference due to the relative prevalence of these deadly events.

Perpetual coverage of terror attacks and related organizations including ISIS has led to the sensationalization of the topic; biased news outlets only

Violence sparks at Great America

BY PATRICIA WEI

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t was midnight at Great America’s Halloween Haunt on Saturday, Oct. 28. As seniors Ashley Kim, Chloe Kim and Evalina Xu were preparing to exit the amusement park, they saw helicopters with searchlights hovering over them.

A crowd of people was running, trying to disperse. Two large police cars stood at the park’s entrance. Theft and violence had broken out among teenagers.

The Santa Clara Police Department arrested a mother for using a stun gun on a minor, a minor for suspicions of theft and another person for public intoxication.

“There were so many policemen outside the gates,” said Chloe. “It was worrying and pretty scary. It was like a scene from a movie.”

Great America’s Halloween Haunt, promoted as “The Fright of Your Life,” drew more than 20,000 visitors over the course of one month to tour the amusement park’s attractions such as mazes, live shows, haunted houses and roller coasters. Fights among teens reportedly occurred because of a dispute in one of the long lines at the park. The violence eventually escalated as bystanders used their phones to film the fights, leading to the theft of several phones. Some visitors used stun guns to taze people in the crowd. Reports on social media during the time reflected that at first, people thought the incident was part of the show, until employees told them to evacuate. Security guards were present, but the groups of teens outnumbered them.

Many teens in the crowd who were not involved in the fights were also punched. A 44-year-old woman was arrested for using a stun gun against a minor who assaulted her child.

This violence is unprecedented for Santa Clara County’s biggest amusement park, which holds high security standards. Every visitor is required to check-in their bag with security guards before entering the amusement park, and police are investigating how tasers were brought beyond Great America’s checkpoints.

“I have been going to the Halloween Haunt for several years, and this is the first time anything like this has happened,” said Ashley.

Park attendees such as Xu have wondered how the tasers were let into the park, past security check.

“Although events like this rarely happen, this does make you question the amusement park’s security,” said Xu. “I would still feel comfortable attending the Halloween Haunt again, but I find it strange how security did not see the tasers even when they checked everyone’s bags.”

The events that occurred did not affect Great America’s hours or dates for the Halloween Haunt, which ended on Oct. 29 as planned. According to a statement made by Great America, they assured that the safety of their guests was their top priority in addressing the incident, and that security will be increased for the Halloween Haunt in 2018.

add to the panic of people who look toward these sources for information. This spread of misinformation can result in the stereotyping of certain demographics as dangerous terrorists, while others are humanized by these same sources. Additionally, increased reporting on ISIS and other terrorist group’s actions not only spreads fear throughout the public, but can also encourage violence on behalf of potential perpetrators.

Regardless of how people respond, an act of terror will inevitably leave a large impact on the nation.

The aftermath of such acts extend for months, often resulting in microaggressions due to a negative perspective of certain groups. Despite the U.S.’s reputation of guaranteeing freedom and safety for all citizens, unfortunately, such effects are still common, especially after an act of terror.

This issue, the Epic delves deeper into the psychological impacts and reasoning behind the fear, and more recently indifference, surrounding acts of terror, and how the media has played a role in public attitudes toward these issues.

BALE: TEACHER AND COACH // pg.14

see TERROR page 8

ART ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE LEE

ASHLEY SONG — EPIC

SELPA Fall Festival brings joy to ACT students News Newsinin Brief Brief

Winter Concert The winter concert is held on Thursday, Dec. 7, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

Tickets cost $5, and are sold at the ASB Office or can be bought at the door. Get into the holiday mood by listening to some seasonal tunes from the past and present.

A Very Merry Movie Gather with friends or family to watch the film “Home Alone” on Friday, Dec. 8 from 5:30 p.m. at Creekside Park. There will be hot cocoa and tea provided, so be sure to bring chairs and blankets and dinners to munch on while enjoying the movie.

Girls Soccer Tournament Watch the varsity girls soccer team play against Mercy High School at the Soccer Firebird Tournament. The game takes place at Fremont High School on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Don’t miss out on a chance to cheer on the Lady Vikes!

BY JUSTINE CHEN

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large crowd of 200 people cheering and dancing fills the fieldhouse. Loud, fast music pumps throughout the room and the energy is high. Others sit in the corners of the room, chatting while waiting in line to receive an intricate face paint design or a balloon animal. Outside of the fieldhouse, red and white carnival booths offer games like ring toss, soccer in a net and cover the spot, and candy prizes line the outdoor basketball courts. On Friday, Nov. 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Lynbrook’s Academic Community and Transition (ACT) program hosted the annual ACT and Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) Fall Festival and Dance for students with moderate to severe disabilities from Cupertino, Fremont, Monta Vista, Saratoga, Wilcox, Prospect, Branham, Mountain View, Milpitas, Palo Alto and Gunn High School.

Lynbrook’s ACT program has been working in collaboration with SELPA for around three months to plan this social event for students across the

South Bay. SELPA works with school districts and the Santa Clara County Office of Education to provide special education programs and services for disabled students. The event rotates through different schools each year; past events have included a barbecue at Memorial Park hosted by Cupertino High School and a Halloween festival hosted by Saratoga High School. Because their disabilities can, at times, limit ACT students’ ability to participate in school events and extracurricular activities, the event’s purpose was to provide a fun social event the students could enjoy.

“Most of the students have multiple disabilities,” said special education and Viking Buddies adviser and event organizer Jim Schussler. “A large percentage of them are autistic as well, and in that case, social skills can be very lacking. That’s one of the primary focuses: providing students with an opportunity to learn how to socialize in this type of setting appropriately.”

In order to successfully throw such a large event, the ACT program asked for the assistance of many volunteers, including student groups such as Viking Buddies, Link Crew and ASB. The 15 carnival game booths were operated by Link Crew leaders, while members of ASB handed out traditional carnival

foods such as popcorn, cotton candy, corn dogs and nachos. As official hosts of the event, Viking Buddies helped with cleaning up and setting up the event, in addition to interacting with ACT students.

“It was awesome seeing the smiles on their faces when they won games and received prizes,” said Link Crew leader and senior Arjun Nair. “I know some of them took time but just seeing them smile after they got it was the greatest prize of all.”

The event was a huge success with more than 250 ACT students and approximately 100 support staff, including teachers, paraeducators, school psychologists and speech, behavior and occupational therapists, attending the event.

“This is one of my favorite events of our entire school year,” said business teacher Andrea Badger. “The population with special needs, teenagers in particular, is often overlooked. I love seeing how they have this great, warm and welcoming environment where they can just be themselves and be a normal teenager. And also, our students, our Link Crew, ASB and Viking Buddies, can work with them and just have a good time. It’s really reflective of how welcoming of a school we are.”

ASB Food Truck Fest Come out to the quad on Thursday, Dec. 14 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. to buy from four different food trucks. The event is organized by ASB and will be selling food such as sushi, Mexican tacos, Italian food and boba. Celebrate the end of finals with friends while eating delicious food!

by Risa Mori

JUSTINE CHEN — EPIC

Letter from the Editors Dear readers,

With finals right around the corner, take some time to relax and read our third issue of the year.

Turn to our centerspread for this issue, where we take a look at the weaponization of fear in terror attacks, the media’s effect on our perception of such events and the growing insensitivity surrounding them (pg. 8).

Be sure to catch the recap of the annual fall festival for special education students (pg. 2), and learn about a new bill that makes the first year of community college free in California (pg. 2).

Read an opinionated story about actor Kevin Spacey’s coming out following sexual harrassment allegations (pg. 4) and our staff editorial that proposes a more effective substance abuse education program (pg. 5).

Flip to the features section to read the exciting experiences of six staff members during their cookie baking challenge (pg. 6) and discover how to give back to the community this winter break (pg. 7).

In the in-depth section, learn about the five stages in the cycle of addiction through an explanatory infographic (pg. 11).

Keep up with Lynbrook athletics in the sports section by reading about the varsity field hockey team, who qualified for CCS (pg.

13), and a preview of the varsity girls soccer season the team’s goals for the year (pg. 14).

If you’re looking for something more, check out our website for additional stories and behind-the-scenes content.

Stay warm, Catherine Huang and Eshani Mehta

BY ARUL GNANASIVAM

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housands of students across California rejoiced as Governor Jerry Brown passed a bill granting one year of free community college courses to all students. Announced on Oct. 14, this new measure aims to lower post-graduation student loans, as well as encourage more graduating high school students to attend community colleges. The bill also decreases overall tuition costs from approximately $3,300 to $2,200.

In a previous bill which waived a $5 per credit activation fee for each community college class, only 43 percent of college freshmen qualified for it. With more than 19,000 additional qualifying students, this bill gives a greater number of students the benefit of a reduced tuition. Governor Brown hopes to reach higher figures, since unlike the previous bill, this year’s bill applies to families of any income.

This bill, however, does not make the first year of college entirely free.

Although students would be able to

save close to $1,000 in tuition, they must pay for other services, such as housing and healthcare.

“While [this bill] is a good start, it does not take into account many of the ‘life cost’ issues that create barriers for our students,” said Ron Galatolo, chancellor of the San Mateo Community College District.

Additionally, many members of the state’s finance office argue that the bill uses too much of the state’s funds, requiring about 30 to 40 million dollars of the state budget, and that its target audience is too broad. According to the state’s finance office, the bill is “inconsistent with the administration’s efforts to target financial aid to the state’s neediest students,” citing that students with a higher family income should not receive access to one year of free college tuition.

Professors, on the other hand, believe that the bill opens students, especially first generation students and those from lower income families, up to new paths they would

not normally consider.

“Many students do their general education requirements and then transfer,” said Lynbrook alum Valerie Frankel, a professor at local community college Mission College.

“Dropping the price will certainly encourage more to do this.”

California is not the first state to decrease the price of community college education. New York and Rhode Island adopted similar legislations earlier this year; however, those programs pay for a student’s entire 2 to 4 years of tuition.

As California catches up to other states in community college costs, students can look forward to further reductions in tuition.

“I think that’s what this bill’s main objective is,” said College and Career Center adviser Barb Takahashi. “[It’s] a step towards free community college in general.”

As more states pass bills like these, anticipation of a free community college system will slowly but surely become a reality.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY NEWS SECTION

Raise student substance abuse awareness

Spacey uses gay identity as excuse for sexual assault An acclaimed actor’s response to recent allegations sets back LGBTQ agenda

BY DIVYA NELAKONDA

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he coming out of a prominent figure usually induces a warm welcome from the LGBTQ community. Actor Kevin Spacey’s recent coming out, however, was met with strong disapproval. On Oct. 29, actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of sexually assaulting him when Rapp was 14. The next day, Spacey released a statement on Twitter addressing the allegation, attributing his actions to “inappropriate drunken behavior” and by coming out as gay. Spacey’s attempts to deflect attention from allegations against him by revealing his gay identity should be condemned, for they silence victims and reflect poorly on the LGBTQ community.

A wave of individuals coming out with their sexual assault stories began in October, when dozens of women came forward with sexual assault allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein. Numerous prominent men have been accused of sexual misconduct, Spacey included. Rapp, who currently stars in Star Trek: Discovery, came forward with allegations that Spacey made sexual advances toward him in 1986, when he was 14. At the time, Rapp was a child Broadway actor on Precious Sons, and Spacey was working on a revival of Long Day’s Journey Into Night. The two met at an afterparty, and Spacey later invited Rapp to a party in his apartment. After the party ended, Spacey allegedly picked Rapp up and attempted to lay on top of him on the bed. At the time of the assault, Spacey was not a well-known actor.

But as Spacey’s fame grew, and the Weinstein accept that someone who’s beloved could be scandals came to light, Rapp felt obligated to capable of something so despicable.”

Additionally, Spacey’s decision to come speak out about the assault.

High-profile figures such as Spacey must out amid sexual harassment allegations be held responsible for using their power to against him perpetuates harmful stereotypes silence the vulnerable. Spacey’s use of his about gay men. One such stereotype is rooted in the idea that two sexuality as an exmen’s sexual attraction cuse for his behavior to one another is never is particularly maout of genuine connecnipulative, as it holds “Even though Spacey is victims against the part of the [LGBTQ] com- tion. This stigma is dehumanizing, reducing threat of “outing,” or munity, he perpetuates gay men to sexual obexposing Spacey’s or a stereotype that really jects and predators. Histhe victim’s homotorically, gay men have sexuality.

Because harms the community.” been associated with many victims of Amber Lee, child predators and Spacey’s inappropriSenior prevented from holding ate advances were authoritative positions male, opening up over children, such as about the incident teaching or leading Boy would have “outed” Spacey, holding them responsible for dam- Scout troops. Since the 1970s, this misconaging his reputation or outing themselves. ception has been dying, but Spacey’s actions Many fans of “House of Cards”, the show in rekindle the conflation between queer sexuwhich Spacey starred, are angered by Rapp’s ality and pedophilia, fueling anti-LGBTQ arallegations, accusing him of being an atten- guments that use fear-mongering as a tactic against queer people. Spacey feeds into this tion monger and destroying Spacey’s career.

“In Weinstein’s case, he was this power- ideology, insinuating that it is excusable for ful director, preying upon actresses whose him to prey on minors because it is natural careers are already so fragile,” said junior for him as a gay man. “[Spacey’s actions] reflect badly on the Jessabelle Ramos. “For Spacey, it was an adult preying upon a child actor, whose career is LGBTQ community,” said senior Amber Lee, also vulnerable. The assailants are powerful President of Intersections, a social justice and influential men who have reputations in club on campus. “Everyone has responsibiltheir fields, reputations that would have us ity within a community, regardless of sexual quickly take their side because it’s difficult to orientation, and for him to try to sideline his

actions is very disrespectful of the LGBTQ community. It is pretty terrible and irresponsible of Spacey to lump his apology and coming out together. Even though Spacey is part of the [LGBTQ] community, he perpetuates a stereotype that really harms the community.”

By focusing the discussion on his sexuality, Spacey tiptoes around the severity of the allegations directed toward him. While most coming out stories are well received by the LGBTQ community, Spacey’s is not, and he is rightfully criticized for his timing in coming out. Spacey’s statement instigates a shift in narrative, from a victim’s brave decision to open up about his experience to a celebrity’s coming out. Ultimately, Spacey manipulates the media to gloss over the victim to focus on the story of the figure in power.

“Spacey spent more time explaining his sexuality rather than apologizing to Rapp, showing that Spacey is more concerned about people making assumptions about his sexuality rather than being a sexual assailant,” said Ramos. “Spacey’s response takes away from the recovery and peace of mind that Rapp deserves. It was not an apology to Rapp; it was a defense of Spacey’s actions. It attempts to invalidate Rapp’s trauma.”

Spacey’s attempts at damage control associate his sexual advances with his sexual identity and take advantage of victims’ lack of power as well as the LGBTQ community to mitigate controversy. It is imperative to recognize that the abuse of power by individuals accused of harassment, no matter the perpetrator’s sexuality, is not permissible.

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ighting up during school hours and drinking prior to school events are activities occasionally pursued by grams as unsuccessful in preventing Lynbrook student body. While trends substance abuse cases.

“I personally do not think the curin drug and alcohol abuse at a school like Lynbrook are ever-changing, a rent program is effective because we are stronger substance abuse education merely being fed information through handouts and do not program is needfully understand the ed to increase actual risks,” said awareness and sophomore Julie Lee. improve overall “WE ARE MERELY BEAlthough Lynstudent wellness. ING FED INFORMATION brook has far fewA supplementary THROUGH HANDOUTS er substance abuse program, includ- AND DO NOT FULLY UNproblems than most ing a public speak- DERSTAND THE ACTUAL schools, room for imer event, should provement remains. also be ready in RISKS.” Current procedures the event that a Julie Lee for dealing with subparticular school Sophomore stance abuse cases year requires use a responsive more attention rather than prevendue to more drug tative approach. By increasing on-camor alcohol related incidents.

“We always have to weigh if sub- pus awareness of substance abuse, stustance abuse is a problem,” said Stu- dents will not need to go through the dent Conduct Liaison Jose Ramirez. district program in the first place.

Thus, the current program should be “That is a fluid question that has to be asked every single time because revamped to include more discussion it could be yes at any time. So a plan of personal experiences, both through open forum within the current SJPD should always be available.”

The Fremont Union High School class and exposure to videos of people District currently has a program in who have dealt with the repercussions place for students who are caught of addiction. The program should also be possessing drugs at school. These formatted less like a class and more like students must attend district-man- a safe space to ask questions.

Additionally, small changes can dated classes to reflect on their behavior. Often, they are also required be implemented to further students’ to attend additional therapy sessions. awareness of the effects of substance Lynbrook’s only schoolwide ed- consumption. Pamphlets should be made accessible ucation, at present, on substances is in the library given during freshman year PE. The and office so curriculum, provided by the San Jose students Police Department (SJPD), broadly can learn covers substance abuse, with an emmore phasis on real life consequences.

Drugs and alcohol are also briefly touched upon in the yearly zero-tolerance presentations given by the assistant principals.

Many, however, view the pro-

Staff Editorial

The Voice of the Epic

about substance-related issues and who they can contact in the event that they need help beyond what is discussed during the SJPD class. Posters with similar information can also be hung on the many bulletin boards around campus.

Presently, administration evaluates incoming freshmen on their inclination toward using drugs and alcohol by inquiring with their middle schools and making a point to get to know them. In addition to improving the the standard substance education program, the school should prepare a supplementary program ready in the event that one year’s evaluation indicates the necessity for more involvement.

The additional program would have speakers talk to students about their personal experiences with addiction, allowing students to better visualize the negative consequences that rise from substance abuse.

“Lynbrook has a fairly low number of drug and alcohol cases that are caught or brought to our attention,” said Assistant Principal Eric Wong. “That is not to say we’re blind to the fact that [substance abuse] is happening or that some of our students are using [drugs and alcohol].

I do think one of the differences here [compared to other schools] is that our students, for the most part, choose to not do it on campus.”

Improving the way Lynbrook handles drug and alcohol education is crucial, and to do so, it is necessary to update the substance abuse education program, create an additional program for problem years, educate parents and provide more informational tools. This will not only spark important conversations about substance use among students, but lead to a healthier Lynbrook. *the Epic staff voted 32-1 in favor of this stance

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CLARA FERNANDES

MICHELLE LUM//IN MY OPINION

Zara pockets workers’ wages

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his summer, as I browsed countless stores with my sister in search of the perfect dress or jacket, I never once paid attention to how those garments had ended up in my hands. While I mindlessly pushed aside shirts on racks and made my

purchases at checkout counters, never once did I think about where they had come from, how they had been made or who had made them: the factory workers who had spent long hours behind sewing machines to produce what I was so easily taking for granted.

In early November, news came out that factory workers in Turkey were placing notes on clothing in Zara stores about their less than optimal working conditions. Messages left on Zara items spoke of how workers at Istanbul’s Bravo Tekstil factory, which had manufactured garments for clothing companies such as Zara, Next and Mango, had not been paid for their work and had been left without compensation after the factory unexpectedly shut down.

This seems to be one final, desperate plea for help from the factory workers, who were unpaid for more than a year after the factory’s owners abandoned the factory in July 2016. In conjunction with the Clean Clothes Campaign, 140 of the 155 workers also draft-

ed a Change.org petition, which has garnered more than 295,000 signatures as of Dec. 5.

In response to the public outrage over the incident, Zara’s parent company, Inditex, attempted to make amends by explaining that it was in the process of creating a hardship fund to compensate the unpaid workers.

Such action, however, comes much too late, and the amount of progress made is unknown. Additionally, the statement, in which Inditex claimed that it “has met all of its contractual obligations to Bravo Textil [sic],” appears to me as an attempt to shift the blame away from Inditex. Although it is mainly the owners who are at fault for the current situation, Inditex and the other fashion companies are partly to blame too. Having benefited from the workers’ sufferings, they should take some of the responsibility for the plight of these workers, instead of trying to shift the blame completely to the factory owners.

As someone who has shopped at Zara many times before, I’m shocked that the

company has profited from such unethical practices. I’m also disappointed in myself for having spared no thought for the factory workers who have suffered and continue to suffer at the hands of such companies. Zara, Next and Mango should not profit while their workers remain in such dire straits, and shoppers should not tolerate such cruelty.

In light of the exploitation of the Bravo factory workers, Inditex, Next and Mango should work to correct the current situation by compensating the workers. Meanwhile, shoppers should sign the workers’ petition and consider boycotting the companies’ products to place pressure on the companies to stop their business malpractices. As long as these companies do not right their wrongs, I for one will not be able to wear another one of their items without thinking of the hardships that those who have made them have endured. For now, I think I’ll shelve my Zara items until necessary action is taken on the companies’ parts.

MEERA BALAJI — EPIC

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY OPINION SECTION

NOELA BAE//IN MY OPINION

Finstas: the fake side of Instagram

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ver since Instagram users were given the option to log into multiple accounts at a time, Finstas have quickly been on the rise. If you’re not familiar with the term “Finsta,” allow me to explain. “Fintas,” an abbreviation for “Fake Instagrams,” are private Instagram accounts that only the user’s closest friends follow. These accounts consist of memes, rants, embarrassing photos, roasts—you name it. A Finsta can be viewed as a kind of safe zone: what society deems unacceptable or preposterous can be posted with minimal judgment.

Though I am amused when scrolling through the Finsta posts on my feed, I can’t help but also feel irked by what these accounts have become. First of all, I feel outright ostracized: users only accept the follower requests of those that they’re chummy with, and the low follower count of each Finsta affirms this. As determining factors of who one’s “close friends” are, Finstas create a barrier between friends.

Finstas also create an exhibitionist emotional burden for followers. The Finsta accounts I follow have become ranting outlets, and whether these rants are grave concerns or trifling matters, the users behind them are clearly seeking validation from their small following. Too often I have felt conflicted to feed users the emotional support and sympathy that they seek. It’s not that I want to be that insensitive, aloof friend, but I’ll be honest: it’s emotionally exhausting to stress over how I’ll respond to the post and religiously play the sympathizer role. The high-strung temperaments of Finsta users make me uneasy, and as much as the rants alleviate users from their own emotional burden, that burden is now transferred onto me and other followers.

Roasts are another common type of post on Finstas. Frankly, I find these to be more mocking and offensive than comical. But if I call out users for posting such content, I, as their servile follower, am not doing my job of feeding them validating comments. This constant question of whether I’m supposed to call them out or play along with their sardonic sense of humor is quite frustrating.

Let’s not forget how frequently Finsta posts fill up my feed. It’s as if selectivity doesn’t exist: every life update must be shared daily. My feed is filled with more Finsta posts than those from “standard,” “normal” accounts. I don’t think I can go through 10 photos without coming across a Finsta post. Give me a break.

Also, think about Finstas in the grand scheme of things. To think that our generation resorts to Finstas to express our genuine feelings is disappointing. It didn’t occur to me that preserving public persona had become so valuable that a secondary platform would be necessary to reveal authentic character. Has Generation Z really come to the point where the fear of backlash prevents them from owning up to their beliefs publicly? Quite a shame if you ask me.

But don’t get me wrong. Amid all my complaints, I do understand the rationale behind Finsta accounts. In a time when carefully curating a flawless Instagram has become the norm, Finstas have become a direct response to this pressure of perfection. But let’s be real: the rants, pleas for help, memes, jokes, brags and roasts are kind of overdoing it. You can’t always resort to Finstas as your safe zone.

Having said all this, I wouldn’t be too surprised if I find myself banished from all the Finstas that I currently follow after my friends read this. But hey, it was about time a non-Finsta user shared her side of the story.

XI ELEVEN makes waves with music

BY CHLOE LEE

Jonathan Participating in this challenge was my first time making something from scratch since baking in a middle school cooking class. My family never bakes desserts, so this was a great learning experience for me. I learned how to mix dough with my hands while making our cookie mixture, which is something I realized I should have learned a long time ago. After creating our cookie dough from butter, sugar and flour, we realized it was too fluid. We modified the recipe, adding a lot more dough than we should have. I thought this would result in disaster, but after placing the cookies into the oven, our group realized that our spontaneous actions actually turned out for the best. Other than being a bit too crumbly, the cookies looked and tasted exactly like shortbread. We then decided to design the cookies in the form of melted snowmen. This was my first time using icing and frosting for design, and I had to practice on an empty plate several times before I felt confident enough to start drawing on the cookies. In the end, our finished cookies looked very cute and tasted surprisingly tasty! Our team worked well together and had a lot of fun.

Hatim I have never baked cookies before; the only dessert I had previously baked was cake, which I ended up burning. So I was relieved when I got to know that this was going to be a group challenge, because my teammates could help me out. When we began baking, we chose a simple recipe, which turned out to be almost difficult once we began mixing the ingredients. A couple of dumps of flour later, we saw that we had just disregarded the recipe.

But by adding a few smiling marshmallows and colorful M&M’s, we really topped it off. Unlike the melted snowmen, we were glad that we were able to do all that and more in only a matter of two hours!

Kelsey At the start of the challenge, I was feeling confident in making our group’s cookies because the recipe seemed quite simple to make. My confidence gradually diminished, however, as problems started to arise, from butter that wouldn’t melt to sticky batter. Maybe it was because our recipe wasn’t as easy as I had expected. For instance, it called for an excessive amount of butter so our group decided to not follow the recipe to preserve our health. From there on, we estimated the amounts of each ingredient needed. This method, though not the most professional, surprisingly worked and our cookies were in the oven within an hour! 15 minutes later, we took the freshly baked cookies out of the oven and decided to decorate our cookies into melted snowmen. From there, it was smooth sailing (or should I say smooth baking). We were the underdogs of the challenge and pulled through with our tasty snowmen shortbread cookies.

Hsinyen Memories of last year’s gingerbread house challenge led me to volunteer for this year’s challenge. This challenge, however, proved more difficult than last year’s, as we had to make decorated cookies from scratch. My lack of baking skills led me to choose a seemingly simple recipe, but the reviews were filled with comments noting the blandness of the cookies. To combat this, I brought an ingredient that was sure to secure the win: pumpkin spice. We ran into another problem when the recipe called for the batter to chill for one hour. Our resourcefulness led us to roll out the dough and place it in the freezer to chill faster. What could go wrong? During our check-ins with the dough, however, we noticed that the dough was getting cold, but not solidifying. Keep in mind that at this point, the other team finished baking and was starting to decorate. Growing impatient, we decided to just bake the cookies and wing it. Surprisingly, our dough resulted in perfectly fluffy cookies After perusing Google Images for ideas, our team set out to decorate cookies. In the end, I was surprised with how well our cookies turned out, considering that the cookies were falling apart before being baked.

Eric

Baking these cookies was like a metaphor for this great struggle of existence that we call life.

We laughed. We cried. We shed our blood, sweat and tears. And when the final product came out of the oven golden-brown and fluffy to perfection, we knew that it was worth every bit of the endeavor to find meaning out of our time here on Earth. But when the challenge was all over with: the messes cleaned, the dishes washed and the cookies eaten… we realized that it was the journey that was the most valuable to us. Because when you reach the end of the line and there’s nothing left, you realize that it’s the people you shared the ride with who matter the most. So yeah, making the cookies was pretty fun.

Aileen Saying that I was beyond excited for this challenge would be an understatement. I walked into the challenge felated about the fact that I would be baking festive gingerbread cookies for my favorite holiday. As Eric whisked together the wet ingredients, Hsinyen and I measured out the dry ingredients, adding a dash of our secret ingredient, pumpkin spice, for that extra pop of flavor. We then placed the dough into the freezer and covered it with frozen foods to speed up the chilling process. After waiting 20 minutes for our dough to chill, we decided to wing it and took our still sticky dough out of the freezer. At this time, that decided to improvise and poured an excessive amount of flour onto our dough. Thankfully the extra flour made the dough less sticky and we finally put the cookies in the oven. Although we may have frosted the cookies a little too soon, they still looked festive and cute. Contrary to the results, my mom thought the cookies turned out delicious!

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY FEATURES SECTION

Stay-cation

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inter break is the time mid-school year when many lurk at home under their covers, enviously tapping through social media, looking at their friends’ photos of their various vacation destinations. I personally get extremely frustrated seeing all my friends sunbathing on the beach in their swimsuits, sipping water out of a coconut, while I’m stuck at home in my pjs sipping on a juice box. But who said you can’t have fun at home during the holidays? The best way to eliminate these feelings of envy is to put your phone down and make the best of your newfound leisure time. Welcome to my homebodies’ guide to making the most of your stay-athome vacation.

Often times, you have the fixings for a good time right at home, not to mention an opportunity to be productive. Go on an expedition to the refrigerator and discover something to eat from the top shelf. Or maybe it’s finally time to excavate the giant pile of who-knows-what accumulating in the corner of your room to see if you can find that sock that’s been missing since last Christmas. For those craving some chill time, have a little spa day by sinking into your bathtub and putting on your favorite music or TV show. If you have a sheet mask laying around, pop it in the fridge for a few minutes before using it to get a nice depuffing effect.

Between finishing homework and writing college essays, it can be difficult to make time to be active, let alone breathe.

So during this break, take advantage of this time to go on a hike with the family: just get lost in the woods, find a stream to drink from or a tree to hug. Not much of an outdoor person? You can still get some exercise by hopping on the Caltrain to San Francisco and forcing yourself to walk everywhere, maybe even catching some holiday shopping deals along your merry way.

With all the extra time on your hands, a long break is the perfect time to binge watch TV shows. Whether that means plowing through a new Netflix series or rewatching all nine seasons of Friends, you’re sure to make some decent headway before January 2nd. If you don’t know what to watch, might I suggest trying something new, like your first ever anime or korean-drama? My personal favorites are “My Hero Academia” or “Full Metal Alchemist” for animes, and “Sassy Go Go”, “Coffee Prince” or “Strong Woman” if you’re interested in k-dramas.

Just keep in mind that k-drama episodes are typically an hour long, and there are some cultural differences between animes and k-dramas, and American TV shows.

The most important thing that people forget to do during the year is to spend some good quality time with the family.

Amid the hustle-and-bustle of everyday life, we can easily forget to show appreciation for those we love. This break, bond with your parents over Costco samples while grocery shopping or have a quality argument over holiday dinners.

No matter what you decide to do this break, I hope you find a way to have fun.

Break is ultimately a time to take your mind away from work and concentrate on yourself. As for my fellow seniors, I wish you all the best of luck with college apps. I understand it can be hard to alleviate the stress of approaching deadlines, but hopefully you can find some time to relax with friends and family. If not...

Oh Whale!

There’s always the next break to look forward to!

Tsao’s third album, named “Unraveled” tells a story about dealing with failure.

“I sang with him on one of his songs and helped take his concept photos for the second album,” said junior Megan Yang. “The whole experience was something I had never did before and it was something new.”

Another one of Tsao’s friends, senior Andrew Destin, played trumpet as background music in “Textbook Life,” giving it a realistic backing track. Senior Keontrye Hsieh was also featured on a few of Tsao’s tracks.

“While working with Kai, I got to use his recording set for the first time, which was an unbelievable experience,” said Destin. “It was my first time being recorded at something similar to a professional scale. To see how Kai makes his music come together with everthing was simply unbelievable.”

USED WITH THE PERMISSION OF KAI TSAO

KELSEY LU—EPIC

Epic bakes holiday cookies challenge

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tanding in front of his studio microphone in a room filled with various recording equipment, senior Kai Tsao sings a few notes. His hands fly across the piano, trying out different keys to find the perfect melody. After recording his voice and the instruments, Tsao begins to finetune the song further by editing its beats and sounds.

Tsao has been producing music for two years as an outlet to escape reality and express his emotions. He first created his brand, xi eleven in May 2016.

First gaining inspiration from YouTube, Tsao started experimenting with music including other people’s beats and vocals to create a notable sound.

Tsao’s first two albums, “Undestroyed” and “Unidentified”, were produced in the middle of 2016 and the beginning of 2017 respectively and are featured on his website. Along with each song, Tsao includes an album song list as well as translations and interpretations.

Growing up, Tsao felt connected with the number eleven.

“I felt like I just didn’t want to use my own name,” said Tsao. “My songs portray a different personality than I am in real life.”

Tsao’s music showcases hardships and feelings he would not normally talk about with his peers. His songs enable him to sing about significant events in his life that are personal and difficult to share with others.

“Music has given me a sense of purpose,” said Tsao. “In my first two years of high school, I didn’t really have any interests or idea of what I would be able to pursue, but going into music, I have one way to go.”

His friends and family support and appreciate his music, as Tsao often comes home to find his own music playing.

Tsao does not see his interests in music as a hobby, but rather something he is passionate about and dedicated to, since he plans to pursue music studies in college and onward.

“Even if I’m 60, I’ll still be jamming out to music. Music is definitely is something I would be doing in the future even if it’s not my profession,” Tsao said.

How to be on Santa’s nice list

BY JESSICA LI

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fter long hours of arduous studying to prepare for the last week of final exams, students can finally celebrate the long-awaited two-week winter break, kick back and relax. While binge watching television shows or hanging out with friends may seem like the ideal use of this surplus time, it can also be spent meaningfully by bettering the community. Try out these tips to give back to or make an positive impact on the community this winter break.

1. Start small At the beginning of winter break, find small acts to take on that’ll influence the community, rather than overburdening yourself and burning out too early. A small change can cause a butterfly effect and lead to something more meaningful. Find out what your community lacks and with your free time, look for ways to meet these needs. Try helping out your family with house chores, offer to wash dishes after meals and do your laundry, among other chores that must be done, without allowance or any ulterior motives or rewards. Do the same for your neighbors. For example, bring the trash back in from the streets on Monday morning and regularly check in on your neighbors’ well being. Every action counts, and small ones may turn into a grandeur gesture that affects your entire community.

2. Encourage those around you Although many may hide insecurities, almost everyone has them. One way to counteract these feelings is to provide words of affirmation. Write short notes of encouragement to your friends, family and teachers to demonstrate your appreciation for them. Another way to show your appreciation can be to find little presents to give out to people in your classes after winter break ends. An easy way to start would be to search on Pinterest on Instagram for inspiration. Then, after winter break. figure out all the logistics, such as the names of everyone in your classes, what notes you want to write to each person.

Imagine the look on someone’s face when he or she receives a personalized delivery with flowers and candy.

3. Donate what you don’t need With holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, the December holiday season is when people receive a flurry of gifts and money. There are millions of people in other areas around the world, however, who are in need of basic supplies just to get by and live with a healthy and sanitary standard of life. By donating some of your belongings that you may not even use anymore, you can make a significant contribution to those in need of necessary items such as clothing, toiletries or educational aids. Therefore, try to find some local charities focused on providing such gifts over the winter break. Certain organizations such as Operation Christmas Child and Salvation Army are more well known, but think out of the box when gift-

ing. You may be able to get in touch with nonprofits in third world countries, or personally take a trip to bring presents to children in more impoverished areas.

As a popular saying goes, “those who are the happiest are those who do the most for others.”

4. Read Arguably the most important tip to follow during winter break is to read more., whether it’s a new book or an interesting article. You will discover your interests and passions, as well as find causes that you advocate for to delve into that go beyond your basic neighborhood needs. The Bay Area can, at times, be a big bubble that secludes us from the grotesque realities of the world. Reading, however, can be a great way to broaden your perspective and incite a drive to improve inequalities around you. In fact, reading can help you generate ideas on actions you can take both during and after winter break to make a positive impact. Most great ideas are not entirely original; they are almost always inspired by another person’s imagination. To start off, classic books have tons of hidden insight and wisdom on life in general, while online newspapers and magazines offer information on current news that unveil the endless injustices in the world. So, try to start off your winter break by reading, not watching television shows, and you may end up coming out of winter break wholly inspired and educated!

ART ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE LEE

IN THE FACE OF TERROR

Tolerance

BY WILLIAM GUO, CATHERINE HUANG, CHELSEA LI, MICHYLA LIN, ESHANI MEHTA AND AURELIA YANG

Indifference to fear

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY OPINION SECTION

Top 6 most frequently associated words with terror

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GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MICHYLA LIN

post-millennials, have never known a world without weekly shootings and extremist attacks. Not only have these attacks become more frequent, they have become increasingly deadly; all but one of the nation’s five deadliest shootings have occurred in the past five years.

“With 9/11, it was like ‘Oh my god, this is so terrible,’ but it was unprecedented,” said senior Malaika Khan. “It’s more common now, which makes us more numb to it, especially because it doesn’t happen near us.”

From a biological perspective, a person’s natural instincts encourage him or her to remain removed from potentially dangerous situations. As a result, the human brain will accept the most convenient facts as truth, as acknowledging that terrorism exists instills insecurity. By convincing themselves that they are safe, the individuals who have yet to be affected are lulled into a subconscious inductive fallacy in which people believe that since they have not been directly affected by terrorism, it is unlikely they ever will. In this way, fear prevents people from taking action.

“Sometimes such desensitization can happen intentionally or subconsciously, if we can convince ourselves or others that something is not in fact as scary or important as it really is,” said Dr. Sara Hyatt, a clinical psychologist. “This is usually another coping and defense mechanism, because if we allowed ourselves to really feel how frightening it really is, it would be too overwhelming.

If we can downplay something, criticize it, belittle it, joke about it… we can lighten it to the point that it loses its power and its ability to create fear in us.”

Sensationalization of terrorism by the media has a similar effect, causing

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he aftershocks from an act of terrorism can powerfully impact those not involved in the act itself, as fear rapidly spreads throughout the nation, causing people to turn against each other and doubt their security. A decade ago, terrorism would certainly instill unrest throughout the nation, leading citizens to take action and demand change; however as time passes, younger generations have become notably unresponsive to the increased prevalence of terrorism.

“Fear is the primary psychological weapon underlying acts of terrorism,” said Daniel Antonius, director of forensic psychiatry at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in an interview with CNN. “It is this fear, or the anticipation of future acts of terror, that can have serious effects on our minds.”

Terrorists strive to be constantly present in people’s consciousness, in the form of constant stress and uncertainty, according to terrorism expert John Horgan. This omnipresent sense of danger causes a loss of the ability to reason, alterations in temperament and in extreme cases, serious psychological distress.

“They evoke fear by creating a sense of uncertainty, by creating a feeling in a person that they cannot protect themselves or their loved ones,” said Dr. Sally Broder, President-Elect of the Santa Clara County Psychological Association. “With this fear, many people will restrict their movements, staying home rather than putting themselves or their family at risk. This is exactly what terrorists want.”

Many individuals, particularly those born after 1995, however, are too young to understand or remember the panic and fear resulting from events such as the Columbine High School shooting and the 9/11 attacks. These individuals, more commonly referred to as Generation Z or

BY MEERA BALAJI

people to lose trust in the media’s job to accurately report terrorism, and adversely leading to increasing disregard for terrorism as a threat. On the other hand, the government often uses media as a means of reassuring the public. The belief that there is already a solution to the problem lulls people into a sense of security; as they believe that the government is already taking action, individuals cease pushing for for reform.

“I guess once [coverage] stops being so prominent in news, that’s when I start feeling a little more safe,” said sophomore Natalie Semersky.

Additionally, people often use terrorist attacks to justify their political or religious beliefs. The politicization of these acts of terror makes individuals

detached from the reality of the situation and leaves them with only a surface-level understanding of the event. Discussions, especially in heated social media arguments, primarily revolve around proving people on the opposite side of the political spectrum wrong.

While the weaponization of fear is primarily employed by terrorists to instill anxiety over a large population, the emotional impact of such acts of terror is fading with each event among postmillenials due to the prevalence of terrorism. Ultimately, panic and unrest, as well as heated discussions, are all common responses to an act of terror. Due to the divisive nature of these events, it is all the more important that citizens react rationally.

Confidence in government’s perceived ability to protect citizens

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY JONATHAN YE

1046 Lynbrook students were surveyed for their opinions*: * some students may not have responded to all the questions

Media’s stranglehold on perception

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ccording to a recent survey, “ISIS” was one of the top four words Lynbrook students associated with acts of terror. The second most frequently Googled term in recent years, ISIS has received the exponential media coverage necessary to spread their message of fear over the past decade.

While most members of ISIS are Muslim, relatively few members of Muslims in the US have any ties to the terrorist organization. President Trump’s team has incorrectly labeled many terrorist attacks, specifically ones with Muslim perpetrators, as underreported; Muslim perpetrators represent 44 percent of media coverage on terrorist attacks, but only 12 percent of actual terrorist attacks. A study conducted in 2017 by the Pew Research Center also found that 35 percent of U.S. adults believe there to be significant amounts of extremism among U.S. Muslims, and 41 percent believe that Islam encourages violence over any other faith.

Reporting has ingrained a misleading association between Muslims or Islamic groups such as ISIS and fear or terror within the U.S. population. The repeated coverage of terror and associated organizations has also created an aura of media sensationalism, encouraging violence among potential perpetrators. Because the public’s main source of information following an attack is the media, accurate reporting is essential to correctly inform the public. Unfortunately, misinformation spreads rapidly, and the effects of biased news can have lasting effects on the public.

The world has not yet settled on a standard definition of “terrorism,” but the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations defines it as “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property

to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.” In order to correctly qualify an attack as an act of terror, it is necessary to investigate whether or not there is a political or ideological agenda behind the task.

Recent events have also led to the discussion of double standards in the portrayal of terrorist or other attacks.

Oftentimes, an offender of color will be labeled as a terrorist, while a caucasian individual who commits similar acts is often humanized. As CBS political analyst Jamelle Bouie tweeted early this year in October, “Essentially, by the definition currently in common currency, a white person cannot be a terrorist.”

In the case of the murder of British Parliament member Jo Cox in June of 2016, perpetrator Thomas Mair, who was white, was deemed neither a “terrorist” nor a “possible terrorist” even though it was proven that he was politically motivated to commit the crime. On the other hand, Indian Muslim Nisar udDin Ahmed was jailed for 23 years after being falsely accused of plotting terrorist acts. False perceptions of people of color have led to a sense of unease even locally. For example, freshman Anoushka Naik was inaccurately labeled as dangerous at a local Starbucks when she was 12 years old.

“A woman kept looking at me weirdly, and I later heard her telling her daughter to stay away from people like me, saying they’re bad, they’ll hurt you,” said Naik.

“I felt disappointed because she was telling her young daughter that people like me, people of color, are going to hurt her.

I wanted to speak out at that moment and say I wouldn’t hurt anyone. But in that moment, I felt like it would have just added to that girl’s fear of me and I

didn’t want that.”

ISIS has also established itself as the primary organization associated with terror through the media, strategically claims responsibility for attacks which affect a large group of people. As a result, an increased coverage of ISIS and its involvement allows ISIS and other organizations to spread their word to the public, encouraging more individuals to join their efforts. According to a study conducted by Economics and Finance professor Michael Jetter from EAFIT University in Colombia, there exists a clear association between the amount of coverage of a terrorist incident and the number of subsequent attacks over the next few weeks.

“Whether it is the Taliban, al-Qaida, Boko Haram or, recently, ISIS, terrorism is everywhere on TV stations, newspapers and the radio,” Jetter said. “Terrorists need media coverage to spread their message, create fear and recruit followers. However, until now we did not know whether media attention actively encourages terrorist attacks.”

The media is a critical aspect in making the government accountable for its actions and keeping the public wellinformed. News journalists have the ability to selectively filter out what the public hears; consequently, they are the public’s instrument to learn what is going on. The lack of accuracy on issues has been attributed to many things, most notably the lack of regulation on what can be published online and the ease which information can be distributed online.

“The book ‘Brave New World’ explains a situation in which everything is flipped,” said Economics and Government teacher David Pugh. “Facts become fiction, fiction becomes facts, which is kind of what’s happening today… We don’t know what to believe.”

he moment after people’s lives are lost in an act of terror, the media goes into a frenzy. Reporters fly out to the scene, stories float around on the internet and the comments section of any post burst with the opinions of people near and far, conservative and liberal. But something is inherently wrong with the message that many outlets are pushing: the word tolerance.

What is wrong with that word which has littered mainstream culture? Simply put, it’s a word rooted in internalized racism. While a loud uncle at Thanksgiving or even an obnoxious child running inside the metro can be “tolerated,” we should not just be “tolerating” the differences among us. Asking us to simply “tolerate” minorities within a community only serves to silence voices, allowing the majority to tune out of discussions because of the belief that it is enough to “tolerate” others, not hear them out.

Tolerance is, to some extent, to be blamed for the evils and the divisions that are rearing their ugly heads in the nation. Terrorists are successful in dividing this country because even from the most progressive among us, we ask for only “tolerance” of other people and ideas when in fact we should be asking for the celebration of other cultures and our divisions. Minorities are stripped of their cultural pride when they are told that the majority simply “puts up” with them, not valuing their experiences as a person of color and disregarding the struggles they face because of their identity.

There is no other country on this planet that can boast of the diversity of minds and thoughts than this great country we call home can. The very notion of mere tolerance only serves to amplify the differences among us. If instead we learn to embrace our differences and absorb the goodness in the various segments of our society, be it religious or racial, the synergy that can be achieved would bring a widespread feeling of unity.

These unifying sentiments cannot be felt within activism until we stop using “tolerance” to signify equality.

Tolerance indicates that the majority has carried out such a gracious deed by simply acknowledging another’s existence. This negatively shifts the discussion from asking “how do we include minorities within mainstream discourse?” to “should minorities be tolerated in our discourse?” We will not see a need to raise our voices when we see discrimination and harassment based on someone’s personal identity, as we may be content that we have already done more than needed just by tolerating them.

The U.S. is by far one of the most progressive countries in the world, because of our inalienable freedoms of speech and press. But these freedoms come with a type of responsibility, one to question the meaning of our rhetoric and the way we address the dichotomy of cultures. While the intent of our words are often in good spirit, words like tolerance only serve to undermine the level of respect that cultures deserve, and limit our potential to truly celebrate each other’s respective differences.

Cycling through the five phases of addiction

Weinstein effect exposes dark secrets Hollywood scandal sparks international outcry

BY MEDHA UPADHYAY AND BELINDA ZHOU

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exual assault scandals like the one regarding renowned film producer Harvey Weinstein are continuing to surface, empowering many victims to come forward with personal stories of sexual abuse or misconduct by highly publicized and powerful personalities. Over the past couple of months, Weinstein has garnered over 60 accusations of making unwanted sexual advances toward both men and women. Shortly after Weinstein was implicated, sexual misconduct allegations regarding other eminent figures such as Kevin Spacey, Ben Affleck, Roy Moore and Matt Lauer materialized.

This ripple of sexual assault accusations has been dubbed the “Weinstein effect.”

While sexual assault cases emerge in the media frequently, the Weinstein incident is considered a tipping point due to the large number of people he victimized. Allegations against Weinstein are of varying levels of harassment and include cases ranging from the 1970s to the present day, totaling over 60 sexual assault accusations against him.

These cases came to light in October 2017 as a result of an investigation conducted by The New York Times. The accumulation of the accusations legitimized the claims and left few opportunities for Weinstein to defend himself. Weinstein’s ability to shield his predatory behavior from the public has astounded millions, but his behavior proves that sexual assault in workplaces is a recurring dilemma. It also delineates a major communication disconnect, as a staggering number of men and women were assaulted, yet Weinstein still diverted the public eye from his behavior; his conduct signifies that the issue constitutes more than a few isolated incidents. An increase in awareness of the toxicity of the workplace culture as a result of his unethical behavior influenced a subsequent wave of victims to come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against other prominent figures as well.

“I think [the women who stepped forward about Weinstein] were able to reveal how

common sexual abuse or assault is, because I think that a lot of women feel ashamed about being abused or assaulted, so when they see that someone else has said that [they have been sexually abused or assaulted before], it has value because it makes it more okay to speak out, even though it should always be okay,” said sophomore Sarah Sotoudeh, the vice president of Intersections, a social justice club on campus.

To many people, the Weinstein incident substantiated the gravity of speaking out about sexual assault. For many actors and actresses, accusatory claims with little to no evidence could end their careers, as Weinstein and others like him hold powerful positions in the Hollywood industry, and the rebuttal would be immensely risky.

“Many victims do not report their stories due to shame or the fear that no one will believe them — that they will be fired or scapegoated,” said Debra Gionet, a licensed clinical social worker. “Essentially, they fear the ramifications. It is degrading, objectifying and abusive to the victims. It demonstrates complete disregard for a victim’s personhood and sense of self-efficacy.”

Those who did attempt to speak out were quickly silenced by “undisclosed settlements,” or large sums of money from Weinstein to keep them from publicly outing him.

Many of Weinstein’s victims still have not shared details of their grievances, as the papers that they signed years ago prevent them from doing so. Recently, however, eight

undisclosed settlements have been reported by anonymous employees of The Weinstein Company.

“With the undisclosed settlements, it’s this man who’s in power, and the women may be in a vulnerable place, making it harder for them to speak out,” said Sotoudeh. “In the past, [Weinstein] hasn’t been called out, or people haven’t taken allegations against him seriously because of his position in the industry and his position in society as a man.”

These recurring cases exhibit the dominance of power and money that have overridden justice for sexual harassment victims.

These victims have been denied safe working conditions and fair treatment because of their financial or societal status.

They may not feel safe publicizing or sharing their grievances to receive the justice that they deserve, as they may be in a vulnerable position to expose themselves.

However, the words of highly publicized actors or actresses are heard by many ears. When prominent Hollywood figures such as Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashley Judd have also came forth with harassment allegations, they were able to make a bigger difference due to their established fan bases. After seeing the lives of these celebrities on television or in news articles so often, the public may be inclined to feel more intimate with them and find them to be more credible. Additionally, people tend to find figures who are already wellestablished in the industry more believable than figures who become famous by accusing

someone of sexual assault. As the Weinstein incident continues to unfold, other powerful public figures have been dethroned from their positions as well. Two prime examples are Michael Oreskes, head of news at National Public Radio (NPR) and Jeff Hoover, Kentucky’s Speaker of the House. More recently, Olympic gold-medalist Aly Raisman came forward with sexual assault claims against Team USA’s doctor, Larry Nassar, who is now standing trial and may be sentenced for up to 60 years in prison. Matt Lauer, a host on the Today show, has also been fired after a colleague came forward with claims of sexual misconduct. As a result of such reports, corporations in all fields are taking swift action, severing ties and firing figures accused of sexual misconduct, such as Matt Lauer and actor Kevin Spacey.

“I hope that Hollywood and other famed centers of power will weed out all elements of sexual harassment, abuse and taking advantage of those with less power,” said Gionet. “These strongholds need to be dealt with according to the statutes and laws in place.”

While the Hollywood industry is a highprofile example of sexual harassment becoming an increasingly prominent issue, sexual assault is experienced by approximately one in four women, according to the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence.

“Since Hollywood has great power across state, national, ethnic, age and socioeconomic lines, there will be some notable shift in the micro-culture of Hollywood that impacts the macro-culture even abroad,” said Joanne B. Kim, a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern (OliveMeCounseling.com). “This is a call to action to all of us to use the resources and power we have to serve those in need.”

The recent flood of allegations against numerous prominent Hollywood figures marks only the beginning to the resolution of a larger underlying societal problem, which may require a gradual process to see large-scale reform. Until sexual harassment stops being the cultural norm of Hollywood and other industries, people with less power will continue to be targeted and victimized.

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ALL GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY AILEEN XUE

BY CLARA FERNANDES

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any teenagers are conflicted over using illicit substances from curiosity or peer pressure. Addictive substances such as alcohol, nicotine and cocaine can cause long-term damage to the body, especially if used during one’s developing teenage years.

Addiction is a brain disorder that rewires the brain’s reward system when one engages in chronic pleasurable habits. When used frequently, these addictive substances can cause long-term hostility, anxiety and even death. Drug addiction, however, is not often the user’s choice, as drugs tend to rewire one’s brain entirely.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TZENHAO NG

Clicking into the modern world of online shopping

BY TZEN-HAO NG AND MICHELLE ZEMLYAK

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he hustle and bustle of stores is one of the first things that comes to mind when one thinks of shopping; however, this foot traffic is slowly being redirected online. Whether we are buying food, luxuries or anything in between, shopping satisfies everything from our basic necessities to our wildest whims. What began as small vendors selling specialized products gradually turned into the brick and mortar store we know today. Now, even physical shopping, is beginning to change, with a “trip to the store” slowly being replaced by a new phenomenon: online shopping.

The dynamic of consumerism has changed over time with the advent of urbanization.

With many more people living in large cities, a smaller number of vendors have been able to meet the needs of a larger population. As time went on, the creation of tools, such as the cotton gin, to mass produce basic goods drove the prices of goods down, making them more

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY JOCY HE AND MICHELLE ZEMLYAK

accessible in large amounts. In addition to higher standards of living, this urbanization has led to the growth in consumer spending that continues today.

“When we lived in towns, there was a lot of distance between towns, so each had to be more self-sufficient; everybody bought and made their own stuff,” said business teacher Andrea Badger. “Then, transportation methods were developed and allowed towns to trade with each other. Recently, we have developed a society that is all about comparing yourself to others and that has pushed us into being more commercialized and demand driven.”

In recent years, online shopping has generated greater sales than physical businesses. According to the Pew Research Center, a total of 80 percent of Americans shop online, with 43 percent shopping on a “weekly basis” or a “few times a month.” 65 percent of Americans still view prices as the deciding factor between purchasing online or in stores, as products bought online usually cost less than those purchased in stores. Selling through online outlets significantly lowers numerous business costs, such as rent, electricity and payroll, allowing businesses to lower prices.

“The upside of online shopping, for me, is the convenience factor,” said senior Alex Minooka. “I can do it from the comfort of my own home. The prices of online goods are actually cheaper than in stores, and while shipping is a concern, it usually ends up pretty cheap. While there is value in buying in person, these days, shopping is something you only do if you can’t find [what you’re looking for] online, or you’re doing it for the experience.”

As a result of lower online prices, e-commerce sales have surged in recent years, generating $349 billion in 2016. Amazon’s sales constituted 43.5 percent of these online sales, rendering it the primary ecommerce retailer. The next largest ecommerce company is eBay, with 6.8 percent of sales.

The holiday season is of great importance to retail stores due to the increased amount of consumer spending, especially during Christmas time: 20 percent of annual consumer

spending occurs during the Christmas season alone, with the average American spending over $900.

Online shopping, however, has started to overtake in-store shopping, with 51 percent of purchases made online. According to the National Retail Federation, 103 million people shopped through online outlets during the Thanksgiving weekend in 2015, and 108 million in 2016. Brick and mortar stores, however, saw a decrease with 102 million shopping in 2015 and 99 million in 2016.

“I spend more during the holiday season than the rest of the year,” said senior Victor Zhu. “And I’d rather spend money online than going to the store; it’s convenient, and I don’t have to drive there. I don’t like to go to stores to shop; I’d rather spend that money online.”

As this year’s holiday season approaches, consumer spending is expected to reach $967 per person, a four percent increase from the $936 spent in 2016. As society becomes increasingly commercialized, many uncertainties regarding the future of commercial and e-commerce shopping remain. What remains certain, however, is that going forward, ecommerce will continue to dominate during both the holiday season and the regular year.

KELSEY LU - EPIC

Field hockey qualifies for CCS first time in four years

USED WITH PERMISSION OF MARIA JACKSON

BY DIANA XU

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anting and sweating, Lynbrook’s girls’ varsity field hockey players dribble the ball from one endline of the field to the other with their sticks, displaying agility and accuracy. With only 15 to 25 seconds to breathe in between, the players use this challenging drill, also known as a Herman, to prepare for upcoming games and to keep motivated. As a result of their dedication, the team had a successful league season and advanced to Central Coast Section (CCS) for the first time in four years.

The varsity team began their practices in the spring to maximize improvement and achieve their goal of qualifying for CCS. Instead of striving to win every game of the 2017 season, the players set a goal to make CCS. With this mentality, the players practiced tirelessly everyday, conditioning and performing numerous drills for two hours on every weekday.

The team also identifies their areas for improvement, adapting their daily drills accordingly to maximize performance.

“We focused on thinking more positively and setting both individual and team goals to obtain the confidence we needed to do well,” said co-captain and junior Nora Lam. “As for getting in CCS specifically, I think we all had the drive to win our last non-CCS game once we knew we had a chance to qualify.”

The team’s first win against Monta Vista this past season was especially inspiring. With every additional win, their confidence in making CCS this year increased.

MICHELLE LUM// IN MY OPINION

Reinstate girls’ tennis to upper league

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’ll be blunt: the Lynbrook girls’ tennis team has not had its best season. We’ve experienced loss after loss and come out facing the harsh reality that we will have to move down from the upper De Anza League to the lower El Camino League of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) next

Lynbrook’s win against Saratoga made it possible for the team to go to CCS, but it was the tie between Monta Vista and Saratoga at a score of 0-0 that officially allowed Lynbrook to qualify.

Team unity and communication were important aspects of the team’s success throughout the season. Although the team had struggled while adjusting to the different coaching styles in the past few years due to the frequent change in coaches, the captains managed to run their practices based on prior knowledge. The captains also sought additional assistance from Coach James Lohmeier, a first-time field hockey coach, and Assistant Coach Emily Masad, a Lynbrook alumna who once played for the field hockey team.

“I’d say the biggest challenge is the same challenge we have every year,” said co-captain and senior Juney Lee. “It’s having a new coach; a coach makes a huge impact on the team. We’ve had a new coach every year, the playing style is always different. However, we didn’t let this become a problem by continuing to play well as a team.”

Pasta parties, events where the players came together the day before a game, allowed the players to bond as a team. It was important for the players to establish relationships on a personal level to work well together on the field.

“I really liked having social aspects throughout the season,” said co-captain and senior Jennifer Su. “They brought me very close to everyone on the team.”

Captains Lam, Lee and Su initially struggled to communicate with one another in regard to planning the practices. They were eventually able to come together, however, to

year. But through these disappointments, we’ve remained optimistic, working hard to improve with every match. Needless to say, I was outraged when I discovered that the Palo Alto High School (Paly) girls’ tennis team had used the widely discouraged strategy of stacking to ensure wins, and that instead of Paly, which would remain in the upper league, Lynbrook girls’ tennis would be moving down a league for the 2018 season.

At the end of the 2017 season, the girls’ tennis coaches of the SCVAL had to decide whether to drop Lynbrook or Paly from the upper league to the lower league. They had narrowed down to these two schools in particular as they had the worst league records among the seven total schools in the upper league. In the end, they settled upon dropping Lynbrook to the lower league, keeping Paly in the upper league.

My immediate reaction to this news was, of course, one of disappointment. The Lynbrook team had failed to cling onto our po-

use their leadership roles to accomplish tasks such as determining which drills to implement during each practice.

“When there are so many people on the same team, everyone is going to have their own opinions,” said Lam. “We had different opinions about whether team bonding should be just within JV and varsity or with both teams combined. We also sometimes disagreed on the types of drills we would do. I think it was very important to be respectful.”

As a team, the players took on CCS with determination. Everyone focused on their own talents: some were stronger in speed while others were more aggressive. The players put their heart into the two games they played at CCS. For their first game against Christopher, Lynbrook played well, defending their goal and strategically maneuvering the ball away from the opposing team, resulting in a score of 2-1.

The second game was against Saint Francis; although it was the last game of the season for the team—and the last game of their field hockey careers for many seniors—there were no regrets as the team played at their best until the very end.

This season, the team broke the losing streak from of previous years and won three games. Their optimism, self motivation and work ethic not only contributed to their success at league games, but also helped them represent Lynbrook at CCS for the first time in four years. This season may be a turning point for Lynbrook’s field hockey teams and will hopefully serve as momentum for higher goals in the future.

sition in the upper league despite our hard work. But there was nothing we could do about it, or so I thought.

Then, I recalled that the previous week, I had been browsing the website of Paly’s newspaper, The Campanile, and had come across a sports article summing up their girls’ tennis season. In it, Paly had attributed their wins to their strategy of stacking.

I was incensed. A backhanded method of winning, stacking is a generally frowned-upon practice in tennis. In a tennis match, seven separate singles and doubles matches are actually played. The best players start from the top positions, and other players are placed further down the lineup based on ability. A team wins if at least four out of the seven individual matches are won. In stacking, a team places better players in lower positions.

Thus, the team ensures wins in lower positions — sacrificing higher-position matches — to guarantee a four to three win.

After I notified the Lynbrook tennis coach

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SPORTS SECTION

about The Campanile article, this issue was brought to the attention of the SCVAL. As of now, however, it does not appear that much will come out of it, which does not sit well with me. Although stacking is not explicitly prohibited in the SCVAL by-laws for girls’ tennis, the coaches had agreed to not employ the unfair strategy in league matches. Therefore, it is probable that many of Paly’s wins were obtained through illegitimate means.

Stacking is not an acceptable method of winning tennis matches, and it should not be condoned by league authorities. Paly’s strategy of stacking to secure wins this season was incredibly unjust, and Lynbrook dropping from the upper league as a result of Paly’s inadmissible actions is an even greater injustice. The proper course of action for the SCVAL to take is to penalize Paly for displaying poor sportsmanship and blatantly breaking well-established rules of tennis etiquette, and, accordingly, reinstate Lynbrook girls’ tennis to the upper league.

Bale schools on the court and in the classroom

BY MEERA BALAJI

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eachers and coaches play similar roles in the lives of students and players, instilling values such as determination and perseverance. At Lynbrook, the intersection of these two professions is common, with multiple teachers educating students both on and off the court.

Jeff Bale, an Economics and Government teacher, is one such example.

Balancing his time on the court and in the classroom, Bale began coaching Lynbrook JV basketball in 2016 to become closer with more students. As a former basketball player, Bale understands the rapport between coaches and players, a relationship that inspired him to start coaching.

“I played basketball in high school and one of my coaches was one of

the most influential people,” said Bale.

“Coaching brings me joy and it’s a unique way of relating to students.”

Coaching a team of basketball players with varying skill levels and personalities allows him to reflect on how to communicate to students effectively. Each student’s contrasting outlook on how to win and work as a team sometimes poses a challenge since they all have differing thoughts and strategies.

One of his players, sophomore Stephen Zhong, feels that Bale has helped him and his team enjoy their time on the court while staying focused.

“As a coach, Mr. Bale cares both about the results and how we communicate as a team,” said Zhong. “Last year, winning

the Willow Glen tournament felt like a testament of our hard work and how Mr. Bale coached us.”

Applying the art of communication is also crucial to both the classroom environment and the basketball court.

“People are different; not everybody will react to the same approaches in the same ways,” said Bale. “I have to take different approaches with different students and players, since some are motiby failure, othSCAN FOR vated ers by success. Some A VIDEO need more structure while others prefer more responsibility.”

Many of these challenges do not come off as a surprise to Bale, as he often faces similar situations as a teacher. Understanding one’s strengths and interests is one of his main focuses.

“Participating in sports is as much about learning who you are and the growth of your interaction and communication skills,” said Bale. “The relationships I made as a player were profound in my life.”

As one of his students, senior Christina Chen believes that Mr. Bale’s teaching style allows him to establish a friendly rapport with the class.

“Mr. Bale makes an effort to engage with his students by telling joke,” said Chen. “Although he can be strict, he always ensures we’re having fun.”

From the classroom to the basketball court, Bale teaches his students and players the idea that practice makes perfect. While brawns and brains are often pitted against each other, teacher coaches like Bale train students to ensure their success as players and students.

ASHLEY SONG—EPIC

Girls’ soccer shoots for championship title

BY SRINIDHI SESHADRI

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etermination to win is written on the girls’ faces as they dribble the ball down the field, deftly passing to one another as they approach the goal. With a swift kick, the ball sails into the goal, brushing the goalie’s fingertips. The crowd bursts into cheers, signifying another win for the Lynbrook girls varsity soccer team.

With most of the previous team’s upperclassmen graduating, the current team comprises of more underclassmen than usual. As a result, four freshmen were accepted onto the varsity team this year, as opposed to the usual one or two.

With an increase in the number of newer players on the team, however, comes the challenge of ensuring everyone is on the same page during games. Since the

girls have been playing together for a few weeks, it was difficult to synchronise each of their playing techniques.

“Many people on varsity play for a club and every coach thinks differently from the others,” said freshman Danielle Ma. “One team may be defense-based and another offense-based, so being on the same page is hard for us.”

The team practices are every weekday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., with most games held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The captains, seniors Rachel Tatley and Emma Chase lead practices with input from the coach, Art Zimmerman.

“It’s a cooperative effort between us and the coach to help the team,” said Tatley. “Since I’ve been playing for a while, I can bring in my own ideas that I think will help the players.”

As a team sport, soccer requires extensive cooperation between players for plays to be executed smoothly. Grudges among teammates jeopardize teamwork. The girls’ interactions off the field are important for smooth plays and coordi-

nation among players on the field. The Lynbrook team builds their team spirit through events such as pasta parties the evening before their home games.

In addition to strengthening their bond, the girls hope to strengthen their playing skills and tactics in order to play at Central Coast Section (CCS).

“In the history of the Vikings, we’ve never been to CCS,” said Zimmerman. “We were half a point away from going last year. The team has a lot of talent, so if we can all get on the same page I think we’ll do great.”

Despite experiencing a loss of senior players resulting in a more inexperienced team, the girls will stick together and support one another through any obstacles. By working hard at practices, they will be closer to achieving their goal of becoming stronger players on the field while having fun and strengthening their team spirit.

MEERA BALAJI—EPIC

Lynbrook gives back during the holidays

BY KELSEY LU AND SADHANA SARMA

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ith the arrival of the holiday season comes an overall aura of compassion and a desire to give back. Many Lynbrook students absorb that feeling and take action by donating their time and energy toward various volunteer events.

From helping out at holiday-themed runs to serving food, the charitable people of our community do it all.

Members of California Scholarship Federation (CSF), for example, volunteered at the Saratoga Youth Commision Fall Fair, an event for kids to have fun playing games and spend time with friends. Volunteers spent their time face painting, packing snacks and supervising games, such as the bean ball toss. If they weren’t busy with all that, the students were getting to know the kids and fellow volunteers at the event.

“Volunteering gives me a fun opportunity to give back to the community while meeting new people and gaining new skills in the process,” said sophomore Alisha Yang.

Key Clubbers went to a local Target store to par-

Top Left: Seniors Amara Khan and Nathan Lee and juniors Jessabelle Delen Ramos, and Emily Leung pose with their cart of gifts.

Middle Left: Senior Nathan Lee chooses a toy during a holiday shopping spree.

Bottom Left: Freshman Matthew Lu helps superv i s e games.

ticipate in the Holiday Shopping Spree, run by Sunday Friends. During a span of an hour and a half, students were able to shop for a group in need of their choosing — toddlers, boys, girls, adults, etc. — with a budget based on how much they donated themselves. Whatever amount the students brought was then added onto by sponsoring companies.

“You get joy from the joy of others,” said junior Emily Leung. “It’s really nice to be able to bring gifts to others overall.”

At 5 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, members of multiple volunteer clubs on campus went to Downtown San Jose, to volunteer at the Turkey Trot, an annual holiday-themed run raising money for different charities. The students helped with tasks like directing participants to the costume contest. They also cheered on runners from the sidelines, giving them motivation to keep up their hard work.

“Lynbrook and the community surrounding Lynbrook are really privileged so it is nice to give back to those who do not have as much,” said junior Jessabelle Delen Ramos. “It it nice to give our time to those who do not have as much and doing it through Lynbrook is a good way to do that.”

Top Right: Junior Diya Jain volunteers with a smile at the Turkey Trot.

Middle Right: Sophomore Alisha Yang and sophomore Elise Jang help at the snack counter.

Bottom Right: Juniors Ananya Manjunath and Anika Murthy direct participants to the Costume Contest at the annual Turkey Trot.