The Epitaph Volume 62, Issue 2, 2024-25

Community prepares for election, navigates voting

Danielle Feldsher, Adam Orrin and Ethan Xue

The 2024 presidential election, which took place on Nov. 5, will have a significant impact on the lives of many U.S. citizens, including students, law teacher Byron Lee said. In the weeks leading up to the election, students and staff contributed to the pre-election environment on campus in several ways.

With some seniors voting for the first time, equipping them with information about voter registration and candidates was critical to students making educated choices, Lee said.

As a history teacher and department lead, Christy Heaton said one way gov/econ teachers laid the groundwork for informed voting among seniors was by helping students learn about different propositions and candidates. This allowed students to harbor a well-rounded understanding of where their vote was going, Heaton said.

“In my class, the kids do current events presentations, but they choose the topics and then lead each other in discussions,” Heaton said. “For the most part, the discussions in my class have had really intelligent, inquisitive and thoughtful comments. I don’t see a lot of people unwilling to hear another perspective.”

Although many students were still not old enough to vote in the recent election, Lee said he prioritized facilitating discussions about relevant laws and personal rights.

“Many students don’t necessarily understand how wonderful it is to be in a country like this, where we do have that freedom and to assemble,” Lee said.

For some seniors, voting for the first time means playing a novel and more meaningful role in the election process, senior Connor Monsen said.

“I’ve always wanted to vote. It just feels like you’re now a part of the process. It’s pretty exciting,” Monsen said. “You’re not looking from the outside in. You’re right there in the action.”

Are you doing anything to campaign for the

Due to the wide-ranging impacts of the election results, Monsen said it was crucial that students make informed decisions based not only on the candidates themselves but also their policies.

“I am navigating it by reading the newspaper and learning about the issues so that when I do go to the ballot, I’m not just making a random decision based on what I see,” Monsen said. “I’m understanding what each measure and each candidate brings to the table.”

Along with an independent exploration of voting, students also took advantage of economics club’s voter registration event on Oct. 4, vice president, senior David Wang said. The event provided students with online and physical preregistration forms, educating seniors on election procedures, Wang said.

“It allows people to really get ahead of others and have the chance to speak out,” Wang said. “Preregistering makes the process much more convenient and easier, and it allows everything to be more streamlined.”

By providing students with valuable insight, the drive assisted over 40 students with preregistration. The event gave seniors a more significant role in the election process, even for those not yet old enough to vote, Wang said.

While election season can often be a time of divide, principal Denae Nurnberg said she has noticed the opposite over the past few weeks. The calm environment was a result of positive student interactions and mature conversations across campus, she said.

“Students want a positive atmosphere on their campus,” Nurnberg said. “Even if they disagree, sometimes students can handle disagreements even better than adults.”

On a diverse campus, Nurnberg said learning about different backgrounds and staying open-minded is vital for respectful communication.

“Students being able to have civil discourse is really important,” Nurnberg said. “Respectful communication and trying to learn from each other’s backgrounds and differences is what makes us a more powerful community.”

STAFFVOTES

“Respectful communication and trying to learn from each other's backgrounds and differences is what makes us a more powerful community.”

“I’ve always wanted to vote. It just feels like you’re now a part of the process. It’s pretty exciting. You’re not looking from the outside in. You’re right there in the action.”

“For the most part, the discussions in my class have been intelligent, inquisitive and thoughtful comments. I don’t see a lot of people unwilling to hear another perspective.”

ASB revises Homecoming to increase participation

Students discuss Homecoming changes

As ASB prepared for Homecoming week, which took place from Oct. 21 to Oct. 25, it aimed to resolve issues that arose last year, ASB social manager, sophomore Maya Power said. Specifically, ASB focused on increasing the quality

of the dance, enhancing advertising and boosting creativity of spirit days, Power said.

One of ASB’s main focuses was to expand the food options at the dance, which took place on Oct. 18. In comparison to last year’s cupcakes and cookies, this year’s dance offered catering from The Waffle Roost, ASB social manager, junior Agnes Ko said. Food options included mini waffles and mini fried chicken, along with snacks and soda, Ko added.

See Homecoming changes, page 2

Hoping to improve Homecoming, ASB upgraded the dance’s amenities, Ko said.

Principal Denae Nurnberg

Connor Monsen (12)

History teacher Christy Heaton

Photo by Alan Zhang

Illustration by Amanda Boles

Infographic by Ethan Xue

Photos by Ethan Xue

Homecoming changes

Continued from page 1

Alongside setting up catering specifics, ASB also made adjustments to the music. Due to scheduling conflicts with DJ Dave, who is currently contracted with FUHSD, ASB found DJ Jordan for this year’s event, ASB president, senior Sophie Park said.

Another concern raised after last year’s dance was the atmosphere of the dance floor, which was dark and overcrowded, Ko said.

“The layout of this year’s dance was completely different,” Ko said. “We decided to open more space behind the field house because it was crowded last year, and peo-

ple were uncomfortable with how close they were to others.”

Beyond the dance, ASB implemented changes to the Homecoming spirit week. ASB voted on different themes in hopes of taking a more creative approach to typical spirit days, Power said.

“We wanted to have some days that were more creative or different than the overall theme, not always the same PJ day [or] twin day,” Power said. “Those are great, but we wanted to try something new, and it definitely paid off.”

ASB also worked toward improving advertising for the annual Homecoming parade, ASB social

manager, junior Supra Malepati said.

“We tried to emphasize for the classes to make better, more striking floats,” Malepati said. “We tried to go bigger on advertising, so that includes passing out flyers [in] neighborhoods to make sure a lot of families and little kids can show up and watch the parade.”

In the future, Malepati said ASB aims to encourage a larger student turnout at the parade, as it is a unique opportunity for students to bond with one another.

During the parade, which went down Mary Avenue, there was a mistake that cut the path of the parade to be shorter than planned, drum major, junior Nora Steel said.

“The police who were supposed to lead us went down the wrong street,” Steel said. “They turned on Helena instead of Dallas, which basically cut the parade ten minutes short.”

Although parents were disappointed the marching band did not reach the end of the street, Steel said the parade still ended successfully.

Despite such difficulties, Malepati said Homecoming exceeded expectations.

“[ASB] started planning really early. Everybody was organized [and] did their fair share of work, and we all had fun doing it, too,” Malepati said. “I hope the students loved it too. We had a great turnout at the dance, a lot of spirit throughout the week and a great parade as well, so a lot of people enjoyed it.”

Construction relocates bike racks

Administration, bikers reflect on changes, impacts

Malar Raguraman

The renovation of the baseball fields, which includes a replacement of the turf and repainting of the athletic facilities, prompted the relocation of the bike racks, principal Denae Nurnberg said. As the final step of a three-phase plan, the construction will be completed by the end of December to early January, Nurnberg said.

The first two phases, the renovation of the stadium and softball field, were completed earlier in the year, Nurnberg said.

The baseball field renovations focus on updating the field’s artificial turf by replacing its rubber tire material with infill created from ground coconut shells, Nurnberg said. The turf restoration is a result of longterm damages, as the turf was last

replaced in 2011, Nurnberg said.

“For athletics, it breathes a little bit of life into that space,” Nurnberg said. “Upgrading the materials just gives more cushion.

As an instructional space for PE, it is also healthier to not be running around on the [old] tire materials. Having a natural material is just healthier for us to be around.”

Due to the ongoing construction, the area behind the S building is unsafe for students, dean Rahul Sharma said. Therefore, the bike racks that were originally located there were moved to a new location, which is between the GSS and the music building, Sharma said.

“It was done mainly for safety,” Sharma said. “We were trying to find a more central location. This is the only other space that made sense to us and is accessible off Homestead and Mary [roads].”

While the change in location of the bike racks is a temporary solution, it poses safety concerns for bikers, students and staff, junior Allison Brown said. Due to the large influx of traffic before and after school, bikers

Library hosts first author study event

Virtual workshops teach writing, foster creativity

Annika Abraham, Henry Hu and Kevin Miao

The library hosted the first of four Author Study events with author and event host Kwame Alexander on Oct. 29, librarian and media teacher Verna Grant said.

The Author Study series consists of bimonthly events where Alexander and a guest author meet with schools virtually and teach various elements of writing by showcasing the author’s own work, Grant said.

Alexander is an African American author who specializes in poetry, Grant said. He hosts Author Study events with guest authors who specialize in a certain genre of writing, to teach people of all ages, Grant said.

“In this case, it is about creative writing,” Grant said. “Another Author Study is about creating characters that could apply to other things as well, whether you are creating a character for a game, for a story or for anything else. Author Studies are about finding different ways to implement writing into your life.”

all over the country at the same time.”

A major part of planning Author Study events are coordinating with guest speakers, Bachman said. Jason Reynolds was the guest author at the Oct. 29 Author Study event, Bachman said.

“Reynolds has written many books that young people love, and he has useful insights to share about writing,” Bachman said. “Reynolds and Alexander have been friends for years, and they had an interesting conversation on this Author Study livestream.“

The event boosts the learning of students and staff, allowing teachers to try new forms of teaching, which deviate from the conventional units, English teacher Sara Moreno said.

“For staff, if we have a week or two where we’re trying to do something a little different, it provides us with an opportunity to help students connect to creative writing because that’s not a very common unit we do,” Moreno said. “For students, they’re hearing from a real person about writing, and hopefully they can connect to a book they have seen on a bookshelf or read.”

HHS will attend all four Author Study events this year, Grant said. The next one will be on Dec. 10 and will feature children’s book author Mo Willems, Grant said.

must swerve around cars in the staff parking lot, Brown said. Additionally, the entrance to the bike racks is often populated with many students, which creates a dangerous situation for bikers and pedestrians, Brown added.

“When you leave the bike racks at the end of the school, there’s a huge crowd of students who are trying to walk across the street. You have to bike that same way, so you end up running into a big crowd of students,” Brown said. “It’s dangerous for both the bikers and the [pedestrians] because they’re all grouped into the same place.”

Although the bike rack’s new location posed some issues, one benefit of the decision is reduced theft, Sharma said.

“We haven’t had any bikes stolen,” Sharma said. “That was happening a lot behind the school because random people could go back there and take bikes. We’ve had zero reports of theft since the racks moved.”

While the new location may pose a safety concern to students, Sharma said it was the only plausible solution to construction blockages and there have been no incidents so far.

“The biggest issue is more congestion between bikers and pedestrians,” Sharma said. “The change has been going on for almost a month with no accidents. Nobody has come to us with any major complaints, and we’re hoping it stays that way.”

In regards to the complaints, Nurnberg said the relocation is solely due to construction and is a temporary solution.

“As soon as we get those gates and that fence line opened, we will move them back right away,” Nurnberg said. “I can’t wait, only because there is a lot [of traffic] at the pedestrian scramble. There is just a lot of traffic coming through the entry point into the staff lot and reducing that is healthier.”

The event is a way for authors to connect with students across the nation, director of education of Big Sea Entertainment and Author Study planner Tori Bachman said. The digital format is a step away from the traditional author visit, but it retains most of the impact an in-person talk would have, Bachman added.

“Every year, Alexander receives a couple hundred requests to go to schools and talk to kids about the wonder of reading and writing,” Bachman said. “He can’t get to every school, so we created Author Study as a fun and educational way Alexander can ‘visit’ students

“Willems is great at creating characters,” Grant said. “The characters have so much personality to them, and his [visit] is actually about creating memorable characters.”

Ultimately, Grant said such events will hopefully turn the library into something more meaningful. These visits will help change the views most students have on the library into something deeper, Grant said.

“I want to bring more people into the library,” Grant said. “I want to make people see it not just as a place for resources and for library books or a place to hang out. There’s more to the library.”

Date: Oct. 29

Time: 10:00-10:45 a.m

Topic: Creative writing

Date: Dec. 10

Time: 10:00-10:45 a.m

Topic: Creating memorable characters

Date: Feb. 3

Time: 10:00-10:45 a.m

Topic: Revision and editing

Date: Feb. 22

Time: 10:00-10:45 a.m

Topic: Poetry

The relocation has led to reduced available spots and more unauthorized parking, resulting in the distribution of parking tickets.

Photo by Mackie Vu Alfredo Villanueva Meza (left) and Kevin Fei (right) compete in the “musical chairs” Homecoming brunch activity.

Photo by Malar Raguraman

Featuring Jason Reynolds

Featuring Mo Willems

Featuring Tracey Baptiste

Featuring Jasmine Warga and Alicia D. Williams

Photos courtesy of NPR

Infographic by Kevin Miao

News in a minute

Local: East Palo Alto pedestrian bridge construction delayed

Construction of a new pedestrian bridge in East Palo Alto, originally planned for completion this year, has been delayed, with the new opening date set for April 2025 or later, according to Palo Alto Online. The bridge will connect the west and east sides of Palo Alto, which are currently divided by Highway 101. The project began in October 2023, but construction and design issues have delayed progress, according to Palo Alto Online.

The project is crucial for residents because many currently use a dangerous sidewalk and unregulated off-ramp to travel between the two sides. Additional challeng-

es arose due to overlapping projects in the area, making coordination between the crews difficult, according to Palo Alto Online.

National: Celebrity shows support for Kamala Harris after Republican rally remarks Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny indicated support for Kamala Harris on social media after a speaker made offensive jokes during a Republican rally in New York on Oct. 27, according to CNN. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” at the rally, sparking outrage. Other Puerto Rican celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin showed similar support for Harris after the derogatory comments, according to The Guardian.

The Puerto Rican community play a large part in the upcoming election, according to CNN. With over 500,000 Puerto Rican voters in the swing state of Pennsylvania alone, their support could play a crucial role in the outcome of the election, according to CNN. The Trump campaign quickly stated after the rally that it does not agree with any statements made by Hinchcliffe, according to the Washington Post.

International: North Korea deploys troops in Russia Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed over 10,000 North Korean troops were ready to join Russian forces to fight against Ukraine on Oct. 17, according to AP News. The U.S. announced 3,000

North Korean troops had been deployed to various regions of Russia for outfitting and training on Oct. 23.

North Korea’s involvement marks a major escalation in the conflict and draws concern from the United States and its allies, according to NBC News. Relations between Russia and North Korea have continued to grow since a pledge of mutual defense was signed in June. This deployment has led to concerns from China, as its long-standing relationship with North Korea is now being threatened by Russian intervention. At the BRICS summit, which took place from Oct. 22 to Oct. 24, CCP general secretary Xi Jinping called for an end to the war, according to NBC News.

Bike Week emphasizes importance of car-free commuting

Week of events promotes safe transport

and Madeleine Yee

To encourage bike commuting among students, Safe Routes to School representative Chloe Dahl said the organization hosted Bike Week from Oct. 7 to Oct. 11. Through various events, the week aimed to encourage more students to travel to campus by walking or biking, Dahl said.

“I definitely think that people who live close to HHS should bike,” Dahl said. “This event is mostly to create buzz around biking and to let people know that biking is still a very feasible option for most people.”

A few notable activities from Bike Week included Wednesday’s Bike for Donuts event, which offered free donuts to those who biked to school, and Friday’s Bike

Doctor event, which offered complimentary bike tune-ups, Dahl said.

“We filled the entire two hours of the Bike Doctor event with bikers,” Dahl said. “We had around 46 bikes in total, and the organization we partnered with said they expected to be able to service around 50. Most of the people who came had serious problems and were able to get them fixed.”

Because Safe Routes to School’s monthly tracker of bike transportation rates has shown a decrease in biking rates at HHS, Cupertino’s Safe Routes to School Working Group member Charlene Liu said she hopes such trends will improve through Bike Week’s promotion of active commuting.

“Out of the five high schools in FUHSD, HHS is the only school where the bike rate is decreasing, and it has been for the last two and a half years,” Liu said. “There are other high schools with bike rates that have improved because their Safe Routes to School program does a lot of encouragement. I’m hoping that Bike Week also makes a similar difference for HHS.”

Aside from encouraging students to actively commute to school, Bike Week also aimed to promote bike safety, Safe Routes to School representative, sophomore Sara Mohsin said.

“There are many kids who walk, bike or scooter to school, and it is important to make sure that it is safe for them,” Mohsin said. “It is also the school’s responsibility to make sure that we get to school safely, and I wanted to take part in that responsibility because I thought Bike Week would be something cool to do for the community.”

Bike Week’s promotion of bike safety comes as a byproduct of the representatives’ attempt and encouragement to get students who would normally drive to campus, or are new to cycling, into the saddle, Dahl said.

“We want to start off simply by attracting more bikers and then expanding on these new students by providing safety information, which we did in our Bike Doctor event,” Dahl said.

Ultimately, Dahl said she hopes Bike Week motivates students to

be more conscious of how their choice of transportation affects the world around them.

“The way each student gets to school really does make an impact on the environment, and it’s important that we all think about that

and are aware of our decisions,” Dahl said. “A lot of people don’t think about the way they get to school, and Safe Routes to School is just about spreading awareness about it. Being aware is the first step to making a change.”

stead of just learning about academics, my teachers were able to teach me about how to dents to focus on, so they could help students cult to have the same conversations with my

Another benefit of private schools is the ability to integrate religious teachings into the

gious private schools integrate their religious teachings. This allowed me to grow closer to God because I was able to learn about my faith every day of the week, and allowed me to not have to take Sunday school which would’ve been difficult to go to because of the

Additionally, the prestige and connection of a private school paired with their more rigorous and specialized curriculum can help you get into a better college. Also, their sports programs can also help improve an athlete’s cause of their better facilities and coaches. As dents in 2019 went to private school, those students were 40% of the student body at schools like Harvard and Yale, according to

When picking a private school, selecting the school that is the right fit for a student’s needs is key. For example, picking a private school with top sports programs is not worth it if you are strongest with your studies — it would be better to go to a highly educationally focused school instead. As long as you pick the right private school, the benefits they offer Eliqui dolo vollum fugit et diam quis sit,

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Mohsin (left) and Dahl said they hosted a Bike for Donuts event to motivate students to bike to school.

Photo by Alicia Liste

Kevin Miao

Alicia Liste, Isabela Guilardi

Editors-in-Chief

Managing

News

Opinion

Lifestyles

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Opinion

Community must address election stress

Election season is always a stressful time. But in past years, accusations of false election results and recounts have increased tension in communities across the country, including at HHS. Election results affect all students, and political commentary is especially prevalent in the weeks following Election Day, according to the American Psychological Association.

However, when engaging in political discussions, students must remain aware that, although political debate is healthy, giving excessive importance to political

HHS, their beliefs must not be ignored or attacked.

Social media usage in the election also exacerbates student divides. These outlets may empower some, hidden in anonymity, to easily attack their peers’ beliefs.

Social media worsens anxiety during elections because it spreads misinformation, school-based therapist Sarah Loyd said. Media outlets often overstate implications of election results, leading to unneeded stress in the student body.

Limiting social media usage is a crucial step to alleviating post-election anxiety. Limiting such usage prevents obsession

discussions with others or when experiencing anxiety, students must recognize when to stop concentrating on overly sensitive topics.

To reduce anxiety, the student body can take advantage of resources such as the schoolbased therapist, wellness centers and teachers, superintendent Graham Clark said.

Teachers play a significant role in post-election stress, as students often feel comfortable communicating with them, Clark said. But teachers must emphasize that they provide a safe space for discussing anxiety, regardless of political ideology.

specific resources for students.

In an email sent to the student body on Oct. 30, administration shared steps students can take to ease stress, including more sleep and frequent breaks.

However, HHS must provide distinct resources to address issues specific to election season, such as wellness seminars targeting election stress and advisories addressing election anxiety. By providing targeted support instead of general mental health tips, HHS can better alleviate post-election stress.

Also, students will use re-

Patients deserve priority in healthcare

Medication negotiations improve equity

Medicine should save lives, not fuel corporate income. Yet the pharmaceutical industry has repeatedly prioritized profits over patients by pricing prescription drugs out of reach for many Americans.

President Biden’s recent prescription price cuts offer a step toward accessible healthcare by setting precedents for future policies. However, even further regulations are needed to restrict the profit margins of widely used drugs and ensure companies with smaller patient sizes receive adequate funding.

On Aug. 15, Biden negotiated lower drug prices for the first 10 drugs selected as part of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. Medications such as Eliquis and Jardiance are expected to be cut between 38% to 79%, according to the White House.

These changes could help pa-

tients in Medicare D, a type of Medicare drug coverage, save $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs, according to the White House.

Biden’s reforms also look ahead into the future, as additional drugs will be added each year to the program.

Medicare will provide coverage for 15 new drugs in 2025, a further 15 in 2026 and 20 every year following 2026, according to the White House.

With this long-term approach, Biden ensures the healthcare system will continue evolving to meet prescription needs.

Biden’s cuts also impact HHS, where many students and families will see relief from the high prices of essential medications.

In particular, mental health treatments, which are included in Medicare D, are expected to see a price reduction, according to Go Health.

This reduction allows students to focus on their education rather than the financial burden of medicine.

While the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program is a critical first step, this program alone is not enough.

Future legislation must go be-

yond negotiating individual prices and instead focus on creating price caps for widely used drugs such as insulin.

These restrictions would provide uniform and immediate relief, as they would prevent pharmaceutical companies from inflating prices. A further step the government must take is removing patent protections for widely used drugs. Stripping away monopolistic patent rights from drugs such as Prozac, an antidepressant, will foster mar ket competition and lower prices for patients who depend on these essential medications.

Howev er, a more nuanced approach is necessary to ensure fair access and funding for rarer medi cations. For com panies that produce drugs target ing rare con ditions, the scope

pact and profits are already limited.

Slashing prices on medications that treat smaller populations will do more harm than good.

Lower market prices will discourage investment in vital research on rare diseases, according to LifeArc.

In these cases, incentives of higher prices are necessary to compensate researchers and continue funding.

While Biden’s reforms are a step toward equity, the government must continue to enact more policies that support both drug accessibility and the financial security of companies

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The student body must recognize the importance of staying “in the same boat” despite differing political beliefs.

IllustrationbyMalarRaguraman

IllustrationbyVeronica

Reduce the rent

Proposition 33 alleviates rent crisis

Ethan Xue

To no one’s surprise, the Bay Area is a very expensive place to live in. With high rent and a job market that makes it difficult to secure livable salaries, many renters struggle to afford the cost of living.

Even if Californians can afford rent prices, past laws still pose as obstacles against renters. Under the current Costa-Hawkins Act, local rent control does not apply to single-family homes, new houses built after 1995, condominiums or new renters, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

Due to these exemptions, many landlords who own such prop erties are empow ered to increase prices, making it harder for renters to find affordable prop erties.

More than onethird of California renters live in sin gle-family homes, according to ManageCasa. To eliminate this loophole, California must take a step forward and create a new law ensuring more equitable rent regulations.

ly beneficial as rent varies widely throughout California, and previous statewide regulations do not properly address local renting needs.

For example, the average monthly rent in Sunnyvale is $3,105, but in Fresno, it is just $1,584, according to RentCafe. Prop 33 would be the first law allowing local governments to regulate rent in their specific areas, offering a more specific strategy. If local officials decrease rent under the proposal, HHS alumni and new renters who wish to live in the Bay Area will no longer be turned away by unreasonably high rent. To bring this more affordable rent market to fruition, the HHS community must support similar initiatives in the future.

The solution is Proposition 33. On the Nov. 5 ballot, Prop 33 would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Act and grant more power to enact local rent control ordinances, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. This legislation is particular-

Despite the benefits of Prop 33, similar proposals have been rejected in the past. Prop 10 in 2018 and Prop 21 in 2020 both tackled the same issues as Prop 33, but both failed to pass due to concerns over home value reductions, according to the Official Voter Information Guide.

However, recent changes call for Prop 33. Tenants in new buildings and single-family homes have seen higher rent increases in recent years due to inflation, according to CalMatters.

The federal government regulates the increased prices of gas, food and other everyday products. Similarly, local governments should be able to regulate rent as it also significantly impacts the cost of living.

The HHS community must support rent control legislation, so alumni and future members of the community will not be turned away by unreasonably high rent.

California protects student privacy

Schools ban disclosing pronouns to parents

Isabela Guilardi

Identity and self-discovery is a strenuous yet common challenge, particularly among teenagers and young adults. On July 15, California became the first state to ban disclosing students’ pronouns to parents, according to The New York Times.

This law proves beneficial as it protects the privacy and safety of LGBTQ+ students both on campus and in households. As California takes a step in the right direction, other states must implement similar legislation that supports the confidentiality of LGBTQ+ students nationwide.

In cases where an LGBTQ+ student is in an unsupportive home, notifying parents about pronoun changes might put the student in danger. Several methods, such as conversion therapy, can be used to mentally and physically harm students, according to the Human Rights Campaign. This legislation prioritizes LGBTQ+ student safety by allowing them to

Legacy admissions ban paves the way for educational equity

New California law levels college admissions

Evelyn Wang

Familial ties and generational wealth have influenced the admissions processes of private California universities for decades. But finally, California has addressed this long-standing inequity.

In 2022, around 14% of Stanford and USC admits and 13% of Santa Clara University admits had legacy status, according to NBC News.

However, on Sept. 30, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1780, which will ban legacy and donor admissions at private, nonprofit California universities. The bill, taking effect on Sept. 1, 2025, marks a major step toward a more equitable admissions process.

Legacy admissions refers to the process by which universities provide special consideration for applicants with familial ties to the university.

Similarly, donor admissions is the practice of giving preferential treatment to applicants whose families have made financial contributions to the school.

Admitting students based on their family’s connections to a school grants an unfair advantage, which creates an inherently elitist and inequitable practice.

Legacy admissions also perpetuate a lack of racial diversity because these policies primarily benefit white applicants. In 2019, nearly 70% of Harvard College’s legacy and donor admits were white, according the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Students of other races are less likely to have familial connections to alumni. As a result, legacy admissions favor specific demographics, reinforcing racial gaps in higher education.

Beyond racial disparities, legacy admissions exacerbate socioeconomic disparities by favoring wealthier applicants. Children from households with incomes in the top 1% of Americans are more than twice as likely to attend an elite university compared to children from middle-class families, despite having similar SAT and ACT scores, according to Opportunity Insights.

With the passage of AB 1780, the elimination of legacy admissions will provide students of all socioeconomic backgrounds with equal opportunities in higher education. Applicants from middle-class and low-income families will be evaluated based on merit instead of factors completely out of their control — a principle that should apply to all admissions.

While many institutions rely on legacy admissions to build alumni networks and increase funding, they can adopt other methods that are not rooted in privilege. For instance, organizing more networking events and fundraisers can boost alumni loyalty and raise funds without relying on elitist practices.

Currently, Maryland and California are the only states without legacy admissions for all public and some private universities, according to The New York Times.

To promote educational equity beyond only two states, colleges themselves should take the ini-

tiative to end legacy admissions instead of waiting for government mandates.

Inherited affluence and familial connections have no place in the college application process, and truly promoting diversity and equity is impossible with the existence of legacy preferences. By eliminating such admissions on their own accord, colleges move one step closer to becoming true meritocracies, where students’ futures are determined by personal efforts instead of the situations they were born into.

Required classes eat schedule space

State requirements reduce high school exploration

navigate their identity without experiencing repercussions at home.

Additionally, the significant amount of time students spend in school makes these institutions a crucial environment for supporting mental health. The law supports the importance of maintaining a balanced culture on campus by protecting student privacy and creating a safer space for navigating identity.

California takes a step in the right direction by providing a comfortable space for students at school. Other states must establish similar systems that protect LGBTQ+ students and their right to privacy.

Such future laws should include hiring LGBTQ+ specialists on campus and implementing support systems for LGBTQ+ students who struggle with certain challenges. Additionally, schools must provide resources for parents that promote open communication in parent-child relationships and guidelines to train staff in supporting LGBTQ+ students through mental health issues. It is crucial to acknowledge that schools play an important role in student development, not only academically but also emotionally. This legislation paves the way for LGBTQ+ student support and encourages other states to prioritize the safety of LGBTQ+ students.

Scanning through the course information sheet, I excitedly read through elective descriptions, hunting for something interesting. From journalism to computer science, the possibilities are endless, and the only restriction to my course load comes from the limited space in my schedule.

Unfortunately, this space will be further constricted by state laws that unintentionally and unnecessarily inhibit exploration.

Recently, California enforced the implementation of two semester-long courses required for graduation, ethnic studies and personal finance, according to the Mercury News.

These courses impart essential life skills. Ethnic studies bolsters communities by providing education on diversity, and financial literacy presents students with personal finance skills to use as adults.

Despite the utility of these mandated courses, they needlessly reduce the flexibility of student schedules.

To make room for these new requirements, something else must be sacrificed. In this case, it is student exploration and autonomy.

As a freshman, I was ecstatic to select multiple electives. My first choice, programming, correlated with my intended major: computer science. However, thanks to open schedule space, I could also explore my passion for writing through journalism.

Without the extra space in my schedule, I would never have dis-

covered journalism. Now, it is a fundamental part of my life.

Since I was able to explore my options early in high school, I discovered a new passion.

These mandated courses, which have better alternatives, inhibit students from discovering hobbies. Instead, if individual districts were given discretion on graduation requirement specifics, each district could optimize schedules.

At FUHSD, advisories could help serve this function if built off ethnic studies concepts, teaching students through an alternative to the semester-long course.

Additionally, classes like world literature and writing already have an intersectionality unit, which covers the impact of social facets like race on students’ lived experiences, English teacher Mallory Lantz said. If these classes were adapted to model the ethnic studies curriculum, they could cover the same information in an equally effective way.

Financial literacy can also be integrated into existing curriculum. For example, it is already explored in the princi ples of business course, busi ness teacher Graeme Logie said. By offering financial education as an option but not requiring it, districts could allow students to choose technical knowledge over life skills.

Additionally, eight states, such as Texas and New York, mandate a financial literacy course but also allow it to be incor-

porated into other curricula, according to Ramsey Solutions. Such a solution would promote flexibility in course choices.

California’s legislation on health education requirements is the perfect approach for important courses. Instead of requiring a semester-long course, it allows districts to determine their own graduation requirements and implementation specifics, according to the Mercury News.

At HHS, these major concepts are already present in the freshman curriculum. Both the sex education unit in biology and the health unit in P.E., two required courses, effectively expose students to health concepts.

High school is meant to prepare students for the future, both through promoting exploration and emphasizing independence.

California must allow districts to independently prepare students in academics and life skills. In doing so, districts can maximize

California’s legacy admissions ban promotes equity and diversity in higher education.

students from developing personal interests.

Parth Dhaulakhandi

Prohibiting pronouns from being disclosed to parents protects LGBTQ+ youth.

Prop 33 will protect renters from excessive rent set by greedy landlords. Illus tra ntio by hanEt ueX

Illustration by Annie Guo

Illustration by Parth Dhaulakhandi

Illustration by Isabela Guilardi

Include volunteering as graduation requirement

Requiring student volunteering fosters collaboration

Helen Tam

I arrive early to a gardening event at Cumberland Elementary School, looking around for the rest of the volunteers. However, I quickly realize I’m the only one there. A volunteer requirement for graduation would solve this issue and increase community service.

The recommended number of volunteer hours to be completed during high school is between 50 and 100 hours, according to Col-

legeVine. FUHSD must mandate 50 volunteer hours as a graduation requirement for students to develop essential skills.

A main concern for adding a volunteering mandate is the possibility of reduced access to graduation, principal Denae Nurnberg said. But the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Students who engage in volunteering develop skills such as empathy and leadership, enhancing personal growth. These skills promote future employability, according to the National Institute of Health.

As a member of volunteering clubs, such as California Scholarship Federation and National Honor Society, I cultivate empathy by branching out to new parts of my community.

For example, volunteering at

the Montclaire Elementary School Walkathon allowed me to interact with the younger generation — a crowd I wouldn’t normally engage with. I was surprised to find shows I used to enjoy still relevant, such as “My Little Pony” and “Pokémon.”

Despite the numerous volunteering clubs on campus, only a select group of students prioritize community service. Enforcing a requirement of 50 hours will cultivate a greater appreciation for community involvement among the entire student body.

Another concern for establishing volunteer requirements is possible travel restrictions and special circumstances preventing fufillment, Nurnberg said. However, FUHSD can make accommodations for such students.

Politicians must protect democracy

Politicians are responsible for voting rights

Henry Hu

The presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most polarizing, with significant stress placed on mail-in ballots, tampered voting machines and rigged recounts.

These concerns ultimately harm democracy as citizens are now discouraged from voting in the election. Elected officials must stop sowing doubt in the election process, and citizens must support politicians who pass legislation protecting voting.

Many Republican politicians have accused the Democratic Party of manipulating the previous presidential election in president Biden’s favor. From House representatives to former president Donald Trump, over 370 Republican politicians from all levels of government believe the last election was the result of widespread tampering with voting machines, voter identities and ballot count ing, according to NYT.

As a firm believer in distin guishing facts from feelings, I believe these politicians have ig nored statistics and dangerously misinformed potential voters. The carelessness of elected officials in fluences citizens nationwide and makes citizens more hesitant to vote, as they now believe their vote will not have any impact.

A recent poll on Oct. 3 found that six out of 10 Americans believe the election will ex perience widespread fraud, according to NPR. This poll highlights the swelling dis trust in the election system, as the lies of politicians spur on the growing doubt of cit izens.

Now, the responsibility of

restoring faith in our elections lies in the hands of elected officials. Rather than making false accusations of election fraud, politicians must reassure citizens of the security of elections in campaign speeches, political advertisements and legislation.

One of the major drivers behind the distrust of the election system is the media. Media outlets such as CNN and Fox News serve as informational outlets for millions of Americans, according to Pew Research Center.

Major media outlets must stop amplifying the lies of politicians, as it makes them equally as responsible for voter distrust.

The media has the power to sway the opinions of millions of people. Therefore, instead of continuing to slander the election system, these outlets must start emphasizing the security of elections to voters. Rather than continuing to amplify the lies of politicians, the media must publicize factual information.

Although politicians and the media are responsible for dispelling fears surrounding election safety, politicians must also stop limiting voting rights.

are weaponized to infringe voting rights. Under the guise of securing future elections, lawmakers in 11 states, such as Ohio and Texas, have enacted restrictive voting laws. These laws range from closing voting centers to hindering citizens from registration, according to CNN.

The United States was built on the foundation of democracy, and limiting the voice of American citizens attacks those same founding principles. Politicians must repeal existing anti-voter legislation and block any future legislation restricting voting rights.

However, it is also the responsibility of citizens to remove politicians who weaponize rumors of election fraud against constituents. Voters must oppose politicians who have supported or passed anti-voting legislation and instead elect officials who promise to restore and repeal anti-voting legislation.

As the election approaches, politicians must provide both the encouragement and right to vote. The upcoming election will serve as a test to see whether democracy is a sacred institution or an obstacle for voters to overcome.

For example, virtual volunteering that can be completed locally ensures all students have the opportunity to participate, according to Oprah Daily. To encourage student fulfillment of the requirement, FUHSD must provide further incentives. Currently, FUHSD offers a community service award for students who complete a minimum of 80 volunteer hours with a nonprofit organization between June and May of their senior year, according to FUHSD.

However, this award isn’t enough. FUHSD must create more district-wide volunteer incentives to boost engagement. Additionally, requiring students to join at least one school-based volunteer club will increase community involvement.

community

benefit from more students filling volunteer roles.

Although FUHSD has made great strides in volunteer involvement, mandating a 50-hour graduation requirement will enhance community engagement. To achieve this goal, FUHSD must prioritize expanding volunteer opportunities and instilling regulations to create a dramatic difference in the district and beyond.

Administration must fix menstrual services

Menstrual needs are not adequately accommodated

Despite its regularity in the lives of many women, menstruation remains a hushed topic. As a result, access to menstrual products is often neglected. This mistreatment perpetuates a cycle of shame rather than promoting understanding. Before legislation for menstruation products was put in place, administration was not allowed to distribute tampons and pads, principal Denae Nurnberg said. Frustration surrounding this issue led former principal Greg Giglio to become the first principal in FUHSD to provide such products in the girls bathrooms, Nurnberg added.

However, the current girls bathrooms fail to meet the standards set by previous administration.

Many bathrooms, such as the upper B building bathrooms, do not have dispensers. This poses a significant problem, as girls cannot receive products at such locations. In the bathrooms containing dispensers, the distributor is inefficient, and many are damaged or old. Oftentimes, the distribution system is jammed and cannot properly dispense products.

In addition to lack of function, many dispensers are missing products. The lack of products, specifically pads, creates a severe problem for younger girls who prefer using pads over tampons until they adjust to them, according to Kotex.

This issue must be addressed and can be mitigated through more consistent restocking. Schools should consistently provide adequate resources.

However, the final issue comes down to the product quality. Both the pads and tampons are lackluster and must better serve women’s needs for comfort and reliability. While sustainability is a significant benefit, functionality is more important. Currently, the products are made with 100% cotton and are biodegradable, which reduces waste, according to Aunt Flow. However, the products from Aunt Flow are stiff and uncomfortable to use. These conditions force female students to bring personal products from other commercial brands.

Products from other companies, such as Always and Tampax would be better suited to fulfill student needs, as they are easier to use and, most importantly, are comfortable. Buying from these companies ensures a higher quality of products and student satisfaction.

Receiving menstrual products from these companies would ensure womens’ comfort on campus. The lackluster dispensers, absence of menstrual products, and low quality of existing ones must be addressed swiftly. Ensuring the functionality and availability of these products will mitigate discomfort and create a more inclusive experience at school.

issues for accessibility.

People are more important than party pandering

Schiff prioritizes Democrats over Californians

Jonathan Xue

COLUMN — It’s no secret California loves the Democratic Party. Though the majority of our representatives are strong Democrats, these elected officials must both support other Democrats and advocate for Californians. Senate candidate Adam Schiff particularly struggles with balancing these responsibilities.

After former Sen. Dianne Feinstein died, her California seat in the Senate finally opened. Schiff,

who represented California’s 30th Congressional District for over 20 years, took his chance. Supported by his extensive polit ical and legal experience, Schiff won the Democrat’s blessing in March, according to NPR. Since then, Schiff hasn’t done much to sway voters. Aside from advertising against his opponent, Republican Steve Garvey, most of Schiff’s campaign is

spent supporting other Democratic candidates through funding and visits, according to Politico. Schiff’s choice to support others is not inherently wrong. As a new Senator, he will need to foster connections with other Democrats to pass bills, gain important committee positions and work together, according to Politico.

But by prioritizing party strength in other states, Schiff directly ignores the needs of Californians. To him, giving speeches and money for other Democrats is far more important.

However, Schiff is only empowered to continue this leave of absence because current polls are so favorable toward him. In fact, recent polling has shown Schiff comfortably leads the race with 55% of the popular vote, easily surpassing Garvey’s 33%, according to the California Globe.

It’s perfectly normal for Californians to want to elect a Democrat to office. However, voting for Schiff solely due to his Democratic views is not enough. No candidate should feel entitled enough to actively forsake the people who will ultimately elect them.

Somewhere along the way, Schiff’s strong in-state support convinced him of a duty to the Democratic Party, not Californians.

For him to focus back on his own constituents’ needs over other

states’ races, Schiff’s supporters must force him to listen to voters back home.

More likely than not, Schiff will soon become Sen. Schiff. However, his choice to focus on becoming the most beloved Senator among his Democrat colleagues poses questions against his true intentions. Schiff’s priorities must connect back to helping Californians instead of furthering the interests of the Democratic Party.

For politicians, there is a distinct difference between power and true representation. Like Schiff, many others in Congress come off as master politicians who do not care about the people they represent. Regardless of party alignment, any candidate who ignores constituents in favor of their party is not worth even a single vote.

Catherine Yang

The FUHSD

would

Illustration by Helen Tam

Politicians must act as a shield against attacks on voters’ rights.

Illustration by Catherine Yang

New club fosters cultural diversity

Tamil club discusses plans for school year

While Tamil is often recognized as the oldest existing language in the world, it also comprises a culture rich in music, movies and more, Tamil club co-president, senior Shrinidhi Sundarrajan said.

To foster an appreciation for the culture, the recently created Tamil club welcomes students from all cultural backgrounds to join and explore the Tamil community, Sundarrajan said.

After moving from India to California last year, Sundarrajan said she founded Tamil club to maintain a connection with her culture.

“I realized how important culture is to me when I saw other people still appreciating their language and culture, regardless of the fact that they are in a new country,” Sundarrajan said. “I want to see my culture grow by sharing it with people.”

The club hosts monthly general meetings, where members can try Tamil foods and learn about the culture through presentations, vice president, sophomore Harshita Sivanandan said.

“Some of [the meetings] are centered around modern culture, like actors or music, and we also have traditional things like dances and food,” Sivanandan said. “We

focus on all aspects of the culture together.”

In addition to hosting meetings, Tamil club is also planning a Diwali event, where it will invite students and their families to celebrate the holiday together, Sundarrajan said.

“What makes our club unique is that we have a lot of socials to celebrate festivals and events,”

Sundarrajan said. “If we [offer] good experiences, people will be encouraged to join.”

As a new organization, Tamil club has been facing challenges with establishing a presence on campus, Sivanandan said. To combat this issue, the club has been promoting itself through social media and word of mouth, Sivanandan added.

Despite such challenges, the club’s initial growth has been promising, sophomore Madhav Krishnan said. The first meeting had higher attendance than expected, and the number of members is projected to increase as the year progresses, Krishnan added.

To accommodate the increased membership, officers plan to organize larger events throughout the year, Sivanandan said.

Such events will offer opportunities for students to connect with Tamil culture, whether they are familiar with it or not, Krishnan said.

“Everyone can come together and bond over a shared part of their identities,” Krishnan said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how much we can teach newcomers and expand awareness of our culture.”

said.

Football player scores touchdown in self-created barber shop

Student cuts hair to improve others’ self-image

Sachin Chandran, Adam Orrin and Malar Raguraman

Receiving a haircut can be an extremely daunting experience due to the possibility of a misunderstanding between barber and customer. However, in the comfort of school grounds and with the promise of open conversation, senior Yair Cortez offers haircut services that prioritize not only fulfilling students’ haircut requests but also connecting with his clients on a personal level.

Cortez said he was initially inspired to become a barber by his friends, who helped him get started. Cortez said he learned the basics of being a barber through their guidance.

While he enjoys cutting hair, Cortez said the real reason he decided to become a barber is much more personal.

“It’s not only about cutting hair,” Cortez said. “The experience is about talking to people [and] getting to know them. That’s what interested me the most: getting to feel the connection with someone.”

Through his easygoing demeanor and friendly conversation, Cortez said he hopes to provide a safe space for clients to talk about themselves with him. Cortez said he does this by getting to know them beyond surface level, sharing personal experiences with his clients to ensure they are comfortable.

“Most guys feel alone when it comes to dealing with their feelings,” Cortez said. “They don’t want to ask anyone for help or communicate with anybody else. So I put myself in the situation where I also open up to the person and show them that everything will be alright, no matter how hard it is.”

At first, Cortez said he had trouble attracting clients because people did not trust him with cutting their hair.

Due to this distrust, Cortez said he started cutting his own hair to demonstrate his skills. Eventually, people started to trust him, Cortez said.

“[I cut] the football team because I couldn’t get any outside people to trust me with cutting their hair,” Cortez said. “Once people saw my teammates, I told them, ‘I’ll give you free cuts.’”

Besides cutting hair, Cortez also plays on the varsity football team, coach Shawn Hook said. Pursuing passions outside of the sport is helpful in mitigating stress, Hook said.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Hook said. “He cut my oldest son’s hair, who was helping [the team], and that was pretty cool. We want him to have outside hobbies. We want him to enjoy things.”

Playing football is both demanding and time-consuming, Cortez said. Because of this, Cortez said he used to overwork himself but has now found a way to manage his time.

“I started scheduling more spread out, [so I] wouldn’t have to worry about coming home super late or overworking myself,” Cortez said. “Whenever I do cut hair all day, it’s usually on the weekends.”

One of Cortez’s teammates, junior Sparsh Gupta, said Cortez has only been cutting hair for about six months. However, over that time period, Gupta said Cortez has improved rapidly as a barber. Every time

he has received a haircut, Gupta said he has been satisfied with the results and has felt comfortable during the cut.

“I feel like you can talk to him about anything,” Gupta said. “We‘re always having a conversation. Sometimes there’s silence, but it’s comfortable silence.”

Since opening his business, Cortez said he has documented his journey on social media and made significant improvements in his technical skills.

“I take a lot of pictures and videos of my haircuts and make transitions between the before and after,” Cortez said. “It’s not only so people can see my progress as I’m growing as a barber but also so I can see how I started off and how I’m becoming better and better with each cut.”

Tamil club aims to share Tamil culture with students, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds, Sivanandan (middle)

Ethan Xue

With savings, Cortez (right) said he bought his first pair of clippers and trimmers to start cutting hair.

Photo by Ethan Xue

Infographic by Vivian Kim, Jason Lai and Elena Shim

Photo courtesy of Yair Cortez

Photos by Elena Shim

Study Sips

do students drink while studying?

Community shares study habits, resources

Math Lab

“Students come in if they want a quiet place to do homework. [Others] come to Math Lab because if they have a question, they can ask a tutor or teacher.”

— Math teacher Niloo Vakili

Adademic Foundations takes place during 2nd period with teachers Kelly Ronsheimer and Kyle Bonvechio.

there’s not a lot of people there. There are less distractions, and they have nice lighting. Their

“It’s a class designed to sup port students who struggle with organization, turning work on time, coming to being tardy and needing with study skills.”

“I like to study in my room because it’s my personal space, and it’s closed off from where my parents and brother are working. It’s more quiet, and usually I’m able to focus more.”

— Academic Foundations Kelly Ronsheimer

“I like to study at the library because [there are] no distractions, [and] there’s no outside noise. It’s a very peaceful, calm and quiet place, and there won’t be any random outbursts by people.”

— Angelina Cuan

Photo by Evelyn Wang

Photo by Annie Guo

— Jake Hui (9)

Staff, students discuss campus resources

“AVID is a four-year college preparatory program for first-generation students. It helps give them study skills and confidence to do well in their high school classes and prepares them for success in college.”

Days of the week: Mon - Fri

Time: 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Place: Library fishbowl

More than just a resource

Student-tutor relationships foster effective learning

Annie Guo, Aashka Nagarkar and Alan Zhang

Though many view tutors as merely an academic resource, they often play a more significant role in students’ lives, junior Imaan Syed said. Through individualized meetings, tutors and tutees can form deep relationships that carry over to personal experiences, Syed said.

Having tutors anyone can ask questions to or get advice from has made AVID a place where people always feel supported, Syed said. Because of this uplifting environment, Syed said she has formed a strong connection with AVID tutor, senior Mark Lifantsev.

“He is one of the tutors who actually has tried to become people’s friends and makes [them] know he has their back,” Syed said. “He brings humor into everything with his sarcasm, and it’s just fun.”

As a tutor, Lifantsev said he aims to support AVID students academically while also getting to know them as people.

“It’s two different relationships,” Lifantsev said. “Whenever [students] need help with something, I’m there to help them out with it, but as friends, we can share personal experiences.”

When a student truly connects with their tutor, it can lead to more effective learning, Syed said.

“Once you get connected to the tutors, it just creates this really safe space where you can ask for help whenever,” Syed said. “It’s the best because sometimes you’re scared to ask for help in class, and they can give you advice on how to do a certain assignment.”

Echoing this sentiment, senior Shrinidhi Sundarrajan said she feels safe talking to her tutor whenever she needs help, allowing her to get questions clarified and key concepts explained.

“I find it easy to communicate with [my tutor],” Sundarrajan said. “If I don’t understand a concept or a certain question, it’s really easy for me to be straight up and direct and voice out my concerns.”

Academic Center

“It’s an environment where [stu- dents] can find support in the content they’re learning. Some classes cover a skill they struggle with, so it gives more personal support [than] large classroom environments.”

— Academic Center vice president Sienna Park

Although the primary focus of tutoring is the tutee, both parties can grow by working with each other, Chinese teacher Vivian Ju said. By teaching a topic to another student, tutors can develop a deeper understanding that would otherwise be unattainable, Ju said.

“You actually learn the materials by sharing the ideas with someone else,” Ju said. “In Chinese, [if] you know how to explain the grammar or the vocabulary to someone else clearly, that would really indicate you know the materials.”

As an immigrant, Academic Center president, senior Raymond Lu said his tutors helped familiarize him with English. Therefore, Lu said he hopes to repay the support he received by becoming a tutor.

“I was a new immigrant, and I received a lot of help from different people, from EL commissioners,” Lu said. “After three years, my English developed to a

certain level, [and] I [thought] it was also the time for me to help the community.”

One of the most enjoyable parts of the tutoring experience is watching tutees grow and improve in their classes, Lu said.

“I see their grades going up, [and] that’s really rewarding and heartwarming for me,” Lu said. “I see that my effort is actually growing, and that’s a really big part of [being] a tutor.”

Syed (middle) said when a tutee forms a connection with their tutor, they can become friends.

Photo by Aashka Nagarkar

Photo by Ella Chan

AVID takes place during 4th period, with advisors Jessica Wakefield,

Photo by Ella Chan

A heArt for music

A heArt FOR MUSIC

STUDENTS DISCUSS PASSION FOR MUSIC

25 people signed up to be hosts in different occupations, so the community really stepped up to host students’ interests.”

STUDENTS EXPRESS PASSION FOR MUSIC

Lam said she started learning music on the piano in first grade. In seventh grade, she started playing the trumpet because she liked how it sounded.

Job shadow day provides future career insights Students explore potential paths at PTSA

event

Jason Lai

“Once I realized how band works, I was glad I chose trumpet because we get [good parts],” Lam said.

Despite her love for music, Lam said it would not be her sole career because of how competitive and costly it is, but she would still pursue it on the side.

To offer students an opportunity to explore future career paths, PTSA hosted Job Shadow Day on Oct. 14, PTSA president Manuela Silveira said.

During the event, students visited workplaces, shadowing professionals in their fields of interest, Silveira said. However, due to privacy laws, students who were interested in healthcare attended a panel at HHS instead, Silveira said.

Because many students were especially interested in the healthcare field, PTSA organized a panel as part of the event, Silveira said.

“We brought several professionals from many different fields—doctors, nurses, therapists and offers to speak on campus and go over a day in their life,” Silveira said. “There was a long time for Q-and-A session, and the students had the chance to dig deep into what the education roadmap looks like to get into these fields.”

Genetic counselor Kelly Chen, who spoke at the healthcare panel, said she thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to educate students about her field.

“I learned about genetic counseling, which I didn’t know was a job,” Ko said. “It’s very fun. You learn a lot about different careers and get to meet people on the job.”

In the future, Silveira said she hopes more students take advantage of Job Shadow Day and other PTSA programs.

“Job Shadow Day is a wonderful and unique opportunity. I am very proud that we are able to offer that to our students,” Silveira said. “It takes a lot of work and commitment to secure all the hosts and prepare, so we hope students will take advantage of the event.”

Kuan said she has been playing the violin since she was three years old.

years

ever

put

To organize this event, PTSA put ample work into planning and finding hosts, Silveira said. Specifically, the association focused on reaching out to potential professionals for students to shadow, vice president of student programs Preethi Ramaiya said.

“We sent out emails to our previous hosts and tried to get them to sign up again. Then, we advertised on parent forums and school newsletters,” Ramaiya said. “Over

“I always like connecting with students to share my career and my journey. It’s nice to see students who are very engaged,” Chen said. “The genetic counseling profession is not very well known, so I’m trying to give a little more exposure to it.”

Junior Agnes Ko, who attended the panel, said the event exposed her to careers she was previously unaware of.

by

Students learn how to inject a needle into an arm for blood drawing at the

Drawing a focus toward AP art

lessons. She also plays the

but prefers violin because it is more serious, whereas piano is mostly for fun, Kuan said.

“[With violin], I control the sound and what I do,” Kuan said. “Everything is a reflection of how hard I work.”

“[With violin], I can control what I’m doing and I can control the sound,” Kuan said. “Everything is a reflection of how hard I work.”

Kuan said her biggest challenge with violin is finding the motivation to keep practicing.

Currently, Kuan is working on concertos and her delivery.

Students, teacher share process behind portfolios

to explore different mediums that I didn’t [last year].”

their previous experiences. For instance, Fischer said he reflected on his childhood for inspiration.

“[I’m] improving my sound, my technique and the way I perform and present myself to the audience,” said Kuan.

“I do it because there’s no [other] way to improve,” Kuan said. “My goal is to perform with an orchestra some day.”

Kuan said her biggest challenge so

Olivia Levesque Ouellette

AP art TA, senior Robin Fischer said taking AP art has helped him better appreciate not only the work and effort that goes into making a portfolio but also the meaning behind the pieces in them.

“I took a lot of inspiration from previous experiences which really helped,” Fischer said. “When you’re trying to find your theme, it gets really muddy when you have to create new things.”

While students focus on building their portfolio, Cripe said his goal as an AP art teacher is to encourage and guide them through their artistic journeys.

Zach Shen

While many students have tried art at a young age, very few continue to pursue it, art department lead Tyler Cripe said. These few students will often take AP art, Cripe said.

Although developing a theme for the portfolio can be challenging, Fischer said the process allows students to look back on

“If you take a look at what you already have, you can find a lot of inspiration in there and put your own twist on it,” Fischer said.

“I want them to create a portfolio they are proud of and be proud that they learned the 1,000 little things that contributed to this one big [portfolio],” Cripe said. “I hope they fall even more in love with art than they did when they started.”

Shen, a trombone and baritone player, said he joined the Cupertino Middle School band in sixth grade during lockdown. It was not the best time to start, and learning music online was difficult, Shen said.

Shen, a trombone player in con cert band and a baritone player in marching band, said he joined the band in sixth grade at CMS when schools were still under lockdown. It wasn’t the best time to start, since learning music online is difficult, Shen said.

Throughout the year, students will work on a 20-submission art portfolio. When AP art students begin working on portfolios, they focus on developing a specific theme and bringing it to life through art, Cripe said.

Additionally, Shen said playing music with others is a fun experience and that he has a lot of friends from making music together.

Shen said through his music, he has made a lot of friends.

“It’s rewarding to get to perform for an audience, and I want to play harder music and make a couple of audition-only bands,” Shen said.

Senior Ahana Chopra, in her second year of AP art, said the class allows her to explore different art styles. As she works on her portfolio, Chopra said she strives to expand her skills in different ways.

“It’s rewarding to get to perform and impress an audience because I want to play harder music and make a couple of audition-only bands,”

“I want to create as diverse a portfolio as I can because, right now, my skill set is concentrated on one technique, and I want to broaden it,” Chopra said. “I want

ACT class is hungry for career experience

Hungry Homies program benefits ACT students, staff

Parth Dhaulakhandi, Evelyn Wang and Veronica Zhao

Every Tuesday and Thursday, students from the ACT 2 Hungry Homies program pick up and deliver food to several staff members across campus, principal Denae Nurnberg said.

The program aims to improve the future employability of ACT 2 students by imparting necessary life skills, Nurnberg said.

“Learning how to interact with strangers, walk into a store, wait in line and come into the office returning are all part of being able to retain employment,” Nurnberg said. “It’s part of the employability skills they’re looking to develop.”

Specifically, Mello said the program provides her students with an opportunity to practice their communication skills in a

real-world setting and engage in casual conversations.

“It helps a lot of our students who have difficulty with expressing themselves in language,” Mello said. “We give them cards with scripts so they know what to say.

It’s teaching them to be able to go up to someone they don’t know and ask for things, which is a common speech goal for our students.

It helps them work on practicing not just with us but also without [us] in the community and using those skills.”

Beyond speech and communication, Mello said the program also allows students to apply classroom skills in a complex, distraction-filled environment.

“There’s a lot of different parts to what we’re working on in their education,” Mello said. “We’re helping them take skills and transfer them to the world, so later, they can be more independent.”

Outside of benefiting ACT 2 students, the program also offers a lunch delivery service for staff members, who are able to order lunch from a nearby restaurant in exchange for a tip that goes to the ACT class, Nurnberg said.

The Hungry Homies program has grown in popularity since its implementation last year, with many new staff members participating, Mello said.

For example, assistant principal Terri Hannigan said when she forgot her lunch at home one day, it prompted her to participate in the program for the first time.

“It’s a very clever business idea,” Hannigan said. “It’s meeting a need but also giving a great experience for the students. I purchased my lunch from Nick the Greek, and they went to pick it up and deliver it for me. It’s cheaper than doing DoorDash, for sure.”

Endeavors similar to Hungry Homies are present across the ACT community, both at high schools in FUHSD and post-secondary schools like De Anza college, Mello said.

“At CHS, they have also done a similar kind of business in the past,” Mello said. “As far as the district, there have been a lot of successful community-run businesses. Our businesses give [students] opportunities besides things that all programs in the district can access.”

Through programs such as Hungry Homies, Mello said she hopes to help her students become increasingly independent, equipping them with skills they will need in the future.

“My goal for the class is to have the students be as independent as

they can in their future lives,” Mello said. “I push students to have their own autonomy. They’re so used to having staff and parents telling them what the next step is. We’re trying to make the student do things for themselves, even though it will take longer.”

healthcare panel.

Photo

Jason Lai

PAGE DESIGN BY ISABELA GUILARDI

The pieces of an AP art student’s portfolio convey a cohesive theme.

Infographic by Aviv Matas and Kaylin Yi

Hungry Homies generates funds while simultaneously exposing ACT 2 students to the real world, Mello (left) said.

Photo by Veronica Zhao

Photo courtesy of Ahana Chopra

Photo courtesy of Robin Fischer

Kuan said she has been playing the violin at three

old,

since her mom

her in

piano,

Constance Kuan (9)

Melody Lam (10)

(10)

Melody Lam (10)

Zach Shen (10)

Infographic by Aviv Matas and Kaylin Yi

Constance Kuan (9)

Biology club gets hands dirty with restroom experiment

Biology club hosts its first lab to promote sanitation

Brian Ling

While restrooms are an essential facility for every student, they are often mistreated, biology club president, senior Soham Nanawati said. To promote sanitation, biology club conducted its first experiment of the year to test the cleanliness of various school restrooms, Nanawati said.

“One of [our] inspirations came from the COVID-19 pandemic, [when] viruses were spreading left and right because people would not use proper sanitation techniques,” Nanawati said. “We want to show people that you have got

to keep your hands clean because you don’t know what’s out there.”

To conduct the experiment, lead activities director, senior Siddharth Balaji said the club used damp Q-tips to wipe bathroom stall handles and placed the collected dirt in a mixture of chicken broth, pectin and sugar. After giving the mold two weeks to grow, Balaji said the club observed many types of black and green fungus.

Balaji said this experiment was particularly interesting because it allowed him to learn about fungi cultures in a hands-on manner, an opportunity classes do not offer.

“You don’t see [bacteria and fungus] growing. You can’t even see [them] with your eyes, but you can see the results of it. There’s actually something growing in there,” Balaji said. “That curiosity and experience of finding out there’s something growing there is what drives me.”

Adding onto the experiment’s positive effects, senior Sriram Joshi said he thought it provided him with valuable insight on biological processes. However, the findings of the experiment reaffirmed his negative perceptions of the school restrooms, Joshi said.

“We saw black mold, which is horrible, but we also [saw] many different fungi grow there. There were even dead ants, which are really fascinating,” Joshi said. “I never liked going to the school restrooms, but this has solidified my finding. The school bathrooms need reform.”

Due to a shortage of time, Nanawati said the club had issues sourcing materials used in the experiment such as cultures and the agar mixture. Despite such challenges, officers improvised and created their own materials, which Nanawati said he was proud of.

“I found it pretty fun to make

the petri dishes because this was a completely new experience for me,” Nanawati said. “Usually you’d buy a specific biology lab agar for growing cultures, but I felt more accomplished because we were able to make the gel on our own.”

For future events, Nanawati said he hopes to host more experiments and activities to increase member engagement.

“We’re doing a lot more fun activities this year like labs,” Nanawati said.

as getting your hands dirty. We don’t want to be a regular biology class. We want members to enjoy participating and engaging with the subject.”

“Last year, we did a lot more lectures, but that’s not as fun Biology club conducted an experiment to analyze school restroom sanitation levels, Nanawati said.

Pride club promotes inclusivity through social media

Club educates student body with online posts

Due to many students checking social media on a regular basis,

pride club has taken advantage of platforms such as Instagram to educate others on the LGBTQ+ community, president, junior Shaurya Prayag said.

Through a series of informative bimonthly Instagram posts, the club aims to raise awareness and educate students on the queer community, Prayag said.

One post will be about a histor-

said.

ical queer person or an artist, and the other will be about a piece of media, such as a movie, book or show that is produced by or features a queer person, social media officer, junior Ian Graham said.

By shedding light on such individuals, the posts can help students integrate themselves into the LBGTQ+ community, Prayag said.

“For a really long time, there hasn’t been much awareness about pride or queerness,” Prayag said. “A consequence of that was a lot of people [lacking] role models they can look up to in terms of being queer and being out. I think this is just a way to educate people about how many cool people and TV shows represent them.”

These posts can help LGBTQ+ students feel seen, social media officer, sophomore Misha Ranjan said. Additionally, the posts can help a broader audience understand the ways in which the queer community affects mainstream media.

“Straight, cisgender people are not very aware of how queer people have [influenced] pop culture

New science teacher brings new perspectives to teaching

AP physics 1 teacher begins new career chapter

Vivian Kim and Elena Shim

After teaching various science subjects such as biology and chemistry at other high schools, new science teacher Fabiola Gutierrez said she has taken on teaching AP physics 1 for the first time in her career.

In comparison to her experience with teaching biology, Gutierrez said teaching physics requires more conceptual understanding.

“In other sciences, students could see what they learned in their lives. There are real world connections, but physics is more conceptual, which makes it a more challenging course for students,” Gutierrez said. “As a teacher, there’s a lot to keep up with to make sure students can understand the concepts.”

As a new teacher, Gutierrez said she frequently meets with other teachers to learn about school culture and better understand student needs.

“Two other AP physics 1 teachers have been welcoming [and] supportive,” Gutierrez said. “They always offer ways to help and ask me how things are going.”

In addition to this support, science department lead Dara Alleyne-Levy said she helps familiar-

ize Gutierrez with other teachers in the department by facilitating friendly interactions.

“I let her know that I am always here to answer whatever questions she has, about teaching in general or HHS policies,” Alleyne-Levy said.

Alleyne-Levy said Gutierrez brings new perspectives and ideas from the previous school she taught at, which had a different environment due to its smaller student body.

“It’s always nice to have new and different viewpoints from her, as it adds to the contributions in our department,” Alleyne-Levy said. “As a young teacher, she had her teacher orientation more recently, which helps bring new per spectives to teaching students.”

Aiming to focus on student input and engagement through teach ing, Gutierrez said she prior itizes and con siders students’ perspectives by conducting frequent checkins during work time and asking questions to in dividual stu dents.

make sure I go slower [and] take my time to explain it,” Gutierrez said. “If there are problems that we have been working on and are reviewing, I try to help [the students] understand key concepts and overall content.”

Senior Sanah Arya, a student in Gutierrez’s AP physics 1 class, said Gutierrez helps students by providing additional support during class.

“The [biggest] struggle for the students is understanding the main topics,” Arya said. “She gives more support on what we’re learning through explanation of learning requirements and

“When I’m teaching something new, I

Looking forward to the rest of the year, Guiterrez said she hopes to continue improving her teaching of AP physics 1, so she can enhance and maximize student

“In the future, I hope to learn more about strategies for supporting students and what helps them to succeed,” Gutierrez said. “I hope to consider the students more by making sure they understand key concepts and feel included in class.”

and media,” Ranjan said. “Education about [queer] people who have done accomplished things is really cool because you can give credit where it’s due.”

Additionally, these posts can help non-queer students gain perspective on queer issues and learn more about such topics, Ranjan said. “We’re allowing people to broaden their horizons in a way when it comes to digesting queer media and learning about queer people, but the importance of representation as well,” Ranjan said.

Representation requires fostering a sense of belonging, pride club adviser Nicholas Neese said. In past years, the club has pursued projects such creating a library bookshelf with books from queer authors or

characters to promote inclusivity.

This year, it remains committed to this cause, Neese added.

“The [club’s] space is meant to be that deep breath you take when you’re in a space with other people who understand what’s going on,” Neese said.

Pride club’s posts provide exposure and educate students on aspects of pride, Prayag said.

“If we don’t learn how to interact with things that are unfamiliar to us, then we won’t really learn how to do anything at all,” Prayag said. “I think these posts help us by educating people on things that they might not know. Even if they’re not queer or not part of pride club, there’s still something to be learned from these posts.”

Backward progress: relearning carefreeness

Openness builds worthwhile bonds

Amanda Boles

COLUMN — Recently, I have noticed that I may be aging backward. I do not mean this in a physical sense, but I mean in the way I socialize.

When I stepped onto the playground as a kindergartner, I had a childlike confidence that gave me an unwavering motivation to make friends. I approached people with

Although I was hesitant to approach others for interviews at first, I found that my attempts to reach out to people were well-received. As a result, I grew more comfortable with initiating conversations and placing myself in unfamiliar situations.

Tasks that I used to consider daunting became easy as I started talking to classmates on my own accord. Additionally, I grew more open to sharing my interests and personal experiences with others, which gave conversations more depth.

Soon, I noticed myself return

on building self-confidence.

Many of the other students in the class were outgoing, which also rubbed off on me.

ing a more carefree mindset has greatly benefited me, allowing me to discover the people I truly hold dear.

Annika Abraham

Social media posts let students understand their role in the world by highlighting an underrepresented demographic, Prayag (right)

Gutierrez said she prioritizes communication to improve student learning and understanding.

Photo by Brian Ling

Photo by Annika Abraham

Photo by Elena Shim

Arts and Culture

‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ is a joke of a movie

Anticipated sequel pointless, betrays previous film

Following Todd Phillips’s massive success with “Joker,” released in 2019, the anticipated sequel is unfortunately a disappointment. Released on Oct. 4, “Joker: Folie à Deux” is a jukebox musical and courtroom drama starring Joker, played by Joaquin Phoenix, and Harley Quinn, played by Lady Gaga.

The film directly takes place after the events of “Joker,” where Arthur Fleck causes destruction, transforming into Joker and getting placed in the Arkham State Hospital. He spends his days awaiting his trial while being abused by hospital guards, but his life brightens after he meets Harley

Quinn. Although Arthur presents his clown facade to the public, he is still conflicted about his identity: is he the symbol of chaos or a sad, timid man?

Before watching “Joker: Folie à Deux,” I was intrigued by its musical aspect. However, I was disappointed because the musical label only seemed to stem from Lady Gaga’s presence in the cast.

The songs feel out of place, and Phoenix’s dull voice while singing pop songs, such as “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” is irritating. After a while, the music and dancing become boring because each number sounds the same and adds nothing to the story.

When Joker goes to trial, the movie attempts to execute a courtroom drama but fails. All the court scenes are simply a retelling of the original film and offer nothing new. Courtroom dramas should also have entertaining dialogue and societal messages, but the scenes in the movie feel

Review on that thang

‘Talk Tuah’ is the peak of podcasts

Podcasts are like children. Everyone seems to make them, but many people really should not have them. On Sept. 10, internet sensation Hailey Welch released an exception. “Talk Tuah with Hailey Welch,” or “Talk Tuah” for short, stands above other podcasts in both quality and personality.

Welch’s fame came from a simple answer to a difficult question posed to her during a TikTok video. Her immediate response coined the viral term “hawk tuah,” a reference to the sound of spitting.

It is clear Welch has put time into her podcast.

Many podcasts are unable to establish a natural flow between hosts and guests. This leads to a choppy juggling act between them, creating a glorified interview or self-serving monologue.

However, despite her massive popularity, Welch shares her personal experiences while giving the floor to guests and co-hosts, as

well. Because of this, the conversation flows smoothly.

Welch also doesn’t take herself too seriously. Each episode, I chuckle at the numerous relationship updates and celebrity anecdotes laced within “Talk Tuah.” Welch doesn’t rely on only simple jokes for humor. Quirks of life, songwriting and Botox injections are just a few things Welch jokes about.

Additionally, Welch includes a variety of guests. “Talk Tuah” features singers and influencers such as Jojo Siwa, Whitney Cummings, Hannah Berner and even Welch’s grandma. The novelty of each guest’s personality contributes to the heartwarming atmosphere of each episode.

Aside from funny guest involvement, the content in “Talk Tuah” is very enjoyable.

Anything from everyday tech issues to societal observations arise in a connected episode. The transition from topic

like watching paint dry. Phillips tries to make it interesting through Phoenix’s witty dialogue, but it does not save the scenes.

Although Lady Gaga adds excitement to the film, the writers wasted her character’s potential. Phillips abruptly switches her character from the psychologist gone mad in the comics to a fangirl of Joker.

Despite the remarkable costumes and femme fatale manipulation, her motives remain unclear by the end of the movie. Her character feels underwritten and insignificant, and with such a complex role, the writers should have given Lady Gaga more screen time.

However, the most frustrating part about “Joker: Folie à Deux” is its deconstruction of the first film. The original movie transformed Arthur from an impoverished nobody to a villainous icon supported by others. I expected to see the same Joker who wreaked havoc in the comics, but the Joker

to topic is an extremely underrated aspect of good podcasts, and “Talk Tuah” gets it right.

However, “Talk Tuah” is not without flaws. As the podcast expands, Welch should include even more diverse personalities such as male, non-white guests instead of only relying on her friends.

“Talk Tuah” will only continue to grow because of its distinguished guests and unrivaled dialogue, making it the best podcast I’ve ever listened to. Walk Tuah your nearest computer and listen to that thang.

Podcast: “Talk Tuah with Hailey Welch.”

Grade: A+.

Listen on Spotify. Photo

“Talk

Feel the rush of the ‘Sweat’ tour

Joint tour displays a bold and bright performance

Adam Orrin

The stadium is dark. Only scattered screams are heard throughout the arena. Then, a giant green curtain erupts from the middle of the stage. The crowd explodes as flashing lights begin to shower us, and a rapid drumbeat bursts my ears.

With no warning, the curtain drops, and the audience roars. In the center, Charli XCX jumps, throwing her hands into the air over loud club music. But, this is only a taste of the unbridled energy the concert projects.

On the heels of her hit summer album, “Brat,” Charli XCX partnered with singer Troye Sivan for the “Sweat” tour. On Oct. 13, I flew to the Footprint Center in Phoenix to live out my pop-induced dreams.

The concert was divided into several acts, with Charli XCX and Sivan taking turns performing a series of songs. They alternated between different set pieces on

stage, eventually coming together at the end to perform their songs “1999” and “Talk talk remix.” While the sets and dancing were unique, the impeccable musical performance was what set this concert apart.

Sivan began the show with “Got Me Started,” a fitting choice. His voice echoed through the stadium while the dance routines turned the arena into a giant head-banging club. His voice sounded incredible, and the raw emotion of his music really came through live.

Charli XCX also got off to a high-energy start by playing her latest album’s greatest hits: “360” and “Von Dutch.” Her music was made to get people moving, and it did exactly that.

After a high-energy start, Sivan slowed down and played some of his more emotional ballads. “One of Your Girls” is a song that delves deep into his vulnerabilities as he internalized homophobia as a young, gay man.

The song and his accompanying performance shook me to the core. The raw emotion in Sivan’s voice is not done justice by the version available on streaming sites.

The “Sweat” tour was the experience of a lifetime. Everything from the club bangers to the elec-

in the sequel does the opposite. Phillips forgets that Joker is a comic book supervillain and instead criticizes the audience for liking the Joker he created. He spent $200 million regressing Joker’s character to an empty Arthur Fleck.

“Joker: Folie à Deux” has its moments, but the unnecessary

tric dancing and lighting elements did the tour name justice. The tour balanced head-bangers with passionate and emotional moments that brought tears to my eyes. Without a doubt, the “Sweat” tour is truly “brat” in all the best ways.

Tour: “SWEAT”

Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Grade: A+

musical numbers, boring court scenes and deconstruction of the previous film make it a poor sequel. Save money and your perception of the Joker by skipping this one.

When does comedy become cruelty?

Understanding context in jokes is crucial

Although my sense of humor can be perceived as blunt and even offensive at times, most people get the joke. This is usually the case with others who make comedic statements, especially those who enjoy satire.

At face value, some jokes can seem questionable, but most people conclude they are not intended to cause harm. In the realm of comedy, context is valuable for separating a harmless joke from a malicious statement.

However, a joke’s meaning can be warped if its context is removed or altered. A notable example is the Saturday Night Live skit on Nov. 2 about Chappell Roan, which sparked online controversy and unwarranted backlash.

In the skit, comedian Bowen Yang dressed as internet-famous pygmy hippo Moo Deng and discussed the struggles of being a celebrity. The dialogue alluded to Chapell Roan’s experience with obsessive fans and violation of privacy after her swift rise to popularity over the summer, according to SNL.

While the skit was not directed toward Chappell Roan in a demeaning way, out-of-context clips posted online obscured its original tone. Additionally, many individuals further dramatized the performance by drawing

their own conclusions from the modified clips before watching the full skit themselves.

It’s important to recognize how excluding a joke’s context can alter its meaning. In this case, Yang’s reputation took a hit despite his intent to criticize Chappell Roan’s fans, not the singer herself. Yang told fans to “leave her alone” during the skit to emphasize his point. The posted clips conveniently ignored that, and viewers chose to tear him down instead.

On the other hand, paying attention to the context of a joke can help people identify when it goes beyond acceptability.

Understanding the direction of a conversation is one step toward avoiding unintentional mishaps. However, it is equally important to notice when a joke has malicious intent. As much as it can be fun to joke about darker topics, there is a specific time and audience for such humor.

I have heard many jokes that play off risky statements to exaggerate a situation, especially, those alluding to murder or other illegal acts. However, when someone is noticeably uncomfortable with a subject, especially for more touchy topics, it is crucial to be considerate of their boundaries.

It is one thing to poke fun at a person in a lighthearted way as opposed to repeatedly undermining their sense of self-worth. Calling out the latter is what promotes accountability rather than provoking heated debate over an avoidable misinterpretation.

Ultimately, drawing the line between comedy and cruelty by understanding others’ intentions through context will prevent us from making quick, unfair judgments.

Although the film revolves around Joker and Harley Quinn, their dynamic lacks importance.

SNL skit featuring Moo Deng and Chappell Roan elicits unreasonable controversy.

Jason Lai

Jonathan Xue

Amanda Boles

Tuah” entertains audiences with exceptional guest appearances and comedic commentary.

Movie: “Joker: Folie à Deux.” Grade: D. Rated R. Watch in theaters.

With exhilarating and meaningful pop anthems, the “Sweat” tour seizes audience’s hearts.

Photo from Warner Bros

Photo by Adam Orrin

Illustration by Amanda Boles

Do not give up on the charm of old sitcoms

Simplicity in TV shows is necessary

Danielle Feldsher

When asked about my favorite TV shows, sitcoms like “Friends” and “The Office” will always be my first choice. Their simple storylines and high-quality execution create a distinct viewing experience that current media must strive to recapture.

The premise of 1990s and early 2000s sitcoms is straightforward, even referred to as “boring.” However, their uncomplicated plot is exactly what makes them so endearing. For instance, “The Office” revolves around a group of coworkers at a typical corporate office.

Instead of using convoluted plotlines or overstimulating effects, the office setting allows its charming characters to shine through. The result is a comforting piece of media that remains timeless, and

I am able to feel personally connected to the characters instead of getting distracted by unnecessary storylines.

The sitcom’s appeal is mir rored by the show’s impres sive nine-season run, featur ing the same core characters throughout.

To many critics, “The Office” feels endlessly re petitive and dull. However, this very quality is what keeps viewers coming back, eager to see their beloved characters re turn with every renewed season.

By sticking to a simple plot, TV show writers and producers can focus on aesthetic sets for major set tings, giving each show a unique feel. For instance, “Gilm-

ore Girls” takes place in an idyllic Connecticut small town, recogniz-

Polyphia is a breath of fresh air in progressive rock

COLUMN — I love rock music. You can find me head-banging to classics like AC/DC and Deep Purple, as well as newer bands like System of a Down and Maneskin.

While these groups have lyrics that are easy to scream to, I also appreciate bands with a deeper level of musicality. The only modern band that has reached this level of complexity is Polyphia.

Polyphia was formed in Texas by guitarists Tim Henson and Scott LePage, bassist Clay Gober and drummer Clay Aeschliman as a death metal group. However, they developed in the direction of progressive rock with jazz influences.

My main issue with many progressive rock groups is that they do not care about sounding musical as long as they are, in their own words, pushing the boundaries of guitaring. These bands do not understand the difference between exploration and cacophony.

Polyphia is an exception. They break the rules, but instead of producing noise, they produce art. The best example of this is their viral song, “Playing God.”

“Playing God” is widely regarded as one of the hardest songs to play on guitar, but although Henson plays notes at light speed, there is still a distinct melodic line. Henson’s signature Ibanez guitar also produces an ethereal sound perfectly accompanied by Aeschli-

man’s drums. This, combined with Henson’s serene face during the solo, makes the guitar from “Playing God” one of my favorites.

Another structural aspect Polyphia gets right is the mix between hooks and solos. It is easy to pile solos upon solos without creating a musical thread tying it together, but Polyphia knows the perfect balance between them.

A perfect example is “Reverie.”

It starts with a clean intro and then transitions into an edgier hook, alternating between solos and the hook afterward. The length of each solo is perfect, and the members produce four minutes of pure bliss.

Polyphia’s style is also very versatile, displaying their deep knowledge of music theory and the norms of different genres. They have collaborated with artists to make hip-hop, R&B, EDM and classical music, seamlessly meshing their sound with rappers and singers alike. They maintain their versatility even within progressive rock. While they tend to lean toward dirtier-sounding guitar, they aren’t afraid to play clean, like in “Death Note” and “Icronic.” Through various techniques,

such as hybrid-picking, Polyphia adds ingenuity to their sound that heightens their skill and widens their musical scope.

Polyphia has come a long way since their debut 12 years ago, and they have continued expanding their sound and skill since then. Their music samples a wide variety of genres, yet they still maintain a high standard of creativity, openly displaying the sheer talent they possess. Whether you’re a casual listener or a music buff, give Polyphia a listen because they are the “G.O.A.T.”

While some viewers might claim that this quality leads to less focus on the plot, I would argue that it is precisely what today’s media is missing. Rather than relying on suspense or unnecessary tension to keep watchers interested, “Gilmore Girls” skillfully crafts its setting to entice viewers and allow them to crave the warm community it provides.

Artificially funny and shockingly intelligent

‘CTRL’ is a chaotic, madcap muck up

Adam Orrin

COLUMN — A fever dream.

That is the only way to describe the chaotic trip Hindi movie “CTRL” takes me on. Released on Oct. 4, the film appears to be a simple comedy about an internet couple’s cheating scandal but takes a hard turn into a technological thriller.

Despite the thriller through line and commentary about the dominance of technology in our lives, the movie fails to maintain a style. The film truly lacks when it comes to maintaining a style and showing audiences character development.

The film follows protagonist Nella as she treks through internet fame with her new AI companion, Allen. Developed by the company Mantra, Allen assists Nella with mundane tasks such as schedul ing meetings and reading emails. However, Allen secretly ex ploits her to sabotage her ex-boyfriend, Joe, who has found proof of Man tra’s ma licious practices.

“CTRL” makes the unique yet off-putting choice of set ting the majority of the movie in a video chat between Nella and Allen. Nonetheless, the film still maintains a structured plot with its obscene amounts of exposition dialogue and off-screen interactions. While this choice is initially extremely strange and boring, the FaceTime film structure soon becomes unintentionally humorous.

Allen’s poor design in the video chat is almost laughable. His face is constantly stuck in a creepy grin, and a persistent loading box covers it at random intervals. Allen’s design gives this uninterest-

Instagram infringes on teenagers’ rights

Elena Shim

In a society where social media plays a significant role in teenage culture, a push for online safety is necessary. However, Instagram’s efforts to best achieve this safety overshadows the perspectives of teenagers themselves.

On Sept. 17, Instagram introduced mandatory accounts for teenagers that strengthen privacy protections,

ing film a distinct, freakish charm.

A standout moment in the movie is when Nella works to rebrand herself after her traumatic breakup with Joe. Out of nowhere, the movie suddenly turns into a music video—the only scene with dancing or singing in the entire film. The song, “B(h)adass,” is so incredibly uncanny that it left me wondering if the scene was left in on accident.

The upbeat, bubble-gum pop style of the song, along with the chaotic special effects of the dance, left me speechless. However, like so much of this movie, what was at first distaste toward the psychotic style of the scene soon became extremely comedic. To the film’s credit, the director seems cognizant of just how ridiculous the music video is, unlike the rest of the movie’s comedic effect.

The rest of the film is based on Nella’s discovery that Mantra assassinated Joe for being the whistleblower on its unethical practices. Even after her realization, Nella still confides in the Mantra AI. The movie left me pondering my own relationship with technology.

“CTRL” is a necessary warning that as our dependence on technology grows, our trust in the same technology to do what is right grows as well.

The best parts of “CTRL” come from its ignorance of how utterly ridiculous it is. Though far from being anything more than mediocre, “CTRL” is an interesting watch for someone looking for a light chuckle and unexpected relevance to technology today.

Movie: “CTRL.”

Grade: C+. Rated TV-MA. Watch on Netflix.

Teen accounts create tension between parents and teenagers

enable parental control and restrict overnight notifications. All users under the age of 17 must be enrolled into “teen accounts,” which require a parent account to enforce messaging and content restrictions, according to Instagram.

Teen accounts also include features such as an automatic sleep mode at 10 p.m., default private accounts and time limit reminders, according to Instagram. While still enabling teenagers to access all Instagram features, teen accounts ensure parental easier oversight.

However, these accounts reflect Instagram’s inability to consider teenagers’ perspectives. Teen accounts fail to recognize that the purpose of media restrictions is to provide teenagers with a safe and free space to explore their values. Instead, these accounts are intended solely to provide peace of mind for parents.

Some may argue that teenagers’ brains are still developing, making it difficult for them to

make responsible online choices, according to the National Library of Medicine. While this may be true, simply shifting the responsibility onto parents can create unnecessary conflict within families, and teenagers may feel unfairly restricted or mistrusted.

Although teen accounts are an easy approach for parents, they do not provide a long-term solution to unsafe online usage. Despite Instagram’s efforts, teen accounts remain underdeveloped.

BY inputting an adult age, any teenager can easily bypass its restrictions. The absence of robust age verification measures allows teenagers to work around the rules, making the new accounts largely pointless, according to ABC News.

Furthermore, requiring parents to enforce restrictions is a flawed solution, as Instagram cannot guarantee that a parent is monitoring their teenager’s account. Instagram lacks the means for proper

parent verification, instead relying on ineffective signals such as the adult user’s birth date and the number of other accounts they supervise, according to Cable News Network.

Instead of accounts that hand over online responsibilities to parents, Instagram must foster environments that nurture responsible digital habits.

Enforcing rigid restrictions does not foster the essential skills of self-regulation and accountability teenagers require when navigating their online lives. Rather than creating more regulations, helping teenagers build resilience through self-management exercises or daily time limit checks will ensure they retain the skills to deal with online risks.

Teen accounts attempt to appease parents by providing them with control rather than innovating actual solutions to the unsafe environments on Instagram. By implementing general re-

However, most TV shows in the past decade have one thing in common: a tendency to overshadow characters with plot devices. Shows that completely focus on its storyline fall through on creating engaging characters or settings. Rather than prioritizing new ideas or stories, writers must take a lesson or two from the past and shift their focus back to the old patterns of comfort television. Instagram’s teen accounts reduce teens’ freedom by offering exclusive benefits to parents.

strictions for all accounts and offering parental restrictions as a choice between teenagers and parents, teen accounts can encourage teenagers to explore personal values without parents looking over

Sitcoms offer more fleshed out characters and a comforting setting.

Maya Dutt

Photo from HYBE

Photo illustration by Maya Dutt

Illustration by Vivian Kim

Illustration by Vivian Kim

Freshmen take over girls varsity volleyball

Three freshman players join varsity courts

The varsity girls volleyball team includes an unusually high number of freshman players, coach Daniel Neri said. Despite their young age, three freshmen possess skills that make them valuable additions to the team, Neri said.

“All three freshmen have a mature idea of aggression [in] volleyball,” Neri said. “It’s typically difficult to find freshmen of their caliber that can contribute the way [they] do.”

Beyond individual skills, the freshmen also positively impact

the team’s overall dynamic and work ethic, Neri said.

“[The freshmen] bring fresh legs and an eagerness to learn,” Neri said. “When you apply that with their abilities on the court, it’s very inspirational. [They serve] as a pulley for our senior or junior class to continue to [work] hard.”

Right-side hitter, freshman Tayla Yip said playing on the varsity team opens doors to unique learning opportunities.

“Being on the varsity team as a freshman enables me to play and practice with better players, like the seniors and the juniors,” Yip said. “It also allows me to experience how good varsity is as a freshman and be able to [build on that expereience] for the next four years.”

Likewise, outside hitter, freshman Katie Hamburger said playing on varsity has been a valuable experience so far.

“We get to play with older

Small team with a strong mindset

JV boys water polo adapts to scarcity of players

is extremely valuable,” Almaula said. “Because of the size of the team, if any of them are injured or not emotionally ready to play the game, that’s a huge [issue].”

Despite these drawbacks, Almaula said the smaller roster allows a greater focus on individual development.

With former players advancing to varsity and few returning players, the JV boys water polo team faces a player shortage this season, coach Antonio Jen said. Despite the lack of players, the team adjusts by focusing on cohesion and emphasizing skill development, Jen said.

The lack of JV players is traced back to the pre-season shortage of players on the varsity team, coach David Dour said. Consequently, the paths of numerous JV players were accelerated to varsity to compensate for the shortage, Dour said. Although this was beneficial to the varsity team, Dour said it impacted the dynamic of JV significantly.

With fewer team members, the JV players must visualize opponents to execute drills during practices, Jen said. This leads to difficulty in coaching and coordinating exercises, Jen said.

“It’s tiring because you have to make sure everybody’s moving,” Jen said. “It requires being more organized in planning out practices to make sure [the players are] learning.”

The shortage also demands players maintain healthy physical and mental conditions in preparation for matches, captain, sophomore Aarav Almaula said.

“Each member of the team

“Although [the situation] is not ideal, it breeds tougher players,” Almaula said. “Sometimes we can get scared that we don’t have a [substitute] all the time, but it allows us to get more one-on-one training with our coaches and focus on the quality of our team rather than relying on quantity.”

Additionally, due to the small roster, players are able to connect more during practices, Jen said.

“They’re able to get used to playing with each other a lot more,” Jen said. “The players end up getting closer with each other because [everyone] is playing at the same time.”

However many members are still new to the sport and require more practice to develop their skills, Almaula said.

“Everybody on our team is great and wants to play. People are making it to practice, staying determined to get better and working hard every day,” Almaula said. “Motivation isn’t a problem, we [just] need to practice more. We want to be champions and keep improving.”

This season, the main goal for JV is to foster a passion for water polo among the players, ultimately aiming for improved player retention in the program, Jen said.

“I want my team to fall in love [with the sport] and come back next year, play club or come out for swim season because that helps out a lot,” Jen said.

and more experienced players,” Hamburger said. “They’re all very nice and supportive of us. It’s like they are older sisters.”

In addition to playing alongside upperclassmen, the intensity of the varsity team environment challenges freshmen to learn and adapt quickly, Neri said.

“Our league is one of the best leagues to play in at the moment, at least in our area,” Neri said.

“The type of skill level they’ll be exposed to at a game or practices leaves them with room to grow.”

As someone with firsthand experience as a freshman on varsity, middle-blocker and captain Linnaea Moore said she aims to provide support for her freshman teammates.

“They’re new to high school and to this whole environment.

They’re new to varsity,” Moore, a junior, said. “As a freshman, that’s a big deal, so it’s important they have someone that has been through it to help them out.”

Support from Moore and the other upperclassman players has allowed for a smooth transition onto the team, Hamburger said.

“It was very natural coming [into varsity] because everybody was so kind,”

Hamburger said. “Getting to play with more experienced players makes us better because they push us to be better.”

by Elena Shim

Sports integrity ensured by code

Code of conduct

emphasizes sportsmanship

Amanda Boles, Parth Dhaulakhandi and Alicia Liste

To address behavioral issues among athletes and spectators, a new code of conduct, signed by student-athletes and parents, is now required as part of the athletic clearance process, athletic director Chris Grossman said. Thus far, Grossman said he has

seen an increase in positive conduct compared to previous years.

The policy is in place to deter unsportsmanlike behavior, Grossman said. If athletes violate the code, consequences include missing games or being removed from the athletic team altogether, Grossman added.

“Anytime someone is an athlete, they are held a higher standard by the community, by the general public [and] by fans,” Grossman said. “We want student-athletes to be good citizens and model good behavior.”

However, the policy also aims to keep parent behavior in check, Grossman said. After games, there have been instances where parents threatened officials, following them to their car, Grossman said.

“[We are] trying [to] not be the school that no one wants to come to a game at,” Grossman said. “We want to be the place where people are excited to come to games and have a good experience.”

Boys varsity water polo captain, senior Ryan Anton said he appreciates the new code because it

clearly sets expectations for behavior.

“Consequences for breaking the rules gives [athletes] motivation and leads them in the right direction,” Anton said. “We had one minor incident, but due to this good rule system, it was able to be settled very quickly and the punishments were fair.”

Beyond the direct effects of the code, football coach Shawn Hook said players became more motivated and united due to the different approach taken by this season’s new coaching staff. Sportsmanship, Hook said, is key to teaching athletes how to be better people.

“We talk about helping kids up when you tackle someone,” Hook said. “Instead of standing over them and taunting them, help them up. It’s beyond football; we’re trying to teach these kids life lessons.”

Through the institution of this code, Grossman said the athletic department aims to promote better sportsmanship. Recently, posters have also been placed at game locations, like the stadium and pool, as reminders to be considerate, Grossman said.

“We’re all here to support the love of the game and create a positive environment for the fans, the visiting team and [the players],” Grossman said.

Fresh faces foster new energy

Young football coaches bring new view to mentorship

Parth Dhaulakhandi, Henry Hu, Brian Ling and Kevin Miao

This season, six coaches on the football team are college students or recent graduates. The younger staff instills the team with an air of enthusiasm and community, JV coach Acton said.

Alongside varsity coach Shawn Hook, Acton said they are the two oldest coaches on the team. Greg Acton said he hopes the younger coaches can leverage their age to ease learning.

“They have played the game more recently than most of us old dogs,” Acton said. “They know what worked for them and what didn’t, and it’s easy for them to develop relationships with the players, too.”

Affirming Acton’s hopes, linebacker and running back, Roy Kafri said younger coaches are easier to relate to. They are seen more as a friend than a teacher, Kafri, a sophomore, said.

“We have the same language and the same vibe when we talk around the field,” Kafri said. “It’s easier for them to coach us because they have the same energy that we do and they still have the same passion.”

Apart from relating to players, JV coach Zachary Acton said his recent high school football experience allows him to stay up-todate with strategies.

“It’s like anything [else]: the more recently you worked with it, the fresher you are and the fresher it is in your mind,” Zachary Acton said. “I can still implement [strategies] from when I played in high school.”

Although young coaches harbor a multitude of benefits, an issue they face is inexperience in leadership and teaching, Greg Acton said.

“It takes more patience and understanding when kids

don’t get something right away,” Greg Acton said. “There can be more impatience when [new coaches] haven’t been in the teaching role before, but the benefits far outweigh the downsides.”

Similarly, Kafri said the recent football experience of younger coaches’ overshadows their inexperience.

“A lot of these coaches also have parents or siblings who also played football, and their lives grew around it,” Kafri said. “They really know what they’re doing, especially when it comes to coaching.”

Vivian Kim, Adam Orrin, Elena Shim and Evelyn Wang

A smaller team builds better team chemistry and deeper connection, freshman Rotem Shaham (left) said.

Strong teammate bonds helped freshman players adjust to the varsity team, Hamburger (left) said.

The code of conduct aims to keep the crowd and students safe during games, Grossman said.

As a younger coach, Zachary Acton (left) said it is easier to work closely with players.

Ella Chan, Jason Lai, Olivia Levesque Ouellette and Ethan Xue

Photo by Parth Dhaulakhandi

Photo by Henry Hu

Photo by Jason Lai

Photo

“[My advice is to] have fun and improve game by game. Also, work on technique during practices to build consistency in matches.”

GIRLS WATER POLO

“I

Julia Lohman (12)

“[I

“[I would tell myself to ] keep on fighting. We have lots of ups and lots of downs, but if you fall, just get back up.” —

14 0 3 11 0 12 — Jolene Luong (9)

“I’d definitely run more; at the beginning, I was getting really tired. [I would tell myself to] get my fitness up and practice my skills.”

BOYS WATER POLO

Jaden Yang

SELF?

“[My advice is] to participate more. Earlier in the season, I didn’t participate much, and I think being involved in the team is pretty important.”

Senior steps up as water polo captain

By Sachin Chandran

Playing a sport takes significant hard work, dedication and patience.

These are three things varsity boys water polo captain, senior Ryan Anton believes are key to his success.

After the COVID-19 pandemic shut down basketball and soccer practices, Anton said water polo piqued his interest, and he began playing the sport his freshman year.

CROSS COUNTRY GIRLS TENNIS

“I would tell myself to just relax, take it easy and enjoy the time that I have left on the team, since it is my senior year.”

Ryan Anton makes a splash as Athlete of the Month

“[Water polo] is a sport that combines elements from other sports into one, which is what I enjoy about it,” Anton said.

With many underclassmen on the varsity team, including three sophomores and one freshman, varsity coach David Dour said Anton has stepped up and set a positive example.

“Ryan always helps younger players but doesn’t get upset when they make mistakes,” Dour said. “He always takes time to help coach them and show them the right way to do things, so the team can improve and not rely on him for everything.”

Anton’s teammate, sophomore Jenner Beitel said Anton constantly displays his leadership skills during games and practices when he guides stretches and drills. Beitel said Anton assists him in improving as both a player and a person.

Anton is a friendly presence in and out of the pool, Beitel said.

“He’s always giving us rides when we need a ride to practice,” Beitel said. “I feel like he is always there if I need to talk to him about anything.”

One notable moment in Anton’s water polo career is when he played an entire game while extremely ill, Dour said. He scored six out of the

eight goals in the game and carried the team to an extremely close and important victory, Dour said.

“Some of our players will not bother to play when they aren’t feeling 100%,” Dour said. “Ryan puts the team first and he always gives [water polo] everything he has.”

During Anton’s four-year tenure, he has served as a coach-like presence on the team and helped the other players improve, Dour said.

Stanford Sienna (12)

Vittoria McClean (11)

Jaden Yang (11)

Ciarra Begley (12)

Photos by Jonathan Xue

Photos by Henry Hu

Photos by Catherine Yang

Photos by Maya Dutt

Photos by Ella Chan and Jason Lai

Photos by Elena Shim

Photos by Aashka Nagarkar

Photos by Isabela Guilardi

Photo by Sachin Chandran

How are fidget toys used in the classroom?

something with their hands, it can help them concentrate. I call my knit ting a productive fidget be cause it allows me to keep

— Science teacher Kathleen Shreve

“If I listen to music, I get too relaxed, and I am not as focused. By listening to ASMR, I can focus on my work because there is nothing happening.”

Scratching the surface Scratching the surface

How are fidget toys used in the classroom? 39.5%

Students, staff reflect on how

Students, staff reflect on how ASMR enhances wellbeing

Why is physical ASMR beneficial?

Why is physical ASMR beneficial?

“I like physical ASMR. Because I am going through college applications, I sit in front of my computer and my muscles are tight. Massages help me relax more.”

What is your favorite ASMR trigger?

What is your favorite ASMR trigger?

Nature sounds Nature sounds

F igureson the trigge r

F igureson the trigge r

How can ASMR impact stress levels, and what are its effects on mental health?

ASMR can calm you down, but it can also cause overstimulation because some sensations can be irritating. For example, when people eat for ASMR, I get grossed out.

How can students use ASMR as a tool in the classroom?

That would depend on the teacher. Sometimes, when I am tapping, that triggers me to think. Students can use ASMR for executive functioning. However, they have to be mindful of their teacher and peers around them.

What is your favorite type of ASMR?

What is your favorite type of ASMR?

How does ASMR compare to other stress reducing techniques?

It depends on the person. For some, mindful breathing does not work. For others, ASMR may be their thing. Stress-reducing techniques vary from person to person.

— Ethan Qian (12)

— Sanjitha Pamukuntla (12)

Scan here to watch The Epitaph make ASMR!