February Issue 2023

WHAT’S INSIDE 2

THE

Gender bias in ADHD diagnosis

and reli4 Tattoos gious jewlery

ski9 Competitive ers hit the slopes

culture 10 Cancel and comedy

URLINGAME B Issue 4 Vol 136

Burlingame High School, 1 Mangini Way, Burlingame, CA 94010

February 14, 2023

Technology changes the cheating game

BY ZACHARY NEWMAN

Staff Reporter

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ChatGPT can do homework. Now what?

BY JAKE ROTHSTEIN

Head Photographer

“As the use of artificial intelligence in education becomes more prevalent, concerns are being raised about the ethical implications of using language models like ChatGPT in high schools. While the technology can be used to assist students in learning, it also raises questions about privacy and the potential for misuse, such as with automated essay writing, which can undermine the integrity of academic work.”

At least that’s what ChatGPT

wrote when I asked it to produce a lede for an article about the controversial use of the chatbot in high schools.

OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research company, released ChatGPT — a free AI chatbot — in late November.

ChatGPT immediately gained massive popularity, attracting 1 million users just five days after launch.

Unlike search engines such as Google, which return links to websites that contain information, ChatGPT aims to directly answer users’ prompts, whether they involve solving mathemat-

ical equations, writing essays or explaining complex topics in simpler terms. For high school students, those on-demand specific answers can be a valuable resource.

“I have used it to check answers every once in a while for some different classes,” junior Nate Teitelbaum said. “I don’t exactly know how it gets all of its info, so I don’t know if everything it tells me is reliable, but for some [subjects] like math, it can be a very good tool.”

See “ChatGPT,” page 2

In December, one of the chemistry teachers caught students sending pictures of the on-paper Unit 5 chemistry test to their peers. The student claimed the pictures were of a practice test, but after further investigation, the chemistry teachers found clear evidence to the contrary.

“I see it as laziness, absolute laziness,” chemistry teacher Alexandra Kirkpatrick said. “If you come to Flex and get help, and work hard in class, most kids can be successful. I was disappointed, angryand sad, but I started thinking of the [students] and how this would ultimately impact them.”

Test scores were removed from the grade book to ensure nobody received an unfair advantage.

“I studied and was ready for the test and all of a sudden it was taken away just because of something [people] did,” sophomore and chemistry student Edy Knight said.

To ensure students were still tested on the unit, Unit 5 questions were worth three times the points on the final exam.

“I don’t think they should have done that,” Knight said. “They could have made us redo the unit test, but [tripling] points caused a lot of stress that we didn’t need on top of everything.”

The chemistry scandal was not an isolated incident. In a modern age dominated by technology, cheating on tests has become considerably easier.

A similar situation occurred in Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH) teacher Elizabeth Bellas’s class. Bellas caught multiple students plagiarizing from the internet and sharing their inclass essays. She spent finals week contacting parents, talking to the principals and having students make up the work.

“I was so mad that my time was wasted,” Bellas said. “I was very frustrated and angry. It’s disrespectful. I trust [my students] until [they] break the [trust]. It sucks that I have to think about [cheating] all the time.”

According to a survey by the Josephson Institute Center for Youth Ethics, 51% of 23,000 high school students admitted they cheated on a test in the past year.

“People think cheating is the best way to get [good] grades and accomplish their goals [without] learning anything,” Knight said.

Advances in artificial intelligence — such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT bot — have created new ways for students to cheat on their assessments, and even circumvent plagiarism checkers like turnitin.com.

“Artificial intelligence opens doors for people to plagiarize,” Bellas said. “There are a lot of students that are doing the work honestly, and it’s not right for people to take credit for something [they] didn’t [produce].”

The COVID-19 pandemic has also threatened test integrity. Online learning enabled students to cheat from behind a Zoom screen and avoid consequences. And even after students have returned to in-person learning, pandemic tendencies have continued to plague classrooms.

See “Rise in cheating,” page 3

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THE BURLINGAME B Editor-in-Chief Jackson Spenner Managing Editor Elise Spenner Design Editor Sophia Bella Sports Editor Michelle Moshkovoy Head Photographer Jake Rothstein Business Manager Alex Kelly Social Media Manager Amanda Nolan Web Editor Arda Inegol Diversity Coordinator Lizzy Wan Social Coordinator Kristie Kim Copy Editors Arshia Chakravartti Isabel Liu Senior Reporters Daria Burnosova Staff Reporters Theo Au-Yeung Athena Bostonmaer Jeannine Chiang Danny Conway Sophia Doss Natalie Gyde Joelle Huysmans Brinda Iyer Abby Knight Will Kriner Ana Lunaparra Ellie Neuman Zachary Newman Sophia Puzon Ruby Rosenquist Zach Shapiro Teacher Adviser Melissa Murphy Policy Statement: The Burlingame B is a student-run newspaper with the role purpose of providing an open forum for student expression.

Anything printed represents the opinion of the writer, but not necessarily that of the Burlingame B staff, the administration, or the faculty of Burlingame High School, or anyone affiliated with the San Mateo Union High School District. The Burlingame B does not discriminate against race, political oritentation, 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.

Website: www.theburlingameb.org Phone: (650) 558-2899 Email: theburlingameb@gmail.com Address: 1 Mangini Way, Burlingame, CA 94010

Girls with ADHD underdiagnosed

BY ELLIE NEUMAN

Staff Reporter

BY ISABEL LIU

Copy Editor

Freshman Zoey Hakes was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in second grade, when her mom suggested she get tested. It was her younger brother who was referred first, but “my mom said, ‘[those symptoms] sound more like my daughter, not my son,’” Hakes recalled.

Although Hakes’ story may sound ordinary, her early diagnosis is quite rare. According to the Public Library of Science, most girls with ADHD go undiagnosed until adulthood.

“I was very lucky, unlike a lot of my friends, people I know and stories I’ve heard about ADHD where girls don’t get diagnosed,” Hakes said.

The disparity starts with the fact that girls with ADHD often display different symptoms than boys. The Attention Deficit Disorder Association claims there are multiple types of ADHD. Symptoms of hyperactive-impulsive ADHD include excessive talking, restlessness and impulsive behavior — prevalent in boys. Symptoms of inattentive ADHD — more common in girls — are less “obvious”: difficulty completing tasks and getting easily distracted.

“With kids that are acting out, that’s harder to control, and that affects the classroom more than the kid that’s [inattentive],” academic counselor Traci Kreppel said.

Hakes added that the skewed cultural and social perception of ADHD affects diagnoses, as well.

“It’s not talked about enough and not brought aware-

ness to,” Hakes said. “A lot of people think ADHD is like, they talk a lot. They have a lot of energy. But it’s more than that.”

Although teachers and medical providers are taught to recognize all symptoms, there’s a deeper issue at hand: gender stereotypes.

“A lot of people think that boys are stupid or easily distracted and they’re more prone to getting ADHD, whereas girls are stereotypically smart,” said senior Carlos Garcia Mendoza.

Garcia Mendoza, who also has ADHD, speaks to the issue that girls are expected — or even socialized — to be more organized and quiet, so ADHD symptoms are often dismissed as irresponsibility or laziness.

This can lead to a misconception that girls are less likely or even unable to have ADHD. “[People] say to girls that ‘it’s not that bad, boys have it worse,’” Hakes said. “They say, ‘Oh, you’re just chatty’. I think it really hurts…It’s almost like convincing [girls] they don’t

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have it.”

The Wellness Counseling office, with the support of Child Find — a state mandate that requires schools to identify children with disabilities — works to encourage early diagnosis and provide assistance to students in need. These supports often rely on self-reporting, which the National Library of Science found are most effective in identifying girls with ADHD. Academic counselor Luis Mashek noted that teachers also implement classroom resources to keep students’ attention.

“For example, Mrs. Murphy and Ms. Abitbol have stand-up desks for students who find it difficult to sit during the duration of a class…little things in their classes that may be helpful with or without the diagnosis,” Mashek said.

Untreated kids with ADHD are at higher risk for underachievement, low self-esteem, anxiety and depression. Getting support or a diagnosis, students reported, helped them thrive. “[Getting diagnosed] helped me notice [when I’m distracted], which helps me get back on track,” Garcia Mendoza said.

“It’s helped me better understand how I work and how my mind works.”

Hakes echoed the statement, hoping for a future where all students could receive proper support.

“This year, I was able to get help within the school, and being able to let my teachers know has really helped,” she said. “[I hope other kids know that] even though ADHD’s so tough, at the same time, it’s a superpower…

Use it to your advantage, get the help you need.”

ChatGPT threatens classroom integrity FROM PG. 1 But where ChatGPT can be helpful, it also can be misused and threaten academic integrity — especially in classes that involve writing, such as English or history classes. For any given essay, a prompt can be easily pasted into the software to generate unique — but not authentic — essays in seconds. To mitigate the potential for cheating, Advanced Placement (AP) Literature teacher Timothy Larkin has implemented even more inclass pencil-and-paper writing assignments. “[ChatGPT is] much more sophisticated than [getting information off of Google]. I have been shifting towards in class writing for a long time rather than take-home essays — it’s obviously very hard for me to control the variables,” Larkin said.

“The skill of being able to [write] something — draft it, edit it, polish it, publish it — that’s a really important skill that’s getting harder and harder to teach if you can have a computer to do it for

you.”

With the software being still relatively new, the school and district administration have yet to formally discuss how and if the school will address ChatGPT, according to Assistant Principal Jenny Gibson.

“I think it’s only a matter of time before another app is going to be able to detect ChatGPT,” Gibson said. “Right now we have Turnitin and other softwares that are able to detect plagiarism and cheating on the web, and in the future, will have capabilities [to detect ChatGPT].”

Some schools, such as New York City public schools, have already taken action against the software and outright banned ChatGPT from school devices and WiFi networks — citing negative impacts on student learning and the safety and accuracy of content.

“I think for a while, people, especially teachers won’t know how to use [ChatGPT] well, and it will get regarded as just anoth-

er gene device,” Teitelbaum said.

“I do think there are many good, ethical and helpful ways to use it, especially to help learn but I think for a while, people aren’t going to realize that and utilize those capabilities.”

Though ChatGPT is not without flaws, like most technologies, it will likely continue to improve, becoming more relevant in the future and potentially making an even greater impact on English classes.

“It may actually have the potential to usher in a new wave of focus on creativity. If technology exists for anybody to put forth a perfect five-paragraph essay that details the exact reasons for something, then [essay writing is] going to be less and less important,” said Larkin. “What’s probably more and more important is ways to think outside the box, ways to be a divergent thinker, ways to be more creative — activities that a bot can’t do.”

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FEBRUARY 14, 2023

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SHOPLIFTING CULTURE

City takes first steps away from gas stovetops

THE DiSTURBiNG RATE OF STEALiNG AMONG TEENAGERS

BY JEANNINE CHIANG Staff Reporter In “Ginny & Georgia,” 15-yearold Ginny and her gaggle of friends swipe a shirt and jewelry from the mall. Although the store owner spots them, the girls escape any real consequences.

Much like Ginny, teenagers are all too familiar with slipping an item in their purses — and getting away with it. According to Deep Sentinel, approximately 10-11% of the U.S. population has shoplifted at some point in their lives, and shoplifting is most prominent among teenagers. Whether the stolen valuables are food, alcohol, clothes or, at Burlingame, other students’ Physical Education (PE) locker locks, shoplifting among teenagers is no longer a rare occurrence.

In recent years, popular teenage retail brands such as Brandy Melville, Pacsun, and Urban Outfitters have lost mass profits due to customers shoplifting. According to the Los Angeles Times, for every $1 billion in sales that a retail store makes, $700,000 is lost to theft. California only covers 10% of the price of a retail store’s stolen items, so businesses lose 1-5% of a store’s annual stock, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Many contribute [to stealing] because it could be a way to ‘seem cool’ or impress others. But at the same time, many people are just reluctant to spend over a certain budget for clothing, accessories, or whatever it may be,” sophomore Sophia Geminder said. “Take stores like Urban Outfitters, for example. Some basic shirts cost almost $70, and not a lot of people are willing to spend that type of money on something they won’t wear every day.”

While Geminder believes that shoplifting is attractive because of soaring clothing costs, she also

thinks that an element of its appeal is the “simplicity” of the crime.

“That’s the accessibility of shoplifting, especially in stores where there are no security tags or buzzers to catch you,” Geminder said. “I think people also tend to forget about the serious consequences associated with shoplifting because they don’t think they will get caught, which is why it has become so normalized.”

Arrests and charges for retail theft have dropped 70% between 2017 and 2021, while reported incidents rose 21%, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

An anonymous source — who attends Burlingame — disclosed that shoplifting is addictive and that shoplifters like him are unable to quit because of the serotonin it gives them. The source, who has stolen roughly $5,000 worth of items from retail stores such as Lululemon and The North Face, admitted that acquiring new items makes him feel both happy and accomplished. However, he also claimed that if he had a higher allowance from his parents, he would pay for the items instead.

Another anonymous source said they were similarly reliant on shoplifting.

“To be honest, I steal everything. Half of my closet is stolen.

I haven’t paid for clothes in the past two months,” the source said.

“Why would you pay for something when someone you know is stealing it and paying nothing for it?”

According to Impact Law, theft is the most common crime among teenagers in America.

The crime is so prevalent that students are even stealing unattended belongings from the PE locker rooms. PE teacher Anthony Dimech believes the issue originates with lost or misplaced locks.

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“We probably have about 75 locks that are lost because [students] misplace them. They don’t close their lockers. Every day when I walk around, I’m closing someone’s lock, or I’m picking up a lock off the floor,” Dimech said.

Moreover, Dimech gives a locker room talk to his students every day, reminding them that items don’t get stolen unless they’re left in the open or other classmates know the combination.

“If you can pick a lock in front of me, I’ll give you $100. No one’s ever been able to do so,” Dimech said.

Because many people forget to lock their lockers and keep expensive valuables at school, students often lose costly clothing and accessories during Flex Time periods, when students steal the most.

Another anonymous source revealed that during Flex Time, groups of girls will sometimes take items in the locker room if they see the item has been there for a few days. For example, if a pair of jeans has been unclaimed after a week, some individuals will take the jeans for themselves.

Although the girls won’t reach into unlocked lockers or unzipped backpacks, items that are “laid out in the open” are what catches their eye.

“Shoplifting is so normalized in our society that it creates an environment where you feel left out if you don’t [partake in stealing],” junior Tem Battsooj said.

Rise in cheating linked to technology FROM PG. 1 “[It causes] a lack of learning and gaining knowledge,” Kirkpatrick said. “I’m worried that critical thinking skills are going to be a lot lower, and what kind of people are going to come out of this to be adults and members of our community?”

According to school data, cheating investigations at the University of Pennsylvania increased 71% from two years ago.

“I’m not usually the teacher who gets angry, but [my class] saw me upset,” Bellas said. “Hopefully, I got the message across.”

But tests don’t need to be online for students to cheat, as they can take pictures and send them to other classmates. Figuring out which students gained an advantage is seemingly impossible.

“I appreciate that admin took

it very seriously immediately, and worked hard to track down some of the people that may have [received it],” chemistry teacher Joshua Dyl said. “Every time students [cheat], all [they’re] doing is trading in some personal integrity for a little bit of GPA. That’s a bad trade.”

Chemistry teachers now force students to turn in their phones during class and create different test versions to decrease the chances of communication with others about the questions.

“I have to relinquish some control,” Kirkpatrick said. “So do I think it’s something that could conceivably happen [again]? Yes, but I tried to do my best to prevent it in as many ways that I can.”

APUSH teachers followed suit, creating multiple prompts for

their writing assessments to dissuade plagiarism.

“We are working through tools to block browsers or have [students] handwrite, which is way more annoying for them,” Bellas said. “[For] students who did their work honestly, it’s not fair.”

Teachers will be watching closely for future incidents to maintain academic integrity, but the fallout from these incidents and their impact on the other students will be felt long after this school year is over.

“It calls into question how education works,” Dyl said. “Technology limits our development, and we’re starting to lose our capabilities because of what we’re relying on. But am I worried that [cheating] is going to happen [again]?

Yeah, for every test.”

When a political feud blew up online at the beginning of 2023, most would have assumed that it was about one of the following things: classified documents, Ron DeSantis or Hunter Biden’s laptop. But instead, Twitter influencers, TV pundits and elected officials were fighting over a common household appliance: gas stoves.

On Jan. 9, Richard Trumka Jr., a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissioner, told Bloomberg News that the government might want to consider stricter regulations on gas stoves, sparking the online uproar. It wasn’t all Trumka’s fault: In recent months, the EPA and World Health Organization (WHO) have published data linking gas stoves to respiratory disease, cancer and cardiovascular issues. Natural gas is also harmful to the environment and pumps methane into the atmosphere and households.

The topic quickly devolved into political and cultural uproar, but relatively little legislative change has been made since the news broke. However, the city of Burlingame has taken up the crusade against gas stoves. In an attempt to reduce gas stoves in Burlingame, the city council passed new Reach Codes, extending the ban on gas stoves and other gas appliances in new multi-family buildings to include new single-family homes.

“We are pushing for people to use electric cooking over gas,” Burlingame Sustainability Coordinator Sigalle Micheal said. “Our first reason is because we want to reduce the use of methane gas because every time you turn on a gas burner, you’re actually burning fuel and creating greenhouse gas emissions.”

Steps such as the reach codes are crucial to making Burlingame less gas dependent and more environmentally friendly. However, many Burlingame residents may be reluctant to part with their gas stoves. Senior Lily Hartley has a gas stove at home and uses an electric stove in Culinary class at Burlingame, and says the gas stove consistently produces better results — enough for the risk of gas sto be worth it.

“I think it’s the media trying to blow it out of proportion. It’s kind of a crazy story, like, ‘Oh my god, a common household appliance might cause asthma or cancer,’” Hartley said.

It isn’t just Burlingame residences who have to grapple with the implications of their gas stoves and appliances. In the classrooms where Shannon Couch teaches Nutrition and Culinary classes, half the student work stations are gas stoves and the other half are electric.

According to the EPA study, students may be exposed to the potentially harmful effects of gas stoves once or twice a week, depending on how much they use them in class. Despite the potential hazard, students in Couch’s classroom are generally not troubled about their exposure to gas.

“We don’t have them on that much, like if we’re cooking the stoves are only on for 20 to 30 minutes max,” senior Hayden Wilson said. “Set-up, cleanup [and] eating are most of the class.”

While Wilson is not concerned about exposure in the classroom, his family has moved away from gas stoves in their home in favor of induction stove tops. Induction cooking relies on the transfer of electro-magnetic currents to the metal pots and pans on top of the glass surface, all without using a burner or flame. Induction cooking is much more safe for households and the environment, and according to Wilson, it doesn’t make a difference in cooking.

“I definitely think they work the same,” Wilson said. “It is a little simpler to use because when you stop using it turns down really quick, whereas gas and electric stay hot for a while.”

In an attempt to introduce induction cooking as an alternative to gas stoves, Micheal has started an induction cooktop program for Burlingame residents. Residents can check out a small induction cooktop to use at home and try out the different method of cooking.

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FEBRUARY 14, 2023

Teens weigh in on stigma around tattoos

BY DANNY CONWAY

Staff Reporter

Teenagers, whether or not they like to admit it, make impulsive decisions all the time, from ditching class, to shoplifting, to drinking. Luckily for them, most of their bone-headed mistakes are only consequential in the short term. Tattoos, on the other hand, give young adults an opportunity to permanently change their body during their formative years.

There are 45 states in the U.S. with laws prohibiting minors from getting tattoos, including

On his 18th birthday, Senior Sam Aziza jumped at the opportunity to get a tattoo. With his parents’ approval, he tattooed a French saying on his quadriceps as a tribute to his late grandfather.

“My tattoo means to be grateful for what you have,” Aziza said. “My dad immigrated from France and his great-grandfather came from Africa to Italy and then to France. Basically, it means to be grateful for what your family did, and that a lot of people have it a lot worse than you do.”

Although Aziza’s tattoo is

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discreet, he — like many other young adults with tattoos — feels a need to hide it due to the social stigma surrounding tattoos.

“There are certain people who I’m reluctant to show [my tattoo to], like my childhood

Tattoos, regardless of peers’ opinions, are an artistic representation of the right to self expression that each and every American possesses.

“It’s hard to get past a first impression sometimes, but by the same token, you shouldn’t be limited in your own artistic expression by someone else’s bigotry,” Erle said.

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California. But in California, once you are 18, you can get a tattoo regardless of your guardians’ approval. For many students, this means they can make a permanent ink decision before they’ve voted in a presidential election.

When I was a kid, people got tattoos and it was like…. you were a sailor or you were something bad,” Erle said.

But even as the stigma around tattoos evolves, the decision remains significant and, at times, dangerous. Many teens who want tattoos but are not of legal age choose to tattoo themselves, which can lead to skin infections.

Matt Decker, owner of Premium Tattoo in Oakland, has been a practicing tattoo artist since the 1990s. Over the years, Decker has tattooed several teenagers looking for ink.

“As long as they’re 18, I don’t second guess it,” Decker said. “If they are underage, you don’t tattoo that. Not only is it illegal, but people should wait for things that they want. It’s a valuable lesson.”

With two children of his own, Decker empathizes with parents who push back against their children’s tattoos. At the same time, he respects his customers’ independent rights — as long as they are of age, of course.

“Parents are always going to think that what their kids do is weird and wrong, but, you know, that’s just how it goes,” Decker said “Letting go as your child gets old enough to make their own decisions is an incredibly hard thing to do as a parent.”

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“It’s hard to get past a first impression sometimes, but by the same token, you shouldn’t be limited in your own artistic expression by someone else’s bigotry.”

friends and certain parents,” Aziza said. “It makes me a little uncomfortable because people in older generations see it differently than I do. They see it as, ‘oh, they’re trying to be a rebel’ or ‘they’re trying to be a bad person.’ Or like, ‘you can’t get a job with a tattoo,’ and I see it completely differently.”

Junior Natalia Penaloza has a small tattoo on her back she got during a trip to Peru. Despite the fact that parental approval is required for minors to get tattoos in Peru, Penaloza got hers by herself.

“They don’t really ask,” Penaloza said, adding that her parents still don’t know about the tattoo.

“I wear baggy clothes all the time… they are easy to hide,” Penaloza said.

In recent years, tattoos have become more and more common in the U.S. Around 62% of millennial parents have at least one tattoo, according to online trend site YPulse, and general public opinion seems to be veering away from the conservative viewpoints of older generations.

Art of Video teacher Stephen Erle has worked at Burlingame for 30 years and seen the change in perspective first-hand.

“I think tattoos have gotten a little different. Over the years, they’re not as frowned upon.

Although trendy, religious jewelry can offend

BY JEANNINE CHIANG

Staff Reporter

symbolic one.

Traditionally, the cross symbol emphasizes faith and a Christian’s loyalty to their religion. According to Pope Francis’s teachings, wearing a crucifix as a fashion accessory

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On popular shopping sites such as Shein and Etsy, trending jewelry pages are filled with varieties of jade Buddha and cross necklaces. Here, you won’t find traditional gold and silver cross necklaces or smooth, green Buddha pendants — expect fashion-forward kaleidoscopic, bedazzled interpretations of the religious symbols claiming to give you good luck.

Because fast fashion trademarks allow for the mass production of religious jewelry, it is easy for teenagers to follow these trends, no matter how fleeting. And because accessories cost just a couple of dollars each, religious jewelry is accessible to anyone.

But the prevalence of affordable religious symbols can undermine their spiritual significance. For instance, sophomore Anastasia Ku, a follower of Buddhism, shared that in order for a jade Buddha to have its full purpose, it needs to be gifted to you.

In her view, buying the symbol from a cheap website for its aesthetic value subverts its religious purpose.

“I feel like a lot of people [who wear religious jewelry] don’t understand the religion and they don’t know much about it. They only wear it because it’s a trend,” Ku said. “To me, as long as you kind of understand the religion, or have family members who

are Buddhist, then I think it’s fine. But if you’re completely not aware of what Buddha is and don’t understand the religion, then it’s quite disrespectful to be wearing it.”

Although Ku believes that religious jewelry can be worn as long as the wearer is respectful, courteous and aware of the meaning behind the symbols, many are more critical of those

who have adopted the trend.

“I feel like crosses should only be worn by Christians. I think that cross necklaces are a sign of you supporting God and that if you are not Christian, it is just pure disrespect,” sophomore and Christian Jayden Harjani said.

Many popular influencers have appropriated the cross symbol. Kim Kardashian, for example, bought Princess Diana’s amethyst cross pendant for over $200,000, setting an example for teenagers to follow. Among such public figures, religious jewelry and accessories seem to be a fashion decision rather than a

contradicts Christian morals because it idolizes the cross.

Additionally, religious followers fear that people will focus on the presentation of the cross as opposed to the symbolism of God itself. Because Christians wear the cross necklace as a sign of devotion, an Atheist who claims the same aesthetic could be seen as excessively discourteous, according to Sweet & Spark. Because of Pope Francis’s teachings, many Protestant denominations were afraid of religious images, and its jewelry was generally not worn during the Protestant Reformation.

“It doesn’t bother me [when others wear a cross necklace] but to people who are deeply religious, it could be viewed as

an appropriation that may be seen as both insensitive and offensive. Religious jewelry shouldn’t be a type of style,” sophomore Andrew Lee said.

Religious jewelry can still be worn to show respect and interest in the faith. Although many wear the cross and jade Buddha for reasons beyond its snazzy image, it’s essential to acknowledge the purpose the jewelry may serve for Christians and Buddhists.

“I feel like no matter how many times you tell someone ‘oh, we don’t wear that [religious jewelry] because you’re not Buddhist,’ they’re not going to listen. I just think that my religion shouldn’t be a fast fashion trend,” Ku said.

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Integration prioritized for Special Ed internationally PHOTO BY ARSHIA CHAKRAVARTTI

BY ARSHIA CHAKRAVARTTI

Copy Editor

Walk into any art elective class at Burlingame during a typical school day, and a unique learning strategy is on display: special education students and mainstream students working in the same environment.

This approach might seem like a recent development, but special education programs have been integrating students into mainstream classrooms since 2004.

“It really starts with what’s called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its reauthorization in 2004 that provided guidance on including students with disabilities into general education classes at multiple levels,” special education teacher Patrick Myers said.

Myers interacts closely with Moderate/Severe Disabilities students within the Bay Academy program, and works to ensure that they are on track to receive a certificate of completion and move on into Bay University. These programs cater to each students’ needs and help them to develop soft skills like communication and socialization.

When California reauthorized IDEA in 2004, Bay Academy established inter-department connections to allow their students to participate in arts-centered elective classes.

Myers said the heightened integration between students has

Bay Academy student Yzadora (Izzy) Kygen works on a drawing in an art class. beneficial outcomes.

“It’s good for everybody,” Myers said. “I think that the benefits for our students are, they perform at a much different level.”

The elective classes are structured intentionally to make integration possible.

“The way their curriculum is built is very inclusive, and so our students are able to come in and really participate fully,” Myers said.

For both Burlingame and Bay Academy students, a crucial aspect of performing in an academic environment is interacting with peers.

“Part of going to school is to be with your friends. That so-

cialization is really really helpful, ” Myers said.

In the ceramics classes, ceramics teacher Deborah Edwards has seen positive social changes when special education students work with them.

“People tend to congregate with their friends… and so when Mr. Myers and all came in, it was really wonderful because it brought people who were kind of in their own little clusters into other tables,” Edwards said.

Another fundamental aspect of the integration process is how the students in mainstream classes interact with the Bay Academy students — and how those connections impact the broader student community.

“They seem to build a lot of leadership skills… and their empathy skills go up too,” Myers said.

Special education integration is becoming a priority outside of California. Blooming Dale International Academy, a school in Kolkata, India, emphasizes creating a community between special education and general education students.

Pradipta Kanungo, a founder of the academy, acknowledged the challenges of cultivating this type of environment.

“There are children with special needs and those specially with intellectual disability who are not finding the pace in mainstream schools… the concept is

yet to gain popularity,” Kanugno said.

Kanungo founded this school with the intention of creating a safe and supportive learning environment for those who did not receive the resources and attention they needed in state schools.

“We built a school which is integrated with their mainstream children… taking children with intellectual disabilities so that they can work together and overcome their difficulties,” Kanungo said.

Diverse classroom settings, both in terms of educational level and personal background, can result in a stronger community. In the years following the founding of Blooming Dale International Academy, Kanungo has noticed significant improvements across her student body.

“I have noticed that in the mainstream children, they have developed a kind of empathy… and for those with special needs or those who have an intellectual disability when they see other students who have no such problems working and solving problems, they get encouraged,” Kanungo said.

Whether in India or here at Burlingame, there are clear benefits to creating a diverse and inclusive community through integrated learning.

“They feel accepted. They feel like they’re a part of the class,” Myers said. “It really helps my students.”

Local taco truck offers authentic Mexican food PHOTO BY ANA LUNAPARRA

BY ANA LUNAPARRA

Staff Reporter

From Monday to Saturday, customers looking for authentic and affordable Mexican food line up in front of Tacos Al Vapor Michoacán, a taco truck located on 1 Park Road.

Weekday afternoons are when the taco truck, named after a state in western Mexico, is busiest, packed with students in search of after-school meals.

Senior Abby Sanchez heard about the taco truck from one of her family friends and has visited frequently ever since.

“If my family and I are ever craving tacos, Tacos Al Vapor Michoacán is our go-to spot,” Sanchez said. “I spent a lot of time trying to find authentic Mexican tacos in my area, and

was very happy when I discovered Tacos Al Vapor Michoacán. Their tacos are simple, but have lots of flavor.”

Sanchez also highlights the truck’s quality customer service, which she claims has remained excellent throughout the years.

Employees are often seen sparking conversation with customers as they order, making sure they greet everyone who visits.

“The employees are always super nice and welcoming,” Sanchez said. “My family and I feel like we know them like they’re our friends. They work really hard, and always try to get everybody’s order in quickly.”

While there are other taco trucks located nearby in San Mateo and Millbrae, Tacos Al Vapor Michoacán is just a short walk away from school. Senior

handmade in the truck.”

Although customers often recommend the tacos, Tacos Al Vapor Michoacán offers a variety of options for those who wish to try another traditional Mexican dish, ranging from

carne asada sopes to chorizo tortas.

“If anyone is thinking about trying Tacos Al Vapor Michoacán, they should definitely check it out,” Sanchez said. “It’s definitely worth going.”

PHOTO BY ANA LUNAPARRA

Customers order from the Tacos Al Vapor Michoacán food truck off El Camino on Park Road in Burlingame.

Josie Lacrosse particularly enjoys the truck’s convenient location and affordable prices.

“The taco truck is right across from my house, and is only $2 a taco for some of the best Mexican food near Burlingame,” Lacrosse said. “Whenever I have friends or family over, I can just walk over to the truck and order a bunch of quality tacos for everyone.”

Employees working at nearby businesses around Burlingame Avenue, such as Camino Real Pet Clinic, are able to eat authentic Mexican food just a few minutes away.

Tacos Al Vapor Michoacán specializes in their authentic tortillas, offering tacos with ten different types of meat at a price over two dollars cheaper than competing Mexican restaurants in Burlingame.

When customers order tacos, which are topped with chopped onions and cilantro, they also receive a side of pickled carrots, onions and salsa of their choice on their plate in the span of a few minutes. On the sidewalk, customers have the option to choose from a variety of frozen desserts to finish their meal.

“On a typical workday, I make tortillas, prepare all the ingredients for our food and work the cash register,” employee Isabella Lozao Meneva said, who began working in April 2022. “All of our tortillas are

Two carnitas tacos cost $2 each at Tacos Al Vapor Michoacán food truck, and come topped with chopped onions, cilantro and pickled carrots.

6

7

ATTENDANCE ISSUES

BY ELLIE NEUMAN

Staff Reporter

STUDENT IDS, “STING OPERATIONS” AND STICKERS THE PROBLEM For years, the school administration has required students to carry their ID cards at all times while on campus for a variety of uses, including scanning into the library, purchasing tickets for school dances, accessing athletic events and most importantly, scanning into flex time to record attendance.

This fall, however, the administration observed that many students failed to comply with this expectation. Some left their ID cards at home, some forgot to scan their

THE SOLUTION

BY ELLIE NEUMAN

Staff Reporter

cards and others just ignored the rules altogether. For the school administration, this made figuring out who was actually cutting class an impossible task — all while the numbers of “absent” students at flex time rose.

“We did have high numbers of students not checking into flex or not attending flex and we believe that flex is really important,” said assistant principal Aimee Malcolm.

“It’s an opportunity to deepen learning and get extra support and work

with classmates.”

In addition to skipping flex time, there have been recent increases in the number of students skipping their afternoon classes. Since Burlingame is a closed campus, administrators were desperate for a way to verify that only students who have 5th, 6th or 7th off are leaving when permitted.

But the ID problem extends beyond exiting and entering the school.

Students are also expected to scan into the library when they want to

visit or check out a book.

In the past, the librarians would type in ID numbers if students forgot their cards at home. However, this time-consuming workaround became unsustainable for both the librarians and other students.

“Sometimes during lunch, the line gets super long,” library media technician Maurine Seto said. “And so everybody typing in a number just takes longer ... and by the time we are done typing their numbers, the bell rings ... versus if I can just get

everybody in here and spend more time in the library.”

Efficiency problems were just the start: Seto also noticed students accidentally typing in the wrong ID number, and, because they knew they could ask Seto to type in their ID numbers, they grew accustomed to leaving their ID cards at home, the librarian noticed.

“When we keep on making exceptions, people take advantage,” Seto said, “And then they don’t bring their ID cards.”

On Wednesday, Jan. 4, the administration sent a school-wide email announcing a new sticker policy for leaving campus. Students without a 5th, 6th or 7th period are now expected to obtain a sticker for their ID card that indicates they have one of those periods off, the email said. To properly enforce this policy, the email told parents, students must remember to carry their ID at all times. By requiring students to show these cards to campus security on their way out, administrators hope to reduce the number of students cutting class.

“We just want to ensure that we are adhering to our school policies. That students who are supposed to be in class learning are in class learning,” Malcolm said.

Overall, Malcolm has noticed minimal backlash from students regarding these policies.

“Students have been pretty great about just going and getting their stickers,” Malcolm said. “I think that it’s becoming just sort of a common practice now where you just pull out the ID on your way out and you’re set to go.”

However, it is difficult to tell if this policy will actually solve the school’s truancy problem, or if it simply complicates the exit process for students who were never trying to cut class.

“I feel like [the policies are] a little hard to enforce because it creates more of a hassle and I feel like it might

THE HISTORY

BY SOPHIA PUZON

Staff Reporter

As the second semester began, the school administration announced a multi-faceted plan to enforce a long-standing policy: the closed campus. Enforcing a closed campus — requiring that students stay on school grounds throughout the entire day — is not a novel idea.

The decision to move to a closed campus dates back to a plan that was implemented in the spring of 1984. Burlingame was originally an

Spread design by Sophia Bella, Design Editor

open campus, meaning the district permitted students to leave school premises outside of any class period. A new principal, Larry Teshara, came to the school and overhauled the school’s academics, including a modification to the schedule.

During this overhaul, the school’s previous schedule, known as the “Creative Use of Time” (CUT, for short) was changed to a traditional six-period day. The CUT schedule allowed students to have periods off and permitted them to leave campus during the day, as long as they

returned for their later periods.

However, with the new schedule introduced by Teshara, the school transitioned to a closed campus, similar to our current policies.

This year, the administration has boosted security and emphasized ID cards to keep students at school. The change was implemented to ensure the safety of students and staff. However, sophomore Reese Bardsley, for example, said that the closed campus is impractical at a school like Burlingame.

“Our school is already built like

an open campus,” Bardsley said.

“There’s lost potential by making it closed.”

There are, however, disadvantages to an open campus. Some students fear that the open nature of the campus may serve as a security threat.

Although Bardsley prefers the open campus, she believes that more measures should be taken to protect the school from strangers.

“I see people all the time walking by and they’ll bring their dogs and even their strollers,” Bardsley said.

“It’s weird how easily people can just

walk into our campus.”

On the other hand, others feel that the closed campus serves a purpose.

Although sophomore Leilani Sanchez, like Bardsley, wants an open campus, she acknowledged the potential downside of unrestricted access to the outside world.

“If we’re able to go to [Burlingame] Ave, we might be tempted to not go back to school,” Sanchez said, “So a closed campus helps us focus more on school while we’re there.”

But for students that get restless staying in school, and want a break

from the academic environment, a closed campus is suffocating. Although an open campus demands a higher level of responsibility from students, it also grants them independence.

“I can see why people would prefer a closed campus,” Sanchez said, “but an open campus teaches students important skills like time management, and also rewards them for being in school all day.”

just create more issues,” junior Jack Geraghty said.

Administrators, determined to ensure students follow new policies, held their first “reward day” on Friday, Jan. 12, in which they handed out free pizza to anyone with zero unexcused absences.

The library has also further enforced their ID card policies by only allowing students to use their cards to scan-in, which helps librarians monitor how many students are in the library at a time. By prohibiting students from typing in their numbers, the librarians hope to increase efficiency and ensure there are no errors in typing the correct number.

“It’s really to protect the students so that we’re not checking out the wrong book to you,” Seto said, “or we’re not saying that you’re here when you’re not there.”

If students forget their ID card, they are supposed to go to room A134 to print out a new one. Many students find this policy frustrating when they can easily type in their number.

“I usually have [the ID card] on me so it hasn’t affected me as much,” senior Clara Porto said. “But sometimes when I forget it at home, and I want to go to the library, I have to go all the way to print it, and it’s a little annoying.”

Whether enforcing stricter rules will help solve the school’s problems or simply create inconvenience and frustration is up for debate amongst students, teachers and administrators.

SPORTS

8

GRAPHIC BY JACKSON SPENNER

EAT

3-P

TBA L

L

S EYE CCS

SAME GOAL

BOYS’ B

KE AS

NEW SQUAD,

FEBRUARY 14, 2023

PHOTO BY DANNY CONWAY

Senior wing MJ Dowd leads a fast break in a win against Mills High School on Friday, Jan. 13. The Panthers have only suffered two league losses, both to No. 1 Menlo-Atherton High School.

BY DANNY CONWAY

Staff Reporter

Boys’ varsity basketball — perennially a top team on the Peninsula — is once again having a strong season. The Panthers currently have an overall record of 18-4 and 9-2 in the PAL South. They sit at No. 2 in the league, trailing Menlo-Atherton High School by two games for the top spot.

Head coach Jeff Dowd has relied on an entirely different rotation than last season after the departure of nine graduated players, including South Division Co-MVPs Sean Richardson and Will Uhrich.

Hard-nosed, gritty defense has been key to Burlingame’s consistency over the past few years. The same is true this season.

Senior guard Zaden Martin has stepped up and been the

heart of this year’s roster, averaging a team-leading 12.9 points and 24.6 minutes per game.

Unlike top scorers from prior years, Martin rarely goes for three-point shots. Instead, the team’s offense has adapted to — and benefited from — Martin’s slashing play style, as Burlingame has gone from a threepoint reliant offense to one that is both a threat at the rim and behind the arc.

The Panthers aren’t just strong in the paint. Martin’s ability to drive through opponent defenses has given senior and starting guard MJ Dowd an abundance of quality threepoint looks, which he often capitalizes on. Dowd has sunk 52 three-point shots this year, at a relatively efficient 34%. When Dowd gets hot, the Panthers’ offense is hard to stop.

Senior center Kyle Haslam, who suffered from a fractured

HARD-NOSED, GRiTTY DEFENSE HAS BEEN KEY TO BURLiNGAME’S 18-4, 9-2 CONSiSTENCY OVER THE PAST FEW MJ DOWD YEARS.

TEAM RECORD

52 3-POiNTERS

ZADEN MARTiN

KYLE HASLAM 11.7 POiNTS PER GAME 9 REBOUNDS 1.5 BLOCKS

STATS CORNER

BY MICHELLE MOSHKOVOY Girls’ varsity soccer (9-4-4 overall, 3-4-3 PAL Bay) fought day in and day out in the PAL Bay standings to a No. 4 finish. But while the Panthers struggled to compete at the top of the league — the No. 1 and No. 2 teams automatically qualify for the Central Coast Section (CCS) — they have beaten or tied with four of its other five teams. An undefeated preseason and a noticeable improvement in their second round robin of league games are also confidence boosters. And most notably they have an overall above .500 record, which is a requirement to apply for an at-large bid to CCS. MaxPreps has Burlingame slotted at No. 11 in CCS. That’s to say, the records and projections are in place. Now comes the restless part: waiting for the CCS draws to come out.

BOYS

BY THEO AU-YEUNG Boys’ varsity soccer has arguably been the best team in the PAL Bay Division. Despite this, they have trailed Aragon High School by a fine margin in the league standings. Regardless, Burlingame should qualify for the CCS tournament. It has been quite evident that the Panthers have dominated most of their games, holding a majority of possession and being able to win the ball back consistently. They have been on the end of bad luck and fluky moments late in a few games, often just not being able to get over the line to score the winning goal.

Nonetheless, there is no doubt Burlingame has the talent and coaching necessary to reach CCS and make a run in the tournament.

THE BLiTZ WiTH THE BURLiNGAME B LISTEN NOW

12.9 POiNTS PER GAME

THE SAME iS TRUE THiS SEASON.

knee cap last season, has also had a standout year, averaging 11.7 points, 9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Standing at 6-feet-6, Haslam has given Burlingame — traditionally known for its small ball lineups — a physical threat in the paint.

While Haslam, Dowd and Martin were all members of last year’s varsity roster, the other two starters, sophomore forward Jeremiah Phillips and senior guard Kevin Chiu took unconventional paths to becoming key contributors on the varsity level.

Chiu didn’t try out last season, but returned to the program this year. He has not lost a beat, and plays a key role on both sides of the floor. Chiu averages 4.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game, leading the team in both categories.

“I decided not to play last year partly because I felt I wouldn’t be able to commit to the team but also because I wasn’t having that much fun playing,” Chiu said. “Missing out on [last] season reminded me how much I wanted to be out there, so I’m very appreciative for the opportunity to be on the team for my senior year. It’s pretty special and I’m just hoping to make the most out of it.”

Phillips, who played for Burlingame’s freshman team, has matured quickly He is now averaging 17 minutes per game at the varsity level and is shooting 43% from the field. Burlingame’s youth will take the reins at the end of this season, and it’s evident that Phillips will assume a central role in coming years.

Burlingame lost a pivotal game on the road against top-seeded Menlo-Atherton on Wednesday, Feb. 8. As a result, the Panthers will likely be placed in Division III of the CCS tournament, with final seeding announced on Wednesday, Feb. 15.

GiRLS

SPORTS

FEBRUARY 14, 2023

9

COMPETiTiVE SKiERS HiT THE SLOPES Staff Reporter

Kim said.

But the tight bonds that form on ski teams make the journey and training all worth it.

“My team has a big sense of community in that, everyone’s working to make you better,” Edmonson said.

Competitive skiing is a physically demanding sport that requires more than just braving the cold and plowing through powder. Edmondson also works out off the slopes in order to stay in optimal form.

“You have to stay in a difficult position for a really long time,” Edmondson said. “I go up every weekend to train and I do Woodward which is a trampoline park and do the pump track as well as weightlifting.”

While competitive skiing is not as popular as soccer, basketball, volleyball or other more accessible sports, it requires ad-

PHOTO COURTESY OF LILA EDMONSON

For most families, ski trips mean renting equipment, speeding down blue and green runs and drinking hot cocoa. But for a number of students at Burlingame who ski competitively, the sport demands intense travel, training and competition each year.

Junior Evan Kim, for instance, competes for the Kirkwood ski team in free-ride competitions — performed on natural, un-groomed terrain — and races every two or three weeks. To compete, he travels to South Lake Tahoe every weekend throughout the winter.

“I just want to go to the next level,” Kim said. “If you’re just skiing for fun, there’s, like, a maximum that you can reach but if you’re competing, everyone’s pushing each other to go further.”

Kim began skiing at age 4 because his father, an avid snowboarder, needed a valid excuse to go to Lake Tahoe’s slopes. He also followed in the footsteps of his older friends who participated in free-ride skiing.

Freshman Lila Edmondson is a competitive skier as well, participating in cross-ski events where skiers rely on their own locomotion to move across relatively flat terrain. Just like Kim, Edmondson and her family drive up to Tahoe every weekend. “[Before I race] I’m crazy nervous. It’s a lot of adrenaline, just trying to focus my mind on

the race and it’s difficult to focus on yourself rather than your competition,” Edmondson said.

On the rare day without traffic, it takes about three and a half hours to reach South Lake Tahoe from Burlingame. Edmondson and Kim typically make the trip twice in three days, driving up on Friday nights, spending the next two days on the slopes and returning late on Sundays.

“It’s a really big thing for my family that we stay together,” Edmondson said. “I commit all of my weekends [to skiing]. And for locals, it’s just easier to commit to it.”

The constant travel takes a toll academically, as it is easy to lose studying time when driving or competing all weekend.

“I go to Nationals every year, so that’s like a week-long trip.

Sometimes I have to miss school because you have training days leading up to it and then the race, and I’ll probably miss that Friday,” Edmondson said.

Edmondson is also a goalie for the girls’ varsity soccer team, and skiing can conflict with her team’s schedule.

“I do competitions out of state sometimes. So for soccer, I miss weekend games,” Edmondson said. “It’s difficult to make up all the work.”

When away from home all weekend, both Edmondson and Kim also find themselves missing out on many social activities. “[The hardest part is] just leaving my friends. I feel so bad because I just feel left out since I’m not going to things, but it’s my choice to leave, obviously,”

PHOTO COURTESY OF EVAN KIM

BY NATALIE GYDE

Top: Junior Evan Kim climbs an off piste trail.

Bottom: Freshman Lila Edmondson lines up for one of her races. ditional time, effort and dedication. But for Kim, that hard work always pays off. “[Going through the powder] you just feel like you’re floating,” Kim said. “There are

so many negatives that come with [skiing]. But just that feeling just takes it all away and it’s just amazing.”

Survey: Injury-related setbacks threaten mental health PHOTO COURTESY OF MARCO RICE

Senior Marco Rice tore his ACL at the end of his junior-year football season, which required surgery and a nine-month recovery.

BY SOPHIA DOSS

Staff Reporter

POPPiNG. CRACKiNG. SNAPPiNG.

Every athlete — regardless

of age or skill level — knows to dread those three sounds and the pain that they may signal.

Because of the constant threat of injury, many coaches work around the clock to prevent mishaps and keep their

players active.

Nevertheless, athletes still get injured frequently, and the long road to recovery is rarely enjoyable. Mental health and daily life — aside from physical capability — can all suffer when a player is sidelined.

According to athletic trainer Matt Smith, he has seen a spike in the number of injuries he’s treated since students returned to in-person school and activities.

“During the pandemic, kids weren’t as active,” Smith said.

“It’s hard when they haven’t

done anything physically active sports-wise for six to seven months.”

As in-person school resumed once again, many student athletes, particularly freshmen, were forced to pick between sports, and this can result in more recurrent injuries.

“I think that’s kind of an issue which can lead to more injuries,” said senior Marco Rice, a three sport athlete who tore his ACL at the end of his junior football season. “If you stick to one sport, just keep on using the same muscles over and over again, injuries are bound to happen.”

After an injury, it’s very common for students to be not only affected physically, but mentally as well. In an anonymous survey of Burlingame students, 53% of respondents admitted that their mental well-being declined after injuries.

When junior Avah Reichow injured her ankle last year during gymnastics, her physical health began to affect her mental well-being.

“When I was out, I developed a fear of falling behind,” Reichow said. “I felt like I was losing time, but when I was hurt, I would go to the gym to be around my teammates and condition. It was

really helpful being in the environment and around everyone.”

Several athletes reported a fear of missing out (“FOMO”) on their sport while injured. Junior Aahana Chakravartti went through a similar experience after injuring her foot after a ski trip.

“When I got hurt, I felt very left out,” Chakravartti said.

“Even though my family supported me throughout my recovery, it was still hard for me because I had to watch other kids play sports and I couldn’t do anything.”

Of the student-athletes who responded to the survey, 68.8% reported believing that their injuries were preventable, with most stating how they wished they warmed up or took better care of their bodies.

“I played sports my entire life. And then one injury happens… and they told me [the recovery time] was nine months. I was scared — surgery, this that, — it definitely brought me down a bit,” Rice said. “Those first couple of months I was really trying to find myself without sports and it was definitely something I’ve never experienced… but my family and friends helped me through it, so I got through it and made me a better person.”

10

OPINION

FEBRUARY 14, 2023

Stop scrutinizing classic sitcoms

Next time, think before filming

BY THE BURLINGAME B EDITORIAL BOARD While students enjoyed lunch on Thursday, Feb. 2, a sudden crowd of kids swarmed towards the freshman quad. Wondering what all the fuss was about, many followed, only to find an even larger group of students standing in a giant circle with their phones in the air.

As more and more students gathered, it was hard to see anything. To get a better view, students jumped onto tables so their camera could capture a new view. Students immediately began circulating rumors and — of course — sharing videos they took with their phones.

GRAPHIC BY LIZZY WAN

We should have an honest conversation with ourselves.

Why did dozens of students instinctually pull out their phones, text their friends and frankly, become excited at such a spectacle?

Here’s the reality: Burlingame is not a school where physical altercations are common. Our community has continually grappled with continued racism, anti-semitism and other acts of hatred. So perhaps, in a twisted way, our community has become desensitized to hate, but the novelty of physical violence seems to be more attention-grabbing. Instead of worrying about the student’s well-being, the instinct is to laugh and publicize the incident even more.

Principal Jen Fong sent an email addressing the incident at the end of fifth period that day.

Additionally, administrators announced on the loudspeaker that wellness counselors would be available to talk to students in need of counseling during the day and after school. The next day, all the administrators involved in the incident made a school-wide statement on BTV. However, while the student reactions to the lunch event necessitate some self-reflection as a community, that

doesn’t require continuing to disseminate the video: It is very graphic, and publicizes a student in distress.

We have used vague language when detailing the incident, and there is good reason for that.

What happened was a deeply personal situation that was not meant to be watched live by dozens of students and shared later with hundreds more. As the videos circulate, the true facts of the situation are shrouded in speculation.

It’s more disappointing than surprising. As a community, we have the responsibility to be respectful and assume the best intentions of others. It’s immature to mock our peers in pain, and cruel to make memes and jokes out of them.

This is not to negate the powerful and positive impact of recording people in crisis. Today, body cameras, security footage and other recording devices have played a fundamental role in holding our legal system accountable and in bringing justice to the disadvantaged. For example, just over a month ago, Tyre Nichols was brutally beaten by police. It was thanks to body cameras and cameras on street lights that police officers were fired and charged.

Although documenting events on video can lead to necessary change, there is a fine line between recording for “laughs” and making a change. One serves to hold society accountable and the other only serves to relive a laugh at the expense of a student.

LLA

canceled, and haven’t seemed to receive much negative attention.

However, the target audience of these shows is mostly teenagers — arguably the age group that is least concerned about content moderation. I believe that shows such as “The Office” and “Friends” — targeted towards all age groups — are subjected to much more backlash.

This diminishes the legacy and meaning of shows that should rightfully be considered timeless classics.

“Friends” is a case in point.

Aired in 1994, the show has garnered lots of recent media attention for “not aging well.”

Most attribute this to the perpetuation of stereotypes about race, sexuality and gender, and for its lack of ethnic diversity, which plays into the bigger issue of systemic racism. Although the show may have not aged quite well, backlash it receives for its content is uncalled for.

It was aired in a time where the content was accepted, and its portrayal through the lens of comedy assures viewers that the jokes made on the show aren’t deep-rooted beliefs and not intended to offend viewers.

Cancel culture has undoubtedly ensured that content meant

IA BE SOPH

Recently, the popular channel Comedy Central canceled an episode from the well-known mockumentary The Office, which aired from 2005 to 2013.

The episode in question, titled Diversity Day, was a memorable episode of the series but contained language and phrases that many viewed as racially offensive. The star of the series, Steve Carell, acknowledged in an interview with Esquire Magazine that the show wouldn’t survive today’s culture and that the character he portrayed was predicated on inappropriate behavior.

The recent wave of “cancel culture” has had a positive impact on the media in that extremely offensive content is now scrutinized more seriously. But viewers are split on whether changes to the underlying comedic culture have changed the genre.

Cancel culture has taken the entertainment world by storm in recent years through popular apps such as Instagram and TikTok, where the threshold for acceptable content is far higher.

Similarly, popular apps such as

YouTube have made their rules for monetization much more strict. For example, words that relate to certain kinds of trauma, even if the point of the video isn’t inherently offensive, are now being censored. On the other hand, some feel that cancel culture is a product of being too sensitive, or being a “snowflake,” a derogatory term aimed at people who criticize questionable jokes and content. Others simply enjoy TV shows for what they are and don’t take the jokes made in sitcoms to heart.

It’s easy to see people who defend these old shows as stubborn and unwilling to accept modern values. However, I believe those who choose to defend shows like this are simply reluctant to let go of nostalgia and childhood memories. Because the content on these shows was once acceptable, they shouldn’t be subjected to the same scrutiny as today’s content.

Some ongoing shows still contain sensitive content, such as “Family Guy,” “Rick & Morty” and “South Park.” These contain large amounts of inappropriate, politically incorrect jokes and statements. Despite receiving mixed responses for years, shows like this haven’t been

BY HIIC GRAP

BY WILL KRINER Staff Reporter

to be offensive is publicly criticized. However, when it comes to comedy, cancel culture is, for the most part, detrimental, and old shows containing content that is now considered questionable should not be scrutinized.

Yes, shows do need to realize the weight of the issues they address — but in my view, comedy does not need to detract from the meaning and importance of the topic.

COMMUNITY

FEBRUARY 14, 2023

11

After school, coffee and chaos brew at Starbucks PHOTO BY ABBY KNIGHT

Customers, the majority being Burlingame students, crowd the Burlingame Avenue Starbucks after school on Friday, Jan. 20.

BY ABBY KNIGHT

Staff Reporter

erspoon said. “And surprisingly, we even had it posted on Nextdoor a few ti mes.”

On the app, many customers came together to show their support for the baristas. For example, around the holidays one user posted a story about a person complaining to a barista and making disrespectful comments about them, and how it affected the worker. Community members filled the comment section with kind and uplifting messages to the Starbucks staff.

“The Burlingame community was really supportive of our baristas,” Witherspoon said.

“They were advocating for the baristas, and how it was just not right for the customer to just be yelling at us.”

Although Starbucks can be a stressful work environment, it also prepares employees, many of whom are high school or college students, to handle tense work situations.

“Basically, I’ve noticed that I’m pretty much wherever they need me. It’s really easy for me to be on [the] register, but also be

aware that I have food to warm up as well,” Sánchez said. “So definitely when there’s a crowd, I feel like we all just kind of go on autopilot and understand what we’re supposed to do, and we do it quick and efficiently, so that’s the good part.”

For Witherspoon, having many tasks makes the job more interesting. With the constant busy atmosphere in Starbucks, workers are more active.

“If you work in another cafe or something, it might be slow and then you’re just sitting around doing nothing, but it’s nice that there’s always someone to talk to, and always seeing groups of people spending time with their friends that are patient, and that’s really nice,” Witherspoon said.

Starbucks also offers a close work community as baristas get to know and rely on each other.

“Working there hasn’t been the worst, I love it, I truly do.

The people that work there are great, we all understand each other, and it’s a very nice community,” Sánchez said.

GRAPHIC BY LIZZY WAN

After a long and exhausting day of school, the same thought rushes through almost every student’s head: a refreshing drink from Starbucks — just a quick walk away — would taste really good right now.

Five minutes later, as students flood Burlingame Avenue, a large crowd has already formed inside the shop. With mobile orders flooding in right as the bell rings and a line wrapping around the store, the classic coffee spot soon turns chaotic.

The store is usually crowded on Mondays, Fridays and weekends, especially in the morning or after school.

“In the morning, it’s definitely crowded, but after school, it’s really something else,” sophomore Gabbie Vega said.

Employees recognize the time of day the hoards of customers arrive at the store, which gives them time to prepare for

the hundreds of drinks they will need to make.

“I think we are always aware of when it’s gonna hit so we always make sure to prepare our stock,” said senior Ashlyn Witherspoon, a barista at Starbucks.

Even though many students head to the cozy coffee shop after classes, some refrain from going to avoid crowds and long lines.

“I don’t know if my order’s coming out, and that’s why I don’t really like to order at Starbucks when it’s after school because there’s a lot of orders coming through, and it’s also really crowded in the store,” Vega said.

When the after-school crowd makes their way into Starbucks, baristas, many of whom are students themselves, can feel overwhelmed. With a small group of employees working at a given time, it becomes stressful to make drinks for large groups of customers.

“It definitely gets really hectic and becomes really difficult for

the five of us working to be able to really get things moving and going,” said junior Daniela Cano Sánchez, a barista at Starbucks.

Backed-up orders and hordes of teenagers mean one thing — angry customers.

“The people in the lines tend to get very irritated when we take long. Sometimes our system goes down, and sometimes we’re just having trouble communicating with one another,” Sánchez said. “Unfortunately, people don’t understand that so they take it out on us, and it’s really unfortunate because I don’t really need an adult yelling at me because I am just trying to get going.”

As many people impatiently try to get their drinks, baristas wish customers remembered that they aren’t superhumans.

“In terms of being more open-minded, we’re not just plain workers, we also all have our personalities and all of our different things and hobbies that we do, and we’re still human and people,” Sánchez said.

The holidays are also an extremely busy time of year for Starbucks. On Christmas Day, customers became very aggressive with baristas — an incident that was shared by Burlingame residents on the app “Nextdoor”, where neighborhoods can stay updated on news in the community.

“During the holidays, there were a few instances where customers were unhappy with how long the orders were taking, because we would literally have maybe 300 people altogether on a Sunday. And so that was definitely very difficult,” With-

Li steps into role as Service Commission director PHOTO BY NATALIE GYDE

Li, once solely an English teacher, now heads the service commission course and a leadership class.

BY NATALIE GYDE

Staff Reporter

Immediately after returning from parental leave, English teacher Bethany Li embraced the role of service commission leader and leadership director with big shoes to fill.

Expecting to return to her regular Advanced English classes in November, Li was asked to

take over the service commission course from John Philipopoulos, who had become the full-time athletic director.

“I know that Coach Phil is a respected and appreciated staff member. It was big shoes to fill in the sense that I’m a different personality,” Li said. “So it just takes some time to build trust and a level of comfort with the students that were expect-

ing somebody else to be in the room.”

In addition to taking on the role of service commission director, Li was also asked to take over Nicole Carter’s leadership class as she left to be dean on Jan. 4, meaning that Li now has three different classrooms to watch over.

“I love the idea of empowering students to be better con-

tributors and leaders on campus,” Li said.

With many staff members leaving and retiring, it is not unheard of that schools are struggling to find new staff members.

“I think a lot of staff have been asked to pivot and try something new to fill gaps where they come up. It’s been fun to just try to be open to adjusting to new things and learning new things.” Li said.

As a new perspective in the class, Li offers interesting points of view and ideas that students may not have heard before.

However, Li continues to implement existing service commission responsibilities that have maintained the state of campus over the years.

“One of our consistent patterns is campus beautification at lunchtime,” Li said. “But more concretely, I’d like us to work more on sustainability to help with the educational piece of how to use the bins on campus correctly, and just care about how we treat our school environment.”

Because this role is new to Li, many other faculty members have helped to make the transition much smoother.

“Ms. Carter has helped mentor me to get me adjusted to the leadership role. Service Commission has been a lot of fun because it’s a really flexible course,” Li said.

Assistance from previous teachers ensures Li can stay balanced and organized. With two young kids at home and many students to teach, Li prioritizes managing her schedule.

“I would say every day is an adventure when you’re responsible for such young kids, and then I have 161 teenagers. So it’s like the full range of development from beginning to end of adolescence,” Li said. “I think being around youth keeps you honest and keeps things interesting.”

Li hopes that the new role will force her to continuously adapt and grow as a teacher.

“When students see their teachers as people and with an awareness that we’re all doing the best we can, juggling the hats we wear, we all have a better time in the classroom together,” Li said.

SOCIAL MEDIA LIFE

12

FEBRUARY 14, 2023

Social media

m --N IKKO R Zoo

The sister of the selfie, this ultra wide camera lens creates distorted photos.

Hold your back camera up to your face and create goofy images of you and your friends to share.

Finsta

“having a private account gives me more of a space to be myself.”

-Cara Rogers

ON

TI F I CA TI

Social media is here — it has been and will be. It has become a way of life. Especially as a student journalist, an eager sports fan and someone who follows the news, I’ve learned that it’s okay to have social media to keep up with the life around me. While I shouldn’t be on it for seven hours of my day — especially in class or at the dinner table — it’s not awful to have it as an accessory to support my daily routine. If I need to text a friend or take a break from schoolwork, it’s nice to use social media, guiltfree, and connect with the community around me.

You do not miss out if you do not know.

Deleting social media 100% helped ease my FOMO (fear of missing out) syndrome.

When my friends posted about their vacations, trips to the city or time together, I didn’t see it, so it didn’t bother me. I couldn’t be jealous or upset over posts I never saw. Beyond friend circles, I wasn’t obsessing over celebrities’ or influencers’ lives.

Rather, I was present in my own life, spending more in-person time with my loved ones. Sure, it was hard to plan events with friends if I wasn’t able to communicate with them, but I returned to an old-fashioned mode of connection: calling.

Distractions are minimal.

Whether I was at dinner, writing an essay or studying for an exam, no social media meant no notifications to distract me. I got through my work quicker as my screen time dropped. When I was having a conversation with my parents, I didn’t look away every time my screen lit up. The eye contact and sincere engagement led to more genuine conversations. Even if you can’t delete social media, leave your phone in the other room or turn Do Not Disturb on while you complete work — beyond social media, our phones are full of time-consuming applications. Straighten out your priorities!

1

There is a time and place for social media.

:0

Last month, I deleted every social media on my iPhone — stripped my life of all the artificial technology that captivated my mind for hours on end. I knew a change was needed. When I should have been doing homework, I was spending my time scrolling on TikTok, snapping pictures on Snapchat and watching Reels on Instagram. Though my screen time hours weren’t as high as they were when I first downloaded these apps in seventh grade, I was wasting too much of my time scrolling when I could have been doing something productive.

During this social experiment, I picked up new hobbies, paid more attention to the world around me and connected with friends and family. I realized something: Social media is part of my life, yes, but it shouldn’t determine my mood. It sounds obvious, but for so many teenagers, social media is a necessity — it is their life.

Let me tell you, this was a challenging month. As someone who communicates and gets information from social media (I’m the “B” social media manager), it was difficult to delete the apps I used every day. To chronicle this experiment, I journaled my thoughts, my mess-ups and my reflections.

12

Social Media Coordinator

3

Staff Reporter

The Instagram photo dump trend has gained popularity over the years. the hashtag alone has over 2.5 million posts and counting.

BY AMANDA NOLAN

2

BY RUBY ROSENQUIST

Photo Dump

I deleted social media for a month

1

Film photography is keeping Instagram ‘raw’

Instagram users are creating separate, smaller accounts for close friends.

NO

.5 Lens

Nik on

Senior Reporter

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CARA ROGERS

BY DARIA BURNOSOVA

mm -70 35

takes over

As of December 2022, Instagram has 1.28 billion users. In accordance with recent trends, many of those accounts are devoted to endless camera roll dumps and shots captured in 0.5. But some of those 1.28 billion users are capturing their lives “on film” as grainy images become the new “picture-perfect” post.

Taking a great photo is the first step, but presentation is what really matters. Rather than struggling with low-quality smartphone cameras from the early 2000s, teenagers are embracing the experimental vibe of the ‘90s.

Photos that are not as crisp as the images that phones take today are different. When users ask themselves “How can I stand out?” the film camera aesthetic provides a clear answer: It’s time we revitalize a trend that emphasizes authenticity over artificial perfection.

When junior Lily Grenier first got Instagram, she found herself pushing aside different trends and slowly finding ways to reflect her true identity on the app. The “on film” trend changed everything.

“Sometimes I choose to pull out my digital camera,” Grenier said. “It has made me more aware of what my friends are doing and my surroundings.”

The idea of taking a candid photo “on film” is the reason many people explore the aesthetic.

“I feel like authenticity on any social media platform is extremely hard to achieve because everything is so heavily curated,” Grenier said.

“Taking photos ‘on film’ makes it easier to capture my daily life.”

Senior Arren Bernabe, whose Instagram account is dedicated to film photography, loves that more people are becoming interested in the once-niche hobby.

“Film really helps with [keeping] things authentic,” Bernabe said.

“You can’t go back to edit or change a photo after development.”

Oftentimes, Bernabe is not sure if she wants to post content that is more authentic. Nevertheless, she emphasized that it is best to keep things as genuine as possible.

“Authenticity is sliding away because people have become so absorbed in curating their lives,” Grenier said. “But there is something telling me to post real content so I might as well let other people sit with that.”