BHS Jacket 2023/24 Issue 8

Boys Who Cook build skills, community

Alberga leads girls soccer past Arroyo

As a relatively new club, Boys Who Cook provides a space for students to further their love for cooking. Many students have also found it has helped them develop fundamental life skills. PAGE 10

After a first half that ended 0-0, BHS girls varsity soccer pulled through with a score of 4-0. BHS senior Sophia Alberga scored a hat trick, as the team found their footing on the field. PAGE 16

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PUBLISHED BY AND FOR THE STUDENTS OF BERKELEY HIGH SCHOOL no. 8

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Sylvia Mendez Elementary School to commence construction project amidst parent upset

since 1912

BY SYDNEY LEHRER staff writer

In summer of 2024, Sylvia Mendez Elementary School will begin a two-year construction project to modernize the facility, which will render all except three classrooms unsafe for student use during the first year of construction. The renovation has frustrated parents and staff who would prefer to have the school moved to an alternative site during construction, but is described by Berkeley Unified School District administrators as necessary.

Sylvia Mendez campus has undergone 10 minor renovations in the 30 years since it was constructed, but buildings and facilities have largely remained the same. The upcoming updates will fix structural issues in the building, add a science room and gender-neutral student bathrooms, and improve the outdoor play-area of the school, according to BUSD facilities director John Calise. Campus modernization is estimated to cost 49 million dollars.

The modernization will move students to portables during the first year of construction. The amount of outdoor space available to the kids will also be limited, as portables will be placed on a significant amount of the school’s blacktop and parts of the play structure will be closed for renovations.

When the modernization was first announced in fall of 2021, administrators planned to shut down the whole school and move all students to portables.

Subsequently, teachers expressed concerns in regards to having enough classroom, outdoor, and community space during construction. PAGE 2 PHOTO BY SANAM ROZYCKI SHAH AND PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ELLA CREANE

OPINION

Drivers licenses: No longer universal for teens in Berkeley

BY PENELOPE PURCHASE staff writer

In the last twenty years, the number of 16 and 17-yearolds getting their driver’s licenses has plummeted. In 1997, 43 percent of 16-yearolds had their licenses. In 2020, that number had dropped to 25 percent.

Generation Z seems to be shunning cars in favor of other forms of transportation— but that isn’t true for everyone. The decision to get a driver’s license is a personal one, depending on financial circumstances, free time, and access to public transportation.

In Berkeley, students are lucky enough not to need a car to get around.

Students have access to buses, BART, and even rentable electric scooters. According to Adalilly Chu, a BHS sophomore who isn’t planning on getting her driver’s license for a while, she can get to and from school easily without being able to drive. “Public transportation is enough for me if my parents can’t pick me up from school … even if I want to drive to school, there’s nowhere to park,” said Chu. Also, getting a driver’s license is time-consuming. To get your learner’s permit in California, PAGE 7

ROBERT GELLNER

The Holiday Meal was hosted in the DBuilding.

MADELEINE WILSON

NEWS

BHS hosts Holiday Meal, feeds community

BY LUCY GRIFFITH staff writer

On Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, Berkeley High School hosted the Holiday Meal. The event’s goal was to help provide a free

meal to people experiencing homelessness during the holidays. It was primarily organized by Kainoa Tomikawa, a BHS senior who holds the position of Chief of Service. The Chief of Service helps organize other events

such as street meals, where they cook on Telegraph Avenue for the community, or environmental cleanups.

The Holiday Meal is much larger than other organized events, such as street meals, and aims to feed around 200

to 400 people rather than 100 or less. Tomikawa had a committee of five other members who helped to organize the event.

Amelie Shears, who is on the committee, said, “I can buy one PAGE 2

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2 F R I D A Y, D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 2 3

BERKELEY HIGH JACKET

news editors: Finola Jackson & Aaron Stevens

finolajackson@students.berkeley.net

Modernization commences at Sylvia Mendez Elementary School CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Despite the updated plan, s ome parents express ed feeling that there was a lack of transparency and communication between the school community and the school administration when it came to a search for an alternative site.

“The whole experience was just really frustrating and it felt like we were just shouting into a void,” said Mari Larangeira, a parent of two kids at Sylvia Mendez. Larangeira said that when discussions of an alternate school site during construction came up, they

Mendez parent, said that parents were repeatedly told by A d d i t i o n a l l y, m a n y the facilities department that parents were concerned about an extensive and exhaustive operating a school in an active search was being done, yet she construction zone due to the also failed to see any evidence effects of noise and dust on for the fact. As a result, she teachers and students alike. submitted a public records I n Ap r i l , a c h a n g e . request on behalf of Sylvia org petition was created Mendez parents seeking to by parents who called for find evidence of said search. construction to be delayed Subsequently, the only until an alternative site could document she received back be found for the school to be regarding the search was an moved to. It has accumulated email to staff and families around 150 signatures in a regarding the construction. school of approximately 370 D o u g ht y s a i d t h at t h e students. evidence of the search for As a result of an alternative site feedback from the didn’t match what “It felt like we were just shouting school community, parents were being into a void.” the construction told, and that the plan has been lack of documents amended to shut backing up the Mari Larangeira d ow n t h e n or t h claim of an extensive Sylvia Mendez parent wing, where most search damaged her classrooms are, for trust in the facilities the first year of construction, were told by the facilities department. and maintain the south wing, department that there was an One of the main reasons so students can still access ongoing search being done t h at t h e s e a r c h f o r a n restrooms, the auditorium, and parents should make alternative site has come up and t he librar y, among recommendations for places short has been the lack of other spaces. With this plan, the school should be moved to, a swing space, a space in construction will happen for yet there was little information which schools can be moved two years, although most available to aid parents in the in cases when a school must be students will only be in search. displaced to another location, portables for one year.

Rachel Doughty, a Sylvia available to BUSD. In 2020,

Sylvia Mendez has around 370 students who will all be impacted by the construction.

Oxford Elementary School was moved permanently to West Campus, which used to act as a swing space, due to geological concerns about its previous site in the case of an earthquake. Consequently, there is no longer any up-tocode swing space that the district can use. Many other BUSD schools have planned modernization projects and the lack of a swing space will impact other planned modernization projects in the district. There is currently no plan to build another swing space, according to Calise.

In October, a town hall meeting was held over Zoom in which parents were told of 13 options for alternative school sites that had been reviewed and dismissed for

various reasons, and then the final option, of maintaining the south wing while the north wing is under construction, was shared with the school community.

Additionally, Calise, who was running the meeting, said that construction could not be delayed in the search for an alternative site due to the current bond measure expiring shortly. If the construction is delayed, according to Calise, it will be a minimum of 10 years before the modernization can happen.

In November, the school board approved the current plan for construction, with board members applauding Calise for listening to the community and being transparent in their plans.

SANAM ROZYCKI SHAH

“I think it’s a testament to really listening to the community and bringing in their input and then responding to that in a really careful way,” said C ouncilwoman Jennifer Shanoski. “I’m really excited to move forward.”

Although some parents are still unhappy that their kids will be attending school in a construction zone, many acknowledge that the construction is necessary and it is time to move forward and adapt. Justin Randall, a parent at Sylvia Mendez, said that he’s unhappy with the current plan, but he’s now trying to focus on making the best of it.

“I’m confident in the resiliency of Sylvia Mendez,” said Randall.

BHS hosts Holiday Meal to help people experiencing homelessness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

homeless person food, but that’s not (enough) to cure homelessness everywhere. It’s nice I can do something bigger to help (more) people.”

The last Holiday Meal happened in 2019. During previous years, the volunteer sign-up had been full within the first couple of days, and many people knew about it.

Often, people would volunteer

all four years of school.

However, due to COVID-19, it hasn’t happened for the last three years. Last year, the Holiday Meal was canceled due to a miscommunication.

This was the first time the

Students served food to community members who are struggling with homelessness.

MADELEINE WILSON

event has been successfully put and donations. Tomikawa decorations. The students on in four years. said, “It’s a big time where make all of the food with Before the event, Kainoa the community can come only a couple of adults in the Tomikawa said they had about together.” kitchen. The menu included 90 volunteers and continued To s p r e a d t h e w o r d mac and cheese, ham, green by saying, “We are a little bit about the event, organizers beans, and a dessert table. short on volunteers because put up flyers near homeless Volunteers served the food to no one really knows about it.” communities and at soup attendees sitting at the many The committee presented kitchens, which then spread tables. to classes to get students by word of mouth. Attendees “I am happy this event has involved. The efforts been put on because helped them double sometimes it is hard their volunteer “I am happy this event has been to get a meal,” said participation. put on because sometimes it is hard Robert McCullough, “We’re not good who attended the to get a meal.” on (the number of ) event. “I am ver y volunteers, but we proud that you guys Rober McCullough have enough to put on d o w h at y o u d o the event,” Tomikawa because I’m from a Holiday Meal Attendee said. different state, and The school was they don’t look out for also asking for canned food, entered through the glass the homeless.” clothing, and toiletries as doors into the cafeteria. BHS B r a n d o n T h o mp s o n , donations in bins at the front students played live music, another attendee, said, “It’s of the school. Administrators and the bins of donations been very welcoming, very helped by sending school-wide and clothing were set up in loving, and (a) very kind emails asking for volunteers the middle, along with festive (environment).”

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

3

Law and Social Justice class features Police Accountability Board

BY AVHA MEISELS staff writer

On Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, John “Chip” Moore, the chair of Berkeley’s Police Accountability Board (PAB), spoke to Berkeley High School’s Law and Social Justice class.

Throughout the class period, Moore discussed his role on the PAB, why oversight is necessary, and how the PAB operates in order to oversee the Berkeley Police Department (BPD).

The PAB was established in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, to oversee BPD and investigate complaints made against BPD officers. The board is comprised of nine members and meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. All of their meetings are recorded and shared publicly on their website. According to Moore, “The Police Accountability Board is an oversight body that is tasked with providing transparency

and accountability for our police officers and our police department here in the city of Berkeley.”

Berkeley has had a system for civilian oversight of law enforcement for decades. In 1973, the City of Berkeley created the Police Review Commission, one of the first oversight agencies with independent authority to investigate complaints against local law enforcement. When the city founded the PAB in 2020, it granted more authority and transparency for civilian oversight than the Police Review Commission had in the past.

Moore got involved with the PAB in 2020 when a community organization called Friends of Avalon asked if he would be interested in joining the PAB and representing his community.

According to Moore, he felt that this board was necessary for the community. “I think it’s important to have oversight and accountability in every aspect of public life.

And it’s important for our community to be the most important part of earning or warranting transparency in our policing,” said Moore.

According to James Dopman, the BHS Law and Social Justice teacher, his class hosts a speaker from the PAB every year.

“It’s important to hear a civilian perspective about civilian oversight of police,” Dopman said. The BHS Law and Social Justice class has often had speakers talk about various topics related to criminal justice. Moore’s talk was intended to allow students to consider and encourage discussion of how civilians could access the actions of their local police.

According to Frances Portis, a junior at BHS, the class often discusses topics similar to the PAB. “In the class, we analyze the criminal justice system, and a ton of people come in to talk to us about the fields they work in. We’ve talked to a lot of cops as well as the Police Accountability

Board, so they have different opinions, which is really interesting,” Portis said.

According to Portis, since Moore’s talk with the class, students have discussed the amount of access they think the board should have, the amount of access the public should have, and students’ opinions

on how the police should be controlled. “One thing I found really interesting was how (Moore) said that the only time the board could investigate a case was if they got a complaint about it,” Portis said.

The PAB currently works with many organizations and individuals to build up

the oversight of local law enforcement.

According to Dopman, “Having civilian oversight of a police department that is collaborative, instead of adversarial, is vital to having a department respond and reflect the community that the police department serves.”

Berkeley’s Police Accountability Board typically meets every other Wednesday.

SHILOH WILSON

GESHAC aims to improve gender equity and sexual safety in BUSD

BY VIOLET MILLERBRADY staff writer

The Berkeley Unified School District Superintendent’s Gender Equity and Sexual Harassment Advisory Committee (GESHAC)

was established in order to provide education and address students’ issues concerning sexual safety and gender identity. GESHAC was formed in 2021 by former superintendent Brent Stephens to formalize the Sexual Harassment Advisory Committee (SHAC) which was run by

community members and parents, but wasn’t officially under the district.

Jasmina Viteskic, the Title IX Coordinator, runs the committee along with Susan Craig, the Director of Students Services. “The purpose of (GESHAC) was to formalize an existing body, (SHAC), that (had)

CARINA NOTTINGHAM

been functioning within the “If we don’t have the the district, there are older district,” said Viteskic. appropriate facilities, then kids that can voice their There are also two (some students) don’t opinions and feelings and student members on the feel comfortable being in things that they have faced committee: Katelyn Liao, school,” said Viteskic. The throughout their years of the BUSD School Board’s difficulty in addressing learning K through 12 here Student Representative, and this concern relates to in the district,” said Dozier.

Leilah Dozier, the first-ever the fact that adding more She believes that student Title IX student intern. restrooms in older school input is vital when it comes “I plan to represent the buildings would require a to decisions that will affect Berkeley High (School) full remodel, which would their education experience student body and students be a costly venture. and that she can help relay in the Berkeley School The sexual safety the needs of students back District community and subcommittee focuses on to the district through relay their needs back to sexual harm prevention GESHAC. the board members and education and the district’s In the 2024-25 school other parents and district process of following year, the GESHAC officials,” said Dozier. sexual harassment claims. Student Representative The other members According to Viteskic, will be a newly elected of the committee include consent education in BUSD leadership position at four elementary-level starts in kindergarten, BHS. The responsibilities representatives, three where students are taught of the representative will m i d d l e - s c h o o l - l e v e l how to respect other be to further provide an representatives, opportunity for four highstudents to voice “The main goal of GESHAC is to school-level their opinions enhance and improve all areas of representatives, on what needs to two Berkeley be done at BHS gender equity and sexual safety community and in the school within the district ... ” m e m b e r s , district as a whole. and Doreen “I think what Jasmina Viteskic Bracamontes, the everybody needs Title IX coordinator Vice Principal of ... is just somebody School Climate & that will listen to Student Wellness, them, hear what who serves as a permanent peoples’ boundaries and they need, and hear what voting member of GESHAC. how to communicate their the school is not providing According to Viteskic, one own boundaries. Children for them,” said Dozier. of GESHAC’s goals for this learn what a “safe touch” is Building on that school year was to diversify and how to recognize and sentiment, Viteskic said, the committee. protect themselves from “The main goal of GESHAC There are two unsafe situations. is to enhance ... all areas of subcommittees in GESHAC, GESHAC works closely gender equity and sexual one that focuses on gender with the Title IX Office, safety within the district and equity and the other that Green Dot, and other BHS to advise the superintendent focuses on sexual safety. One clubs and organizations on what our school of the main focuses of the focused on student well- community needs, and what gender equity subcommittee being regarding gender and we as a community can do is increasing the number of sexual safety. in order to really create a gender-neutral bathrooms “High school being the safe and inclusive space for available at BUSD schools. highest level of education in all of our students.”

4 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

NEWS

Wellness Center hosts grand opening, unveils new resources wellness resources in schools as an essential part of students’ ability to thrive in their learning On Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, environments. “Access to the Berkeley High School mental health and wellness Wellness Center hosted its services is educational grand opening. The event equity,” said Virrueta. included presentations BHS Vice Principal of from many of the students, Climate and Wellness, teachers, administrators, Doreen Bracamontes, and parents who helped began by explaining why bring the Wellness Center this presentation and to life. introduction of the Wellness The BHS Wellness Center was so essential.

Center, in H-104, is a space “(In public school work), intended for students to we’re doing things behind take breaks throughout the the scenes and then folks school day. Despite being think that, magically, directly across projects from the appear, and Health Center, “Access to mental health and wellness magically the Wellness there’s this services is educational equity.”

Center serves room, and a different that’s not Melissa Virrueta purpose for true,” said the BHS Wellness Center program supervisor Bracamontes. c o m m u n i t y.

Bracamontes This space is highlighted specifically who support them.” the importance of this designed to provide students Throughout her speech, opening event in showing with a safe and welcoming Virrueta also emphasized that there are many people space and includes a variety the importance of having who have put in extensive

BY RORY NUDEAU staff writer

of activities designed to help students unwind, including puzzles, coloring spaces, board games, and much more.

BHS Wellness Center Program Supervisor, Melissa Virrueta, voiced her hopes for the Wellness Center and what it will mean for the BHS community. She explained that in creating this resource, there was particular emphasis on developing a “space where students could get what they need and have the unconditional positive regard for/from the adults

Several contributors gave speeches at the Wellness Center grand opening.

efforts to turn the Wellness Center into a reality. “We’ve carved out an intentional space to help see the people behind the work,” Bracamontes said.

After the speeches, guests were invited to go out to the courtyard to the Health and Wellness fair. A variety of booths highlighting wellness resources within the community were available to the guests. Some of these

resources included spaces like the Berkeley Public Library, the Child Therapy Institute, the Youth Equity Partnership, the Berkeley Public School Funds, and several other organizations, which, despite not all being directly connected with wellness, all play a part in keeping the Berkeley community conscious about the importance of mental health for teens.

Several of BHS’s Green

LUCAS THOMPSON

Dot peer educators were also available to answer questions about the program and about what supports BHS has available for its students’ mental health. Many of these booths included activities and information on these resources. There was also an opportunity for visitors to explore the Wellness Center on their own, and learn about the organization and activities within it.

School board: Director Vasudeo to become new board president

BY AVA QUANDT staff writer

On Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, the Berkeley Unified School District School Board convened, beginning with the announcement of the meeting’s agenda, made by Laura Babitt, the president of the board.

Babitt said there would be an update on reparations for the dehumanization of Black people in America, another update regarding the African American Success Framework, as well as 30 minutes of public comment at the beginning of the meeting, and then again at the end.

Babitt then spoke about her time as president of the board and discussed how much BUSD has achieved during her year of presidency, later announcing that she would

pass the presidency to Ana Vasudeo. Vasudeo currently serves as a Board Director.

Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel was not in person due to illness but joined the meeting online.

Ford Morthel expressed her appreciation for the public and thanked and recognized Babbit. She also listed all the accomplishments from the past year that Babbitt was associated with, then welcomed Vasudeo to her new presidency.

Superintendent Ford Morthel also announced the opening of the Berkeley High School Wellness Center, which will expand resources to students. She highlighted the upcoming new resources the center provides, also mentioning upcoming events like the holiday meal and the giving out of free toys and games for kids.

The superintendent

announced that the meeting would provide an update on the literacy report, updating the district’s reading website, and a forecast on the district’s budget.

The board then moved on to the first round of public comment, beginning with in-person students. First, a BHS student, October Hertenstein, expressed their concern with the bathrooms at BHS. On behalf of trans students at BHS, Hertenstein said, “Using the restroom (at BHS) continues to be an uncomfortable and tedious experience for me and other trans students every single day. The conditions are nothing less than a nightmare.”

Recently, many gendernonconforming students have presented to the BUSD School Board about wanting the gender-neutral bathrooms to stay unlocked for the entire day, and for

Board President Laura Babitt will pass the presidency to Director Ana Vasudeo.

SASHA BALASUBRAMANIAN

there to be working sinks their experience with the wide plan is best actualized in every bathroom, among program and how it is by progressing on goals at other requests. crucial for many students, the site level. Furthermore, A few students and especially students of color.

PAC has not gotten updates community members, The school board then from the schools on LCAP’s including BHS junior went on to hear from progress.

Andrew Regan, mentioned the district committees, Then, board member their gratitude toward the each given five minutes to comments were shared. board for voting yes on present their comments or Babitt began the disability awareness month. concerns. This time began commentary by addressing Regan said, “I have been a with the Gender Equity the success of the Berkeley BUSD student consistently and Sexual Harassment Adult School and since I was five years old, and Advisory Committee acknowledged the opening I’m currently a of the BHS junior at BHS. I Wellness Center. would first like Babitt also Babitt ... discussed how much BUSD to state that I made the public has achieved during her year of am completely aware of the presidency, later announcing that in favor of teacher parking she would pass the presidency to Ana the disability permit that is awareness to be passed Vasudeo. m o n t h with sufficient resolution and parent and encourage you to vote yes (GESHAC) which was educator votes. This will on it this evening.” followed by the Parental allow teachers to have Several community Advisory Committee eight hour parking permits members then went on to (PAC). around school areas so that mention their distress that From PAC, a co-chair for they don’t have to worry the College Bound program, the 2023-24 PAC, an update about moving their vehicles a program that aims to on their meetings and the during the workday. provide families with progress they have made After the members college-related resources, was shared. PAC began its commented, the meeting was in jeopardy. Darryl planning for the academic was adjourned for a small Bartlow, a BUSD parent, year over the summer, break. expressed his concern by with the task of advising After the break, a group telling the board how much on a three-year plan. Their of presenters from members the program benefited his concerns are that they have of the superintendent’s daughter. not received a report of the Reparations Task Force Bartlow said, “On March implementation of the Local provided an update on 8, 2023, my daughter Lillia Control and Accountability their recent work. They Bartlow appeared before Plan (LCAP), a tool for local began their slideshow you. She articulated the educational agencies, to with their mission, then benefits that she received set goals, plan action, and introduced their presenters, from the College Bound leverage resources to meet and provided the historical Academy. On March 17, she their goals for September or context of the making of the died.” Bartlow expressed his November this year. task force. gratitude toward the board They see the joint Various other groups for the support the Bartlow committee meetings as one- presented from their family received during way communication which organizations and described this time, and he shared makes it harder for them their recent work, and the how much College Bound to get their needs met from meeting concluded with meant for his daughter. A the board. The presenters the second round of public mother and son also shared shared that the district- comment.

OPINION BERKELEY HIGH JACKET

opinion editors: Ysabel Chu & Ohad Aviran-Finkelstein

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

ysabelchu@students.berkeley.net

Four-day school weeks are not practical N E U RHOODWI V IE RS SE EE AI TT: B H S

BY SZE TING CHEN staff writer

As the world recovers from the pandemic, calls for a shortened school week to allow for more free time have gained momentum.

As of September this year, an estimated 1600 schools in the US have adopted the four-day school week. However, while the popularity of this idea is increasing, the drawbacks far outweigh the benefits.

The concept of the fourday school week has been around since the 1930s when the first schools implemented them. Recently, from 2021 to 2023, many school districts have adopted this measure to incentivize teachers to teach in their school district since there are teacher shortages across the country. According to ABC News, some districts, such as School District 27J in Colorado, have reported that they have seen an uptick in teachers applying for positions in the year after they adopted the fourday school week.

However, BHS is required by California law to have 64,800 instructional minutes every year. If BHS

were to switch to a four-day school week, BHS would either need to have sevenand-a-half hour school days, meaning school would end at 5 p.m., or students would have to go to school for 45 weeks, likely eliminating winter break, spring break, and most of summer break.

Some argue that there are many benefits to the four-day school week that outweigh the downsides.

A

per day and decrease in screen time per day.

However, this argument fails to consider the two most important metrics: student behavior and performance and parent logistics. According to another study by Thompson titled “Impacts of the FourDay School Week on High School Achievement and Educational Engagement,” in non-

OREN STILES

study titled “Impact of Reduced School Exposure on Adolescent Health Behaviors and Food Security: Evidence From 4-Day School Weeks” by Oregon State University Professor Paul Thompson shows that in schools that adopt the four-day school week, there is a substantial increase in physical activity

rural schools, both math and reading performance dropped when four-day school weeks were implemented. In the same study, Thompson found that absenteeism spiked, both in the amount of absences and the amount of “chronically absent” students.

Thompson also found that alcohol consumption and drug use

spiked in a similar fashion.

Switching to a four-day school week would also pose a great logistics challenge for many parents. After all, they would have to find and pay for an alternative method of childcare for the additional day their child is out of school. According to the Population Reference Bureau, the median childcare amount in Alameda County per day is $60. This price tag would be too high for several families to pay for the additional day of childcare, which would leave them in the difficult position of having nowhere to send their children when they go to work.

BHS and other schools should not switch to the four-day school week. While it would be ideal for students and teachers to have more free time, four-day school weeks are not the solution. Fourday school weeks would dramatically lengthen either the number of hours in the school day or the length of the school year.

It also has the potential to greatly harm academics and lead to more absenteeism.

With all these drawbacks, the current five-day school week is clearly the superior option.

Devices connect people over the holidays

BY SOPHIE DRESKIN staff writer

As the holiday season approaches, many Berkeley High School students reach out and spend time with their loved ones, whether that be friends, family, or both. The holidays are an incredibly important time for people to connect, share joy, and catch up with people who aren’t seen frequently.

There is one object that can either really help or hurt the process of connecting with loved ones – the iPhone.

The iPhone, along with other devices, can distract teens from spending time with important people.

However, these devices are overall more beneficial to relationships than harmful, as they have the potential to bring people far away from each other together and help them communicate in new ways.

For many teenagers, kids, and adults all across the globe, devices can take over their world quickly.

Many teens spend far too

much time on their phones.

According to a report by Common Sense Media, teens, on average, spend seven hours and 22 minutes on their phones each day.

Spending this much time on a device each day is unhealthy, and takes away from the important time they could be spending with the people around them. The holidays, in particular, are a time of coming together; devices being a distraction around this time of year can cause loved ones to drift apart and become less important to one another.

However, while devices can take away from important moments spent in person with family, they can also be instrumental in bringing people together.

Several people have family or friends they would love to see and spend time with in person that they can’t reach around the holidays. Not being able to see important people in one's life can be difficult, but devices can make it a bit easier to connect.

Aarushi Bhandari, a

BHS sophomore, said, “It’s nice to be able to Facetime my family that lives further away and get a chance to talk and catch up.”

For many, it is a relief to be able to communicate through Facetime, to have the ability to talk to each other, and see the faces and smiles of loved ones. In fact, according to a study by the Pew Research Center, 84 percent of teens say they are connecting with other people when using their phones. Though this may not always be family, at least some of that time could be interacting with loved friends or others that are close to them.

Though some might think that devices can only harm and do no good for people over the holidays, devices can truly help connect people if utilized carefully.

Devices can either be helpful or harmful. If overused, they can create a divide in families and friendships and take away from the connection and bonding that the holidays are all about. However, they can also bring families that are far apart together. A controversial tool, devices can both help and hurt.

However, if they're used properly, they do far more good than harm.

CLAUDIA BLOOM

5

KARIM MELEIS

When I set out to write this bimonthly column, I did it because I wanted to be a voice for all of the neurodiverse students at Berkeley High School, especially for anyone who feels unheard or ignored. In my past several columns, I have brought to light many of the issues that affect neurodiverse students at BHS and out in the world. While being neurodiverse can be challenging, I don't want to give the impression that it is something totally negative. So, this final column will delve into a wholly different topic: neurodiverse joy and the positive aspects of being neurodivergent.

When I was in elementary school, there were teachers who told me that there was something wrong with me and that I needed to learn to change who I was in order to fit in. Eventually, I started to believe that they were right. This impacted my self-esteem and worsened my social challenges. Fortunately, I managed to mostly overcome these negative messages, and I am currently proud of my neurodiversity.

However, I understand that many struggle with accepting who they are and may only think of neurodiversity as something negative. I am proud to say that even though neurodiversity is often considered a disability, there are many positive elements of being neurodiverse.

For example, dyslexia is a type of neurodiversity that makes it harder to learn to read. However, dyslexic students are often very good at problem solving and analytical reasoning. According to Isabella Brown, a dyslexic BHS student who is in the Universal Ninth Grade, “People with dyslexia, (like me), are creative, they’re very good writers.”

In addition, ADHD also has many positive aspects. People with ADHD are very likely to be excellent problem solvers and very creative.

In addition, people who have ADHD are often able to hyperfocus. This means that they can intensely focus on a certain topic or idea.

While this tendency can sometimes lead to being distracted easily, it can also be channeled into being able to accomplish many great things. In the words of a BHS student who chose to stay anonymous for privacy reasons, “Because of (my ability to hyperfocus), I’ve been able to gain a lot of skills and knowledge on certain subjects that are my interests such as psychology and music.”

Finally, autism can have many benefits. One of the most prominent is having an exceptional attention to detail. Autistic people are often able to pick out small details that other people are likely to miss, and they are able to remember these small details and analyze them. They can also be very good at solving complex problems, a trait highly valued in STEM fields.

In conclusion, neurodiversity can create some challenges, but it also has many benefits. By embracing and celebrating these, neurodiverse students can reap the benefits of their unique ways of seeing the world. Sending positive vibes your way, one last time.

6 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023 EDITORIAL

School districts must bridge the digital divide According to the ACT Center for Equity and Learning, the digital divide is “the gap between those with sufficient knowledge of and access to technology and those without.”

In order to bridge this divide, it’s crucial that school districts with low-income students are provided with the proper funding and resources. As schools recover from the critical blows dealt by the pandemic, it’s also important that schools incorporate both digital learning and traditional learning into classrooms to avoid rolling back the positive technological progress.

During the pandemic, high school students across the country witnessed the education system changing. Due to the overall impossibility of turning in handwritten work, all assignments were digital. While students have since returned to brick and mortar classrooms, it’s evident that

OPINION

COVID-19 had a lasting impact on the American education system, and the status of digital learning.

Teacher shortages had been on the rise well before COVID-19 for a culmination of reasons. ranging from worsening compensation to increasingly strenuous work environments. According to a report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), “The pandemic exacerbated a preexisting and long-standing shortage of teachers.” Various reports from the EPI state that the teacher shortage has only gotten worse since the pandemic, leading to further stress on schools.

Students also suffered through the lasting impacts of COVID-19. Despite the federal government allocating $122 billion towards helping schools bounce back from the pandemic, students are still behind. A 2023 study observed test scores from 6.5 million American high school students, revealing that the average student is over four months behind in reading and over 4.5 months behind in math.

The pandemic has, however, had some positive long lasting impacts on education in the U.S. The transition towards fully digital and asynchronous learning led many students to develop technological skills.

According to a study published by the International Journal of Educational Reform, “There is an increase in efficiency in handling the computers and awareness of

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digital learning technology post-COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID-19.” Due to the pandemic, students and teachers have become more technologically fluent.

Technology has also become more accessible in schools. The Institute of Education Services published that 94 percent of surveyed high schools across the country reported they are providing digital devices to students who need them.

The increase in accessibility to technology is undoubtedly a positive change, as digital learning can be incredibly useful for students. According to the University of Central Florida, research from the World Economic Forum demonstrates that, on average, K-12 students learning online retain 25 percent to 60 percent of material, compared with only 8 percent to 10 percent in a classroom. It’s undeniable that access to technology has helped students across the country.

Regardless of what good digital learning can mean for students, it’s unrealistic to assume that every district can provide their students with expensive technology in the long term due to the digital divide. In 2022, over 25 percent of K-12 students in California did not have reliable internet access at home, predominantly impacting students of color.

It’s evident that many marginalized students may struggle with digital education due to a lack of resources.

Consequently, it’s important that federal funding continues to go towards bridging the digital divide.

All-school assemblies would connect the BHS community

BY ARIANA YEROVAM staff writer

Excited cheers, enthusiastic greetings, a warming and welcoming sense of community are all things that Berkeley High School could use more of. Hosting roughly four thousand people at an allschool assembly would be no small feat, but would be monumentally beneficial for the well-being of our community.

According to Polaris, one in three teens aged 13 to 18 are affected by Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), otherwise known as social phobia. SAD, as defined by the Mayo Clinic is, "A chronic mental health condition in which social interactions cause irrational anxiety." Unfortunately, this issue is only growing. In the past 15 years, the US prevalence rate of SAD has gone up by 46 percent. This escalation could be largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as an increase in social media use amongst adolescents. Each of these has and continues to prevent in-person bonding and socialization while instead forcing or compelling students to selfisolate. Particularly because of the overbearing presence of social media, people may be less inclined to meet up in in-person social settings when they could otherwise meet or socialize virtually.

BHS, however, can work to combat this. As our school motto states, "Jackets give and get support," which suggests that BHS can have a role in supporting its students, especially through this digital, postpandemic era. This can be

implemented through all school assemblies which would provide students with the opportunity to learn and gain confidence amongst their community.

Additionally, all school assemblies would be beneficial in communicating important matters to the entire school community.

While BHS does have access to informational resources, such as the bulletin videos and schoolwide emails, these resources are not guaranteed to reach every student. A schoolwide assembly, however, would, for the most part guarantee that each student can feel involved and informed about their school environment.

It is true that individual people may respond to this situation differently, some students are more introverted than others, some more extroverted, some may just do better in smaller environments, while others thrive in more expansive ones. A great thing about BHS is that it offers so much to its community, and in doing so, encourages students to challenge

themselves. This gives students the opportunity to find value and appreciation in things they wouldn't have tried otherwise. Increased school-wide assemblies could provide that for all students.

It's also important that BHS offers unifying allschool events because of its divided structure. In ninth grade, students are separated into strict hives with exposure to only a seventh of their grade. In all other grades, students are separated into small schools.

This system has many benefits, however, it does significantly limit students' abilities to socialize with other students outside of their small school or grade.

With the addition of allschool assemblies, these issues would be much less prevalent in the BHS community.

Students would be encouraged to put themselves out there, to step out digital and separated worlds, and to instead collaborate, inspire, and appreciate one another, therefore unifying our community and all BHS students.

ISA SHIMOMURA

OPINION

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

7

Bay Area public schools should maintain merit-based admission

BY ADITYA SRIDHARAN staff writer

It is well known that Berkeley High School is an extremely diverse community, with 56.5 percent of its students considered minorities.

This extensive diversity exists in part because BHS is the only comprehensive public high school in the city. Berkeley accepts all students who reside in Berkeley, regardless of academic performance or any other factors.

Unlike Berkeley, other cities have implemented merit-based admissions for some of their public schools.

Merit-based admissions consider factors such as a student’s GPA and test scores before choosing which students are admitted. Those who are not admitted to the selective schools are placed in the city’s other public schools. While merit-based admissions for public schools must

be explored with caution, they can foster many benefits for students who excel academically.

Just across the bay, San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSF) has used merit-based admissions at Lowell High School for over 44 years. Among the nine comprehensive public high schools in San Francisco, Lowell is the only one to use merit-based admissions.

Lowell’s long history of merit-based admissions has created a reputation for academic excellence, yet it has also raised questions about meritbased admissions’ impact on disadvantaged youth.

In 2020, Lowell suspended merit-based admissions, citing issues around COVID-19 and worries about diversity.

This pause, however, was short-lived. In 2022, the school board voted to return to meritbased admissions for the foreseeable future.

Although this type of

system can be harmful, merit-based admissions carry their advantages.

For starters, merit-based admissions have been key in ensuring a rigorous academic environment.

According to SFUSD data, disregarding academic performance led to a steep drop in grades for Lowell’s 2020 incoming freshman class. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, of the 620 students in the freshman class in 2021, 24.4 percent received at least one D or F in their fall semester, in comparison to 7.9 percent of freshmen in 2019 and 7.7 percent in 2020. It is evident that the lack of selective admissions led to the drop in grades.

However, while the academic advantages of merit-based admissions are compelling, the issue remains nuanced. While Lowell was a bubble of academic excellence, it was gravely lacking in student diversity.

In 2019, before the

temporary pause in selective admissions, more than 50 percent of students at Lowell were Asian, 17 percent white, 12 percent Hispanic and less than 2 percent Black.

As a whole, SFUSD is 35 percent Asian, 15 percent white, 27 percent Hispanic, and 7 percent Black. Clearly, Lowell has a disproportionate amount of Asian and white students compared to Hispanic and Black students. This lack of diversity is concerning for a school that has so much to offer academically.

While it might seem logical to throw merit out the window, schools must instead act with caution.

As previously mentioned, when Lowell paused merit-based admissions, the incoming class’ grades fell drastically.

Schools must tackle the root problems harming minority students, not remove merit-based admissions.

Funding must be increased for all

public high schools, and cities must work to better integrate all their schools in order to increase diversity.

It is clear that meritbased admissions present an opportunity for students to succeed in an environment of academic rigor. While we cannot ignore the ethical concerns of schools structured in this way, such as a lack of diversity and equity, we must not

SARA TEITELBAUM

scrap them altogether.

Student body diversity and the marginalization of students can be addressed in ways that don’t remove beneficial programs.

Merit-based high school admissions benefit our society and our public schools because they provide students with opportunities to become academically successful, set students up for success, and allow them to excel in their studies.

Downtown Berkeley stores’ bag policies negatively impacts BHS

BY NATALIE GROSS staff writer

For many teens, getting their drivers license is a long and difficult process.

DIVYA BENDAVID

on … I already have enough homework, so it would make it (school) a lot more stressful,” said Fair.

That being said, many students still consider getting a driver’s license to be an important event, despite the costs. Having access to a car, without the rules and restrictions that come with riding with your parents, gives teenagers far more freedom. There’s a reason getting a license is seen as the ultimate teenage rite of passage; once you have your license, you can go almost anywhere without needing to rely on parents or public transportation.

“I’ve been counting down the months and years since I was 11 … being able to drive will give me a lot of freedom,” said Ayla Conway, a BHS sophomore who is currently in the process of getting their driver’s license. According to Conway, having a license

would make them feel much more confident in case of an emergency, along with making it easier for them to reliably get places on time, a large improvement from the unpredictability of public transportation.

Because of how unreliable Berkeley’s public transportation can be, many teenagers want the freedom that comes with being able to drive. However, just as many students would rather wait to get their license, knowing that they don’t need a car to get around and might not currently have the time to go through the driver’s license process.

Getting a driver’s license can be expensive and timeconsuming, and no student should be pushed into getting one before they’re ready for the challenge. No longer universal, a driver’s license is only worth it for BHS students if they want to pursue it.

Pressuring students to get a drivers license is not justified CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

teenagers must take a DMVapproved 30-hour driver’s education course and spend six hours behind the wheel with a trained driving instructor.

Because of the workload increase in sophomore and junior school years, the time when students are finally eligible for a permit, taking a 30-hour course during the school year just isn’t feasible for many students, not to mention the cost.

On average, six hours of in-person driving with a trained instructor costs $500 on average, causing many students to wait until they turn 18 to get their license.

The time requirement for getting one’s license is part of the reason why BHS sophomore Sydney Fair is planning on waiting to get their license.“I don’t want to do it while school is going

The local Target near Berkeley High School has become an extremely popular and loved spot for students to buy food and necessities after school.

But for a few years now, the security guards have enforced a new rule of leaving your backpacks outside when wanting to enter the store, to prevent any shoplifting. “I think it could be a good rule, but could lead to a lot of problems such as other people stealing backpacks,” said Dylan Dasgupta, a freshman at BHS. Target has now since gotten rid of the policy, but the question of whether or not it should come back is worth considering.

However, bringing back the backpack policy at Berkeley’s Target is a bad

idea – it has upset the community, caused trouble for students, and has not successfully stopped shoplifting.

Looking at other aspects of this policy, it’s clear that most students can find another way to shoplift without their bags. “I have heard about people shoplifting at Target,” said Dasgupta, indicating that it is common for students to steal from this local Target. “But lots of people also steal stuff without using their backpacks, like in other ways using their jackets or sleeves,” Dasgupta continued.

Overall, the rule is not effective enough to justify the damage caused when students may have their backpacks stolen or the emotional damage done by generalizing all BHS students to be thieves. “(The policy) is a good idea in theory,” said

Target is located on the corner of Shattuck Ave and Allston Way.

Dasgupta. “But maybe a better option is just keeping a better watch when the kids are inside the Target.”

Dasgupta suggests a more sensible approach of maintaining better surveillance within the store rather than imposing restrictions on students’ personal belongings. While the idea of keeping students’ bags outside may seem like a good idea, the execution of it ends up being unfair to students, as well as ineffective.

In order to keep everyone happy and safe, there needs to be a middle ground between keeping things secure and making it easy for students to shop. Considering how it harms students, while not preventing theft, bringing back this system would do more harm than good, making it clear that Target should steer clear of reinforcing this protocol.

GEORGIA PAULOS

8

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

Opinion editors: Ohad Aviran--Finkelstein & Ysabel Chu

OPINION ohadaviranfinkelstein@students.berkeley.net

BHS students must do their part to combat climate change in landfills are very harmful to the environment and create a greenhouse gas called methane.

Methane is responsible for 25 percent of global warming Climate change is an urgent issue, and and is 80 times more harmful Berkeley High School students must do their than CO2. Even though it’s part. During the average day, it can be hard inconvenient, students putting to consider the environment, but as young in the extra effort to take their people, our generation will have to deal with leftovers and containers back the consequences of global warming later in to school to compost their food life. While corporations are mainly responsible waste would be very beneficial for emissions and environmental degradation, to the environment. individual actions and awareness still matter. way effective Another Small actions can make a big difference in their reduce could students helping the environment, and students' choices carbon footprint is to recycle right now can impact our planet in big ways. more. In class, many students Walking, biking, and taking public use paper handouts, printed transportation to school are some ways BHS module packets, lined paper, and all types of different students can help the environment. Students workbooks. Students should recycle their old papers who take other methods of transportation than and make sure they do not end up in landfills because driving help the planet because driving burns paper contains harmful toxins gasoline and diesel and when not disposed of properly. creates harmful gases.

Paper contains chemicals such According to the United as dioxins and furans that leak States Environmental Our generation will into the soil at landfills and Protection Agency, pollute the earth. a typical passenger have to deal with the is paper Recycling vehicle emits about 4.6 consequences of global reusing but helpful, extremely metric tons of carbon warming later in life. paper can make even more dioxide annually. With a difference. “I also use my of approximately 3000 papers as scratch paper to old students attending BHS, make more waste,” said not if every student chose Every time a student Nishioka. not to drive to school, trees from being more saving are they paper, reuses there would be far less carbon dioxide in the Federation, Wildlife World the to According cut down. atmosphere. percent of 10 for accounts loss and damage forest Taking the extra bit of time to compost food are still trees billion 15 to up and warming, global waste is also a great way to help prevent climate to crucial incredibly are Trees year. every cut down change. There are a good amount of composting from dioxide carbon absorb they as the environment bins on campus, but once students leave campus, the air and produce the oxygen everyone needs to there are far fewer composting bins and many breathe. more garbage cans. As many students leave However, even with individual action, big industrial campus for lunch, their food waste often is companies continue to produce vast amounts of not properly disposed of. Sophia Nishioka, a greenhouse gasses. One example is the Chevron sophomore at BHS said, “Sometimes after I get refinery located in Richmond, close to BHS. It is the food from going out, I just throw it away even second largest carbon emissions producer in all of though it could be composted because I just California and, in one year alone, produced over four can’t find a recycling or compost can.” Unless million metric tons of carbon dioxide. Even though students carry their leftovers and containers it's not BHS students' fault that some companies, like back to school, their waste is most likely going Chevron, are polluting the environment, students still to end up in a trash can. Food scraps that end up have the opportunity to help fix these issues.

Students have the power to lobby and attempt to force companies to cut their carbon emissions.

Students also can try get

BY SABINE ROSEN staff writer

JENNIFER YOC FERREIRA

people to boycott harmful businesses.

If BHS students want to get even more involved in preventing climate change, there are numerous environmental groups they can join.

BHS has several climate-related clubs, such as the BHS Sunrise Club and the BHS Green Team.

Additionally, multiple organizations such as Youth vs Apocalypse and Bay Area Youth Climate Summit exist within the Bay Area and focus on preventing climate change. Joining a group or a club can not only strengthen a student’s environmental impact but also help them find community.

In addition to students becoming more ecofriendly, BHS as a whole should focus on this goal. BHS should spend more time informing students about climate change and different actions they can take to prevent it. Even a quick unit in class can inspire students to take action and help them make more environmentally conscious decisions. If every BHS student started making small changes in their life, taking alternative transportation methods, disposing of their waste properly, and recycling old school materials, the BHS community could greatly contribute to preventing climate change. Now is the time for every student to do their part and make a difference.

FEATURES BERKELEY HIGH JACKET

features editors: Sage Feldman & Mateo Tsai

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

9

sagefeldman@students.berkeley.net

'A Night at the Movies': The Dance Production Winter Showcase spotlights choreographic talent

BY ANNIKA JOY & SAGE FELDMAN staff writer & features editor

Families, friends, and fans of dance gathered in the Little Theater on Dec. 9 and 10 to watch Berkeley High School's 2023 Dance Production Winter Showcase.

The production was themed around the idea of “A Night at the Movies,” and an environment of support for all of the student dancers and first-time choreographers was tangible.

“My dancers took this vision that I had and they made (it into) a whole performance. … I feel really proud of how it came out,” said Madeline MendelezGarcia, a BHS junior in Dance Production, whose first experience choreographing was for the production.

The Dance Production class’ biannual performances always feature original numbers and choreography, but this show placed a particular emphasis on its theme. The whole show was centered around the “at the movies” concept, from the performances to the 3D glasses being handed out at the entrance.

Jasmine Taylor, a sophomore at BHS who watched the Friday show, said, “I knew what was going on because I know the movies, so I could connect to it more.” The choice of theme not only made the show entertaining but also created a sense of familiarity, allowing the audience to connect more deeply with the performances and appreciate the connections to cinematic culture.

“I think (the theme) made the whole show a little more whimsical,” said Rose Levine, a BHS sophomore in Advanced Dance.

The performances themselves were based on popular movies. MendelezGarcia’s choreography was based on the movie "Dirty Dancing", and they drew inspiration from the film’s themes. “A lot of the partner work that I was trying to portray was (based on someone) changing a girl’s world by teaching her how to dance,” they said.

However, as well as directly referencing movies, some numbers went beyond specific movie narratives and focused instead on nuances of

paid off. … The satisfaction I saw the movie industry itself. Dances such in (the dancers) after the show as “Behind the Curtain” (choreographed you can’t get anywhere else,” said

by Nat asha B el l ) and “An i mat i on” Mendelez-Garcia. (choreographed by Kayla Hess) explored “The reason I love this is behind-the-scenes themes of moviebecause you really have to have making, which made the entire show feel some faith, and it is a huge act more dynamic. of courage along the way.

The dance styles also varied depending It's all about believing in on the movies they were based on. the process, and then “Incredible” (choreographed by Linda having faith that it Carr) was action-packed with energetic will happen,” said chore o g r aphy t h at fe atu re d ju mp s Linda Carr, the and cartwheels set to upbeat music, dance director which matched the fast-paced action and main sequences from the film. On the other producer. hand, “Animation” (choreographed by Kayla Hess) featured graceful and precise movements and slower music to match the delicate art style. These contrasting dance styles not only showcased the versatility of the performers but also balanced the performance as a whole.

The network of dancers at BHS is very collaborative and community-centered, virtues which show up on the stage. The Showcase features juniors and seniors in the Dance Production class, as well as freshmen in Beginning Dance and sophomores in Advanced Dance, serving as a way for the whole school to come together. “It was a really nice way to combine all the grades.

It was really fun,” said Levine.

A lot of work goes into getting a production like this one to “It's all about believing in the stage. “Rehearsing took up so much time,” said process.”

Mendelez-Garcia, who had to postpone other Linda Carr extracurricular Dance director commitments.

But the efforts of all the dancers did not go to waste.

“It really

JULIAN CURRIER

PHOTOS BY TOSCANA GIRARD-MAXON ILLUSTRATION BY ALEX MORGAN

10 F R I D A Y , D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 2 3 THE PERFECT BITE: MARUGAME UDON CLEMENTINE UHLANER

As one of my personal favorite dishes ever, I decided to feature udon for my last column. It’s such a simple dish yet incredibly versatile and delicious. The thick noodles are very distinctive, and when done right, they have a perfect soft chew.

I’ve found that although there are many other udon restaurants, I often gravitate towards Marugame Udon, a chain restaurant with locations in California, Texas, and Hawaii. Despite being a chain, they still maintain a standard of serving mouthwatering dishes. Everything is essentially made to order, fresh noodles are made each day and tempura is fried hourly.

The Berkeley location is on Shattuck Avenue and Hearst Street, just a block away from the McDonald’s. Its space is huge with no shortage of tables for a busy evening. The ordering system is similar to an assembly line. Most things are self-serve except for the udon itself which is delicately scooped and placed into a bowl with your broth and topping choices like tempura flakes and green onions.

Behind the glass divider, employees carefully feed udon dough into a conveyor belt machine and it comes out as thin strips.

Every part of the production is on display, neat knots of noodles soaking in cold water, hot oil baths frying tempura pieces to crisp perfection. Every element works together in a tasty harmony.

Usually I get their classic Nikutama Udon, served with sweet beef and a delicate onsen egg. The broth is light yet flavorful with a strong umami component. I’ve also really enjoyed the Curry Udon with a sweeter, heavier broth and Kitsune bowl, still with the classic broth and noodles but instead of meat, there’s sweet tofu.

After collecting your udon bowl on a cafeteria style tray, the line leads you to a self-serve tempura station. The selection is impressive and they always manage to stay beautifully fresh and crispy. They have shrimp skewers and chicken katsu but also vegetarian options like sweet potatoes and tamagoyaki, a layered egg omelet. They curate their own sauce that you can grab at a station towards the end, also with napkins, chopsticks, and take out containers.

Marugame Udon is particularly unusual because they only specialize in udon and focus on their ingredients. It’s definitely one of a kind and balances the insane amount of high end ramen restaurants. It introduces a new world of udon that lacks in sushi takeaway with pre-packaged bowls. It proves how much the freshness and quality of food makes a difference.

Udon is one of my favorite examples of how simple food can be the best. Marugame Udon is definitely one of my favorite places to enjoy delicious, handmade, and easy food.

Also by being relatively close to Berkeley High School, it’s the ultimate source for the perfect udon soup.

FEATURES

Boys Who Cook build skills, community

BY CARINA THOMAS staff writer

Mouth-watering pizza with a cheese pull for days, hearty waffles decorated with sweet whipped cream and freshly sliced fruits, pesto gnocchi with the perfect combination of basil and nuttiness that hugs your tongue – with each dish, Berkeley High School’s Boys Who Cook club encourages students of all backgrounds to find solace and community in the kitchen.

Boys Who Cook was created during the 202223 school year by a group of students in hopes of combatting what they perceived to be a lack of diversity among students in the kitchen.

“We wanted to start a club when we saw that there weren’t really any cooking clubs at Berkeley High (School),” said Miles Dubinsky, a sophomore at BHS and board member of Boys Who Cook. The club holds occasional meetings at school where members can vote on a dish they would like to make at one of the club’s weekend cookouts.“You can show up to cookouts even if you don’t go to any of the meetings,” said Dubinsky. “They’re

just a fun thing to do on the weekends.”

Brady Curran, a sophomore at BHS, became the club’s Health and Food Safety Manager last year as a freshman. Curran said, “I didn’t expect it to be as close and as fun as it is … everyone really gets to know each other.”

As a growing community of young chefs, Boys Who Cook made its presence known during this school year’s homecoming event, when the club organized a group of club members who helped to cook over 100 pounds of macaroni and cheese and cornbread in the school’s kitchen. They worked for multiple hours and successfully produced 300 servings of each dish for the event. “That was probably the biggest thing that we’ve done for this school, so it felt like a big accomplishment for helping be a part of that,” said Curran.

Aside from the club being a fun way to hang out and connect with different students, Boys Who Cook also serves a deeper purpose.

Dubinsky finds that the club holds importance towards enhancing an individual’s basic life skills not only through high school but far into the future as well. “I like the idea of when I’m older,

Club members serve chicken and waffles.

especially in college, being self-sufficient and being able to cook meals and save money,” said Dubinsky. “It’s just a really useful skill to have.”

For Theodore Lam, a sophomore at BHS and the treasurer of Boys Who Cook, leading the club allows him to transfer his culinary skills and knowledge to fellow rising chefs. “I think I grew up in a household where there was a lot of cooking going on, and whether I wanted to or not, I had to participate,” said Lam. However, Lam noted that not everyone is raised in an environment that places an emphasis on teaching children cooking skills. “Many people have families that don’t really (teach them how to cook), that don’t support them in that way,” said Lam. To confront this lack of

KAYHAN TEZCAN

opportunity in the kitchen setting, Boys Who Cook has created an easygoing space for students to build their culinary expertise and creativity.

“The idea of the club was to get boys to learn how to cook because in a traditional (patriarchal) society, they don’t know how to do that,” said Lam. “And we decided that that was silly, and we wanted to teach people how to (cook).”

While the club’s goal is to inspire boys to feel more comfortable about cooking and to help foster community, it is also a gender-neutral space. They invite all individuals looking to explore themselves in the kitchen, regardless of their gender. “I’m hopeful to see where it goes once we ... grow and hopefully have ... a more diverse club,” said Dubinsky.

Dietary restrictions during the holidays

BY AMARA KAPUR staff writer

Certain students at Berkeley High School have different dietary restrictions that prevent them from eating some “classic” Thanksgiving foods: the roasted turkey, the warm mashed potatoes, or the sweet pecan pie. These students have restrictions ranging from vegetarianism, to nut allergies, to lactose intolerance and more. They all have their own ideas of a Thanksgiving family meal, all unique.

Zara Manansala, a freshman at BHS, does not eat red meat. Each of her family members have varying restrictions: Her mom is vegetarian, her dad has no restrictions, and both Manansala and her brother do not eat red meat. In her everyday life, this restriction doesn’t affect her greatly. “I have oatmeal for breakfast, and lunch or dinner is usually pasta.”

For Thanksgiving, she eats sides like mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, and bread.

Because most of her family is vegetarian, “The meal is

usually meat-free, or has meat-free options.” said Manansala.

The only times this restriction affects her is if she goes out to eat at a restaurant, a friend’s house, or summer camp. If she eats at home the meal usually has no meat. “At summer camp, they have only hot dogs and hamburgers (mostly) so there isn’t much for me to eat,” she said. She adds that she has been staying away from red meat for her whole life. “It’s by (the) choice of my parents,” said Manansala.

Another BHS student with a dietary restriction is Max Glater-Chacon, who has a peanut allergy. He’s had this restriction for his whole life, and could go into anaphylactic shock if he eats peanuts. “I can eat almost everything on Thanksgiving, My favorite is the cranberry sauce or the pie,” said Glater-Chacon.

His family doesn’t make accommodations for him on the holidays. “I know to avoid foods that might have peanuts,” he said.

According to GlaterChacon, a sophomore, his peanut allergy only “affects

On Thanksgiving, some vegetarians eat meatless sides.

(his) life because (he has) to be a little more careful when sharing food or eating at a restaurant.” However, he added that it does not affect his day to day life at all.

Zeia Bachrach, the founder of the Meatless Monday club, is vegetarian by choice.

Her Thanksgiving meal is usually “all the typical sides without meat base, and no turkey.” This is very similar to Manansala, who also doesn’t eat most types of meat. Unlike Manansala, Bachrach is the only one in her family who is vegetarian, and she’s hasn’t eaten meat for the last four years. Her family usually doesn’t have to make Thanksgiving accommodations for her, because “usually the sides are vegetarian already, so there’s no need.” She added that “(being vegetarian) is only a little bit more difficult when (she’s) at a

SHILOH WILSON

new person’s house or eating out.” A classic breakfast for Bachrach is usually eggs or toast, the vegetarian cafeteria option for lunch, and some kind of soup, bread, or rice for dinner.

The inspiration for the Meatless Monday club was when she was “looking for a tangible way for individuals to get involved in fighting climate change,” she said.

The club is now inactive, but getting it started was all she had hoped for. “We got student discounts for Meatless Monday at three restaurants and made Meatless Monday a familiar name around school,” said Bachrach. “Monitoring my meat consumption felt like the first way I could have an impact. I wanted to give my peers the same opportunity, by raising awareness about the impact of a small decision, like what to eat for lunch on a Monday.”

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FEATURES

WORD ON THE STREET

How has seasonal depression affected you?

COMPILED BY ERIN LIAO staff writer

Lucia Sweet Fuentes, a BHS freshman, reflected on how the change in weather makes her feel. “It gets cold and gloomy, and it gets dark earlier. And so it just like changes my mood, and it just makes me kind of sad and sometimes unmotivated, and probably other students feel the same,” Sweet Fuentes said.

Analisa Appleyard, a BHS junior, chimed in.

“I feel like people are a lot more depressed in the winter because it’s like so much school is going on and everybody’s … loaded with the work and I definitely feel that because I have a ton of work right now, because I’m a junior and it’s just like, really hard to handle and a lot going on,” said Analisa Appleyard, a BHS junior.

The early sunset interferes with Josephine McKnett’s productivity: “When it gets darker really early, I feel like I’ve … wasted a lot of my time and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s already dark like I haven’t done anything!’

So it makes me feel really unproductive and tired.

And I think … it’s definitely like gloomy weather equals sometimes a gloomier mood,” said McKnett.

“Your day feels shorter when it gets dark so early,” said Cleo Saxe, a BHS junior. “And it’s also more lonely to be alone when it’s dark out than it is to be alone when it’s … warmer.

I’ve used (winter) as a time to work on myself, like have alone time in a good way.”

PHOTOGRAPHS BY IDA MARSHALL-LAPPE & SUNNY BEVIS-LIPTON staff photographer & staff photographer

Teachers search for the most effective type of final assessment

BY SHANZA SYED staff writer

Last minute cram sessions in the College and Career C enter, arduous class es working on elaborate individual and group projects, staring at computer screens, working away at lengthy essays: finals can be an extremely stressful time for Berkeley High School students, and one of the greatest factors that can dictate a student’s level of stress is the type of final that teachers decide to assign. Some may choose to give a traditional test, while

others may assign a project or this can be stressful, he does a discussing the book ‘Solito’. always feel like they’re so required to write a reflection an essay. A lot goes into the lot of review in class with his However, like Poppas, she has rushed.” on what they learned over decision behind which type of students to ensure that they reserved the two weeks leading Lastly, another method of the course of the semester. final to give. up to finals for her finals that is more common in “(Politics and Power) is a BHS teacher students to prepare.

English classes is that of having simulation class and requires Joseph Poppas has “Final exam period is like this special “I think (it is) a a final essay. For instance, in IB a different kind (of final),” said elected to give his moment for students to display and good final because English classes, students are Poppas. psychology students you can grade it as it to write a 1200 to 1500-word “I’ve had a bunch of English demonstrate their abilities.” a test this year. “I is (it doesn’t require essay based on poems, films, or essays that I think are fair … like a final that has g r a d i ng you get to edit them, Joseph Poppas a short answer, some outside class),” and you can work “My favorite final is no final.”

BHS Psychology and Politics and multiple choice, a Villagran said, on them for a while,” little matching. I like adding that said Sierra Ott, a BHS Power teacher Holden Elias students to be able to she is “pretty senior. really show off their confident Some teachers use BHS senior knowledge. Final exam period are well prepared and know ever yone will have their period to provide is like this special moment for what to expect when finals day something to say, even a break during the students to actually display and comes around. if they didn’t read the whole speeches explored in the class. stress of finals week. “Really, demonstrate their abilities,” Some students at BHS see book.”

In Poppas’ Politics and my favorite final is no final,” said Poppas. While he knows the merit in the test method On the other hand, in her Power class, students are said Elias.

Poppas described. “I kind IB History class, students are of like that sometimes it’s doing a group project where just simple. You study for they create a visual essay. something and (then) you go “It’s easier for me to grade. in and take it; it’s not super I don’t have to grade 90 complex, and I think finals individual ones, I just have tend to be, in my mind, a little to grade a couple per class. I bit easier because it’s very really think about that, because surface level compared to especially now that finals are unit test that’s really focused right before Christmas and the on the content you’ve been break, I don’t want to be having doing,” said Holden Elias, a so much to do,” said Villagran.

BHS senior.

However, Villagran admits that O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , group projects can be stressful International Baccalaureate if some individuals fall sick or and Latinx history teacher don’t contribute, leaving the Rebecca Villagran views other group members to do tests as more stressful for double the work. students, and finds them time“Projects, especially when consuming to grade. For her you’re working with a group, Latinx History class, she is end up sucking up so much of holding a socratic seminar your time,” said Elias. “They ALISA KARIN KOLPAKOVA

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BERKELEY HIGH JACKET

Entertainment editors: Kaiya Jordan & Simon Policy

THE SHAME WIZARD: SHAME AND SUPPORT ANNABELLE ARMSTRONG-TEMPLE

At some point you have probably felt the dragging weight of shame. Most likely, you’ve felt it a multitude of times and about many things. Whether someone made a comment about your appearance, you yourself accidentally made someone else feel ashamed, or you got a bad grade, you don’t have to be alone in your struggle. No matter what happens, shame doesn’t have to be debilitating or isolating, and there are ways to effectively navigate it, the same as other emotions.

One thing you can do to manage shame is to name it and identify other more underlying emotions. At first, that sounds very simple, maybe even childish, but if you understand what’s going on in your mind then you can figure out what might help you. From there, you can use coping strategies such as journaling, breathing, or even sleeping it off.

Another tactic is to think about comparable times that you remember feeling ashamed, but everything ended up all right. Drawing connections like this can help to ground you in what may actually happen, rather than dwelling on the what–ifs. Similarly, think about if you would shame someone else for what you are caught on, and most of the time, the answer would be no. This shift in perspective can help alleviate the sense of being alone in your shame and vulnerability.

Finding someone to talk through your feelings with, someone you know will listen, such as a close friend, or a trusted adult, like a teacher or a mental health counselor, who can provide insight to your shame or even just some needed comfort. Sharing what you’re afraid of can be a huge step toward feeling better.

If your shame is about an action, whether it’s something you did or someone else did, it may be good to seek further communication.

Miscommunication or misspeaking is a very common thing, but it can cause a lot of hurt feelings. Communication also has the benefit of providing a ground to talk in the future. If there isn’t a chance of that happening, it’s also good to try and let go, bit by bit.

Shame about something like a bad grade can feel a little different, but seeking more support for similar assignments or situations in the future can still be helpful. Instead of viewing the grade as a reflection of yourself, view it as a thing that happened and can be improved upon in the future. Just remember that setbacks are a normal part of learning.

No matter what, practice self-compassion.

Even though that can be hard, know that you can start small, like shutting down negative self–talk, even if you’re not at the point where you can give yourself a ton of comfort. Shame management, and management of all emotions and experiences, is a lifelong process. You’re going to remember your shame more than anyone else will ever even know of it. Be safe, have fun, and talk about your shame.

Kaiyajordan@students.berkeley.net

BHS’s fashion culture has positive impact

BY ANNA WILLIAMS staff writer

Berkeley High School is known for a vast variety of forms of expression, especially styles. Naturally, fashion trends ebb and flow over the years, so there will be changes in fashion.

“I think the transition into high school alone changes a lot of people’s styles because you’re just in a new place with a lot of new people,” said Emma Kittredge, a BHS junior, “You get a chance to start anew and have people see you differently, so I think you do think you see people changing their styles coming into high school.”

Coming into a diverse environment such as BHS may cause an even greater impact on people’s personal style, though it depends.

“Berkeley High (School) made my style better. I came into it being the kid in middle school with basketball shorts and now I’m wearing Carhartts and a puffer, so it’s improved a

bit,” said BHS senior Sascha Amendola.

BHS freshman Josephine Smith said that BHS has made her try harder in her style.

“Berkeley High (School) has inspired me to try harder in my style and wear jeans more often and cute tops, instead of sweat pants and a hoodie regularly,” Smith said, “Berkeley High (School) also has a common style of low rise pants and baggy jeans, which is a style I love and wear often.

People at Berkeley High (School) also just have really good style and that inspired me to put more effort into my outfits and experiment more.”

Another common theme in the changes in style at BHS is being more comfortable and being around others with styles similar to yours.

Freshman Ava Capen, said, “I think being at BHS has really made me more comfortable in finding my own style in the way of what I wear. I used to feel really judged when I would wear certain things that I really

liked, so I wouldn’t wear them. But now at Berkeley High (School) there are so many people that are all really in tune with what they actually like and they wear what they actually like. I feel like being around this has made me feel more accepted and realize that no one is looking at you.”

Kittredge, shared a similar sentiment by saying, “I think it changed a lot.

I used to dress a lot more modestly in freshman year, for sure, and then I started to branch out more in sophomore and junior year. I think I became more comfortable in myself and the people I was around and I knew a lot more people

Sascha Amendola stands in his puffer.

so I felt fine dressing how I wanted.”

The COVID-19 pandemic also had an impact on peoples’ styles coming into high school, especially this year’s juniors and seniors. Kittredge said she had a different experience coming into BHS because of COVID-19.

BHS senior Madi Nathan said, “I think it was a bit different for us because when we started we were on Zoom, and then sophomore year everyone didn’t really know, and then it evolved.”

Amendola agreed, explaining how his grade grew in their style, finding out what they liked to wear coming out of the pandemic.

RIANA FALCIONI

New Miyazaki film exceeds expectations

BY ZACH YOO staff writer

The first wonderful thing about “The Boy and the Heron” is its existence. For years, there was no greater secret in show business than Hayao Miyazaki’s final film. It was delayed over three years from its

initial release window, and according to producer and president of Studio Ghibli, Toshio Suzuki, it is the most expensive film in Japanese history. Prior to its release in Japan this summer, a single poster was the only officially released information about the film. The master animator’s new film is beautiful and ruminative,

SABINE SHAFFER

exceeding audience and critic expectations.

Like all Miyazaki’s work, it’s strange in the most captivating sense. The story follows Mahito, a boy in 1940s Japan, who is whisked away into a fantastical world by a mysterious gray heron to save his mother. Along the way he meets murderous parakeets, fire spirits, and prenatal human souls. But like “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle” before it, the world the film depicts is so outlandish that plot details are not paramount.

The experience of watching “The Boy and the Heron” is letting the storybook-like animation and Joe Hisaishi’s vivid score sweep you up yourself.

Studio Ghibli’s animation is as unique as ever. The film sports the modern iteration of the studio’s style, the traditional 2D art blending anime and western cartoons, now animated digitally instead of on paper cells.

It’s stunning on a technical level, and more fluid than ever before. This fluidity is key for more abstract and expressive sequences, with many of them involving fire.

It’s here where the artistic vision is uncompromised, where the slithering trails of fire are hypnotic.

The film’s much more poignant Japanese title, “How Do You Live?” is indicative of the heavy themes it explores. Miyazaki is now 82, the film is marketed as his last not because of his retirement, but because of his mortality.

Suzuki, has described the film as something Miyazaki is “leaving behind” for his grandson as he prepares to “mov(e) on to the next world”. And life, death, and legacy are clearly on his mind. This manifests quite explicitly at times, but it’s not preachy – you’ll find no one-line moral spoken into the camera as credits roll. It is contemplative. The film depicts the creator of its wonderland struggling to find a successor, simultaneously wondering if it’s a burden he can ask anyone to bear. It finds no real answer.

Like all of his films “The Boy and the Heron” is first and foremost a thoughtprovoking enchantment. It is indeed Miyazaki saying goodbye, but it is also a magnificent fairytale. As his journey reaches its end, we do not get the sense that Mahito has learned how to live, as the title might imply. Rather, Mahito now appreciates living, as must we all.

ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

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Lack of new popular Christmas music draws varying reactions

BY CECILIA TILES staff writer

Christmas is right around the corner, and with it comes the annual arrival of holiday music. Songs like “White Christmas,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” and “Jingle Bell Rock” make a recurrence every year, bringing a familiar touch to the holidays. But “Jingle Bell Rock,” the most recent of these songs, was actually originally released back

in 1957. In fact, nearly all of the popular Christmas songs were released before 2000. Even “All I want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey, which is considerably more modern than tunes like “Little Drummer Boy,” was released in 1994, almost 30 years ago.

It’s no surprise that trends and popular music genres change over the years.

Older generations’ musical taste often differs from the younger ones. Compare the leading musical artists

of the 1950s, Elvis Presley or Chuck Berry, to today’s Taylor Swift or Bad Bunny.

The personal memories for some of classic Christmas music is likely also part of its appeal. Holiday songs only get played during one time of the year, and there is a strong sense of familiarity and nostalgia to hear the same songs year after year.

“Music is especially evocative of emotion,” said psychologist Krystine Batcho, PhD, an expert in nostalgia, during

SIENNA PRAK-PERRY

an interview with the “They’re playing on have diversified and the American Psychological nostalgia,” said Acosta- population is overall more Association. “Nostalgic song Ferezi on the topic of secular, one could wonder lyrics engage the listener Christmas covers. Other whether they would be as in reverie and capture artists like Justin Bieber successful as they were in the bittersweet feeling of or Ariana Grande have the eighteen or nineteen the past’s irretrievability,” done similar things in hundreds. Today, these Batcho said. recent years, putting their songs are so ingrained in H o l i d a y our culture the songs are also religious aspects well recognized ... there is a strong sense of familiarity are less readily by people of all apparent to the and nostalgia to hear the same songs ages, bridging casual listener. year after year. a generational “I listen to gap between songs that have younger and religion as a topic older listeners and creating own personal touches on in them and I just don’t something entire families classic songs and adding really think about it,” said can enjoy together. more pop flair or “modern” Miguel Huhndorf-Lima, a “It pulls together a shared techniques. For example, BHS senior and a musician. thing,” said BHS senior while Ariana Grande’s 2013 “Obviously there are and musician Annamaria cover of “Santa Baby” kept different appeals to songs Acosta-Ferezi. “We sing the original lyrics, the song for different people. But if together, and it’s a way where includes more modern vocal the song is catchy, they like all of us can get together.” embellishments and a more it.”

Modern musical artists pop influenced backing For people who celebrate have found success re- track.

Christmas, consistent making traditional songs, It’s also important to note traditions and activities which may also contribute how religion might have are part of the joy. Having to their ongoing appeal. impacted the significance something familiar to look Kelly Clarkson sold over and popularity of Christmas forward to every year is part a million copies of her songs. Christmas is widely of the reason we celebrate 2013 Christmas Album known as a Christian holiday holidays. Music is no “Wrapped in Red,” which and has been celebrated as exception, only adding to the included her covers on such for years; the majority nostalgic activities people many classic songs such as of the United States has enjoy every holiday season.

“White Christmas,” “Silent long identified as Christian. It’s not that it’s impossible to Night,” and “Have Yourself Classic songs that were create new Christmas songs, a Merry Little Christmas.” written for Christmas often it’s just difficult to compete It’s a winning marketing have religious elements and with the old favorites. combination to have current themes. “Little Drummer Huhndorf-Lima agreed, artists singing these beloved Boy” is about a little boy’s stating, “And when people songs and a profitable visit to Jesus in the manger think about Christmas and opportunity for artists, and and “O Holy Night” is about when people want to get may actually decrease the the birth of Jesus. Had these into the Christmas spirit, motivation to invent new songs been released today, that’s where they go, right? holiday tunes. in a country where religions They go to tradition.”

Animated ‘Scott Pilgrim’ show is a great addition to the franchise faithful to the source material, and serves up plenty of meta-commentary about the series’ place in Few media properties are popular culture to keep as legendary and successful itself energetic and creative. in nerd culture as “Scott The show, therefore, is not Pilgrim.”

The beloved the most accommodating to franchise began as a humble newcomers. Its subversion graphic novel series from of the established story will 2004, became a cult classic of course go over the heads live-action movie and of first-time viewers, as inspired a successful video might some of the fantasy game in 2010. But when concepts. Nevertheless, at Bryan Lee O’Malley, the the core of “Scott Pilgrim” creator of the franchise, remains a story about adrift was asked to develop an 20 somethings growing into animated “Scott Pilgrim” actual adults, with hilarious series in 2013, fans were let and relatable characters down. O’Malley (Kieran Culkin’s said that while Wallace Wells is a he would love ... at the core of “Scott Pilgrim” remains standout). to, “it would For returning a story about adrift 20 somethings have to be a fullfans, the story growing into actual adults ... time job” and is rich with that it was “too changes begging late,” given the for analysis. The financial underperformance allows “Scott Pilgrim” to series protagonist is no of the film. fully realize its complex longer the titular loser-boy, Lo and behold, ten years fight scenes inspired by but rather his alt-girl love later, such a series exists, “Dragon Ball” and “Ranma interest Ramona Flowers. animated in Japan by ½.” But more importantly, And though the series acclaimed studio Science a full, 8-episode remake of still leans into obscure Saru and showrun and co- the story gives its creators and nerdy references, it written by O’Malley himself. a chance to highlight fully steers its focus away from It’s the result of perfect original content from the the fanboying over anime alignment between several second episode onwards. combat and towards the factors. Firstly, the show It charts a new path for character relationships and is part of Netflix’s efforts the series while still being inner conflicts. Rather than

BY ZACH YOO staff writer

to diversify its animation output (alongside shows like “Rilakkuma” and “Blue Eye Samurai”). Secondly, the anime industry has seen increased interest in adapting Western media (Science Saru previously worked on “Adventure Time” and “Star Wars: Visions”). Combined with the growing nostalgia and internet popularity of the film, “Scott Pilgrim” was the perfect intellectual property for an anime reboot.

It’s not a project taken for granted by the studio.

The anime medium finally

the high-energy, highlyedited snappiness of the 2010 film, “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off ” emulates the chill, indie vibe of the original graphic novels to massive success. The series fleshes out characters that the movie left one-note due to its runtime, while also exploring new dimensions and relationships that the comic never depicted.

Carrying over the cast of the 2010 film, the acting is unfortunately a mixed bag. That’s not to say that anyone cast is a bad actor (included are A-listers like Michael Cera, Brie Larson, and Chris Evans). Rather, the middling performances likely come from a lack of experience. While some stars, like Cera and Evans, do have prior voice acting

experience, most have only ever done live action roles. This leads to many performances sounding flat and a bit uninterested.

Nevertheless, “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off ” is a triumph for the franchise and its legacy. It’s part reinvention and part celebration. Fully inventive, it is the antithesis of “Scott Pilgrim, but again.”

ANISHA PINTO

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ENTERTAINMENT

The legal and social controversy of fan fiction on the internet commercialized resource with free access. However, some platforms such as “fanfiction.net” have introduced advertisements It is no secret that on their website, allowing fandoms have a powerful them to profit off of the hold on many literary works enthusiastic fan base of and their fans. Whether it’s the original work without based on “Harry Potter,” compensating the creators “Twilight,” “The Hunger of the material. The site, Games,” or any other series, however, continues to fan fiction can become a remain popular. Some staple of those stories. In fan fictions gain so much the last decade, the volume popularity on these of fan fiction has platforms that grown immensely, their authors leading to That fan fiction was then turned into publish them as q u e s t i o n s original works. a full-length standalone novel by the regarding whether One example of name of “Fifty Shades of Grey.” fan fiction affects this includes “50 the marketing of Shades of Grey,” the original work, initially written and what, if any, restrictions the potential market or as a fan fiction by E.L James are placed. value of the copyrighted for the series “Twilight” by Websites such as work. The broad and rather Stephenie Meyer. That fan “Wattpad” are big sources open-ended range of these fiction was then turned into of accessible fan fiction, included elements, however, a full-length standalone and their popularity has allows for a larger debate novel by the name of “Fifty created concerns regarding and more controversy.

Shades of Grey.” “The copyright and Internet In large part, fan fiction Mortal Instruments” is Protocol. As fan fiction is understood to be a non- yet another example of

BY HANNAH GROTHREIDY staff writer

becomes more mainstream, it may not maintain its protection under the ‘fair use.’

The use of an author’s work must be classed as ‘fair,’ which, according to the United States Copyright Acts test, includes the purpose and character of use, the nature of the copyrighted work, whether a substantial portion of the copyrighted work was used, and the effect upon

THE CROSSWORD

ALEX MORGAN

a fan fiction turned into final products tend to steer the increase in attention. a separate literary work, towards more original, As the popularity and use originally based on “Harry personalized works, of fan fiction expands, Potter,” and then converted legalizing the publication. however, this may change into an official series.

The impact of these and reshape the market of While different authors emerging fan fictions on the the work. are sure to respond marketing of the original The world of fan fiction differently, in Meyer’s works varies.

In many is still shifting, seeing as case, she fully its popularity supported the has exploded so work of James, greatly over the ... ( fan fiction) does not diminish the according to last decade. ​​While MTV. Meyers profit of the original, but rather adds to existing fair finds that, use protections it due to the increase in attention. while her work offer some potentially helped safeguards, the shape James’s ever-increasing story, it did not create it. cases, the fan fiction of the volume of fan-created Although some series may work does not diminish content may potentially originate as fan fiction based the profit of the original, warrant reconsideration of on other works, the authors’ instead adding to it due to these protections.

The significance of piercings

BY ELIOT PERDUE staff writer

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Singer Crosby 5. Medieval weapon 9. The U.S. after Dec. 7, 1941 14. List-ending phrase 15. Afresh 16. Ancient calculators 17. What one might say when wishing for a White Christmas?

19. Field with twice the percentage of undergraduate degrees as humanities 20. Chef on “Friends” 21. Lead ____ (weapon in Clue) 23. Me & you 24. A god, deity 25. Bat at a housefly 27. Taylor Swift’s sixth studio album, informally 30. Popular holiday song by “Wham!”

33. Clumsy person 35. “Barbie” actor, Gosling 36. Third “Little Women” sister 37. Material for indoor fields 39. When doubled, name of a popular athletic brand 40. 2014 horror video game 41. Actress DuVall 42. “Oh, my stars!”

43. Biblical son of Isaac 45. “Almost there,” in text-speak 46. Santa’s order to a red-nosed reindeer on Christmas Eve 51. Annoy 52. Archaic word for Christmas carol 53. Energy efficiency ratio 54. Pixar movie with an especially sad opening montage 55. Helpful thing 57. Like 1929 and 2008, economically 59. Russian mountain range 61. Yiddish song often sung at holiday concerts 64. “The Garden Isle” of Hawaii 66. To irritate 67. Children’s toy that hurts to step on 68. Television awards show 69. Provoke 70. City home to 863,000 Yemeni people

1. “The Fresh Prince of __-Air” 2. Things in online shopping carts 3. Finland joined it in April 4. The good witch in “Wicked” 5. Like Tony the Tiger, for Frosted Flakes 6. Title character of Tolstoy’s “first true novel” 7. Business head 8. “Uggh, gross!”

9. Battery often needed for flashlights or cameras 10. Baker’s measurement 11. H20 12. It can be worth one or thirteen 13. Edge 18. Makes a knot 21. Tie often associated with cowboys 22. When repeated, popular San Francisco ice cream treats 25. Quiet folks, often 26. What you often do to gifts 28. “____ and Smile”: David Lee Roth’s debut solo album 29. “Oh, come on!”, datedly 30. Dorothy and Toto’s author 31. Shipwrecked Defoe character 32. Alternative to “to be determined,” informally 33. Actress Oteri 34. Ancient Roman godly interpreter 38. Three-term serving president 39. Fooled 44. “___ or nothing” 47. What one might say with one card in their hand 48. Messenger 49. Limit, with “in” 50. Disney sea witch 54. Phrasing, with words 56. Skincare brand whose original full name was a play on the word “lanolin” 57. Seed often used in pudding 58. Barely managed, with “out” 59. Nickname for Hawaiian instrument sometimes seen as a gateway to the guitar 60. Aries’ zodiac symbol 61. A nonprofit, often 62. Dove sound 63. Sweet pet simply —name, Raven Fonseca Jensen 65. “It ___ what it ___” 66. Roentgenium on The Periodic Table 67. The City of Angels

— Violet Kessler

According to a research study published in 2006 by the National Institute of Health, 27 percent of teenagers from ages 1218 have some fashion of piercing. This number is strikingly large; taken 17 years ago shortly before social media’s encroachment upon the lives of teenagers, the data is likely a significant difference from today’s reality. But how much could social media have changed the world of piercings?

“When I see someone with piercings … I usually assume that they have good music taste ... and you know, they’re interested in selfexpression,” said Kaitlin Blazej Moore, a Berkeley High School senior. For years, permanent alterations to the body such as piercings and tattoos represented a person’s personal style or music taste, usually based on the designs and piercings that coincide with different alternative subcultures and music genres.

Many people may use piercings as a form of self-expression. For Blazej Moore, they can also represent a facet of conformity as face piercings become more fashionable.

“It’s definitely trending right now and I don’t know how to feel about it… it almost makes me not want to have my stuff done because I don’t want to … be just following the trend,” Blazej Moore said.

But are piercings trending, or are people experiencing the BaaderMeinhof Phenomenon, an illusion described by Healthline as the false impression that something appears more frequently than it does, often due to a newfound interest in the subject? According to the phenomenon, discovering a new thing leads to subconsciously noticing that thing more often. This could be the case with piercings, leading people to notice the fashion trend more in their day to day lives and perceive them as popular.

Amaya Huston, a BHS senior confirmed that this may be the fact. Huston said, “I don’t really see too many people with any facial piercings other than their nose, so maybe I’m just not aware of that.”

This is an important phenomenon to acknowledge when it comes to teens and selfexpression today due to

social media’s effect on the mind, as it feeds a constant stream of personalized content. Piercings make this phenomenon especially apparent as they draw attention to judgments teenagers can make based on whether or not something is unique, thus interesting, and what it means for something to be in so-called “goodtaste.”

“I think the more piercings people have the more bold or spontaneous you seem. I also can assume people’s style by their piercings which is interesting,” said BHS senior Grace Hoover, touching on a similar topic as Blazej Moore. The current stigma surrounding piercings and the “trendiness” around them has been created by the image of piercings as a form of rebellion and a display of one’s “boldness.”

Yet the question remains: why should it matter? And who gets to decide whether something is in good taste?

— Luli Galison ANISHA PINTO

SPORTS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

Beyond the mat: Wrestling with hygiene

BY MINAMI SOGA staff writer

An issue that wrestlers often deal with is hygiene.

Wrestling is a sport that involves much physical contact. This makes it important for wrestlers to be aware of their health and hygiene in order to protect themselves and others.

According to Benjamin Nathan, the Berkeley High School wrestling coach, there are four main concerns when it comes to hygiene.

“They’re all basically the idea of infection. So we’ve got ringworm, which is a common fungal infection. … The second (concern) is impetigo, which happens through the cut, getting infected, and then that’ll

spread. … Then there’s also staph, staphylococcus. And that one can actually be incredibly dangerous, but that one takes again, having a cut, getting infected, (and) not treating it. … In that category, you also have MRSA, which is essentially a resistant strain of staph.

And then the last one would be (herpes gladiatorum) ... (which is) really rare,” said Nathan.

In order to prevent wrestlers from getting infections, different regulations are put in place to ensure people’s safety. One of the biggest reasons for wrestlers to get skin infections is from the communal mats, as they are used by different people throughout the day and people often neglect to

GWEN WEBER-STOVER

clean them after usage. At BHS, student wrestlers are required to clean the mats before and after use and can clean themselves up with wipes after practice. Before matches take place, there are skin checks that are done to make sure that one doesn’t have a skin infection.

When someone notices that they may have any sort of abnormalities on their skin, they are required to visit a medical professional to get it checked and are only able to return to the mats once they have done so.

Metztli Olague Guerrero, a junior and a member of the BHS wrestling team, shared that some personal things that wrestlers do to stay healthy are showering right after practice, clipping their nails, covering open wounds, and using creams to get rid of scarring.

Giovanei Gaspar, a sophomore and member of the BHS wrestling team, added on that wrestlers use different soaps and wipes to help kill different skin diseases. According to Gaspar, these kinds of hygiene precautions and skin infections can protect wrestlers from having them be prohibited from being on the communal mats for 1-2 weeks, depending on the severity of the condition.

“(Skin conditions) can take a wrestler off the mat for like, a week or two, depending on what it is and how bad it is. I remember when I first got it, I had to stay off for like a week, because of how bad it was, ” said Gaspar.

Guerrero shared her personal experience with skin infections stating that she had not been very aware of these risks until getting a skin infection herself. She also shared how the team is much more aware and conscious of hygiene this year due to the outbreaks that occurred last year.

“I wasn’t very aware of it, my first year wrestling last year,” said Guerrero.

“But during one of my tournaments, last year, I did end up getting a skin infection, I just thought it was mat burn. And it started on my fingers and stuff. So I would just put band aids around it. But then I started getting an open wound on my elbow, and then my knee. And so I just after that, I became a lot more aware of it.” Guerrero, Gaspar, and Nathan all approve of these regulations.

“They always remind us to take showers, cut our nails. … It just makes us feel safer that we won’t get skin infections,” said Guerrero.

Sports movies to watch this winter vacation NYAD (2023)

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (2002)

Diana Nyada is a 60 year old woman who lives an ordinary, retired life. Thirty years ago, she was breaking world records for distance swimming, but now, she rarely even steps in the pool. All through her career, her biggest goal was to swim from Cuba to Florida, in one run, unassisted. This 103 mile swim, taking 60 hours, was seen as humanly impossible.

When she failed, she decided to take up the challenge once more, at the ripe age of 60. She runs into countless difficulties, the weather, sharks, and her budget. In this film, which is based on a true story, watch how Nyad severely persists and attempts to reach her goal that she’s worked for her whole life.

COURTESY OF BLACK BEAR PICTURES

These boys played off fear. “Friday Night Lights” is set in Dillon, Texas, where the local high school football team has high hopes. The head coach desperately grasps at a chance to win the Texas state championships. Football runs the town... and the boys. All the players strive to escape desolate Dillon, and some feel that football is the only way out for them. But when the star running back becomes severely injured, the responsibility of the state championships falls into the hands of the shadowed players. This movie highlights several issues, including parental abuse, team dynamics, and also the lives of coaches. Throughout this movie, these boys discover their love and passion for football and play like they mean it.

CREED III (2023) In the third installment of the COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES Creed series, boxer Adonis Creed is thriving in his career, dominating the boxing world.

But when old childhood friend Damian Anderson gets out of prison, things start to change for Adonis. He brings on his friend as a companionand helps tutor him. But when Damian challenges Creed for the heavyweight title, Creed soon finds out the fight between them might destroy his entire career.

COURTESY OF WINKLER FILMS

BY RIGZIN GYALTSEN staff writer

WEIRD HISTORY: TRAIN-CRASHING ELI LEICHTER WILSON

Ingrained deep within the psyche of every person, it seems, is the same strange impulse: like a moth to the flame, human beings are irresistibly attracted to watching things explode. Unexpectedly, the Victorian era in America was a prime place and time for watching things explode, particularly, trains.

In 1895, organizers working under a salesman named A.L. Streeter laid several hundred feet of railroad tracks, put a locomotive at either end and drove them into one another at roughly 60 miles per hour. The crash was incredibly successful as a commercial event, but the day that really ignited the train-crashing craze came a year later on Tuesday, Sep. 15, 1896.

As the Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad company (also known as Katy) expanded, it slowly phased out its 30-ton steam engines with heftier, newer 60-ton trains. As a result, a large stockpile of the old locomotives quickly built up. William George Crush, a Katy agent, proposed a publicity stunt, perhaps inspired

by Streeter the year prior. In preparation, Crush went all-out. He erected a town in east Texas called Crush, after himself. It featured restaurants, wells, a circus tent, and even a jail.

In the days leading up to the main event, 40,000 people flocked to Crush, making it the second-largest town in Texas for a short time. At 5:00 p.m., two trains, each loaded with railroad ties (the metal bars on train tracks) slowly backed to either end of a track that stretched from side to side of a valley. 200 hired police officers moved the crowd back to a supposedly safe distance, and Crush, on horseback, signaled the trains to begin moving.

The ensuing blast was, in a word, tremendous. One Civil War veteran present described it as more terrifying than the battle of Gettysburg: “There was a swift instance of silence, and then, as if controlled by a single impulse, both boilers exploded simultaneously and the air was filled with flying missiles of iron and steel varying in size from a postage stamp to half a driving wheel.” In the chaos, two spectators were killed and another six were injured, including cameraman Jarvis Dean, who lost an eye. William Crush was immediately fired from Katy, but the company received a shocking lack of negative press and the company benefited greatly from the incident, so Crush was rehired the next day.

The next three decades were very good ones for train-crashing, and it became an incredibly lucrative business. A man named Joe Conolly would destroy a total of 146 trains over the course of his life, earning the nickname “headon Joe.” One strange facet of the practice was using it as a vehicle for political messaging and debate. During the 1925 Scopes Trial, in which a science teacher was fired for teaching natural selection, two trains labeled “evolution” and “fundamentalism” were driven into each other right where the trial was held. Train-crashing died out over the next few years, as it was considered wasteful during the Depression and World War Two. So what can be learned from all this? I’m not really sure, so instead I’d like to extend my thanks to anyone who read and enjoyed my column this semester. Keep learning weird history!

15

16 F R I D A Y , D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 2 3

sports editors: Colina Harvey & Leo Silverberg

SPORTS BERKELEY HIGH JACKET

Leosilverberg@students.berkeley.net

SOCCER KICKOFF

Alberga leads girls past Arroyo

Senior Kai Lucas strikes the ball.

KAYHAN TEZCAN

Boys prevail in scrappy opener

BY LULI GALINSON staff writer

Boys soccer season has kicked off. On Monday Dec. 4, 2023, the Berkeley High School boys varsity soccer team had their first home game against Monte Vista High school.

The game started off intensely, with BHS playing with very high press and at a fast pace. Throughout the game, emotions were running high. Within 21 minutes of the first half, senior Oliver Gill received a yellow card after getting in a scuffle with a Monte Vista player after a particularly physical play. Within the next minute, an opposing player also got a yellow card.

The aggression throughout the game continued, and there were many times when Berkeley forwards got close to scoring. Then, 36 minutes in, junior Oliver Adams dribbled the ball up the field and past an opposing defender, then quickly

passed to junior Nikolas Grajeda Duarte, who scored the first goal of the game.

Senior center-back Marlow Buettner, also saw how much Berkeley was pressing up the field. “It was really a physical game.

And especially for our first game I thought everyone came out with really good energy. We kept the ball well and dominated in the first half,” Buettner said. He also thought the opposing team came strong too, saying, “We had a few chances for goals that we definitely should have put away, but Monte Vista did as well, so it wasn’t completely one sided.”

In the second half, both teams got a few corner kicks but none were able to go all the way to goal, and the ball was often kicked very far from one side of the field to the other. All three BHS goalies who played throughout the game made countless saves, stopping Monte Vista from tying the game.

Towards the end of the

second half, a very thick fog rolled onto the field, making the game barely visible to the many fans who came to watch, but this didn’t stop both teams from giving it their all until the end of the game. The final score was 1-0 for Berkeley.

Sophomore and defensive midfielder Henry Markus was content with the outcome of the game.

Markus said, “I think we could’ve held onto the ball more, but I’m proud of the team and think we locked down defense pretty well.”

Head coach Andre Hebert had mixed feelings about the physical nature of the match. Hebert said, “We played some super ugly football, and we played some great football, but we should have had more goals.” He was still happy about the players not conceding, and thinks the players have already bonded well too.

“We’ve been talking about the mentality and spirit of the squad and it’s already built into the team,” said Hebert.

explained how the team pulled it together at halftime, with the coach being instrumental in motivating them. “We had a very strongly worded pep talk that told us that we had to change how we were playing, and I think everybody really took that to heart and implemented everything we’ve talked about,” said Kelso.

As the game restarted, BHS quickly pulled ahead.

Senior forward Sophia Alberga blew the game

the last goal. 15 minutes before the end of the second half, the team’s formation changed. “We were trying On Thursday, Nov. 30, out a new formation (called) 2023 the Berkeley High front-three. Instead of a School girls’ varsity soccer forward and two wingers, team took on Arroyo for we were trying out three their first game of the forwards. It felt good to season. see that it was working,” Despite the victory, the said sophomore Michaela team had a bit of trouble Bedolla Garcia. during the first half as they With four minutes left were all getting used to each in the second half, the other, which they continue ball was on Arroyo’s side. to work on. “We’ve done After a quick scramble in a lot of team bonding so front of the goalie and an we’re still meshing assist from Bedolla together, but we’re Garcia, they scored Senior forward Sophia Alberga and the game came getting closer every day,” said sophomore to a resounding blew the game open, scoring a midfielder Mia close, with the final hat trick in the span of about ten Siemeski. score 4-0 in favor of minutes.

For the first half, Berkeley.

BHS kept tight The strong control of the ball, keeping open, scoring a hat trick season opener was a hopeful it on Arroyo’s side of the in the span of about ten start for the team. “I have field. The half ended with minutes. high hopes for this season In addition to the pep the score at 0-0. and people should come Taylor Kelso, a talk, their coach’s strategy out and support our games,” sophomore keeper, aided the team in scoring said Bedolla Garcia.

BY ELOISE THOMAS staff writer

A BHS player calls for the ball.

ATTICUS LABANG

ATHLETE PROFILE

MEI SAPHIR

Junior Charlie Gittelsohn, the boys wrestling captain, started wrestling as a freshman. One of his first memories from the sport was losing his first match.

“I remember I was going to my first match (and) my mind went blank. Before my match, I was thinking (of) my game plan, (and) I felt ready. But stepping on the mat, it’s a whole different feel than going into practice. You can’t always depend on your skills. … You have to get in the right mindset,” said Gittelsohn.

While losing can be difficult, Gittelsohn now sees losses as opportunities to improve. “Immediately after my matches, I always have a video of it and I’ll look at what I did wrong and tell my coaches what I want to work on in the future at practice. (I try to) know the small mistakes that I made that I could have fixed and (turn) those losses into a win,” said Gittelsohn. As a captain, Gittelsohn encourages his teammates to see losses as opportunities for improvement. “I always encourage people to keep working. Because that’s how you get better – just keep working and (have) consistency. I always remind people (to) not let their losses define them,” said Gittelsohn.

— Elsa Dietz