Issue 4

The anti-Asian rhetoric surrounding Asian students on university campuses must be addressed.

VOL. XLII ISSUE 4 FEBRUARY 8, 2022

EDITORIAL PAGE 3

THE OUTCOME OF OMICRON

WHITE’S GOLDEN LEGACY

STANDING HER GROUND

A significant rise in COVID-19 cases Students honor the late Betty White’s Senior engages in political discourse leads some to raise concerns over the successful Hollywood career and the for popular YouTube channel’s safety of remaining on campus legacy she leaves behind “Middle Ground” series NEWS PAGE 5

FOCUS PAGE 7

STUDENT LIFE PAGE 8

2

JUNG HOYEON

Students discuss South Asian representation and labels in the media

As globalization continues making entertainment more accessible, media made by Asians starring Asians has become increasingly popular among the mainstream American audience. Be it Crazy Rich Asians setting a record as the highest-grossing romantic comedy in a decade or the recent internet phenomenon of Netflix’s Squid Game, it is clear that Asian creatives have made their mark on American pop culture. This spotlight is accompanied by the question of which Asians are allowed to reap the benefits of media representation and which ones are excluded from the conversation. South Asians are not commonly recognized as part of the Asian community, which was made clear by the misleading press surrounding Jung Hoyeon’s feature as the February cover star of Vogue U.S. On Jan. 6, Jung’s management company, Saram Entertainment, claimed that she was selected to be “the first Asian Vogue U.S. solo cover model”, and many news outlets proceeded to parrot the phrase “first Asian” in headlines when reporting on this announcement (Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation News). However, Priyanka Chopra, a famous Indian actress and model, was also featured on an American Vogue cover in 2019. Disregarding Chopra’s identity as an Asian woman feeds into the harmful idea that South Asians are somehow distinct from other Asians.

During discussions over the label “Asian” and its effectiveness as a categorization, it is important to look at historical context as well as listen to South Asian voices.

“I think that the headlines were misleading and could potentially come off as ignorant [when] they infer that Priyanka Chopra and South Asians are not [considered real] ‘Asians’,” junior Meghan Ke said.

“People often connect the word ‘Asian’ to the basic stereotype of an East Asian–a Korean, Chinese or Japanese person.

[Individuals] need to realize that just because someone does not meet their expectation of what an Asian person should look like, [it] does not mean that they are not [Asian].”

Modern notions of the term

“Asian” originate from the mid-1800s, when a large wave of Chinese immigrants arrived in the U.S. seeking labor opportunities (Public Broadcasting Service).

Therefore, many Americans have a preconceived image of what Asian people look like based on historical representation within the U.S. and insufficient knowledge about ethnic diversity. The U.S. Asian population encompasses approximately 50 ethnic groups speaking over 100 different languages, and East Asians comprise only a part of that number. Chinese Americans make up 24% of all Asian Americans, but they are closely followed by Indian Americans, who make up 21%. Yet a study done by the National Asian American Survey in 2016 found that 42% of white Americans considered Indians “not likely to be” Asian or Asian American, and 15% of Asian Americans believed the same (Time Magazine). From within the Asian community and outside it, there is a clear refusal to label South Asians as being “Asian”, making some South Asians feel as though it is better to distance language from that generalized term.

“I do not know if I want to call myself an Asian person because that comes with the assumption that I am either Chinese, Japanese or Korean,” junior Madhurima Premkumar said. “That is just what people think, and I cannot really change that. People look at me and think ‘Indian’, [and] I feel like I prefer that.”

While discussing Asian people, it is important to note that no community is monolithic, and the goal should be to respect marginalized individuals as well as preserve solidarity. Too often, American media paints all Asians as being culturally synonymous and homogenizes them behind East Asian stereotypes. The term “Asian American” was created in 1968 by student activists as a protest against systemic racism and imperialism (National Broadcasting Company News). The phrase is meant to unite, not perpetuate division amongst Asians and ostracize specific groups. In the situation with Jung, her company and South Korean news outlets were ignorant of Chopra’s identity as both Indian and Asian. It is possible to celebrate East Asian success without erasing South Asians’ achievements from the narrative. Activism can only be truly radical if it simultaneously makes space for nuanced identities and empowers collective social justice worldwide.

“This issue is not just some small inconsistency [because] it causes people of the Asian community to feel detached from their racial group,” senior Simren Parikh said. “The Asian community in the U.S. has almost become exclusive to East Asians. As a result, the rest of the Asian population lack representation and do not feel welcome in their own community.”

ADDRESSING THE DANGER OF ANTI-ASIAN RHETORIC The Chinese Exclusion Act, formerly known as the Immigration Act of 1882, was the first federal law passed to ban a specific nationality from immigrating to the U.S. and ultimately denied Chinese Americans from gaining their naturalized rights (Britannica). This set a precedent for anti-Asian sentiment among many white Americans, as they held the false belief that Chinese Americans were taking away job opportunities and posing a threat to the economy’s stability. It was not until 1943 that the U.S. repealed these laws, yet racist ideals and prejudices held toward Asian Americans continued. With the coronavirus (COVID-19) giving rise to the harmful misconception that Asians are somehow responsible for the pandemic, there appears to be a significant influx in anti-Asian rhetoric and rumors of exclusionary policies among some white Americans once again. Specifically, many racist claims have been made toward Asian students that question their rightful place in U.S. universities.

During an interview conducted by Brown University professor Glenn Loury on Dec. 24, 2021, University of Pennsylvania law professor Amy Wax made many offensive statements regarding her belief that the “influx of Asian elites in the U.S. is dangerous and problematic” (Cable News Network). She not only criticizes the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that are becoming increasingly prevalent at universities and in workplaces, but also goes as far as to suggest limiting and restricting Asian immigration. She goes on to speculate that “maybe it is just that Democrats love open borders, and Asians want more Asians here. Perhaps they are just mesmerized by the feel-good cult of diversity… as long as most Asians support Democrats and help to advance their positions, I think the United States is better off with fewer Asians and less Asian immigration” (American Broadcasting Company). Wax’s commentary veers dangerously close to the explicitly racist and outdated Chinese Exclusion Act

3

that was repealed for those very reasons almost 80 years ago. What is even more concerning is the fact that she continues to maintain her tenured position as a professor at one of the most prestigious universities in the country; Asian students, as well as Asian faculty that may cross her path, are put in immediate danger of falling victim to Wax’s prejudiced ideals.

As misguided as Wax’s opinions are, she is not alone; there seems to be a misconception that Asian Americans attain a disproportionate level of success compared to others. This phenomenon, coined the “model minority myth”, suggests that Asian Americans as a whole are successful despite the racism and marginalization they experience. By typecasting Asian Americans to this standard, it has become a “tool of white supremacy” for pushing Asian Americans to work harder to gain acceptance, yet their efforts have only pushed them further from receiving the validation (The Guardian).

Hence, the “model minority myth” is a harmful characterization created by white Americans to downplay the racism that the Asian American communities have experienced in the face of earning equal opportunities.

As many Peninsula seniors are in the midst of the college application process, these statements coming from potential future professors at high-ranking universities where many students hope to attend presents a glaring issue. Campuses should not exclude any ethnicity, and there should be zero tolerance from said institutions when a faculty member, or anyone else affiliated with the university, holds these xenophobic beliefs. Considering how deeply ingrained anti-Asian sentiment is in the U.S.–the Chinese Exclusion Act serving as a prime example–we must actively fight to educate those who hold misguided ideas regarding Asians. Additionally, racist rhetoric surrounding Asians must continue to be condemned, as those who voice these opinions must be held accountable before their words continue to perpetuate harmful stereotypes surrounding the Asian community.

THE CASE OF AHMAUD ARBERY: HAS JUSTICE FINALLY BEEN OBTAINED? On Feb. 23, 2020, 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery decided to take a jog in one of the predominantly white subdivisions near his neighborhood of Satilla Shores, where he was then racially profiled and murdered (The New York Times). It took two months for Arbery’s killers, Gregory and Travis McMichael, as well as the man who filmed Arbery’s death, William Bryan Jr., to be arrested (British Broadcasting Corporation). Nearly two years later on Jan. 7, all three of Arbery’s murderers were sentenced to life in prison, with two of the perpetrators given no chance of parole (Cable News Network). However, the verdicts in this case are only one success in a system riddled with racial biases towards Black people. While Arbery’s case is an evident step forward in putting an end to the cycle of racial injustice, it took social media uproar and protests for this kind of change to occur.

“The victory of Arbery’s case makes me glad that these types of cases are finally being noticed,” senior Adi Laal said. “I hope that this will allow for America’s judicial system to take action and pay more attention to the unfair deaths of [Black people] as time goes on.”

Arbery’s death serves as a disturbing reminder of the ongoing fight for racial equality. As the verdicts in Arbery’s case are considered to be a win, it demonstrates to those with racially-motivated intent that there are repercussions for their harmful actions. It also shows that after hundreds of years of being dismissed in courts of law, a Black life is finally being acknowledged. However, because of the time it took the justice system to obtain justice for Arbery, it is clear that it still does not prioritize condemning intolerable acts against Black people.

At Peninsula, the population of Black students is only 3% in a school of 2,348 students. Therefore, many prejudices held toward those of a different racial or

cultural background can be connected to a lack of proper education and exposure to these groups. However, there are ways to remedy this issue. Pew Research Center reported that social media platforms have served as venues for political engagement and social activism, allowing people to talk about important social issues and hold others accountable for their actions.

Additionally, California will be the first state to require Ethnic Studies in high school, allowing students to gain a better understanding of social issues (Los Angeles Times).

With classes like Ethnic Studies being introduced in the state, there can be more acknowledgement for people of different backgrounds who are normally ignored or mistreated in society.

“As a Peninsula alumna myself, social justice was not something I knew a lot about,” Chemistry, Science Research and Advanced Placement Seminar teacher Melissa Klose said. “I felt like I lived in a bubble. I think we need to present different perspectives in our curriculum as well, and teachers and parents can help facilitate conversations on cases like these.”

Arbery was a victim in a country where racist beliefs are prioritized over the value and loss of Black lives. The fight for equality entails raising awareness, efforts to improve the legal system and pointing out inequities in the court’s treatment of people of color. By focusing on tackling inequality, this country that has been plagued with harmful prejudiced beliefs can root out racism and ensure America’s idea of ‘liberty and justice for all.’

“Education is very important in regard to cases like these, and there needs to be more discussions about these topics,” senior Amanda Rucker said. “The more educated people are, the less biased they will be. Understanding other people’s perspectives will hopefully help reduce racial profiling and put an end to the perpetuation of systemic racism.”

THE PEN PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL 27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 EDITORS IN CHIEF Keila Bara Caitlyn Lee HEADS OF DESIGN Shai Becker Sakura Sasaki HEAD OF BUSINESS Makayla Lui ADVISER Jaymee DeMeyer PUBLICITY PUBLICITY MANAGER: Victoria Rhodes WEBSITE MANAGER: Savanna Messner Rodriguez OPINION EDITOR: Clara Reckhorn WRITERS: Leigh Fitch Audrey Lin Angelina Wang NEWS EDITOR: Jeremy Kim WRITER: Aarushi Chaudhari Christian Downs Zahra Habib FOCUS EDITOR: Hannah Corr WRITERS: Jacelyn Chen Brian Park Neha Sambangi STUDENT LIFE EDITOR: Nomi Tsogmagnai WRITERS: Tessa Kang McKenna McCallister Juliette Lin ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT/SPORTS EDITOR: Jenna Long WRITER: Josie Kwak GRAPHICS Hana Fujii Kiara Lee Jihee Seo Lynn Takahashi Brooke Vo ADS Riley Leongkaye Hana Rivera Priya Thakar “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 Makayla Lui at (310)753-9550.

Copyright © 2022 COVER DESIGN BY SAKURA SASAKI

4

IN MEMORY OF FIREFIGHTER JONATHAN FLAGLER On Jan. 6, 47-year-old firefighter Jonathan Flagler died while working to extinguish a fire in a Rancho Palos Verdes home, located in the 30700 block of Tarapaca Road. Flagler, who was among the crew from Fire Station 83 of the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACOFD), responded to the fire alert at around 3 a.m. When the firefighters arrived at the one-story home, flames were found in one bedroom and in the attic. However, as the firefighters entered the structure, it became more engulfed with flames. Soon after, Flagler issued a mayday alert, a button on his portable radio that alerts 911, and was taken to Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center in Torrance, where he later passed away. Flagler is survived by his spouse, Jenny Johnson Flagler, and their two sons Jack (15) and Brody (13) (K-Television Los Angeles 5). Senior Marissa Ho, whose father was in the same battalion as Flagler, feels sympathy toward Flagler’s kids.

“Losing your parents or anyone in your family at a young age is very hard,” Ho said. “I cannot personally connect with [the loss that Flagler’s kids experienced,] but I know what it is like to have your dad be gone for a long time and not knowing if he is going to come back from a fire.”

Around 140 firefighters die while on duty per year. Firefighters also have to devote a large portion of their time to their career, which often negatively impacts firefighters’ spouses and children (People News). Sophomore Brindha Srivatsav holds in great regard family members of firefighters and the stress

they constantly feel.

“I think that it is often overlooked how family members of firefighters and first responders feel about their family being at risk of danger every day,” Srivatsav said. “It is genuinely scary that somebody’s family members could possibly be harmfully affected by their jobs [at any time].”

Following this incident, tributes were held throughout Southern California in honor of Flagler. On Jan. 8, firefighters from Fire Station 13 stood on top of their engines overlooking the stretch of the 5 Freeway. Additionally, hundreds of firefighters, friends and family members attended a candlelight vigil at the Ole Hanson Beach Club in San Clemente, California on Jan. 10. Following this, an official memorial service occurred on Jan. 21, where more of Flagler’s close friends and family members gathered at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos, California to honor his memory. At the memorial service, LACOFD honor guard presented his family with the American flag and presented the “Ringing of the Bell” ceremony. This ceremony included three sets of five tolls, and its ringing both signified Flagler’s death and commemorated his service to the LACOFD (Daily Breeze). Along with this, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced via Twitter that all Capitol flags were to be flown at half-staff until the end of the day the memorial service took place to honor Flagler (Columbia Broadcasting System News). Sophomore Rylee Izumo heard about Flagler’s death and admires the way he was honored by his department.

“It is important that we honored Flagler with the many tributes that have been going on,” Izumo said. “In fact, it is important to honor all first responders and health care workers who risk their lives for our community daily.”

TO GO OR NOT TO GO

5

COVID-19 surge reignites push for online school

On March 13, 2020, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) shut down schools in response to a parent of a PVPUSD student testing positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). On April 26, 2021, the district reopened schools in a hybrid format and fully reopened schools for all students on Aug. 25, 2021. Currently, there are 147 positive COVID-19 cases in the district, yet schools remain open. Many students and parents alike are upset by this and have called for the return to online school, as they believe shutting down schools is the best option to contain the virus.

One of the main reasons the virus is spreading so much faster than it did previously is due to a new strain of COVID-19, known as Omicron.

Omicron transmits two to three times faster than the Delta strain because its spike protein — the region that binds to cells — makes it easier for the virus to enter human cells than the other variants (National Public Radio). This has caused cases in the U.S. to skyrocket; during January, there were an average of 700,000 new cases per day (The New York Times). In Los Angeles (LA) County alone, as of Feb. 2, there were nearly 16,468 new cases weekly, according to the LA Times.

Despite the increase in the number of cases that has caused several colleges, including all nine of the undergraduate University of California (UC) campuses, to delay their return to in person school, the district is determined to stay open. Superintendent Alex Cherniss sent out an email on Jan. 7 detailing that “[PVPUSD’s] goal remains to keep schools open and students in class.” Even though in-person school involves being indoors and in close contact with people for an extended period of time, most studies have shown that schools have not been a major driver of community transmission (The Conversation). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although outbreaks in schools can occur, studies suggest that transmission levels within school settings are typically lower than or similar to that of the community when prevention measures are in place. Thus, the CDC recommends that instead of moving online, schools should implement strategies to help lower cases while remaining in person.

In an email sent out on Jan. 28, Cherniss shared data indicating that PVPUSD schools had an average of 95% attendance during the week of Jan. 24. Constant testing is the key to keeping schools open, as Cherniss has emphasized that it is “critically important to keeping COVID-19 out of our schools.” The district has demonstrated this by making testing readily available for PVPUSD students and staff; on Jan. 14, they gave two take-home COVID-19 test kits to every student, and according to Cherniss, they continue to conduct 500 tests daily at various PVPUSD schools. In addition to constant testing, students are required to complete a green screen every morning before entering campus in order to ensure everyone campus-wide is symptom-free. Principal Dr. Brent Kuykendall says that the school also has a high vaccination rate, meaning that COVID-19 will not infect as many people, which will limit the spread throughout communities and will restrict the virus’s opportunity to continue to mutate into new variants (John Hopkins Medicine). Along with vaccinations, wearing a mask can help communities slow the spread of COVID-19 (CDC), and since Jan. 3, PVPUSD has required everyone on campus to wear a mask at all times.

If someone on campus does end up testing positive for COVID-19, students who share classes with the infected person will receive an email making them aware of the possible exposure within a day. Sophomore Ben Leet is in support of the current measures put in place by the school to help lower the number of cases on campus. “[The actions] the district have taken to slow the spread have [been good] in my opinion,” Leet said. “I think the green screens are pretty useless, but the rest of the measures [such as mandating masks and providing free tests daily] are helpful. Another thing schools should offer is a strong support system [for the people at home due to illness] that maybe not everyone gets.”

Even though all of these efforts have been implemented in order to help curb the spread, many residents of Palos Verdes are calling for PVPUSD to move schools back to a virtual setting, including junior Arman Omidvar. Omidvar started a petition on the website, change.org, which he titled, “Tell the Palos Verdes Peninsula School District to Return to Online School.” Many students on campus support Omidvar’s efforts to move school online; the petition that he started currently has 1,064 signatures and 54 comments, mainly from students at Peninsula supporting his sentiment. Omidvar started the petition

after witnessing the stress the pandemic has inflicted on his classmates.

“School, at the moment, poses a fundamentally dangerous environment for students in attendance and their immediate families,” Omidvar said. “Those who absolutely must stay at home face a massive divide in the quality of their education compared to those students who can attend in-person. It also seems that many students are anxious about just being at school due to the high prevalence of sickness. For many, catching the virus means the potential death of a loved one or themselves. It can be extremely anxiety-inducing to receive those dreaded close contact letters, which I myself have received five of within the last two weeks.”

Some schools in the South Bay have attempted other methods to convince administrators to move their schools online. On Jan. 12 at Redondo Union High School (RUHS), students participated in a walk-out to protest schools staying in-person. The RUHS students stated in an interview with the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) that they feel their school district has prioritized itself over students by not enforcing COVID-19 precautions that are in place to stop the spread, which has led many families to not feel safe sending their kids to school. Freshman Juliana Gregerson, whose mother is a pre-kindergarten teacher at Point Vicente Elementary School, is witnessing how many of her mother’s students do not feel safe coming to school and how difficult it is for her mom to effectively teach while making sure her students stay safe.

“For my mom specifically, the surge has been difficult to deal with,” Gregerson said. “Her class is full of children around the age of five, most of whom have trouble keeping their masks on. They also normally need close, personal instruction, but that is not possible now due to the high amount of cases. I think this surge has caused all teachers and staff to become even busier and stressed because they need to find alternate ways to [simultaneously help] their students in-person and those who are stuck at home due to illness.”

Whether schools should stay in person or go online is not an easy decision for school administrators; it is a topic of national controversy, and proponents of both sides worry about the physical and mental dangers the pandemic poses to students. For PVPUSD schools, classes are currently planned to remain in person for the rest of the school year as the district continues to monitor the severity of the pandemic.

6 SCHNEIDER WINS BIG ON “JEOPARDY!” On Jan. 7, Amy Schneider made history as the first transgender person to win over $1 million on “Jeopardy!” and to qualify for the Tournament of Champions, which is a special competition featuring the top 15 players of the previous season.

During the episode where she surpassed $1 million, her 28th episode, the winning question was about 20th century author Thor Heyerdahl, on his nonfiction writing.

Schneider also currently holds the record for the third-longest winning streak in “Jeopardy!” history with 40 consecutive games won (Los Angeles Times).

Outside of competing on “Jeopardy!”, Schneider is a 42-year-old engineering manager from Oakland, California. In middle school, after winning several spelling bee awards, Schneider’s class voted her “Most Likely to Compete on Jeopardy.” This became a reality for Schneider when she first started competing on Nov. 17. In addition to being the highest-scoring transgender contestant, Schneider is also the first woman in the show’s history to achieve over 20 consecutive wins and win over $1 million (The New York Times). The previous record was set by Julia Collins, who won 20 consecutive games in 2014. In the “Jeopardy!” Hall of Fame, Schneider is one of only two women present, the other being Collins. Due to Schneider’s success, she has served as an inspiration to women across the U.S. Freshman June Zhang is excited that an older transgender woman is being represented on television, as media typically only shows many younger transgender teenagers. “[Having] an older woman living an intellectual life gives people something to look forward to,” Zhang said. “I am not personally a fan of “Jeopardy!”, but her accomplishments inspire me and make me hopeful [for the] future.”

In an interview with Good Morning America, Schneider expressed that “the best part [of being on “Jeopardy!”] for me has been being on television as my true self, expressing myself and representing the entire community of transgender people.” While Schneider is not the first

transgender contestant, her long winning streak and social media presence are quickly making her a household name.

Schneider’s new “Jeopardy!” fame has garnered fans from all age groups, and for some older viewers, she is the first proper exposure to the transgender community.

Junior Skye Smitham hopes that people being able to see a transgender woman represented in such a well-known American game show will help them to be more accepting of transgender people.

“People do not always have to understand [other] people to accept and love them, and I think that is what a lot of older fans are realizing,” Smitham said. “It is a really positive indicator of a coming shift in the way transgender people are represented in television that people from older generations are so supportive of Amy Schneider.”

During the Thanksgiving episode of “Jeopardy!”, Schneider wore a transgender pride pin, stating on her Twitter that “Thanksgiving is a holiday that is all about family, and that can be hard for anybody who has been ostracized or otherwise cut off from their family.” Previous transgender contestant Kate Freeman inspired Schneider to compete on “Jeopardy!”, and Schneider hopes to do the same for her audience (Consumer News and Business Channel). In addition to speaking about representation in interviews, Schneider also uses her platform to encourage her followers to donate to LGBTQ+ charities and recommend resources such as the Transgender Law Center and Trans Lifeline. Despite no longer competing, having completed her last episode on Jan. 26 after losing to Rhona Talsma in the final round, Schneider’s impact remains. Senior KC Menninger, the president of the Gender Sexuality Alliance club, is glad that Schneider was able to do so well on the show and hopes that she can continue to serve as a good representation for transgender viewers.

“Schneider is an inspiration to many and an amazing role model for trans youth [everywhere],” Menninger said. “I am really glad that she has made it this far and that ‘Jeopardy!’ww as a show has been as respectful as they have of her and her gender identity.”

7 BETTY WHITE: HONORING HER LEGACY Betty White, a longtime American actress and comedian, passed away at 99 years old on Dec. 31, 2021. Following her death, tributes from numerous organizations, celebrities and other public figures started to flow in on several social media outlets. Respected by many, White’s legacy and impact on multiple generations has left fans all over the world feeling sentimental (Global News). Even President Joe Biden issued a statement, sharing via Twitter that “Betty White brought a smile to the lips of generations of Americans. She is a cultural icon who will sorely be missed.”

White was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on Jan. 17, 1922. White first worked various radio jobs until eventually securing her own sitcom, “The Betty White Show”, with the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in 1952.

Following the success of this comedy, White made her feature film debut in 1962 with a role in the political drama film “Advise & Consent.” Arguably the most prominent role of White’s acting career was Rose Nylund in the television show “The Golden Girls,” which ran from 1985 until 1992.

Over the course of eight decades that White was involved in the show business, she won five Emmy awards for various television (TV) roles and one Grammy award for Best Spoken Word Recording in “If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t)”, while also becoming the first woman to produce her own sitcom, “The Betty White Show.” Although White’s recent passing has shocked a lot of fans, many are also looking back on White’s long career in the entertainment industry.

Senior Armin Esfahani is one of the many impacted by White, as her work helped strengthen his relationship with his father.

“Late at night on TV, they would show ‘The Golden Girls’,” Esfahani said. “We would both sit down and watch the show, and seeing Betty White act on screen was what linked together valuable time with [my] dad.”

Though White was primarily known for her comedic roles, she is also remembered as an active philanthropist

who supported many charitable causes.

Throughout her life, White was an avid supporter of animal welfare and believed that animals should be treated with care, whether it be in zoos or in shelters (Today). In 1971, she raised money and awareness for animal charities by creating a TV show called “The Pet Set”, in which she would conduct interviews with other celebrities and their pets while also discussing proper animal care. After White’s passing, the hashtag #BettyWhiteChallenge was used on social media to spread awareness, prompting fans of White to donate money to any animal charity, shelter or nonprofit organization to honor White’s beliefs.

Within the first few days, the challenge garnered attention from actors such as Mark Hamill and George Takei, who expressed their support of the challenge online. Senior James Terrell appreciates White’s efforts in raising awareness for animals worldwide.

“What White has done is really important to me,” Terrell said. “[I] have a dog myself, and [I] really feel for animals who are not being treated humanely and animals that are in shelters, so [White’s advocacy] hits close to home.”

Over the years, White has accomplished much in her career while also clearly speaking out against racism and homophobia in the entertainment industry. White has used her voice multiple times. Specifically, White spoke out against racial diversity issues when controversy surrounding her sitcom arose.

In the 1950s, a Black dancer by the name of Arthur Duncan was set to perform on “The Betty White Show”; while White faced criticism from multiple news stations to take Duncan off the show due to the color of his skin, she declined and told NBC on “The Betty White Show” to “live with it.” Senior Grace Westervelt strongly appreciates and supports how White has used her platform.

“I admire Betty White and think she is really cool for [fighting against social issues using her platform],” Westervelt said. “As a white woman in the entertainment industry it is rare to see, especially since she was famous. She was so [inspiring] for fighting [for] what she believed in.”

8

MEETING IN THE MIDDLE

Senior Hannah Corr participates in Jubilee Media’s “Middle Ground” series The video “Liberal Teens vs. Conservative Parents,” which features senior Hannah Corr, was released on Dec. 26, 2021 and has gained 1.1 million views. “Liberal Teens vs Conservative Parents” is part of Jubilee’s video series “Middle Ground”, which allows people with opposing views to engage in conversations that attempt to learn more about the other side and their opinions. In this case, the two extremes were on the political spectrum: three liberal teenagers had a discussion with conservative parents from other households. In October of 2021, Corr saw emails sent by the video company Jubilee Media looking for liberal teens to feature in an upcoming YouTube video. When Corr heard about the premise of the video, she applied because she thought it would be interesting to learn more about people with opposing political views. After filling out an online application to become a cast member, Corr was interviewed by casting directors as well as the director of the project. Corr was officially casted for Jubilee’s video on Nov. 5. She went to film on Nov. 7, 2021, open to hear the thoughts of her fellow cast members.

In the video, Corr and two other liberal teenagers, Parker and Ritwik, were grouped together on one side of the room, and three conservative parents, Johnnie, Mike and Shawn, were on the other. Prompts like “my news source is more reliable than the other side’s” were asked to both groups, and those who agreed would step forward. After the agreeing party shared ideas and

discussed for a while, those who disagreed joined the conversation and expressed their responses.

The intention of this setup was to initiate discussion between the two sides without creating an argument. As the youngest cast member and the only female featured in the video, Corr felt intimidated by the more outspoken teenagers and adults. Corr’s friend, senior Peter Wu, admires her preparedness to form good replies to the conservatives’ statements, especially because the majority of their opinions directly conflicted with her own.

“From watching this video, [I have] gained a greater respect for [Hannah] as an individual,” Wu said. “She puts so much effort into researching her topics and ensuring that her responses are well thought out. People often think of teenagers as people who are inexperienced, [and that they] should stay silent when issues arise. However, when Hannah stood up, armed with her facts and research, she not only impressed me, but millions of individuals on the internet.”

Corr became more engaged with politics the summer after her freshman year when she discovered the works and social media presence of comedian, television host and political commentator Trevor Noah. Corr identifies as a liberal, which is characterized as a political philosophy that values individual freedom and progressive reforms. To stay informed, Corr follows organizations supporting causes she cares about on social media, watches educational videos online and reads the news daily. By taking part

in this video, Corr was able to interact with the opposite side of the political spectrum and learn more about conservative ideas. Her mother, Marie Corr, believes gaining a new point of view from this discussion helped Hannah Corr develop useful skills for the future. “[Speaking her opinions] out loud in such a public venue helped her [to crystallize] her ideas,” Marie Corr said. “[It allowed for Hannah to] be able to articulate them in a way that is more objective than subjective. [Participating in this discussion] helped her learn to express her views without offending [people with opposing opinions].”

After the video was uploaded, Hannah Corr received encouragement from both strangers in the comment section and friends at school.

Additionally, Hannah Corr’s family asked her more about the ideas she brought up in the video and allowed her to educate them on political topics that would not have been brought up otherwise. A platform as influential as YouTube, which has been considered the most popular mobile app in the U.S. based on audience reach, boosts online interaction with its viewers (Statista). Currently, there are around 15,000 comments posted on this Jubilee video. Corr hopes that videos like this can inspire audiences to start their own discussions.

“I hope the audience [learns] something new from the video and that the video [sparks] conversation within other households,” Corr said.

“I hope other people can take [the video] and use [it] as something to bounce off of in order to either educate or have a conversation with other people.”

9 CHRISTINA CHEN’S CHARITABLE COMMISIONS

In kindergarten, senior Christina Chen began learning pencil sketching techniques from her older brother, and was captivated by watching him bring ordinary items to life through his drawings. Chen was inspired to buy an instructional drawing book to explore her interest in art, and through the book’s instruction, she learned how to draw human anatomy and characters. Chen has never taken an art class, so in order to develop her skills further she seeks advice from fellow artists whose work she admires. “[Even though] art classes [would provide me with] an environment where [an instructor could] help me learn faster, I get more satisfaction from experimenting and seeing my progress,” Chen said. “My biggest takeaway [from being self-taught] is to be patient, to be able to critique [my] own work and to not be afraid to redo things.”

In December of 2017, Chen began posting her original characters to the Instagram account @unpeeled_orange_ and started accepting commissions in August of 2020.

It was her charitable disposition that led to this, as she did not have enough money of

her own to donate to causes like the Black Lives Matter movement. She clarifies that all profits are to be donated in the biographical description of the account. The first step in Chen’s commissioning process is receiving the order from her client via direct messages to the previously mentioned Instagram account. After that, Chen sends the customer a sketch of the piece to get their approval. From there, she transfers the sketch to the app FireAlpaca on her Microsoft Surface Pro computer, where she proceeds to finish the artwork and receive payment afterward.

Since opening up for commissions, Chen’s most difficult obstacle has been pricing. She sets prices for her work based on the complexity of the order and the time it takes to complete it, which ranges from 30 minutes to four hours. Despite spending a considerable amount of time on her customers’ requests, Chen always finds time to work on projects for her family, primarily her brother, Chen Chen. He was one of her first commissioners who purchased designs for his band Ultraviolet Catastrophe. Chen Chen encourages his sister’s creativity in any way he can and challenges her to broaden her artistic repertoire.

“She still has things she can learn about line work, and I think black and white [drawings] would force her to focus on perfecting that skill,” Chen

Chen said. “[It is especially important] because I have commissioned her for tattoo ideas in the past and will most likely again in the future.

Currently, she is working on [a few art pieces] for our next release.”

Christina Chen’s father, James Chen, supports all of her ambitions with art. He finds his daughter’s art to be very expressive of the idealistic dream she has for the world. James Chen is proud of the artist his daughter has become and looks forward to seeing how it propels her growth in other aspects of her life.

“I am an engineer, [which is] far from the visual arts,” James Chen said. “[However, because of] my daughter, I [have] felt the power of art.

Christina’s visual arts are filled with a sense of humor, or a kind of childishness, which makes you want to laugh. You can easily understand what statements she wanted to express.”

In the future, Christina Chen hopes to create a story. She has been considering whether she should illustrate a series on Webtoon, an online comic platform, or partner with an author to publish a children’s picture book. Regardless of what she decides, Christina Chen aims to continue drawing and helping her art inspire others, whether that be through a small business of hers, as a career or simply a joyful hobby.

10

ISA BRINGAS: PLAYER OF THE YEAR On Jan. 4, sophomore Isa Bringas was announced as the Daily Breeze Girls Tennis Player of the Year, a title typically reserved for upperclassmen.

In addition to covering local news and sports in the South Bay area, the Daily Breeze identifies one high school student located in the South Bay as Player of the Year for each sport each year. In addition to receiving this title in the Daily Breeze article, Bringas also received a plaque for winning most valuable player for her team, a certificate for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and recognition in the Daily Bulletin. The process for earning this title differs across sports, but this season, Peninsula’s girls varsity tennis team advanced to the CIF Open Division finals, making each individual member of the team a contender for the title. After the finals, Daily Breeze contacted girls tennis coach Mike Hoeger in search of his top player. Daily Breeze also took into account Bringas’ win at the Bay League individual tournament on Oct. 27 to Oct. 28 with a record of 32-6. At this tournament, South Bay athletes chosen from Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Palos Verdes High School, Redondo Union High School, Mira Costa High School, Santa Monica High School and Culver City High School competed in an effort to advance to the CIF Southern Section individual competition.

Winning the Bay League individual tournament signified that Bringas was one of the best players in the area, as she beat the other athletes selected from these schools; which further narrowed the search for a player (Daily Breeze).

Before Bringas started playing competitively, she first discovered her passion for tennis when she took her first private lesson in 2013. Before this, she experimented with dancing, ice skating and gymnastics, but connected most with tennis because she found it to be most enjoyable and liked how she could play both on a team or as an individual. When Bringas was 10 years old, she began to play tennis competitively through the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and later joined the girls varsity tennis team during her freshman year. On this team, she has grown closer to sophomore Kayden Roxas, who admires Bringas’ character both on and off the court.

“Isa is one of the most hardworking people I know,” Roxas said. “She is always smiling on the court [even if] she is losing, and it is something I

ISA BRINGAS

really admire. I was so happy for her [when I found out she was selected] because she is one of the most deserving people in the world, and she has worked really hard for this accomplishment.”

During her freshman year, Bringas played doubles with another teammate, senior Cydney Yamamoto. Doubles refers to when two teams of two players are paired against each other, while singles is when two individual players play against each other. This year, Bringas found herself playing singles as a replacement for injured players on the team, and by the end of the season, she was no longer considered a substitute, as the team had confidence in her abilities as a singles player. Although there was a lot of pressure involved with being moved up to singles, Bringas appreciates how there is always something to learn and always ways to grow while playing tennis.

“Tennis definitely has [taught me] many life lessons and is a sport that can be really stressful at times,” Bringas said. “[However, it] is also really fun when you enjoy it. [I get to spend] a lot of time learning more about myself and how I handle myself on the court when I get frustrated, [which] plays into other parts of life too.”

In the month following her win in the Bay League individual tournament, Bringas sprained her wrist after falling during another individual tournament. After some time spent in recovery receiving treatment from a physical therapist and chiropractor, Bringas continued to compete in the CIF sectional tournament on Nov. 21 to Nov. 22, where she pulled off a win in the first round and advanced to the CIFSouthern Section individual quarter finals, which were held on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2. Despite Bringas’ loss in a close match, Hoeger is proud of Bringas’ accomplishments and looks forward to witnessing what lies in her future.

“Off the court, Isa is very personable, fun and inquisitive, all of which belies her competitive spirit,” Hoeger said. “[When she was officially selected Player of the Year,] I was very happy. I predict she will get stronger and hit harder going into her junior year.”

OSA MILES OBR AC

11

GONE WITH THE GOLDEN GLOBES The Golden Globe Awards, or the Golden Globes, is a distinguished award ceremony scheduled every January that recognizes excellence in both American and international film and television (TV). The ceremony is also known for being the unofficial predecessor to the Academy Awards, which is another acclaimed film awards ceremony that highlights the film industry and takes place every March. However, the Golden Globes’ reputation was struck down in 2021 when accusations against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the organization that runs the Golden Globes, were brought to light. The accusations range from lack of a diversity among the voting panel to outright bribery and corruption. Media ridicule followed along with a massive boycott led by Time’s Up, an organization for keeping workplaces safe. The boycott caused the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), HFPA’s preferred network, to refuse airing the 2022 Golden Globes. Consequently, the winners were announced via Twitter and on HFPA’s official website. There were also no celebrities in attendance of the ceremony, a major factor in the success of the Golden Globes. Also, significant companies like Amazon and Netflix have ceased to partner with HFPA until significant changes are made to fix the lack of diversity (The Wrap).

In February of 2021, a Los Angeles (LA) Times investigation uncovered a lack of diversity among the Golden Globes’ voting panel. Out of the 87-member voting group, there were no Black members. Without proper diversity, Black people’s lives and experiences cannot be accounted for; therefore, the Golden Globes failed to provide equal opportunity to films featuring or created by people of color. In addition, within the past two decades, there were two years without any Black TV winners at the Golden Globes (2002 and 2014), and the last winning television series came from a Black creator in 2017, when Donald and Stephen Glover’s “Atlanta” won the Musical or Comedy Series statue (Variety). In addition, viewers were enraged when the renowned, Black-created TV series “I May Destroy You” received no recognition, while Netflix’s

show “Emily in Paris’’ received two Golden Globe nominations. From poor writing to stereotypical characters, many thought that this nomination was undeserved. After watching some of “Emily in Paris” and hearing that Black creators were snubbed, freshman Marisa Tan believes that the shows made

by Black creators should have earned more praise and nominations.

“I watched the first episode of ‘Emily in Paris’ and it stereotyped the French people, [as they] depicted many of their [Parisian] characters as unfriendly and sometimes inconsiderate,” Tan said. “[The Black-created films] were critically acclaimed, and people really supported them. It should have received more recognition.”

The Golden Globes’ nominations of “Emily in Paris” also received backlash when an inspection from the LA Times uncovered that over 30 members of the HFPA were given an all-expenses paid trip to France sponsored by Paramount Pictures, the company that created “Emily in Paris”. The group was treated to a two-night stay in the five-star Peninsula Paris hotel, and according to one member who went on the vacation, they were treated like “kings and queens” (LA Times). Because of this suspicious correlation, people began to suspect the Golden Globes of bribery within the nomination process. Sophomore Brady Kim was shocked by this incident, and his trust in the Golden Globes has weakened as a result. “[This incident] compromises my faith that the [Golden Globes] makes unbiased decisions,” Kim said. “It seems quite obvious to me that the [awards show] has been taking bribes, and I do not know if I can trust them anymore.”

In response, the HFPA has decided to implement meaningful changes to the organization to ensure diversity and a fair voting process. In an outline to achieve a 50% increase in diversity by 2023, the HFPA added 21 new members from several ethnic backgrounds, including Black, Asian, Latinx and Middle Eastern people to its voting panel (Variety).

Moreover, a diversity consultant, Dr. Shaun Harper, was hired to protect against any exclusionary practices and lead HFPA members in unconscious bias training. In a July 2021 report, HFPA also stated that members would not be able to accept gifts

from studios, publicists, actors, directors or others associated with motion pictures and television programs. The outside counsel, Ropes & Gray, was hired as well to review the group’s policies, strategies, governance and develop a confidential reporting system for violations of ethical standards and code of conduct (IndieWire). Junior Lynn Tanisaka believes that these changes are positive and could possibly restore the Golden Globes’ tarnished reputation.

“I think that [the Golden Globes’ is redeemable,” Tanisaka said. “It is great that [HFPA] is finally making a change for unbiased voting. [Additionally,] by including more cultures and races, more opportunities will be given [out].”

Despite these changes, it is uncertain whether the awards show will make a full comeback after its cancellation and controversies. However, the cancellation does not mean the Golden Globes will be removed entirely; in 2018, NBC signed an eight-year deal with HFPA to telecast the Globes at $60 million a year. Moreover, NBC stated that they are “hopeful to be in a position to air the show in January 2023.” Celebrities like Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold Schwarzenegger have already associated themselves with HFPA despite its problematic past.

Posted by the Golden Globes’ official YouTube channel, Curtis praised the HFPA’s donations to a teen literacy organization and in another video message from the Golden Globes, Schwarzenegger praised the “incredible philanthropic programs supported by the HPFA.” Perhaps these celebrity interactions will lead others to defend the Golden Globes; still, this does not mean the issue is resolved. In fact, when the controversy peaked in 2021, NBC struggled to find 6.9 million viewers for the show, which was 18 million viewers less than the year before (New York Post). Additionally, the boycott is still ongoing and shows no signs of stopping, as Time’s Up is still speaking out against the HFPA. The Golden Globes’ history of lack of diversity and corruption is undeniably unacceptable. However, the Golden Globes have still made an effort to better their reputation, learn from their mistakes and hopefully set a precedent for more fair and inclusive award shows in the future.