The Epitaph Volume 62, Issue 3, 2024-25 by The Epitaph

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Volume 62, Issue 3

Homestead High School 21370 Homestead Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014

December 12, 2024

WiFi issues persist despite Board of Trustees upgrade efforts Students, teachers grapple with slow internet speeds

“We’ve eliminated a lot of possible reasons for the WiFi communication issues,” Johnson said. “But it’s a complex system, and there’s a lot of interactive parts.” Additionally, the inconsistency of the WiFi failures makes resolving them especially difficult, Johnson said. Brian Ling, Elena Shim “Parts will work totally fine, suddenly and Jonathan Xue fail for five seconds, work fine again and then fail in a different place for another five seconds,” Johnson said. “To fix this, we’re doing a very organized, step-byThe WiFi system at HHS underwent step process, and we’re working our way infrastructure upgrades over the sumup from specific to broader issues.” mer to prepare for digital AP testing, but English teacher Adrian McMahon said connection issues have since disrupted he assigns most learning materials digistudents and staff, principal Denae Nurntally. As a result, the unpredictability of berg said. These problems have slowed the WiFi has forced him to adapt lessons work productivity and student learning, on the spot, McMahon said. she added. “When WiFi doesn’t work, I have to The problems completely change started after the replans,” McMahon placement of the “We’ve eliminated a lot said. “Some peocore network switch, ple say ‘you should which acts as the brain of possible reasons for the have an alternate of the WiFi system, disWiFi communication issues, plan,’ but you trict educational techbut it’s a complex system.” can’t do that every nology coordinator single day. When Menko Johnson said. the issue persists The change, which oc—District educational over that much curred a month ago, technology coordinator time, it becomes exposed many underlyMenko Johnson very frustrating.” ing connectivity issues The WiFi isresulting from the sumsues are also mer upgrade, he added. taxing on students, senior Ian Yoon said. Johnson said the current issues are Specifically, random disconnections have not related to the WiFi system. Instead, caused problems during lectures, Yoon they stem from connectivity problems added. between Cisco, the old provider, and Ju“We have weekly online quizzes in my niper, which provides the new switches. AP statistics class, and I often find it difThis is largely the result of the old Cisco ficult to access quizzes due to the slow switches failing to communicate with the internet,” Yoon said. “I find this very surJuniper system, Johnson said. prising, considering that we are one of the better schools in the Silicon Valley.” FUHSD has made significant progress with solving the WiFi issues by replacing all Cisco switches

“

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Recent WiFi developments

1 DIGITAL AP TESTING College Board introduced digital AP testing, so HHS needed stronger WiFi infrastructure to support enough testing devices.

with new Juniper models, Johnson said. To address remaining issues, his team is working with Juniper and Cisco consultants, he added. “We don’t want [students] to suffer without WiFi for a long time,” Johnson said. “Students and teachers are all worried about AP tests going online, but we will solve any issues before AP exams.” To prevent disruptions during digital AP testing in May 2025, the network underwent stress testing before the infrastructure change and is continuing to improve, Johnson said. The AP testing application, Bluebook, requires little bandwidth, easing concerns regarding WiFi usage during testing, he added. As for temporary solutions, Johnson said all school Chromebooks are now connected to a new network called “FUHSD_student.” If the main network fails, Chromebooks can divert traffic to the new network right away, preventing interruptions for users, he added. “We’ve been working with teachers and students to come up with temporary solutions all the time, every week,” Johnson said. “I wish it was something simple to fix, and it’s not like we don’t have sufficient support or people working on it.” Despite some improvements, problems persist. McMahon said the still unpredictable WiFi has forced teachers to rely more on paper-based assignments. These changes make grading less efficient and classes less engaging, he said. “The class gets a little more boring and repetitive,” McMahon said. “I’m not able to allow students to pick assignments that are the best use of their time because I don’t have access to all the tools I need.” Yoon said he hopes the internet returns to normal, as the solution of using his phone’s hotspot is inefficient. “I was supposed to have a test, but the internet issues delayed it,” Yoon said. “The frustration really gets to a point. I hope these issues get resolved soon, and HHS can return to normal.”

3 CORE SWITCH CHANGE The tech team replaced the core switch, a component that facilitates high-speed data transfers. However, doing so exacerbated existing WiFi issues.

president retires Jeff Moe served district for past 12 years Amanda Boles, Maya Dutt and Catherine Yang After serving 12 years on the Board of Trustees, president Jeff Moe will retire on Dec. 13, superintendent Graham Clark said. Following Moe’s retirement, current vice president Nakano-Matsumoto will step-up to fill Moe’s role, Clark added. During his time on the board, Moe led the district through some of its most critical times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and declining enrollment, Clark said.

See Jeff Moe retirement, page 2 Photo by Catherine Yang

Moe said he strived to represent the community through communication.

Mandatory ethnic studies delayed until 2026 District revisits course scheduling, adjusts content Parth Dhaulakhandi, Evelyn Wang and Veronica Zhao

2 TECH UPGRADE Due to scheduling conflicts and concerns over space for electives, FUHSD has delayed the implementation of the state-required ethnic studies course to the 2026-2027 school year, principal Denae Nurnberg said. The new timeline still abides by Assembly Bill 101, which requires the class of 2030 to take one semester of ethnic studies for graduation, superintendent Graham Clark said. The delay was primarily caused by the ethnic studies course constricting space in freshmen schedules, Nurnberg said.

HHS updated old WiFi technology to provide smoother internet connections and a more stable AP testing environment.

NEW NETWORKS

The new networks “fuhsd_student” and “fuhsd_staff ” were created to address additional traffic requirements and existing connection issues.

See Ethnic studies, page 3

Illustrations by Amanda Boles

Trump’s campaign halts progress Misinformation, hate speech divide nation

Artistic terrariums fuel learning Biology club, NAHS collaborate to host event

‘Moana 2’: a wave of disappointment Sequel lacks cohesive storyline, enticing characters

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CCS-qualified fall sports players reflect on season

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PAGE DESIGN BY AMANDA BOLES AND ALAN ZHANG

News Page 2

December 12, 2024

The Epitaph

FUHSD hosts equity conference with USC Event series aims to address prejudice on campus Sachin Chandran, Henry Hu and Jason Lai With the goal of addressing racial inequities, FUHSD hosted the Racial Equity Student Leadership Academy on Nov. 20 at the district office, principal Denae Nurnberg said. The event, the first of several throughout the school year, was held in partnership with the University of Southern California’s Race and Equity Center, Nurnberg added. “It’s like a self-study where we identify any questions or concerns that we have on campus after do-

ing a deep dive into our learning environment and our campus culture,” Nurnberg said. “Then we’ll develop an action plan together about how to address any discrepancies.” The meeting consisted of 50 FUHSD students and staff members ranging from school therapists to principals, associate superintendent of teaching and learning Trudy Gross said. During the conference, USC professors held open discussions with students regarding race and inclusivity, ASB treasurer Evangeline Park said. “We talked about various equity issues we experienced at school,” Park, a junior, said. “The professors gave lectures about strategies to overcome racial equity issues, and talked about their experiences at USC.” Aside from racial equity, Park said the event also touched on

concepts such as intersectionality and gender-based discrimination. “The event covered many different facets of one’s identity and then incorporated that into the curriculum,” Park said. “[The professors] talked about how we can address the different inequalities, not just based on race but also based on gender or sexual orientation.” Nurnberg said the event provided FUHSD with tools to identify issues through the use of authentic student voices. “[The conference] is for us to identify if there are areas that we need to focus our energy on to make our school a more inclusive learning environment,” Nurnberg said. While the event focused on inclusivity and discrimination, Park said she hopes the sessions will be more in depth. “It is an ongoing conference,”

Park said. “There [are] five more sessions next semester. Hopefully, those will go into more detail on actionable steps we can take to combat inequalities.” After each of the sessions, attendees will discuss the topics covered in the session at their school in an effort to apply the information they learned, Gross said. Nurnberg said the first step to addressing race and gender-based discrimination is to listen to student voices and then develop tangible solutions. “Our whole second semester will focus on understanding our

current reality around race, equity and diversity initiatives,” Nurnberg said. “[We want to] hear authentic student voices [to] develop trends and then identify goals.” Throughout the year, the goal of future sessions is to educate the attendees about strategies to increase equity. Those strategies will then be implemented in FUHSD schools, Gross said. “We are trying to grow a more equitable environment on our campuses,” Gross said. “We want to decrease incidents of bias, particularly racial bias, and create a more positive campus climate.”

Winter formal preparations commence ASB discusses dance changes, plans

Photo by Sachin Chandran

The first meeting included students sharing their experiences with equity issues and lectures from USC professors, Park(far right) said.

Jeff Moe retirement

Annie Guo, Vivian Kim and Aashka Nagarkar

Continued from page 1

The annual winter formal dance will take place on Jan. 10 at Villa Ragusa, leadership teacher Hector Almendarez said. While the activities team has finalized the logistical details of the dance, such as the location and cost of tickets, ASB is still in the process of planning decorations and promotion, Almendarez said. The activities team, consisting of Almendarez, assistant principal Nico Flores, financial specialist Candi Marugg and assistant principal secretary Patricia Houe, is responsible for booking the venue, managing sales and setting ticket prices every year, Almendarez said. On the other hand, ASB is in charge of creating decorations and promoting the event, senior class cabinet member Sanvi Joshi said. ASB made several changes to the dance, one of which is an increase in ticket prices, Joshi said. While the prices last year were $45 with ASB, $50 without and $60 for guests, the new prices are $50, $60 and $70 respectively, Joshi added. Ticket prices were raised primarily due to inflation, Almendarez said. The dance will act as a fundraiser to support other ASB events, Almendarez added. “Everything is always getting more expensive, and that’s unavoidable. The funds from winter formal are divided evenly through-

Photo by Kevin Miao

Leadership students discuss upcoming winter formal preparations such as promotion and decorations.

out each class, and those funds can then fuel other events,” Almendarez said. “We also have to be realistic because the DJ, venue, refreshments, staff and services all cost money. It sucks that it costs more, but that’s where we need the prices to be right now.” Aside from an increase in ticket prices, ASB also opted for a different approach to promotion, aiming to reach new students and familiarize them with the dance, Almendarez said. Specifically, along with the usual promotional announcements and Instagram posts, Joshi said ASB created a video that was shown during fourth period on Dec. 6. The video informed students about ticket sales, dress code, location and other important details of the dance, Joshi said. “[The video] makes it easier to reach people,” Joshi said. “If you play the video during fourth periInfographic by Maya Dutt

News Quiz How much do you know about current school events? Where is the Racial Equity Student Leadership Academy being held? The district office

HHS

City hall

What is the cause of the recent WiFi connection issues? Replacement of core network switch

Weak signal

Network overload due to student population

Who will become the new Board of Trustees president? Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto

Graham Clark

Answers: The district office, Replacement of core network switch, Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto

Jeff Moe

od, a lot more people are going to see it. Not everyone has Instagram or follows the ASB Instagram account.” Moreover, ASB currently has decided to incorporate photography into the event, Joshi said. Currently, ASB is choosing between a photobooth, a professional photographer and a student volunteer, Joshi said. Although it isn’t set in stone, Almendarez said there will be a designated area for taking photos. “We want somewhere folks can take pictures, akin to what happened at Homecoming,” Almendarez said. “There was a designated photo area, but there were [also] enough places for folks to take pictures on their own. That’s something that ASB is looking to emulate again for this dance.” While last year’s winter formal was enjoyable, Senior Gavin Weng said he hopes restrictions on what items can and cannot be brought into the venue will be more lenient this year. “Winter formal was pretty fun. It was one of my first experiences at a school event. Last time, they were pretty big on not bringing things in. I had to throw away gum, and it didn’t seem necessary,” Weng said. “This year, I look forward to having fun with friends again.” Because of ASB’s dedication and effort, Almendarez said he trusts the class will make winter formal an enjoyable experience for all students. “I hope [everyone knows] winter formal will happen, and we want to make sure that we’re covering all bases of the student body,” Almendarez said. “I’m excited to give kids an opportunity to have some fun.”

One of Moe’s biggest accomplishments during his tenure was helping to pass three bond measures, which secured $50 million for modernizing school campuses, Moe said. “Our campuses are more beautiful, more functional [and] more environmentally friendly,” Moe said. “I think that helps students too. Students can do better at a more functional campus.” When guiding issues related to budgeting, Moe did extensive research to better understand how money could be effectively spent, retired trustee Bill Wilson said. The funds were carefully considered, then used to provide better educational opportunities by maintaining electives and funding improvements for sports fields, Wilson said. “He took his role seriously and did lots of research on any topics that we were going to consider,” Wilson said. “The district administration always gives us a lot of background information, but Jeff would not only absorb all of that, but also go beyond it and do his own research on complicated subjects.” Furthermore, Clark said Moe has also been dedicated to upholding standards for staff hires, striving to retain the best employees. Wilson said Moe has made sure to engage with teachers and listen to their concerns. Additionally, Moe made an effort to include the public in all decisions when he could, Clark said. “He is known as person who, if there’s a difficult conversation that needs to be had, will make sure the public has the opportunity to give input,” Clark said. With a district as diverse as FUHSD, Moe said taking student, staff and parent perspectives into account has been key to its success. “There are so many people with so many different ideas, and it’s important to listen to all of them,” Moe said. “Our community has a lot of opinions, and we’re culturally diverse too. It takes extra time to communicate.” Moe said he also strengthened communication between the board and the community by introducing

board office hours. Unlike in board meetings, where content and comment time is restricted, board office hours provide speakers with unlimited time and allow board members to comment on any topic, Moe said. “I heard about a school doing office hours as a time where the community can come and talk to board members in a more informal way,” Moe said. “Board meetings are highly regulated with a limit to what we can do, so during these office hours, the community can come and raise any issue that they want. It’s another tool to increase communication.” Moreover, Moe said he strongly believes the community should be involved in making difficult decisions. While discussing declining enrollment at Lynbrook, Moe said he knew the community had to be involved in the decision-making process because they were the most affected. “We decided to put together a citizens advisory committee that took about another year to come up with the optimal solution,” Moe said. “The process of stepping back and listening really made it an effective process.” Beyond district-level involvement, Clark said Moe connected to the community by attending events at all FUHSD schools and supporting students. In particular, Wilson said Moe had a passion for attending sports games and often saw him at athletic events. “He and I both had kids in the district that overlapped and played sports together, so he loved to go to athletic events,” Wilson said. “He actively followed the various sports at all five of the high schools, and he would keep the rest of us on the board informed about some of the successes the teams had.” Despite retiring from his position, Moe said in an email that FUHSD will always hold a special place in his heart. “A position in public service is not a permanent position, and it’s nice to have new people come with new ideas,” Moe said. “Twelve years is a good bit of time, and it felt like a good time in my life to move on.”

PAGE DESIGN BY SACHIN CHANDRAN

December 12, 2024

News

The Epitaph

Ethnic studies postponement

News in a minute

Continued from page 1

Kevin Miao

“The delay was a result of the district listening to the concerns that have been brought up over the last three years,” Nurnberg said. “If we keep [ethnic studies] at ninth grade, it is going to prevent students from being able to take an elective.” The implementation of an eight-period bell schedule was under consideration when the course was originally planned, but it is no longer being implemented, district social studies curriculum lead Viviana Torres said. With the extra time from the delay, the district will reevaluate the implementation of ethnic studies as a ninth-grade course and consider making it for upperclassmen, Clark said. “There are seven periods a day, and a lot of freshmen already take seven courses,” Clark said. “If we put another course in there, it prevents them from taking that seventh course. As a junior or senior, most [students] don’t take seven. They might take five or six, and they just have more space.” In addition to concerns about course selection flexibility, the idea of moving ethnic studies to a higher grade level is influenced by the course content, Clark said. “When we were looking at the feedback from the pilot, we thought the course material was something that could be done better in an upper level class instead of freshman level,” Clark said. “When you’re a sophomore, you take world history, and when you’re a junior, you take U.S. history. If you took those subjects, you already have that factual part of history heading into the class. They’re a good foundation for the course.” Apart from scheduling electives, there were numerous other issues that influenced the decision to delay implementation. Specifically, the district is con-

Local: CUSD adopts LGBTQ+ teaching guidelines following teacher suspension Cupertino Union School District passed a policy on Nov. 21, requiring educators to abide by district guidelines when discussing gender identity, according to the East Bay Times. The decision was made after a transgender teacher was put on leave last month for discussing gender identity in class and hanging u p LGBTQ+ posters, according to NBC News. The policy was drafted by the California School Board Association to navigate the teaching of controversial topics and was adopted without any modifications, according to the East Bay Times. The resolution mandates neutral, age-appropriate discussions and bans advocacy of teachers’ personal opinions, according to the East Bay Times. The approval of the bill has drawn controversy and debate from parents, according to the East Bay Times.

Overview of ethnic studies curriculum According to Trudy Gross

Unit 1

Identity - understanding myself and others

Unit 2

Community and collective identity

Unit 3

Understanding systems of power, agency and resistance

Unit 4

Social change and taking action

Infographic by Adam Orrin and Veronica Zhao

sidering whether there will be a rework for high school credit requirements or special support given to ELD and SAI students, Torres said. “The decisions around which courses, how many sections and which teachers [we needed], are all very complex,” Torres said. “[Several issues] were integral to making this decision to pause and decide what to do next.” Ethnic studies, a semester-long course, will be paired with health as the other semester. If ethnic studies becomes an upperclassman course, the health curriculum will adapt to include P.E. health, Clark said.

However, the sex education unit will be kept in freshman biology classes, Clark added. There are a variety of factors considered when any new course is brought into the FUHSD schedule. For ethnic studies, the district concluded that it needed more time to cement several of these specifics beyond scheduling, Torres said. “Ethnic studies is a place where there are many community members who are passionate about it [and] care deeply about what it looks like. We want to ensure that we are taking into account the needs and opinions of the parents in our district,” Torres said.

National: President Joe Biden pardons son of federal charges Before Hunter Biden’s criminal sentencing, which was scheduled for Dec. 12 and Dec. 16, president Joe Biden pardoned his son on Dec. 1 from federal gun charges and tax evasion, according to NBC News. After Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to felony firearm offenses in June and a felony tax offense in September, Joe Biden announced

he would not pardon his son, according to NBC News. Despite his previous statements, Joe Biden used his presidential power to excuse Hunter Biden of a potential 17 years in prison, according to NBC News. Hunter Biden was found guilty of three federal firearm charges for purchasing a handgun while under the influence of unlawful and controlled substances. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to three felony and six misdemeanor tax evasion charges for failure to pay over $1.4 million in taxes, according to NBC News. Joe Biden defended his decision by claiming the justice system gave an overly severe judgment, according to NBC News. International: Taiwan president draws scrutiny from China for Hawaii visit Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te landed in Honolulu, Hawaii on Nov. 30 for an unofficial visit to the United States, according to CNN. The two-day stopover was an extension of his trip to visit official diplomatic allies and reaffirm the positive relationship between the United States and Taiwan. Ching-te was not greeted by government officials but was met with cheers from a crowd of supporters, according to AP News. Ching-te’s trip to Hawaii was his first visit to the United States since he took office in May, which was met with backlash from China, according to CNN. Specifically, Chinese officials labeled the visit as a “provocative act” against China and is expected to trigger Chinese military drills near Taiwan as retaliation, according to CNN.

PAGE DESIGN BY ANNIKA ABRAHAM

Opinion

The Epitaph Volume 62 · Issue 3 · December 12, 2024

Editors-in-Chief Evelyn Wang Veronica Zhao Managing Editor Parth Dhaulakhandi News Editors Danielle Feldsher Kevin Miao Opinion Editors Annie Guo Jonathan Xue Lifestyles Editors Amanda Boles Ella Chan Arts & Culture Editors Maya Dutt Malar Raguraman Sports Editors Alicia Liste Helen Tam

Page 4

Staff Editorial

Policies must represent LGBTQ+ voices

Advocating for diverse identities has always been a key principle in Cupertino, but recently, many members of our community have called to draw the line for diversity at our schools. In October, a nonbinary teacher at Dilworth Elementary School in the Cupertino Union School District was put on leave due to community concerns over “mature content.” The teacher displayed pictures around the

Copy Editor Jonathan Xue Creative Director Mackie Vu Design Editors Maya Dutt Aviv Matas

SUPPORT AGE APPROPRIATE EDUCATION

classroom of people with alternative pronouns, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Teachers should never be penalized for creating an inclusive environment or teaching diverse perspectives to students. The removal of a teacher because of their diverse perspective and expression directly contradicts the values we once held proudly in our community. Excluding non-cisgender identities from gender education deprives students of the necessary terminology needed to understand and express themselves. To maintain equity on campuses, staff and parents must support the right to learn about different identities through the education system. The treatment of LGBTQ+ topics as controversial creates a double standard discussing gender in terms of girls and boys is

Multimedia Editor Catherine Yang Social Media Editor Elena Shim Reporters Annika Abraham Sachin Chandran Isabela Guilardi Henry Hu Vivian Kim Jason Lai Olivia Levesque Ouellette Brian Ling Aashka Nagarkar Adam Orrin Selina Wang Ethan Xue Madeleine Yee Kaylin Yi Alan Zhang

December 12, 2024

The Epitaph

KEEP SY CONTROVER OUT OF THE CLASSROOM

NO RADICAL ACTIVISM IN CLASSROOMS

acceptable, yet teaching transgender or non-binary identities is labeled as too “mature.” This double standard not only alienates LGBTQ+ community members but also sends the message that we view their identities as taboo. CUSD’s actions show the hypocrisy within our community. In public, we call for equality and anti-discriminatory policies to protect the individuals we claim to support. But when these calls empower individuals with identities perceived as too controversial, we allow our schools to retract their promise of inclusivity and unfairly discriminate against others. This treatment carries a damaging message to students about who is deemed worthy of respect. When students see teachers being treated unfairly, it legitimizes the fear of intolerance against already marginalized LGBTQ+ individuals. Allowing these fears to spread in our community is unacceptable, especially when they are entirely preventable through an open-minded educational environment. In response to the CUSD decision and community concerns, in February 2025 the FUHSD Board of Trustees plans to reaffirm policies protecting all students and staff from discrimination. The board intends to ensure that the ambiguities in the CUSD’s policies that led to the teacher’s leave will not be a concern within our district in the future, principal Denae Nurnberg said.

Illustr ation by

Adviser Natalie Owsley

An n ie

This reinforcement of policies protecting LGBTQ+ people is what we need from our feeder districts and must be the standard for all schools in the United States. CUSD and Sunnyvale Unified must follow FUHSD’s lead by utilizing direct policies to protect staff and students’ rights to authentically express themselves. They must uphold our commitment to free education that is both free of charge and free of any discrimination. We can uphold these freedoms by demanding districts remove vague language from policies that allow for the targeting of LGBTQ+ individuals. Additionally, we need to create policies that directly condemn the labeling of LGBTQ+ identities as mature or controversial. We must protect and serve as allies for our LGBTQ+ community. The choice to support LGBTQ+ individuals is not a matter of district policy or political beliefs. It is a matter of free expression and respect, which must be the norm in our schools.

Mission Statement

The Epitaph is a non-profit publication at Homestead High School, 21370 Homestead Rd., Cupertino, CA 95014. The Epitaph is a forum for student expression and not subject to prior review, in accordance to Education Code 48907. The staff is comprised of HHS Journalism students. Views expressed do not necessarily represent views of the school, its staff or the district. Editorials are opinions of the editorial board. The Epitaph welcomes letters to the editor but reserves the right to edit submissions. Letters should be limited to 300 words. Include contact information. Unsigned letters cannot be published, but names will be withheld upon request. Send via homestead.epitaph@gmail.com, or drop letters in the newsroom or the office mailbox. If The Epitaph has made an error, please send corrections to homestead. epitaph@gmail.com. The corrections will be published in the corrections box for the next issue. To reach the Epitaph in C102, call (408) 522-2572 or fax (408) 738-8531.

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CUSD’s treatment toward LGBTQ+ identities silences community members.

CUSD’s treatment of LGBTQ+ identities silences community members.

Stick to spaceships, not politics Musk will selfishly interfere with our democracy Jonathan Xue COLUMN — Elon Musk is the eccentric billionaire. From creating brain chips to launching spaceships, Musk has an interesting approach to his many choices. But his latest endeavor into politics is the most puzzling of all. Even for someone as erratic as Musk, strongly supporting president elect Donald Trump’s campaign was unexpected. In the weeks leading up to the election, Musk showed up at rallies and donated more than $100 million to the Trump campaign, according to CNN. And Musk’s decision paid off. Musk, the richest man in the world, is now best friends with Trump, who will soon return as the most powerful man in the world. Unfortunately, Musk’s involve-

ment doesn’t stop there. In fact, Trump recently announced Musk would help lead the planned Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE for short, which aims to cut back on government spending and inefficiencies, according to Fox News. Musk is not a politician, and leading a new government office is far from his area of exper tise. Politics doesn’t relate to big business, despite how much Musk and Trump may compare them. The Trump administration must reconsider the influence they are giving Musk due to his lack of concrete experience in representing Americans. Musk’s

new committee will be the first of its kind, and such an important position would be better suited for someone with prior leadership experience in government roles. Additionally, Musk stands to benefit from his promised position. Many of his businesses are regulated by federal agencies — the same ones Musk will soon have influence over, according to NPR. These conflicts of interest are dangerous because government officials must serve the public, not private interests. Musk’s contradicting involvement poses questions regarding who he will truly serve in his new position: himself or the American people.

When Musk assumes this role, the Trump administration must monitor his actions and hold him to a high standard. Musk’s job in government should benefit all Americans, not help himself and his many businesses. Even if Musk acts as the perfect leader for DOGE, his appointment sets a troubling precedent for the future of politics. Presidentially appointed positions cannot continue to be bought through money and influence. These crucial roles must be earned by their appointees through decades of political experience and dedication to citizens. The Trump and future administrations must cut back from giving the wealthiest, most powerful Americans even more undue influence in our democracy. Doing so will only further the interests of a select few instead of the values of our nation. Musk will ineffectively represent Americans. A rich, weird tech guy does not reflect the values of millions of Americans. We can only wait and see the consequences.

PAGE DESIGN BY ADAM ORRIN AND MADELEINE YEE

December 12, 2024

Opinion

The Epitaph

Crowning an equitable Trump campaign halts progress community tradition Misinformation, hate speech divides Homecoming court selection process needs reform Kevin Miao

dents. This was done to encourage teachers to pay closer attention to students who play a major role in the community, Almendarez said. Although this change creates a greater sense of exclusivity among candidates, the new limit overly restricts teachers and forces them to choose between equally deserving students. Returning the nomination requirement to 10 allows teachers to have more flexibility and recognize a wider range of seniors. To promote transparency for the student body, ASB should provide public information about the 10 court members during student voting. When I received the voting form for royalty, I could not vote for who I felt was most deserving because I lacked the proper information to do so. Introducing all 10 members of the court through a short informational blurb in the student voting form or in a social media post provides the student body with each member’s merits. This would allow students to make a more informed decision. Nominations for Homecoming court should be transparent and genuinely reflect the values of the student body. Establishing a clear court finalization process and including reasons for nominations ensures the Homecoming court tradition crowns the most deserving seniors.

Each year at the Homecoming rally, I anxiously await the annual Homecoming court announcements. I have always admired the nominees, recognizing their influence on both HHS and the broader community. However, when this year’s results were released, I was surprised to only recognize a few names on the list. Homecoming court is a tradition where 10 seniors are chosen to represent the senior class, honoring those who have contributed to the growth of the school environment, leadership teacher Hector Almendarez said. The court selection is straightforward. Teachers each nominate two students, and the nominations are sent to all staff and administration. Next, staff and administration can vote from the pool of students until the 10 students receiving the most votes are determined. Finally, a survey is sent out to the senior class, allowing students to vote for their top two candidates, Almendarez said. However, the nomination system has u ndergone changes this year. Compared to previous years when teachers could elect 10 students for the court, the Illustration by Kevin Miao The court selection process lacks transparency number was lowered to two stuand limits teacher recommendations.

nation Sachin Chandran Politics should empower open and respectful conversations, regardless of party. However, former president and president-elect Donald Trump’s campaign used hateful speech and disinformation to weaponize supporters against fellow Americans instead of fostering unity. An essential tool of Trump’s political strategy is the rampant misinformation used to fuel discord. Trump has spread false information during his last three presidential campaigns on various social media platforms, according to USA Today. In doing so, he distorts public opinion and undermines trust in democratic institutions. The most prominent example of Trump spreading misinformation is his denial of the 2020 presidential election results. Although president Joe Biden won the race, Trump spread baseless claims about the result for two months after the race concluded, ultimately culminating in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, according to PBS. The message of a stolen election deeply resonated with Trump’s supporters, which incited a riot that resulted in the loss of seven lives. Unfortunately, despite these grave consequences, Trump and members of his campaign continue to portray the 2020 election as stolen, according to NBC News. This spread of disinformation alienates Trump’s supporters by making them feel as though their candidate was robbed of his rightful spot. In doing so, Trump incites arguments over false claims, worsening America’s political divide.

Build ‘The Rise’ for residents Home development neglects affordable housing

Before being approved in March, The Rise had already been delayed for almost 10 years, according to San Jose Spotlight. If Moore continues to oppose the development, The Rise could be stalled for even longer, ultimately Aashka Nagarkar exacerbating the lack of affordable housing in Cupertino. As a result, many residents During the Cupertino city counmight feel pressured to leave the cil election on Nov. 5, affordable city in hopes of living in other arhousing was one of the most coneas with more affordable housing tentious issues, according to the options, which could lead to lower San Jose Spotlight. tax revenue. The main housing development Moore and her supporters must discussed during the election was realize that all new housing develThe Rise, an affordable housing opments will inevitably have negdevelopment and city hub to be ative environmental effects due to located where Vallco Shopping the materials and machinery used Mall once was. The development to build them. Although their enviis estimated to be finished by or ronmental concern is understandafter 2028, according to San Jose able, accessibility to affordable Spotlight. homes must be prioritized to keep Despite supplying additional lower-income residents rooted in housing units for low-income citCupertino. izens, the development has been On the other hand, Cupertino stalled by Cupertino city council city council candidate Rod Sinks member Kitty Moore due to enviholds a more profit-driven stance ronmental concerns, according to toward The Rise. While Sinks beM o o r e ’ s website. lieves the project should move forward, he places more emphasis on its commerce aspects, according to The Mercury News. Instead of viewing The Rise as an affordable housing development, Sinks sees it as an opIllustration by Malar Raguraman portunity for Cupertino to increase tax revenue, according to the Mercury News. Sinks’ perspective of The Rise The Cupertino city council fails citizens by favoring shifts the financial rewards over low-income residents’ needs. focus of the

project from affordable housing to retail development, which leads to the misguided prioritization of the project’s commerce aspects. Additionally, the Cupertino city council has agreed to have the Sand Hill Property Company, the developers of The Rise, increase the number of market-rate homes from 2,402 to 2,669 by reducing the number of affordable housing units. Compared to the previous 50% of units designated as affordable housing, only 33% are now classified as affordable housing units, according to San Jose Spotlight. This reduction in affordable housing only increases the profit margins for Sand Hill. By allowing Sand Hill to prioritize their profits over improving the housing market, the Cupertino city council proves they place more significance on gaining financial returns than serving the needs of their constituents. To prove that Cupertino cares about providing affordable housing beyond simply using it to propel campaigns, city council members must neither contest the addition of affordable housing nor allow affordable housing projects to be converted into large-scale retail development. Additionally, citizens must pressure council members to prevent developers from abandoning people in dire need of affordable housing. By attending council meetings or supporting politicians who advocate for affordable housing, citizens can ensure that their voices are heard in the decision-making process. Ultimately, it is our duty to hold politicians accountable when they make decisions that prioritize corporate wprofit or environmental concerns over the need for affordable housing.

For the nation to improve, the Trump campaign must prevent the spread of false information and instead aim to unite both parties by preaching the truth. The Trump administration not only falsified public information but also used inflammatory rhetoric to tear the country apart. A recent example occurred when he falsely stated that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio ate the pets of other residents, according to NBC News. His false accusation resulted in the shutdown of schools in the area after 33 separate bomb threats, resulting in the deployment of state troopers to protect residents, according to NBC News. Additionally, the Trump campaign refused to back down from these claims and even reinforced them by resisting to acknowledge their falsehood, according to BBC. These claims not only endangered immigrants in Springfield but also intensified xenophobia, by reinforcing harmful stereotypes.

Trump’s harmful rhetoric also extends toward his political opponents. Leading up to the recent election, Trump continually insulted Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris by stating how she is not Black or turned Black when convenient, according to ABC News. The divides that the Trump campaign exacerbated makes it increasingly rare for Americans to engage in civil conversations regarding politics without insulting each other — a method Trump often used against his opponents. The lack of peaceful conversation in our country is tearing it apart. The American people must relearn how to have political conversations without attacking the opposing side. When the Trump administration starts in January 2025, they have the opportunity to bridge the divide by ceasing misinformation and insults against opponents. In doing so, we can be one step closer to healing and uniting a fractured America.

Illustration by Jason Lai

The Trump administration divides the country for its own agenda by spreading rumors and hateful rhetoric.

There are no cons to Lina Khan FTC commissioner serves justice to unethical practices

provide an easy, one-click method to cancel subscriptions, according to PBS. This example exhibits how valuable she is to all Americans. Khan’s brawl with corporations is fueled by her desire to create a Adam Orrin society where companies are held accountable. As corporations form monopMoreover, Khan’s work supolies and impose unethical pracports small businesses by breaktices on their customers, only ing up monopolies and stopping one woman stands in their way: unethical mergers, increasing Lina Khan. As the Federal Trade competition within industries to Commission commissioner, Khan lower consumer prices. makes it her mission to protect the Khan hasn’t only stood up to country from corporate exploitamonopolistic tech companies, but tion. However, after she has also fought against pharDonald Trump’s remaceutical companies to improve cent reelection, her healthcare accessibility. Khan’s termination seems attempts to prevent these comalmost inevitable. panies from gouging the prices Khan is of life-saving drugs, particularly best known insulin, put pressure to lower the for her war prices of vital drugs, according to on monopthe FTC. In doing so, Khan ensures olies, takthat all people can prosper regarding on major less of economic status. corporations However, Khan’s removal such as Amseems increasingly likeIll us azon to prely, but it is not yet tra tio serve connb set in stone. It yA sumer nn can be preie Gu welfare. o vented by Howev- Lina Khan takes on big business to protect pressurer, her the American people. ing presibattle dent-elect extends beyond protecting conDonald Trump to disregard the sumers from price gouging. She voices of the selfish billionaire ensures that everyday Americans, class that fund his campaign and regardless of political affiliation instead listen to the working-class or income level, can achieve the voters who elected him. American Dream. All Americans have the right to Khan recently led the FTC in fibe represented in our government, nalizing its “click-to-cancel” rule, a and Khan is just one of many unpolicy that forces businesses with sung heroes fighting to protect our subscription-based services to interests.

PAGE DESIGN BY BRIAN LING

6 Opinion

December 12, 2024

The Epitaph

Rising gas prices place pressure on low-income citizens New fuel policy limits accessibility, hurts communities Danielle Feldsher

pact on the environment, California politicians must realize it is far more important to prioritize accessible transportation over furthering an impractical climate agenda. To combat rising gas prices, California lawmakers must focus

Illustration by Danielle Feldsher

In much of California, driving is not a choice — it is a necessity. As a licensed driver, I understand how this mode of transportation is essential for people to attend work, school or even extracurricular activities. However, a recent California policy aiming to increase gas prices prevents this accessibility and negatively impacts low-income residents by limiting the transportation options available to them. To reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions, the California Air Resources Board approved the Low Carbon Fuel Standard on Nov. 8. The program aims to reduce the carbon content in gasoline and requires companies to purchase cleaner fuels, leading to an increase in gas prices, according to the Mercury News. While striving for environmental improvement is crucial, this

program is estimated to increase fuel prices by $1.50 per gallon by 2035. Currently, the CARB refuses to offer an exact estimate for consumer costs, which raises concerns about transparency and unjustified prices, according to The Mercury News. Although it is difficult to predict the program’s exact effects, it is undeniable that low-income citizens will experience a negative impact. Implementing higher gas prices in California will increase the price of using cars and public transport vehicles. The rising cost of living in California already results in economic strain for the low-income community, and increasing gas prices will only place further pressure on them. Compared to middle-income and high-income communities, low-income families are often forced to give up necessities instead of luxuries to afford gas, according to the Heritage Foundation. It is elitist and inconsiderate to pressure lower-income households to decide between spending money on essentials or being able to drive. While the CARB program does hold value due to its positive im-

Raising the cost of fuel in California is detrimental to low-income citizens.

Financial gain over patient care Hospitals prioritize profit over patient well-being

waiting to receive adequate service. It became clear to me that this was a financial issue, and unrelated to the motivation or work ethic of the workers. The lack of nurses poses a huge problem, as nurses are vital to the health of patients. In fact, a study showed each additional patient assigned to a nurse was associated with a 7% increase in the likelihood of patients dying, according to Leonard Davis Institute. However, this downward trend in healthcare can still be turned around. The government must step in and provide more funding to public hospitals while regulating the practices of private equity and capping medication prices. Citizens can also advocate for this problem by standing for legislation that reduces the costs of healthcare and brings awareness to others who are affected. Ultimately, hospitals must choose between profit or the care of patients. If the healthcare system continues to prioritize financial gain over quality care, these issues will only worsen. However, communities can work together to ensure that necessary resources are distributed equitably, providing everyone with quality care.

more mainstream. More people using buses will create a greater push for expansive transportation, providing low-income individuals with better access to an effective method of transportation. To protect low-income citizens from rising gas prices, changes must be made to the public transit system to ensure accessibility and affordability for all. Although protecting the environment should be a matter of great concern, it is imperative for California lawmakers to prioritize affordable transportation over a costly climate agenda.

Affordable colleges hit the jackpot Cheaper schools offer overlooked benefits

lives with fewer financial obligations, according to the Education Data Initiative. Student loan debt often forces students to take up part-time jobs during the school year, making it difficult to balance a heavy Alicia Liste academic workload with outside responsibilities, according to the University of Pennsylvania. Campus hallways fill with peers By attending an affordable sporting Ivy League college sweatcollege, students can take on an shirts, social media bursts with internship or put the extra funds advertisements for top universitoward a more expensive graduate ties and family members poke you program later on. with that single, dreaded question: Affordable colleges also offer “What college do you wanna go greater flexibility for high school to?” students who are still unsure All these mounting pressures about what career to pursue. can push students to consider the While 78% of college students most prestigious and often the reported having their mental most expensive universities as the health negatively impacted by fionly acceptable option for their nancial stress, students attending higher education. a cheaper college can more easily However, students should feel explore their career options, acopen to attending affordable unicording to Ellucian. versities that offer more financial These students have the flexfreedom and flexibility compared ibility to change majors or proto their expensive counterparts. grams, even if it requires an adFor students unable to pay for ditional year of study, without the their college education outright, worry of extra tuition. the cost of cheaper institutions, Although I consider affordable such as the California State Unicolleges a better alternative to versity system, allows students hefty student loans, this does to receive an education not mean students should free from the worry of pass on acceptance Illus tra large loans. letters from prestiti Given the avergious universities age borrower in or forgo a private California has school education a federal student if their family is loan debt balance of able to afford it. $38,168, opting for a Students more afmust be realistic f o rd a b le about the paths school open to them. sets stuAim higher than dents up the “top 10” befor succause, truly, the cess as best college is College prestige should not they begin one you can aftheir adult determine your dream school. ford. Alicia Liste by on

The healthcare system now prioritizes gaining profit over quality care, which leads to a lack of staff and resources for patients in need. Although hospitals are advertised as prioritizing patient care, Ella Chan economic influences of inflation and competition have redirected their focus on financial gain. For example, since 1982, around During my internship at the 10% of privately owned hospitals University of Wisconsin hospital, have reduced their health services I was confronted with a universal and admitted fewer individuals to issue in healthcare. Access to serMedicaid, according to the Nationvices is constantly constrained by al Library of Medicine. what patients can afford. As a result, many patients are During an appointment, I overdenied quality care. For example, heard how a patient could not afin 2023, the United States had ford the necessary dosage due to over 300 drug shortages due to the price of the supply chain and manufacturing medicine. issues, according to the Food and Drug Administration. This shortage poses a significant issue, as it limits accessibility to vital drugs. Another major concern that comes with the prioritization of financial gain is the lack of staff in hospitals. When my grandpa was in need of immediate attention, I noticed how the hosIllustration by Ella Chan pital only had a few nurses Though hospitals are a place of care on his floor. Despite his condition, and compassion, the focus on profit we spent most of the day diminishes the quality of healthcare.

on improving public transportation across the state. For instance, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission should focus on modernizing bus ticket systems to make public transit a more accessible option for low-income citizens. Modernizing bus ticket systems to support multiple forms of payment can boost ridership, as individuals are more likely to take advantage of transportation that is more convenient and flexible. Improving the overall efficiency of public transit can help it become

Community must take initiatives toward sustainability ASB, climate clubs should make more localized efforts Malar Raguraman As climate change intensifies, we must recognize our increasingly crucial role in keeping the environment healthy, from picking up someone’s trash or taking shorter showers. However, significant changes in carbon footprint can only be made through improvements in comprehensive policies. It is equally the student body’s responsibility to innovate solutions as it is for them to implement planned courses of action. For the past two years, the ASB sustainability commissioner has taken on the critical responsibility of overseeing green efforts and reducing the ASB waste output every year, ASB vice president Aayushma Adhikari said.

initiative, according to the FUHSD However, this position was reClimate Collective. moved from ASB this year, and However, sustainability efforts sustainability efforts are now manmust be more localized. Volunaged by the district-wide FUHSD teering within a community is far Climate Collective, Adhikari said. more impactful, as it addresses the The organization’s focus lies on needs of that specific area and genimproving climate literacy and erates more participation. reducing environmental impact Rather than placing all susthroughout the district, according tainability responsibilities on to FUHSD. district-wide initiatives such as However, as an organization FUHSD Climate Collective, HHS with such a broad scope, the FUHSD Climate Collective cannot address issues specific to HHS. The collective’s responsibilities lie in organizing Earth Day festivals and researching the carbon footprint of the school, according to the FUHSD Climate Collective. However, this takes away focus from what should be the primary goal of such efforts: implementing real solutions by ation to reduce waste. Illustr aguraman R r la a M Furthermore, the responsibilities of the recently removed climate crew club are It is crucial that sustainability clubs now reflected at the district levare more active in the environmenel, as the FUHSD Climate Collective incorporates a recycling tal efforts of the student body.

must take a more active approach to reducing waste. To achieve this, ASB must reinstate the position of sustainability commissioner, who can work closely with ASB to reduce waste generated by events such as dances and rallies. Additionally, to address greater local responsibility, sustainability clubs must place greater emphasis on their mission of boosting student involvement and driving real change. Two clubs are currently in place: Climate Change Initiative and Green Ops, according to the ASB website. However, neither club creates initiative within the community. CCI creates lessons on the global contributions to climate change but does not educate the student body on what can be changed at the local level. Similarly, Green Ops currently does not address sustainability at HHS specifically, as their gardening events are in elementary schools in the community. Additionally, club meetings

involve arts and crafts activities, such as creating stickers and succulent pot decorating, rather than directing their volunteer opportunities to reducing waste output at HHS. By implementing more interactive meetings to discuss how HHS can improve its sustainability, clubs can create a passion in the community for sustainable endeavors that can encourage concrete action. Moreover, if the environmental clubs plan innovative and localized student volunteer opportunities that can be executed on campus, they will create a much more significant environmental impact at HHS. As a community, students must recognize their responsibility to the environment around them. Institutions such as ASB and sustainability clubs must stimulate passion within students. Rather than handing over sustainable efforts to district-wide initiatives, the community must work together to create localized change and improvements.

PAGE DESIGN BY KEVIN MIAO

Lifestyles The Epitaph

December 12, 2024

Page 7

Club partnership advocates for sustainability Volunteers aim to increase recycling on campus Annika Abraham

schools,” Kathane said. “At HHS, we are currently working on expanding the volunteer network by partnering with some of the local service clubs.” The initiative was implemented in an effort to alleviate the excessive amount of waste at FUHSD schools, Kathane said. “If you took all the paper waste that could have been recycled at Cupertino HS and stuck it up one on top of the other, there would be at least 90 stories worth of paper,” Kathane said. “Since [HHS and CHS are] in the same district, it’s safe to say that there’s a lot of recycling that could be done, which we haven’t been doing yet.” The initiative consists of students signing up in four shifts to walk through classrooms and

clean out recycling bins every Friday during tutorial, Arya said. Volunteers receive hours for their work, which will motivate more students to participate, Arya added. The goal for the initiative is to raise awareness for environmental issues and create tangible change, as many students adopt these sustainable recycling practices, treasurer and secretary, junior Naaga Senthil said. “Hopefully, we’ll see more students adopt eco-friendly habits,” Senthil said. “[For example], limiting the amount of plastic bottles used on campus.” However, issues with the trash systems render students efforts useless, and this initiative aims to change this, Kathane said.

As climate change becomes an increasingly significant issue, the Climate Change Initiative club is taking action by partnering with the FUHSD Climate Collective, providing students with opportunities to promote recycling on campus, co-president, senior Sanah Arya said. “CCI promotes sustainability and environmental action to [influence] the student body to be better informed and make local and broad change in Photo by Annika Abraham these issues,” Arya said. “[Events] we have done in the past include water bottle planters, informational poster making and cleanups at local parks and gardens.” Similarly, the FUHSD Climate Collective, an organization comprising of students, staff and teachers from across FUHSD, works toward progressive climate goals, grants commissioner and Earth Day student chair Sufee Kathane said. Currently, the collective is working on an initiative on recycling greater amounts of waste at each school, Kathane, a sophomore said. The volunteering initiative allows students to take steps that will benefit HHS and “We have a recycling initiative at all five the climate, Kathane said.

Honors american literature’s curriculum gets a new revamp New curriculum targets to increase diversity

more reprePhotos from USA Today, Penguin Randomhouse, Barnes & Nobles and the Washington Post sentation of the student population in course content. “The maAashka Nagarkar jority of our school is people of color. While honors American liter- It’s really imfor ature has long been available to portant Infographic by Aashka Nagarkar to juniors, the course underwent students ‘Our Missing Hearts,’ ‘There There,’ ‘Minor Feelings,’ extensive changes this year, En- see their voicglish teacher James Aguirre said. es, their peothe ‘Parable of the Sower’ graphic novel and ‘FirekeepSpecifically, the course has been ple, their stoer’s Daughter’ are new, Aguirre said in an email. diversified to include indigenous, ries and their backgrounds represented in what felt that the curriculum taught did Black and Asian American cultures not fully represent her as a person. in addition to classic American lit- they read about,” Aguirre said. “We wanted to make sure that our “I’m Asian American, which erature. was not really represented in the “We have worked really hard to curriculum reflects that diversity books we read,” Lou said. “I’m also update our curriculum,” Aguirre while introducing new voices that female. There were females in the said. “75% of our authors are peo- aren’t represented in our commubooks, but it didn’t really focus on ple of color, two-thirds of our au- nity as well.” Compared to previous years, feminism.” thors are still alive and 25% of our Prior to the curriculum change, authors are queer or thought to be this year’s honors American litthe content taught in American litqueer. We feel it’s a good, challeng- erature curriculum more heavily emphasizes the importance of erature classes was predominantly ing environment to be exposed to written by white authors, which different voices in the American learning and reading about different cultures within the American was not an enjoyable experience, literature canon.” literature spectrum, junior Allison Aguirre said. Aguirre said the curriculum Brown said. “In the past, honors American change stemmed from a need for “I like it a lot literature has been described as because usualvery dead, very white, very dry, ly, I would not and very boring, and that’s not a choose to read pleasurable experience,” Aguirre books like these,” said. Brown said. “I Thus far, the new curriculum get the opportuhas been positively received by nity to expand students and parents, Aguirre said. on different Both Aguirre and English teacher viewpoints.” Kirk Hinton are satisfied with the Last year, the current curriculum and feel it is class discussed more pleasurable to teach than the about racism past curriculum, Aguirre added. against certain “I’m really glad that Mr. Hinton groups, senior and I have made the changes that Zoya Lou said. we have,” Aguirre said, “We are Photo by Aashka Nagarkar Because of looking to increase our numbers Aguirre (middle) said the new curriculum aims to this lack of diverand really push students to do sity, Lou said she good, strong work.” represent students better.

“One problem is that if a recycling bin has been contaminated or there’s other waste, you can’t recycle that material anymore,” Kathane said. “By having student volunteers, we can sort that out and make sure that all the recyclables are recycled rather than automatically going to trash, on the off chance that someone has thrown away something that can be recycled.” The initiative goes beyond improving its impact on the climate by further reinforcing the importance of recycling in the student body, motivating them to create a more sustainable environment, Arya said. “The goal is to help our environment to a greater extent,” Arya said. “If we have organized

compost, trash and recycling and take good care of our campus, that helps create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly student body. They can go on to make greater change as they learn these habits and go home to keep doing these things.” While climate change is a global issue, Kathane said students’ individual efforts to reduce environmental impacts at home and school are still vital. “Climate change can seem like a really big issue and on many levels, it is,” Kathane said. “But there can be many small steps we can take to help if we all get in the habit of doing them. We have to start taking those small steps so that one day we will be able to make a larger impact.”

The outside world of drama programs Students, staff share benefits of drama programs Olivia Levesque Ouellette Whether it be gaining professional drama experience or giving back to the community, many HHS drama students participate in extracurricular drama programs, sophomore Nicole Jivotovski said. Such programs often act as unique opportunities for students to go further in their acting careers, Jivotovski added. Drama teacher Alana Caires said being involved in multiple drama programs provides students with leadership experience, helping them become well-rounded actors. “Doing drama in and outside of school provides opportunities for students to take leadership roles, taking care of more responsibilities,” Caires said. “I think it’s a good opportunity for them to grow as leaders.” Jivotovski said she participates in a drama program called GIFT Theater. The program focuses on giving back to the community through performances in retirement homes and children’s hospitals, Jivotovski added. “I’ve learned how much I love giving back to my community through GIFT Theater,” Jivotovski said. “It is a very special and rewarding feeling.” Although HHS and other drama programs have different curriculums, both aim to teach students to be supportive and collaborative, which are important aspects of drama, senior Syd Mendelson said. While HHS drama tends to emphasize community building and leadership skills, extracurricular programs focus more on honing

students’ acting experience and advancing their careers, Mendelson said. “HHS drama introduces me to a different group of people, and I can grow,” Mendelson said. “I think community theater is really important for my personal upbringing and acting pursuits. It is much more of a commitment and can be rigorous, but overall, it is a great experience.” Furthermore, because of the many benefits of extracurricular drama programs, Mendelson said HHS drama plans to incorporate similar aspects into its own program. “We are planning on doing musicals, and I think that there’s going to be so much more room for leadership,” Mendelson said. “Participation in extracurricular theater has encouraged the [HHS] program and the students to grow more.” By performing with both HHS drama and Peninsula Youth Theater, Mendelson said he has gained both leadership skills and valuable connections. “HHS is really great for community building and making friends. It is a beautiful introduction to theater because you’re in a familiar environment,” Mendelson said. “With extracurricular drama programs, it teaches you more about professional acting, and it gives you a level of intensity and responsibility you might not get from HHS.” Similarly, Jivotovski said both drama programs have benefitted her acting career, working together to help her find herself and enhance her performance, Jivotovski said. “With GIFT Theater, I’ve acted, directed and been able to express myself,” Jivotovski said. “With HHS drama, I’ve learned how to be more comfortable around people, be more confident, make friends and be myself.”

Photo by Olivia Levesque Ouellette

Students showcase the diverse skills they have learned from both HHS drama and other drama programs. PAGE DESIGN BY ELENA SHIM

8 Lifestyles

Word on the street

A look into transportation within the HHS community

Rockin’

No car? No problem Alternative methods to get around the Bay

Electric scooter

Rides

Motorcycle

“What’s fun about the motorcycle is that I can lane split, which cuts my commute time in half versus taking a car. If you get your motorcycle license, take classes to protect yourself.” - Law teacher Byron Lee

Taking the Caltrain to San Francisco

“The Caltrain is pretty fast, and you don’t have to get off it. It’s just a straight line from here to San Francisco. There’s a lot of space and plenty of room for you to choose where to sit.”

Electric unicycle

“It’s scary because it’s only one wheel, and you’re not sitting on anything so you’re standing the entire time. Once you get used to it, you realize it’s not that bad and not that scary.”

- Thomas Thornburg (12)

VTA transit: another one rides the bus

Bussing to Westfield Valley Fair

Vivian Kim, Alicia Liste and Selina Wang For students who do not drive, bike or walk to school, the VTA bus acts as an alternate form of transportation to travel to and from HHS, senior Kieu Vi O’Brien said. Although the bus can be crowded at times, O’Brien said she finds the experience to be convenient and relaxing. “I actually really enjoy taking the bus and public transit,” O’Brien said. “I usually will have friends on the bus so it’s a fun time to relax and chat or do some last-minute studying.” As an avid bus rider, junior Natalie Lo said taking the VTA bus allows her to get to and from school independently from her parents’ schedule. However, Lo said catching the bus after school can be difficult due to the large number of students it services. “When the bus comes, everyone’s been waiting for a while, and they really want to go home after a long day of school. So everyone runs toward the entrance, and people are stomped on in the process,” Lo said. “My friend actually fell over, and people were stepping on her as they were walking into the bus I had to drag her back up. It’s like ‘The Hunger Games.’ I’m fighting for my life just to get onto the bus.” Nevertheless, taking the bus is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly form of transportation, sophomore Aarav Almaula said. “You have a large number of people using one vehicle, so it is very effective for the climate,” Almau-

O’Brien, who has been taking the bus to and from HHS since freshman year, said riding public transit is practical because she lives in a zip code that qualifies for a free bus pass through FUHSD’s VTA bus pass program. “I live a little further away from HHS, about four miles away, and I can’t drive. So I either bike or bus,” O’Brien said. “Especially since the school offers free bus passes, it is just a lot easier [to take the bus].” The bus pass program offers a free monthly pass to students who reside in zip codes 94089, 94085 and 95086, assistant principal secretary Corissa Esquivel said. The pass ensures students have a reliable form of transportation to school, encouraging consistent attendance and uplifting the student body, Esquivel added. “This accessibility likely reduces stress for students by easing concerns over transportation, which in turn can support higher attendance rates and positively impact both education and overall well-being,” Esquivel said in an email. While misconceptions about bus safety and practicality can deter people from riding the bus regularly, O’Brien said it is not only a fun way to explore the city but also a unique opportunity to form human connections. “Once, I met an old man who was meeting his mom, and I thought that was really sweet. I’m able to just get to know people every now and then.” O’Brien said. “Whenever I’m on the bus, I’m usually with my friends and just talking. It’s a fun time. Even though the bus is such a public area, it still feels like a nice, safe environment.”

- Eugene Cho (12)

“It was cheap and affordable, and I only took one bus for about 30 minutes instead of having to transfer. It’s a good alternative that I would recommend. It’s relatively quick, cheap and not too slow.”

la said. “In the hours to and from Students, staff school, the two buses usually bevery crowded, so that is a mild discuss bus commute come annoyance but there is nothing too serious that leaves a negative, lastexperience ing effect.”

“As a form of transport, I don’t have to exert as much energy as biking, [and] it saves me a lot of time compared to walking. There are a lot of cars during school and traffic hours, which scootering bypasses.” - Cerie Huang (9)

Students, teachers share unique ways of getting to school

Biking to Black Mountain

“Biking with friends is fun because it is a time for everyone to hang out together, and at the end you both get a bond with friends and get exercise while seeing cool sites or exploring places.” - Tristan Le (11)

In-Depth

The Epitaph

- Enjun Zhang (12)

10.9% How students commute to campus Based on a survey of 201 students

ride the bus

“If you take the bus to school and you want to go somewhere after school, you don’t have to find a place to lock up your bike. Or, if it’s raining, your parents can pick you up. It’s more convenient.” - Robbie Elman (9)

26.9% bike

40.3%

“It’s pretty fun, but when you arrive to school, you’re really tired. I think the most interesting part is that there are a lot of weird routes you can take to school.” - Maya Yatziv (10)

drive

21.9% walk

11.9% have a driver’s license

“It’s refreshing in the morning. It was nicer during the fall and during the spring, but it’s nice being out [instead of] staying at home or driving. When I am in a rush, I usually get driven to school. Walking is not really convenient for a lot of people, especially people that live farther away.” - Aarya Patel (10)

Photo by Alicia Liste

“[Driving] is a really good way to feel independent and like you have control over where you’re going. You become less dependent on your parents and other things, which I like.” - Noga Levinson (11)

Did you know? 323 students are currently signed up for the free VTA bus pass program. Riding the VTA buses is a practical way of getting to HHS, O’Brien said.

According to an email from assistant principal secretary Corissa Esquivel

PAGE DESIGN BY VIVIAN KIM, ALICIA LISTE AND SELINA WANG

8 Lifestyles

Word on the street

A look into transportation within the HHS community

Rockin’

No car? No problem Alternative methods to get around the Bay

Electric scooter

Rides

Motorcycle

Taking the Caltrain to San Francisco

Electric unicycle

- Thomas Thornburg (12)

VTA transit: another one rides the bus

Bussing to Westfield Valley Fair

- Eugene Cho (12)

Students, teachers share unique ways of getting to school

Biking to Black Mountain

In-Depth

The Epitaph

- Enjun Zhang (12)

10.9% How students commute to campus Based on a survey of 201 students

ride the bus

26.9% bike

40.3%

“It’s pretty fun, but when you arrive to school, you’re really tired. I think the most interesting part is that there are a lot of weird routes you can take to school.” - Maya Yatziv (10)

drive

21.9% walk

11.9% have a driver’s license

Photo by Alicia Liste

Did you know? 323 students are currently signed up for the free VTA bus pass program. Riding the VTA buses is a practical way of getting to HHS, O’Brien said.

According to an email from assistant principal secretary Corissa Esquivel

PAGE DESIGN BY VIVIAN KIM, ALICIA LISTE AND SELINA WANG

10 Lifestyles

Artistic terrariums fuel learning Biology club, NAHS collaborate to host event Brian Ling and Jonathan Xue Terrariums are little pockets of an ecosystem that can be decorated and customized to the heart’s desire, biology club president, senior Soham Nanawati said. By co-hosting an event where students can make their own terrariums, biology club and National Art Honor Society aimed to teach students about ecosystems, Nanawati said. Because adequate planning is essential to ensure plants are placed properly and thrive, the process of creating terrariums teaches participants about ecology, Nanawati said. Multiple factors impact the survival rate of organisms within a terrarium such as root positioning and the organization of leaves. “A core aspect of terrariums is the life inside,” Nanawati said. “An ecosystem has alive and not alive things like rocks and soil. We’re taking those aspects and combining them together to make a mini ecosystem for plants to survive in.” Nanawati said terrariums teach students about ecology by letting them create a microcosm of an environment to observe and interact with. “Ecology is the study of living things and their relationship to the environment,” Nanawati said. “A terrarium lets people bring a small

part of an environment and living things with them, so they can experience the intersection between plants and their environment in a hands-on way.” To gather materials for the event, Nanawati said officers brought tools they had at home and foraged outside for vegetation. Participants chose from a variety of moss, sticks and leaves to curate their terrariums, Nanawati added. “There are so many methods [you] can use to unleash your creativity, and there’s so many ways to arrange it however you want,” Nanawati said. “Terrarium-making is a very personal process.” Additionally, NAHS president, senior Kevin Chang said he brought his own terrarium to decorate, in which a pet lizard resides. Due to the hands-on nature of the event, Chang said making terrariums helped students interested in biology explore their creative side, as well. “I think it’s good to get students interested in STEM to do the arts,”

Chang said. “Students can explore their creative side.” Senior Sriram Joshi said he organized available materials to depict a miniature tree growing from a field of moss. Joshi said the event allowed him to grow closer to nature, as well as reflect on his childhood, where he grew up surrounded by a forest. “The event made me reminisce about my time in India and when I would feed my pet monkey,” Joshi said. “[The terrarium] really reminds me about a time when I was much more in tune with nature and my spirituality. It’s like a memory in a jar.” When Nanawati decorated his own terrarium, he said he found it akin to building a little world. “It’s comforting,” Nanawati said. “When you’re in the city, you see all these big roads and buildings everywhere. If you have this little terrarium on your desk, it helps you connect with nature because you have these little plants that are always right next to you.”

Photo by Brian Ling

Photo by Amanda Boles

Through their terrarium-making event, biology club and NAHS aimed to teach ecology with a creative and artistic twist, Nanawati said.

A taste of Southeast Asian culture VSA, FCC reflect on recent social, future collaborations Ethan Xue Cups filled with shaved ice, coconut milk and colorful fruit jellies occupied the hands of chattering students at the Vietnamese Student Association and the newly formed Filipino Cultural Club’s joint food social. As the only Southeast Asian ethnic clubs on campus, VSA and FCC aimed to promote their cultures by sharing similar dessert staples, VSA president, senior Ian Dang said. VSA hosts monthly general meetings where students are offered free foods from the Vietnamese cuisine, as food is an effective way to promote Vietnamese culture, Dang said. “The best way to connect people is to enjoy food, and that’s why food is always a large factor in our activities,” Dang said. “For example, at Club n Grub, we sold egg rolls and also gave [them] out at our last general meeting.” In previous years, VSA’s activities primarily consisted of these

December 12, 2024

The Epitaph

meetings, with the social marking the club’s first collaborative food event, VSA social media manager and activities director, Thomas Ogi, a junior said. “Last year, we mostly hosted general meetings,” Ogi said. “This social was a unique experience for both clubs because it presented an opportunity for members to get a taste of both cultures.” Similar to VSA, FCC hosts biweekly general meetings, offering members an opportunity to experience diverse traditional activities and learn about Fillipino culture through food, FCC activities manager, sophomore Andin Williams said. Working together to host a joint event allowed both clubs to pool resources and increase student engagement, Ogi said. “It’s always good to foster collaboration,” Ogi said. “For instance, even though our clubs definitely cross over in terms of members, a lot of new members from [FCC] get to experience our club and what we do.” During the event planning process, partnership and coordination between both officer teams was seamless due to existing cultural connections between them, Williams said. “It’s been a pretty good experience,” Williams said. “We get along

Photo by Ethan Xue

VSA and FCC officers prepared cultural desserts using a plethora of ingredients, ranging from shaved ice to fruit jellies,

with them so well because we are so similar, and we are planning to do future things with them.” Ultimately, the dessert social served as a stepping stone to understanding the two cultures through their cuisines, and promoted both clubs to attendees, Dang said. “In a lot of situations, people don’t know where certain foods come from,” Dang said. “With [desserts], we wanted to bring awareness [to] our cultures and for people to be proud of and celebrate them as we do.”

Science Olympiad sets new goals Adviser, officers share club goals Elena Shim Building on its achievement of competing in an invitational competition at Stanford University last year, Science Olympiad aims for even greater accomplishments this year, adviser Samuel Fung said. The club’s success last year led to increased membership, allowing the formation of distinct JV and varsity teams, president, senior Lucia Liu said. As a returning officer, Liu said she wants to create a more warm, team-friendly environment to foster the same successful teamwork from last year. “I think having team bonding experiences during team practices is good,” Liu said. “It doesn’t have to be stringent. The officers could just be checking in with people on how they are studying, and they get a chance to laugh, tell stories and make jokes.” Despite a growing member base, secretary, junior Vedashree Singh said many students still have yet to learn about the club. Thus, Singh said the officers hope to increase club awareness through different outreach opportunities. “I want to hold fundraisers, which are good opportunities to grow membership and help raise awareness,” Singh said. Similarly, Liu said she hopes to create an outreach program where

club members can engage with middle schoolers to build a strong foundation for the club’s future. Aside from increasing the number of outreach opportunities, Singh said another one of her goals is to excel in regional competitions and secure a spot in national-level tournaments. To do so, Singh said she wants to provide club members with more competition resources, whether it be through general meetings or outreach events. “I want to support the members by using more specific resources that they can trust and help them build connections with their partners, as the work in our club is partner-oriented,” Singh said. Fung, who is the head coach, said he emphasizes the importance of diligence and collaboration to members. “Science Olympiad is not just a one-to-one competition,” Fung said. “Sometimes, it’s more than two students or a group of students [competing together], so I remind them that collaboration is very important to our success.” Additionally, through consistent communication, Fung said he ensures officers are examples for members. “I emphasize that officers have to be true leaders,” Fung said. “They must come to practices to support each other and be role models.” By fostering collaboration, Liu said she hopes the members maintain their passion for the club. “I hope we make it to the state competition,” Liu said. “We have passion and are in our growing stage, which will [help] us continue improving.”

Photo by Elena Shim

With more members, Fung (right) said he hopes the officers will enhance the club experience.

POV: A love letter to poetry Writing poetry offers opportunities for reflection Malar Raguraman To most of my peers, poetry seems to be no more than a tedious month-long unit in their English classes when they are forced to write overly dramatic prose. However, to me, it is a humble collection of random scraps I write here and there to reflect on intense emotions and ground myself. Whether it is my treasured stack of word-covered Post-its or the chaotic mess of entries in my Notes app, poetry is a crucial part of my self-expression. Unlike other forms of creativity, poetry is flexible. It can be a proclamation of long-lost love in the margins of my physics homework or a note of friendship written on the back of a Trader Joe’s receipt. The sense of freedom that writing poetry brings me is what draws me to it. However, poetry is just about self-expression or exploration but also about closure. I use poetry as a tool for my mental health, capturing my most intense emotions on paper to not only think through them but also to let go of them entirely.

I write so I never have to look Big or small, such events are alback, allowing myself to process, ways followed by bouts of writing accept and move on from traumat- poetry that allow me to find solace ic experiences that I would nor- in my web of convoluted emotions. mally spend years dwelling on. By writing poetry, I better unIn moments when intense emo- derstand my emotions, growing tions of resentment, disappoint- as an individual and finding more ment or shame get the best of me, stability within myself. Rather writing helps me ground myself. than blindly staggering toward a Through poetry, I experience “better” version of myself, poetry those feelings to their fullest and allows me to find self-acceptance release them onto paper. and appreciate my flaws. For some, taking deep breaths As a teenager, poetry allows me is calming. For me, poetry is just as to channel my intense and often critical to overcoming emotions in moody sentiments into emotionvulnerable times. al maturity. While the poetry unit Healing cannot happen through in English class might be dreaded ignorance. Before I discovered by some, being open-minded and poetry for myself, I often pushed willing to be introspective with the down my emotions. It became writing style is necessary to furmore and more difficult to sup- ther explore true self-expression. press them Photo illustration by Maya Dutt and Aashka Nagarkar when those feelings resurfaced. This created an inescapable cycle that trapped me in my own dramaticized emotions. Whether it be AP testing week, a friend’s snide comment or an o v er w hel m i n g accumulation of insecurities, poetry helps me get through my negative experiPoetry allows me to reflect on my emotions, ences. enabling personal growth and acceptance.

PAGE DESIGN BY JASON LAI AND MACKIE VU

December 12, 2024

Lifestyles

The Epitaph

A pencil does more than just write Small objects bring charm to my daily life Amanda Boles COLUMN – A pencil might seem insignificant to most people, but for me, it has come to mean a lot more than just a typical Dixon Ticonderoga #2. I have collected stationery for half my life. At this point, my love for pens, stickers and other trinkets has become one of my defining traits. My go-to is a thin and pearly white Uni Alpha Gel mechanical

pencil. The pencil’s silver nib never digs into my fingers, and its soft grip hugs my skin as the 2B lead glides smoothly across the paper. However, stationery offers much more than the intricate engineering of a high-quality mechanical pencil or the beautiful shades of ink colors. When I write, my pencil is akin to a reliable friend who provides a much-needed feeling of familiarity in my hand. I know it will not break, which is reassuring during stressful situations. Having a small item

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- Claire Lee (11) “I’m looking forward to going to winter formal this year because I’ve never gone in previous years. I plan to meet up with my friends and have a pretty relaxed night.” - Han Wu (12) “I am mostly looking forward to fact that its a venue dance because it is the only one [available] to freshmen and sophomores. Not being at school elevates the whole experience.” - Lily Li (10)

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Photo by Catherine Yang

Infographic by Catherine Yang

that I can appreciate, such as my pencil, brings me an unexpected sense of comfort. Whether it be a friend’s gift or even a weirdly shaped rock with a smiley face drawn on, these seemingly unassuming items can all

revive good memories at a glance. Everytime I pick up my pencil, I am reminded that my mom gifted it to me. It makes me smile because I know she has me in mind wherever she goes, especially when she is at a stationery store. One of the best parts about these small objects is their size. Aside from being cute and pocket-sized, these objects are also incredibly convenient to carry with me. I can always bring a case full of my favorite pens with me,

but a full-size IKEA Blåhaj shark toy might be a bit of a stretch. Anywhere I go, various colors of ink travel in my bag as well. Their vibrance compels me to study and draw out new ideas. I can always count on my favorite pencil to be present, reminding me to open my sketchbook. Oftentimes, I forget to make time for my favorite hobby, art. Having my pencil with me serves as a visual cue to draw every now and then. Finding a companion, even an inanimate one, sparks joy and cultivates a greater appreciation of small things. A singular pencil may seem insignificant, but it ties me to my values and is a staple of my daily life.

New club climbs to success Climbing club fosters bonds through sport Catherine Yang, Madeleine Yee and Kaylin Yi Although not a common sport among students, the new climbing club seeks to bring a community of climbers together, co-president, sophomore Khasar Baoerjiin said. “We started the club because we noticed that [climbing] is a growing sport. It’s fun and social, and it’s a good way to meet new people,” Baoerjiin said. “We felt like HHS deserved to have its own climbing club.” Co-president, sophomore Ashley Chao said the club aims to take a more holistic approach to building community. “[Climbing] is unique in that it’s more about the community rather than the actual sport,” Chao said. Letting students who are interested in climbing know they have a group of similar people to turn to for help is the main focus of the club, Chao said. Sophomore Naveen Badrinath said he joined the club because he had enjoyed climbing in the past and wanted to get back into the sport. “I really like activities [that are] out in nature, so I enjoy that aspect [of climbing],” Badrinath said. “It’s also a good sport because it re-

quires a lot of strength, and I can hang out with friends.” Moreover, co-president, sophomore Milo Broward said the officer team encountered several challenges during the club formation process. “There were a few road bumps because ASB had some complaints about feasibility, organization and liability, such as who would be responsible if there was an injury,” Broward said. “But we talked to them, made the socials not ASB-affiliated and were able to get our club approved, even though we had to work it out with [ASB].” Another problem the officers faced was the club’s adviser not being able to supervise them outside of school hours, Chao said. This created a challenge, as the club was unable to host official socials without an adviser, Chao added. To address this, the club plans

to organize unsupervised meetups unaffiliated with ASB, which will be more similar to social gatherings with friends, Chao said. “We will focus more on meetings during school hours, but outside of school, we’re letting our members know that [they] can reach out to the officers or any of the members of the club,” Chao said. Overall, the club presidents have been able to work out issues through communication, Broward said. Looking forward, climbing club hopes to expand its community by encouraging more students to try the sport, Baoerjiin said. The club will help teach students about climbing, Baoerjiin added. “We want to make a community,” Broward said. “We want people to start climbing together because it helps them improve [their climbing skills] and make friends.” Photo Courtesy of Khasar Baoerjiin

The new climbing club aims to expose more people to climbing because of the fun social benefits the sport presents, Baoerjiin said.

Quiz Bowl offers more than just competition Officers discuss unique club atmosphere Alan Zhang Hands shake the table as Quiz Bowl members buzz in to answer questions as they are read aloud. In one corner of room A207, laughter erupts as a group conjures a ridiculous response and others huddle together, discussing potential answers. Despite being a competition-based club, Quiz Bowl aims to broaden its focus and create an enjoyable experience for its members by hosting more relaxed meetings and creating a flexible selection of topics, activities director, junior Shannon Kunz said. “Everyone’s here to have fun,” Kunz said. “We have our competitive sides occasionally, and go to competitions, but the actual meetings are just a really fun place

where people get to hang out and answer questions.” Most members attend meetings for the laid-back atmosphere, president, junior Sonali Wake said. However, a small and more dedicated group of members are more involved in the club, competing in tournaments throughout the year, Wake added. To prepare for such tournaments, members study obscure facts and test their knowledge during club meetings, Kunz said. Quiz Bowl tournaments allow students to display knowledge that goes beyond typical school subjects, treasurer, junior Vivek Athavale said. While core subjects like physics and history are covered, more niche topics, such as pop culture and sports, are also included, Athavale added. “I went to a couple of meetings, and they were asking random questions. I like learning about random things, so I started playing more and attending tournaments. Now I’m an officer and on the varsity

competing in her first tournaments team, so it’s pretty fun,” Athavale munity, and you grow close,” Wake brought her closer to her peers. said. said. “That was the first time I’d “You’re with your team of four ever done something like that or Due to the wide variety of topto six people for the whole day. It ics presented in competitions, Quiz hung out with people for that long fosters a really nice sense of comBowl members can participate and I’ve not gotten sick of them.” without having specialized knowledge, Wake said. “You could literally know something, about anything and there’s going to be a Quiz Bowl question about that,” Wake said. “There will be a question about ‘America’s Got Talent,’ ‘Naruto’ or physics, so I feel like as long as you know anything, you can have some fun.” Because success in Quiz Bowl requires extensive Photo by Alan Zhang teamwork, Wake Quiz bowl has a unique and relaxed atmosphere, Kunz (second from left) said. said her experience

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Arts and Culture Page 12

The Epitaph

December 12, 2024

Bring back animated superhero shows Recent animated superhero media lacks originality Aashka Nagarkar When I was younger, I would sit in front of the television and watch animated superhero TV shows. My favorite was “Justice League Unlimited,” the final installment in the DC Animated Universe or DCAU, for short. I enjoyed watching these shows because they blended a classic comic book art style with storytelling that combined action and diverse topics. However, major superhero movie corporations have begun shifting away from animated shows and films, allocating most

of their funding toward live-action universes. Although DC Studios has attempted to recreate the success of the DCAU with new animated TV shows such as “My Adventures With Superman” and “Batman: Caped Crusader,” these shows do not evoke the same nostalgia of the classic DCAU shows. ‘‘My Adventures With Superman” features an art style that resembles manga rather than the original comic book style. The styles of current animated shows are inconsistent with their comic book roots, straying from the aesthetic that originally gave them appeal. On the other hand, while “Batman: Caped Crusader” is illustrated in the classic DCAU style, the show still lacks an engaging storyline. Compared to the older “Batman the Animated Series,” “Batman: Caped Crusader”

is more gritty and less familyfocused. Additionally, classic animated superhero media delved deep into serious topics in a format accessible to all age groups. The DCAU produced episodes such as “The Winning Edge” from the 1999 “Batman Beyond,” which revolved around substance abuse. Unfortunately, more recent animated media displays such matters in a way that is inaccessible or inappropriate for the younger audiences that the DCAU caters to. For example, in the third season of ‘‘Young Justice,” the issue of human trafficking plays a pivotal role in the storyline. Although the show attempts to spread awareness about human trafficking, it fails to educate younger audiences due to the many scenes with graphic violence.

These scenes detract from the overarching issue and risk traumatizing younger audiences instead of appropriately informing them. The DCAU was what started my love for superheroes and comic books. Instead of increasing the size of live-action

cinematic universes, major comic book corporations must focus on bringing back nostalgic animated universes by creating content that stays true to the original artstyle and accurately conveys societal messages with depth.

Illustration by Malar Raguraman

The DCAU engages a wide range of audiences, through impactful storytelling.

‘Wicked’ gains wicked approval

Gaming in anger is gaming made useless

Crowd favorite is released with a new twist

Gaming habits must be surveyed, improved

Isabela Guilardi Inspired by the beloved musical, “Wicked” is an extraordinary film that introduces a new level of character and visual representation development rarely found in current media. Released on Nov. 22, the movie transports viewers to the Land of Oz, where the origin story of Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, is told. The film begins when Elphaba, an outcast, is unexpectedly accepted into the prominent Shiz University, where she forms an unlikely friendship with queen-bee Glinda, played by Ariana Grande. When Elphaba discovers she is Glinda’s roommate, the two get off to a rocky start. While Elphaba wants a simple and peaceful start to her new room, Glinda clutters the space and drowns Elphaba in her luscious, pink glam. This scene sets the stage for the differences the pair will have in overcome. However, their subtle rivalry begins to evolve into a more genuine friendship throughout the film. For example, at a school event, Elphaba performs an interpretive dance in front of everyone. Despite being ridiculed and shunned by her classmates, Elphaba continues dancing, and Glinda joins her. This scene serves as a pivotal moment in their friendship, as Glinda empathizes with Elphaba

and looks past her outward appearance and reputation. Heartfelt moments like this are what make the movie shine, as it captures a new level of empathy and fortitude between the two. Additionally, “Wicked” displays significant character development within both Elphaba and Glinda as they learn and understand each other’s differences, thickening the plot in the most captivating way. Despite Elphaba’s initial struggles with her outward appearance, her friendship with Glinda helps ignite her confidence as she ultimately embraces the title of The Wicked Witch of the West. Meanwhile, Glinda evolves from a stereotypical dumb blonde into an empathetic individual after sympathizing with Elphaba’s challenges, all while remaining true to her aesthetic. I truly loved watching the development of their friendship as it showcases the power of sisterhood and a grounding relationship.

Additionally, the colors and costumes play a major part in representing unique characters within the film. The enchanting and glamorous clothing perfectly captures Glinda’s trendy personality, while the more simple black and green tones represent Elphaba’s peculiarity. These strategic choices not only advance the story but also allow viewers to understand the characters in a direct, dynamic way. “Wicked” features riveting visuals and songs, all while skillfully developing its characters in a thoroughly enjoyable way. It’s safe to say “Wicked” came back to wow the crowd with a new level of artistry through iconic aesthetic, catchy songs and meaningful symbolism. Overall, I strongly believe everyone should consider watching this movie. It’d be wicked not to. Movie: “Wicked.” Grade: A+. Rated PG-13. Watch in theaters.

Illustration by Amanda Boles

Photo from Universal Pictures

Elphaba and Glinda come together as their two worlds collide, displaying power in their unlikely friendship.

Parth Dhaulakhandi COLUMN – I furiously unmute my mic on a Discord call, screaming at my friend who had somehow blundered a Fortnite victory royale because of fall damage. I feel my pent-up anger released through what are meant to be playful insults, but my aggressive tone blurs between teasing and anger. While playing video games, especially with friends, I find myself deeply engaged with the g a m e p l a y. Coordination and focus engross my senses, and I lose track of my surroundings as the game’s objective transforms into my only objective. Getting absorbed into gameplay is what makes gaming so fun. It is a distraction from the stressful aspects of my life. However, gaming includes a fair share of high-pressure moments. Unfortunately, the stress of such moments often blinds me, making it easy to act in a needlessly aggressive manner.

I find myself getting into intense arguments with my friends for trivial reasons from simple mistakes to game-ending fiascos. Although I assume everyone understands the playful nature of these arguments, the heat of the moment makes it easy to cross the line between joking and rudeness. Along with its potential to harm friendships, the constantly fluctuating stress levels leave me drained. Even without overindulgence, the energy required to sustain a fun gaming session leaves me lethargic afterward as opposed to my expectations for a reinvigorating experience. Gaming is not a negative experience by itself, but losing yourself to its adrenaline-inducing moments can transform it into one. To counteract possible negative consequences, I take occasional breaks and actively keep my temper in check. Depending on the severity of the situation, it may be best to take a break from the parts of gaming that trigger irrational reactions. For the sake of mental and social wellness, making sure your gaming sessions are not too immersive is vital. After all, a simple misclick of a button should not hurt a friendship.

‘Shawn’ explores the overlap between love and pain Shawn Mendes holds nothing back in newest album Malar Raguraman Growing up in the 2010s, Shawn Mendes’s music was inescapable, with mega hits such as “Señorita” and “Treat You Better” catapulting him into fame. However, since reaching the peak of his career, his celebrity status has been pushed further into the spotlight of hostile public speculation as his music becomes less openly celebrated. Released on Nov. 15, Mendes’s newest album “Shawn” unmasks the multitude of emotions associ-

ated with his rise and fall in fame, both mourning and celebrating his flaws in the most vulnerable and honest way. Throughout the album, it becomes clear that it was not written to target a certain audience. What makes “Shawn” so alluring is that it stays true to being nothing more than a reflective project. The album culminates with intense feelings that have clearly been held back as Mendes finally lets out his mourning for a close friend’s death in the track “Heart of Gold” and his confusion with almost becoming a father in “Why Why Why.” With little surprises, whether that be a ukulele solo in “That’ll be the Day” or scratchy violin in “Hallelujah,” the album sprinkles in just enough spice to capture me in the emotional chaos bubbling

underneath its soft and tranquil exterior. “Shawn” heavily relies on guitar and foundational drums, but the primary element of each song is Mendes’s vocals. By implementing a mellow backing track that never overshadows his voice, the deeply confessional feel to his album gives both him and the listener space to reflect. To me, “Shawn” feels like a lullaby, a night swim or a walk in the rain. Every song is soothing in a quietly poetic way. However, with such a primary focus on reflection, many individual songs in “Shawn” are incredibly similar in instrumentation, making each track indistinguishable from the next. Strangely enough, Mendes’s thoughtful choice of maintaining a consistent feel and overall sound

Album: “Shawn.” gives the album a unique and coGrade: B+. hesive identity without feeling reArtist: Shawn Mendes. petitive. “Shawn” may not exPhoto from Billboard plore novel and innovative sounds, but that is not a bad thing. Mendes does not try anything new with this album, yet that allows him to give space to what is clearly new for him: brutal honesty. “Shawn” was not a widely received album, a sign that the world has moved on from Mendes and decided to skip over his newfound crisis maturity. However, I am grateful that no one has stopped to listen because that is what allows “Shawn” to “Shawn” steps away from pop-infused music feel personal to me. and embraces a reflective folk feel.

PAGE DESIGN BY ANNIE GUO

December 12, 2024

Arts & Culture 13

The Epitaph

‘GNX’ races to be the ‘Moana 2’: a wave of disappointment lacks best album of the year Sequel cohesive storyline, Lamar spotlights smaller artists in new album

Sachin Chandran It was 11 a.m. on a Friday morning when I heard a ping from my back pocket. Taking out my phone, I saw an unbelievable notification: “New release for you: ‘GNX’ by Kendrick Lamar.” Released on Nov. 22, Lamar’s sixth studio album is a wonderful surprise. “GNX” showcases some of Lamar’s most thought-provoking work in years, creating ear-grabbing hits that have endless replay value. Through his perfect catalog of reflective albums, Lamar has shaped how I view both myself and the world around me. This trend of introspection is continued on “GNX” with stellar production from executive producers Sounwave, DJ Mustard and Jack Antonoff. The most novel aspect of “GNX” is its spotlight on lesser-known artists from Lamar’s hometown of Los Angeles. This motif is showcased in the two-part song “tv off,” featuring rapper Lefty Gunplay.

Photo from the Daily Bruin

Thoughtful tales and West Coast bops make “GNX” very engaging.

Fun and addicting tracks like “tv off ” deviate from Lamar’s style and add energy to the project, making it more replayable than some of his previous albums. By incorporating underground artists, Lamar creates opportunities for smaller artists that could lead to the creation of successful music careers. My favorite track on the album, “reincarnated,” features some of the best songwriting Lamar has ever released. In this song, Lamar describes his relationship with two musicians, believing he is their reincarnation as the musicians turn to gluttony and substance abuse because of their traumatic upbringing. The end of this track serves as the peak of the album, which occurs as Lamar has a chilling conversation with God about breaking the cycle of pain formed by his previous incarnations. This intricate, self-reflective storytelling is what originally made me a fan of Lamar, and seeing him continually open up to his audience with meaningful lyrics is inspiring. While each song in “GNX” works well on its own, one issue with the album is the lack of an overall message. Each of Lamar’s previous albums have a clear concept, but “GNX” feels like a collection of good songs rather than an overarching story. Despite “GNX” lacking cohesion, this album demonstrates how Lamar continues to innovate his sound and add classic projects to his belt while giving back to smaller artists in his community. I hope “GNX” inspires others to step out of their comfort zone and explore smaller artists, just as Lamar has inspired me. Album: “GNX.” Grade: A. Artist: Kendrick Lamar

enticing characters Evelyn Wang

Malar Raguraman

video editing. By cutting off guests mid-laugh with haphazardly inserted footage of the chicken shop, the show optimizes the humor of Dimoldenberg’s clumsy interactions and shrewd insults. The show is forthright about its lack of authentic romance. Despite her assertions that every episode is a genuine date, Dimoldenberg clearly puts on a performance, elongating every pause and perfecting her nonchalant deliverance of each nonsensical question. Dimoldenberg crafts an awkward personality, teasing her guests in a way that makes me laugh. However, in Dimoldenberg’s viral episode with Andrew Garfield, which released Oct. 18 and followed a string of red carpet meet-cutes, Garfield’s dry wit and Dimoldenberg’s intentionally unimpressed attitude couldn’t mask

ration by Is Illust ab

ela

I often find myself mindlessly scrolling through Instagram or YouTube, with each video clip becoming more tasteless and crude than the last. However, this changed when I encountered the wholesome and witty humor of “Chicken Shop Date,” a YouTube interview show hosted by British comedian Amelia Dimoldenberg. With interviews set as dates in local chicken shops, the show’s humble environment, paired with Dimoldenberg’s flirtatious banter, gives each interview a charm that had me hooked. With celebrity guests i rd such as Jack Harlow, la ui Cher and Jennifer Lawrence, “Chicken Shop Date,” which began in 2014, perfectly encapsulates the awkwardness of first dates. Whether asking the Jonas brothers how they met or spraying herself with copious amounts of Billie Eilish’s perfume in front of Eilish, Dimoldenberg explores the quirks of dating. “Chicken Shop Date” sees no value in explaining itself, and it quickly jumps from one discus- Dimoldenberg’s awkward dynamic with guests amuses viewers. sion to the next through compact

film offers no explanation as to why and how this occurs, suggesting it is a mere plot convenience and a result of lazy writing. Plagued with unexplained details and an underdeveloped backstory, the plot left me so uninterested I was scrolling on my phone in the theater. While “Moana” was known for its exceptional soundtrack, composer Lin-Manuel Miranda’s absence was sorely felt within the songs of “Moana 2,” which are mediocre at best. For instance, while Maui’s “Can I get a Chee Hoo” successfully highlights Samoan cultural traditions, its attempt to emulate the iconic “You’re Welcome” from “Moana” falls short, failing to capture the same charm and wit that made the original song so memorable. The songs aren’t terrible, but they are boring — a microcosm of the film as a whole. While “Moana 2” offers quippy dialogue and interesting visuals that younger audiences may enjoy, the movie leaves anyone with even a half-developed frontal lobe uninterested.

From its compelling character arcs to its deep exploration of Polynesian culture, Disney’s “Moana” set a high bar for any follow-up. However, “Moana 2,” released on Nov. 27, falls completely short. With a rushed plot and poor character development, the sequel lacks the heartfelt magic that made the original unforgettable. Several characters are introduced in the sequel, including Moana’s new crewmates and Matangi, a bat-themed demigoddess and the secondary antagonist. Matangi is a significant character in the story, as she introduces the movie’s main lesson: it is important to take risks and “get lost” in the process of finding yourself. However, despite Matangi’s seemingly prominent role in the first half of the film, she disappears for the rest of the movie, leaving her character arc completely unMovie: “Moana 2.” finished. Grade: D. Rated PG. The trend of poor character deWatch in theaters. velopment extends to characters, making it impossible for me to Photo from Disney feel emotionally invested in their journeys and the plot. By the end of the film, I found myself unable to remember a majority of the characters’ names. Many of them, especially Moana’s crewmates, are a waste of screen time and offer little substance aside from the occasional humorous comment. The poor storytelling in “Moana 2” leaves movie-goers searching for explanations.

Finding true love in a chicken shop ‘Chicken Shop Date’ revels in being no more than a show

Despite its forgettable and underdeveloped characters, “Moana 2” could have been saved by a compelling storyline. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Moana’s journey centers around her goal to reunite the people of the ocean, which requires her to set foot on Motufetu, an island that was sunken by an evil storm god, Nalo. However, the details surrounding the mythology of Motufetu quickly become murky. It is neither made clear how Nalo sinking Motufetu contributes to the growth of his powers nor explained why a human must step foot on the island to break this curse. The main conflict and its implications are unclear due to the lack of a strong backstory, making the movie’s developments and major plot points seem trivial. This lack of intention not only detracts from my emotional investment in the film, but also leaves the plot feeling hollow and poorly thought out. Apart from the movie’s lack of background, there are also several ignored details. Specifically, at the end of the film, Moana briefly dies and is resurrected with a tattoo on her arm. While the event seems to imply that she becomes a demigod, the

their mutual attraction. Throughout the episode, their back and forth seems to pull apart Dimoldenberg’s carefully crafted mask as she tries to regain her composure. Unlike other episodes, the juxtaposition between reality and show was what made Garfield and Dimoldenberg’s chemistry culpable. Bluntly direct with their feelings while heavily leaning into the playful nature of the show, their swordplay left me unsure of what was real and what wasn’t, making me invested in their relationship. However, this leads to the question of whether “Chicken Shop Date” is held back by its adherence to fake dating. When there is real attraction, the blurred line between real and fake adds to the hilarity of each episode. Yet it is unfair to expect Dimoldenberg to find chemistry with every guest. Whether or not Dimoldenberg finds her Prince Charming in a fast-food restaurant, nibbling on chicken nuggets, I will stay true to “Chicken Shop Date,” waiting for the moments Dimoldenberg’s cheeky and earnest self shines through from under her amusingly awkward and critical surface.

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PAGE DESIGN BY AASHKA NAGARKAR

Sports Page 14

The Epitaph

Sports medicine program enhances student-athlete care Internship teaches rehabilitation, injury prevention Alicia Liste, Malar Raguraman and Helen Tam Boasting a team of more than 20 interns, the sports medicine internship program allows students to take a glimpse into the world of athletic injury rehabilitation and prevention, athletic trainer Daniel Yusim said. The interns’ responsibilities range from learning how to handle worst-case injury scenarios to providing hydration at sports games, Yusim said. Alongside fellow interns, junior Macie Bond said she has learned how to identify and treat injuries through strengthening exercises, preventative taping and equipment use. “I’ve been thinking about being a physical therapist as a career, and I thought [joining this internship] would be a good experience,” Bond said. “I’m learning more about anatomy and what certain exercises would look like in practice. I think it’s very helpful, and it’s giving me an idea of what my future job might look like.” Although participating in the program does not offer any graduation credits or volunteer hours, Bond said the valuable experiences and knowledge she

has gained make her efforts worthwhile. “I’ve learned more teamwork skills because you have to work with the other interns and more people skills because you have to socialize and make connections,” Bond said. “[The program] gives me a reason to do something else outside of school. I’m not going home and scrolling on my phone anymore. I’m helping other people.” Returning intern Ingrid Gomard said making a consistent time commitment to the volunteerbased program is key. “You spend a lot of time in the training room building off of each other’s knowledge,” Gomard, a senior, said. “You have to ask a lot of questions because there is no set script or textbook on what to read and what to follow. The more time you spend on learning from the internship, the more you get out of it.” Yusim said the internship is a mutually beneficial program, as interns help alleviate the chaos of a busy training room while improving their social and medical knowledge. “[The interns] get to learn through on-the-job training in terms of what they’re capable of doing and what an athletic trainer does,” Yusim said. “It gives them good life skills to work on: being empathetic, taking care of athletes and being willing to help out other people. As the only athletic trainer here and having hundreds of athletes, interns are a vital tool to help provide the best care we can for our student-athletes.”

Pinning down new recruits

Larger wrestling team is more competitive

Danielle Feldsher, Jonathan Xue, Kaylin Yi and Alan Zhang Due to increased freshmen interest and improved marketing efforts, the wrestling team increased in size by over 30%, head coach Lenis Brown said. The larger team size allows players to compete more effectively against league opponents, Brown said. The small roster in the previous season mostly resulted from miscommunication during the transition of coaches, leading to a large portion of wrestlers getting sick, assistant coach Monica Villa said. “The team was unusually small, [and] we were also battling skin infections,” Villa said. “Because we were changing coaches, the new coaches were not informed of the lack of proper cleaning supplies, so wrestlers sometimes got sick.” Due to the lower number of

players in the previous season, weight classes. The new members the team dropped a level in their will help fill these weight classes, league. As a result, recruiting new so the team will no longer need to members was a huge priority for forfeit competitions, Tsao said. “We also have more training this season, captain Lila Tsao said. “We got some new freshmen on partners,” Tsao said. “It’s hard the team by putting up some post- to work with someone if they’re ers and advertising on Instagram,” heavier or lighter, so it helps that Tsao, a junior, said. “Some people we have more partners for everyone.” even got their friends to join.” Practicing with players of simAlthough the team has grown in size, new wrestlers are inexpe- ilar weights is now possible with rienced, which may lead to a de- the larger team, Brown said. “Hopefully, the team gains mocrease in the overall record, senior Noam Kofman said. However, they mentum to improve even further,” will also gain the necessary expe- Brown said. rience to return next Photo by Kaylin Yi year and contribute to an even stronger team, Kofman said. “Having more people adds motivation when practices get hard,” Kofman said. “It’s great to have people beside you who are also suffering yet coming together.” Tsao said in the previous season, the team had to forfeit The larger team will be able to compete in multiple matches due more weight classes, which should lead to a to a lack of eligible competitors in several better record, Tsao (above) said.

New assistant coach stirs passion Ramones brings energy, support to varsity girls basketball team Annika Abraham, Annie Guo, Malar Raguraman and Selina Wang

Photo by Malar Raguraman

Applications for the sports medicine internship program are released in the spring, Bond (right) said.

December 12, 2024

Driven by a passion to guide the varsity girls basketball team, new assistant coach Aenah Ramones joined the coaching staff this season, head coach Megan Fong said. Ramones helped the team during their summer pre-season and was eventually asked to stay as a permanent member of the coaching staff, Ramones said. The basketball program was searching for new additions who would positively influence the athletes, Fong said. Although Ramones is new to coaching, her willingness to put time and effort into helping the team makes her well-suited for the position, Fong said. Ramones said she began playing basketball in third grade and ultimately stepped into the role

“She brings energy and really because of her life-long passion for motivates me and my teammates the sport. “I like the idea of a team sport to do better,” Ofek said. “She really where you can make friends while helps our team gain momentum, also having similar goals,” Ra- especially when we are losing and mones said. “The cool thing with feeling down.” As the season moves forward, basketball is that it [requires] both your physical and mental capaci- Ramones said she is excited to ty. Having that challenge is really watch the growth and developexciting, but it’s also very difficult, ment of the team. “I love basketball. When I saw which makes me love the sport.” Despite only joining the team the team during their first practhis season, Fong said she appre- tice, I saw how the girls shared ciates the upbeat energy that Ra- the same passion for basketball,” Ramones said. “What I hope to mones contributes. achieve is to be that positive pres“She brings a lot of positivience in the room.” ty to the team. She likes to cheer loudly, and that’s something that we Photo by Selina Wang really need because sometimes we’re a quiet team,” Fong said, “I think [the players] also appreciate having an adult female mentor as someone to look up to.” Similarly, shooting guard, senior Lior Ofek said Ramones helps inspire players during hardships Ramones (right) said her interest in basketball by establishing from an early age sparked her desire to coach a positive atmosphere. the team.

CCS-qualified fall sports’ players reflect on season Helen Tam This fall, four teams competed at the CCS championships. Girls tennis: Varsity girls tennis finished with a record of 14-0, placing them first in their league, coach Jackie Lam said. The team reached the second round of CCS, Lam said. Due to their performance this season, the team will move up to the De Anza league next year, Lam said. Their success was built upon bonding events that allowed the girls to grow closer, Lam said. “We had water balloon fights, made friendship bracelets while watching the U.S. Open together and went on team trips,” Lam said. As the season ends, Lam said the team is looking forward to competing in the De Anza league. “Although we are losing seven seniors, I am confident that our

team will still be competitive in the De Anza [league] next year,” Lam said. “Many of the returning players, both JV and varsity, have assured me that they will work hard and practice in the offseason to improve their skills and stay prepared for next season.” Boys water polo: Varsity boys water polo finished first in their league with a record of 11-3, coach David Dour said. Ultimately, they lost in the first round of CCS, Dour said. Dour said the team overcame many obstacles by holding consistent practices and keeping a positive mindset. “Many new varsity players stepped up and improved over the season to help us win,” Dour said. “One of our biggest problems was repeating mistakes over and over and not learning from them, but more practice helped [alleviate] this problem.” Looking forward to next season,

Dour said the players are excited to play against tougher opponents in a higher league next season. Girls volleyball: Varsity girls volleyball finished third in their league with a record of 8-4, making it to CCS finals, coach Daniel Neri said. The team’s chemistry played a significant role in their success this season, Neri said. “I don’t think there are many teams in our league that have the same type of chemistry as ours did,” Neri said. “It was truly high level and gave us the footing we needed to compete with the best.” This season, Neri said the team had to overcome their biggest hurdle: their height. “It’s undeniable that height is an absolute in volleyball,” Neri said. “In the end, height played a pivotal role when going against the top teams in California, and it’s something we need to deal with better moving forward.”

Field hockey: to us finalizing our place in CCS,” This season, the varsity field Patel said. “The team is like a big hockey team was undefeated family.” with a record of 12-0, granting them the title of league champions, center-mid, senior Leela Patel said. However, the team lost to Willow Glen High School during the third round of CCS, Patel said. The team’s success can be attributed to the strong bonds the girls had with each other, Patel said. “There Photo collage by Helen Tam was not a Linnaea Moore, Ryan Anton, Zoya Lou and Victoria Mcsingle player Clean (from left to right) contributed to securing their who didn’t contribute teams’ spots in CCS.

PAGE DESIGN BY MALAR RAGURAMAN

December 12, 2024

Sports

The Epitaph

WHAT IS a SKILL YOU ARE working on improving THIS SEASON?

boys Soccer “I am working on possessing the ball and my overall offensive capabilities. I’m also trying to be a more teamand role-oriented player.” – Aiden Sung (12)

0-2-1

Sneak peek ... Head coach Adam Clarke said he hopes to highlight new talent this season by showcasing newcomers who may have been overlooked.

1-1-0

Girls Soccer

Photo by Henry Hu

“One thing I’m working to improve on is being more proactive and aware of my space on the field. That way, I know what I’m going to do when I get the ball.” – Kaelyn Walukiewicz (10)

Sneak peek ...This season, Walukiewicz said she aims to continue the legacy of success left by previous players.

0-0

Wrestling

Photo by Aashka Nagarkar

“Last year, I was winning a lot of points, but I wasn’t feeling really dominant. This season, I want to end the matches quickly, pin people [and] put people on their back.” – Suleyman Yanik (11)

Sneak peek ... Senior Noam Kofman said captains junior Suleyman Yanik and junior Lila Tsao play an integral role on the team, as they lead by example and encourage hard work.

1-0

Boys Basketball

Photo by Kaylin Yi

“This season, I’m looking to improve on my shooting as well as my play-making. I want to help set my teammates up for success.” – Joshua Lim (11)

Sneak peek ...Lim said he is looking forward to the game on Jan. 22 against FHS and hopes the student body will show support by attending.

Girls Basketball

1-2 Photo by Sachin Chandran

“I’m trying to improve on my shooting skills. Also, when I get the ball, I want to take on the defender one-on-one when I can.” – Lior Ofek (12)

Sneak peek ... This season, assistant coach George Kuo said the team plans to compete with a more fast-paced attitude and treat every game as equally important. Records updated as of Dec. 4

Photo by Sachin Chandran

*Record includes out-of-league games

Danica Lim dribbles her way to Athlete of the Month Senior thrives under pressure Sachin Chandran Basketball is a sport that places immense pressure on individual players, especially those serving as the primary ball handler, head coach Megan Fong said. However, Fong said point guard, senior Danica Lim accepted this responsibility as a sophomore, embracing the challenge with enthusiasm and determination. “[Her sense of ] pressure and responsibility helps her not get nervous or scared [in] certain mo-

ments,” Fong said. “Looking back [at] her whole career, I think all that pressure she handled really helped her stay calm during those moments.” Lim, who began playing basketbal in second grade, said she was inspired by her older sister and father, both of whom played basketball when they were younger. However, familial motivation is not the only reason she has stuck to the sport, Lim said “I really enjoy the competitiveness [of basketball],” Lim said. “I’m a really competitive person, and I like bonding with others. I also have this dependence on myself because I [know I] have to do things on my own.” As an integral part of the team,

Lim showcases her leadership to everyone she interacts with, guard, sophomore Hope Yin said. When Yin began basketball tryouts in her freshman year, Lim took Yin under her wing as both a leader and friend, teaching her many valuable lessons, Yin said. “She was really nice to me when I first started,” Yin said. “I’ve known her since I was five, so it was nice having someone I knew. She was really positive and helped me get to know everyone.” Although it often takes time to become a skilled leader, Fong said Lim has had a strong voice since her freshman year on the JV team. “Even when she was younger, she already had that quality to her,” Fong said. “She’s gotten a lot

more confident, and athletically, she’s gotten better and quicker.” During her years on the team, Lim said she has learned to stay positive both on and off the court. “After thinking about the bad, I always look at the good and reflect on myself,” Lim said. “When something comes around that’s challenging in my life, I’m able to reflect on it and work to improve myself in the future.”

Photo by Sachin Chandran

Despite initially struggling with confidence, Lim said she has learned to trust herself. PAGE DESIGN BY ELLA CHAN AND KAYLIN YI

16 Spotlight

December 12, 2024

The Epitaph

Students reflect on holiday traditions, media

TO tr ADIT N I W O IO N D N S WI Students share

Turning up holiday jingles What is your favorite traditional holiday song?

unique holiday traditions

*curtain rack

pudding on fire

“This tradition [of setting our pudding on fire] originated in England and there are mentions of it in English Christmas books. My dad brought it to our family because he’s English. [The Christmas pudding] has an intense, malty flavor and I’m not particularly fond of it. We set it on fire after pouring brandy over it. We also open Christmas crackers [by standing] in a circle, crossing our arms and pulling [the crackers] apart. It makes a noise when you pull them apart and there is a toy inside.”

- Sonali Wake (11)

“Deck the Halls” - 9.3%

om fr

214 students

“Let it Snow”

- 24.8%

Da t

f ey o urv as

“Carol of the Bells” - 16.8%

caroling for cans “This month, Key Club is doing ‘Caroling for Cans,’ an event where members go around the neighborhood and sing Christmas carols in exchange for cans. It’s a canned food drive where members make flyers and staple them onto bags. A week before the event, officers distribute bags to houses in the HHS neighborhood. We organize drivers to carry the canned goods while we carol around the neighborhood. ‘Caroling for Cans’ is one of our annual events and a HHS specialty.”

“Rudoplh the Red Nose Reindeer”

- 13.1%

What is your favorite non-traditional holiday song? “I like corny songs that are romantic, and ‘Last Christmas’ has that aspect infused with the Christmas jolly spirit. I [especially] like the chorus because it’s very romantic and catchy.” - Ian Yoon (12)

Photo from Spotify

“Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ brings back lots of fond memories and is very nostalgic. I remember singing it with friends as a kid. For me, the song is about connecting over the holiday spirit. Its upbeat, cheery rhythm helps make it very lively.” - Vincent Wang (11)

Photo from Pinterest

Photo courtesy of Lucia Liu

“Frosty the Snowman” - 8.4%

“12 Days of Christmas” - 7.5%

- Lucia Liu (12)

Photo by Maya Dutt

“Jingle Bells”

sparking diversity through festive films Photo from Apple TV

Photo from TV Movie Vaults

Photo Stone RollingStone fromRolling Photofrom

thanksgiving

hanukkah

Krisha

eight crazy nights

holiday heritage

Adam Sandler’s “Crazy Eight Nights” is a 2002 animation that follows a troublemaker, Davey Stone, throughout the eight nights of Hanukkah. For any fans of Sandler’s humor, there will be plenty of laughs. However, the jokes often overshadow the movie’s emotional moments, which unfortunately allows Hanukkah to become more of a backdrop in the movie’s storyline.

“Holiday Heritage,” a 2022 Hallmark film, beautifully highlights the spirit of Kwanzaa and its seven principles through its focus on family unity and cultural pride. Through its heartwarming story, the film portrays a family healing their relationships and reconnecting through the holiday spirit. Through its focus on Kwanzaa, “Holiday Heritage” is a touching reminder of the power of family.

The 2015 psychological drama “Krisha” delivers a classic family Thanksgiving from the perspective of Krisha, a former drug and alcohol addict, as she travels to reconnect with her family during the holiday. This movie keeps viewers glued to the screen as it dives into the struggles of addiction. By exploring familial trauma, “Krisha” provides a dark take on Thanksgiving gone completely wrong.

kwanzaa

PAGE DESIGN BY HELEN TAM, ETHAN XUE AND CATHERINE YANG ILLUSTRATIONS BY VIVIAN KIM, MALAR RAGURAMAN AND HELEN TAM