Five new classes introduced at Lynbrook BY MICHELLE LUM
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s students entered Lynbrook for the new school year, many had schedules that included classes such as photography, AP Studio Art, ceramics, Accounting 2 and AP Computer Science Principles. These newly introduced courses allow students to delve deeper into a variety of �ields, ranging from art to business. “The administration wants to be diverse with our course offerings and look across the district so our students have the same opportunities as other students at schools like Cupertino or Monta Vista,” said Assistant Principal David Erwin, who is responsible for course registration and selection. “We would like to see if we would be able to potentially offer those for our students.” Led by art teacher Matthew Reynolds, photography students learn about the basics of taking photographs with Digital Single Lens Re�lex (DSLR) cameras, which have the capability to take higher quality photographs than regular point-and-shoot cameras. The class covers various aspects of taking a good photograph, including composition, lighting and perspective. Students received cameras for use, and students are instructed on using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop as editing software. AP Studio Art, also taught by Reynolds, guides students through the process of creating a 24-piece art portfolio for submission to the AP exam and colleges. Of those 24 pieces 12 are breadth, meant to demonstrate a student’s range with different styles, m e d i a and subj e c t
matter, while the other 12 are concentration and allow the student to develop a theme and explore it through artwork. Compared to other art classes at Lynbrook, AP Studio Art gives students freedom for independent work and creating their own conceptions, which helps them grow personally. “I thought I would apply for a STEM major, but now, because I am currently working on a portfolio, I decided to do design,” said AP Studio Art student senior Margaret Lu. “However, my STEM background continues to bene�it me when I am working on projects.” In ceramics, art department lead Charlotte Kruk instructs students on working with clay, from hand-building to glazing techniques. Students are given the opportunity to use a potter’s wheel and practice pinch pot methods of creating pottery by hand. One of the projects Kruk hopes to have her ceramics students pursue this year is the creation of more tile murals for classrooms around the school. In the business department, the new Accounting 2 class involves a more advanced study of accounting. Accounting 2 encompasses accounting for more complicated business scenarios, such as those in departmental accounting. Since nine students are currently enrolled in the Accounting 2 class, it is held in the same class period as Accounting 1. Although Lynbrook has been offering the AP Computer Science A course for several years, AP Computer Science Principles was just introduced as a class this year. AP Computer Science Principles, taught by math and computer science teacher Brad Fulk, is designed to be an introductory college com-
puting course for students who might otherwise not take a computer science course. No prior programming experience is necessary, with a central focus of the course being project development, such as creating mobile applications. “AP Computer Science Principles focuses on mobile app development, which is relevant because so much of what we do [today] is through mobile apps,” said Fulk. “We, as teachers, try to �ind how to connect the course material to what students are doing, and that is really apparent in this class.” The new classes not only allow students to explore more aspects of their personal interests, but also provide teachers the opportunity to pass on knowledge about subjects they are passionate about. For instance, Accounting 2 has allowed Badger, a former Certi�ied Public Accountant, to share deeper knowledge about a subject that she loves, and photography has always been an activity that Reynolds greatly enjoys. Similarly, Fulk enjoys keeping up with ever-changing technology while teaching AP Computer Science Principles, and ceramics gives Kruk the chance to dive deeper into the medium of clay. “I have had to quiet my ceramic voice in the past,” said Kruk. “I have always had more ceramics projects in mind than I could possibly �it in one year of 3D Design. A full year of Ceramics will allow the opportunity for students to reach mastery with the material.” As the year progresses, these new classes will no longer be unfamiliar to the campus, slowly becoming part of Lynbrook’s culture. For many years to come, students will �ind themselves challenged and captivated by the unique curricula that these courses offer.
ART ILLUSTRATION BY CLARA FERNANDES
Cupertino Village undergoes a multi-phased renovation BY JOCY HE
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upertino Village, a 136,553 square foot shopping center in the heart of Silicon Valley, is going through renovations this year, which will include a four-phased project that features a new two-level parking structure, more retail buildings and upgraded pedestrian courtyards. Kimco Realty, the real estate agency in charge of the renovation, started the third phase in late June and predicts completion in October 2017. Previously the Town & Country Center in the 1960s, the shopping center was acquired by Kimco Realty in 2006 and renamed Cupertino Village, marking the beginning of a multi-phase project. “Kimco has the reputation of having the best shopping centers,” said Kimco’s Bay Area Vice President of Leasing and Asset Management, John Welter. “We like our shopping centers to be inviting to all customers and for tenants to be proud of the shopping center they’re operating their businesses in. The goal is to update and renovate the landscaping and courtyard features to create a more retail experience.” Project developments began in 2014,
with the construction of a two-level parking structure that holds up to 220 cars. Phase two involved adding 24,000 square feet of additional shopping strips around the main square in the fall of 2016, enabling new businesses, such as Mod Pizza, to open, a process that will be ongoing throughout the upcoming stages of development. The next step will be to modernize the shopping center’s architecture, inspired by four elements of nature: �ire, water, earth and metal. The four outward-facing sides of the main shopping center will each have an arched gateway leading to the center of the square. The shopping center will be decorated with game tables, �ireplaces and a garden. Additionally, the pedestrian walkway and landscape surrounding Cupertino Village facing the new Apple Park corporate campus are also being upgraded, in order to attract both passersby and Apple employees. “Once complete, the project will enhance the lifestyle of the center and create a more inviting atmosphere,” said Welter. “Our existing and new tenants will be rewarded with an improved shopping center that will enrich shopping and dining experiences.” Students at Lynbrook envision that the
modern architectural renovations will greatly improve the 50-year-old buildings, making it more appealing to the public. “I think it would help make the plaza more popular and attract more people, because their restaurants were more hidden before,” said junior Emily Leung. “With the new additions, it will be a good place to eat and shop.” The renovation, however, has caused problems for the existing center. The construction began in 2014, but is still ongoing and interrupting businesses, making it dif�icult for customers to access the storefronts. “There is a restaurant that my parents and I go to every week as a Friday night out,” said senior Joanna Miao. “We park near Fantasia, so typically we would be able to cut across to the restaurant in a three minute walk. But with the gates, we have to go around, and sometimes we have gotten lost. I’ve been going there for so long, and the new developments have been annoying.” Despite the challenges that come with rebuilding the shopping center, Kimco is working to accommodate everyone, including the businesses and customers. By the end of construction, Cupertino Village will become a more enriched shopping and dining center.
FOOTBALL// pg. 14
MICHYLA LIN — EPIC
Lynbrook students win big at IESO BY NOELA BAE
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vid learners of the Earth sciences, junior Leslie Pu and senior Abhinav Naikawadi participated in the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) in Nice, France from Aug. 22 to Aug. 29 as representatives of the U.S. national team. After preparing for countless months—which entailed self-studying with college-level textbooks and attending a national training camp in Vermont—they, along with two other U.S. participants, brought home awards in two of the three events at the competition: a gold medal for their practical examinations and a bronze medal for their theoretical exams. The international olympiad tested students’ skills in various areas of the Earth sciences, including meteorology, oceanography, geophysics, geology, terrestrial astronomy and environmental sciences. Students displayed their knowledge and understanding of these sciences by taking practical exams, in which students carried out scienti�ic investigations to reach conclusions about a geological site; theoretical exams, in which students took written tests that covered many topics of the sciences; and interdisciplinary competitions, in which participants applied their knowledge of the Earth sciences to a different �ield and discussed the ethics behind the activity they were presented with. Each participant took two of the theoretical assessments and four of the practical exams over a span of multiple days.
“I am happy with how I performed and am proud of myself, especially when considering the [limited] resources I have had,” said Pu. “One thing I could have done better is to not have made myself so nervous because this seemed to negatively impacted my performance.” Teacher and Science Club adviser Lester Leung was also very pleased with the performance of Pu and Naikawadi, two of the Science Club of�icers this year. “I am really proud of them,” said Leung. “Leslie and Abhinav did most of the studying on their own. Since they have participated in science competitions in the past, practicing for those competitions probably prepared them for the IESO as well.” In regard to the turnout at the competition, more than 130 students from 30 countries came to participate. In order to
qualify for the national team and attend the international olympiad, these participants had to take a nation-wide test in their respective countries. In Pu and Naikawadi’s case, the nation-wide test was administered in April, and the top 33 performers of that test were taken to a camp in Vermont during June, a week-long selection process that determined the four people who would be on the U.S. team. “At the camp, there was a professor who led and helped train the U.S. team pretty well for the international olympiad,” said Naikawadi. “I also prepared for both the national and international olympiads myself by studying using different geology-based textbooks for different disciplines in geology.” Throughout the months of studying and delving d e e p
into the Earth sciences, Pu and Naikawadi also came to many realizations. Above all, they especially became aware of how pressing, important and relevant the Earth sciences are. “I am now able to be more conscious of what I do because of my increased awareness regarding pollution and activities that harm the planet,” said Pu. “Moreover, studying the geology of a region helps me determine where I want to live in the future.” As for Naikawadi, learning more about the Earth sciences was �itting when taking into account the rolling back of the nation’s environmental agenda. “It is helpful to consider the Earth sciences, especially with our current political situation with drawing back on funding toward the environmental and earth sciences,” said Naikawadi. “I also see why it is more important, given the impacts global warming has on us. I think the Earth sciences are something we need to focus on more and now I’m de�initely considering pursuing that in the future and helping solve issues.” Having developed a strong passion for the Earth sciences, both Naikawadi and Pu have future plans to incorporate elements of these sciences into their careers. Looking ahead, Naikawadi hopes to base his career off of geophysics or astrophysics, areas of the Earth sciences that pique his interest the most. Pu, as well, hopes to incorporate the Earth sciences, along with other branches of sciences, into her future endeavors and career.
SADHANA SARMA—EPIC
GRAPHIC BY NEWS SECTION SADHANAILLUSTRATIONS SARMA—THE EPIC
New changes modify science fair regulations Letter from the Editors Dear readers,
Welcome to the �irst issue of the Epic for the 2017-2018 school year! The Epic is an award-winning publication dedicated to informing Lynbrook and the local community about events, issues and ideas relevant to our populace. Check out the experiences of two Lynbrook students who brought home awards from the International Earth Science Olympiad (pg.2). With a fresh, new year comes new changes: the staff editorial discusses the issues caused by this year’s increased freshman class size (pg. 6). Turn to the in-depth section to read about the effects of jounraling and to learn about the mental bene�its and impacts of being multiligual (pg. 11). Flip to the sports section to read Catherine Huang’s column about Lavar Ball (pg. 14) and a recap of the �irst few football games our teams have had this season (pg. 14). Here’s to hoping we have another great year—for us editors at the Epic, of course, but also to all our readers, new or otherwise. Welcome back, Catherine Huang & Eshani Mehta
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he Lynbrook science department announced a 30-project limit for Synopsys Science Fair projects on Sept. 7 to comply with the new rule imposed by Synopsys and to increase the overall quality of submitted projects. This limit also applies to students who have conducted research for Regulated Research Institutions (RRI) projects, which are conducted at universities or companies and are usually supervised. Students from the STEM research class are guaranteed Lynbrook mentorship and their projects do not count toward the limit. Lynbrook required students to submit a proposal for science fair projects last year as well; however, this year, a project limit is being imposed by Synopsys. The number of proposals accepted will be cut down from approximately 42 last year to the limit of 30. The Synopsys science fair is volunteer based, and with the large num this limitation will ensure higher project quality. “ S t u dents have been putting in more effort in terms of their backg ro u n d research and seeing
if their project is feasible and unique,” said science teacher Jason Lee. “Fewer people feel like they can just submit whatever they felt like, and the number of proposals dropped to about 50 last year.” The main criteria used to judge these proposals are following directions, thoroughness, feasibility in the context of school safety standards, originality and the support available from teachers. Project proposals are reviewed by a panel of teachers willing to mentor students, with each teacher taking on anywhere from 1 to 4 projects. While the limit can have a positive effect on individual projects, it has raised concerns about t h e fairness of the sys-
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY NICOLE ONG
BY ESHANI MEHTA
tem, as students newer to the science fair process may be at a disadvantage in the selection process. “I think the 30 project limit makes it easier for teachers to mentor students one-on-one,” said senior Vivian Huang, who participated in the Synopsys fair last year. “A disadvantage is that Synopsys is a starting point for many students that are looking to do science fairs for the �irst time, and [the limit] might discourage them.” Students interested in participating in the science fair without Lynbrook mentorship can contact public science spaces, such as Schmahl Science in San Jose, to sponsor the project, while students more interested in simply researching the project can consider pitching it to local universities. “Going through the process of the project proposal is valuable even if rejected because you’ll see how much is necessary in order for your project to be fully vested in terms of its background and originality,” said Lee. While the fewer number of projects will inevitably make the process more competitive, Lee hopes this encourages students to �lesh out their projects and spend more time ensuring that they show higher rationale and a clear understanding of the topic at hand. “We have a school of passionate STEM students, but we need to corral that passion into things that they’re able to put down on paper,” said Lee. “We’re looking for people who are exemplifying true science.”
News in Brief
Photo Retakes Weren’t there to take your ID photo on Viking Day? Stop by Library Study 2 to get your photo taken on Sept. 29. Get ready to show your best smile! Cupertino Diwali Festival The Cupertino Diwali Festival is Sep. 30 at Memorial Park. The free event lasts from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m, and includes multicultural music, dance, art, crafts, food and more. Bring your friends and family to celebrate intercultural understandings!
Homecoming Week Cheer on the Lynbrook Vikings at the Homecoming game on Oct. 6 against Gunn High School! The JV game is at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity game starts at 7 p.m. Go Vikes! Be sure to come to the annual Homecoming Dance on Oct. 7! FUHSD Marching Band Expo The FUHSD Marching Band Expo will take place on Oct. 7 at the Homestead High School stadium. The Lynbrook Marching Band will be performing at 8:00 so don’t miss out!
Environmental Recycling Day The City of Cupertino and Recology Cupertino are hosting an Environmental Recycling Day on Oct. 14 at De Anza College in Parking Lot A. Feel free to drive through and drop off any furniture, clothing, toys, E-waste and more! by Risa Mori
Silicon Valley Fall Festival showcases student work BY DIANA XU
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he 35th annual Silicon Valley Fall Festival (SVFF) was held on Sept. 9 by the Rotary Club of Cupertino at Memorial Park. The event is an annual fundraiser held in partnership with the City of Cupertino and the World Journal, the Bay Area’s largest Chinese language newspaper. “100 percent of what we raise goes to charitable causes,” said John Zirelli, president of the Rotary Club of Cupertino. “The majority is used for a variety of international, community, youth and vocational service projects championed by our club.” The multicultural festival included robotics competitions that the Lynbrook robotics team, the Funky Monkeys, competed in as well as performances from the Fremont High School (FHS) marching band. The event also held a �ine arts exhibition showcasing pieces of art by students from FUHSD schools. Similar to previous years, fun rides, bounce houses and ice cream trucks were lined up in the parking lot to entertain attendees. Tents were set up where companies such as H-Mart and the San Jose Water Company gave out snack and drink samples. At the opening of the festival, guests gathered around the stage while the FHS march-
SADHANA SARMA—EPIC
ROBOTICS| The Lynbrook Robotics team introduces its team before they run a demonstration of their robot.
ing band and colorguard performed. The audience consisted of student and parent volunteers, a majority of the attendees. “High school volunteers have been an important part of the volunteer support that make this event possible every year,” said Zirelli. “My favorite part is all the different people I have the honor of working with.” Throughout the festival, the Funky Monkeys participated in robotics competitions against Cupertino, Monta Vista and Homestead’s robotics teams. “This year we showcased our latest robot, Punk Monkey,” said junior Eesha Deepak. “We had six weeks to design, build and machine our robot before regionals during the season, but we worked during the summer to make our robot even better.” The Funky Monkeys were not the only Lynbrook students to showcase their talents. The senior center exhibited art made by FUHSD students, varying from ceramics and photography to clothing and string art. Students from Lynbrook, taught by teachers Charlotte Kruk, Paul Willson and Matthew Reynolds, had art displayed for community members to vote for their favorite piece. Sophomore Anna Shaposhnik won the Mayor’s Award with her piece, “Homo et Bestia.” Senior Griffon Gemmell and Lynbrook alum-
SADHANA SARMA—EPIC
BROWSING AROUND| Members of the Cupertino community could walk around Memorial Park to look at various booths.
ni Shikhar Jagadeesh and Nolan Simonson won the President’s Award with their wearable sculpture piece, “Control, Alt, Delete.” “There was some media we didn’t cover in our 3D art class that was displayed in the show,” said sophomore Enzo Cabaltica. “It’s nice to know that we have talented and creative artists in the district.” In the afternoon, stage performances included the JAMZ Youth Band; a band consisting of Monta Vista freshmen, the East West School of Music and Dance; a dance studio whose purpose is to spread joy through movement and the Iranian Federated Women’s Group, a group of women with talents in art, design, music and dance. and the Iranian Federated Women’s Group. Lynbrook sophomore Katherine Tsikina performed a jazz number for her dance studio, the East West School of Music and Dance. “It was my third time performing at the festival,” said Tsikina. “The festival brings a lot of families and friends together to enjoy the different kinds of performances.” After several months of planning and volunteer work, the festival came to an end with the distribution of mooncakes and a closing ceremony. The charitable event was fun and engaging, and brought members of the community together over shared values.
SADHANA SARMA—EPIC
DANCE PERFORMANCES| Crowds gathered in front of the stage at the park to watch multiple performances from local dance teams.
The undocumenteds’ plight in Hurricane Harvey Immigration status and lack of citizenship should not interfere with access to safety
BY MEERA BALAJI
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n Aug. 25, Hurricane Harvey ravaged the southern coast of Texas, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. The total damages are currently estimated to be around $190 billion, surpassing the cost of both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy combined. At least 70 people have died due to the storm, and many shelters have been set up around the Houston area. Most victims have sought refuge in shelters, and many have already been saved, but one group may be struggling t o
�ind the assistance it needs. According to PBS News, approximately 600,000 undocumented immigrants live in Houston, the area which has suffered the most from Hurricane Harvey. Due to fears of deportation and their undocumented status becoming known to government of�icials, many of these immigrants and their families are afraid of going to shelters. Houston mayor Sylvester Turner has been communicating to the public that shelters will be safe for the undocumented, but misinformation led to continued fear about shelters. Many undocumented immigrants are afraid that their families will be separated during the panicked time and are choosing to hide. Untrue stories of punishments and deportation circulated around after immigration checkpoints run by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) near the Rio Grande Valley remained open through the storm. Certain media outlets were quick to publish inaccurate stories about immigration enforcement operations conducted at shelters, and misinformation spread rapidly across social media, prompting outrage all over the nation. False rumors also spread from the chaos of the situation, since many undocumented immigrants expressed fears about �ingerprint checks, immigration checkpoints and increased border patrol, which have all deterred families from seeking help. As a result, many undocumented immigrants sought out refuge under unsafe structures such as freeways and abandoned buildings after the storm, making it harder to �ind them and give them the assistance they needed. Small groups of volunteers have attempted to rescue victims from the rubble, but they fear that they will not be found in time. “No matter who they are, the people of Texas have united on the front to help those i n
need,” said junior Harsha Jandhyala, a student at Westwood High School in Austin, Texas. “Examples of this would be �irst responders from all over Texas going to Houston right after the storm and helping out.” As emotionally tolling as a natural disaster is on any community, the economic burden of having to rebuild their lives and homes may be much higher for the undocumented. While most citizens qualify for some monetary aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the undocumented are not eligible to receive such �inancial assistance. Some families without citizenship status may be able to earn a small amount of aid from relatives who are citizens, but many are afraid the government will use FEMA to round up undocumented immigrants, despite the circumstances. “Communities should protect undocumented immigrants because support should not be conditional upon immigration status.” said Cameron McConway, a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin. “Undocumented immigrants are part of the community and deserve the same support as anyone else.” During a natural disaster, the safety of endangered communities should override power of the court system. Immigration laws are a heated topic of controversy, and there are de�initely two sides to that coin. Nevertheless, it is important to put political beliefs aside in these times of crisis. The court system should not obstruct access to safety. “I believe that in times of natural disaster, the �irst priority is making sure everyone is safe. It doesn’t matter who is or is not a citizen, we have a moral reason to ensure that we are doing our best to keep everyone out of harm’s way,” said Jandhyala. There is nothing to lose by aiding the less fortunate in shelters, but there is a price to pay for having their lives taken away by their fear. The base of the Statue of
Liberty states, “Give me your tired, your poor / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free / The wretched refuse of your teeming shore / Send these, the homeless, tempesttost to me.” These words not only encompass American values of kindness and compassion, but also remind the nation of its duty to protect the less fortunate and most vulnerable. America is in the era of one of the most bitterly divisive elections and presidencies which have polarized the nation. Opposing factions of Red and Blue, Black and White and the Haves and the Havenots continue to divide this country, but as of now, the duty of every citizen is to strive to ensure that the raging waters of Hurricane Harvey do not wash away the empathy and love that generations of Americans have built over the centuries.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY DIVYA NELAKONDA AND CLARA FERNANDES
CLARA FERNANDES//IN MY OPINION
Demystifying boarding schools
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magine you’re in the most highly reputed Catholic boarding school in the nation. You’d probably expect a strict educational environment that rigorously disciplines picture-perfect students, right? That’s what I thought before I attended boarding school. For many years I lived in various coun-
tries and attended many different schools. One was a boarding school in Germany. The school offered three attendance options: we could go home right after class, stay at school until 7 p.m. every day and only come home to sleep, or live at school full time and return home every other weekend. I normally attended the second option, but I experienced full-time boarding school in seventh grade when my parents were out of town. When I was little, I’d watch typical American movies, where a troublemaker kid was sent to boarding school and magically disciplined. I grew up believing that boarding school students led perfect lives and were transformed into the dream children every parent hopes for. Sadly, my beliefs stood to be corrected. What I found out during my temporary stay in full-time boarding school completely horri�ied my little seventh grade self. Of course, before attending boarding school, I was aware of the existence of alcohol and tobacco, but I had only ever seen adults drinking and smoking; the thought of kids doing
such things had never even crossed my mind. The school was built like a small village with its own church, lake and forest. On the border between Germany and the Netherlands, it was basically in the middle of nowhere. Students had six hours of free time between the end of school and the start of mandatory homework-center. After dinner we were given at least three more hours of free time. So, most students had nine hours of too much freedom and too little to do. We were offered after school activities, but they occupied less than one hour of and only occurred weekly. We could only leave campus three times a week, with the only destination being a small Dutch village with nothing more than a church, grocery store and elderly people. Boarding school students lived lives of pure boredom and pointless freedom. They barely saw their families and lived lonely lives, so they built their social lives around alcohol and cigarettes, meeting in the woods of the school or at nearby �ields to socialize.
German high school starts at �ifth grade, so the youngest students were 10 years old. The ones I knew personally and saw daily always seemed friendly and innocent. After my �irst night at full-time boarding school, I was shocked to �ind that these same children smoked at least a half pack of cigarettes each day. I was completely traumatized by the two-week experience of watching my youngest peers smoke their lives away every day for no reason just to eradicate boredom. After my time in boarding school, I was disappointed in my school, peers and the media. My experience was nothing like the movies: boarding school wasn’t a world of honorable excellence, but one of severely corrupted children addicted to cigarettes and alcohol. I believe the media should refrain from portraying unrealistic clichés as a reality and should depict authentic situations in movies, while boarding schools should provide kids with more chances to leave campus and enjoy their childhoods, instead of wasting their lives away at a young age.
Microchips invade employees’ privacy BY JONATHAN YE
hands. In general, microchips make everyday tasks more convenient by replacing badges mplanting microchips into hu- for workplaces, tickets for trains and credit mans may seem like far-fetched cards for purchases. The main advantage of science-�iction, but on Aug. 1, Wis- these chips is that they can never run out of consin technology company Three battery or lost. With all the potential bene�its Square Market (32M) made it a reali- of the microchips, however, there are several ty by injecting drawbacks. microchips into Susceptible to the hands of hackers, microchips their employare at risk for privacy ees. The proceinvasion. Microchips dure was volunmay be used for untary, with more foreseen purposes than 50 out of without the consent the company’s of their holders. A mi85 employees crochip used to help deciding to get employees open doors the microchips. pay for lunch TOM MILLER and The other emcould later be used COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALIST to secretly track the ployees who were wary of length of employee implanting bathroom and lunch chips into their hands decided instead breaks, thus violating their privacy. If a mito opt for a ring that would serve the crochip contains a Global Positioning System same purpose as the microchip. Oth- (GPS), it could be used to unknowingly track ers decided that the microchips were people at all times. not necessary at all. The company “An employee is employed by a company hoped to provide more conveniences for nine hours a day, but with a microchip, for their employees at work through the company can track an employee for 24 microchips. They anticipated that mi- hours a day,” said Lynbrook Network and crochips in humans would eventually Computer Support Specialist Tom Miller. “It be used everywhere, and hoped to be could see how many times a person has eatat the forefront of this cutting edge en at McDonalds. They can track a person’s technology. Microchips are still very purchases at a pharmacy. Do people want evnew in the �ield of technology, and it is eryone knowing what they do?” too early to tell if it will become prevaIn 2009, the �irst microchip was implantlent in the future. Although microchips ed into a human’s hand when British scienmay make lives easier, they are also in- tist Mark Gasson surgically injected a glass vasive and unethical. RFID chip into his left palm. So far, there have Microchip implants in humans em- been no reported cases of microchips being ploy radio-frequency identi�ication hacked, as they are not commonplace yet. As (RFID), which uses electromagnetic microchips become more prevalent, cases �ields to identify the microchips. Each of hacked microchips will too. Because they microchip contains a unique ID num- contain personal data and have little secuber that is linked to information on rity or protection, microchips can easily be a database. In 32M’s case, the chip hacked by nearby cybercriminals. In the fucontains an employee’s general in- ture, employers may be able to view employformation such as name, age, weight, ees’ locations, favorite places to visit, medical position in the company and credit records, �inancial records and more. Thus, a card information. Because their whole microchip hacker could potentially gain conpro�ile is logged into the company’s trol of the individual’s life. database, this would allow 32M em“I am a computer person,” said Miller. “But ployees with the microchip to enter I grew up reading 1984 by George Orwell, doors without identi�ication cards and with Big Brother and the government spying to buy lunch with a mere swipe of their on their citizens. I will never put a microchip
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY BELINDA ZHOU
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“WITH A MICROCHIP, THE COMPANY CAN TRACK AN EMPLOYEE FOR 24 HOURS A DAY... DO PEOPLE WANT EVERYONE KNOWING WHAT THEY DO?”
into myself. A smartphone already tracks me enough. Just a few days ago, my phone noti�ied me about how long my trips to home were. How did my phone even know where my home was?” Some people believe that microchips have bene�its that smartphones already offer. For this reason, many believe that smartphones do not need to be replaced by microchips. For instance, microchips can be easily injected or extracted, so children and the elderly who may get lost can be tracked by their parents or caregivers, but smartphones can also serve the function of tracking the young or the old. “I have no doubt that within the next ten years, parents will insert tracking devices into their children to track their location,” said junior Maxwell Wang. “The elderly would have them monitoring their blood sugar levels and their heartbeat. You could even predict a heart attack before it happens.” Unlike microchips, however, smartphones can be turned off and are not constantly tracking people. Smartphones also have a lot more security measures, which is why many people believe that microchips are not necessary. “For my current situation, I do not feel the necessity of a microchip,” said senior Thomas Wakuta. “I am sure that microchips will serve their purpose when I get older and have more responsibilities.” Due to ethical and privacy issues, microchips should only be used by those who need them. The average human simply does not need a microchip because the risk of one being hacked is high. Smartphones can already do everything microchips can; the only difference is that people can turn off their phones, while microchips can constantly track location. They are also susceptible to hacking and pose as a privacy issue even in the workplace, and these are just two of the many problems that are not worth the conveniences of microchips.
SADHANA SARMA—EPIC
HATIM SAIFEE//IN MY OPINION
TV shows undermine the gravity of politics
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icture this: it’s 1 a.m. and you’re cuddling in your blanket with a bag of chips, watching “American Horror Story” (AHS) on your laptop with the lights dimmed. Your eyes are glued to the screen, expecting a murderous mutant, when you see President Trump’s face and chuckle, due to the monologues by comedy show hosts poking fun at him. Strange, right? Who would expect politics in “AHS”? In season seven of “American Horror Story: Cult,” which premiered on Sept. 5, director and writer Ryan Murphy uses politics as an example of how people’s vulnerabilities may be taken advantage of by power-hungry people. The �irst episode begins with Kai Anderson, a loner on the alt-right — a group of conservatives in favor of white nationalism — watching the 2016 election results on TV and elatedly cheering, “USA! USA!” Meanwhile, in the same town, the series’ protagonist, Ally Mayfair-Richards — a married lesbian — is having a breakdown while watching the election on CNN, because President Trump’s policies pose a threat to her marriage and lifestyle. According to Murphy, this extreme divide, exempli�ied by the characters, represents what instilled widespread fear and confusion in most Americans that night. I’m not surprised that the writers of “American Horror Story” decided to base their series off of politics and President Trump; there are countless other TV programs that have been doing the same since campaigning for the 2016 election began — Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, Trevor Noah and Saturday Night Live, to name a few. I’ve been watching “The Tonight Show” every night, but since Colbert started performing his segments, mainly focusing on President Trump, it’s been hard to switch between both. Seth Meyers and Trevor Noah have also made their way into my nighttime binging, with Saturday Night Live being the leader of the pack. And I have to admit, like many people, I’m guilty of laughing during the Trump segments. Such comical takes on President Trump and political news have been working for TV shows. According to a report by “TV By The Numbers,” Colbert’s “Late Show” overtook Fallon’s “Tonight Show” after the 2016 election and Trump’s �irst few months in of�ice. Fallon’s show primarily includes celebrity guests while Colbert’s monologues focus mainly on Trump. Undoubtedly, people prefer tuning into something relatable and timely, and President Trump is clearly the perfect choice because of some people’s conception of him as not a politician but rather a rich businessman who was elected President by chance. Their disapproval of his controversial policies weighs in as another factor. My reaction to President Trump’s decisions, however, also made me realize that the general audience, like me, has started taking politics light-heartedly. Comments made by late night hosts make politics seem like a joke, especially with the laughter that chimes in with every announcement of a new Trump policy in the monologues of Colbert, Meyers and Noah. Although TV shows and programs often talk about politics in a satirical manner, the ubiquity of political humor gives the wrong impression of politics to the general audience, who may start underestimating the signi�icance of political decisions. TV programs should feature politics as small segments to update their audience about current events. They, however, should not use political tropes as the basis for shows and deprive politics of its signi�icance.
Apple’s new campus construction disrupts local communities BY PATRICIA WEI
spaceship, I was very excited because of its cool features, such as the fact that it is so enn June 2011, Steve Jobs, the founder and vironmentally friendly,” said junior Roopak former CEO of Apple Corporation, made Phatak. “However, I think congestion is going his last public appearance, presenting his to become a growing concern for residents, vision for a new Apple Campus to the Cuper- especially during rush hour.” tino City Council. Throughout the four years of the con“I think we do have struction of Apple a shot at building Park, residents nearthe best of�ice in the by, especially those world,” said Jobs durin the Birdland neighing his presentation. borhood of SunnySix years later, in vale, a block away April 2017, the 2.8 from “the spaceship,” million square foot have experienced campus in Cupertino constant construction opened its doors. Yet noise, dirt pollution as the construction of and traf�ic. Although Apple’s new campus Apple appeased these JEFFREY BALE residents during the comes to an end, some of its likely negative U.S. GOV/ECONOMICS TEACHER construction period impacts on local comby offering them car munities have become wash coupons and endif�icult to ignore. suring that construcConstruction of Apple Park, known as tion vehicles would not pass through their “the spaceship” due to its circular design, neighborhood, the company, as well as the began in October 2013 and �inished in April City of Cupertino, should have taken more ac2017. Jobs envisioned a unique campus that tion to ensure that those residents were truly would convey the innovative spirit of his ex- comfortable with the construction of the ofpanding company, and the �inal result is truly �ice space near them. As a company that one of a kind. Apple Park boasts the largest prides itself on superior user experience, installment of curved glass in the world, Apple should also put in the effort to ensure contains a theater for corporate events, runs a great experience for its neighbors, now that entirely on renewable energy and showcases the new campus has of�icially opened. a large outdoor quad. Inspired by Silicon The city councils of Cupertino, Sunnyvale Valley’s agricultural roots, 80 percent of the and San Jose should be open to receiving concampus is green space. It is expected to hold cerns from residents and working with each over 12,000 employees. other and Apple to resolve them. Birdland “When I heard about the opening of the residents felt that their voices were not heard
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“A HIGH-TECH COMMUNITY IS FABULOUS BECAUSE IT INSPIRES GROWTH, BUT IT ALSO RUNS THE RISK OF HAVING NO STRATIFICATION.”
when they made complaints about construction noise and traf�ic because they were not Cupertino residents. Moving into the future and knowing that the campus affects those in multiple cities, city governments should work together to address concerns related to population growth and traf�ic. The new Apple campus brings both positive and negative effects to the community. Locals may expect an increasing number of major technology-related events held in their city, such as the recent reveal of the iPhone 8 on Sept. 12. The campus is estimated to bring an increase of $57 million in property tax, which can be used to fund schools, community spaces, roads, parks, libraries and �ire and police departments. However, residents have experienced an increase in traf�ic since the commencement of the campus’ construction and predict that the traf�ic will continue to increase once more workers move into their of�ices in Apple Park. “The roads by Wolfe were already small before any new construction, so an increase in people would de�initely lead to more traf�ic,” said senior Olivia Wu. “There are ways to solve the problem, like building new roads or having people bike or take shuttles to work.” In addition to growing road congestion, residents have also been concerned about the rise of housing prices since the announcement of Apple Park. Realtors predict that many residents may sell their homes to Apple employees coming to Cupertino in order to move to less expensive communities, which would change the area’s demographic. “A high-tech community is fabu-
lous because it inspires growth, but it also runs the risk of having no strati�ication,” said U.S. government and economics teacher Jeffrey Bale. “Every community needs teachers and construction workers, but we may begin to see that they will not be able to afford living in the community they contribute to.” Bale has already witnessed the impact of growing house prices in the Lynbrook community: more and more teachers are unable to afford living near Lynbrook, causing them to have longer commutes and less time to stay involved in the Lynbrook community. “At Lynbrook, we see that not many teachers live in the community,” said Bale. “That does not mean that they are not great professionals, but it does mean they are less likely to attend events and be invested in the school community by supporting students after school. When teachers live further away, it is harder for them to build meaningful connections with Lynbrook families.” While the opening of Apple Park brings excitement to its surrounding cities, community of�icials must not ignore the problems that come with this change. If Cupertino prioritizes the well-being of residents, those living near the campus can experience the best of both worlds: a quiet residential neighborhood, as well as an industrial center booming with activity and innovation.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY HATIM SAIFEE
Increased student population initiates on-campus change
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ith students spanning from Miller, Hyde and various other middle schools, this year’s freshman class of 2021, totaling 532, is one of the largest that Lynbrook has welcomed in the past few years. The overall increase in students, though it may affect the use of faculties and resources, is necessary in order to accommodate a larger variety of classes and sections. In order to counter the decreasing enrollment of students living within Lynbrook enrollment boundaries, the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) decided, in Nov. 2016, to provide students from Hyde Middle School, as well as other local middle schools, the option to enroll at Lynbrook this year. This year’s increase of 91 freshmen served as a temporary solution to Lynbrook’s declining student population and was part of an effort to maintain a variety of course offerings activities. Classes and sections are allowed at Lynbrook each year depending on a constant ratio of 32.5 students per class; a decrease in students means that certain classes may be cut and fewer sections for other subjects are available. As a result of the boost in students this year, Lynbrook employed 15 new teachers and was able to offer �ive new classes, such as this year’s AP Computer Science Principles, Photography and Ceramics. “One of things that was happening with the declining enrollment is that we were not able to offer as many classes and choices — some teachers would possibly have to go to other schools to work full time,” said assistant principal Eric Wong. “To sustain our programs, we needed to get some more kids. That is what the CAC was involved in.”
Staff Editorial The Voice of the Epic However, the steady increase in enrollment will unavoidably cause several changes for students in terms of school resource availability, access and ef�iciency. For example, this year, because there are additional freshman classes per period, students from the freshman PE classes are unable to all swim at the same time. To accommodate for the limited pool space, PE classes have implemented an effective system in which they trade off sports units instead of focusing on the same unit at a time. Though a solution was able to successfully alleviate potentially overcrowded swimming pools, the situation brings to light other problems concerning usage of school facilities that students face. An increase in student population will inevitably affect the number of students who use resources like
the library, benches around the school and the cafeteria. “The lunch lines sometimes extend into the quad now, with my friends and I having to wait half the lunch period in line,” said senior Davin Tjong. “A lot of the time we just do not get lunch anymore.” Despite these changes from previous years, Lynbrook students should not blame this year’s increase of students for new inconveniences on campus. More students may be using facilities which can induce longer lines for bathrooms and the cafeteria, but waiting in lines is unavoidable in any school with a large population. “The long lines are an issue everywhere, resource wise,”
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MICHELLE LUM
said Wong. “We have been aware of that, but I do not know if it is necessarily an issue due to the 90 more students — I do not know if all 90 of them are using the cafeteria.” In fact, what students at Lynbrook now perceive as new problems are in fact dif�iculties that students at other schools with steady populations deal with on a daily basis. Last year Lynbrook had a population of 1,750 students, following a steady downward trend. This year, the total student population at Lynbrook has been brought up to 1,825. In the 2013-2014 school year, however, 1,846 students were enrolled at Lynbrook. Clearly, Lynbrook has been able to successfully host even more students in years past; in fact, Lynbrook’s estimated maximum plant capacity is at 2,340 students. Granted, this is assuming that every available building on campus is in use, making more teachers share classrooms and not necessarily allowing the school to operate at its highest rate of ef�iciency. Despite this, Lynbrook de�initively has the ability to operate at this level and should not sacri�ice the possibility of more classes and opportunities for students for the sake of a less crowded learning space. Nevertheless, the CAC will meet again this October in order to further solidify enrollment plans for the next few years. Their primary goal should never falter from bringing in more students, diversity and opportunities to the Lynbrook campus. Students will have to adapt to a different lifestyle than they’ve grown accustomed to which, although inconvenient to some, is largely bene�icial for the greater good. *the Epic staff voted 33-0 in favor of this stance
Greg Gontier launches into Youtube spotlight BY MEDHA UPADHYAY
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hough junior Greg Gontier has been interested in music for years, it was not until May that his YouTube channel catapulted him into the spotlight. In May 2017, his cover of Justin Bieber’s remix of “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee went viral with over 935,000 views; subsequently, his subscriber count skyrocketed to over 23,000. This success is just the beginning for Gontier, who then released his �irst single on June 26 as part of Konvey, a duo that he started with his childhood friend, Saratoga High School junior Vittorio Morini Bianzino. Gontier originally started his channel in July 2013 to further his passion for music and share his work with the rest of the world. As Gontier continued polishing his singing, his crew also grew in size. Nowadays, he recruits a plethora of friends to help him �ilm, record and edit his videos, although originally, it was only his parents. “I just walked up to my dad, and said that I wanted to start making music on YouTube,” Gontier said. “And he was like ‘Alright, let’s buy a mic.’ He was super supportive.” When Gontier �irst began creating cover songs, his preliminary roadblock was the simplicity of his videos. Without background music, his videos were too bare, but he didn’t play any instruments except for the drums. As a solution, Gontier taught himself to play guitar and later on, piano through videos on YouTube and daily practice. Nearly three years later, in May 2016, Gontier’s hard work paid off when his rendition of “Despacito” gained signi�icant attention. “The views just kept increasing,” Gontier said. “It was kind of a weird feeling. I think that I was the
most excited when it hit a hundred thousand views, but then it just kept growing.” After this video, Gontier’s channel began to attract subscribers rapidly. In May, his channel had 600 subscribers; after his Despacito video, however, his subscriber count has multiplied. In June 2017, Gontier announced that he was making his debut as part of the duo, Konvey, with Bianzino, his close friend since sixth grade. Originally, Gontier went to Bianzino for help with �ilming and editing videos. When Bianzino began making his own music, however, the two entertained the thought of a partnership. Together, Konvey released their �irst single, “Hear the Sea,” on June 26. The project took more than six months to grow from an idea into a �inished product. “We created a story in our heads of what we wanted the song to be, and then found the music to be the soundtrack of that story,” said Bianzino. Looking forward, Konvey has plans for new music, along with a tentative release in September or October. As for aspiring artists looking to follow in his footsteps, Gontier draws on his personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of perseverance. “It sounds kind of cheesy, but just keep doing what you love,” said Gontier. “It kind of sucks, not [achieving] what you [hope] for, but it does happen eventually.” At the end of the day, Gontier is still a junior at Lynbrook, even with over a million views on his YouTube channel. He started his channel in the hopes of sharing his music with others, but has quickly grown into an internet sensation with thousands of fans. Through hard work, dedication, and talent, Gontier has carved a name for himself in the world.
PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION OF GREG GONTIER
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY JONATHAN YE
How to appreciate the many wonders of fall BY ASHLEY SONG
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here is nothing more refreshing than fall’s crisp breeze, the cold air on your skin making you sicker by the minute. You might even land yourself in bed due to a fever — the perfect time to re�lect and prepare for the rest of the school year. Although fall seems unquestionably �lawless, not everyone appreciates the festivities so here are some tips and tricks to enjoy the season of ever-popular pumpkin spice lattes. 1. Dress for the weather. Have you ever scrolled through Instagram for hours, binging on photos of attractive people dressed to a tee? They nail all their out�its, no matter the season, and then they’re the talk of the school. You too can become that trendsetting boy or girl. How, you ask? Well, one way to really get into the spirit of fall is to adjust your out�its to the weather accordingly. If this sounds dif�icult, do not worry. There’s no better time than now to try on those shorts or muscle tees you bought over the summer but did not get a chance to wear. If you’re especially lucky, you may catch a cold and your cheeks will �lush, giving you a festive, rosy glow. You’ll be an Instagram icon rivaling Alexis
Ren in no time. 2. Lighting is everything. There’s nothing that says fall like sweet, scented candles. Try to incorporate fall-themed scented candles into every part of your life to get the full fall experience. If you’re new to this “candle life,” head over to Bath and Body Works or Yankee Candles and invest in some great scented candles like “Flannel” because the smell of burning fabrics is sure to get everyone in the fall mood. Also consider purchasing “Crisp Morning Air” because walking to and from school de�initely does not expose you to enough air. You can study by candlelight, cook by candle �lames and even have a romantic candlelight dinner for one. This is also great for saving electricity and becoming more at peace with yourself. 3. Dead leaves are the best leaves. Something particularly endearing about fall is the abundance of dead leaves and feeling their dry skeletons crunch under your shoes. Start each day with a leaf-pulverizing routine to get the most out of fall’s dry, �laky gift to you. You can also break in your new boots as you’re stomping away. If your group project is going downhill as most group projects do, do not take your anger out on your family members or
new classmates. A piece of advice: take it out on the leaves. Why break people’s bones when you can break leaf bones instead? Fall is all about starting the new school year, so out with the old, crusty leaves. 4. Participate in Halloween. One last tip for embracing fall is getting in the spirit of Halloween. You can dress up, watch horror movie marathons all by yourself or go from house to house in the middle of the night asking for sweets. Iconic. Teenagers are often shunned for trick-or-treating because they’re “too old” and they should “save some candy for the little kids.” Be independent and be strong and don’t listen to the pessimists. Instead, go trickor-treating in your best costume. Walking around is great exercise, and exercising is essential to living a healthy lifestyle. To celebrate your healthy habits, treat yourself and indulge in your hard-earned candy. After all, who doesn’t love ingesting candy from complete strangers? Also consider celebrating the history of halloween by trick-or-treating the traditional way — if you don’t receive treats from a house, you later go back and prank the residents of that house. This is perfect because everyone should try their hand at blackmail at least once a year. Even better, you can create a prank channel on YouTube.
ALL GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY FEATURES SECTION
A double take on summer’s greatest movies BY ARUL GNANASIVAM
New Fashion
Oh Whale. Michyla
Dunkirk
experiences that audiences have never seen before. Although there was a variety of great movies, there were three movies that clearly outperformed the rest, both commercially and critically, drawing in millions of viewers worldwide. With an average Rotten Tomato score of 93 percent and a total gross of 2.5 billion dollars, these are the three movies that highlight the very best of the summer of 2017. A highly talented team of actors, directors and writers have come together to produce a wave of excitingly new and daring �ilms that explore corners of cinema that audiences have not seen before.
The �inal �ilm on this list, “Dunkirk”, marks the return of famed director Christopher Nolan. Dunkirk describes the evacuation of the British army on the beaches of Dunkirk in a way unlike any of its war �ilm precedents. With almost no dialogue or computer-generated visual effects, Dunkirk differs from the traditional aspects of modern Hollywood �ilms. IMAX 70mm cameras add an image and sound quality unmatched by any other �ilm, and this rare aspect ratio spans the viewer’s entire �ield of vision, immersing them in the event. The �ilm follows three perspectives: air, sea and land, each with their own respective main character. Air follows a British spit�ire pilot, sea follows a civilian boat attempting to rescue soldiers and land follows a soldier trying to survive the numerous air runs by the Germans. Nolan used real life spit�ires and naval ships, all of which make the �ilm more realistic and intense. The sound design is exceptional, with the high pitched whine of the spit�ires roaring through the theater as the audience watches. Newcomers Fionn Whitehead, Jack Lowden and Harry Styles deliver gripping performances, while experienced actors Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy and Kenneth Branagh bring rich personalities to their characters. All of these elements put the audience right in the middle of the action, creating a movie that can’t be missed.
Spiderman: Homecoming Next on the list is “Spider-Man: Homecoming”, the �irst �ilm to feature the web slinger since 2014. Unlike previous Spider-Man movies, Homecoming was made by Marvel Studios and feeds into the existing Marvel Cinematic Universe, Disney’s interconnected web of superhero movies. A huge commercial and critical success, Homecoming enticed audiences with a lighthearted joyride full of one liners and wisecracks, as Peter Parker, played by Tom Holland, attempts to stop the Vulture, played by Michael Keaton, while trying to please Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr., all while attending high school as a normal teenager. Throughout the �ilm, Parker gets help from his best friend, Ned, played by Jacob Batalon. This Spider-Man movie provided what previous Spider-Man �ilms couldn’t: relatable, down to earth characters. Unlike other Marvel superheroes, Spider-Man’s identity is kept a secret, which creates an interesting struggle as Peter attempts to ful�ill his Spiderman duties while keeping his identity a secret to his aunt and friends. A great villain and intense action sequences cap it off, as well as an enticing cameo with Aaron Davis, played by Donald Glover, leaves audiences excited to see more of Spiderman in “Avengers: In�inity War” in 2018.
Wonderwoman “Wonder Woman”, released on June 2, details Wonder Woman’s journey to �ind and defeat Ares, the god of war. During her journey, Wonder Woman �inds out that she left her hometown of Themyscira to the real world during World War I, with the opposing German army developing a chemical weapon with the potential of changing the tide of the war. Gal Gadot and Chris Pine, as Diana Prince and Steve Trevor, set off to destroy the chemical weapon. Prince and Trevor try and get permission from the British government to in�iltrate the base but are denied, and instead grab their friends and sneak in without any support. A diverse cast including Ewen Bremner, Saïd Taghmaoui, and Lucy Davis join Gadot and Pine, and the group’s banter keeps the �ilm light, balancing out some of the more grim moments. Some great plot twists near the end keep the audience on the edge of their seats, and the two villains are great antagonists that the audience can root against. Overall, Director Patty Jenkins’s Wonder Woman marked the �irst critical hit of the summer as one of the best female led superhero movies.
ALL ART ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE LEE GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY DIANA XU
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t the beginning of this school year, the reality that my �inal 180 days of youth were coming to an end began to dawn on me like a blue whale eclipsing the sun. In a metaphorical sense, I will be booted from the safety of my nest into the wild unknown that is (hopefully) college, left to fend for myself armed only with mediocre social skills, bad puns and whatever else I have learned in my years of primary schooling to become a fully-�ledged human being. In a more literal sense, I’m turning 18 in about two months. As this metaphorical whale prepares to land on me, I have begun to scramble for ideas as to how I could lighten the blow. To optimize what little time left I have in my nest, I began to make my bucket list for my �inal year of high school. In addition to �inally going to Halloween Haunt at Great America and getting caught up on Silicon Valley, I want to be considered fashionable. Random, I know, but when your style thus far has been described as “bohemian” or “comfortable,” both of which I discovered to be nice ways of saying I look like I just got out of bed, you begin to wonder what untapped potential you’ve been missing out on. What is the point of following so many beauty and fashion bloggers on Instagram and YouTube if you never apply what they teach you? Thus began my dive into the wonderful world of 2017 fashion trends, which honestly made me feel more lost than hearing a teacher say the words “pop quiz.” I feel like trends have begun to forego function for fashion. Exhibit A: tinted sunglasses, and I don’t mean the black ones. I’m referring to the wireframed yellow and pink lenses that are sold in Urban Out�itters. Apparently our generation decided we need �ilters on our faces 24/7, and yes, that includes nighttime. These “sunglasses” don’t actually provide any protection, leaving your retinas to face the full onslaught of UV lasers, naked and afraid. Another trend that has gained popularity is plastic. The material made sense during the 60’s when outer-space was trending, but nowadays plastic clothing just makes me think of saran wrap on on leftovers. I guess it was… innovative when the plastic was contained to the knees, but full plastic pants? Dancers, Instagram models and Justin Bieber have made “hypebeast” fashion quite the trend, which I can appreciate; however, it took me full hour after purchasing my �irst Adidas t-shirt to process that I spent nearly $60 on a plain t-shirt with a logo that looks like cannabis on it. At this point, I am waiting for fashion to revert back to 200 A.D. when people wore blankets and leaves. Although I might not understand some fashion trends, that doesn’t mean that I enjoy still experimenting with them. On a similar note, just because one person may not have the same taste in clothes doesn’t mean that those clothes won’t look good on a different person. The fun in fashion trends is playing with different combinations of them until you �ind the perfect one for you. I personally haven’t discovered mine, but I look forward to experimenting with new trends as the year continues. I don’t know if I will ever end up truly discovering my personal style, but even if I don’t, at least I will know I had fun trying.
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rom a big budget war �ilm to the �irst female led superhero movie in recent years, this summer featured a diverse lineup of movies, helmed by major directors such as Christopher Nolan and Edgar Wright. Following an impressive showing in 2016, including Star Trek Beyond, Captain America: Civil War, and Jason Bourne, there were high expectations for this summer’s box of�ice, and it fully delivered. With the help of some great new talent, including Fionn Whitehead and Ansel Elgort, some of Hollywood’s best directors were able to release some truly out of the box and unique �ilms, creating stories and
Rollins takes over Cohen’s drama department BY MICHELLE ZEMLYAK
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n place of a classroom stands a stage with rows of chairs. In place of written exercises, students play improv games and instead of essays are skits. The unique classroom cultivates a close-knit community with boundless creativity and an almost tangible energy. This is Studio 74, Lynbrook’s drama studio. This year, however, a new drama teacher is standing in place of retired, long-time drama teacher Laurel Cohen. Strictly a literature teacher last year, Naomi Rollins has expanded her teaching �ields to Beginning Drama, Advanced and Honors Drama and World Literature this year to ful�ill the legacy Cohen has left. Rollins has six years of drama teaching experience at Scotts Valley High School; heading all Lynbrook drama courses and productions as well as advising the Thespian Society club, however, will be a new feat. “I’m very grateful to be taking over after [Cohen] has left such a wonderful place for me to head off
from,” said Rollins. “But at the same time, it’s also challenging. For the space itself, I want to make it my own, but to keep it a community space for the students as well.” Cohen is responsible for establishing the drama department that many students take part in today. She has made several signi�icant contributions toward the program over the past few decades, though she is best remembered for transforming the drama studio. Studio 74 was once an empty wood shop with bare walls and no stage, until Cohen remodeled the room into a drama haven. In previous years, Cohen has covered various units in her beginning drama classes based on genres, including pantomime, comedy and tragedy. Rollins, on the other hand, is modifying the curriculum, initiating several changes to the department while preserving and strengthening the spirit and the community of Lynbrook drama. “As I’m taking over this class, I’m learning about what [students] have done in the past, but I would also like to try new things,” said Rollins. “I want to make this drama department fun, but also help students explore different parts of themselves creatively, vocally and artistically.”
One signi�icant change to the curriculum is the transition from separate units to smaller, collaborative projects. This new system gives beginning students the opportunity to experiment not only with acting, but with other aspects of drama such as lighting and sound. In the future, Rollins plans to alter course curriculum based on class feedback to decide speci�ic areas to explore. She has given students the freedom to organize the fall play to their liking to encourage passion and creativity. Furthermore, Rollins plans to spend additional time behind-the-scenes, developing her students to become lighting, sound, set design and costuming experts. “These past few years, a lot of the drama department has been based on routine and tradition,” said senior Lucy Euler, who works behind-the-scenes in productions. “But this year, Rollins is very open to trying new things and letting us explore other �ields of theater.” Rollins
is aiming for one production this year; instead of the usual musical performed during second semester, she is introducing Cabaret Night, a chance for students to perform songs from their favorite Broadway shows. Rollins also plans to delegate more responsibilities to her advanced students to further raise standards. “She listens to our advice and input,” said drama actress and junior Mohini Adkar. “She gives us responsibility, but there’s help along the way.” All major decisions regarding the productions are made collectively by Advanced Drama classes. The students are all responsible for various parts of the production including lighting, sound, set design and costuming. Students have the opportunity to realize their visions by designing the costumes and sets while working alongside Rollins. With a new teacher in place of Cohen, Lynbrook drama faces a fresh perspective. The community spirit, creativity, and positive energy, however, remain unchanged.
KELSEY LU—EPIC
Discovering the realms of journaling A look into the distinctive effects of journaling on the mind
BY SRINIDHI SESHADRI AND AILEEN XUE
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hile the phrase “dear diary” is one of the �irst things that people associate with journaling, in reality, the hobby encompasses much more. Journaling is about looking beyond events that have occurred and moving toward the experiences and feelings beneath them. Journals can be used as tools to discover oneself by re�lecting on various experiences and releasing pent-up emotions. Unlike a diary, which is a record of a person’s daily activities, a journal is more personal and can be used to examine an individual’s life. A journal can describe anything from one’s feelings in a particular situation to thoughts about political events. Journals are meant to collect ideas, experiences and observations and put them into writing. “Journaling is not about writing something everyday like ‘I ate cheese for lunch today,’” said junior Emily Leung. “It’s about writing things that I want to look back at and think about how it impacted me in a certain way.” The wide variety of types of journals ensure that there is something suited for everyone’s interests. Some of the most popular are dream journals, gratitude journals, daily journals, travel journals and bullet journals. Each type or journal is different from the other and focuses on a different aspect of life. Dreams can be recorded and analyzed with a dream journal, while a gratitude journal is a method of showing things for which one is grateful for and focusing on positive things in one’s life. “Journaling can be used in a really positive way, to think about what you’re grateful for,” said psychologist Ginny Estupinian. “A lot of times, when we think of journaling
we think about ‘let’s talk about our problems’ but actually oftentimes is useful is to talk about what’s going well.” Daily journals are everyday accounts of one’s feelings and experiences while travel journals are a way to log one’s various journeys around the world. A bullet journal’s can be used to organize one’s to-do list and jot down ideas. “The multifunctionality of bullet journaling really appealed to me as it was essentially a journal, a planner and an agenda all in one” said sophomore Audrey Ding who has been bullet journaling for three months. “Bullet journaling helped me organize all my tasks and plan out each day. I also thought it was very cool and minimalistic.” Journaling has been proven to have many health bene�its. A study conducted by psychologists Gerardo Ramirez and Sian L. Beilock at the University of Chicago found that students who wrote about their feelings before a test performed better than those who did not. The reason behind this was that they felt less anxious, which demonstrates that expressive writing can bene�it one’s mental well-being. Similarly, James Pennebaker, a psychologist and researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, found through multiple studies that daily journaling strengthened one’s Tlymphocytes, a type of cell that aids in the body’s immune response. Aside from the clinical bene�its, journaling also helps one destress. Daily journaling in particular allows one to fully express his or her emotions, without the fear of someone else’s judgement. This ability to reduce stress has even been compared to yoga and meditation, as they are all stress relievers and allow one to �ind a sense of calmness. Journaling assists one to take a step back and look at things from a different point of view. “When people engage in deep breathing, like with meditation, it makes changes in the brain and its re-
sponse,” said Estupinian. “The brain learns how to relax. The same applies to journaling, when you learn how to organize your thoughts in a different way, you create new neuron pathways and your brain gets really good at learning how to organize information.” As one of the oldest methods of self-help, journaling can relieve problems and concerns, making it easier to identify stressors and �ind ways to avoid them. Problems are usually solved with an analytical, left-brained perspective, but sometimes it is more effective to look at things from a more creative, intuitive and right-brained perspective in order to solve them, which is used during journaling. Thus, journaling allows one to access different skills that they normally would not use. “Journaling helps prioritize what’s important and what’s not,” said Estupinian. “What’s nice about journaling is that when you write it down on paper you can see what’s a real emergency versus what’s not that big of a priority.” It is important to note, however, that journaling does come with drawbacks, especially for perfectionists who like to make sure that their handwriting is �lawless or that their thoughts are meticulously organized. “Since I focused a lot on the aesthetic aspect of journaling, I spent too much time pre-planning my entries and trying to make my journal look nice that I stopped journaling altogether,” said Ding. Focusing on the aesthetics of the journal or on the quality of writing can often distract from the opportunity to unload thoughts in order to destress and unwind. For some, it may not be the fear of staying up all night trying to perfect a single journal entry that is stopping them from journaling, but instead the time and effort that journaling seems to require. The amount of time spent is variable, however, as even spending a few minutes per day journaling is effective in unloading emotions and relieving stress. “A lot of times people feel that to get a bene�it out of meditation they have to work for an hour to feel better, but we know that’s not true,” said Estupinian. “You could just focus on breathing for 5 to 10 minutes a day and it could have an impact of your health. The same is true with journaling, even taking a little time just to re�lect on your day ALL PHO TOS BY SA can be extremely useful.” DHANA SA RMA Another drawback to journaling occurs when people begin to think about how they are going to record a certain event in their day instead of actually experiencing it. This leads to one not taking in what has gone in during the day and becoming a passive observer of life. “The reason for this passiveness could be the loss of the objective. It’s really important to be aware of the purpose of the journaling,” said Estupinian. “For example, if a bullet journal is being used as a way to maintain and keep track of goal setting, then de�initely journaling about it without taking action is not going to be helpful. There are certain points where taking action becomes important because the problem won’t resolve without that step.” Although journaling can sometimes feel tedious or time consuming, its numerous bene�its outweigh the drawbacks. From alleviating stress to improving the immune system, journaling can be an activity to pick up whenever one needs to take a step back and observe all that’s going on around them.
The effects of multilingualism on the brain bene�its. A study of Spanish-English bilinguals at the University of California, San Diego concluded that people with a hile there are currently over 6900 languages in the higher pro�iciency in multiple languages were able to resist world, the vast majority of the U.S. population is the symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease for lon�luent only in English, with its bilingualism rate un- ger periods of time. This could be the result of multilinguals der 20 percent. Over half of the world’s population, however, relying more on the frontal lobe of their brains, reinforcing it is composed of polyglots, people who can speak multiple lan- with brain tissue. Thus, multilinguals have more brain matguages. In the 20th century, there was a widely held belief ter, a bene�icial trait if the brain were to succumb to a disease that being multilingual was a mental distraction for students. like dementia. Another study published in a journal of the American Heart Association on stroke However, this view has dramatically changed survivors showed that bilinguals were since then, and as of 2008, 93 percent of high about twice as likely to recover from schools in the U.S. offer second language classbrain damage resulting from strokes es. High school students are encouraged, if not “MULTILINGUALISM IS A than monolinguals were. required, to take these classes in an attempt to TRUE GIFT. LEARNING A Studies conducted by the Multilinincrease the multilingualism rate. LANGUAGE OPENS UP THE gual Children’s Association showed that Multilingualism, the ability to speak mulDOOR TO SO MANY ‘AH-HA’ children raised in multilingual housetiple languages, is a skill that many countries MOMENTS.” holds had more superior analytical incorporate into school curriculums to expose and social skills than their monolingual students to new cultures. Besides having proMICHAEL ESQUIVEL peers do. This can be partially attributfound social bene�its, speaking multiple lanSPANISH TEACHER ed to the greater amount of processing guages has proven to have positive mental skills needed from them to understand effects as well. Numerous studies have been multiple languages. When spoken to published in recent years that indicate the mental health bene�its of being multilingual from a young in several languages at a young age, infants tend to develop age, ranging from a nimbler mind to a faster stroke recovery. greater processing skills. Additionally, exposure to a broader “Multilingualism is a true gift,” said Spanish teacher Mi- range of vocabulary, sounds and grammar gives multilingual chael Esquivel. “Learning a language is so much more than children an advantage when learning another language, due vocabulary and grammar. It’s a culture which is an umbrella to an effect called positive transfer, which refers to using faterm for religion, pop culture, politics and actors. Learning miliar sounds and grammar structures and applying them to another language opens up the door to so many ‘ah-ha’ mo- a new language. “I think learning Chinese has helped me pick up words and ments.” Polyglots often have to switch languages depending on the phrases I’ve heard from other people in different languages,” situation they are in, requiring them to be more perceptive said junior Selina Li. “For instance, I’ve learned a lot of Chito their surroundings. A study conducted at the University nese colloquialisms from my parents because they use them of Pompeu Fabra had German-Italian bilinguals and Italian in everyday life, not because I was taught them.” Even though foreign language classes may require a great monolingual execute various tasks. The researchers found that the bilinguals executed the tasks better with less activity deal of effort for some students, new research concerning the detected in their brains, suggesting that bilinguals could be variety of mental and spatial advantages of being a polyglot, combined with the social bene�its of knowing multiple lanmore ef�icient at multitasking. Apart from enjoying better multitasking and problem guages, makes the time investment of learning additional lansolving skills, multilinguals may also have valuable health guages worth it in the long run.
BY HSIN YEN HUANG AND MICHELLE ZEMLYAK
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GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TZEN-HAO NG AND AILEEN XUE
Sniffing out the hidden truth behind scents Delving into the profound psychological effects of scents BY RISA MORI AND DIVYA NELAKONDA
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pon entering a cafe, people are immediately hit by the strong scent of brewing coffee, its aroma relaxing their minds and �illing them with warm memories. On the other hand, they are repulsed and disgusted by the odor of a full garbage can. While scent preferences may differ among individuals, certain smells often have the ability to evoke different memories or emotions. For instance, most people in urban or suburban areas are disgusted by the smell of cow manure. For someone who grew up on a farm, however, cow manure can evoke a feeling of nostalgia. Similarly, while some Americans do not prefer the scent of seaweed, Japanese people, who have grown up eating dishes with seaweed, do not mind the scent at all. “I don’t really like the smell of American candles or perfumes that are strongly scented,” said junior Sandy Matsuda. “I prefer Japanese scents for body and hair products, because they smell nicer and that is what I prefer based on the surroundings I grew up with.” An individual’s country of origin, culture or personal history can affect his or her preferred smells. Certain scents may evoke memories speci�ic to individuals, as simply smelling a childhood scent can also induce a �lashback to a past memory. “I �ind that I like the smell of peppermint,” said junior Heather Kong. “I think I prefer the scent because it reminds me of the little peppermints that we got before winter break in elementary school.” The Proustian Memory Effect explains this phenomenon; this effect refers to the vivid reliving of events from the past through sensory stimuli to the brain, eliciting an intense and emotional memory of an episode from one’s childhood. Childhood memories that are linked to scent tend to stay with people, and even if temporarily forgotten, can be brought back through a trigger, such as smelling that certain scent. A Brown University study that used perfumes to test the recognition of familiar scents supports the Proustian Memory Effect. Participants were exposed to a perfume of their choice and another unmarketed perfume. When they smelled their chosen per-
fumes, the researchers found that the al responses, so that helps tie odors to hippocampus, which is strongly linked emotion.” to memory, was particularly active, The effect of scents extends to pracproving that individuals subconsciously tical uses as well. The hypothalamus, an recognize familiar scents. The study also area of the brain also connected to the found that smelling familiar perfumes olfactory system, controls hunger, sextriggered increased activity in the amyg- ual behavior and other basic behaviors. dala, the part of the brain associated When one smells food, the odor can inwith emotion, which proved that scents teract with his or her hypothalamus. are also strongly linked to emotion. “This [interaction] can alert the rest Another study conducted by Eric of the digestive system [that] ‘food is on Vermetten and James the way!’ and helps exD. Bremner of the Emplain why food smells ory University School sometimes make us of Medicine found that “WE DON’T PAY MUCH even more hungry,” said ATTENTION TO SMELL, scents have the capabilWilson. “Bakeries take ity to trigger negative advantage of this by BUT IT CAN LEAD TO BIG emotions in particular. pumping out the smell CHANGES IN QUALITY OF This study examined of cinnamon buns into LIFE ONCE IT’S GONE.” participants diagnosed the mall so we subconwith Post-Traumatic DONALD A. WILSON sciously start feeling Stress Disorder who PROFESSOR hungry and go looking fought in the Vietnam for cinnamon buns.” War, and found that While some scents some patients experican stimulate the brain, enced involuntary upsetting feelings others cause people to act a certain way and memories when smelling diesel that after multiple exposures. Aromatherareminded them of the war. py, the practice of using natural oils of One big reason why the sense of smell plants for psychological and physical is tied so strongly to human emotions bene�its, is a widely accepted scent-reseems to be due to brain structure. The lated method that relaxes the mind and olfactory system is a part of the sensory the body. Most of the allegedly scienti�ic system associated with smell. It is inter- aspects of aromatherapy, however, are twined with locations of the brain pri- unsupported by data, and its calming marily associated with memory. effects are actually a result of learned “The olfactory system is tightly linked responses and expectations based on to areas of the brain that are important previous encounters. for memory, like the hippocampus and “This type of [learned response] can amygdala,” said Donald A. Wilson, Ph.D be used in aromatherapy to help induce of the New York University Langone wrelaxation, but it is also being used by Medical Center. “So odors sort of have companies now to help in their brandprivileged access to those areas. That is ing,” said Wilson. “So for example, some one reason why odors may be so good hotels have speci�ic scents in their lobby at evoking memories. The amygdala is also important for many emotion-
so that if you stay there frequently, and like the hotel, you can have a nice reaction as you enter the lobby because of the smell — even if you don’t consciously notice the smell.” Losing the ability to process scents leaves a lasting impact on an individual psychologically. This can mean not being able to smell anything, a consequence of nasal problems or head trauma. Loss of smell can cause people to lose their sense of taste even if their tongue still functions, as most of what is perceived as �lavor is actually smell. Depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are diseases in which symptoms include such smell problems. “If you lose your sense of smell, maybe you don’t realize you left the gas on the stove on or maybe you don’t realize the milk has gone bad,” said Wilson. “Your favorite foods don’t have a good �lavor anymore, so you have to put tons of salt or sugar on it to get some taste. We don’t pay much attention to smell, but it can lead to big changes in the quality of life once it’s gone.” Whether it is a whiff of perfume or the smell of a grandparent’s home, scents often affect people in subconscious ways. These scents serve to intensify memories, connect experiences with emotions and enhance abilities to perform daily tasks. Although overlooked, the odor of an environment is more in�luential to behavior than one may perceive.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE LEE AND INDEPTH SECTION
Cheerleading team welcomes special ed students BY AURELIA YANG AND BELINDA ZHOU
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way from the splendor of performing under bright stadium lights in radiant uniforms, the cheerleading team has been breaking boundaries behind the scenes: for the �irst time in Lynbrook’s history, the team has taken action to help integrate students with special needs into its program. The commencement of the new year and the implementation of the Academy Community and Transition (ACT) program welcomes an addition of �ive cheerleaders with special needs to the team: Alicia Wang, Sabrina Khan, Michelle Wu, Jadyn Armstrong and Kim Tran. The ACT program was designed to meet the needs of high school students with a spectrum of disabilities, focusing on community-based interaction to aid students in exploring different career environments and developing communication skills. At the dawn of the 2016-17 school year, the cheerleading coach, Coach Afton Usry, sent out an email offering all ACT students who might express interest in participating in cheerleading the opportunity to join. Toward the end of the �irst s e m e s ter, Heather Amirault, a
teacher for students with special needs by having them work separately and who works alongside the ACT program, then come back together and do their assisted Coach Afton with recruiting parts together,” said Coach Afton. “I keep more students for the team and co- them together for as much stuff as I can ordinating events and practice times. to all really feel like they are one team; Although the idea of building the I don’t want them to feel segregated.” Sparklers team, the team The coaches have composed of students furthermore been with special needs, has working toward “[THE CHEERLEADERS been in the making since the cheerWITH SPECIAL NEEDS] ARE helping August 2016, the proleaders with special DETERMINED. EVEN WHEN needs grasp skills at gram was only recently actualized; nevertheless, THEY STARTED CHEER, a steady pace. Repthe cheerleaders with THEY WERE EXCITED TO etition, for example, LEARN CHEERS AND GO TO is a speci�ic teaching special needs are ecBASKETBALL GAMES.” static about this exciting method that Coach new opportunity. The Afton often utilizes. MARIE KARPINSKA experience has helped “I make them do CHEER CAPTAIN things over and over these students acquire new cheerleading skills, again,” said Coach in addition to obtaining Afton. “Repetition a fresh perspective of their peers who and consistency are especially imthey spend several hours a week with. portant for the Sparklers team be“It feels like I’ve been expressing my- cause of their developmental delays.” self, learning how to be a good leader and Additionally, the skills that the Spartrying to support my team,” said Alicia klers team learn may differ from those Wang, a member of the Sparklers team. practiced by the other cheerleaders. The coaches and cheerleaders have “They learn all the words to the also been building a more uni�ied cheers just like us and some of the team by actively working to narrow cheers,” said Marie Karpinska, one of the the gap between the cheerlead- cheerleading captains this year. “Some ers and the Sparklers team. of the motions are pretty fast, so we “Typically we bridge [the have them step-clap. We also have gap] them do very simple stunts.” This year,
the cheerleading team hopes to spend more time focusing on its routines for sports home games and building their new team to attain a strong foundation for next year’s competitive cheerleading team. Moreover, the cheerleading team hopes for the Sparklers to gain exposure within the Lynbrook community in order to encourage more students with special needs to join the team in upcoming years. The Sparklers team exemplify qualities of determination and enthusiasm, contributing a positive and cheerful attitude toward their teammates and adding to the general atmosphere during practices. “[The cheerleaders with special needs] are very determined,” said Karpinska. “Even when they started cheer, they were very excited to learn cheers and go to the basketball games. They participate a lot, and they’re very eager to participate.” The cheerleading team has taken Lynbrook one step closer to improving the communication between students with special needs and the Lynbrook community through the implementation of the ACT program. Students with special needs are able to bene�it from being in a friendly environment for them to expand their skillsets and form long-lasting memories.
MICHYLA LIN—EPIC
CATHERINE HUANG//IN MY OPINION
Lavar Ball: a genius or a narcissist?
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ince the NCAA playoffs and NBA draft season, the press has been eating up Lavar Ball’s antics. The most popular topic among sports journalists, along with the recent ESPN articles, has been about the
Ball family. Lavar owns a compilation of controversial statements, but however misogynistic, racist and delusional he may be or seem, Lavar Ball is nothing short of a genius. The Ball family consists of father Lavar Ball and his sons Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo. The family �irst gained publicity through Lonzo’s consistent and commendable performances as a freshman on the UCLA basketball team; recently, however, they have been receiving unwavering negative attention from the sports community and a steady stream of newsworthy headlines because of Lavar’s outlandish and questionable assertions. For instance, Lavar has ejected a female referee from a club basketball game because she needed to “stay in her lane and ref the little kids �irst.” And he’s explained that “you can’t win no championship with three white guys because the foot speed is too slow” when UCLA unexpectedly lost in the Sweet
16 NCAA playoffs round. He’s also claimed that in his heyday, he could easily “kill Michael Jordan one-on-one.” Such words and actions have captured the attention of not only the public, but even of basketball prodigies Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley, all three of whom criticized Ball for his unsubstantiated comments. While I, along with most of the public, don’t have much respect for his opinions and portrayal to the media, his unique approach is obviously working to his advantage. With newfound media attention, he has landed a reality show deal with Facebook, bringing in millions of views each episode. He has agreed to a guaranteed admissions deal with UCLA’s basketball team for his younger sons LiAngelo and LaMelo. He has amassed more than half a million followers on Instagram and Facebook and is veri�ied on Twitter. He has also made Big Baller
Brand a shoe company in its own right and has given Lonzo and LaMelo publicity for their pricy shoe lines. He’s helped Lonzo become the most popular and talked-about rookie in the NBA even before Lonzo’s �irst of�icial game as a member of the Lakers. He has moreover thrusted himself into the limelight, a far-fetched dream that star athletes long for, despite having had a 2.2 point-per-game average at Washington State. Being under constant criticism may be draining and discouraging, but the way Lavar capitalizes on and prolongs his 15 minutes of fame is admirable. To Lavar, not being talked about is worse than being talked about in an unfavorable manner. And it’s proving to be working in his favor, much like how it’s worked during our recent presidential election and for the infamous “cash-me-ousside” teen, most recently known as Bhad Bhabie, from Doctor Phil.
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lmost every night, senior Joe Zou turns to his younger brother, sophomore Tim Zou and shows him a funny YouTube video. Together, they share a smile as they watch it. Growing up, the brothers were each other’s constant companions and practiced soccer together at the elementary school near their house. Now, they are each other’s biggest supporters, never failing to make each other laugh. Joe plays football, Tim runs track and both play soccer at Lynbrook. “Tim has really helped me stay competitive,” said Joe. “There was a time when Tim started getting really fast at long distance running, and that pushed me to train harder.” Joe is a mentor to Tim and teaches him the offensive soccer techniques that he uses and encourages Tim to apply them to his game. The two brothers also play frisbee recreationally, which they picked up at a summer camp a few years ago to spend time together and relieve stress. To Tim, Joe is the guiding �igure who has introduced him to every sport that he plays, gives him advice on sports and school and inspires him to work hard. “My brother works very hard and values integrity, which I really admire,” said Tim. “He is smart and athletic, and that is also what I want to be.” Through playing sports and spending time together studying and watching videos, Tim and Joe have formed a close bond and found ways to be both each other’s role models and friends. “I think my brother has worked harder than me,” said Joe. “It’s tough for him on sports teams because he’s usually the smallest one. I am very proud that he is able to power through all the adversity.”
ince her freshmen year, senior Lauryn Ito has attended every football game at Lynbrook. When she hears “Number 45: Hayden Ito” announced on the �ield, she never misses the chance to cheer for her twin brother. They have been playing sports since they were young, participating in baseball, soccer and swimming. At Lynbrook, Hayden and Lauren play football and �ield hockey respectively and also wrestle together during the winter. During football season, Lauryn often sees Hayden come home with scrapes and admires the positive attitude he has toward his injuries. “He never complains,” said Lauryn. “He is always happy after football practice, and even when he is really hurt, he still insists that he can play.” Hayden also attends many of Lauryn’s �ield hockey games and is inspired by her desire to contribute to her team. “Lauryn is very passionate about what she does,” said Hayden. “She is always trying to make the team better, and �ights to make her ideas heard.” Sports have always played a big role in the Ito Family: Hayden and Lauryn’s parents watch every game, and their grandparents occasionally join them too. In middle school, Hayden wanted to wrestle after watching his older brother, and told Lauryn to join the team as well. “I would not be a wrestler if it were not for Hayden,” said Lauryn. “He dragged me into wrestling, and I am glad he did.” As Lauryn sees the bright lights of the Lynbrook stadium that have become so familiar and watches Hayden on the �ield giving it his all, she is reminded of the opportunities sports have given her to grow and bond with family.
KELSEY LU—EPIC
ASHLEY SONG—EPIC
BY PATRICIA WEI
ASHLEY SONG—EPIC
Sibling athletes work their way to the top together S
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hen senior Amy Steinmetz makes a kill on the volleyball court, she hears a distinctive loud cheer. From the corner of her eye, she sees sophomore Angela Steinmetz, her sister and teammate on Lynbrook’s varsity volleyball team, excitedly jumping up and down, cheering from the top of her lungs. “My sister is super dedicated, intelligent and fun to be around,” said Amy. “She always wants to go the gym and do the extra work to improve, which motivates me.” Knowing that her sister and other underclassmen, look up to her, Amy strives to be an inspiring captain and teammate. As captain, she gives a pep talk before the start of every game. Before doing so, she goes to Angela and tells her, “I believe in you. You’ll do well. You’re a great athlete, so don’t be nervous.” “Angela has shaped me into a better team player,” said Amy. “I used to be more cocky, but my sister makes sure I know my spot on the team and reminds me that there’s always room to improve.” After a game, Amy and Angela give each other compliments, as well as constructive criticism, and think of different techniques to try out for the upcoming game. Because they play different positions, they do not experience much rivalry: as the taller player, Amy likes to hit, while as the shorter player, Angela prefers to pass. With their tight bond and versatility on the volleyball court, the two constantly build each other up. Angela’s favorite moment with Amy on the court has been when she makes a pass to Amy that Amy is able to make a solid kill with. “I think that creates a bond between us,” said Angela. “I am really proud to know that my sister, Amy, is such a strong player on the team.”
Football team perseveres despite injuries BY JUSTINE CHEN
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enior and starting wide receiver Martin Thurman lies �lat on his back at the twenty-yard line with the wind knocked out of him. As he struggles to catch his breath, the pounding in his head drowns out the sound of the spectators clamoring and the coaches sprinting toward him. Following a trip to the emergency room, Thurman was diagnosed with a mild concussion and was one of the three players who incurred major injuries during the football team’s �irst home game of the pre-season against Andrew Hill High School on Sept. 1. Starting pre-season with a rocky start of six losses, the team has been under high pressure to perform well for the upcoming league games. A lack of players has contributed signi�icantly to the team’s �irst few losses: this year’s team consists of 21 players fewer than last year, making up only half of the previous year’s roster. Multiple injuries of key players such as Thurman, junior and quarterback Nadir Bouaricha and junior and guard Dave Lawrence have further decreased the already unsubstantiable numbers. The rotation of players in and out of games became less frequent and thus quickly drained players’ energies, lowering the quality of their performance. “Last year was de�initely an outlier in terms of athleticism; a lot of the kids were really talented, big, fast and strong,” said
senior and co-captain Eric Macpherson. “We do not have as much as that this year but what we lack in physical ability we gain in mental ability. We are a smarter team than we were last year.” While the team is short in number of players and strength, they have implemented new strategies and tactics to work around such weaknesses and ensure success at future games. For instance, the team has been spending time in the �ilm room breaking down opposing teams’ weaknesses as well as those of their own. From their �irst six games, players identi�ied key areas for improvement and made adjustments accordingly that could c o n t r i b u te to a more successful g a m e .
For example, after the �irst game of the pre-season, more emphasis was placed on tackling. Over the summer, tackling practices were restricted until the last week of summer practice due to new Central Coast Section (CCS) regulations. Beginning pre-season, the team was able to work on this �law. Through these re�lections, head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Alan Vinciguerra and Offensive Coordinator Ajene Palmer have been con�ident that the team will learn from its mistakes and experience a victorious season. “One game does not de�ine us,” said senior and
receiver Garrett Riley. “Even if we lose one week, it is how we come back from the loss that counts. We need to forget all the mistakes we made and get ready for the next game. If we hold onto this negativity, we are not going to get better and we are going to continue to go downhill.” Regardless of the win-loss record, team captains Macpherson, senior Hayden Ito and junior Zayhaan Batlivala have named maintaining a positive outlook and exemplifying teamwork as the team’s top priorities. After a loss or dif�icult game, Vinciguerra and the captains tell players to “�lush it,” a motto that motivates them to move on and look forward to their next play. The Vikings’ next home game is on Sept. 29, against Santa Clara High. “Each week, we try to go game by game,” said Batlivala. “Yes, we do have losses and games that lower player morale but we focus on one week at a time while using that anger and frustration from past games to drive us to do better.” Pre-season has allowed the team to re�lect on personal performance as well that of the overall team. Keeping in mind the lessons learned from pre-season, the Vikings hope to achieve a successful season not simply in number of wins, but also in teamwork and unity. “We play the game because we love it,” said Riley. “We do not play the game to have a jersey on or to be able to say we are on the team. We play the game because we respect it, and it brings us together.”
ASHLEY SONG—EPIC
A look at Friday nights under a fisheye lens BY KELSEY LU AND SADHANA SARMA
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ridays are a time for students to take a sigh of relief because they’ve made it through yet another week of school. The weekend (hopefully) serves as a break from the countless quizzes, plethora of lectures and notes, and endless math problems. Students are not the only ones excited as the school bell rings at the end of the day, however. Staff members get excited to spend time with family and friends and for some relaxation. Students and staff, alike, perk up at the prospect of Friday’s approach, ready for what the day has in store. At Lynbrook, Fridays stand out because of the variety of activities that take place: Music in the Quad, Lynbrook spirit wear, rallies, football games, movie nights, and more.
Pictured above: Junior Isabella Gasparyan Question: What do you love about Fridays at Lynbrook? Answer: I love that we have music in the quad. It creates a nice vibe around school.
From, football players, cheerleaders and valkyries repping their uniforms during school to steaming baked potatoes, the day has it all. To try and capture the essence of this day pictures were taken of different aspects of Fridays throughout the month of
Pictured below: Freshman Sahil Bhatia Question: What do you love about Fridays at Lynbrook? Answer: It’s game days for football, there’s less homework, and teachers are easier on us.
September and what better way to do so than under a �isheye lens? Beginning with the �irst football game of the year on Sept. 1, the Lynbrook varsity football team played Andrew Hill High School. The night was full with all the things that scream “friday night football”: baked potatoes, barbeque, a performance from the valkyries, numerous cheers from the cheerleaders, the shouts of passionate spectators and music accompaniment from the band. The following Friday, Lynbrook ASB Tech set up speakers at the top of the quad. The weekly spectacle has become a tradition at school. Leading up to each Friday, a member of ASB Tech puts up a poll on Facebook where students are given the ability to vote for the choice of music they want to hear. A unique Friday event occurred on Sept. 15. Movie Night, hosted by ASB Social. ASB set up a projector in the quad for “Moana”, to be played. Students wrapped themselves in blankets to enjoy the movie with their friends as well as free popcorn to snack on. All these events are just fractions of what make Fridays such a highly anticipated time of the week. To get more insight, two students, freshman Sahil Bhatia and junior Isabella Gasparyan, were asked to share what they love about Fridays.