Epic Issue 3, 2018

Students come together for fall showcase

BY SUNNY LI

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GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MELISSA CHEN

PATRICIA WEI — EPIC

he chatter of the audience dies down. The room dims, and the stage is bathed in light.

Over the next hour, passionate monologues, heartfelt scenes and tense �ights take place onstage.

From Nov. 15-17, advanced drama students held a showcase for their annual fall show at Studio 74.

Rather than performing a play as in past years, students directed, produced and wrote various short pieces. Students originally planned to write an act as a class and perform it, but due to literature and drama teacher Naomi Rollins’ leave of absence, they decided to perform as groups instead. Literature and drama teacher Dani Howard stepped in to help students with the fall production. “[Howard] helps us really have a perspective on what we’re doing,” said junior and lighting technician Srikari Gudipalli. “We are in the advanced class, and we have an idea of what we want to do, but she’s helped us �igure out the best way to do it.”

Full run throughs for shows are typically held two weeks in advance to work out technical aspects and put the show together. However, this time around, the drama students had an especially tight schedule, and those rehearsals only took place a few days before the showcase. Despite the dif�iculties, the showcase was a success.

“It all worked out really well, because the students were amazing. The reason that I was able to do a successful fall showcase is because they’re really on top of it and really knew what they were doing,” Howard said. “Having them act that way and really be on it made my job really easy, and it was so much fun.”

The showcase gave students more freedom to choose what they wanted to express through their different pieces. Though there was an overarching theme of comedy, the pieces dealt with topics ranging from college interviews to secret agents.

The night started off with “Car Keys,” a monologue written and performed by junior Abdullah Ashiq. Ashiq took the role of a reporter who comes across a dead body in a car with no

keys. Next was a heartwarming piece titled “When I Grow Up” about a mother who re�lects on her own mother while speaking to her daughter.

A piece poking fun at college interviews, “13 Ways to Screw Up Your College Interviews,” performed and directed by juniors Shiv Sankhavaram and Stephen Tao, displayed extreme tactics used to succeed in college applications.

Continuing with the laughs, the following piece, titled “I Don’t Know,” depicted a secret agent as she attempted to in�iltrate an unintelligent mob boss’ poker game. Arguments between a disloyal husband, his wife, his mistress and his mistress’ brother �illed “A Fish Called Wanda.” Although these acts were comedic, others tried to elicit different emotions from the audience.

“We want the audience to laugh and enjoy themselves, but for the scenes that deal with darker themes, we are trying to move the audience and communicate ideas about being alone and recovering from traumatic events,” said junior and director of “I Don’t Know” Emma Nguyen.

In the longest piece of the night, “I Love You Pumpkin,” written and directed by junior Deni Ureten, a teenager deals with the trauma of a car accident that killed her brother and struggles against inner demons to overcome her guilt.

Following Ureten’s one act, senior Mohini Adkar’s monologue expressed her character’s hatred for the rich. The �inal act conveyed the bond between two friends as they conversed at 2 a.m. about one friend’s true love, a mermaid.

Though students performed their pieces individually and in groups, the showcase ultimately brought the whole class together.

“Everyone in the class got involved, which I liked,” Adkar said. “Usually, the way a show works is that you audition, and you get cast as a part.

This showcase was more inclusive.”

After the last enthusiastic round of applause, the audience trickled out of the room and it was empty once again. However, drama students look forward to the next time they will be on stage again: the spring musical, “Beauty and the Beast,” as well as the Lenaea High School Theatre Festival in Feb. 2019.

San Jose hires homeless to clean up city

BY DHRITI IYER

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ith rising house prices and living costs come increasing rates of homelessness. According to a census taken in 2017, there were 4,350 homeless individuals in San Jose. Since November, San Jose has been piloting the Beautify San Jose Program, in which the city pays homeless citizens $15 per hour to pick up trash around the city. San Jose hopes that the program will set homeless individuals on the path to self-suf�iciency.

The Beautify San Jose program employs a total of 25 homeless citizens from local shelters to clean up trash for 4 to 5 hours a day in San Jose. Forty hotspots, including Tully Road in East San Jose and Saratoga Avenue in West San Jose, have been selected as locations for trash collecting. The program has partnered with Goodwill and the Downtown Streets Team, two organizations that work with volunteers to better the lives of those in need. Goodwill is a nonpro�it that provides job training and employment to people in need, and the Downtown Streets Team is a program that focuses on helping

homeless citizens integrate back into society by providing stable housing and jobs, while also �inding ways to bene�it the environment.

Both organizations have been tasked with overseeing the program, running it from their respective centers.

“I think the city should try to help to the best of its ability because of its responsibility to keep the residents of San Jose healthy and happy,” said junior Sathvika Anand, a volunteer at Inclusive World, a program that assists people with different disabilities. “It’s a program that would really help with that.”

Based on a simple application each candidate was required to �ill out, the Downtown Streets Team selected 25 workers for the job. The workers’ tasks include picking up trash from the sides of busy roads, allowing them to work toward getting back on their feet by providing them with a steady income. While the job is simple and straightforward, it helps workers build a skill set that will aid a transition back into a stable lifestyle and future jobs.

“I’ve met a lot of homeless people at homeless shelters, and from a lot of the stories I’ve heard, after getting sober after

coming out of prison, they didn’t really have many resources to help them get back on their feet,” said senior Rita Chen, one of the two community project chairs in Interact Club. “I think it’s a really good program for them to really be able to restart their lives.”

Nevertheless, the city is still testing out the program to see if it yields fruitful results and makes a positive impact on the homeless community. Funding the program costs around $200,000, with half of the money granted to Goodwill and the other half to the Downtown Streets Team. If the program yields positive results, the city is hoping to expand it and reach more of the homeless community in San Jose.

“It will help get them off their feet, give them a job, provide them with some income so they can possibly do something with themselves and give them hope,” said English teacher Andrew Seike.

As rates of homelessness continue to rise in the community, the Beautify San Jose program works toward combating this issue by providing homeless citizens with stable jobs that will help them in integrating back into society again.

BOYS BASKETBALL // PG. 14 Keeping the team spirit alive during an eventful season

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NEWS

DECEMBER 14, 2018

Meet the three newly elected FUHSD board members

BY CHLOE LEE

ROSA KIM

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osa Kim, Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto and Bill Wilson ran in the FUHSD Board of Trustees general elections on Nov. 6 and will serve for the next four years, starting in 2019. Members of the FUHSD Board of Trustees listen to public’s input and ultimately make the decisions and rules for the district’s �ive high schools.

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osa Kim is a former Korean school principal and Homestead High School parent whose motto is to “Reach Out, Listen and Act.” “I ran to send my Korean school students a message of serving our community and challenging themselves,” Kim said. “The board members’ dedication and contribution make great impact on the community, which really inspired me, and I thought I could use my experiences as a teacher and principal for the FUHSD community.”

Kim’s priorities revolve around students’ well-being in a competitive academic culture. She wants to develop programs to create a positive school environment where students gain con�idence in their identity.

“I want to continue building a close connection between the school and the community,” Kim said.

During Kim’s campaign, she spoke with community members to learn about her future constituents.

“I am impressed by Rosa Kim’s commitment to promoting students’ mental and emotional well-being at the same time that she seeks to maintain excellence in the FUHSD schools,” said Sequoia Union High School District board member Allen S. Weiner. “Above all, she possesses the intelligence and sophistication to play a positive role as part of the District’s governing board.”

USED WITH PERMISSION OF ROSA KIM

BILL WILSON

NAOMI NAKANOMATSUMOTO

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aomi Nakano-Matsumoto lives by the motto “kodomo no tame ni,” a Japanese phrase meaning “for the sake of the children.

“What gets parents through hardships is knowing that they are doing it for their children,” Nakano-Matsumoto said. “Today, we’re doing what is best for FUHSD students and looking out for their well-being.”

Nakano-Matsumoto has worked 25 years in nonpro�it executive management, served on two Santa Clara County Commissions and worked with homeless and immigrant families as a school social worker.

“My volunteer experiences make me mindful of areas that we can always improve on, including inequity,” Nakano-Matsumoto said. “It has allowed me to expand my network in the educational community and corporate realm.”

Nakano-Matsumoto was recognized as “Woman of the Year” by State Senator Joe Simitian in 2009 and “Very Special Person” by Homestead High School PTSA in 2018.

“Naomi has a social consciousness and knows how to serve people,” said former California State Assembly member Paul Fong. “She is very socially aware about the needs of our community.”

USED WITH PERMISSION OF NAOMI NAKANO-MATSUMTO

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ill Wilson ran as the only incumbent and received the most votes. Before his campaign, he was the founder and CEO of an information security company and a mathematics professor at De Anza College.

“I’m most proud of being able to be a part of creating this collaborative environment where teachers, administrators and staff work together as a team to provide the best possible education,” Wilson said.

Wilson �irst ran in 2006. He worked with many groups such as the City of Sunnyvale, whose mayor, Glenn Hendricks, collaborated with Wilson on several projects involving the City and school board.

“He has been a thoughtful and reasonable advocate for our students and teachers,” Hendricks said. “He truly cares about improving the environment and programs that students use, as well as the educational results that our students achieve.”

This year, Wilson ran to ensure continuity among board members.

“If we had three new [board members], that would be a lot of potential change in one year,” Wilson said. “My number one priority would be to �ind ways to continue to attract excellent teachers and have them live closer together or get to school sites more easily.”

USED WITH PERMISSION OF BILL WILSON

Cupertino fights for the future of Vallco

BY JONATHAN YE

Letter from the Editors Dear readers,

As the year wraps up, we welcome you to �lip through the pages of our �inal issue of 2018. In our news section, read about how Lynbrook students channeled the healing power of music through the Wild�ires Bene�it Concert to help Paradise wild�ire victims (pg.

3). Recently, the number of students playing video games in the school library has become a pressing problem, with some students unable to freely use library resources for academic purposes. This issue’s staff editorial (pg. 6) highlights the possible consequences that may occur if the issue persists.

Next, �lip to a feature on families at Lynbrook (pg. 8), such as students whose parents are staff members and married teachers. Additionally, before digging into delicious meals this holiday season, learn more about how the cafeteria and local restaurants process leftover food to minimize food wastage and their impact on the environment (pg. 12). Finally, read a heart-warming story about football and baseball player Jonathan Leslie overcoming the odds to become the positive person he is today (pg. 13). Apart from our print newspaper, be sure to visit our website, lhsepic.com, for related photos, infographics, other multimedia packages and additional stories as well.

Good luck on �inals and happy holidays, Justine Chen and Michelle Lum

A

ghost mall with only a few in sight. In the past few years, Vallco Shopping Center stores such as Macy’s, JCPenney and AMC have left the dying mall. With only a skating rink, bowling alley, Japanese restaurant and gym left, Sand Hill Property developers have recently passed city-approved plans to revitalize the Cupertino mall. But, the proposal has not come without backlash from the local community.

Sand Hill Property, the current owner of Vallco, began the demolition of Vallco in late October, following the approval of Senate Bill 35 which requires California cities to build more affordable houses; developers are now required to have at least 10 percent of their housing be affordable. On Sept. 19, the Cupertino City Council approved Sand Hill Property’s Vallco Speci�ic Plan Tier 2, a new plan which would add as many as 10,000 retail employees, 7,800 residents, 2,402 housing units, 1.8 million square feet of of�ice

space and 400,000 square feet of retail space. The plan is compliant with Senate Bill 35; 50 percent of the housing units in the project are designated for households with incomes below 80 percent of the area’s median income. The new retail space would only occupy 5 percent of Vallco’s entire space, transforming Vallco from a mall into a living and working complex. Not everyone, however, is in favor of the plan.

“Parents are always driving their children to school, classes and other activities,” said Lynbrook parent Karen Zhang. “If more houses are built, the daily traf�ic jam will become even worse during rush hours.

Schools like Cupertino and Lynbrook may also become over�lowed.”

On Oct. 17, political action committee Better Cupertino was created to protest Sand Hill’s proposition. Supporters believe that the plan will increase traf�ic around the area even more than Apple Park’s opening, Apple’s new headquarters.

“Better Cupertino was created because many Cupertino citizens believe that this plan will negatively affect the area near Vallco,” said Better Cupertino co-founder and Cupertino Council City member Liang Chao.

“Sand Hill Property plans to create mostly

paid parking spaces for the new Vallco, which will lead to people parking in our nearby neighborhoods.”

The developers initially planned to work with Cupertino, but chose not to when the Better Cupertino Referendum was formed. Better Cupertino amassed approximately 5,000 signatures, allowing the referendum to be placed onto a ballot for future voting. Some Lynbrook students are opposed to Sand Hill’s plan as well.

“Vallco should be restored as a retail mall rather than a living space,” said senior Ashwin Pasupathy. “Valley Fair, the nearest mall, is rather far from Cupertino, and a new Vallco mall would serve as an excellent addition to our city.”

Vallco’s fate will be decided by incoming Cupertino City Council members, as they will determine if Sand Hill’s plan will be approved and implemented. Currently, most council members support Better Cupertino and believe that the city can �ind an alternative plan for Vallco’s future.

The �ight for the future of Vallco continues. With Sand Hill Property, Better Cupertino and Cupertino citizens all wanting a say in Vallco’s development, its fate remains undecided.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY RACHEL WU

DECEMBER 14, 2018 News in Brief

LHS Annual Wrestling Tournament Come out to support Viking wrestlers at Lynbrook’s annual wrestling tournament.

It will take place on Dec. 15 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the �ield house and gym.

Finals Schedule Don’t forget, there is a new �inals schedule this year: periods 1 and 5 will be on Monday, periods 2 and 6 will be on Tuesday, periods 3 and 7 will be on Wednesday and period 4 will be on Thursday. Each day starts at 8 a.m. and ends no later than 12:30 p.m. Good luck studying for �inals!

Mid-Year Break Mid-year break is from Dec. 24 to Jan. 4.

First semester ends Dec. 20, and second semester starts on Jan. 7. Take the time off to celebrate the holidays and come back refreshed and ready for second semester!

NEWS

03

Students perform in wildfires benefit concert

BY AUDREY WONG

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o help Paradise residents, who recently experienced a devastating wild�ire, seven students, three of whom were Lynbrook students — junior Catherine Huang, sophomore Grace Huh and sophomore Ryan Jia — performed in the Wild�ires Bene�it Concert on Nov. 25.

The proceeds from the concert will go to the North Valley Music Foundation, which will purchase new instruments for Paradise students who lost their musical belongings in the recent �ire.

After hearing about the damage that the �ire caused, Huang felt that something needed to be done to aid the victims.

“As a pianist with friends who play music, I decided that a bene�it concert would be the perfect way to help out the wild�ire victims,” Huang said. “Music symbolizes healing.”

Huang planned the entire event, from contacting the performers and attendees to overseeing logistics and ticket promotion.

She also created �lyers to promote the event and recruit volunteers set up chairs, food and beverages for the reception.

To �ind the venue, Huang reached out to Ellen Chen, who had invited her to play at a young artist concert several years ago, asking whether she knew anyone who might be able to host the wild�ires concert. Chen gladly opened up her house.

“When I received her email, I immediately said, ‘You’ve come to the right place — I‘d love to host your fundraiser!’” Chen said.

Huang performed solo piano pieces from her repertoire and learned new pieces for the concert. She performed “Sonata No. 2” by Sergei Rachmaninoff in B �lat and G minor.

“I chose this piece because it’s so full of rich textures and raw emotion, and it �its the theme of the bene�it concert well. The �irst movement is full of passion, fury, torment and panic; one can visualize destruction going on when listening to it,” Huang said.

“That mirrors the wild�ires themselves and how they destroyed everything in their path.

The second movement is more re�lective, tranquil and relieving, and that mirrors the healing process in the aftermath of the wild�ires, where people get together to help the victims rebuild.”

Huh, a violinist, performed a piece called

“Violin Concerto No. 2” in G minor, practicing every day leading up to the concert. Huh’s piece starts out mysterious, like living in fear, but then changes to warm and sweet and eventually goes back to being dark again.

Like Huh, Jia heard about the event from Huang. He participated in this event because he thought that it was for a good cause that would help the community. Jia performed two pieces, “Chopin Etude” and “Prelude” by Kapustin on the piano.

“Everything you do indirectly affects others,” Jia said. “The money raised possibly changed someone’s life.”

The three all worked hard, making sure that their extensive practice would prepare them for the concert. The night before the concert, Huh and Huang practiced together to get to know each other. Both Huang and Huh each played their own solo pieces.

All the hard work and effort paid off: while the musicians’ goal was to raise $2,000, they reached two times their goal. The highlight for the performers was knowing they achieved their goal of contributing to Paradise’s relief cause, supporting fellow student musicians.

Christmas In The Park San Jose’s annual holiday event is back again this year from Nov. 23 through Dec. 25! Brightly lit trees, colorful animated displays and delicious food are sure to provide lots of festive fun.

Blue Pearl Looking ahead to next semester, enjoy a fun night of swing dancing at Lynbrook’s 15th annual Blue Pearl on Jan. 26 from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. The Lyratones Jazz Band and the Lynbrook Jazz ensemble will be performing live jazz. Tickets are $15 each, with a couples discount of $25.

by Sunny Li

USED WITH PERMISSION OF CATHERINE HUANG

STUDENT MUSICIANS | Performers contacted by junior Catherine Huang, including two Lynbrook High School student musicians, Grace Huh and Ryan Jia, pose after the successful Wildfires Benefit Concert. The musicians played a variety of instruments, such as flute, violin and piano.

MEANINGFUL MUSIC | The musicians selected moving and textured pieces from their repertoire for the concert. Sophomore Grace Huh, a violinist, plays “Violin Concerto” No. 2 in G minor, a piece that was composed of a beautiful, harmonius balance between darkness and light.

Former U.S. Chief Data Scientist DJ Patil talks education

BY MELISSA CHEN

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ot many people can say they have worked with a president of the United States. Monta Vista High School alumnus, Dhanurjay “DJ” Patil, is one of those select few. Appointed by Barack Obama, Patil served as the �irst U.S. Chief Data Scientist from 2015 to 2017. In a speaker event at the Quinlan Community Center on Nov. 17, Patil spoke about his journey from high school to the White House.

The event was hosted by the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and the Cupertino Library Foundation (CLF) and was part of “Let’s Talk Education!”, a series of talks featuring FUHSD high school graduates who have been in the workplace for more than three years.

“There are some [FUHSD graduates] who didn’t get into the best schools and didn’t know exactly what they were doing,” said CLF President and CCC Education Series Chairman Henry Sang.

“But once they found out what they had to do, they became really successful. DJ’s one of them.”

Patil explained that in the 1980s, Monta Vista was a fairly vocational school, training students for occupations in construction and engineering, with courses focused on manual skills. Despite the emphasis on mechanical work, academic pressure was still present.

Patil admitted that in high school, his grades were poor and he often misbehaved. He shared stories with the audience about pulling clever but harmless pranks.

After graduating from Monta Vista, Patil attended De Anza College, where he majored in mathematics. He later studied

at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he became a more diligent student.

Patil shared with his audience what he believed to be the moment that sparked this change. After a humiliating quali�ier exam, he drastically altered his academic routine, waking up early to study for hours.

The following quali�ier exam, Patil placed �irst in his class. Using this anecdote, Patil emphasized the importance of hard work and resilience, regardless of the different levels people may be on.

“You get to cry for 10 minutes. You get to mope for another 50 minutes,” Patil said. “At the end, it’s about what you do next.”

To enhance his talk, Patil conducted a simple “science experiment” using a device that demonstrated a behavior Patil has been captivated with since his time in high school: chaos theory. The device had a stick that swung in erratic circles, pausing inconsistently between cycles.

Patil drew a parallel between the device’s chaotic, unexpected behavior and life itself.

“Just when you think things aren’t going right, the whole system can shift,” Patil said.

“You can build an algorithm to keep a chaotic device like this perfectly controlled. It needs high speed observations and control. You always have to be testing and reiterating ideas to �igure out what works and what doesn’t.

You have to be able to make observations and respond quickly.”

After university, Patil worked for numerous companies, including LinkedIn, where he co-coined the term “data scientist.”

Patil is also a founding board member for Crisis Text Line, a non-pro�it which uses new technologies to provide on demand mental and crisis support.

As U.S. Chief Data Scientist, Patil ensured that the government was taking full advantage of the potential of data science

and technology to serve the country. He contributed to the Precision Medicine Initiative, a research project that hopes to make advances in the prevention and treatment of cancer and other diseases.

Currently, Patil’s work centers around building a healthcare system that makes effective and responsible decisions.

Throughout his talk, Patil urged students to make their work meaningful and recognize their social responsibility.

“Let’s �igure out what we can do together,” Patil said. “What if every student in every one of our schools decided to say, just as Cupertino, what could we do collectively to make this world a little better? What would we come up with?”

The event organizers pondered the same question when they began coordinating community talks like Patil’s. They recognized two prevalent problems within the community of students and parents.

“The �irst thing we recognized was ineffectiveness,” Sang said. “The second thing was anxiety. There was tension and stress

coming from brutal competition students must face at a daily basis at school.”

Due to misconceptions about how to succeed in school and beyond, students were often invested time in work and activities that did not signi�icantly contribute to them achieving success.

Patil is among many graduates and quali�ied individuals that the CCC reached out to in hopes of resolving these overarching issues in the school community. Patil’s talk emphasized being adaptable and resilient, and channeling passions powerfully and creatively.

MELISSA CHEN — EPIC

OPINION FDA drug approval fails to protect public health

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LYNBROOK HIGH SCHOOL | THE EPIC

lhsepic.com

New painkiller tablet Dsuvia is 500 to 1000 times stronger than morphine

BY RACHEL WU

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hen a drug is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it is typically perceived as safe to consume. After all, its approval means that the drug has been determined by the federal government to provide bene�its that outweigh its known or potential risks for the intended population. Such risks can include serious adverse reactions when the drug is taken, toxicity and misuse of the drug.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 48.5 million Americans reported use of illicit drugs or misuse of prescription drugs in 2016. Despite this knowledge, on Nov. 2, the FDA approved Dsuvia, an opioid 500 to 1000 times stronger than morphine.

This approval reminds individuals that it is important to take the responsibility to conduct thorough research and c o n s u l t healthcare

CHLOE LEE — EPIC

DIVYA NELAKONDA //IN MY OPINION

Diversifying the dance industry

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can’t tell you how many times I have been at dance class with my friends, laughing, talking and having a good time, but feeling like something was off. Not because my friends weren’t interacting with me or my apprehension about my dancing abilities, but because I would glance at the mirror and feel so blatantly out of place. I have participated in Chinese dance for nine years as someone of both Chinese and Indian heritage. But still

professionals to weigh the pros and cons of what is entering their bodies before consumption.

Dsuvia is a tablet form of sufentanil, a highly addictive painkiller. Its main use is to provide instant relief for moderate-to-severe pain in a hospital setting when alternative treatments are inadequate. After receiving the approval from the FDA, Dsuvia’s launch into the market is expected in the �irst quarter of 2019.

“Since Dsuvia is a tablet, I think that it is a lot easier for people [to take the drug],” said senior Samiksha Patil, co-president of Neuroscience Club. “However, [the FDA] needs to regulate the drug closely, because it can easily become heavily abused.”

The FDA is responsible for protecting public health, including ensuring the safety of the nation's food supply and cosmetics, as well as the safety and security of biological products and human and veterinary drugs.

During its drug approval process, the FDA reviews laboratory, animal and human clinical test results to decide on whether the drug is considered safe and effective for consumption. This is determined based on clinical endpoints, outcomes that represent direct clinical bene�its such as decreased pain, which are presented by data from the test results.

However, the clinical tests are not conducted by the FDA but by pharmaceutical companies, who send test results to the FDA for approval.

Thus, critics have voiced concern that some of the drug research submitted by the pharmaceutical companies may potentially be biased and ambiguous, making test results appear as if the bene�its of the drug outweigh any risks to patients using them, even if that might not be the case.

not a day in the studio goes by when I do not feel like my darker skin is pronounced, not only through the re�lections of full-length mirrors, but by the costumes, shoes and tights that never seem to blend in with my skin as they do with that of my peers. Standing in garments that appear nearly white against my skin, I wonder if an industry that will not even cater to my demographic in costume could ever see me as equal to my more fairskinned counterparts.

The lack of diversity in dance, most notably in ballet, continues to be a pressing issue. One company that recently addressed this is Ballet Black, a professional ballet company for dancers of African or Asian descent, which collaborated with dance shoe manufacturer Freed of London to create pointe shoes in bronze and brown for dancers of color. For many, this news came as a huge relief to no longer have to sponge their shoes with foundation in order to have pointe shoes match their skin tone.

The predicament many dancers of color face translates to my own experiences.

The costumes my dance studio orders are custom-made from China, where the range

In 1992, the FDA introduced its Accelerated-Approval Program to allow for earlier approval of drugs intended to treat serious or life-threatening conditions. For such drugs, the FDA determines the ef�icacy of the drug based on the results of a surrogate endpoint rather than a clinical endpoint.

Surrogate endpoints are measures of effect of a speci�ic treatment that are used to substitute a clinical endpoint. They expedite the approval process as they are designed to be easier and quicker to measure than the speci�ic clinical endpoints. Unlike clinical endpoints that show direct a relationship, surrogate endpoints only suggest a relationship such as tumor shrinkage to predict longer survival. This means that it is possible for a drug that in�luences a surrogate measure to have no meaningful effect on the patient. Following the FDA’s introduction of its accelerated process, a study conducted by JAMA Internal Medicine showed that from 2003 to 2012, 31 out of 36 cancer drug approvals that were made on the basis of a surrogate end point had unknown effects on overall survival or failed to show gains in survival, suggesting that in only a few cases did surrogate measures predict actual bene�its for patients.

“It's important to have a slower approval rate, because even though it's slower, it'll be [more] effective,” said sophomore Caitlyn Wong, who used a prescribed anesthesia after undergoing two surgeries on her right lower leg, most recently in August 2017. “If [the FDA] has a drug that’s approved, didn’t �ind out the drug’s possible side effects and a lot of people are using it and being harmed by it, then it could have a really bad effect on the population. Also, if that drug is FDA approved, [the FDA] would lose its credibility.”

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), opioid overdoses increased 30 percent from July 2016 through September 2017 in 45 states. With an opioid epidemic in the U.S. on the rise, Dsuvia has sparked controversy. Those who oppose Dsuvia assert that the newly FDA-approved drug would only worsen the opioid epidemic due to its potential misuse. On the contrary, supporters argue that close monitoring, such as tightly controlling Dsuvia’s distribution and use, would limit potential abuse.

Supporters also believe that the FDA’s plan for Dsuvia to be used strictly in certi�ied medically-supervised healthcare settings, such as surgical centers and emergency departments, would further prevent possible abuse of the drug.

“Knowing the FDA, it probably consulted many health professionals,” said chemistry teacher Lester Leung. “This approval does of colors is far more limited. When ordering group costumes that included “nude” colored material, my studio often settled for fabrics that were distinctly different from my skin tone, as they matched my teammates �lawlessly. Needless to say, each time we rehearsed dances or performed on stage, I felt glaringly exposed. When I performed a solo dance last year in a �lesh-colored leotard, I had to test out several different fabrics to determine which hue would be most appropriate for my skin. I was ultimately forced to accept one with gray undertones, as none of the samples were dark enough to accommodate my skin tone. With group dances, the clashing fabric could be justi�ied by its suitability on the other dancers, but even for my solo, I had no choice but to wear a costume that did not match my skin tone.

The issue isn’t really about how well a costume matches different skin tones, but the message conveyed. When dancers don’t see their pro�ile represented in costumes, it sends the message that their race is inappropriate for a dance style exclusive to dancers who �it the existing color range. The deterrence is cyclical: when dancers feel

not that mean that the Dsuvia can be used in homes, so it's not just that [Dsuvia] can be used in any situation. So, with that, I trust the FDA decision, the safeguards that the FDA put in place and all the procedures that it followed to make this decision.”

Although the FDA intends to monitor Dsuvia closely and asserts that Dsuvia should not be used for more than 72 hours, this has not prevented widespread alarm. The opioid epidemic began in the late 1990s, when opioid medications were prescribed in greater rates since pharmaceutical companies had assured consumers that opioid pain relievers would not cause addiction. Furthermore, according to the NIDA, more than 115 people died each day in the U.S. in 2018 due to opioid overdose, in comparison to an average of 83 deaths each day in 2015, which shows a recent increase in opioid overdoses. In the midst of an opioid epidemic, introducing another potent opioid drug would only exacerbate the problem. When Dsuvia is placed into the market, there is the risk that users might develop an opioid addiction, since opioids activate powerful reward centers in the brain by boosting dopamine levels, which can give people a high. The body can develop a tolerance that can lead into an addiction in which the more painkillers consumed, the larger dose is needed for the drug for the user to reach the same high.

“It’ll start off where [the drug] is a pain medicine. So, you'll take it, and it will pacify the pain a bit,” said junior Shubhra Dubey, who took the painkiller Vicodin after undergoing surgery when she tore a ligament in her knee in August. “But eventually, your brain will start off like, ‘it kind of hurts, maybe I should take a pill or something.’ My mom was controlling how much I took, so I didn’t really take the pills that often, but I can see how people could get addicted.”

The controversy surrounding Dsuvia brings more attention to the FDA drugapproval process. Although the FDA’s accelerated-approval regulatory process expedites the approval of drugs used to treat serious conditions, it also gives the FDA less time to consider the bene�its and risks of a new drug, which can cause the agency to overlook possible safety concerns. Given this, it is even more important to consult doctors and other healthcare professionals regarding the pros and cons of a drug and determine whether or not a speci�ic drug is really safe to consume.

underrepresented in a particular style, they are less likely to participate. Consequently, dancers of certain racial backgrounds become the minority.

My humiliation in being the “darker” kid in my studio and the accompanying subtle degradation that has pushed me close to quitting on numerous occasions. When I constantly encountered “nude” fabrics that were lighter than me by several shades, it became increasingly challenging to feel accepted. Such experiences can be dif�icult to overlook, but with the work of companies like Ballet Black, I am optimistic that dance will continue to become more representative of a more diverse generation of dancers.

Costumes should never be an obstruction to pursuing a passion, but in the dance world, ballet in particular, it is too common for dancers of color to be excluded or discouraged from serious commitment to the craft. While the industry itself should make greater efforts to hire and include dancers of color, introducing varied color ranges is a stepping stone to allow dancers of all racial backgrounds feel welcome in a visual art entrenched in Eurocentric beauty ideals.

OPINION

DECEMBER 14, 2018

05

Posthumous albums honor artists' legacy To ensure that posthumous songs are not a way for companies to pro�it off of an t just 20 years old, artist’s popularity, some of the earnings XXXTentacion had his life taken should be handed over to the family or away from him in June. But his a noncontroversial cause that the artist music continues to live on through believed in. For instance, much of the posthumous songs, providing pro�its after X’s death have been used solace for many and giving a voice to fund the Helping Hand Charity Event, to those who are downtrodden which X had been hoping to host as an or hurting behind closed doors. effort to help South Florida communities XXXTentacion is just one of many after the Parkland shooting. X wished artists whose music continues to to spread positivity and love, and his be released posthumously. The mother and attorney team helped to management companies of other carry on his vision by hosting the event. artists such as Mac Miller, Lil Peep and “The music companies have a hand Michael Jackson in producing and have also been marketing the music, releasing their and they certainly songs after deserve a portion of they have "The families and people those pro�its,” said passed away to who were close to the artist U.S. History and preserve their Government teacher memories, as would know if the artist would Mike Williams. well as to allow “But certainly the have wanted the music to be families or whoever listeners to get ahold of music released or not." owns the rights to that resonates the music — they with them.

Rithwik Swarnkar should get a majority Skeptics, Junior of the pro�its. however, view Apart from posthumous simply inheriting releases as a the earnings from commercial strategy for companies posthumous songs, the artist’s family to rack up revenue. For example, should also have greater involvement in September 2018, rapper in the release of posthumous music.

ILoveMakonnen released “Falling The management company should Down,” a track that features Lil Peep have to receive the family’s approval and XXXTentacion, as a tribute to before publishing the songs. For “Falling the two artists. Makonnen made Down,” Makonnen approached Peep and it clear that “Falling Down” was to X’s families before the release to ensure honor the artists, announcing so on that the track re�lected the message that social media and during interviews. the artists had intended to convey. Both Even then, the song has received families were in full support of the release. backlash for being a corporate ploy “Out of anybody, the families and to capitalize on Peep and X’s stardom. people who were close to the artist would Some have added that the song know if the artist would have wanted the should have never been released, music to be released or not,” said junior maintaining that Peep would not Rithwik Swarnkar. “If the artist has not have agreed to a collaboration with X signed an album deal, but the family because of X’s extensive list of violent agrees to release the music, it would behaviors and criminal records. be justi�iable for the company to do so.”

BY NOELA BAE

A

Under the circumstance in which the family does not consent, the management should respect the family’s decision and opt out of producing the song, even if the state statute and other legalities grant the company postmortem rights to the music.

Often, families allow songs and albums to be published posthumously to bring themselves closure: the posthumous releases stand as a �inal completion of un�inished business.

But the families also possess the larger vision that the music can give fans another opportunity to connect with the artists.

“There are still fans out there who want to hear catalogs of music that may get unearthed or repurposed,” Williams said.

Through such songs, fans can once again listen to lyrics that they can relate to and feel the visceral emotions woven inside the music.

X’s songs, for example, frequently discuss loneliness and suicide, appealing to those that are wrapped up in similar thoughts. His music has a raw, authentic element that makes it magnetic and intoxicating.

Likewise, Peep’s songs revolve around self-deprecation and heartbreak, and though these are dark, heavy topics, they are emotions that many listeners can relate to.

“I really like XXXTentacion's ‘Slipknot.' I think it’s both the message he tries to convey and the beat of the songs that make me like his songs,” Swarnkar said. “I like his lesser known songs more because the unknown songs tend to carry a deeper meaning and have an impact on the listeners.”

Though many speak of commerce as being the guiding principle behind posthumous releases, skeptics should consider the silver lining: posthumous songs allow an artist’s legacy to live on and fans to capture the last bits of art from their favorite artists.

ART ILLUSTRATION BY ENZO CABALTICA

RISA MORI//IN MY OPINION

Tensions resurface with BTS scandal

A

s I open a message from my Japanese school friends, I see a petition titled: “Get BTS out of Japan” in Japanese — with it, an image of Jimin, a member of the Korean boy group BTS, wearing a shirt depicting the atomic bombing of Nagasaki during World War II. BTS, a highly regarded group that spoke at the United Nations Assembly this year, is a role model to many, including myself. Regardless of their reputation, this controversy prompted me to feel irritated at Jimin, whose insensitive shirt disrespected atomic bomb victims and ignored the longstanding tension between Korea and Japan.

The photo of Jimin raised an uproar in Japan, despite the group’s huge fanbase there, because the shirt portrayed images of atomic explosions with words celebrating the liberation of Korea. As a person of Japanese heritage, I felt as if Jimin’s shirt completely dismissed the fact that the atomic bomb marks a tragic point in history.

Its impact extends to the 80,000 people who were killed and tens of thousands more who died later of radiation exposure, not to mention many more who were injured or lost their homes as a result. Nevertheless, with the atrocities that Japan in�licted on Korea, its people abused, cultural symbols destroyed and language wiped out, it is understandable why some Koreans maintain a historical hatred against Japan.

Still, I believed that Korean-Japanese relations had improved since World War II, and this is true to an extent. However, this shirt controversy proved to me that some con�licts were still very much present.

Many Japanese fans accused Jimin of promoting anti-Japanese sentiment, while Koreans defended their country, accusing the Japanese of being overly sensitive; the incident divided fans online. Meanwhile, I battled with my contending feelings: on one hand, I wanted to to continue to support BTS, but on the other, I couldn’t merely dismiss Jimin’s offensive shirt.

The following week, as I waited in line to watch BTS’s recently released documentary movie, “Burn the Stage,” I remained torn. My feelings changed, however, while watching the �ilm. It reminded me of why I loved the group in the �irst place: the members were unafraid to criticize South Korea’s myopic education system, materialism and the media, and demonstrated respect to each country they performed in. One scene, in particular, portrayed the members practicing Japanese phrases before a concert in Japan so that they could better connect with their fans.

I realized that, at its core, BTS exists to unite fans regardless of their origins or nationality, so why should fans remain divided because of Jimin’s mistake? As long as Jimin has learned from this controversy, there is no need to direct unnecessary hatred toward him.

However, the incident reminds us that the past still continues to have an effect on present-day con�licts. While Jimin was at fault for unintentionally making a politically offensive statement with the shirt, BTS should not be regarded any less than it was before this incident, for the group’s mission, to create music for the happiness of others, remains the same. Instead, people must look at the issue at hand: the stillexisting tension between Korea and Japan.

Regardless of their pasts, the two countries should push aside their differences to forgive, but not forget history. When we unite with music, we can understand and love, not hate, for those are the messages BTS has been heralding in its songs all along.

06

OPINION

DECEMBER 14, 2018

Respecting academic resources in the library Staff Editorial The Voice of the Epic library] is that students have to come up to us and [if they wish to use a computer occupied by someone playing video games] which could mean that shier students might not get to print something out for a class,” said Library Media Teacher Amy Ashworth.

Student gamers can be found in the library after school during Homework Center as well. Since the purpose of Homework Center is to provide students with a quiet

when they get excited about winning.”

Ashworth sent out an email on Oct. 26 reminding students of the library’s gaming rules that gaming is strictly not allowed during Homework Center and tutorial.

Moreover, gaming must follow FUHSD Responsible Use Policy for technology, which states that gaming should not interfere with other students.

"When I’m in the library, there are kids screaming across the library, ‘I got a point here' or 'kill that dude,' so I don’t think the library is the appropriate place for them to game,” said senior Arushi Gautam.

As gaming in the library is distracting and takes up resources that can be employed for school-related purposes, students who wish to game after school should game at home, and students should refrain from gaming at school if the library is crowded during the day.

“In the past, we wouldn’t allow gaming on personal devices, but had trouble enforcing that aspect, so we scrapped that rule for tutorial,” Ashworth said. “However, it seems like more people are gaming, so I might have to resort to clearly stating that gaming will no longer be allowed on school computers.”

While student gamers can game during certain school hours, they should be mindful of their peers and maintain respectful decorum when in the library. Students who wish to game during school hours should bring their personal devices. If the problem of distracting gaming in the library persists, students may be prohibited from gaming completely. *the Epic staff voted 38-0 in favor of this stance

Calif. fires expose safety oversights

BY CHRISTY YU

A

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY OPINION SECTION

environment with necessary resources to study and �inish homework, gaming during Homework Center is strictly prohibited.

“In the last few months, gaming has invaded Homework Center which is why the ‘no gaming’ rule for Homework Center was instituted last month,” said Homework Center coordinator Miko Otoshi. “[Gamers] take up space when somebody is trying to study and also make a lot of noise, especially

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY OPINION SECTION

W

alking into Lynbrook's library, one might notice students playing video games as others wait for the computers to free up so they can complete schoolwork. Although playing video games can alleviate stress, using school computers is a display of disrespect for the school's resources and blatant disregard for other students.

Current library policies allow students to play video games on school computers during library hours except during tutorial and Homework Center. However, in recent months, more students have been playing video games during educational hours despite repeated reminders to use library resources for their outlined purposes.

Although gaming may seem highly unproductive to some, it can help students destress and relax. Additionally, gaming can help facilitate social interaction, as many student gamers �ind it enjoyable to be with friends as they play online video games.

“I like to game during brunch and lunch because that's when my friends are here with me, which is de�initely more entertaining,” said junior Shinda Huang.

“While tutorial is a time when students can ask about homework and tests, I also believe it should also be a time when students can relax.”

However, gaming in the library comes with consequences. If library computers are used to game at times of high demand, when many students need to study or print documents, having such resources becomes counterproductive.

“The hard thing for us [supervising the

s students left for school in late November, parents reminded them to stay indoors as much as possible to protect themselves from the harmful smoke caused by recent wild�ires. However, the most tragic destruction occurred with the outbreak of three separate �ires in California on Nov. 8. The Camp Fire in Paradise became the deadliest �ire in California history with a death toll of more than 85, nearly 700 missing and more than 9,700 homes destroyed, while the Woolsey Fire in Los Angeles County killed at least three people and destroyed about 1,500 structures. It is easy to blame environmental causes for the wild�ires, such as rising temperatures or prolonged drought conditions. However, human factors such as open-�ire burnings and electrical equipment are the most common causes of wild�ires, responsible for 1.2 million of the 1.5 million in California records. Unlike other natural disasters, most �ires are caused by people, and can therefore be prevented by people.

Of�icials have yet to determine de�initive causes of the California �ires, but what may seem like a natural disaster left traces that point to human factors as the cause. Of�icials suspect that the Paci�ic Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) power lines and poles were responsible for the Camp Fire, as revealed by a high voltage power line that stood near the area where Camp Fire started.

According to the National Park Service, only 2 percent of wild�ires are due to natural causes like lightning, while 98 percent are linked to human factors such as open-�ire burnings, arson and unmanaged forests �illed with burning debris. There are countless ways people can start wild�ires whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Therefore, governments should take preventative measures. Although state laws limit open-�ire burnings under certain weather conditions, such as strong winds or warm air, rules should be more restrictive.

Currently, Paradise allows barbequing, outdoor �ireplaces and warming devices year round. Instead, these should be banned

during the vulnerable �ire seasons of summer norovirus disease, which causes excessive and fall. vomiting and diarrhea, broke out in Furthermore, in the event of a �ire, there overcrowded shelters. This virus spreads should be a reliable communication system through contaminated food, water and to warn people in a timely manner while sick people, and is especially common providing life-saving information such as when many people are grouped together. evacuation routes. According to the California The overcrowding in hospitals made it Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, dif�icult for the ill to receive the immediate when evacuation orders are issued, residents medical aid they needed. typically have hours to evacuate. However, Above all, prevention should start with Camp Fire victims did not receive warnings education. To prevent tragedies like the until the �ire had already begun destruction.

Camp Fire, federal and local governments “Four years ago, during a �ire outbreak, should raise awareness of �ire hazards my friend was at by educating the school when her public on the causes dog and mom were of wild�ires, as at home,” said "Property can be restored, but well as evacuation sophomore Aashna lives can’t be." procedures.

Fire Patel, who lives in San safety education Diego, near the sites of Aashna Patel could come in many past �ires. “They forms, Student from San Diego various couldn’t evacuate including social in time when their media campaigns, house began to burn school programs, down. Their dog died in the �ire because they fair exhibits, posters, �lyers and radio and couldn’t get him out in time. It was stressful television appearances. and heartbreaking.”

Ultimately, it is the citizens’ Additionally, more refuges for �ire victims responsibility to be aware of state laws should be established. In Paradise, more regarding �ire control and follow them to than 52,000 people were driven out of their ensure public safety, especially in the case homes, and thousands of people in Butte of a wild�ire. No matter how many rules County were packed into the shelters. Some are enforced, they would be pointless evacuees stayed with friends and families without the cooperation of the individual. while others had to set up tents outside of “Property can be restored, but lives parking lots. The nearest hotels were hours can’t be,” Patel said. “The main problem away and did not have any vacancies, and with people not doing anything except nearby shelters were full. broadcasting the issue is that no one is “It was scary learning that my uncle and actually helping. People just know about his elderly dad were lost for a couple of it, and then move on.” days when the Camp Fire broke out,” said Unlike most natural wild�ires, freshman Melanie Christiansen, who lives in these recent wild�ires could have been Discovery Bay, near where Camp Fire broke prevented had the government taken out. “They had to �lee to my uncle’s cousin’s more effective measures. With so many house because the �ire was surrounding lives lost to the California �ires, the them, and it’s where my uncle and his dad government should establish stricter laws stayed while they were lost.” and more extensive public education.

In addition to allocating more funds to At the same time, individuals are also building more shelters, the government responsible for following rules. Together, should provide more medical aid to treat the people can take action to prevent similar ill. In the case of Camp Fire, the contagious tragedies from happening again.

LYNBROOK HIGH SCHOOL | THE EPIC

FEATURES

lhsepic.com

07

Transfer students integrate into Lynbrook community

BY KAVYA IYER

N

ew faces. Unfamiliar words. Being away from home. People, culture, surroundings — everything is different. While some Lynbrook students have grown up in the area, others have moved from other countries. High school alone is dif�icult, but for international students, adjusting to a new environment is an additional challenge.

One of the main barriers many international students face is language.

Because English is not their �irst language, some students struggle with communication. “[When I �irst came to the U.S.], it was really hard because I didn’t understand English, so sometimes, I would have my friends translate,” said senior Nick Chen, President of International Club, who moved to the U.S. from Taiwan in 2011.

Even if students are pro�icient in English, they can feel uncomfortable speaking it in front of others.

“My �irst day of school here was a little better than at my previous school in the U.S. since I knew more English than before, but it was still hard because I was nervous and afraid to speak,” said senior Starr Gong,

Vice President of International Club, who moved from China in 2016.

To better support such students, Lynbrook offers English Language Development classes (ELD) for students who are learning English as a second language. Two levels are offered: ELD 2 and ELD 3. For other subjects, designated sheltered teachers have classes with only ELD students.

“They work much harder than many of my other students, and really �ight to learn to be part of the broader community,” said ELD 2 teacher Diana Albaker.

ELD classes primarily focus on encouraging students to be con�ident in speaking with activities like interviewing Lynbrook students.

Because the language barrier can also make it more dif�icult for students to bond with others, they can face discrimination.

However, due to the small size of ELD classes, typically 10 to 20 students, each class forms its own tight-knit community.

“My ELD classmates were just like me, immigrants, so I felt very comfortable being with them,” Gong said. “[ELD] also gave me the opportunity to learn more about other cultures from them.”

ELD teachers like Albaker have observed the supportive dynamic in ELD class as well.

“They bicker like siblings, they get along like siblings and they draw pictures of everyone on my white board,” Albaker said.

“It’s such a small class that they become a little family, which is really nice.”

The sheltered teachers also facilitate the students’ transitions. They provide students with knowledge about activities in the area, serve as mentors and help new students foster connections, resulting in a smoother transition.

“When I �irst came here, I was bullied a lot,” Chen said. “It was hard because I couldn’t �ind a community I felt I belonged in, but staff members told me about volunteering opportunities outside of school which helped me make more friends.”

The teachers also further students’ understandings about various school aspects, such as course selection, which can be confusing.

“When I came here, there were so many classes for every subject, and I did not know difference,” said Stephanie Feng, who moved from China in 2017. “I asked a lot of questions, but all the teachers were very patient and

helped me understand.”

Senior Julian Almanza, who moved from Belgium this year, found Lynbrook much friendlier and welcoming than his old school.

“In Belgium, �ights were very common, and nobody did anything to stop them,” Almanza said. “There were also a lot of kids smoking, so my school actually had a designated area for students to smoke.”

Similarly, International Club provides students with a supportive environment. It aims to help students make more friends and focuses on building students’ English skills, using tools like Kahoot to make learning English more exciting.

“International Club helped my transition a lot, and I met many of my friends through the club,” Gong said. “There are also lots of different cultures within the club, so I became very comfortable being with different people and chatting about their customs.”

While Lynbrook has many differences compared to other schools around the world, international students appreciate its cultural diversity. Although language barriers can be a challenge, students and staff lend a hand to international students. Despite possible initial challenges, the students can �ind a place in the community and call Lynbrook their new home.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY ASHLEY SONG

Books to keep you warm in the winter

BY PRIYANKA ANAND

T

his holiday season, treat yourself to not only good food, but also great books. From a Christmas classic to a gripping murdermystery, to romance, these books will keep you engaged and warm during the break, whether you travel or stay at home. Bundle up, �ind a cozy place and enjoy!

s what kies, that’ o co d n a remind Hot tea arol” will C s a tm is century “A Chr ineteenth n in t e S the story you of. el follows v o n e th , ld miser, Britain ooge, an o cr S r e z e n irit of of Ebe the true sp rs e v co is d ge sees as he ight, Scroo n e n O s. a artner Christm business p is h f o st o Scrooge the gh ost warns h g e h T With the Marley. ingy ways. st is h e g n Ghosts of to cha osts — the h g e re th f nd Yet To help o , Present a st a P s a m the good Christ ge realizes o o cr S — g caring.

Come rs and bein e th o g in lp will make in he morphosis ta e m ’s e g de, as if Scroo on the insi rm a w l e f hot tea. you fe nk a cup o ru d st ju d a ory and its you h ss of the st e n ss le e m inforce its The ti racters re a ch g n ri a ende classic.

Christmas status as a

“Murd e myste r on the Or ient E ry by Ag xp mind you of atha Christ ress,” a ie, wil buildin house l re;t g togeth here are ma a gingerbre ad ny pie er. Set ce in story f ollows the early 1 s to put 900s, passen ent Ex the pr ge don, w ess, a train t rs on the O riravelin ho wit ne g Ratche tt. He ss the murd to Lonrc er of M detect ive, is ule Poirot, a priv r. ing th t a x e d ate e w solves murderer. P ith uncove oirot e rthe cri ve m all 12 passen e by interro ntually gation gers. T details of h t pelling hat make th ere are ma ny : the c is clas sic co on�ine train h md el eccent d-up becaus setting of t h ri e e book k c characters of a storm, t he eeps y and m ou on o seat an the ed re. This d ge of y ending will leave y our ou in a , when w all is r eveale e at the d.

of three a collection is ” w o n S ll of which “Let It c stories, a ti n a m ro , le House short d a Waf� n u ro a e lina. Just revolv North Caro s will in t n ra u resta storie tting, these af�les with like its se w f warm o u g o y d remin artwarmin butter, he a d n h a it w p syru arts he story st T n t. o e e rm sw sto and by a major d e se ck u lo o b H train Waf�le Eve. The refuge for Christmas ce ly pla of n o e th s a , and the acts passengers in a tr y rb nea ll have their the story a in e rs e ct ra cha . The thre ences there gathering ri e p x e n ow in a urneys end separate jo ucks, where rb ta oring S b h to ig e n a at lminate in rratives cu a n al e su re ca th a all for ok is great o e b th is h f T o . e on ders minds rea re d n a d rea e holidays. magic of th GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY FEATURES SECTION

08

FEATURES

OCTOBER 5, 2018

Holiday gift guide for every personality

BY HSIN-YEN HUANG

T

he end of the year is approaching fast, and with �inals and the holidays just around the corner, the last thing you need is the stress of �iguring out what to gift friends. From the animal lover to the phone addict, this guide will help you �ind the perfect gift for anyone on your list.

Viking families: staff and students on campus

BY ELENA WILLIAMS

T

o most Vikings, school and home are two separate worlds that divide their lives. Unless a student has siblings who also attend Lynbrook, their interactions are split between family and the school community. But what happens when staff members are married to one another or have a student at their school? Three Viking families share their unique perspectives on the intersection between family and education.

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Richm

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This y e a r , math teacher and department lead Jeremy Dybdahl welcomed his son, freshman Corban Dybdahl, to high school.

The deciding factor when choosing Corban’s high school was the logistics of their shared commute. Since the Dybdahls live in Santa Cruz, aligning Mr. Dybdahl and Corban’s morning schedules would be impossible if they did not share a school.

“We have to leave home at 6:30 a.m., so it would be dif�icult for me to get him to the local high school at a reasonable time,” Mr. Dybdahl said. “Now, he is wrestling and leaving school after 6 p.m., which has made commute schedules a tad bit dif�icult.”

Around school, Corban is often recognized by Mr. Dybdahl’s current and former students, and he occasionally sees his father.

“We usually try to scare the other person if he is facing the other way or not paying attention,” Corban said.

The Dybdahls look forward to the next four years teaching and learning by each other’s sides.

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English teachers Stacey McCown and Robert Richmond have known each other for more than 30 years. The couple met in the early 1980s in a symphony orchestra; however, they did not get to know each other well until they began teaching together nearly a decade later. As fellow staff members of the newly founded Centennial High School in Bakers�ield, they became close friends before starting a relationship in 1998.

“It was like something out of a movie,” Richmond said.

“The kids were always saying things, and the other staff members were always suggesting that we be together.”

McCown and Richmond have taught together at two other high schools since then, including Lynbrook. As coworkers, they �ind little ways to improve each other’s days by commuting together, bringing each other homecooked lunches and sharing course materials.

When the couple visit each other’s classrooms or mention one another in class, their students gain insight their relationship, which often has a positive effect on them.

“Kids will often tell us that we’re their model for a good marriage,” McCown said. “I think that is the sweetest thing.”

After almost 20 years of marriage, McCown and Richmond remain together, in literature classes and in life.

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After m o r e than a decade on school parent boards, Jena Rajabally joined Lynbrook staff this year. The senior clerical assistant of the of�ice, Rajabally is also mother to senior Zayhaan Batlivala and junior Zahra Batlivala.

Rajabally has taken an active role throughout her children’s elementary, middle and high school days.

When Rajabally learned about the Lynbrook of�ice job, she could return to work while still helping students.

“I realized how much of a difference everybody who works here can make to these kids, and I wanted to be a part of that difference,” Rajabally said.

The change has made Zahra and Zayhaan more aware of what staff do.

“Now I see how much work the staff members do, and I’m more aware of what happens behind the scenes that students usually don’t really think about,” Zahra said. “I have even more respect for them, and I feel more comfortable talking to them.”

Although Zayhaan and Zahra will graduate in the next two years, Rajabally will keep giving back to the Lynbrook community. When they visit, there will be a familiar face to greet them at the front of�ice.

las

DECEMBER 14, 2018

FEATURES

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IN-DEPTH

LYNBROOK HIGH SCHOOL | THE EPIC

Putting grading systems to the test Examining the different methods teachers use to evaluate students

BY KATIE CHEN & PRANAV MISHRA

G

rading systems take on different forms from classroom to classroom.

The history of grading systems, as well as differing views on varied approaches to grading, can offer valuable insight into their bene�its and their �laws.

Understanding the roots of grading systems allows students to better comprehend their schools’ and teachers’ grading systems. The modern-day notion of letter grades, as well as the notorious four-point GPA grading scale, found its origin at Yale University in the 1800s. A professor at the university began rating his students in order of predicted success, which caught on quickly and was soon implemented in schools across the country. Most modern-day schools have now adopted this grading scale.

The FUHSD has a grading system that differs from that of many other districts in that it does not calculate weighted GPAs or give students class rankings. Some students prefer this system over others because they often have more to offer than is revealed by academic ranking. Furthermore, class rankings put a number of talented students at a disadvantage during college admissions as some students place more focus on non-academic areas and could discourage these students from applying to competitive colleges.

According to a 2016 University of Chicago study, class rank does affect students’ performance and persistence in college.

“From a counseling perspective I actually appreciate that we don’t participate in individual ranking because I wouldn’t want anyone to think of themselves as a number.

We do provide good information about where you stand in terms of comparison to the class without

assigning that number,” said counselor Shana Howden. “I’m fairly in favor of the district not weighting GPAs. There are many colleges out there that don’t use a weighted GPA, so that information is not necessarily very helpful to students anyway. I don’t know that a weighted GPA tells you that much more than that student took additional advanced coursework, but if you’re a strong student, you’re a strong student.”

Other school districts such as the Palo Alto Uni�ied School District (PAUSD) have chosen to utilize different grading systems. The PAUSD, unlike the FUHSD, weights GPAs. Weighted GPAs are part of a system in which classes with greater levels of dif�iculty, such as AP, Honors and IB courses, earn a student more points, which contributes to GPAs higher than the traditional four-point maximum.

In addition to districts’ systems differing, grading systems can also differ within each school.

Just at Lynbrook, many teachers take on their own methods of grading. One de�ining aspect is whether teachers decide to separate their assignments into weighted categories or determine grades through total points. Other teachers, such as English teacher Erin Levin, chose to forgo giving points altogether.

“Although the standard point system is helpful in grade calculation, it can often be highly subjective,” Levin said. “Why should one assignment be worth �ive points while another is worth 30?

I wanted to tackle this subjectivity

when I structured my own grading system such that it helped my students do their own personal best without being held back by previous errors.”

International schools also have their own unique grading systems.

Many schools in India, South Korea and China place an emphasis on utilizing test-taking ability to determine one’s class rank and corresponding letter grade. In fact, some schools in these countries give overall grades solely on the basis of a single �inal exam.

“In my school in Hyderabad, [India], only a few tests mattered for our grade,” said junior Sindhura Vuppu, who moved from India in 2017.

“The system in the U.S. is much more forgiving because you get graded on things like participation on a daily basis. But it also forces you to be more consistent with your work.”

In contrast, in some countries such as Finland, grading is considered more holistic than it is in the U.S.; students are evaluated on their ability to think creatively both in and out of a traditional classroom setting. Extracurricular activities and personal pursuits are heavily emphasized, and academic learning encompasses hands-on activities rather than traditional textbook learning.

While to some, it may seem that such an academically lax grading system could cause students to lose motivation in class, studies have proven the opposite. As stated by the World Economic Forum, Finland is consistently ranked

as one of the top educational systems, and Finnish students tend to score exceptionally well on standardized testing compared to students of other countries, generally outperforming them in several measures of innovative thinking. The results of the 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), an international standardized performance test taken by students in 65 countries, showed that Finnish students scored 531 points on the main section of the test, much higher than the global average of 493 points. The success of Finland’s grading system has been backed by the Ministry of Education and Culture’s studies, suggesting that an increase in freedom and focus on real-life problems as opposed to concrete evaluations such as tests, quizzes and homework in the U.S. play a large role in Finnish students’ high performance. While a decreased emphasis on academics may be a drawback for some, results show that this may be, in fact, a more effective grading system.

“When I attended school in Prague, tests in general, such as the SAT or the ACT, were irrelevant in the classroom context,” said junior So�ia Ermakova, who attended school in the Czech Republic until she moved to the FUHSD several years ago. “We never got numerical GPAs or letter grades. There was a lot of emphasis on learning at your own pace, and there was a heavy emphasis on developing character and discipline.”

At the end of the day, despite their varying forms in other districts and countries, each grading system comes with its pros and cons, as well as the intention of allowing students to be aware of their progress and re�lect on their learning over the course of the school year.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY JONATHAN YE AND RISA MORI

IN-DEPTH

DECEMBER 14, 2018

11

A look into seasonal depression:

Winter blues and summertime sadness

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALISHA NAIDU AND PRANAV MISHRA

BY ANUSHA KOTHARI AND NICOLE ONG

A

ccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 3 million Americans are affected

by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) per year. SAD, commonly known as seasonal depression, is a mood disorder characterized by depression at the same time every year, usually during winter.

As it is a type of depression, SAD does not have completely unique characteristics when compared with other disorders. An individual diagnosed with SAD must �it all diagnostic criteria for major depression and suffer from depressive episodes during a certain season; this pattern must have also occurred for at least two years. Symptoms of SAD extend beyond sadness and often include fatigue, suicidal ideation and concentration issues.

There are two forms of SAD: winter SAD and summer SAD. Winter SAD is the result of the lack of sunlight during winter, which leads to symptoms of low energy, oversleeping and cravings for carbohydrates.

Summer SAD, which is less common than winter SAD, is the body’s response to the heat and humidity of the summer months; it is typically characterized by anxiety, irritability, insomnia and bursts of violent behavior.

Symptoms may also vary in severity, from a mild form of SAD called subsyndromal SAD which is nicknamed “winter blues,” to the point where the individual’s ability to function is impaired.

“I think the problem is when people don’t exactly know about what SAD is and what it’s like,” said senior Michelle Chen, director of activities for the Society of Psychology and Sociology. “There is a stereotype that you are more sad in the winter, so people with SAD might not think they have it.”

Several factors may increase one’s risk of suffering from SAD. Those with a family history of depression are more likely to develop SAD than those without; according to the Genetics Home Reference, 25 to 67 percent of those with SAD also have a relative with a major mood disorder and 15 percent have a parent, sibling or child who also suffers from SAD. Similarly, those who already suffer from depression or bipolar disorder are also more likely to be diagnosed with SAD. Typically, SAD is more common in younger adults than older ones, with most

SAD symptoms surfacing when a person is depressive symptoms can have them between 18 to 30 years old. Additionally, exacerbate during the times with limited people holding certain professions are sunlight, from fall through the end of winter.”

On the other hand, few studies have more likely to suffer from SAD; since SAD is triggered by limited exposure to sunlight, been devoted to summer SAD, as it is less nurses and other health professionals who common. However, the few researchers that have studied summer SAD hypothesize that do shift work are at a particular risk.

While the causes of SAD are unknown, it is caused by the rising heat and humidity research has highlighted possible biological of the summer months. Since summer SAD is factors that contribute to SAD’s symptoms not understood as well as winter SAD, those and explain the differences between summer with it are more likely to not realize they and winter SAD. For winter SAD, the shorter have SAD or to be misdiagnosed with major winter days result in a lack of sunlight. An depression, anxiety or dysthymia, a mild but increase in darkness triggers the pineal long-term form of depression.

“For people that do have SAD, they might gland to overproduce melatonin, a hormone which regulates sleep and causes sleepiness, brush it off and say ‘oh, I’m just having a leading to the lethargy and fatigue bad day’ when they actually need help,” said senior Jojo Chen, vice president of Society of characteristic of winter SAD. However, while melatonin overproduction Psychology and Sociology. “Especially since plays a role in the symptoms of SAD, it summer SAD is less talked about, it’s more likely that people will alone cannot overlook it.” cause the disorder.

The type of Winter SAD is “For people that do have SAD, treatment received for also associated they might brush it off and say SAD differs for every with trouble regulating the ‘oh, I’m just having a bad day’ individual, based on neurotransmitter when they actually need help. different factors such as personal preference serotonin, which contributes to Since summer SAD is less or severity of the one’s happiness talked about, it’s more likely disorder. Despite this, common treatments and regulates the for SAD include body’s internal that people overlook it.” medications such as clock; low serotonin Jojo Chen Selective Serotonin levels are linked to SPS Vice President Reuptake Inhibitors, depression. A study which work to increase by the University of serotonin levels in the Copenhagen found that those with winter SAD have 5 percent brain to ease symptoms, or psychotherapy, more serotonin transport protein (SERT) in such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). the winter than in the summer. An increase The goal of CBT is to break down a person’s in SERT produces a drop in the available negative thought patterns or problems serotonin levels, lowering the activity of that seem overwhelming by changing the serotonin and thus producing symptoms of way he or she thinks about them. This may depression. Together, high melatonin levels include helping the person identify negative and low serotonin levels lead to alterations thoughts and replace them with positive in one’s circadian rhythm, the body’s thoughts or behavioral activation, where a internal clock which responds to the daily person identi�ies engaging and pleasurable and seasonal light-dark changes, and make it activities to improve coping with symptoms.

The type of SAD one has also determines harder for SAD sufferers to adapt to the lack the treatment that they receive. Treatments of sunlight in the winter.

“Often, people are relatively depression- for summer SAD include staying indoors free at the times when there’s more sunlight,” during the middle of the day when said Teri Quatman, an associate professor temperatures peak, as well as keeping in counseling psychology at Santa Clara cool with cold showers, swimming and University. “Of course, those with underlying air conditioning; these all aim to mitigate

the agitation and discomfort from the hot summer weather.

“Oddly, one of the most powerful interventions we have for [winter] SAD is exposure to high intensity lights for a period each morning,” Quatman said. “It seems to stimulate the pineal gland. Also, many people who �ind themselves seasonally depressed [in the winter] are aided by the seasonal addition of an antidepressant early in the approaching fall or winter season.”

For winter SAD, the best available treatment are light lamps to replace the lost light from the shorter days of fall and winter, which entails sitting in front of a light therapy box that emits a bright light for 20 or more minutes each morning during winter; patients usually improve within one to two weeks of starting this treatment. The bright light stimulates the part of the brain which connects circadian rhythms; activating this part of the brain at a certain time each day helps to restore normal circadian rhythms and alleviate SAD symptoms. Light therapy is continued throughout the winter, but some people may start it during fall to prevent symptoms. Light lamps are as effective as antidepressants for treating SAD but may not work for everyone. Some may need to sit in front of the light for longer periods of time or may need brighter light, while others cannot tolerate the light. For example, the light may trigger manic symptoms for those with bipolar disorder.

SAD may occur alongside mental health issues such as other depressive disorders, alcoholism, attention-de�icit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or eating disorders, thus making it is dif�icult to diagnose. This leads to SAD being underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed since its symptoms may be mistaken for other mental illnesses. Despite this, SAD is arguably as critical as depression, and it is extremely important for those who think they may be suffering from SAD to reach out to get the help they need.

“SAD is one of those disorders that people don’t normally know about,” Chen said. “It’s not as commonly talked about as depression, for example, so it’s easy for people to feel like there’s something wrong with them [without realizing it might be SAD]. There’s also a stigma around SAD but that can be decreased if we get more people to understand it and talk about what it is.”

12

IN-DEPTH

DECEMBER 14, 2018

Preventing food waste with fresh solutions

BY ENZO CABALTICA AND HATIM SAIFEE

C

alifornians throw away six million tons of food each year, according to Sacramento-based CalRecycle, yet one in six Bay Area residents cannot afford a suf�icient amount of nutritious food, as reported by the Joint Venture Institute for Regional Studies. So what impact does food waste have on the environment, and how can producers and consumers prevent it?

The impact of global food wastage is surprising: increased greenhouse gases caused by the decomposition of organic matter. When compared with the total emissions from all countries, global food wastage emits the third largest amount of greenhouse gases in the world, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The FAO also reports that the immense carbon footprint of food wastage contributes to global warming, since its emissions are almost equivalent to global road transport emissions.

At Lynbrook, approximately 400 students purchase food from the snack shack during brunch and lunch each day.

Around 15 food items are leftover daily, according to food service manager Jason Senior. Santa Clara County health guidelines require prepared food to be thrown out after seven days; however, the school curtails it to only one day.

The school minimizes its food waste by reusing leftovers. “[We do not donate leftover food] simply because there is not enough,” Senior said. “Whatever is left, we will utilize somehow the following day. We try to change it as much as possible so it doesn’t look exactly like the leftovers. If we

have chicken from a salad, we’ll pull the chicken out and we’ll make a wrap out or a sandwich out of it.”

In addition to recycling food, the cafeteria limits food waste by carefully planning out the amount of food ordered each week, even studying past records of the number of students buying lunch daily to assist in planning.

Although reusing leftover food allows the school cafeteria to reduce food wastage, it does not work as well for larger chain restaurants such as Go Fish Poke Bar on De Anza Boulevard. Go Fish, an over-the-counter style �ish salad bar, is committed to using fresh food in its dishes to reduce storing ingredients, mainly �ish, for too long. Go Fish reuses leftover food, but in a different manner.

“We don’t like keeping �ish overnight,” said Go Fish De Anza Manager Jaden Sisang. “Even though it’s frozen, we like getting a fresh shipment every morning. For salmon and tuna, it’s okay for us to keep it for a couple days. But for �ish like the yellowtail, which browns easily and oxidizes, we have to wrap it extra tight and make sure it’s air sealed to increase its longevity and shelf life.”

Since raw �ish cannot be stored for too long, the restaurant chooses to deal with leftovers in another unique way: offering the leftover food to nearby Go Fish chain stores, as well as its own employees. “[Our other locations are] not closed on the days that we’re closed,” said Go Fish De Anza Manager Momo Nguyen.

“So, we just send [leftover food] over to them and in any case, our employees end up buying whatever is left over for much cheaper [compared to what our customers pay].”

Due to the longevity of their other ingredients, including salt, tamari, serranos and green onions, Go Fish ends up throwing away a mere pound per month of the toppings that have spoiled and 10 to 15 pounds of the unusable parts of the �ish, like the skin, bones and head.

Besides reusing food, traditional dine-in restaurants like Rio Adobe �ind that encouraging the use of biodegradable food containers greatly decreases food waste. Manager Jim Cargill is always looking for ways to reduce and save resources.

“I’ve designed the menu so that there’s no waste at the end of the day,” Cargill said. “We stop cooking vast quantities of food, and we chill it out at the end of the day. A lot of the food that would be left over on the cooking line can be reheated and used successfully the next day.”

Cargill uses what he calls “menu engineering:” downsizing portions based on past records of food wastage and times when the restaurant is the busiest to determine how much food to prepare each day. If food is not consumed, it is thrown out with all other food scraps, to-go boxes, napkins and paper bags in the compost, which yields two dumpsters of waste a week instead of �ive dumpsters, as it was previously. Before composting, however, Cargill prioritizes reusing or donating food if possible.

Completely eradicating food wastage may take some time, but measures can be taken to minimize it. The creative approaches taken by Go Poke, Rio Adobe and even the Lynbrook cafeteria help minimize food waste and its impact on our society.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY JONATHAN YE

13 SPORTS Jonathan Leslie takes the moment on and off the field

LYNBROOK HIGH SCHOOL | THE EPIC

BY PATRICIA WEI

I

n fifth grade, junior Jonathan Leslie came across a quote that he has remembered ever since: “Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect.”

When he is on the baseball field, this quote serves as a reminder to just hit the ball and give it his all even when the pitch is tough. When he is conditioning for football, the quote reminds him to look past pain to improve his stamina. But Jonathan also embodies the quote outside of sports by finding positivity in each moment, no matter how challenging.

Jonathan was placed into foster care because his biological mother used methamphetamines while pregnant. At 16 months old, he was placed into the care of Melissa Leslie. Jonathan was her first foster child.

“Even though he was just 16 months, I could see the absolute distrust in his eyes,” Ms. Leslie said. “I wasn’t willing to have another failed placement for him.

I made a promise to him that I wouldn’t give up on him.”

Taking care of Jonathan meant giving him consistency and a space to explore his interests: art, reading and sports. Ms. Leslie’s caring nature and generosity sets an example for the person Jonathan wants to be.

“My mom made me into the person I am now,” Jonathan said. “She taught me to be respectful, look out for others and do the right thing.”

At first, it was just the two of them, but the family has now expanded to seven, including his dad, two biological sisters and three adopted sisters. He enjoys teaching his sister Makailah baseball.

Two of his sisters, Serenity and Anastasia, have disabilities. Before leaving for school, Jonathan checks on Serenity, whose disabilities include epilepsy and an inability to speak.

“I feel like I can understand Serenity

lhsepic.com

even though she can’t talk,” Jonathan said.

During first period, Jonathan takes part in Lauren Blazek’s PE Inclusive class, working with ACT students. He has been part of PE Inclusive since the program started last year.

“It’s important to me,” Jonathan said.

“I love making [the PE Inclusive students] feel happy and normal.”

Jonathan can often be seen giving high-fives to senior Enereo Gonzales, an ACT student. Gonzales attends Jonathan’s football games to cheer him on, waving to him and giving him hugs before Jonathan takes the field.

“He’s my best friend,” Gonzales said, smiling. “He makes me very happy.”

Jonathan’s teammates recognize him for the positivity he brings as well.

“He’s a bit of a goofball and an extremely hard worker,” said senior Dave Desouza-Lawrence, co-captain of the varsity football team. “He’s always smiling and happy to be here. When we’re in tough situations, he motivates us.”

Special education teacher Miguel Alderete, who has known Jonathan since his freshman year, has watched Jonathan become someone who is not afraid to stand up for others.

“Jonathan’s grown into a confident leader,” Alderete said.

“He does not want anyone feeling left out.”

Jonathan hopes to earn an athletic scholarship to play football or baseball in college and continue making the most out of each moment.

“Everything is stable in Jonathan’s life now, and it’s easy to forget all he went through,” Ms. Leslie said. “But looking at the hard truth of his past, you can see his resiliency. His strength keeps me going. His story is a reminder that it doesn’t matter where you come from, what matters is what you turn yourself around to be.”

DIANA XU — EPIC

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SPORTS SECTION

BY KAVYA IYER

A

t each rally and football game, Lynbrook cheer impresses students with impeccable balance, acrobatic skill and synchronization. Cheerleaders walk around campus in their trademark red, white and blue uniforms and hair pulled back in sparkly, eye-catching bows. However, what it does outside of the school events students see, such as its various competitions and collaboration with the Miller Middle School cheer team, is for the most part, a mystery.

The of�icial Lynbrook team is broken down into two groups: the stunt team and competition team. The stunt team is comprised of �ive team members selected by Coach Afton Usry.

The team performs in a competition division in which members showcase a one-minute routine of as many stunts possible in the given time frame to demonstrate their skill.

On the other hand, the competition team is made up of both returning and interested new members, as well as students who are not already on the cheer team. These students must demonstrate their commitment to the team by making cheer their top priority.

“I want the girls to get the same experience I had when I was in high school and learn that they are strong and can accomplish anything they set their minds to,” said Assistant Coach Nicolle Brown, a former cheerleader.

Outside of school events, cheer participates in various competitions. The most recent competition took place on Oct. 13 in Santa Cruz, where their extensive training paid off when the team placed second.

“When you go out there, you’ve done your routine so many times that your muscles know it, and you automatically know what’s coming next,” said senior and co-captain Marie Karpinska.

“You can really enjoy being in the moment and experiencing the environment cheering alongside your team.”

Although Karpinska and senior and co-captain Yuriko Akeyama are the only team members who had previously competed, the competition team maxed out on showmanship, only losing the minimum amount of points from one stunt fall.

“When we placed second, I had this huge rush of emotions,

KAVYA IYER — EPIC

STRIKE A POSE | Co-captain and senior Yuriko Akeyama poses at the top of the pyramid, supported by her teammates during cheer’s Homecoming rally performance.

but it was mostly pride,” said sophomore Ashley Tsao. “I was so proud of our team, especially because we had worked so hard to reach this level.”

Cheer also expanded this year by collaborating with Miller Middle School’s new cheer team. Sixth grader Chloe Chan wanted to start a team, so she worked with her mother and Miller Principal Amy Steele to put the team of �ive together over the summer. The team cheered with Lynbrook at the football game on Oct. 5.

“The older kids were really nice and helped us learn quickly, and since we were all cheerleaders, we could relate to each other even though there was a big age difference,” said sixth grader Natalee Wong.

Lynbrook cheer taught the Miller girls new techniques, such as stunts, and serve as role models for the younger cheerleaders.

“I loved working with the girls from Miller because they were so fun and energetic,” said junior Simi Vanwari. “They also seemed very passionate, so I’m excited to see what they accomplish as they continue their journey in cheer.”

In addition to working with the Miller cheer team, Lynbrook cheer also volunteers at events such as Relay for Life, a walk to raise money for people �ighting against cancer. This year, the team set up a tent to cheer on and motivate participants.

The cheerleaders also go to Christmas in the Park, where they decorate a tree as a tradition every year, and get food from Johnny Rockets afterward.

Since bonding and working together is vital for the cohesion of the team, the students are paired up, so that if someone does not know the material, they can ask their buddy for help. There are consequences if a team member does not know the cheers, which teaches the girls accountability.

When students witness the performances by cheer at school events, such as rallies and football games, they often do not see the immense focus, dedication and perseverance required to make it happen. Countless hours of practice. Multiple stunt falls.

Fatigue from running routines over and over. Yet, the friendships forged through bonding, volunteering, meeting new people and performing have become memories that cheer will cherish past high school.

14

SPORTS

DECEMBER 14, 2018

Boys basketball tip off the season

ARUL GNANASIVAM — EPIC

BY ASHLEY SONG

T

here is a rhythm to basketball: sneakers pounding against the gym ďż˝loor, heavy breathing that ďż˝ills the atmosphere, the dribbling of the ball, a swish and the buzzer. Lynbrook basketball players have entered yet another season of the sport after a summer’s worth of rigorous preparations. In order to avoid injuries and maximize performance on the court, the varsity team started training months before the actual season began. Summer practices consisted of a conditioning regimen completed twice a week. “On a typical day, we would start with conditioning, which would consist of a mile run, cardio on the bleachers, sprints and defensive slides,â€? said junior and varsity player Neil Warke. “After about an hour, we would go into the gym and scrimmage against each other. This was deďż˝initely tiring, but it prepared our bodies for the tough season to come.â€?

Games are when the players can �inally show off their hard work and skill. The players move seamlessly as a unit, their talent manifested on the court. The source of this cohesion is diligence and hard work on the players’ parts.

Since basketball is a team sport, one team member’s mistake could cost the whole team’s victory. Especially since the team this year has fewer members than previous years due to many players graduating after the previous season, the pressure is on.

At times, when this pressure becomes overwhelming, tensions within the team are inevitable. Despite these obstacles, the team comes before any disputes, and through these hardships come stronger bonds. “I couldn’t ask for a better team,� said junior and varsity player Snehith Nayak. “All of us get along and sort out problems as they arise, and team dinners and lunches help chemistry on and off the court. We are always together throughout the season.�

For seniors, this season is special: the excitement of having almost made it through high school, coupled with the inevitable end of their Lynbrook basketball experience, is bittersweet. “I am looking forward to spending my last season with the teammates that I have played with since sixth grade,â€? said co-captain and senior Kevin Le. “I will deďż˝initely miss every

single moment that we’ve been through together these past four years. I will miss everything, large or small, from my four years dedicated to Lynbrook basketball.�

For the JV team, this season’s schedule is packed, to say the least. Currently in the midst of pre-leagues, the team has experienced one loss and one win, hoping that as the season progresses into leagues, it will be able to compete for the league championships. “We have a tough schedule this year, and I really love playing tough opponents,� said JV coach Jeffrey Bale. “I enjoy playing teams that are challenging because what I’ve understood is that we play better basketball when we play better teams.�

Another season, another challenge, another goal. Every year comes with its demands, but the varsity and JV teams are sure to impress nonetheless. “There are deďż˝initely mixed feelings about being on the basketball team, as practices are very time consuming and difďż˝icult,â€? Le said. “However, I think, in the end, we can all agree that it is an amazing feeling being part of a team that can leave a mark on Lynbrook basketball history.â€?

Weighing the effects of diets on wrestlers

How diets impact wrestlers physically and psychologically

BY ALISHA NAIDU

O

ne glass of milk with a banana for breakfast.

No lunch. A salad with a side of chicken for dinner. This is what a typical day’s worth of meals is like for sophomore Pranav Chittaranjan during wrestling season, just 1000 calories.

Like Chittaranjan, several wrestlers follow strict diet plans during the wrestling season to be at the top of their group of athletes of roughly the same weight, giving them a physical advantage over their competitors. During weigh-ins on tournament days, referees con�irm that wrestlers are within their weight class. Diets vary from wrestler to wrestler: while some raise or restrict their total caloric intake, some eat clean or skip meals altogether.

Most wrestlers do not face extreme impact however, as coaches ensure that they are following strict guidelines that regulate the minimum weight they can go down to. “By law, wrestlers can only lose a certain percentage of their body weight each week,â€? said wrestling coach Alan Vinciguerra. “I’m not allowed to give them a diet plan, but the ďż˝irst thing we tell them is to change their eating habits.â€?

While dieting can be advantageous for competitive reasons, it can also take a toll on a wrestlers’ physical health. When wrestlers are not able to receive suf�icient nutrition, they become fatigued and cannot perform as well as they would under regular conditions.

For example, unre�ined carbohydrates can provide quick energy, but the limits certain diets place on carbohydrate intake often cause a drop in blood sugar. This results in a decrease in energy, a detrimental impact on athletic performance because wrestling practices involve a large amount of

strenuous strength training. Wrestlers also restrict water intake to limit their water weight, which can cause dehydration. “When you start losing water, especially if you’re already dehydrated, you become more tired and confused, and your body functions are off,� said athletic trainer Kathryn Thurman. “When you’re trying to juggle school, friends, family dynamics and sports, it can be really overwhelming.�

Dieting can also affect a wrestler’s mental health and cognitive performance. When the brain receives inadequate nutrition, the ability to focus and maintain consistent sleep patterns is directly affected.

Furthermore, according to a study done by Dr. Janet Tomiyama in 2010, an associate professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, low calorie dieting causes high cortisol levels, which leads to chronic stress. “I would say people are deďż˝initely grumpier when they’re hungry, and wrestlers are just hungry for months,â€? senior Bridget Naylor said. “I MEAT, POULTRY AND FISH: proteins, nutrients and vitamins

VEGETABLES: nutrients, fiber, no fat and low cholesterol FRUITS: fibers and vitamins

DAIRY PRODUCTS: calcium and iron

WATER: metabolism and digestion

WHOLE GRAIN PRODUCTS: dietary fibers, minerals

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SPORTS SECTION

would notice the mental clarity and sharper focus, but I’d also be really hungry, which was distracting.�

Even with the harsh effects that they may face from dieting, many Lynbrook wrestlers agree that it is worth the fulďż˝illment they feel when their hard work pays off. “You have to make some sacriďż˝ices for a goal,â€? said junior Abdullah Ashiq. “Even though there’s momentary discomfort, there’s also an overwhelming sense of pride that you feel when you’re improving and striving toward your goals.â€?

At the same time, they also recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy nutritional intake while on a diet and accomplish this through planning out their meals ahead of time or seeking adult guidance. “I try to plan out my diet so that it doesn’t get too extreme and make sure I’m staying healthy,�

Chittaranjan said. “Even though it’s important to stick to the diet, maintaining my health is also really important.�

By ďż˝inding the perfect diet for their body, athletes are able to perform at their peak level. “If you are challenged with weight, whether it’s more or less then what is ideal for your sport, look at tackling that on the off season,â€? registered dietician and nutritionist Alene Baronian said. “Work with a professional that can help ďż˝igure out a way to eat to achieve the body composition you are striving for and be patient. Figuring out a way to eat for your body and sport takes some time.â€?

Although dieting has various advantages for wrestlers, a priority is placed on staying healthy regardless. Diets can have dangerous side effects on wrestlers, but the harm is preventable when they understand how to maintain a balance and keep themselves healthy.

DECEMBER 14, 2018

SPORTS

15

16

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Senior Dave DeSouza-Lawrence rocks a Mike Tyson themed Christmas sweater.

PHOTOESSAY

LYNBROOK HIGH SCHOOL | THE EPIC

Mrs. Goldstein, Ms. Harlin and Ms. Nichols bring their Christmas spirit to the senior’s homeroom holiday potluck.

‘TistheSeason

By Arul Gnanasivam

Santa Claus poses for photos at San Jose’s annual Christmas in the Park celebration.

The Lynbrook Spirit Squad decorated a Christmas tree for the Christmas in the Park showcase.