the Epic, Volume 57, Issue 5 - March 8, 2022 by the Epic

SECTIONS

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News: pg. 2-4 Opinion: pg. 5-7 Features: pg. 8-10 In-Depth: pg. 11-13 Sports: pg. 14-16

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Euphoria: awareness and glorification

Gaming Culture The latest updates taking over

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ELIZABETH CHENG The iconic eye makeup associated with the popular TV show Euphoria.

BY ELIZABETH CHENG AND KATIE CHIN

ith iconic characters and amazing cinematography, HBO’s hit show “Euphoria” has increased in popularity, especially among teens, following its Season 2 release. The show, which stars struggling drug addict Rue, played by Zendaya, is often characterized by its excessive portrayals of sex, drugs, violence and abuse. Zendaya herself warned fans before the start of both seasons that the show is reserved for mature audiences, and its content can be triggering. For young or less mature audiences, Euphoria can glorify unhealthy behavior. But for viewers with a mature mental state, Euphoria provides newfound perspectives on stigmatized issues by humanizing drug addicts, highlighting prevalent mental health issues and raising awareness for domestic violence and sex work.

story continues on pg. 5 || opinion

Astrophysics explores the cosmos

JASMINE RIHAL—EPIC A Lynbrook student plays games on his computer with a specialized gaming keyboard, mouse and headset. Lynbrook students are among the millions of gamers in the world.

BY SAM SARMA AND JASMINE RIHAL

USED WITH PERMISSION OF ASTROPHYSICS CLUB A photo of a beautiful nebula taken by the Astrophysics Club with their telescope.

BY SOPHIE AU

rom black holes to nebulas to exoplanets, Astrophysics Club explores it all. With the opportunity to capture photos with the robotic telescopes of Las Cumbres Observatory, the club has been taking and examining pictures of nebulas in space since 2020. “One of the things Astrophysics Club used to do before the pandemic was star parties, where you go and observe space objects, but with COVID-19, you can’t really do that,” senior and Astrophysics President Krithi Koodli said. “For virtual observations with the club, we looked into doing astrophotography.” The project was popular online

story continues on pg. 3 // news

aming culture has seeped into the daily lives of many students, with teenagers constantly making references to games and flocking to chatting platforms for gamers such as Discord. Even celebrities like Snoop Dogg and politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have appeared on the popular gaming platform Twitch. While formerly a niche activity, gaming has been destigmatized and is reaching the

forefront of popular culture. Video gaming has skyrocketed in popularity. In 2020, the gaming industry brought in $155 billion in revenue, and in 2025, it’s expected to hit $260 billion, a 67% increase. These statistics contrast the industry’s modest $63 billion revenue in 2012 and can be attributed to a rising interest in online gaming. The former lack of representation in gaming stemmed from stereotypes about gamers and a stigma against devoting time

to playing games. When consoles first became available in the 1970s, the people who participated were predominantly those interested in the future of technology. These individuals were often regarded as nerds and introverts, and, with women being historically excluded from the frontiers of science, were predominantly male. “The demographics of gaming diversified a lot during COVID-19 with people staying at home without their regular activities,” said Gurshaan Arora, social media coordinator

for the New York Subliners, a professional Call of Duty league. “As gaming becomes more mainstream, it’s hard not to be exposed to it.” Previously, the consoles and computers needed for gaming were expensive, in addition to the price of games themselves, which usually cost additional money. Recently, however, the availability of downloadable games on devices people already own, such as smartphones, Macs and PCs, have

story continues on pg. 11 // in-depth

Editor’s Picks •

Jason Lee ends run • as ASB adviser pg. 2

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Aletheia’s uncertain future pg. 3

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The romanticization of Asian cultures pg. 6 Kanye West’s controversial music pg. 7

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Suanna Zhong sees the world in shapes and colors pg. 8 Lynbrook’s notable alumni pg. 9

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Supreme Court replacements pg. 13

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Griffin hosts minor league baseball players pg. 15

NEWS

the Epic lhsepic.com

Jason Lee ends five year run as ASB adviser BY MYLES KIM

Letter from the Editors

n this issue: Lynbrook’s very own climate activists (pg. 4), a new schedule (pg. 6), our most notable alumni (pg. 9), gaming culture (pg.11) and winterguard’s dazzling routine (pg. 14). On web, listen to a Euphoria review, watch a course selection guide, scroll through an ASBO election preview, watch your teachers try each other’s tests and jam to our staffers’ favorite songs on our newest Epic playlist. Flip through the issue and let us know, did it blow your mind? Are you sitting now and thinking about how desperate you are to be a part of the 2022-23 Epic staff? Well, today is your lucky day! Our new staff applications are out now and due on March 30 at 3:45 p.m. Don’t forget to ask your English teacher for a recommendation as part of the application. Find everything you need at bit.ly/epicapp2022. Swing by our informational meeting on March 16 at lunch in room 611 to hear from our editorial board about their Epic experiences. As always, we appreciate your readership and hope you enjoy Issue 5. Good luck! Mei Corricello & Bennie Chang Editors-in-Chief

his time as class adviser, Lee was responsible for supervising rally setups, fundraising and attending events. “I really enjoyed advising students as a class adviser and working with student leaders who really wanted to create a positive culture in the class,” Lee said. “Seeing how great students were and how excited they were was why I became interested in stepping into the role as an adviser.” Upon becoming ASB adviser, Lee slowly embedded his own ideas into the class, gaining perspective on how the student body and ASB merge together. One of Lee’s changes was the introduction of ASB, Staff and Class Committee meetings: monthly meetings among ASB officers, class officers and class advisers to be more collaborative in discussing and planning events. “I hoped to try to bridge the gap between

the third period leadership class and the rest of the leadership team, such as class officer hen science teacher Jason Lee teams and Legislative Council,” Lee said. became ASB adviser in 2017, “There were a lot of divisions, so that's why he brought with him a fresh we created the ASCC.” perspective and desire to help student Throughout his years as adviser, Lee’s leaders succeed. After five years of advising, favorite events have been the annual Coffee Lee has decided to step down to focus more House Talent Show and Homecoming — on his role as the science department lead. the former because it allows students to “I think the ASB adviser is a position that showcase their talents in a laid-back and should be turned over fairly frequently to judgment-free environment, and the latter keep somebody fresh,” said Andrea Badger, because of how chaotic and energetic it is, former ASB adviser who served from 2009 to an atmosphere that Lee feels is impossible to 2016. “What I told Mr. Lee when he took over replicate. is that I felt like I had given everything that The replacement process for ASB adviser I could to the class and I had nothing more is two-fold. First, staff can submit their to offer. The way we were working through names if interested in the position. Then, the program, it was almost starting to get the activities assistant principal decides the formulaic after a period of time, and that panel of student leaders, teachers and staff doesn’t benefit anybody.” to interview the candidate. The informal The ASB adviser has interview is used to determine many roles. In addition to who has the best vision and communicating upcoming events personality to fit the role. through Schoology, Lee also Lee hopes that the next ASB supports ASB in planning events adviser can carry his energy and and activity logistics. experience and continue the “He's always been a really tradition of advising a successful integral part of ASB,” senior and student government. ASB president Joe Lin said. “He’s “The little bonding always there to advise us and experiences — all those things help us out with all the various are really valuable, not just for the projects that we have throughout students but also for me,” Lee said. the year.” “What really kind of gets me going After advising the Class of is working with the students, 2017, Lee decided to become improving their experiences and the ASB adviser in his sixth year having their passions realized. at Lynbrook while teaching That’s definitely something I'm KIM — EPIC Physiology and Independent Lee poses in front of the ASB cabinets, where each commissionMYLES going to miss a lot.” stores supplies, Study: STEM Research. During snacks and more. The cabinets were decorated by the commissions in a contest.

TWINKLING junior PROM promOTIONs

Juniors garner hype for JProm with many innovative events BY ANWEN HUANG

hemed “City of Stars,” Junior Prom will take place at the Glass House in Downtown San Jose on Saturday, March 26 from 8 to 11 p.m. In the weeks leading up to the event, the junior class used various promotional tactics to amass ticket sales and excitement.

osted in the quad during early bird ticket sales at lunch from Feb. 14 to 18, the Star Jar Guessing Game saw many juniors attempt to guess the number of stars in a jar set on the table where class officers sold JProm tickets. The stars were crafted over five months by 2023 Class Secretary Serenity Chu. Generating hype and promoting sales, the event had students send in their guesses via a Google Form, and the winner, Jeffery Su, was announced at the end of the week. He won a free ticket to JProm.

Juniors Steven Pan and Owen Yuan use a ruler and calculator to calculate the volume of the jar in hopes of guessing the right number of stars.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS AND PHOTOS BY NEWS SECTION

Lina Wang asks Wayne Suh to Junior Prom with a poster that says, “You are the Wayne to my heart.”

he annual JProm Fashion Show featured junior members from InDesign, Lynbrook’s fashion club, and other juniors who showcased prom outfits. This year, it was held at the quad on March 4 during lunch, with models strutting down a runway to tracks like Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” and ABBA’s “Dancing Queen.” They wore pieces from Tuxedo Warehouse, which is offering discounts for the junior class.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Tristan Dowdell, Leo Huang, Allen Wang, Alvin Sun, Edward Key and Edward Sha rehearse for the fashion show.

eginning in early February, members of the junior class mastered a class dance during morning practice sessions. Led by choreographers Sophie Au, Edward Sha, Aneesha Jobi and Maya Little, the group of ten juniors put together a performance to Usher’s 2010 hit “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love.” On March 2, the group performed the dance at the quad as a part of junior Lina Wang’s flash mob promposal for junior Wayne Suh.

Juniors Avishi Reddy and Edward Sha dance to the song "City of Stars" as part of the promotional video.

embers of the junior class teamed up to film a promotional video for JProm, which was posted on the class Instagram. In the video, juniors Avishi Reddy and Edward Sha got ready for the event, showcasing their looks before heading to the Glass House to dance and provide a glimpse of the venue.

March 08, 2022

NEWS

Astrophysics explores space with astrophotography BY SOPHIE AU

Story continued from front page.

so the officers hosted this activity again this year. Members learned about each nebula and voted on the nebulae they wanted to take photos of. “Each officer gave a humorous presentation on why their nebula is amazing and the others’ are inferior,” senior and member Ronak Badhe said. “This annual ritual in which there is a light-hearted competition is a great experience and makes Astrophysics Club unique.” The observatory’s 10 global robotic telescopes are used by professional astronomers for research, so the time available for the Astrophysics Club to take pictures is limited, as photos take a couple of minutes to capture. Once the settings are inputted by the user, the robotic telescope automatically adjusts the settings and takes the photos. Astrophysics Club pinpointed the Corona Nebula and Tarantula Nebula among other nebulae, along with the space coordinates in the Equatorial Coordinate System for the robotic telescopes to aim at and take a photo. Nebulae, composed of widely scattered stardust and gas clouds, are dark, so the telescope settings were tweaked to capture clear images. Extending exposure time allows the telescope to gather more light when taking the photo and brighten the image. The club was able to pick filters to color their photos to make them more visible as well. With camera time left for the club to request more photos, Astrophysics Club is planning to

take pictures of exoplanets in mid to late March, when exoplanets become clearer. Exoplanets are significantly darker than the star they revolve around and much further away, requiring more telescope time to increase exposure and produce brighter images. If their results show new data, Astrophysics Club will be able to send it to NASA to potentially be included in their exoplanet watch program and coauthor a paper with NASA on updates on properties of exoplanets. “We also are planning on exoplanet observation, which has extraterrestrial implications,” senior and Astrophysics Vice President William Huang said. “That’s why a lot of people are interested in exoplanet observation in the first place.” On Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Sunday, Feb. 6, the observatory uploaded files of Astrophysics Club’s photos, which turned out very clear and colorful. Their experience working with the telescope has been rewarding and has also inspired them to continue to pursue astrophotography. Members will explore photographing more space objects, engaging with astronomy equipment and space research.

PHOTOS USED WITH PERMISSION FROM ASTROPHYSICS CLUB

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ANUSHKA ANAND

Aletheia faces an uncertain future BY SUSANNA TANG

or the past 11 years, Aletheia, a student publication that publishes anonymous student writing submissions regarding sensitive issues like romance and religion, has provided a platform for those with controversial perspectives to be heard without the judgment of others. However, Aletheia recently caught the attention of Lynbrook’s administrators because it has not followed school rules of having a districtapproved adviser, which means it cannot be recognized as a publication officially affiliated with Lynbrook. The group’s advisers have always been parents of Aletheia members. Potential parent advisers are interviewed based on their passion for forwarding Alethia’s mission statement of providing students with a platform to share stories with peers and the community anonymously. Comparable with teacher advisers, parent advisers supervise meetings, occasionally state their opinions during discussions and evaluate the appropriateness of topics. The publication meets biweekly at a member’s house or on Zoom to discuss the current issue and to brainstorm ideas for the upcoming publication. “In order to gain support from and be affiliated with the school, like clubs, journalism and yearbook, it must be advised by a certified employee,” Assistant Principal Yukari Salazar said. “That’s just a rule enforced by our district and ASB.” Aletheia has traditionally made use of the school’s print center, morning announcements, website, homeroom time and publicized parent donation requests. However, the absence of a permissible

connection between Aletheia and Lynbrook may lead to the school preventing the group from accessing these resources. The creation of Aletheia was inspired by Verdedera, Monta Vista High School’s discontinued student publication, which was advised by Hung Wei, a former FUHSD governing board member and a parent to a Monta Vista High School alumnus. After Wei stepped down from her position as adviser in 2017, Verdedera disbanded. However, only this school year has the district realized the need to set an appropriate structure and to follow volunteer screening guidelines. When Aletheia was first founded, cofounder Frances Guo approached Aletheia’s first parent advisers Cindy Wen and Miko Otoshi, hoping to create a safe environment to discuss taboo topics. The nature of the

topics, such as academic pressure and classroom environment, could hinder the members from openly discussing in front of teachers. Since Lynbrook has no jurisdiction over Aletheia, the publication’s future plans can only be made by the parent advisers and members of the group. If Aletheia finds a certified adviser, which is what Salazar urges, their eligibility for the use of school resources will remain. Without a district-employed adviser supervising Aletheia’s publication, Aletheia will not be able to use school resources, so they will ultimately need to make a decision on whether to disband, apply as a club, find a certified adviser or continue as an entity separate from Lynbrook.

Upcoming Viking Events No School on March 14 There will be no school on Monday, March 14. Enjoy the three day weekend! Club Food Day Support your clubs on Wednesday, March 16 during lunch in the quad to buy varieties of food and enjoy a treat! CAASPP testing Good luck to all the juniors who will be taking CAASPP testing from Monday, March 21 to Wednesday, March 23. Powerpuff From April 4 to April 8, the four classes will compete in football and dance on the football field for Powerpuff. Make sure to cheer on your class! Coffee with the Counselors Freshmen, sophomores and juniors can join the counselors virtually on Tuesday, April 12 to ask them questions for the next school year. Spring Break There will be no school from April 18 to April 22. Enjoy a week off from school!

LAUREN LIU—EPIC Compassion & Forgiveness, Isolation and More Than Meets the Eye are three past issues from Aletheia.

By Anushka Anand Photo by Emma Constable

March 08, 2022

NEWS

Science and Society catalyzes a new way to learn BY JASON SHAN

hile the typical science class consists largely of lectures and assessments, with labs sprinkled in between, Science and Society approaches science education through hands-on application, allowing students to design products to address societal issues. The new course will be offered to sophomores, juniors and seniors at all FUHSD schools in the 2022-23 school year. “The rationale behind the course was that a lot of current science courses have curricula designed to get students prepared for a multiple choice exam, as in the case of AP classes,” Monta Vista High School science teacher and course design team lead Kyle Jones said. “We wanted a course that was going to focus more on learning about science and applying it in a meaningful way to real-world issues.” Scan the QR code to read the full story on lhsepic.com

Course will cover six units including addiction, space mining and energy.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY KATIE CHIN

Students advocate for climate literacy in schools BY EMMA CONSTABLE

ince April 2020, Lynbrook students who are part of the Sunnyvale Youth Public Policy Institute have been helping to push for Assembly Bill 1922, which, if passed, will mandate climate change education for all California K-12 students. AB 1922 was introduced by Assemblywoman Luz Rivas in 2020 to reform the California education code. While existing law requires that high school students take at least one biological and one physical science course to graduate, the bill aims to add climate change as a core focus to existing classes. Although Rivas’s bill was intended to introduce climate literacy coursework as soon as the 2020-21 school year, this goal was impeded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite consequent stagnation of the bill’s progress, many environmental advocacy organizations have rallied in support of mandatory climate change education. Among the groups in support is YPPI, which was founded by Sunnyvale students in 2018 with the goal of integrating new programs and legislation impacting the well-being of youths. One of the group’s major achievements to date is the implementation of the HAERT program at Lynbrook in 2019. Their six commissions, which specialize in areas such as mental health, social justice and sexual assault, continue to provide informative resources for the FUHSD community. YPPI’s Environmental Commission was first introduced to AB 1922 and its mission in 2020. Under the leadership of former commission member and current YPPI President Pranay Mamileti, the commission learned about the bill while researching current environmental initiatives, and were eager to support Rivas’s goal. “When you know more, you can do more, and you understand all of the different aspects of the situation,” freshman and Environmental Commission member Kimaya Pantvaidya said. In 2020, the commission began forming a coalition of local green

organizations to collaborate with Rivas and her team, but Rivas later announced that she did not plan to pursue the bill in response to the onset of COVID-19. Two years later, however, the Environmental Commission has resumed increasing awareness of the bill by contacting local youth, parents and administrators to inform them about its goal. “We have a campaign running on social media to help spread the word, and we’re using all of our connections,” senior and Environmental Commission Chair Sannath Mathapathi said. These connections include regional branches of the Audubon Society and the Sierra Club as well as fellow nonprofit Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, all of which habitually collaborate with YPPI to disseminate information to local youths. The commission has also been collecting signatures on a letter requesting a $200 million investment in climate education to provide projectbased learning opportunities as well as interdisciplinary coursework. Written on behalf of major organizations in addition to YPPI such as the YMCA and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the letter argues that as the climate crisis worsens, future generations will require a fluent understanding of climate change and the ability to make well-informed decisions to address it. The letter has collected more than 500 signatures, and YPPI continues to support the overarching climate literacy education bill to expedite its progress during the pandemic. “Most students are probably going to complain because it’s more coursework, but it’s going to have a positive impact in the long term,” Mathapathi said. “We’re going to see a shift in how Californians vote if they’re more educated on what’s happening to our planet.” If AB 1922 is passed during the 2022 legislative session as Rivas and fellow Assemblymembers hope, the new requirements for K-12 science curriculums are projected to go into effect in the 2023-24 school year.

OPINION

the Epic

lhsepic.com

euphoria The fine line between raising awareness and glorification Note: This story contains references to content that may be triggering for those who have experienced trauma or are sensitive to topics concerning sexual violence, substance abuse, self-harm or mental illness.

BY ELIZABETH CHENG AND KATIE CHIN

Humanizing drug addicts and dealers

irector Sam Levinson based much of the show on his own experiences with drug abuse to inspire empathy for drug addicts. However, Euphoria’s trademark colorful and glittery interpretation of drug use has come under great scrutiny. Although Euphoria’s portrayals of addiction can mislead and entice viewers to mimic the behaviors, the show breaks stereotypes by humanizing both drug addicts and dealers. It also depicts drug addiction’s wide range of consequences, which in turn, discourages drug abuse. Euphoria challenges stereotypes about drugs that are usually misrepresented in the media, such as the idea that drug abusers are simply reckless and lack self-control or that drug dealers have no sense of morality. Rue’s addiction stems from trying to cope with her anxiety. Fezco, Rue’s drug dealer, shows genuine affection when he chooses not to sell drugs to her. While drug dealing is often unethical and dangerous, Fezco’s choice to protect Rue’s well-being by denying

her the drugs, despite his ability to profit from the transaction, breaks the stereotype that all drug dealers are immoral people. “When you think of a drug dealer, you usually think of someone who’s really dangerous, but Fez is a good-hearted guy,” junior Navya Anand said. “It encouraged me to think more about why someone might be engaging in the drug industry.” The experiences of Euphoria’s characters effectively portray addiction’s heavy consequences. While Season 1 includes scenes where drugs are characterized as a happy escape with few negative consequences, Season 2 emphasizes the widespread destruction addiction can cause. In Season 2, viewers see Rue suffer from withdrawal effects as she first flees rehab and then an intervention. Her addiction is so severe that she then burglarizes a house for drugs. Afterward, Rue can barely talk properly or sit up straight due to her withdrawal, displaying the crippling effects of drug abuse. The discouraging tone that Euphoria conveys when depicting drug abuse, especially during Season 2, positively

uphoria, known for its excessive, explicit sexual content, has been criticized by concerned parents and adults for intentionally marketing graphic content to impressionable teens. The series faces the age-old controversy of oversexualizing women through the male gaze. It primarily focuses on the sexual aspects of teenage girls, as Euphoria’s female characters are often dressed in revealing

influences viewers to avoid similar mistakes that characters make in the show. However, the show portrays characters being high using bright colors and glitter, and while in line with the aesthetic sensibilities of the rest of the show, it can still be misleading, especially for audiences who are not mature enough to watch the show or who are already considering drugs as a coping mechanism. Whether Euphoria helps raise awareness and empathy or encourages unhealthy behavior through glorification depends greatly on the viewer’s maturity and mental state. “If you’re younger and more impressionable, or maybe not in a great mental state, the normalization of certain things in Euphoria, like drug abuse, can be problematic because you’re going to begin to think such behavior is normal,” Anand said.

“If you’re younger and more impressionable, or maybe not in a great mental state, the normalization of certain things in Euphoria, like drug abuse, can be problematic because you’re going to begin to think such behavior is normal.” Navya Anand, Junior

Destigmatizing sex work clothing or shown completely nude. Despite the seemingly bawdy nature of the show, many argue that Euphoria destigmatizes sex and sex work, a considerably taboo topic. “I think the show normalizes sex because it’s so casual and it happens a lot,” sophomore Briana Nguyen said. “But I also think there’s some nudity that was uncalled for.” Through camming, a form of digital sex work, Kat comes to love herself and her body, taking ownership of her sexuality. By finding strength and confidence through her endeavors, she helps shed the societal stereotypes surrounding similar work. Kat’s experimentation with sex work reflects the challenge teenagers face in finding their individuality. “Teenagers try on lots of different identities throughout adolescence to try and

figure out who they are and what feels right,” school psychologist Brittany Stevens said. Euphoria’s depiction of relationships also alleviates stereotypes surrounding the LGBTQ+ community. As the community finds more representation on screen, Euphoria emphasizes the struggles those within the community face. Jules, a young trans woman, grapples with her femininity, while Cal and Nate Jacobs both struggle with accepting their sexuality. The show offers a sober and realistic representation of the depths and consequences of homophobia in society by shining a light on the harsh realities that the LGBTQ+ community faces, which can inspire audiences to commit to creating a more educated, mature environment for youth in their own lives.

Validating mental health and domestic violence

ost episodes of Euphoria are preceded by a disclaimer and phone number from the National Alliance of Mental Health, which warns audiences that certain scenes may be graphic or triggering. Scenes include characters struggling with mental illness, such as Jules cutting herself with an empty can or Rue’s panic attacks at the dinner table. Despite the inclusion of these potentially triggering scenes, Euphoria’s emphasis on its character’s mental health issues and their effects emphasizes seeking help and prioritizing mental well-being. Characters’ use of drugs to cope with anxiety and depression, especially by Rue, further displays the severity of mental illness and why it must be treated. In a

world where people battling depression are often seen as lazy or those who are fighting anxiety disorders are viewed as weak, Euphoria demonstrates how these mental illnesses are as real and valid as physical ones. Though adorned with dazzling visuals and a vivid soundtrack, Euphoria’s glamor is often darkened by frighteningly violent scenes. While again not appropriate for young audiences, Euphoria brings awareness to domestic and intimate partner violence. Maddy, who is involved in an abusive relationship with Nate, grapples with the consequences of his violence and struggles to cope in an unhealthy relationship, scared and refusing to turn Nate into the police after he physically assaults her. Alexa Demie, who plays Maddy, has spoken out on Euphoria’s portrayal of abuse, defending Euphoria for its

positive steps toward raising awareness for domestic violence. By highlighting the consequences of toxic relationships and illustrating the presence of abuse in teen relationships, Euphoria educates teens about the false sense of normalcy and loyalty developed through them. “There is domestic abuse and partner violence that happens at the high school level,” Stevens said. “If a show is choosing to portray it, they’re choosing to portray something that people really do experience.”

uphoria’s controversial nature has raised questions about whether the show fosters awareness for mental health issues and the stigmatization of sex and drugs or glorifies unhealthy behavior. Through the show, mature audiences can learn from the consequences of characters’ mistakes, such as the widespread destruction of drug addiction or the severity of mental illness. Nevertheless, the show may still normalize harmful behavior for the more impressionable and less mature, so it is important to take caution and ensure a mature and safe mental space before watching the show.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY ElLIZABETH CHENG AND LINA MEZERREG

March 08, 2022

OPINION

: BY YOUQI HUANG// IN MY OPINION

BY TIMOTHY KIM

Survival of the fittest

ith recent surges in the popularity of Asian entertainment, a wave of support for Asian countries has emerged. However, admiration can lead to stereotyping and the romanticization of these countries, particularly east Asian nations. Many people generalize themes explored in Asian entertainment to a country’s people as a whole, believing that these countries are perfect. However, all countries have their own societal issues and hardships, and not everything portrayed in entertainment is reflective of society in other countries. Although Asian cultures have occasionally reached American audiences in the past, recent technology has allowed for greater access to foreign entertainment. East Asian media in particular have soared in popularity, with TV shows like South Korea’s Squid Game, Japanese anime like One Piece and K-Pop bands like BTS dominating the interests of younger generations. “One of the positive results of the successes of K-Pop groups is that South Korea has more recognition in America now,” said Aarthi Gopal, junior and member of the Ravens, Ly n b ro o k ’ s K- Po p - b a s e d dance group. But what is initially considered appreciation for foreign cultures can become ignorant favoritism if entertainment themes are generalized to the lifestyles of their respective countries. However, mainstream entertainment has always idealized aspects of life. Media tropes that are taken at face value or twisted into stereotypes by Western

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY NEHA AYYER AND LINA MEZERREG

hy did I apply to 25 colleges, in spite of popular advice and appreciation for my sanity? Besides competitive admissions for my major and uncertainty about my strength among the applicant field, I disregarded the College and Career Center’s recommendation of 10 to 15 schools because I didn’t know what I wanted out of a college experience or how I “fit” into a school’s culture. Harvey Mudd, a small liberal arts college, was just as appealing to me as a massive public school like UT Austin. I shifted my focus to finding the best schools for my major, scouring each school’s website to locate the academic and social hearts of the school, but I couldn’t take the information at face value because at the end of the day, it was all marketing —designed to position each school as a sterile amalgamation of diversity points, interdisciplinary study and worldchanging innovation. Though more trustworthy, I didn’t always find my goals or background represented in primary sources like vlogs or subreddits either. I heard enough second-hand anecdotes to be confident in my understanding of two schools: my sister’s Ivy League school and UCLA, where my friend studies as a freshman. This incredibly skewed vision of college life left me with 23 more schools that were gambles. I had no idea if the impression I cobbled together from promotional materials and websites was enough to secure admission and more importantly, a happy four years on campus if I was admitted. The obstacles students face when determining their college fit are often much more damning than they were for me, especially for the most vulnerable students, who often lack access to resources to determine fit and see college as a crucial form of social mobility. The two primary methods of determining college fit are to speak with current students or alumni and to visit campus. However, both presume a degree of privilege. The ability to speak to family, friends or upperclassmen about college assumes that the people around you are going to college, and college visits assume the privilege of having the free time and money to tour the East Coast over the summer to better understand the campuses of the Ivies. With college applications becoming more competitive, subjective elements in the application process, like fit, become increasingly important. Admissions officers must consider the privilege intertwined with being wellacquainted with the culture of top-20 universities and provide more options for students to get to know their schools. Fly-in programs, air-fare-included preview weekends for low-income or underrepresented applicants, are a great solution, but are currently offered mainly by small liberal arts colleges. The highly selective admissions to these programs defeat their motivation of providing access, and increased investment from the schools that offer them is necessary to expand their scope by allowing more students to determine their fit. At the end of the day, fit means happy students and a happy campus. But as admissions officers seek to make minute distinctions between equally hard working, promising applicants, they must consider if, and which, students are being provided with the resources to find their fit.

Ignorant romanticization of Asian countries

audiences have many parallels with orientalism. Unlike instances of Western European colonizers handpicking certain aspects of Asian culture to promote discrimination and justify colonization, modernday Westerners’ subtle favoritism for Asian countries is marked by higher levels of attempted appreciation for Asian culture through entertainment, but romanticism is still a similarity between the two time periods. “Romanticization blocks people from having meaningful conversations about culture,” junior and Ravens member Netra Ramantham said. “For example, when Squid Game came out, many were unwilling to discuss the fact that its message was about issues of poverty in South Korea due to misconceptions of that nation being perfect.” Favoritism also becomes problematic when nations with popular entertainment are considered superior to other Asian countries. For example, many people praise Japan on the Internet for its perfectionism and excellence over other Asian countries simply because of its positive media presentations. “Anime fuels stereotypes of Asian countries, and many people see Japan as a mere source of entertainment, relating it only to anime instead of actual people and culture,” junior Jeffrey Su said. Xenophobic views are rooted in Western history

— tracing back to the 19th century in America, when Chinese people and immigrants were perceived as aliens in society. These perceptions only grew throughout the 20th century with conflicts like the Vietnam War, after which much of Southeast Asia became associated with poverty and barbarism by the U.S. “Growing up VietnameseAmerican, I realized that Vietnam didn’t have a lot of public recognition,” history teacher Nhat Nguyen said. “We see Japan and Korea being the leading countries in cultural recognition, but the rest of Asia is not something that Westerners are interested in, because they haven’t been exposed to the cultures through media.” Although Asian entertainment sometimes accurately reflects true life, common tropes create generalized portrayals of countries in order to boost the country’s global reputation for socio-economic benefits. Realizing that Japan, South Korea and every other foreign country for that matter, regardless of how appealing their media exports are, all ultimately have their own economic and societal hardships, is crucial in preventing disrespectful and ignorant misunderstandings.

Lack of student input in new schedule design

hen Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill No. 328 into law, all California high schools were required to adhere to an 8:30 a.m. start time beginning in the 2022-23 school year. FUHSD has considered multiple schedule options to fulfill the new condition as well as instructional minute and contract arrangement requirements. Staff input was well-assessed in this process, as more than 500 district staff voted on a final schedule that is currently in the approval process. However, FUHSD and Lynbrook’s efforts to collect and honor student feedback were weak and inconsistent, particularly regarding tutorial placement and school end times. Each school sent at least one representative to a moderated discussion about the future schedule. Lynbrook staff Andrea Badger and Anne Greene attended the meeting with data from a schoolwide staff survey. During the intra-school meetings, teachers mentioned a lack of student input but concluded that they could not address the issue with such a short discussion window. District leadership should have been transparent with their approach. The district has been anticipating this process since the bill passed in 2019, which gave them ample time to prepare. Cupertino High School, for example, sent out a survey much earlier in the school year to gauge its student body’s stance. Lynbrook, along

Staff Editorial

The Voice of the Epic GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY LINA MEZERREG

with o t h e r FUHSD schools, did not engage in such actions in a timely fashion. In fact, the school did not inform students of the ongoing matter until a recent newsletter. “It would be better to have a more accessible resource other than just the weekly newsletter, since I first heard about the schedule change from Epic’s Instagram,” sophomore Hinari Aoki said. “I didn’t fill out the form sent by the principal because by the time I heard about it and opened it, the form had closed.” While student survey sent out on Feb. 28 was certainly a step in the right direction, it did not give students enough time or notice to have an impact. The final survey included responses from only 23% of students across the district. Furthermore, the survey asked about students’ preferences regarding the tutorial schedule based on a 4-block schedule without giving them a chance to comment on the issues of a 2-block versus a 4 block schedule or the placement of a

7-period day. Students’ opportunity to give feedback to the district is usually through each school’s Intra District Council representatives, yet Lynbrook’s IDC representatives allocated a mere five minutes in a legislative council meeting for student input about the new start time. Even that conversation was pointless as the new start time cannot be changed. Instead, administrators should have helped student leaders guide meaningful discussions on other scheduling factors that could be changed to collect more substantial feedback. Despite the lack of direct student input, Lynbrook teachers have done an admirable job polling their own students. “I’ve informally chatted with all my classes. When I choose how to vote personally, I do think about myself, but I also think about the students,” Badger said. Though only teachers are being awarded a true vote, if they continue to draw upon student perspectives to make their ultimate decisions, the final schedule will still reflect a joint resolution. “When voting on their ballots, teachers will have the student input surveys to see what the students want as well so it’s an informed decision,” Fremont Education Association President Heskett said. *the Epic staff voted 35-0 in favor of this stance, with 1 staff member abstaining.

OPINION

March 08, 2022

Don’t waste summer on chasing prestige BY AMY LIU

his time of year, underclassmen are already applying to one summer program after another. Many prioritize resume boosting, leading to missed opportunities to gain fulfilling experiences. Instead, students should participate in activities that they actually care about and be open-minded about nontraditional opportunities. Most of the time, colleges don’t care much about what students do, but instead value personal growth and passion showcased in their activities. Thus, students should apply to summer programs that they are genuinely interested in. Students can only make the most of their summer activities when they truly care about them, which also helps them demonstrate their passion. Lynbrook students often experience peer pressure to apply to summer STEM programs, like COSMOS, but everyone’s interests differ and a program where one may thrive can also be one that another doesn’t enjoy. “The goal of any summer activity should be for the student to gain experiences in the areas that interest them,” college and career adviser Barbara Takahashi said. “It’s important for students to do things that matter so they can mature, experience responsibility, meet new people and become better at things they already do or want to learn about.”

Although selective and prestigious summer programs provide unique opportunities, cheaper programs can oftentimes offer the same experiences. In addition, many prestigious summer programs are virtual due to COVID-19, and their high prices are not worth the cost. “An expensive program is not necessarily worth the time and money if it’s not something that you care about,” Takahashi said. “Colleges and university admissions consider most of these programs as pay-to-play opportunities that demonstrate privilege, and possibly a lack of creativity for figuring out what to do with your time.” Alternatively, students can attend community college courses or volunteer, which are cheaper summer activities that show colleges curiosity, a willingness to learn and dedication to the community. Students can also create opportunities for themselves by starting businesses, starting their own research projects or self-learning academic and non-traditional subjects. Summer is also a good time for students to relax or spend time with family. “Ideally, if there wasn’t the pressure to attend prestigious summer programs, I would want to relax, have fun and go on vacation,”

freshman Lilly Wu said. “There should be a good balance. My goal is to use half of my summer for more educational purposes and use the other half to relax.” Jobs and internships, which help students gain insight on what work in different fields is like, are also beneficial life experiences that can be showcased in college essays. In addition, jobs allow students to learn financial literacy and demonstrate leadership, responsibility and time management. “I learned how to do CPR, the heimlich and other life saving skills,” said junior Samantha Leong, who worked as a lifeguard at Great America over the summer. “I also did some customer service, so I got to meet some people I wouldn’t normally interact with, so it was a fun experience.” Students should consider their interests, budget and schedule when planning for their summer. Finding a meaningful summer activity not only allows students to find their desired college major and meaningful stories to write about in college applications, but also feel fulfilled, knowing that their time, money and efforts were put toward the right cause.

“Famous” Music Video “I loved the song Famous, but when I watched the music video, I was shocked,” junior Satvik Shreesha said. “I don’t care if there is artistic meaning behind the video because it is disturbing. From creepy breathing to unpleasant portrayals of celebrities who didn’t give consent to the video, I hate it.”

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Kanye runs for presient “Honestly, R I think he did it WA N A as a publicity stunt,” IYA AM S Y freshmen Sanaa Lokray said. B From my perspective, he just wanted some attention, and as the elections were coming up I think he just ran for the clout.” On July 4, 2020, West announced his presidential run on Twitter, writing, “We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States. #2020VISION.” West explained his self-named “Birthday Party” saying, “Because when we win, it’s everybody’s birthday party.” Some criticized West, claiming that his campaign was a publicity stunt. Supporters of West’s campaign argue that West had real intentions to change America for the better.

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MTV Awards scandal “It was completely inappropriate to interrupt moment of victory,” senior Shreya Kakhandiki said. “Someone telling you that someone else should have won was extremely invalidating.”

A t the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, West interrupted singer Taylor Swift as she was beginning her Best Female Video acceptance speech. West stole the mic from Swift and infamously said, “I’mma let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time!” Supporters of Swift defended her, calling West arrogant and narcissistic. Two days later, in an interview with ABC Radio, West seemingly reconciled with Swift, saying, “Kanye did call me, and he was very sincere in his apology. I accepted that apology.”

I n his provocative “Famous” music video, lifelike wax figures of celebrities are shown lying together naked in bed. West said that his video was simply a “comment on fame.” The video was inspired by a painting by Vincent Desidero, who stated that Famous “demonstrated the power of the artistic imagination.” Others bashed West for his video, tweeting “The ‘famous’ music video is straight-up revenge porn. Not to mention putting abuse victims next to their abusers and celebrating sexual assaulters. He doesn’t get enough crap for it.”

Northwest social media “I agree with Kanye not letting his daughter on TikTok because I’ve seen some highly inappropriate content on that app,” sophomore Vinay Venkatesh said. “No 8-year-old should be seeing stuff like that.”

The skinned monkey album cover “I agree with PETA President Ingrid Newkirk in that there are limits to what we define as ethical and unethical in art and music,” sophomore Maple Leung said. “While I understand that the photo is representative of his pain, such cruel treatment is unfair to the animal.” Kanye West came under fire from animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals after the artwork for his latest single “Eazy” featured an image of a skinned monkey. PETA tweeted, “The disturbing image of a skinned monkey that Kanye West shared serves as a reminder that their lives aren’t easy when we abuse and kill them for food, experiments, clothing or entertainment.” The post has since been taken down from West’s Instagram account. West has not acknowledged the criticism he has received.

We s t has disapproved of his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, allowing their daughter, North, to post on TikTok. He posted one of North’s TikTok’s on Instagram, writing, “SINCE THIS IS MY FIRST DIVORCE I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO ABOUT MY DAUGHTER BEING PUT ON TIKTOK AGAINST MY WILL?” Kardashian wrote that West was “more hurtful than any TikTok North might create.” Many claimed that he is protecting North from the psychological effects of social media on young girls, while others thought he wanted to make Kardashian miserable.

anye West is a household name in pop culture. From lengthy and ludicrous Twitter rants to questionable music videos, he has spurred controversies that have made headlines in countless tabloids. Read on for Lynbrook students’ opinions on some of his more high-profile missteps. GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TANIKA ANBU AND LAUREN LIU

FEATURES

the Epic lhsepic.com

SHE WHO DOES EVERYTHING

DESIGNER SUANNA ZHONG SEES THE WORLD IN COLORS AND SHAPES A

BY SHARLENE CHEN B

he rumble of the sewing machine, the squeak of a marker and the click of a camera shutter form the daily melody of Suanna Zhong’s life. A quick scroll through Instagram displays the fruits of Suanna Zhong’s artistic labor—mixed media paintings, collages, photography and clothing pieces fill her page and embrace the viewer’s eyes with a mosaic of warm tones in a coherent style. Many people know her as the president of InDesign, Lynbrook’s fashion club.

A. Suanna models her own designs. B. Model waves a baton at the track in the sunset. C. Katelyn Ma poses with a tractor, with multiple copies of her added. D. The photo is edited to a warm pink color with Junior Lucy Barnes modeling. E. Suanna’s friends pose for a group picture in front of a door. F. A self portrait matches a real photo of Suanna. G. Suanna films the models for her YouTube videos.

PAGE DESIGN BY FEATURES SECTION

However, she is much more than that — a talented artist who is capable of mastering anything she puts her mind to, whether it is photography, painting, sketching, sewing, filming or editing. Each one of her pieces carries a message about her stories and perspectives. “Pictures have always come easier to me than words, and art has helped me through personal issues as well as reaching out to others to have a conversation about topics I care about.” Zhong said. An enthusiastic experimenter, Suanna Zhong’s favorite medium changes on a month-to-month basis, and each exploration brings with it new insight. Although she had spent the longest time with graphite on paper, she did not enjoy it, feeling boxed in and unable to express herself. “Everyone at my art studio is heavily encouraged to draw in one specific style and known for black and white charcoal,” Zhong said. “It was only until high school when I was able to try other mediums that weren’t taught there like new styles of painting, photography and fashion.” Zhong strived to break the mold, establishing her own style with a unique use of color. Her style developed over time after consuming online media such as movies, social media and tv shows. She gathers little features of what she likes from different sources, then

PHOTOS USED WITH PERMISSION OF SUANNA ZHONG

merges the ideas to develop her own color palette and style. “The internet is an abundant resource, and I think it’s just about figuring out what you like and what you don’t, then emulating accordingly from multiple sources,” Zhong said. Currently, she enjoys photography the most, especially while working with her friends. Her favorite piece is one of junior Lucy Barnes sitting in a field of grass, edited to a bright pink color. “Photography intersects with fashion so well, and it’s so accessible,” Zhong said. “It’s cool how I can appreciate the beauty in everyday things through my camera lens.” One of her role models is photographer Petra Collins, author of the book Coming of Age. The book sends a message through succinct images and personal essays to all women to celebrate their lives in today’s chaotic but exciting society. Drawing upon the ideas of Collins’s autobiographical book, Zhong hopes she can find how her own story intersects with a universal experience and share it to the world. “I really admire that she is comfortable sharing something so vulnerable and reclaiming this kind of trauma from growing up as a woman,” Zhong said. “I think many young women can relate. Of course, her photos are very beautiful, but I particularly like how powerful her story is.” Though she pursued and completed numerous works, Zhong recounts the short film “The Cake is a Lie” as both her proudest and most time-consuming project, created over a span of four months. The project was inspired by the 2000s internet meme called “The Cake is a Lie” from the video game Portal in which the main character searches for a cake impossible to find. Zhong’s film aims to express the futile search for success, using the cake as a symbol for the artificially sweet reward associated with success. Over the summer of 2021, Zhong and her friend Katelyn Ma, along with others, drew storyboards, filmed and edited. Zhong looks back upon the film fondly, and knows it will be one whose message stays with her in every walk of life. As stated in the Youtube video’s description box, “though the sweet “cake”, or reward associated with success does not actually exist, there is still beauty in one’s pursuit to achieve their goals.” Michael Yang, a close friend of Zhong’s who assisted her with the film, also agrees that “The Cake is a Lie” is Zhong’s best work. “Suanna’s art style is very warm, pretty, and charming,” Yang said. “I really admire her work ethic and how truly passionate she is about what she does. She’s really fast with her turnaround time and I really appreciate that. Seeing her work on the “Cake is a Lie” project further showed me how on top of things and coordinated Suanna is.” Behind the glamorous artwork, Zhong has put in hours upon hours to produce her creations. She encourages those interested in furthering their art to not feel pressure to constantly put out “good” artwork, and enjoy the process instead. “It’s taken me a very long time to get where I am today,” Zhong said. “Don’t get discouraged by all the talented young people out there. Placing a huge emphasis on individualism and complete originality is unnecessary. In essence, to me, art is about reconciling with yourself and finding your own personal fulfillment.”

March 08, 2022

FEATURES

Kurt Kuenne - Class of 1991: Filmmaker

Photo: Kuenne now and in high school.

In his sophomore year, Cavanaugh moved from Florida to California to further his swimming c a r e e r under

“I

“She trained me to be a competitive speaker, and that really gave me the skills and the confidence to do my work today as a broadcaster,” Lu Stout said. After graduating from Lynbrook in 1992, Lu Stout studied psychology and communications at Stanford University. She then traveled to Beijing to take advanced Mandarin language courses at Tsinghua University, which only opened her eyes to the burgeoning technology scene in China. “I realized what an exciting place it was, full of change and opportunity,” Lu Stout said. “I went to China to prove my ‘Chinese-ness,’ but when I witnessed the dynamic change in mid-90s China, it made me want to return as a journalist.” She reported on technology for Chinese media companies until 2001, when CNN hired Lu Stout because of her expertise in technology. Over the past two decades, she has hosted numerous tech programs and reported on major events in China, such as the Beijing Summer Olympics and the Trump-Xi Jinping summit. Lu Stout also hosts a program called “On China,” CNN’s first-ever regular series focused on the country. Throughout her career as a journalist, the most important lesson Lu Stout has learned is the importance of keeping up with the ever-changing world. “After university, you have to stay smart,” Lu Stout said. “10 years, 20 years, 30 years down the line, you have to always embrace new ways of thinking, new technologies and dare to experiment.” M EE RA

NA M BI

t’s about doing things you enjoy,” Lynbrook class of 1995 alum Boris Bershteyn said. “What would you like to do? Who do you really want to be? What kind of people do you want to hang out with?” Throughout his career in law and in the Obama administration, Bershteyn used these three questions as the foundation for his success. After participating in Mock Trial, Speech and Debate and the Epic at Lynbrook, Bershteyn discovered his passion for law, majoring in economics and political science at Stanford and studying law at Yale. A f t e r college, landing a job a t

BY ELLIU HUANG AND CATHERINE ZHOU a

Read the full stories by scanning the QR code.

N e w Y o r k private firm. After practicing for several years, Bershteyn discovered his interest in government, and went on to serve in the Obama administration from 2008 to hen people across 2012. the globe tune into Although advising CNN, a familiar face clients is challenging, often appears on the screen. Bershteyn enjoys Award-winning news anchor working with and journalist Kristie Lu Stout people to solve has established herself as a fixture of problems. CNN International for the past 20 years, appearing as an anchor for major stories and the host of several feature programs. Growing up in the Bay Area as a Chinese American, Lu Stout’s diverse experiences helped shape her career in journalism. Lu Stout could understand but not speak Mandarin, so her parents enrolled her in an after school Chinese program at Miller Middle School. “My Chinese may not have been as good as the other kids, but I always felt this desire to learn how to speak the language,” Lu Stout said. “I was motivated to better understand what it means to be Chinese.” At Lynbrook, Lu Stout immersed herself in various extracurricular activities related to communications, including ASB and the Epic, but her favorite activity was Speech and Debate, attributing much of her success to coach Shirley Keller-Firestone.

Kristie Lu Stout Class of 1992: CNN Anchor

Lu Stout now and in high school.

of the Games. Despite missing this opportunity, Cavanaugh trained for the next four years and won a gold medal in the Men’s 4x100 Freestyle Relay at the 1984 Olympics. Today, Cavanaugh serves in the House of Delegates of U.S. Swimming and is the president of Santa Clara Swim Club. “Giving back to the sport I love, I enjoy developing new coaches and helping young swimmers get the same opportunity to grow within the sport like I did,” Cavanaugh said.

IL LU ST RA TI O

Bershteyn now and then.

GR AP HI C

Boris BershteynClass of 1995: Federal Administrator

Chris Cavanaugh Class of 1980: Olympic Swimmer

t started with a letter. After drafting a crude 10-page script of E.T., nine-yearold Kurt Kuenne mailed his masterpiece to literary agencies in Hollywood. To his surprise, one of them responded. “My colleagues and I were very impressed with your spirit of sending this to us,” former Hollywood literary agent David Strom wrote. “I don’t think this will become a movie, but you should know that this isn’t the way scripts are written.” For the next five years, Kuenne would send Strom an original script, and Strom would write back with comments and send a few pages of E.T.’s real script for Kuenne to compare. Kuenne soon picked up a camera, and the film hasn’t stopped rolling since. Kuenne and his late childhood friend Andrew Bagby gained much inspiration for their homemade movies from watching scifi and adventure movies at Century theaters. With Kuenne behind the camera, Bagby starred as the captain of a spaceship or a fearless adventurer. Besides his personal projects, Kuenne also brought his talent to school, making shorts in teacher David Pugh’s Government and Politics class for group projects. Pugh loved them so much that passed he t h e

VHS tape around to show others. program taught by Buddy Baker, renowned “It was a breakthrough moment for composer of several Disney soundtracks. me,” Kuenne said. “I would walk around After his graduation, Kuenne created his campus during my senior year and people most popular documentaries, “Scrapbook” would say, ‘Dude, your movie was really and “Drive-In Movie Memories,” a good!’ That was the first time learning documentary that premiered at the that people liked what I was doing.” 2001 Telluride Film Festival. Kuenne’s filmmaking skills were From an aspiring young noticed by class adviser Barbara Wiseman, filmmaker to a wellwho tasked Kuenne with creating the established director and senior video for his Class of 1991. After composer, Kuenne collecting hours of footage, Kuenne continues his finished the video in time to premiere at childhood dream Lynbrook Grad Night. of making “People wwould come in there, sit on movies. the beanbags, cry and watch my movie over and over again,” Kuenne said. “I remember going into that room, sitting in the back and watching everybody watch my movie. It was an early experience for me of what it was going to be like to watch my movies from the back of the theater Cavanaugh now and in with an audience.” high school. After Lynbrook, Kuenne attended De Anza College for two years before transferring to the University of Southern coach Dick Blick at Lynbrook. California’s School of He joined the water polo and s an Olympic Cinematic Arts, where gold medalist and swimming team, letting records in all he juggled between world-record breaker, three of his swimming events. attending film When Cavanaugh graduated from Chris Cavanaugh has classes and experienced a successful Lynbrook in 1980, he qualified for a film career at the highest level of the Olympics in Moscow, but he did scoring not compete due to the U.S.’s boycott elite swimming.

CHELSEA LEE—EPIC

Creating myself through writing BY LILLIAN FU// MY HOBBY IS...

wimming in the sticky sunlight spilling through half-open windows, I sat on the linoleum floor of a thirdstory classroom building in L.A. and watched the wind caress the palm fronds outside, a notebook open in my lap. I was 11, away from home by myself for the first time, and I was falling in love. To the 11-year-old me, that classroom was magical. I sat with 10 peers in a circle of desks, discussing books our professor assigned, books way above the reading level I’d previously explored. I filled my notebook with short stories, poems and creative journal entries, and shared them aloud to my classmates. I knew by the end of those three weeks that I never wanted to leave. I wanted to be swamped in the magic of that classroom for the rest of my life, where I could let the dizzy buzz of creation carbonate my blood every day. Afterward, I threw myself into my new ambition with abandon. I read voraciously. I stuffed my Google Drive with half-finished narratives. I started observing the conversations around me in order to make the dialogue I wrote more realistic, cataloging the behavioral tics of my friends to elevate my characterization skills and transforming every sight I saw into imagery in my mind. But while I single-mindedly chased my dream, I couldn’t speak it. I kept it a secret, and when classmates or teachers asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I lied. Pursuing a career in the arts and humanities is stigmatized in STEMdominated Silicon Valley; unconventional dreams are deemed childish and discouraged by the people around me. I was ashamed of my desire; ashamed, too, of my cowardice. How could I be a writer if I couldn’t even admit it out loud? Instead of questioning the path I’d embarked on, I dug in harder, enraged with myself and my surroundings. Writing in the Epic trained my attentiveness to the stories occuring all around me. I finally found the community of writers I longed for when I joined Vertigo Magazine, and would grow to foster that community as editor-in-chief senior year. I wrote and read and wrote until my shame shrunk enough to swallow, and the words “I want to be a writer” could surface instead. Except that statement wasn’t entirely true anymore. I didn’t want to be a writer — I already was one. I’ve spent my whole adolescence writing, a dream I’d settled on when I was 11 and too young to know myself, a dream that had caused strife between me and the people I loved. Despite that, I can’t fathom an alternative. There is no way for me to live but like this: constantly vigilant for inspiration, scribbling stanzas on the margins of my math homework, pouring over fantasy worlds on long afternoon walks. On good nights, I am sleepless in the grip of imagining, eyes wide in the dark, and I wake the next morning buoyed by fantastical dreams. Next fall, I will be across the country, pursuing a Comparative Literature degree at my dream college. The years after that, I will be at grad school or trekking the globe or scrambling for a steady salary to pay my rent. I will be somewhere else, I will be someone else too, but I will always be that little girl in a sun-dappled thirdstory classroom, breathless with wonder and falling in love for the first time.

March 08, 2022

FEATURES

Rilyn Johnson’s makeup mesmerizes thousands BY NICOLE GE

altered it to make it my own,” Johnson said. “The experience inspired me to create even fter hours of concentration, more original makeup looks.” sophomore Rilyn Johnson finally Unexpectedly, she does not have a makeup finishes her makeup look of the day. design process, as much of her makeup is Smokey black eyeshadow streaks across her done on the fly — particularly impressive eyelids, accented with bold mascara and considering that every makeup look requires matched with black lipstick. two to three hours of intense concentration. Johnson was exposed to makeup early on However, her makeup process does follow a through watching YouTube videos, but she general routine. She first applies eyeshadow only started experimenting with different to darken her brows. Many of her intricate looks and expanding her knowledge of makeup designs are located on her eyelids, makeup in eighth grade. Through makeup, so she puts on a layer of concealer on them Johnson has been able to transform her first to have a smooth and blank canvas. She appearance and spends the majority express herself, of her time adding boosting her eyeshadow on her confidence. eyelids. Afterwards, I plan on becoming a “I use makeup she moves onto makeup artist in the future, as a creative outlet,” the rest of her face, and hope to build my Johnson said. applying a base, then “Completing makeup outlining a design followers and become a looks and seeing the on her cheek and creator. end result is always forehead before extremely satisfying proceeding to filling in Rilyn Johnson, to me.” the rest of her design. Sophomore Morphe brushes As applying and drugstore makeup and cosmetics are among maintaining focus her favorite makeup can be mentally tools because of their high quality and low exhausting, Johnson relies on her pet snake price. In addition, their versatility and variety to motivate her to finish her look. allow her to create mesmerizing looks. “While I do makeup, oftentimes, I get tired Johnson has developed an ability to and I take my snake out and hold him for a effectively employ all kinds of makeup while while I am working,” Johnson said. “He products, ranging from colorful eyeshadow usually slithers around my wrists or he will to special effects makeup. Following YouTube fall asleep on my neck.” tutorials to watch other people’s makeup Johnson’s posts on her makeup looks processes for hours on end has further have garnered a massive follower base of expanded her creativity and knowledge of more 700,000 on Tiktok and almost 5,000 makeup. Drawing inspiration from Pinterest, on Instagram. Knowing that many have high Johnson lists makeup projects with animal or expectations for her makeup looks, she is holiday themes as her favorites. Her makeup under more pressure than before, but she ideas have been inspired by pumpkins for understands that it is necessary for her to Halloween, hearts for Valentine’s Day and achieve her goals. original ideas like watermelon fish. “I plan on becoming a makeup artist in “I was scrolling through Pinterest when the future, and hope to build my followers I came across a fascinating design, then and become a creator,” Johnson said.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY NICOLE GE

PHOTOS USED WITH PERMISSION OF RILYN JOHNSON

IN-DEPTH

the Epic lhsepic.com

Gaming culture: The latest updates are taking over BY JASMINE RIHAL AND SAMYUKTA SARMA

Do you play video games? 90

Who do you usually play games with?

80 70

31% (60 votes)

60 50 40

69% (137 votes)

30 20 10 0

Friends

Online Friends

Strangers

By Myself

Yes

*Results collected from social media survey on Instagram*

Story continued from front page. made games more accessible to the average population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people turned to gaming as a means of entertainment and an accessible option of connecting with others. “There are a lot of new games that are free or inexpensive that more people can play,” sophomore Anna Wang said. “It’s becoming more accessible. There’s mobile gaming, PC, everything.” Following demographic changes, developers have also been creating more games that appeal to casual gamers. Some popular games among students include combat games Valorant, Call of Duty and

Halo and role-playing games League of Legends and Genshin Impact. Widely acknowledged as a classic video game, Minecraft also remains popular. Each game has its own unique community, and oftentimes, people play games with existing friends while making new ones. “I definitely met more people through gaming,” Wang said. “In this area, everyone’s really focused on school. Making friends online gives me a perspective as to how other people view their life.” Streaming gameplay online has also become more widespread. Launched in 2011, Twitch is a popular streaming platform that was once primarily used by devoted gamers, but it has since become a hub for a much larger audience. It has also taken strides in leveling gender inequality in the gaming community, boasting a sizable number of female streamers. “Twitch is a platform that actively listens to female streamers,” said Ramya Kumaradhev, software development manager at Twitch. “When there is a complaint on the platform, Twitch tends to take action immediately.” Viewers enjoy Twitch because of its

unedited and real-time content, which — along with a variety of communication options such as live chat, subscription gifts and emotes — helps viewers feel closer to their favorite streamers. “Twitch has a community like Reddit,” Kumaradhev said. “I think the way it differs from YouTube and any other spaces is that they focus primarily on monetization, but Twitch focuses on building that community. There’s a lot of loyal streamers and viewers here, and that space has continued to stay preserved.” Public figures who don’t have backgrounds in gaming have also joined the platform. During their 2020 election campaign, Ocasio-Cortez and politician Ilhan Omar streamed the game Among Us on Twitch to target a younger audience of voters. On YouTube, previously non-gaming creators such as Bretman Rock and Corpse Husband have joined content creation groups with gaming creators like Sykkuno and Pokimane. This mixture of genres has brought new audiences into gaming and created closeknit subgroups. “If you want to relate to your audience, you have to try to envelop

what they find interesting,” Arora said. “I think on a local level, gaming is something that appeals to a lot of people just because it’s so widespread.” Due to the newfound presence of inclusivity, viewers along with streamers have increased not only in numbers but also in diversity, both on Twitch and in-game. With expanding demographics and increased accessibility, gaming culture has become prevalent in daily life and is expected to keep growing in the future. “Gaming isn’t something that should be limited by opinion,” Arora said. “There’s no reason for the stigma around it. Just the fact that there’s d i f f e r e n t ways to experience it means everyone can take part in it.”

yourself i n t o

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ANWEN HUANG AND JASMINE RIHAL

JASMINE RIHAL—EPIC

March 08, 2022

IN-DEPTH

Everything you’re too tired to ask about napping BY ANUSHKA ANAND AND LINA MEZERREG

aps get a bad rap. But for many students not sleeping well enough, napping has become an integral part of their day-to-day lives. Boosting memory, job performance, lifting moods, increasing alertness and even easing stress are all positive effects of taking a simple nap. Naps help recall of information learned earlier in the day as much as a full night’s sleep. It supports individuals’ motor skills, sensory perception and verbal recall and can help the brain draw connections between things learned previously in the day. “Feeling sleepy in the afternoon is human nature,” UC Santa Barbara health education specialist Emily Teter said. “Everyone naturally experiences dips in energy levels due to two systems: biological hormones and the circadian

rhythm, or our ‘internal clock.’ These dips occur when we need them most, the largest being during the hours of midnight and dawn, and a second smaller dip between around 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.” In a study funded by the National Institute of Health, University of Delaware School of Nursing assistant professor Xiaopeng Ji and University of Pennsylvania principal investigator Jianghong Liu measured midday napping, nighttime sleep duration and neurocognitive task performance quality. They concluded that routine nappers, who napped around five to seven days a week, had more focused attention and better nonverbal reasoning ability. “Students rarely get enough sleep ,” senior Shreya Kakhandiki said. “There’s nothing to lose if schools were to implement napping. Students could definitely use sleep, and if they didn’t want to rest, ANW they’d have EN HU ANG — t h e EPIC

time open to work on other things.” Before industrialization, people slept biphasically, or in two stages. Getting ready for sleep usually started from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. The first phase started at 11:00 p.m. and proceeded until 1:00 a.m. The time between the two sleeps, known as the watch, was used to do a variety of things — from adding wood to the fire, taking remedies to using the bathroom. Peasants used this time to check on farm animals and do household chores, and many others used it to practice religion. Abandoning the two-sleep system was a result of the industrial revolution of the 1900s, mainly due to the introduction of artificial light. People could stay up later because they were no longer confined to the hours of sunlight. People often returned to bed exhausted, requiring a good night’s rest. Even today, there is evidence to suggest that a biphasic sleeping pattern remains ingrained in some individuals. In 2015, University of Toronto anthropology researcher Dr. David Samson, performed a study on farmers in a rural area who were asked to wear an activity-sleep sensing device. The devices revealed that there was a period of brain activity

in their sleep cycles from 1:00 to 1:30 a.m., and Samson concluded that a biphasic sleep schedule had never vanished entirely. Circadian rhythms have been heavily influenced by artificial light received from lightbulbs and other electronic gadgets in the modern age, which force people to sleep while their body is still in “day mode.” According to the Pew Research Center, 30% of people in developed countries have reported chronic insomnia or difficulty falling and staying asleep. This lack of traditional sleep schedules may have led to napping, with an overwhelming 34% of American adults regularly dedicating a part of their day for napping. Losing just one to four hours of sleep a day causes short-term detrimental effects like emotional and hormonal instability, impaired memory, slower reaction speeds and decreased hand-eye coordination. “A well-timed, 90 to 120-minute nap allows you to complete one entire sleep cycle,” Teter said. “This includes sleeping through the lightest stage to the deepest stage of sleep and back again. If you have enough time to complete the cycle, you can allow your nap to go longer and not feel groggy upon waking.”

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MYLES KIM

Sanctuary cities keep undocumented immigrants protected BY ANIRUDH ANWEN HUANG ANDAND NEHA AYYER SESHADRI NEHA AYYER

that they were legal U.S. residents, facing deportation otherwise. Local governments took inspiration from n July 2015, 32-year-old Kate Steinle was murdered in San Francisco, allegedly sanctuary groups and began to establish by Garcia Zarate, an undocumented immigrant-safe policies Berkeley, Calif. immigrant. Controversies about San became the first sanctuary city in 1971. Since Francisco’s sanctuary policies, which protect then, 560 cities nationwide — including undocumented immigrants, spiraled because major Bay Area cities of San Jose, San many felt they enabled Zarate’s residence Francisco and Oakland — have obtained the in the country. Although Zarate was later same designation. In 1989, due immigrant community acquitted, Steinle’s death sparked a national outrage, San Francisco passed the City and debate on the necessity of sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities like San Francisco County of Refuge Ordinance, which prohibits limit the volunteering of resources to aid the city from using funds to aid ICE unless immigration enforcement and forbid city required by federal or state law. The city’s refusal to cooperate with workers involved with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to use city funding authorities inspired controversy, to the point and expenses to enforce immigration policy where the city was at risk of losing federal unless the federal government requires them funding. In 1992, San Francisco amended its to do so. This opened the way for Zarate to policy to exclude felons from the protections enter and stay in San Francisco without of the ordinance. However, the debate on San Francisco’s interference from ICE. The term “sanctuary city” originated from sanctuary power increased in 2008 after the Sanctuary Movement of the 1980s, which Edwin Ramos, an undocumented immigrant, was convicted of began due to wars murdering three in Central America. people. He was Undocumented arrested for several immigrants from “[Sanctuary cities] protect crimes as a youth but countries like the basics of human rights was protected from El Salvador and and life.” deportation due to the Guatamela escaped sanctuary law. to the U.S. hoping for In a response better lives. However, inspiring equal many were swiftly Hyon Chu Yi-Baker controversy, the San deported by ICE, De Anza College faculty Francisco Mayor at the and this treatment director of judicial conduct time, Gavin Newsom, catalyzed the ordered that juveniles creation of sanctuary suspected of crimes groups dedicated to would be reported to providing a place of immigration agencies. freedom and opportunity for uncodumented In 2013, the next San Francisco Mayor, Ed immigrants. “Sanctuary cities protect the most Lee, signed the Due Process for All Law, which vulnerable in our communities because they further limited cooperation with ICE by don’t have a home to go back to,” said Hyon stating city officers can hold advance notice Chu Yi-Baker, faculty director of college life of a person’s release from jail and prohibiting and judicial conduct at De Anza College. “It’s ICE detainer requests — orders to hold jailed to protect the basics of human rights and people longer so ICE agents can have more life to ensure that, as worldly citizens, we time to decide on deportation. These policies were last amended in provide a safe place for someone who’s trying 2016 when former President Donald Trump to escape a life of violence and poverty.” In the 1980s, increasing numbers attacked San Francisco’s sanctuary policy, of religious establishments and private claiming that these rules made the city more organizations declared themselves as susceptible to crime. The current sanctuary sanctuary groups, but many immigrants were policy allows officers to contact immigration still afraid of deportation. The San Francisco agents in limited circumstances and only if a police continuously aided immigration judge determines that there is probable cause agents with their raids. Immigrants were to hold the defendant on the charges. “While sanctuary cities are necessary to randomly searched and forced to prove

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRAT ION

protect immigrants, the federal government should be the one to address these issues as they have a lot more resources that can help immigrants,” Lynbrook Intersections Co-President Riya Abriam said. “These cities reflect how poor the U.S. immigration policies are right now.” In 2017, the state of California became a sanctuary state when Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill that extends sanctuary city protections to undocumented immigrants living in California and prevent immigration agencies from inquiring about a person’s immigration status. “If you are an undocumented person who has witnessed a crime and you don’t trust the police, you’re probably not going to call and report it because you’re afraid of getting arrested yourself,” De Anza College political science professor Jim Ngyuen said. “In a sanctuary community, there is some trust between the police and undocumented immigrants to the point where immigrants feel safe to call the police.” At the same time, these cities are greatly underfunded and often lose federal funding. With limited money, sanctuary cities lack the proper resources to help a large group of people. Recently, some schools have disentangled themselves from federal immigration laws and been renamed “sanctuary schools”.

BY CATHERINE ZH OU

“Sanctuary schools provide a safe s p a c e for students to feel like they are somewhat safe, because technically a lot of campuses are public so ICE has the right to enter,” said Angelica Esquivel Moreno, immigrant and Association of Classified Employees Executive Board member at De Anza College. “Sanctuary schools are a step in the right direction, but it definitely is not necessarily protecting communities.” On June 24, 2020, the San Francisco Unified School District officially established their schools as sanctuary schools. They have administered several programs such as the Rise-SF Program and the Rapid Response Network, important programs providing safety and inclusivity to immigrant students. The Rapid Response Network’s unique 24-hour support immigrants if ICE is involved or an immigrant students arrested for their immigration status. Sanctuary cities provide a safe haven to all undocumented immigrants and provide them with a comfortable living space and education without being shamed in public or deported by ICE for being undocumented. “Not everything in the world is fair,” YiBaker said. “But, by allowing and supporting these sanctuary cities, it’s our way of showing that we still believe in humanity and that there is hope and optimism in helping one another.”

March 08, 2022

IN-DEPTH

SupremeCourt BREYER

Liberal

Democrats. If Republicans regain the Senate in 2022 as expected, McConnell could, once again, block Supreme Court selections. “A lot of people are predicting that there will be this 6-to-3 court for decades to come, but it is good to recognize there is a lot of luck involved,” Snyder said. “Justice Thomas is 73, Justice Alito is 71 and health issues happen. It very well may be that five years from now, things look a lot different from what we are expecting.”

Antonin

SCALIA Liberal

GINSBURG

untimely passing may allow for another Republican nomination like Barrett’s. While initially hesitant, Breyer caved in following a damning 2021 off-year election f o r

Liberal

Replaced by Neil Gorsuch, Conservative

Earl

WARREN

MARSHALL

Replaced by Clarence Thomas, Conservative

Moderate

Thurgood

Liberal

Replaced by Warren Burger, Conservative

Anthony

KENNEDY

Replaced by Brett Kavanaugh, Conservative

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY BENNIE CHANG

Replaced by Amy Coney Barrett, Conservative

composition promoted liberals to seek stability within the liberal block. Following Biden’s election and Senate Democrats’ surprise upsets in Georgia, some on the left began pressuring the aging Breyer to retire, fearing a n

Stephen

consideration of Merrick Garland and rushing through the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett.” After conservative Justice Antonin Scalia’s death in February 2016, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wielded his power to deny Judge Merrick Garland, who was appointed by Obama to the Supreme Court, both a hearing and a vote. This unprecedented obstruction of Obama’s authority gifted Republicans a plum platform to galvanize their base for the upcoming general election. “The nomination process has always been political, but there’s a difference in the way Trump appointed his justices, the way McConnell blocked the Scalia replacement and the way it’s been much more overt that they have an agenda now,” said Rebecca Talbott, fellow at the Stanford Constitutional Law Center. The ramifications were staggering, as Trump won the presidency and Republicans secured absolute control over Capitol Hill. McConnell swiftly delivered conservative Judge Neil Gorsuch to the high court, the first of many measures that guaranteed a generation of conservative judicial legislating. Gorsuch and subsequent Trump nominees are long-term justices likely to serve for decades. “It’s been a couple of centuries since the life-term was put in place, so there should be changes to the term lengths and the nomination process,” freshman Calvin Zhou said. In 2018, moderate Justice Anthony Kennedy vacated his seat, a momentous retirement that bestowed Trump with a second nomination. While most political scientists concur with the move’s apolitical nature, accused sexual assaulter and right-wing Judge Brett Kavanaugh replaced the groundbreaking Kennedy, solidifying a conservative majority. While Chief Justice John Roberts sought to safeguard the court’s impartiality by siding with liberal justices in several cases, Ginsburg’s death prompted McConnell to speed through Barrett’s confirmation and secure a 6-to-3 conservative supermajority. “The Barrett nomination laid bare that the American process of confirming justices to the Supreme Court is very political,” Tyler said. “Politics has been a major aspect of nominations throughout American history, but the contrast of holding up Merrick Garland and rushing through Amy Coney Barrett underscores the enormity of politics as an overlay on the confirmation process.” Even as Roberts continued to side with liberals in controversial cases, the five other Republican-nominated justices ruled. Taking on challenges ranging from abortion and a f f i r m a t ive action, they may roll back and even overrule precedent. Within four years, t h e adverse court

Ruth Bader

announced his retirement in the waning months of liberal Lyndon Johnson’s presidency. iberal Justice Stephen Breyer announced Subsequently, Johnson nominated Justice his retirement after 27 years on the Abe Fortas, a gamble that was confronted Supreme Court, granting President Joe with a conservative filibuster, derailed on Biden his first high court selection. With Biden ethical grounds and eventually withdrawn. nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, Warren’s belated resignation allowed Nixon Breyer’s calculated decision preempts a to appoint conservative Chief Justice Warren further imbalance from the current 6-to-3 Burger, leaving an indelible imprint on U.S. conservative majority, one that has undertaken jurisprudence: 54 years later, the chief justice salient judicial precedents. Unlike Breyer, chair is still in conservative possession. “I think it boils down to one word: timing,” however, liberal justices have a history of illtimed retirements resulting in ideologically Government teacher David Pugh said. “From a dissimilar replacements. These surrendered Democratic perspective, if some of the more liberal court seats, coupled with modern ‘liberal’ [justices] retired just a little earlier, Republicans’ tactical use of Senate power, have they would have had a president of their party been instrumental in shaping the Supreme nominate their replacement. Earl Warren was one of the most influential justices in terms of Court’s conservative dominance. Since 1960, Democrats and Republicans civil rights, and when Nixon ended up replacing have controlled the presidency for a similar him, that’s when the court began to shift.” Another case study concerns Justice number of years, yet Republican presidents Thurgood Marshall, have appointed nearly an anchor of the twice the number of court’s liberal justices. wing. He spurned “Every justice wants pressure to retire Judge Jackson has all the to be replaced with during liberal Jimmy credentials that you would someone who shares Carter’s presidency their views,” said Ryan want for a Supreme Court in the late 1970s, Snyder, former law clerk justice. She is exceptional, only to experience to Chief Justice John incredibly smart and a a Republican-held Roberts and fellow at the wonderful human being. White House for the Stanford Constitutional following 12 years. Law Center. “What Amanda Tyler, Citing health concerns, happened with Justice UC Berkeley Law Professor Marshall retired Ginsburg is obviously during conservative something that Breyer George H.W. Bush’s and all of the justices presidency, begetting a probably think about.” conservative successor. The death of Justice “I think Thurgood Marshall’s retirement Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September 2020 occasioned the fourth time in the past six is not talked about enough,” said Amanda decades for which a liberal relinquished a Tyler, former law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader court seat to a conservative. Since justices are Ginsburg and Shannon C. Turner Professor of nominated by the president and confirmed Law at the UC Berkeley School of Law. “When by the Senate, liberal activists recognized the you sit here in 2022 and look back, Thurgood inherent advantage to Ginsburg resigning Marshall is big because that’s a huge swing during liberal Barack Obama’s presidency amid with respect to that seat.” Aside from bungled Supreme Court a Democrat-controlled Senate. Being in her 80s, battling cancer and receiving retirement transitions, partisan polarization has also pleas, Ginsburg nonetheless remained on played a role: The U.S.’s fractured political the court — an epoch-making decision that landscape has spurred Republicans to cemented the court’s conservative skew. When capitalize on high court openings, exploiting she passed away during conservative Donald their Senate dominance to selectively push Trump’s presidency, Trump supplanted the through conservative nominees. More than civil rights giant with conservative Justice ever, confirmation battles have grown partisan, Amy Coney Barrett, Ginsburg’s antithesis who and politics and the American judiciary champions overturning landmark rulings such have become intricately and inextricably as Roe v. Wade, abolishing affirmative action intertwined. “Some of the reasoning behind the Supreme and terminating climate legislation. For such schismatic political subjects, Court’s conservative majority is the accident of said Erwin Chemerinsky, 5-to-4 Supreme Court decisions are the norm. h i s t o r y,” of the UC Berkeley Thus, the ideological flipping of court seats is D e a n of Law. “Some is the momentous, especially because justices serve S c h o o l manipulation of lifetime appointments. the process by In the case of liberal Chief Justice Earl Republicans, Warren, who presided over the Supreme such as Court in the 1950s and 60s, the ramifications blocking have persisted for decades. Convinced that t h e conservative Richard Nixon would win the 1968 presidential election, Warren deliberately

Conservative

BY CRYSTAL QIAN AND BENNIE CHANG

To be replaced by Ketanji Brown Jackson, Liberal

Retirements, replacements and reflections

SPORTS

the Epic lhsepic.com

Winter guard: Dancing with flags, rifles and swords BY CHELSEA LEE AND LAUREN LIU

the performance that they are held stonestill. Traditionally, color guard performs to more lyrical music in the veins of Sam Smith and Adele. However, instructor Rebekah Kiggins, who is coaching her first year at Lynbrook, chose an unconventional soundtrack from the 80s to challenge the team with a positive beat: the synthwave song, “Neon Medusa”. “I wanted to have a bit more fun with the show, especially since they came back from being closed off from COVID-19,” Kiggins said. “I feel like they’re enjoying it too. They have their hard moments, but once you get past that it becomes way more enjoyable.” While costumes and makeup play no formal role in the scoring process, they are still important in the visual aspect of the performance and showcase the team’s creativity beyond choreography. “Costumes are a really large part of the performance because they put the audience into the mood and immerse them into the experience,” senior and co-captain Anya Hung said. “With the costume, you can really perform your character, and people understand the story more.” This year’s winter guard has taken advantage of costumes in their program for the current season with unique 80s-inspired outfits for each guard to coordinate with the style of “Neon Medusa.” Each guard wears

snake-themed jewelry and uses fishnet tights to apply rainbow makeup around the eyes to emulate snake scales. In addition to their unique costumes, winter guard also uses custom-made flags. Although flags are usually reused from previous years, this year’s flags feature two new designs. One is a hand-drawn line illustration of Medusa’s side profile in bright pink and blue to coordinate with the neon, kaleidoscopic theme of the costumes. The other is a wavy grid pattern that depicts the unconventional style of music. Color guard and marching band’s fall program based on music from the video game Undertale also ventured into innovative territory. The story follows the character arc of a hero that tries to save the day with a magical sword and learns of the responsibility that comes with the power to do good and evil. “The underlying theme of the year was, ‘Hey, let’s go for it regardless of results. Let’s just have fun,’” marching band director Jeff Facun said. “What I wanted the members to get out of it was: ‘We’re in this pandemic, and I know you guys have not been outside your homes for quite a while. Let’s just do what we can to give you the experience that you guys want.’” Lynbrook’s marching band and color guard placed first at two competitions in their division, which was based on the number of

members, and third once out of a total of four competitions. For winter guard, the division in which they compete in is determined based on the skill of the guard, and they can move up as they improve. Currently, winter guard competes in the Scholastic Regional A division for novice programs and performers, in which the focus is on simple and foundational skills. In the fall season, winter guard placed third in their class at both CCGC Independence and CCGC James Logan. Two more competitions will take place in March before the CCGC Championships in April. With competitions taking place bimonthly, the winter guard team focuses on their passion for their sport and self-improvement and is careful not to let competitiveness overtake their goals. “I don’t necessarily care about placement,” Kiggins said. “I care a lot about the work that the guards are given and whether they feel confident coming from the performance. Successwise, I’m seeing a lot more kids more willing to try new things. If they’re uncomfortable trying something, I want them to feel comfortable through training and asking the right questions, so they can learn to do anything.”

CHELSEA LEE––THE EPIC

luttering flags spin through the air and over the heads of the winter guard members who threw them. In the blink of the eye, the guards move seamlessly into the rest of the choreography. Such a maneuver is only one of the many skills winter guard performs, and winter guard’s well-choreographed performance captivates the audience by telling a story with vivid visual aspects. As a part of the marching arts, the guards specialize in tossing and maneuvering colorful flags, rifles and sabres while performing leaps, spins and pirouettes similar to lyrical dance. Known as color guard in the fall, winter guard competes alongside the marching band as an ensemble and performs at football games. After the football season ends, they compete independently as winter guard in the California Color Guard Circuit. For the 2021-22 winter guard season, the team chose to compete with a program more conceptual in nature backed by “Neon Medusa,” by The Midnight. Instead of focusing on Medusa’s dark reputation of turning people into stone in Greek and Roman mythology, the performance highlights her alluring effect to draw in the audience, making them so invested in

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY AMISHI CHNADRA AND JASON SHAN

Tom Brady retires after 22 seasons, leaves lasting impact BY CRYSTAL QIAN “The mentality he brought to the field is what makes him someone a lot of people look up to. He taught me a lot — not just about football, but also about perseverance, hard work and sacrifice.” — Shaheer Mohamed, senior “Tom Brady has definitely changed a lot about football. He made every team he played with win Super Bowls and overall made a major impact on the NFL.” — Deniz Genc, freshman

“Tom Brady is the undisputed GOAT. He’s definitely had his fair share of Ws, and I think he’s had a spectacular career. I really wished he played longer!” — Akshat Dhingra, junior “I’ve admired Tom Brady and his greatness. From a sixth-round pick to one of the best athletes of all time, he showed how consistently backing yourself in life can really go a long way.” — Arnav Dixit, senior GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CRYSTAL QIAN

SPORTS

March 08, 2022

FOUND FAMILY: BY MEERA NAMBIAR

rom running Lynbrook sports to teaching PE, athletic director Jennifer Griffin is heavily involved with sports on campus. Her passion for athletics extends beyond Lynbrook, as she used to host Minor League San Jose Giants players, including Jose Marti and Miguel Gomez, at her house during the baseball season. The Griffins were a host family for the Giants for eight years, starting in 2012. Although the host program was paused due to COVID-19, Griffin hopes to continue opening her home to players and meeting new people from around the continent. The players she hosted came from all over the U.S. and Latin America, including the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. During the baseball season, from March to September, she would host two to three San Jose Giants players in her spare bedroom. Hosting was originally her husband’s idea, though Griffin was in full support of it. “I told my husband, ‘I think that sounds awesome,’” Griffin said. “In my husband’s mind, it would give our son an older brother who he could talk to. So, my husband reached out to the San Jose Giants, and they paired us up with a player that first year.” In order to become hosts, the Griffin family first filled out a form with their preferences to find the player who would be the best fit. This included whether or not the players would have their own rooms and bathrooms and if the family would charge rent — Griffin did not. In return for hosting, the family received perks at Giants ball games, including

GRAPHIC ILLISTRATION BY SPORTS SECTION

The Griffins host minor league baseball players

season passes and being able to sit in the host family section. The Griffins attended many games to support their players, and afterward, they often debriefed with the players on how they performed in the game. Hosting has also allowed Griffin to make lasting relationships with players and other host families. “We get to experience other cultures — sometimes they would cook dinner for us,” Griffin said. “They would tell us about their life at home: how they grew up and how they ended up being drafted. We still connect with them after they leave, and the players mean a ton to us. They are a part of our family, and it’s a special connection that we really enjoy.” In January during winter break, Griffin’s son stayed by himself with pitcher Jose Casilla’s family in the Dominican Republic. Casilla was a player who the Griffins hosted, and the visit furthered the connection between the two families. “Visiting the Dominican Republic this year meant a lot to Jose Casilla,” Griffin said. “He had recently lost his older brother who had passed away from brain cancer. And so having my son, Ajay, go and visit was really helpful to him and his family because it gave them a distraction during a very difficult time.” The visit allowed Griffin’s son to explore a less tourist-centered side of the island and play Dominican games like Vitilla, a baseball style street game with bottle caps instead of balls. He also improved his baseball skills, and Casilla introduced him to MLB players like Casilla’s brother Santiago Casilla, who played with the San Francisco Giants from 2010 to 2016. Although the experience allowed Griffin to make new friends, hosting came with its challenges. The night timings of baseball

games caused the Griffin family to stay up as players would often get home late at night. Similar to roommate situations, it took some time for them to get used to each other and learn how to live together. “It’s a pretty crazy schedule, and so it made for a lot of late nights,” Griffin said. “Sometimes, we had to drive to pick them up and they would arrive at 2 or 3 a.m. Also, if the guys are really shy, it takes a little while for us to get comfortable with each other.” Personal experiences with professional athletics has also shown Griffin the competitive nature of professional sports. Though people may see professional sports as glamorous, it takes hard work and sacrifice to reach that stage, and teams often place profits over people. Griffin witnessed this when the Giants sent away an injured player hosted by Griffin while he was traveling with the team. “They sent him to Arizona while the team was on the road,” Griffin said. “So we had to pack up his stuff, and we had to find his passport. I learned that it is not about the people at all. It seems that teams don’t care about the people themselves. It’s all about the money.” While there were some setbacks, the Griffin family has greatly enjoyed their hosting experience and hope to continue it in the future. “We love getting to know new players and seeing them progress,” Griffin said. “We sent an email to the San Jose Giants saying, ‘Hey! Are we going to have host families this year?’ and we are looking forward to it if it is allowed.”

BY MEI CORRICELLO//IN MY OPINION

A leader in the backcourt

watch my teammate swing at the ball, her lanky frame three feet in the air. She is going for a sharp angle shot, but she is not aiming high enough. I step to the right, anticipating the ball. Sure enough, it bounces straight down off the block. My right hip hits the ground as I pop the ball up with my forearm and roll back onto my feet. Here comes another opportunity for a kill, and my teammate tips the ball just over the blocker’s hands into an empty court. Point, us. The bench erupts in cheers, “Nice spot. Way to see that!” Through my eight years of playing competitive volleyball, I’ve learned to appreciate and maximize my role as a leader in the backcourt, not in the spotlight but contributing nonetheless. As a libero, I wear a different-colored jersey than my teammates and specialize in receiving serves and digging balls. Essentially, my job is to keep the ball off the ground and provide my teammates with opportunities to score points. At times, my position is frustrating. I throw my body around the court, playing through bruises and burns, yet my leadership is rarely recognized by spectators or coaches. In the beginning of my volleyball career, I felt overlooked and underestimated. However, as my team grew up together and eventually became high school juniors playing in the 17U division, we began to truly know each other and formed a connection unlike any other relationship I’ve known. Our friendships off the court helped our ability to flow seamlessly together on the court. My position allows fewer opportunities for recognition from spectators and coaches, but the power I feel from my team’s appreciation makes up for this because of our meaningful friendships off the court. Volleyball is a game of momentum. When you have it, it’s smooth sailing. Everything clicks, and each point and celebration adds to your advantage. But when you don’t, it can feel like the game is falling apart. Every rally is critical, and a one person’s mistake can discourage the whole team. I learned my hitters’ strengths and weaknesses by heart. I could recognize any falter in their self-assurance, anything that could impact their ability to take confident swings. I took note of how each of my teammates preferred to be communicated with, whether a simple high five could snap them out of a slump or if they needed verbal reassurance that I’d cover them against a big block. I built trust with every person I passed next to; we each knew that the other could step in and cover more or less of the area between us. I took these lessons beyond volleyball as well. Every person I meet is unique in their personality and needs, and as a leader, I need to customize my approach to each and enter interactions with intention. Glory matters less to me than it used to. Now, my teammate’s game-winning kill brings me all the fulfillment I need. Their wins are my wins. I’ve led my team through battles on the court with my unwavering presence and support toward them individually. Through volleyball, I discovered that I enjoy making the people around me better, both on and off the court.

SPORTS

March 08, 2022

Track athletes prepare for the spring season BY SRUTHI MEDAPALLl

piked shoes round the 400 meter track and the weight room machines creak in unison as Lynbrook’s track & field team prepares themselves for the spring season. Their notoriously brutal conditioning continues throughout the year, but as competitive meets draw closer, members are preparing for three to five hours a day, six days a week. These exhausting workouts have been critical in fostering a sense of community on the team and instilling confidence within each member. Having a scheduled time for everyone to share a goal and their love for running gives runners motivation to keep going. Track & field is a notoriously intense sport, consisting of events ranging from short and long distance running to jumping to throwing. After a couple rocky seasons due to constantly changing COVID-19 guidelines, the athletes in Lynbrook’s tightknit track community have demonstrated increased dedication in hopes of making it to higher-level competitions. Especially for the seniors, this season represents a final opportunity to shine and savor memories made with long-time teammates. “I’m hoping for a complete season, a season uninterrupted by the pandemic and having all opportunities available for the athletes to compete to the best of their ability,” coach Bernie Ramos said. The meets for this season include prestigious invitationals such as the The King’s Academy, Stanford and Arcadia International, which are contingent upon their performance this season following victories at Andy Anderson on Feb. 17 in events such as the 4 x 200 relay. Most sports, such as field hockey and soccer, begin preseason conditioning one to three months before the season begins, and these sessions are often voluntary and informal. In contrast, Lynbrook’s track & field team undergoes year-long conditioning to keep athletes in shape, and these practices gain more structure and rigor as the season draws near. Most major specialties within track & field have a designated coach who helps athletes with their goals within the event, alongside universal routines that everyone partakes in. Thus far, the 2022 pre-season preparation has consisted of four to five hours daily of running drills, track events and weight training on campus. The sport not only takes a physical toll on bodily strength but also results in a large mental strain. Ramos emphasizes what he has dubbed “personal records” at every race, meaning that an athlete performs the best they possibly c a n

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editors-in-chief mei corricello bennie chang managing editor elliu huang copy editors youqi huang crystal qian design editors sharlene chen lillian fu without chasing specific times. Athletics often perpetuates a culture of perfectionism and pushing oneself to their body’s limits, but the track & field team is unique in focusing on fun and proper execution. Sleep and recovery are just as vital for a racer as building muscle and training, and the team is constantly reminded about how easily fatigue can affect performance. “Mindset is really important for an athlete, and when they can refocus their thought process on the execution of their events that is practiced throughout the season, their sleep, recovery, nutrition and everything else should fall into place,” Ramos said. Throughout the week’s practices, Ramos integrates mobility workouts to help with posture and injury prevention and tough workouts that often involve sprinting or building stamina. Members are divided into groups based on even, but all have relatively similar schedules: a balance between strength a n d targeted event training. Most practices work t o build mobility through wickets o r hurdles during drill workouts, which aid in ensuring that each runner has proper form. Given the intensity and

regularity of these workout sessions, prioritizing flexibility and limber joints is vital to prevent injury. “A lot of track is just fine tuning your posture so that you can shave

off every millisecond,” junior and varsity track member Serena Kher said. Known among track members to be the most sweaty and brutal are the specialized conditioning practices, which help each runner reach their full potential in events. The team is separated into long-distance runners, throwers and sprinters/jumpers/ hurdlers respectively. Throwers work to enhance explosive power within the weightroom, and footwork on the track. Long-distance runners often spend this time fine tuning their aerobic system through steady state runs or interval workouts in order to improve tempo. Alternatively, sprinters and relay runners’ push workouts involve short distance runs of 60 to 200 yards. The ability to produce force is highly important, and these athletes often train at the same velocity they would at a race, as they are timed throughout. With the recent remodel of the weight room on Lynbrook’s campus, athletic teams have made use of the utilities and machines offered to further train members. The weight room provides a relatively independent environment for athletes, leaving them free to choose within a list of upper body, leg and core workouts — each curated for a particular set of muscles. However, the risk-reward of each workout is carefully calculated before being suggested, and this has resulted in squats and deadlifts being removed from the inventory. Specifically, the team has concentrated on back, hip, and core strength this year. These workouts have proven to be worthwhile in the past, with Lynbrook frequently appearing among finalists in the Central Coast Section Championships, a regional track & field competition. In 2021, multiple athletes technically would have qualified for the state meet, but it was canceled due to safety conditions and left members seeking an opportunity to showcase their talent. The team that sweats together sticks together, and while hours of brutal daily workouts may sound terrifying, they have heightened athletes’ abilities to work together, strengthened their performance during events and built anticipation for the season to come.

adviser josh miller news editor amy liu opinion editor elizabeth cheng features editor sophie au in-depth editor anwen huang sports editor emma cionca web editors sruthi medepalli anirudh seshadri business/pr manager ria phelan staffers amishi chandra anushka anand audrey sun catherine zhou chelsea lee deeksha raj emma constable jasmine rihal jason shan katie chin lauren liu

lina mezerreg meera nambiar myles kim neha ayyer nicole ge samiya anwar samyukta sarma susanna tang tanika anbu timothy kim

small print: the Epic is the official newspaper of Lynbrook High School and is a student-run open forum not subject to prior review, as protected under the California Education Code. Views expressed in the Epic do not necessarily reflect or represent those of the administration or faculty of this school or district. Letters to the Editor, guest columns and other materials to be considered for publication are welcome. They should be sent to Room 611, Josh Miller’s box in the main office or enc.epic@gmail.com

the Epic, Volume 57, Issue 5 - March 8, 2022

Articles inside

• Griffn hosts minor league baseball players

• Suanna Zhong sees the world in shapes and colors

• Aletheia’s uncertain future

• Supreme Court replacements

• Jason Lee ends run as ASB adviser