April 2022 Issue

Inside this Issue

Vol. XXII No. 4 Friday, April 8, 2022

Spring Cleaning

Economic Troubles

Unethical Zoos

A&E

FOCUS

OPINION

The Roar SCroar.net

Santa Clara High School 3000 Benton St. Santa Clara, CA 95051

Trust and team building: Stunt cheer is added as a new spring sport

By James Kepner

Josh Cedro/Roar Staff

Stunt Cheer members Kaitlyn Venator, junior (top), Ashley Ta, junior (left), Desiree Rosales junior (right) and Elizabeth Copley, freshman (center) practice a stunt.

Clubs at SCHS seek to rekindle the flame of activity on campus

Sarah Olson/Roar Staff

ASB and Leadership implement new systems to support clubs.

By Mylinh Duong

Upon the return to in-person learning, SCHS clubs have been navigating through the challenges of rekindling activity and engagement. To ensure the success of these clubs, the Associated Student Body and Leadership Council are actively implementing new systems for support, and

many clubs have found an increase in engagement due to the updated systems.

Starting from the 2018-2019 school year, the evolution of club check-ins has changed from a manual paper-based process containing 70 Google Drive folders and a Google Classroom. Noticing the inactivity of clubs in the 2021-

2022 school year, senior ASB Vice President Cole McColloch earned approval for an idea by administration for clubs to submit a club report on Google Classroom entailing a status update, attendance records and meeting minutes.

“My main solution is to make this whole process easier and efficient to take less work off of club presidents so they can focus on the important part of engaging members, focusing on productive meetings and trying to figure out a successful system that works for them,” McColloch said. “Instead, I can focus on talking directly to club leaders and asking them what they need to focus more on supporting clubs.”

Clubs that neglect to submit a club report for two consecutive months will have their charter terminated. In order to better organize tracking active and inactive clubs, junior Secretary/ Treasurer Cydney Ventura has been leading the effort to create a new club website.

See Clubs, Page 2

The athletic community at SCHS has welcomed a new spring sport to its repertoire this year: stunt cheer.

It revolves around intricate acrobatic movements that require strength, teamwork and trust. The SCHS stunt cheer team is competing against neighboring schools, including Wilcox, as well as more distant schools that are located in the Blossom Valley Athletic League, such as Pioneer and Sequoia High School.

Junior Kaitlyn Venator, one of three captains on the team, explained that competitions are one hour long and consist of four quarters. A team will perform different stunts each quarter indicated by the captain. These include individual, pyramid, jumping and tumbling. Stunts are ranked from level one to six, with six being the hardest. Both teams perform the same routine at the same time, and whoever has a more efficient display will earn a point. The team with the most points at the end will win. Although the stunt cheer team has not successfully learned the harder routines, they are striving to get better.

“Level six and level five are really, really hard. We’re trying our best to get up there, but we’re not there yet, unfortunately,” Venator said. “It’s the same set for the entire season, but at the moment, pretty much all the teams we’ve gone up against are up to level three because it’s really hard to learn.”

Senior Sophia Rodiguez, another team captain, has been a flier for SCHS Spirit Squad for four years, which has given her prior experience

on featured exercises in competitions.

She noted many of the girls on the stunt cheer team, however, are not from the spirit squad.

“Since we’re limited on time, our coach couldn’t teach them step by step grips and how to get up, so we kind of threw them in there,” Rodriguez said. “It’s been pretty difficult for them to learn, but I feel like they’re starting to grow and really get the hang of it.

It’s cool to see them really learn.”

According to Venator, teammates will surround the flier to ensure their safety when learning new stunts since many of the girls have never attempted some exercises.

“There is a rule where fliers don’t touch the ground,” Venator said. “If you’re in a stunt and your flier falls and she touches the ground, everyone runs, everyone gets punished as a group.”

Venator mentioned that the team is evenly split when it comes to experience. Half of the team has participated in competition, or sideline cheer in the past, and the other half is completely new. They take this into account when competing to make sure that everyone is comfortable.

“If we can’t do something, we make sure in a competition to forfeit,” Rodriguez said. “Safety is the one rule, and we always try our hardest to maintain it when learning new things in practice.”

See Stunt Cheer, Page 5

‘The goal is equity and heterogeneity:’ SCHS welcomes new course offerings for the 2022-23 year

By Khadeejah Khan

In the upcoming 2022-2023 school year, a variety of new courses are being offered, such as Data Science, with many members of the SCHS community pushing for new courses offerings.

Math teacher Taylor Burk excitedly awaits the implementation of the new Data Science course as she believes it acts as an introductory statistics course.

“We have two classes after Data Science that work as good next steps, which are Statistics and AP Statistics, but we never had a step in between,” Burk said. “Data Science is like a bridge class. Offering this class will help students bridge between those higher classes.”

According to Burk, student interest in Data Science is high.

She hopes Data Science will open up new opportunities for those wanting to pursue a non-STEM career.

“I think that not all students need to take Algebra 2, or Trigonometry, or even Calculus. If you are interested in pursuing a career in the STEM field, then yes,” Burk said. “But not everyone is

taking that path. Those courses are great and serve a purpose, but they shouldn’t be for everybody.

Offering a different path is really important to do.”

Many Bruins have advocated for the introduction of AP Environmental Science, including SCHS’s Project: Earth club. Science teacher and club advisor Suzanne Miller-Moody wants to see the course offered at SCHS due to current environmental concerns.

“I really think we should offer AP Environmental Science, especially considering what we see going on in our environment. It is not going to get better,” MillerMoody said. “We have to make a great effort to change it. When people are uneducated about what needs to be done, nothing gets done.”

Miller-Moody, however, noted the conflict of incorporating a fourth AP science class at SCHS due to the ones that are already available for students.

“We need AP Environmental Science, but there is a lot that needs to be done to sustain that,” Miller-Moody said.

See New Classes, Page 3

CAMPUS

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APRIL 8, 2022

Teachers implement a variety of seating arrangements within classes to optimize student success

By Matteo Carlini

Many teachers at SCHS curate specific seating arrangements in their classrooms, and often change students’ seats to allow healthy socialization and prevent distracting interactions between students.

Multiple teachers, such as English teacher Courtney Hayes, have various methods of arranging seating charts, whether it is in groups, in rows or in a way that is beneficial for a specific class.

“In general, my seats are in groups because we do a lot of group collaboration,” Hayes said.

Hayes provides her students with a Google Form to determine their seating preferences.After they fill out the form, she is able to choose seats for her students.

“I do a Google Form preference sheet where students tell me who they’d like to work with, a successful partner or potentially an unsuccessful partner,” Hayes said. “If they are sitting next to their best friend, is that going to be a successful situation for them or are they going to get distracted?”

Social Studies teacher Hao Pham

THE ROAR 2021-2022 editors-in-chief Emily Harvie • Amelia Howell campus | Amelia Howell sports | Sarah Olson • Emily Harvie focus | Soojin Spencer opinion | Elias Panou a&e | KennedyRose Stiver spotlight | Emily Harvie visuals | Sarah Olson online | Khadeejah Khan staff writers Amelia Tai • Amos Press Andrew Littlefield • Emma Wasel Isa Miyauchi-Garde James Kepner • Jizelle Mercado Joshua Cedro • Matteo Carlini Mylinh Duong • Nathaniel Hekster Nishi Vijayvargiya Rebecca LaBarge • Rowan Garcia Tanvi Kenkre • Theodore Nguyen advisor Bob Ansaldo Mission Statement The Roar works to inform students, showcase their accomplishments, and explore issues relevant to them as individuals and as a generation.

We value journalistic ethics and professional behavior toward both our sources and our readers. We will investigate and inform students about happenings on- and off-campus, and provide information comprehensibly.

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Letters and Opinion columns submitted to The Roar must be signed, although names can be withheld.

Submissions should be limited to 200 words and may be edited for content, libel, or grammar. Opinion submissions can be emailed to Mr. Ansaldo at ransaldo@scusd.net or submitted to the form on our website: scroar.net.

DISCLAIMER The opinions on pages 8 and 9 reflect the views of the individual writer, not those of Santa Clara High School.

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Jizelle Mercado/Roar Staff

Many teachers arrange their seating establishments in groups to encourage socialization and collaboration. provided his reasoning behind his first semester seating charts and explained that it helped with contract tracing in the event of a positive COVID-19 case.

“There are two reasons. One is to make sure that if someone does have COVID related stuff, the office can come in to look at the seating chart

Clubs Continued from Page 1 “I have taken on the responsibility of creating the new club website, and overall it has really strengthened my relationship with the club community,” Ventura said. “It is also a place to help combat inactivity and increase club membership. The school website is hard to regularly update for all the changing clubs, so hopefully by next school year we can implement this system for all clubs to have a website page.”

COVID-19 deepened the struggle for many clubs to maintain strong member and officer activity. Senior Filipinx American Student Association Vice President Aceben Agustin reflected on how the long-standing club has been battling the post-effects of the pandemic.

“Compared to the beginning of the school year, we had to use the school gym to hold the meeting with how many members showed up, and it was amazing having so many people interested and involved,” Agustin said. “COVID-19 definitely had

and make sure they know who sat where so that they can do their contact tracing. The other reason is it gives flexibility for kids to meet other kids,” Pham said. “Everything is documented and laid out so we know exactly who sat where. If someone was in close contact with somebody (who is COVID-19 positive) then we know exactly

where that took place.”

Pham shared that his seating arrangement has proven to be efficient, as his system has changed very little since the start of the year.

“Seating is changed based on the will of the students. We allow them the opportunity to change if they want to change,” Pham said. “But when

a role in overall activity in clubs where a lot of people have been feeling burnt out.

Due to restrictions, FASA was unable to have a big event to celebrate Filipino History Month inside the theater as they have in past years.”

Recognizing the lack of male presence in the Black Student Union, junior Jamal Howard took initiative to establish Brothers Excelling Together.

“BET is a club dedicated to engaging and uniting more Black men to come out and teach them life skills to be successful,” Howard said. “I wanted to create a space where my brothers can excel in this community and uplift each other’s spirits, and it expands to whoever else needs support.”

Similar to FASA, BET was unable to carry out events that would attract more club members.

“It was hard because we wanted to share food and provide people a new taste in order to get new members interested,” Howard said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t do it because of COVID guidelines. We had a lot of ideas rejected, so we had to work around them.”

McColloch acknowledged the need for extra support for the underclassmen who have less experience in higher club positions compared to upperclassmen.

McColloch applied a term he learned in his history course to illustrate the hardships clubs are facing.

“We’re in the Great Resignation right now. This is a time after COVID where people are reevaluating whether or not they want to do work and if they think it’s worth it,” McColloch said. “People are reevaluating whether they think having a club is worth it.”

Future plans to boost engagement include hosting multiple club faires throughout the year to open options for students. Vice Principal of Activities, Facilities and Communication Sharon Freeman has translated past experience with activities to help improve the quality of student-driven organizations at SCHS. “The students are the ones making the plans and making the decisions.

I’m there to make sure they stay within the parameters of what’s feasible on campus, and I’m able to give some of that outside perspective,” Freeman said. “I’m really excited with how supportive the club advisors are on campus, and they not only open up their rooms, but they are a support and a confidante for the groups.”

Agustin noted the importance of

we did do our seating arrangement, I would say 20% of the kids did change. Most of them remained where they were.”

According to Pham, seating arrangements often play a role in the success of his students.

“It’s up to the kids. Some of them are successful because they are next to their buddies and some of them are kind of neutral,” Pham said.

Senior Daniel Hancock shared that he enjoys his teachers’ ways of arranging seating, and that he prefers a seating arrangement that is more open instead of assigned.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t change anything. I’m cool with the way they are,” Hancock said. “I prefer open seating because I like to choose where I sit.”

Pham shared what he believes the potential benefits of arranged seating are and explained how seating establishments can allow for increased collaboration and coaction.

“More synergy, the whole idea that three brains are better than one brain, especially in group seating,” Pham said. “More teamwork and more team synergy, more connection, more social interaction.” preserving the legacies of cultural clubs, as he sees them as a place to form lifelong friendships with those of similar backgrounds.

“Cultural clubs allow people to learn more about their culture, and for FASA, provide a space for Filipino students to connect with others who grew up under a similar culture and lifestyle,” Agustin said.

“For identity, it shines a light to understand someone’s heritage, culture and overall history of both the beauty and hardships experienced by these groups.”

Ventura agrees that the improvement of clubs is vital to fostering an easygoing environment for students.

“The purpose of the club system design was just to make the club process easier, that way it doesn’t discourage any club officers and stop them from being able to show their club’s true potential,” Ventura said.

“Clubs are extremely important here at SCHS because it enables students to be able to show off their culture or passions, which they can’t do in normal classroom environments. When people are in a familiar community, they automatically feel more comfortable and accepted.”

Many students balance the responsibilities of a job and school

By Rebecca LaBarge

Many high school students choose to have a job while attending school. Many SCHS students find employment helpful for saving money, becoming more independent or learning important life skills. Others find that keeping up with both schoolwork and a job can be stressful and time consuming.

Freshman Greg Silva recently started working at California’s Great America and enjoys the autonomy he receives from his job.

“I decided to start working to be more independent,” Silva said. “I’m able to make money, which makes me able to make more of my own decisions.”

While some students find their job to be easy, others struggle to

manage their job, their schoolwork and their personal lives.

Sophomore Aasees Sandhu began working at the mortgage loan company US Direct Lender to start saving up for college expenses. She works for about an hour each day and appreciates that her job teaches her valuable life skills, such as personal finance. Sandhu hopes that the skills she learns will help her in the future.

While Sandhu is grateful for certain aspects of her job, she finds other parts to be challenging. After school, Sandhu participates in sports and often struggles to manage homework, athletics and her job.

“I think that the school day is pretty long,” Sandhu said. “On top of that, I play sports at school, and I have to do my homework. I think that I would benefit from a shorter day and less homework.”

Like Sandhu, sophomore Lucas Bates also started working to make ex-

tra money. Bates works at Togo’s Sandwiches with his friends and appreciates the ability to spend more time with them. Bates works three days per week

and occasionally sees the effect of his job on his school and personal life.

“Sometimes it is difficult to get my homework done on Mondays because I go to work straight after school and until 8:45,” Bates said. “This also affects my sleep habits because I end up going to bed later in order to finish homework.”

Many students feel there can be both good and bad parts about balancing a job and school. While it can be difficult for some to manage academics and work, Sandhu hopes that her job will teach her important life skills for the future, as do other SCHS students.

“I like that I get to learn more about personal finance so that I know what I am doing when I get older,” Sandhu said.

Amelia Howell/Roar Staff

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APRIL 8, 2022

More work, same grade point average:

Students discuss the limits placed on GPA weight for advanced courses

By Nishi Vijayvargiya

SCHS underclassmen can take as many honors and Advanced Placement courses available to them, but some classes offered to exclusively freshmen and sophomores do not count toward weight on their GPA. Freshman Didem Tokuz believes that she would benefit from receiving a weighted GPA because it would give her more satisfaction from putting in the effort to do well in challenging classes.

“I don’t think the limit is really necessary. I don’t know why they put it like that,” Tokuz said. “If I’m doing the work, I think it should be allowed to boost my GPA.” Similarly, junior Aayush Sugali was surprised by the weighted GPA limits and concerned by the reasoning behind it.

“What’s the point of taking honors as opposed to a regular class? I wish there was an extra boost that is offered,” Sugali said.

Contrarily, senior Aleena Bosky did not care much for the GPA boost limits as an underclassman.

“It (life) is not about high school, and people make it seem like it is. They make it seem like high school is the end-all be-all, and if you just don’t take APs or don’t have an honors class, you are going to fail and no college is going to want you,” Bosky said. “But

New Classes Continued from Page 1 “We have AP Bio, we have AP Chem, we have AP Physics.

Can we really sustain a fourth AP science class? We have 1,500 kids, and we do not have 1,500 kids taking science their junior or senior year.”

Principal Gregory Shelby, too, noted the conflict with incorporating AP Environmental Science. Although the class will not be offered in the upcoming school year, Shelby predicts that a decision will be made in the following year on whether or not to include the course.

“One of the things you have to be careful about is being able to anticipate the impacts of adding because everyone is just taking six classes, and you’re not allowed to take seven in most cases,” Shelby said. “Every time you add a class, it has an impact on other classes.”

Miller-Moody noted that the AP Environmental Science introduction is still achievable due to the fact that Wilcox offers four sections of the course. She advocates for the implementation of AP Environmental Science to encourage students to learn more about the field.

“I am a science nerd, so I love it. I would love to see more people explore science. If AP Environmental Science is an avenue for people to explore science, then let’s have it,” MillerMoody said. “In my ideal world,

that’s not what colleges are looking for.”

However, Tokuz is scared her unweighted GPA may put her behind other college applicants from schools who allow underclassmen honors courses to receive a GPA boost.

“I feel like when they (colleges) first look at our transcripts, they’re going to see that our GPA isn’t as high as the other students,” Tokuz said. “I feel like it’s going to affect me when I apply for colleges.”

Academic counselor Victoria Aguaristi believes that the GPA boost limit is deceiving and is pointless when applying to popular in-state colleges.

“There is really no reason to keep boosting GPAs when UCs and CSUs have a cap,” Aguaristi said. “On the transcript, the title reflects a challenging course. However, there is no added bonus, or, simply, the curriculum is the bonus.”

Bosky explained how instead of preventing her from taking rigorous classes, the GPA boost limit enabled her to take classes that helped her it would also be great if we can have an Environmental Science class that is not AP.” In addition to the push for AP Environmental Science, science teacher Jyothi Sunkara works to include a Physics Engineering and potentially, a Physics Honors course.

“I was a software engineer earlier, and I started teaching to help students see the world around them,” Sunkara said. “I realized that a lot of the students will be missing out on physics, and it made me very sad.”

After discussing with her AP Seminar students, she noticed many of them chose not to take physics. Because of this, she released a Google Form to survey students on whether or not they would be interested in a Physics Engineering or Honors course, with two thirds of the survey participants being interested in a Physics engineering course.

“I love the enthusiasm,” Sunkara said. “Our school district has the money, and we just need to invest in our kids and get them excited about something.”

Through the new course offerings, Shelby aims to cultivate inclusivity and equity across the SCHS community.

“There’s some creative ideas that we’re considering for future years to try to help create more heterogeneous environments where the students with different skills and different skill levels are working together and learning together,” Shelby said. “The goal is equity and heterogeneity.”

find a field of passion.

“Even though I could have taken AP Biology or AP Chemistry, I took Human Physiology Honors and Introduction to Biotechnol-

ogy,” Bosky said.

“Honestly, taking Introduction to Biotechnology was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

Aguaristi shares this sentiment and wishes more students would look past the GPA weight.

“I hope they would choose the class that is of interest and not simply because either their com-

munity, their family or their own peer pressure is telling them that they need to have this to get to college because I don’t think that’s true,” Aguaristi said. “I think you can have just regular A-G (courses), do amazing in them, and you can still have an equal shot at getting into Ivy Leagues as any other p e r son.”

Tokuz, however, sees t h e GPA boost limit as a restraint on students who hope to exceed academically.

“I definitely feel like there shouldn’t be any limits. I think freshmen and sophomores should be able to take more AP classes than is offered because you want to be able to get as high a GPA as possible,” Tokuz said.

Sugali feels the limit on a

weighted GPA negatively impacted his workload.

“As a sophomore, I thought I was mature enough to take more than two APs. Doing that would lead to a less stressful junior year.

We all know junior year is the most important to colleges,” Sugali said.

“I wish the limit didn’t exist so that I could take three APs this year and three last year instead of two (last year) and four (this year).”

Adversely, the transition between sophomore and junior year’s workload helped Bosky sustain a healthy lifestyle.

“I’d say it was a good thing to have that transition because I knew how much stress I could put on myself because every year I would add more to my workload,” Bosky said. “Eventually, I found a point where I could do no more. You need to maintain that point even in high school and college, or you will physically explode.”

Bosky believes that taking classes with the intention of becoming a balanced student instead of simply receiving a higher GPA is more beneficial in the long run.

“If you take the time to actually get to know yourself and get to know what you want to do, you end up becoming a more well-rounded student, and your GPA will reflect that,” Bosky said.

Amelia Tai/Roar Staff

Students with dietary restrictions often struggle to find cafeteria food

Sarah Olson/Roar Staff

Many students with food restrictions feel there are limited hot lunch options.

By Nishi Vijayvargiya

Since the number of students eating school-provided lunches has substantially increased during the 2021-2022 school year, SCHS cafeteria staff have become more diligent in their food selection process and often determine which meals to serve based on popularity and nutritional value.

While many feel a variety of healthy food is offered, some students are unable to eat a number of items offered.

Freshman Anaya Sheraaz is Muslim, meaning she can only eat halal meat, which is any animal that has been blessed before being slaughtered. Outside of school, Sheraaz eats at halal, seafood or vegetarian restaurants. While she has multiple restaurant choices, Sheraaz does not have flexible options at SCHS, so she chooses the cheese pizza for lunch every day.

Cafeteria Supervisor Alena Maracak believes that the cafeteria staff try to provide options for people with different dietary restrictions.

“Some schools have more

vegetarian students, so their menu might reflect that. All the food stations here offer a vegetarian item every day,” Maracak said. “Let’s say we find more (vegetarians), we will have to make more of the vegetarian item.”

Sophomore Redrix Natanauan has noticed that students are often presented with a choice of meat, but the sole alternative for those who cannot eat meat is beans.

“It’s either chicken or beans, and there isn’t any in-between option. It’s a very one or another thing,” Natanauan said. “The only exception is maybe the salads, but then again, those are rare, and they are probably already gone by the time you get to the front of the line.”

On the other hand, Maracak believes that there are enough food items for everyone.

“There’s more than one vegetarian item, so I think they (vegetarians) will be able to find something,” Maracak said.

Despite this, Sheraaz once experienced a lunch period in which vegetarian options were unavailable.

“One time I went to the pizza line, and they ran out of all the cheese pizza. It was all pepperoni pizza,” Sheraaz said. “Then, I was going to go to the cafeteria, but the cafeteria didn’t have that many options either. It was mainly beef. Then, I went to the snack bar, and the snack bar only had chicken sandwiches.”

According to Maracak, part of the purpose of the cafeteria staff is to encourage more students to come to the cafeteria.

“They want the kids to like the food and come to the cafeteria to eat,” Maracak said. “We want more students to come and eat.”

Sheraaz believes that in order to achieve this purpose, the cafeteria should better acknowledge and provide for different dietary restrictions.

“There are a lot of Muslims I’ve noticed, and I definitely think that if they were to add more halal options, they would get more students to eat more cafeteria food,” Sheraaz said.

Natanauan agrees that changes should be made to the cafeteria menu so students do not feel limited in their meal options.

“It’s consistent, but that consistency also means that you are kind of going to be stuck going to the snack bar,” Natanauan said.

Maracak has also recognized the cafeteria’s need for food diversity and explained that a wider range of available options is currently not a feasible goal for the school district.

“I would think it is more practical for us to have it the way it is now,” Maracak said.

“We want variety, but it is more difficult to get it.”

SPORTS

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APRIL 8, 2022

‘Three, two, one, have some fun’

Athletes value supporting their teammates in and out of the game

By Emily Harvie

As senior Jordan Montez stands in the on-deck circle, he shows support for his teammate currently at bat. His first swing is a ball.

“Good take,” Montez says. His teammate swings and hits the ball to left field, making it to first base.

“Let’s go, kid,” Montez shouts, as he steps up to the plate.

For many sports, cheering is a crucial aspect of being an encouraging teammate. Montez, who has been playing baseball since he was young, has made it a goal to be a good teammate to his fellow baseball players.

“When it comes to cheering for my teammates, I just try to be loud, be supportive and show that I am there,” Montez said.

During baseball games, Montez emphasizes cheering when one of his teammates is up at bat but will also use his voice on the field whether he is getting ready to bat, or standing in the dugout.

“Some things I say are like, ‘Swing the bat,’ ‘Good take,’ ‘Three, two, one have some fun,’” Montez said. “So when someone gets walked, I’ll try to lead and say, ‘What do we love?’ and the rest of the team will say, ‘Free 90s’ since the distance between bases is 90 feet.”

He also described different phrases or chants the team will say for certain players.

“For certain players we’ll shout their number so for Jayce we’ll shout ‘Niner,’ since he is number nine,” Montez said. “For Orlando we’ll sometimes cheer something similar to the O’Reilly’s jingle, and say ‘O-o-o Orlando.’”

Emily Harvie/Roar Staff

Varsity Bruins baseball player senior Jordan Montez (left) stands in the on-deck circle and cheers for teammate senior Jayce Dobie (right) as he gets ready to bat.

For softball, it is no different. Sophomore Khadijah Kamil believes cheering is important in sports and helps encourage those on the field. Kamil and her team also have phrases they will say when their teammates are at the plate.

“When someone is up at bat and they make contact but it’s a foul ball, we’ll say something like, ‘Way to make contact,’ but if it’s a ball we’ll say, ‘Good eye,’” Kamil said. “Or if they strike out we’ll say, ‘Way to battle,’ just something to encourage the batter.”

While some focus on cheering for those up at bat, Kamil also en-

sures to cheer for her team’s pitcher while she is in right field.

“I think it’s really important to be loud and cheer on our pitcher.

Our pitcher is new, and she finds it really helpful to hear cheering and know that we are cheering her on,” Kamil said. “So with being in outfield, I make sure with every pitch I am cheering her on.”

Unlike sports such as baseball and softball where cheering is constant and encouraged throughout the game, etiquette regarding cheering is different in other sports. In tennis and badminton for example, it is crucial to remain quiet during certain times of the match

and cheer only when it is allowed.

Senior Joshua Yi described the situations where it is best to support his fellow tennis players during a match.

“During a tennis match, you should really only cheer at certain times,” Yi said. “We often like to cheer for one another whenever we make a good serve or hit a good shot that wins us the point. Even though you still miss the point, your team can still commend you for going for the ball or putting in the effort.”

Badminton is similar to tennis when it comes to verbally cheering. According to sophomore Minh

Dang, spectators and teammates should be quiet until a point has been earned by one team.

“It is important to stay quiet while the birdie is in the air for the people who are playing,” Dang said. “If we are on the sidelines, we can only cheer if the point has been earned.”

While in a match, Dang believes that it can be distracting when there is too much noise.

“As a player, like when I am playing, I don’t want to feel pressured with the cheering and the loud noise. It’s important to focus on the birdie,” Dang said.

According to Yi, cheering for the victory of one team can be perceived as condescending toward the opposing team, so cheering is often kept to a limit as a means of respect toward the more unfortunate team.

“However, when the opposing school makes a mistake or misses the shot, you shouldn’t cheer as it would technically be bad manners or bad sportsmanship,” Yi said.

Kamil believes uniting as a team to support one another and their victories helps boost the energy and morale of the players, alongside encouraging them to continue putting effort into achieving more victories.

“It’s all about hearing encouragement from your teammates. At one of our games, our shortstop, Vanessa, made all the plays, and that was our three outs,” Kamil said. “So in the end, we were super hyped in the dugout because we were doing really well, and so the energy was really good and super encouraging.”

Some SCHS sports teams are met with barren bleachers and empty stands due to a deficit of spectators and fans

By Andrew Littlefield

From the crowds of hundreds in football to the empty greens of golf, the impact of fans on athletes is present in every corner of SCHS’s athletics. While some athletes adore the cheering and chanting from fans, others find them distracting, and the influence of a surplus or lack of fans can make or break an athlete.

COVID-19 has led to some sports getting hammered with restrictions. Junior, and threetime varsity swimmer Will Sidford reflected on his experiences surrounding fans.

According to Sidford, the swim team does not receive many audience members who are not simply family members of the swimmers, resulting in quite low turnouts at swim meets. Sidford said this smaller number of fans may be due to the smaller number of athletes on swim.

Sarah Olson/Roar Staff

Wrestlers experience a lack of student supporters at matches.

“The number of fans per game averages between 10 to twenty,” Sidford said. “They are all family members of the athletes on swim. With a smaller athlete base comes a smaller amount of fans,” This season of swimming has been particularly difficult for fans to attend. According to Sid-

ford, the swim team is lacking a functional timing system. As a result, many of their meets have been held at other schools instead of at SCHS, which in turn, affects spectator turnout.

“Almost all of the meets are away meets, so it can be harder (for fans) to attend those,” Sidford said. “It’s a lot to ask people

to attend sporting events at other schools.”

This lack of support from students and friends is not solely a swimming problem. Freshman wrestler and golfer Gyan Nawbatt recalled having similar issues with the number of fans in wrestling. Nawbatt said the fan base for wrestling mainly consisted of athletes’ relatives, even during finals.

“There were more wrestlers than there were non-wrestlers,” Nawbatt said. “There were many kids who didn’t have any relatives watching them during finals.”

Both Nawbatt and Sidford said that they believe this issue is due to a lack of awareness surrounding their sports.

“If we can raise awareness for the state of our swimming program, we might be able to have a fully functional program,” Sidford said.

Nawbatt also said that he believes a lack of recognition on the

morning announcements is part of the issue.

“I feel like on the announcements, they really underappreciate the wrestling team,” Nawbatt said. “There was once this season when they mentioned wrestling on the announcements and that was during (wrestling) finals.”

Both Nawbatt and Sidford said fans have a positive impact on aspects of their sports. Nawbatt said that in wrestling, more fans meant better results for him and his team.

“The more people, the better the environment, the more energized you feel and the better you perform,” Nawbatt said. “It’s really easy to run out of energy without them.”

Sidford also believes fans improve his overall performance.

“The more pressure I have to perform, the faster I can go, knowing there are lots of people cheering for me,” Sidford said.

5 SPORTS Students share their thoughts on the ‘Everybody wins’ concept APRIL 8, 2022

By Joshua Cedro

After a sports game is over, one team wins, the other loses. In some cases, both the winning team and the losing team are presented with trophies or medals, as participation trophies and the “everybody wins” concept has been around for years. Some SCHS athletes believe there are more negatives than positives around rewarding athletes for their participation regardless of the final score or outcome.

Senior Nicholas Loforti has been playing baseball since he was young. He believes participation trophies are not a problem in youth sports and for younger athletes.

“When you’re little, I feel like it’s okay and everything because everybody’s a team player. You don’t really know what you’re doing playing sports,” Loforti said.

Loforti believes that getting participation trophies at an early age gives youth athletes significant praise and encouragement, and he

Stunt cheer Continued from page 1 The nature of stunt cheer is very dangerous, and mistakes are inevitable. Venator is a flier and is currently recovering from a concussion after falling during a stunt.

“I’m dropping anywhere from five feet to 15 feet with no padding,” Venator said. “I could be hitting the floor without being caught.”

Rodriguez explained that spirit squad and stunt cheer share some similarities, but

still has his participation trophies today.

“I’ve kept all the participation trophies I’ve gotten. I know looking back at it I was so happy,” Loforti said. “I’d come home and put it up on my shelf in my room, and just look at it like ‘Wow, I did that.’ or it gave me a huge confidence boost when I was little.”

Junior Madison Calvillo plays tennis and is on the Spirit Squad. She likes that those who work the hardest get recognized more.

“Just feeling good about yourself and feeling confident in the sport you play and wanting to keep doing it, striving to be better.

You want to try harder so you can get recognized,” Calvillo said.

As athletes grow, however, Loforti believes that trophies should

be limited to certain players on the losing team rather than the entire team.

“As you get older, I think they should start to cut it out.

there are also differences, especially in the routines. Venator mentioned that the spirit squad is mostly sideline cheering for sports games. The performances are choreographed by the girls themselves and are designed for style and show. When it comes to stunt cheer, the competitions are structured and the routines are predetermined.

“It (stunt cheer) is a lot more technique based rather than looking pretty,” Venator said. “It has to look clean and sharp.”

Although Rodriguez’s four years as flier on the spirit squad

Maybe give the trophies to the MVP of the team, or the person that’s come the longest way,” Loforti said.

Like Loforti, senior Carson Muench, who plays track and foot-

ball, also sees the flaws in the idea of the “everybody wins” concept, but acknowledged some of the benefits of participation trophies, especially when distributed to athletes when they are younger.

“Participation trophies I think have some benefit,” Muench said.“You can look back, and it’s like memorabilia or something to remember your time as a little kid.”

Despite believing participation trophies are great as a kid, like Loforti, Muench realized they are not necessary as athletes grow up.

“I think that you should be rewarded for winning, and then if everyone gets the same trophy, then

it’s a problem. But if the trophies are significantly different, then I don’t think there’s a problem with it,” Muench said.

Loforti is on the side of playing to win and not playing just for a trophy.

“Obviously when you play, you play to win no matter what the prize is. For example, we (the SCHS varsity boys baseball team) were playing against randoms and we beat them,’” Loforti said.

“You don’t get a prize out of it.

It’s just that you get that good feeling that ‘Okay we just won, We just beat the other team.”

Muench feels the same and cares more about the experience than the trophy.

“I’m glad that I got some participation trophies, so I can keep them for keepsake items and look back and remember those times,” Muench said. “But I definitely would rather have a championship trophy.”

has contributed to her experience when it comes to acrobatics and dance routines, she still finds some of the complex maneuvers to be difficult.

“Since it’s a technique and you have to know every routine step-by-step that they have planned out for you, it is very hard,” Rodriguez said.

Venator’s background in competition cheer and theater has allowed her to quickly remember the complicated routines, so she is one who helps those who need extra support.

“The girls who have it memorized will help the ones

who don’t, and we try to make sure that everyone knows their skills,” Venator said.

Rodriguez will be attending Grand Canyon University next fall and plans on joining their cheer club. She explained that it has been a rapidly growing sport in college and has become extremely competitive.

Although stunt cheer is new to SCHS, she has high hopes for the program.

“I think when I graduate, I do want to see the stunt program grow,” Rodriguez said. “I think it could use a lot of new members. I know it’s very scary and

people might not think it’s for them, but if they stay in it for a little while, I think they might really like it.”

Rodriguez believes she has gained many attributes from stunt cheer including physical strength alongside a healthier well-being. She found that stunt cheer has been a great team building experience, and has encouraged her to build trust with those around her.

“I think honestly, even if we don’t win our games, I think I’m most excited for just ending the year with doing something I love,” Rodriguez said.

Jizelle Mercado/Roar Staff

Bruins appreciate the worth of practices on non-school days

By Sarah Olson

Ski Week: a well-deserved, relaxing break for many students.

But many athletes are still hard at work even while school is no longer in session. Some athletes may spend six days a week at practice or have practices and games over break.

SCHS’s baseball team does both. Senior Sean Rescate has played for the baseball team all four years he has been at SCHS, and is familiar with practicing on both Saturday and over Ski Week.

Rescate said he recognizes the benefits of consistent practice, even over the break.

“It gets us engaged in the game, and it doesn’t let us get rusty. It just keeps us polished,” Rescate said.

However, just because practices and games are being held does not mean all athletes show up.

Freshman Jaxton Chao said that the JV baseball team felt the repercussions of missing players when they took the field with only nine players during a game scheduled over Ski Break. The other five players on the team were, according to Chao, on vacation. The JV

Sarah Olson/Roar Staff

Although practices on the weekends and over vacations may be demanding for some, many believe that they are beneficial to maintaining their athletic abilites and skills. team lost 12-0 to Capuchino High.

For some athletes, missing practices results in consequences. For the varsity baseball team, missing a practice could mean not starting in the next game. Rescate believes it to be a reasonable repercussion for not showing up.

Alternatively, there are no direct consequences for missing a track and field practice over break.

Rather, sophomore cross-country

and track and field runner Morgan Deboe believes the reverberations of a missed practice are felt more on the physical side.

“They say that you can lose your fitness in two weeks. So after one week, you’re already down fitness,” Deboe said. “So, I think especially for runners, it’s important to maintain going to practice and doing the same workouts.”

Many teams, including baseball

and winter guard, regularly have practices, games or competitions on the weekends. According to sophomore Natalie Smith, winter guard practices from ten a.m. to five in the afternoon on Saturdays.

“Saturday practices are beneficial because, despite how much of a time commitment they are, there is a lot of time to do things that we will not have time to do during a school week,” Smith said. “Since

it is on the weekends, we get to sleep in a little bit more so we’re usually a bit more energized.”

Breaks from school are popular times to schedule family vacations, group hangouts and all manner of activities. When sports practices, games and meets are scheduled on days when school is off, however, they can impede on plans. Smith emphasized the importance of attending winter guard practices in favor of other activities.

“You can’t really miss a practice because you could miss learning something new. Winter guard is not just like a regular athletic sport where you have to just practice to keep improving,” Smith said. “You learn new choreography and cleaning and it’s really detrimental to miss it.”

Junior Marisol Luciano, another member of winter guard, said that she is happy to postpone traveling and activities in favor of attending winter guard practice.

“If I know for sure there is something coming up, I’ll say I can’t go out of town, I can’t work, because it (winter guard practice) is really special,” Luciano said. “ I’m always there.”

Infrastructure, Inflation and Industry 6

FOCUS

APRIL 8, 2022

Sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States, United Kingdom and European Union, have resulted in extreme inflation and social turmoil.

By Amelia Tai

On February 24, 2022, Russia, led by its president Vladimir Putin, invaded Ukraine.

Since then, Russia has experienced severe economic backlash due to the retaliation by European nations and the U.S. This retaliation is made up of sanctions, penalties placed on an entity that restrict its commercial, financial or social access and interactions across borders. They have been imposed by the United States, United Kingdom and EU, an alliance in Europe, including France, Germany and Spain. Japan, Taiwan and Australia have also imposed sanctions. SCHS social science teacher Christina Byerley gave insight into the situation.

“Economic sanctions can

“It’s kind of leading to some unrest amongst the citizens because even though the president’s doing this, their Visa cards don’t work.”

-Karen Henry, social science teacher have devastating effects, particularly when they are done on a global scale,” Byerley said.

“Russia has an economy that can be very reactive because they are not super diverse.

They have a lot of foreign investment, and when foreign investment pulls out, that money leaves the economy.”

The types of sanctions have ranged from increasing taxes on household items to mainstream companies shutting down in the country. BBC reported the restrictions include bans on importing oil and gas, active airlines and flights, and corporations, including Visa, Samsung and Starbucks.

The United States, United Kingdom and EU have also frozen assets of Russian oligarchs and government officials in non-Russian banks. Inaccess to the billions of dollars, NBC stated, has caused the ruble, the Russian currency, to plummet in value, creating massive inflation.

Social science teacher Karen Henry explained a reaction throughout the population.

“It’s kind of leading to some unrest amongst the citizens because even though the president’s doing this, their Visa cards don’t work,” Henry said.

“They can’t get a hamburger.

They can’t go to Starbucks.

Some of that could actually lead to people wondering why the in-

Amelia Tai/Roar Staff

The Russian rubble has drastically decreased in value due to Russian oligarch’s frozen assets and sanctions. ternational community is reacting this way. Because Putin is telling his people something different.”

Putin’s intentions are displayed differently to Russian citizens than the rest of the world.

According to The New York Times, he has claimed the war with Ukraine to be a “special military operation,” declaring various causes to the conflict: Ukrainian neo-Nazis, American biowarfare labs and planted pathogen-carrying birds.

“I’m not sure that anybody re-

“So far, the foreign governments and leaders have been reluctant to take a hard stand against President Putin primarily because of the nuclear arsenal that he holds.”

-Christina Byerley, social science teacher ally knows what is the endgame for Vladimir Putin,” Henry said.

“He had different pretexts, and it kind of keeps changing. There’s the possibility that it may have something to do with a land grab to kind of restore the former Soviet Union.”

SCHS students also think differently from Putin’s justifica-

tions. Sophomore Daniel Martinez Gallegos envisioned one possibility for his actions.

“Putin claims that Ukraine and Russia have deep ties going back, and that’s why he says he’s trying to unify Ukraine into Russia,” Gallegos said. “Although this is just propaganda from him. The real reason is more likely to gain power, especially with Ukraine’s strategic position with foods and agriculture and access to the Black Sea.” Sophomore Aasees Sandhu had another theory, exploring Putin’s perspective.

“What I feel is that it’s an ego war for him,” Sandhu said. “His lifelong goal and dream – the reason he was elected – was he wants to restore Russia back to its former USSR glory, and getting Ukraine is part of that process. But the reaction from the globe isn’t something that Putin expected.”

Ukraine has put up an unanticipated fight, and Russia has matched it with heavy military forces. The U.S. and European nations are trying to prevent further conflict by using non-violent forms of intervention, like the sanctions.

“If we look at history, we can see where different political leaders have made decisions that have brought the world to the brink of war,” Byerley said. “So far, the foreign governments and leaders have been reluctant to take a hard stand against President Putin pri-

marily because of the nuclear arsenal that he holds. And they are unsure how far he is willing to go to meet his objectives.”

Another non-violent intervention by Western powers, Henry stated, occurred during Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, a peninsula previously a part of Ukraine. She explained the lack of direct action the European and Western allies took during that event, similar to the recently imposed sanctions done by NATO, a group of 28 European countries, the U.S. and Canada, meant to protect their rights through political and military action.

“To my understanding, they (NATO) have a decision to make.

And that is, at what point is it worth them getting involved in risking World War Three,” Henry said. “So in a situation like Crimea, they looked at it, they saw what was going on, and they said, ‘Is this worth possibility to nuclear war?’ And they said, ‘No.’ That’s just the sacrifice that gets made.

The invasion of Ukraine has shocked the watching world. NPR has recorded more than 900 civilian casualties, due mostly to explosive artillery and missile strikes.

Putin denies any accusation of targeting citizens, although Henry doubts this.

“It’s just very hard seeing the humanitarian cost of this. There appears to be more violence against civilians, which is a war

A whirlpool of Worries surround ‘Build Back Better’s’ delay in the Senate

By Nishi Vijayvargiya

Global warming has been a pressing matter, and on April 22, 2021, President Joe Biden set a target to cut 2005 greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed a trillion-dollar infrastructure bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, for the creation of high-speed Internet towers, upgraded airports and 700,000 jobs.

SCHS math teacher Lauren Hasty believes upgrading infrastructure is important for the U.S. “Our infrastructure needs to be worked on in our country if we want to stay a modern country; otherwise, we will just keep crumbling apart,” Hasty said.

A report co-published by the United Nations Office for Project Services, the United Nations Environment Programme and the University of Oxford shows that 79 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions stem from infrastructure.

The current Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act does not meet the level of investment scientists believe is necessary to prevent global warming from worsening.

Hasty believes global warming is an issue that should be addressed as soon as possible.

“We will keep on using oil, and we won’t make any change at all,” Hasty said. “We have to do that. We had to do that ten years ago.”

According to Manish Bapna, president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is necessary in order to make way for congress to pass the Build Back Better Act. The goal of

Jizelle Mercado/Roar Staff

Global warming is a concerning issue for many, President Biden’s proposed ‘Build Back Better Bill’ aims to tackle it. the act is to fight climate change through clean energy and electric vehicle tax credits, possibly getting the U.S. about halfway to Biden’s goal of cutting 2005 greenhouse gas emissions in half. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives but has hit a snag in Congress.

With the Build Back Better Act being held up in Congress, some SCHS students and staff members are wondering if the government is the only group of people obligated to help fight climate change. Freshman Vedanth Vijay believes the wealthy are not obligated to assist with these problems but hopes they will.

“These are big issues that affect us

all, and everyone should be trying to contribute,” Vijay said. “Of course, I would like to see them (the wealthy) using their wealth to help out, but it’s not their obligation.”

Contrarily, Hasty thinks that people with economic power are morally obligated to help out with community problems.

“They don’t want to contribute after they have been taking and taking and taking from the industry. Especially if they have cases where they have been polluting because of their industries.

They definitely need to give back,” Hasty said. “They definitely need to stop thinking that they are the only peo-

ple in the world.”

Vijay also believes there may be other incentives for big businesses to help.

“You see this with people like Elon Musk and the positive media attraction that they gain when they announce, ‘I’m going to try and take us to Mars,’ (or) ‘I’m going to send satellites or communication satellites to Ukraine to help out.’ You see the kind of positive media feedback you get,” Vijay said.

Elon Musk proclaims to be a selfmade billionaire, but Hasty refuted the idea that Elon Musk does not owe his success to anyone.

“If he’s trying to say that he did everything by himself, that’s absolutely false. He’s relying on people that were in public schools, that got their education at public schools. He’s relying on people who use public roads to get to work. He’s relying on this public infrastructure that’s been built before he came,” Hasty said. “For him to claim that he was absolutely self-made means he is denying that any of those resources existed.”

To aid the climate change effort, Hasty believes the older generation has to start moving their investments out of the oil industry and focus on renewable energy.

“Those resources that we were using for (the oil) industry, we need to transfer that into this new industry of renewable energy,” Hasty said. “That way it would be good for those people who can keep making money, it would be good for our country, it would be good for our world and it would be good for the youth of our country, because this is your world.”

Healthcare giants Continue to monopolize affecting taxpayers and the economy

crime,” Henry said. “So somehow, however Putin gets out of this, he’s still going to be subject to having to pay the price for some of the things that he did. And he may not be willing to sit on trial as a war criminal

“Putin claims that Ukraine and Russia have deep ties going back, and that’s why he says he’s trying to unify Ukraine into Russia.”

Jizelle Mercado/Roar Staff

-Daniel Martinez Gallegos, sophomore and take potential consequences. So, it’s gonna get pretty messy.”

Sandhu forecasted a situation where Putin may not end his invasion or accept responsibility, despite the economic and societal repercussions both Russia and Ukraine have suffered.

“I think it’s gonna get a lot worse before it gets better, unfortunately,”Sandhu said.

“Ukraine’s putting up so much defense that Russia didn’t expect it getting dragged on, and at this point, Putin is so far down the rabbit hole that if he stops, it’s going to be bad, and that if he keeps going, it’s going to be bad, for him and his country.”

7

FOCUS

APRIL 8, 2022

Jizelle Mercado/Roar Staff

The alarming costs of medical bills due to monopolization have raised many eyebrows.

By Theodore Nguyen

On December 11, 2021, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, tacking on a rider bill called the No Surprises Act, which would take place starting January 1, 2022. This rider prevents hospitals and healthcare services from using surprise out-of-network billings on their patients.

The cost of medical treatment in the United States is high, but the implementation of laws to counter the business practices is concerning to some. Intervention from the federal government has made healthcare a serious topic in the political landscape, being used as a proxy by

both the Democratic and Republican parties to push a certain agenda. On social media, this topic has become a laughing stock on the internet, with jokes made about the high costs of medical bills.

Sophomore Anika Dontu believes that affordable healthcare may be a problem.

“I really would like it if the prices would lower because more would be accessible to people. But the real question is, how are we going to pay for it then?” Dontu said.

In Europe, many nations have chosen socialized healthcare systems, which have little coverage on European medical bills and surprise business tactics. Eurostat notes Germa-

ny’s spending on healthcare was 422.5 billion in 2019, representing 11.7 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP). In comparison, Investopedia’s Jim Probasco said “The United States spent more than $3.8 trillion on healthcare in 2019”, with the Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker indicating a spending of 18 percent of the nation’s GDP. This 7 percent difference shows a large gap between the spending of the United States and the wealthiest European nation.

On February 24, 2022, the Department of Justice announced a lawsuit against UnitedHealthGroup, preventing the acquisition of Change Healthcare by claiming that the merger would hurt the competitive free market.

Special Education teacher Gwen Schneider is in favor of the lawsuit.

“It’s good that the United States should be (intervening) because you can’t have monopolies in any kind of business and healthcare is no exception to that,” Schneider said.

Monopolization is often frowned upon by government entities and the public alike, as it leads to a singular entity controlling an industry. A study by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation found that hospital consolidation was a factor in rising healthcare costs. Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and UnitedHealthGroup are some examples.

History teacher Chima Ikeme believes that monopolization may be an issue.

“There’s a point where you’re not only making a profit, but you’re capitalizing on people’s needs. If you had the choice of paying a ton of money to preserve your health, of course you’re gonna pay a ton,” Ikeme said.

In the pharmaceutical industry, the cost of manufacturing a certain drug does not equate to its market value. Julia Hawley of Investopedia wrote that pharmaceutical companies are able to increase their drug prices beyond inflation due to zero regulation.

A study by Doctor Rajkumar of the Mayo Clinic found a vial of Humalog, a type of insulin, used to cost $21 in 1999. In 2019, the cost rose past 1000 percent to $322. In non-US markets, the prices stayed the same.

With politics continuing to shift onto the health industry following COVID, Ikeme believes focus should be shifted towards reforming the policies of healthcare to benefit everyone.

“I think it should be reformed to the point where everyone who needs it couldn’t get it adequately without breaking their bank,” Ikeme said.

concerns over crypto

By Amos Press

Amelia Howell/Roar Staff

Cryptocurrencies affect the economy.

Cryptocurrencies and blockchain, the technology used to create different coins, was first tested in 1983

by American cryptographer David Chaum. It has since been used for many transactions, legal or not.

Forms of cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin and Dogecoin, have been used to siphon money to the government’s own pockets to purchase weapons. According to the BBC, North Korea used sophisticated cyber-attacks to amass around two billion dollars in cryptocurrency for its weapons of mass destruction.

SCHS senior Riya Mehta opposes governments using third-party currencies like Bitcoin.

“I don’t think the government should be involved in that sort of thing (cryptocurrencies) but rather push forward their own currency, or national currency first,” Mehta said.

Some believe governments and politicians should not be able to trade stocks or use cryptocurrencies because of environmental reasons.

The BBC reported that Bitcoin emits more megatons of energy each year than Greece.

Bitcoin mining is the technique of creating new Bitcoins, and is made up of competing computing systems with specialized computer “brains.”

These “brains” are called ASIC, or application-specific integrated circuits, and are programmed to solve mathematical puzzles.

Successful guesses go back into the Bitcoin database in the form of writing more blockchain to create Bitcoins. The miner’s computers identify a piece of data, generated by the Bitcoin database, that assigns it a set of problems called a hash. This hash has a number of zeros in the binary language, and every ten minutes – the rate these new blocks of hashes are created – the Bitcoin database halves the amount of Bitcoin rewarded.

Sophomore Ollin Ruiz believes that Bitcoin mining is harmful to the environment, and does not align with the climate-first mentality many hold.

“You have some use cases, but I say that it’s a waste of energy. Mining Bitcoin is a solid reason why the silicon shortage is still going on,” Ruiz said.

Mehta explained that the instability of cryptocurrencies makes investments more high-risk compared to other stocks.

“Cryptos are very volatile. They go up to 100 percent and then drop.

It’s insane,” Mehta said. “I do think it decentralizes authority from the government, which is important for the government to have that sort of authority to regulate markets in times of recession.”

Mehta feels that though Bitcoin is not recognized by the United States as an official currency, the fluctuation of its prices affects tax payers.

“If they (Bitcoin users) lose that money though, they’re losing American money, they’re going more into debt and it impacts all of us, and we are entrusting the government to take care of us and for general welfare because we’re giving them our money.” Mehta said.

“So I don’t think it’s morally sound.”

OPINION

8

APRIL 8, 2022

The New World

You can’t cage minds, thoughts and feelings in zoos

By Soojin Spencer

A gloved hand reaches into a silver pail, seizing the tail of a silver mackerel. Dozens of penguins waddle to the figure who parcels off raw fish. Children tug on the sleeves of their parents, urging them to watch as the magnificent marine animals are fed.

Despite the effective marketing campaigns of a number of zoos, there is a clear truth: animals should not reside within cages.

The zoo, marketed as a sight to see, has caused various atrocities in the past. CBC’s Nature of Things reported that the late 1800s were characterized by a rise in human zoos, where audiences could observe colonial people in exhibits. Ota Benga, a Mbuti man, for example, thought he was hired by the Bronx Zoo to be a zookeeper, but he was kept in a monkey house, his cage filled with bones and his teeth filed to points to make him appear savage. After years of being treated as a feral spectacle, Benga returned to Africa where, unable to assimilate back into so-

Sarah Olson/Roar Staff

Many zoos subject their animals to poor and adverse conditions. ciety, he committed suicide in 1916.

Although the atrocities of imperial America are dissimilar to the current captivity zoo animals experience, there is an observable pattern: ignorance under the guise of entertainment. Animals are not figures to be placed within concrete walls behind steel bars. An animal is defined by the

environment it is in – a salmon by the freshwater it swims, a zebra by the plains it roams, a falcon by the skies it flies. Removing animals from their accustomed environments is an abomination.

The transition alone from nature to constructed environments is not easy for a zoo animal. Contributing author Charles Siebert detailed the effects of captivity

on elephants in New York Times Magazine, explaining that elephants commonly experience joint disorders, foot sores and foot infections. Neuroimaging has shown that elephants inhibit similar neural wiring in their cerebral cortex as humans, noting a sense of self-awareness and consciousness, leaving them susceptible to depression and chronic boredom.

Further physical detriments are suffered during transport, such as being drugged, as disorientation and rapid displacement are difficult to overcome. Seibert cites the tragic conditions of Flight 805, carrying 17 elephants, traveling from Swaziland. Elephants were kept in crates too small to lay down in and suspended above the floor of the plane. Self-aware and intelligent entities are being collected, stored and shipped like mere commodities.

While some zoos have discontinued elephant exhibits, other animals experience negative effects when in captivity. An article published in the New York Times’s science section lists the behaviors of captive carnivores,

ranging from high infant mortality to extreme pacing. Captivity may seem like a viable option because of human actions as animals face poaching, pollution and urbanization, but relying on zoos to provide second-rate environments for animals is lazy, to say the least. Zoos are formidable for wild animals. Attempts at modifying the environments of animals in captivity will not compensate for a species’ natural home.

The truth is hard to swallow when it comes to zoos: they are not paradigms of education. They exist merely for the entertainment of humans.

While lucrative, the zoo industry is tainted by a dark past. It has never been moral, and under current conditions, it will never be moral. Though the zoo industry may not topple at a singular turned nose, a large mass of individuals choosing not to attend zoos will affect profits, helping to effectively admonish zoos and prioritize the wellbeing of animals over the entertainment of humans.

Editorial

Namaslay? Western reappropriation of South Asian culture is insensitive The evil eye pendant, consisting of the colors black, white, indigo and blue, has become widely recognized as it swept numerous social media platforms. The symbol has made its way into several pieces of merchandise, with countless consumers claiming a connection to it. Many of these consumers do not have South or Southwest Asian heritage, and therefore are unaware of the true concept of the evil eye. These consumers actively play into the cultural appropriation of spirituality.

The purpose of the evil eye is to protect one from the dan-

gers of jealousy, and for years, numerous cultures in South and Southwest Asia have upheld this concept. The pendant’s recent spark in prevalence has caused many to treat the concept of the evil eye as a microtrend, through appearing in fast-fashion products from companies like SHEIN, Zara and Urban Outfitters. Microtrends rise in popularity quickly yet lose popularity even faster, as opposed to macrotrends that tend to stay in fashion for longer. Many social media users have made one crucial error in regards to the evil eye: it is neither a microtrend or macrotrend. It is a

fundamental aspect of numerous cultures and was never meant to belong in fast fashion to begin with.

Recent popularity of spiritual elements result in improper and whitewashed practices. The evil eye is just one of many spiritual aspects of South and Southwest Asian cultures that have been appropriated and whitewashed due to social media trends. Mehndi, or henna, has always been used solely in religious or cultural celebration, yet its recent usage in creating faux freckles on one’s face completely erases its cultural significance and demonstrates the ignorance present towards

numerous cultures in Asia.

Similarly, yoga, with its roots in South Asia, has made its way to the West where it has become a multi-billion dollar industry.

Mainstream brands like Lululemon and Athleta directly profit off of these cultures. According to Statista, the yoga industry’s revenue in the United States jumped from $6.9 billion in 2012 to $11.56 billion in 2020. According to the HuffPost, this demonstrates yoga’s second colonization, with its first colonization having occurred in India under British rule when yoga practices were banned. Now, people redefine yoga in the West, ignoring

its deep cultural and spiritual significance and history in efforts to appeal to those who are also unaware of its roots.

In order to combat the rising cultural appropriation of certain elements of South and Southwest Asian spirituality, it is vital to decolonize practices through proper education and acknowledgement of its roots. As a concept, spirituality is rooted in recognizing what is greater than oneself, and in order to decolonize certain elements, people must recognize the power and privilege they possess as practitioners.

Economic shortages threaten worldwide supply and international markets

By Theodore Nguyen

In recent years, the world has seen a significant shift in the civil and economic points of society.

As the Russo-Ukrainian War continues, a shortage of resources accompanies, bound to cause additional economic damage.

In the post-pandemic age, many nations are still grappling with shortages, ranging from food products to manpower. Besides the early loss of toilet paper and sanitation products, manpower has become the only factor to still not make a rapid recovery. The Great Resignation of 2021 contributed heavily to this loss, as workers began rethinking their jobs and considering better occupations. It put many industries, especially food, to work, devising ways to retain their staff and to stay afloat. Stephanie Fer-

guson of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce states “able workers are being overlooked or sitting on the sidelines… (a survey) revealed some are still concerned about COVID-19 at work, indicate that pay is too low, or are more focused on acquiring new skills and education before re-entering the job market.”

In any business, labor and management must cooperate to continue to provide their service, but many workers’ obligations are not being fulfilled. Many workers for restaurants or franchises left their position due to low compensation, leaving a large gap to fill.

When the invasion of Ukraine initiated, heavy international sanctions began to be levied on the Russian government. The Russian Rouble’s price heavily decreased.

As the war continues, the sanctions will begin to dig deeper into

the open wound and potentially start food shortages, as there have already been reports of Russians fighting over sugar in supermarkets and more.

In convergence with the U.S., gasoline prices “have been at record highs (in) the past two weeks after going up for 11 straight weeks,” the LA Times reported. Because Russia is number three in oil production, the industry has already seen a tumble.

Inflation will remain a driving factor in keeping prices up, and an accessible solution may not be a reality.

The Russo-Ukrainian offensive threatens to upend many essentials of the global market. While global economic recovery from the war may be quick, a switch to green energy may help. Exploration into developing countries should be done to both boost their GDP and improve the world economy.

Sarah Olson/Roar Staff

In many different countries around the world, there have been reports of economic shortages leading to fights over resources.

9

OPINION

APRIL 8, 2022

Oil, geopolitics and famine

The current situations in the Eastern World are of worry to the Western World

By Nathaniel Hekster and Theodore Nguyen

Predictions are often incorrect. When the Soviet Union fell in the early 1990s, Francis Fukuyama wrote “The End of History and the Last Man,” emphasizing that the political and economical climate would never significantly change and that liberal democracy was humanity’s last evolution in society. While the book did spark discourse among philosophers and commentators, it would be proved wrong on many occasions, with factors including the rise of China’s global influence and the Great Recession.

Russia’s fall from a global superpower to a struggling petrostate has led to an Eastern European conflict that some in the media are calling the beginning of WWIII. The Ukrainian discovery of oil and natural gas reserves in the Black Sea has threatened Russia’s weak monopoly of oil, responsible for keeping its economy intact. Their struggle is aided – and contrasted – by their ally, the People’s Republic of China.

In comparison, China has a gross

domestic product, population and population density 14, 11 and 18 times greater than Russia, respectively. Despite the large gap in prosperity, Russia and China’s relations remain cordial. A recent border dispute between the two nations was settled, with reports confirming the PRC’s request for Russia to delay the Ukrainian invasion, verifying the strong relationship between each other.

Around the world, Moscow has spent years cultivating political and economical allies to benefit their own economy and gain more power on the world stage. It has included itself in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, an oil coopera-

tive between 13 nations, and Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, or BRICS, an alliance be-

tween several countries. Russia’s connections have allowed the nation to prosper in their economy, as prior to the continuation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, it had strong relations with many oil-rich Middle-Eastern countries, with its influence reaching South American nations, such as Venezuela.

The International Energy Agency reported that, in 2021, the “total 155 billion cubic meters of gas imported from Russia accounted for around 45 percent of the EU’s gas imports and almost 40 percent of its total gas consumption.” In the short term, Europe’s dependence on Russian gas will still be present in many nations, as it serves as one of the only fuel sources available. Perhaps, in the next 50 years, if Europe continues on their fast-tracked goals, there could be a 25 to 50 per-

Amelia Tai/Roar Staff

cent increase on green energy, phasing out their heavy dependence on the oil-rich enclaves of the Middle East and Russia.

Since COVID-19, the global markets have struggled in various sectors, from food to technology industries. Various reports from several news agencies indicate that the African continent could soon get a food shortage from the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, which may force lesser alternatives to keep households filled. In the technology industry, the chip shortage may be exacerbated due to the halted production of neon, a gas used to produce integrated circuits. While the Russo-Ukrainian War may not snowball into a larger conflict, it will, at this time, leave multiple nations and companies reeling from energy, tech and food shortages.

In the Eastern world, the coming times are worrying. The examples of the continuously volatile situations should concern those on the other side of the world. In the next 50 years, there may be conflicts which can snowball into another global war.

Growing volatility and instability will feed changes for many

By Andrew Littlefield and Elias Panou

Editor’s note: Information is contingent upon rapidly changing geopolitical situations and is susceptible to change. All topics are not confirmed aspects of future global changes. This report is current at production time.

With the invasion of Ukraine by Putin’s Russian Federation on February 24, 2022, many questions remain about what the future holds for the next generations who are forced to look upon this bloodshed overseas. Ukraine is only an example of the growing tensions between the Eastern and Western worlds, a conflict that leaves many anxious and worried for the sake of those who will be caught in the crossfires of what the editorialists of the Wall Street Journal have named the “New Cold War.” There are a few regions in the Western World that are particularly vulnerable to the new times, whose futures hold many new pathways for the world to discover.

Japan is considered to be a new addition to the trope of Western influence, very recently having adopted the political/economic systems synonymous with the Western world. Anthropologist Alan Macfarlane noted in 1994 that there can be very little doubt that Japan has “developed into a major industrialcapitalist power,” which worked in convergence with the Western

Jizelle Mercado/Roar Staff

The polarized and dystopian world of Orwell’s “1984” may be similar to a 21st century reality. world in which there are “structural principles within each which are surprisingly similar.” These similarities are running too close to comfort for the Japanese citizens, as the means by which Japanese industrialization happened are soon to go full circle. Abishur Prakash, a writer for Medium, noted that Japan’s debt-GDP ratio has risen to around “200 percent.”

With a looming economic crisis on the way for the Japanese,

who were revealed in the 2020 census to have nearly 300,000 ethnic descendants and citizens living in California alone, there is only a limited scope of the changing times. The growing volatility of the region raises questions and worries for many around the world, including the descendants of those who live here in California.

Ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse; located in the Caucasus mountains and on the southern Russian border; a Post-Soviet state both

politically and culturally – Georgia has been threatened by growing Russian influence for years now. On August 8, 2008, Russia staged a land-invasion of Georgian lands in a conflict that lasted only a matter of days, yet the problems caused by the invasion continue to reverberate on into 2022.

Such injustices cannot be ignored in the rest of the Western world, as Russia’s aggressive actions towards the Baltic, Scan-

dinavian and Caucasian countries have continued to repeat themselves over and over again, which could all build up and lead to a major international crisis in the near future.

As Vladimir Putin’s assault on Ukraine continues, many eyes have turned toward the relationship between China and Taiwan. Since 1949, the island of Taiwan has held a critical position in the South China Sea, one of the most valuable economic and geostrategic locations in the modern world.

In 2021 the United States Energy Information Agency reported the South Chinese Sea to possess between 16 and 33 billion barrels of oil reserves and about 14 trillion barrels of natural gas. While the South China Sea contains massive amounts of oil and natural gas, the South China Sea is also home to a third of the world’s maritime shipping lanes which routinely carry over $5 trillion USD worth of trade yearly. This lane is a critical source of income for Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and China, one of the world leaders in maritime exports.

In sum, the world is changing; the extent to which is unknown to anyone in the present. Yet for those who live in California, all should remember that with the glory of the internet, the ability to help those caught in the crossfire is only a few clicks away.

The world may change, but the human spirit will not.

A&E

10

From Jazz to Taylor Swift: Students find value in lyricism.

By Amelia Tai

Music has played a large role in society for many years, evolving throughout time in technique and variety. Many people favor a few of its numerous categories, whether due to family ties, experience in the industry or preference in melody.

The students and staff of SCHS are no exception, sharing their opinions and interpretations of music genres.

Senior Anika Hnizdo prizes classic, alternative and punk rock for its authenticity and impactful lyrics, most notably compared to more modern, mainstream pop songs.

“Hearing songs on the radio, it’s a lot of the same rhymes, a lot of the same words,” Hnizdo said. “So when you hear something that’s completely different, words you never thought that people would write together, it’s like (...) that’s not a word I thought would be in a song.”

She values the lyricism and musicality that make up a song, along with the importance of a genuine feeling in the piece of music.

“When things are like natural instruments, there’s a sincerity to it that you wouldn’t get in other kinds of music, which is why I really like rock,” Hnizdo said. “It’s a really raw kind of sound.”

A good example, Hnizdo explained, is “Jesus of Suburbia,” a nine-minute, early 2000s song by Green Day. Using vocals on top of guitar, bass and drums, the piece is often described as a narrative, similar to plays performed in the theater.

Amelia Tai/Roar Staff

Students examine different music genres to interpret a distinction.

“It is like a punk rock opera, in that sense where it’s not telling a story,” Hnizdo said. “There is a story and you have to find it.

That’s the difference between opera and musical theatre: in opera, the story happens through action and not the lyrics.”

In recent years, the popularity of musical theatre and the size of its fanbase has increased. Sophomore Venice Ella Mayor considers the genre one of their favorites, alongside folk and classical.

Her experience in performing and playing piano is a source of preference.

“For musical theatre, a lot of it comes from nostalgia and lyricism. And then classical music.

It’s the music theory that comes behind it,” Mayor said. “In a lot of instances it’s the root of a lot

of music, and it’s really interesting to listen to and see it paraphrased in popular culture.”

The popular culture includes much of artist Taylor Swift’s content, one of Mayor’s most prominent idols. The singer and songwriter has delved into various genres of pop, country and most recently, folk.

“Her music and lyricism has really changed, and it’s really matured. It starts from a lot of first-person experiences, and she goes on to write in third person, and then she goes on to not even write about herself; she goes on to write about her house,” Mayor said. “I think that’s why a lot of people have started to enjoy her now.”

Inclination towards a genre for theater teacher Angelo Reyes is more fluid, depending on the current situation. However, he feels closest to rap, jazz and R&B, partially due to his fa-

ther’s frequent listens.

Reyes finds that rap focuses on the communication of information and experiences of the artist.

“It’s very artistic, very creative,” Reyes said. “I think that it started because of where they were growing up, and they wanted to talk about, bring attention to what was going on in their neighborhoods.”

Some believe jazz is a stark contrast to rap, more involved in the melodies than the lyrics, but it still conveys something to the audience. Reyes stated that it is a genre of ease, often meant to set a calming atmosphere.

“I think that with jazz, it’s more displaying your artistry with playing instruments,” Reyes said. “Whether it’s a flute or a trumpet or whatever the case is, it shows how innovative they can be with the sounds that they can create.”

The flexibility and evolution portrayed in the music of jazz, folk and rock go to show each genre’s character. Why a type of music is valued is up to the individual’s interpretation. Hnizdo recounts her love for rock and the frequently incorporated lyrical narratives.

“When there’s freedom of structure in songs, there’s just so much more creative availability of what you can do,” Hnizdo said.

“So when there’s that variability, there’s always something new and interesting. That’s why I love it.”

Social media creates a trend of visiting art museums for a different purpose

Sarah Olson/Roar Staff

Students explore museums only to capture photos of themselves.

By Mylinh Duong

A stroll through art museums to appreciate fine art has been shaped into an aesthetic experience to share on social media platforms.

While some SCHS students question the underlying work of the popular online trend and the effect on the artwork itself, many discovered a newly sparked interest in viewing artistic pieces.

On a day trip to San Francisco with her friends, junior Bijou Lee visited the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to check off her bucket list.

“I really like more modern and contemporary styles of art, so knowing that the SFMOMA was a well-known museum for this sort of style piqued my interest,” Lee said. “The museum was also locat-

ed in the heart of San Francisco, which is fairly close by and a fun city to visit, so it also seemed like a sign for me to go.”

After visiting SFMOMA, a modern home to seven gallery floors housing diverse genres of art, Lee shared a memorable piece from her visit.

“I really liked Nam June Paik’s exhibition that was shown back in 2021, particularly his piece titled ‘TV Garden,’” Lee said. “It was really interesting to me because of how he incorporated video technology into his artistic pieces, which is something I personally have never seen before.”

Similar to Lee, sophomore Allysa Celino visited the Japanese American Museum of San

Jose on a day trip with a friend to Japantown. With intentions to upload photos on social media, Celino came to discover a newfound admiration for historical artwork.

“It was kind of depressing because the museum focuses on the concentration camps where Japanese Americans were being held and parts of their history, but simultaneously, it was inspirational with the way they displayed past Japanese American achievements in the Bay Area, similar to how we celebrate sports achievements,” Celino said.

Many students discovered museums to visit through friends and family, unlike senior Adil Pandya who spontaneously adventured to the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum after visiting the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington.

“This museum was an exhibit where you could walk around and see the different 3D glass sculptures,” Pandya said. “My favorite glass sculpture out of the whole collection was this one hanging from the ceiling, it resembled a white flame and it was mesmerizing to look at.”

In addition to visiting the museum to make memories, Pandya decided to snap photos to share online with his friends. Despite enjoying his visit, he understood how the portrayal of people on social media can be fabricated.

“I think people visit museums for social media purposes because museums are popular attractions, where there’s beauty behind art, and it is seen as being aesthetically pleasing,” Pandya said. “People want to show other people the highlights of their life, but it can also

take a toll on identity.”

While Celino agrees social media can influence a specific image online, she also believes that museum photography can be inspirational.

“Posting is mainly for the aesthetic and attention the museum posts can get, but social media is a platform to spread ideas and places to visit,” Celino said.

“Through social media, people can realize they enjoy this kind of stuff, like going to museums to admire someone’s artwork or a piece of the past, especially if they are passionate about history.”

With the rising trend of visiting museums, Celino highlighted the importance of preserving them.

“I do believe museums are necessary to keep around and preserve as many of them hold physical pie=ces from the past and it allows the public to admire and enjoy those items in person,” Celino said.

In her experience, Lee enjoyed the calming environment brought by her visit. Lee believes maintaining museums can create an irreplaceable experience to a world of visually stimulating pieces.

“I believe museums play a prominent role in not only preserving history and cultures, but also understanding human experiences in an artistic manner, simply by observing the art in front of you,” Lee said. “You get a glimpse and perspective into the artist’s unique story and see how their experience prompted them to create such unique pieces to share with the world.”

A&E 11 One reporter suggests tips and Friendship is not limited to one’s grade:

APRIL 8, 2022

APRIL 8, 2022

Panou’s Paper Panel

ideas for a fresh spring reset

Students cherish older friends for their support and advice.

By KennedyRose Stiver

For many, the Spring brings expectations to refresh spaces and welcome new energy, but for some, the task of resetting in one month is difficult. Along with the end of the school year approaching, many students feel they are under immense pressure to finish the year strong and on a positive note. Despite all of the stressful factors, one reporter has multiple tips for managing your belongings and making do with your Spring space.

By Elias Panou

Reclusive colonels, ambitious Aurelianos, moss-eating orphans, adventure-going Romani, banana-hurling Gringos, ethereal elevations and enigmatic written texts – the Buendías of the mythical city of Macondo might be the most eccentric family in all of Latin-America. Undoubtedly, Gabriel García Márquez wrote them this way in his classic “100 Years of Solitude” for a number of reasons. Nonetheless, the rise of Latin-American literature in the 20th century is an example of the growing Age of Information, a time where people from all over the world became united in their respective literary cultures.

To conjecture that Márquez is an exemplary model of this prime prospect is a claim worthy of anyone’s veneration.

“100 Years of Solitude” is a novel that details 100 years in the lives of several generations of the Colombian Buendía family.

It starts with the patriarch, José Arcadio Buendía, shortly after many other families ventured deep into the Andes through rocky mountains and rainforests to settle the beautiful city of Macondo, a fictional city that seems all too real through the lives of the countless descendants.

The presence of magical and otherworldly events are written in for a purpose, that being that Márquez and his novels are considered keystones in the movement of Magical Realism.

A continuation of the Realist movement in the midst of Postmodernism, Magical Realism sought to blur time and reality by presenting books in between the two. In “100 Years of Solitude,” Márquez withholds plot information. He creates characters that are defined by unnatural lifespans, the ability to levitate and to see folklore in reality.

The matriarch of the family, Úrsula Iguarán, is an example of one of these supernatural characters who appear realistic but often end up discombobulating the reader through her magical qualities. In Latin-American literature, this is highly unique but especially beautifully written, offering a magical experience for readers.

Unfortunately, Postmodernism and Márquez may not be for everyone. Despite a relatively common page count, “100 Years of Solitude” demands a lot from the reader: extensive knowledge of literature, Latin-American culture, 19th century history, politics and passion. Yet, if the reader has even a tiny iota of any of these, then an exciting pathway of opportunities open for them with this book. Lyrical, magical and empirical, the potential of Márquez’s “100 Years of Solitude” to enlighten people from around the world is endless.

Finding sunshine and the right yard space for gardening When starting a new project such as gardening, it is crucial to keep in mind these simple steps when growing your garden. For the first step, find a sunlit spot for your produce, such as a patch of dirt, a potted plant or even an indoor garden spot. After you have set up your garden, it is important to select the correct nutritional soil for your plants. Many gardeners purchase store-bought soil and add compostable organic matter, such as mulch, leaf molds or aged manure. At the store, make sure to select the right plants for the soil and garden space you have. While planting any produce, manage the growth of the plant by checking up on any recent weather habits. Study upcoming expectations of harsh wind, rain or frost to protect your produce and help them grow.

Managing one room at a time for cleaning tasks For many, cleaning can be a stressful activity, but with some music and tips, your space can stay refreshed and ready for you. While starting a new cleaning project can be difficult, it is important to not take on every single corner and shelf at once. Start with one room at first to prioritize one cleaning task at a time. Begin in a bedroom by stripping your bed sheets and picking up any laundry to create a clear space. Clean any mirrors, glass and desk countertops to wipe any streaks or dust off of their surfaces. Be sure to vacuum, sweep or mop your floor area as well. While cleaning, designate a travel trash can to carry with you to get rid of any trash or waste throughout each room. If you are cleaning a bathroom, start with sinks, countertops and the toilet. While making an effort to clean effectively, the one thing to always keep in mind is to keep moving along with the process.

If you feel the need to stop or take a break, set a timer for five to 10 minutes and then come back to your work area. When cleaning in the kitchen, be sure to always prioritize cleaning the larger features first. You can always simplify your cleaning environment by removing unnecessary objects out of the way, for instance, putting dishes in the sink or dishwasher, as well as putting away everyday objects for the time being. Start with your stove or microwave by removing any stains or food buildup. Clean every counter and table surface, then start on the dishes. When cleaning any wood floor, begin sweeping any dirt or dust into the trash. When it comes to vacuuming, do the length of any surface in rows to efficiently vacuum the entire area. After using any clothes, towels or removing bedding, save the best for last by rewarding

Take a trip down your clothing memory lane to donate items Toward the end of the school year, many students may feel the need to replace or discard old items to declutter or renew their belongings. While reorganizing is healthy, here is one way to organize possessions while also sprucing up any decorations. Starting with a bedroom, one spot to tuck away items is underneath any bed. Using a storage space for accessible items like bedding or extra clothing is a great way to tidy and free up space. Along with the bed storage, another place to store items is your closet. Start with sectioning off pieces of clothing, shoes, accessories, bedding and other belongings.

Examine one section of your belongings and seperate a pile of items you want to donate next to a pile of items you want to keep. Keep in mind that it is helpful to question yourself about the value of the objects you are organizing. Ask yourself if the item brings you sufficient joy or use. Recall the last time you wore or utilized the item. Has the object seen the world outside of your closet in a while? Repeat this questionnaire process with the rest of your sections. Next, you want to keep your items organized for as long as possible while in your closet. One way to do this is by using racks, baskets and bags to house all of your sections. After tackling any extra items in need of space, the next area to organize can be your bedside table. When decluttering or creating your bedside table, plan for a thinner and smaller piece of furniture. Minimize any items on top of the table to not create any unnecessary hassle. Identify the items you want in any nearby drawers and organize those areas by placing stackable small trays into the drawers. Handling cords and wires can be a nightmare, but with plastic clips, your charging cord can stay right next to you and look clean attached to your bedside table. Additionally, to add a taste of your own and complete the ideal bedroom look, put up artwork or photos that represent yourself. By creating a space that functions with you and your daily life, you have restored one part of your routine and are ready for the season of Spring.

Amelia Howell/Roar Staff

Emma Wasel/Roar Staff

Sophomore Isabella Acuna (far left), junior Lindsay Patterson (left) and senior Kayla Darabi (far right), sophomore Taleisha Wang (right) are all friends from different grades.

By Rebecca Labarge

As students transition through high school, many have realized the significance of a connection with peers of different ages. Some SCHS students have developed friendships outside of their grade and have received unique and helpful experiences from each other.

A pair of friends between grades, sophomore Taleisha Wang and senior Kayla Darabi met last summer at band camp and bonded over their shared love of music. Despite being nearly two years apart in age, they were able to form a strong bond and feel lucky to have met.

Darabi feels happy to support Wang in all aspects of high school, both socially and academically. She cherishes their friendship, and she reflected on the ways Wang has supported her in return through school and marching band.

“During the marching season when I was Pit Captain, learning difficult music while everyone was relatively new to the instruments was rather challenging,” Darabi said. “However, she would be there to help me, or attend section-

als, or just talk out all of the crazy things that were going on.”

Along with Wang’s help, Darabi has also advised Wang throughout this year. Wang felt nervous during the start of school and looked to Darabi for support and friendship.

“When school first started, I was a nervous wreck and too socially anxious to reach out to anyone new, so having Kayla as a friend in marching really helped me not feel alone,” Wang said.

Regardless of age, this pair of students not only support each other with extracurriculars but in all aspects of life.

“I feel like you get a different perspective from other people, especially those younger than you because they typically have a fresher and more optimistic view on things,” Darabi said. “It definitely keeps me a more positive person.”

After taking the same bus home from school one day, sophomore Isabella Acuna and junior Lindsay Patterson quickly discovered similar interests, and soon created a cherished friendship. Acuna feels grateful for Patterson’s support and

reflected on what their friendship means to them.

“It makes it easier when you have people supporting you and on your side,” Acuna said. “With friends you can be happy and actually have good times with people and make memories.”

Patterson also cherishes their friendship and advised others on how to create meaningful relationships.

“I would say just be understanding of people,” Patterson said. “It really helps a lot when you care.”

As some Bruins have realized, creating supportive and welcoming communities is crucial. Some feel that by reaching out and forming connections with people of all ages, it helps to create a stronger and healthier school environment.

“As an upperclassman, it’s important to create healthy friendships in order to be there for the underclassmen and guide them through high school,” Darabi said.

“Social relationships can exist despite being in different grades, and I think it’s important to foster such connections to branch out.”

While some pick up paint brushes, others use digital pencils

By Amos Press

People across the world have been making art for millennia, spanning from etchings on cave walls, to detailed paintings on a computer screen. Students and teachers across SCHS have their own opinions about whether digital art should be seen in the same light as traditional, hand made art.

Traditional art teacher Jason Fery believes that digital art should not be held to the same standards as traditional art but has value nonetheless.

“There is so much more to the traditional way of making art and images with your own hands that allows a person to make it truly what they want it to be,” Fery said.

Contrary to Fery, some believe that digital art is the way of the future and will become more popular traditional art. Junior Sophia Kvartskahava believes that digital art is the better medium but people should remember the history and importance of traditional art.

“I think in the future, everything mostly is going to be on the computer instead of paper. But I also think we should continue drawing on paper because it’s very historical,” Kvartskhava said.

The Renaissance proved to be an ultimate turning point in art’s history, even influencing digital art today. In an article by Filippo Lorenzin, a staff writer at Hyperallergic, points out that

Amelia Tai/Roar Staff

recent advances in the art market, as well as deeper shifts in contemporary society, have prompted this approach to art creation.

Fery believes that in the Renaissance, artists like Michelangelo and da Vinci also created art that highlighted a turning point in history and the way people lived, such as some believe digital art has adapted to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“He (da Vinci) was a painter, he was an illustrator, he was an inventor, you know, and I mean, he documented all that stuff,” Fery said. “He was going into surgeries in the medical field and doing illustrations of things like the muscles and how they attached to the bones and stuff like that.”

Unlike Fery, Intro to Art and

Digital Media teacher Abbey Sinclair believes that digital art should be held to the same standards as other mediums, and that artists need to focus on modern art history as well as old.

“I thought it was important to understand how art developed over the years, all the way back from ancient history up till now, but I think it’s actually more important now to learn how contemporary art is developing today,” Sinclair said.

Digital art has been on the rise since Apple. According to AppleInsider, Apple released the Apple Pencil in 2015, along with many apps that let users draw and paint on their iPads. The use of apps like Corel Paint and Procreate have been turning many mediums, such as pen and paper and even using a mouse on a computer, obsolete to younger generations.

Throughout the 21st century, artists and art enthusiasts have doubted digital art as a medium, but many feel the art created on screens is a strong counterpoint to this idea. Art will adapt over time, as it has done in the past, and artists will continue to create more and more amazing art, senior Tyler Louie believes.

“I would definitely consider it (digital art) to be on the same level as traditional art. I know some people think it’s cheating a bit because you can go back and undo things” Louie said. “But I mean, we’ve had the same thing with traditional art, right?”

SPOTLIGHT

12

APRIL 8, 2022

Procrastination Time is passing, are you?

By Jizelle Mercado and Tanvi Kenkre

Many students have fallen victim to procrastination at some point in their lives, causing them to push off their tasks until the last minute. Although some procrastinate to prolong their peaceful mental state, procrastination causes stress and anxiety for others.

Freshman Sophia Stearns believes procrastination stems from lack of motivation. When it comes to starting certain assignments, Stearns finds it hard to get her pencil on the paper, especially with work she dislikes.

“I procrastinate a good amount, and usually it’s on things that I just have no real motivation to do,” Stearns said. “I just don’t feel like doing it, and even if I’m worrying about it so much and I’m like, ‘You have to do it, Sophia. You have to do it,’ I just can’t bring myself to start it. I just need to get over that mental barrier and push myself to do it” The COVID-19 pandemic affected many students’ working habits, and like Stearns, due to a less busy schedule, signs of procrastination started forming.

“Procrastination, it’s always been there, but it wasn’t prominent. But during Covid, it definitely got me into the habit of procrastinating over every little thing, so that’s when it really

kickstarted,” Stearns said. “There were no consequences. It definitely loosened my schedule.”

Senior Noam Joseph has mixed feelings on procrastination. He believes that it can be either a good or bad thing depending on what people prioritize at the moment.

“On one hand, if you want to have some time to yourself to enjoy and do whatever you want, then procrastination isn’t so bad as long as you plan out your day or weekend accordingly to leave time allotted for what you want to do,” Joseph said.

“On the other hand, if you want to finish up things very quickly then spend some time for yourself, then you should not procrastinate and do the more important things first.

It’s all priorities.”

Joseph does not believe there is a cure for procrastination, but, rather, improvement in work ethic lies with the efforts of the individual.

“I just think that if someone

wants to change this about themselves, they need to put in the work to change their lifestyle completely,” Joseph said.

Some find that procrastination is not an unbeatable habit.

Freshman Julia Daroczi overcame her procrastinating habits gradually with the right mindset as she noted that procrastination is not so much of a habit but a mindset.

“It doesn’t change the amount of work you have to do; it just changes when you actually do it,” Daroczi said. “So whether you do it now or later, you still have to do the same amount of work.”

Daroczi has found ways to tackle her procrastination by focusing on motivating herself to get tasks done.

“I tell myself not to think about it until that moment, and when the time comes, I have to do it.

I cannot lay it off until later. No exceptions,” Daroczi said. “I also

have to finish my work well in advance so I’m not stressed about it at the last minute.”

Although some find it difficult getting out of the frame of mind of pushing off work until the last second, Stearns motivates herself through procrastination.

“The biggest motivator you will have at the end of the day is yourself. You’re the only one who has experienced what you’ve gone through, so you are the only one who can get yourself out of these habits.” Stearns said. “You are ultimately your biggest motivator.”

To tackle procrastination, some students find that it is best to address their motivation first.

Junior Rida Faraz’s solution to working around procrastination is productive procrastination.

“If I’m not super motivated to begin working on a larger assignment, I get started by doing something more interesting to me while still being productive,” Faraz said.

With this mindset, Faraz is able to build up incentive to take on other work and avoid wasting time. Faraz encourages others to fix this work habit early.

“If you work to break your habit early, starting by setting small goals for yourself,” Faraz said. “You will eventually see a huge improvement in many aspects of your life.”

Visuals by Sarah Olson/Roar Staff

Infographic by Jizelle Mercado and Tanvi Kenkre