Friday Dec. 7, 2018
The Campanile
Vol. CI, No. 5
PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL 50 EMBARCADERO RD. PALO ALTO, CA 94301 NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
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Palo Alto High School, 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301
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Dauber, Dharap sworn onto School Board University of California Close election for two open seats finally determined after weeks of counting By John Tayeri
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By Eve Donnelly
Business Manager
Shounak Dharap
Since the results were still significantly narrow, all ballots were required to be accounted for before calling the results of the race. “What happened was, the county had 300,000 ballots that weren’t counted for," Dharap said. "Since the race was so close, counting all of the ballots took a substantial amount of time." Nonetheless, Dharap was able to maintain and widen the gap between him and the other candidates, eventually ending with 23.4
Staff Writer
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fter a tight race for the two open seats on the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Board of Education, incumbent Ken Dauber and Shounak Dharap were able to prevail. Although Dauber had seemingly secured the re-election with a substantial lead within the first day, the winner of the other seat remained inconclusive as ballots continued to be counted throughout several days. Despite the considerably close competition from special-education advocate Stacey Ashlund and PAUSD parent Kathy Jordan, Dharap was able to gain a 1,172 vote lead over Ashlund based on 93 percent of the ballots that were counted by Nov. 15.
“People looked at me and saw me as someone who was younger, a community member, and someone who could serve the school district. I felt truly honored and proud.”
sued for discrimination
ANNIE TSUI/USED WITH PERMISSION
Newly elected Board members were administered the oath of office at the School Board meeting on Dec. 4.
percent of the vote as opposed to Ashlund’s 21.1 percent. According to Dharap, it was his young age, experience as a community member and vocation as an attorney that helped his chances of election. “[My victory] showed me that it didn't matter that I was a non traditional candidate, or a young one," Dharap said. "People looked at me and saw me as someone who was younger, a community member, and someone who could serve the school district. I felt truly honored and proud.” Ashlund conceded to Dharap on Nov. 16, congratulating him with a phone call. Dauber unsurprisingly also retained his advantage with 27.3 percent, joining Dharap on the School Board. According to Dharap, his victory made himself proud of the
positive impact he has made on the community.
“I felt extremely grateful for the community members that supported me. My biggest goal is to serve back the community.” Shounak Dharap
“I felt extremely grateful for the community members that supported me,” Dharap said. “My biggest goal is to serve back the community that gave me so much.” On Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m., Dharap and Dauber were sworn
in as new members of the Board of Education. Afterwards, the first School Board meeting with Dauber and Dharap as new members was held. Issues such as consent education and homework policies were glossed over. With four years of experience on the Board already under his belt, Dauber still looks to make significant changes to the PAUSD. According to Dauber, his biggest goals are to minimize the achievement gap and to ameliorate our special education program. Dharap, a 28 year old Gunn High School graduate and litigator at Arns Law Firm, looks to make School Board processes more efficient and effective. According to his website, he believes one of the top issues PAUSD faces is keeping our students safe.
CLA law professor Richard Sander, in collaboration with the non-profit Asian American Community Services Center (AACSC), filed a lawsuit against University of California (UC) in early November, alleging the school failed to disclose admissions data. A similar suit is currently in the works against Harvard University. Both schools have been accused of discriminating against Asian American students in the admissions process, as well as favoring students identifying as Latino or African American. The UCs face scrutiny due to a proposition passed in 1996 stating California schools cannot allow gender, race or ethnicity to be a factor in admissions. Under California’s public record laws, Sander, among other petitioners, has requested a variety of data regarding undergraduate applicants and currently enrolled students. This includes data regarding test scores, high school and college grades, race, ethnicity, majors, etc.
“(Racial discrimination) was never at the forefront of my mind ever when I was applying, but back then when I was a high school student, it didn't seem like a big issue.” George Vuong
The UC System has failed to provide the petitioners with the records for over a year, violating the California Public Records Act (CPRA) law that states all re-
quests must be fulfilled promptly. UC has since said the sharing of such highly personal content would be a breach of student privacy. The UC systemwide headquarters, also known as the Office of the President, came out with a statement in their defense. Dianne Klein, a spokeswoman on behalf the Office of the President, refuted all accounts of the charges filed.
“If the allegations are true, then I am hurt, because I am considered Asian.” Kaushik Seshadri
“UC does not consider race, ethnicity or gender in admissions decisions, or any other decisions,” Klein wrote. “As to the allegation that UC is illegally denying Sander access to information, that too is untrue.” Sander challenged Klein’s claim that the undergraduate information is confidential since the data set he seeks is anonymized. Klein further explains that UC does not have a compiled list of all the requested data and it simply does not exist. The Commission on the Future of Undergraduate Education has found that more people in the US are attending college than ever before. Close to 90 percent of millennial high school graduates attend college within eight years. This growing population of students creates a new climate of competition surrounding college admissions. UC Santa Barbara graduate and Paly English teacher George Vuong said that applying to a UC now is much different than when he applied in his high school years. “(Racial discrimination) was
UC Lawsuit A3
Camp Fire smoke affects students
Local Bay Area communities and schools respond to poor air quality By Nick Le
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Senior Staff Writer
irefighters have successfully contained 100 percent of the Camp Fire, the deadliest fire in California history as of Nov. 25 according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). The fire, which burned 153,336 acres in Paradise, Calif. since Nov. 8, claimed 88 lives and destroyed 18,739 structures. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The fire affected thousands of people, injuring 12 citizens and five firefighters while displacing many families. The estimated cost of damage according to Cal Fire has reached $7 to 10 billion and could grow as it is still being evaluated. Most noticeably, smoke from the area affected local schools around the Bay Area. Chico State University, which is 27 miles from Paradise, started Thanksgiving break early. “The fires really affected me in terms of school,” Chico junior, Vincent Le said. “Because campuses couldn’t extend the quarter due to winter break obligations, I was forced to adjust my school schedule in terms of fitting all the course material into such little time.” The smoke from the fire quickly spread, worsening air quality in the Bay Area. This affected many people including Le. “The air quality was terrible for several days as well,” Le said. “I, along with many people around me, had trouble breathing, even with an N95 mask. I was really disheartened by the sight of seeing so many people with respiratory problems struggling to get
INSIDE
around whether it be for supplies or to evacuate the area.” Despite the fire being contained, many fire victims were left stranded without proper shelter, food and water. This caused a push for many volunteers to help the victims of Camp Fire. Isaac Yee, a volunteer in his emergency medical technician class at University of California Davis, traveled from Davis, Calif. to Chico, Calif. to help the victims.
“It's heartwarming to see everyone coming together to support one another because we are all affected by the fires in one way or another." Isaac Yee
“I think that for the most part, the public is responding very well to the fires,” Yee said. “There were a lot of volunteers putting in time to help the residents that lost their homes to the fires and also supporting the firefighters. It's heartwarming to see everyone coming together to support one another because we are all affected by the fires in one way or another.” Although it was the deadliest fire in state history, Le said the public responded well to the fire. “I think that the public response was appropriate,” Le said. “Schools rightfully canceled classes due to poor air quality, and fire departments made their best efforts to evacuate heavily affected areas, as well as provide masks for the public.”
California is a state that is often at risk for fire, which is indicated by the many fires in recent years. For example, the Mendocino Complex fire, Carr fire and Thomas fire all took place from 2017 to 2018. This has caused Yee to believe that change is necessary. “I would like to see more funding and effort into prevention of fires through the alleviation of global warming,” Yee said. “Fighting global warming will bring our climate back to normal, making fires less frequent and less disastrous.” Many schools all around Northern California had been shut down to air quality. Sean Marrone, a nurse in the Davis area, helped people in the area deal with the unhealthy air. “Many people had dealt with some difficulty to breathe or had irritated eyes.” Marrone said. “But there were little things we could do to prevent this. We recommended people to stay indoors and when they had to go outdoors to wear an N95 mask.” Le believes people should worry not only about fire prevention, but also about health precautions in order to stay safe in the case of another fire. Le said, “I think that in order to prevent future fires, California should have a higher standard of containing fires. This could entail having planes with fire retardants on standby or training firefighters to contain fires before they get too bad. In addition, I did notice many people have troubles getting N95 masks, so keeping them in stock at fire departments would be great in the event that a fire would spread.”
Lifestyle
BRENDA SIMPSON/USED WITH PERMISSION
Paly choir students dress up in Renaissance costumes for their performance at the annual Madrigal Feaste.
Paly hosts annual Madrigal Feaste Choir students to perform Renaissance-themed concert in the PAC By Sam Hwang Board Correspondent
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his year, the Paly Choir will be hosting their 16th annual Madrigal Feaste at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Dec. 8 and 9. The money from the event will go towards sheet music and funding for group retreats. “Madrigal Feaste is a musical set in the time of King Henry the VIII,” senior Jessica Weiss, the Choir President, said. “There’s a lot of cute dialogue and jokes and each year the plot is different.” Every year at the Madrigals concert, all choir groups perform. “Each of the choirs are performing their own varied repertoire. Since it’s holiday season, we’re definitely going to be singing lots
Spotlight
of carols and festive tunes,” Senior Tess Manjarrez said. “The different choirs that are performing include Madrigals, Spectrum, the women’s choir, concert choir, and the premiere choir.”
“There's a lot of cute dialogue and jokes and each year the plot is different.” Jessica Weiss
A limited number of special tickets for both the Saturday and Sunday Madrigal Feastes are available for purchase before Dec. 5. These tickets cost $60 and include access to the royal pre-tea show
Science & Tech
starting at 1:30 p.m. The pre-show will include tea and finger foods served by choir students outfitted in their Renaissance costumes from the show. “The people who buy the most expensive tickets get to come to a tea before the main show starts where the Madrigals perform songs that are not repeated in the Feaste,” Weiss said. “The songs we perform there are typically a little harder and sound better in smaller spaces.” There are also tickets offered at $35 for adults and $15 for students, children, seniors and Paly staff. For these guests, the show begins at 2 p.m. Unlike other years, this Madrigal Feaste will contain all-new songs with the exception of some
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Sports
the edition
News. . . . . . . . . A1-A4 Opinion. . . . . . . A5-A7 Editorials. . . . . . . . . A8 Lifestyle. . . . . B1-B3, B6 Spotlight. . . . . . . . B4-B5 Science & Tech. . . B7-B8 Sports. . . . C1-C3, C6-C8 Sports Spread. . . . . C4-C5
TIEN NGUYEN/THE CAMPANILE
Student meme culture
Diving into the cultural appeal of student social media entertainment. PAGE B1
VICTORGRIGAS/CC BY-SA 2.0
Feminist ideals and race
Investigating the relation between identities and feminist ideals. PAGE B4-B5
ELISA RIVERA/CC0
Personality tests
Delving into the psychology behind popular personality tests. PAGE B8
KAITLYN LEE/THE CAMPANILE
Competitive cheer
Exploring the misconceptions about the reality of competitive cheer. PAGE C4-C5
Friday, December 7, 2018
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The Campanile
NEWS
ASB plans intramurals, concerts, winter rally
ASHLEY ZHANG/THE CAMPANILE
Student bands, like Romaine, will get a chance to perform at SkoGlobe.
By Maya Rathore
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ALYSSA LEONG/THE CAMPANILE
The Palo Alto School Board and the Palo Alto Police Department renegotiated contract terms to help improve student treatment at school.
PAPD aims to reduce student mistreatment Palo Alto Police have removed four sections from a memorandum of understanding By Leela Srinivasan
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Lifestyle Editor
ollowing a push from the Palo Alto School Board, the Palo Alto Police Department (PAPD) has agreed to remove four sections from the memorandum of understanding between the two groups, in an attempt to address concerns over the alleged mistreatment of minority students during their interactions with police on PAUSD campuses. This memorandum of understanding is a contract that provides guidance for how the School Board and PAPD should act and collaborate when incidents of sexual misconduct involving students, teachers or staff are reported.
“Students seem to be more vulnerable to profiling and mistreatment.” Sarah Woodman
The existing agreement recognizes the importance of the way student sexual misconduct is handled, stating the following: “It is important for the PAUSD to clarify its working relationship with the PAPD to ensure an effective, prompt, coordinate, and fair response to sexual misconduct. The purpose of this (memorandum of understanding) is to coordinate PAUSD and PAPD processes in response to reported sexual misconduct and to increase collaboration when such matters arise.”
However, with the implementation of four specific changes, the School Board and Parent advocates for Student Success (PASS) both said they hope to improve conditions for students who engage with the PAPD. The changes will specifically alter the way handcuffs are used on students during medical transports, on-campus student searches, involuntary psychiatric holds and finally, the confidentiality with regards to reports to Child Protective Services.
“The PAPD has its own procedures in place that are their regular policies regarding safety and best practices. They follow those procedures whether they are in our schools or anywhere else in town.” Jennifer DiBrienza
“When we passed our resolution agreement with the Office of Civil Rights, part of that required we lay out our procedures and protections when there are alleged violations of Title IX,” School Board member Jennifer DiBrienza said. “The PAPD has its own procedures in place that are their regular policies regarding safety and best practices. They follow those procedures whether they are in our schools or anywhere else in town.” According to DiBrienza, the
board must respect the PAPD’s existing practices and find a way to come to an agreement over campus interactions. “As a school district, we are limited in what we can require of (the police department),” DiBrienza said. “We appreciate the partnership, but we can’t ask them to violate their best practices. So how they do their work aligns with how all PAPD officers do their work.” The concerns that arose from the community after a KTVU Fox 2 story regarding sexual assault allegations against a former Paly student in 2016 contributed to the initiative to reform the memorandum, according to a Palo Alto Online article. The video revealed statements from two alleged victims of sexual misconduct. At the time, the news came as a shock to the community, and many PAUSD parents expressed frustration with the lack of transparency surrounding the incident. This was not a stand-alone case; a 2014 Office for Civil Rights case filed by the family of a Gunn High School student made public that a high school girl had been victimized by her former boyfriend, also a Gunn student. Parents’ primary concern was that in the District’s recent history there have been “gaps in coordination and communication in PAUSD’s response to reports of sexual violence,” according to an article by the Palo Alto Weekly that was published on Aug. 20. Parents also worried that the structure of the current memorandum of understanding could have a
significant effect on students with disabilities and mental illness, as well as students of color. Parent Advocates for Student Success is a parent network that advocates for PAUSD students, aiming to eliminate the racial and ethnic academic opportunity gap through their actions. The group, which is a voice for many minority students, had significant involvement in the controversy regarding the memorandum, and encouraged the District to make police interactions with students more open and accessible.
“It is important for the PAUSD to clarify its working relationship with the PAPD to ensure an effective, prompt, coordinate, and fair response to sexual misconduct.” Sarah Woodman
Sarah Woodham wrote an email to the School Board in August addressing the issue. “Anecdotally, HUR (historically underrepresented) students seem to be more vulnerable to profiling and mistreatment in their interactions with PAPD,” Woodham wrote. The School Board will vote on the changes in December an the proposed contract runs through June 30, 2020, with the option for a one-year extension.
espite the end of the semester rapidly approaching, Paly Associated Student Body (ASB) is still working on planning a myriad of events for next semester. Before the end of this semester, ASB conducted officer club visits from Nov. 26 to Dec. 7. “We want to check in with the club presidents and club advisers on their experiences over the semester and reiterate that they have ASB’s full support,” ASB Clubs Commissioner Pooja Akella said. “We’re getting good feedback from the clubs and will reach out to certain clubs that have further questions.”
“There will hopefully be big changes coming by the beginning of next semester.” Zoe Silver
Akella also said ASB will organize a second Club Day on Feb. 1 where students will be able to charter and join new clubs after Winter Break. ASB is also finishing its thorough Spirit Week debrief and are already starting to plan the system for next year’s Spirit Week. “We’re making formal recommendations for the future about things like the point system and the details of the games,” junior class President Zoe Silver said. In addition to event logistics, ASB’s Sports Commissioner Josh Athayde is in the process of planning another intramural tournament after the success of the intramural volleyball tournament on the quad.
“We’re looking forward to building off of Quadside Lands for an even better experience for the student body.” Pooja Akella
“The next event will be an intramural basketball tournament that will probably occur between Jan. 28 and Feb. 1,” Athayde said. Athyade cites his reasoning for choosing a basketball tournament
PAUSD Equity Coordinator resigns mid-year Keith Wheeler moves on from postition, Jeong Choe promoted to director of Agile Teams By Neil Kapoor
News & Opinion Editor
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ollowing the resignation of PAUSD Equity Coordinator Keith Wheeler last month, the District has elevated Advanced Authentic Research (AAR) Coordinator Dr. Jeong Choe to Director of Agile Teams, a position where she will assemble small flexible teams of teachers to address the issue of the achievement gap. Wheeler, who was hired in July 2017, was the District’s second equity coordinator after a recommendation from the Minority Achievement Talent Development (MATD) committee to create the position in 2016. The purpose of the recommendation was to have a single person spearheading efforts to address the achievement gap in PAUSD. According to Supt. Don Austin, Wheeler’s position had stopped being necessary for the District. “I believe the creation of the position made sense at the time,” Austin said in an email. “Most of our data points show a disparity between our general population and specific subgroups (...) Mr. Wheeler impacted the awareness of the issues at a critical point. With his departure, it is time to shift from awareness to impactful actions to
change the outcomes of our students.” Instead of placing a single person in charge of equity, Austin has recommended all administrators be responsible for addressing equity in the District. “At this point in time, I am recommending using our Chief Academic Officers and principals to positively impact academic measures through focused effort,” Austin said. “Working with our teachers, I believe the people closest to our students are in the best position to create conditions for all students to realize success.” This is where Choe’s new role comes in. According to Austin, one of her major responsibilities will be to assemble small flexible teams of teachers to attack the issues together. “Teachers, site administrators, and the district will be working closely to identify and deliver a series of both short-term--“sprint”-and long-term--“marathon”--goals to expand students’ pathway options and provide more personalized support to students and their families,” Choe said in an email. “For example, we are developing new opportunities for elementary students through the Creativity Carts program, which is now being used by the “big buddy” peer mentoring program for “EleMEN-
TORy” collaborative projects. This project offers Big Buddy mentors the opportunity to work with their younger buddies to foster creativity and innovation through the utilization of the Creativity Carts.” Choe added that the teams will continue to support current programs, such as AAR, AP Capstone, CTE Pathway Programs, Elementary Creativity Projects and Work Experience Education. “Currently, we are supporting (these) programs (...) agile teams will help strengthen this work,” Choe said. “We just completed the process of establishing dual enrollment for the Early Childhood Development (ECD) program at Paly so that ECD students can earn college credit through Foothill... students are being prepared with hands-on learning to enter a wide range of careers, including becoming licensed as early childhood preschool assistants...teachers, pediatricians and more. By working with PAUSD’s community partners, we are starting to explore ways to improve these pathways for students to benefit from their own personalized choices.” Although Choe will take on the achievement gap issue, she plans to continue her work with AAR too. “Please also note that Director of Agile Teams is an expanded role
from AAR Coordinator that is focused on implementation, and it is not intended to replace the Equity Coordinator,” Choe said. “There is potential to expand the work and concept of Agile Teams to many areas of our work in the District.” ASB School Climate and Social Justice Commissioner Noor Navaid agrees with Choe and Austin that the achievement is an important issue that deserves more attention. “Although equity is a high priority of ASB, we haven’t really looked into the academic side of things yet,” Navaid said. Austin has stated that his decision not replace Wheeler’s position is not a move away from equity efforts, but rather is intended to strengthen the District’s efforts to address the achievement gap. “The most important part of our future plan is that it is not turning away from an Equity Coordinator,” Austin said. “Instead, this plan is a full investment of the entire organization to support our students as a team. A more complete global plan is under development and will be presented to the Board of Education at a Special Study Session in January.” Wheeler’s district email has been deactivated, and Austin said Wheeler wanted a quiet exit and did not have permission to share his contact with The Campanile.
Staff Writer
as being due to the cold and wet weather around that time of year.
“We are making formal recommendations for the future about things like the point system and the details of the games.” Zoe Silver
“In the past, ASB has held a basketball tournament early in second semester and I plan to keep with that tradition because the tournament has always been successful. I suspect it’s because lots of people like playing basketball with their friends and the gym provides (a) refuge from the cold and rainy weather,” Athayde said. In addition to a sports tournament, after the positive reception of Quadside Lands, ASB will also be hosting another installment of the “Quadcert” series called SkoGlobe, which will be held the week of Jan. 14, according to Silver. “We’re looking forward to building off of Quadside Lands for an even better experience for the student body,” Akella said.
“We want to check in with the club presidents and club advisors on their experiences over the semester and reiterate that they have ASB’s full support.” Pooja Akella
According to junior Caroline DeBruine, the mock music festivals are a fun addition a normal school day. “I think the festivals are cool. I don’t participate and am not planning to any time soon, but they are fun to go to. I can’t say I look forward to them but I think they are a fun twist on an average school day.” Senior ASB officers are also planning the upcoming annual Winter Rally, scheduled for the same week on Jan. 18. The rally will reveal the location of the promenade dance. Akella said, “We are definitely looking forward to next semester … we have lots of interesting events coming up.”
UPCOMING EVENTS DEC
8
OPENING DAY OF MADRIGAL FEASTE CHOIR No, this is not a magical feast
DEC
LAST DAY OF HANUKKAH
DEC
FIERY ARTS WINTER GLASS SALE
10
14
DEC
Shalom, let’s get this gelt
Real pumpkins rot, but glass ones stay forever
REVIEW DAY
17
Time to learn a whole semester’s material in a day
DEC
7-PERIOD MINIMUM DAY
21
DEC
24 JAN
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What happens when Paly is short on instructional minutes WINTER BREAK The break where you stress about your finals grades. FIRST DAY OF SECOND SEMESTER School has already ended for seniors
Friday, December 7, 2018
The Campanile
UC Lawsuit
new generation.”
never at the forefront of my mind ever when I was applying but then back then when I was a high school student,” Vuong said. “It didn't seem like a big issue.” Vuong sees how high school students now face an extra aspect of competitiveness. “It does seem like the competition has increased, especially over the past several years," Vuong said. "It seems like there's a lot of things going on and a lot of different variables and factors. Students nowadays face a lot of difficulties that I don't think I ever faced when I was a student, back then at least. It’s rough, for sure, for the
The UCs face scrutiny due to a proposition passed in 1996 stating California schools cannot allow gender, race or ethnicity to be a factor in admissions.
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This “new generation” that Vuong refers to includes senior Kaushik Seshadri. Like many of his fellow classmates, Seshadri has applied to four UCs this year,
NEWS
and said he doesn’t think admission procedures that hurt Asian students are fair. “If the allegations are true, then I am hurt, because I am considered an Asian,” Seshadri said. “There is probably a preference towards minorities, but there are so many factors that a decision depends on. It is hard to really determine if there is any discrimination or not.” Recently, schools have been encouraged to curate more culturally diverse campuses. Consequently, rumors of UCs discriminating against Asian Americans have circulated as early as 2007. However, Sydney Lathi, a Paly graduate and UC Davis freshman felt no concern for racial discrimi-
nation during the UC admissions process, despite being half Asian.
(UCs and Harvard) have been accused of discriminating against Asian American students in the admissions process. “I did not worry about them, because I did not know of these rumors until now,” Lathi said. “I think it is surprising, because I don’t know why they would do that. Yes, for diversity, but they shouldn’t admit people based on
race.” George Shen, the president of AACSC agreed and said, “It is obvious that the university has something to hide. We intend to uncover the facts.”
Madrigal Feaste Continued from A1
carols. In addition, the music at this concert will have a more modern, holiday feel according to Weiss. “The acapella groups will perform Christmas songs that are not from the time period,” Weiss said. “My acapella group, Folk Yes, will be performing ‘Winter Things’ by Ariana Grande. The Madrigals and Concert Choir both have a
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great, festive set.” The weeks leading up to the show consisted of several rehearsals. An intensive four-hour rehearsal was held on Tuesday before the show to solidify the music and learn stage entrances and cues, according to Weiss. Then all the choirs come to the PAC and run the entire show and certain groups stay after depending on what the directors want. This routine has stayed constant over the past four years and, according to Weiss, it has worked pretty well. Weiss said, “The show should be amazing and I hope everyone comes out to see it! Everyone in choir wears Madrigal costumes and does their best to speak in a British accent.”
Greene, Fletcher schools host events for new names Renamed after Frank S. Greene and Ellen Fletcher, middle schools celebrated two distinguished community members
ALYSSA LEONG/THE CAMPANILE
A painter changes the lettering from "Jordan Jaguars" to "Greene Jaguars" on the southwest building of Greene Middle School on June 22.
By Ben van Zyll
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Sports Editor
fter a year-long debate and discussions surrounding the renaming of Palo Alto schools, the Palo Alto community celebrated the renaming of formerly-known David Starr Jordan Middle School to Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle School on Nov. 14 in the school’s multipurpose room, with hundreds of students, parents and faculty in attendance. The school, in addition to Ellen Fletcher Middle School (for-
merly-known as Terman Middle School), was renamed due to its previous namesakes’ connections to eugenics enthusiasts. Greene Middle School Principal Valerie Royaltey-Quandt said the renaming event needed to be held to inform the community about who the school’s new namesake was. “I decided that the students of Greene Middle School needed more information regarding the new person our school was named after, and we had a reason to celebrate,” Royaltey-Quandt said. “Both Fletcher and Greene want-
ed to celebrate the name change because it was for an important historical reason. Last year, the Board adopted a resolution regarding the renaming, that also included the directive to teach about the history of eugenics in social studies classes.” According to Royaltey-Quandt, attendees of the celebration included Greene’s brother, sister-inlaw, nephew, grandson and several friends and former colleagues. Known for his technological contributions in Silicon Valley, Green was described by speakers
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as a man of honor who inspires young people of color. “He started an organization called Greene Scholars Program which helps to support underrepresented youth particularly in the STEM fields, and (Asistant Principal) Debra Matthews was here to represent that,” RoyalteyQuandt said. “Several of the honored guests were people he helped launch, like Denise Brosseau of Thought Leadership Lab.” Also in the audience was junior Kobi Johnsson, one of the first members of the community
to bring up the issue of Jordan and Terman’s connection to eugenics. “I’m happy with the outcome [of the event],” Johnsson said. “We got the names changed from eugenicists to an African-American STEM leader and a survivor of the Holocaust, so it’s a big step in the right direction.” Despite some backlash from community members on news outlet comment threads such as Palo Alto Online's, RoyalteyQuandt said the overall transition through the name changing process has been smooth. “I think the majority of the feedback has been positive, and that people in the community understand the reasons why the renaming was done,” RoyalteyQuandt said. “The process was so thorough and very well deliberated, with over a year’s worth of research and conversations with stakeholders. The people who are still resistant, I believe, are having trouble with the idea because of nostalgia. They might have gone here, or their older family members, and they can’t imagine the school by a new name. Personally, I’ve only interacted with one person who disagreed with the name for political reasons.” Johnsson sees the name change as the morally correct thing to do although it cannot please every-
one. “I understand there are people upset with the outcome, but the community is more inclusive and better off as a whole,” Johnsson said. Johnsson, who devoted time and effort to the name changing process, has a positive outlook on how everything has played out. “It was really nice to see not just my hard work pay off, but everyone’s hard work pay off,” Johnsson said. “It was a community effort to get the names changed, and that should be reflected. Just seeing everyone, from my teacher Mrs. Balsam, who helped encourage me at the beginning and fought hard for it, to members of the committees, who took time out of their schedules to help make a difference in the process, to everyone who voiced their opinions in the process. Even if they were against the renaming, I think everyone can look at the outcome and say that this helps better represent our community as a whole. So it was nice to see everyone’s work pay off.” As a final display of gratitude, Greene Middle School created a plaque to hang in the front of the school, along with a banner signed by all Greene students. Fletcher Middle School also hosted a renaming ceremony on Dec. 3.
The Campanile
Friday, December 7, 2018
NEWS
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Palo Alto Partners in Education hosts High School Preview Night
Event geared towards parents of prospective students, aimed to clarify expecations for future school and Paly’s goals By Johnny Yang
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Staff Writer
n order to give community members an overview of Paly, Palo Alto Partners in Education held a high school preview on Nov. 14 in the Performing Art Center. According to its website, PiE has held similar previews for all public high schools and middle schools at Palo Alto as an alternative to school tours. According to Principal Adam Paulson, one of the main speakers, the preview was held to help community members, especially parents of prospective students, better understand the goals and culture of Paly as a local public high school and prepare parents for the high school career of their children. Paulson began his speech by bringing up a question many parents were interested in: What does Paly do? “We develop our students’ knowledge, critical thinking and problem solving skills and nurture their curiosity, creativity and resilience, empowering every child to reach his or her full intellectual, social and creative potential,” Paulson said. In addition, Paulson described his perspective of the teachers at Paly. “The school has amazing teachers,” Paulson said. “I really try to escape my office as much as I can to get into classrooms and see what’s happening. (The classes at Paly aren’t) just students in rows getting direct instructions. There are projects going on, there are students with their Chromebooks out working in small groups, and teachers really go in depth on their lessons.” Besides the innovative curriculum in regular classes, Paulson also said there are many different pathways and extracurricular activities that stand out. “Our pathways are another unique part of Paly, such as our Performing Arts Pathway and Social Justice Pathway,” Paulson said. “We have our different pathways of performing arts, environ-
JOHNNY YANG /THE CAMPANILE
Parents and community members file into the Performing Arts Center for Paly’s High School Preview. Speakers at the events included administrators and parents alike. mental science, engineering and computer science and we hope to add more pathways as we progress.”
“(Difficult courses) will be extremely enjoyable if you love the subject, and you can always ask for help from your teachers or counselors when you feel like you can’t handle it.” Sudeshna Raha
Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator Elizabeth Spector said the Wellness Center is an important source of support for students’ school life that offers help whenever students need it.
“Students use it for a variety of reasons,” Spector said. “They can come in to take a 15-minute break if they are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, and they can use their coping strategies in a safe, supported environment.” Following the introduction to the wellness program, James Hamilton, the counselor for the Class of 2019, introduced the three levels of the counseling system. According to Hamilton, the first level of counseling is the teacher advisor, who will keep track of the academic progress of students, give them general information on graduation requirement and assist them on course selection. The second level is the guidance counselor, who consults with students and parents about course selection and gives additional help and advices on schedule change such as class dropping.
The third level is the college advisor, who meets individually with seniors and second-semester juniors, to discuss their secondary plans and give necessary advice for their future careers. Hamilton also said eighth grade parent night, which will have more specific informations about Paly on Jan. 30. After the speeches from the staff, PiE also invited three parents to share their experiences and advice with the audience. Colleen Gormley, who has two sons at Paly, encouraged parents to get involved in school activities. “I highly encourage you guys to volunteer as much as possible, read the journalism work and watch the sport games,” Gormley said. “It’s not for your kids’ behalf, but to get yourself used to the culture of the school.” Sudeshna Raha, who has a
daughter at Paly, encouraged new students to try hard courses that they are interested in.
“There are so many resources (at Paly), take advantage. If you have questions, ask, and there is always someone who can help.” Elizabeth Spector
“Don’t be afraid of taking hard courses, especially the AP courses,” Raha said. “They will be extremely enjoyable if you love the subject, and you can always ask for help from your teachers or counselors when you feel like you can’t handle it.”
As an experienced parent of two school athletes, Mark Robins suggested new students experience the sports programs at Paly, even if they are not super competitive players. “None of my kids, even if they are athletic, are the super star players,” Robbins said. “But they’ve all been involved in sports, and I think that’s a great way to get socialized and know people that they wouldn’t have known otherwise.” At the end of the preview, Spector concluded that Paly has a complete program that will take care of its students academically, physically and mentally, so there is really nothing for parents to worry about. “There are so many resources here, take advantage,” Spector said at the end of the night. “If you have questions, ask, and there is always someone who can help.”
School Board reforms homework philosophy
PAUSD looks to enforce 2012 policy throughout the district By Sarah O’Riordan
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Staff Writer
chool Board Policy 6154 and Administrative Regulation 6154, which were first adopted in June of 2012, serve to explain and enforce Palo Alto Unified School District’s philosophy on homework: that any assignments should be able to be completed in reasonable amounts of time, are assigned to protect homework-free vacations, and that every homework assignment KHADIJA ABID /THE CAMPANILE should be effective in deepening A student holds a nicotine vape-pen, whose usage has risen 80 percent among high schoolers this past year a student’s understanding of the material, rather than serving as busy work. The policies, whose main influence has been in the form of a limit on the number of hours of homework assigned by teachers, showed up on the agenda for the Board’s Dec. 4 open session ( Juul Labs) has upped the website dates with public records. By Khadija Abid process. It used to be really simple Juul Labs CEO Kevin Burns portion of the bi-monthly Board Distribution Manager to order online but now you have to said the company was initially cre- meeting. n response to a dramatic rise in give a bunch of information and they ated to help adults addicted to cigateenage vaping, as well as pres- check it.” rettes, and their product is not in“Middle school sure from the U.S. Food and tended for teens or people who have and high school are Drug Administration, Juul Labs, the Teenage use of electronic not smoked before. company responsible for the popuDespite this, Juuls have attracted completely different in cigarettes among high lar Juul e-cigarettes, has suspended a large population of young new usterms of one’s academic retail sales for most pod flavors ers. schoolers has increased (everything but mint, menthol and According to the most recent workload, relationships tobacco) and has halted all official by 80 percent and vaping National Youth Tobacco Survey with teachers, and social media promotions. current e-cigarette use — deamong middle schoolers data, In a mandate announced this fined as having vaped within the past outside life activities September, the FDA has threatened 30 days — among middle and high has increased by 50 ... homework to ban convenience stores and gas school students increased drastically percent this year. stations from selling e-cigarettes. in 2018 with over 3.6 million kids expectations and Similarly, the FDA is planning to currently using e-cigarettes. strengthen age verification requireThe FDA has said that teenJuul Labs has partnered with regulations should ments for online sales in an attempt Veratad Technologies to verify on- age use of electronic cigarettes has be tailored to work to prevent youth access to nicotine. line customer age qualifications. reached “an epidemic proportion,” “Mango was my favorite flavor, The website requires users to pro- with vaping among high schoolers uniquely with each so it sucks that they’re getting rid vide their full name, date of birth, having increased by 80 percent and stage of schooling.” of it, but I like mint too,” said a ju- permanent address and the last four vaping among middle schoolers havCaroline Furrier nior girl who requested to remain digits of their social security number, ing increased by 50 percent this year. anonymous. “I’ve also noticed that which Veratad Technologies valiThis rise is a sharp contrast from previous years, where data from the NYTS showed cigarette use decreasing in 2015, 2016 and 2017. This is the first mention of the “I don’t know about the statis- matter since May, when the Board tics, but I’ve definitely noticed way of Education held a study session more of my friends are juuling,” said to evaluate the progress made in a sophomore male who requested district-wide homework quantity to be anonymous. “It’s gotten crazy and intensity since the initial appopular, and I don’t get it because so proval of the policies. As the issue many of them refuse to touch real required no action, the item on the cigarettes but are going through an meeting agenda allowed for only entire pod a day, which is way worse.” an open discussion of the impleHe also said that he supports mentation and subsequent effecthe new restrictions and hopes that tiveness of these Board guidelines they are successful in combating teen especially in regards to alleviating nicotine addiction. unnecessary student stress.
New restrictions implemented on Juuls
Juul Labs complies with requirements after pressure from FDA
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The main concerns presented by Associated Student Body representatives were with the generalizations in certain items of the policy.
“One huge thing that could be done to fix (the issue of different homework expectations) would be to assign a more specific policy to each department within each PAUSD school.” Caroline Furrier
“While we liked the fact that there was a numerical limit to provide a cap on homework time,” Board representative and PALY senior Caroline Furrier said, “ASB was concerned with the fact that this suggests that every child learns and completes assignments at the same pace, which is not true.” Additionally, Furrier said many people think there should be a distinction between homework standards for PAUSD middle-schools and high schools. Currently there is not one. “Middle-school and highschool are completely different in terms of one’s academic workload, relationships with teachers and outside life activities,” Furrier said. “Following that logic, homework expectations and regulations should be tailored to work uniquely with each stage of schooling.” According to Furrier, ASB favors a system that accounts for each subject and its specific requirements. “One huge thing that could be done to fix this issue would be to assign a more specific policy to each department within each PAUSD school,” Furrier said. “It varies by subject how much homework is necessary, and one policy cannot accurately address all those variables with one blanket policy.” Although not expressly related to the amount of homework assigned, ASB representatives also say the homework policy should also take into account the issue of
course alignment. “Another problem that is not accounted for by the Board policy is the varying unit schedules across many departments that oftentimes overlap,” Furrier said. “For example, many students feel they deal with certain weeks that are stacked with tests and homework assignments, when others that have barely any-- which attests to a lack of department collaboration.” Furrier, who said she plans to follow up with Superintendent Don Austin regarding the issue, said course alignment may be the missing puzzle piece to creating effective homework reform. “If there was a way to account for that in the board policy, that would be the most beneficial change we could make for students,” Furrier said.
“Another problem that is not accounted for by the Board policy is the varying unit schedules across many departments that oftentimes overlap ... many students feel they deal with certain weeks that are stacked with tests and homework assignments, when others that have barely any ... ” Caroline Furrier
Though Furrier said the Board seemed to appreciated student feedback on the homework policy, no action will be taken to change the policy or address these issues as a result of this open forum discussion. According to Furrier, in the case of information items like this one at Board meetings, discussions such as these are used by the Board to give them insight into student opinion and school climate and to gauge what changes could be implemented should action be taken in the future.
The Campanile
Friday, December 7, 2018
A5 OPINION Teachers should be mindful of all political views
By Rebekah Limb
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Staff Writer
n today’s extremely polarized political climate, America has developed an interestingly hostile attitude when it comes to expressing one’s views about certain controversial issues, such as abortion or immigration. Tempers flare, feelings are hurt and a notion is instilled that some views are “better” than others. Since politics is such a powerful and prominent aspect of society, it surrounds us — sometimes even making its way into the classroom. Although a school environment encompasses a diverse spectrum of political ideas and provides a setting for students to gather and discuss political events, it can also be a place where authority figures display their political biases. Teachers should refrain from expressing personal views when discussing politics, because they often neglect the opposing sides.
ART BY:LUCY NEMEROV
They also run the risk of influencing students and not showing respect for all students’ backgrounds. For most students, the discussion of politics naturally arises in history or government courses. When discussing the building of this nation and its political infrastructure, controversial laws and policies within America’s history inevitably come up. While some negative pieces of history, such as slavery, may not be widely disputed anymore, many events such as the removal of Civil War Confederate statues still have political relevance and should be presented in a balanced fashion that respects different viewpoints. According to Palo Alto Unified School District Board policies, teachers are expected to present all sides of a controversial issue as well as ensure all lessons or discussions are grounded in facts. The goal of such policies is to help students
identify information without promoting any point of view. Although most teachers strive to meet this standard, teachers can sometimes over-teach or slightly neglect one side. It is important that students hear both sides of an argument to avoid bias and come to their own conclusions. By fully understanding different viewpoints, students can view the argument through their own lens and absorb their own facts. With the privilege of teaching younger generations comes responsibility, as teachers must ensure parents and administrators they are guiding students in the right direction. Teachers should never exploit their power. Students see teachers as intellectually authoritative figures, so what they teach students can potentially cause students to question their own beliefs or see the teacher’s view as superior because of their status. According to history
teacher Stephen Foug, his beliefs evolve and change over time so he would feel ashamed if he proclaimed authority regarding highly politicized ideas if he was, in reality, ill-informed. Even though Palo Alto is often dubbed a “liberal bubble” and the Paly community is also seen as left-leaning, one cannot neglect groups of people with differing political standpoints. Yasmeen Gavande, senior and leader of the Paly chapter of Young Americans for Freedom Club, says her conservative club has been greatly affected by the District’s policies. The policy enforcing the presentation of both sides of a topic prohibited the club’s pro-life speaker from coming to the Media Arts Center. According to Gavande, the system is somewhat backwards and unfair, because one of her teachers proselytizes the importance of a woman’s right to choose to students.
It is frustrating for her to be restricted by the board’s policy, but then be subject to the opposite treatment in the classroom. Conservative students are aware that Paly is a fairly liberal school, but that shouldn’t mean that they have to simply withstand this liberal bias just because they are the “minority.” Just as it’s seen as wrong for a teacher to profess religious ideas to a group of students, it should not be acceptable to promote specific political ideas. Because a teacher can’t be 100 percent sure of everyone’s background, respecting different political affiliations is a must. While it is true that trying to tiptoe around certain topics to avoid offending any groups of people can be arduous and almost impossible, most teachers do a great job at staying neutral in the classroom when talking about politics. And teachers who sometimes slip up obviously don’t intend to cause any harm. However, teachers’ ac-
tions can have an immense effect on students’ lives, especially in the realm of politics, so Paly should put more emphasis on presenting politics in a respectful manner. According to Foug, he has tried to remain as apolitical as possible in the classroom and has even changed how he presents certain topics over the years by understanding other points of view and including them in the discussion.
Teachers should refrain from expressing personal views when discussing politics. Teachers shouldn’t have to be censored when it comes to controversial topics, nor should they feel pressured to ignore discussion of politics. However, they should be cautious and respectful when it comes to the message they send, in order to maintain a safe community at Paly.
Class material ought to resemble tests more closely
By Sophia Moore
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Staff Writer
tudents are no strangers to how terrifying it is to be handed a test on test day and scan through the pages only to realize all the problems are significantly more difficult than the material usually covered in class.
Students should not be expected to make the leap from knowing fundamentals to implementing them in problem-solving skills. Although exams should test a student’s ability to synthesize the basic information given in class, students should not be expected to make the leap from knowing fundamentals to implementing them in problem-solving
ART BY: LARA NAKAMURA
situations without adequate preparation. That’s not to say tests and exams should be made easier for students; instead, test preparation should be improved. Many classes are structured with a format involving multiple lectures, followed by a unit test worth a significant part of a student’s grade. One issue with this structure stems from the majority of teachers, who have most likely reviewed the same material for multiple years, is that they assume their students can completely grasp every aspect of a topic from solely a 90-minute, uninteruppted lecture. According to junior Naomi Jecker, there is a more effective way of learning and applying the material than a lecture. In her Advanced Placement (AP) Biology class, her teacher provides harder practice problems
based on the given lectures and helps students figure them out together. Jecker said having the extra help in order to bridge the gap between being introduced to material in a lecture and applying that information to harder problems is helpful to better understand the material and do well on a test. Furthermore, homework problems and test problems are often not of the same difficulty. Usually, the problems given in class are far more simple than test questions. According to junior Priya Bakshi, who is enrolled in AP Chemistry, there is not much homework assigned in the course; the grade mainly consists of labs and tests. Bakshi said there should be more structure regarding the homework policy; the test problems are a fairly large leap in logic compared to what is shown in class.
AP Chemistry unit tests often consist of old AP test questions in order to prepare students for the real AP exam in May. Using that same logic, why not prepare students for the unit tests by giving them the same types of questions of similar levels of difficulty? While it is important to provide students with a basic understanding of the material, it is more important to teach them how to problem solve in order to be more prepared for difficult test questions in the future. For math teacher Cynthia Chen, who teaches both AP Statistics and Analysis Honors, the amount of materials varies from class to class. For example, in her AP Statistics class, she provides a review packet that includes both multiple choice and free response questions and additionally gives students free response questions
from past released AP tests under a given time restraint to experience what it might be like during the actual AP exam. In her Analysis Honors course, Chen provides a significant amount of test prep, which includes several review sheets containing “medium” to “spicy” practice problems as well as last year’s quizzes, so that current students are well prepared for upcoming quizzes and midterms. According to junior Noa Lehrer, a current Analysis Honors student, even though it is a challenging class, Chen provides the tools necessary to become used to the difficult problems and to further develop on-the-spot problem-solving skills. It is important for students to feel fully prepared for any given test. While it is also important for the student to study
on their own time, teachers should implement more teaching of how to solve harder problems that will be on tests, rather than providing students with the more basic, surface-level practice questions. Test scores account for a high percentage of the grade in a majority of classes; that should be taken into consideration when assigning homework and giving example problems in class.
Teachers should implement more teaching of how to solve harder problems that will be on tests.
Teachers should be more focused on helping students incorporate knowledge given in lectures in order to improve understanding of material and therefore, test scores.
Friday, December 7, 2018
A6
The Campanile
OPINION
Paly should offer more help to transfer students By Emily Asher
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Staff Writer
he beginning of the school year is an exciting time — it is when students reunite with friends and meet the classmates and teachers they will be spending the rest of the year with. However, students who don’t join Paly at the beginning of the year come into a brand new school with new students, facilities and limited guidance to help them transition into Paly life. To address this issue, Paly needs to help make the transition for new students easier and more welcoming, specifically for students who transfer to Paly during the school year. It is clear the school cares about new students and their transitions to Paly, with events such as Freshman Orientation and the program “Paly Pals” connecting experienced upperclassmen with freshmen, giving them a feel for the school and introducing them to new peers. However, these resources are only offered to freshmen entering at the beginning of the year and are not available to students of all grades who enter Paly during the school year. Transitioning to a new school in the middle of the school year can be especially hard because everybody has their friends in and out of class, and catching up on school work can be difficult with the number of classes students take.
Transfer students should be given the option to “shadow” a student who is in the same grade and taking similar classes.
This was true for junior Emma Siskens, who transferred to Paly in the middle of her freshman year. Fortunately, Siskens had friends at Paly from previous years in the Palo Alto Unified School District who showed her to her classes. However, Siskens felt like she didn’t receive any transition help from Paly’s admin.
Siskens wasn’t the only one who felt this way. Junior Fiza Usman transferred from Gunn High School. For the first month Usman said she felt like an outcast and wished that a administrator checked up on her to see if she was adjusting to the school or needed anything outside of class. To combat this problem, Associated Student Body (ASB) Social Justice and School Climate Commissioners and seniors Giselle Navarro and Noor Navaid have decided to host a student-run lunch twice first semester and once second semester. At the lunch, ASB provides food and plays ice-breaker games in the Performing Arts Center. This lunch offers transfer
students a way to meet other students, teachers and ASB officers, which helps them transition to the school. While this might help in the moment, in the long run, three lunches throughout the entire year does not provide enough support or guidance to create a healthy, fun way to get to know one’s new school. It is crucial admin take a step towards creating a pathway or program to help new students transition to the District. First, just as freshman are given a tour of the school before classes start, so should transfer students. Paly can seem huge and unnavigable at first, and a tour either given by an admin or student can help alleviate the stress
of trying to find where to go throughout the day. The tour could include showing the new student where each of their classes are and pointing out the main areas on campus, such as the quad and Media Arts Center. Second, transfer students should be given the option to “shadow” a student who is in the same grade and taking similar classes. This would give the new student a look into how classes run, meet other students and learn the confusing bell schedule. This Paly student could also act as a buddy throughout the year in case the new student has any questions about Paly in general or specific questions about school. Along with shadowing a student, it is
crucial that new students get to meet their teachers before diving into a class midway through the year where curriculum has already been taught. Meeting teachers would make a new student’s academic transition a lot easier. Every teacher has their own teaching styles and grading rubrics and making sure to go over their expectations would allow the student to understand how each class runs. This would also be a time where teachers could catch the new student up on the activities and learning targets for their class. Additionally, the teacher could get to know the student, just as they have gotten to know the rest of their students.
It is time that admin take into consideration the hard transition for transfer students entering Paly in the middle of the year. Without any help, it is difficult navigate their way into Paly life and can cause unnecessary stress that can be easily alleviated.
It is critical admin take a step toward creating a pathway or program to help new students transition to the District.
With some simple solutions, Paly has the ability to make the transition for these students a lot easier.
Students should explore more test prep options By Maya Rathore
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Staff Writer
n today’s vicious dogeat-dog academic environment, college admissions are more competitive than ever. As acceptance rates drop and more and more competent students apply, the workload of the average student skyrockets. Students stack on extracurricular after extracurricular, AP class after AP class and lock themselves away in their room for hours of homework and studying. They go to bed at ungodly hours in order to fit their schedule in every day, and are left exhausted by the end of every week. As students advance through their high school careers, especially junior year, the monster of standardized testing starts to rear its ugly head. Today, standardized exams are heralded as the gateway into universities: they’re an important factor colleges look at along with an applicant’s grade point average.
Regardless of which test preparation route a student chooses, they should know that there is a variety of options to succeed on a standardized exam. As a result, parents, especially in the Palo Alto area, are preparing their kids younger and younger for tests they won’t take for years, in the hopes it will increase their chances of getting into a “good college.” As a result, after extracurriculars, homework and studying, students are expected to complete an workload of test preparation at the end of the day. Something weighed so
ART BY: ANNIE CHEN
heavily in the hyper-intellectual bubble of Silicon Valley is easy to take advantage of: which is exactly what test prep companies do. They drive up the prices because they know unknowledgeable, too-busy to care, rich Bay Area parents will pay for the false security blanket that paid tutor test prep provides. They’ll offer to start students younger and younger so they can suck more money out of them. People are prone to wonder: is it morally fair for rich parents to basically be able to pay for their child’s higher score? What about low income kids, whose parents can’t afford to shell out thousands of bucks for a prep course? Even the middle class struggles to plunk that much money down for a course that may or may not raise their child’s score. One popular test prep company in the Bay Area charges as much as $2,160 for 10 sessions. Another charges $5,950 for two full
years of SAT tutoring, starting for kids as young as 13 with a $100 curriculum fee. This totals to over $6,000 for two years of test prep. With a jaw-dropping figure like that for a standardized test with plenty of resources online, one might feel compelled to ask: is paid test prep or tutoring really necessary for success on standardized tests? The short answer is no. There are plenty of students who succeed on the exam without months of rigorous, expensive preparation. One of these students is junior Noa Lehrer, who received a 97th percentile score on the SAT without any outside paid tutor. Lehrer decided to not take test prep because she wanted to see what she could accomplish solo, saying that there were lots of online resources and books out there that were helpful. She took a few practice exams before her test date. Lehrer also said that
she also did about 30 minutes of practice problems a week on Khan Academy, which boasts a 100 percent free, personalized SAT study plan. Despite not needing a full paid test preparation schedule herself, Lehrer can see the pros of having paid tutor test preparation. Lehrer doesn’t think test prep is necessary for standardized testing success, but she believes that it can be helpful to get competitive scores. For someone like Lehrer, with a hefty course load on top of lacrosse, a high score on the SAT without months of expensive test preparation was possible. So why don’t more students take the prepfree route? Junior Miranda Jimenez decided to take a winter SAT “bootcamp,” which costs about $1000, because she thinks it’s necessary, but because she lacks self-motivation. Jimenez doesn’t think that paid tutoring is necessary, and said that she has
many friends who scored just fine without. However, Jimenez believes that the structure of the program will help her remain disciplined and motivated. It’s true that test preparation offers a valuable regiment that students may find easier to stick with as opposed to studying on their own. However, if students have a strong enough discipline to study on their own, search for their own preparation materials, and take practice tests often on their own, then paid test preparation is not necessary. Regardless of which test preparation route a student chooses, they should be aware that there are a wide variety of nearly free resources to succeed on an exam. There are tons of free options online such as Khan Academy’s free SAT program, PDFs of test prep books floating around online and previously administered ACT and SAT tests with answers, arguably the most valuable resource out there.
Those very “exclusive practice exams” that test prep companies boast are floating around online for free, a few keystrokes away from any student. In addition, there are hundreds of videos on YouTube that go problemby-problem of test sections, solving them in depth.
One popular test prep company in the Bay Area charges as much as $2,160 for 10 sessions.
There are thousands of valuable ACT and SAT prep books online, which cost a fraction of paid tutor test prep and can help just as much, and if you can’t afford those the College and Career Center has free test preparation books. A high score is possible without blowing thousands of dollars. The resources are out there. You just have to look for them.
The Campanile
Friday, December 7, 2018
A7
OPINION
AP English Language teachers should align learning material
ART BY: ZANDER LEONG
By Alyssa Leong
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Photo Editor
f one were to get a group of Advanced Placement English Language (AP Lang) students together and ask what they are learning, one would receive a variety of answers. Some would say they read passages in class and take practice exams. Some would say they learn about social issues. Still others would say that they read the passages in the textbook.
However, many AP Lang students are frustrated about the differences in learning material teachers use in these classes.
While all AP Lang students are learning the same material, it is clear they are all learning it very differently than in most classes, which
is frustrating for many students who expected similar curriculum like courses in previous grades. The curriculum for the AP Lang classes (such as the final exam, the learning standards, the grade weighting and the textbook used) is the same across the board. However, each instructor teaches the class in a different way. This happens in other courses depending on teaching styles, but there is significantly more fluctuation in teaching styles in AP Lang than in other classes. In one AP Lang class, for example, the teacher assigns reading passages with corresponding analysis questions, practice AP tests and mock essays. This teaching style is focused on learning rhetorical devices, practicing identification and how to analyze them in passages. Senior Emily Wang is in such an AP Lang class and said she has enjoyed reading many shorter passages,
as opposed to a few longer books, because it exposes her to many different types of writing. On the other hand, some AP Lang teachers cover units on various social issues, such as money and the American dream. The social issues are related to the passage material on the AP exam. According to senior Asia Gardias, her AP Lang class is similar to a foreign language AP. While a foreign language class covers topics such as technology, beauty and culture, the students are expected to understand the basics of the language more than knowing everything about every topic. Similarly, in this style of AP Lang, students are expected to generally understand issues such as money, community and pop culture, but the emphasis is on knowing how to incorporate evidence and rhetorical devices into writing a persua-
sive essay. However, many AP Lang students are frustrated about the differences in learning material teachers use in these classes. By definition, AP classes are taught in order to prepare students for the AP exam. But the disparity between AP Lang classes fosters contrasting ways to prepare for the test, which may disadvantage particular students with different learning styles and prior knowledge. The varying learning material also makes it difficult for students in different classes to collaborate on assignments. Additionally, it limits the number of students and peer tutors someone can go to for extra help. In other AP classes, students can get help from any student in any other section of their class. But if an AP Lang student needs help in the subject, they can only go to a student that has the same teacher.
In standard English classes, such as English 10A, course material may be slightly different or certain teachers may be more strict. But most standardized English courses are at least doing more similar types of projects and assignments than different classes in AP Lang. It is important to acknowledge that this is the first year of AP Lang, and thus teachers are still figuring out what works for themselves and their students. In future years, as the course progresses, the team of AP Lang teachers will find a solution, and the teachers may create more synthesized classes. Students are also aware that this is a new course, and there is still experimentation to be done. The AP Lang teachers contacted for this story said they wouldn’t be interviewed for the story until all of them could come to a consensus about their responses to the
interview questions. They said they wouldn’t be prepared to answer the questions until sometime during second semester.
The disparity between AP Lang classes fosters contrasting ways to prepare for the test, which may disadvantage particular students with different learning styles and prior knowledge. By creating a standardized AP Lang curricula, more students would be able to prepare for the AP exam from a diverse range of teaching styles, resulting in more breadth and depth of knowledge along with a wider range of voices for collaboration and support.
CROSSWORD
Hello Campanile readers! The answers to the clues of this crossword puzzle can be found throughout the articles in this issue. When your crossword puzzle is complete, bring it to MAC 103. The first 30 people to do so will receive a free cookie! Down 1. The acronym for a group of therapists contracted by Paly for short-term therapy, often described as the “gatekeepers” of Paly mental health services. 2. The real name for the sport commonly referred to as “spikeball.” 3. The belief and set of ideals that all genders are equal. 4. “The Fight Song” that the Paly Pep Band plays is also know as _______. 7. Tattoos gained mainstream popularity in the 1960s with the invention of the _______ tattoo machines. 8. Living in the heart of _______ Valley, Paly can work towards utilizing more technology in the sports training department. 9. Dr. Jeong Choe’s new position is the Director of _______ Teams, an expanded role from being AAR Coordinator. 10. The largest roundnet company.
13. A snowboarding event in which there are various turns and flips. 16. Not All Heroes Wear Capes debuted at number _______ on the Billboard charts. 21. The _______ Regents system has been accused in a recent lawsuit of discriminating against Asian applicants in their admissions process. 22. The number of tattoos that Paly ‘18 graduate Angelina Wang has. 24. Paradise, Calif. was one of the most damaged cities by the recent _______. 25. Feminism is defined as some people as the belief of equality between girls and _______. 26. The type of humor that mockumentaries use. For example, “The Office” is known for this signature brand of humor.
12. The sport that ASB believes will be played in an intramural tournament next semester.
27. Someone who becomes a sports team fan due to its social popularity. In recent years, the Golden State Warriors have been subject to these types of fans.
Resort, one can _______ and snowboard.
permits medical changes before a baby is _______.
36. The Olympic Pipeline is the _______ that snowboarders take to get to Olympic-level achievement.
42. The Paly Bridge Team competed in _______ last summer.
Across 6. A social media platform that has Paly meme group. 11. This new rehabilitation machine is used to reduce muscle and joint pain and soreness.
_______ per semester. 17. The acronym for the food and drug administration responsible for new regulations on e-cigarettes.
14. Paly junior who believes feminism receives much more attention than needed.
18. University of California has been accused of discriminating against this ethnic group in its admissions.
15. Club day occurs only
19. The oldest game which
draws strong similarities to poker dates back to the _______ century.
28. A show that uses documentary style filming and satire.
23. _______ feminism includes people of all religious, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.
32. The city that was most affected by the recent wildfires.
26. The professor who led the recent lawsuit against the University of California system.
34. The acronym for the written agreement between the PAPD and School Board regarding sexual assault. 35. At the Kirkwood Mountain
39. Personality test generally accepted by psychologists to be valid and reliable. 41. The CRISPR technology
44. With CRISPR, parents can _______ their baby’s genes to have certain characteristics. 45. The Paly Concert Band and Symphonic Band director.
Friday, December 7, 2018
The Campanile
A8
EDITORIALS
Fires show admin must value Minimum day after finals week health over convenience ought to be used effectively
T
he devastating effects of the Camp Fire that began in Paradise, Calif. spread all around the Bay Area. In Palo Alto, the air quality index (AQI) reached upwards of 230 on Thursday, Nov. 15. According to AirNow, the AQI was in the “Very Unhealthy” range, signifying that “everyone may experience more serious health effects.” The concentration of smoke particles was so great that, according to a Mercury News article, the health harms were equivalent to smoking half a dozen cigarettes during the day. Several schools affected by the air quality cancelled classes on Friday, Nov. 16, including Castilleja School, Mountain View High School, Ravenswood City School District, Stanford University and the San Mateo School District. However, PAUSD made the decision to keep all schools open after a recommendation from the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. Although Paly canceled all extracurricular outdoor activities and indoor places for breaks and made meals available on campus, The Campanile is concerned about the decision-making process that led to PAUSD keeping schools open. Although The Campanile commends PAUSD for excusing absences for students who chose not to come school that day and moving the Turkey Trot indoors, keeping school open raises concerns about where the priorities
of Paly lie. While we acknowledge that Camp Fire is a unique situation, we think the District must reflect on this situation and put student health above all in the future. On Friday, the AQI index decreased slightly, yet was still solidly in the “Unhealthy” range. By keeping school open, administrators exposed many students to health risks. Students who didn’t have a mask were exposed to dangerous air throughout the day without protection. This included students who had no means of transportation other than biking or walking to school and students who had to go outside during passing periods and before and after school. Administrators may believe that the health issues were solved by giving students the option to stay home and have their absence excused, but it isn’t that simple for many. Teachers went over material during the day, and missing class could have put students behind, thus prompting many students to come to school despite harboring concerns about their health. Another argument Superintendent Don Austin made in an email to PAUSD staff was that students were safest at school. “Schools are safe places for kids,” Austin wrote in the email. “There is absolutely no doubt that some of our students would have been in unsafe conditions if we had closed. Mountain View was full of high school students in the streets. We may have had
East Palo Alto students waiting for buses on corners with parents already off to work.” The Campanile thinks this argument is flawed. While several students may have chosen to stay outside if there were no school, The Campanile believes the vast majority of students would prioritize their health and stay indoors. Additionally, schools around the area, even as close as Stanford University and Castilleja school, cancelled classes. By not erring on the safe side in regards to student health, the District revealed they are more concerned about instructional minutes and potential administrative headaches than student health. The Campanile understands that Santa Clara County Office of Education recommended schools stay open. However, PAUSD should consider what is best for its students instead of blindly following authority. Especially in the case of Paly, many students feel compelled to put their academics ahead of their own wellbeing to keep up. Mountain View High School, also in Santa Clara County, did not open, showing that the Santa Clara County recommendation was not a strict requirement. The Campanile thinks Paly administrators should learn from the Camp Fire aftermath. The number one priority out to be student health, and administrators must make sure to focus on protecting students in all decisions.
T
he feeling of pushing open a classroom door after completing the last final exam of the semester, finally free to enjoy Winter Break, is one many students look forward to throughout the dreaded finals week. However, this year, one last obstacle stands between finals and freedom — a minimum day. The Campanile believes having instructional minutes after the final exam, which typically signals the end of a semester, is not the best use of students’ and teachers’ time.
This year, dead week was reduced to only two days, leaving students with significantly less time to work with their teachers to solidify their understanding of the course's material and prepare for the final exam. This day could be put to better use by either adding it to finals week in order to spread out the exams over four days, or moving it to before finals week in order to give students more review time. Traditionally, Paly allots several days for students to review the
semester’s material in class and ask teachers questions. In these designated class periods, teachers are not allowed to introduce new material or give students any exams. These days add up to what Paly students and staff refer to as “dead week.” This year, dead week was reduced from three to two days, leaving students with significantly less time to work with their teachers to solidify their understanding of the course’s material and prepare for the final exam. According to science teacher Nicole Loomis, the reduction of dead week is “unfortunate.” Loomis said it would be a more effective use of time to have a single C day (a day containing all class periods) as a review day in addition to a set of two block days instead of the minimum day. Other teachers, including math teacher Daniel Nguyen and science teacher Gul Eris, also think students would benefit from having another day before finals to use for additional study time, and agree that this day could be created by eliminating the minimum day. Moving the instructional minutes from after finals to before finals, where they would be incorporated into dead week, is not the only way these hours could be put to better use. Another option is to add a fourth day to finals week so students could spread out their exams and avoid having three classes on one day. With the current system, students take three finals on Tues-
day and two on Wednesday and Thursday. If Friday was added to finals week, students could have one final exam period on Tuesday along with a tutorial period and two finals on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Eris said this would help reduce student stress.
This day could be put to better use either by adding it to finals week in order to spread out the exams over four days or moving it to finals week in order to give students more review time. Principal Adam Paulson said he was not involved in the decision to create a minimum day after finals week, but he said it is too late to make these changes this semester because the schedule has already been announced and students and teachers may have made travel plans. However, these changes can all be implemented next semester as well as next year. The Campanile, with the support of teachers and students, urges administration to adjust the finals schedule to help ease student stress and give classes more time to solidify a semester’s worth of material.
Admin should be commended for attendance improvements
P
aly students may have noticed that teachers are marking cuts and unexcused absences more frequently, resulting in more truancy letters being sent home. This is the result of recent large-scale changes the administration implemented to improve attendance. The Campanile would like to commend Principal Adam Paulson, Assistant Principal John Christiansen, the Attendance Team and other key administrators for their improved data tracking system and clearer system of consequences, which have helped improve attendance records at Paly.
If a student receives enough truancy letters, the issue goes to the District, and they can potentially end up in front of the Student Attendance Review Board. According to Christiansen, the administration has instituted a new data tracking system that more closely monitors cuts on a macro scale as well as a periodby-period basis. This system allows administrators to determine which periods students have more cuts and identify which students need more interventions. As a result of this system, attendance records are now more
organized and consequences can be enforced more appropriately. According to Attendance Secretary (and soon to be Principal’s Secretary) Christa Brown, truancy letters are sent out at three, six and 10 cuts. Administrators contact a student in person at around five cuts and contact a parent or guardian at around nine cuts. If a student receives enough truancy letters, the issue goes to the District, and they can potentially end up in front of the Student Attendance Review Board. This involves going to court, and consequences are not limited to just Paly. Other potential consequences for constant truants that administrators are considering include Saturday school and the loss of prep, according to Christiansen. These policy changes are steps in the right direction and have proven effective. According to Christiansen, data from the tracking system shows attendance is “significantly higher” in Advisory this year as compared to last year. Recent records shows around 1,500 students checking into Advisory, a figure Christiansen attributes both to the more effective tracking system and Paulson’s push to make advisory more meaningful. Additionally, as Tutorial and Advisory count as instructional minutes, high levels of student attendance are important to continue qualification for instructional minutes. This means that attendance needs to be more closely monitored and enforced; hence why students are receiving cuts for Tu-
torial when they didn't last year. Despite the current administration’s admirable policies regarding attendance, many students are still confused about the specifics of the school’s attendance policy and the ways it has changed since last year. Furthermore, knowledge of how these policies affect attendance might increase support among the student body.
According to Christiansen, the administration has instituted a new data tracking system that more closely monitoring cuts on a macro scale as well as a period-byperiod basis. To combat this, administrators ought to publicize the school’s attendance policies, perhaps on the Paly website and in the Paly Student Handbook. On a practical level, these policies govern student life on campus. Students ought to be aware of the rules that govern their time. The Campanile commends the administration’s efforts to increase attendance. Though it could do a better job keeping the student body informed about the policy details, it’s clear that they’re headed in the right direction and have made significant progress.
DECEMBER’S TOP TEN LIST Top Ten things to do during finals week 10) Desperately try to find an underclassman to tutor for extra credit. 9) Stack all the missing homework from the semester on your teacher's table as a holiday gift. 8) Fail your finals because you were too busy calculating the score you'd need on RogerHub. 7) Tell your parents they can't see your grades because your dog ate Infinite Campus. 6) Finish your APUSH final early so you can go light incense in the MAC bathroom for a half hour. 5) Check Paly Memes for the Dank Youth for humor until you remember it went extinct months ago. 4) Contact Evan Baldonado in a frantic search for a 50 page chem study guide the morning of your final. 3) Dream about studying inside a finished library.
The Campanile Editors-in-Chief Leyton Ho • Waverly Long • Kaylie Nguyen Ethan Nissim • Ujwal Srivastava
Online Editor Yusra Rafeeqi
Managing Editors Kennedy Herron • Byron Zhang
News and Opinion Editors
Lifestyle Editors
Noah Baum • Neil Kapoor
Annie Chen • Leela Srinivasan
Science & Tech Editor
Sports Editors
Miranda Li
Navid Najmabadi • Ben van Zyll
Multimedia Editor
Business Managers
Vivian Feng
Lucy Nemerov • John Tayeri
Distribution Manager Khadija Abid Emily Asher Eve Donnelly Kaahini Jain Leila Khan Paige Knoblock Bernie Koen Kaitlyn Lee Nicholas Le
Photo Editor Alyssa Leong
Board Correspondent Samantha Hwang
Staff Writers
Cameron Legrand Rebekah Limb Anna Meyer Sophia Moore Lara Nakamura Tien Nguyen Sarah O'Riordan Henry Queen
Maya Rathore Frida Rivera William Robins Kiana Tavakoli Kai Vetteth Johnny Yang Jaures Yip Shannon Zhao
Photographers Khadija Abid • Emily Asher • Leila Khan Alyssa Leong • Johnny Yang • Yusra Rafeeqi
Illustrators Khadija Abid • Tien Nguyen • Annie Chen Lara Nakamura • Frida Rivera • Zander Leong Miranda Li • Lucy Nemerov • Jaures Yip
Advisers Rodney Satterthwaite • Esther Wojcicki
Writing Coaches Evelyn Richards • Elisabeth Rubinfien
Letters to the Editors: Email all letters to editors to theeds19@googlegroups.com The Campanile prints letters on a space-available basis. We reserve the right to edit submissions. The Campanile only prints signed letters. Advertisements: Advertisements with The Campanile are printed with signed contracts. For more information regarding advertisements or
sponsors in The Campanile and their size options and prices, please contact The Campanile Business Managers by email at campanile.ads@gmail.com. Note: It is the policy of The Campanile to refrain from printing articles that misrepresent or alienate specific individuals within the Palo Alto community. The Campanile would like to thank the PTSA for supporting the mailing of our newspaper!
2) Prepare for the inevitable mid-test fire alarm. 1) Show up for the minimum day.
–JOHNNY YANG & KAI VETTETH
Our Vision Statement: The Campanile has upheld the highest standard of student journalism for the last century by engaging the community through various mediums of storytelling. Our coverage of news, culture and athletics aims to represent the diverse perspectives of our student body.
The Campanile
Friday, December 7, 2018
LiFeStyLe
me me ch mu
W
alking around school, the admin of the popular Instagram account SiliconValleyProbs sees people laughing at an image on their phones. “Have you seen this great meme account?” She beams widely, careful not to let anyone know her secret identity. Whether it be Pepe, tide pods or Spongebob, memes have been a way of connecting to other teens and young adults both within schools and across the world. They’re a method for students to bond and laugh at their struggles, as demonstrated by the rapidly-developed PSAT memes, which spread across the internet on an annual basis and poke fun at the absurd nature of some of the essay questions. A Facebook page called Paly Memes for the Dank Youth is a student-run group for Paly students to post their homemade memes and enjoy the memes of others. With this page and countless others like it, the type of humor
is prevalent, but over time what the general public finds funny has changed. The cause of knee-slapping laughs have transformed from the slapstick humor of throwing pies in faces from The Three Stooges to a picture with some text. “I think memes have created a divide between older generations and younger generations,” sophomore Jonathan Sneh said. “I once tried to explain what memes are to my mom, and she didn’t understand them at all … There’ll always be a divide between generations, because they grew up in different periods and in different conditions.” According to Sneh, though the other generations don’t seem to understand the memes and humor of the modern age, memes are able to form bonds between members of the same age group. “I agree with the notion that it helps people connect,” Sneh said. “When I went to do a program over the summer, I became better friends with a few people because of memes. Everyone was ‘in on the joke’ and it made it easier to connect and have topics to talk about.” Along with the ability to-
connect people, Ashutosh Bhown said memes have contributed to the larger phenomenon of humor today, and he thinks humor is at an all-time peak. “As the system becomes more systematic, I don’t really know how, or if, humor will change in the distant future, but humor today is definitely at its most powerful and greatest magnitude than any other time in history,” Bhown said. “It is easier than ever to make content to make others laugh than ever before.” The quick and easy communication through social media has also allowed memes to spread rapidly. “The primary method of humor delivery in this age of instant gratification is through the internet, from what I have experienced,” Bhown said. Though his humor hasn’t changed throughout time, Bhown said the process of looking for entertainment has greatly changed. “I’d say the general nature of humor, or in my particular case, satire, has not changed at all since its inception, but what matters to people when they browse this sort of content is how it is delivered,” Bhown said. Sneh agrees that over time, the ultimate culture and ideas behind what the average teen finds funny has shifted. “Memes have also brought new types of humor and ideas into our culture,” Sneh said. “I never thought that I’d find surrealist, absurdist images hilarious, but I do, and that’s all because of the spread of memes
online. I think it’s for the better. Memes, due to their easily manipulated formats, often create discussions and bring to light shared experiences due to their relatability.” Because of shared community and experiences, the jokes about events happening around the students can present humor in a relatable form. “People have common grounds from their experiences at Paly, and the relatability of memes help us share our community experiences—whether that be fire alarms, stress (or) Spirit Week—in a light, funny manner that keeps up with the trends of the time,” Sneh said. In early 2017, an Instagram account called SiliconValleyProbs popped up and became an instant hit around schools in the Bay Area. The page posts pictures of memes that Bay Area teenagers can relate to, such as Bay Area Bingo, which is full of stereotypical expectations of the average local person. The Bay Area Bingo Board includes “boba enthusiasts” and having “parents (who) work in high tech.” The original admin had a face reveal that gained a lot of attention, as her identity was hidden from the public for a long time over the development of the account. She eventually passed the baton to the current admin before heading off to college. Before becoming the current admin of SiliconValleyProbs, she ran her own smaller satirical meme account, which was noticed by the original admin who offered them their position. Now, the current admin can’t imagine not being the mastermind behind the account. “I caught wind of SVP sometime around early 2017, when the page was rapidly blowing up in popularity,” the current admin said in an email interview, who requested to remain anonymous. “I began to follow the page myself and fell in love with it a little. It was really dif-
ficult to think of another page that felt so relatable to so many Bay Area teens and satirized the culture in which we grew up so perfectly.” The admin continued to explain that memes have become a way of the younger generations’ expressions of themselves, and in turn, became a signifying characteristic for them.
“The relatability of memes helps us share our community experiences ... in a light, funny manner that keeps up with the trends of the time.”
Jonathan Sneh “As strange as this sounds, I feel like memes are like the calling card of our generation,” the admin said. “Internet memes have evolved to encapsulate a blend of surrealist and satirical humor that is unique to our generation.” The admin also said only younger generations can understand and relate to memes. When adults try to imitate memes, those memes do not get the same feeling across. “I’m sure lots of us have seen older adults attempt to emulate meme humor, whether it be a parent or teacher or family friend,” the admin said. “The meme ends up coming across as corny or cheesy, and generally fails to capture what make memes so appealing and relatable to so many of us in the first place.” The admin of the popular
Instagram account says the factor of an exclusive group of individuals being the only ones to make and understand something is what makes it especially unique. “This is part of the reason why I -feel like memes have helped us connect as a generation,” the admin said. “Being able to share a medium of humor that only we understand allows our generation to create a distinct identity for ourselves, and in our case, that’s memes. ” Bhown, Sneh and the admin of SiliconValleyProbs agree that memes have a reputation for being unintelligent and strange, but teenagers around the world are able to connect because they can relate to the jokes “I was in middle school when internet memes started becoming a huge phenomenon,” the admin said. “I’m sure many of us remember rage comics, Grumpy Cat, Bad Luck Brian and the myriad of other meme formats that were popular around 201012. Since then, memes have regularly spawned new formats, which rise and fall in popularity on a regular basis. We’ve moved far away from where we were eight years ago. Memes now are more absurd, more outlandish.” In the end, what the current society finds funny has changed so much over the years that it is hard to predict how humor will change in the future. The people behind the meme accounts are those who like to make others laugh and enjoy the ability to create a platform people can relate to. The admin said, “Being able to share a medium of humor that only we understand allows our generation to create a distinct identity for ourselves, and in our case, that’s memes. Other things as well, obviously, but memes too.”
Text, Design & Art by Tien Nguyen Design & Art by Lara Nakamura
Lifestyle
SCIENCE & TECH
CRISPR development
CAROLINE DAVIS2010/CC 2.0
Dive deeper into the works of Chinese scientist He Jiankui, along with a variety of new ethical concerns about scientific research and specifically the gene editing techinique. PAGE B7
Student Life
INSTAGRAM/ANGELINA.WANG
Student tattoos
Take a look behind the popularity and stigma surrounding body art. PAGE B6
Entertainment
PIXABAY/CC0
Venmo
Exploring the trendy app causing a frenzy of money transferring. PAGE B3
BRIAN BAUMGARTNER/CC 3.0
“The Office” actors
TV shows cast real-world characters and destigmatize issues. PAGE B2
Friday, December 7, 2018
The Campanile
LIFESTYLE
B2
NICK LE/THE CAMPANILE
Column: How to bandwagon a sports team By Bernie Koen
Senior Staff Writer
ITUNES/FAIR USE
The album cover for the up and coming artist Metro Boomin’s highly-anticipated return to the music industry features `a man in front of a burst of flames.
Metro releases album ‘Not all Heroes Wear Capes’
Hip hop artist and DJ Metro Boomin’ earns first #1 on Billboard Hot 100 after presumed retirement By Henry Queen Senior Staff Writer
M
etro Boomin’s latest project, “Not All Heroes Wear Capes,” is an impressive effort from the St. Louis native, who experiments with his artistic identity more than ever in this record. The release of “NAHWC,” which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, on Nov. 2 came as relief for fans of the 25-yearold producer, who many believed retired after he purged his Instagram page and changed the bio to read, “Retired record producer/DJ” earlier this year. While it’s unclear what exactly brought Metro out of retirement for this project, it is possible that Atlanta rapper and close friend of his, Gucci Mane, played a role. “Gave Metro a million, told him not to quit,” Gucci raps on the album’s opening track, 10AM/Save the World, referencing an Instagram Live video from earlier this year where he jokingly offered Metro $1 million to return. Many are thankful to have Metro back in action, such as music producer and senior Julian Martinez. “He is what inspired me to start marking music,” Martinez said. “He’s such an amazing
and talented producer. He has the unique ability to change his sound and perfectly complement whatever artist he’s working with.”
While this album suffers from oversaturation of certain artists and a few questionable tracks, this project shows a lot of potential for Metro now that he is here to stay. Whether it was a publicity stunt or simply the need for a break from the hectic music industry that pulled him away, it’s clear that “Metro Boomin want some more,” and I was excited to listen to his latest project. The most notable change in direction for Metro on “NAHWC” was his attempt to break away from the proven mold of stripped back and repetitive trap beats — such as “Bad and Boujee” by Migos or “No Heart” by 21 Savage — that made him famous. “I always try not to be predictable,” Metro told Rolling Stone Magazine in 2016. “I try to be versatile and to keep breaking new ground in the field of
production.” One way Metro accomplishes this is by beautifully and seamlessly connecting different tracks on the record. On the track “Overdue,” for example, he adds a minute-long outro into which he gradually weaves elements of the next track, “Don’t Come Out the House.” Before the listener knows it, they’re hearing an entirely different song. He does this again between the tracks “Only 1” and “Lesbian.” Transitions like these make the album “NAHWC” a cohesive and enjoyable listening experience, which is a welcome break from the disjointed tracklists that have dominated the trap genre in recent years. On the track “10 Freaky Girls,” Metro continues to develop his sound. He brings in a powerful brass horn section during the chorus, contrasting with the mellow synthesizer that flows with the rest of the track, allowing 21 Savage to drop an unforgettable, ice-cold hook. This use of different instruments, along with the soulful sample that bookends the track as well as 21 Savage’s stellar performance, make “10 Freaky Girls” one of the most enjoyable songs on the record. Other standout songs include “Overdue” (feat. Travis Scott), “Space Cadet” (feat. Gunna) and
“Don’t Come Out the House” (feat. 21 Savage). The latter is particularly outstanding, because of Savage’s superb whisper rap breakdown. The “Only 1” interlude provides an emotional detour on the record, featuring Travis Scott singing about drug abuse and infidelity, layered over a melancholy piano and violin. Scott’s psychedelic lyrics and distorted vocals are reminiscent of his 2014 song, “Drugs You Should Try It.”
“I always try to not be predictable. I try to be versatile and to keep breaking new ground in the field of production.” Metro Boomin
One downfall of this record is that while Metro explores his sound instrumentally, the list of featured performers remains full of his most frequent collaborators. The album features Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Offset and Swae Lee, all artists Metro has worked with extensively in the past. There are a couple new
faces, such as Wizkid and J. Balvin, but this record would benefit from a more diverse group of artists. Towards the end of the record, Metro tries his hand at Latin pop with “Only You” (feat. Wizkid and Offset) and “Borrowed Love” (feat. Swae Lee and Wizkid). Metro brings solid production on “Only You” and Wizkid and Offset are able to carry the track fairly well. “Borrowed Love,” however, is a low point on the record. Metro puts forth an awkward and glitchy beat that begs for attention and distracts from the vocals. Perhaps that’s intentional, though, because the vocals are arguably worse Swae Lee sounds whiny and sings a generic melody, while Wizkid pushes the limits of autotune with his contribution. Unfortunately, the only redeeming piece of this track is the Wendy Rene “After Laughter (comes tears)” sample that starts the track. While this album suffers from oversaturation of certain artists and a few questionable tracks, this project shows a lot of potential for Metro now that he is here to stay. “NAHWC” proves that Metro is still one of the best producers in the world and is looking to expand his musical identity.
Mockumentaries portray more relatable characters TV shows ‘The Office’, ‘Parks and Recreation’ depict refreshing diversity in actors, authenticity in plot
NBC/FAIR USE
Characters in “The Office” humorously discuss relatable problems during a meeting in the episode ‘Body Language.’
By Kennedy Herron
E
Managing Editor
very once in a while, you may overhear a classmate quote, “Oh, how the turntables” or “Beets, Bears, Battlestar Galactica.” Lacking context, you may feel slightly confused and left out, prompting you to look up these quotes, and upon discovering they are from “The Office,” you will not be able to stop yourself from binge-watching all nine seasons of the television series. Mockumentaries like “The Office” use the filming style of a documentary to satirize their storylines. America first witnessed mockumentaries in the 1960s, starting with “A Hard Day’s Night,” according to the New York Film Academy. This launched several television shows
and movies within the genre, such as “David Holzman’s Diary” and “This is Spinal Tap.”
“I like the authenticity of (‘The Office’): how it’s not staged and there’s not canned laughter. It feels like something that could acually be real.” Ben Antonow
Ever since mockumentaries like “The Office,” “Modern Family” and “Parks and Recreation” began airing in the early 2000s, they have become popular among
teenagers, especially now that Netflix provides easy access to these shows. “The Office,” specifically, uses humor in order to start the conversation about difficult issues, according to sophomore Andie Tetzlaff. “Most shows stray away from rude and mean language and actions, but ‘The Office’ proudly promotes it,” Tetzlaff said. “I think its bold.” Many students agreed that if “The Office” was released this year, the writers would have never gotten away with the jokes and lines in the show. “I definitely think that the humor in ‘The Office’ is not very acceptable when it comes to this generation and today’s audiences,” Tetzlaff said. However, in the early 2000s, these types of shows may have
been exactly what Americans needed to destigmatize serious topics such as eating disorders, gay rights and gender inequality. Another appeal of these comedy dramas is that they cast realworld characters who do not have the typical physical characteristics of Hollywood television stars. “I like the authenticity of (‘The Office’): how it’s not staged and there’s not canned laughter,” freshman Ben Antonow said. “It feels like something that could actually be real.” In fact, several of the actors, such as Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith and Creed Bratton, share the same first names as their characters in the show. According to Antonow, this makes it easier for them to relate to their characters and portray them more genuinely. “It’s not [the characters] they’re playing; it’s somebody they identify as,” Antonow said. In addition, in shows like “The Office,” there is a diverse representation of characters.
“Most shows stray away from rude and mean language and actions, but ‘The Office’ proudly promotes it. I think it’s bold.” Andie Tetzlaff
“There are people of different genders, races and sexual orientations, helping to diversify the show and setting a good example of what a real life office should look like,” Tetzlaff said. Senior Anna Oft agrees and said shows such as “The Office” have a more realistic feel to them, especially when the directors
utilize the mockumentary-style filming. For example, sometimes characters like Jim look directly at the camera. When the characters break the fourth wall in film, it causes them to become like real people.
“The characters are more accurate portrayals of women, but then they also kind of make fun of (them) in a way.” Anna Oft
Regarding body image in mockumentaries versus in typical Hollywood shows, Oft said “The Office” is one of the only shows that depicts characters more genuinely. “The characters are more accurate portrayals of women, but then they also kind of make fun of (them) in a way,” Oft said. While these comedies seem to be making progress by portraying women of all sizes, they still use satire in order to create an entertaining television show, which could introduce other body image problems “Michael Scott will make fun of the people who are larger for being the way they are, but (the show does) actually talk about a lot of issues about body images,” Oft said. Regardless of this progress, other mockumentaries may not be achieving the same diversity and authenticity in their casting, and this sets “The Office” apart from other popular shows. Oft said, “I think that ‘Modern Family’ has a lot more of the women who look like Hollywood actresses.”
H
ere in the Bay Area, bandwagons are the most common of occurrences. Although it is not sly, discrete nor sneaky, people choose to bandwagon all the time in pursuit of social inclusion. However, bandwagoning simply results in one’s own embarrassment, rather than the social acceptance the bandwagoner intended to find. As a dedicated National Basketball Association fan who thoroughly enjoys calling out bandwagons, here’s how to get away with your shameful act. Post many pics on social media about the team The whole point of bandwagoning is to feel socially accepted, and using social media is the best way to increase awareness that your life has absolutely changed since your “favorite team” won. For example, “Warriors!! #champions.” Avoid any interactions with real fanatics of other teams because their actual knowledge of the sport will surely trump your made-up fandom. More on that in “Don’t talk trash to fanatics of real teams.” Buy a vintage jersey Trying to fake that you’re not a bandwagon is a hard route to take. Any type of conversation about the sport will damage your reputation. But if it’s the route you want to take, you’ll need some team apparel. For some reason, just because you have an oldlooking jersey, people will assume you’re a valid fan. So if you have a Mullin jersey, people will assume you’ve been a Warriors fan since the ‘90s, even if you didn’t know his first name was Chris. Buy a jersey for a player no one knows The alternative is to buy a jersey of a player no one knows. Without ever watching a game, you’ve already heard of Steph Curry. So your 2018 Curry jersey won’t impress anyone. Instead, go for a Jacob Evans, a player who the Warriors were stuck with because they abused the Salary Cap. Just make sure you’ve done your research in case anyone asks you any questions. Disappear if your team loses anything The whole reason you hopped on the bandwagon in the first place was to fit in socially. But when your team starts losing, people stop having pride in that team. This means you need to be ready to delete all traces of your fandom when your team loses. That means deleting the pictures from that game you had front court seats at just because your parents are filthy rich, even though none of you knew the names of more than three players of the team. It also means you need to stop wearing the new jerseys of that player you couldn’t recognize in public. Don’t talk trash to real fanatics of teams Stop! This is the absolute worst possible thing to do. Remember, you’re a bandwagon. Remember you don’t know anything about the team you’re a fan of, nor the team you’re talking trash about, nor the sport you’re discussing. Just be quiet and avoid conflicts. These real fans will expose how fake of a fan you are and how little you really know about your team. If you’re going to be a true bandwagon, you must master the most common excuse employed by bandwagons. While pathetic, all bandwagons must tell those who challenge you that the reason you only became a fan of your team when they were winning was you hadn’t previously been exposed to the sport. In other words, even though the first Warriors game you ever watched was the day they won the 2015 Championship, your lack of previous exposure to basketball gives you every right to talk trash to anyone you encounter. Hopefully these tips will help you hide how absolutely pathetic your bandwagoning tendencies are and allow you to conceal yourself as a true fan of your “favorite sports team.”
The Campanile
Friday, December 7, 2018
B3 LIFESTYLE Tower Building upper level offers counseling for students Many Paly students are unaware of counselors, mental health professionals available in unfamiliar area on campus By Kai Vetteth
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Staff Writer
uffled chatter is barely audible through the 12 closed doors lining the drab hallway of the Tower Building’s second floor. According to Elizabeth Spector, Paly’s Mental Health and Wellness Officer, students visit the floor largely to take part in a variety of therapeutic activities. For example, some teachers lead students in painting their own tranquil beach, complete with palm trees and coconuts. In other cases, students recount their experiences of the week to a therapist —from the anxiety of interactions at home to the severity of chronic depression. A single flight of stairs separates 12 full-time mental health professionals from the rest of the campus, and while many students are unaware of mental health services available to them or even the existence of a second floor in the Tower Building, others use the resources regularly. From Monday to Friday, Paly’s mental health professionals meet with several students each day — by appointment or in times of crisis — to discuss and develop coping strategies for their everyday lives. Spector said Paly counseling is an easily accessible way for students to receive professional counseling at no cost while enjoying confidentiality between themselves and their counselor. When a student begins counseling, they are asked to sign a form requiring parental consent. According to Spector, however, extenuating circumstances sometimes allow students to forgo parental consent if it could be counterproductive or dangerous for a parent to find out about their child’s mental health issues. Spector said Paly prefers to include families in the therapy process, but even if a parent consents to their child’s therapy, what is said in the sessions remains protected. “(A) therapist is never going to share anything with your family without talking about it with you first unless it’s a safety concern, (such as suicidal or homicidal ideation) in which case it’s going to be shared for your own safety,” Spector said.
Unless a student approaches the Wellness Center to report child abuse or a suicidal or homicidal intent, students who request counseling will usually be referred to a school psychologist for evaluation and assessment. According to school psychologist Jaimie Fanciullo these assessments take many forms — from parent and teacher interviews to cognitive and educational assessments. Additionally, school psychologists field a variety of concerns from teachers about their students’ emotional health, academic struggles and social skills.
“(A) therapist is never going to share anything with your family, not without talking with you first, unless it’s a safety concern.” Elizabeth Spector
Described by some Tower Building staff as the “gatekeepers” of mental health services, the number of school psychologists at Paly has increased significantly in recent years from just one in 2012 to three and an intern in 2018. Fanciullo said as awareness of mental health services has increased, the nation is currently in the midst of a shortage of school psychologists. According to Fanciullo, the demand is apparent at Paly, as psychologists are approached on a daily basis by students and faculty alike. After completing the evaluation stage, some students are referred to therapists employed by Counseling and Support Services for Youth, a Silicon Valley nonprofit contracted by the Palo Alto Unified School District since October 2017. Unlike school psychologists, therapists primarily work with students to improve their clarity of thinking and develop coping strategies they can use in their everyday lives. For the 2018-19 school year, Paly has two full-time CASSY therapists and a supervisor who hope to improve Paly’s environment by encouraging ac-
ceptance of academic diversity. “You guys work so hard to be academically strong as students at Paly or in the community, and yet you’re all so different, and so it’s important for us to help people realize their learning diversity— that you’re not all the same and that we’re here to support you individually,” Fanciullo said. According to Paly CASSY therapist Eva Martinez, if a student was referred to her by the Wellness Center staff, she would begin with an intake session to understand what student wanted to work on. An intake session is the first step in CASSY therapists’ 12 session model — meeting weekly in 30 to 40 minute sessions for three months — designed to meet a student’s specific objective. “If somebody came in and told me that they want to feel less anxious, then perhaps a good goal would be practicing using coping skills or calming techniques every week,” Martinez said. “That’s something I check in (on) with them every week to see how they’re doing.” On an average day, Martinez will meet with three to five students, many of whom are attending their weekly session. After their 12th meeting, each student’s case is managed flexibly. If a student feels they have accomplished their objective, Martinez connects them to local organizations such as the Children’s Health Council to receive additional therapy. Alternatively, if a student is unable to use another organization’s therapy, Martinez will continue their therapy sessions at Paly. Alternatively, students with more severe conditions or a history of mental health issues are sometimes referred to Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS), whose offices and classrooms are also located on the Tower Building’s second floor. Unlike CASSY, students referred to ERMHS usually meet with a therapist for a year or longer and participate in one of two classes that serve as group therapy sessions. ERMHS Therapist Melissa Garner co-teaches Therapeutic Elective Class on the second floor of the Tower Building, and describes it as an introduction to
HENRY QUEEN/THE CAMPANILE
The interior of the second floor is home to several trained counseling, therapy and psychology services. therapy where students participate in activities that teach coping strategies. After some time in Therapeutic Elective Class, many students transition into Therapy Academic Planning, another class held on the second floor, focusing primarily on the implementation of these strategies in relation to students’ classes.
“It can be really powerful for a student to share their issues and have others who are also in the same kind of position.” Melissa Garner
Students receive academic credit for the class and a pass or fail grade on their transcript. Between eight and 10 students are enrolled across both classes at any given time, and while they do receive academic credit, they do not receive a grade. “(Both classes) tend to be very small and intimate, and we do that on purpose because the larger the class gets, the more difficult I
think it gets for kids to be open and share,” Garner said. Some students enrolled in Therapy Elective Class or Therapy Academic Planning have never attended a class and are unable to do so due to concurrent enrollment in an intensive outpatient program, hospitalization or a mental health condition with psychosomatic symptoms. According to Garner, Paly mental health services will go to extraordinary lengths to ensure each student gets the treatment they need, sometimes collaborating with outside organizations. One such collaboration is with the nonprofit Asian Americans for Community Involvement. At the end of the month of October, Emily Chu, a behavioral health counselor from AACI, began holding therapy sessions at Paly every Friday. “(I) provide culturally and linguistically competent counseling services to students in Paly,” Chu said. “I can conduct sessions in both Mandarin and English fluently.” According to Chu, she was contracted because Paly recognized a growing need for a therapist that could effectively communicate with Mandarin-speaking
students and parents. Her services, however, are available to all of the student body. “The service is open to any students, but especially for Mandarin-speaking students and Asian/ Chinese American students who are deeply affected by Chinese cultures,” Chu said in an email. According to Chu, every resource the school offers to the student body aims to create a more safe and accepting school atmosphere.
“I provide culturally and liguistically competent counseling services to students in Paly.” Emily Chu
Chu said, “By getting to know mental health services from wellness center such as an (introductory) session with therapist, students and parents can reduce their stigma toward mental health services and know the purpose of therapy is to create a healthier school life and know they are not alone.”
Venmo integrated Benfield: A legacy of 20 years at Paly into student culture Beloved principal’s secretary retires after working alongside eight different bosses By Navid Najmabadi
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Sports Editor
inutes before an important football game, seniors Paul Thie and Eitan Klass embarked on a search for the perfect pre-game drink at Town & Country Village. After settling on Jamba Juice, confident the sustenance would give him the extra boost to optimize his performance in the game, Thie was hit with the unfortunate realization that he had no cash or card on him to pay. Luckily, Klass had a credit card and was able to purchase the snack for Thie. Then using Venmo, a popular mobile payment app downloaded on his phone, Thie paid Klass back on the spot. “(Venmo) definitely comes in handy,” Klass said. “I use it a lot because I don’t always have cash on me. It’s a pretty good app.” Since its release in 2009, Venmo has become a popular app used for daily transactions. It was recently purchased by Paypal. Users can link a credit or debit card to their Venmo account and make transactions with friends, family and even strangers. Venmo has become so widely used, handling over $12 billion in transactions in only the first quarter of 2018. Venmo has also incorporated features with aspects of social media. For example, once a user “friends” or makes a transaction with another user, other users can now see those records. However, the price of the items purchased are not disclosed due to Venmo’s privacy agreements. Venmo has also recently incorporated social networking between users. For example, when a user makes a transaction, transaction details are released to the user’s Venmo friends, similar to other social media platofrms such as
Instagram. While transactions can be made private if desired, many users stick with the default privacy settings. Senior Marvin Zou, who recently began using Venmo, said it is easy to be swayed into the large pool of Venmo users. “I wasn’t really a big Venmo guy,” Zou said. “My friends sort of forced me into it because we were at Starbucks, and I didn’t have money, but I really wanted a caramel frappuccino, so my friend bought me a drink, and I downloaded Venmo to pay him back, and I’ve been using it ever since.” However, despite its convenience, there may also be some flaws that come with using Venmo regularly According to senior Kristina Im, mistakes such as accidently sending money to an unknown user or sending the wrong amount of money can certainly occur among Venmo users. “Over the summer, a random person sent me $200 with the description ‘Wedding Caring,’” Im said. “Since there isn’t an easy way to cancel from the sender’s side, I sent it back because I felt really bad.” There is no question that Venmo has made an impact on the youth and everyday life when it comes to making transactions — the only question that remains is the app’s longevity and whether they can improve. Will big companies begin to adopt Venmo into their routine payments, or will it remain as an app for small friend-to-friend transactions? Im said, “I see a lot of people using (Venmo), and I think it’s due to the convenience. It’s really easy to have one person pay for something and then have everyone pay them back for it later. Also, some credit card companies have transfer systems between the same company, but I think Venmo’s is pretty universal.”
By Noah Baum
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News & Opinion Editor
n the main office, there is a box filled with notes of gratitude, all addressed to the same person. Carolyn Benfield has been receiving these letters for the last 20 years while working as the principal’s secretary at Paly. “I saw one that was written in 1998,” Benfield said. “Then I have some that I just got.” After her long career at Paly, Benfield will retire from her position at the end of the semester. “(Twenty) is a nice, round number,” Benfield said. “I’ve had a great run.” When asked about her favorite aspect of Paly, Benfield didn’t take much time to think of her answer. “The kids,” Benfield said. “This time is one of the most momentous turning points in your life and you don’t realize it when you’re in it. I know I didn’t.” During her time at Paly, Benfield has worked alongside eight principals, including current principal Adam Paulson. Benfield considers no individual principal to be the “best.” Whichever principal Benfield is working with, she considers him or her to be her favorite. Paulson has been working in the front office with Benfield for four years. “(Benfield) is just always positive,” Paulson said. “She’s really the heart of the office.” While working together, Paulson and Benfield shared a passion for listening to music. “(Benfield) comes from a very musical family and I do as well,” Paulson said. “I’ll really miss talking shop with her about bands, about music.” Although Benfield herself lived in Pennsylvania during her high school years, her mother was an alumna of Paly. Benfield would hear about Paly from her mother and look at pictures of the school in old editions of the Madrono., the school yearbook. Before she worked at Paly, however, Benfield was a Paly par-
SASHA POOR/VERDE MAGAZINE
Caroline Benfield, the principal’s secretary, reminisces about her time at Paly from her desk in the office. ent; although she had never seen the school in-person, she already had a good feeling about it. “When my son was going to start (at Paly), I immediately felt a sense, for him, of safety,” Benfield said. “I felt warmth and real compassion from the parents.”
“To me, it’s fascinating and it’s really heartwarming. Kids can’t possibly realize how much (we) care about them.” Caroline Benfield
After her son graduated in 1997, Benfield began working in the front office. From what Benfield noticed during interactions in the Tower Building, students were as kind and respectful as they could be.
“We see, in the office, the best of kids,” Benfield said. “There’s no expectations: they’re not late for anything, no one is grading them on anything. They are absolutely just who they are.” Benfield said she has needed patience, a sense of humor and a belief in people’s better nature in her work. Her job is anything but a desk job, however. On a day-to-day basis, Benfield might be doing a range of tasks, like dealing with a sick child, counseling someone who is upset, cleaning stuff off of the porch or calling animal control because of an injured squirrel. Among her duties, however, Benfield has a favorite: sitting down to talk with teachers. “To me, it’s fascinating and it’s really heartwarming,” Benfield said. “Kids can’t possibly realize how much teachers care about them.” Benfield also hopes students will have a keep a positive per-
spective on parents in the District. “(Students) might not believe it, but we have a tremendously supportive parent population here,” Benfield said. “Our parents have been hugely generous with financial donations, with their time (and) with their kindness and compassion to the staff.” Upon her departure, Benfield will cherish her memories of working closely with other administrators on behind-thescenes aspects of Paly. Benfield will also remember doing the staff spirit dance. “That’ll grow character,” Benfield said. “If I can do the staff spirit dance in front of 2000 screaming teenagers, I can do anything.” Benfield, ultimately, is grateful for the way students, teachers and parents have treated her over the past 20 years. Benfield said, “I have been loved a lot here. Certainly that changes you for the better.”
Friday, December 7, 2018
B4
The Campanile
SP TLIGHT
Shifting Fem
An insight into how different religious, econo
Text, Art & Design by Lucy
Has anything changed?
F
eminism. To some people, it's a dirty word. To others, it's an integral part of identity. Does it mean "manhaters"? Or does it mean "empowerment"? Some people say it's outdated, and others criticize it for focusing too much on first world concerns. However, feminists say it can never be out-dated because equality has not yet been won, and the fight for equality for women concerns all wom-
en, in both the United States and around the world. Yet, the feminist movement in the U.S. has come under criticism for being dominated by white women. The drive for a more inclusive movement and for a broader definition of central issues has grown in recent years, as black, Latino and Asian-American movements have sought a seat at the feminist table. It wasn't all that long ago
that women could even consider having a political voice in the U.S. The right to vote came in 1920, with the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Suffragettes built their part of the feminist movement on the ground plowed by American women starting in 1848, when women gathered at the Seneca Falls Conference to discuss equity in social, civil and religious spheres. Today, 170 years later,
the feminist movement still struggles as disparities in the workplace and political system persist. Many of these problems are relevant to all women, of any race, ethnicity or religion. However, the feminist movement also is realizing that other concerns of specific racial, ethnic or religious groups overlap with feminist issues and present an opportunity to tackle problems on a broader front.
White Feminism vs. Intersectional Feminism J unior Emma DonellyHiggins, president of the Paly Feminism Club, advocates for the inclusion of all racial identities in the feminist movement in both her role as a club leader and a frequent attendent of women’s rights protests. Donelly-Higgins said it’s important to understand the difference between White and Intersectional Feminism. “Intersectional Feminism is a branch of feminism that emcompasses women of varying economic, religious and racial identities, whereas White Feminism seems to only play to the advantage of prosperous white women,” DonellyHiggins said. The Bay Area is home to many women’s groups voicing the importance of Intersectional Feminism. For example, The Women’s Building, a center founded in 1979 by a group of lesbian women and women of color who did not feel welcomed at other women’s centers in San Francisco. The center provides social services and works with non-profits in order to promote women’s movements in the area. Founded in 1979, The Women’s Building is a community center that focuses on empowering, enriching and engaging women in the feminist movement. Vylma Ortiz, an advocacy specialist at the San Francisco The Women’s Building, said she focuses on helping women who face sexual assault and harassment in addition to promoting movements such as #MeToo. “I think everyone's welcome in the movement, but many times, the standard is coming from a white lens,” Ortiz said. “People forget that
there are Native, black, LatinX and disabled women. Not everyone is the standard white woman.” Arianna Mao, a junior Asian-American leader in the Paly Feminist club, said the importance of Intersectional Feminism lies in the new perspective it brings to the feminist movement. “It’s really important to look through the lens of how it affects different sects of women,” Mao said. “Not just focusing on one group of women specifically, but looking at several layers of the problem. For example, looking at what problems affect a woman in a lower social class or of a different race can really broaden your view on the feminist community.” Donelly-Higgens said she sees Intersectional Feminism as an opportunity to stand with all women while still allowing women of color to lead their own movements.
"People forget that there are Native, black, lesbian, LatinX and disabled women." Vylma Ortiz
“I don’t think it’s necessarily about helping women of color — it’s more standing in solidarity with women of color,” Donelly-Higgens said. “It’s so important to speak for women
Only 20.6 percent of Congress is female. Source: Center for American Women and Politics
of color and people of color in general. They are the leaders of their own movement.”
"I’m really outwardly feminist and liberal, and I’ve noticed a lot of guys, either behind my back or to my face, will call me crazy." Emma Donelly Higgins
Paly sophomore Isabella Koutsoyannis, a MexicanAmerican female in the Social Justice Pathway, said she is thankful for the effects of feminism on the Latino community. “I appreciate anyone supporting the feminist movement no matter what race they are,” Koutsoyannis said. “Whether that means you are black, Asian, white or any other race, we are all fighting for the same goals.” Koutsoyannis said she has seen the negative effects when feminists turn against other feminists. “I hear people sometimes bashing ‘White Feminism,’ but in my opinion, attacking each other distracts from the other problems at hand,” Koutsoyannis said. No movement for social justice can progress without backlash, and as an outspoken advocate for women’s rights,
Donelly-Higgins is no stranger to retaliation, especially from men. “I’m really outwardly feminist and liberal, and I’ve noticed a lot of guys, either behind my back or to my face, will call me crazy,” DonellyHiggins said. Acknowledging the accusation that her views are ‘radical’, Donelly-Higgins said, “You have to be crazy to believe in this sort of thing because it’s crazy, and it’s something different. If you want equity, you are believing in an extremely progressive society, which is nothing like we have right now.” Another common misconception within the feminist movement is that all women experience sexism and discrimination in the same way. According to Ortiz, it is not that one sub-group faces objectively worse discrimination than another, rather, that their experiences differ. “The different levels of privilege that women have either alleviate or exacerbate the problems of sexism and misogyny,” Ortiz said. Despite being a prominent leader in the Paly feminist community, Donelly-Higgins said she does not want to problem-solve on the behalf of women who experience inequalities that she does not face. “I am not a woman of color, so I can never truly know how the problem affects women of color and what the best solution would be,” DonellyHiggins said. "Only women of color do. However, this is in no way an excuse to stay silent on the issue, therefore being complicit. Consult your friends of color and listen with open ears. Elevate their voices.”
42 percent of women have experienced gender discrimination in the workplace. Source: Pew Research Center
Friday, December 7, 2018
The Campanile
SP TLIGHT
minist Ideals
omic and racial backgrounds affect feminist ideals
y Nemerov & Frida Rivera
Intersection between culture and feminism F rom the age of 12, Paly senior Noor Navaid has made room in her morning routine for an additional item of clothing: a hijab. Attending an Islamic school in the Bay Area at that age, Navaid was often surrounded by girls doing the same.
"Depending on what your tribe and parents are like in Kenya, teens will either wear miniskirts and showy clothes or dress very covered." Esther Kagiri
According to Navaid, the commitment to a hijab is a big one. Along with draping a scarf over her hair, Navaid also has to cover her legs and her arms up to her elbow. “Making the decision to wear a hijab was huge,” Navaid
said. “But it is a daily reminder of who I am and what my values are, and it feels like a connection to God and a connection to religion.” According to Navaid, the Islamic faith is rapidly changing and adapting to societal changes and her Islamic faith as well as her hijab are contributors to her feminist ideals. “I think that the reasoning behind the hijab is not the same in the 21st century as it used to be,” Navaid said. “To me, the wearing of a hijab is a form of equaling women. Back in the day, slave women would not wear hijabs, but modest women would, which was a sign of respect and was equalizing for women and men.” According to Navaid, a verse from the Quran gives a good insight into the Islamic concept of gender, social and racial equality: “O mankind, indeed, We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted,” (49:13). “Basically, this verse is saying that you’ve been created as men and women, but the best of you are the ones who do the most good in the world,”
Navaid said. “In Islam, being a caretaker or mother is a very special type of love and is very respected. The Quran never says that women aren’t supposed to work, and instead women are expected to be educated, being the foundation of a family, biologically.”
"The reasoning behind the hijab is not the same in the 21st century as it used to be." Noor Navaid
According to Navaid, using her religious attire as a form of empowerment and connection to her religion is something she holds dear. “My favorite thing about my hijab is that it removes the focus away from physical appearance of a woman and more on their personality and humanity,” Navaid said. “I find that the society is too focused on defining standards of beau-
ty for women, and conforming to those standards can be oppressive to many women.” Although Navaid made the personal choice to wear a hijab, some women are pressured to dress in a certain way based on cultural tradition. Wearing ripped jeans and a crop top, Paly junior Esther Kagiri dresses in the typical attire of a Palo Alto teen. Kagiri recalls changing her attire when she moved here from Kenya. “Depending on what your tribe and parents are like in Kenya, teens will either wear miniskirts and showy clothes,” Kagiri said. “Then there are others who dress very covered, like me, where I used wear a turtleneck and leggings under a dress.” For Kagiri, the largest influence on her way of dressing was her mother. “My mom really wanted me to present myself in a respectable way, which reflects on both me and her,” Kagiri said. According to Kagiri, her father’s attitude towards her choice of clothing has changed. Kagiri said, “After having lived in the United States for many years, my dad has seen what people wear here and is now much more flexible in what I wear, unlike my mom."
Is feminism outdated?
S
ome people think the feminist movement has become unnecessary or a crusade against the male sex. “Feminism was important in the 1900s, not anymore,” junior Jackson Druker said. “It was important for the the 19th Amendment and getting women to be treated with more respect in the workplace, the field of education and in the civil rights movement.” As a conservative, Druker stands out in Paly's mostly liberal student body. In Druker’s eyes, the feminist movement has been twisted into an excuse to demonize men, and its purpose is no longer clear or necessary. “I feel like it's become more of a misandrist movement that is attempting to blame all faults of society on men, which is why I don't consider myself a feminist,” Druker said. “I think that it has become something that it wasn’t supposed to be.
It turned something that was once useful into not what it used to be.” According to Mao, there are members of the feminist movement who are misguided in their definition of feminism. However, that group is a small minority, she said. “Of course, there are going to be some people in the feminist movement who are more radical and are demonizing men, but the whole point is looking for equity for all genders,” Mao said. Druker said he bases his argument off his interpretation of the Constitution. According to him, the document outlines the positive state of equality between different groups in present-day America. “Constitutionally, men and women have the same rights,” Druker said. “I don't think that men should have any more rights. I don't think that
women should. I don't think that LGBTQ people should have any more rights. I think it's good how it is.”
"I think people in the feminist movement are just singling out those radical people and generalizing our whole group." Jackson Druker
But, according to Mao, although the Constitution outlines equality between men
and women, there are still many institutional inequalities that cannot be dismissed. “To bring up the wage gap, for example, you can compare white women to white men, and there's a significant difference,” Mao said. “But then if you compare Latina women, it’s much worse.” Although Druker is antifeminist, he objects to being labelled as anti-women’s rights and dismisses such stereotypes about conservative men. Druker said, “many people say conservatives are misogynistic, which means by definition, the hatred towards women. Feminists see individuals in the conservative community who are outspoken and assume that their opinions speak for everyone. There are definitely misogynistic and sexist people. People in the feminist movement are singling out those people and generalizing our whole group as those people.”
National wage statistics for women of different races in comparison to the white man's dollar Source: Institute for Women's Policy Research
64¢ Black Women
White Women
Hispanic Women
Asian Women
B5
Friday, December 7, 2018
The Campanile
LIFESTYLE
B6
Tattoo body art allows many to express their personalities
Paly students, alumni share their experiences, discuss effects, practical considerations of getting tattoos By Jaures Yip Staff Writer
I
t would be easier to ask what isn’t art rather than what is. Boundless in appearance and medium, its physical aspects often serve as the messengers of thoughts and feelings that words alone can’t convey. Whether it’s the simple appreciation of an aesthetically pleasing painting or a deeper emotional impact, art has cemented its place in society as a way to inspire and connect individuals. Therefore, the fact that many would choose to put it on their bodies is no surprise. Tattoos have been integrated into several cultures around the world for over 5,000 years, receiving a radical increase in mainstream exposure during the 1960s with the invention of the electric tattoo machine. Since then, ink has become common in western fashion and pop culture, rising in popularity especially among young adults. “I got my first tattoo junior year,” Paly alumni Angelina Wang said. “I sort of just wanted to do something different and have art on my body (…) I just saw it as a change, like a more extreme version of getting a haircut.”
“Often times corporate environments say no to tattoos regardless of what they are.” Angelina Wang Wang, who graduated in 2018, has since gotten seven tattoos, including a bird holding flowers on her ribcage and a snake on her left shoulder, both of which she designed herself. Interested in increasing her collection, Wang said there is an addictive quality of getting tattoos. “If I don’t get (a tattoo) for a
long period of time, and I have an idea of the design, it kind of feels like my skin is crawling,” Wang said. Although body modifications have increased in popularity among young adults over the past couple of years, the stigma surrounding them still remains. 2017 Paly graduate Maddie Lee said there is a negative connotation that sometimes comes with tattoos and those who have them, especially among employers.
“Remember that it is permanent so don’t do something that you regret.” Angelina Wang “People tend to generalize and stereotype people who are tattooed as being more aggressive or violent, and of course this isn’t true, but I understand why some places may not hire heavily tattooed people,” Lee said. “I don’t agree obviously, but the truth is that people do judge others off of initial impressions and sometimes that reflects poorly on a company.” According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey of over 2,000 people, 76 percent thought tattoos and piercings hurt an applicant’s chances of getting hired and 42 percent said visible tattoos are inappropriate at work. The study showed a general correlation between age and tolerance, as the older participants were, the less likely they were to accept tattoos. Judgement is not only limited to vocational environments, but is also often expressed by family and friends as well. Senior Abby Ramsey, like many students, initially hid her tattoo from her parents for fear of disapproval. “I wasn’t going to tell them
ANGELINA WANG/ 2USED WITH PERMISSION
Paly alumna Angelina Wang displays a tattoo on the side of her stomach of a personally designed flying bird holding a collection of flowers.
because they don’t support it, but they saw it,” Ramsey said. Despite the scrutiny tattooed individuals face, adolescents have not been deterred from getting them. In fact, several have observed a decrease in negative reactions and view body modification as a harmless form of expression. “Oftentimes, corporate environments say ‘no’ to tattoos regardless of what they are,” Wang said. “But I feel like that’s definitely changing, especially with our generation. It’s becoming more widely accepted because people are seeing other people with tattoos who aren’t criminals (…) they’re seeing people with tattoos leading legitimate successful lives.” However, many young tattoo supporters do have words of
caution for those thinking about getting inked up. Given that the process involves puncturing the skin repeatedly, lack of proper equipment, technique or sanitary measures can easily result in not only a disappointing result but also potential infection.
“People tend to generalize and stereotype people who are tatooed as being more violent.” Maddie Lee Lee said people considering tattoos should research the artist
and tattoo parlor for the safest and most satisfactory results. “Absolutely do not get a tattoo if you’re under 18, especially if it involves going somewhere sketchy where they accept your fakes or don’t check ID,” Lee said. “I would be very worried about the quality and safety of the tattoos ... do not stick and poke yourself, as you open yourself up to infections and other health risks.” Although there are risks that come with tattooing, according to several tattooed students, they can usually be prevented with proper planning and research. Tattoos offer the freedom to express and concretize what would otherwise be intangible thoughts and emotions, but are unique in their placement on someone’s own body. Wang noted
the appeal of being able bring her art with her wherever she goes, which cannot be said for most other mediums.
“I wasn’t going to tell them because they don’t support it.” Abby Ramsey Wang said, “Remember that it is permanent, so don’t do something that you regret, but also don’t listen too much to what other people say because at the end of the day, it’s your body, and it doesn’t really matter what other people think if it makes you happy.”
Behind the fences: Paly’s brand new library Students face dilemma
Construction crew adds finishing touches, details to long-awaited building
on religious holidays By Paige Knoblock
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YUSRA RAFEEQI/THE CAMPANILE
The new interior of the two-story library looks almost ready for students to utilize and showcases a plethora of new, upgraded features.
By Kaahini Jain
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Staff Writer
he path to math or history class has been overcrowded this year, and trying to get through the narrow walkways amid all the people going in both directions can be a challenge. With fences blocking off other pathways for students trying to get to class, hundreds of people have to resort to squeezing through the same way to get to class. Luckily, for those trying to make it to class on time, in the past month, the fences that surrounded the library have come down. The construction that has been going on for over a year is coming to an end. The construction company, fs3 Hodges, has worked on many projects, including commercial buildings, infrastructure and healthcare buildings. They also helped manage construction for some of the newer classrooms at Gunn High School. According to Charlie Diaz, the lead construction manager for the Paly library, there were about 300 people working on the project. “[There are] designers, engineers, consultants, construction
crews and inspectors,” Diaz said in an email. In addition to professional designers, the school librarians also took part in the design and layout of the building. “The library team, [...] has had a lot of input in the design and planning of the space. We did our best to design a space that would be welcoming and useful for students and staff,” Paly librarian Sima Thomas said.
“There are a lot of moving parts to a project, but this is a passion so the day goes by fast.” Charlie Diaz According to Diaz, workers spend 10 to 12 hours a day building on site and occasionally work on weekends. “There’s are a lot of moving parts to a project, but this is a passion so the day goes by fast,” Diaz said. Diaz describes the new library’s look as contemporary and
Thomas repeatedly said the building is beautiful. Since it was decided to keep the existing shell and structure of the building for the creation of the new building, accommodations made the project more complex, and many designers and architects made blueprints for the new building over the course of several years. “I especially like the light coming from the big windows and skylights, the reading nooks, and the collaboration rooms,” Thomas said. The construction team has a schedule that was designed ahead of time, which dictates what needs to be done at what time. This schedule was created working backwards, starting with the completed design, Diaz said. “The library team has been lucky to be able to watch the building progress from bare bones to its current, essentially finished, state,” Thomas said. Currently, Diaz’s crew is adding the finishing touches to the building, mostly on the interior, and ensuring the new additions are functional. Having been working at Paly environment for so long, Diaz said people in his company view
Paly students and staff as friendly and respectful. They also said they quickly noticed the abundance of technology being used by almost everyone. “It’s good to look up and take in your surroundings every now and then,” Diaz said. In addition to their technology observations, the crew also had to respond to every fire alarm this fall and had to come up with a system for how to handle them. “The crew would evacuate to the construction parking. We became pretty accustomed to them,” Diaz said. The Student Center has been acting as the temporary library since August 2017 and the librarians are looking forward to being able to move into the new space, according to Sima. Thomas also mentioned an improvement to the old “instructional corner” that was in the old library. The new building has an improved area for classes to gather in the library that is more practical than the old one. “We will be moving in during the month of January,” Thomas said. “We know everyone is excited, and we’re doing our best to make sure we’re open as soon as possible.”
Staff Writer
hen finals come to a close and many Paly students look forward to celebrating the holidays with their families, junior Chloe Laursen faces a break that does not align with the holidays she celebrates. Though it might be difficult for Paly’s calendar to give students the day off for every existing holiday, it seems as though most of the holidays incorporated into the calendar tend to not encompass major holidays celebrated in certain religions. The three most practiced religions in the United States are Islam, Christianity and Judaism, which brings up question why Christian holidays are the primary holidays schools tend to give off. However, the Palo Alto Unified School District is not the only district whose calendar is reflective of the “Christian-centered” holidays; many schools across the nation follow a template similar to PAUSD. The PAUSD calendar puts many Paly students in a difficult spot when it comes to celebrating religious holidays. Many Paly students are forced to make a decision between school or their faith. Juniors like Noa Lehrer and Laursen choose to observe Jewish holidays with their families instead of attending school.
“I miss school on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur every year, because those are the high holidays.” Noa Lehrer
“I miss school on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur every year, because those are the high holidays of the year.” Lehrer said. Laursen said that her parents do not let her go to school on holidays because it goes against her religious traditions. “I don’t think that the Paly schedule is fair to all religions, it seems very careful not to interfere with Christian holidays but doesn’t really take into account other religions and their holidays.” Laursen said. The choice whether or not to
go to school is difficult but holiday celebration is an excused absence. The state of California Education Code Attendance Policy dictates an excused absence as health, court appearance bereavement, college visits, meeting with employers, funeral services or religious purposes. “While it isn’t ideal to miss school, it usually isn’t detrimental to miss just a couple days and teachers are usually pretty understanding in terms of makeup work, etc.” Lehrer said. The Paly Attendance staff said it is not up to the individual schools or the District, to make the distinction between what is considered an excused absence. “The excuses are strictly based on the California Ed Code.” said the Paly Attendance staff over email. Junior Zoe Silver opts to celebrate Jewish holidays but still attend school rather than miss classes. “This year I was too stressed out about missing school so I came to school on Yom Kippur. This was a hard decision because my religion is important to me, however if I missed school I would fall behind and become stressed,” Silver said. The struggle is not isolated to one religion. Junior Sanaz Ebrahimi faces similar struggles when contemplating celebrating Persian New Year school. Persian New Year is the Iranian New Year, a holiday usually celebrated. “My mom always encourages me to skip school for Persian New Years, but I’m afraid to miss out on any crucial school work.” Ebrahimi said. Paly’s schedule has endured several shifts over the past three years as the bell schedule has be undergoing changes. The Bell Schedule Committee, a group comprised of students, staff and parents, is tasked with looking for an innovative schedule for students and staff alike. Junior Nathan Strope has been on the committee, and said the committee has looked at all aspects of the current schedule including evaluating holiday breaks, but their main focus is on the bell schedule during school hours. Strope said, “It was not the focus to benefit or hinder any individuals religious practices by when and for how long the break was.”
Friday, December 7, 2018
The Campanile
B7
SCIENCE & TECH
Chinese scientist claims first modification of human baby genome Scientist He Jiankui said he utilized CRISPR-Cas9 as a tool to modify genes of twin baby girls, protecting them from HIV
NIH IMAGE GALLERY/PUBLIC DOMAIN
While controversial due to ethical concerns, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology offers the possibility that humans will be able to protect themselves from diseases such as HIV.
By Johnny Yang
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Staff Writer
ollowing scientists Herb Boyer and Stanley Cohen’s creation of the first genetically engineered bacteria 45 years ago, the technique of gene editing has been rapidly evolving , now reaching a point where human genes can be edited to target specific medical needs. Chinese scientist He Jiankui announced on November 26 that with the parents’ permission, he had successfully modified the genes of twin babies utilizing Clustered Regularly-Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats associated 9, also known as CRISPRCas9, in order to protect them from HIV, which both of their parents have. Found within the genomes of prokaryotic organisms such as bacteria and archaea, CRISPR is a family of DNA sequences that or-
ganisms use to detect and destroy DNA viruses that have previously infected it. Through extensive research, biologists developed a similar technique that can be used to edit genes within organisms, including humans.
“The medical and scientific community must establish ethical guidelines that are independent of the variable opinions and decision making of individuals that are often self-interested.” David Cohen
This new technology has a variety of potential applications. It can serve as a biological research
tool, create more efficient crops for food production and most importantly, treat diseases. In this case, He Jiankui removed a piece of DNA sequence from the twins’ DNA, and, as he proclaimed, avoided them from infecting genetic HIV virus. Despite the fact that CRISPR-Cas9 offers a possibility to protect humans from disease, however, there has been an ethical dilemma in editing human genes. Paly English teacher JoshuaKnowles Hinrichs believes that this application of CRISPR-Cal9 might result in unpredictable consequences. “While I understand the arguments being made by people who are looking to genetic engineering for solutions to terrible genetic issues and genetic susceptibilities to other issues,there is still a real possibility that we could create something much worse while searching for solutions to those
issues,” Hinrichs said Other than potential technical flukes, Hinrichs also expressed concern about the ability to choose preferable traits decreasing diversity. “It might seem simple to say one genetic trait would be better than another when speaking of immunity to diseases, but preferences about things like nose shape, hair color, etcetera are entirely subjective,” Hinrichs said. “Variation is an essential part of the survival of any species, and we could easily stumble into something that would weaken mankind while pursuing cosmetic preferences or solutions for diseases.” Paly humanity and english teacher David Cohen believes that we have been violating nature for a long time, with a variety of technologies. “I don’t view (decreasing human diversity) as the key question,” Cohen said. “We’re way past
the point of merely accepting human nature, with all sorts of scientific and medical interventions, from contact lenses and dentistry to medications and surgery to transplants and artificial body parts.”
“I deeply admire the academic level of the scientist who did the experiment. Not considering the controversy of the scandal, the result is successful." Calvin Yan
Hinrichs makes a connection between this research and Brave New World, a dystopian novel that his students are required to read.
“In Brave New World, there is an extremely rigid caste system and membership is determined through a complicated process of shaping human embryos,” Hinrichs said. “This removes people’s ability to choose their own path in life, reduces individuality, etcetera. This book really offers warnings about what could happen if this sort of technology is misused.” From another angle, Cohen also comments that parents’ permission is not enough for gene editing to be allowed. “The medical and scientific community must establish ethical guidelines that are independent of the variable opinions and decision making of individuals that are often self-interested,” Cohen said. “Some parents may want a “designer baby” custom designed to excel in every way, but just because people want something doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to provide it.” Maggie Yan, who has taken AP Biology last year and plans to major in science, states that while the gene editing experiment is successful in the sense that the babies are immune to HIV, this controversial edit on their genes might lead to future problems such as discrimination. “I deeply admire the academic level of the scientist who did the experiment. Not considering the controversy of the scandal, the result is successful,” Yan said. “But I also think scientists need to be responsible to their research and their test individuals, and know that their action could significantly affect the individual itself or even its future.” Beside ethical responsibilities, Nicole Loomis, Paly Biology and Environmental Science teacher, emphasizes that this technology must not be used for other purposes. “I think (editing human genes) is acceptable if and only if the person gives consent and the edit is for medical purposes,” Loomis said. “Once you start editing genes for personal preferences, there is a slippery slope that could lead to increasing inequality.”
Friday, December 7, 2018
The Campanile
SCIENCE & TECH
Perceiving Personality psychologists question validity and reliability of popular personality questionnaires
T e x t, D e s i g n & a r t by m i r a n da l i
Design By E v e D o n n e l ly
I
Jung observed people had preferences between mental functions, and based on these preferences, people could be categorized into different psychological types. Aligned with this theory, the MBTI places people in one of 16 personality types, based on their tendencies to be extraverted versus introverted, sensing versus intuitive, thinking versus feeling and judging versus perceiving. However, the validity of the MBTI is generally not accepted in the psychological community, according to Paly AP Psychology teacher Christopher Farina. When analyzing a study, psychologists look for reliability, meaning a consistency in the results it yields, and validity, or whether or not it accurately tests what it claims to. A study conducted by Richard J. Howes and T.G. Carskadon found that when people retook the MBTI after a fiveMyers-Briggs week period, half of them received The Advocate. The Logician. a different personality type classiThe Entrepreneur. These iconic fication, showing poor reliability. According to Farina, it is imand recognizable personality types all stem from one instrument: The portant to keep in mind that the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator MBTI is not a test in a strict sense, but simply an indication of (MBTI). one’s prefThe MBTI erences, was developed (personality meaning by motherthat results and-daughter tests are) a way have room team Katharine for flexibilCook Briggs to get you thinkity. Comand Isabel ing about future paring Briggs Myers p e o p l e ’s in the United likes and dislikes, preferences States in the and build ideas between 1940s. It was traits rathbased upon about where you er than the theory of their overthe psychowant to be in all personlogical type by the future. ality type Carl Jung, who may yield proposed that more reli“what appears ann deggelman able reto be random sults. behavior is ac“ The tually the result of differences in the way people Myers-Briggs type indicator is prefer to use their mental capaci- not a personality test, per se, as it states it is a type indicator,” Farina ties.”
n a society where individuality is constantly sought out, it is unsurprising that this distinctive quality is often the subject of a variety of surveys. Personality has generally been considered unique to each person, but in recent years, studies have attempted to compartmentalize peoples’ traits into specific groups. However, as these personality tests have gained popularity, the validity of their analysis has yet to be explored. A person’s personality is a reflection of all of their experiences — the people, relationships and moments that have impacted them. While a personality can be impacted by changes in these three influencing factors, certain traits remain stable over time regardless of the situation, which is what personality tests aim to capture.
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Big Five Generally accepted by psychologists to have both reliability and validity, according to Farina, the Big Five test was developed through a five-factor model by Robert McCrae and Paul Costa. This model was later deemed by Lewis Goldberg to encompass the “Big Five” factors of human personality. Determined through surveys from thousands of individuals as encompassing most classifications of human character traits, the five facets of the Big Five test can be memorized using the acronym OCEAN: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism. “(The Big Five test) is much more validated within the psychological community,” Farina said. “Based on the testing of it,
basis in truth, according to Paly there is a much higher correlasenior and Buzzfeed quiz enthution in terms of predicting fits siast Jennifer Xu, within jobs and the appeal is in other kinds of the novelty of elements of sucafter taking the quizzes. cess.” the meyers “(I take AccordBuzzfeed quizing to Farina, briggs test, it zes because) while the scithey’re fun,” Xu entific accuracy became a lot said.W “I take of the Big Five easier to be more them more so I is widely concan make other sidered the best understanding people take them personality test, towards others. and then make there are still fun of their bad inherent flaws attributes, really in it. … Also, when “The Big aileen han it comes to bad Five personalBuzzfeed perity inventory is sonality quizzes, who doesn’t want very good, but at the same time, to know what sort of potato they it is important to recognize the are?” limitations to it,” Farina said. “Self-report innately has some isApplications to sues. If you’re asking me questions real life about my personality, I may reply in a way that would demonstrate The results of personality tests the personality I wish I had, rather often offer insightful advice for than the one I actually do.” one’s decisions and career choices. The Paly guidance program Buzzfeed Quizzes has incorporated the “Do What You Are” survey, a personality test A popular, lighthearted staple similar to the MBTI, into adviof personality tests, Buzzfeed sory curriculum to help students quizzes give information and adfind areas of interest for the future. vice relating to one’s life based “When we do the ‘Do What on that individual’s answers to You Are’ survey, you get to learn trivial questions that are typically a little more about yourself within unrelated to what they claim to Naviance,” advisory coordinabe assessing. For example, “Your tor Ann Deggelman said. “If you Snack Choices Will Determine want to take time online, you Whether You’re Left-Brained Or can also look at career clusters in Right-Brained” or “Eat An Acai Naviance, which will show you Bowl And We’ll Reveal If You’ve strengths and weaknesses and Met Your Soulmate Yet.” what kind of career it might conThese quizzes generally consist nect you to.” of a catchy title and a handful of According to Deggelman, it multiple-choice questions with is important to keep in mind that corresponding pictures. While the results are simply a suggestion many find them fun to take, for students to begin thinking Buzzfeed quizzes are universally about their futures. accepted to have no scientific baDeggelman said, “(Personality sis, often made by community tests are) a way to get you thinkmembers who have a little extra ing about future likes and dislikes, time on their hands. and build ideas about where you Though many recognize that want to be in the future.” these quizzes’ results have little
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said. “They have removed themselves from that classification. It is a personality instrument or assessment.” Despite the doubt expressed over the scientific and psychological basis of the MBTI, many users, such as Gunn junior Aileen Han, still swear by the instrument and its results. “I personally really like the (MBTI),” Han said. “I think that it is pretty accurate, and I do think that people can be classified into [personality types], but it’s more of a spectrum. Yes, it is extrovert versus introvert, but there are levels of both … people tend to lean towards one side or the other.” Additionally, Han said the knowledge the MBTI provided has helped her understand why people act the way they do. “After taking the Myers Briggs test, it became a lot easier to be more understanding towards others,” Han said. “Before, I thought ‘you think differently from me, so you’re wrong,’ but now I know it’s because we have different personality types.”
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careerplanner.com
Test 2 Marietta College psychologists found in a study that over 50 percent of people who took the MBTI recieved a new personality classification after taking the test 5 weeks later
Friday, December 7, 2018
The Campanile
SPO RTS The Fight Song Paly pep band exemplifies the important role music plays in sports
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ouchdown! Varsity running back and senior Aiden Chang celebrates with his teammates. The crowd cheers. The stands shake. Chang glances up at the stands, where the band roars, with the blasts of the brass shaking the ground, the tunes of the woodwinds filling the air and the beats of the percussion rocking the stadium. Familiar melodies erupt as the audience and Chang chant along. “P-A-L-O A-L-T-O Paly High, Ah-Schooooooool!” The worlds of music and sports are not foreign to one another — they intersected long ago, with the ancient Greeks combining musical performances with sporting events at their Olympic games. However, the tradition of music in tandem with sports has evolved. Today, from collegiate sports bands to the Super Bowl Halftime Show, music makes an appearance at the majority of sporting events. “There is a whole entertainment package when you talk about any kind of an athletic event, like even if you go to a Warriors game … there’s that beating music that’s going all the time, and it can get people pumped up,” Director of the Concert Band and Symphonic Band Jeff Willner said. “Music enhances the experience of the fans and the team.” One of the most notable sports that involves music is football. Many colleges and some high schools, including Paly, have bands that play during football games and march on the field during halftime. The Palo Alto High School
Viking Pep Band consists of all members of the two band classes, the Concert Band and Symphonic Band, and has around 130 members. However, the Pep Band has not always been this way. “(Paly) had had a competitive marching band that was stopped about seven years before I got here,” Willner said. “The couple of years before I came in 2000, all the band did was sit in the stands, and not everybody showed up.” Willner said when he arrived at Paly, he decided to have the entire band play at afternoon games and make the performances a part of the class. Initially, band members stayed in the stands — Willner set out to change that. “The very last home game, I said to everyone, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do — we’re going to go out on the track at halftime and play towards the audience instead of just sitting in the stands,’” Willner said. “That’s where it started.” The Pep Band has since evolved into what the fans and varsity football team see and hear at every home game. The Pep Band, like college bands, performs both a pre-game and halftime show on the track circling the football field. According to Willner, the band has also developed many traditions, including performing its classic kick step during its marching and playing the Monday Night Football Theme at the pre-game. The Pep Band’s
music sparks motivation and energy in players and the audience, according to Chang. “(The band) hypes (the football team) up, and also brings other students from the student section to join in with the hype,” Chang said. “My favorite part of the band being there would be the chants and the individual songs they play when the football players make big plays.” According to junior and Pep Band member Ally Kim, classic songs that the Pep Band plays throughout the games include the “Fight Song,” also known as “Green and White,” and “All Right Now.” The band also creates cheers for specific players, including Chang and Paul Jackson III, Paly alumnus and former running back for the varsity football team. “I love how everyone in the band gets really spirited and wild,” Kim said. “Some of the percussion and brass start rhythms and chants that everyone follows, and it’s really fun.” Furthermore, according to Willner, when the team is on defense and makes a good stop, the band plays the Darth Vader theme. When the team gets a first down, the band will play a snippet of the “Fight Song.” “When a good thing happens, the music reflects that good thing that happened,” Willner said. “When we score a touchdown, we play the ‘Fight Song.’ And if we get a
“Music is a big part of athletics in general and the band makes a big contribution in making the environment fun.”
Nelson Gifford
touchdown and we’re 30 points ahead, we play the ‘Fight Song’ and ‘All Right Now.’” The audience often also joins in with supporting the team, cheering the team on along with the band. According to Kim, this further enhances the atmosphere, and even allows for friendly, spirited competition. “The audience really loves when we play, and they always cheer us on,” Kim said. “During big games like Homecoming and the first game of the season, where there are lots of seniors in the bleachers, we like to compete with them with spirit chants, like ‘We got spirit, yes we do, we got spirit, how about you!’” According to Chang, without the lively and encouraging presence of the Pep Band, the game would feel empty. “For example, when our players score, the band plays a song and the students cheer — it sucks not having that there,” Chang said. “The atmosphere (is) … more flat than when the band is there.” Varsity football coach Nelson Gifford agrees with Chang and said in an email that the band offers encouraging support to the team. Gifford said, “I’ve always felt that it’s a great show of community, inclusiveness and diversity that sports can bring. Everyone wants to feel supported and the band being there is a big part of that support … I think music is a big part of athletics in general and the band makes a big contribution in making the environment fun.”
Text, art & design by: Annie Chen SPREAD
All-Star cheerleading
While many people are accustomed to the classic style of high school cheerleading, there is a whole other realm of cheer: competitive, or allstar, cheer.
WALTER/CC 2.0
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design by: PAIGE KNOBLOCK Card Games
ALAN BLACKBURN/CC0
Bridge and poker
A deeper look into unconventional sports. PAGE C6
Rehab
Winter Sports
VERNON YOUNG JR./CC 4.0
SNOWINJULY/CC0
Technology in rehab
Competitive winter sports
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High-tech recovery practices and machines rise in popularity.
Athletes pursue competitive snowboarding and skiing.
Friday, December 7, 2018
C2
SPORTS REPORT
The Campanile
SPORTS Boys basketball looks to overcome difficulties Bouncing back from losing first game of season, the team hopes to continue good form
BOYS SOCCER RECENT SCORES
Paly vs. Milpitas 11/27, W, 11-0 Paly vs. Everett-Alvarez 12/1, T, 1-1 Paly vs. Menlo-Atherton 12/4, W, 3-0 UPCOMING GAMES
Paly vs. Sequoia 12/10, 3:30 p.m. Paly vs. Junipero Serra 12/12, 2:45 p.m. Paly vs. Los Altos 1/2, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER RECENT SCORES
Paly vs. Gunn 11/27, L, 2-0 Paly vs. St. Ignatius 12/1, L, 2-1 Paly @ Menlo-Atherton 12/4, T, 2-2 Paly vs. Mitty 12/5, L, 4-0 UPCOMING GAMES
Paly @ Leland 12/11, 3:15 p.m. Paly @ Fremont 1/2, TBA. Paly vs Homestead 1/4, TBA.
BOYS BASKETBALL RECENT SCORES
Paly @ Sequoia 11/27, W, 53-42 Paly vs. Carlmont 11/30, L, 68-54 UPCOMING GAMES
Paly vs. Santa Teresa 12/12, 7 p.m. Paly @ Salesian 12/15, 6 p.m. Paly vs. Homestead 1/4, 7:45 p.m. Paly @ Menlo-Atherton 1/5, 6 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL RECENT SCORES
Paly vs. Leigh 10/30, W, 50-42 Paly vs. S. San Francisco 12/4, W, 50-43 UPCOMING GAMES
Paly vs. Santa Clara 1/4, 6:30 p.m. Paly vs. Carlmont 1/5, 3:00 p.m. Paly @ Mountain View 1/7, 7 p.m.
WRESTLING RECENT SCORES
Half Moon Bay Peninsula Tournament 12/1, 2nd place UPCOMING GAMES
Paly @ Los Gatos 1/3, 6:30 p.m. Paly vs. Cupertino 1/10, 6:30 p.m. Paly @ Monta Vista 1/17, 6:30 p.m. Paly vs. Gunn 1/22, 6:30 p.m.
DAVID HICKEY/THE VIKING MAGAZINE
Senior Marvin Zou charges down the court on a fast break, muscling off a defender and driving to the hoop. Paly defeated Cupertino High School 58-34 in this Feb. 2018 game.
By Jaures Yip Staff Writer
A
ltough the team lost 6854 against Carlmont High School, boys varsity basketball was able to bounce back with a win of 66-61 against Hillsdale High School on Oct. 4. “We didn’t really make any adjustments or new strategies, but we played a lot harder,” junior Matthew Marzano said. “It was more about the effort tonight then the strategic plan.” The team managed to finish with a win after an unconvincing second half performance. “Fortunately, we ended up grinding out a win and we were able to rebound very well, espe-
cially on the offensive end,” senior Marvin Zou said. “But going into the next game, the team is looking to put together a solid 32-minute performance.”
“Fortunately, we ended up grinding out a win and we were able to rebound very well, especially on the offensive end.” Marvin Zou
According to Zou, the team’s offensive dexterity helped them close out the game.
Though the team is feeling more confident with its recent victory, it is still looking to make improvements. According to senior guard Josh Wong, the inclusion of several new players have made chemistry and communication the main areas for growth. New members come from former junior varsity players as well as players joining from the conclusion of the football season. “We have some new additions to our team, and they are still adjusting to what the coach wants the team to do,” Wong said. “Some things the team is doing to prepare for these obstacles include getting to know each other more off the court as well as talk more on the court.”
Another prominent weakness that the team is hoping to overcome is its defense, which had been the main conflict during the previous games.
“We have some new additions to our team, and they are still adjusting to what the coach wants the team to do.” Josh Wong
“We were only able to play good defense in spurts,” Zou said. “We need to improve on playing
well defensively throughout the whole game.” Zou said the team is feeling optimistic that it will be able to develop and continue winning as football players join the squad.. “Once they start to become more familiar with the plays and the system, I think we’ll have all the tools to be a really good team,” Zou said. Despite having a couple of areas in need of improvement, Wong said the team thinks it will be able to maintain the success from the previous seasons. Wong said, “We have had an early season loss, but once we get things going, we hope to continue the legacy of the program as well as win some championships.”
Girls soccer falls to rivals in season opener After opening the season with a 2-0 loss to Gunn, the team looks to earn first win of season By Johnny Yang
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Staff Writer
espite hard work on defense, the girls varsity soccer team could not prevent Gunn High School from scoring, and lost its first game 2-0 on Tuesday, Nov. 27. Over the past 12 years, the girls have won 14 of the 16 soccer games they played against Gunn. While recognizing the Paly team’s efforts, head coach Enersto Cruz said Gunn has a much better team this year than last. “(Gunn’s varsity soccer team) is not the same team as last year,” Cruz said. “Apparently, many seniors decided to play for them. (They are) a very good team, and I’m excited because we might see them in the Central Coast Section (CCS) league.” According to senior forward Claire Moley, the team was not completely prepared for the game because of some distracting factors and a lack of practice. “I think it was just an off day for all of us,” Moley said. “Since the boys game went late, we had to warm up on the grass where it was dark. Also, because (of the fires last week), the first day we really started a full team practice was the day before the game.” Beside the objective factors, Moley also said the team did not play to its full potential because of the easy victories against Gunn last year.
“There is always a big impact when seniors graduate, but I think juniors from last year did a pretty good job showing their leadership, just like the seniors did last year.” Ernesto Cruz
“We kind of went in expecting to win,” Moley said. “Since we have similar calendars as past seasons and we beat Gunn pretty easily, I think they went out full force, and we just didn’t. We came in with expectations, and obviously they proved us wrong.” Despite the result of the opening game, the team has high ex-
LEILA KHAN/THE CAMPANILE
Senior Ella Thomsen puts in a crunching tackle on a midfielder to shut down a counterattack . Paly fell 4-0 to Archbishop Mitty High School. pectations for the season. “Our goal is to win league; we haven’t won league in a while,” Cruz said. “We are going to prepare ourselves in preseason, win league and go to CCS eventually. That’s our goal.” According to Cruz, the juniors from last year have done an amazing job showing their leadership after losing important players. “There is always a big impact when seniors graduate, but I think juniors from last year did a pretty good job showing their leadership, just like the seniors did last year,” Cruz said. After losing to its cross-town counterpart, the team faced off against neighboring rival, MenloAtherton High School on Dec. 4. playing to a 2-2 draw. Despite taking the lead twice, the team was unable to close out the win. Goalscorer and junior Samantha Pao said that the team stepped up its gameplay against a good opponent, despite ending with a draw. “I think overall we did much
better in this game than the other two games because we connected passes well up the field and started to make runs that threatened (Menlo-Atherton’s) back line,” Pao said. “I feel like we should’ve won because we had good possession of the ball for most of the game and had more shots then them, but it was a good game.”
“We came in with expectations, and obviously they proved us wrong.” Claire Moley
As the head coach, Cruz said he hopes the players enjoy their season and the time they spend together. He sees team bonding as crucial for the team’s success as well as building strong relationships off of the field as well. Cruz said, “I want them to have fun (during their season). Try their best, and represent our beautiful school.”
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Friday, December 7, 2018
SPORTS
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Girls basketball team confident in new squad By Maya Rathore
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ALYSSA LEONG/THE CAMPANILE
Senior defender Juan Aguila battles for the ball against a Menlo-Atherton mid-fielder in the Viking’s match against the Bears on Dec. 4.
Boys soccer starts off season on good note Team prepares for exciting matches after winning first two games By Kaahini Jain
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Staff writer
s winter sports begin at Paly, the boys varsity soccer team has put together a strong and upcoming team, rallying into the season with a 11-0 win against Milpitas High School on Nov. 27. In his first game, returning sophomore Chris Chen scored the third goal in a long range shot, straight into the goal. Junior James Jeong also scored twice and assisted once, making the halftime score 6-0. “I expect a lot of improvement over the season, and I’m looking
forward to the coming games,” junior Ilan Toussieh said. Their second game, on Dec. 1 against Alvarrez High School ended in a 1-1 tie.
“A lot of individual talent and intensity from the whole team kept us in the game.” Nathan Seto The Alvarrez game took place early in the day, and the team went
to Cupertino to play. According to senior Nathan Seto, many players were absent due to both SAT testing and injuries. “A lot of individual talent and intensity from the whole team kept us in the game,” Seto said. Seto also said that the team struggled with possessing the ball during their game against Alvarrez, which they intend to improve during their upcoming practices. Last year, the team lost the CCS Semifinals to Bellarmine in a 2-1 game. They are hoping to do better this upcoming season, and will possibly have a rematch against
Bellarmine, according to junior Marcus Ama. “I hope we can make a good run in CCS,” Ama said. This year’s team has many returning upperclassmen from last year, but also a number of new faces, according to Seto. “We are all friends and we seem to be clicking on and off the field which I think is great for our team chemistry,” Ama said. The team picked up its second victory of the season against Menlo Atherton High School in a 3-0 display of dominance. Goals from Isaiah Schoenberger, Marcus Ama and James Jeon earned the result.
Staff writer
ith a loss against Los Altos High School (54-43), a win against Leigh High School (50-42) and a win against South San Francisco (50-43) under its belt, the girls basketball team has started the season 2-1. “For Los Altos, we came out strong and were pretty solid in the first half, after working in practice to improve from the scrimmages,” junior shooting guard Alana Abeyta said. “However, since we were up at the end of the half, I think we let that get in our heads and we didn’t put up the same effort in the second half.” According to Abeyta, the team stepped up in its second game of the season. “Against Leigh, we worked really hard on the defensive and offensive end and kept it pretty consistent throughout both halves, but I still think the mentality has room for improvement,” Abeyta said. The team has three consecutive Central Coast Section (CCS) Division I Champion titles but failed to clinch its fourth in a row at the CCS quarterfinals against Carlmont High School last year.
“We have almost all of our players back from last season, so we know how our teammates play already.” Esme Stotland However, this year the team hopes to bounce back, according to senior center Esme Stotland. “I think we’re gonna be the team to beat this season,” Stotland said. “We have almost all of our players back from last season, so we know how our teammates
play already, and that will really work in our favor.” Abeyta agreed with Stotland’s sentiment. “Our practices overall have been really good and we’re looking really strong,” Abeyta said. “I’m confident we’ll get far this season.” In anticipation of tough competition this season, the team is working out the kinks in its offensive plays and defense through its preseason scrimmages and practices before putting them in action against neck-and-neck competitors, according to Abeyta. “Both of our scrimmages were against really tough teams, so the purpose of them was mostly to work on our defense and try out our offensive plays,” Abeyta said. Abeyta also said they are working on staying calm under pressure on the offensive end, and applying strong, aggressive pressure on the defensive end. Stotland also said many other teams in the league have lost their starters and leading scorers, unlike the young Paly roster which boasts four underclassmen starters out of five total. The team only lost one senior, shooting guard and team captain Carly Leong, but is working to fill her position and are confident they will be able to make up for her loss according to Stotland. “We only had one senior last year so it hasn’t been that bad, but she did score a ton of our points,” Stotland said. “I still think we’re gonna rock it without her.” Despite the loss, the team feels confident moving forward in the season and is excited to advance through the season, according to both Stotland and Abeyta. “I look forward to seeing my teammates get better every day We all see the best in each other and want everyone to succeed,” Abeyta said. “We have a really good group of girls this season.” The team’s next game is against the Menlo-Atherton Bears at Menlo-Atheron High School on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
DAVID HICKEY/THE VIKING
Senior Paul Thie runs down the field in a game at Mountain View.
Football completes successful season By Rebekah Limb
DAVID HICKEY/THE VIKING
After grabbing his opponent’s leg, senior Aidan Gans attempts to take his competitor down in a home match against Wilcox High School.
Wrestling team dives into winter preseason
After adding morning workouts, team trains for upcoming season By Kaitlyn Lee
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Staff writer
n the early morning, members of the wrestling team wake up in order to get to Paly and work out before school starts. After an exhausting workout, these athletes go through a day of school like any other student and then head back to the gym for another workout. “Right now we have morning practice in addition to afternoon practice, which is actually really nice,” senior Ashley Wang said. “I like that it gives a bit more structure to the day and lets us get in more reps without burning out.” During these workouts, the team focuses on fine-tuning its technique as well as getting stronger. In order to do so, they ran, lifted weights and performed other forms of conditioning, according to Ashley. With the additional practices, the commitment level of these athletes became evident.
“Commitment from our new wrestlers has been looking pretty good,” Ashley said. “We didn’t have everyone here during Thanksgiving break, but everyone who stayed will see their hard work pay off.” The coach, Jonathan Kessler, agreed that the players’ dedication this season is admirable.
“We’ve had lots of wrestlers training year round and their hard work has been paying off.” Jonathan Kessler “The commitment of the athletes has been great so far this season,” Kessler said. “We’ve had lots of wrestlers training year round and their hard work has been paying off.” Some members of the team attended the California World
Challenge on Oct. 14, which Wang considers one of the biggest preseason tournaments in the state. Sophomore Adar Schwarzbach competed in the varsity section at the World Challenge, which, according to Ashley, is the second most difficult section, and he finished in second place. Ashley competed in the girls section and won third place. Freshman Cade Creighton got fourth in the varsity section and senior Andrew Wang scored fifth in the elite section, the hardest section, according to Andrew. The team attended its first tournament on Friday, Nov. 30. The girls team placed fifth out of 32 teams. Ashley finished in first place in the 126-pound group and junior Zoe Wong-VanHaren got third in the 121-pound group. The boys team took second place out of 37 teams. Andrew won first in the 126-pound group, Schwartzbach scored first in the 138-pound group, junior Dara
Heydarpour took second place in the 138-pound group, Creighton finished in second place in the 152-pounds group, and senior Tyler Weaver-Escobar got third place in the 160-pound group.
“There are a ton of great freshman this year, which is awesome.” Ashley Wang “There are a ton of great freshman this year, which is awesome,” Ashley said. The boys’ next tournament is the Bay Area 56 Tournament at Castro Valley High School on Dec. 12. The girls will be attending Lincoln High School the Rose Garden Rumble on Dec. 12. As the teams feel well prepared, they are excited as their upcoming tournaments approach.
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Staff writer
fter defeating rival Los Gatos High School in the Central Coast Section (CCS) quarterfinals, the boys football team fell to MenloAtherton High School by a score of 17-7 in the semifinals, closing out the season with an overall record of 10-2. Junior wide receiver and cornerback Junacio Henley scored Paly’s only touchdown of the game in the third quarter, while all other drives were stopped by Menlo-Atherton’s strong defense. Junior wide receiver Jamir Shepard credited his fellow teammates for a great effort and display of positive attitudes as he also remained optimistic throughout the game. “Before the Menlo-Atherton game I was locked in, ready to come out and play hard,” Shepard said. “When we were losing I was not going to give up, and that’s what I did.” Many other players such as senior wide receiver Paul Thie, senior running back Aiden Chang, and quarterback Jackson Chryst finished their high school football careers with key contributions in the game. This semifinal game was high stakes as the winner would advance to the CCS Finals. According to junior safety Kevin Cullen this pressure created a game environment like no other. “This was the craziest high school football game I had played
in or seen since the state championship year,” Cullen said. “The crowd encircled the stadium and it was the best atmosphere a crowd could have possibly provided.” Despite a tough loss, Cullen commends the team both on the offensive and defensive end for their excellent performance. “Our defensive held an explosive offense to only 17 points, and our offensive played well against one of the best defenses in the league,” Cullen said. According to Shepard, although the successful season did not end accordingly, he is already looking forward to next season. With a strong group of players returning for their senior season, Shepard is confident that the team can reach greater heights for the 2019 season.
“The crowd encircled the stadium and it was the best atmosphere a crowd could have possibly provided.” Kevin Cullen “I’m so pumped for next season I can’t wait to be a senior and to be able to lead this team far with captains Kevin Cullen, Colin Giffen, Junacio Henley and Louis Passarello,” Shepard said. “We are looking forward to taking this team to the CCS Championships and even further.”
Friday, December 7, 2018
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TEXT, DESIGN & ART BY KAITLYN LEE
The Campanile
SP RTS SPREAD
tumbling I
trials and tribulations of a North
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hen sophomore Dani Colman hears someone say that cheer is not a real sport, she flashes back to all the hard practices she has endured and the blood, sweat and tears that she’s poured into it. “I think a lot of the time people don’t realize how much work goes into competitive cheerleading,” Colman said. “People make fun of it for being ‘easy’ and ‘not a sport’ when in reality it’s really physically demanding and takes a lot out of you. A lot of times, people tell me that anyone could be a cheerleader. It’s a lot harder than that, and people don’t realize what it takes.” When most people think of cheerleading, they think of standing on the sidelines of a basketball or football game, waving pompoms and demanding the crowd to shout a certain letter. The type of cheer they are envisioning is high school, college or professional cheer. However, there is a whole other realm of cheer: all-star cheer. Also known as competitive cheer, this sport has evolved into a combination of acrobatics, gymnastics and dance. The difference between allstar and high school cheer is that all-star cheerleaders don’t cheer at games. Rather, they train to perfect a two and a half minute routine that is performed for the whole season at competitions. Despite its name, there is no cheering aspect in all-star cheerleading. Most routines have seven components. The first component, which is often performed in the beginning of a routine, is standing tumbling, in which a skill is done from a standing position with no forward momentum. This includes standing back handsprings, where one jumps backwards onto their hands in a handstand, then pushes off the floor to an upright standing position. These can be connected into backwards flips such as back tucks, back layouts or full twisting layouts, where one flips and spins at the same time. The difficulty of the flip depends on the athlete’s level, which ranges from one to six, with level six being the highest. Another component is running tumbling, where a pass, or series of skills, is initiated by forward momentum. These passes usually start out with running roundoffs, which are cartwheels landed with two feet to gain enough power for a rebound. These can be connected with backwards flips, as well. Colman, a cheerleader at NorCal Elite All-stars, a competitive cheer gym in the Bay Area, finds stunts to be the most rewarding part of a routine. “My favorite part of the routine is stunting, because it’s usual-
ly the hardest part and it’s really the biggest aspect of cheerleading,” Colman said. “Especially when you hit all your stunts and both you and the crowd have so much energy and everyone is cheering for you.” One of the most important components are elite stunts, which are stunt sequences in which two to three athletes hold up another person called a flyer, who spins or pulls different body positions. These are crucial to the success of the performance because stunt falls are one of the biggest deductions at competitions.
“YOU TAKE ALL THE ENERGY YOU HAVE LEFT IN YOUR BODY AND DANCE YOUR HEART OUT.”
ELLA SPANHOOK Routines also often incorporate jumps, which can be a series of toe touches, hurdlers or pike jumps. These jumps require strong legs, as the athlete must get enough height to split their legs midair. Another aspect is baskets, where a flyer is thrown into the air and caught. In higher levels, the flyer twists or flips in the air before being coming back down. The most recognizable aspect is the pyramid section, where flyers connect and assist one another in flips or other stunts. In level six, athletes can perform three-level pyramids, where the bases hold a flyer who holds another flyer. The seventh and final component is a dance which typically occurs at the end of the routine.
“You are in a room with 200 people who have the exact same goal as you, but only some of you will make it.”
Dani Colman Paly sophomore and cheerleader Ella Spanhook, who also cheers at NorCal Elite AllStars, enjoys the dance aspect of the routine. “My favorite part of the routine is the dance, which is typically at the very end, when you’ve hit your whole routine and you take all the energy you have left in your body and dance
your heart out,” Spanhook said. Because all-star cheer is a year-round sport, cheerleaders are almost always training in some way, even outside of competition season. Tryouts are held in May, which lead to team placements based off of the cheerleaders’ tumbling and stunting skills. Once teams are made, the athletes train throughout summer to work on the different elements, like standing tumbling, running tumbling and stunting. Colman finds tryouts to be a nerve wracking experience each season. “Tryouts are a really stressful experience,” Colman said. “Especially with more well-known and competitive gyms, you are in a room with 200 people who have the exact same goal as you, but only some of you will make it.” Around August and October, the routine gets put together by using choreography from coaches or professional choreographers to transition between the seven components. “Choreography is very exiting because you are getting to see your routine that you will compete for a whole season,” Spanhook said. “But at the same time it’s very exhausting because you are asked to do stunts you might not have ever performed before and you have to learn them very quickly. There is also a lot of standing around for up to ten hours.” From November to April of the following year, the competition season starts, and teams attend local or national competitions. During the end of April or the beginning of May, select top teams attend Worlds or Summit, which are generally the two biggest and most intense competitions out of the entire season. More than 11,000 cheerleaders from all over the world compete at The Cheerleading Worlds each year. The Summit is essentially the same as Worlds but is held for a wider range of levels. Levels one through five able are to attend. About 12,000 teams from all over the nation will compete at Summit in 2019. Many teams’ ultimate goals are to win Worlds or Summit at the end of the season. Worlds and Summit are both held in the ESPN Sports Center at Disney in Orlando, Fla. and NCA (National Cheerleaders Association) is held in Dallas. “For most cheerleaders, it’s an honor to even get a chance to go to any of these competitions,” Spanhook said. She has never attended Summit but has plans on going this season. At competitions, whether they are local or national, teams perform their routine in front of an audience and a panel of judges, who take into account the routine’s difficulty, execution, tech-
The Campanile
Friday, December 7, 2018
SPOR S SPREAD
nto Action
hern CalIFornia All-Star Cheer team
cheer
nique and more to produce a score between zero and 100. The team with the highest score in their division wins. “Cheer competitions are very intense and nerve-wracking but also very fun and exciting at the same time,” Spanhook said. “There are local competitions against small gyms in the area and national competitions where you are against (more well-known) big gyms. In 2016, NCA Nationals had over 25,000 athletes competing.” Divisions vary based on level, size and whether or not they are co-ed. Size varies from extra small to large, which refers to the number of athletes that team has. The main difference between all-girls teams and co-ed teams is that co-ed teams are expected to have partner stunts, which are stunts in which a single athlete holds up the flyer. However, despite not having to meet this requirement, all-girls teams often have strong girls that are able to partner stunt. Will Cooper, a senior at Los Gatos High School and cheerleader at NorCal Elite All-Stars, has been cheering for two years and is on a level three team where he is required to partner stunt.
“While cheerleaders do wear makeup and do their hair for competition, our main focus is hitting our routine.”
Ella spanhook “As a male cheerleader I feel like I have to try to be as good or better than the girls because it is a female dominated sport,” Cooper said. “I try harder to stand out in a sea of sass.” Cooper thinks people often underestimate the difficulty of cheer. “I haven’t faced any discrimination per se but when starting the sport my dad didn’t recognize it as a real sport,” Cooper said. “Cheer is often overshadowed and looked at as just girls chanting, but in reality it is a
contact sport. Cheerleaders have to be in top shape because of the amount of stuff fit into the routine. And not only do you have to be in shape and able to do everything asked of you, but you also have to perform and make everything look effortless.”
“As a male cheerleader I feel like I have to try to be as good or better than the girls because it is a female dominated sport.”
Will Cooper
With so many different elements to a single routine, cheerleaders generally have to have a wide skill set, as they need to strong, flexible and able to tumble. Colman said there are misconceptions about the difficulty of cheer. “I think people don’t really understand how physically challenging it is because the cheerleading they’re used to seeing is all on the sidelines,” Colman said. Cheerleaders also need a high stamina, as the two minutes and 30 seconds on the mat are packed with skill after skill with little to no time for a break. “A fullout is when you do your entire routine from start to finish without stopping — every jump, every stunt, every tumbling pass,” Colman said. “It happens so quickly — you barely get a chance to breathe. When you’re in a fullout, you can’t stop. Even if you feel like you’re going to pass out, you have to keep pushing. It’s our job as cheerleaders to make it look easy.” Along with a high stamina, these athletes need a strong mentality to get through the routine. “In the routine, it often feels like you can’t keep going,” Colman said. “You just have to keep telling yourself that you can do it and helping each other out. Because it’s such a team sport, there is no stopping. During Nationals, a girl on my team broke her hand on stage in the middle of the routine, but she still stunted and tumbled. You can break a bone or pull a muscle on stage and you’re still expected to keep going.” According to Spanhook, another misconception about cheer is that the sport is focused more
on looking attractive rather than the actual physical aspect. “Whenever people hear that we are cheerleaders, they tend to assume it’s all about waving pom poms and looking pretty, but in reality, it’s an extremely difficult and underestimated sport,” Spanhook said. “While cheerleaders do wear makeup and do their hair for competitions, our main focus is hitting our routine.” While all-star cheer is often mistaken for high school cheer, the two have many differences. High school cheerleaders train to perfect a different routine each week that they perform at halftime of various games. In addition, school cheer is often focused more heavily on stunting or dancing and less so on the other aspects that all-star cheer is revolved around. Many cheerleaders such as Colman say competitive cheer can be a huge commitment and require enormous amounts of dedication. Most teams practice two or more times a week throughout the year, and during competition season, competitions take up the whole weekend. “On competition weekends, I do my homework on the plane there, cheer and compete all weekend, study on the ride back, get home at 3 a.m. and wake up later for school,” Colman said. Athletes are expected to attend every practice, since cheer is a team sport, and it is hard to perform the routine with athletes missing. “For most of us, cheerleading is our lives and we practice up to 35 hours per week,” Colman said.
“During nationals, a girl on my team broke her hand on stage in the middle of the routine, but she still stunted and tumbled.”
Ella spanhook This causes each athlete on the team to work together and trust one another. Spanhook said, “I love cheer because of the bond you create with your teammates. You can have a completely new team and become best friends with every single person in the span of just a few months. You have no choice but to become close with them because you have to work together in order to achieve greatness.”
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DESIGN BY MAYA RATHORE ART BY JAURES YIP
Friday, December 7, 2018
The Campanile
SPORTS
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Popularity in competitive bridge, recreational poker emerges
Groups of students bond over shared experiences to discuss complex strategies employed to succeed in tournaments, games “I think, at a low level, the game is mostly just based on luck,” junior Lucas Finot said. Other players, however, think the game relies on a combination of luck and skill. “[Poker is] a nice blend of strategy and chance,” Jones said. “While luck plays a role in what kind of hand you get, strategy is king in all other facets of the game.” According to junior Ben Felter, a player’s skill level usually becomes apparent by the amount of money they have left at the end of the game.
“The atmosphere of the poker table often creates interesting conversations and great opportunites to joke with each other.” Ben Felter
PIXABAY/ CC BY CC0
In order to play popular card games card games such as poker and bridge, players must use objects like cards, chips and dice to bet and compete against their opponents.
By Anna Meyer & Byron Zhang
Staff Writer & Managing Editor
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hen most people think of sports, they think of games involving physical exertion. However, many students at Paly play a different kind of sport: cards. Unlike traditional sports, card games involve more mental stimulation, rather than muscular coordination; nonetheless, they are classified by the International Olympic Committee as sports. Bridge According to the World Bridge Federation (WBF), bridge evolved from a 17th century card game called Whist. For many, the popular card game is considered a challenging, thoughtintensive mental sport, requiring strong logic and calculation. Since Bridge is played in a 2v2 format, teamwork is essential to success. Recent Paly graduate Stella Wan was a member of the Paly Bridge Club. Wan joined the Club her sophomore year and has been playing Bridge competitively for three years.
“[Bridge club] basically changed my life,” Wan said. “I would not know what my life would be like without bridge because all my close friends are bridge players, and they have all influenced me in who I am today. You know, we’re all friends beyond bridge.”
“Bridge is a great game because of its extraordinary complexity and the necessity of team-work.” Cornelius Duffie
In July, Wan, along with several members of the Paly Bridge Club, participated in the 17th World Youth Team Championships organized by the World Bridge Federation (WBF). According to Wan, the tournament offered her an amazing experience, as she had the opportunity to meet competitors from all over the world. “Even though Stella hasn’t
been playing very long, she’s a pretty strong bridge player,” former Bridge Club member and Play graduate Cornelius Duffie said. “She always enjoys working on improving her game.” Duffie was part of the Bridge team representing Paly at the Jiangxi Invitational last summer. He started playing Bridge in middle school and is still continuing it as a hobby in college. “Bridge is a great game because of its extraordinary complexity and the necessity of teamwork,” Duffie said in a message. “One important way it differs from some other strategy games like chess is the lack of complete information, which in some ways makes problems in bridge more similar to problems one faces in real life. One of our mentors always says everything in life can be found in bridge.” According to Wan, she still practices bridge at college through Bridge Base Online, a website providing bridge players from all over the world a platform to enhance their skills. Next year at the University of California, Berkeley, Wan plans to start an organization teach-
ing young children how to play bridge.
“I love poker because it’s just a great way to spend time with friends and get people together while showing them I’m superior.” Ella Jones
Throughout the years, as mind games like chess started gaining more international recognition, bridge players began their quest to be categorized as a sport. In 2017, the European Union Court ruled that bridge should not be considered a sport. However, according to WBF, the organization was recognized the International Olympic Committee as a mind sport. “It’s hard to say [whether bridge is a sport or not],” Wan said. “Although you’re not physically moving, you’re constantly challenging your mind.”
Texas Hold’em Poker Texas Hold’em poker is widely considered the quintessential American mind sport. A timeless game that Paly students have started playing, poker has a rich history with influences from a multitude of different cultures and time periods. The oldest game which draws strong similarities to poker dates back to a 10th century dominocard game played by a Chinese emperor. Since then, many variations and developed; the most modern version was adopted in the 1800s by French colonists in Louisiana, according to History. com. Poker is even a part of Paly student culture, although so far, there is not an official club for the game. “I started playing poker as a kid with my family, but now I’ve progressed to playing with my friends,” junior Ella Jones said. Despite a federal judge’s ruling on Aug. 6, 2013 in the United States v. DiCristina case that poker is a game of skill rather than luck, the public debate about whether poker is a game of luck or skill still remains.
This combination is what draws professionals to the game, though the social aspect has a larger appeal to many high schoolers. “I love poker because it’s just a great way to spend time with friends and get people together while showing them I’m superior in my big money winnings,” Jones said. Poker presents an opportunity to spend time with friends in a unique environment. “The atmosphere of the poker table often creates interesting conversations and great opportunities to joke with each other,” Felter said. Some stakes, whether in the form of chips or money, are usually required to keep the game competitive among friends. While Jones said she generally plays with chips, Finot prefers to play for money. “When I play with friends, we play for money, but it’s usually a pretty small amount; it’s only so that it’s a little bit more competitive and so people don’t just screw around,” Finot said. To Felter, the stakes is a part of the appeal to the game. Felter said, “I think that the risk involved with using money is part of what makes poker so enjoyable.”
Spikeball trend at Paly creates sense of community among students Club centered around playing this new sport helps to bring variety of people from different grades together By Vivian Feng
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Multimedia Editor
he canary yellow and black blur that seems to always dominate the quad at lunch and after school is hard to miss at Paly. The increasingly popular recreational sport “spikeball” has been drawing athletes and spectators from all grades to join and play. Although the sport was first introduced in 1989 as “roundnet,” Kankakee Spikeball Inc. took over the market as the manufacturer of the equipment in 2008, which popularized a new name for the game: spikeball. Since the start of the company, Spikeball Inc. has expanded beyond manufacturing equipment, to hosting tournaments, creating tutorial videos for beginners and advanced players and promoting its app which allows players to find other users through posting or attending local pick-up games.
“I came down one day and started playing with my friends, and it really caught on. My friends bought a net, and we’ve been playing ever since.” Maria Fletcher
According to the Spikeball. com, the Spikeball Inc. website, the sport currently has over 4 million players all over the world, 24 full-time employees, over 150 tournaments every year and has even been promoted by Shark Tank, Casey Neistat, Dude Perfect, The Today Show, Inc Magazine, countless professional athletes and celebrities. The Spikeball Inc. website they also shows professional athletic teams cross-training with spikeball. For example, Spikeball Inc.
posted videos of the 49ers National Football League football team, Chelsea Football Club goalkeepers, USA Wrestling and USA Water Polo using spikeball to train. Last year, Paly’s first Spikeball Club was created by former student Nicholas Blonstein. After Blonstein received a grant from Associated Student Body, he purchased 20 balls and nets to kickstart the club. This year, co-presidents and seniors Ella Thomsen and Miles Schulman have continued to promote the sport by hosting their club on the quad on Wednesdays at lunch and occasionally during seventh period. According to Thomsen, the club recieved over 100 student sign ups, but people outside of the club often use their equipment and participate at their weekly club meetings on the quad. Thomsen said that she first saw people playing spikeball on the quad last year and got involved in Spikeball Club since Schulman, Blonstein and Thomsen were in the same Spanish class. The game requires two teams of two, so new students can gain experience and meet new people by rotate competitors. With 20 spikeball nets, on busy days, 80 students can play spikeball at the same time. Beginners can start their spikeball career by watching others play on the quad. “I started playing spikeball last year when (Blonstein), the old Spikeball (Club) president, kept talking about it in class, and it sounded really fun,” senior Maria Fletcher said. “I came down one day and started playing with my friends, and it really caught on. My friend bought a net and we’ve been playing ever since.” Other students, such as junior Faisal Ojjeh, had some previous experience with spikeball, but only started playing at school within the last two years. “I first heard about spikeball in fourth grade,” Ojjeh said. “Last
KENNEDY HERRON/ THE CAMPANIILE
Ella Thomsen, Lindsay North and Isa Cossio gather around a spikeball net and prepare to face off against each other in a friendly match. year, I saw some guys in the court, and I thought I’d join in and lay the law. I play for the fun of competition.”
“You get to meet new people, sometimes in other grades, and you get to build new friendships.” Charles Mitz
Spikeball Club keeps some of its nets stored in the Wellness Center for accessibility. Students who want to play during their prep or afterschool can easily and readily find the equipment. For Ojjeh, the sport is competitive and he typically tries to prac-
tice with his tournament partner before matches. Spikeball teams that compete in official tournaments in Spikeball Inc. can then qualify to become a “Spikeball Elite.” According to the Spikeball Inc. website, Elite eligibility for teams is determined by the team’s total points accumulated from its top five tournament finishes compared to other teams throughout the season. Elite teams are sponsored by Spikeball Inc. and can earn special prizes. These tournaments are goverened by the Spikeball Roundnet Association (SRA). The SRA consists of nine members who discuss topics such as tournament formats, rule revisions and the rankings of teams in the official Spikeball tournaments.
Ojjeh’s team is one of many attempting to make the cut of annual eight men’s teams and four women’s teams that earn the Elite title. Other students play recreationally and use spikeball as a way to meet other people and spikeball teammates.
“You get people from all corners of the school playing spikeball.” Ella Thomsen
“You get to meet new people, sometimes in other grades, and you get to build new friendships,” sophomore Charles Mitz said. “I’ve played with other sopho-
mores, juniors and seniors that I didn’t know before.” According to Thomson, students also enjoy spectating because they can still talk to their friends while watching other students play and compete. “You get people from all corners of the school playing spikeball,” Thomsen said. Beyond school hours, Thomson and Schulman plan on hosting tournaments throughout weekends starting next semester. There will be music, food and fun at the tournaments, according to Schulman. “I think it’s really cool how before (Spikeball Club), nobody was on the quad,” Thomsen said. “Now, so many people are out and about. Without the nets, not as many people would be on the quad.”
Friday, December 7, 2018
The Campanile
SPORTS
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New sports equipment helps athletes recover from injuries Cold compression system, electrical stimulation unit, whirlpool open to Paly’s student athletes By Will Robins
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Senior Staff Writer
enior Dwayne Trahan often uses the training room machines to recover after practices and games. Throughout the football season, Trahan and his teammates use the Game Ready machine and the electrical current unit to reduce both muscle, joint pain and soreness. With over 1,200 students participating in sports every year at Paly, it is important that all athletes can be provided with the proper treatment if they sustain an injury. Paly’s training room contains multiple state-of-the-art machines to help tend to players’ injuries. Earlier this year, Paly’s athletic department provided the training room with a cold and compression therapy system to help accelerate rehabilitation for any injured athletes.
“We were blessed with the funding and support to afford these advanced machines to further help our athletes recover and get back out on the field.” Justine Logni The machine, called the “Game Ready” GRPro 2.1 system, integrates intermittent pneumatic compression and cryotherapy to reduce pain and swelling, reduce muscle spasms, enhance lymphatic function, encourage cellular oxygen supply and stimulate tissue repair, according to the Game Ready Website. Designed to be operated by students, the machine was constructed so it can be used by almost anyone. The system is typically used
WILL ROBINS/THE CAMPANILE
Senior varsity athlete KC Florant utilizes the newly provided sports equipment in Paly’s sports training room in order to heal injuries sustained while playing basketball. to heal sprained ankles, injured thighs and shoulders. “I use the Game Ready machine after football games because it is very easy to use and it is really effective” Trahan said. “I usually use the sleeve on my shoulder because as a linebacker I usually hit with my shoulder, so it gets really sore the next day.” “To use the machine all you have to do is fill it up with ice and water,” Paly athletic trainer Justine Logni said. “The machine then circulates the ice water at a temperature of around 34 degrees to a sleeve which wraps around the injured body part.”
In addition, depending on the severity of the swelling, one can apply different pressure levels to help the reduction of swelling from the injured area according to Logni. “We were very lucky to receive the Game Ready machine,” Logni said. “It is the most commonly used machine that we have available to us.” A more advanced machine in the training room is the electrical stimulation unit. This unit sends an electrical current to muscles or joints to help with pain relief and soreness, end muscle spasms and increase range of motion.
“We often use the interferential setting on the machine to help relieve pain and increase the athletes mobility,” Logni said.
“After using it, my muscles definitely felt more relaxed and not as sore and tight.” Ella Thomsen The electrical current unit especially helped senior Ella Thomsen during her junior year soccer
season. She would drop by the training room after practices or games to use available machinery for recovery. “When I tried the electric current machine it was very weird at first,” Thomsen said. “But after using it, my muscles definitely felt more relaxed and not as sore and tight.” Another machine in the training room that contributes to pain relief and muscle recovery is the whirlpool. Unlike an ice bath, the whirlpool provides more health benefits by incorporating water circulation.
“You flip on the switch and water begins to go around,” Logni said. “This provides better blood circulation which helps muscle recovery.” The whirlpool warms up muscles in order to further increase their flexibility and to make them more pliable, according to Livestrong.com. “In a high school setting you are very lucky if you have an ice machine,” Logni said. “Fortunately for us, we were blessed with the funding and support to afford these advanced machines to further help our athletes recover and get back out on the field.”
The Campanile
Friday, December 7, 2018
SPORTS
Gliding down the Slopes STUDENTS ENGAGE IN WINTER SPORTS, SUCH AS SNOWBOARDING AND SKIING, AT A COMPETITIVE LEVEL
AIDEN CHANG/USED WITH PERMISSION
AIDEN CHANG/USED WITH PERMISSION
HEATHER LIN/USED WITH PERMISSION
AIDEN CHANG/USED WITH PERMISSION
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snowboard, personalized with diamonds, twinkles and glistens in the winter sun as senior Heather Lin straps she said snowboarding diherself on. Despite the built- rectly called to her passion, up muscle memory instilled as it allowed her to be flexible from years of gliding down with her schedule and com- both slalom and giant slalom snowy slopes, she still feels mitment. events. In 2017 at Nationals, butterflies in her stomach “Snowboarding is not only she achieved 21st place out of moments before her compe- something I can compete in, approximately 150 competitition begins. Then she is off, but it’s something I can enjoy tors. Lin then placed first in navigating her way through a for my entire life,” Lin said. “I giant slalom and second for series of gates on a hill, rac- don’t need anyone to help me both slalom and boardercross ing against only one other do it. Like if I dance, I’d have in the South Tahoe competicompetitor, in what is called to be a part of a team. But tion. During 2018 Nationals, a giant slalom event. snowboarding is more about Lin climbed up to 19th in Lin started snowboarding fostering both the hobby and boardercross. when she was nine in Boston the competition. Whether or “You have to think about and started competing dur- not I continue will depend a competing in steps,” Lin said. ing her sophomore year. She lot on college and my future. “I found this thing called the now is part of the United But I feel like it’s really easy Olympic pipeline a while ago, States of America Snow- to maintain because winter which is the way you get to board and Freeski Associa- comes, and there’s snow in a the Olympics in snowboardtion (USASA). lot of places. ” ing, because every sport has “I always go up their own way. to Tahoe for vacaFor me, I’m still at tion in December, the first step, US“I'VE SKIED SINCE I WAS so that year we ASA, the roots of ABOUT FIVE. MY DAD HAS went earlier, and where you learn I signed up for a to snowboard.” ALWAYS BEEN REALLY competition and For now, howINTO IT. HE WAS THE got introduced to ever, Lin enjoys PERSON WHO GOT ME the field,” Lin said. competing proSTARTED. SKIING IS HELLA “Everyone was very fessionally, and is welcoming and FUN, UNTIL YOU CRASH.” intent on a path friendly, and I liked that may lead to a HARRISON FRAHN the environment, so spot in the WinI continued comter Olympics. peting.” Every year, she Lin is a self-taught Lin competes in three writes her own schedule insnowboarder; she has never events: slalom, giant slalom, volving all her competitions worked with a coach, instead and boardercross. Slalom and and training. She competes in learning from hours of You- giant slalom are the two tech- regional events from DecemTube videos at the start of nical events of snowboarding ber to March. her career and creating her competitions. Boardercross “This year, I scheduled to own practices and workouts involves racing through a take my finals before my slaspecific to the skills involved course with various jumps and lom/giant slalom competition in snowboarding. turns. in December,” Lin said. “I’m If she wanted one, she’d “Boardercross in the going to compete and then have to join a team with large Olympics is super insane, and train the week after. In terms time and financial commit- I recently started doing that, of other competitions, my ments. although not to that level busiest month is February. However, Lin said it is not yet,” Lin said. “You race with Last year, I went to Washinghard to maintain a practice your friends and go through ton to compete in their state schedule if one has enough the course with a bunch of championships to get points motivation. For example, to really fun elements like roll- for Nationals, to secure a practice balancing skills, Lin ers and jumps. The parks do a spot.” often stands on a board on really good job of doing those As she approaches the end top of a large wooden cylin- courses. But you need agility of high school, Lin hopes to der as she watches TV. and grace, and lots of strength, continue competing. Because “Especially since we live which I got through dance ex- of the inevitable shift to colfour hours away, it’s not real- perience.” lege, Lin said she is researchistic to drive up every weekUnlike her first experiences ing schools that, due to their end to practice,” Lin said. on a snowboard, Lin had to location, would allow her to Growing up, Lin said she research and prepare for her easily pursue Nationals and was involved in a variety of first competitions by finding even the Olympics in the sports. Up until a year ago, several different institutions next four years. she competitively danced, that host events. At her first “Last year at Nationals I specifically ballet, and also competition, in December saw all the talent and people, played basketball. However, 2016, Lin placed third for all who were really good and
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it made me want to pursue something more,” Lin said. “National competitions are just on a whole other level. the slopes, then 4 p.m. to 9 They’re so professional and p.m. at Tahoe, where I can different. I was really in- learn my tricks on a trampospired.” line and wooden skies into a Although completely in foam pit.” very down-to-earth feeling, love with the sport, Lin said As a freestyle skier, a dis- and when competing against she sees an absence of women cipline that comprises of each other, each person representation and first rec- speed, sportsmanship and brings their own unique style ognized this issue when at- performing aerial spins and into their skiing and other tending a training program at flips, Chang participates at a people try to learn from it Big Bear Lake, Calif. entirely high level of competition. rather than criticise it.” focused on proFor Frahn, moting women who participates in action sports. in the sport rec“There are reationally, skiing “SNOWBOARDING IS NOT definitely not represents a famONLY SOMETHING I CAN as many girls as ily tradition. COMPETE IN, BUT IT'S guys,” Lin said. “I’ve skied “There are quosince I was about SOMETHING I CAN tas for Nationfive,” Frahn said. ENJOY FOR MY ENTIRE als, and for girls, “My dad has alLIFE. I DON'T NEED there were only ways been really ANYONE TO HELP ME DO 22 spots for girls into it. He was the IT." in my age group. person who got For guys, there me started. Skiing HEATHER LIN were 80 in the is hella fun, unsame category. I til you crash; the guess when you feeling of bombthink of snowboarding you “To freestyle ski, you need ing downhill is addicting, and don’t think of a bunch of girls foundational skiing skills and it’s hard to find any other sport doing it, and I see girl snow- a sense of awareness with that gives you the same rush.” boarders getting criticized your body,” Chang said. “You Although skiing compeunfairly.” have to have commitment in titions are mainly populated Lin was introduced to order to successfully practice by competitors, they are open many winter sports while and execute the tricks you to all; therefore, Frahn and living in Boston — the first wish to practice. I argue that his friends still enter in comsport, at a mere five years old, this is one of the most dan- petitions. was skiing. For her, snow- gerous sports to participate Last year, he entered the boarding stuck; for others, once you start to hit a higher Kirkwood Mountain ski like seniors Aiden Chang and level of competition. There competition and won first Harrison Frahn, skiing was is only so much you can get place, and to him, this demthe sport that became more injured on 15-20 foot jumps onstrated his ambition. than an interest. Frahn said, “I really like but once you start hitting the Chang got into skiing 50-60 feet jump a single mis- skiing because it gives me a about seven to eight years ago, take can cost you lots.” feeling of freedom that I can’t but started competitively four Chang said he chooses to really get anywhere else. It’s years ago in his eighth grade ski due to his love of the nu- not that different than other of middle school. Unlike Lin, ances of the sport, as well as winter sports like snowboardhe travels to Lake Tahoe ev- the community of his league. ing, but I started out with ery weekend to practice. “I enjoy skiing for the skiing and that’s what I stuck “I finish school on Fri- feelings that happen when with. It’s pretty different than day, immediately drive up you are in the air and how non-winter sports though to [Lake] Tahoe, and ski on much you can progress in the because you aren’t really comSaturday and Sunday for a sport,” Chang said. “The best peting against others most of combination of about 22-26 thing about freestyle skiing the time — you’re either with hours,” Chang said. “I prac- are my teammates and the friends or racing against your tice from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on people who ski. They have a own best time. ”