Issue 3

VOL . X L I I 3 JANU SSUE 2021 ARY 8,

PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL www.pvphsnews.com

The food insecurity crisis must not lose attention amid the coronavirus pandemic.

OPINION, PAGE 2

TWITTER TRUMPS TRUMP

PANTHERS IN PODS

ROAD TO RECOVERY

Politician’s bans from the media call the First Amendment into question

Select Peninsula students return to campus in pods for academic support

Seniors produce an eating disorder recovery film to raise awareness

EDITORIAL PAGE 3

NEWS PAGE 4

STUDENT LIFE PAGE 8

2

THE FOOD FEUD

The ongoing battle for the national food deficit to gain more publicity during the COVID-19 crisis JIHEE SEO / THE PEN

JENNA LONG Recently, the issue of food insecurity has been neglected across the U.S., as millions of individuals do not have reliable access to affordable, nutritious foods. In fact, it currently affects 54 million people during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Although this is an escalating problem, the storming of the Capitol and President Donald Trump’s impeachment resolutions have dominated mainstream media, overshadowing other pressing issues such as this one. COVID-19 has forced millions of businesses, schools and restaurants to shut down in light of safety precautions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that cases are at their highest yet, with 74,900 new cases per day across America, which has caused millions of people to lose their jobs. If COVID-19 cases continue on this uphill climb, approximately 21 million people will live in poverty, 9.9 million of which will become susceptible to food deficiency, according to Feeding America. This leaves wealthier citizens with greater access to food in grocery stores as they are able to afford a larger quantity of products and goods. This ultimately results in hoarding and increases the probability for lower-income communities to face food insecurity. Although the food deficit in America is often overshadowed by other important issues in the media, it is vital for the Palos Verdes community, the rest of L.A. County and the entire nation to prioritize food insecurity as the pandemic ensues. One of Peninsula’s cafeteria workers, Mirjana Grgas, has made great efforts to help with the lack of food within the Palos Verdes community. “[The other cafeteria workers] and I have been serving free meals [at Peninsula] since the start of quarantine,” Grgas said. “We usually make over 1,000 meals a day, for both breakfast and lunch, and we distribute them to parents and students from around the community.”

Though the Palos Verdes community is seen as an affluent community, the meal distribution from the cafeteria workers like Grgas demonstrates that there is still a large population that rely on these meals for sustenance. In fact, L.A. County confirms that between March and July, one in four households in L.A. experience food insecurity, and that number steadily rises each day. With booming COVID-19 cases in impoverished areas plunging the U.S into one of the worst recessions since the Great Depression, more people are losing their jobs, which cuts off access to funds for spending on food for many with an unsteady income. However, wealthier individuals are much more capable of withstanding the hardships brought on by COVID-19 due to their prosperities, as they are able to afford more resources than others. In fact, individuals in lower income communities are also ten times more likely to become infected with COVID-19 than wealthier individuals, according to recent data from the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Often times, sustained income allows individuals to stockpile important items, such as masks, which decreases the supply available for those

who cannot afford these products. America’s wealthier citizens will have a daily spending power of $19.8 billion by the end of 2020, averaging $194 per day per person (Brookings). This large number highlights the widening socioeconomic gap between wealthy and low-income communities during the COVID-19 crisis. Senior and Trader Joe’s employee Layne Oschman has witnessed customers occasionally filling up multiple carts entirely, leaving the shelves bare and nothing for others to have.

“People are buying more food and hoarding more at a faster rate than we can restock to get the customers everything that they need,” Oschman said. “The Trader Joe’s in Golden Cove has typically [wealthier] customers, but you can still clearly see the desperate need for food that translates over to less fortunate communities during the COVID-19 shutdown.”

To combat the hoarding of groceries, L.A. Food Bank has recommended raising nutrition standards in food pantries and meal programs, as well as introducing the involvement of government agencies, health care providers and communitybased organizations to help families afford nutritious food. By enforcing this multi-sector approach, food pantries have begun to serve more balanced and nutritious food, like fresh produce, for more people. As well as L.A. Food Bank’s recommendations, National Broadcasting Company states that grocery stores, such as Kroger and Publix, have started to limit the amount one person can purchase online and in the store to reduce hoarding. In addition to grocery stores continuing to implement regulations throughout L.A., smaller communities, like Palos Verdes, have taken the right steps to fight against food insecurity. Efforts from the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District’s annual holiday food drive has greatly benefited the Peninsula community, where they collected a variety of food including tuna, soup, canned fruits and veggies to give out to other community members. Additionally, Peninsula’s Service Learning Leadership (SLL) program held their annual canned food drive where over 5,000 cans were collected and SIX IN TEN donated to various organizations, such as Community’s Child and Long CALIFORNIA Beach Rescue Mission. Though STUDENTS FACE contributions, like the SLL’s canned food drive, are SOCIOECONOMIC beneficial on a county CHALLENGES scale, these are only small steps to bettering RELATED TO FAMILY the national food INCOME AND deficiency problem.

There must be a larger HOMELESSNESS.** emphasis on the food deficit in America in order to create progression with this growing problem.

“Being a part of SLL allowed me to connect with people in the community... as well as be able to help [them],” Junior Tyson Gan said. “Due to [COVID-19], we are very limited on what we can do for other communities, but I am glad we were still able to do the canned food drive to make an impact on the rising food insecurity issue in L.A.” issue in L.A.”

...YOU CAN STILL SEE THE DESPERATE NEED FOR FOOD THAT TRANSLATES OVER TO LESS FORTUNATE COMMUNITIES DURING THE SHUTDOWN. - SENIOR LAYNE OSCHMAN

ONE IN SIX CHILDREN IN AMERICA GO TO BED HUNGRY ON A REGULAR BASIS.*

*According to Feeding America **According to Public Policy Institute of California

3 ONLINE ACCOUNTABILITY: HAS JUSTICE BEEN SERVED? EDITORIAL STAFF *Preface: Due to recent COVID-19 restrictions in Los Angeles, our publication was unable to distribute in December as planned. As a result, our editorial extends its coverage to events in January as well.

We ask for your understanding, and hope you enjoy this issue.

Growing up, the America painted in our textbooks seemed invincible. Yet, the siege laid on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 shattered that image, proving how our country’s downfall may be a product of our own citizens and unaddressed conflicts. At the center of the discord stood President Donald Trump, fanning the flames with online posts declaring election fraud, leading to speculation on whether his words led to the siege on the U.S. Capitol. Social media companies noticed the danger of allowing Trump to run amok with his platforms, but the insurrection was the final straw that led to his ban from a variety of online media platforms beginning on Jan. 8. Though the corporations’ actions sparked controversy in regards to the constitutionality of their decision under the First Amendment, Trump’s banning is not only constitutional, but is also necessary to hold him accountable for his refusal to concede and incitement of violence.

The First Amendment gives the right to freedom of speech and press, allowing people to voice their opinions publicly without government interference or punishment. Yet, this does not protect an individual’s right to free speech under all

circumstances. In Manhattan Community Access Corporation v. Halleck, the Supreme Court ruled that a private entity managing a public access cable channel could ban speakers at their own discretion (National League of Cities). Therefore, the First Amendment does not prohibit private platforms from censoring people.

Just as the Manhattan Neighborhood Network was not subject to the First Amendment, neither are the private online corporations that banned Trump. After the siege on the Capitol, Twitter permanently removed Trump’s presence from its app at “the risk of further incitement of violence,” as well as other social media corporations, such as Instagram and Facebook. Furthermore, under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, both companies are allowed to restrict access to objectionable material, with good reason.

Looking back to the Trump campaign’s “Save America” rally in Washington D.C., the event demonstrated Trump’s ability to incite terror through media use. Trump consistently advertised the event to his followers, expressing in a Tweet that they should “Be there. Will be wild!” By spreading false claims about the election results being fraudulent, he sent his spectators into a frenzy that inspired the slew of violence that ensued at the Capitol.

Trump’s tweets following the attack claiming his supporters that invaded the Capitol to be “great patriots” also falls under the exception to the First Amendment by affirming his support for the attempted coup. Later in a video, he even told the protestors directly, “We love

you, you [are] very special.” The 1919 case Schenck v. U.S. made it clear that speech is not protected “in such circumstances and… of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about substantive evils that [the government] has a right to prevent” (Oyez). Now, National Broadcasting Company News reports that Trump supporters and the far-right militia movement are using Twitter to plan additional riots prior to president-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20. The strategic censorship of Trump by media companies prevented him from igniting further havoc with his influence.

As the voice of The Pen, we would like to make it abundantly clear that ridding the media of misinformation and propaganda is essential to retaining our democracy, especially as the power passes onto Biden on Jan. 20. No country should be under unlawful siege at the hands of its own elected officials. Holding them accountable begins with censoring online members of Congress who facilitated Trump’s attempted coup, like Sen. Joshua Hawley, R-M.O., and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-T.X. Until the investigation determines their involvement, such action is both justified and necessary.

Free speech has limitations, and is never going to be synonymous to freedom of hate speech and propaganda. Above all, our Constitution was written to ensure that American citizens will be able to experience liberty and equality. No one is allowed to abuse the individual rights provided in the Bill of Rights to desecrate the values our country is founded upon.

Not even the president.

THE DANGERS OF OPENED STANDARDIZED TESTING CENTERS MAILE SHU Standardized testing, such as the College Board’s Scholastic Assessment Testing (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT), plays a pivotal role in U.S. college and university applications. However, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has halted many standardized testing centers from opening to try to prevent further outbreaks of the virus, according to Forbes. A number of colleges responded to these cancelations by transitioning to a test-optional cycle for fall 2021 enrollment admissions. Despite this leniency, students and parents are still going to great lengths to travel to the few testing centers open for a chance at enhancing their applications with a test score. Unfortunately, not every student has the ability to travel to another state to take a test, as doing so is very time-consuming, costly and increases the chance of exposure to COVID-19. Peninsula students who are venturing to other states for testing create a large disadvantage to individuals who will not report their standardized test scores in addition to putting themselves and others at the risk of COVID-19 exposure.

“It is not necessary [to take standardized tests] this year if you are applying to colleges,” counselor Graham Edwards said. “[A] large number of students-due to the COVID-19 crisis and its many

SAKURA SASAKI / THE PEN

repercussions--[have or will not] submit standardized test scores. I think that is sensible and practical.”

The main purpose of standardized testing is to give college admission counselors insight on how a student will perform at their institution. However, this system becomes biased when individuals use their socioeconomic status to their advantage by spending additional money on traveling to take tests, paying for testing preparation and going to high schools with better learning sources. In fact, Andy Lockwood, a private college consultant, remarks that three-fourths of affluent high school students pay for standardized testing preparation courses.

This evolving, corrupt system has created an imbalance in which colleges cannot know an applicant’s true capabilities. Even though universities implement a holistic view during the college admissions process, students from poorer communities will still have a disadvantage regarding their academic skills, according to the American Psychological Association.

“Some people do not have the opportunities [to hire] private tutors,” junior Natalia Granillo said. “A lot of the time [students] have to study by themselves, [and] they do not have the right guidance to complete [these standardized tests as] effectively.”

With all of this additional testing preparation, many of these individuals would go to great lengths, like traveling out of state, to take these standardized tests in order to utilize their training. However, traveling is a COVID-19 safety hazard, as individuals from across the country will be gathering in closed testing rooms.

According to the National Broadcasting Company, the United States had 77,000

COVID-19 related deaths in just December alone, the deadliest month since the start of the pandemic. With such staggering numbers, it is illogical and immoral to open testing centers at this moment, as this prioritizes test scores over human life. Though College Board and the ACT are taking safety precautions at their testing centers, like social distancing and face masks, the risk of exposure is not eliminated. Fortunately, many universities are understanding of this dilemma. The University of California (UC) system announced in May that they will replace the SAT and ACT entirely with their own standardized test by 2025. Even with advancements like this and the many colleges transitioning to test-optional this year, most admissions counselors are still considering submitted SAT or ACT test scores. This gives individuals the opportunity to travel to testing centers and spread the COVID-19 outbreak. The best option for the College Board and the ACT is to shut down all their testing centers to prevent possible outbreaks and corruption in the college application process. With Palos Verdes being one of the top 10 richest neighborhoods in L.A., according to Esri Statistics, many Peninsula students are privileged enough to travel to other states.

Even with this and the College Board and ACT’s decision to reopen test centers, Peninsula students should not abuse their privilege and put others’ health at risk.

“I think it is really selfish to put that many people at risk to go to another state to take the test,” senior Katin Sarner said.

“If an individual unknowingly carries the virus, that individual not only puts their own life in danger, but everyone else’s they come in contact with. I think that says a lot about a person’s character.”

THE PEN PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL 27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 EDITORS IN CHIEF Fiona Andersons Fiona Yang MANAGING EDITOR Keila Bara HEADS OF DESIGN Helen Huang Maddie Yeh HEAD OF BUSINESS Lina Kugaya ADVISER Jaymee DeMeyer OPINION EDITOR: Maddy Christen WRITERS: Jenna Long Tilly Safavian Maile Shu NEWS EDITOR: Caitlyn Lee WRITERS: Audrey Lu Anna Mytko Nomi Tsogmagnai FOCUS EDITOR: Kaitlyn Ho WRITERS: Hannah Corr Riley McAlpine Clara Reckhorn STUDENT LIFE EDITOR: Jeremy Kim WRITERS: Jami Galdones Deborah Mok ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT/SPORTS EDITORS: Emma Mulligan James O’Dea WRITERS: Jillian Farley Imogene Tomicic GRAPHICS Shai Becker Hana Fujii Alicia Jeong Giulia Monti Sakura Sasaki Jihee Seo Lynn Takahashi Brian Wang ADS Leah Aoyagi Makayla Lui Victoria Rhodes

“The Pen” is the student newspaper produced by the advanced jounalism students of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. It is published eight times per year. Advertising inquiries may be directed to Head of Business Lina Kugaya at (424)404-0303.

The Pen editors appreciate Letters to the Editor, which are accepted up to one week before publication.

You may submit them digitally to thepennews@gmail.com in an email.

Copyright © 2021 COVER DESIGN BY HELEN HUANG

4

U.S. BEGINS ADMINISTERING CORONAVIRUS VACCINES

ANNA MYTKO AND NOMI TSOGNMAGNAI

An American pharmaceutical corporation called Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech, announced their coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to the public on Nov. 9. Another company, Moderna, has also created a vaccine to fight against COVID-19. According to the Public Broadcasting Service, both of these vaccines have been reported to have high efficacy rates that range around 95 percent. These statistics pushed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to endorse the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 10, while Moderna’s vaccine was approved as a second vaccine on Dec. 12. In an interview with the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci stated that he expects that some degree of pre-COVID-19 precedence will happen by late 2021.

Advanced Placement English Language and Composition and English 1 Honors teacher Kathryn Peters is excited by the SHAI BECKER / THE PEN possibilities presented if the vaccines are effective in preventing the spread of the pandemic.

“I cannot wait to get back to normal life,” Peters said. “We are all going to appreciate

things more [after living through a pandemic]. To be a balanced person, you need to be going to school and talking to people. I think it is going to be so much better for our mental health.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu vaccine has an effectiveness that ranges from 40 to 60 percent.

Most vaccines have an effectiveness around the 50 percent mark, which ranks the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines as the current highest efficacy. New York Times stated the vaccines have so far been distributed to frontline coronavirus workers and citizens over 74. The CDC plans for firefighters and teachers to be the next groups vaccinated, but currently there are a limited stock of vaccines.

According to Reuters, Pfizer and BioNTech expect to produce 1.3 billion doses worldwide by the end of 2021, which is enough for 100 million people to receive the necessary two doses of the vaccine

by March. Distribution of the Pfizer vaccine will also be difficult because it must be kept at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit in order to work. On Dec. 14, the CDC began distributing the Pfizer vaccine to hospitals that have proper ultra cold storage units. Overall, a considerable amount of planning is taking place to distribute the Pfizer vaccine in the upcoming months, including organizing transportation and storage of the vaccine. While the Moderna vaccine did not begin distribution until Dec. 20, Reuters states that it does not require as low of a temperature as the Pfizer vaccine. Senior Ashley Ward believes that it is important for people to start getting the COVID-19 vaccines, but she also feels that that the U.S. government must be cautious in planning how it is distributed.

“There is always the thought of the sooner the better, but I think that it is more important to get the details down before distributing the vaccine,” Ward said. “The last thing anyone wants is for there to be issues with transporting the vaccine or efficacy problems, which might cause even more delays [in receiving the vaccine].”

As of now, many people are excited about the approved vaccines because it foreshadows an end to the pandemic and its immediate implications on society. According to Business Insider, Moderna has made a statement that vaccines will be available to anyone by Memorial Day. In the meantime, people are advised to continue following safety precautions such as practicing social distancing and wearing masks.

Many countries, such as Australia, emphasize the importance of wearing masks and maintaining their distance from people in public. The New York Times also recorded that the COVID-19 cases in Victoria, Australia had dropped down to zero new cases and zero deaths by Nov. 6.

The decline in cases can be attributed to the national mask mandate being enforced, which the U.S. has not done. According to the CDC, over 364,029 Americans have died from the COVID-19 pandemic. Geometry Honors and Algebra 2 Honors teacher Kashmira Vijaiyan hopes that the vaccines will prevent more lives from being lost.

“Even though no one in my immediate family has [been diagnosed with COVID-19], it has changed our lives a lot,” Vijaiyan said. “It has been a difficult year and we have lost so many people. [The vaccine makes me feel] hopeful and a little more positive [about the future].”

DESIGNATED STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL CAMPUS UNDER SUPERVISION AUDREY LU AND NOMI TSOGMAGNAI The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) started allowing students with grades of Cs and lower to return to school starting on Nov. 9. At the end of the first quarter, students with low grades were identified to attend their online classes on campus under the supervision of a school staff member, rather than at home. These students are working in small cohorts and going to campus on every weekday except Wednesday, following the same bell schedule as those learning from home.

While on campus, students and staff obey all protocols set by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADCPH).

Principal Dr. Brent Kuykendall hopes that sending students who are struggling back to school is helping them learn more easily.

“When you are in a classroom with the teacher physically in front of you, it can be easier to stay engaged in the lesson,” Kuykendall said. “When you have to click on a link and watch from a screen, it takes a lot more responsibility [and] diligence to stay on task and be successful.”

According to associate principal Christina Sunada, there are about 40 students going to campus for the entire school day, including special education kids. The cohorts are organized into three groups of ten students with two adult supervisors each. Students are expected to take the online Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’ Symptom Assessment Tool, a short questionnare testing the possibility of a person with coronavirus (COVID-19), the day they plan to enter campus. After arriving at school, students

show a picture of the green approval screen on their phones, which indicates that they are allowed to be on campus, to the security guard waiting at the main gate. Students may only enter through the main gate and exit through the gate near the cafeteria. Sunada has seen how successful the campus cohorts have been in the improvement of grades, encouraging more focus in class and getting classwork done more efficiently.

“For [a number of students], [attending online classes on campus is] bringing up their grades,” Sunada said. “[The students]

SH A I B EC K E R

/ T HE P EN have a quieter place here with more consistent Wi-Fi and [fewer] distractions. We have been following all guidelines [set by the LACDPH] to make sure we [prevent] the spread of [COVID-19].”

Although PVPUSD is working to accommodate COVID-19 health guidelines and restrictions, most students have no other choice but to attend classes from home. As many students feel that they are

struggling to learn from home, they attribute the distance learning environment to bringing distractions that take their focus away from class, ranging from blackouts to pulling out their phones to look at social media. Sophomore Naomi Porter has experienced many instances in which she has been interrupted by her home environment, and thus she is having to put in more work for the same grades she achieved despite doing less work in previous years. Even though having students return to campus may be beneficial to others’ grades, Porter also considers the harm it could cause.

“No one is [learning online] as well as they could in-person,” Porter said. “[However, deciding on whether or not to return to school] comes down to a matter of health and safety.”

According to the New York Times, the number of new cases in California has been steadily increasing since early November. With students and staff returning to campus in these small groups, all people on campus are still concerned about being infected. So far, there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases among the students and staff associated with the cohorts. However, due to rising COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles, the cohort groups have been halted for second semester. Kuykendall hopes to soon allow students back into learning in a school environment.

“Coming to campus, a place where they are used to coming and learning, will help [students to pick up material better],” Kuykendall said.

“When you physically change the space [to a classroom], your mind is much more ready to learn [what you are being taught].”

5

TOO LATE TO SKATE Promenade Ice Chalet Permanently Closes Due to Coronavirus

PEN BRIAN WANG / THE

AUDREY LU On Sept. 16, the Promenade Ice Chalet, a skating rink previously located in the Promenade on the Peninsula shopping center, was closed permanently due to its financial struggles in the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

For almost 39 years, the skating rink has been a popular establishment among figure skaters, hockey players and Palos Verdes residents alike. However, pandemic and social distancing guidelines have decreased the overall number of Promenade Ice Chalet customers. According to the Promenade Ice Chalet’s Instagram page, @promenadeicechalet, the closure was originally set for Sept. 27, but the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health gave official orders to shut down earlier on Sept. 16. As a result, these factors compelled Ice-America, the managing company of the Promenade Ice Chalet, to close the ice rink’s doors permanently.

After hearing about the closure, junior Sarah Schmainda was disappointed about losing one of her favorite childhood venues. Schmainda and her older sister grew up training competitively at the Promenade Ice Chalet. Her sister worked there as a coach, and Schmainda planned to apply for a part-time job at the ice rink herself.

Although Schmainda stopped competitively figure skating years ago, she continued to visit the skating rink and loved spending time there. “[I] remember performing in recitals at the Promenade Ice Chalet, and I was even in

a commercial for them advertising Bobby the Seal, [which is] a skating aid shaped like a seal,” Schmainda said. “[Ice skating at the Promenade Ice Chalet] was really meaningful [to me] because I base my life around my artistic abilities, and ice skating was my first [creative] hobby.”

Since the Promenade Ice Chalet’s opening in the fall of 1981, it has been a place where children could learn how to skate for the first time, friends could spend time together and figure skaters could practice for their own enjoyment or for performances and competitions. Sophomore Jessica Wiemels also used to practice at the Promenade Ice Chalet and often found time to teach her friends how to skate there after school. Competitively, Wiemels has participated in numerous figure skating contests, up to an international level, a feat she could not have accomplished without her years of practice at rinks like the Promenade Ice Chalet. Practicing figure skating at the Promenade Ice Chalet was very convenient for Wiemels since it was just a ten minute walk from Peninsula. “[The Promenade Ice Chalet] was a rink where anyone, no matter how experienced they were, could skate and have fun,” Wiemels said. “It was a wonderful [place] for the community. [Whenever]

I [visited], I would always see kids learning to skate for the first time. It would remind me of my first time skating, [which is] when I fell in love with [the sport] and decided to pursue it [much more] professionally.”

For sophomore Eleanor Hsu, the Promenade Ice Chalet also holds large value, as it was the first ice rink she visited. She took her first lessons at the Promenade Ice Chalet when she was 5 years old, and would later nurture her interest in skating competitively in tournaments across California. Growing up at the Promenade Ice Chalet, Hsu believes children interested in hockey or figure skating will now have fewer opportunities to pursue these sports without this local ice rink.

“As long as I can remember, [the Promenade Ice Chalet has] been such a big part of the Palos Verdes [community],” Hsu said. “It was a [popular] spot where people, [including myself], made memories [and] had fun together, and overall, the [energy] created was very positive.”

According to a post uploaded on Sept. 4 to the Promenade Ice Chalet’s Instagram, the ice rink’s closure is most likely going to be permanent.

However, Ice-America will consider reopening the rink in the future or opening a new one in the South Bay if the opportunity to do so arises.

For figure skaters like Schmainda, Wiemels and Hsu, they hope that this possibility will become a reality, as they have all made many memories training and spending time with friends and family there.

6

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FROM A DISTANCE HANNAH CORR AND RILEY MCALPINE Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is celebrated throughout Mexico and Latin America as a holiday that honors life after death.

During Día de los Muertos, people commemorate dead relatives and loved ones through ofrendas, or altars, which are thought to guide the deceased spirits to their home and family in the living world. People also celebrate by attending festivals featuring traditional Latin American food, mariachi bands, cultural costumes and dancing. However, coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to the cancelation of many Día de los Muertos festivals and traditions, and people had to find new alternatives to celebrate the holiday at home.

In previous years, Spanish classes at Peninsula introduced Día de los Muertos by having students listen to festival music and dress and dance in various cultural costumes. This year, the Spanish National Honor Society (SNHS) organized a different activity due to COVID-19. Senior and president of SNHS Mondonna Ashraf played a part in organizing this year’s Día de los Muertos celebration through an online competition.

“This year, SNHS did a virtual face painting contest,” Ashraf said. “Those who participated [in the contest] painted half their face as a calavera, [a colorful sugar skull], and sent in a photo [of their face painting] via Microsoft Teams. The winner [of the contest] was chosen by our Activities Director, [Marian Calderon-Sanchez], based on creativity and effort, and was awarded with a Hydro Flask [water bottle].”

Outside of school-organized events, Peninsula families are finding ways to enjoy Día de los Muertos this year by building altars at home and using technology to communicate with family and friends. People have

chosen to stay inside and safely celebrate through online video calls with loved ones via Microsoft Teams or Zoom. This year, junior America Garcia commemorated the holiday with her family in Mexico using Zoom.

“Normally we celebrate [Día de los Muertos] by going to the cemetery, [which is where our] priest gives mass,” Garcia said. “[My family and I] love going over [to Mexico] and remembering [our deceased family members], so it was pretty sad that we could not go to celebrate with them. [This year my family from America and Mexico] did virtual mass, and we made our prayers [separately] instead of all together.”

Those commemorating Día de los Muertos were unable build altars at the cemeteries this year, so they made them at home. The spirits’ supposed favorite items are put on the altars, such as food, water, incense, daffodils and other offerings.

Junior Marian Calderon-Sanchez also usually goes to the cemetery to look at and admire altars as a family tradition, but had to come up with different ways to take part in this year’s celebration.

“I think [COVID-19] had a positive impact [on my Día de Los Muertos traditions] because it allowed me to try a new way to celebrate,” Calderon-Sanchez said. “I do not normally [make an] altar for Día de los Muertos, but this year I decided to. I liked creating an altar, so I [decided] to continue doing it.”

Although COVID-19 has dampened the physical connections made during Día de los Muertos, people have still been able to create ofrendas at home and pray through online communication. This change in tradition illustrates a determination to connect with both the living and the dead, and to transcend physical boundaries to honor people who have passed away.

HOM E FOR TH

7

E HO

LIDA YS

CANDY CANE LANE CLOSES FOR CHRISTMAS CLARA RECKHORN

ALICIA JEONG / THE PEN

How will the holiday season look amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic? With recent COVID-19 infection and death rates reaching record levels, the holidays will be different from previous years. Such changes can be seen in L.A. with the closure of Candy Cane Lane. Visiting this street in El Segundo, known as East Acacia Avenue, has been a L.A. tradition since 1949, and many families consider it a holiday favorite.

The avenue features a variety of Christmas-themed displays, including fancy artwork on the residents’ lawns, small trains and North Pole outposts.

However, an order by the city of El Segundo states that the city will not block the street to vehicle traffic this year, in contrast to previous years when they blocked the street to allow pedestrians to walk through the area freely. According to The Daily Breeze, residents still plan on decorating the area with simple string lights, but it will be nothing like their usual elaborate displays. Unlike the larger Sleepy Hollow light display in Torrance that is still viewable by car, there is no option for a drive-by event in El Segundo; the Candy Cane Lane street differs in that it has parking on both sides with a cul-de-sac at the end, and it is not wide enough for two cars to pass each other on. People are concerned that decorating the street amid the COVID-19 crisis would pose a health risk to visitors, so the residents of East Acacia Lane and the city of El Segundo came to the agreement that not having the elaborate event would be the safest decision this year.

However, not being able to see these lights will be a disappointment for many L.A. residents.

Freshman Sierra Palese will also be missing some of her favorite traditions this year. Her family does not celebrate Christmas, but going to Candy Cane Lane was an event she always looked forward to, as it allowed her to do something holidaythemed and fun. Despite her regret, she recognizes the necessity behind canceling the event.

“Although it is a huge disappointment, I understand why the city will not continue to [block off the street] like they usually would and why the residents will not decorate their houses,” Palese said. “I am scared that there will be an even bigger spike of COVID-19 cases after the holiday season, because people will not be able to stay away from big events like Candy Cane Lane.”

Considering recent events, Palese’s fears are not without reason.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the newest spike in COVID-19 cases stems from large gatherings. Especially now that the holidays are approaching, many are growing restless and wish to see friends and family. However, citizens must remain vigilant and stay home, lest there be another spike in cases. With the current 7% rise in cases throughout the world, being cautious is necessary, according to the New York Times. The CDC has also emphasized that restrictions, like prohibiting gatherings, must be set to stop the spread of the virus.

The closure of Candy Cane Lane is not the only change this year; senior

Lauren Mar will also sacrifice some typical holiday traditions in her family.

Since she has a large extended family, Mar can not see as many familiar faces of loved ones around Christmastime.

“Typically my whole family comes to visit from my dad and mom’s side and we all have a huge gathering,” Mar said. “My mom and I always take a day to go shopping for presents too, which are both things we will not be able to do this year.”

Unfortunately, these changes in tradition may have deeper implications. Junior Sam Boger worries about how the disappearances and downsizing of tourism venues, such as Candy Cane Lane and Sleepy Hollow, will leave repercussions in the coming years. Since the street brings such large crowds by foot and car, many surrounding small businesses gained customers in past years.

“Although families may be disappointed, I think those most affected will be small businesses and restaurants,” Boger said. “Many of them rely on the holiday season as a big source of their income and without these events, they will lose business and might have to close permanently.”

The pandemic has ensured that this winter will not look like any other, but that does not mean that festivities are completely ruined. As long as safety measures are taken, everyone can still enjoy themselves and make meaningful memories this season.

“This year has not been normal like anyone [could have] ever expected,” Boger said. “Hopefully people can find alternative ways to celebrate the holidays, such as making cookies and watching holiday classics with family.”

8 MADDIE YEH / THE PEN

DOCUMENTING THE ROAD TO RECOVERY Seniors Create Film Covering Recovery From Eating Disorder

JAMI GALDONES Whether to raise awareness or to end the stigma surrounding mental and physical health issues, many teenagers are growing more vocal about confronting these problems. To contribute to this new wave of conscientiousness, seniors Katin Sarner and Amanda Roberts are educating people about eating disorders and the implications of dieting.

They are working to express this message through a retelling of Sarner’s recovery story from anorexia nervosa (anorexia) in their documentary, ‘Beyond The Scale’. Despite coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, Sarner and Roberts have still been able to conduct socially distanced interviews in multiple locations, such as Sarner’s backyard and outside of the Monte Nido Eating Disorder Center of Newport Beach.

During the beginning of freshman year, Sarner left Peninsula after being diagnosed with anorexia, an eating disorder that causes one to constantly think about one’s weight, body image and diet and often leads to starving oneself. Throughout her recovery at hospitals and treatment centers, Roberts was always by Sarner’s side, visiting her at the hospital after school every day and writing her letters when Sarner was in residential treatment. During her recovery, Sarner met Isabella Youmazzo, who was also undergoing an eating disorder treatment. Both realized that they were never properly taught about eating disorders in school until they were actually diagnosed with one.

They had to learn about these topics by themselves and spreading what they learned was one of the main motivations behind the documentary.

“All too often we associate our appearance with our self-worth, [which is] one of the key reasons someone may develop an eating disorder,” Youmazzo said. “Eating disorders usually develop as a ‘coping skill’ when one is having trouble navigating their emotions.

This is similar to substance abuse, though eating disorders are much more ‘socially acceptable’, which makes them that much more dangerous, as they often go unseen or undiagnosed.”

Sarner was fortunate to have been diagnosed before anything serious happened.

As she recovered, Roberts approached her that same year with the idea of making a documentary about anorexia and how it affected Sarner’s life. Although Sarner was not ready to tell her story at that time, they both eventually wanted to produce the film when Sarner felt comfortable enough so that other people in similar situations could learn from her experience.

“As I became more educated and saw Sarner

go through her [recovery] process, I knew that I wanted to [raise awareness and educate others] about eating disorders,” Roberts said.

“I did not want others to be [confused or ignore the severity] of a loved one or friend [being diagnosed with] an eating disorder, [which is why] I asked Sarner if she [wanted] to create ‘Beyond The Scale.’”

When they finally started filming, they were both excited about their work potentially having the power to impact many people’s lives and outlooks on the issue. However, Sarner felt nervous about being in the spotlight.

“It is definitely nerve-wracking having a documentary centered around something so personal, but it is also relieving to finally tell the story I have been hiding for so long,” Sarner said. “I am [also] so grateful that [Roberts] has created this opportunity for me to own my story and [even] bring hope to others who may be going through the same thing.”

The documentary will explore Sarner’s personal experiences, from when she got diagnosed to where she is today, physically and mentally. Accounts from different people, including Sarner, her mother and professionals in the eating disorders field, will help inform the audience of the risks that come with eating disorders. Through the documentary, Sarner and Roberts hope to emphasize the ways in which eating disorders can leave lasting consequences in a person’s perspective and life, while also showing how one can still recover from them.

“I believe that the school system does not educate students about eating disorders and what to do if one thinks they have [it],” Roberts said. “[Furthermore,] I want to show how it affects the person who is experiencing it and the people connected to [the person, both mentally and physically].”

‘Beyond The Scale’ is expected to come out in mid-December this year on YouTube, though nothing is finalized due to coronavirus restrictions. By creating a documentary about the severity of eating disorders, Roberts and Sarner hwope to instigate a change in how these conditions are viewed and taught. Initiating conversation on a difficult topic like anorexia is a necessary step to expose the real implications of eating disorders and struggles with mental health and to encourage people who need it to seek help.

“It is important to spread hope and show that people can recover from an eating disorder,” Roberts said.

“Eating disorders are serious psychological illnesses that need to be talked about, not glamorized by society.”

9

THE SHOW MUST GO ONLINE Drama Club Adapts to Distance Learning with New Podcast

JACELYN CHEN Due to the increase of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases across the nation, the Drama Club has resorted to finding innovative ways of producing content, despite not being able to meet in-person. One of the main ideas to come out of their conversations was producing a podcast. Launched on Oct. 31, the podcast PAC: After Hours covers a variety of topics relating to Drama Club.

Members of Drama Club began contemplating how to remain active amid distance learning back in August. Senior and Drama Club Historian Francesca Genato met often with the rest of the board to prepare and organize the club to run smoothly in an online format.

“Many obstacles [came] in our way when [we moved to] online [learning],” Genato said. “We had to force ourselves to think outside the box and use our creativity to decide how [future] meetings [with the entire club] would be held.”

All of the members played a role in the development of this project. The podcast is made by seven groups of board members who each cover a specific topic such as Student Stories, which collects and shares anonymous stories from students and Composer Showcase, which discusses HANA FUJII / THE PEN

various composers of musicals. Junior and Drama Club Member-at-Large Soomin Sun, who is a part of Student Stories, is thankful for the club’s decision to make podcasts in the wake of the school transitioning to distance learning.

“I really enjoy the whole process of the podcast,” Sun said. “I get to create fun, original content with other members of the drama board [while also] sharing it with others. [Since] I am [one of] the editors, I get to play around with the little details that bring the podcast to life. [I was never able to do this] before school [went online], so I am grateful for the opportunity.”

The first podcast the club produced was a reading of “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe, which was recited by the Radio Plays group. Since then, the different groups have collaborated together to produce six total episodes which can be listened to on Vimeo. Senior and Drama Club Vice President Taliesa Fortis, who is a member of Composer Showcase, is grateful for the opportunity to socially interact with others while working on the podcast amid COVID-19.

“My favorite part about the podcast is that it gives me an excuse to “hang out” [online] with the friends that I don’t get to see because of COVID-19,” Fortis said. “The drama family is so close that it is not really considered work [and] it is basically just us [being able to hang] out with our friends.”

10 IMOGENE TOMICIC After hosting 37 seasons of the show “Jeopardy!” and reaching an average of 13.28 million daily viewers, Alex Trebek died on Nov. 8 at 80 years old.

Having announced his pancreatic cancer diagnosis on March 6 2019, Trebek was open with his audience about his condition and before his passing, and expressed his gratitude for a full and long life.

During his life, Trebek was a consistent advocate for access to education, as well as being dedicated to fighting poverty. He was widely known for inspiring a desire to learn new things and demonstrated the many benefits of an education, specifically to his young viewership.

Although he was best known for his television presence, Trebek also created a lasting impression on his fans with his passion for learning and participation in charitable initiatives. Trebek was a spokesperson for World Vision Charity, an organization dedicated to resolving poverty in marginalized communities worldwide and supporting children from those communities; he was often involved in these charitable causes. In one of the last episodes Trebek campaigned for the Compassion Project, an initiative to teach compassion and empathy to elementary schoolers, where they implement lessons in order to prevent bullying. In pursuit of his many favored causes and charities, Trebek and his wife Jean Trebek established the Trebek Family Foundation in 2011, which enabled them to accommodate for the requests from more charities. Reflecting upon his extensive contributions to the lives of others and significant influence on his audience, Trebek undeniably left a boundless legacy.

However, Trebek’s seat as “Jeopardy!” host is now empty. As a result, fans are speculating about the future of Trebek’s famed series. “[Trebek] positively impacted his audience by bringing people together,” senior Brandon Weiner

WHAT IS NEXT FOR “JEOPARDY!”?

A Tribute in Honor of Host Alex Trebek

said. “It will definitely be a challenge for a new host to attempt to [deliver] what Trebek did.

Viewers will just have to trust that the show’s production will [resolve its loss of Trebek.]”

As the fate of “Jeopardy!” is in the air, it is uncertain that the classic show will be continued at all and if so, who will take Trebek’s place.

Some people petitioned for American actor and television personality LeVar Burton to replace Trebek as host. Now receiving 83,000 signatures from fans, Burton has said he is flattered by the proposal, but the “Jeopardy!” cast has yet to announce any developments in the possibility of Trebek’s replacement. However, some fans are suggesting that Trebek was irreplaceable as the host of “Jeopardy!”, and should be followed by the conclusion of the entire show.

“Honestly, [I believe] this would be a [good call to] end the show,” junior Stephanie Libby said.

“Ending [Jeopardy!] in Trebek’s honor would be a fitting tribute and might be the best solution.

Especially watching him age throughout the series, the Jeopardy show became the Trebek show and I cannot imagine it without him.”

Alex Trebek has made history with his immeasurable aspirations and love for helping others. With his passing, “Jeopardy!” viewers and Trebek’s followers have lost a dedicated and honorable influence on pop culture. His widely respected work on “Jeopardy!”, whether continued or not, will exist forever.

“While students might not know [Alex Trebek’s name or] his legacy, he will always be remembered as a compassionate person who [supported others] and has put forth so much effort to make the world a better place,” Peninsula Psychologist Nicole Craig said. “For [anyone who allegedly may replace Trebek], “smart is cool,” is a great theme [that] all these hosts [should] work on encouraging to embody. I believe whoever is chosen next will have a long-standing legacy to live up to.”

LYNN TAKAHASHI / THE PEN

SAKURA SASAKI / THE PEN

11

GET! GIVE! GO! SPREADS THE JOY OF SOCCER Peninsula Seniors Spread Accessibility to Soccer Equipment Through Club JILLIAN FARLEY

has used his own experience coaching youth soccer in Palos Verdes to help foster relationships within the club, especially after he saw how the sport transformed the Although soccer is one of the most popular sports children he taught. He hopes to share the joy of soccer to across the world, it is not as readily available to everyone. kids across the globe.

Get! Give! Go! Soccer Foundation seeks to spread the “As universal as the language of soccer is, the joy of soccer by increasing accessibility through affiliate unfortunate reality of it is that many kids do not have the clubs, including Peninsula’s chapter. The foundation was means to take part in one of the most enjoyable sports started by Vicki Leach, a local South Bay real estate there is,” Callaghan said. agent. The purpose of Get! Give! Go! is to organize events The impact of the club is not limited to just the local to collect soccer equipment, such as soccer balls, cleats community, though. One major project the club partook and jerseys, which are then sorted and distributed to in was helping to start a soccer league for the homeless local and international communities that cannot afford people in Skid Row, an area in Los Angeles notorious for its or lack access to equipment of their own. During their homelessness. Founding the Skid Row soccer league began sophomore year, current seniors and Get! Give! Go! club co-founders Max Hauser and Michael Callaghan reached out two years ago when Hauser received a call from a member of the Los Angeles Mission, a church service that provides to the organization to start a Peninsula chapter. Through services to the underprivileged. On this call, Hauser the club at Peninsula, Hauser and Callaghan were able to listened to the life story of a former homeless man who, spread awareness of the foundation’s goals and recruit despite his situation, helped out the others at the mission members. Senior Davis Jung was one of the first members to join the club in the first semester of his sophomore year before himself. Inspired by his story, Hauser and Callaghan collected soccer balls, cleats and jerseys to deliver to after growing interested in its mission. By participating, the league that same week. Since establishing the club, Jung hoped to help make soccer equipment more readily Hauser has begun to take notice of how attainable sports available for anyone that wished to play. Over these past equipment is for those with privilege, including Callaghan three years, the club has donated several thousand pieces and himself. Through this experience, Hauser strives to of equipment. give the gift of soccer to those who are not fortunate “The club has distributed used soccer gear to areas that enough to receive it. may not have general access to it,” Jung said. “Giving “[Michael and I] always enjoyed soccer, but took for others the opportunity to experience the beautiful game granted how easy it was for us to play,” Hauser said. [of soccer] is a priceless feeling that everyone in the club “However, when we played against a [different] team for [works to achieve].” [high school] soccer, we noticed their beat up jerseys with Since its first year, The Get! Give! Go! club at Peninsula tape for numbers, sneakers instead of cleats and deflated has been able to run donation drives for soccer equipment soccer balls. We knew we had to do something to help fix at school. These drives collect equipment from students; this problem by giving gear to people who needed it.” they have also received equipment from families in the Although they have not been able to collect equipment local community. After obtaining equipment, Hauser and or recruit members as consistently due to the coronavirus Callaghan drive the pieces directly to Leach’s house to pandemic, the club is doing its best to continue spreading sort. Finally, the club either connects with local churches their message. Even after they graduate, Callaghan and to transport the equipment or ships it directly to the Hauser will move forward in their lives understanding the locations they are donating it to. Today, the sports equipment has reached various value of giving back to those in need after being a part of the Get! Give! Go! nations, such as Mexico, Uganda and Soccer Foundation. several countries in South America.

“As [Callaghan] and I are headed Besides the physical benefits of improved strength and stamina, Callaghan toward college, we [will not] be able to give the club as much time as we used believes that a team to,” Hauser said. “As of right now, we sport like soccer develops are hoping to find people that will be interpersonal connections able to carry on its legacy at Peninsula.” between players. Callaghan