February issue by The Burlingame B Newspaper

THE BURLINGAME B theburlingameb.org

February 8, 2018

Issue 5 Vol. 113

Read about the new “Freshmen Three” rules for this semester

3 San Mateo Union High School District is considering building new housing on-campus for employees

4 See what Athletic Director John Philipopoulos has to say about the downward trend in sports commitment

5 Find out what the Bitcoin trend is all about

6-7 The Burlingame B presents your Winter Olympics watch guide

On Thursday, Jan. 11, almost a month after student election polls closed, Principal Paul Belzer announced that the 2018-2019 ASB co-presidents would be juniors Lily Navab and Evan Mahaffey. The election was deemed compromised by administrators when polls closed on Thursday, Dec. 14, the day after an unknown student leaked information to the Advanced Leadership class regarding who was in the lead. At the time of the leak, Mahaffey was leading, but by what margin was unknown. When votes were counted and Navab was shown to be the winner, the managers of the ASB elections suspected foul play. Shortly after, an allegation was made to administration against Navab for violating campaign rule number 12, stating that “candidates and campaign supporters cannot personally give their electronic voting devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) to voters.” Because of this, administrators suspended the voting results and launched an investigation into the conduct of the candidates. In the ensuing weeks, candidates were summoned and asked a vari-

PHOTO BY VISHU PRATHIKANTI

WHAT’S INSIDE? Administration decides on co-presidents for ASB BY VISHU PRATHIKANTI I got the feedback from the lead2 Webmaster ership class and they had some concerns with a variety of the

In an unprecendented decision, juniors Evan Mahaffey and Lily Navab will serve as co-presidents of ASB for the 2018-2019 year. ety of questions pertaining to the election while not being informed of any administrative decisions. In addition to the examination on Navab, the administration underwent a separate investigation regarding negative actions towards candidates as well as vandalization of candidates’ posters. Examples of allegations included the tearing down of posters, swastikas drawn on posters and candidates’ stickers on posters other than their own. “A lot of hearsay, a lot of rumors were presented to me for and against individuals,” said Vice Principal Terrence Lien, who led the second investigation. Lien said that the investigation

of vandalism was not linked to various accusations against candidates. “We have not found a connection between election results and the various defacing of posters and [of candidates’ actions in general],” Lien said. After winter break, the candidates met a final time with the administration to discuss what to do about the results of the election, and how to prevent similar issues from happening in the future. The candidates agreed unanimously on the decision of co-presidents. “One of the reasons I think it took so long is because we didn’t really see an easy solution, and so

space jam winter formal

comments and discussions that took place,” Belzer said. “Once we were all back in session with all four candidates on behalf of our student body we played out all the different scenarios that could be legitimate, and we were all in consensus about moving in this direction.” Belzer explained that in determining the co-presidents, the administration “looked both at the votes at that moment in time (when results were leaked) and then the final vote.” Belzer expressed that the decision in the end was not due to the validity of any accusation against Navab, but simply a way to appease all parties. “This is the time to be thinking about bringing the school together versus continuing to make decisions to divide our school,” he said. “I think we have two candidates that are focused on what is best for our school and I am very confident that [they] can work well together and really represent the student voice and population that is both productive and positive.”

LEFT: Juniors Rachel Way and Aidan Loftis share a romantic moment together on the dance floor during one of the few slow songs played during the event.

BY SASHA BENKE, PHOTOS BY LILY PAGE

See Darrion Chen’s latest cartoon

9 The editorial staff offers its opinion on the Mills basketball game cheering incident

10 Read about Sophia Stroud’s jazz endeavors

11 The wrestling team is currently undefeated! Read an update of their season so far

12 Catch up on the girls’ and boys’ varsity basketball seasons

RIGHT: Senior Diego Escobedo dances with his sister, sophomore Ines Escobedo. LEFT: Students wait in line outside the Peninsula Italian American Social Club in San Mateo. After flocking to stores to buy their last minute corsages and dresses, students arrived at around 8 p.m. on Jan. 27 draped in formal attire to the Peninsula Italian Social Club for a night of dancing, conversation and a little bit of sweat. “Before we as a cabinet even began working on the event, the venue has already been picked by administration,” senior class president Eliza Van Hamel Platerink said. “But the whole cabinet collectively chooses a theme which this year LEFT: Sophomores Joe Schenone and Kate O’Connor share a laugh during a dance. RIGHT: Some juniors enjoy their special night dressed to the nines and dancing the night away.

was Space Jam: an under the stars-esque theme that we ran with.” The senior cabinet worked with a designer and a decorator that implements the ideas they put on paper. Along with that, they hired a photographer to take pictures of people and their dates. “As a cabinet we like to have a lot of fun,” Platerink said, “and we like to throw ideas back and forth and make the best out of the opportunity to make a formal event with a fun aspect as well.”

News

February 8, 2018

Staff implements new rules in response to student behavior BY LOGAN TURNER

Staff Reporter

Over winter break, the administration and freshman teachers met in hopes of finding a solution to the problems that students, particularly the freshman class, have been causing in the classroom this year. “Our freshman teachers were looking for ways to better meet the academic needs for our ninth grade students,” Assistant Princi-

pal Valerie Arbizu said. “It was a teacher-team decision to revisit a number of our school rules and put the ‘Freshman Three’ into place.” These new rules include limiting students to four trips to the bathroom in each class for the duration of the semester through the use bathroom passes, ensuring that students consistently write in their planners, and requiring that cell phones are out of sight at all times. The bathroom pass rules were PHOTO BY LOGAN TURNER

Many classes give students bathroom passes like the four on a sheet in Ms. Moore’s geometry class.

created because teachers felt students were leaving class too frequently and not using their bathroom privileges only as necessary. “For many students, there is a direct correlation between their success in classes and their attendance in those classes: the more often you attend, the more you learn, and the better your grade outcome,” Arbizu said. Teachers have chosen to strongly encourage students to track their assignments and tests in a planner due to the potential lag in posting assignments due to the transition from School Loop to Canvas. The technological shift has been challenging for some teachers, but with the use of planners, this problem should no longer impact a student’s ability to keep track of their school work. Furthermore, organization and planning are essential life skills that will benefit students in college and the workforce, and teachers are looking to support students as they work on this skill. The cell phone rule simply requires that students have their cell phones off of their desks and out of sight during class time. Students are still permitted to use their phones outside of the classroom such as during brunch or lunch. “We know that cell phones are here to stay,” Arbizu said. “We also know that they can be a major source of distraction. Putting your phone on silent- or, even better, airplane mode- during class time will allow students to be more ‘in the moment’ and focused on learning.” Freshmen had mixed opinions about the new rules and how they have affected them personally. “I won’t be allowed to use the

bathroom as often which also gives me less opportunities to stay hydrated and get water and I already use a planner,” freshman Lily Rubenstein said. “I will be a lot more careful about using my phone, though.” Other freshmen agreed that they are not in favor of the bathroom pass rule. “For me personally, I think that the bathroom rule is completely unnecessary, but the phone rule is understandable,” freshman Tobin Lester said. Although these rules were specifically designed to manage issues relating to the freshman class, they have also been introduced into non-freshman classes. “I’ve heard about the rules in almost all of my classes because they are implementing them for some senior classes as well,” senior Kelly Prashar said. “I don’t find these rules necessary as a senior. We are almost at the end of high school and we should be mature enough to care about our own education.” Students have also questioned how effective these rules will be in solving the problems in the classroom this year. “I don’t really think that the new rules will change anything because although everyone knows the rules, they choose not to follow them,” Rubenstein said. “Honestly, students will still find a way to use their cell phones if they want to,” Prashar said. “I feel that the rule for phones won’t do much. Yet, the bathroom rule is definitely going to affect the freshmen and the whole school as they are no longer free to go whenever they want.” While some students have expressed feeling constrained by the

Cell Phones: Not out, not on the desk. They should be put away in backpacks during class time to encourage students to be more present. Planners: Use them to track homework, assignments, and tests. Bathroom Pass: Four per semester per class; detention for bathroom use once students have run out of passes in any given class period. rules, the behavioral outcomes of these rules hold students to a standard that teachers expect in an academic environment. The idea of new rules may be daunting to students, however teachers are optimistic about the positive impact the “Freshman Three” will have. “I actually think the rules are pretty simple and easy to follow: use the bathroom before you go to class, put your cell phone away during class time, and write your assignments down in a planner of some sort,” Arbizu said. “Save your bathroom passes for emergencies if possible.”

BY ALLIE KENNEDY

Staff Reporter

Since late December, the East Coast has faced relentless cold weather. First, a bomb cyclone, which is a severe storm formed by an unusually rapid drop in barometric pressure, blanketed the coast in snow in early January. However, when the cyclone finally subsided, a polar vortex emerged, bringing even colder temperatures. During these weeks of extreme weather, some parts of New England were colder than daytime temperatures on Mars. On Thursday, Dec. 28, 30 record lows were set across the country. High speed winds also dropped the perceived temperature 20 to 30 degrees lower than the actual temperature. Junior Chloe McNamara encountered the severe cold when she toured colleges in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts in mid-January. Although the bomb cyclone was weakening by the time she arrived, the weather was still unusually frigid. “I was outside when it reached -6 degrees,” McNamara said. “It wasn’t as cold as it could have been, but it was still really cold.” Despite the subzero temperatures, McNamara managed to enjoy her trip and stay warm. “The cold doesn’t really bother me,” McNamara said. “If I have a good coat, I’m fine.” Senior Adam Noworolski also experienced this weather when he visited his grandparents over the holidays in Shelton, Conn., where he faced temperatures around -20 degrees. “When we first got there it actually wasn’t too bad, but then it got colder,” Noworolski said. “And then it kept getting colder. And then apparently some polar vortex

hit.” Later, when Noworolski tried to return home, he encountered another consequence of the extreme weather: flight delays. “My flight was canceled for two or three days,” Noworolski said. “I was supposed to be back on Friday, but I actually got back on Monday.” Noworolski was not alone in his travel experience. Thousands

“When we first got there [the weather] actually wasn’t too bad, but then it got colder... And then apparently some polar vortex hit.” Adam Noworolski of flights were delayed or canceled due to severe weather during the bomb cyclone, with over 4,300 flights scheduled to leave eastern airports canceled in just one day on Jan. 4. The South was also hit severely by unprecedented winter weather, including Winter Storm Inga. Although the storm only brought a few inches of snowfall, the frigid weather and unusual precipitation threw some southern states with typically milder climates into disarray. Throughout the South, schools were closed for weather far longer than expected. In Baton Rouge, La., virtually all school districts called for snow days because the major roads leading into the city

were closed. Inga’s extreme weather was far more than a minor inconvenience; the winter landscape was dangerous and occasionally fatal. Ice and snow on the roads, especially in areas not equipped with snow plows, caused thousands of car accidents, and people were hospitalized with hypothermia. North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana all declared states of emergency for some counties unprepared to handle the snow, ice and freezing temperatures. The storms are subsiding, and temperatures are gradually rising on the East Coast and in the South. However, even after Inga and the polar vortex are long gone, the World Economic Forum still predicts that extreme weather events will be the most severe threat of 2018.

On Jan. 3, snow fell in Tallahassee, Fla. It was the first time the city has seen snow in 28 years.

Dennis J. Murphy

Your Peninsula Neighbor 415.310.7956 | dennis@dennisjmurphy.com dennisjmurphy.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

Record cold weather strikes the East Coast and the South

News

February 8, 2018

Despite Prop-64, driving high is still a DUI in California Indicators of an altered or negligent driver consist of Staff Reporter driving without headlights on, swerving, inability to maintain Since passing Proposition 64, a lane, not using a blinker and, legalizing recreational marijuana most frequently, speeding. After use for those over 21 in Califorpulling over a suspected driver, nia, there has been an increased the initial sign that alerts police awareness of the dangers posed officers of consumption is the by high drivers. As the state strong odor of marijuana or works to adapt to this recent evidence of smoke in the car. change, there has been controThen, police officers will check versy on the correct way to deal the driver for signs of bloodwith high drivers, especially opshot, squinty, or glassy eyes. posed to drunk drivers. There is “There is a saying in DUI a common belief among Burlininvestigations which is the eyes game students that driving high never lie,” Pene said. is significantly safer than driving The current tests to identify drunk. if a driver is high are all physi“I think that they’re both cal tests, and are unable to scivery dangerous but driving entifically measure the levels drunk is a little bit more dangerof THC in your system, as a ous because it’s a more extreme breathalyzer does with alcodifference from your natural hol. Police officers are trained state,” sophomore Annie JohnThe Drager Drugtest 5000 is a device to identify physical indicators son said. There is evidence that driv- that was developed to detect marijua- of marijuana use, and can use simple observation to check if a ers under the influence of al- na use in drivers. driver is high. People under the cohol is ten times more likely stoned driving is safe driving. influence of marijuana tend to to cause a fatal accident than “I believe marijuana and alco- have higher blood pressure and a a driver under the influence of marijuana. However, even though hol both impair driving and one higher temperature, both of which driving under the influence of doesn’t outweigh the other,” Bur- can be checked by law enforcemarijuana may be safer than driv- lingame Police Officer Garrett ment. Still, there is no machine ing drunk, driving high still leads Pene said. “They are both ‘down- that can precisely gauge THC levto numerous accidents and fatali- ers’ so your reaction time will be els at time of arrest. “What we do is run them ties. Law enforcement wishes to reduced as well as physical coorthrough a series of tests,” Pene stop the spread of the myth that dination.” PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKICOMMONS

BY CLAIRE HUNT

said. “We check the eyes, we’ll check their estimation of time, which is called the Romberg test, and then we’ll do a series of balancing tests where you’ll walk a line, raise a leg and we’ll also do coordination tests.” Since Prop. 64 passed the legalization of recreational marijuana use, law enforcement has been trying to catch up in creating technol-

“There is a saying in DUI investigations: the eyes never lie.” Officer Pene ogy that can accurately determine a person’s marijuana intoxication, at the time of driving. Because of the concern that high drivers are such a danger to others sharing the road, there is a pressure to perfect such a device. “Law enforcement is always late to the game in terms of technology,” Pene said. While Burlingame Police don’t have access to experimental devices that can identify marijuana levels in drivers, law enforcement in

areas like Los Angeles have started exploring mouth-swab technology that can identify drug use in drivers. Devices such as the Drager Drugtest 5000 can detect use of illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines and methadone with an eight minute test using only a swab from the inside of a person’s mouth. Since THC is a fat-soluble substance, marijuana use can be detected by saliva tests from 24 to 72 hours after consumption. THC can also be detected by a urine test for over eight days after consumption and by blood test for over 24 hours, varying on dosages and a person’s metabolism. If a driver is brought in under reasonable suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana, law enforcement obtains a blood or urine sample from the individual which is then tested at the crime lab, and the level of THC is measured. The ranges of penalties for an underage driver convicted of a DUI vary. These penalties include suspension of license, impoundment of motor vehicle, jail time up to several years, community service, attendance of a DUI school, fines with a max of several thousand dollars, probation and juvenile detention.

Employee housing considered for district teachers Senior Reporter

THE BURLINGAME B STAFF

“The [financial] challenges of living on the Peninsula continue to escalate.” Paul Belzer later investments in the real estate market. They would be invited to inhabit the units for up to seven years, although Skelly specified that this number is not set in stone. The housing units themselves, approximately 140 of them with one to three bedrooms each, would be built over the Mills tennis courts and soccer and softball field. Prior to the housing construction, the Mills campus would gain seven new tennis courts, a stadium field, and a multi-sport

Teacher Adviser: Melissa Murphy

field. Some students object to the sheer amount of construction projects required to make employee housing a reality. Last year, the Mills leadership class and student newspaper created an online petition to prevent the approval needed for work to begin. One of their chief concerns was that the campus had recently undergone renovation in order to accommodate Design Tech, a district charter school which has since moved to the campus of technology corporation Oracle. During that renovation period, students were frustrated with having to practice sports at Capuchino High School in San Bruno and other facilities. The petition-makers made it clear they do not want a repeat of that situation. Although the question over employee housing has more relevance in the Mills community, it is something to take into consideration for the future of BHS. “In twenty years from now, our teaching staff will be new to the area and may not have the same capacity to get into the real estate market,” Belzer said. The possibility of employee housing at Mills is far from reaching fruition. It will be at least two or three years until the dream of the school district is even remotely realized. “It’s a ways away,” Skelly said.

Webmaster: Vishu Prathikanti

Staff Reporters: Tekla Carlen Madeleine Greene Editor-in-Chief: Chief Photographer: Claire Hunt Maggie Murdoff Sofia Guerra Tyler Idema Allie Kennedy Managing Editor: Copy Editor: Moya Liu Charlie Chapman Jilly Rolnick Ben Neuman Hanna Sato Design Editor: Senior Reporters: Annie Sun Stella Lorence Sasha Benke Caden Thun Darrion Chen Payton Toomey Business Manager: James Lowdon Logan Turner Priscilla Jin Lily Page

The proposed design for the housing units on the Mills campus is comprised of 140 housing units with 2-3 rooms each. PHOTO COURTESY OF SMUHSD

District board trustees and schools administrators are currently discussing the possibility of creating teacher housing on district campuses. If the plan is approved, Mills High School will be the first school in the district to offer housing to its employees. First, the district needs to find money to finance construction. The likely course of action is to sell the site of former Crestmoor High School in San Bruno, presently occupied by Peninsula High School, a continuation school. Yet the sale of the Crestmoor site requires Peninsula High School to be moved to an alternate location. The decision for the new location has yet to be made. The motivation for employee housing stems from the combination of rising housing costs in the Bay Area and an increasing national shortage of teachers. San Francisco is infamous for its sizeable rent prices; surrounding land is nearly as exorbitantly expensive. “The challenges of living in San Francisco, or on the Peninsula, continue to escalate,” Principal Paul Belzer said. Simultaneously, the rate at which individuals earn teaching credentials is steadily declining. If both of these trends continue, it is likely that fewer teachers will apply for jobs in the San Mateo district.

A dried-up pool of qualified candidates would impact the quality of education that these schools offer. The district believes employee housing to be the solution to this conundrum. “Our goal would be to make [the price of employee housing] to be about half of market value,” Superintendent Kevin Skelly said. Teachers lacking financial stability but good merit would rent housing units to save money for

PHOTO COURTESY OF SMUHSD

BY LILY PAGE

District officials are concerned that the trends of decreasing new teachers and rising rent in the Bay Area will lower the quality of education offered in the district.

Policy Statement:

The Burlingame B is a student-run newspaper with the sole purpose of providing an open forum for student expression. Anything printed represents the opinion of the writer, but not necessarily that of the The Burlingame B staff, the administration or faculty of Burlingame High School, or any person affiliated with the San Mateo Union High School District. The Burlingame B does not discriminate against race, political orientation, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Although The Burlingame B will never refuse to publish guest submission based on the aforementioned factors, we reserve the right to edit or not publish them. Letters to the Editor: Disagree with the writers? Bring your letters to the room A120 or email them to <theburlingameb@gmail.com>. Letters may be considered for publication. The Burlingame B reserves the right to edit for clarity, length and accuracy. We welcome all comments.

Features

February 8, 2018

BY ANNIE SUN

Staff Reporter

Middle college is an alternative education program that is held at the College of San Mateo. There, students are able to take high school courses as well as ones offered by CSM to earn both high school and college credit. “High school is not for everyone and people should be able to have the opportunity to transfer to other schools if they think that BHS is not the right fit for them,” said college and career advisor Jonathan Dhyne. Middle college has many more choices for classes and resources than high schools in the SMUHSD offer. “Middle college has a wider variety of classes to choose from compared to BHS, which allows you to pursue or figure out your passions,” said Anya Ahuja, a current junior at middle college student. Middle college and high school is different in that the environment allows students to have more independence with their studies and allows them to explore their passions. “The high school classes in middle college are around the class size of BHS, but there is more independent learning and freedom involved” Ahuja said.

Additionally, middle college provides students with some insight on college life and what it means to be mature and independent. Students are in control of their own learning and should ask for help when they need it. Middle college gives people the opportunity to make connections in the future and to really explore one’s interests and be more involved.

“High school is

not for everyone, and people should be able to have the opportunity to transfer to other schools if they think that BHS is not the right fit for them.” Jonathan Dhyne “I want to attend middle college because I feel like it has a wider selection of classes, a more flexible schedule, and I can have a smoother transition into college life,” said Alexis Sawyer, a current sophomore who is considering middle college.

GRAPHIC BY ANNIE SUN

Middle college opportunities

However, middle college may not be the best choice for everyone. It is a college setting, meaning that there will be older students in the classes rather than students of the same grade level. “I feel like I would miss out on the high school experience if I attended middle college and I would not know anyone in my classes,” sophomore Olivia McCaa said. Students are afraid that they will miss out on important high school experiences, which dissuades them from transferring to middle college. They think that they will not be able to attend dances or sports teams, but they still can because they are a part of the district and members of their home school. “Students are still technically BHS students and can still attend school events and sports, they just take classes at CSM, but still have the benefits that BHS students have,” said Dhyne. Additionally, students can earn college credits for free by taking classes at middle college. So, by the time students have graduated high school in middle college, they will not only have completed the required amount of high school credits, but they may have also fulfilled some college credits that can reduce the amount of time they are in college for.

Remembering Helen Farkas: 1921 - 2018

Holocaust survivor Helen Farkas passed away on Jan. 29 at the age of 97. Below is an article chronicling Farkas’ last visit to Burlingame. Farkas and the stories she shared with students will be missed by all.

BY LILY PAGE

Senior Reporter On Wednesday, Feb. 1 2017, Holocaust survivor Helen Farkas gave a moving speech to Burlingame students and staff about her survival and escape from Auschwitz-Birkenau, a Nazi concentration camp. “It’s important that for me to know that the future generation will know my story: so you get some idea about what it was like being a prisoner, being innocent, as a young woman,” said the 97-year-old, expressing her motivation for the speech. As the number of living Holocaust survivors shrinks every year, Farkas believes that it is becoming more important to spread awareness of the poisonous hate which fueled the genocide, so such an event will never be repeated. The Holocaust was the period from the early 1930s through 1945 in which over six million Jews were systematically murdered by members of the Nazi Party. Farkas’s narrative of her struggle to survive in the midst of such a horrifying tragedy clearly impacted those who attended her talk, as evidenced in the teary faces that silently listened to her words. Farkas began with a description of the lack of foreign correspon-

dence in pre-war Europe. Citizens of her native Romania were clueless about the slaughter occurring in other parts of the continent. Radios were expensive and not very common. Her father was one of the very few who had access to listen to the Voice of America, a radio show with the purpose of providing coverage of the war. Since the radio broadcast’s descriptions of the treatment of Jews could not be corroborated by any other news facility, it was met with much suspicion by Farkas and the rest of her family. “The time came when we told him, ‘don’t listen to the Voice of America, it’s all just American propaganda. The world would not allow that men, women, and children would be slaughtered, and would be gassed like rats,” Farkas said. In particular, she emphasized how freedom of speech was suppressed, which concealed the Nazis’ anti-semitic activities, and made the Voice of America seem like dramatic propaganda. “Since the newspapers were not allowed to write what they know that’s happening in other countries, we were supposed to know nothing,” Farkas said. Yet the truth caught up with

Farkas’s family and the rest of the Jewish-Romanian population. In 1940, the Hungarians and Germans marched into Romania and thus began the descent into discrimination. Many Jews were fired from their jobs, taken out of school, and all were forced to wear yellow stars. As Jewish people were transported out of Romanian towns to unknown places (which were later found to be ghettos and concentration camps), Farkas remembers that the population was told, “they want to concentrate us because they will need our work. We will be taken to work for the country. We will be taken to factories, and when the war is over, we will go back home. Everything will go back to normal.” In 1944, the women in Farkas’s family were taken to a ghetto, while the men were taken to labor camps or brought to the war front. Each woman was allowed to carry only eight kilos (about four pounds) of their personal items into the ghetto. After about three or four weeks, the women of Farkas’s family were transported from the ghetto to what was said to be a factory. In reality, the starving masses of Jews crammed into dirty cattle-cars had been brought to Auschwitz.

At the gates of the camp, people were pushed into two lines. One was headed for the gas chambers. A young Nazi officer at the front determined who would go into each line, often separating whole families. “He was the one who decided, with a finger and a thumb, life or death,” said Farkas. She later found out that this man was Dr. Josef Mengele, an infamous Nazi doctor who dabbled in human experimentation and eugenics. Children, elders, and pregnant women were sent to the fatal left line. Farkas and her sister were assigned to the line on the right. Her sister nearly joined the other line since their parents, and her baby had been assigned to the left. Farkas saved her sister’s life by telling her to stay the right. They never saw her baby boy nor their parents again. The women had their heads shaved, took mandatory showers in cold, tepid water, were tattooed like cattle, and given rags to wear. “Shoes were not given. So if you did not wear [the ones you brought] out, how long was your life when the winter came? Not very long,” Farkas said. Farkas and her sister had the task of protecting her niece, a

young woman named Irene who had contracted polio as a child and now had a limp. Everyday, they hid from Nazi doctors who would conduct a daily “selection,” where they picked out the weakest laborers and send them to the gas chambers. According to Farkas, it was imperative to stay together. “A person alone was already dead because you needed to belong to someone. And they needed to belong to you.” Farkas, her sister, and her niece escaped on the death march. The emaciated prisoners were marched through German towns with guns pointed at their backs. At night, their only protection from the bitter cold were heavy horse-hides, which they draped over their huddled bodies in the snow. People died from exhaustion, hypothermia, and disease. During a guard change, Farkas, her sister, and her niece escaped. “Imagine, put yourself into my shoes, and many others…” Farkas said in a low voice. Her story demands empathy for those who survived and can speak for the millions who did not. For greater detail on Helen Farkas’ story, you can read her book, “Remember the Holocaust.” PHOTO BY LILY PAGE

Then sophomore Adriel Malagon speaks to Helen Farkas during the Q&A after her speech. Photo from 2017 visit.

Features

February 8, 2018 GRAPHIC COURTESY OF REDDIT GRAPHIC BY DARRION CHEN

“Middle men,”

Cryptocurrency bitcoin simplified BY DARRION CHEN

Senior Reporter

Of the many cryptocurrencies, currencies that are based on computer generated encryption, Bitcoin is the quickest growing and most popular, leaving some wondering about the function and legitimacy of it. Bitcoin was introduced in 2009 by a mysterious computer programmer with the alias Satoshi Nakamoto. Since then, the currency has seen an explosive but volatile exponential growth, from one bitcoin valued at $0.06 in 2009 to one bitcoin costing $9,000 in 2018. Like traditional forms of currency, Bitcoin can be traded and exchanged, and is “minted” through “Bitcoin mining.” The simplified explanation for this process is that computers, programmed by their users, compete for solving “blocks,” which are hundreds of pending Bitcoin transactions. The first computer to solve a block is awarded a sum of Bitcoin. Then, its solution is added to the “blockchain,” a centralized chain of transaction histories

known to all computers on the Bitcoin network. Thus, Bitcoin is almost impossible to rob, because the deed would involve rewriting the blockchain, which would mean the robber would have to control more than half of the global Bitcoin network. Some businesses, like Expedia and Microsoft, already accept Bitcoin as a form of currency. “It seems like everyone who is that the forefront of technology, like most of the Silicon Valley, has been drawn towards bitcoin,” said Matthew McDermott, an AP Government and Economics teacher. “So there obviously is a market for non-conforming and decentralized online currency.” A major quirk of Bitcoin, unlike the dollar or euro, is that it does not have a central regulating agency. Since there is no Bitcoin bank, there is no “middle man” in Bitcoin exchanges. Bitcoin can be transferred from person to person without tax or fees, regardless of borders or whereabouts, almost instantaneously. However, the lack of a governing body also gives Bitcoin its volatile nature. Since

there is no agency to monitor the currency, Bitcoin fluctuates rather wildly and unpredictably. For instance, from December 2017 to January 2018, Bitcoin crashed from $19,000 to $9,000. “Compared to the stock market, there is not much people behind cryptocurrencies like bitcoin or ethereum,” said junior Ryan Cheng, who follows cryptocurrencies closely due to his blockchain-based business. “There is a massive interest in the stock market, but Bitcoin doesn’t have that, which gives Bitcoin its volatile nature. The lack of government regulation also makes it even worse.” McDermott also shared his skepticism. “I know a friend who had 25,000% returns [on bitcoin], which is just too much,” he said. “It feels like a bubble, and it does not suggest long term stability. I know there is a huge role for online currencies, but I’m just not sure that Bitcoin is the one. Usually the first doesn’t win, the replications and improvements that come after the first one wins.”

Copy Editor

One hundred and one year-old Carroll Schmidt remembers a time in Burlingame when fire engines were horse-drawn, the town had dirt roads and William H. Crocker would ride down Floribunda Avenue on a horse and throw toffee candies down to the town’s children. “It was like a chicken feed,” Schmidt said. “It was really something to see.” He witnessed Burlingame transform from a small country town to what he now considers a “formal city.” Schmidt, who was born and raised here, attended McKinley Elementary and Burlingame High schools before going on to the College of San Mateo. Schmidt’s story is just one of almost a dozen told through the Burlingame Public Library’s Living History Project. Librarian Bradley McCulley, who has since become the official City Librarian, began the project in 2011 as a way to preserve the town’s history for future generations. “Initially it was supposed to be strictly Burlingame residents local history,” McCulley said. “But we kind of broadened the scope because the stories were so powerful.” McCulley partnered with the Burlingame Historical Society to help him with the project. The society keeps a list of local residents that the members want to interview for historical preservation purposes. “The role of the historical society has been to identify people who have been in the community long enough to have experienced change,” said Jennifer Pfaff, the Burlingame Historical Society president. When Schmidt was growing up, he remembers most of the shops being small mom and pop stores. “You would need to go shopping and the people knew you by name,” he said. “Knew who you were and what you were and would almost automatically take care of what you needed without you even having to ask.” Another one of the people of

high interest was Yevgeny, or Eugene, Zauber. Zauber grew up partially in the Soviet Union and survived the Siege of Leningrad during World War II at age five before escaping to Siberia and then to Kharkov, Ukraine. He and his mother were the only two members of their family to live through the siege and survived hidden in a relative’s small office in a hospital for two years. His father was drafted into the Red Army and 22 members of his family perished while taking refuge in the German occupied Belarus. In the Soviet Union, Zauber trained as an engineer and worked as one for 22 Zauber shows off one of his plants situated on one of the main library’s balconies. years after immigrating to America in January of 1977. “I love [Burlingame],” Zauber said. “It is my favorite small city.” Here, Zauber volunteers weekly as a gardener at both Burlingame library branches. He has a nursery at his home from where he donates his plants to the library gardens, his favorite being the succulents. Zauber also often gifts his plants to the library staff, especially around the holidays. “I try to make people happy,” he said. “I am a happy volunteer and retired person.” Other people interviewed for the project who were part of prominent historical events include Helen Farkas, an Auschwitz survivor, and Les Williams, a Tuskegee airman. Like Schmidt’s story, the project also focuses on local history as well, interviewing Rosalie O’Mahony, a former Burlingame mayor and councilwoman, and Alfred Escoffier, a former Burlingame city librarian. These stories and more can be found on two interactive screens in the main library and online on the Burlingame Public Library section of the city website. Several podcasts have also been produced for the public, which also can be found on the website. Though the project has concluded, McCulley and the rest of the library employees still assist the historical society in videotaping its interviews and updating its files. They hope to continue collecting residents’ memories in the future to preserve Burlingame’s history.

PHOTO BY JILLY ROLNICK

Living History Project preserves local stories BY JILLY ROLNICK

Central Park, Incheon

and will have gone through 108 transfers by the time it reaches the opening ceremony.

The New Sports

The Location

This year’s Winter Olympics will take place from

PyeongChang

Feb. 9 - Feb. 25

PyeongChang, South Korea is the site for the 2018 Winter Olympics. It will be the second time that Korea is hosting the Olympics; Seoul, South Korea hosted the Summer Olympics back in 1988. The city was elected to host this year’s Olympics back in 2011 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after the 123rd IOC Session in Durban, South Africa. PyeongChang received more votes than both Munich, Germany and Annecy, France combined in the first round. The Alpensia Resort will be the focus of the Olympics this year, as the majority of the events will be held on the mountains that make up the resort. Other Alpine areas used for the games include the Phoenix Snow Park, Jeongseon Alpine Centre, and Gangneung Olympic Park. The PyeongChang Olympic Stadium will hold the opening and closing ceremonies. The stadium, which will be dismantled shortly after the games are over, cost approximately $78 billion to construct. It holds 35,000 spectators and took three years to build.

The Politics This year, as a symbol of unity, North Korea and South Korea will march together under one flag. In addition, they agreed to have a joint women’s ice hockey team (pictured above). The Koreas first marched together in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia and last marched together at the Olympics in the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy. In total, they have marched together nine times, most recently at the 2007 Asian Winter Games.

Due to the findings of an investigation by the International Committee, Russia has been banned from the 2018 Olympics for violating anti-doping regulations. Athletes who can prove they have not used performance-enhancing drugs will participate under the Olympic flag as Independent Athletes from Russia. If such an athlete wins, the Russian flag will not be displayed and the Russian national anthem will not be played. Instead, the Olympic anthem and flag will be used for the ceremony.

Billion dg p et f or the 2018 Olym

ar p of ym the l O Winter

92 Pa ns rtic ipating Natio

102 These bird’s eye view shots of the Olympic Village show the stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies will take place.

Eve nts in 7 sports

The Athletes

As approved by the International Olympics Committee, four new sports will be debuting at this year’s Olympics: mixed doubles curling, mass start speed skating, a team Alpine skiing team event and big air snowboard.

The Dates

According to the Olympics website, this year’s mascot is a white tiger named “Soohorang”. He symbolizes trust, strength and protection. The white tiger was chosen for its prominence in Korean folklore.

$2.4 Bu

The Mascot

The Numbers

The traditional torch run began in Sondgo

E R T O N L I Y W M R PIC U O Y WATCH GUIDE

ics

The Torch

ic s

Lindsey Vonn Designed by Stella Lorence

Age: 33 Event: Alpine Skiing Hometown: Vail, Colorado

Shaun White Age: 31 Event: Halfpipe snowboarding Hometown: Carlsbad, California

Nathan Chen Age: 18 Event: Figure Skating Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah

Chloe Kim Age: 17 Event: Snowboarding Hometown: Torrance, California

Jordan Greenway Age: 20 Event: Ice Hockey Hometown: Canton, New York

Opinion

BY MADDIE GREENE

Staff Reporter

A fault with fantasy BY BEN NEUMAN

Staff Reporter

Fantasy Football is a widespread passion among students at BHS. Students who lose are often publicly humiliated as a punishment.

Seniors in AP versus CP English

Objectivity is needed

BY CHARLIE CHAPMAN

Managing Editor

Objectivity is the key ingredient in dignified intellectual discussion -- the cornerstone of higher education -- something many universities which have been the sight of free speech controversies claim to offer. It is impossible to enter into a discussion when objectivity has been lost. When debating controversial topics, such as what role colleges and the government have in restricting personal expression, people on both sides of the argument have to understand the content of the argument should center on facts and logic, not cries of one’s personal emotions holding the power to override anything. In 2015, a video circulated in which a female student at Yale University yells vehemently at a professor, arguing that college is not an intellectual space but a “home.” The protests were

sparked by a memo written and distributed by the target of the attacks, Professor Erika Christakis and her husband Nicholas arguing that the school’s policy regarding potentially offensive Halloween costumes was overbearing and did not allow for students to develop their own social norms and make their own decisions about appropriate costumes. The professor did not condone inappropriate costumes and her views were far from radical. The mob of students that gathered screamed at the professor and in response to claims that their complaints were unwarranted, students screamed “let us define our own experiences” and “let us tell you if you’re being racist.” The response is evidence of the roots of the Social Justice Warrior movement that suggests one’s subjective view of what is offensive and therefore worthy of condemnation is paramount to the objective standard of the First

A Smoking Gun

Amendment. The perception by many young leftists is that their own feelings override one’s right to free expression. This is rooted in the self-centeredness of many millennials. Such a state of mind convinces young individuals their personal emotions should be tended to by society. This belief has been planted within them by educators and parents who repeatedly insist that they deserve to be coddled by all. The belief their opinion is correct solely because they hold it is the result of intellectual entitlement that has been implanted within them. When people are convinced that their point of view is validated not by facts but by their own emotions, they are incapable of rational and dignified discussion. Objectivity, where emotion is replaced by logic and fact, allows for rational debate with the possibility of reaching consensus.

CARTOON BY DARRION CHEN

Year after year, avid football fans immerse themselves in the action of the National Football League. Sometimes it is to root for their home team, but more often than that, it is to keep up with the performances that their fantasy team players have. Fantasy football, a simulator in which participants draft a team of their choosing to compete for prizes or bragging rights, has become a prime focus of many on gameday. While fantasy football does have its perks, such as the ability to draft favorite stars and have players to root for when the local team is playing poorly, punishments are common for the losers of these leagues. In some cases, league members agree on creative and amusing punishments. Some examples of these are having to wear an outfit chosen by the other members of the league or being pelted by a steady stream of tomatoes thrown by competitors. In the other cases, the punishments are humiliating to the loser and only selectively funny for a short time before the laughter fades, but the effects of the punishment stay. Penalties that consist of physically altering one’s appearance for an extended period are not only miserable to experience, but also detrimental to the fun of the game. The looming threat of punishment during the regular season causes players to stress through-

out the week about whether or not they started the right players. On Sundays, dreading a potential mistake in one’s lineup is a recurring thought during the games. While short term punishments are fine because they do not require lasting showcasing of a loss, permanent punishments are constant reminders that one lost and has had to suffer for it. For example, an all too common form of penalizing losers is by having them dye or shave their hair. This can be funny for a few days, but it soon becomes a normality to all but the loser. They have to live with the regret of agreeing to the punishment until their hair returns to its prior state. Some may argue that fantasy leagues need punishments in order to prevent anyone from quitting mid-season, but aren’t the prizes reason enough to stay? If a punishment is absolutely needed, leagues should institute creative, short term punishments that are funny, but not pleasurable, even for the loser. This makes the experience much less stressful and even adds a little friendly competition. Due to the severity and permanent nature of many fantasy football punishments, countless people are driven to check the standings obsessively, resulting in a much more unpleasant game. For this reason, punishments should be eliminated completely from the game or at the very minimum be made to be creative and interesting.

tions for getting into a top-ranked college. As a result, students in many AP classes care less about the work and their performance in the class consequently suffers. In other words, taking AP classes just for the AP label, and not because of any actual interest in the class itself, can cause students to do worse. AP U.S. history teacher Peter Medine feels that more and more students are taking his class out of obligation and a desire to “pad” their college resume, not because they want to learn U.S. history at a more advanced level. “Years ago, when I first got to this school, if I had an advanced class, those kids did the reading,” Medine said. “It was just an expectation that if you sign up for an AS or an AP class, you do your homework every day. You show up ready to learn. You try. You’re motivated. That’s not a given anymore.” It’s obviously important to challenge yourself and take advantage of the opportunities that BHS has to offer. But don’t let AP classes and the obligation you might feel to take them, take adOnly 27.4% of this year’s senior class is taking AP Lit, while vantage of you. Let your interest guide you in choosing your classes, 41% of the juniors are in AP Lang. This dramatic difference could and your grade and learning expe- be attributed to the greater emphasis on impressing colleges and rience will thank you. getting good grades in junior year and can imply that many students are taking AP English for the aforementioned reasons, not because they are genuinely interested in the class.

GRAPHIC BY MADDIE GREENE

Advanced Placement classes are an opportunity for students to earn college credit while challenging themselves to learn more about a given subject. AP classes contribute to an impressive college application and provide that grade bump that everyone loves. Many students choose to take AP classes, and some enroll in as many as four or five of them. Currently, Burlingame has 17 different AP courses from which to choose. Some of the time, these classes aid high schoolers’ growth as students and allow them to delve deeper into a topic in which they are interested. But often this isn’t the case. Your experience in an AP class is greatly influenced by the reason you decided to take it. When a student is interested in the topic and wants to explore it further, they are more likely to enjoy the class and do well. When one takes a course because they feel like they have to, then that probably won’t be the case. Of course, AP classes have numerous benefits, which makes them so appealing to students striving for academic success. They can prepare kids for the difficulty and dedication needed for college and teach them how to work independently. To many students, AP classes allow them to be

surrounded by people with a work ethic similar to their own. “Taking on rigor can be exciting and motivating, whereas taking courses just for an easy “A” can be very unmotivating and unfulfilling,” AP Chemistry teacher Susan Marcan said. But “exciting” has a limit. There’s a point where a schedule chock-full of AP classes merely causes stress and can be overwhelming. Regardless, students often feel enormous pressure to take AP classes, especially to help them get into top colleges. “If you don’t participate in these AP classes you kind of feel like you are lesser as a student or you aren’t trying as hard or you don’t care as much, which is completely not true,” senior Lola McManus said. Whether it comes from parents, peers, or their own academic goals, a number of Burlingame students clearly feel the overwhelming need to take AP classes. As McManus mentioned, AP’s have become a measure of academic achievement and commitment to school that signifies a major issue in the mindset of students, parents and teachers. Our focus has shifted from learning for the purpose of learning and feeling passionate about the material to wanting to meet the expecta-

Juniors in AP versus CP English GRAPHIC BY MADDIE GREENE

The right reason to take AP classes

February 8, 2018

Op-ed

What to take away from the Mills basketball game BY THE BURLINGAME B EDITORIAL BOARD

On Friday, Jan. 12, during the first boys’ varsity basketball quad game of the year against Mills High School, several Burlingame High School students began chanting “You can’t see us” in response to “We can’t hear you” being chanted from the Mills student section. Principal Paul Belzer shut down the cheer immediately. However, it was reported that other comments were being made to players as they ran up and down the court. Belzer brought up the incident at a student council meeting the following Tuesday, Jan. 16. He expressed his deep disappointment over the actions of Burlingame students. He also notified the staff of the incident and the fact that he addressed student council. Because the incident was so public, many staff members were embarrassed by student conduct, yet unsure of how – and whether – to approach the issue with their students.

Burlingame High School lacks a strong sense of school spirit and school pride, which makes it easier for students to resort to derogatory cheers when faced with an impending loss at a sporting event. As a well-ranked athletic school, we become accustomed to watching our teams win, and we forget how to “lose with grace,” as Dean Fred Wolfgramm puts it. Cheering should be about building your own team up, not tearing the other team down.

Passivity exacerbates the problem; we’ve become adept at turning a blind eye to the sort of behavior that grows into a racially-inclined chant at a basketball game. Living in one of the most liberal areas in the country creates a sense of separation and protection. How could we say anything offensive when we’re assumed to hold such progressive views? It’s easy to write off a race-based comment as a joke based on a stereotype we don’t believe in, but we forget that that’s not how others perceive it. The following Friday, Jan. 19, Belzer made an announcement over The last action taken to ameliorate the situation was when Belzer the loudspeaker at the end of fifth period, calling for the respect of and counselor Karen Latham took representatives from Leadership, all players and spectators at that night’s second quad game against ASB, and Service Commission to Mills to deliver a letter of apology. Capuchino High School. Belzer said it was a good opportunity for conversation. “Racial stereotyping and other acts of discrimination are unacceptable and need to be addressed directly and denounced,” Belzer said in As the basketball season comes to its end, and our rivalry home his announcement. “Although we are not defined by the acts of some quad approaches, we need to use this incident not as a merely a lesson members of our community, we need to stand together and make it in poor judgement but as a starting point to move forward. We need clear this kind of behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.” to remember that words can have more power than we might foresee. We need to remember that just because we live in an area where racWhile Belzer’s announcement was commendable and appeared to ism is not a commonality doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. And we need have an effect at that night’s game, there are bigger underlying issues to remember that inspiring positivity, respect and pride should always that are not being addressed. be what we are working towards together as a school.

Letter to Student Body A note to the students of Burlingame: Positivity is the mode by which humans conduct the most fulfilling, rewarding lives. In positive environments, empathy flourishes and happiness is abundant. More than ever, the Burlingame campus needs positivity. That being said, this can only occur if our student body is enthusiastic about the cause. I encourage each of you to look to yourself and channel your most affirmative character. Positivity can be found in shared smiles and encouraging words. To be positive is to be supportive of those around you and to be optimistic about a promising future. You should bring vibrancy and excitement to drab situations and be resilient in times of struggle. Most importantly, positivity derives from kind treatment of other people. I would like to see a campus on which positivity is widespread and plentiful. Students and faculty alike will thrive; our community will see an unbreakable unity. Thank you Tori Rickman ASB President

Student Life

February 8, 2018

PHOTOS BY LILY PAGE

Winter Rally A chill ending to “resolutions” spirit week BY LILY PAGE

Senior Reporter The Jan. 26 winter rally took place during lunch in the gym and was the grand finale of “resolutions” spirit week, during which each day had a theme that represented a New Year’s resolution. For example, pajama day corresponded to the resolution to get more sleep. The resolutions theme was also present at the winter rally. As students filed into the gym

Senior Anthony Monisteri takes a shot with a basketball during a contentious game of knockout, won by junior Michael Lucier.

LEFT: Senior Gianna Garcia dangles a donut for junior Noah Lavulo. The gym was filled with raucous cheering as competitors in the donut-eating contest viciously nibbled on the glazed goodies. RIGHT: The junior varsity cheer team’s choreography included several high-flying stunts. Meanwhile, pop music blasted in the gym.

Sophia Stroud joins outside bands to develop as a musician BY MOYA LIU

Staff Reporter Burlingame High School has a long history of nurturing talented and skilled musicians who devote their time to instrumental music performing inside and outside the classroom. Junior Sophia Stroud has devoted her time to performing jazz music since the age of ten. “When I was first learning how to play I was greatly inspired by my dad because he had been a rock drummer in his late teens and I thought it was the coolest thing on earth,” Stroud said. Apart from her childhood experience, Stroud also enjoys how the drums allow her to express herself in an amazingly artistic way. “I love playing the drums because music is an extremely important part of my life,” Stroud said. “My favorite part of being a drummer is how powerful I feel

when I’m able to make an entire ensemble sound better and more professional. It is a feeling that I wish everyone could have the opportunity to experience because it is truly life-changing.” In order to develop as a young musician, Stroud spends her free time practicing the drums. She currently plays the drums in three jazz groups outside of school, including the Stanford High School All-Stars Big Band, which is an allstar performance ensemble open to high school jazz musicians from anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area. These groups typically practice once a week or before a gig. Young musicians interested in performing should “play with soul, play with drive, play with the urgency that it might be your last time ever playing,” Stroud said. In the years to come, Stroud would love to continue her career as a professional musician. PHOTO BY SOFIA GUERRA

Stroud performs in the percussion section alongside her fellow BHS musicians at the annual winter concert on Jan 22.

through a tunnel of cheerleaders waving pom-poms, they were invited to write their resolutions on large posters adorning the walls. Then, they took their seats, and the show began. Students watched as junior varsity cheer and a collaboration between varsity cheer and the dance team performed. While the performances went smoothly, some students were nervous about appearing in front of the student body.

“My brain is kind of in a mush right now because we just learned a bunch of new moves- one of our members is sick,” junior Carmen Lavilla, a member of the dance team, said prior to performing. Additional events included a donut-eating contest in which participants were blindfolded (won by junior Noah Lavulo), a service honoring the student captains of winter sports, and a game of basketball knock-out.

Sports

February 8, 2018

Boys’ Varsity Soccer undefeated in league play “Our team has had so much success in our games so far this year because we have managed to find a way to work together really well and the chemistry is very good,” sophomore Milan Rosic said. Though the team has wel-

PHOTO BY ANNIE SUN

BY ANNIE SUN Staff Reporter The boys’ varsity soccer team has seen considerable success this winter season in league play. At the time of publication, the boys’ varsity soccer team is 7-0 in league matches and 8-1-3 overall.

PHOTO BY ANNIE SUN

comed a few new players this season, they have still been able to find a way to work very well together and develop a good team chemistry. “So far, the boys’ varsity soccer team is undefeated in the league games because we are very balanced and every position is covered well,” senior Dakota Lillelund said. Overall, the boys have seven more league games left to play in this winter 2017-2018 season but seem to be doing very well at the moment and are really dynamic. “The success of the team depends on each player and how well everyone plays during the games. If we want to stay undefeated, we have to stay focused and not get distracted,” Lillelund said. Come support the boys’ varsity soccer team at their last home game of the season against South San Francisco High School on February 16 at 4:30pm.

Junior Kai Galia focuses on the ball as he lines up a corner kick.

Senior Gabe Hyman assumes an athletic stance to intercept a pass.

PHOTO BY VISHU PRATHIKANTI

Wrestling hopes to defend its 4-0 record and sophomores.” Botelho is most impressed by the upperclassmen wrestlers that have stepped up in the absence of senior wrestlers from last year, namely Cole Friedlander and Arman Dizadji. “The seniors on the team have really stepped up and become good leaders, particularly captain

Andrew Slaboda,” Botelho said. “He’s great with the young wrestlers and teaches them with his experience.” Since this article has gone in print, the team has attended one dual meet on Feb. 1. Make sure to come support the team tonight at their dual meet against Half Moon Bay at HMB. PHOTO BY VISHU PRATHIKANTI

Junior Ibrahim Yaldiz prepares for an attack on an opponent.

BY PRISCILLA JIN Business Manager The wrestling team boasts a 4-0 undefeated record in dual meets so far in the season. The loss of key players from last season has been mitigated by several new wrestlers who are eager to learn. Senior captain Andrew Slaboda expresses his satisfaction with the progress of the team. “We have a lot of young wrestlers who are constantly improving and dedicated veteran wrestlers who are proving to be leaders and mentors for them. We hope to keep our winning streak going in dual meets,” Slaboda said. Coach Botello, who is in his eleventh year with the Burlingame team, also emphasizes the success from the season so far. “The kids are wrestling really well,” Bothello said. “We have a great mix of wrestlers. We have a young team-- lots of freshmen

Junior Scott Atkinson drills an opponent’s head into the ground.

Sports

February 8, 2018

PHOTO BY SOFIA GUERRA

Girls’ Basketball Rocky start for girls basketball makes team stronger BY SOFIA GUERRA

Chief Photographer The 2018 season started with five intense league games, leaving the Panthers with a 2-3 record so far. After grabbing a 9-3 preseason record, the first league game against Sequoia High School knocked the Panthers out of the loop with a narrow 44-41 loss. They entered a brief losing streak for two more games, playing nail biters against Mills and Hillsdale high schools. The Jan. 12 quad game against Mills was particularly painful for the team, after shooting guard and senior co-captain Nicole Brunicardi tore her ACL with two minutes left in the game. The injury has ended her season. After gradually narrowing the points gap against their opponents, the Panthers triumphed over Woodside and Capuchino High Schools under the offensive leadership of seniors Michala O’Donoghue and Madison Gaines as well as the efforts of younger standouts like sophomore Katerina Rally and junior Izadora De Oliveira. After the season’s rocky start, the team seems to agree that passion is their biggest asset. “We really stepped up when we needed to,” said Nicole Brunicardi, who now watches each game from the sidelines. “We fought back ten times harder than Mills.” According to fellow co-captain Amber Moss, the team’s uphill battle will only make them stronger. “We’re really coming into our own,” Moss said. “We’re a younger team, but we have the technical skills necessary to make it far this year. All we need to do is keep our mentality positive.” The team suffered a loss 38-64 against Aragon on Wednesday, Jan. 31. It was a hard-fought game though and they played tough until the buzzer. Their next game is at home against San Mateo High on Jan. 9th. wJunior Izadora de Oliveira makes an offensive play at the Jan. 19 game against Capuchino High School. PHOTO BY MAGGIE MURDOFF

Boys’ basketball Boys’ basketball gears up for last quad of the season BY MAGGIE MURDOFF

Editor-in-Chief

PHOTO BY JILLY ROLNICK

After an 0-10 start in the pre- on the defensive side of the game. season, the boys’ varsity basketball The last quad of the season team is looking to rebuild their is this Friday, Feb. 9 against San league record before the playoffs. Mateo High School. The Panthers “I feel alright about the season narrowly lost to San Mateo 48-44 so far,” senior Robert Bonnici said. at the away quad on Jan. 26. The “I think we have underperformed quad is not only a rivalry quad but a bit because at the beginning of is also senior night. the season I believed that we had “I am most looking forward to a-lot of potential, but I still think senior night versus San Mateo bewe have a chance of finishing the cause it’ll be my last home game season strong and making CCS.” of high school basketball,” BonniThe Panthers are 2-6 in the ci said. “It’s bittersweet being a seseason now, with big wins against nior because it’s been a fun season Hillsdale, 61-56, and Woodside, but it’ll also be sad when we’re fin49-41. Bonnici credits the teams ished because it’ll be our last year improvement from the start of the of playing together.” season to the team’s improvement Senior Robert Uhrich sinks a three in the boys’ varsity basketball game against Cappuccino High School on Jan. 19. The Panthers lost in overtime 46-41. 8

Girls’ soccer Varsity girls’ soccer team turns its season around BY JILLY ROLNICK

Copy Editor Despite starting the season with Being in the top league this a few losses, the girls’ soccer team year has proven to be a challenge has turned their season around, for the girls. The team credits its recently beating Menlo-Atherton success to its strong defense, but High School, the league’s former feels as though it needs to focus first place team. on improving its scoring game in The team is currently in third order to have a shot at making place in league and has a 3-3-4 re- CCS playoffs. cord, but is still looking to develop “There is no ‘easy team’ in the its offensive game. league,” senior Grace Colson said. “The biggest challenge we’ve “Everyone is a competitor and it had is not being successful with will be interesting to see who ends scoring goals, which is reflected in up on top.” the results of our games, most of Come watch the Panthers take them being 0-0” sophomore Lil- on the Woodside Wildcats at home lian Potter said. on Feb. 13. wSophomore Fiona O’Donoghue challenges an attacker in a Jan. 18 game against Menlo-Atherton

Upcoming Games

Friday, Feb. 9 JV girls’ basketball home game- 3:15 p.m. JV boys’ basketball home game - 4:45 p.m. Varsity girls’ basketball home game - 6:15 p.m. Varsity boys’ basketball home game - 7:45 p.m. Varsity boys’ soccer home game - 4:30 p.m. JV boys’ soccer home game - 6:30 p.m.