The Epitaph, Volume 57, Issue 5 by The Epitaph

@hhsepitaph @hhsepitaph The Epitaph The Epitaph Vol. 57 Issue 5 Homestead High School 21370 Homestead Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014

https://hhsepitaph.com/ @epitaphHHS

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Security cameras act as preventive measure Cloud-based cameras installed to deter vandalism, theft By Naomi Baron Forty security cameras were breaking into the pool during offinstalled throughout the campus hours,” Puccinelli said. In addition to break-ins and over the February winter break, principal Greg Giglio wrote in a bike thefts, there have also been multiple Feb. 7 post on the HHS webcases of site. vandal"This tool will help us ism on Giglio’s mesreduce incidents or sage said the c a m p u s, facilities plan to install violations across campus cameras was “to managand provide a safer identify individer Toby environment for all." uals who may be Mockler - Principol Greg Giglio violating rules, said. trespassing, or “ W e creating mishad a lot chief on campus even throughout of incidents of vandalism outside the weekend or at night.” of school hours, which is a cost Dean of students Steven Puc- burden to this school, and camcinelli said the cameras have eras are the most effective way to been placed at the main entrance stop that,” Mockler said. The cameras are cloudto campus, as well as near the based, Puccinelli said. pool, bike racks and quad. Puccinelli said there was no Their footage will specific incident that prompted be connected to a the camera installations, but that school site, and recurring incidents were the en- only internal adcouraging factor for the adminis- ministration will have access to it. tration. Mockler said “We have had frequent issues, like bike thefts and people the security camer-

as hold footage for 30 days, unless there is a request made to hold it longer. The administration will not be proactively monitoring the security cameras, Puccinelli said. Instead, the footage will only be reviewed if there is a specific need or purpose. HHS is the last school in the district to install security cameras, Mockler said. “They have been proven to be very beneficial to other school sites,” Mockler said. “I was at Cupertino [High School] when they installed them and I know it cut down the incidents of vandalism by 75 percent.” This is not the first time

Courses to remain similar, new topics introduced By Elaine Huang and Shruti Magesh tation, the magnetism side of electricity, magnetism and thermodynamics, he said. However, there are still several similarities between the classes, Nunez said. Both classes are algebra-based, do not require any prerequisite knowledge of physics and are equally rigorous. “I think we teach a similar level of rigor,” Nunez said. “It’s just the curriculum is a little bit different because the College Board dictates AP physics 1 [and] honors physics did not have the College Board [in the] way.” Nunez said students should not be deterred from taking the class just because it is an advanced placement class. “If you are interested in taking physics [then] that AP name should not scare you,” Nunez said. “The rigor to which we teach honors physics is very similar to what you would see in AP physics 1.” While some students are unhappy with the course change, there’s no way to satisfy everyone when making the dePhoto by Elaine Huang cision to change a A NEW CURRICULUM: AP physics 1 will introduce new class level topics and place more emphasis on writing and explanations.

eras are a good idea,” Arya said. “I think they can and will help prevent theft and vandalism and overall make the school a safer place. As long as the cameras are not indoors, I vouch for them.” Junior Emma Ikeya, however, said she is a little more skeptical about the cameras. “As long as the [security cameras] are there to help protect the students and [are] not invading our privacy, then it’s okay,” Ikeya said. “But, if it’s not really helping to prevent any incidents, then I think it’s going overboard and invading student privacy.” However, Puccinelli said he is optimistic the security cameras will help prevent incidents from occurring on campus, and create an overall safer environment. “We believe that having the cameras will increase our security on campus and will make it a safer place to be,” Puccinelli said. “We look forward to only positive experiences from it.”

Illustrations by Elaine Huang

AP Physics 1 replaces Physics H AP Physics 1 will replace physics honors in the course offerings for the 2020-21 school year, and will be the necessary prerequisite for AP physics C. Although the shift from physics honors to AP physics 1 is new for HHS, many other schools made the change years ago. “It’s something that other schools have done and that other schools have found some success with,” Principal Greg Giglio said. “I think it’s something that students and parents have been looking for, [and] I think it answers a lot of needs.” Physics teacher Daniel Nunez said he thinks AP physics 1 will adhere more to the Next Generation Science Standards and will place more emphasis on writing and reasoning, as opposed to focusing solely on formulas and math. Nunez also said the AP physics 1 curriculum will include a few topics that differ from what is currently taught in physics honors. These new topics include ro-

HHS will be using security cameras. Puccinelli said cameras were installed around campus years ago, and the old camera system is still visible on some buildings. However, the cameras are low resolution and the system is so outdated that it is unusable. The project has been estimated to cost $50,000 with money funded by the district, Puccinelli said. Installing new security cameras is a matter that has been discussed for quite a while, Puccinelli said Giglio said the completion of the project brings about relief, as the community has been requesting the installation of security cameras for some time. Sophomore Shiven Arya said he thinks the security cameras will serve as a way to deter theft and other potentially dangerous incidents. “Security cam-

or type, Nunez said. Current physics honors student junior Shaqed Orr said, while she would have liked to take AP physics 1, being able to take a prerequisite for AP physics C was what mattered to her. “To my knowledge, a lot of people were frustrated because they felt that they maybe weren’t given the same opportunities … that will be given next year,” Orr said. “ I still get to take AP physics C, which is honestly the thing that really mattered to me.” Sophomore Rhea Gupta said removing physics honors as an option leaves students uninterested in taking an AP class with limited options. “[If] there’s no honors [option] for physics, there’s no honest option. It’s either college prep or AP,” Gupta said. “So, students think they want to take physics but college prep would be too easy, and they don’t want to take an AP class because it’s too hard … they don’t have the option of taking an honors choice, which is the downside to it.” Nunez said despite the changes, he is looking forward to teaching the new course next year. “I think it’s fun to start up a new course,” Nunez said. “I expect it to be challenging, like anything else. In theory,[it will] make me a better teacher all around. So, I’m looking forward to that.”

Opinion

In this Issue

Page 6

The hatred in hysteria Page Page8-9 8-9

Spread

Love, The Epitaph Lifestyles

Page 10

Who still reads? Entertainment

Page 12

Miller’s life comes in full circle Sports

Page 15

The impact of high school sports

Online this month Scan the QR code for more coverage!

STAFF EDITORIAL: Schools should not overstep their jurisdiction The Assassin game had been occurring after students arrived home after school and on the weekend. Since it was being played off-campus and during students’ recreational time, there is no way the game infringes on school rules. By defining this game as a violation of school rules, the administration shows just how arbitrary the line is between on-campus and off-campus activities.

Visit https://hhsepitaph.com/ to read more PAGE DESIGN BY LEILA SALAM AND ELAINE HUANG

News

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Coronavirus spreads to Santa Clara County

FBLA partners with Block Island Organics

Outbreak results in quarantines

Members assist company

By Saanvi Thakur

NEWS IN A MINUTE By Shruti Magesh

STATE: Homelessness Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that revenue sources will fund the services and housing for the homeless in CA. Immediate housing in the form of tents was distributed to the homeless, while plans to construct housing are underway, according to NPR.

NATIONAL: Democratic Race After sweeping the Nevada caucus, Sen. Bernie Sanders has won two of the caucuses held so far. He is additionally leading in several polls, showcasing him as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, according to the Washington Post.

Weinstein Trial Harvey Weinstein, the American film producer accused of sexual misconduct and assault, was found guilty of one count of criminal sexual act and one count of rape in the third degree. The jury, however, did not find him guilty of the three more serious charges, including predatory sexual assault, which is punishable with up to a life sentence, according to CBS New York.

INTERNATIONAL: U.S. and Taliban truce The U.S. and the Taliban began a weeklong truce on Feb. 22, which included a reduction in violence. If the truce is found to be successful, the two sides will sign the first part of a deal that strives to end the long conflict and bring about peace, according to BBC News.

Germany Massacre A mass shooting in Hanau, Germany left 11 people dead and seems to have been motivated by racist and extremist views. The shooting follows other extremist-fueled attacks, including the assassination of a politician in June, according to ABC News.

The coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19) was first seen in Wuhan, China, but has spread to the U.S. There have been two identified cases of coronavirus in Santa Clara County, which have caused Santa Clara and San Francisco to declare a state of emergency, according to The Hill. “Despite increasing cases in China and around the world, we believe our aggressive travel precautions are working,” the director for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Nancy Messonnier, said in a telebriefing held by the CDC.“The fact that we have been able to keep this number low is good news.” The immediate risk of the virus on campus remains low, principal Greg Giglio said. Giglio said a plan of action is in place if a student contracts coronavirus. “Once we hear a student has [coronavirus], they are quarantined and have to stay off campus until they are no longer contagious,” Giglio said. “A couple [of] other schools have students quarantining themselves because their families have been traveling.” Some common practices to

By Katelynn Ngo

Illustration by Saanvi Thakur SANTA CLARA DISEASE: The county declared a state of emergency after the first two cases of coronavirus were reported.

prevent the risk of infection include maintaining social distance, washing hands frequently and practicing respiratory hygiene, according to the World Health Organization. Inaccurate representations of the Chinese coronavirus cases have led to xenophobia and racism, according to the Asian American Journalist Association. “Some of my family lives in Wuhan,” sophomore Anna Zhou said. “I have seen the xenophobia and I do not think it’s justifiable. There’s a lot of jokes [that are made] but considering the very real danger my relatives are in, [there is] no humor in those jokes.”

FBLA has recently partnered with Block Island Organics, a small sun and skin care business based in Santa Monica, for several events on campus, project chairs and sophomores Virginia Anderson and Catherine Zhang said. “Block Island Organics is different than other companies because it’s really focused on eco-consciousness,” Zhang said. “It’s focused on educating its customers about smart sun care and trying to help people use sunscreen more often.” The Block Island Organics partnership has four phases. The first two phases involve feedback and analysis of competition, Zhang said. “We provided them with targeted feedback on their website and online presence,” Zhang said. “We helped them analyze that and provided them a report with pieces of feedback from customer perspectives and also recommendations. We conducted competitive analysis on 16 of their competitor companies that

are within the same market space of beauty, skin care or sun care.” The next phases include the social media and branding phase and the outreach phase, Anderson said. “We created a social media proposal for them [because] they wanted us to help them with redoing their Instagram account,” Anderson said. “We created a separate account so that we can show them what another mock Instagram would look like.” Lastly, the partnership included helping with outreach and publicization, Zhang said. Although the partnership is targeted toward helping Block Island Organics, FBLA members also benefit from it. “We [had] to find the pros and cons of the business and watch them improve,” FBLA member and freshman Valerie Xu said. “I was just reflecting that back on myself [and] being like, ‘I want to improve on something like this, but I should also acknowledge the things I’ve done, as well.’”

Coalition Z increases political participation

Organization strives to spread youth activism and awareness By Shruti Magesh FUHSD Coalition Z is a student-run national youth organization that is geared toward increasing political involvement in communities, as well as helping students be more aware of the policies that their representatives are advocating for, FUHSD Coalition Z president and junior Mehek Mehta said. “Right now, [Coalition Z] is mainly focused in New York,” Mehta said. “It’s supposed to be national and they’re working on getting more chapters started across the United States ... I think [FUHSD Coalition Z is] the third one in California.” Mehta said that typically a lot of students are involved in organizations like Coalition Z, so she didn’t want to limit it to HHS. “The more people there are, [the] more engaging and inclusive,” Mehta said. “Just having HHS would not be enough [for the] vast number of members we will need. That’s why I decided to do it in the area, like there are chapters in New York [that] are area-based.” Mehta said the organization’s focus is to encourage students to be more aware of their political rights, to promote contact with their representatives and to increase student involvement in the community. “I think that right now, if you look at statistics, the young voters have the lowest voter turnout. That just shows how not integrated into the whole political world students are right now,” Mehta

said. “To improve that, I think it’s important to have an organization like this, especially in this area, because there’s so many people who would love being involved in activism … [such as people in] Model UN and speech and debate.” The organization aims to bridge the divide between Generation Z and the government. “These people are the future leaders of our country,” FUHSD Coalition Z publicist and junior Vanessa Jiao said. “So it’s very important that they know what to expect ... and they’re very informed about important topics.” To promote educated voting in

the future, Coalition Z works to distribute relevant information. “When [students] become adults and voters, they will be able to choose their vote and educate other members of the community, creating a better system for all of us and a better world for us living in the future,” FUHSD Coalition Z treasurer and junior Aryaa Sapkota said. Mehta also said that with the nature of students to be more STEM focused in the Bay Area, Coalition Z can help them be more expressive about their opinions and find a new outlet to showcase themselves. “I think that making [Coali-

Photo courtesy of Mehek Mehta YOUTH VOICES COUNT: Coalition Z aims to bridge the divide between the

younger generations and the government, through events such as the Santa

Clara County census.

tion Z] FUHSD based would really help students from different schools connect with people…, as well as talk to people who have been more experienced like representatives,” Mehta said. One of the organization’s first events was with the Santa Clara County Department of Education, Mehta said. There, members volunteered for one of the county’s census events. “We are going to have educational seminars … [and an] activity workshop kind of thing for families all around this area,” Mehta said. “And by having Coalition Z volunteers go and participate, they’re learning a little bit themselves and also contributing to Santa Clara County at the same time.” Coalition Z plans to have various volunteering and participation activities as well, Jiao said. The organization also provides a lot more hands on activities than a classroom experience might offer. “When you’re in Coalition Z, you get to see the impact that you make [and] you get to participate in real time politics and make a change,” Sapkota said. Mehta said, with 2020 being the presidential election year, there is increased importance in motivating people to participate politically. In the future, Coalition Z aims to expand their base and expand past the FUHSD district, Sapkota said. PAGE DESIGN BY YUKARI E. ZAPATA

News

Dual enrollment auto tech class introduced

Wednesday, March 4, 2020 Editors

New class brings greater variety of electives to students

By Naomi Baron A dual enrollment auto tech class was created in partnership with De Anza, and will count for both high school and college credits. The course is intended to expand the educational offerings for students. However, only juniors and seniors in FUHSD will be eligible to take the class, Assistant Principal Denae Nurnberg said. Nurnberg said the class will be taught by De Anza professors every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:55 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. at De Anza. It will not fulfill any of the A-G requirements, but will be considered an elective that will count toward graduation. “Auto tech at De Anza is a very popular class,” Nurnberg said. “The local auto industry will tell you that it is the number one program in the area.” The main focus of the class includes the workings of a car: tire rotations, oil changes and lubrication systems. The first semester will consist of half lecture

T h e and half lab, class will while most of the secbe offered first to stuond semesdents from ter will be lab based, F U H S D before regDe Anza Program istration will beC o o r d i n a - Illustration by Leila Salam come open tor Magali A NEW PATHWAY: The addition Ochoa said. to adults through the The class of the auto tech class opens up new possibilities for students interested in the will follow auto tech field. De Anza De Anza’s course cataschool schedule, meaning it will log, Nurnberg said. Ochoa said the career trainnot start until late September and will follow the college’s quar- ing programs at De Anza will allow students to develop various ter system. “I am really excited about the technical and work skills, as well dual enrollment courses, such as as introduce them to the college auto tech, as it increases the ed- atmosphere. ucational options available for HHS used to offer an auto our students and provides more tech class in the F building, courses in areas that are career Nurnberg said. However, as the and technical in nature,” princi- class declined in enrollment, it ple Greg Giglio said. “This part- became difficult for the school to nership with De Anza College is compensate for the costs of offera positive step forward for both ing the class. HHS and De Anza.” After the F building was re-

placed with the I building, HHS ultimately decided not to continue offering the class. “We do know that there are some students that remain interested in [the auto tech class]. That is why it has been something we have considered over the last few years,” associate superintendent Trudy Gross said. “I have been working with De Anza for about a year now and so the opportunity is now available to us.” This class meets the interest of a section of the student population, Nurnberg said. HHS offers many different classes ranging from the arts to business, drama, programming, foreign languages and the culinary arts. The auto tech class will allow course selection to be even more inclusive to other career opportunities, she said. “I think that trying to meet the needs of all students is something very important for us when we think about our elective programs,” Nurnberg said.

Library set to undergo long-term renovations By Karen Li

For Berner and Vakili, the circulation desk at the entrance of the library required the most immediate change. They said the plan is to replace the desk to improve spacing and accessibility. For example, the book return slot will be moved to face outward to make it more visible to students. The new desk will also be smaller and will be shifted closer to the library entrance. “There are two reasons for this. [First], we’d like to have more space in the middle of the library to make it more versatile for events,” Berner said. “The second reason is that the circulation desk right now is oddly divided, with a front and back area. Students walk in the middle, and we want our own designated area.” Additionally, with this new configuration, Berner and Vakili will be facing either side of the library. Currently, Berner sits with his back facing the door, which he said he does not like. The bookshelves in the middle of the library have been cleared out, and Mockler said in the weeks leading up to spring break, they will be removing the bookshelves before the new carpet arrives, clearing out the middle

Editor-in-Chief Andrea Sun Editor-in-Chief Renee Wang Senior News Shruti Magesh Senior News Dexter Tatsukawa Senior Opinion Melody Chen Junior Opinion Sahil Venkatesan Senior Lifestyles Katelynn Ngo Junior Lifestyles Nika Bondar Senior Entertainment Saanvi Thakur Junior Entertainment Shreya Partha Senior Sports Jackson Faria Senior Sports Jane Park Design and Jacqueline Beaufore Multimedia Junior Design Kacey Rebstock Miya Liu Junior Multimedia Business Manager Yukari E. Zapata

Adviser

Natalie Owsley

Reporters Karen Li Naomi Baron Elaine Huang Alexis Morrissey Seo Young Hwang Leila Salam Sara Shohoud Anika Karody Jack Xu Madhavi Karthik Tiffany Yu Nitya Kashyap Allen Zhang Christine Kim

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 all letters to the editor but reserves the right to edit all 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 staff in C102 call (408) 522-2572 or fax (408) 7388631.

Changes include new carpet, furniture, display cases Over the past few months, librarians Randy Berner and Shannon Vakili have been preparing for a series of renovations the library is set to undergo, officially starting during spring break in April, with the arrival of new carpet. Originally, the only goal was to replace the carpeting. Facilities director Toby Mockler said he had been pushing for a new carpet for the past few years, and at the beginning of this school year, his request was finally approved. Berner, Mockler and Vakili decided that since the carpet was being replaced, they could use the opportunity to improve other aspects of the library, as well. Vakili said she began making renovation plans with former librarian Amity Bateman at the end of the last school year. This year, she and Berner expanded upon those plans. Berner and Vakili have been largely involved in the design phase of the planning process, Vakili said. “Because we work in this space, we know how it gets used, and we want it to be an effective space for the whole school community,” Vakili said.

Photos by Karen Li PARDON OUR PROGRESS: In preparation for renovations, several

bookshelves in the library have been cleared.

area of the library and providing more room for events to be held in the library. “It will give more open space, which will be good because this space is used for presentations, and it’s a little tight right now with the way our desk is laid out and where the shelves are,” Vakili said. In the future, they hope to also replace the furniture, she said. Mockler said the current furniture is outdated, as it is from when the library was built in the early 2000s. As such, the plan is to gradually switch out desks, chairs and shelving units to give the library a new look. Berner said that instead of being bolted into the ground, the new, lighter furniture will sit on

top of the carpet, allowing for greater mobility and flexibility. In addition, Mockler said they have ordered display cases for showcasing student work. He and the librarians are also looking at making a display area for clubs, similar to the one in the student center for athletics, he said. “We have a lot of academic clubs that are very successful [but] have no way to display their trophies,” Mockler said. In terms of scheduling, the renovations will span the next few years, he said. “We’re looking at over the next three years,” Mockler said. “The basic structure [of the library] won’t change, but what’s inside of it will. [We’re] bringing it into the 21st century.”

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Corrections In the last issue, it was incorrectly stated that Lynette Lee Eng is the mayor of Los Altos. Eng is the former mayor and is currently a member of the city council.

Infographic by Dexter Tatsukawa

PAGE DESIGN BY DEXTER TATSUKAWA

Opinion

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Cameras enhance safety but more dialogue necessary STAFF EDITORIAL

THE IMPATIENT PATIENT By Renee Wang

Millennials are: lovers of avocado toast, winners of participation trophies and ... sell outs? Selling out — compromising integrity for personal or monetary gain — has been looked down upon. However, according to Quartz, millennials are a lot more comfortable with selling out than previous generations. But unlike Generation X, millennials do not have the same privilege of being adverse to selling out, according to Refinery29, due to rising costs of living and student debt. As Generation Z approaches the workforce, selling out is less of a choice and more of a norm — but how readily should we accept this? According to Astra Taylor, a filmmaker known for challenging debt practices, selling out is a decision many are forced into. The curbing of student loan forgiveness and rising costs of higher education is how you get a generation to sell out. For Generation Z, the concept of selling out barely registers. In the documentary “Generation Like,” which examines “the relationship between teens and the companies that target them,” teens admit that they do not know what “selling out” means. After all, look at our media landscape — “Generation Like” points out that the advent of social media allows teens to connect more with movies and brands. And, combined with the fact that teens have no problem with putting their personal information and interests online — the relationship between the two has become one where companies employ this openness to use teens to promote their brands. We have become comfortable in selling out. But at the end of the day, we need to figure out who has the upper hand: even if we might not register it, we need to know the underlying forces it.

Smile! You’re on camera. It’s about time security cameras were installed on campus, but why weren’t students informed directly? 94.2 percent of high schools use security cameras to monitor safety, according to a 2016 study by the National Center for Education Statistics. On top of that, 59 percent of all K-12 schools said video surveillance systems frequently provided evidence for investigations, according to Campus Safety Magazine. What took us so long? In an email addressed to parents and guardians on Feb. 7, principal Greg Giglio said the district’s decision to install 40 new security cameras last week is motivated by the need to address safety and security on campus. Giglio’s message clearly outlines the installation process and objectives of the cameras, citing the number of cameras and potential school violations that can be seen through the lenses. Yet, while Giglio’s message was transparent regarding the use of the cameras, the email stating the change was sent only to parents and guardians, with no direct message sent or communicated to the student body. Students were not properly informed about the camera installations, and instead

Illustra

learned about them either from their parents or from the sudden appearance of the cameras around campus. This lack of transparency leads to unnecessary questions and concerns that could have been eliminated with a simple email to all students. Ultimately, the administration’s reasons for installing cameras remain a top priority: late-night bike thefts, breaking into the pool at dusk, hateful graffiti spray painted across campus and students deliberately pulling the fire alarm are all actions that can be deterred and prevented with security cameras. Critics of the cameras believe they will create a sense of mistrust between administration, teachers and students. Because teachers and students may feel like they are being spied upon, this could create a hostile attitude toward administration. However, administrators have made it clear that the

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cameras will only be used to identify individuals who are “violating rules, trespassing, or creating mischief,” according to Giglio’s Feb. 7 email. The footage will be reviewed only when an individual breaks a school rule or law, and further investigation is required, dean Steve Puccinelli said. Yet, again, these potential school violations, which Giglio listed in his email, are important factors that students should be made aware of. Any students deliberately planning to pull the fire alarm or vandalizing a building in the future will now know these actions will be caught on camera. Even though the administration was fully transparent with parents in the email, by

outlining why the cameras have been installed and how they will be used, the lack of communication with students remains concerning. Administration should distribute important information directly to students, as well as parents and guardians, to ensure everyone is made aware of major changes and remains on the same page. All things considered, security cameras are a positive addition to the school and will help identify individuals violating rules. The cameras will provide an additional layer of security to dissuade anyone with negative intent on campus, and should be welcomed by students, parents and staff.

We’re stressed, but not because of our peers

Celebrating senior achievement puts an end to toxic stress By Saanvi Thakur In many schools across the Bay Area, like Palo Alto High School and LHS, student publications have put an end to publishing a college roadmap, as the spread is believed to contribute to a competitive and toxic school system. There have also been recent protests against senior graduation festivities as it is said to lead to comparisons between students regarding their post-high school plans. Palo Alto High School has also put a stop to senior festivities, as well. Celebrating senior achievements, such as decorating caps for graduation, are not the main causes for distrust and contention in schools. Choosing to abolish these traditions is not the right focus in eliminating the stress students feel in school. There are many underlying issues that have become so common in schools they are longer given consideration as problems. A common issue that is seen in a majority of high schools is a scripted, one-size-fits-all strategy with testing, according to Forbes. The constant need for As has taken over the real purpose of school, which is to learn. Student stress is on the rise because these outdated testing systems create unnecessary competition for high scores. Many colleges look at standardized tests as a way to judge a student’s educational capabilities. These methods in education leave little room for students who struggle with testing, but perform better in a different academic environment. The amount of weight placed on testing and grades leads to an unhealthy obsession

among students to succeed, according to Amy J. Ko, a professor from Medium. Instead of trying to teach students and prepare them for the adult world, schools focus too heavily on standardized tests, AP tests and college preparation, according to Great Schools. In high school, there is no emphasis on taxes, child-care or other aspects of adulthood. A lack of emphasis in preparing students for adulthood negatively impacts students whose next real step after graduation is work, not college. Furthermore, the lack of exposure that students have to a post high school life before college creates a stigma against students who decide college is not the best choice for them. Ending traditions like senior awards night and celebrating senior achievements does not decrease or put an end to the toxic school culture. This is unfair to seniors who have worked hard to reach their educational goals, and it makes their monumental achievements seem insignificant. We should celebrate the successes of our peers. The change needs to happen within the school system by removing the emphasis on having a perfect 4.0 GPA or 1600 SAT score. While colleges look for these perfect scores, the toxic importance that is given to grades in high school should be revised and used as motivation rather than competition. Furthermore, more awareness needs to be spread around post-high school options, including the workforce and military.

Photo illustration by Sara Shohoud and Saanvi Thakur TOXIC SCHOOL STRESS: Celebrating senior

achievements is important and not a big factor for stress.

PAGE DESIGN BY SAANVI THAKUR

Opinion

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Shopping for dopamine

Retail therapy hurts wallets, provides little long-term benefits By Tiffany Yu and Allen Zhang Feeling stressed about the results of the last calculus midterm and what courses to take next year, I booted up my laptop and opened up a link to Aeropostale. With each hoodie I added to my cart, I felt a tiny piece of my stress vanish. I checked out without any hesitation, leaving my bank account $55.76 lighter. My experience is not unique: according to a survey conducted by Swap, an online consignment store, the average American spends about $1,652 on retail therapy annually. Additionally, 22 percent of all retail purchases are done in the name of retail therapy. Retail therapy is using shopping as a way of dealing with negative or overwhelming feelings.

Kelsey: Dang! School really sucked today. Dawson: Yeah, I’m glad we’re at the mall to shop away our feelings.

Usually, the good feelings that arise from shopping are shortlived. According to Psychology Today, retail therapy is commonly seen as a mini-mental vacation. The process of scrolling through pages of sneakers or rifiling through racks of clothes feels incredibly therapeutic because the prospect of gaining an addition to your wardrobe is exciting. The sense of preparation that comes with shopping is a form of visualizing a better version of yourself with the new item you purchase. Psychologically, shopping has been shown to boost our dopamine levels, a chemical responsible for feelings of pleasure and anticipation, according to Elle

K: Sometimes I buy too much and end up broke. D: Let’s go to Brandy Melville! I want to see those mom jeans from their post.

magazine. Although retail therapy alleviates short-term stress, frequent spending habits are financially detrimental. The temporary high we get from splurging disappears quickly, and we are left with our original problem and a bill to pay. When buying something solely for the momentary pleasure it brings becomes compulsive, retail therapy can easily become an addiction. Retail therapy becomes a coping mechanism that distracts one from figuring out the root of the problem, not to mention the inevitable discovery of an empty wallet. Instead of turning to shopping as an outlet for negative feelings,

K: I look hella fly in this top girl! D: These jeans don’t even fit. One-size-fitsall my a**!

one should focus on addressing the problem head on. Instead, to combine spending with positive feelings, buy things as a reward. Retail therapy may provide short-term relief, but it attaches negative feelings to shopping. Another way to control your spending is by starting a splurge fund. This allows you to partake in retail therapy without the worry of emptying your bank account. Shopping in itself is not the issue; it is actually integral to promoting the economy. Shopping should be a leisure activity that someone should engage in moderation to prevent an immense toll on one’s bank account.

K: That really sucks how Brandy isn’t being inclusive. D: Brandy Melville, more like Brandy SMELLville!

Comic by Tiffany Yu

Bringing secret shame to teen girls fashion

Brandy Melville clusters women fashion into “one-size-fits-all” By Jacqueline Beaufore Brandy Melville. The store that brings controversy to the fashion world as a negative influence on teens today. Their “one size fits all” clothes are introducing a secret shame to teen girls. In fact, the “magical” size is between XS and S. The store is designed for girls who are sizes 0-4 when the average woman is a size 6-12. The whole set up of the brand is sketchy and unethical; even the employees have a bad reputation on social media because they have a history of being stuck up and questionable about a customer’s shopping choice. According to the YouTuber Jazzy Le, who has worked at Brandy Melville, employees are required to use inventory by trying clothes on and posting on the brand’s social media. They are also asked to take pictures of customers who have interesting outfits and are known to copy them exactly. Brandy Melville is an industry that is selling a long line of fast-fashion, “one size fits all” fantasy. Not only does Brandy Melville

refuse to expand their selection, they are also not inclusive on their social media and the models they choose. If you look at its Instagram page, you will find that for every one African-American model, there are about 200 caucasian or Asian models. Some critics may think that it is not a big deal to not represent all races, but today, it is a regressive ideology, especially coming from a sought-after brand. Brandy Melville needs to be more inclusive in their sizing. Even those who can fit in their brand are starting to “boycott” the store all together. I personally wouldn’t have a problem with the brand and its exclusive sizing, if it would just own up to its discrimination. Some may say that if plus-size women can have their own stores, why can’t thinner women have the same? This statement can be taken in many different ways, but plussize stores are catering to a historically underrepresented group of men and women. Even plussize stores have a wider range of sizes to choose from, offering size

8 all the way to size 40. If these stores can carry a range of about 10-20 different sizes then why can’t Brandy Melville? Plus, Brandy Melville is not marketing their clothes toward thinner women; instead, they are falsely stating that their clothing fits “all.” Promoting their clothing as clothes for “skinny girls” would be more accurate and, in fact, easier to stomach. The store also pushes a sense of “accomplishment” when someone is able to fit in their clothes. Even during their hiring process, employees are validated for the way they look. According to the Brandy Melville website, the application asks for an image of yourself along with your Instagram account handle. There is no mention of expertise in the selection process. The hired employees know they are chosen because they look a certain way or have a certain amount of followers. I tried a little experiment of my own a few months ago, applying to work at the Santana Row Brandy Melville. While filling out

the application, I made sure to put no work experience or any special skills. I made my Instagram account public and made a collage of photos of myself per request of the application. I ended up receiving an email a couple of hours later to come in for an interview. That is how easy it was to get a job there, the application only asked for my Instagram, photos of myself and just one person or job for a reference. The entire application took me five minutes, and they did not even ask me why I wanted to work there. More people are now aware of the store’s misrepresentation of women’s bodies. However, this is not enough. People need to take action and speak up. I know there are girls who shop there, who do not necessarily agree with their sizing but still do because their clothes are cute and trendy. The next time you shop, try an online retailer like Poshmark, ThredUp or Depop to find a more sustainable (and less discriminatory) way of purchasing clothes.

THE MELODIC LINE

By Melody Chen

There’s a good chance that you have already lost track of your New Year’s resolution. After all, 92 percent of people fail to keep up with their resolutions, according to a study by the University of Scranton. It’s March. And it seems like these goals have long escaped your mind. Take a look at the current landscape of your immediate world: a glazed donut sits in front of you on the kitchen counter with leftover coca cola from a birthday party, as you furiously respond to texts late at night. Now that you have just broken your promise to eat healthy, reduce screen time and sleep early, it seems like all of your goals have been put to waste. But there’s nothing wrong with aiming big — it’s normal to focus on the big changes and overlook how we get there. The power lies in setting bite-sized, actionable habits. According to James Clear, author of “Atomic Habits,” you must start with an incredibly small habit. Rather than completing 30 minutes of yoga, stick with five minutes. All of these micro-habits add up to real changes as you increase your goal one step at a time. Most important, what separates longterm commitments from short-term ones is the act of building an identity around a specific goal. If you want to practice your instrument for 30 minutes a day, then define that you are a musician. If you want to start losing weight, then define that you are a healthy eater. Such changes in action and wording help register a new sense of meaning in your brain. It is easy to fall into the trap of setting mindless goals, but it takes a great deal of reflection — asking yourself what you are capable of and who you are as a person — to call yourself a goal-keeper in the long run. PAGE DESIGN BY JACKSON FARIA

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Examining the hatred in hysteria

Opinion

The side effects of coronavirus: xenophobia and misinformation

By Renee Wang

THE PARTISAN PARTY

By Sahil Venkatesan After winning the New Hampshire and Nevada caucuses, Bernie Sanders has attracted the attention of Democrats around the country, all of whom are asking: can Sanders defeat President Donald Trump? The answer is yes: Sanders can rally the left and win enough voters in swing states to beat Trump. According to Axios, polls show Sanders beating Trump in Michigan and Pennsylvania — both swing states — with a CBS poll even placing Sanders ahead of Trump nationally. Although several New York Times articles argue that Sanders is not electable or likeable, his recent wins in New Hampshire and Nevada prove that he can sway voters and they will vote for him. He embraces the fact that corporations hate him, and is touting this with new campaign ads declaring that he is “their worst nightmare.” Sanders uses this to sway voters and it is clear that his goal— to topple power hungry corporations and support the lower and middle classes of America — is resonating throughout the country, especially with minority voters. According to Reuters, Sanders has surpassed Joe Biden among African Amercan voters. Sanders has also gained the support of Latino Americans that he lacked in 2016. With this added support, Sanders can win the Democratic nomination, according to the New York Times. Sanders is clearly electable as exemplified through his recent wins in Nevada and New Hampshire, as well as with the African American vote. As Sanders proves critics wrong, it becomes clear that he can defeat Trump in the general election.

Fever, cough and shortness of breath are among the most common symptoms of coronavirus. And in this global anxiety, the virus has produced troubling side effects: the rise of xenophobia and the alarming spread of misinformation. Rather than allowing these reactions to occur under the guise of concern, we need to curb unnecessary fear and anxiety and instead work on humanity. Social stigma, blame and discrimination are recurring phenomena during outbreaks, medical anthropologist Monica Schoch-Spana of Johns Hopkins University said. The outbreak of coronavirus is not the first time a certain racial or religious group has been accused of perpetuating a virus despite scientific evidence, Spana said. According to Time, many Latinos and Mexicans were scapegoated during the swine flu in 2009, and the same for Africans during the Ebola outbreak in 2014. Sixteen years ago, during the SARS outbreak, a hoax circulated that employees of a Chinese restaurant were infected, according to Sydney Morning Herald. A week ago, the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce estimated a 50 to 70 percent drop in business in Oakland’s Chinatown, and this could result in worker layoffs due to the decline

Illustration by Jane Park RECOGNIZING SIDE EFFECTS: Spreading false information is

irresponsible in a time of crisis.

in business. The parallels are undeniable: throughout history, it has been easier to look outwards in assigning blame than to look inwards toward humanity. Around the world, Asians living abroad are feeling the effects. According to CNN, a Chinese man in Britain reported someone moving seats away from him on the bus, and a Singaporean woman reported being confronted in a mall in New Zealand. Furthermore, individuals — not of Chinese descent, but of Asian descent — have reported similar experiences. With only 60 cases in the U.S. as of Feb. 28, according to the

New York Times, and an epicenter of the virus being 7,369 miles away, interacting with someone of Asian descent is unlikely to increase your chances of contracting the coronavirus. To connect the world’s largest ethnic group soley to a virus effectively eliminates the diversity and individuality of those of Asian descent. Believing that somehow, a billion Chinese people — 50 million of whom live overseas — have a connection to Wuhan, one of China’s 686 cities, is ignorant. According to the New York Times, the risk of the virus spreading to most countries outside of China

remains low. We need to fight against misinformation and understand the larger consequences of adding to hysteria. Before you share a meme or opine about coronavirus, check for factual accuracy. A viral video of a Chinese woman consuming bat soup recently went viral online, with users responding that it is these “dirty” Chinese habits that contributed to the outbreak, according to Foreign Policy Magazine. In reality, the woman consumed the dish in Palau, where bat is considered a delicacy. Spreading misinformation, even unknowingly, is irresponsible and not only heightens hysteria, but diverts attention from the actual issue: those suffering in Wuhan. While it can be easy to tack blame on a cultural practice, for example, understand where this aversion comes from. While consuming bats may be frowned upon in the western world, meats like pork and chicken are also capable of transmitting diseases, according to Mashable. Such reactions normalize the historically incorrect habit of generalizing an entire population to a disease. When we continue to categorize our reactions out of fear and concern and not address the xenophobic sentiments attached to it as well, this line of thinking will never change.

OK Bloomer (Satire)

Michael Bloomberg buys new personality, ingredients for new ad By Melody Chen Shortly after Michael Bloomberg exited the Democratic Presidential debate stage on Feb. 19, he skipped up and down the stairs, belting out: “You like Mike. I like Mike. Everybody likes Mike.” Bloomberg then proceeded to buy the Paris Las Vegas arena. And, in a last-minute shopping errand, he made a dash for the nearest mall after realizing he had forgotten his plan for his upcoming ad. The 11-figure plutocrat purchased a good-natured golden retriever, some babies left in the indoor mommy-sitting playground and a spaceship so he could fly to the moon and back in order to gain a full two inches under his belt. Naturally, he must buy a new persona before Super Tuesday. After all, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were bullying him on the debate stage, and it sure doesn’t feel great to be attacked again in front of 14 states, let alone being stop-and-frisked by his running mates. “I have the right to finish my statement without a fact-check raid from Sanders and Warren,” he said exasperated, throwing his hands up in the air. But soon after Bloomberg returned to one of his 11 homes in the countryside he dug out

his war chest from the well and whipped out a billion dollars in cash. He called his campaign advisers and made an order for a flask of compassion, charisma and empathy. And then, knowing that he’s in for the long haul, he placed another order for a removal of his current traits: oversensitivity, self-importance and a lack of respect for others. All his updated personalities will be disclosed and can be accessed through his campaign website. Bloomberg, in fact, will have one less nondisclosure agreement on his record. “The U.S. must come to terms with Bloomberg’s revamped facial expressions and personality,” his campaign advisers said. “‘The grass is greener when it’s not on fire,’ is something Bloomberg once said to the team. He’s such a darling.” Now, if any references to his bluntness and wretchedness are ever mentioned, Bloomberg will buy more ads and charm to manipulate your vote. After all, there’s no Bloomberg without a self-producing, hypnotic onslaught of ads, demanding your respect and time. A reincarnated version of Bloomberg will win the audience this time. Mike will get it done. PAGE DESIGN BY SHRUTI MAGESH

Lifestyles

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

It’s all about the money — or is it?

Money may act as deciding factor when making decisions By Shruti Magesh and Katelynn Ngo The phrase ‘money doesn’t bring happiness’ is an old adage told to children and adults alike. When considering career choices, students are encouraged to think more about what they are passionate about and less about economic stability. Yet, there are many perspectives on the role money plays in the lives of students and teachers. According to a study by Princeton University, there is a strong correlation between financial stability and happiness, but not necessarily on solely the amount of money one has. This is because concentrating too much on financial happiness can lead to unsatisfactory lives, according to the same study. “Certainly if you’re below the poverty line or if you’re struggling from paycheck to paycheck, you’re going to have a much less enjoyable life,” Economics Club co-president and senior Gloria Zhang said. “There is a trend where the more money you have the happier you are, but I think it really depends on where you are on the spectrum.” Financial stability can also reduce the amount of stress people face in their daily lives, but may not necessarily be linked to happiness. “If you feel financially secure, that reduces your level of stress, which can help you feel overall happier and better. However, I think it’s really more about if you have enough that takes care of

the basics so you feel secure or stable,” library media specialist Shannon Vakili said. “But, I don’t necessarily think that money buys happiness.” Yet, others believe money is directly related to happiness. “You can ... get a lot of happiness through money. If you spend money on clothes, or shoes, or shopping, you can still be happy through that,” freshman Joanna Huang said. H o w e v e r, Zhang said always having an abundance of money and spending it needlessly can make some people take wealth for granted. “I would say some cons are how you live and [how] it could be centered around money … you might start to feel more entitled,” Zhang said. “Let’s say you inherited [money] from your parents. Growing up in that lifestyle, there’s just a lot more entitlement [and] a lot more privilege. You might never be able to see the other side of the coin.” In Silicon Valley, especially, money plays a large role in many decisions. According to the World Population Review, California has the third-highest cost of living index in the United States. In fact, Silicon Valley is one of the

wealthiest areas in the nation as well, according to Bloomberg. Growing up in a substantially wealthier area — compared to other parts of the country — may also skew one’s perception of the importance of money . “We all are very fortunate to grow up in the Silicon Valley … I think we have a much smaller or narrow perception of how money plays into a lot of the things we do because we take a lot of things for granted,” Zhang said. “My parents [and] I don’t really talk about finances that much. But they’ve always told me that I’m free to pursue whatever dreams I have. So I think in that case, money isn’t something that will hinder me.” Yet for many, the amount of money associated with a certain job may even be a deciding factor in the career path a student may decide to pursue, Zhang said. “We obviously know that there are some careers that are more lucrative than others, so people might want to study STEM or other majors that will feed into careers that make a lot more money,” Zhang said. “Whereas maybe you’re genuinely interested in history but because of your financial situation, you’re unable

“The idea of stability and security is the motivator, not necessarily the money itself.” — Shannon Vakili, library media specialist

to study that because the careers that it offers might not be as lucrative.” However, Vakili said that in her case, the desire to make a difference in the community outweighs the need for a high-pay ing job, or one she would not be happy in. “I was really fortunate [that] I grew up in an environment where my family is financially secure. So, when I was thinking about my future, I would think about other priorities,” Vakili said. But, Zhang said that those who are financially stable but not excessively wealthy may not be satisfied with the amount of money they make. “Some people might not realize they’re in that state until they either make more money or they make less money,” Zhang said. “You end up not realizing that, ‘oh, this is where I am, I’m satisfied,’ until you’re making less money and thinking, ‘oh, I can’t live like this,’.” Yet, the same kind of people are also able to manage their finances more appropriately, Zhang said. “[You’d be] very conscious of

MONEY AND HAPPINESS: Money

and happiness are often linked together, and money can have a significant impact on future career decisions.

Illustration by Jane Park

your finances,” Zhang said. “Generally, people have budgets [and] they’re very organized and know how much [they] can spend [their] money in certain categories.” Vakili said the standards imposed by society give students the idea that they should be following the money instead of their dreams. “The way that our society is, you need to have some amount of money to get security,” Vakili said. “I guess it motivates me and so does the idea of planning for the future ... [and] working towards having financial security or stability in the future. It’s more like the idea of stability and security is the motivator, [and] not necessarily the money itself.”

Technology in politics: ease of access versus privacy concerns

Students share thoughts on Iowa caucuses app malfunction By Nika Bondar The Iowa Democratic party from the poor design of the apattempted to modernize the Iowa plication. Mahimainathan said caucuses on Feb. 3, the first time the majority of the Iowa Demosince 1972. Through the use of cratic Party members are not the a new digital app created by the most “tech-savvy” people because Iowa Democratic Party, where the of their age and occupation, and voting process was transferred to were therefore not able to predict an organized online platform. the malfunction of the app. Unfortunately, according to “First of all, the people doing TIME magazine, numerous tech- the caucuses in Iowa [are] like 90 nological issues have not only de- years old,” Mahimainathan said. layed the results, but undermined “They’re seniors. They don’t realtheir precision and credibility. ly know how to use phones.” According to the New York Mahimainathan said that there Times, the app did not go are possible concerns about the through sufficient testing. Users age of the voters as well, not just faced connectivity the age of the issues and the app governors. did not transmit “I think it’s correctly, so the a bad idea to party was forced give [the votto count votes by ers] this techhand. nology to use This raises the because as question: in this the leadership day and age, is our gets younger, it government ready doesn’t mean to adopt innovathat the memtive technological bership on the advancements, or ground is gois it safer to leave ing to become time-tested sysy o u n g e r,” tems alone? sophomore IsSophomore abelle DobbeEthan Mahimainalaere said. “In than believes that fact, they’re the malfunction of probably a lot the Iowa caucuses older. I think stemmed mostly Illustration by Nika Bondar it’s a bad idea

because they’re ill equipped to use these technologies.” Similar to Mahimainathan, Dobbelaere said using paper ballots is safer than relying on electronics. “People should use paper for this election because apps can get hacked,” Dobbelaere said. According to the New York Times, because the app did not transmit the results properly, some of the caucus chairs were denied access. In the end, the results still had to be counted by hand. Nevertheless, some were successful in using the app and remain in support of implementing technology in politics. Junior Jack Guidi said the advantages of widespread technology provides can outweigh the possible risks

of its usage. Guidi emphasizes the benefits of using the app by comparing it to DoorDash. “You’re not going to go out and buy food when you can just click it,” Guidi said. “It’s the same thing with voting,” In the end, Guidi is convinced that adopting technology in politics, with time and improvements, can be beneficial.

“[It’s the] 21st century. Everything’s online. Using paper, that’s cool and all, but you have a computer right here … it’s all about ease of access,” Guidi said. “If someone [can] sit at their house and click a button, then it’s much easier to have an incentive rather than go to the ballot and use a piece of paper and manually enter in your answers.”

PAGE DESIGN BY JACK XU

Spread

How students practice self-love By Christine Kim and Jane Park

“[I tell myself] it’s okay to feel proud of what you’ve accomplished in the past and think about what it took to accomplish that.”

“When I’m having a bad day, I take a long shower or bath, do a facemask and [whiten my teeth].”

“I take a lot of naps.”

“Doing facemasks.”

-Brandon Wright (11)

-Michelle Chen (9)

Illustrations by Jane Park

-Madeline Lum (10)

-Prateek Anand (12)

From Tinder, to Yubo, to forever alone Let’s hope my mom doesn’t read this!

LOVE,

By Nika Bondar

PHILIOS:

By Sara Shohoud

friendship

though I met a lot of cute guys, nothing ever lasted. Conversations fizzled and we eventually just sent each other half-face pictures on Snapchat. Before I joined dating apps, I thought I would be a 100 percent fine with meeting some random cute guy that by some miracle, thought I was cute too. In the end, I learned that I will always want a boyfriend, but I will never be willing to actually be alone with him. I wanted the attention, but not the experience of being alone with a man I have never met. I realized that dating apps were a way for me to unsuccessfully fill a loneliness in my heart. Maybe it’s a good idea to stay off dating apps then, especially since my mom might just read this article.

e Beaufore Illustration by Jacquelin

IT’S A MATCH: Despite my constant swiping on dating apps, I have never found someone I actually connected with.

Illustration by Nika Bondar

I joined Tinder once I turned 18 years old. How could I not? After all, it’s a rite of passage. Turning 18 not only meant that I could vote and get a tattoo, but also join a dating app where, weirdly enough, people aren’t that interested in actual dating. In the beginning, it was fun. I would get a few matches, flirt a little bit and then get ghosted. It was a nice and simple routine, until it got too real. I had men in their late 20’s pursuing me, trying to meet me alone. To a high schooler, that came off as predatory. Even though I’m not a minor, I still felt weird whenever someone over the drinking age would try to talk to me. I mean, why would a 24-yearold college graduate be interested in me, a newly turned 18-year-old high schooler who can’t even pass her AP Statistics class? Eventually, I got tired of old men trying to get at me, so I joined Yubo. It’s essentially Tinder, but for high schoolers. I joined because some friends of mine were also on the app and they seemed to be enjoy using it. Thankfully, it ended up being so much better than Tinder. I felt safer because of two main reasons: old men weren’t sliding into my DMs, and it wasn’t categorized by location — I could match with a boy in Santa Cruz or Denmark. The distance made me feel a lot more comfortable because a random boy living on the other side of the world wouldn’t be able to hunt me down, and I had an excuse not to follow through with a meet-up. I eventually got bored of Yubo as well. Al-

The three Greek words for love

Photo illustration by Sara Shohoud

“I think, especially now, with the mutual friends we had, there are parts of her that I see in other people and that helps me because hanging out with them reminds me of her,” junior Nadya Svidzerskaya said about her best friend Gina Brinsmead who recently passed away in a car crash. “We were very similar but different people as well. She was one of the most accepting people I ever met in my life and it was really easy to be myself around her,” Svidzerskaya said. “That’s what resonated [and] made our relationship so strong.” Svidzerskaya admits that at first, she chose to try to not think about the loss too much, but that turned out to be the wrong solution. “I had a few breakdowns, and I had a few panic attacks and couldn’t sleep for a while, but … I think that anybody who’s going through something like this needs to truly remember [the person], and truly understand what happened and then move on with their life,” Svidzerskaya said. Gina was an irreplaceable friend not only to Svidzerskaya, but to a large community at HHS. Her sincere love and acceptance for people was a quality treasured by friends, family and classmates alike. “I think the best part was definitely how well we clicked together,” Svidzerskaya said. “Even when she lived in Sacramento we would meet up whenever. We were still the closest of friends and it was so easy to talk about anything and everything.” Svidzerskaya said that Gina used to, and continues to, inspire people to be true to their nature and welcome others into their life without judgement. Svidzerskaya said she feels that Gina has really taught her the extent in which a love based on friendship can go. “A best friend is someone who can love you unconditionally and you love them the same way,” Svidzerskaya said.

STORGE: affection

EROS:

romance

“Whenever I go to a new place, I will buy a postcard and mail it to her, because our dream is to travel around the world together,” junior Victoria Lee said. Lee’s girlfriend lives in Hong Kong, and the couple has been together for two years. Maintaining daily communication has helped them overcome the long distance. “We try to FaceTime each other every day and when you really like someone, you want to know what’s going on in their life, so we never run out of things to talk about,” Lee said. Unfortunately, the toughest problem about Lee’s relationship remains unsolved, as not everyone is supportive of their love. “A lot of people, especially adults, think we are just confused teenagers who mistook a very good friendship for love,” Lee said. “The sad thing is that I am out in front of my friends, and sometimes strangers, but not my family.” Lee said that parents often don’t believe their children are gay because they are too young to fully comprehend love or sexuality. “We want to demonstrate maturity to them [and convey that] I know this is who I am and I want you to believe me because I am a very mature person,” Lee said. Lee describes romantic love as the feeling of security and irreplaceable comfort. “After all, she is the person I first came out to and [that] means something to me,” Lee said. “It makes me feel very safe, and to me that’s very important in any relationship.” One particular moment Lee recalls to be one of her favorites is the unexpected gift she received the day after her birthday. “We went to the shopping mall and she brought me into the Swarovski store and said, ‘you know what, I was going to pick up this ring for you,’ and then we bought the ring and I’ve been wearing it every single day ... it’s like a promise ring,” Lee said.

“It starts from the realization that your sibling also wants the best for you as much as they want it for themselves,” senior Akarsh Anand said. The Anand brothers recall their middle school cross country coach calling them the ‘X factor,’ as they would almost always cross the finish line at the same time. “During the race, if one of us started running faster than the other, the person behind would run faster to catch up, [which] we did the entire race,” Prateek Anand said. Twins Akarsh and Prateek Anand said that the key to a strong sibling bond is to accept the friendly competition and learn to resolve differences with sincere communication. “I guess with some siblings they just don’t have that desire to help each other … I think it’s also similar to the relationship between a parent and a child — as you grow older you start to have your own opinions on doing things and that creates conflict,” Prateek said. “But instead you should figure out what you have in common and build up on that as opposed to pushing your thoughts on the other person.” One thing that the twins share in common is their sense of humor, which helps them bond and make their time together more interesting. “We like showing each other jokes or telling the other person about a really funny experience that we had during the day,” Prateek said. “The way that we are able to explain it to each other and make the other person laugh is something I really enjoy, and [thankfully], that happens a lot.”

Photo courtesy of Nadya Svidzerskaya

Photo courtesy of Victoria Lee

Photo courtesy of Prateek and Akarsh Anand

LOVE AND LOSS: Svidzerskaya and Brinsmead first became

LONG DISTANCE LOVE: Lee is in a relationship with her childhood friend in Hong Kong.

THE TWIN BOND: The Anand brothers are the sibling rela-

friends in 7th grade.

tionship goals.

PAGE DESIGN BY NIKA BONDAR, JANE PARK, SARA SHOHOUD

Spread

How students practice self-love By Christine Kim and Jane Park

“[I tell myself] it’s okay to feel proud of what you’ve accomplished in the past and think about what it took to accomplish that.”

“When I’m having a bad day, I take a long shower or bath, do a facemask and [whiten my teeth].”

“I take a lot of naps.”

“Doing facemasks.”

-Brandon Wright (11)

-Michelle Chen (9)

Illustrations by Jane Park

-Madeline Lum (10)

-Prateek Anand (12)

From Tinder, to Yubo, to forever alone Let’s hope my mom doesn’t read this!

LOVE,

By Nika Bondar

PHILIOS:

By Sara Shohoud

friendship

e Beaufore Illustration by Jacquelin

IT’S A MATCH: Despite my constant swiping on dating apps, I have never found someone I actually connected with.

Illustration by Nika Bondar

The three Greek words for love

Photo illustration by Sara Shohoud

STORGE: affection

EROS:

romance

Photo courtesy of Nadya Svidzerskaya

Photo courtesy of Victoria Lee

Photo courtesy of Prateek and Akarsh Anand

LOVE AND LOSS: Svidzerskaya and Brinsmead first became

LONG DISTANCE LOVE: Lee is in a relationship with her childhood friend in Hong Kong.

THE TWIN BOND: The Anand brothers are the sibling rela-

friends in 7th grade.

tionship goals.

PAGE DESIGN BY NIKA BONDAR, JANE PARK, SARA SHOHOUD

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Reading for fun: a rare but necessary practice

Lifestyles

Teen reading has declined due to new technology platforms By Christine Kim and Jane Park In this day and age of rapid technological advancement, it has become much more uncommon to read as a hobby. According to the American Psychological Association, digital media use has increased substantially between 2006 and 2016. Additionally, the percentage of sophomores reading everyday was 33 percent in 1990, compared to 2 percent in 2016. However, the reading demographic on campus tends to vary. Library media teacher Randy Berner said despite a decline in teenage readers, young adult fiction has improved an incredible amount since he was younger, and he sees active readers on campus all the time. “I think it’s really important to be aware of what else is available through books and maga-

zines and newspapers, whether it’s in print or online,” Berner said. “It’s a way of knowing about the world and engaging your imagination.” Junior Louisa Hahn said she makes time to read regularly, and currently she is rereading “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas. “It’s a good way to de-stress and escape from homework,” Hahn said. “If people are still reading in high school, it’s probably because they didn’t find something that took away the time that they would normally spend reading, or they’re specifically making time to keep reading.” On the other hand, freshman Karina Lim said she realized that when she started high school, she could no longer find time to read as a hobby. “As I got older, things like dance or schoolwork [became] more im-

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to try reading new things. “You’ve got to make your mind up that you’re going to try it and that it is going to be different than what you’ve experienced before,” Berner said. “But you’ll get more in the habit of finding time in your day where you’re going to relax and find a good spot.” READING IS RARE:

Reading regularly can have a multitude of benefits, such as better comprehension and career readiness.

Illustration by Jane Park

Students battle environmental issues

“I want to be skinny, but nothing seems to work so I fell into bulimic tendencies. What do I do?” I am sorry to hear that you have been feeling inadequate with your appearance and have developed an eating disorder. I am glad that you feel like this is a safe space to talk about your problems. Struggling with body image issues, low self-esteem or insecurities is a big stressor for many. It is the root of why we do what we do. These feelings can cause us to worry, be stressed or angry. For some, it gives us confidence to do what we want. It is sad to say, but many women, especially teens, struggle with body image issues. Speaking from my own experience, I struggle with what I look like as well, especially with being on the skinnier side of the spectrum. I, too, have tried not eating, over-exercising and unhealthy diets. The one thing I have noticed is that they made me feel even worse about myself. It is hard to say or accept, but sometimes our bodies are not made to be a size two. Although I know mine is not, I am working on trying to ac-

portant,” Lim said. “I don’t think a lot of people our age read because they’d rather go on their phones or do something more interesting to them.” Lim said that the negative perception that comes with reading may be off putting to teens. “I feel like nowadays people associate reading with nerds or dorks and no one wants to be like that,” Lim said. However, according to We Are Teachers, a study of 2.8 million students found that students who read 30 or more minutes per day with high comprehension are nearly twice as likely than typical students to achieve the college and career readiness benchmarks for their grade. With his 15 years of experience as a teacher, Berner said his advice to inactive teen readers is

cept my body for what it is. Working out within your limits and eating healthy is the best way to gain the body you desire. I know it is easier said than done, but you need to keep working at it. For you to start seeing a slight difference in your body, you need to keep up your new lifestyle for at least a month, and in order to start shredding weight, you need to continue for two or more. Losing weight in a healthy way does take more time, but it will make you feel better and can be a more positive outlet in your life. Although choosing to not eat or harm your body in another way may feel good in the moment — you might see the results you want — once you stop doing it, your body will gain all the weight back. I am no expert when it comes to medical advice, so I encourage you to talk to your doctor or call 800-366-8288 , which is the Self Harm Hotline. I will remind you that you are able to make your own doctor’s appointments or call your doctor and talk to them about any concerns you have when you turn 16. Being able to recognize your self harm and wanting to better yourself is going to help you take your next step, which is asking for help and changing your habits. Letting people in and opening up is hard, but I am sure your friends or counselors would be happy to listen to you and guide you on your journey.

-Love, Daisy

Plant-based diets, fundraisers among efforts By Seo Young Hwang and Madhavi Karthik President of the Climate Change Initiatives club and junior Rajvi Umrigar has spearheaded “Run for the Rainforest,” a walka-thon in which proceeds will provide relief for the Australian bushfires, as well as the fires in the Amazon rainforest. Major fires began to burn across Australia in the summer of 2019, threatening peoples’ lives and destroying animal habitats. According to Climate Signals, approximately one billion animals and at least 24 people died in that fire. Similarly, there was a fire in the Amazon rainforest in 2019 that endangered countless animal species. “A lot of people lost their homes or their family members, so they definitely need some type of relief, so we have an event coming up soon,” Umrigar said. Other clubs, such as Green Ops, also have activities planned to help the Australian bushfires. “[Last] semester, we did an event to spread awareness about what was happening with the Amazon rainforest wildfires,” junior Anushka Sanyal, president of the Green Ops club, said.“We plan to do that again this semester with the Australian bushfires that are going on.” Other than the Australian bushfires, Sanyal said students need to be more aware about what is happening globally due to climate change. “It’s a matter of what you care about [and] what you’re passionate about, and I think people should be passionate about our world,” Sanyal said. “It is our home. Educating people by allowing them to understand the urgency of these problems [is important].” Similarly, Compassion For All (CFA) educates students about climate change as well, explaining how a plant-based diet can have a positive impact not only on health

but also on the environment. Vice president of CFA, junior Varshini Chouthri, said not many people are aware that one of the causes of the Amazon rainforest fires was the demand for meat. “When it comes to climate change, I inform people on how a plant-based lifestyle can have a positive effect on the environment,” Chouthri said. “For example, the Amazon rainforest [wildfire was] burned down in order to grow soybeans to feed cows.” Spreading awareness and organizing fundraisers are a few ways to help the environment. Some students, however, are taking a different approach. Freshman Abby Berwick said she has been shopping from sustainable clothing companies for a few years now, and has discovered a lot of environmental benefits from doing so. “Around one pair of jeans takes over 900 gallons of water to produce, if not more,” Berwick said. “Reducing the amount of waste produced by them [can] really reduce our carbon footprint.” Also using clothing to help the environment, seniors Kensuke Yamanaka, Devin Fan, Eddie Loh

and Vaibhav Seshadri started a company called Marina Clothing Incorporated for their senior project. All of them share a passion for fashion, and helping marine life while doing so. “[Through our clothing], we hope to raise awareness for what kind of dangers the [monthly] animal is going through,” Yamanaka said. Ocean pollution is their main concern as a company, and all of their proceeds will benefit various ocean conservatories, Fan said. “The big thing is, we understand that us alone is not going to fix everything, but we’re trying to do our bit,” Fan said. Chouthri said the issue of climate change can only be tackled if everyone becomes more aware of their choices and the impact they have. “A lot of people don’t really think about how their choices affect climate change,” Chouthri said. “If we can make [the] connection that our choices have a greater impact, then [people will] realize that they should be more aware of what they’re providing for our environment.”

Photo by Dexter Tatsukawa MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Members of Green Ops collect trash in front of the C

building for a campus cleanup initiative.

PAGE DESIGN BY ANIKA KARODY

Lifestyles Meditation allows for clarity

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

A jack of all trades

Techniques include apps, primordial sounds

Jessica Kirby’s many roles

By Shruti Magesh

By Katelynn Ngo

In a stressful world of balancing time between school work, extracurriculars, family and friends, it can often be difficult to find a moment to take a break and find peace. According to Mind Works, meditation gives the brain space to sort out emotions, as well as reduce stress and anxiety. Meditation itself can come in a variety of forms, ranging from yoga to mindfulness meditation, according to Mayo Clinic. French teacher Kelly Ronsheimer said in a phone interview that she was introduced to meditation while traveling to Georgia, where she went to a studio that focused on primordial sound meditation. Ronsheimer said each person has their own specific primordial sound. “There are 108 different vibrations and [they are] based on your first day, where you were born [and] the time ... [that] assigns a particular sound to you,”

Ronsheimer said. Ronsheimer said that through meditation, she was able to find clarity. “I think clarity [is] the biggest [benefit],” Ronsheimer said. “When you’re not sure of what to do ... or if you have a lot of judgment on yourself … [meditating] just kind of clears all that gunk out.” Other students prefer using apps to help them meditate. Senior Kay Picson said in a phone interview that she uses an app called Headspace to meditate. “I wake up in the morning [and] do a five-minute meditation,” Picson said. “They sort of coach you on the process of meditating and just clearing out your thoughts to start your day well.” Picson said that meditation helps her start the day off with more positivity. “[It] had a really huge effect. I don’t know how to explain it, but it just makes you feel more appreciative and more in tune with

Illustration by Jane Park A BALANCING ACT: Students and teachers use meditation to clear their minds and reduce stress. Some methods of meditation include mindfulness meditation and yoga.

Making progress...

Continued from Last Word

Standing at 5’2,” Bove is no stranger to being overlooked in her career — either because of her height, her gender or her age. “If I’m in a public meeting — where nobody knows me — and some of our other male administrators and I are standing somewhere, and someone says, ‘oh, I want to introduce you to the superintendent,’ they almost always stick their hand out to one of the men, and never to me,” Bove said. “Part of that’s because I’m older and part of that’s because I’m a woman. I don’t believe it’s active and intentional, but it is just an u n d e r l y i n g, almost assumption that people don’t even think about.”

OVERLOOKING HEIGHT DIFFERENCE:

At 5’2,” Polly Bove stands tall in matters of the administration.

Bove said these unintentional assumptions aren’t unbreakable, and that your attitude makes a difference to how other people view you. “If you know that people might be well intentioned and have unintended biases, you can teach them about bias by being generous of spirit, having them get to know you and then sort of breaking that mold,” Bove said. “So, I’m not very tall and I think my height mattered in my job. But as a high school administrator, I didn’t let that get in the way. I just let who I was inside and the authority that I felt in caring for kids control my ability to manage a classroom or manage a campus.”

yourself,” Picson said. Meditation also allows there to be a necessary pause in the busy schedules of students and teachers, Ronsheimer said. “Our bodies aren’t really designed to go from activity to activity without a transition period. You go five minutes between classes, and everything’s very quick,” Ronsheimer said. “What meditation does is give your brain time to just sit and absorb all the experiences that it is going through so that it doesn’t build up.” Picson said meditating will help give students a moment to relax. “It’s really nice to take a moment to relax and calm yourself down, to organize your thoughts and come back stronger than before,” Picson said. Other students, like junior Harsha Sangam, believe that while meditation is helpful, it is simply not their preferred method of destressing. “I’ll usually just go in my room and watch TV and not talk to anyone, just so I can be with myself and whatever shows I’m watching,” Sangam said. “[But] meditation is definitely something that [others do to] calm down. I know it really helps my mom.” Ronsheimer said that people should meditate by choice, rather than forcing themselves into it. “I don’t think anyone should force themselves to meditate because I never did. It came to me when it needed to,” Ronsheimer said. “I did it for personal reasons. I think if someone wants to meditate, that’s why they should meditate.”

Jessica Kirby is a figure on campus that does not specialize in just one area. In addition to being an activities specialist teacher and an activities director, Kirby also co-teaches English. In fact, her desire to become a teacher can be pinpointed back to a single moment in her third grade class, when her teacher told her not to worry about being bad at math because she was a girl and would, therefore, be really good at writing. “Being told I was bad at math for a really long time … resonated with me. I think that in itself — being told that I wasn’t good at something — kind of set me on a trajectory of where I am now,” Kirby said. “One of the reasons I became a teacher is [because] I was told for so long that I wasn’t good at something because I was a girl, and [now] I get to talk about topics like this in the high school setting. This isn’t something we ever talked about when I went to high school.” Similar to the way Kirby plays different roles on campus, she said she can see opportu-

nities arising for other girls and women, as well. “In my own career, I know that people are working really hard in education to make sure that women and girls have more opportunities in the STEM field,” Kirby said. “They advertise more heavily and give people opportunities to see that women can play different roles.” Although Kirby said she is currently happy where she is, she also said one day she’d like to try other roles, as well. “The medical field has always been something I would really love to get back into, because I did go to school originally to become a nurse,” Kirby said. “But more importantly, I would love to eventually … run some kind of program that requires students to do some kind of agricultural assignment [and] integrate some kind of gardening onto campus. I think it’s really important for students to be able to kind of do something that is not typical anymore.”

MULTI-PART ROLE: Jessica

Kirby hopes to see more girls in all kinds of career roles.

Illustration by Fiona Oh

Rachel Zlotziver achieves the unseeable

Presence of female leaders proves beneficial to young girls, acts as source of inspiration By Katelynn Ngo Whenever there is a crisis in the district, students and teachers alike are alerted in an email. Behind the screen is FUHSD Coordinator of Communications Rachel Zlotziver. However, Zlotziver does more than send out emails. “[There’s] definitely a lot of writing when we have crisis situations, so sometimes you might get an email from me,” Zlotziver said. “All the redesign that we did in the last few years [for the website] and then keeping them up [were] under my purview. When we have the openings of the Innovation Hub and when a new administration building opens, I handle all of that.” Interestingly, Zlotziver’s path in college followed a different trajectory. She was a history major, a longtime favorite subject of hers. “I didn’t necessarily know what I wanted to do after college … history was one of my favorite subjects, so I thought I would

study that in college and figure sometimes to have that confieverything else out later down dence in themselves.” the path,” Zlotziver said. However, Zlotziver said young Although she has worked girls obtain inspiration simply by with wonderful female leaders seeing it around them. “There’s a saying that you and uplifting male colleagues, Zlotziver said the culture that can’t really be what you can’t says girls cannot succeed in pro- see,” Zlotziver said. “As you see fessional fields can create doubt more women in STEM or in the arts or in film, where all these inwithin her and girls everywhere. “Sometimes some of the dustries are grappling with a lack of leaderthinking that you can’t do something comes from withship from women, in. As women and girls, esthat representapecially in middle and high tion [becomes] important.” school, self esteem suffers because of how the culture A CRISIS is,” Zlotziver said. “That COMMUNICATOR: self doubt comes from Rachel Zlotziver within and if I could look advocates back, I would tell myself for women to have more confidence representation in leadership. in my abilities and to not lose sight of that because I think it’s hard for young wome n Illustration by Fiona Oh and girls PAGE DESIGN BY MELODY CHEN

Entertainment

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Eminem’s new album flops Washout strikes again By Jane Park

By Saanvi Thakur As a remedy to the idea “I hate my body,” many say “I love my body and I am beautiful.” This example is one of many ways people of all age groups cope with their body insecurities and negative mindset. However, when I say these types of affirmations to myself, instead of feeling more confident, I feel like I’m suppressing my real emotions. Different media outlets like VOX and Glamour have even called the idea of body positivity a scam, since the movement was created to feel more confident, but has only ended up limiting women’s valid emotions. These socially constructed standards have a psychological effect even after change in ideology. Instead of saying these body positive affirmations, Demi Lovato explains why body acceptance is the better route to go. In a recent interview Lovato did with Ashely Graham on her podcast, “Pretty Big Deal,” Lovato talks about her past where she dealt with an eating disorder. She would focus on saying body positive things to herself, which eventually led her down the wrong path of living in the gym. In an Instagram post, Lovato posted an unedited photo of herself, in which she did not edit out any of her physical insecurities. In the caption, Lovato said, “I’m not stoked on my appearance BUT I am appreciative of it and sometimes that’s the best I can do.” It’s so refreshing to look at a celebrity’s Instagram page and see normal things like stretch marks and love handles. Not only does this familiarize young girls with things that have been deemed as imperfect, it also highlights the importance of accepting your body instead of being aggressively positive and suppressing your valid emotions.

Movie electrifies theaters By Allen Zhang

Illustration by Jane Park RETIREMENT IS NEAR: Eminem’s age shows in his sluggish attempt of a new album, “Music to Be Murdered By”.

the insensitivity of the lyrics, he raised $2 million for the victims of the attack. Additionally, Eminem uses the r-slur in “Unaccommodating,” which adds to his blatant ignorance. The artist has been under fire for using slurs in the past. Eminem needs to stop writing childish, whiny lyrics and should start writing meaningful, substantial lyrics that allude and compare to his hits in the 90s and 2000s.

‘Music to be Murdered By’ Genre: Rap album Release date: Jan. 17, 2020

Rating: 1 star

“Sonic the Hedgehog” took on the challenge of adapting a video game for the big screen, following the likes of “Detective Pikachu,” and passed with flying colors. After a massive redesign of the titular character, due to major fan backlash, Sonic emerged cuter than ever. The plot basically goes that Sonic, voiced by Ben Schwartz, a blue hedgehog with the power to run really fast, fled to Earth after being discovered in multiple worlds. He settles down in Green Hills, a rural town protected from raccoons by lovable sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden), to whom Sonic feels a special connection. After causing a power outage and being discovered by Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey, Sonic has to escape to San Francisco, and Wachowoski joins him for the journey. One refreshing aspect of the movie is the relationship between Tom and his wife, Maddie’s relationship. The two stay united in everything they do in the movie and support each other. It represents a rare healthy relationship, as in entertainment, most relationships are dramatic or toxic. However, some parts of the movie are completely unbearable. Jim Carrey as the antagonist of the movie, Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik,

Photo courtesy of IMDb

CELEBRITY SPOTLIGHT

Marshall “Eminem” Mathers is a hip hop legend, but his latest album may have dragged down his reputation. Eminem’s 11th album, “Music to Be Murdered By,” was released on Jan. 17, and hit number one on the Billboard 200. However, the album was incomparable to “Kamikaze,” his last album. Eminem claims the album is not for those who are offended by “screams of bloody murder.” The sole purpose of this album seems to be to clap back at critics. However, the album gave off an edgy, butthurt vibe and did not represent his legacy in the hip hop world nor his character as the winner of seven Grammys and so many more awards. It is understandable that Eminem’s lyrics are harsh and candid in this album; all his songs cut deep and resonate with listeners. However, it felt like he prioritized shock value over significant meaning in his songs. The harsh, loud beats; violent lyrics; insensitive language. The album felt like he wanted to scare people instead of starting a conversation. In the album, Eminem collaborates with multiple artists, such as Ed Sheeran and Royce da 5’9,” but none of the songs feel as musically sound as his previous works do. On “Unaccommodating,” Eminem compares the Ariana Grande bombing attack to the impact of his music, saying “But I’m contemplating yelling “Bombs away” on the game / Like I’m outside of an Ariana Grande concert waiting.” After a CNN writer criticized

Sonic sprints to Hollywood

SONIC HITS THEATERS: The blue

hedgehog delights fans.

is extremely annoying to me. Carrey’s acting is not poor, but the way Dr. Robotnik spoke and his words really put me on edge whenever he came on screen. While watching the movie, I had to keep in mind that “Sonic the Hedgehog” is a kids’ movie, as the plot was a bit immature. Loaded with easter eggs for fans of the game but accessible to new watchers, “Sonic the Hedgehog” is a film for all.

‘Sonic The Hedgehog’ Genre: Kids’ Movie Release date: Feb. 14, 2020

Rating: 4 stars

Mac Miller’s life comes full circle

Album ‘Circles’ reflects on artist at his peak By Shreya Partha By this time, the death of rapper Mac Miller on Sept. 7, 2018 is something that most people know and talk about. Miller’s unexpected death from an accidental drug overdose sent waves throughout the rap community and the music industry. Prior to his death, Miller released “Swimming,” an album that some argue was where Miller was able to find himself as an artist. He was gone soon after, unable to grasp and build upon that potential. “Circles,” a posthumously released companion album, was released on Jan. 17, 2020 as a way to give closure to Miller’s years of work. Miller had worked closely with his producer, Jon Brion, who was committed to finish producing the album, even after Miller’s death. Miller’s growth as an artist is obvious in the album; “Circle” portrays a greater sense of maturity with lyrics like, “I cannot be changed, no / Trust me I’ve tried / I just end up right at the start of the line.” The seasoned sound of “Circles” further validates his last

album as the one where he discovered his sound. As someone who is not a huge fan of rap, it was refreshing to hear that his songs were mostly singing. On “Surf,” he sings, “Sometimes I get lonely / Not when I’m alone / But it’s more when I’m standin’ in crowds that I’m feelin’ the most on my own,” which is both relatable and shows a hidden side to Miller. Many artists tend to present themselves and their music in a positive light, even when they’re struggling behind the scenes. Miller differs from the rest. Through his lyrics, he is able to represent a part of him that may not be pretty or typical, but is a big part of who he was. Although I did not personally enjoy the album’s dark tone, I respect an artist who values the quality of his lyrics over songs with no significant meanings. However, not all his songs are a hit. Miller intended for the focus of the album to be on improving himself; however on “That’s on Me,” he sings, “That’s on me, it’s all my fault,” essentially contradicting the album’s motive by blaming himself for being

Photo by Jane Park

Illustration by Sunaina Nayak

GONE TOO SOON: Mac Miller’s album “Circles “is heartbreakingly sublime,

acknowledging the young artist’s short life.

confused and having no direction in life. Although Miller might have intended for this song to be relatable, his overall dispiriting and excessive repetition of lyrics do not add to the purpose as whole. Regardless, the powerful lyric writing and consistent motif of the songs are reasons to listen to this agonizingly, transcendent album.

‘Circles’ Genre: Rap Album Release date: Jan. 17, 2020

Rating: 4 stars

PAGE DESIGN BY ALLEN ZHANG

Entertainment

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Stories of sexual assault victims finally heard on Netflix series

Decades later, R. Kelly’s past finally catches up to him By Leila Salam

We all know he’s guilty. The evidence from the docu-series is overwhelming. The question is why it has taken so long for people to start caring about the disgusting and abusive behavior of musician R. Kelly. In the first part of the lifetime docu-series “Surviving R. Kelly,” several alleged victims share heartbreaking stories about their personal experiences with Kelly. Part 1 dives deep into Kelly’s long history of abuse, from his marriage to 15-year-old Aaliyah Haughton to his widely discussed sex tape with a minor. The second part of the series goes deeper into the public’s response to the original documentary. Almost a month after the series premiered, Kelly was charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The singer then turned himself in to

Illustration by Leila Salam DON’T BLAME VICTIMS: 48 women have come forward accusing R. Kelly of misconduct according to the docu-series, a fight persisting for decades.

the police and his bail was set at $1 million. The singer’s career took several hits as well, including getting dropped by RCA/ Sony, his record label. Part 2 highlights in detail how

it took decades of allegations, thousands of people protesting and an entire documentary about his abusive behavior for people to finally start taking this problem seriously. After watch-

‘Miss Americana’: the person behind the fame Taylor Swift documentary provides raw, honest view of singer’s life By Karen Li

“My entire moral code, as a kid and now, is a need to be thought of as good,” singer-songwriter Taylor Swift says as she sits, legs crossed, on a window seat. She flips through a stack of old journals, scoffing as she recalls her quill-and-ink phase. She fixes her eyes on someone off-camera, solemnly admitting that since childhood, her life and career have been dominated by one philosophy: to be good. Little did nine-year-old Taylor know, being good would cost her. On Jan. 31, “Miss Americana ‘’ was released on Netflix and in select theaters. The documentary follows several years in Swift’s career, including the creation of the “Reputation” and “Lover” albums, released in 2017 and 2019, respectively. The title is derived from the track “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince ‘’ from the “Lover” album.“Miss Americana” was directed by Lana Wilson, who also directed the documentaries “After Tiller” and “The Departure.” It features interviews, studio footage, childhood videos and concert recordings that weave together to create Swift’s most real and vulnerable offering of herself to date – it finds the person behind the fame. We’re not all famous (for better or for worse), but while we may not be able to understand fame, everyone can understand the desire to be accepted by others, which drives Swift’s journey and growth throughout the progression of the film.

Photo courtesy of Newsday BEHIND THE FAME: Taylor Swift reveals her struggles with being in the public

eye and upholding a “good girl” image in this heartfelt documentary.

Taylor Swift is practically a household name in that anyone who is even tangentially in tune with pop culture knows her. It’s become a title that evokes the image of the extremely successful pop star Taylor Swift. The Taylor Swift who is perfectly composed and perfectly dressed as she attends award shows and talk shows. Taylor Swift, the pop icon. In “Miss Americana,” Taylor Swift, the woman who felt the need to create this image to hide behind, makes an appearance. Swift lets us in for a behindthe-scenes look at the challenges that come with fame and being in the public eye – specifically, her own struggle with seeking public approval. Swift reflects on the incident at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, when Kanye West took the mic from her after she won Best Female Video for “You Belong With Me” to acknowledge Beyoncé, leaving Swift humiliated. At the time, Swift reveals, she thought the booing crowd was directed at her. For someone who built her entire image from

being the “good girl” that everyone liked, this was devastating. From there, the documentary also covers her private struggles with body dysmorphia and eating disorders, her mother’s cancer diagnosis, her sexual assault trial and her difficult decision to express her political views. Anyone could face these same problems, and by using her platform to speak about her own experiences, Swift opens up conversations about relevant issues. “Miss Americana” is an empowering, heartfelt story of a woman who finds herself after being shaped by approval and opinion for too long, and at its core, we can all find a piece of ourselves in her story.

‘Miss Americana’ Genre: Documentary Release Date: Jan. 31,

2020

Rating: 4 stars

ing this documentary, I was astounded that these women were ignored for so long. It was disgusting to watch how Kelly was able to use his position of power as a superstar to prey on young, vulnerable, black girls who felt alone and unloved. After watching this documentary, it is ridiculous to assume that any of the blame falls on the victims. No matter how the girls dressed or acted, none of them deserved to be abused and taken advantage of. When women come forward accusing men of assault or rape, the first response is often “What were you wearing” or “What were you doing?” The blame does not belong to the women for dressing or acting a certain way. It belongs to the men who decide it is acceptable to take advantage of them.

Kelly is a perfect example of this behavior. The documentary demonstrates that because he has been getting away with this behavior for so long, he feels he cannot be touched. “People look at some of these allegations and they blame girls,” lawyer Michael Avenatti said in the documentary, “Where they should be blaming people, is where the blame f*****g belongs. And that’s on R. Kelly and his enablers.”

‘Surviving R. Kelly: the Reckoning’

Genre: Documentary

Release Date: Jan. 4,

2020

Rating: 4 stars

What happened to Justin Bieber?

Bieber proves new is not always improved By Kacey Rebstock

In the years following his last album, “Purpose,” Justin Bieber seems to have made a complete 180. After disappearing from the spotlight, Bieber made his debut, again, with the release of his most recent album, “Changes.” Though this album is supposed to reflect the changes Bieber has undergone since “Purpose,” it is lackluster for the five years he was supposedly working on it. He performed over 250 shows throughout his Purpose tour, which took a large toll on him, eventually resulting in his ending his world tour in 2017 to preserve his health. Following this, few updates came from Bieber, and fans were left to wonder what he was up to. His reintroduction to the spotlight occured when Bieber married Hailey Baldwin in 2018, shocking fans after a very short and private romance. Earlier this year, Bieber revealed through an Instagram photo caption that he has been struggling with the diagnosis of Lyme disease, which he claims is the reason for his new meth head-inspired look. Since the end of his tour, Bieber’s look drastically changed for the worse, losing his teenage innocence as he grew into adulthood. He swapped his clean-shaven face for an unkempt mustache, and his quiff grew out into a raggedy surfer look, aging him thirty years in twelve months. However, his new look is representative of his new music: tasteless. Released on Valentine’s Day, “Changes” is a dedication

to his relationship with Baldwin, now Hailey Bieber. The past few years of his absence led him into manhood, reflected in his attempt at sensual lyrics. Somehow, Bieber has managed to make 16 songs sound nearly identical to each other, all fit with the same beat and monotone, boring vocals. Though his marriage to Baldwin is an objectively positive thing, the way he describes his love for her is genuinely passionless. And, literally, nobody needs to hear how “yummy” Baldwin is. If Baldwin is really that remarkable, you would think Bieber could come up with some better lyrics. It is a disappointment that the album followed such a long break, as Bieber could have used those years to develop his identity as a musician. Instead, he came out as generic as ever.

Illustration by Sara Shohoud A NEW LOOK: Justin Bieber ditches his signature popstar quiff for a shaggy surfer style.

PAGE DESIGN BY SHREYA PARTHA

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

PAGE DESIGN BY YUKARI E. ZAPATA

Sports

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Beyond high school sports

Teachers treasure their athletic pasts, unique experiences By Melody Chen and Shreya Partha

Debbie Vanni English teacher and alumni Debbie Vanni played four sports when HHS offered four different seasons — field hockey, basketball, softball and track — from 1975 to 1979. Vanni recalls being referred to as the “girl jock” in high school. “All the sports I played were team sports for the most part, so [we were] always working together because your goal is to win and keep winning to get as far as you can,” Vanni said. “It has this spirit of fighting to the end to get what you want, and relying on other people to get what you want because you can’t do it alone.” In the ‘70s, when girls sports were not as prominent, Vanni said her field hockey jersey was sewn by the mom of one of her teammates. Her team had to wait

Derek Kay From 1978 to 1982, sophomore literature and writing teacher Derek Kay played on Palo Alto High School’s football, tennis and track teams. “I always played sports, and it just seemed like a natural thing to do,” Kay said. “There was never really a question in my mind.” Kay said his participation in a team sport allowed him to understand group dynamics better. Athletes spend a lot of time and energy playing sports, and

until the boys finished practicing in the gym for the girls to start their practice later in the day, she said. Oftentimes, the girls would receive less time to train. “We definitely didn’t have equality across the sports,” she said. “Boys definitely got more than the girls.” Field hockey left a huge impression on Vanni’s high school and college years, she said. While she played all four sports in her years of high school, she continued to play softball and basketball at the collegiate level for two years and field hockey all four years at Chico State. In addition, Vanni said she coached the field hockey team at Chico State after graduating, and coached at MVHS for a few years before returning to teaching. Despite the gender inequality involving high school sports, girls sports have come a long way and now deserve the praise they

should have received a long time ago, she said. “These women who work really hard and become accomplished are finally getting noticed and getting the positive attention that we didn’t always get,” Vanni said. “I think it’s really important that there’s this shift that’s happening.”

teachers who haven’t experienced sports don’t understand how much time and energy it takes out of a player, Kay said. Because he played high school and college football, Kay said he can empathize with students more from a teaching standpoint. “I played football and that took up a good 10 to 12 hours a day during the season,” Kay said, “That is a lot of time when you’re going to competitive school ... I was always exhausted.” Not only did football, tennis and track shape him into the person he is today, Kay said he has also acquired a multitude of life skills that helped him succeed.

“You got to be consistent,” Kay said. “You have to learn to persevere through hard times. You have to learn to self-advocate for yourself, with coaches and other people.”

FARIA FOCUS Photos courtesy of Pegasus MULTI-SPORT ATHLETE: While Vanni played four sports, including basketball (left), at HHS from ‘75 to ‘79, she said field hockey (top) had greatly defined her athletic years. “There’s definitely athletes I still talked to today that I had done sports with a long time ago,” she said.

To read about science teacher Sukhraj Sohal’s experience with football, scan the QR code!

Photo courtesy of Derek Kay A CHARGE FORWARD: Derek Kay (42) lunges past his opponents.

Tumbling for the stars Potolsky combines motivation and activism in cheerleading By Saanvi Thakur It started as a simple dare to try out for the middle school cheerleading team. But for junior Liam Potolsky, that dare led to him becoming a Grand World Champion. Potolsky started his cheerleading journey by trying out for the Sunnyvale Middle School cheerleading team five years ago. Now he cheers competitively at All Star and is currently training for his next competition. Potolsky’s position on the All Star team means that he is at the gym for around 20 hours a week. The physical and mental strain from cheer, combined with stress from school, places a large toll on Potolsky. The dedication he puts into cheer to fulfill his goals has led to sacrifices as well, he said. “My dad had to give up his job so that he can deal with [my] cheer [schedule], the expenses [and] driving me places … I don’t really have a social life anymore [because] I’m in the gym 20 hours a week … for cheer,” Potolsky said. Even with the mental and

physical commitment that cheer requires, Potolsky said he continues to stay dedicated to advancing his cheerleading career. Having a positive mindset is one of the main components that pushed him to stay focused. “If you go into a challenge thinking ‘this is too hard for me, I’m not going to be able to do this,’ you’re never going to achieve [your goal],” Potolsky said. “But if you go into something [thinking] ‘I’m going to accept this challenge’ then [you’ll reach all of your goals].” From the start of his cheerleading career to now, motivation has been a key factor, he said. “When I first started I used to cheer at the lower level club so I didn’t really care very much,” Potolsky said. “Last year I finished [at the low level club], did really well and [realized] that I needed to move on to bigger places”. While motivation and a positive mindset is a big aspect of Potolsky’s work ethic, he has encountered situations that required more than just a positive attitude, he said. Sexism is a common theme in any sport and cheerleading is

no exception — cheerleading has been a female-dominated activity and has only been recently recognized as a sport. Still, male cheerleaders are perceived as uncommon, according to The Atlantic. Being a male cheerleader, Potolsky said he faces sexism in his day to day life. “People emasculate [male cheerleaders by saying things like] ‘you’re doing a girl sport. You’re not manly, or you’re a baby. Why don’t you do football or something?” Potolsky said. “If I hear people being mean to someone because they’re a male [cheerleader], I usually try and stand up for them because I was also in that place once.” Even though there are positive and negative factors that Potolsky faces in cheerleading, he makes sure to help those who are struggling, he said. For example, Potolsky Photo rallied nine cheer teams to support a gay male cheerleader who had allegedly dealt with homophobic

comments, according to Mercury News. Potolsky said he encourages athletes to push themselves to their limits. “Shoot for the stars. If you’re the best in the room, then you need to go where the ceilings are higher,”

courtesy of Liam Potolsky

WORLD CHAMPION AGAIN: Junior Liam

Potolsky (11) prepares for this year’s World Championship, which is held at the ESPN center in Florida.

For the past century, the National Football League has reigned superior over the football world, as other leagues have operated in its shadow, experiencing modest success. This year, an alternative football league looks to be reborn — Vince McMahon, creator of WWE, is attempting to revive the X-Treme Football League (XFL). The XFL was started in 2001 by McMahon and NBC executive Dick Ebersol. This slightly modified version of football had high viewership in its initial few weeks but their numbers fell off eventually due to the less talented players and the league’s encouragement of violence and sex appeal. However, the new XFL seems to be off to a hot start again through its first four weeks of the 2020 season. A big reason for their newfound success includes some key rule changes. Two of the most popular rule changes in the XFL are the tweaks to kickoffs and punts. In both scenarios, rules have been changed to lessen the distance between opposing players to decrease player speed on impact. As the safety changes made by the XFL continue to gain more publicity, the NFL will be put in a position to consider adopting some of these rule changes. Additional rule changes have been implemented to increase the entertainment value of XFL football, such as the change in point after attempts and end of game clock rules. Instead of the conventional option to kick an extra point or attempt to run a play for two points, the XFL gives you three options: a one point attempt from the two-yard line, a two point attempt from the five-yard line and a three point attempt from the ten-yard line. These new options allow teams to score more points and make it easier for comeback opportunities.

PAGE DESIGN BY JANE PARK AND KACEY REBSTOCK

16 Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Illustration by Jane Park

Illustration by Sara Shohoud

Making progress one step at a time

“We have every right to be in [the same] position and jobs as a man does and be on that same playing field.” — Emily Bersaglia, school psychologist

“Women can make the same decisions and [we can] pave pathways just as well as men.” — Lillie Phares, guidance counselor

“Women leaders are empowering other women to follow in their footsteps.” — Marisa Amezquita, guidance counselor

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See page 11 to read the rest of the article and profiles

more natural for girls to go in the direction they want to go in, whatever that is,” Bove said.

Polly Bove breezes past stereotypes By Katelynn Ngo

Her granddaughter then turned to Bove and asked if superintendents can be boys — and that’s when Bove saw, as a woman in a leadership role, the progress she made. “As more role models come forward, it seems

One day in the office, FUHSD superintendent Polly Bove’s four-and-ahalf-year-old granddaughter visited her. When her father came to pick her up, Bove’s granddaughter asked him if he ever wanted to be a superintendent like Bove.

What does 'the future is female' mean to you?

“The future has always been female. We’ve been here and we’ve been fighting strong.” — Maria Trejo, dean

“Everybody should have an opportunity to be the best they can be.” — Loy Oppus-Moe, FUHS Foundation co-president

“[It means] females will have every option [and] every opportunity available to them.” — Rita Allen, FUHS Foundation co-president

“[It means] the same expectations, pay [and treatment] when being considered for anything.” — Trudy Gross, associate superintendent

“There’s a movement and female leadership [will] increase. There’s a lot of support behind that.” — Paula Robinson, FUHSD director of HR

“[In the past], men were engineers and women were not. Now more and more women are going into STEM.” — Mary Lund, CCC adviser

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“It means that I have all these opportunities and options. I’m not limited because of my gender.” — Anna Perronne (11)

“It means that girls can do anything guys can do, regardless of gender.” — Kendra Wong (12)

“[It means] women having more authority in important positions and doing things equal to men.” —Kyra Sunil (10)

“It encourages girls to have large goals and aim high. It [inspires] young people.” — Carolyn Shan (12)

What does 'the future is female' mean to you? By Katelynn Ngo with additional reporting by Nitya Kashyap

Women leaders act as pillars for one another

In the past, growing up as a woman was a lot different than how it is now, Nurnberg said. “Women are just being raised in a totally different way. I mean, I was told that I could do whatever I wanted when growing up, but there was still an expectation that I would go to college, find my initial career and then get married and settle down,” Nurnberg said. “The labor force just looks very different for women now and the opportunities that exist for women are very different. It’s far easier to then work toward that goal when you’re not the first person paving the way.”

Assistant principal relies on other female staff members as support network By Katelynn Ngo

a mom, and not necessarily as a woman in a professional career.” However, the abundance of female leaders on campus has helped her block out those comments. “There’s really strong female leadership in this district, and a number of them are my close friends. They have all faced obstacles at one point or another in their careers because of their gender,” Nurnberg said. “When there’s an environment that’s saturated with other female leaders, it’s not like you give up because of that, right? You have role models or models [that] aspire [you] to do it.”

In her 13 years as an administrator, Denae Nurnberg has been in every role with the exception of principal. Currently, she is the assistant principal, in addition to working closely with the science department and the special education department. During those years, Nurnberg has heard comments made about her based on her gender, she said. “I would say I had to deal with fielding comments and commentary about my gender when I was pregnant for the most part,” Nurnberg said. “A lot of the comments were about that, and just telling me what I should do as

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Last Word

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Photo illustrations by Zoe Li and Fiona Oh

‘You kick like a girl’

Empowerment through soccer and activism

By Katelynn Ngo

Having been ingrained in to prove herself to others in her me. It’s a huge surge and it’s all her Spanish culture and fam- life, not only in sports but also about feminism,” Zamora said. ily, soccer had always been a in other areas. In her own life, Zamora central aspect of senior Fabio“I always had to prove my- said she advocates for womla Zamora’s life. Yet, as a child, self to other male figures in my en’s representation by being Zamora said she struggled to life. Not only was it on the field, vice president of the Women’s find a female role model in the it [also] started in the class- Empowerment Ambassadors sport she was so passionate room and [in] social aspects,” (WEA) on campus. WEA ofabout. As a result, Zamora of- Zamora said. “I had to prove ten goes on marches and volten found herself neglecting myself to others, because I felt unteers for causes that help the feminine parts of her. like I was starting from a low- women. “I was a tomboy [growing er level, essentially, because I “[WEA] is a safe space not up] because I thought that in was a woman.” only for feminists that are alorder to excel in soccer, I had However, Zamora — who ready on campus, but for peoto neglect my feminine side,” has obtained an athletic schol- ple who are curious or quesZamora said. “[I thought] that arship to the University of Ha- tioning about it,” Zamora said. would make [me] be able to wai’i as a prominent female “We have open conversations reach my full potential.” athlete — said that’s slowly and essentially bring awareOn the field, Zamora said starting to change now. ness about the truths of the soother players treated her differ“[The phrase ‘the future is ciety that we live in.” ently because of her gender. female’] means everything to The stereotypes that are “Just playing pushed on feminism with others boys or gender equality and [even] playare also not accuing with men, they rate, Zamora said. would feel uncom“A lot of times, fortable playing a people are deterred woman,” Zamora from learning about said. “They felt feminism because that they had to they see it as somedowngrade their thing extreme and ability in order something that’s to have a fair kind of far reaching match.” and a little bit radiBecause of Photo courtesy of Claire Torii cal,” Zamora said. this, Zamora said “But it’s not that she found herself MARCHING FOR WOMEN: Zamora, with WEA, participated at all — it’s just a constantly trying in a women’s march in San Francisco on Jan. 19, 2019. goal.”

PAGE DESIGN BY KATELYNN NGO