Issue 4

VOL . X L I FEBR ISSUE 4 021 UARY 27, 2

PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL www.pvphsnews.com

Social media may have its advantages, but at what cost?

FOCUS, PAGE 6-7

CHAOS AT THE CAPITOL

SUBJECT TO CHANGE

PERSISTENT TO PUBLISH

Should Trump take responsibility for inciting the Capitol insurrection?

College Board moves to end SAT Subject Testing and SAT with Essay

Senior writes and self-publishes three of her own novels during high school

OPINION PAGE 3

NEWS PAGE 4

STUDENT LIFE PAGE 9

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Students discuss the unjustified death penalty sentence of Dustin Higgs and the abolishment of this verdict once and for all kill those three victims. An acceptable form of punishment could have been a life sentence in prison without parole, effectively terminating the threat of a criminal. This form of punishment also forces the criminals to consider their actions and learn from their mistakes, allowing them to become better people. For the modern time period that we live in today in which the standards for human rights have been raised, the Trump administration pushing for the execution of criminals is incredibly inappropriate. The government should hear the majority of Americans’ call to abolish this antiquated, inhumane treatment of criminals once and for all.

“In this day and age, with approval ratings for the death penalty lower than ever, it should not be in use anymore,” senior Reagan Ezpeleta said.

“There are other options for punishment, like life sentences, that are more effective, and the government should recognize the will of the people by abolishing federal capital punishment forever.”

VECURONIUMBROMIDE

POTASSIUMCHLORIDE

MIDAZOLAM

On Jan. 26, 1996, Dustin Higgs was involved in the murder of three women at the side of a quiet highway in Patuxent River, Maryland. The man who pulled the gun’s trigger, Willis M. Haynes, is serving a life sentence in prison without the possibility for parole. Higgs, on the other hand, was sentenced to death for being at the crime scene and instructing Haynes to shoot the women.

Though he did not perpetrate the murders, he was executed by lethal injection on Jan. 16 by order of the Trump administration, according to the United States (U.S.) Department of Justice. This verdict was passed despite cries from many activists who were petitioning for his sentence to be reduced.

His death was unnecessary and unfair given his limited participation in the murders, and it shows how antiquated the practice of capital federal punishment has become.

Capital federal punishment was reinstated in 2019 when the Trump administration used the conservative majority in the Supreme Court to revive it after a 17-year hiatus (The New York Times). This revival came as a surprise, since public support for the death penalty has waned dramatically since its suspension in 2003, according to Business Insider. As reported by The New York Times, the Trump administration has set a record for more federal government death sentences in one year than all the states combined, with 13 executions taking place in just three months at the end of 2020. These executions were directed toward criminals who could have instead lived out their lives in prison, which is a more moral and justified way of punishing someone. If this were the case for Higgs, he would still be alive today.

“There was still much uncertainty about [Higgs’] role in the murders, and a proper conclusion has not yet been achieved [by the courts],” junior Olivia Hutchings said. “If the government is going to carry out executions, they should make sure that these decisions [are rational], which was not the case with Higgs.”

The discussion that arose from Trump reintroducing the death penalty brought to light that many disapproved of captial punishment, as shown by a 2019 Gallup Poll. According to the poll, the U.S. currently has the lowest approval rating for the death penalty since 1985, with 60% of voters saying that a life sentence without the possibility of parole is a better punishment for murder. The practice has been outlawed in most developed countries, but some, like China and Iran, still make use of it to continue to abuse human rights (The Baltimore Sun). Many believe that the use of this policy puts the U.S. on the same level of human rights abuse as China and Iran, which the U.S. has vowed never to be like (Business Insider). The death penalty is not a form of justice, but rather a cruel end to a human life. This is not to say that those on death row are innocent, but committing a crime should not cost their own life. If the U.S. government executes a murderer, they are lowering themselves to the same level of the murderer instead of demonstrating the moral standards that they preach. The U.S. must protect all human lives, especially when there are alternative methods to handle the punishment of guilty criminals.

“The death penalty tells Americans that their life is no longer worth anything once they commit an egregious crime,” senior Dylan Michalak said.

“People can change, so ending lives, even those of the worst criminals, shows that the government will not unconditionally protect its citizens.”

Furthermore, the death penalty is raciallybaised. When Michelle Carter, a white 20-yearold woman, sent her boyfriend over 1,000 texts telling him to kill himself, she was only indicted with involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to prison for 15 months (People Magazine). Her case was similar to Dustin Higgs’ in that they did not directly kill the victims and try to stop the murders. A difference here is skin color. Dustin Higgs was a Black man and Michelle Carter is a white woman. Had she been Black, there is a good chance that she would not have survived this ordeal. Had Higgs been white, there is a good chance he would have survived. This racial bias in the death penalty sentence is one of many factors that show why it must be revoked.

As stated by the U.S. Department of Justice, the death penalty was reinstated to “[bring] justice to victims of the most horrific crimes.” However, is murder really justice? Especially in Higgs’ case, his execution was not justified as he did not truly

LYNN TAKAHASHI / THE PEN

CLARA RECKHORN

3 A CRY FOR HELP: WILL OUR VOICES FINALLY BE HEARD? EDITORIAL STAFF When we went into quarantine following March 12, 2020, most students and faculty believed it would simply be an extended spring break. During the transition to distance learning across the Palos Verdes Peninsula School District (PVPUSD), teachers graced students with softer deadlines, less emphasis on screen time and more consideration for home conditions. Now, we are nearing the first anniversary of that day, still at our homes, but without the same mercy exhibited last school year. Teachers are not allowed to reduce their curriculums, leaving a heavier burden on staff and students; this is further exacerbated by the pressure of Advanced Placement tests and California standardized testing standards.

Furthermore, a recent study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that symptoms of anxiety and depression among 18-24 year-olds have increased to 63 percent in 2020, with 25 percent having contemplated suicide. A Gallup poll also confirms that adult mental health has similarly declined during quarantine— among them, PVPUSD faculty are especially vulnerable to the unfamiliar and stress-inducing conditions of online schooling.

Enduring 11 months of distance learning has clearly taken a toll on the Peninsula community and beyond. None of us can be expected to harbor normal levels of motivation and productivity while interacting only through a screen. In order to truly enact change, enforced policy changes must be made at the district and state levels to give students and teachers flexibility in their schedules as they brave through such uncharted territory.

Already, students have started taking the initiative in demanding more leniency. Senior Tenley Shepard’s Change.org petition created in early January is one such example—her request accumulated over 382 signatures, invoking a special PVPUSD Board of Education meeting to be held on Jan. 27, 2021. A survey conducted by The One Hill Project, a student-run group of representatives from Peninsula and Palos Verdes High School (PVHS), was often referenced in the call. Results showed that among 707 student survey responses from both Peninsula and PVHS, 302 students felt overwhelmed by their school workload. Another 56 students called for more asynchronous time, criticizing how teachers did not follow the 50 percent asynchronous schedule initially declared

by Principal Dr. Brent Kuykendall in the Sept. 27, 2020 Principal’s Update. Other suggestions included a unanimous homework deadline, more mental health support, partial-credit grading and optional video cameras during class. Unfortunately, the district has yet to meet such student requests.

According to the California Board of Education, all California schools are required to reach a minimum of 240 instructional minutes in a day for grades 4–12. However, instructional time includes both synchronous and asynchronous work periods—that is, if the teacher sees fit, the students can work independently off-screen. Implementing an asynchronous Wednesday is within state limits. Although the last Board of Education meeting opened the discussions of these proposals, the district’s overall reluctance has led students and teachers to believe that this course of action is infeasible or unrealistic. On the other hand, teachers have attempted to show more consideration for their students through class feedback surveys and more asynchronous class time on Wednesdays at their own discretion. These efforts do not go unnoticed and are greatly appreciated; however, small, individual actions only serve as temporary measures against a longterm issue. Key policies involving instructional time and learning curriculums must be addressed by PVPUSD and the California Board of Education.

There is no future of this 2021 school year in which the current state of academic rigor and strained mental health is just or sustainable. Furthermore, it is unacceptable for PVPUSD and the California Board of Education to leave countless calls for change ignored. Creating a learning environment that supports its students starts with actively implementing their suggestions and properly enforcing guidelines for healthy amounts of screen time and work.

These steps are simply the bare minimum. Ideally, the district and state would proactively pinpoint weaknesses in their plan instead of waiting for students and teachers to come up with solutions themselves far after the situation reached its breaking point.

Students have said their piece. Countless movements and discussions speak for themselves. Many teachers are also making efforts to embrace their students’ opinions, all while being shut out of the conversation themselves. Now, we must ask: when will those whose support matter most begin to listen?

TRUMP’S REPLY TO CAPITOL SIEGE VS. BLM PROTESTS TILLY SAFAVIAN Images of rioters equipped with AK-47-style guns and “Make America Great Again” flags stunned America on Jan. 6, 2021.

Insurrectionists had stormed the U.S. Capitol in what can only be characterized as an act of domestic terrorism. Students at Peninsula, along with people around the world, watched televised news in fear. Men and women charged past the surrounding fences, shattered windows, attacked law enforcement and robbed congressional offices, leaving five people dead, as reported by Central News Network. This mob formed in response to former President Donald Trump’s speech at his “Save America” rally earlier that day, which encouraged supporters to “walk down to the Capitol” and “show strength” in protest of what they believed to be the fraudulent 2020 presidential election results (The New York Times). The most unbelievable aspect of the insurrection was Trump’s lack of response and initiative to condemn it, waiting until the following day to give a weak reply. This begs comparison with the violent law enforcement-powered response he commandeered when faced with peaceful Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in front of the Capitol in June 2020. The juxtaposition can only be explained by two of Trump’s signature character traits: selfishness and irrefutable racism, making him unfit to have been a president.

“I was in complete shock and disbelief on Jan. 6,” freshman Kayden Roxas said. “Never in my life would I imagine that a sitting U.S. president would incite a mob [to] attack our nation’s Capitol. The fact that he commemorated the mobsters’ violent actions shows his utter disregard for the safety of Americans as well as disrespect for our Capitol and what it symbolizes.”

Trump spent his last days of office attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results to help maintain his executive power and position, explaining why he seemingly let his supporters carry out the attempted coup at the Capitol. When he finally denounced the attacks on Jan. 7 after receiving political pressure and threats of impeachment, he did not take responsibility for the

dangerous and angry rhetoric he used to incite the attack (National Public Radio). The former president failed to own up to his violent and illegal actions with a measly attempt to preserve whatever ounce of dignity he might have had left.

“Trump’s response to the siege was anything but presidential,” junior Bella D’ambrosi said. “I believe he reacted the way he did because he wanted this riot to happen.”

Trump’s racial prejudice also played a part in his inappropriate responses to both protests. Many of his supporters who participated in the Capitol siege are members of the organization Proud Boys, an extremist, right-wing and racist group. According to the National Broadcasting Company, Trump expressed support for the Proud Boys on Sept. 20, 2020 during the first presidential debate. Though he met the Capitol attack by the Proud Boys with little to no resistance, months earlier the peaceful BLM protestors were greeted with tear gas and physical assault from the police when approaching the Capitol. Some argue that the disparity is due to pure coincidence or special circumstances. Regardless, Trump had the power to save lives by invoking the National Guard by the Insurrection Act of 1807, but refused. He ordered the National Guard to suppress supporters of a racial equality movement, then refused to invoke the same in response to a symbolic attack on democracy by white supremacists.

“When BLM protestors took to the streets, they were often beaten,” Black Student Union treasurer and junior Taylor Cowling said. “It was scary to see that rioters who were proudly displaying Confederate and anti-Semitic merchandise were shown very little force from the government. This inequity symbolizes the deep divide within our country and growth of the white supremacy movement.”

Trump’s silence post-Capitol attack was deafening. His lack of action compared to his biased actions during the BLM protests clearly demonstrated the racial prejudice he holds. The insurrection was many things, but above all, it was a reminder of the division in our country under the leadership, or the lack thereof, of former President Donald Trump.

One can only hope that the Biden administration will bring a new era of altruism and equality to a very broken America.

BRIAN WANG / THE PEN

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 Clara Reckhorn Tilly Safavian NEWS EDITOR: Caitlyn Lee WRITER: Nomi Tsogmagnai FOCUS EDITOR: Kaitlyn Ho WRITERS: Hannah Corr Riley McAlpine STUDENT LIFE EDITOR: Jeremy Kim WRITERS: Jacelyn Chen Jami Galdones Deborah Mok ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT/SPORTS EDITORS: Emma Mulligan 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 MADDIE YEH

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COLLEGE BOARD CUTS SAT SUBJECT TESTS AND OPTIONAL ESSAY

HANA FUJII / THE PEN

CAITLYN LEE Effective as of Jan. 22, College Board has discontinued both the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) optional essay and supplementary subject tests. The optional essay had students read a passage and write about the author’s arguments, and SAT subject tests served to test the specialization of students’ knowledge in various collegelevel topics, including physics and world history. However, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), many SAT exam centers closed in December for public health reasons. Thus, the quarantine was an opportunity for College Board to announce their decision to drop the SAT subject tests and optional essay.

In 2020, the Washington Post reported that 2.2 million students registered to take weekend SAT tests, but only about 900,000 tests were actually able to be taken under quarantine circumstances. By discontinuing both the SAT subject tests and optional essay, College Board hopes that it will lead to a more streamlined, accessible SAT test experience that accommodates COVID-19 safety once testing centers open again. College Career Center director Julie Arico’s concern is that students will endanger their health by going out of state to take SAT tests because California testing centers are not open, but she is glad that College Board is prioritizing COVID-19 safety.

“If you are in a [College Board testing] room for three hours and somebody sneezes,

you are not focusing on your test,” Arico said. “[That being said], I have not had many students come to me about [College Board] dropping [the subject tests and optional essay] for college admissions. [However], next year’s [seniors] will need to be making these decisions [about taking the SAT] and there is not enough information from colleges about what they are going to be doing next year.”

College Board originally implemented SAT subject tests to help students demonstrate college major readiness, but with the creation of Advanced Placement (AP) tests, few colleges and universities required students to take the SAT subject tests for admission. In addition, Forbes found that many colleges, like Georgetown University, ignored the essay portion of the overall SAT score in their admissions process. Prior to the pandemic, College Board had already considered dropping the SAT optional essay and subject tests (The Washington Post). Peninsula guidance counselors typically advised students to not take SAT subject tests unless they were required to apply for select colleges. Many students, like junior Amrutha Srivatsav, looked forward to taking subject tests because the exams pertain to a career they hope to enter in the future.

“The benefit of subject tests is that it could show colleges [which specific areas] you excel at rather than just math and reading comprehension on the [main] SAT,” Srivatsav said. “Knowing that I want to pursue a career in [either] bioinformatics or the medical field, I wanted to take science-related [subject tests]. [However], I had [a hard time getting] the motivation to study when [I did] not know if the test is going to get canceled or not, [but for now] I have decided to focus on taking the [main] SAT test.”

Cutting down the overall SAT and testing process may also address Arico’s other concern for high school seniors. By freeing up more seats in testing centers to students, discontinuing the essay and subject exams would be beneficial for students in areas of high demand, such as California. After hearing that both assessments have been dropped, junior Bryan Nguyen feels relieved that he can focus his efforts into studying for the SAT. “Subject tests were helpful in showing your passion for certain subjects, [and] taking the essay demonstrates you are a writer with good language skills,” Nguyen said. “[However], it is good that I can [prioritize studying] more of the multiple-choice content of the SAT because I am planning on taking [the test] next year when testing centers open up again.”

BRINGING BACK BIDEN: THE 2021 INAUGURATION NOMI TSOGMAGNAI On Jan. 20, Americans marked the beginning of 2021 with President Joseph R. Biden’s inauguration as the 46th president of the United States (U.S.). At 78 years old, Biden is now the oldest president to be elected. In addition, Kamala D. Harris’ appointment as vice president makes her the first Black woman of South Asian descent to hold that office (ABC News). There were distinctions of the 2021 inauguration that past presidential appointments did not have.

Unlike past inaugurations, this event lacked the usual large audience of 200,000 people. The scarce crowd was attributed to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in an attempt to maintain health and safety protocols. In compensation for the inability to hold the in-person event publicly, the majority of the event was broadcasted on every cable television network, including Cable News Network (CNN), Microsoft National Broadcasting Channel and Fox News.

President Biden and Vice President Harris were sworn into office in front of more than 191,500 American flags, which represented the audience members who could not attend the inauguration due to the COVID-19 quarantine. However, the select 1,000 guests, who were invited by President Biden and Congress members, wore masks and practiced social distancing. Advanced Placement Studio Art Drawing, Advanced Placement Studio Art 2D, Ceramics and Drawing and Painting teacher Jamie Nyman has felt stressed living through COVID-19. Nyman is relieved that President Biden has been taking the pandemic seriously, as reflected by the precautions taken for the inauguration.

“I cried when it was announced that Biden had won the election,” Nyman said. “I cried

because of the stress, misinformation and chaos that we have all been living in. I am relieved to have someone in office that is going to be [more] honest with the American public.”

The crowd was not the only thing that was absent from the 2021 inauguration, so was former President Donald Trump. Instead, Trump left for Mar-a-Lago, Florida on the morning of the event with his wife, former first lady Melania Trump, escorted on a Marine One helicopter (USA Today).

According to Forbes, the government provides pension to former presidents in their first 30 months of leaving office as well as an official postpresidency office. After Trump arrived in Florida, he established this office space to oversee his affairs, which includes managing public statements and appearance (The Hill). However, evident by the recent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Trump was reluctant to leave his office at first. Through Twitter, Trump encouraged his supporters to participate in the insurrection after failing to win the presidential election. Thus, President Biden and congress members decided to take precautions against this by increasing Capitol’s security and monitoring the guest list (National Broadcasting Company). Additionally, CNN reported that former Vice President Mike Pence was not in attendance at Trump’s send-off, but rather as a guest at the 2021 presidential inauguration.

Despite all the changes made for the inauguration, President Biden managed to maintain the traditional performances. The inauguration hosted various public figures, such as singers Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks. Brooks performed his rendition of “Amazing Grace,” followed by Gaga singing “Star Spangled Banner” and Lopez, representing the Latinx community, singing a medley that included “This Land is Your Land” and “America, the Beautiful.” 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, the first youth poet laureate in the U.S., was also invited to recite one of her poems, “The Hill We Climb,” making her

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the youngest person to ever speak at a presidential inauguration (Consumer News and Business Channel). As a representative for the Black community, Gorman is known for speaking about oppression, race and marginalization in her pieces, and “The Hill We Climb” took note of all these issues.

Gorman’s poem expressed her hope that the U.S. can come together as one country and heal despite systemic racism and the recent Capitol storming. Junior Catherine Christen felt empowered by Gorman’s delivery of the poem and the world Gorman envisioned in her work.

“She spoke of equality for our nation through peaceful acts, not violence,” Christen said. “ [Gorman was able to deliver] her poem very gracefully and powerfully. To see a young woman [close to] my age, speaking at the inauguration was inspiring.”

Since President Biden’s inauguration, he has made executive decisions with Gorman’s vision of the U.S in mind. In his inaugural speech and campaign, President Biden has made a wide variety of promises, ranging from offering more opportunities for low income communities to controlling the pandemic. This includes the continuation of the policy for social distancing, as well as a new policy requiring government employees to wear masks on federal property (The New York Times). Junior Megan Mendonca believes that President Biden’s actions thus far have proven to be out of good intention, and she looks forward to the future of his presidency.

“I feel that [so far, President] Biden has done his job to earn the trust of the American people,” Mendonca said. “From ending the transgender [military] ban to rejoining the Paris Agreement, [President] Biden has made it clear that he will take the necessary steps forward to change [America] for the better.”

EN R / THE P S H A I BEC K E

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MUSIC TO THE EARS RILEY MCALPINE With a rise in downtime as a result of the coronavirus quarantine, social media apps such as TikTok have become increasingly popular. Music artists in particular have started using TikTok as their go-to platform for music in which users create and share short videos for genres such as dance, music, comedy and education.

As it has grown its influence, TikTok has also become a platform that music artists have used to generate popularity for their songs. For example, the song “Say So” by Doja Cat went viral after it was used as backup music for a popular dance trend on TikTok in 2019. Now, over 19.8 million videos have been created using “Say So,” according to Billboard.

One of the main appeals of TikTok is that users follow popular trends by recreating videos or dances, and put their own spin on it.

These user-created videos, ranging from 15 seconds to one minute, are presented on the “For You” page, specifically curated with an algorithm based on videos users have previously viewed and liked.

TikTok’s broad range of subject matter and diverse community allow people to get more involved with creating new content, giving musicians an increased possibility of appearing on the “For You” page.

This allows TikTok users, such as sophomore Khiara Diaz, to discover more music artists such as Willow and Mother Mother that were previously unknown. Now, Diaz has expanded her music taste to include new genres and artists, such as The Frights, through the TikTok algorithm. “[TikTok] helps [people] find something [they] have never listened to before,” Diaz said. “It is so easy to find things that [people] are interested in [because] it customizes the “For You” page to each person.

It is different [from] YouTube and Instagram [because on TikTok], you

do not have to follow accounts to [get shown the same genre of videos].”

“Backyard Boy” by Claire Rosinkranz, like “Say So,” became popular on TikTok as a result of a trend known as point of view (POV), in which creators performed skits and acted out fictional scenarios.

Since it gained popularity, over 1.6 million people have uploaded videos using “Backyard Boy”, and Rosinkranz now has over 200 thousand followers on the app. Independent and 80’s music have also become popular on the app due to trends like POVs and dance videos, which have made them available to a larger audience.

Sophomore Nicolette Tombu uses TikTok to find new artists and get up to date on the newest music trends.

“I have seen artists I listen to who are more [unknown] gain a bigger following because one of their songs

listeners what they want to hear.

As musicians take advantage of TikTok trends to garner attention, competition to appeal to users and to get on the “For You” page has also increased.

Many musicians become known for just one song, and do not experience major support like the support seen for the trending song. Because of this, senior Caroline Horn understands the appeal of TikTok, but believes using the platform to promote music comes with some disadvantages. For example, trends can run the risk of making an artist become irrelevant after their trend is replaced by a different trend. “[Songs] can definitely get

went viral on TikTok,” Tombu said. “[TikTok] really helps me branch out my music taste [with] all the different artists I am listening to. [Now], I am not only listening to [just] one genre.”

TikTok users can discover new songs and artists, and musicians are also able to grow their fanbases by increasing artist-to-fan interaction.

Singer-songwriter Ricky Montgomery has created multiple songs that have gone viral on TikTok, such as “Mr. Loverman” and “A Line Without A Hook,” and has 5,829,142 monthly listeners on Spotify. Aside from taking advantage of his songs’ TikTok fame to gain fans, Montgomery also uses TikTok to interact with his fans’ comments, therefore creating a more personal connection and giving

more popular on TikTok,” Horn said. “However, there seems to be a trend where artists on the app only have one of their songs [becoming popular], after which artists [are rendered irrelevant]. TikTok can be used as a way to promote music, but I would not say it is one of the best, as artists have the potential to end up becoming one-hit wonders.”

Though trends are not the only way for artists to get noticed on TikTok, they can help to increase popularity in a short amount of time.

TikTok’s stucture also allows any creator to develop their style and promote their music by engaging their listeners. Through TikTok, smaller music artists are able to expand their popularity and find their style.

HELEN HUANG / THE PEN

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IN THE EYE OF THE PUBLIC HANNAH CORR Social media is full of unexplored possibilities and hidden dangers for celebrities and influencers. Baring their unfiltered lives to the public poses the risk of being canceled.

Cancel culture is a phenomenon that can damage celebrities’ platforms because of problematic remarks, according to the New York Post.

Originally used during the #MeToo movement, cancel culture was used to give survivors of sexual harassment and assault a way to expose perpetrators through social media. While cancel culture can be an effective way to reprimand celebrities for actions, some only see it as entertainment. It is controversial, as it can often hurt a public figure’s image over sometimes trivial matters, although there are also serious cases when it is warranted.

While canceling celebrities may prove that even people in power are not immune to punishment, it also follows an agenda obsessed with shaming prominent figures without producing effective consequences.

An example of justified canceling appeared during June 2020, when a video of popular YouTuber, Shane Dawson, resurfaced.

According to Insider, an online news platform, this 2011 video displayed Dawson making an inappropriate hand gesture at a billboard of singer Willow Smith.

Dawson was canceled because of these offensive actions which sexualized Smith, who was only 11 at the time. After news of Dawson’s blunder caught media attention, people started to bring to light his racist past, exposing videos of Dawson committing blackface, which MerriamWebster defines as the use of makeup to copy the look of Black people to ridicule them. Dawson also used racist remarks as comedy on his

YouTube channel. Fans told Dawson to be more respectful and forced him rethink his racist actions by leaving comments on social media and unsubscribing from his YouTube channel. Dawson has since apologized for his actions, publishing an apology video on YouTube entitled “Taking Accountability.” This video is the last thing that Dawson has posted, as he announced that he was taking a break from YouTube. In this situation, many agree that cancel culture was effective. Others are still hurt and offended by his actions. Junior Cydney Yamamoto supports Dawson’s backlash, and believes that his actions were offensive toward Smith’s family. “[Dawson] deserved to be canceled,” Yamamoto said. “[Smith’s] family is so well known, and also part of the [Black] community [that Dawson offended through his portrayal of Blackface]. I think it was immature and disrespectful of him.”

Cancel culture extends beyond modern entertainment. A recent scandal involved J.K. Rowling, author of the famous book series “Harry Potter,” when she posted a series of tweets on June 6, 2020 that spread transphobic and antiSemitic messages. This generated extreme disappointment throughout her fanbase. Among her outraged fans, junior Evalynn Castro feels that Rowling’s actions are contradictory to the lessons promoted by her novels. “[I disapprove] of all of the antiSemitic and transphobic ideas Rowling promotes,” Castro said. “[Rowling] created a world where good rises over evil and where everyone can be who they want to be, [yet she] is an unaccepting person who [does] not value and respect [people’s] pronouns. [She] cannot write about injustices that people face and then contribute to [those] in real life.”

While cancel culture often demands that influencers and celebrities apologize for their actions, there have yet to be many long-lasting consequences. Dawson still has over 20 million subscribers on YouTube, and Rowling’s books continue to be best-selling novels— both public figures still have money and influence. As such, many regard cancel culture as ineffective because it does not bring change offline.

Despite the original intent

stemming from the #MeToo movement, cancel culture has become a movement that people can take advantage of. There have been multiple cases in which people cancel a celebrity without sufficient evidence. American singer Amala Dlamini, known professionally as Doja Cat, is an example; she was canceled in May 2020 when a picture surfaced that exposed her supposedly participating in a racist chat room. Following this, the hashtag “#DojaCatIsOverParty” trended for two days on Twitter. Backed by people in the chat rooms, Doja Cat responded by explaining that she did not participate in any racist subject matter, according to Insider. After Doja Cat’s side of the story surfaced, the media realized that the original picture was false, used in an attempt to harm the artist’s reputation. Junior Prudence Bhatterai admits that it was unfair to cancel Doja Cat quickly, as the picture was later disproved.

“She should not have been canceled as she [was not] doing what [the people on Twitter] accused her of doing,” Bhatterai said. “This situation shows the toxicity of the public. People are so quick to believe a rumor without reliable proof.”

There are alternatives to canceling people that can be more effective than current canceling tactics.

One option is deplatforming. The Conversation, an online news platform, defines deplatforming as the restriction of an individual or a community’s ability to communicate with each other and the public.

To hold celebrities and influencers accountable, senior Rory Howard prefers deplatforming to warn public figures that their success is contingent on their attitude online.

“If someone is unapologetically a harm to others, they should be cut off at the source,” Howard said. “[Not having] any attention, [including] outraged public attention, would be more effective. They should not be allowed to have [a] platform to spread [acceptance of such behavior].”

While Dawson and Rowling show that canceling is justified, the case of Doja Cat displays that cancel culture was not. If used correctly, canceling can teach celebrities to learn from their actions, but if used excessively, it can become overused.

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WORKING FOR WATER Sophomores establish subsection of organization providing water in Africa JACELYN CHEN

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When sophomore Ema Kimoto learned about Africa’s water scarcity crisis, she grew inspired to do her part in solving the problem. What stood out to her was how almost one billion people do not have access to clean drinking water, with many of these people coming from Africa (The Water Project). Knowing that she comes from a fortunate background, Kimoto wanted to help those who are in less fortunate positions than her. Kimoto saw her chance when her friend first introduced her to the student-run group called Giving Responding Opportunity Wellness Trusting Healing (GROWTH), which provides clean water to people in Africa. Ever since then, Kimoto has been determined to expand the reach and purpose of the organization across Los Angeles (LA) and the South Bay. “I want more people to realize how [important] giving back to others is,” Kimoto said. “We are very privileged to drink clean water while others [do not even have access to it], and I want the less fortunate to have what we have.”

To achieve her goal, Kimoto created a new subsection of GROWTH called LA/ SB GROWTH, in which she is the co-president. The main section of GROWTH is based in Pacific Palisades, California and was created by junior Spencer Jung from Palisades High School. GROWTH raises money through fundraisers targeted toward friends and families, KA

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which is later donated to The Thirst Project, a nonprofit organization located in LA. With the money they receive from these donors, The Thirst Project builds water wells in African countries, such as the Kingdom of Eswatini. The LA/SB subsection of GROWTH specifically focuses on recruiting high schoolers from the LA and South Bay areas to join the cause and introduce GROWTH to their schools.

LA/SB GROWTH was created in December 2020, and they are currently building the foundation of the chapter by expanding their social media.

Since December, they have gained over 100 followers on Instagram and have connected with students from El Segundo High School, Torrance High School and San Pedro High School. Sophomore and co-president of LA/SB GROWTH Christian Rasic is proud of the organization’s expansion, despite the physical limitations that the pandemic has imposed on the group. Since they cannot meet in person, they have been holding bi-weekly meetings over Zoom to go over updates about the club’s progress.

“We have gained over 500 new members [from] the South Bay [since the subsection’s founding] that are willing to join our movement,” Rasic said.

“We also met with students at other schools [over Zoom] to help them begin this movement at their school, [so] I am truly honored to be part of a unique organization championing such a noble cause.”

Secretary of LA/SB GROWTH and sophomore Sarah Wang is among the group of board members helping new members grow familiar with the program’s goals. Wang joined GROWTH because she wanted to learn about the food and water crisis that she has never witnessed in Palos Verdes.

Beyond gaining a deeper understanding of other people’s lives, Wang’s experience has been rewarding for her because it has helped her develop interpersonal skills.

“I have met so many new people with the same passion for helping others, and it has been amazing to witness the power of a student-led organization,” Wang said. “Joining this organization has furthered my leadership skills and passion for volunteering.”

Moving forward, LA/SB GROWTH is looking to receive the 501(c)(e) tax exemption for nonprofits. With this exemption, they will be able to donate 100 percent of the money they raise to Africa without any of it being taxed.

Furthermore, they hope to expand their movement by providing food for people in Africa. To realize this goal, they are planning to host food drives, and they are currently looking for food banks to partner with. As LA/SB GROWTH continues to recruit more people to support their cause, they hope to foster a positive atmosphere of empathy among its members and inspire them in the future.

“I have learned that by meeting new people, ideas collide for the greater good,” Rasic said. “The more people we meet, the easier it is to influence others to help those struggling in African communities by providing necessities for survival.”

9

ONE FOR THE BOOKS

Senior fulfills her aspirations as a self-published author goals in writing, and later self-published the novel instead.

“I want to touch people’s hearts through my writing, just like how other In the second grade, senior Elana Ho was introduced to creative writing and writers touched mine,” Ho said. “[By remembering my initial motivation], I quickly fell in love with it. Since then, she dreamed of writing a book, even pick myself up and reflect on how I can improve going forward.” though all of the books that she had read were by adult authors. Rather than Ho has already begun to leave an impression on her readers through her growing discouraged, Ho took on the challenge of reaching her goal. As of writing. Junior Andrea Tsai was especially amazed by Ho’s ability to accurately today, she has self-published three books entitled “Green Glasses,” “One Day reflect high school students’ experiences after reading “One Day This Will Just This Will Just Be a Memory” and “Asian Bubble.”

Be A Memory.”

The first two of these are fantasy and science fiction. “Green Glasses” is “[Elana’s] novels are beautiful,” Tsai said. “The way she writes [with] about a young girl whose wish to transform into an adult comes true. The imagery is amazing [because] the details really bring you to the scene [and other, “One Day This Will Just Be a Memory,” revolves around a high school give readers] an immersive experience.” girl who travels back in time to change her past decisions. In addition, Ho Another reader who is proud of Ho’s work is her mother, Grace Luo. Luo wrote a realistic fiction novel, “Asian Bubble,” that parallels knows how much time Ho invested in her works. Reflecting the insecurities that Ho herself experiences through the on the difficulties that Ho faced, Luo attributes her perspective of the novel’s fictional teenage Chinesedaughter’s success to her persistence and creativity.

American protagonist. After writing these novels, Ho “Elana reads a lot, and she has a good imagination,” realized that being an author is not exclusive to adults. In Luo said. “[When] she starts something, she works hard to fact, one advantage of being a high school student is that achieve it and does not give up.” she is able to portray her high school characters more At the moment, Ho is not working on any new stories accurately than adults. and does not plan to pursue a career in writing; instead, GIULIA MONTI / THE PEN “Writing books is not something she wishes to continue writing as a hobby. Even that only adults can do,” Ho said. though Ho is applying to colleges in cognitive “With practice and a lot of imagination, science, international relations and sociology, she anyone can write their own story.” is still grateful for the experiences she gained as a Even with Ho’s passion for writing, she had to writer. By publishing novels as a high school student, overcome many obstacles in order to realize her Ho learned to follow her dreams even if they were aspirations. For example, in 2017, Ho submitted unlikely and others discouraged her from them.

“Green Glasses” to her first writing competition “I think it is best to do whatever makes you happy,” but received a rejection letter. She grew Ho said. “Rather than [following] others’ ideas of frustrated that others did not recognize how success, if you think that you are great with what you much effort she put into her novel. However, Ho are doing, then nobody can tell you [that] you are persevered by reminding herself of her personal not successful.”

DEBORAH MOK

Green Glasses

By Elana Ho

10

Did the “Winx Club” reboot potentially lose its magic?

IMOGENE TOMICIC On Jan. 22, Netflix released the series “Fate: The Winx Saga,” a reboot of Nickelodeon’s animated series, “Winx Club.” Having premiered on Jan. 28, 2004, the original fantasy-adventure series follows six fairies as they learn to control their magical abilities.

Since Netflix first released the show’s trailer to YouTube on Dec. 10, 2020, the casting and the plot have been shrouded in controversy.

While there was excitement anticipating the show’s release, viewers soon discovered that the original Nickelodeon cast had been instead casted and portrayed as white characters in the new series. The erasure of such characters includes the three lead female fairies of color, Musa, Flora and Aisha, who were depicted

and voiced as Asian, Hispanic and Black; now, the characters were reduced to one black character as Flora in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” For junior Maile Shu, this realization ruined the appeal of the new show, even as a former viewer of the animated “Winx Club.”

“The new [live-action] version of the show really upsets me as an Asian American, [especially because] I was a [fan] who grew up with the original,” Shu said.

“In the early 2000s, seeing a diverse cast with women of color [as main characters] was very progressive.

Now, with the whitewashed cast, the show has unfortunately lost most of its positive influence.”

Beyond the reboot’s lack of diverse casting, Netflix also took an unexpected choice in eliminating the bubbly, bright demeanor of the original setting and plot of the series. The new series opens in a suspenseful fashion with a chilling murder, making it clear that the show’s target

audience is no longer toddlers and children.

“The true ‘Winx Club’ is supposed to be really bright and fun, promoting friendship and [morality],” Shu said. “It is upsetting [that] they remade [the show] all dark and scary.

[The reboot] is nothing like the original ‘Winx Club;’ it is just titled that to get more views.”

With numerous lead characters of color cut from the cast and such a drastic change in tone, the series is no longer a show that considers the diverse demographics of its viewers or cares to appeal to its original audience. In the absence of an inclusive and lighthearted demeanor, “Fate: The Winx Saga” does not deserve a high volume of its returning viewership. Considering its choices in casting and plot in comparison to the original, it will be difficult to determine how successful the new series will be.

THE PEN / ALICIA JEONG

BURNING BRIDGES New Netflix series “Bridgerton” sparks debate about tokenism ` JILLIAN FARLEY “We were two separate societies, divided by color, until a king fell in love with one of us.” This powerful line is among the various lines in Bridgerton that attempts to address race within the show’s social setting. Set in the Regency era, Bridgerton is a Netflix original TV series about a fake-courting scheme that develops into true mixed-racial love between two characters. Considering the time period, Bridgerton’s diverse cast was met with both commendation and controversy in its attempt to reimagine the typical predominantly white castings. Within its first month, the show accumulated 63 million viewers, becoming the fifth most-viewed Netflix original show since first season permiered on on Dec. 25, 2020.

Despite its explosive popularity, critics question whether Bridgerton’s casting is refreshingly diverse, or if it is yet another show that has fallen victim to tokenism.

Based on the novel series by Julia Quinn, despite minor differences in the on-screen adaptation, the show has managed to remain relatively faithful to the original in the first season. One of Bridgerton’s abiding factors with its source material is its setting. The show is set in London, England during the early 1800s, which was the height of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. During that time, 12 million Africans were

transported by Great Britain as slaves (Britannica).

The exportation of Africans allowed for immense European financial gain. However, Bridgerton takes place in an alternate version of the Regency era, where success is not traditionally achieved.

Initially, Bridgerton received positive feedback due to its selection of cast with regard to the show’s time period. Bridgerton does not follow the rule of being a word-for-word adaptation of the novels or time period. Vice president of Black Student Union (BSU) and junior Kourtney Williams appreciates the inclusion of Black actors in Bridgerton.

“I enjoyed [seeing] the diversity in Bridgerton, especially since the show was historical and placed [in] a royal setting in England,” Williams said. “I liked [seeing] people of color playing roles that [they are not typically portrayed as, such as nobles and royalty], because of how poorly the media often represents them.”

However, not everyone shares the same sentiments as Williams. After looking past first impressions, many agree that there are fundamental problems with Bridgerton’s attempt at diversity. One main issue is the presense of tokenism, which is defined as the policy or practice of making only a symbolic effort to desegregate (Merriam-Webster). Although the efforts are there, the few minority characters with lead-speaking roles are disproportionately portrayed in a negative light. Duke Simon, Lady Danbury, Marina Thompson and Queen Charlotte are the notable Black characters who are deeply embedded

in the plot. Furthermore, Marina Thompson’s background is especially surrounded in stigma, as she is a pregnant, unmarried woman in an era that condemns such traits; only she suffers such a backstory among the cast that garners discrimination from others in the storyline (The Hollywood Times). With negative connotation attached to her character, many express the concern of whether this is an act of tokenism.

Additionally, Asian and Latinx characters are nonexistent in the show. Since race is not a major plot point, people have questioned why the show does not acknowledge the implications of its lack of multiracial nobility.

This colorblind mindset is harmful; its refusal to include all races further encourages that wealth during that time was built on racial inequality.

Bridgerton, along with other shows, is making an effort to create more diverse casts.

The inclusion of minorities in television shows is becoming more expected than groundbreaking to see racially diverse actors in roles. This can be seen as the first step toward amplifying minority voices within the film industry. The lack of narrative and its insensitivity to accurately depicting minority experiences in Bridgerton is questioned for falling short.

“Diverse casting is allowing people of color to be represented on screen,” freshman Maya Hooks said. “Directors should strive to stop partaking in tokenism and racial stereotypes.”

11

SIA’S TONE-DEAF MOVIE INCITES BACKLASH JILLIAN FARLEY

a study by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network found that only 1 percent of their funds went toward Singer Sia Kate Isobelle Furler, also known helping said families, while 48 percent of their funds as Sia, directed “Music,” a film which follows went toward advertisements. Consequently, Autism a girl named Kazu and her relationship Speaks’ work has been met with disapproval from with her autistic younger half-sister named the autistic community. In 2009, they produced an Music. “Music” premiered in Australia on advertisement called “I Am Autism,” which was Jan. 7 and was released in the U.S. on Feb. filmed in the style of a horror movie. The immediate 12 on AppleTV+. Even prior to the movie’s response to the production criticised its offensive release in the U.S., it had already received nature toward autism.

Although Sia denies knowing about the negative criticisms from viewing the trailer and leaked stigma surrounding Autism Speaks, senior Sarah scenes alone. The plethora of backlash and controversy that surround “Music” has O’Malley still disapproves of “Music.” As vice become so severe it caused the director Sia president of the Best Buddies club, which forges a bond between both neurotypical and neurodivergent to delete her Twitter account.

One of the major issues to arise from the Peninsula students, O’Malley is disappointed in the movie is the casting of actress and dancer lack of consideration and sensitivity in the film.

“Sia [cares] more about showing her perspective Maddie Ziegler, who plays Music, a nonverbal, autistic teenage girl. Ziegler, however, on autism, and that is proven in this film. The film is neurotypical—she does not display autistic [holds a misleading narrative], rather than focusing or other neurologically atypical patterns of on telling the stories of actual autistic individuals,” thought or behavior (Oxford Languages). O’Malley said. “She only [diminishes] her own Unfortunately, casting neurotypical actors credibility further by allowing Autism Speaks to be in autistic roles is not a new concept in the associated with [the film].”

One of the dangers of collaborating with an entertainment industry, as shown by other organization like Autism Speaks is the promotion of films and TV shows such as “Rain Men” and “Atypical.” The refusal to cast autistic actors inaccurate information. The film includes a scene in autistic roles is widely considered ableist, that involves restraining someone with pressure in a discriminatory mindset or action against a face-down position, which suggests the use of those with disabilities (Merriam-Webster). dangerous methods like prone restraint (Law Insider).

This reduces representation and leads to Kazu uses this during Music’s meltdown, suggesting inaccurate portrayals of people with autism. that it is a viable method when handling people On an Australian talk show called “The with disabilities. However, studies have shown Project,” Sia admitted to partaking in ableism that prone restraint has led to death by positional with her casting, attributing her choice to her asphyxia, which occurs when one cannot breathe due to their position (Disability Rights California). By close relationship with Ziegler.

Consulting with Autism Speaks for including this scene, the film is advocating for such information during the production of “Music” dangerous practices. As a result, the misinformation has also sparked criticism. Autism Speaks, surrounding the film can lead to harmful attempts at founded in 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, de-escalation of situations involving individuals with is an organization that strives to represent and autism in the future.

“If Sia truly wanted to create a ‘love letter to assist families with autistic children. However,

caregivers and to the autistic community’ as she stated on Twitter, she would have created a movie that displayed an autistic girl having healthy interactions with friends and family,” O’Malley said. “Conflict and entertainment can happen without dramatization and Hollywood’s stereotypical [meltdown] scene for a [person with autism].”

After receiving initial criticisms, Sia defended her actions on her Twitter account.

In one specific instance, autistic actor Helen Zbihlyj stated that she and other actors were willing to act in the film, to which Sia replied, “Maybe you are just a bad actor.” Similar instances with members of the autistic community have led people to question whether Sia has listened to their concerns at all. For example, Sia’s insistence that Ziegler’s portrayal of nonverbal autism is accurate invalidates the criticism from many people with autism who have called her film stereotypical (CBR). However, Sia still defended the stance that her portrayal was accurate.

The backlash came to a peak when “Music” was nominated for two Golden Globes awards. When the film was nominated for the Best Motion Picture category, many opposed the recognition the film was recieiving.

Since then, Sia has apologized and deleted her Twitter account for including the scene with prone restraint and her collaboration with Autism Speaks. Following the increase in backlash from the autistic community and its allies, she has added a message at the beginning of the movie saying she does not condone prone restraint and promises to remove the scene before the U.S. release.

“In cases like this, we should listen to the voices of people with autism,” O’Malley said.

“I encourage everyone to take a step back before they promote or view this film.”

THE PEN / JIHEE SEO

OLIVIA RODRIGO’S ROAD TO FAME became the “most-streamed song on Spotify as a “non-holiday song’” solely from the promotion done by fans. Social media platforms like TikTok have As one of the fastest-growing artists, Olivia Rodrigo proven the ability to increasingly publicize the work undoubtedly made a name for herself with her song, of teenage artists. As someone who uses TikTok to “drivers license,” which reached the Billboard Top share her songs, junior Angelina Mendoza is glad 100 Charts following the song’s release on Jan. 8. to see that the music industry is becoming more One factor that significantly boosted the 17-year-old inclusive to adolescent artists.

“It is inspiring to know how young [Rodrigo] is and singer’s new debut single was TikTok’s algorithm.

The format of the app creates a higher chance for how popular her song is,” Mendoza said. “Although it any video to go viral. Initially posted as a portion of was popularized by TikTok, Rodrigo’s song definitely the track to TikTok on Dec. 27, 2020, the song gained deserves its praise; it is well-written and [includes] over 13 million views encouraging the use of the some amazing vocals. Rodrigo draws inspiration from hashtag “#driverslicense,” which accumulated 20.7 real life when writing music [like I do], which creates million views on TikTok. Since then, Rodrigo quickly heavily emotional songs.”

According to the New York Times, the song is earned 100th place on the streaming platform Spotify’s globally ranking artists, which is reserved Rodrigo’s time capsule of a painful relationship and for the top artists listened to on the app. Now the how she overcame it. While the song sparked heated most consumed song on Rolling Stone’s Top 100 discussions among fans about who it was written Songs, “drivers license” gained a position last held about, the story of one-sided love and heartbreak by female rappers Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion that “drivers license” portrays has resonated with many. The relatability and appeal of the song rely with their song “WAP.” Rodrigo represents a fresh demographic of on the common experience of a broken relationship, success for teenage artists who are new to the especially regarding insecurities and emotions that industry. According to Today News, “drivers license” many other teenagers like Rodrigo feel in breakups.

IMOGENE TOMICIC

Through her numerous roles on Disney Channel, specifically in “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” Rodrigo possesses a unique connection with adolescent listeners. “[Many breakups can initiate the emotion] where they are left still missing the person,” Mendoza said. “Because so many people have experienced it, [“drivers license”] resonates with a lot of people.

In my opinion, [Rodrigo’s] vulnerable perspective on heartbreak makes the song so significant, I [understand why] it is so popular and has taken Rodrigo so far.”

With “drivers license” attracting a lot of attention, it has also accelerated Rodrigo’s professional career, earning her recognition and publicity from several notable celebrities, such as comedian Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” She has also gained support from other mainstream artists such as Niall Horan, Joe Jonas and Taylor Swift, which will help build a network for Rodrigo to garner more success. As a fan who has always been inspired

by Taylor Swift’s music, Rodrigo was honored to see Swift’s recognition of her work. The positive reaction is a strong indicator of Rodrigo’s bright future in the music industry as an up-and-coming artist.