Verde Volume 23 Issue 2

V. PIECES OF PROGRESS Abortion, pg. 15 Menstrual products, pg. 18 Brandy Melville, pg. 20 Women in STEM, pg. 22 VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 1

2 NOVEMBER 2021

VERDE MAGAZINE November 2021 Volume 23 Issue 2 Editors-in-Chief Paisley Annes Sebastian Bonnard Akhil Joondeph (hybrid) Emily Yao (digital)

ON THE COVER The figure of a woman on a puzzle lays, half-finished, as hands scramble to piece it together. With art created by staff writer Palina Kuzmina, captured by photography director Ines Legrand, this image represents the complex and multifaceted issue of women’s rights that we address in this edition of Verde. There are numerous pieces to the puzzle, many of which are missing or unknown — but the pieces come together to create a resilient female figure, representative of the fight for gender equality.

Publication Policy Verde Magazine, a news and features magazine published by the students in Palo Alto High School’s Magazine Journalism class, is a designated open forum for student expression and discussion of issues of concern to its readership. Verde is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost.

Letters to the Editors The staff welcomes letters to the editors but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Send all letters to verde.eics@gmail.com or 50 Embarcadero Rd Palo Alto, CA 94301.

Advertising The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts providing they are not deemed by the staff inappropriate for the magazine’s audience. For more information about advertising with Verde, please contact business managers Andrew Xue and Kieran Zajac at verdebusiness5@gmail.com.

Printing & Distribution Verde is printed five times a year in October, November, February, April and May by Folger Graphics in Hayward, California. The Paly Parent Teacher Student Association mails Verde to every student’s home. All Verde work is available at verdemagazine.com

Managing Editors Jerry Fang Merwa Marof Features Editors Sadie Ibbotson-Brown Dominique Lashley Profiles Editor Sasha Boudtchenko Culture Editor Anya Mondragon Perspectives Editor Meena Narayanaswami Editorials Editors Andy Robinson Ashmita Rajmohan News Editors Bella Daly Jonas Pao Launch Editors Aanya Kumar Olivia Milne Design Editor Sofia Antebi

Copy Editors Sasha Boudtchenko Sadie Ibbotson-Brown Multimedia Managers Alexis Chiu Melody Xu Business Managers Andrew Xue Kieran Zajac Social media Managers Ajin Jeong Allegra West Photography Director Ines Legrand Art Director Blair Migdal Webmaster Annum Hashmi Staff Writers Carlota Blanco Palina Kuzmina Ines Legrand Yash Shetty Miya Whiteley Gopala Varadarajan Esther Xu Adviser Paul Kandell

Statisticians Jerry Fang Allegra West

VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 3

In this issue Foreword

6 Editorials 8 Launch 10 News

Features 13 15 18 20 22 24 26

Future of masks Abortion Free menstrual products Brandy Melville Women in STEM Evaluating school applications Indigenous Thanksgiving

Profiles 28 31 32 34 36 37

FREE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS pg. 18

Ernesto Cruz Pilar Badillo Novas Polyglots Phoebe Berghout Franklin Wang Cryptocurrency and NFTs

ulture C 38 State Street Market 40 Squid Game 43 Cudos 44 “Hydrophilic” exhibit

Perspectives 46 48 50 52 54

STATE STREET MARKET pg. 38 4 NOVEMBER 2021

Using spare change Hotpot Classifying dance Lighthouses Paly’s squirrels

POLYGLOTS pg. 32

HYDROPHILIC EXHIBIT pg. 44

CUDOS pg. 43

ERNESTO CRUZ pg. 28

PHOEBE BERGHOUT pg. 34

FROM THE EDITORS

ONE PICTURE, MANY VIEWPOINTS “Texas’ ban on abortions as early as six weeks becomes law.” “Gender inequity persists in STEM.” “Brandy Melville accused of toxic culture.”

Headlines like these have filled our news feeds this year, bringing light to the lingering gender discrimination in our society. It has become increasingly evident that the fight for equality is nowhere close to complete. And while issues of women’s justice can feel far away from our supposed “liberal haven” of Palo Alto, our local community continues to feel the weight of gender inequity.

In this issue, our cover section aims to explore the many facets of the fight for women’s rights today by looking at this issue through a variety of lenses within our community, examining our local perspective in the ongoing fight for progress.

Photography Director Ines Legrand and staff writer Carlota Blanco look at the impact of recent legislative actions regarding abortion while investigating abortion’s place in local conversations in “Piecing together the puzzle.”

Social media Manager Ajin Jeong and Business Manager Andrew Xue also inspect recent legislation — a new law requiring public school bathrooms in California to be stocked with free menstrual products. In “Unwrapping the prejudice,” we see how this bill destigmatizes periods and sparks meaningful conversations around equity.

We have also turned our attention to the impacts of socialization on gender equality. The popular clothing brand Brandy Melville has recently faced criticism for unethical hiring practices and the perpetuation

of unrealistic body standards for young women. Features Editor Dominique Lashley and Multimedia Manager Alexis Chiu investigate the brand’s impact on the local community in “Brandy Melville backlash.”

Gender disparities are not invisible at Palo Alto High School — it is quite the opposite. In “Stemming the divide,” Webmaster Annum Hashmi and Graphic Designer Esther Xu revisit statistics from 10 years of Paly’s STEM electives, uncovering a persistent gender gap.

And while many spaces remain divided along gender lines, we hear from one individual who is breaking barriers in “Berghout breaks out.”

Managing Editor Merwa Marof and Social media Manager Ajin Jeong talk with comedian Phoebe Berghout about her art form, gender and their intersection.

Scattered throughout our magazine are puzzle pieces, representing fragments of the overarching movement for gender justice. And while this puzzle is not complete, identifying and exploring its many facets allows us to gain a more comprehensive understanding of its breadth and depth.

Our writers, too, have been faced with incomplete puzzles, riddled with missing pieces, as they aim to tackle topics ranging from Indigenous history (pg. 26) to dance inequities (pg. 50). But through thoughtful reporting on varied viewpoints and thorough research, they continue to address the many puzzles posed by our community, piece by piece.

—PAISLEY, SEBASTIAN, AKHIL, EMILY

VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 5

the verdicts

SUBSTITUTE SHORTAGE —Substitute teacher Marry Haddad guides juniors Maya Mukherjee and Felix Blanch through a physics assignment. " Substitute teachers do really hard and underappreciated work," Mukherjee said. Photo: Annum Hashmi

Substitute pay should be increased

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E APPRECIATE the commitment of substitute teachers in filling instructional vacancies following the transition back to in-person school and urge the Palo Alto Unified School District to pay substitutes the same salaries as neighboring districts.

The coronavirus pandemic has created health and safety concerns for substitutes, resulting in the number of substitute teachers in the district to decrease from 200 to 111 over the past year, according to Lisa Hickey, the director of certificated human resources for PAUSD. “Subbing is actually twice as hard as teaching,” English teacher Kindel Launer said. “There's tons of job opportunities out there, so why risk your health and your mental health for a community in a society that doesn't value you?”

In an effort to attract more substitute teachers, the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District has increased the daily pay for substitutes from $180

6 NOVEMBER 2021

to $225, while PAUSD recently increased Reid. daily pay from $165 to $180, according to “I imagine it's difficult to come into Hickey. a classroom, not knowing anything about As a neighboring district with a higher the kids or the format other than the plan cost of living, PAUSD should match sala- you're given, and having to try and get evries for substitute teachers. erything under control,” Reid said. “I apWhile the job of substitute teachers preciate the flexibility and the willingness a is traditionally unpredictable, recent years lot of subs have.” have required increased adaptability.

Students may not recognize the work “Substitutes have to be flexible because substitute teachers take on to assist in their there are so many last-minute assignments education, according to sophomore Anuhswhich substitutes have to take,” substitute ka Junnarkar, teacher Ninel Kushchenko said. “In most “They're [substitutes] overlooked, but cases, we are providthey are really vital ed with guidance, but keep the school Why risk your health to sometimes, maybe it's going,” Junnarkar an emergency subbing, ... for a community in said. we have to go with the Given the crita society that doesn't flow.” ical role substitute Verde believes sub- value you?” teachers play in our stitute teachers have a education, we urge — KINDEL LAUNER, English teacher challenging role in the PAUSD to raise the classroom and their pay of substitute contributions are critical to each class's suc- teachers to be equivalent to other school cess, as supported by sophomore Roxanna districts. v

“

The Verdicts editorial section expresses the collective opinion of the Verde Magazine staff.

Verde’s commitment to equitable journalism

Art by BLAIR MIGDAL

N 2018, VERDE PUBLISHED an using its results to guide our sourcing and editorial detailing the publication’s coverage. commitment to diversifying its sourcHowever, many of the problems idening and stories. The staff pledged to tified in the 2018 editorial are still present. seek out underrepresented voices by using A vast majority of our sources are a diversity audit, a still upperclassmen form used to track Severe underrepre(89.8% of students the age, race and appearing in our most gender of Verde’s sentation of Black, Parecent issue). Severe sources. underrepresentation cific Islander and LatThe audit of Black, Pacific Isshowed that adults inx sources persists. lander and Latinx and upperclassmen sources persists. We were overrepresented, while stories rare- still see uniformity in the perspectives ly featured underclassmen. Over half of shared by staff members as our staff continVerde’s sources were white, and Black, Lat- ues to be overwhelmingly white and Asian. inx and Pacific Islander sources were scarce.

Though we cannot change the makeIn recent issues, we have made nota- up of our staff, we will actively seek out ble progress — increasing the frequency of artists and photographers from underrepour diversity audit from once per semester resented communities to contribute to our to after the completion of each issue, and magazine, allowing us to visually represent

different voices.

We are hopeful that the piloted intersection of AVID’s English curriculum with the standards of beginning journalism will allow future Verde staff to include more diverse perspectives, especially those of first-generation students and those with lower socioeconomic status.

We will be updating our diversity audit to include questions about the reporting process, in addition to final outcomes. This will allow us to quantify our staff’s efforts in promoting equity. We will start publicizing the results of our audits on our website to keep ourselves accountable to our readership.

As we strive to become a more equitable publication, we welcome feedback from our readers in the form of direct communication or letters to our editors at verdemagazine1@gmail.com. v

I

Commending Kline’s approach to disciplinary action

“E

GG WARS" is an unsanctioned tradition between the Palo Alto High School junior and senior classes in which students meet at a designated off-campus location at night during Spirit Week to throw eggs at each other. The aftermath of the event and subsequent complaints have been, on occasion, serious enough to require the intervention of Paly administrators, who have differed widely in their punitory techniques.

We commend Principal Brent Kline for his response to the egg cleanup problems this year, a welcome departure from former Principal Jacqueline McEvoy’s disciplinary approach after the 2009 egg war.

In October 2009, upon hearing about the damage Paly students left on Gunn High School’s campus after holding egg wars there the night before, McEvoy took immediate action, handing out five-day suspensions to dozens of students who at-

tended and participated in the event. Eventually, most suspensions were either shortened to one day or fully rescinded, but the contentious debate about the correct way to deal with the conflict continued.

Contrarily, when students failed to clean up properly at Peers Park and the surrounding residential neighborhood, the location of this year’s egg fight, Kline decided against penalizing the participants, instead opting to give a speech at the spirit rally the next day.

“Discipline was not the answer,” Kline said. “The answer was communicating what we saw, what we felt and what we heard from the community to the students.”

The Associated Student Body organized multiple cleanups at Peers Park, providing students with an opportunity to rectify their mistakes. Several took the initiative to help restore the park.

“What Mr. Kline really wanted for the

future was to move forward with positivity, rather than just holding onto a ton of resentment, and we decided the cleanups would be one of the best courses of action to show that there are Paly students who do care about the community,” ASB President Johannah Seah said.

In place of suspending a student, Kline said he prefers an honest heart-to-heart conversation because it ultimately leads to more character development and personal growth.

“Even as adults, if we don’t see eyeto-eye or if there’s a misunderstanding, we don’t go away and never talk about it,” Kline said. “We work together to fix it by talking through things … instead of ignoring the problem by suspending somebody.”

Given the delicate nature of this event, we appreciate Kline’s response to the egg war cleanup problems and community concerns this year. v

VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 7

launch ASB ANSWERS

ZERO&: NEW BOBA SHOP OPENS IN STANFORD MALL

Text by Jonas Pao and Palina Kuzmina

A Photo: Melody Xu

WITH JUNIOR CLASS PRESIDENT ASHLEY HUNG How is ASB recovering from Spirit Week?

We had our post-Spirit Week recovery week and essentially had preps during our normal ASB class period. It really helped to have this time to relax and catch up on work after the chaotic week.

What skills did you learn through planning Spirit Week?

Spirit Week taught me to be more flexible and work around problems, like at float building or at rallies. I learned that it’s important to have backup plans ready, in case anything goes wrong— which is bound to happen, even if it seems like everything is planned out.

What activities are ASB planning in the future?

We’re working on various events for the student body, including more intramural sports tournaments, cookies on the quad and class bonding events. We’re also working in committees to advocate for Title IX and school safety, increase ASB transparency and tackle other issues at Paly.

8 NOVEMBER 2021

Photos by Emily Yao

MONG THE SEA OF BOBA SHOPS in and around Palo Alto, Zero&, a store that opened on Aug. 13 in Stanford Mall, stands out by providing a variety of healthier fruit and tea-based drinks. To complement the beverages, the restaurant also offers various cakes from Hanabi Cakes, a San Francisco-based bakery. We sampled some highlights on the menu.

Strawberry Marble — Consisting of half a pound of fresh strawberries in a jasmine tea base topped with cream, this drink lacks the sweetness expected. Despite the pink marbled look, the aftertaste was metallic, and the strawberry chunks created a sour taste.

Coconut Zero — Zero&’s most popular drink has a creamy coconut milk base mixed with coconut chunks, culminating in a light and refreshing coconut flavor — without being overly sweet. This drink is perfect for summer days.

Creme Brulee Muddy Milk— A creative and original interpretation of the classic milk tea, this drink has many layers of flavor and texture, a crunchy creme brulee topping, creamy milk tea and a chewy boba bottom, creating a sweet and satisfying drink.

Chocolate Sea Salt Oreo Mini Box — A stark contrast to the typical American cake, this cake had a light, spongy texture with a subtle hint of chocolate. The delicate chiffon cake layers with sea salt Oreo cream gave the dessert an airy consistency.

Text and design by AANYA KUMAR and OLIVIA MILNE

HAND-MADE TURKEYS To celebrate our gratitude for festive foods this holiday season, we asked students at Paly to draw us their best version of a hand turkey. The following are some of our favorites.

TEACHER VERBATIM: WHAT’S AN EMBARESSING MOMENT FROM WHEN YOU WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL?

Photos by Olivia Milne

“I got caught cheating on a German vocabulary quiz with a cheat sheet under my quiz paper ... it was horribly embarrassing, I was never usually that kid.” ­— Eric Bloom, history “During my free period, somehow I managed to skid out in my car and hit two parked cars and a boat in the road. When I borrowed a dime to call my dad, I borrowed it from the man whose car I hit.” ­— Kathi Bowers, math “The weekend before my junior prom, I sunbathed in my backyard and got so burnt I had to go to the emergancy room two days before prom.” ­— Deanna Chute, math

VERDOODLE: HOLIDAY SEASON

Art by Blair Migdal

VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 9

news District updates attendance system The Palo Alto Unified School District will be implementing a new District-wide Attendance System (DAS) in spring 2022 to continue meeting the goals listed in the Attendance Improvement Initiative (AII).

According to the AII, PAUSD aims to work toward lowering all identifiable student groups’ chronic absenteeism to below 5%. The Nov. 2 attendance report states 6.5% of PAUSD students are chronically absent this semester, a 1.8% increase from the 4.7% absenteeism recorded in semester one of the 2020-2021 school year.

“This attendance platform is really about identifying early on when we are seeing a student who will need intervention related to attendance,” Yolanda Conaway, Assistant Superintendent of Equity and Student Affairs said. “It is designed to both promote and respond to attendance concerns and we expect to see that that is going to have us get some energy around the positivity of attending and rewarding attendance in some way.”

School Board member Jennifer DiBrienza hopes the attendance efforts will increase inclusion of African-American, Pacific Islander and Hispanic/Latinx students who have the highest rates of absenteeism (1419%).

“Absenteeism probably isn’t just the problem itself, it’s the symptom of a bigger problem, so if our students are feeling the effects of systemic racism and bias, it’s gonna be harder to come to school,” DiBrizenza said.

by PAISLEY ANNES

10 NOVEMBER 2021

FROYLAN’S FLOWERS — Farmers Market vendor Edgar Froylan helps package sunflowers for his customers. Froylan said his farm has had to make changes to their cultivation strategies due to the drought. “We’ve had to cut back on how much we water our lilies, because they take a lot of water,” Froylan said. Photo: Bella Daly

Farmers Market faces drought

L

OCAL FARMERS are facing the effects of California’s three-year drought, impacting their cultivation and sales.

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide proclamation on Oct. 19, extending the drought emergency across the state.

Newsom also introduced water conservation efforts to combat California’s driest years since the late 1800s.

Farmer Chia Thao of C-Farms, a California Avenue Farmers Market vendor, said the drought has affected his livelihood in multiple ways.

“I end up spending close to $3,000 to $5,000 per month on water, which is equal to my salary,” Thao said. “I also can’t grow the variety of crops I’ve always grown [due to the drought].”

According to the California Water Science Center, California’s Central Valley produces 25% of the nation’s food, including 40% of the nation’s nuts, fruit and table foods. The region’s arid climate has significantly decreased crop production, as stated in a recent New York Times article. If this trend continues, it would likely come with

nationwide repercussions, as reported by the United States Department of Agriculture.

With California frequently moving in and out of drought conditions in recent years, some farmers have adapted their practices.

“A lot of our crops we actually dry farm,” farmer Jessica Iacopi of Iacopi Farms said. “We rely on heavy rain in the springtime and then we plant our peas with a fertilizer so that [the fertilizer] holds the water in.”

Though this year has been difficult on farmers, experts worry about the effects of a possible fourth consecutive year of drought conditions.

“We think we’ll be able to manage through this year,” David Pettijohn, director of water resources at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said to CalMatters. “Next year is the issue. And we don’t know what the water year is going to look like. Nobody can predict the weather.”

by BELLA DALY and AKHIL JOONDEPH

Proposed affordable teacher housing

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DOBE COMMUNITIES, Mercy Housing California and the County of Santa Clara are planning to build affordable teacher housing at 231 Grant Ave. starting in spring 2022.

At the Oct. 19 Palo Alto Unified School District’s board meeting, Adobe Community representatives shared plans to create 110 available units on Grant Avenue that would house both PAUSD and other school districts’ teachers. If the project materializes, these districts will fund the housing by providing grants. PAUSD will be given 26 of these units.

One of the goals of this project is to provide easier access to housing closer to PAUSD campuses.

“I have an hour in either direction on the way to school,” Palo Alto High School

photography teacher Kenna Gallagher said.

“An hour where there is a large possibility for traffic accidents, getting stuck and not being able to make it to school. This [long commute] could impact students and also my health and safety.”

Gallagher believes PAUSD’s plan to provide teachers with affordable housing is a step in the right direction.

“I think it would be nice to have access to affordable housing,” Gallagher said. “The housing prices here are just kind of catastrophic ... the teachers make an incredible wage compared to schools just outside this district, but it’s still not comparable to what it would cost for rent in the area.”

by ALEXIS CHIU

PAUSD wins best K-12 school district

P

ALO ALTO UNIFIED School District was recently ranked best K-12 school district in California and the second best school district in the state, both from the Niche 2022 Best School Districts in California.

According to Niche, PAUSD also holds the title of best school district with 10,000 or more students; PAUSD’s stellar reputation was a primary factor in drawing Superintendent Don Austin to the district.

“I came here because there is only a handful of places in the entire country that can even have this kind of a conversation [about holding titles],” Austin said. “I like being at a place that is a model and is still looking for those next levels of improvement. In our case, we have tremendous depth and breadth of programs.”

Palo Alto High School junior and Associated Student Body Treasurer Vivian Trach also appreciates the resources provided and the organization modeled by the district.

“I’ve been to two board meetings and it’s very organized, they seem to be doing a good job of things,” Trach said.

“There are a lot of good resources here, it’s cool to be in such a good academic space.”

ASB commissioner Evie Kramer feels Palo Alto has helped the school establish itself as a model district.

“The Palo Alto community’s support of PAUSD, through donations and participation, has really allowed the district to flourish,” Kramer said.

According to Austin, PAUSD still has many aspects upon which it can improve.

“We still have an equity gap,” Austin said. “We still have some students here that are not experiencing the same success as the majority of our students, and that’s not okay. I think when you are a beacon, a place that people look to, any missed opportunity is unacceptable.”

by MIYA WHITELEY

Quad watering frustrates students The new grass on Palo Alto High School’s Quad raises student concerns of possible overwatering.

“Grass is good, but they definitely over water it,” junior Marco Hernandez said. “They had the sprinklers on for weeks, that’s bad for the drought.”

According to senior Agnes Mar, watering has made school navigation harder.

“When I walk through the Quad, half the time I find myself stepping in puddles of water from the sprinklers,” Mar said.

Overwatering has led to a discussion about alternatives to grass on the Quad.

“I think there could be a discussion about whether grass or turf should be used,” junior Ryan Lee said.

This overwatering is part of a larger issue of managing the California statewide drought.

“As the western U.S. faces a potential third year of drought, it’s critical that Californians across the state redouble our efforts to save water in every way possible,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in his emergency drought declaration on Oct. 20.

by GOPALA VARADARAJAN

FENCED-OFF FUN ­— With half the quad fenced off, students are restricted to the remaining grassy areas. “Overwatering of the Quad has made it harder to socialize there because everything is wet,” senior Agnes Mar said. Photo: Gopala Varadarajan

VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 11

Mental health center continues efforts

T

EEN MENTAL HEALTH center allcove, located in Palo Alto’s Midtown, is continuing to offer free mental health and wellness services to local teens since its opening this past summer.

“We opened on June 25 … and had over 100 youths who visited both centers, with 86 choosing to participate in some kind of service,” Behavioral Health Division Director Rachel Talamantez said.

“Considering it was summer, considering the pandemic, we were actually quite pleased to see the response within the first two months.”

There are currently around 75 teens who utilize services like behavioral health, medical care, psychiatry, education or employment support, something Talamantez attributes to word-of-mouth between local teens.

“There’s the formal outreach that we do: going to different schools or fairs that young people would be at, going to different community locations, but … young person to young person has actually been the strongest referral source, which is really nice to see,” Talamantez said Beyond individual services, allcove hosts weekly game nights on Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and study

lounges on Mondays from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Senior Mental Health Organizer Veronica Robles emphasized the wide variety of reasons students visit the center.

“You can go and you can study, or you can just relax, even if you … [don’t have] a reason to talk to someone,” Robles said.

The center plans to continue its mission to destigmatize mental health and

foster community through these individual services, events and new projects.

“I hope that allcove will be a place that people will come to from the standpoint of when there’s a need, but also, when there’s not any,” Talamantez said.

by MELODY XU

by MELODY XU

IN THE COVE — An allcove member colors in a fall-themed book. The center offers space for youth to engage in activities like board games and coloring. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a place where you’re doing something or getting a service,” Behavioral Health Division Director Rachel Talamantez said. “It can also be a place just to unwind and have space.” Photo: Melody Xu

ASB prepares for next year’s Spirit Week

A

FTER REFLECTING ON this year’s Spirit Week, the Associated Student Body is working toward making next year’s Spirit Week run more smoothly by creating new committees.

ASB Spirit Commissioner and junior Evie Kramer said that this year, ASB had to essentially start from scratch.

Since Spirit Week did not happen last year and the records from past years could not be found, the school had to buy new materials and create new spirit rally games.

“We are putting in place committees who are working together to set up formal plans and document sheets for the next spirit commissioners,” Kramer said. “There’s a lot of stuff that we could

12 NOVEMBER 2021

have done previously to make our actual week a lot easier, but a lot of the stuff that we needed to do just got pushed to the last moment.”

Kramer feels that despite all of ASB’s efforts, there are many aspects of Spirit Week that are beyond ASB’s control.

“While we did put in measures that will hopefully make things easier for next year’s ASB, many of the events that happened during this year’s Spirit Week can not be fixed by ASB alone,” Kramer said.

ASB president and junior Johannah Seah said that a major issue ASB dealt with was criticism from the student body.

“A lot of students were blaming ASB or jeering at them or shouting at them, and pinning anything wrong [on ASB], even

if it wasn’t in their control,” Seah said.

“That took a large toll on everyone’s mental health.”

Seah believes this stress can be fixed in the future, but the solution lies in the hands of the student population.

“ASB members, while we do have a responsibility to serve the school, and we do hold a position in which we are put under a magnifying glass, we are still high school students,” Seah said. “We are just classmates in your classroom, we’re not super humans, so they [the student body] should just really take things into perspective.”

by JONAS PAO

Text by GOPALA VARADARAJAN and PALINA KUZMINA

Art by PALINA KUZMINA

THE MASK SITUATION VARIED OPINIONS ON COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS

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ITH ONLY FIVE min- ning of the year, and that’s been it,” Berkutes until first period son said. “I know if people forget once in begins, Palo Alto High a while, they’ll pull their masks down, but School junior Noah Bal- I don’t think that there’s a lot of malicious danado bikes as fast as he can, speeding unmasked people out there.” onto campus. As Baldonado recalls, he enWith falling COVID-19 cases and ters his classroom with 30 seconds to spare, increased vaccination, 68% of students his mask a suffocating blanket on his face. feel safe taking off their mask outdoors, Sweaty and struggling to breathe according to an anonymous opt-in survey through a thin piece of cloth, most stu- by Verde Magazine of 250 Paly students dents are familiar with the feeling of a conducted from Nov. 1-3. long day of wearing a mask at school. Yet “If I’m surrounded by a lot of peoeven as COVID-19 cases decrease and ple … I wear my mask,” freshman Emma safety regulations become less stringent, Thomas said. “But then if I’m out in the many students still choose to wear masks open, or like, just walking, then I pull it throughout the whole day, even outdoors. down.”

On Oct. 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom anNevertheless, some students still feel nounced that all eligible schoolchildren unsafe taking off their masks outdoors. (over five years of age as of Oct. 29) will “I’m fully vaccinated and the rest of be required to receive the coronavirus vac- my family is, but … my little brother is cine to attend California public schools. too young to get a vaccine,” sophomore Currently, Santa Clara Thomas Watkins County falls under the said. “Just because I I would like to see us yellow COVID-19 have a vaccine doesn’t tier, and staying in this being able to live more mean that I can’t tier for three weeks also spread it, so if freely, but we don’t would remove the inI take off my mask door mask mandate. know what’s going to and I somehow get As the county pushes I can spread happen with the coro- COVID, to end this mandate, it to my brother.” the question of the navirus and how it Although the necessity of masks and vaccine mandate will will evolve.” their future in schools ensure that all stucontinues to arise. dents are vaccinated In addition to — JENNIFER KLECKNER, health technician by next year, memthe new vaccine rebers of the Paly comquirement, Paly requires masks to be worn munity see its effect on masks as minimal. indoors, but allows students to remove “This [vaccine] mandate for school their mask outside, as per county guide- doesn’t mean that your family members are lines. going to have the vaccine,” freshman Pippa “Decisions are made at district level, if West said. “I feel like unvaccinated people not the county level … we’ve been pretty can still be a problem, and then you’ll have much following district and county rules to wear a mask because you could be a carmost of the time, if not all the time,” Assis- rier.” tant Principal Jerry Berkson said.

With varied opinions on the need for According to Berkson, enforcing the masks and their effects, the mask’s future at indoor mask mandate has been generally Paly is unknown. smooth, with no major issues so far.

“I think masks have been a very help“We had a little incident in the begin- ful tool, especially when we didn’t have

vaccines,” Paly Health Technician Jennifer Kleckner said. “I would like to see us being able to live more freely, but we don’t know what’s going to happen with the coronavirus and how it will evolve.” v

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VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 13

PALY MAC BOOSTERS Our 2021/2022 board meetings are open to all and will be held this year in the MAC building at 7PM on the following evenings: September 22 (Wednesday) December 9 (Thursday) Jan 26 MAC Open House March 16 (Wednesday) May 5 (Thursday) https://palymac.org/home/mac-boosters/

14 NOVEMBER 2021

VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 15

Text by CARLOTA BLANCO and INES LEGRAND

Art by PALINA KUZMINA

THE FRAGMENTED DISCUSSION OF ABORTION

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CROLLING THROUGH HER college list, Palo Alto High School senior Vienna Liu paused on Rice University, a school she was once interested in due to its strong academic reputation, but could no longer picture herself at for the next four years. Once she pressed “delete” on her keyboard, Rice University was off her list.

Due to recent anti-abortion legislation in Texas, Liu did not feel comfortable even considering the possibility of attending a school there, fearing she would not have access to an abortion if needed.

“I've never been to Texas, but [because of ] the environment that [the law] creates … I just didn't really want to be a part of that,” Liu said. “I couldn't see myself going there for the next four years.”

The Texas abortion law, known as Senate Bill 8, was passed on Sept. 1, banning most abortions after six weeks. In early November, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block the law, though it agreed to rule later in the month on what challenges to the law it will accept, according to the New York Times.

Additionally, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on a similar Mississippi law, which prohibits abortion after 15 weeks. The law was originally passed in 2018 but has yet to go into effect. These recent laws have cre-

16 NOVEMBER 2021

ated uncertainty around the 1973 Supreme that I think is going to be interesting to Court ruling Roe v. Wade, which gives watch over the next ten years is the war women access to abortion in the first six over digital information,” Oberman said. months of pregnancy, when the fetus is un- “It's going to be figuring out online where able to survive outside to get your informathe womb. from because A lot of people expect tion As debates over the war is going to abortion continue, everyone to think a escalate.” many young adults Along with certain way just befeel overwhelmed by possible conflicting the topic so extensive- cause of the communi- online information, ly covered in the news.

Oberman contemty we live in.”

Though perspectives plates the greater vary, misinformation — VIENNA LIU, senior impacts of the law, and a lack of open conand how opinions versation among adults on abortion might plague many teenagers’ perceptions of the change in California. issue.

“The open question for me is if Texas is allowed to say ‘This is murder, you should The Texas effect feel really bad if you do this ... you should Michelle Oberman, a professor of law know you're a murderer,’ whether that has at Santa Clara University and nationwide some sort of spillover effect on California,” expert on abortion, believes the effect of Oberman said. the recent Texas abortion law will soon reach school classrooms.

An incomplete conversation “What's going to happen in places Though abortion rights continue to like Texas is that they're going to try to in- be frequently debated on a national level, sert into high school curriculum not just opinions on the subject have hardly shifted abstinence-only, which is what they're al- since the 1970s, according to the New York ready doing, but also try to insert abortion Times. myths,” Oberman said.

Back on campus, Liu acknowledgHowever, Oberman also believes that es the polarization; in describing the Paly the internet will play a significant community, she said it can be difficult to role in abortion talk about abortion as people tend to be inawareness. tolerant of views opposing their own.

“The place “I think it's sometimes kind of hard for people … to speak out and have different opinions, just because we are very polarized towards one perspective,” Liu said.

“A lot of people expect everyone to think a certain way just because of the community we live in.”

Not only are divisive opinions harmful, but according to Oberman, the “taboo” nature of abortion as a subject prevents many from engaging in productive conversation.

“Honestly, [the national conversation on abortion] just feels like such disingenuous discourse,” Oberman said. “It's really unproductive because it is so incomplete.

And I think the incompleteness of it is because of our inability to talk meaningfully

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about sex.”

“We have an activity where we talk about why somebody might want to Common misconceptions choose one option … and why they might Often creating a one-sided discussion not want to choose another one based on a is the excessive blame of abortion placed whole bunch of scenarios,” Hubenthal said. on young girls, Oberman believes the ex- “So anywhere from a 16-year-old [who] cessive blame placed on young girl creates a becomes pregnant to a 52-year-old woman one-sided discussion on abortion. who thought she was in menopause but be “In all of this ongoing conversa- comes pregnant, or someone who's undertion about legalizing abortion, there is no going cancer treatment.” conversation around boys and men,” OberDespite Hubenthal’s efforts in teachman said. “Nobody's talking about the peo- ing abortion, according to a recent anonple who can actually prevent abortion … ymous Verde opt-in survey, 60.3% out of it’s ludicrous how much misogyny is just 131 female Paly students felt that sex eduaccepted as a part of morality here.” cation courses in PAUSD did not address Teen abortion is commonly misin- abortion sufficiently. Additionally, out of terpreted according to 136 female students, Oberman, who also be81.6% thought that lieves the assumption It's going to be figuring the class did not acthat teens are careless out online where to get curately address how in their sexual activity abortion can affect harms the dialogue be- your information beone’s mental health. tween adults and teen- cause the war is going This opinion is agers. emphasized by Sonja “From what I un- to escalate.”

Meyers, a Paly juderstand about adolesnior, who believes the — MICHELLE OBERMAN, professor cents, it's not sloppischool curriculum ness or carelessness that needs to change. causes unplanned pregnancy, it's actually “I feel like they don't teach enough inhibitions around [sex] and responsibility about [abortion],” Meyers said. “I know for contraception,” Oberman said. “I resent that our sex-ed, relatively compared to oththe allegation that girls are just sloppy.” er things here, it's decent, but I feel like it Oberman holds a strong stance on how could be better.” outdated beliefs can affect the lens through which abortion is looked at, saying that not Changing the curriculum all young girls consider abortion after their To improve school education on aborpregnancy. tion, Oberman suggests mirroring the edu“We know what teenagers are going cational models of other countries, where to do,” Oberman said. “If they can’t get an the conversation on c is more open and adabortion, they're going to try to have the dressed frequently. baby on their own. We have single moms “The way that I would ideally have us and they're teenagers.” talk about abortion is to look at countries that have very low abortion rates and notice The importance of information how they talk about sex,” Oberman said.

Living Skills, a required class for high “So the Netherlands, for example, from schoolers, is the main outlet for the Palo kindergarten they talk about [the] goodAlto School Unified School District to touch-bad-touch Stranger Danger talk … teach information about contraceptives [and] how [to] make a baby, and how to and safe sex. Living Skills teacher Joanna not make a baby, so that it's completely Hubenthal regularly looks for new and en- normalized long before you hit puberty.” gaging ways to expose her students to topics Oberman highlights other ways to including mental health, sexual activity and educate oneself online, including abortion abortion. information chatlines such as the Planned

Parenthood chatline, which provides teens with resources about abortion access, judicial waivers and parental consent.

To go even further in promoting conversations about the topic, Oberman hopes families can talk more about abortion, urging teens to seek out these discussions.

“What would be very helpful is to break the stigma around abortion so that a teenager could ask their mom, their aunts, their grandmas, ‘Can you tell me about the abortion?’ … Ask them to tell you their stories,” Oberman said. “We all have them.

And that's how you change the way we talk.” v

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Text by AJIN JEONG and ANDREW XUE

UNWRAPPING

PERIOD

STIGMA FREE MENSTRUAL PRODUCT BILL SPARKS CONVERSATIONS

Photo by Ajin Jeong

18 NOVEMBER 2021

$

20 A MONTH. $240 A YEAR. $18,000 over the course of a lifetime. That is how much money an average female spends on feminine hygiene products, according to the National Organization for Women. This life necessity can be an expensive investment for low-income people, especially students who may have trouble accessing menstrual products.

Until the Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2021 was signed by Governor Newsom on Oct. 8, existing laws required public schools with 40% of students below poverty threshold to stock restrooms with free feminine hygiene products. The new bill requires public schools with students grades 6-12, California State Universities and community college districts to stock the schools’ restrooms with free menstrual products in all women’s restrooms, all-gender restrooms and at least one men’s restroom regardless of poverty threshold before the start of the 2022-23 school year.

Palo Alto High School administrators have already made plans to install more menstrual products in female and gender-neutral restrooms on campus.

“We met with the district last week and did a tour of all the bathrooms, and I had to order six of those dispensers,” Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson said. “So we were two days ahead of the state.”

Easy access By stocking menstrual products in bathrooms, Paly administrators and health professionals aim to increase access to menstrual products for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds, regardless of their gender identity.

“I think it will be very helpful to those young women [who come from low-income families],” campus Health Technician Jennifer Kleckner said. “I have known students in the past who found it very hard to have access to those [menstrual] products, and it can be humiliating to not have them.”

Gender studies teacher Jaclyn Edwards said she believes that widespread accessibility to menstrual products across the school campus reduces the stigma surrounding the use of menstrual products for non-female students.

“It’s not about if a girl needs it and a man doesn’t,” Edwards said. “It’s acknowl-

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ALREADY STOCKED — Palo Alto High School Health Technician Jennifer Kleckner shows the menstrual products available in her office. Following the new bill, Paly will stock menstrual products in bathrroms. “I think it’s [the law] fabulous. I think that it will be very helpful to normalize what’s going on,” Kleckner said. “It’s just a wonderful step in the right direction that we’re doing this.” Photo: Andrew Xue

edging that there’s another community “I hope this will make people less besides the binary and we’re focusing on afraid to talk about their period,” Vostrejs transgender teens who may in fact need it said. “It’s a normal, human thing. It’s some[menstrual products]. By having it univer- thing we should all feel comfortable talking sal, it no longer puts that person in a posi- about.” tion of feeling uncomfortable or not being For members of the trasngender comable to get the prodmunity like Vostucts that they need We have to shift our rejs, including because of how they menstrual products mindset from treating identify themselves.” in both male and According to Ed- menstruation as a prifemale restrooms wards, the idea that is a significant step one’s gender deter- vate matter to consider- in promoting transmines their need for ing menstrual products gender visibility menstrual products and inclusion. should instead be a basic necessity.”

“If men had based on one’s biologperiods, menstru— SAM YAMASHITA, senior ical needs. al products would “They [the new already be free,” bill] take away not only the question of Vostrejs said. “Making people pay for gender, but it also takes away the question something natural that they can’t control is of your economic status, and just makes it unfair.” universal, a kind of a universal standard,” Edwards said.

Looking for more Junior Harvey Vostrejs, a transgenPublic Health Club co-president Sam der man, is hopeful that increased access Yamashita believes one step toward gender to menstrual products will reduce stigma equality at Paly is normalizing the use of surrounding periods for students of all gen- feminine products. ders. “​​I’m happy to hear that they passed

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that bill because being a woman shouldn’t come with a tax, and alleviating the cost of menstrual products — which can really add up — from women is definitely a step in the right direction,” Yamashita said. “We have to shift our mindset from treating menstruation as a private matter to considering menstrual products a basic necessity, because it really is just a basic human process that should be treated as such. We should consider tampons and pads similar to how we would think about toilet paper and hand soap, which comes with destigmatizing the discussion of menstruation.”

According to Mathew Signorello-Katz, co-president of FLOW club, which advocates for women’s health, well-being and dignity, the introduction of this new law proves to be a significant step in their club’s mission to improve widespread access to free menstrual products.

“It’s a good first start, but it’s one of many legislative actions that need to be taken regarding menstrual health,” Signorello-Katz said. “And I’d like to see this become a more nationwide effort in which you have menstrual products being provided for free in every school, across the United States.” v

VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 19

Text by ALEXIS CHIU and DOMINIQUE LASHLEY

Photo by ANUSHE IRANI

Brandy Melville backlash TRENDY BRAND CALLED OUT FOR EXCLUSIVITY

T

HE BRANDY MELVILLE inclusivity, racist and fatphobic messaging, Such was the case for Sara, an employgirl is tall and blonde. She dons as well as alleged unethical hiring practic- ee at a California location whose name has cropped baby tees under over- es. According to a jarring Business Insider been changed to protect her identity. sized hoodies and garners thou- report by Kate Taylor in September, over “Normally, I would expect them to say sands of followers on her perfectly filtered 30 Brandy Melville staff members claimed something like ‘We’ll reach out if you got social media platforms. This image is plas- higher management hired and fired several the position,’” Sara said. “But once I was tered across the brand’s Instagram, a mo- employees on the basis of height, weight done with my interview, they were just like, saic of small-sized white girls parading the and race. The article also alleges the compa- ‘We’d love to hire you.’ And that whole brand’s one-size-perny’s hiring process process took about a week.” style garments around includes approval However, Sara refuted rumors of toxic California cities and Its sizing policy of the applicant’s work conditions, describing a friendly, supbeaches. appearance and In- portive environment among employees. reinforces this The Italian based stagram account, “I know there’s so many rumors and company was founded unrealistic beauty with some employ- people assume the workers are [judgeby father-son duo Sil- standard, which is being ees being required mental], but at least all of my co-workers vio and Stephen Marto send daily outfit right now are really genuine and nice,” Sara san in the early 1980s peddled by a group of pictures to CEO said. “We’re a smaller community, but we but rose to promi- men in charge of Stephen Marsan for support each other.” nence following the approval.

2009 opening of its Brandy Melville.”

Furthermore, Warped reflections Los Angeles location Black employees As the brand’s controversy has grown, — GIADA PARIGI, senior near UCLA’s Westclaimed they were increasing numbers of students have also wood campus. The routinely scheduled been speaking up about the unrealistic brand has since skyrocketed in popularity shifts where fewer customers entered stores standards Brandy Melville sells to teen girls. among teens through its curation of a dis- and were sometimes fired after more white Most prominently, its infamous one-sizetinctive West Coast aesthetic. women became per-style sizing policy “The brand is so popular and has such available to fill has been controversial, a big influence that it’s easy to spot one of their positions. with many students Girls with a bunch of their signature items of clothing in public,” Verde Magafeeling it promotes Palo Alto High School Instyle Club Presi- zine reached out to different body shapes unrealistic body image dent Ariana Ebrahimi said.

Brandy Melville, standards. who couldn’t fit into With a store across the street from who declined to Ebrahimi, a former Paly, the brand’s influence on students has comment.

Brandy Melville shoptheir clothes felt bad been widespread for several years, but has The local per, weighed in on the about themselves.” recently faced backlash over its one-sized Town and Counimpact of the brand on clothing, unprofessional hiring practices try Village store is — ARIANA EBRAHIMI, president of Paly’s her psyche.

Instyle Club and “toxic” messaging. not exempt from “It [Brandy Mellthese allegations. ville] took a toll on An inside look Though it is a covsociety’s standards Despite its popularity, Brandy Melville eted place for Paly students to work, em- for girls since Brandy was such a popular is no stranger to controversy. Many criti- ployees describe the hiring process as un- brand,” Ebrahimi said. “Girls with a bunch cize the brand for a perceived lack of size usually quick. of different body shapes who couldn’t fit

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20 NOVEMBER 2021

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into their clothes felt bad about themselves because they didn’t fit into this brand that everyone liked.”

For some, the Brandy Melville clothes they wore as middle-schoolers no longer fit as they matured throughout high school.

Students describe the brand restrictive size selection’s adverse effects on their mental health as they developed into older bodies.

“It [the brand] is advertised to grown women who are very small, but, in reality, it can mostly only fit young girls,” senior Giada Parigi said. “If you start off wearing it, you kind of have a mentality to stay that size. And maybe when you can’t fit that anymore, when you grow up, which is natural, then you feel kind of like sh-t.”

Sophomore Chista Irani also expressed frustration with the brand’s sizing policies.

“I don’t think this [the sizing policy] is fair to many people because no one has the same body type,” Irani said. “It also makes other people feel like they have to have a certain body type to buy brandy’s clothing.”

Parigi said that the lack of larger clothing sizes sends a clear message about what customers the brand values.

“The brand and its sizing policy reinforces this unrealistic beauty standard, which is being peddled by a group of men in charge of Brandy Melville,” Parigi said.

Confronting criticism The avalanche of backlash against company policies in recent years begs the question: What makes Brandy Melville so popular?

Some students cite the collection of trendy clothing offered at affordable prices.

“I think everyone shops there because... [they’re] stylish and inexpensive,” senior Julia Tri said. “The one thing is it’s hard to find stuff that can fit you.”

Others also believe the exclusive sizing policies further play into Brandy’s marketing scheme as a sought-after brand.

“The more exclusive something is, the more hype and attention it is around it,” Parigi said. “That’s why luxury brands are so eye-catching and mesmerizing. It’s an exclusive group where only rich people have the means to afford it. And this is an exclusive group, where only very thin people can wear the clothes.”

Brandy Melville’s marketing strategy is unique in today’s fashion scene and may also play into the brand’s appeal. The com-

NOT YOUR MANNEQUIN — Paly sophomore Chista Irani sizes up a Brandy Melville tank top in the store’s dressing room as the mirror in front of her falls away to reveal a less attractive truth — an exclusive image and unethical hiring practices recently exposed by a scathing Insider report. “Brandy [Melville] has clothing that is often very cropped that sometimes makes me feel insecure to buy or wear,” Irani said. “I feel like it’s created for a very specific body type.”

Photo Illustration: Alexis Chiu

pany refrains from Internet ads, and shuns the use of professional models. Items never go on sale in-store, and their return policy is strictly store-credit only.

In response to ongoing criticism, Brandy Melville has recently taken steps to make its clothing inclusive of more body types.

“Brandy is finally starting to head down that road of being aware that they would have more customers if they decided to do different sizes [of clothing],” Sara said. “So I think we have had a bad reputation but we’re trying to go down the right road.” v

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T

HE SOUNDS OF CLATTERING KEYBOARDS and soft conversations imbue the small portable classroom, covering up the quiet drone of pop music in the background. Every student has an open computer in front of them with lines of code running across the screen. Roxanne Lanzot’s AP Computer Science Advanced class, located in Portable 1, is just like any other normal classroom, filled to the brim with lively students. Yet one thing was different — the number of girls present could be counted on one hand.

Such a scene is a common trend in Lanzot’s computer science and technology classes. Palo Alto High School’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) electives have almost always been dominated by male students. Although gender norms have begun to shift and steps have been taken — such as the creation of various girl-oriented programs and clubs — to encourage diverse

gender participation in STEM fields, there remains a clear gap in STEM classes.

Lanzot, one of Paly’s AP Computer Science teachers, noticed this gender divide in her own classes.

“I would love to see it [the classes] more accurately reflect the ratio and gender of the school,” Lanzot said. “But currently, that’s not true. It’s very male-dominated.”

Sophomore Risha Suvarna also expressed her thoughts on encouraging more female participation in STEM classes.

“I feel like diversity in general just brings more diverse ideas to the table,” Suvarna said. “So when there’s only guys in the class, you don’t get the female perspective as much.”

To assess the gender imbalance in STEM classes throughout the last decade, we examined statistics from Paly’s course enrollment and compared the 2010 numbers to those of today. v

2010-11

2018-19 (DID NOT RUN BEFORE) 20

FEM

45

All

2021-22 33

FEM

146

All

2010-11

2010-11

4

FEM

24

All

2021-22 FEM

35

FEM

85

All

All

80

All

2021-22

FEM

29

FEM

1 13

2021-22 28

All

22 NOVEMBER 2021

FEM

91

All

22 88

Design by ESTHER XU

COMPARING THE GENDER GAP IN PALY’S STEM ELECTIVES OVER THE PAST DECADE We should put forth the idea that females are also able to participate in it [STEM], because I think there’s a pretty big idea that it’s mostly a male-dominated space.”

I think in most of my STEM classes there tends to be more male participants than females. But I feel like they [females] have been increasing over the past couple of years.”

— SARINA GREWAL, freshman

— RISHA SUVARNA, sophomore

Data courtesy of Paly Academic Technology Specialist Kristine Ludemann - Source: PAUSD enrollment database

2010-11

2010-11

5

FEM

44

All

All

3

2021 - 22

11

82

All

2010-11

FEM

FEM

All

All

2021-22 All

32

FEM

N/A (FIRST YEAR RUNNING)

FEM

69

All

2020-21 (DID NOT RUN THIS YEAR) FEM

28

FEM

24 67

2021-22

6

FEM

32

All

38 115

VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 23

Text by ANYA MONDRAGON and MIYA WHITELEY

Art by KATIE WU

SETTLING FOR SCHOOLOGY

ASSESSING THE TAKEOVER OF ONLINE SCHOOL APPLICATIONS

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URROUNDED BY FRIENDS, Palo Alto High School freshman Lavanya Serohi was enjoying a well-deserved respite from school at a lively birthday party when her phone pinged with an incoming notification.

Seeing it was from Schoology, she quickly turned her phone off, making the decision to ignore it and get back to the party.

The intrusion of school into social lives and free time by online school applications like Schoology and Infinite Campus is something famili a r to many Paly students. An anonymous opt-in survey

by Verde of 250 Paly students collected from Nov. 1-3 had nearly 86% of respondents indicate that they had school-related applications on their phone. However, only 28.8% of students

24 NOVEMBER 2021

surveyed believed that school apps added to their stress at any time, although 92.2% reported that they used these platforms anywhere from one to six hours per day. Furthermore, an overwhelming majority, 97.6%, agreed that school-related apps are convenient.

Online overload Junior Lukas Pahlm is one of many students at Paly who has the Schoology app on his phone, easily accessible at any moment. Pahlm said he keeps his notifications off.

“With the iPhone app, you can change your settings so you don’t get notifications from them. It’s your own choice if you want to do that, whatever is best for you,” Pahlm said.

New to the Palo Alto Unified School District this year, Pahlm is able to compare Schoology to the online application at his old school.

“My application at my old school

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was pretty terrible too,” Pahlm said. “So good to have an online way to organize AP Literature and Humanities I’d say they’re pretty much equal.” all that.” teacher Mimi Park sees the value of keepThe default due date of 11:59 p.m. ing a boundary between school or work on Schoology is a stressor for Serohi.

Teaching with tech and free time.

“Due dates [online] kind of freak A return to in-person school this se“As with anything technological, if me out,” Serohi said. “Late at night [due mester has led some students and teachers we have too great of a dependence on it, date times] are worse [than earlier times] to reevaluate their usage and relationship or if we can’t separate ourselves enough, because then I don’t get enough sleep.” with online platforms like Schoology where we’re constantly checking whatFurthermore, having access to grades and Infinite Camever the app is, instantly from anywhere can be challeng- pus. Paly librarian I like having my assignthen that’s when ing, as Sophomore Susanna Aufrichtig Sima Thomas beit becomes kind said. gan posting more ments due in-person in of problematic,” “Even if I don’t have my computer, frequently to the the morning because it Park said.

I can just check it [test grades] immedi- library’s Schoology Park decided ately on my phone,” sophomore Susanna page in the spring gives me more flexibilito retain some of Aufrichtig said. “If I didn’t perform well of 2020 after school ty.” the practices that on a test, it can kind of weigh me down.” shut down. had to be adopt— AUDREY GUO, sophomore ed for the online Before school applications, the only “I felt very option for students would have been alienated and I school year, for to turn in all assignments in-person at missed being here with everyone so I instance, posting online versions of lecschool. started throwing stuff out there [on tures.

“I like having my assignments due Schoology] and like sharing book lists “I realized that a lot of my students in-person in the morning because it gives and little thoughts,” Thomas said. “I was do better if they’re able to access that inme more flexibility,” junior Audrey Guo hearing from people in the community; formation again [on Schoology] on their said. “[Then] I can work on it in the I’d run into students around Palo Alto own time,” Park said. “We don’t necessarmorning if I had a and families say- ily want to bring back everything that we particularly bad day I felt alienated and I ing, ‘We love your did on Zoom now that we’re in-person, before.”

Schoology posts,’ but there are certainly things that I think After weigh- missed being here with it was a nice feel- have helped me become a better teacher ing Schoology’s everyone so I started ing like I was in terms of supporting my students.” imperfections and reaching someIn addition, Park believes students the prospect of no throwing stuff out [on one.” could use some more practice with techonline school appli- Schoology].”

Students and nological literacy that could allow them cations, Pahlm preteachers both to use school applications more efficient— SIMA THOMAS, Paly librarian have experience ly and effectively. fers the benefits of Schoology, adherfinding the bal“Because of all that practice the last ing to the consensus of Verde’s statistics ance between checking school applica- [online] year, I think more students this survey. tions too much or too little. year are proficient at using Schoology,” “I think it would be in one way more “I think with the concept of School- Park said. “In years before, students had stressful [to not have any online appli- ogy, the pros are that it’s a really nice way a hard time finding things; there were so cations] because on Schoology you can of broadcasting information,” Thomas many apps to keep track of.” see exactly what the assignment is if you said. “I think the downside is if you’re As for the worry that 11:59 p.m. didn’t quite hear what your teacher said not in the habit of checking it, you end deadlines could cause students to put or something like that,” Pahlm said. “It’s up missing things.” off doing their homework until the last minute, late at night, Park is not too concerned. Nearly 40% of Verde’s survey respondents indicate that they wait until the last minute to complete their school assignments frequently or very frequently.

“To be fair,” Park said. “I think that regardless of whether they were handed in [as a physical copy in-person] or not, if a student was gonna be late with an assignment, it was going to happen regardless, right?” v

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DECOLONIZING Text by SASHA BOUDTCHENKO and SOFIA ANTEBI

INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES ON COLONIAL HOLIDAY

Art by DAVID TOMZ

many natives of their property and rights, groups during the formation and evolution leaving them homeless on their ancestral of this country.” lands. Though Thanksgiving is marketed Paisley emphasized the importance of as a time of peaceful communion between learning and teaching the holiday’s history natives and colonists, their relationship was beyond what is taught to young children at rarely peaceful, and many Indigenous peo- school. ple have called attention to this dichotomy.

“Latching onto false narratives of Nevertheless, some Indigenous schol- peaceful relations between Natives and ars today, such as Stanford University’s Euro-American settlers at the foundation Center for the Comof this nation perE HAD CERTAIN WAYS parative Studies in Race petuates an incorrect that we did life under our and Ethnicity Advisory The holiday is based public assumption sun,” Muwekma Ohlone Board Chair, Valerie upon a false premise that marginalizes the tribe member Joseph Tor- Red-Horse Mohl, value experiences of conres said. “And now we’re stuck in a four-cor- the celebration of grat- of a mutually bentemporary Indigenered wall … celebrating colonizers’ visions itude that comes with eficial relationship nous people,” Paisley of celebrations of mixed relations.” the holiday. wrote.

Prior to the arrival of European settlers “I don’t like the between Natives and To move forand the violence that followed. Indigenous history of what hap- settlers” ward, Paisley finds tribes such as the Muwekma Ohlone — pened around the first that visibility is of —WILL PAISLEY, Stanford student one the greatest iswho are native to the San Francisco Bay Thanksgiving,” RedArea — lived drastically different, uncon- Horse Mohl said. “I sues facing the Indigfined lives where they were free to practice mean, there’s lots of enous community. their traditions and live by their cultural negatives, you can look at the smallpox that “One of Native America’s greatest values. was brought, and just all kinds of things. challenges is combatting the myth of invisThough Thanksgiving often celebrates But I think at the end of the day, it is a ibility,” Paisley wrote. “If the public percepthe tale of the union good time to give thanks tion thinks that all Natives were killed and of pilgrims and Infor whatever is a blessing no longer exist, that sets a dangerous precdigenous tribes, the We’re still here, we’re in our lives.” edent which undermines the contemporary truth of struggle and still trying to bring Two-Spirit Stan- experiences of our extremely culturally hetdisplacement is conford University student erogeneous population.” cealed behind this back our ways, our of Navajo and BlackPaisley said he encourages people to festive mirage. In cultural ways that feet origin, Will Paisley, educate themselves on the Indigenous perlight of the upcomexpressed similar senti- spective. ing holiday, Verde were once really beatments.

“Learn whose original land you are reached out to local en out of us,” “I was not raised on,” Paisley wrote. “Make some effort to Indigenous voices with a critical perspec- understand the contemporary struggles of —CHARLENE NIJMEH, chairwoman of tive of the holiday as we Native people and examine how one can be for perspectives on Muwekma Tribal Council celebrate it in the spirit a better ally to tribal peoples.” the traditions of Thanksgiving. Here of gratitude for one anAs a part of her effort to represent conis what we learned. other,” Paisley wrote in temporary Indigenous people, Red-Horse The first Thanksgiving was a celebra- an email to Verde. “However, that does not Mohl encourages others to take time tion of colonial success, a conquest that divorce the fact the holiday is based upon a during this holiday to learn more came at the cost of native lands. According false premise of a mutually beneficial rela- about the native experito a New York Times article, in subsequent tionship between Natives and settlers which ence by decades, descendants of the settlers that presents a narrative of peace between celebrated the first Thanksgiving stripped the two

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THANKSGIVING reading about Indigenous culture, watch- cultural ways that were once really beaten ing native-focused movies and viewing tra- out of us,” Nijmeh said. ditional artwork.

Torres described the spiritual origins of Red-Horse Mohl said she also wants the Muwekma Ohlone. to see people, irrespective of their back“All of our stories go really deep to the ground, learning more about the native start,” Torres said. “We have star knowltribes of their area. For instance, Red-Horse edge. All of us were great navigators. The Mohl mentioned that Muwekma were peothe Muwekma Ohlone ple between land and When the American tribe is native to Palo water, so we had a period came, they Alto. different relation“They [the Muship compared to the mined gold ... and wekma Ohlone] have a Northern Plains peovery vibrant tribe that then they built Silicon ple or all the way up works on sacred sites, to the red earth peoValley on top of our preservation of sacred ple, the Apaches.” sites, and they’ve imple- heads.”

The Muwekmented a land tax and ma Ohlone are now —CHARLENE NIJMEH, chairwoman of working to revive there’s so much to learn Muwekma Tribal Council their long-dormant about the Ohlone,” Red-Horse Mohl said. culture.

Chairwoman of the Muwekma “We didn’t want to go dormant, we Ohlone Tribal Council, Charlene Nijmeh didn’t want to go to sleep,” Torres said. “We attributes the Muwekma’s lack of federal had to put our songs and dances away … recognition and security of Congress-man- and now we’re back. We are reviving our dated land for the tribe to a long history of way back … these laws that have changed political erasure. human rights are giving us an opportunity “When the Spanish came, they built to dance and sing and wear our shell medmissions on our heads, on my people’s icines, grow our hairs out. You know, live heads,” Nijmeh said. “When the American these ways.” period came, they mined gold and then While acknowledging the importance they developed cities, and then they built of being educated on the history of IndigSilicon Valley on top of our heads And I enous people in the United States, Redthink that, they did this because they want- Horse Mohl also places emphasis on ed to displace the first inhabitants of the moving forward in a positive direction, lands.” guided by the concept of gaduNijmeh emphasizes the importance of gi — a Cherokee word acknowledging the original stewards of the meaning doland.

“We’re still here, we’re still trying to bring back our ways, our

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ing things that are good for the community, according to Red-Horse Mohl.

“I think we’re at a time where we need to work together and come together,” RedHorse Mohl said. “And so I want everything to be with a spirit of gadugi so that non-Indian people know that it’s okay to learn about our culture, ask questions, and we’re welcoming those inquiries, and then it’s good for us to just go forward working together.” v

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Text by CARLOTA BLANCO and KIERAN ZAJAC

ernesto cruz A CAMPUS SUPERVISOR'S PAST AND PRESENT

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RNESTO CRUZ CRUISES in do some homework a little bit,” Cruz said. his golf cart around the bustling “We didn’t have much homework. And Palo Alto High School campus, then [we] played [soccer] at night in the smoothly traversing the grounds. streets. That was the best time.”

At every corner, Cruz exchanges friendly However, Cruz’s adolescence was ingreetings with teachers, staff members and terrupted in 1979 by the Salvadoran Civstudents. il War, fought between the military-led “My boy!” Cruz projects across the government and left-wing militia groups.

Quad, saying hello to history teacher Jus- Fearing violence and hoping for salvation, tin Cronin.

Cruz was forced to say painful goodbyes “How are you?” responds Cronin, to his beloved grandmother and flee his and a short conversation ensues. Moments home to the United States. later, Cruz sees another Paly employee, reOnce in San Francisco, Cruz shared marking, “I get to meet a lot of beautiful a cramped, single-room apartment with people, like this one coming up!” his mother. He felt a responsibility to take The young Paly care of his mothalumnus, BJ Boyd, er and himself, I can’t change myself. responds lovingly, prompting him “[Ernesto is] one of And in this community, to enroll in the the greatest guys in same English class it’s OK to be different.” twice — once in the world.”

Cruz can be the morning and — ERNESTO CRUZ, campus supervisor found directing parkagain in the afing in the morning, ternoon for extra monitoring the crosswalk to Town and practice — at a San Francisco community Country at lunch and hanging around the college.

Quad at all hours of the school day. As “It’s funny because I used to get critcampus supervisor, Cruz ensures the well- icized in my own class because I wanted being and safety of students and staff, but to learn the language so badly,” Cruz said. this is only one aspect of his life.

“Everybody was talking in Spanish in the class and I was the only one that didn’t say Far from home [any] words in Spanish.”

Much of Cruz’s journey through life has revolved around soccer. Born in El Sal- Life at Paly vador, he grew up playing with friends in Cruz was working in construction the streets of his neighborhood, and later when he was hired as campus supervisor even played in the minor leagues. for Paly in 2004, later returning to his “After school, I would go practice with athletic roots and becoming the school’s my club team and then back home [and] girls varsity soccer coach. In his first years

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EARNEST ERNESTO — In having a similar mindset as his mentor, another soccer coach also from El Salvador, Cruz appreciates the opportunity to teach kids who have less experience.”It’s so sad to see a kid watching and other kids playing and they don’t have the opportunity [to play],” Cruz said. “But I prepare them ... All of a sudden they become players.” Photo: Carlota Blanco

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CRUISING CRUZ — Supervisor Ernesto Cruz drives around Paly’s campus on his iconic golf cart, giving him the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with many students, especially Paly’s Spanish speakers. “I’m trying to make them feel like we part of it, and that we don’t have to change,” Cruz said. Photo: Anushe Irani

as coach, he faced criticism of his coaching style.

“It was hard for me to fit in because I didn’t have a big record in my resume as a coach,” Cruz said. “I picked two freshmen [for] varsity as starters and the parents went crazy. They told me that I didn’t know what I was doing. At the end of the season those two freshmen scored 34 goals between both of them.”

On and off the field, Cruz has created meaningful connections with many Paly students, including a football game against Los Gatos High School where the two players who scored the winning touchdown dedicated it to Cruz. “[One of them] ran straight to me and he says, ‘That’s for you Ernesto,’” Cruz said.

“And I feel so special. And I didn’t know those two guys who were gonna be so successful in life too, you know?.”

Cruz said he is especially grateful for the Palo Alto community’s open-mindedness and general acceptance of people that come from different backgrounds, like him.

“I got to be honest, when I came to Palo Alto and started working here, I felt a

little bit intimidated and I was very skeptical to say certain things,” Cruz said. “But after a while, I say, what the heck … I can’t change myself. And in this community, it’s OK to be different.”

munity, they are very happy kids. They’re always smiling and they’re always laughing at everything. You go to my country, everybody smiles.”

Cruz aspires to help players improve their skills through his coaching, especially Pursuing his passion those who are not considered the best.

After successfully building a life in “That’s my passion, to have a kid who the Bay Area, Cruz wanted to give back nobody wants and give them hope [to] start to his country while continuing to follow enjoying the game,” Cruz said. “Because his passion for soccer. Every year, Cruz that’s what it’s all about. I got parents with takes soccer teams to tears coming down El Salvador, collectto me and saying, That’s my passion, to ing uniforms, soccer ‘I didn’t know my equipment and cloth- have a kid who nobody daughter could be ing from Bay Area wants and give them that good.’” schools and bringing While Cruz them to small towns hope [to] start enjoyplans on retiring in in El Salvador. the near future, he ing the game.”

Cruz also brings wants to continue — ERNESTO CRUZ, campus supervisor with his soccer proplayers’ parents on the trips, often regram. ceiving comments “I want to go regarding how warm and joyful the Salva- back to El Salvador and help the kids and doran community is. work with my people trying to help them “For El Salvadorans, material is not up,” Cruz said. “So that’s my goal, to have that important,” Cruz said. “In my com- an academy there.” v

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30 NOVEMBER 2021

profiles Text by ALEXIS CHIU and ALLEGRA WEST

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Photo illustration by BLAIR MIGDAL

Sculptures in the sand

SPANISH TEACHER PURSUES SEASIDE PASSION

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PANISH TEACHER PILAR Ba“If there’s people that are walking by dillo Novas describes the pitch black … we ask them to join us,” Badillo Novas morning sky that cloaks her and her said. “So anybody’s welcome. In the end it family as they prepare to leave for works out very well, somehow.”

Carmel Beach. They are on their way to the Rather than the traditional beachside Carmel Beach Great Sandcastle Competi- sandcastle, Badillo Novas’ sand sculptures tion hosted by the City of Carmel and the resemble massive three-dimensional sand Monterey Bay Chapter of the American In- carvings sculpted into the moist, dense unstitute of Architects. Despite the early hour, derlayer of sand. the Badillo Novas Badillo Nofamily eagerly pack vas and her family The first prize is what their car to the brim start by marking with shovels, buck- they call the golden shov- where they want ets, strings and other el, [and] we have won that the sculpture to sandcastle-building go, then digging equipment, ready to several times.” a few inches down begin their journey to create a founda— PILAR BADILLO NOVAS, Spanish teacher tion for the structo the competition.

Since 2000, ture. Afterward, Badillo Novas has they pack in the competed alongside 30 other teams to sand to create the basic shape of the sculpbuild elaborate sand sculptures in hopes of ture. taking home the competition’s first place While her husband finds the inspiraprize — the coveted golden shovel, an tion image and scales it accordingly to build award Badillo Novas and her family have its replica on the beach, Badillo Novas has won several times. her own responsibility for each sculpture.

Badillo Novas’s sandcastle-building hobby began over 20 years ago as a cure for boredom at the beach.

“We were at the beach, we didn’t know what to do,” Badillo Novas said. “So my husband came up with the idea of making sandcastles.”

What started as a way to kill extra time has transformed into an annual family tradition. Each year, Badillo Novas and her family head out to a beach in Carmel with an elaborate design in mind, ready to sculpt. However, once at the beach, the building process is never exclusive to Badillo Novas and her family, and she welcomes all who are interested in joining and helping.

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“My main goal for when we go to the beach is the shape and the volume [of compacted sand blocks],” Badillo Novas said.

“I do the big one [compacted sand block] and then everyone does the little ones [sand blocks] around the shape.”

Once the sculpture is complete, Badillo Novas and her family have mere moments to admire their work before the waves rush ashore, washing away hours of tireless work. Photos will be all that remain.

“We are very proud, but of course, sandcastles are very ephemeral,” Badillo Novas said.

While the sculptures themselves have short lives, their creation fosters community, leaving Badillo Novas with unforgettable memories of her family on the shores.

“You build something that you know is going to disappear within a few hours with it when the tide comes in,” Badillo Novas said. “But it gives you the pleasure of working with other people in a group with your family and your friends. So it was nice to see how something so beautiful could come out of something so organic.” v

SEAPONY EXPRESS — Pilar Badillo Novas stands triumphantly with her husband and son by their completed mermaid sculpture. She is shown waving the coveted golden shovel that they won for their creation.

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A LOVE F OR LANGUAGES Text by YASH SHETTY and MELODY XU

POLYGLOTS REFLECT ON LINGUISTIC EXPERIENCE

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ULTILINGUA. ‫تولجيلوب‬. ब हु भा षी . π ο λ ῠ́ γ λ ω σ σ ο ς . बहुभाषग्रन्. Polyglot. Regardless of what language you use to describe one, a polyglot is an individual who is capable of “speaking or writing several languages,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

While many at Palo Alto High School are multilingual, a few determined students like junior Lea Muminović Hadžić and senior Neil Rathi have taken the next step in becoming true polyglots.

Lea Muminović Hadžić Paly junior Lea Muminović Hadžić said she does not remember a time when she was not a polyglot. Hadžić is fluent in five languages: Bosnian, Swedish, English, French and Spanish — that is, if you leave

32 NOVEMBER 2021

Photo illustration by YASH SHETTY (photos) and BLAIR MIGDAL (art)

out American Sign Language, which she lose interest,” Hadžić said. “So I think it’s picked up for fun in the early months of important when you’re learning your lanthe COVID-19 lockdown. guage to really do things you love — read Born and raised in Sweden with Bos- books, watch movies.” nian parents, Hadžić’s native languages For example, social media usage — in were Bosnian and particular, running Swedish. Hadžić lived a Selena Gomez fan It’s important when in Sweden up until last page on Instagram year, where she first you’re learning your — was essential to was exposed to several Hadžić’s process of non-native languages language to really learning English. inside the classroom.

“I didn’t do it do things you love “In Europe, it’s a [run the fan account] lot of small countries — read books, watch for the purpose of with a lot of different movies.” practicing a language languages,” Hadžić but looking back — LEA MUMINOVIĆ HAŽDIĆ, junior now, I realized that said. “It’s not forced to learn a lot of languages even though I started but it becomes neceslearning English [at sary, and something people want to do.” home], my English came from being on soHadžić credits her ability to retain cial media,” Hadžić said. language to starting young; it is commonHaving a grasp on not one, but five ly known that the younger an individual languages comes with perks in and out of is, the easier it is for their brain to absorb the classroom. Upon learning about the and retain languages. Her advice to those Louisiana Purchase in AP U.S. History, learning languages is to go beyond simply Hadžić took her education of the subject studying grammar. one step further.

“Sometimes just studying the techni“I was really interested in learning calities and grammar can get very nitty and more of the French perspective,” Hadžić gritty and very tedious, and sometimes you said. “So I searched up Napoleon’s diaries

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PALY POLYGLOTS — Senior Neil Rathi and junior Lea Muminović Hadžić’s handwritten sentences in their respective languages represent their passion for linguistics. “I want to probably go into academia, and work in linguistics,” Rathi said.

and I read them in French. It was really, really interesting to be able to use my languages for something I’m interested in.”

With five languages under her belt, Hadžić is sure that her languages will aid in future endeavors as well.

“Whether I want to work with business or policymaking, I’m sure I’ll have so many doors open,” Hadžić said.

For the most part, learning languages Rathi hopes speaking these languages is a self-driven project for him. Rathi was will preserve elements of culture that canalways exposed to Hindi through his fami- not be expressed in other languages. ly, but never was able to properly converse “Each of these languages carries this with them. When learning Hindi, his main entire new body of literature that somestrategy was jumping into those Hindi con- times isn’t translated and sometimes even versations if it is translat“I was kind of disconit doesn’t Each of these languag- ed, nected from being Indian,” really do jusRathi said. “I think learning es carries this entire tice to transNeil Rathi Hindi was a way of reconit,” Rathi new body of literature late Senior Neil Rathi took a Latin class necting with my culture and said. “In Greek with the intention of simply satisfying reconnecting with my fami- that sometimes isn’t ‘e u d a i m o n i a’ school credits — and then promptly found ly.” (εὐδαιμονία) is translated.” interest in the field of linguistics as a result, Similarly to Hadžić, roughly ‘hap— NEIL RATHI, senior piness’ but it even founding Paly’s Linguistics Club.

Rathi has seen new languag“There were really interesting paral- es open doors for him to excomes with lels between Latin and plore foreign topics at this connotation of luck so it more closely Hindi,” Rathi said. Languages have, with- a deeper level. translates to ‘luck-derived happiness.’”

“That was kind of “Languages have, Beyond English, Latin and Hindi, what got me started in them, this very within them, this very Rathi emphasized the importance of pickinto being interested distinct storytelling distinct storytelling ing up historical, and in some cases, “dyin language.” tradition,” Rathi said. ing,” languages.

Rathi considers tradition.”

“When I learned Lat“There are currently 7,000 languages — NEIL RATHI, senior himself fluent at varyin, I was able to learn and some estimates say that like in the next ing levels of English, a lot of new stuff 100 years, half of them will be extinct,” Latin, Hindi, Sanskrit about Roman his- Rathi said. “So it’s really important just to and Ancient Greek. At lower levels of pro- tory and Roman military tactics. When I protect those languages because they conficiency, he studies Arabic, Old English and learned Greek, I was able to start reading tain so much history of different cultures French. about Greek philosophy.” and places.” v

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Text by AJIN JEONG and MERWA MAROF

Art by PALINA KUZMINA

Berghout

breaks out “I

FEMALE COMEDIAN NAVIGATES STAND-UP INDUSTRY

N MARCH 2020, I STARTED this pandemic out as a bisexual woman, my politics were centrist-liberal and I think there’s a lot to say about a year and a half of not presenting for society and being alone with your own thoughts,” Palo Alto High School senior and stand-up comedian Phoebe Berghout said in a re-enactment of her performance during an interview with Verde. “It’s also a lot of time to watch lesbian period dramas.”

Berghout is a Paly student who spends her free time writing and performing standup comedy. After over a year of COVID-19 restrictions inhibiting her ability to perform in front of crowds, Berghout has returned to stage with her reflective, personal performances that bring a new perspective to the genre of stand-up.

The process Berghout always keeps her stand-up notebook on hand, so whenever something thrilling or embarrassing happens to her, she can document that moment in hopes of crafting a joke about it later to amplify

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its humor.

“I like to make a lot of self-deprecating jokes,” she said. “I think it’s fun to make jokes about things in your life that aren’t going great. I’m my own source of inspiration.”

After compiling these jokes, Berghout looks for common themes in her vignettes to connect these isolated moments in her life into a single, cohesive stand-up routine to preform.

Because personal anecdotes are the inspiration for most of Berghout’s work, she often finds presenting these jokes to crowds nerve-wracking.

“I’m vulnerable in front of a lot of strangers, which makes me get really freaked out,” she said. “But none of that matters as soon as you get your first laugh.”

Berghout said her experiences performing stand-up have allowed her to accept imperfections and mistakes in her work.

“I’m learning how to be okay with the fact that not every time you get a laugh,” she said. “Some jokes fall short and people will not find them hilarious, and that’s okay.”

The comedy industry Because comedy is a male-dominated industry, Berghout feels constant pressure to break the stereotypical image of a comedian.

“People have their image of a comedian — a white, straight guy — and that is the face of comedy,” Berghout said. “People don’t necessarily think that anything that

doesn’t fit that mold is going to be as funny. We don’t even realize how humor has directly been associated with men and continues to be in our society.”

Berghout looks up to many comedians like May Martin and Sarah Silverman for their witty takes on more serious topics that she can relate to.

“May Martin makes really funny jokes about gender and being gay and all that good jazz and delivers it in a really, really good way,” Berghout said.

Before senior Emma Joing saw Berghout’s performance at the Palo Alto Teen Arts Council Open Mic on Oct. 8, she had not been interested in stand-up comedy because of the perception that it was based on stereotypes and offensive jokes.

“It [Berghout’s performance] really resonated with me because the little stuff I knew about stand-up was men making offensive jokes,” Joing said. “To hear a different perspective and have one of my first experiences in stand-up be that other perspective of women making actual, respectful, funny, well-thought-out jokes [was great].”

Through her unique perspective, Berghout uses comedy to tackle serious topics that she cares about such as gender, sexuality and climate change.

“Comedy is good at making challenging and emotional topics feel more approachable,” she said. “The biggest thing that I look for when I’m on stage is to make people uncomfortable and build tension then to break that with a joke — it’s the best feeling.” v

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STAND-UP SENSATION — Senior Phoebe Berghout poses before performing her stand-up set for Verde. “I get a lot of joy from being able to make people laugh, but also being able to make people think,” Berghout said. Photos: Ines Legrand

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Text by GOPALA VARADARAJAN and JERRY FANG

Art by BLAIR MIGDAL and photo by JULIAN KOBAYASHI

SC URING THE SKY STUDENT SCIENTIST DETECTS NEW ASTEROIDS

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HIS IS A PRETTY BRIGHT source,” said Palo Alto High School senior Franklin Wang, recalling the moment when he found his first undiscovered asteroid.

“It’s moving in a straight line … There’s no [previously known] objects within this vicinity. No asteroids, no satellites.

Then it’s most likely going to be an asteroid that’s new.”

Over the span of two years, Wang developed an artificial intelligence algorithm to scan public telescope data and tuned it to detect near-Earth objects, an extraordinary achievement for anyone, let alone a high school student.

Before diving into the complex world of outer space, Wang’s passion for astronomy originated from watching “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” and reading Scientific American.

Wang’s enthusiasm for programming, on the other hand, began in second grade when a friend introduced him to Scratch, a simple visual programming language in which he could code simple games. As he grew older, Wang delved into more intricate programming languages, such as Java and

Python, being motivated by competi- algorithm reported many more asteroids tions such as the USA Computing Olym- than he expected, far too many to be true.

“I got a bunch of false positive repiad and using Youtube as a resource.

These two passions converged in sults,” Wang said. “It was just spewing 2019, when astronomy professor Dr. Jian out stuff that weren’t asteroids at all … it Ge of the University of Florida recom- was tens of thousands, that was just too much.” mended a research paAfter perper to Wang during a revising mentorship program. I was shaking. Is it ac- sistently his algorithm over The report described tually going to be real? many months, a process to find asWang reduced the teroids using machine And it was … that was number of false learning and asteroid crazy.”

— FRANKLIN WANG, senior positives to levels data from Caltech’s​​ where manual siftZwicky Transient Facility. Inspired by the paper, Wang de- ing was viable. From there, he compared cided to try his hand at making his own the orbitals of previously discovered asteroids to his data, containing a mixture asteroid-detecting algorithm.

“The whole first couple of months of possible asteroids and miscellaneous was trying to figure out what this field streaks of light.

“Previously I found … figments of is and how it works,” Wang said. “That was basically getting to see what real as- a star being super bright, causing some teroids look like in terms of little trails.” artifacting,” Wang said.

But after punching numbers into the Initially, Wang was only able to extract a couple hundred pictures from the asteroid database and realizing he stumZTF. This proved problematic for his bled upon an undetected asteroid, Wang code, as training an artificial intelligence was speechless.

“I was shaking,” Wang said. “ ‘Is it to identify asteroids required having preactually going to be real?’ And it was … vious images from observatories.

“Machine learning algorithms, they that was crazy.”

Following his initial discovery, Wang want thousands, tens of thousands of imidentified five more new asteroids over ages,” Wang said.

To compensate for the lack of infor- the next four days. His breakthrough mation, Wang created his own asteroid won him awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair, including data.

“I can try to simulate some first place in physics and astronomy and data because they’re generally $30,000 in prize money.

“When you make an impact in terms simple … you can mathematically model the [asteroid] of research, it’s figuring things out … until you hit that point where like, okay, I’m trails,” Wang said.

However, the first finally making discoveries now,” Wang said. “I was just really excited to iterations of Wang’s see that everything I’ve done has finally paid off.” v

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ANALYZING ALGORITHMS — Paly senior Franklin Wang inspects his code, hoping to automate more of the process. “The goal here is to first of all revise it,” Wang said.

“There’s a lot of human involvement still.”

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profiles Text by ASHMITA RAJMOHAN and ANDREW XUE

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Art by BLAIR MIGDAL

CRYPTO CRAZE

STUDENTS VENTURE INTO THE CRYPTO WORLD

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69 MILLION. THAT IS HOW much Mike Winkelmann, a renowned American digital artist, earned from selling his NFT, or non-fungible token. Upon reading this news, Palo Alto High School senior Ziv Weissman decided to learn about and create NFTs, a decision that would later have a profound impact on his life. Weissman is one of several Paly students who have taken it upon themselves to explore the possibilities of cryptocurrencies and NFTs. Decrypting crypto A cryptocurrency is a digital asset secured by cryptography, making it nearly impossible to counterfeit. The technology that underlies crypto is called blockchain, a digital receipt of transactions that is duplicated and distributed across systems of computer networks around the world.

“Blockchain is mostly used to facilitate cryptocurrency transactions,” Weissman said. “This means that you can make transactions without having to go through a central authority, which in theory, results in quicker transactions and lower fees.”

Each block in the chain contains many transactions, and every time a new one occurs, a record of that transaction is added to every participant’s ledger.

Cryptic activities Andrew Pham, a freshman at Foothill College and Paly Class of 2021 alum, is one of many who are currently part of a group that mines Ethereum, a popular cryptocurrency. Mining is performed using

KNOWING YOUR NFT – NFTs that come in the form of digital art are usually released as a part of a collection. These portraits are a part of a larger collection known as Cryptopunks, which can sell up to $550 million each. “Somebody that owns an NFT could be the only person in the world to be able to interact with certain codes within that NFT,” senior Ziv Weissman said.

sophisticated hardware that solves complex computational math problems in order to complete a block of verified transactions.

“I had extra graphics cards that I could make money from, so it was nice to have some form of passive income,” Pham said.

Every time a transaction is verified, the rewarded cryptocurrency tokens are split among miners that contribute money to maintaining the hardware.

He emphasizes that there is a difference between owning an NFT and being able to look at a copy of it.

“They’re selling 8,888 of these angry ape NFTs,” Weissman said. “When you own this NFT of the ape, you are able to play with it in some NFT gamification, something you can’t do if you don’t own it.”

His interest in NFTs has also prompted him to create his own digital art.

Sometimes you have “On Open Navigating NFTs Source, a program no idea why modern NFTs are unique, used for NFT creirreplaceable digital art is so valuable beation, I am generatassets that are verified cause you don’t see the ing a script to generand stored using blockate 1,000 variations chain technology. They value in it.” of a certain piece of represent a range of reart I created,” Weiss— ZIV WEISSMAN, senior man said. “After I al-world objects such as music, in-game items create this NFT coland videos, though the current craze re- lection, I can publish it on the NFT marvolves around digital artwork. ketplace Open Seas, which allows others to While digital files can be quickly and end- see and buy it.” lessly duplicated, with NFTs, artworks can Weissman views NFTs as more than be “tokenized” to create a digital certificate just a form of digital art that can be purof ownership that can be bought and sold. chased.

Because of this, many people joke that “NFTs allow people who own them to NFT’s are worthless simply because you come together over their love and passion can copy the original by taking a picture. for or emotional connection to these pieces “Sometimes you have no idea why of art that they chose to buy and socialize modern art is so valuable because you don’t in a whole new form of interaction,” Weisssee the value in it,” Weissman said. man said. v

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VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 37

Text by KIERAN ZAJAC and MIYA WHITELEY

STATE STREET market

Photos by MIYA WHITELEY

LOS ALTOS FOOD HALL SERVES COMMUNITY

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UNLIGHT FILTERS through sky- grill restaurant; Bao Bèi, a Taiwanese and lights in the high ceilings of the spa- Korean street food crossover; Ostro, a seacious food hall, and multiple restau- food restaurant; Murdoch’s, a bar that serves rant stalls line the perimeter of the both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages building, providing visitors with portals to as well as small plates; and Tin Pot Creamaccess flavors and gastronomical traditions ery, a popular ice cream spot the Palo Alto from around the globe.

High School community is familiar with.

The expansive and welcoming space, The structural design of the market, State Street Market, officially opened on specifically the inclusion of multiple outSept. 7 and is the first food hall on the Pen- door spaces and an open interior, creates insula, according to Bon Appetit Manage- a community-oriented, family-friendly ment Company Executive Chef AJ Szenda. space.

Located at 170 State St. in Los Altos, “People come here with their dogs and the venue is owned by they’ll sit out here Los Altos Community The whole idea is that on the patio … and Investments, but it is the kids are free to there will be somerun and managed by kind of have a good Bon Appetit Manage- thing for everyone time,” Szenda said. ment Company, a busi“I think it’s a great here.” ness based in Palo Alto. environment. And I Open Wednes— ALISON HARPER, project manager think that’s what Los day through Sunday, Altos community inthe hall currently features six restaurants vestments wanted to create, a great place for –– Grains and Greens, a salads and wraps families to come.” restaurant; Banks and Braes, a pizza and State Street Market also hopes to at-

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38 NOVEMBER 2021

tract a teen audience, with plans to create a special drinks and food menu at the bar, Murdoch’s, available for students after school hours. It will include mocktails and combo food specials for under $10.

“Most places wouldn’t be saying ‘How do I get more high school students to come in?’ but that’s actually something that we want,” said Alison Harper, project manager at Bon Appetit Management Company.

“We are designing [an] afterschool special happy hour menu really so that everyone feels welcome here.”

The hall offers both indoor and outdoor seating, and utilizes a unique, COVID-safe digital ordering system where customers can order food from any of the restaurants within the market. This can all be done from a single site on a customer’s mobile device.

“What we’re really excited about is all the chef partners and the concepts and the variety in one place,” said Tessa Vitale, project manager at Bon Appetit Management Company. “We worked really hard with

culture

ENERGETIC ATMOSPHERE — State Street Market’s Bartender expertly shakes up drinks at Murdoch’s Bar, where high school students will be able to purchase after school specials. According to Szenda, the staff community at the market is very excited about the communal space that has been created. “Everybody that works here is super jazzed to come to work every day, because it’s such a beautiful place,” Szenda said. “And there’s a lot of energy here … when the dining room is full, and the TVs are on, and there’s just a lot of excitement in the building.”

the technology also to make it so that you could sit at one table and order from anywhere [in the hall], which I don’t think any other food hall does.”

They also plan to expand its facilities and services by adding more restaurants, a teaching kitchen, catering options, a retail store and special event hosting.

“We really want this to be a place where people can gather, meet and really connect with each other,” Harper said. “The whole idea is that there will be something for everyone here.” v

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BANKS & BRAES: Griddles Cowgirl Creamery Cheese Sandwich - $10 (TOP) — This sandwich featured farmstead cheese sandwiched between two slices of toasted sourdough bread, accompanied by crispy french fries and ketchup. The cheese had a funky bite to it, uncommon in most cheddar-based grilled cheese sandwiches.

GRAINS AND GREENS: Harvest Salad - $14 (MIDDLE LEFT) — A hearty and colorful salad with harvest squash, baby kale, Sonoma goat cheese, roasted red flame grapes, spiced sunflower seeds, sherry-honey vinaigrette and quinoa.

MURDOCH’S: (MIDDLE RIGHT) — Have a Bee On Your Bonnet - $7 (LEFT) A bright and citrusy mocktail made with apple juice, honey shrub, lemon and habanero. In Season - $7 (RIGHT) This was a refreshing and herbaceous mocktail made with pomegranate shrub, orange juice and soda water.

BAO BEI: Spicy Pork Belly Bao - $9.50 (BOTTOM) — Tender pork belly with Korean gochujang glaze, cucumber slices, peanuts, cilantro and chilis sat inside this steamy, fluffy băo.

The combination of crunchy, spicy, tender and tangy is sure to make your mouth water.

VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 39

Text by SADIE IBBOTSON-BROWN

High-risk HIT NETFLIX SHOW “SQUID GAME”

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HANK YOU for playing show’s protagonist, is a divorced father who with me.” struggles to make ends meet and provide Crimson blood splat- for his daughter — his efforts consistentters stain the dirt of a dingy ly inhibited by a tumultuous gambling alleyway, contrasted sharply by the addiction. Invited to participate in the golden-orange light that casts the Squid Game, his unwavering optimism path in a soft glow. In the middle and kind heart make him an unlikely sucof the road are two blue-jumpsuit- cess, and he slowly gathers a small ragtag clad women, sitting on a stairwell group of friends to help him through the as they share what may be the last various challenges. However, in these twistconversation of their lives. ed games, people are never what they seem, Around them, gunshots and Gi-hun soon finds that there’s treachecho through the streets, the ery in everyone — even within himself. taste of violence hanging in the air. You’d think the constant re- Beneath the surface minders of death would give the Although at first glance “Squid Game” scene a terrifying tinge, but in- seems like many other dystopian dramas, stead, the connection of the two director Hwang Dong-hyuk has described women is oddly poignant, a small it as an “allegory for modern capitalist soglimpse of hope in an otherwise ciety.” The Squid Game is presented as an bitter and violent show. extreme competition, comparable in some Such juxtaposition of false ways to the extreme competitiveness we innocence and garish violence often find in our own economy and job is the lifeblood of “Squid markets, and the mentality of worker vs.

Game,” a 2021 South Korean worker — shown by the contention and drama produced by Netflix. The backstabbing between the players — only series has beserves to benefit the come a smash people in charge. hit in the United If you take a closer Human life is States, becoming look, you’ll see how treated as meanthe streaming service’s ingless in the Squid most-watched original horrific the implicaGame, and the blashow, racking up 111 tions really are.” tant disregard for the million viewers during lives of the players its first 29 days on the reflects the deeply — GRACE MUMA, senior platform. flawed and unshakeThe premise of able hierarchy that is the show is horrifyingly dark: hundreds the root of this society. It’s this desire for of people, all in varying states of debt or wealth that defines the Squid Game and the destitution, are invited to participate people who are a part of it. Ultimately, it in a series of children’s games to win speaks to the deeply ingrained human tenenough money to pay back their debts. dency to prioritize our own success over the The catch? In the Squid Game, losing success of others, only in “Squid Game,” means death, and the players must de- there is a much deadlier result. cide whether the cash prize is worth the The harsh brutality shown almost garrisk. ishly in “Squid Game” speaks to another Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), the evil — that of spectatorship to violence

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40 NOVEMBER 2021

Art by MEYA GAO

HIERARCHY PACKS AN EMOTIONAL PUNCH in both real life and film. In Episode 7, nist Gi-hun’s positive and kind approach, “VIPs,” rich sponsors of the Squid Game businessman and child genius Cho Sangare invited to witness several of the many woo (Park Hae-woo) is motivated solely by deadly events, providing an extreme exam- his own survival. His calculating personalple of viewing gore as a form of entertain- ity and compulsion to win prove just how ment. However, this causes the audience evil people can be when they’re desperate.

Vargha said she to question their own believes that these reposition as viewers, and People can relate to latable characters are to wonder: does “Squid a large contributor to Game” glorify the the characters’ situits popularity. very violence it warns ations outside of the “I think the against? show was so popuPalo Alto High game.” lar in the U.S. not School senior Grace — SOPHIE VARGHA, sophomore only because of the Muma said the social amazing writing commentary made by Squid Game encouraged her to think deep- and acting, but because of the amount of poverty in this country,” Vargha said. er about the show.

“I think that the show did a really “People can relate to the characters’ good job of showing how horrifying capi- situations outside of the game, and talism can be and how money really chang- see themselves in their decisions.” es people,” Muma said. “I also thought it was interesting to think about how we as Hauntingly human Through the eyes of the playviewers overlap with the VIPs in the show by watching the players fight for money ers, “Squid Game” gives us a vivid, unflinching look at what drives and for their lives.” us as humans. We may want to relate more to the Skyrocketing to fame Just as “Squid Game” captivated the upstanding Gi-hun, nation, the show has become popular with but if we were truly Paly students. Sophomore Sophie Vargha facing death, how said her favorite aspect of the show is the many of us would match more with Sang-woo’s approach complexity of its characters.

“What made Squid Game so compel- of calculating betrayal?

In the end, “Squid Game” leaves us ling was the rawness of the characters,” Vargha said. “I was surprised how realistic the with more questions than answers about characters were. Even though they were in ourselves, and sparks reflection in its viewthe strange situation of these games, they ers. With its sharp dialogue, eerie musical score and stunning visuals, the show hits were very real.”

On one side of the spectrum, the view- all its bases with harsh intensity, and it’s no ers witness players like Kang Sae-byeok surprise that its deep themes have resonated (Jung Ho-yeon), a self-proclaimed defector with people all over the world.

“At first glance, ‘Squid Game’ looks from North Korea whose desire is to win for her younger brother, a seemingly self- like it could be straight out of a child’s less motive that propels her to be one of the imagination,” Muma said. “But if you take game’s most reclusive and secretive players. a closer look, you’ll see how horrific the imOn the other hand, a foil to protago- plications really are.” v

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VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 41

SCHOLASTIC JOURNALISM WEEK, FEB. 21-25 2022

SUPPORT PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM

THROUGH THE PALY MAC BOOSTERS www.palymac/home/mac-boosters/

ARE YOU AN ARTIST OR PHOTOGRAPHER? DO YOU WANT YOUR WORK FEATURED IN OUR MAGAZINE? Send a portfolio of your work to verdemagazine1@gmail.com and have the chance to create art or photography for a future edition of Verde.

42 NOVEMBER 2021

culture

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cudos for you LOCAL FAMILY SHOP BRINGS CUSTARD AND DONUTS TO TOWN & COUNTRY

Text by AANYA KUMAR and MEENA NARAYANASWAMI Photo by INES LEGRAND

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S CUSTOMERS ENTER Cudos, they are greeted by the sweet and comforting aroma of warm donuts. Vibrant polaroids decorate its walls, bringing color to the store’s sleek, bright and minimalistic interior.

On Oct. 10, Cudos opened its doors, bringing a unique dessert combination of frozen custard and donuts to Town and Country. Wishing they could find frozen custard closer to home, husband and wife Hansel Lynn and Lisa King-Lynn took matters into their own hands and opened their shop, inspired by Andy’s Frozen Custard — a staple of their frequent East Coast travels.

“It just got me thinking, how come this [frozen custard] is something I can only get when I’m traveling?” Lisa King-Lynn said.

“Why isn’t it a thing on the West Coast, especially since they [Hansel Lynn and his colleagues] will go out of their way just to get frozen custard.”

While Hansel Lynn’s favorite was always frozen custard, Lisa King-Lynn wanted to bring her own twist to it and set their

CREATIVE COMBINATIONS — Cudos co-founders and co-owners, husband and wife Hansel Lynn and Lisa King-Lynn, stand inside their newly opened frozen custard and mini donut shop holding this month’s seaonal flavor which features fall inspired toppings and flavors such as cinnamon, cranberry and orange. “We have to think of things that work for both [frozen custard and donuts] and combinations that would taste good and appeal to a lot of people,” Lisa King-Lynn said.

business apart from others.

“He [Hansel Lynn] just said, ‘What do you think about the idea of opening a frozen custard shop?’” Lisa King-Lynn said.

“I myself like donuts and I was like, ‘Well, why don’t we throw in the donuts, that’s sort of like a unique spin on it’. Because there’s frozen custard, but there’s no frozen custard and mini donuts.”

Lisa King-Lynn and Hansel Lynn have a history of being ambitious when it comes to opening new businesses. Hansel Lynn started the School of Rock in Palo Alto, theCoderSchool and develops real estate with Lisa King-Lynn.

Their business experience came in handy when opening Cudos, each of them using their strengths to create a successful team.

“He’s more the back end, back of house, I’m more front of house,” Lisa KingLynn said. “He does more paperwork and

that kind of logistics.”

After months of planning and preparation for a smooth summer opening, Lisa King-Lynn and Hansel Lynn were ready to open their shop. But the pandemic and supply chain backups had other plans.

“Our original frozen custard machine took maybe a month, two months longer [to deliver] than it was supposed to and I think that was the effect of the global supply chain,” Lisa King-Lynn said. “That pushed us back, we originally wanted to open early in the summer and then that machine didn’t work out.”

Despite the delays, Lisa King-Lynn and Hansel Lynn launched Cudos successfully and have high hopes for its future.

“We hope that this business takes off and the people continue to come back,” Lisa King-Lynn said. “For now, we want to focus on the success of the store — meeting the sweet needs of our customers.” v

VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 43

ARTISTIC ACTIVISM

EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS Text by OLIVIA MILNE and YASH SHETTY

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IRCULAR ARTWORKS, covered in splotches and waves of vibrant color, line the walls of a quiet University Avenue gallery, luring viewers out of the noisy street and into the world of the exhibit. The confluence of activism, science and art shines vividly in Qualia Contemporary Art’s latest gallery exhibition: “Hydrophilic.” Open to the public until Dec. 3, the exhibit features a series of mounted circular works depicting dynamic waterways created by renowned environmentalist and artist John Sabraw.

Sabraw’s artistic journey began with a focus on painting still lifes and landscapes. However, he felt frustrated and dissatisfied with these styles.

“I had been a hyperrealist for most of my career, but I knew it wasn’t working,” Sabraw said. “I was making the shift where I was trying to talk more about where culture and where society was headed with regards to natural resources, sustainability and everything.”

44 NOVEMBER 2021

Photos by OLIVIA MILNE

When Sabraw visited the polluted jars,” Sabraw said. remnants of an acid mine drainage site in Sabraw knew the spilled acrylic Ohio, he realized the pollution contained paints were nearly identical to the ones a chemical compound used by many art- he created from the iron oxide pigments, ists: iron oxide. and when he returned to his paint-cov“This [iron oxide] is the thing that ered studio weeks later, he had a moment we’ve made paints of clarity. with since we were “The breakWithin just a year making cave paintdown and spilled ings,” Sabraw said. or two of our plant paint happened at “And I was like, almost the exact up and running, the maybe I can make same time that I paints out of this.” was messing with whole seven miles of Though inthese [iron oxide] spired, Sabraw was stream should be back pigments,” Sabraw unsure about how to full aquatic health.” said. “The two bodto use the iron oxide ies of work ended — JOHN SABRAW, artist up merging and paints in his work.

On one fateful day, that’s where I ended Sabraw felt especialup with the round ly frustrated with his lack of progress and chromosomes that I’m doing now.” knocked over a jar of acrylic paint in his This happy accident showed Sabraw studio. that these pollutant-based paints could “I had a little teenage angst moment be used as a substitute for traditional and then just like knocked over all the store-bought ones, and demonstrated the

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beauty and river-like qualities of spilled inks.

“It would be identical to a storebought paint,” Sabraw said. “Because it’s the same formulation, like in the case of oil paint, you’re using a vehicle which is typically alkali, refinements, seed oil, and you’re grinding the pigment in there.”

Sabraw, with funding from the U.S. government, set out to create an environmentally friendly water processing plant to automate the collection of his iron-oxide pigments whilst cleaning polluted waterways all over the country.

“It [iron oxide] comes out as a beautiful pigment, which then has a market value,” Sabraw said. “We can sell it and selling that pigment generates not only enough money to run the plant, pay for the jobs that it creates and everything else, but it has a small profit, and we can use that small profit to clean up even more streams.”

Sabraw is currently working with a team of engineers and environmentalists to begin the restoration of these streams on a larger scale.

“Within just a year or two of a plant being up there, a whole seven miles of stream should be back to full aquatic health,” Sabraw said.

Inspired by the idea of self-sustainability, Sabraw created the “Hydrophilic” exhibit. The exhibit contains paintings shaped as circles in order to allow for a vast array of different interpretations by the viewer.

“I want them to look at the artwork and initially have that first emotional and psychological response … which is entirely up to the viewer depending on their life experiences,” Sabraw said.

Sabraw’s unique work and emphasis on activism caught the attention of Qualia Contemporary Art’s director Dacia Xu. Xu was originally drawn to the deep environmental message behind Sabraw’s

work, and has seen viewers react to this aspect of his work as well.

“When people first come in, they look at the artwork with some curiosity but after they watch the video about his process, their facial expressions change and they marvel at what John has done,” Xu said.

“Visitors have told me that they love the beautiful paintings and they think the show is very meaningful as it raises people’s awareness about our environmental issues.”

When coming to a new community, Sabraw feels it is important to collaborate with local experts in the area in order to enrich his work and keep his work as authentic as possible.

For “Hydrophilic,” he worked with Ashley Beckwith, an MIT doctorate student in mechanical engineering, who was doing her own environmental work with pine trees in Monterey Bay. “I made a painting of the Monterey coast using her [Beckwith] plant material in my paint mixtures,” Sabraw said.

Sabraw said his interactions with local experts were pivotal in creating impactful and authentic work, like his “Hydrophilic” paintings.

“Because I’m not a native to California, I’ve tried to make sure that I find people who are putting in their hard work in their own efforts to fight climate change,” Sabraw said. “And so the two paintings that are the results of the two different collaborations in the Bay Area.” v

ART ADVOCACY (LEFT) — Qualia Contemporary Art director Dacia Xu stands in front of one of the paintings from John Sabraw’s “Hydrophilic” exhibit. Xu chose to showcase Sabraw’s work after seeing the multifaceted approach of the exhibit. “I hope to present a variety of exhibitions that are socially, intellectually, aesthetically, emotionally and spiritually engaging,” Xu said.

CREATING CIRCLES — These three circular paintings are a part of John Sabraw’s “Hydrophilic” collection, and aim to depict various aspects of life. “You have a splash of colors, you got some bright blues,” Sabraw said. “You have some really interesting areas where things are kind of mixing and flowing.” Specifically. Sabraw’s “San Francisco Bay” painting (LEFT) was inspired by local activists who were working on recycling plastics in the Bay. “I painted the San Francisco bay because they were engaging with green waste in the area,” Sabraw said. “And dealing with all of these incredible plastics that are being deposited in the bay area as waste.”

VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 45

spare change

Text by MELODY XU

A GUIDE TO USING YOUR COINS

cushions?

Probably because we now have credit cards to swipe and Apple Pay to tap, and because coins are downright unhygienic — especially during a pandemic. So who in the world would want to put themselves on the spot, scrounging around for exact change in the form of little coins from their HERE'S A RED METAL BOX pockets, pouches or purses? in my house’s designated “evWell, me (or at least, with hand sanierything” drawer that’s filled tizer on hand). with loose change. Inside are For those who might feel the same the expected rusting pennies, way, here is the ultimate guide to using nickels, dimes and quarters, along with a your spare change — emptying your own crumpled dollar bill or two that got lost on red metal box — in as socially-acceptable a its way to someone’s wallet. way as possible.

This box weighs heavily on both the

drawer and my conscience. There’s a real CVS self-checkout As someone who has always defaulted chance its contents could add up to $15, to Walgreens, not CVS, for her occasionenough to buy someone a nice burrito for al convenience store candinner. Yet, no one in my dy runs, I was surprised household uses this loose Why did coins upon walking into CVS a change — and I have a month or so back and seefeeling that millions and fall into storm ing shiny new self-checkmillions of other housedrains and in beout machines by the exit. holds have their own One of the two machines version of this box lying tween our couch specifically takes cash payaround. ment — including coins I think accumulating cushions?

— and it goes without saythis unused money is a ing that I’ve permanently shame. It’s like the entirety of society woke up one day and rendered switched to CVS as a result of this.

These self-checkout machines make coins nearly useless. Why did coins fall into it so that every time I want a box of Jolly storm drains and in between our couch

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46 NOVEMBER 2021

Art by BLAIR MIGDAL

Rancher gummies or Airheads, I can count out the dollar or two beforehand in a combination of dimes and nickels. The machine tells me exactly how many more cents to put in, and I have a blast entering the coins, usually free of the judgement-filled eyes of people waiting behind me.

Caltrain ticket machine I’m weirdly passionate about the Caltrain and seize every opportunity I have to take it. I recently realized that purchasing a ticket using its machines at each platform, instead of the mobile app connected to my digital wallet, could be a nice way to slowly use up coins from the red box.

Vending machines work similarly.

Located in our libraries, gyms and cafeterias, why not use up a few quarters while grabbing that bag of chips? It’ll feel like you didn’t spend any money at all, and like the chips (which contain a maximum of five chips anyway) materialized out of thin air.

Wishing wells, tip jars and more I’m not sure where they have wishing wells these days — outside of Disneyland, which is a bit of a drive. Maybe you can Yelp it? Assuming that you already have a nice wishing well on hand, it should be a fun way to spend a couple of bucks — and you’d even get your biggest wishes granted out of the experience.

Tip jars are another great way to spend

coins for a good cause. Often when we use cash at service businesses, there’s no designated opportunity to add tips to your total.

So, if the barista at your favorite cafe hands you a couple of quarters for change, why not just drop it into the tip jar waiting on the counter, especially if you don’t see yourself using the coins in other ways any time soon?

Brave it out If you’ve exhausted all of these ideas and still have a box of idle coins, you might as well just go the whole nine yards.

Bring the box to the grocery store and really take your sweet time counting out each one down to the penny, reveling in the satisfaction of leaving without burdening your pockets with even more coins.

If you’re feeling particularly bold, try handing over fistfuls of coins when purchasing brand new clothes at the mall or lawn chairs from the home goods store.

There’s no telling how the cashier, or the line accumulating behind you will react, but at least I won’t judge you. It really shouldn’t be socially awkward to spend coins. What if in some distant future down the road, digital payment really did take over? If so, let’s use the round, metal money while it’s still here. v

VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 47

THE PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF HOTPOT’S STEADY RISE IN POPULARITY

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Text and art by ESTHER XU

Why? Hotpot has started to mean more to me than just a delicious meal. It has also become a source of pride and a symbol of my cultural heritage.

Dating a thousand years back to China’s Jin Dynasty, the concept of hotpot — pronounced huo guo in Chinese — originated from the culinary practices of Mongolian riders, tribes of nomadic horse riders who united under Ghengis Khan and conquered much of northern China while also controlling the prosperous Silk Road trading route.

The concept is simple.

A large pot of simmering broth, often with dividers to allow for several different broth flavors, is set on a burner in the middle of the table.

The pot is surrounded by ingredients which are put into the broth and cooked, ranging from handmade noodles to countless rolls of lamb or beef.

Each individual can also prepare personalized sauce to accompany their meals, resulting in a very customizable and flexible eating experience.

BLAST OF WARM AIR WELCOMES ME as I open the front doors leading into a bustling hotpot restaurant. Customers mill about, serving themselves at sauce stations, soft-serve machines and chocolate fountains.

Light pink and green paper lanterns hang from the ceiling along with bright red slips of paper inscribed with auspicious Chinese phrases. The restaurant’s robot whirs past waiters with beeps and clicks, bringing meat and condiments towards a nearby hotpot table.

Family hearth The restaurant was overflowing When we opened our first restauFor every family birthday or and busy to the point where you rant, we had no customers. We special occasion, my family goes wouldn’t believe that just a few years out to eat hotpot. The intimacy that ago, it had been empty and uninvit- had to advertise on the streets ing. and personally convince people to comes with sharing food from a single pot always draws us together.

Whenever someone mentions Many of my fondest memories “Chinese food,” many immediately come eat.” are connected to hotpot — countthink of rice, dumplings, noodles and — AMY QIU, Fremont Haidilao manager less moments with my family jokdim sum. It’s no surprise, as all these ing around a delicious meal. We foods have bemake hotpot at home in addition to eating it in restaurants. Quick come mainstream Chinese cuisine.

Yet, the first thought that and affordable, hotpot is the perfect comforting dinner to end a comes to mind when asked frigid winter day.

Even the tedious cleanup afterward turns out to be tolerable about Chinese food is thanks to the lingering bright atmosphere from the meal, becomalways hotpot. ing yet another precious bonding opportunity for my family.

A growing industry The American hotpot industry is quickly growing and becoming a trendy food among teens and adults in America. This year, Mintel, a world-leading market intelligence agency, estimated the hotpot market’s consumer spending compound annual growth rate to be 9.9% between 2020 and 2025. Mintel has also recorded that the number of hotpot restaurants in the world has reached almost 600,000 in 2020.

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48 NOVEMBER 2021

But getting to this point was not easy. I remember when I was younger, my family would never eat hotpot in a restaurant for one reason — there was no such restaurant nearby.

East-Asian culture just wasn’t popular enough.

It was a frustrating experience, not being able to satisfy my craving for high-quality traditional Chinese cuisine. Homemade hotpot is great, but eating out is always a different experience.

my cultural pride grows alongside it.

It’s heartwarming to see so many other people enjoy the food that holds many joyful memories for me and my family, and I earnestly hope for many others to find comfort and warmth in hotpot as well. v

Top of the food chain The reason certain traditional delicacies are so rare is simply because selling them isn’t profitable due to a lack of business and demand. People tend to be hesitant about trying new things. In fact, even Haidilao, currently the world’s largest global hotpot chain, had a difficult time establishing their business in the beginning.

“When we [Haidilao] opened our first restaurant, we had no customers,” said Amy Qiu, Fremont Haidilao manager. “We had to advertise on the streets and personally convince people to come eat. Compared to back then, we’ve grown by a lot.”

Although hotpot restaurants currently host a majority of Chinese and East Asian guests, steps are currently being taken to globalize hotpot and diversify the customers.

“We’ve done our best to localize each restaurant according to the wishes of the customers,” Qiu said. “We often ask our customers what can be done to improve our restaurants and we adapt according to their feedback.”

Haidilao’s adjustments have worked, increasing the number of non-East Asian customers drastically and allowing the hotpot chain to open up flourishing restaurants in bustling cities like New York.

“We currently have 12 hotpot restaurants in America with many currently planning on being built,” Qiu said.

“Our goal is to have at least 50 restaurants open throughout America.”

Endless potential Hotpot’s potential for growth is still far from its limit and its restaurants are opening quickly.

With winter soon approaching, sales are only expected to rise.

As the hotpot industry continues to thrive,

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REDEFINING DANCE EVALUATING DANCE’S STATUS AS A SPORT

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MM IT LOOKS LIKE dance ly grant dance the respect it currently lacks. forever and ever, when really you can bareis not on the list of sports,” a Dance is largely seen as a female-dom- ly breathe and begin gasping for breath the Palo Alto High School coun- inated sport, which I believe plays a large second you leave the floor. selor told me. “I think cheer role in the way people perceive it. It’s seen “You’re doing high intensity interval and dance are lumped together, so that’s as more feminine — more artistic and ele- training for two straight hours,” Williamwhat I’ll mark you down as.” gant — than masculine and “manly” sports son said. “So if there’s any question about This was over two years ago. The coun- such as football and baseball. Perhaps this is whether or not this is an athletic activity selors had visited middle schools to talk to why dance, and Paly’s dance program, does — it really is. We have the added challenge students about their plans for Paly — one not get the respect or prestige it deserves. of not only having to be athletes and not of their main questions being whether I was My coach Alanna Williamson agrees. get injured, and improving our skills as athinterested in joining any school sports.

“I remember the football team also letes, but we also have to be performers.”

This memory won someSince dance is not classified as a school still burns bright You’re doing high intensity thing that year sport, the team currently gets no funding in my mind as if it [2015], they from the school, despite the fact that dance happened yester- interval training for two won state and is incredibly expensive. Every year, we buy day. I remember straight hours. So if there’s the city threw costumes for competitions, pay registration feeling a wave of them a parade fees for various events and pay for choreogdiscouragement any question about whether and we came raphers, just to name a few of the many necwash over me. The or not this is an athletic acback [from Na- essary costs. Having to raise our own funds team I was so eationals] and we means that we have to work extra hard just ger to join was not tivity, it really is.” were like, but to be on the same playing field as the other even listed as its we won first school sports. We hold annual fundraisers — ALANNA WILLIAMSON, Paly dance coach own sport. Worse place,” Wil- throughout the year, such as our holiday still, I realized I liamson said. pie fundraiser and Little Vikes, a combined would continue to Because of cheer and dance summer camp for elemenface the same challenges during my time at this lack of acknowledgment, I often hes- tary and middle school students, just so we Paly that I had experienced for years grow- itate to tell people I dance, out of fear that can compete like other Paly teams. ing up as a dancer. they will think less of me as an athlete.

Junior and dance team member Anna I’ve always thought dance should be Over the years, people have said things Hagan said this is something she is frustratconsidered a sport. I believed that if it were to me that made ed by. considered a sport, my life’s passion would me doubt my “The lack of be more respected. But I soon realized it’s capabilities. I’ve Other sports don’t have to school funding not nearly that simple. heard, “Oh, but is annoying beworry about where they get I have been dancing since I was around dance isn’t really cause we have to five years old. I started out in tap and ballet a sport,” and “If their funding from, while we find ways to raise classes through the City of Palo Alto, before you think dance it ourselves,” Hado.” transitioning to Dance Connection, where is hard you gan said. “We do I, along with many of the city’s dancers, should try [fill — ANNA HAGAN, junior things like sell spent a majority of my childhood. I was on in the blank] pies, but that various teams and loved the studio with my sport.” takes time to orwhole heart.

Sometimes, these comments are only ganize and put together, which could inAs I got older, however, I was ready for implied and not stated directly. But, re- stead be used to focus on our competition the next chapter in my dance life. This ulti- gardless, I can feel the shift of energy in the routines. Other sports don’t have to worry mately led to my decision to try out for the room when I get the classic, “Do you play about where they are getting their funding Paly dance team. In the fall, our team cheers any sports?” from, while we do. Our coach has to budat football games and begins preparing for My best guess as to why dance is so get and find extra ways to bring in money competitions. In the winter and spring, we looked down upon by athletes in tradition- for our team.” cheer at basketball games and compete at al sports is because in other people’s eyes, Dance is a sport. But it’s also an art four local competitions and nationals. dance is less athletic than those sports. But, form. And that doesn’t make it any less dePaly dance is not considered a sport, here’s the thing. Dance is just as athletic serving of respect. If anything, it deserves courtesy of a decision made beyond the as other sports. The only difference is that more attention. So it’s really the best of school level. Even if dance were classified as dancers strive to look effortless. You are both worlds, at least in my opinion. I just a sport, this decision would not immediate- meant to look like you could keep dancing wish other people could see it that way. v

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VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 51

Text by ANDY ROBINSON

Art by REESE FORD

Lighting the way IT'S TIME TO PRESERVE CALIFORNIA'S LIGTHOUSES

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OR A LONG TIME, I couldn’t tell you exactly why I loved lighthouses. Maybe it was their architecture that caught my attention: a delightful mix of Victorian stick structures, soaring sentinels and cozy Cape Cod cottages, often topped with a circular lantern housing an intricate lens. Perhaps it was their stunning coastal locations, perched atop towering bluffs and beside spectacular mountain ranges. Most likely, it is the community of people passionate about the structures that helped me maintain my interest for nearly 10 years.

Despite this communal strength, the lighthouse — symbolic of human resilience and spirit, of safety and security — is in danger of being discarded and forgotten.

Without a new, younger generation of “lighthouse keepers” to preserve and protect California’s lighthouses, we risk losing a chain of cultural and historical centers.

When I first saw a lighthouse in a

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cartoon, I asked my parents for a picture maritime commerce or even worked as book of the structures. I remember flipping lighthouse keepers. However, with the adthrough its pages, waiting for my chance vent of GPS and other technologies, travto finally see one in person. Soon after, my eling by water is far safer, often negating parents and I began to explore local light- the need for lighthouses entirely. As such, houses from Point Pinos in Monterey to many young people have little understandPigeon Point, south of Half Moon Bay. I’ll ing of the true importance of lighthouses. never forget the joy I experienced when I But lighthouses remain an essential first rounded the bend on U.S. Highway 1 element of local economies dependent on and saw the Pigeon Point Lighthouse come tourism and continue to educate and exinto view — I couldn’t unbuckle my seat- cite people about local history. The drabelt fast enough. matic coastal locations of many of CaliOver time, as I began to visit more fornia’s lighthouses attract visitors, with lighthouses throughout the state, I found their open-air settings providing a perfect a dedicated community of lighthouse pres- weekend getaway. Ensuring their preservaervationists, aficionados and volunteers. At tion as tourist attractions brings increased every lighthouse I visited, I found people resources to remote coastal communities. excited to share their passion with someone For example, the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse who saw the buildings in Mendocino County as invaluable as I did. was lovingly restored, But as I inter- The lighthouse­­ –– symand is now one of the acted more with the bolic of human resiltop destinations on community, I quickthe Mendocino coast. ly noticed a stark age ience and spirit, of When I visited I fonddifference between safety and security –– ly remember eagerly myself and fellow running down the lighthouse fans. Most is in danger of being ... headland towards the I found were far old- forgotten. lighthouse, watching er than me, with the as a string of cars piled vast majority over the into the parking lot. age of 60. Many of those passionate about Clearly the lighthouse’s tourism campaign lighthouses once worked in the Coast was a resounding success.

Guard, came from families dependent on However, this task proves to be in-

perspectives

v

creasingly difficult as California lighthous- firsthand the dry, golden brown fields that es also face new challenges: rising sea lev- line the coastal headlands. When we went els, droughts and fires. The drought is so into the local town, called Point Reyes Staextreme in some coastal California towns tion, we noticed ominous “conserve water” that water is now trucked in. According signs in every establishment. The day that to Jen Lewis, fundthe town runs out of raising and outreach We need more young suitable drinking water manager for Point could mark the end for Cabrillo Lighthouse, people with diverse the Point Reyes tourthe adjacent vaca- perspectives on cliism industry. tion rentals that help And regardless of fund the lighthouse mate change, comthe effects of climate are dependent on a munity activisim and change, many lightsteady supply of wahouses are in danger ter, which may de- an appreciation for of being lost forever plete throughout the local history to get without our help. East drought. Marveling Brother Lighthouse, at the prisms of the involved. an elaborate Victorian lens at the top of the structure in the midlighthouse and exploring the cavernous gift dle of the San Francisco Bay, recently lost shop shelves is a memory that will stay with the cable supplying its power and is in the me forever, and tourists, the local commu- process of fundraising for a more permanity and I would be heartbroken to know nent solution. Without this cable, the lightthat the lighthouse will not last if the prop- house, which currently functions as a Bed & erty lost out on key revenue and slowly de- Breakfast, risks losing out on key revenue. teriorated.

Lighthouses need people like me to Fortunately for the Point Cabrillo survive. We need more young people with Lighthouse, the site has maintained high diverse perspectives on climate change, visitation and has made it through the past community activism and an appreciation summer unscathed, but other lighthouses for local history to get involved. I hope if in California may not be so lucky. Visit- you find any meaning in my story, you’ll ing Point Reyes, a historic and well-visited consider visiting a local lighthouse. And lighthouse in Marin County, I witnessed don’t forget to leave a donation. v

VERDEMAGAZINE.COM 53

The secret lives of squirrels OBSERVATIONS OF MY FAVORITE CAMPUS CRITTERS

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Text by ALLEGRA WEST Art by ARUNDHATI PARIKH

ULLY ENGROSSED in a game of chase, a squirrel scampers from another squirrel up a scrawny tree, leaping onto a weak branch. Almost in slow motion, the branch begins to give way, and the creature falls back-first into the grass below. Immediately getting back on all fours (and undoubtedly embarrassed), the squirrel hurries away into the bushes.

Since I began attending Palo Alto High School, I have paid close attention to the swift and surprisingly aggressive squirrels that seem to reside in the school’s ecosystem. My interest in Paly’s squirrels — animals I like to call “bush-tailed squigglers” because of their puffy, S-shaped tails — ­­ began freshman year as I spent many class periods gazing longingly out classroom

windows which were perfect for squirrel watching.

Though finding squirrels was a great cure for my boredom, these bush-tailed squigglers were often hard to locate, possibly concealed within a network of tunnels and aerial tree pathways above campus to avoid noisy crowds. If only squirrels would allow themselves to come out of their hidden places and embrace Paly’s vibrant school spirit — I think fur and senior camouflage go quite well together.

But last year, the campus became a barren free range for squirrels to play all day, every day. Due to COVID-19, students were scarce and the squirrel population thrived (unlike the students holed up in their houses).

The campus was a great squirrel habi-

tat, with acorn-filled oak trees, shady bushes and few predators (unless you count freshmen).

As one of the first students returning to campus last spring, I had many encounters with squirrels in walkways as they dove into trash bins, chased each other in between buildings and on one frightful occasion, fell out of trees like tumbling fruit.

With students back on campus, a squirrel’s day is packed with adventure — between dodging lumbering football players and gathering food to survive for the winter.

Intrigued by the lives of my furry co-habitants on campus, I set out to watch them around the Tower Building and library and document their daily routines.

This is what I found. v

9 a.m.

Squirrels are usually very busy in the morning, looking for food while sticking to specific territorial bounds. It appears that grey and black squirrel groups often don’t mix. Most of the time, grey squirrels can be found near the Tower Building while black squirrels gather near the language building.

The rivalry between black and grey squirrels has yet to be determined, but I have been on the lookout for an organized acorn war between the two clans (outside of Paly’s property and after school hours, of course).

squirrels look to be gathering their winter supplies, and I have seen them hiding food on the Quad — perhaps preparing for the squirrel equivalent of the Student Center’s “restaurant.”

— not concerned with acne and body odor.

Instead the squirrels wind down by enjoying the cool night air.

11:30 a.m.

At midday, squirrels are still digging for acorns, seeds and insects. In the fall,

54 NOVEMBER 2021

6 p.m.

At dusk, the number of squirrels that can be seen on campus seems to increase, even though squirrels are not nocturnal animals. They use this time to peacefully scavenge for food without the looming threat of students and staff. Squirrels are finally safe from any human commotion and settle into their nightime routines. Unlike Paly’s daytime inhabitants, squirrels aren’t preoccupied with lengthy skincare routines

3 a.m.

Being fully committed to this story, I spent a Friday night observing squirrels at Paly. Nocturnal life for a squirrel is quiet except from the few (probably APUSH students) who are still awake. The vibrant buzz of the late afternoon is long gone by then, and I am guessing most squirrels have gone to sleep, tucked into their earthly beds. The singular squirrel I saw appeared to be wandering around in the dark, probably on its way to a meeting to secretly plot the downfall of the student body.

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