Tongva Times-February 28, 2018 by Tongva Times

Gabrielino High School

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VOLUME XX • ISSUE VI • Wednesday, February 28, 2018 • 1327 S. San Gabriel Boulevard, San Gabriel, California 91776

Five of 15,000 scholarship finalists

By Annie Phun Sports Editor

For the first time in Gabrielino history, five students have been named finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program and will be considered to receive National Merit Scholarships. These students include seniors Jannelle Dang, Angelina Liang, Christopher Lung, Hugo So, and Benjamin Vuong. In order to be considered a finalist, students must meet or exceed the PSAT standard for their state and be marked qualified by the corporation after completing an application process, where information on the student’s academic record, community service, and awards are given. Each of the students are also required to submit a letter of recommendation and write an essay. The winners are set to be announced by the NMSC in March. Roughly 8,000 students will be chosen to receive one of three types of scholarships. These

Gab Talks inspire students By Marleld Duran Staff Writer

Christine Tran|Tongva Times

STAR SCHOLARS Seniors (from left to right) Hugo So, Jannelle Dang, Christopher Lung, Angelina Liang, and Benjamin Vuong are five of 15,000 National Merit Finalists across the country. awards include receiving a grant of $2,500, being selected for a corporate sponsorship, or obtaining a college sponsorship. As one of the top private-

ly-funded programs in the country, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) began in 1955 and has awarded approximately $1.5 billion dol-

lars to over 380,000 students for undergraduate study. The corporation’s mission is to honor and recognize the academically talSee Merit Finalists, Page 4

City Council sends ICE packing By Ethan Tan Staff Writer After public outrage and pressure, the San Gabriel City Council voted 3-2 on Feb. 6 to terminate a partnership agreement between the San Gabriel Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Councilmembers Chin Ho Liao, Denise Menchaca, and Jason Pu voted for termination of the agreement and Mayor Juli Costanzo and Vice Mayor John Harrington voted to keep the partnership in place. The agreement, which designated one police officer to act as a federal customs task force agent to enforce criminal immigration law, had been proposed in July 2017 but did not become official until December, when a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed. Councilmember Pu told the Tongva Times that he was shocked that the agreement had been signed without input from the community or the City

Ethan Tan|Tongva Times

SPEAKING OUT Advocacy groups gathered at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse on Feb. 2 to discuss the partnership between SGPD and ICE, and how it would affect undocumented immigrants in the city. Council. The core controversy centered on whether or not partnering the police department with ICE was in violation of California State Senate Bill SB 54, more commonly known as the Sanctuary State Bill. SB 54 prohibits any

law enforcement agency at the state or local level from cooperating with federal immigration officials. Shiu-Ming Cheer, senior attorney at the National Immigrant Law Center, pointed out that, “in cities like Oakland [...]

police departments who have had task-force agreements with HSI, have had HSI report criminals [for deportation] without the approval of the local police department, which would be a violation of SB 54. In addition, See ICE, Page 14

Since 2012, Gabrielino High School has held Gab Talks, a week-long event for staff members and students to share stories to the rest of the community. Senior co-hosts Jannelle Dang and Sydney Jung worked alongside the Associated Student Body (ASB) to pick this year’s theme and presenters. Speakers are presenting all week in the Gary E. Goodson Theatre during lunch. Today’s speakers include senior Mariah Aragonez and science teacher Dave Cameron, who will be sharing how their experiences connect to the theme, Passion Matters. On Monday, senior Victoria Nea and English teacher Marguertia Drew spoke about their past experiences with dedication. Yesterday, senior Winfred Wang and special education teacher Sheila Mateo shared how their love for a hobby led them to continue pursuing their passions. Senior Kayla Dang and police detective Martin Garcia will be presenting tomorrow. Science teachers Kevin McClure and Thomas Velekei, and alumnus Roy Rosell will speak on Friday. The speakers filled out applications last month and were then selected by Dang, Jung, and ASB advisor Yvonne Aparicio. Garcia and Rosell were recommended by Principal Sharon Heinrich. Gab Talks was inspired by “TedTalks,” which is a series of influential videos presented by experts on topics such as education and creativity. Gab Talks was brought to life by a group of students led by Raymond Lam and Sharon Liu, who were a part of the 2012 graduating class. The goal of Gab Talks was to serve as a community forum and share lessons that would humanize the types of people on campus. Speakers each day consist of one student and one staff or faculty member. When Gab See Gab Talks, Page 4

In this issue... Gabrielino’s varsity cheer team performed against 19 other schools at Nationals. See Community, Page 4

Michael Hong reviews Marvel’s newest film, “Black Panther.” See Entertainment, Page 12

February is Black History Month. Learn about 16 African Americans who are shaping the 21st century. See Features, Page 6 Art students can do a lot with pencil and paper, but they can do even more with other artistic mediums. See Student Life, Page 8

opinion

February 28, 2018

TONGVA TIMES STAFF Editor in Chief Kaylan Kha Production Chief Marleld Duran Opinion Editor Angelina Liang World Editor Christopher Lung Student Life Editor Stephanie Foo Features Editor Jannelle Dang Sports Editor Annie Phun Entertainment Editor Kaylin Tran Addendum Editor Rodin Batcheller Layout Artists Jason Kwan Chloe Law Ethan Tan Photographers Jasmine Lam Christine Tran Art Researcher Megan Tran Poll Specialists Michael Hong Joshua Raymundo Advertising Manager Kevin Pham Promotion & Publicity Elizabeth Campos Nyah Toomes Business Manager Brittany Snow Webmaster Lana Hy Advisor Marguerita Drew The staff of the Tongva Times attempts to inform and entertain its audience in a fair and accurate manner. This publication is intended to provide information as well as initiate a forum for ideas and opinions between the newspaper staff, the students, and the faculty of Gabrielino High School. Content decisions are made by the newspaper staff and the advisor. No material will be printed that is intentionally libelous or which advocates an illegal or disruptive activity. Opinions expressed in editorials and columns throughout the publication do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire Tongva Times staff, the school administration, or advertisers. All letters submitted to the Tongva Times must be signed and dated. Letters are subject to editing and become the property of the Tongva Times. All material published herein belongs to the Tongva Times and may not be reproduced without expressed permission. All questions and concerns should be addressed to the newspaper advisor by calling (626) 573-2453, ext. 2141. Written questions, concerns and letters to editors should be sent to: thetongvatimes@gmail.com.

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Staff Editorial: Gab Talks, now Admin must listen to student voices, concerns Five years ago, Raymond Lam and Sharon Liu, graduates of the class of 2012, established the first ever Gab Talks: a forum where student and faculty stories of change, failure, resilience, and humanity are shared with the entire Gabrielino community. The Gab Talks committee has continued this tradition, managing and promoting the weeklong event and passing down leadership to new groups of students each year. However, this year, the Associated Student Body (ASB) was put in charge of organizing the event, breaking the tradition of a grassroots, student-run program. Given the organic origins of Gab Talks and the slew of benefits students gain from having the program be student-led, Gab Talks should be put back into the hands of the students. Inspired by the format and impact of Ted Talks, Lam and Liu brought together a committee of seniors and juniors in the hopes of humanizing the teachers and students of Gabrielino. After running the idea by Principal Sharron Heinrich, they began scouting for speakers willing to share their stories, selecting a theme, and hosting the event. The program’s uniqueness stemmed from the students’ major role in the process. “Students had a huge voice in creating the week, what type of people [spoke], what

the program looked like,” stated Lam. This year, however, Gab Talks is being managed by ASB, rather than the student hosts themselves, as was the tradition. This change was made by the administration in order to provide greater diversity among the speakers and to more formally open up the program to all Gabrielino stakeholders. “Because it was only a small group of students [in charge], we weren’t getting out to the entire campus,” stated Heinrich. Another reason that ASB was given the responsibility of organizing Gab Talks this year was because, last year, there was no adviser overseeing the talks in the theater. And, all school-related events must have an adviser present for the duration of the event. Although the decision to shift ownership of Gab Talks was made with the best interest of students in mind, having ASB run Gab Talks goes against the original intent of the program. Keeping Gab Talks in the hands of students who do not hold elected office creates a more student-centric event. It allows students outside of ASB - which already runs most of the student activities - to participate in something meaningful on campus, to take initiative and to become leaders. Trusting students with the responsibility of organizing such a large program also instills management and communication

Jasmine Lam|Tongva Times

STUDENTS IN CHARGE? Although Gab Talks is now an ASBled activity, non-ASB students, Jannelle Dang and Sydney Jung, seniors, are serving as hosts. Whether or not they will get to pass down this position remains to be determined. skills in those who may not be exposed to these tasks otherwise Gab Talks can easily remain student-led but also be improved. First, an official adviser must be assigned to the program. Given the passion that the teachers and staff exhibit on campus, this should not be a problem. Second, in following ASB’s model, potential speakers should have to submit proposals and get approval from both the Gab Talks leaders and the adviser, to insure that topics are safe and appropriate for discussion. In terms of the theme, speaker line-up, and presentation of Gab Talks, the students should create their own vision of what they would like to present. Serving as a facilitator that sets appropriate, yet flexible boundaries for Gab Talks, an adviser would

aid the students in creating an event that mirrors the original purpose of Gab Talks back in 2012. Finally, the students in charge of Gab Talks should make every effort to insure that the speaker line up is diverse and reaches all corners of the campus. “Gabrielino [students have] amazing stories to tell and [Gab Talks] gives a platform for students and the community,” stated Lam. “These are all Gabrielino stories.” When cultivating a campus filled with diversity and understanding, a program that is not only student-based, but also student-driven, will foster experiences students will cherish beyond high school.

School shootings renew call for gun control By Angelina Liang Opinion Editor Enough is enough. According to non-profit organization Everytown for Gun Safety, 19 shootings have occurred on school campuses across the United States in 2018, as of Feb. 14. The incident at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida is the 56th school shooting this academic year. Since 2013, there is an average rate of one school shooting per week, and, this year alone, there has been an average of one shooting every 60 hours. The horror of dead children and suffering parents must be stopped now. Only increased gun control will accomplish this. Gunfire in schools used to be rare and devastating. Now, it is just another part of a rapid and

desensitizing news cycle that perpetuates the idea that mass murders are an inescapable consequence of Congress’s consistent failure to reform gun control. As mass shootings become commonplace in America, the shock value that once came with these attacks has been lost. As a result, communities have resolved to addressing the effects of the problem, and in turn, simply accepting and normalizing it. Currently, two-thirds of states require schools to hold active shooter drills, according to the Washington Post. Florida Christian School sells bulletproof panels for backpacks on their website. These efforts may mitigate the violence of shootings, but they, in no way, address the crux of the epidemic. Legislation must

be enacted and adults must be held accountable to stop the upward trend of school shootings. A study conducted for the journal Injury Prevention, found that states that spend more on K-12 education, conduct extensive background checks, and invest more in mental health care have the lowest number of school shootings. Time and time again, research has made evident that thoughts and prayers - offered by the same politicians that receive millions of dollars from the National Rifle Association - do not curb violence, but laws that increase gun control do. Gun owners must be required to pass a comprehensive universal background check before being allowed to purchase firearms. In addition, these checks must be conducted on a regular basis

to ensure that those who purchase guns continually uphold the responsibilities of owning them. Polls show that the majority of Americans now agree with this common sense requirement, and, yet, Congress has not enacted a federal bill requiring comprehensive background checks. “We are responsible for a level of mass atrocity that happens in this country with zero parallel anywhere else,” stated Conneticut senator Chris Murphy to Congress on Feb. 14. It is easy to assert that gun violence is an inevitable sacrifice made in order to uphold the right to bear arms. However, in a nation that prides itself on being a thriving free society, it is imperative to remember that security is just as foundational to America as freedom.

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3 Opinion Viewpoints: Is vaccination a decision best left to the government or to families? February 28, 2018

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Vaccines lead disease prevention Mandate infringes on rights By Jason Kwan Staff Writer With this year’s flu outbreak ravaging the United States, it is important now more than ever for children to get their annual immunization shots. However, there are some parents who refuse shots for their children because they view them as unnecessary or have suspicions over possible side effects. Parents should be required to have their children vaccinated in order to save lives and limit the spread of infectious diseases. According to Anne Schuchat, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as of Feb. 3, there have been 63 child deaths from the flu season. This number is expected to surpass the 101 flu-associated deaths in children that occurred during the 2016-2017 flu season. Of those who passed away, only 20 percent were vaccinated. When parents opt out and decide not to have their children vaccinated, it has a profound impact on public health by increasing the risk of outbreaks in their community. As reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), immunization can be credited for saving the lives of approximately 2.5 million children from diseases every year and an additional 1.5 million could be prevented if every child was to be vaccinated. Although vaccines have led to a decrease in the reported cases of diseases, the viruses that cause them still exist. When a child is not vaccinated, they put themselves and those around them at risk. The CDC reported that in 2011, there were more than 350,000 cases of measles worldwide, and in that same year, 90 percent of measles cases in the U.S. were brought over from another country. However, the fact that most Americans were vaccinated against measles prevented it from becoming an epidemic. When more people are vaccinated, a disease has fewer

opportunities to spread. A vaccine is always tested extensively before it is administered to the general public. Medical organizations such as the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated that vaccines are some of the safest medical products available. Despite this, a study done by the U.S.

By Rodin Batcheller Addendum Editor Around the same time each year, influenza starts to be passed around from person to person, making flu season the unofficial fifth season of the year. With this season comes the argument of whether children should be required by law to be vaccinat-

Should vaccines for children be required? 78% Yes 22% No 357 students were polled in their chemistry classes 2/14/18-2/22/18

Public Health Service in 2011 found that 57 percent of parents who refused or delayed vaccines had concerns about autism, even though the CDC has proven that there is no link between the two. Parents must realize that through vaccination, children can develop immunity without contracting the disease itself. While the government has no way of mandating parents to have their children be vaccinated, the issue lies with the parents themselves and their awareness of diseases. Vaccinations are crucial to saving lives and preventing contagious diseases. Refusing vaccines allow children, loved ones, and communities to become vulnerable to an outbreak.

ed; and not just for the flu — but also chicken pox, Hepatitis A, HPV, or even a sexually transmitted infection. The decision to have children vaccinated should not be left with the government, but with families or caregivers. “If the State can tag, track down and force citizens against their will to be injected with biological products of known and unknown toxicity today. There will be no limit on which individual freedoms the State can take away in the name of the greater good tomorrow,” stated Barbara Fisher, co-founder of National Vaccine Information Center. There are certain vaccines that contain ingredients, as listed by Vaccines.

gov, that some people may consider to be objectionable. Some vaccines for common diseases such as chicken pox and the flu are made using animal products like chicken eggs, bovine casein, insect cells, Cocker Spaniel cells, pig gelatin, and African Green monkey cells, making them conflict with some vegetarian and vegan philosophies. Others consider it problematic that some vaccines are produced using human albumin, a blood plasma protein, due to fear of contracting diseases in the transfer of human blood. Moreover, there is no reason to vaccinate against diseases that no longer occur in the United States. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that polio has been declared eradicated in the United States since 1979. There have been fewer than 21 deaths yearly from rubella since 1971 and fewer than 25 deaths yearly from mumps since 1968. No law mandating vaccinations is needed if there are but a few diseases left in this country. Additionally, in the ruling for Cantwell v. Connecticut, the US Supreme Court held that state and local governments’ infringement upon religious freedom is unconstitutional. Making vaccines mandatory would infringe upon constitutionally protected religious freedoms. Several religious communities oppose vaccines such as the Amish, who do not view all vaccinations as necessary, and the Universal Family Church, which believes that parents should decide whether their children should be vaccinated. The government should give families the freedom to make their own choices. The state and federal governments should not make vaccines required by law. Although science has proven that vaccines can be helpful and productive, there are certain groups that will always view them as counterproductive or against their beliefs—and that is something science cannot change.

College Board a money making not-for-profit By Megan Tran Staff Writer During this time of year, high students are signing up for the Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT), Advanced Placement (AP) tests, and SAT subject tests. With the amount of revenue collected for these exams comes the question of whether or not the College Board should still be considered a non-profit organization and reap the benefits that come along with it. The organization should give a clear statement to how their money is spent and how it specifically helps students. According to the National Council of Nonprofits, nonprofits are public charities that are tax exempt because they are formed to provide a public benefit. The College Board gave a statement to CNN that stated, “The College Board is a not-for profit membership organization governed by 30 trustees [...] We do not generate profits or ‘make money.’ All revenues from our products, services or grants are re-invested into improved or additional services that support our mis-

MONOPOLIZING EDUCATION With prep books, testing, and tutoring programs, the College Board holds a monopoly on educational tools and makes students pay for it. sion.” However the salaries of these trustees show otherwise. Former College Board President Gaston Carterton earned a salary of $1.3 million according to Elena Weissmann, Patch Poster journalist. Their new President, David Coleman, earns a starting salary of $550,000 with a $750,000

compensation and their trusts earn an average of $355,000 per year. It is unusual that the people behind College Board are being paid such huge sums if they are running a nonprofit company. This year, the SAT costs $46 to $60, AP tests are $94 each, and SAT subject tests are $26 per test. On top of upfront fees,

they also charge for phone registration, late registration, testing date or test center changes, waitlist reservations, rush order, archived score orders, score report requests both online and over the phone, multiple choice score verification, SAT student answer service, the SAT Question-and-Answer Service, essay score verification and sending SAT scores when applying to college. “Standardized tests are extremely expensive [...] Exam fees fund test development, which is a multi-year, complex process,” Carterton stated to the New York Times. “Fees also fund initiative to promote equal access to out tests, such as fee waivers.” The College Board should fully disclose on their website how they spend their money. It is understandable that administrating tests are expensive, but because the organization profits from test fees, it should not be considered a not-for-profit organization. The organization cannot continues to be considered a not-for-profit organization while capitalizing on American education.

Community

February 28, 2018

Merit Finalists Continued from Page 1 ented students across the United States in order to help them become successful in their respective careers. “Being a finalist helps me as a lot of the schools I applied to, such as USC, will now offer half to full tuition coverage for attending,” stated Vuong. In general, scholarship winners represent fewer than one percent of the initial entries. However, students who are not chosen to receive scholarships have their names are placed on an elite list that is sent to every college that the NMSC partners with, which makes them more likely to receive other scholarships. Fellow finalists Dang, Liang, Lung, and So all have high aspirations for their future and know that becoming a finalist has given them another step in the right direction. Dang wishes to pursue a career as a teacher, Liang hopes to enter to aeroscience or neuroscience field as a researcher, Lung wants to study bio-engineering, and So plans to gain admittance into Stanford University. (Full Disclosure: Dang, Liang, and Lung are all members of the Tongva Times staff.) “[The title] doesn’t mean everything to me, but it is something that keeps me working hard,” stated So.

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Logo Award Winners

March 1: Boys Golf vs. South Pasadena @ 3 p.m. March 6: Boys Golf vs. Temple City @ 2:30 p.m. March 7: Baseball vs. Pioneer @ 3:15 p.m. March 8: Boys Golf vs. Schurr @ 2:30 p.m. March 9: Softball vs. Schurr @ 3:15 p.m. Baseball vs. San Gabriel @ 3:15 p.m. For the 150th anniversary of the San Gabriel Unified School District (SGUSD), a competition for an updated logo design was held in December, and the winners, seniors Josiah Christensen (left) and Sharon Tram (right), were announced on Feb. 14. Superintendent Dr. John Pappalardo asked art teacher Terri Hopper and her Graphic Design students to improve the logo without drastically altering the fundamental design. A panel of judges from the SGUSD Board reviewed multiple artwork entries and selected Christensen and Tram’s designs. Both students received monetary rewards and will have their logos used on all district correspondence for the year.

Cheer competes at Nationals

Congratulations to National Hispanic Scholar Joseph Garcia!

March 12: Baseball vs. South Pasadena @ 3:15 p.m. March 13: Softball vs. Alhambra @ 3:15 p.m. Boys Golf vs. Temple City @ 2:30 p.m. March 14: Late start day March 15: Track and Field vs. South El Monte @ 3:15 p.m. March 16: Softball vs. Duarte @ 3:15 p.m. Baseball vs. Baldwin Park @ 3:15 p.m. Speech Nat Quals @ 3:30 p.m.

Gab Talks Continued from Page 1 Talks was created, each day of the week had a different theme. However, the students in charge the following year changed the week to follow one theme. “We hoped it would serve as a place where students could see what other teachers were like and teachers could see what students were up to,” said Lam. Since its creation, Gab Talks has been a collaboration between students and the administration. Prior to the Gab Talks committee, small student groups worked together to execute the event. This year is the first time the program has been assisted by ASB. Although Lam and Liu started Gab Talks as an outlet for the school, they did not expect it to become a Gabrielino tradition that students look forward to each year.

March Events

March 17: Speech Nat Quals @ 7:30 a.m. March 19: Softball vs. San Gabriel @ 3:30 p.m. Photo courtesy of Bronté Ku

SHOWING SCHOOL SPIRIT The Gabrielino High School varsity cheer team placed first at the USA Regional competition at Summit High School on Jan. 6, allow them to qualify for the national competition. By Brittany Snow Staff Writer This past weekend, the varsity cheer team competed at the United Spirit Association (USA) Spirit Nationals. The team left for competition on Friday to the Anaheim Convention Center. The team placed ninth out of 19 teams. They were one point away from advancing to finals, as only the top eight teams qualified to the next day. “There’s always something else we [can] do, so this year we are [correcting all the mistakes] we [made] last year,” stated varsity flier, junior Katie Neman. With no boys on the squad this year, they were not eligible to participate in the Co-Ed Varsity Cheer Novice division, and were placed in a new category. “This is my third cheer na-

tionals since being on cheer, and I think this is the one I’m most confident about,” stated senior Alenna Espadas, “mainly because we’ve been doing so well and placing a lot. I think this team is really going to set us apart from the other competitors.” Preparing for each competition has consisted of four hour practices on weekends and on holidays, alongside after school practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well. “[Practice] is very stressful and frustrating sometimes,” stated freshman Alyssa Macias, “but in the end, it’s worth it.” All teams were judged based on their technique, content, and execution in categories such as stunts, pyramids, tumbling, and jumps. Ranging from two to five points for each category, points

were determined by the minimum requirement that must be seen in the routine. The four different levels were novice, intermediate, advanced, and non-tumbling groups, which were not a part of the judging sheet for the tumbling category. Previously attending the USA Regionals at Summit High School on Jan. 6, the team placed first in the first round of competition, and came out with second place in the second round. Alongside their first place win at Regionals, the team also achieved their highest score of 92. “We got first place, which was really unexpected because the day before was a little bit tough,” stated co-captain senior Martha Lopez. “The second round we didn’t come in as strong, but we did work hard.”

March 20: Boys Golf vs. Gladstone @ 2:30 p.m. March 21: Baseball vs. Mountain View @ 3:15 p.m. Softball vs. Mountain View @ 3:15 p.m. March 22: Boys Golf vs. San Dimas @ 2:30 p.m. March 26: Softball vs. Rosemead @ 3:15 p.m. Baseball vs. Rosemead @ 3:15 p.m. March 27: Boys Golf vs. Duarte @ 2:30 p.m. March 28: Softball vs. Marshall @ 3:15 p.m. Baseball vs. Marshall @ 3:15 p.m.

5 World China monitors, assesses citizens Dow’s February 28, 2018

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big drop

By Jannelle Dang Features Editor This month, the Communist Party of China began developing a social credit score system that will be accompanied by an extensive surveillance network with facial recognition technology. These citizen scores are meant to encourage behavior that aligns with the government’s principles, while simultaneously punishing those who violate laws, criticize the Party, or engage in activities that are deemed unfavorable. Participation in this system will be mandatory for all Chinese citizens by 2020. According to IHS Markit, a British financial services company, there are currently 176 million surveillance cameras in China. However, the implementation of citizen scores could increase this amount to 626 million, allowing constant surveillance of people’s actions. This advanced network would also match citizen’s faces to their online activity, collecting data from the internet and private businesses to create profiles for each individual. Such profiles would be updated with information about the person’s political involvement, comments on social media, and online purchases. This data will be used in an algorithm to calculate an initial score between 350 and 950 that measures trustwor-

By Kaylin Tran Entertainment Editor

HEIGHTENED SURVEILLANCE The increase in the number of security cameras in China will help with the launch of the credit score system. Facial recognition will match citizens’ online activities to their profiles. thiness. Scores can be impacted by the activity of people’s friends and family as well. Interactions with individuals with low scores, such as political dissidents, could decrease a person’s own number. Consequences for those with poor scores include increased limits on internet access, travel bans, and restriction from holding highly-ranked job positions. However, if a credit score drops below zero, a citizen could be publicly shamed and added to the Chinese Supreme Court’s blacklist of discredited individuals and organizations.

Additionally, his or her ID card number, which is needed for activities from boarding a flight to creating a social media account, could be blocked. Conversely, benefits for satisfactory behavior include easier access to loans, visas to travel within and outside the country, and other rewards. Although the main purpose of the score system is to reduce crime and terrorism to ensure national security, it could also help regulate China’s economy. Examining the scores of business owners could expose corrupt practices, and citizens with qualifying scores would be able

to take loans or credit from multiple banks besides their own. Initial plans for the development of citizen scores were introduced in 2014. A year later, a voluntary credit score system was created via an app called Sesame Credit to serve as a trial run. Sesame Credit determines scores not only based on one’s financial records and ability to pay, like American credit scores, but also on the type of items one purchases. Buying items the government approves of can raise a score, while purchasing alcohol or video games could decrease it.

Revitalization of Italian towns By Chloe Law Staff Writer On Feb. 7, applications for the purchase of abandoned homes in the town of Ollolai, Italy, closed to the public. For approximately three years, the commune residing in the center of Barbagia had offered 200 of its stone-built dwellings for as little as one euro or the equivalent of $1.24. According to Travel and Leisure, Ollolai was one of the many towns participating in the “Case 1 Euro Project”. Established on the premises of halting declining populations and preserving historical areas, the project had granted several towns in Italian regions such as Tuscany, Sardinia, and Sicily, the opportunity to offer historic property and restore towns. Located on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, Ollolai was formerly known as Barbagia’s capital. Recently, however, its streets have become quiet as a large number of its residents have moved into larger cities. According to CNN, the town has experienced a sharp decline in population size, with numbers going from 2250 to 1300. In an attempt to prevent Ollolai from becoming a ghost town, Mayor Efisio Arbau requested that former homeowners sign the

INNOVATIVE RENOVATION The “Case 1 Euro Project” hopes to revitalize villages on Italian islands by selling homes for one euro. In return, the tenants are tasked with restoring these century-old buildings. dwellings over to town authorities in 2015 in order to commence the project. “We boast prehistoric origins. My crusade is to rescue our unique traditions from falling into oblivion,” commented Arbau. In order to request one of the houses, people needed to go on Ollolai’s official website and download the application, which would be returned along with a photocopy of an identity

document. Requests were then chronologically filed and invitations for the village tour sent out. Because many of the buildings in Ollolai were in poor condition, those interested in buying the homes were tasked with refurbishing the stone-built dwellings within three years--a task that is estimated to cost around $25,000 in total. Those who decided to renovate the houses were also able to apply for grants that funded up to 60 percent of

the cost. Retired builder Vito Casula, was the first person to purchase a two-story house in Ollolai. “My wife saw the ad in the newspaper. It was an opportunity,” said Casula in an interview with CNN. “This quiet town is frozen in time. It offers a peaceful, healthy life.” As of Feb. 12, three houses have been sold and over 100 requests are waiting to be reviewed by town authorities.

On Feb. 5, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 2,208 points within one week. The greatest decline in history was worse than the 1929 crash that caused the Great Depression and the Great Recession of 2008. The Dow measures the average of 30 large American companies’ stocks and monitors the stock market’s performance throughout the day. According to CNBC, the stock market is down more than 10 percent from its previous point and greatly contrasts its previous performance in 2017, which was the first year in history where it showed gains every month. “The market simply did not take into account that you can’t go up like this for that long,” stated Michael Yoshikami, CEO of Destination Wealth Management, to CNBC. However, the decline was not caused by a singular event. Yoshikami suspects that it was likely due to investors’ paranoia and speculation about rising interest rates. Earlier that week, the government also announced that average hourly earnings rose about three percent, which triggered a fear of inflation. Furthermore, the recent decline mirrored the infamous “flash crash” on May 6, 2010. According to The Guardian, almost nine percent of the Dow’s value was lost within the first several minutes, which resulted in a deficit of nearly one trillion dollars from large corporations and companies. Although many stock indexes collapsed, they rebounded soon after and the market closed only three percent lower than its previous value. The historic drops in the market appear alarming to many investors, but the benchmark index usually recovers quickly even after such a large decline, according to MarketWatch. The market has already shown improvement after stocks rose on Feb. 14 as major indexes were carried higher by banks and tech companies. Senior market strategist Ryan Detrick at LPL Financial stated to CNBC that “it almost looks like the market is realizing the economy is still doing well, [but] there is going to be more volatility ahead.” The White House expressed the administration’s lack of worry about the matter in a press statement. “The president’s focus is on our long-term economic fundamentals, which remain exceptionally strong,” stated Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “The president’s tax cuts and regulatory reforms will further[...] continue to increase prosperity for the American people.”

February 28, 2018

Features

Tongva Times

Celebrating Black ACTIVISM

JIMMIE BRIGGS

opal tometi

michelle alexander

benjamin jealous

Earning the John Battlow award from Northwestern University, Jimmie Briggs has influenced the world of journalism through his investigative works on the impact of wars on children in countries like Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Briggs’s book “Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go to War” brings attention to a demographic that is often forgotten in the world of violence and weapons. Briggs began the Man Up Campaign in 2010 to prevent violence against women and advance gender equality. The organization brought people from around the world together to increase awareness and activism among the next generation.

Opal Tometi is best known for being the co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Organization. She is credited for creating online platforms to increase their influence. In addition, she serves as the executive director for Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI). Tometi was recognized for her contributions to human rights in 2016 when she received the Glamour Award for Justice Seekers. She also wrote a book titled “Unless the Water is Safer Than Land” to support the right of asylum for persecuted individuals. Tometi graduated from the University of Arizona where she earned degrees in history and communication.

Alexander is a professor, writer, and civil rights activist known for her book “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” which exposes America’s prison-industrial complex and racial injustice in the legal system. Through her publications and lectures, Alexander has become a powerful advocate for social justice and reform, particularly in the prison system. Her work includes studying the moral and mental impacts of mass incarceration. In recent years, she has taught at universities, including Stanford Law School, where she was an associate professor of law and director of the Civil Rights Clinics.

Jealous is the youngest leader of the NAACP, taking the reins at 35 years old. During his tenure, he stabilized the NAACP’s funds and dwindling membership, while also increasing its social media presence, leading to organizations like Forbes and TIME calling him the reviver of the NAACP. Currently, he is a senior partner at Kapor Capital, a technology firm for social change that invests in companies that help disadvantaged communities. In 2015, with fellow author Trabian Shorters, Jealous published “Reach: 40 Black Men Speak on Living, Leading, and Succeeding”, which features the stories of various black leaders.

Art & Literature KARA WALKER

glenn LIGON

Tricia Rose

ta-nehisi coates

Kara Walker is known for her silhouettes, which are lifesize cutouts that recreate scenes of sexual assault and violence. She also uses drawings, paintings, sculptures, and film to portray the psychological pain caused by the legacy of slavery. Her first mural in 1994 featured a young slave woman and propelled her to prominence in the art world. Walker attended the Atlanta College of Art for graduate school and is now a member of the Master of Fine Arts Program at Columbia University. Her most recent work, “The Katastwóf Karavan” highlights the history of slaves in New Orleans.

New York-born Glenn Ligon is the artist behind the popularly shot “America, America” neon display at The Broad in Los Angeles. Ligon focuses on cultural norms, sexual identity, and the history of the Civil Rights Movement. He is known for creating the origins of the Post-Blackness art movement with Thelma Golden. The movement protests against generalizations of the black community, and strives to emphasize the individuality of its artists. Through his art, Ligon spreads the message that one quality of an African American does not define an entire community.

Tricia Rose is a Chancellor’s Professor of Africana Studies at Brown University, as well as its Director of the Center for Study of Race and Ethnicity in America. Her first book, “Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America,” received an American Book Award in 1995, and provided a foundation for studying hip hop culture in the 21st century. Since then, she has published two more books. Rose is currently leading a research project titled “How Structural Racism Works,” which investigates the causes and development of racial inequality in America.

Ta-Nehisi Coates first began his career as a reporter for the Washington City Paper. He later began writing for other newspapers, but his popularity grew from columns published in The Atlantic. Coates’s pieces are influential for discussing cultural, social, and political issues. His book, “Between the World and Me,” won the National Book Award in 2015 for best nonfiction. The same year, he was a recipient of the Genius Grant from the MacArthur Fellows Program for originality and motivation in his creative field. Coates has been writing “Black Panther” for Marvel since 2016.

February 28, 2018

Features

Tongva Times

History Month Entertainment

aMANDLA sTENBERg

Dave chappelle

ava duvernay

rihanna

Known for her role in the Hunger Games as Rue, Amandla Stenberg uses her platform to talk about racism and cultural appropriation. Stenberg was voted twice as the most influential teen in 2015 and 2016 by Time Magazine, and as Feminist Celebrity of 2015. Her controversial video, “Don’t Cash Crop My Cornrows,” which was released in 2015, discusses cultural appropriation within Hollywood. Stenberg uses her influence to aid children in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in their educational careers through the Ubuntu Education Fund. She continues to advocate against racial discrimination, and is also an avid feminist.

Chappelle is an American comedian who won the 2018 Grammy for Best Comedy Album for his specials “The Age of Spin” and “Deep in the Heart of Texas.” He is a prominent figure among African American comedians who are gaining influence in pop culture. Chappelle sheds light on the divide in politics, and the blatant racism that is still present in society. His blunt humor satirizes sensitive topics such as corruption within the legal system, police brutality, and the AIDS epidemic. Although causing discomfort at times, Chappelle forces his audiences to confront harsh realities and pushes social boundaries through laughter.

In 2012, Ava DuVernay earned a directing award at the Sundance Film Festival for her film “Middle of Nowhere.” Her film “Selma,” which documents the historic impacts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Civil Rights Movement, ultimately led DuVernay to her nomination for a Golden Globe as the first black female director. In directing her next film, “A Wrinkle in Time,” she has made an effort to increase racial diversity among the cast. Storm Reid, Mindy Kaling, and Oprah Winfrey are several people who will be bringing new faces and perspectives to DuVernay’s twist on the story of a classic childhood favorite.

Rihanna has impacted society not only with her talent, but also with her giving heart. She has served as an ambassador for UNICEF’s Tap Project in 2011, and performed benefit concerts in honor of the Children’s Orthopedic Center and Children’s Hospital L.A. Her charity, the Clara Lionel Foundation, raises funds to improve the quality of life for communities around the world. In 2017, she won the Harvard Humanitarian of the Year Award. Rihanna created a makeup line with foundations that are inclusive of all different shades, especially darker skin tones that are often left out by conventional makeup brands.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

cordiva raven

neil degrasse tyson

christyl johnson

laura weidman powers

Raven is a recipient of the 2012 Women Interactive Digital Vanguard Award and creator of social media blog SheGeeks.net, which has been ranked as a Top 100 Social Media, Internet Marketing, and SEO Blog. Raven has been making a name for herself since the age of 19. Not only does she educate her audience about the ins and outs of social media, but she also serves as a social media consultant for GM and Intel. Named one of the Top 25 Black Women Entrepreneurs by Essence Magazine, Raven continues to empower others to follow their own interests in the field of technology.

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson is a renowned astrophysicist who has furthered the exploration and discovery of space. Tyson’s professional research interests include star formation, exploding stars, and the structure of the Milky Way among other subjects. His most recent book, “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry,” was named a New York Times best-seller this past year. Tyson hosts his own TV show and podcast, StarTalk, on the National Geographic Channel, and specifically targets audiences who never thought they would, or could, be interested in science.

Dr. Christyl Johnson is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center’s deputy director for technology and research investments. She served as the President’s science advisor in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and associate director for exploratory missions at the NASA Office of Earth Science, where she led research projects with Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Johnson encourages women in STEM fields with the United Nations Women Global Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Industry Forum.

As the co-founder and CEO of Code2040, which is a nonprofit organization that creates pathways to success in technology for minorities, Laura Weidman Powers has an innovative plan to close the racial wealth gap. Her nonprofit helps black and Latino engineering students obtain positions in top tech companies, where more than 90 percent were able to earn full-time offers from their employers. This summer, Powers began a six-month term as a senior policy adviser to the U.S. Chief Technology Officer, where she focuses on issues of diversity and inclusion in tech.

Studen

February 28, 2018

Artists showca

Araceli Perez-Garcia (11) Intro to Art Joel Manalastas (12) Intro to Art

Samantha Young (11) AP Art 2D

Trent Hu (12) AP Art 3D

Jacob Van Oosten (12) Advanced Art

Kassandra Valandrano (10) Intro to Art

Caitlin Santos (12) AP

Roy Kwan (11) Intro

Juliana Diaz (12) Ad

ent Life

Tongva Times

ase creativity

P Art

o to Art

dvanced Art

Wes Phillips (12) AP Art 2D

Bella Corona de Flores (10) Drawing and Painting

Linda Thai (12) AP Art 2D Nisa Alam (12) AP Art 3D

Diego Alvear (12) Art in Motion 2

Tiffany Wei (12) Advanced Art Jasmine Lam and Christine Tran|Tongva Times

February 28, 2018

Sports

Tongva Times

WINTER SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS: Historic Lady Eagles go to CIF quarterfinals By Jasmine Lam Staff Writer For the first time in GHS history, the girls varsity basketball team advanced to the quarterfinal round of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championships. The Lady Eagles played against the Foothill Technology High School Dragons on Feb. 21. The Dragons scored immediately after the first quarter started, but their offense was met with a layup from the Lady Eagles. With three minutes left in the first quarter, senior Amanda Lee stole the ball, which led to another layup and a defensive foul. The first quarter ended, 7-17. During the second quarter, the Lady Eagles struggled to even the score. With seven seconds left in the quarter, Lee managed to sink a three pointer nearly three feet away from the three point line as the clock reached zero. The second quarter ended, 14-26. Once third quarter started, the Lady Eagles came back with renewed energy and scored four points within 30 seconds. “All of us in that room realized that those 16 minutes could be the last minutes of our season,” stated sophomore Amanda

Christine Tran|Tongva Times

DRIBBLING TO THE BASKET Shooting guard Amanda Lee, senior, dribbles the ball past two defensive players in an attempt to drive to the basket. The Eagles fell to the Foothill Dragons on Feb. 21, 46-59. Brunjes. “We needed to make them count.” In the fourth quarter, the Lady Eagles continued to push and managed to bring the score difference down to nine points, but as time ran out, the Lady Eagles fell to Foothill, ending their CIF run, 46-59.

As this was Lee’s last game, the coaches honored her time on the team by substituting her out of the game seven seconds before the clock ran out. Everyone in the stands immediately rose to clap for her. Lee has played for the varsity team for four years, scoring over 1000 points and

winning the MVP Award three times in a row. On Feb. 17, the Lady Eagles played against Don Lugo High School in their second round of CIF and won, 58-44. The girls were able to have the upper-hand the whole night, playing against Don Lugo with

a tight defense. On Feb. 15, the Lady Eagles started their first round of CIF and went up against the San Dimas Saints. The team won, 6345. The Lady Eagles ended their league season with a 12-0 league record, making them undefeated in their league. On Feb. 14, the boys varsity basketball team went to Rialto High School for the CIF championships and fell to the Rialto Knights, 54-81. In the first quarter, the Knights played an aggressive offense, scoring within the first two minutes. The Eagles were able to score but fell short, 8-19. During the second quarter, senior Aaron Van intercepted the ball, scoring another two points for Gabrielino, 16-33. As halftime came to an end, the Eagles came back with energy in the third quarter, 30-68. Towards the end of fourth quarter, with the help of senior Reisandy Lamdjani, the Eagles stole the ball from the Knights, and the ball was passed to Van for a layup, 52-79. Although they lost to the Knights, the Eagles did not give up and played a hard defense until the very end. The boys ended their season with a league record of 5-7.

Do earns third place, Diaz and Sanin get fifth By Christine Tran Staff Writer While the regular wrestling season ended in early February, four girls and six boys were able to extend their season by qualifying for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championships. The girls competed first at Roosevelt High School on Feb. 9. Seniors Jezabel Diaz and Alexis Medina, junior Cassidy Do, and sophomore Breanna Murray qualified for the first round at the final wrestling league meet, going on to represent Gabrielino at CIF. The meet spanned from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. “I definitely didn’t do as well as I could have, but I’m glad I could also help the rest of the girls go as far as they could,” commented Medina. In the end, only Diaz and Do were able to continue onto the second day of the tournament. Competing against wrestlers from 155 different schools in the San Gabriel Valley, Diaz placed fifth while Do placed third overall. Diaz and Do also qualified for the Masters Meet, which will decide whether or not they will continue to compete at the state

Christine Tran|Tongva Times

STATE-BOUND (From Left to Right) Seniors Alexis Medina and Jezabel Diaz, junior Cassidy Do, and sophomore Breanna Murray competed at the CIF Championships at Roosevelt High School on Feb. 9. tournament. “Even though I’m happy with my performance, I’m always looking to improve. I’m aiming for first or second place next year so that I can earn a banner for the school,” stated Do.

The competition continued on Feb. 17 when it was the boys’ turn to take the mat. Juniors Mark Diaz, Teddy Hanna, and Bryan Tang, sophomores Christopher Rodriguez and Donovan Sanin, and fresh-

man Tony Attallah spent eight hours at Westminster High School competing for the chance to bring home a wrestling CIF title. Faced against schools from across all areas of the San Gabriel Valley, the preliminary rounds

on Friday proved to be a challenge. “CIF was pretty tough, but my goal going into it was just doing the best I [could]. Next year, I plan on placing and continuing on to [the Masters Meet],” said Tang. Out of the six male wrestlers who competed on Feb. 17, Attallah and Sanin were able to qualify for the second day. Attallah did not place, but Sanin was able to secure fifth place with a one point win against Shadow Hills High School. He also qualified for the Masters Meet. “I felt like I did pretty well, and it was exciting to go against some good competitors. Next year I want to improve from where I end this year,” stated Sanin. Overall Gabrielino’s wrestling team ended the 2017-18 season on a high note. The Eagles placed second in the Mission Valley league, only suffering a loss against Arroyo High School. “This season was a good opportunity to grow,” expressed Ivan Carvajal, assistant varsity coach. “Next year, we’ll be looking to take home the league title.”

February 28, 2018

Sports

Tongva Times

CHAMPIONSHIPS, CIF ROUNDS Girls soccer wins league, meets defeat in CIF By Kevin Pham Staff Writer On Feb. 20, the Gabrielino High School varsity girls soccer team squared off against Jurupa Hills High School in the second round of the CIF championships at JHHS. “I was definitely excited,” junior Olivia Koyama stated, “but I was also worried about how the cold weather would affect our playing style.” Led by senior co-captains Alina Zarate and Ciannah Correra, the Lady Eagles were confident and optimistic going into their second game. “[We try to] leave everything out on the field,” stated Zarate. “[We] play like every game is [our] last game because it honestly could be.” Pushing the match into a double overtime, the girls played an aggressive offense until the very end. Unfortunately, after a valiant effort by the GHS girls varsity Lady Eagles, they lost to JHHS, 2-1. “Yes, we lost, and it sucks,”

Christine Tran|Tongva Times

KICKIN’ IT IN CIF Co-captain Ciannah Correra prepares to pass the ball to set up an assist to score. She later scored the second goal of the game, securing the win for GHS against Lompoc High School, 2-1. remarked Correra. “But we weren’t discouraged by [the loss]. We still won league,

and we still made it to the second round of the CIF playoffs. We’re proud of what we accom-

plished.” On Feb. 15, the girls celebrated their first CIF win against Lom-

poc High School in the Eagles Stadium. During the first half of their game, the girls were down, 0-1. “We weren’t sure that we were going to win, but we never lost hope,” stated Koyama. Their strong team dynamics allowed them to make a comeback during the second half. “When Ciannah scored the first goal for our team, it was amazing,” recalled Gonzalez. “It gave us the confidence we needed to bring the win home.” The team won against LHS, 2-1. The Lady Eagles won against Mountain View High School on Feb. 20, 2-1. This win allowed the girls to obtain first place in the Mission Valley league for this conference season, earning them automatic qualifications for CIF. The GHS varsity girls soccer team played a fruitful season, only facing one loss and one tie against Arroyo High School. “[We] win some, [we] lose some,” explained Coach Rafa Moran. “It’s how [the girls] play the game that counts.”

Californians win big at Winter Olympics By Joshua Raymundo Staff Writer On Feb. 9-25, South Korea hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, an event in which countries from all across the globe compete in sports such as figure skating and ski slalom. Californian Shaun White from Carlsbad won his third gold medal in the half-pipe event. The snowboarder shed tears of joy after seeing his high marks of 97.75. “I just felt so overwhelmed. Honestly, I’ve been through so much to get to this point,” White said to reporters immediately after his run, referencing the injury that caused him to a miss months of training. White’s third gold medal can be attributed to his use of a frontside double cork 1440

LOCAL GIRL Although she didn’t medal at the Olympics, Arcadia’s Mirai Nagasu became the first American woman to land a triple axel. and a cab double cork 1440, a combination so extreme that he had never even landed the move in practice. “It’s all worth it now,” expressed White.

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Snowboarder Chloe Kim from Torrance, CA, won the women’s half-pipe. Kim described that the experience, although rewarding, was stressful and filled with tension.

“[I waited] four years to come here,” she said in an interview, later revealing that “there is a lot of pressure to do well.” According to Northwest Asian Weekly, Kim’s first run earned a score of 93.75, while her final run secured the gold medal with an almost perfect score of 98.75. “[I worked] for something [for] so long, and it’s finally here,” Kim stated. “[I went] home with the best possible outcome. It’s amazing.” Kim also acknowledged her parents and their support for her throughout her journey. Time Magazine noted that her parents were at the Olympics to express their love and devotion, and her father held up a laminated sign that said “Go Chloe!” Nagasu attributes her success to her hardworking parents who taught her good work ethics. Mirai Nagasu, born and raised

in Arcadia, CA, earned second place in the women’s free skate with a score of 137.43, guiding the U.S. to a bronze medal in the team skate. According to the New York Times, Nagasu’s high score was aided by landing a triple axel, a jump of three and a half rotations. “I could always visualize myself doing the jump,” Nagasu said. “It was just getting my muscles to react as they needed to.” Through continual hard work, Nagasu was able to land this jump eight out of every ten times in practice, which enabled her to become confident enough to execute the triple axle on the big stage. On Feb. 11, she became the first American woman to land the triple axel at the Olympics.

SCOREBOX as of 2/27/18

Boys Soccer 2-8-2 Boys Basketball 5-7

Wrestling 4-1

Girls Soccer 11-1-2 Girls Basketball 12-0

@thetongvatimes

February 28, 2018

Entertainment

Tongva Times

Bay Island Cafe offers delicious deals By Christopher Lung World Editor

Imagine a colossal 26-ounce cup of any flavored tea or milk tea that only costs $1.99. It is difficult, but the bargain can be found at Bay Island Cafe in Rosemead. Located in the plaza near Walnut Grove Avenue and Valley Boulevard, this Cantonese restaurant offers the $1.99 promotion on any drink if a special is ordered, which is essentially any item on the menu. The promotion also includes an option to upgrade to an even larger 36-ounce cup for 75 cents more, and certain beverages like lemon tea have free refills. This all-day deal draws in many customers, whether for dine-in or takeout, to order drinks every time they come here. The first time I arrived, I was astounded by how spacious and vibrant the front of the restaurant looked. It had a fountain spewing water and adequate seats to enjoy the green plants while waiting. This tranquil and airy atmosphere carried over to the inside, where the contemporary pop music on

PERFECT HARMONY Bay Island Cafe’s Singapore-style rice noodles is one of Lung’s favorite dishes. Blending curry spice and salty spam with shrimp and vegetables, this is a delicious and hearty meal. the radio filled the room. The customer service was exceptional, as the employees politely tended to all my needs. My family and I enjoy eating here because of the wide selection of food, large portions, and high quality of the dishes. The menu

includes fried rice, vermicelli, noodle soup, porridge, hot pots, and other Chinese specialties. The average price of the dishes ranges from seven to ten dollars, but it is still relatively inexpensive, considering the large portions of food served. Although

Yelp gives this restaurant two dollar signs for the price, I believe that the restaurant’s pricings are justifiable, especially when coupled with the drink promotion. Since I have already eaten here several times, I usually order my favorite: Singapore-style

pan fried rice vermicelli. When I bit into the firm noodles, each taste of the snappy shrimp, salty spam, spicy onions, crunchy bean sprouts, and colorful bell peppers made me even happier. In other words, the dish is simply delicious because of the perfect harmony of the curry spice, noodles, vegetables, and meat. The dinner portion is so large that it is almost impossible to finish it by myself. That is only the beginning. I always order matcha milk tea with boba, which beautifully complements the savory dish. The only downside I noticed was the 15 to 20 minute wait around noontime and dinner hours, particularly on the weekend. The restaurant also shares a parking lot with other boutiques and restaurants like Sam Woo Barbecue, so finding parking can be a nuisance sometimes. Even so, I would definitely return to this place in the near future, as it is a solid recommendation for anyone who likes inexpensive, high quality drinks and Chinese food in a spacious atmosphere. The restaurant is open Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. 3927 Walnut Grove Ave #115, Rosemead, CA 91770.

‘Black Panther,’ record-breaking film By Michael Hong Staff Writer

Marvel’s newest addition to its movie repertoire once again shattered the box office record for the largest opening of any standalone film, grossing over $201 million on its first weekend, and definitely for good reason. “Black Panther” focuses on the Prince-turned-King T’Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, and the African country of Wakanda in the events following “Captain America: Civil War.” It documents the power struggle between T’Challa and his cousin, Erik Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan, as they clash on how the country should be run. Primarily, the film capitalizes on the natural charm of Boseman’s portrayal of the Black Panther, as he is flanked by Jordan’s evil, yet emotional, Killmonger, which gives moviegoers some room to sympathize with the villain. It also features award-winning actors like Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, and Lupita Nyong’o, bringing more than enough star power to dazzle the audience. Moreover, director and writer Ryan Coogler’s ability to develop the characters, yet maintain their relatibility to the audience, shows his masterful control and knowledge of public appeal. The layers of T’Challa and Killmonger allow the audience to feel pity and sympathy at one point, and disgust

BOX OFFICE SUCCESS “Black Panther” reached $201 million during its opening week and will likely reach one billion dollars in ticket sales. Several celebrities bought out theaters and donated money to give young fans an opportunity to watch the film with its minority-filled cast. and anger at another, while humorous lines like Princess Shuri’s “What are those?!” and Ulysses Klaue’s “I literally made it rain!” add some modern jokes that keep viewers entertained. The simplicity of the combat scenes provides a stark contrast to Marvel’s previous films. The use of hand-to-hand, spear, and sword-and-shield combat diverge from characters like the flashy

Iron Man or the lightning-wielding demigod Thor. Most importantly, the film achieves an unprecedented feat, as it features African Americans in every leading role, and presents strong and empowered female soldiers. The minority-filled cast and production team serves as an inspiration for those young and old, demonstrating that success can come regardless of form

and shape. Actress Octavia Spencer and Dallas Mavericks player Harrison Barnes even bought out screenings to increase accessibility. It emphasizes the importance of upholding tradition and culture in the face of growing urbanization through the conflict between T’Challa and Killmonger. Their different attemps to combat racism and inequality insinuate that

progress is a process. While there are still times where the plot armor trumps any semblance of reality, ‘Black Panther’ is undoubtedly a step in the right direction for Marvel Studios. Not only did it uphold its top-tier cinematography, as seen through the Northern Lights-esque dream world, but it added a significant level of depth in its empowering messages.

February 28, 2018

Entertainment

Tongva Times

Disneyland celebrates Lunar New Year By Elizabeth Campos Staff Writer From Jan. 26 to Feb. 18, Disneyland Parks hosted its annual Lunar New Year celebration and honored the Year of the Dog, with Pluto as the face of the festivities. Guests were invited to join the activities held in California Adventure Park, which not only provided fun events for families to become involved in, but cultural learning experiences as well. Disney offered events that ranged from authentic multicultural musicians and performances to special appearances by popular Disney characters dressed in festive apparel. They also offered a variety of Asian foods for guests of all ages to try. Disney produced the “Hurry Home” water light show, which was backed by the audio of characters Mulan and Mushu explaining the significance of the Lunar New Year. Guests were able to experience and learn what the Lunar New Year is about from a family aspect, as Mulan and Mushu both shared their experiences with the tradition. “I think it’s a nice touch. The decor is beautiful and the food is

YEAR OF THE DOG Guests of all ages celebrated the Lunar New Year at Disneyland’s annual festival as they enjoyed a variety of food and activities from popular Disney characters and special performers. [delicious]. It’s a good experience in terms of expanding my knowledge of different cultures,” stated Disney pass holder, senior Mariah Aragonez. To immerse their guests in more cultural experiences, the parks provided a high-energy troupe of

drummers, storytellers, and athletes from Shanghai to entertain parkgoers. These drummers put on a colorful show that shared the history and significance behind the drums in their Chinese culture. Korean and Vietnamese musicians were able to share their

music as well in the Paradise Garden. Gabrielino students senior Tiffany Chung and sophomore Serena Trang also got to participate in Mulan’s Lunar New Year Parade and danced alongside characters in a traditional Chinese dance.

The girls were given the opportunity to be a part of the festivities of the parade through Li’s Ballet, their dance studio in Temple City. They also supported the non-profit organization, the Asian Arts Talent Foundation. “It’s really exciting to be able to go to Disneyland as a performer to entertain people and teach them about Chinese culture because most people usually go for the rides [and] ignore what’s [going on] around them. It’s so nice to be able to grab their attention,” stated senior Tiffany Chung. Disney also released Lunar New Year merchandise that was on sale throughout the park during the time of the event for guests to further emerse themselves in the celebration. “Disney Parks Merchandise collaborated with the Shanghai Disney Resort merchandise team to develop this year’s assortment of celebratory merchandise,” stated Erin Glover, the Editorial Content Director for Disneyland Resorts. Items include Mickey Mouse plushies that are only available inside California Adventure Park and at the Shanghai Disney resort and Parks, along with collector pins, snow globes, headbands, and traditonal red envelopes.

Oscars fashion through the Years Best

Worst

This simple dress lets her talent do all the talking.

A classy and timeless dress for a classy and timeless actress.

Who decided that trash bags can double as a dress?

News flash: puffy shoulders are so 1980s.

Sleek and off-the-shoulder. This dress is Oscar-worthy.

One can never go wrong with a ballroom gown.

Mom, being emo was definitely not a phase.

Dead geese do not look cute, especially when worn as a dress.

February 28. 2018