WHAT’S
INSIDE
2 News
4 Features
9 Sports
12 Student Life
URLINGAME B
THE
Issue 6 Vol. 132
Burlingame High School, 1 Mangini Way, Burlingame, CA 94010
April 18, 2022
WAR IN UkRAINE More than
More than
4.6 million
7.1 million
Ukrainian . refugees ....
Ukrainians displaced GRAPHIC BY JACKSON SPENNER
1,842
civilian casualties
2,493
civilian injuries *AS OF APRIL 12, 2022 ACCORDING TO UNHCR
BY ARDA INEGOL
Staff Reporter
BY JAKE ROTHSTEIN
Staff Reporter
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, launching a largescale military operation on the former Soviet state. The war has caused extreme devastation and displacement of the Ukrainian population, with a reported 1,892 civilians dead and many more injured, according to an April 12 report from the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.
MOBILIZATION AND WAR The relationship between Ukraine and Russia has been tense since Russian President Putin took office in 2000. The current conflict started nearly two months ago, when Russian troops officially invaded Ukraine. During the first days of the invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered a general mobilization of the Ukrainian people, calling all to defend the country. One of the hardest-hit Ukrainian cities was Bucha, which was first defended by Ukraine, and then lost shortly after, leading to a month-long Russian occupation where Russian troops committed
war crimes. To stamp out resistance, Russian forces targeted civilian infrastructure and minimized power, water and cellular utilities in other cities. There were also numerous reports of looting, excessive shelling and disappearances or killings of innocent civilians in the city. Consequently, Bucha became a byword for war crimes, with videos of the atrocities going mainstream. As of April 13, Russian forces control several eastern Ukrainian cities, including Kherson and Luhansk, and they are working to invade Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Although, Ukrainian officials claim Kyiv is currently free of Russian soldiers. According to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Refugees, as of April 12, the Russian invasion forced over 4.6 million Ukrainians to flee their home country, starting a refugee crisis. Many refugees fled to nearby countries such as Poland, Moldova, Romania and Hungary.
GLOBAL TENSIONS To prevent further casualties, Zelenskyy suggested a nofly zone over Ukraine, which would mean that any airborne object would be shot down if seen above Ukrainian territory. However, this has raised concern among some Western nations, including the U.S.
On March 16, President Joe Biden stated that a no-fly zone could not be implemented, as it would result in U.S. military involvement in Ukraine, and could thus lead to a third World War. Joshua Gnass, a government, economics and Advanced Placement World History teacher at Burlingame, agrees with Biden that a no-fly zone might not be an effective solution to prevent warfare. “If there’s a no-fly zone, and NATO planes are shooting down Russian planes, Putin will probably respond in a way that could provoke a larger war,” Gnass said. According to a Quinnipiac University poll conducted between March 10 and 14, only 17% of Americans want the U.S. to risk going to war with Russia over Ukraine. The same poll found that 75% of Americans want the U.S. to help Ukraine, but not risk direct military engagement with the Russian state. “I think plenty of Americans would think this would be a good cause to be involved in, but at the same time, the idea that we’re going against a nuclear power is pretty frightening for a lot of people,” Gnass said. Gnass also talked about the conflict with his classes, relating it back to the history of Russia and the tensions present during the Cold War era. “We’re constantly talking
about current events, so we connected to how it is going to affect the world and the U.S. economy as well,” Gnass said. “We’re talking about it more from a historic perspective. Because I think all students should have the opportunity to hear about these things, and also because I just cover current events regularly in my government, my economic classes and then in world history. We see how [the world has] been shaped by the stuff we study in here.”
STUDENT PERSPECTIVES The conflict has also been hard on students, especially those with family and friends in Ukraine. Maria Dontova, a Ukrainian sophomore at Burlingame, was deeply affected by the Russian invasion of her home country. “The first week, it was pretty hard for me; I could not focus in school,” Dontova said. “I was texting my [Ukrainian] friends every day; I tried to calm them down, [saying] everything will be fine.” Currently, she is afraid that the invasion will harm her friends and family. “I am scared a little bit, but most of my friends left the country, but sadly their dads had to stay [in Ukraine]. Also, my godfather joined the army
because he wants to save the country,” Dontova said. At the start of the war, the United States froze Russian bank assets in America, causing Moscow’s stock market to plummet. Soon after, other European countries followed, imposing various economic sanctions on Russia. Sophomore Vseslav Kazakov, who currently has family in Russia, has mixed feelings about the economic sanctions imposed on his home country. “To some extent, [the global sanctions] make sense. However, they mostly affect the common people,” Kazakov said. Kazakov thinks that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was unnecessary. He believes that President Vladimir Putin’s claims that Russians and Ukrainians belong together as one nation is not a valid reason for invasion. “[Brotherhood] is not a reason to invade [Ukrainians]. In fact, I’d argue it’s the opposite,” Kazakov said. “It’s a reason not to invade.” Dontova is also upset with Putin, but she understands that not all Russians support the invasion and still maintains friendships with her Russian friends. “I do want this whole conflict to be over, and I don’t want people to start hating Russians because I do have friends who are Russian,” Dontova said.
News
2
April 18, 2022
City council weighs fixed ALPR camera use PHOTO BY TO TONY WEBSTER, CREATIVE COMMONS
ALPR cameras are occasionally used by Burlingame Police Department patrol cars, but the council is considering putting them in fixed locations. BY MATTINGLY GERMACK
Copy Editor
A new way to surveil Burlingame drivers and help solve crime may be permanently implemented in the near future. In January, the city council voted 3-2 to continue a discussion about the use of Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras around Burlingame. According to Burlingame’s website, the cameras are used on a when-needed basis by the Burlingame Police Department on patrol cars, but the discussion centered around permanent, fixed-location cameras. In his staff report, Burlingame Chief of Police Mike Matteucci argued that ALPR cameras would be specifically useful
in “locating and apprehending wanted individuals, locating missing persons and stolen vehicles.” He cited cases of criminals using stolen cars to target hotels on Airport Boulevard and hypothesized that ALPR implementation would deter people from committing crimes via automobile, stolen or not. ALPR cameras are utilized in most cities and towns in the Bay Area. In fact, Burlingame is one of just four San Mateo County towns to not do so. Vice Mayor and Councilmember Michael Brownrigg, one of the two “no” votes, made it clear that he was not adamantly opposed to making the cameras a permanent fixture, but he said he had some gap-
CORRECTION
FROM THE MARCH 2022 ISSUE “Everyone’s gonna be trying to beat us [as resigning Division III Central Coast Section championships]. I think we’ll be ready for the competition.”
In the March Issue, a quote in “Spring Sports Preview: Baseball” on page 9 was incorrectly attributed to senior Blake Dempsey. The correct source was senior Charlie Dohemann.
THANK YOU TO THE BURLINGAME B SUBSCRIBERS AND ADVERTISERS Asana Sandra Barrolaza Miki Behr Cecilia Bella Laura Beltranena Kristy Blackborn Al Bolanos Kerns Fine Jewelry Alex Caban Frances and Clint Caban Jennifer Colvin Dina Di Loreto La Mark Clara Draca Marlin and David Feldman Charles Fontana Terry Germack Lisa and David Goldstein Catherine Guglielmi Amy and Ron Johnstone Jessica Johnstone Paul Kandell Amy Koch Angela Lai
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ing concerns that needed to be addressed before he would feel comfortable moving forward with permanent implementation. He cited statistics showing that the volume of crime that ALPRs would be most useful for solving — including burglaries, vandalism and grand theft auto — have remained flat over the past five years. With this in mind, he questioned whether expediting the implementation process was necessary. “In terms of there being a sort of crime wave underway, the data don’t bear it out,” Brownrigg said. “So if the data don’t bear it out, in my mind, we can take our time on a new technology so we make sure we know what we’re getting into.” Brownrigg also has worries about the potential invasions of privacy associated with camera usage. Even if cameras are implemented, they should be placed sparingly to avoid this, he said. “I don’t think we should get used to the government being able to watch our every move,” Brownrigg said. Councilmember Donna Colson voted to move forward with implementing ALPRs. She doesn’t share Brownrigg’s privacy concerns, citing that the vast majority of Burlingame residents carry cell phones — a much more effective tracking device than any ALPR camera. She mentioned the Burlingame Police Department’s nochase policy, and that in her
eyes, ALPRs would help them stick to this protocol. “If somebody steals from [Burlingame] Avenue and hops in a getaway car… we would prefer to try to work to solve the crime in a more productive way than having some high-speed car chase,” Colson said. Before introducing ALPRs to Burlingame, the councilmembers will decide when and where they will be used. Colson agreed
“If somebody steals
from [Burlingame] Avenue and hops in a getaway car… we would prefer to try to work to solve the crime in a more productive way than having some highspeed car chase,” - Donna Colson with Brownrigg that the cameras should be as limited as possible, but where the line is drawn is yet to be determined. “So how many cameras are they recommending? Are we going to do a pilot program with just a few to start and then expand it?” Colson said. “Those kinds of information would be helpful.”
BOARD UPDATE
District searching for new superintendent BY JULIANNA OLIVER
Senior Reporter
Superintendent Kevin Skelly announced his retirement on Jan. 2, and the lengthy process for choosing a new superintendent started soon after. The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) Board of Trustees asked the human resources department to put out a request for proposals from search firms, which received numerous replies. These firms are hired frequently by districts to locate potential candidates for administrative positions such as principals and superintendents. The district interviewed three search firms and held a special Board meeting to select one. Ultimately, the Board selected Leadership Associates. Michael Zozos, who has been teaching science and history for 16 years at Burlingame, was interested in the selection process. “From what I gathered, it’s going to be a pretty inclusive process, getting a variety of input from district stakeholders,” Zozos said. Zozos is looking for a superintendent that will be receptive to community voices. “I’d like to see a superintendent who’s going to be responsive to the need for teachers and in tune with the concerns and areas of growth that the district have articulated over the last few years specifically around anti-racist teaching practices and inclusion,” Zozos said. Leadership Associates’ pro-
cess is well underway. They created a survey that reached 1,500 community members, asking them to send in their ideal qualifications for the next superintendent. After the firm received community input, Leadership Associates created an official written position and an application for people to apply to. The Board met on April 13 to review the applications and sift through strong candidates. In the coming months, they will choose the top candidates who have work experience in California and meet the district’s qualifications — a strong educational background, knowledge of the position and being personable and willing to do what’s necessary to help kids learn efficiently. “They need significant management experience for the superintendent,” said Peter Hanley, president of the SMUHSD Board of Trustees. “You’re looking for people who have a lot of experience in the education field. Those are the kinds of qualifications you’re typically looking for.” Hanley explained that the district will look for someone best qualified in the areas of academic pioneering and innovative thinking. “We’re coming out of an extraordinarily unusual period where the pandemic has affected learning and achievement, and we are going to have to do some innovative things to help a lot of students catch up on their learning,” Hanley said.
B
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BURLINGAME B STAFF
Editor-in-Chief Lexi Goldstein Managing Editor Sam Johnstone Sports Editor Isaac Bostonmaer Business Manager Farah Caban Webmaster Alex Kelly Head Photographer Michelle Moshkovoy Copy Editors Elise Spenner Mattingly Germack Senior Reporters Kristie Kim Safiya Loomba Julianna Oliver Jackson Spenner Lizzy Wan Staff Reporters Sophia Bella Daria Burnosova Arshia Chakravartti Wali Chaudry Leilani Dougherty Arda Inegol Isabel Liu Amanda Nolan Jake Rothstein Teacher Adviser Melissa Murphy 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 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
3
Features
April 18, 2022
Youth voting initiatives across the county look to boost registration and turnout before upcoming midterms PHOTO COURTESY OF ELLA GIERE PHOTO COURTESY OF ELLA GIERE
At the voter education drive last fall, Giere worked with classmates to get students pre-registered and registered in advance of the midterm elections.
BY ELISE SPENNER
Copy Editor
Senior Ella Giere’s favorite childhood book wasn’t “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” It’s not “Goodnight Moon.” It’s not even “The Giving Tree.” It’s “Grace for President,” a picture book about a mock presidential election at an elementary school. Most students don’t think twice about who they will vote for: the boys choose the boy, and the girls choose the girl, Grace. Spoiler alert: Grace wins the mock election when one boy votes for the girl based on her qualifications rather than her gender. “Grace for President” taught Giere the power of civic participation. “I love that idea — that your voice matters, and you can make an impact on something,” Giere said. “It just really took a positive light on voting and how it’s an empowering thing to do, rather than something that ‘Oh, someone’s making me do it’ or ‘it’s a chore,’ [making it] actually exciting.” Now, she’s working to inspire others through Generation Voter, an initiative she started with city clerk Meaghan Hassel-Shearer to engage youth in politics by getting them registered to vote and encouraging them to show up at the polls on election day. Giere’s younger sister, junior Ava Giere, also joined the team to support the marketing and design side of the project; she created the “make your voice matter” posters that decorate the Burlingame campus and crafted Instagram posts for the account. Before the midterm elections, Generation Voter and initiatives out of the San Mateo County Elections Division are working to increase registration and turnout among youth between the ages of 18 and 24. “[Youth voter turnout] is an extremely, extremely important issue,” said Mark Church, the chief elections officer and assessor-county clerk-recorder for San Mateo County. “The
people who are elected to public office life reflect the face of all segments of the community…I think the other important factor is the sooner we expose youth to the democratic process, the more involved they will be as adults.” In the 2020 election, 63.1% of the total voting-age population turned in their ballots. For 18 to 24 year olds, that rate was 15 percentage points lower — turnout was just 48%. While dismal, that turnout rate marks the high water mark for youth since 1972, when Richard Nixon was re-elected. “I’ve talked to some friends, asking, ‘Hey, why aren’t you registered or is there something discouraging you?’” Giere said. “I think people think ‘Oh, one vote doesn’t matter because there’s millions of people voting in America.’ It’s like, ‘Oh, my one little tiny vote is not gonna matter.’” Casey Platkin, a senior at Saint Francis High School and a youth voter outreach strategist at the San Mateo County Elections Division, said that the value of their work is two-fold. First of all, issues on the ballot today are the crises that youth will inherit; when older people vote in disproportionate numbers, representatives cater toward their interests rather than the interests of younger generations. Just as importantly, if the county embeds consistent voting habits into youth, those high school and college students will become life-time voters, promising consistent election participation. “When we make sure that every single person is voting, then the entire population is being represented. Because the core of it is that we want our representatives to represent us,” Platkin said. Disparities along racial and economic lines also shape access to the ballot box. In East Palo Alto, where 88% of the community is people of color, turnout was 30 percentage points below Burlingame in the recent recall election. Only 20% of Burlin-
game’s population are people of color, according to the 2020 census. “40% turnout in communities of color is unacceptable,” Platkin said. “If you look a little more deeply, you see deep disparities going on in different communities throughout the Bay Area. And that’s where we need to especially extend our outreach, places that have been historically ignored and marginalized from the political system of our county.” When students go to college, voting gets even harder, Hassel-Shearer said, making it even more imperative that high school students are taught lifelong voting habits. “It’s really on the student themself to think it through. Do you want to vote in your local election?” Hassel-Shearer said. “And if so, are you eligible to vote in that election? So it’s really about figuring out the different rules of the system, which is confusing, especially if this is your first-time voting.” Because the registration and voting process can be difficult to navigate, Giere and Platkin play an important role as liaisons between the elections office and the youth community. Giere and her team ran two voter registration drives at Burlingame this year — one at the Club Fair and another during the spring opportunity fair — and were able to sign up 157 students to vote. Meanwhile, Platkin is in contact with local high schools and government teachers to provide class time for students to register to vote. In the long run, he hopes that school districts will implement permanent lessons about registering, voting and engaging in the political process. “We just, we never had that [at school],” Platkin said. “It’s important to get students registered and pre-registered now, so they are committed to it, and it doesn’t just become one of those things in the background that fades away.”
Feminine products just got more accessible at Burlingame BY AMANDA NOLAN
Staff Reporter
District (SMUHSD) will install Aunt Flow menstrual product dispensers in all girl’s bathrooms before the 2022-23 school year. San Mateo High School is the first to have implemented these dispensers in all their female bathrooms. San Mateo High alumni Amanda Safi, a Period Equity activist, started The Period Project in 2021 to fight the stigma of menstruation. She secured $30,000 in funds from the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and Congresswoman Jackie Speier to launch free period dispensers in two schools across San Mateo County, Jefferson and San Mateo High School. San Mateo High senior Katie Borgeson helped Emi Chen’s initiative with Free the Flow, another project targeting free menstrual products, through the Students in Action club. “I think it’s really cool. They’re in every bathroom and
they’re totally free. And it’s not Mosqueda said. “It takes the cardboard, like they’re legit,” awkwardness out of it.” Borgeson said. However, because of Burlingame’s ongoing struggles with vandalism, Mosqueda had to move the menstrual products from outside the nurse’s office, where they are more visible and convenient, to inside, because students were misusing them. Nee and Mosqueda both support the free dispensers providing convenient access to tampons and pads without the fear of vandalism. “The people who are vandalizing the bathroom will also benefit from the products, so why would they destroy it?” Nee said. With the addition of these dispensers, students will have The fully-stocked Aunt Flow increased access to menstrual menstrual dispensers provide necessities. students at San Mateo High “I think with the amount of School with easy access to girls that I see come in, it will pads and tampons wrapped in impact a lot more and make envelopes. them feel more comfortable,”
PHOTO BY MICHELLE MOSHKOVOY
When it’s that time of the month, I worry about leaking through my pants for everyone to see. Unfortunately, a month ago, this fear came true. I found myself in the C-building bathroom with no products and an empty dispenser. Knowing that the nurse’s office was across the school, I wondered why our school didn’t prioritize filling the bathroom with a necessity for half of the school’s population. Walking into any girls’ bathroom, one will either find an empty product dispenser or one that charges 75 cents for a tampon. While most students bring feminine products from home, a surprising period is a common experience, and being unprepared for it is too. Having available resources is important for all menstruating people. Due to the Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2021, all public
schools are required to provide free menstrual products. For their part, Burlingame has made them accessible at the nurse’s office in A120. However, because the nurse’s office isn’t located near any bathrooms, accessing feminine products is a challenge for students in all buildings. “If I don’t have my tampons and get my period, and I am in the C-building, where many of my classes are, I feel uncomfortable walking all the way across campus for these necessities,” junior Michaela Nee said. Intimidation and self-consciousness – common feelings of students walking into the nurse’s office to acquire period products. “I can sense awkwardness when girls come in,” said Andi Mosqueda, the nurse at Burlingame. To eliminate the uneasiness and make these feminine products even more accessible, the San Mateo Union High School
4
Features
April 18, 2022
Rage Westside Volleyball Club off to Junior Nationals PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAYTON DONLEY
they had questions.” Madden and Lee have been a part of the U18 team, coached and led by Michelle Brazil, for several years. Brazil had bumped up Madden and Lee with a few other 16-year-old players so they could experience more of a challenge by playing with older girls and working to improve their skills. Brazil was inspired to become a coach after she noticed a lack of females leading the volleyball teams she played on throughout her childhood.
“I enjoyed the coaches that I had, it was great,” Brazil said. “But I always wanted to coach because I just didn’t understand why there weren’t more females coaching female sports.” This season, Brazil has coached the U-18 team to bids in the Open division at Junior Nationals — the ultimate goal and the chance to play with the best in the nation. Traveling around the country to places such as Tennessee, Reno, Irvine and Spokane, Nationals will be the team’s final tournament. PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAYTON DONLEY
Rage Westside’s U-18 team huddles during their game at the Sierra National Open Champions, where they won all seven games they played. Madden has played club BY KRISTIE KIM volleyball since she was in fifth Senior Reporter grade and joined Rage WestThe Rage Westside’s U-18 side in eighth grade. She plays team won the 2022 Sierra Na- defensive specialist, similar to tional Open Champions on the libero. weekend of March 5-7, another Lee started playing volleyball step on the path to qualifying in elementary school through for Junior Nationals, the big- school-sponsored recreational gest tournament for the sea- programs. She has also played son, which will take place from club volleyball since fourth April 22-24 in Pheonix, Ariz. grade at Red Rock Volleyball Although the team was with- Club and 650 Xtreme Volleyout some injured players, they ball Club, prior to joining Rage were able to persevere. Burlin- Westside. Lee joined the team game seniors Emma Madden in freshman year after Madden and Kristi Lee have been play- put her in touch with the coach. ing with Rage Westside for four “The main thing was the and three years, each joining competitiveness and the coachwith prior experience. ing,” Lee said. “I think that I
wanted to be in a more competitive environment, and I knew the coach, and we had been talking, and I liked her coaching styles more than I liked in my previous clubs, so that’s why I chose to switch.” Throughout their high school careers, both players competed for their club team and Burlingame, except for their junior year when they had to play for just one team due to pandemic sports restrictions. Lee found that there is a major difference between high school and club volleyball. “I think club [volleyball] is a lot more competitive because you see tougher teams,” Lee said. “And I guess for school it’s different because you play with your teammates who are from all different grades.” Madden added that the combination of students from all grades helped her to find a community at Burlingame. “I only got to play varsity for two years, but even on JV, I got to meet upperclassmen, which is super nice, and they kind of showed me the way around high school as an underclassman,” Madden said. “And then this year, as an upperclassman on varsity, it was nice to meet the underclassmen and kind of show them what I learned… and just be there for them when
Kristi Lee attacks the ball with teammate Grayce Olson ready to support from behind during the Sierra Nation Open Champions.
Invrt: Behind the scenes of a new student clothing brand Sports Editor
vrt to accommodate more types of clothing and accessories. He is specifically looking forward to making Invrt hoodies and hats. Although Brodeur is eager to continue working on Invrt clothing, he believes the brand’s second drop will determine if the popularity will stick. “The big question is: Are people just buying from me because it’s me and they want to support my brand, or are they going to keep buying from me because they actually like the shirts I make?” Brodeur said. “My next drop is going to be the real test.” Stay tuned to Invrt’s instagram account for updates on Brodeur’s next drop and brand Invrt’s founder Alex Brodeur wearing his brand’s initial black Invrt news. t-shirt.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX BRODEUR
The drop featured a single black T-shirt with the brand’s logo in black and white on the left side Artistic, creative, colorful, of the chest and a creative design original. That is how senior Alex covering the backside. Inspired Brodeur describes his new upand-coming clothing brand In“I wanted to see vrt and the values he founded it on. people wearing my Since middle school, Brodeur has been dabbling in digital deart that I made sign, honing his design and editand give it an acing skills by creating Photoshop artwork. tual purpose,” “I’ve been doing graphic de-Alex Brodeur sign for about five years,” Brodeur said. “I would do sports and rapper edits, but I wanted to do something more with it.” by his friends’ suggestions and The main source of inspira- creative imagination, the back tion behind Brodeur’s passion design is the Roman Colossefor design was his uncle, Chris um with a large hand holding an Bantlis, a graphic designer who apple sprouting out from inside. first introduced Brodeur to the Behind the colosseum is a melworld of graphic art. low purple background with a After years of making digital cracked texture and the logo in artwork, Brodeur realized he black and purple on the bottom wanted his art to be a physical left of the image. object — something he could Invrt’s first drop consisted of see and touch in the real world. 50 T-shirts. In a matter of weeks, With this realization, the idea all of the manufactured shirts of branching into the clothing from Invrt’s initial release were business sparked, and Invrt was sold out. Brodeur accomplished born. this feat without purchasing “I wanted to see people wear- any promotions. Most of Invrt’s ing my art that I made and giving buyers came from Brodeur’s it an actual purpose,” Brodeur surrounding Burlingame comsaid. “I messed around with a munity. few mocks, and I showed it to Brodeur’s brand was solemy friends, and they all thought ly advertised on its Instagram it was cool.” account @invrtofficial. As his Invrt released its first cloth- brand grows, Brodeur hopes to ing drop on March 2. Brodeur publish an official website for looked to clothing brands such Invrt. as North Face and Columbia As a senior, Brodeur plans Sportswear for inspiration on on continuing his brand during factors like sizing and material. college and plans to expand InBY ISAAC BOSTONMAER
5
Community
April 18, 2022
Broadway: Burlingame’s “neglected” downtown Senior Reporter
BY ALEX KELLY
Webmaster
WHERE IS DOWNTOWN BURLINGAME?
“Burlingame Avenue got all the attention from city council and all the efforts to improve the street lighting, sidewalks and parking … Broadway was regularly neglected” -Gerald Weisl street lighting, sidewalks and parking… Broadway was regularly neglected because it wasn’t as chi-chi a shopping area.” Irene Preston, owner of Preston’s Candy and Ice Cream,
shared a similar sentiment. In her eyes, though, the refurbishment of Burlingame Avenue rejected the street’s locally-owned shops. If Broadway hopes to maintain its local character, attracting chains is not the answer. “The emphasis on Burlingame Avenue was to encourage the chains, and so the longstanding mom-and-pop stores disappeared,” Preston said. “On Broadway, the rents are lower, so the vast majority of the stores that are here are owner-owned.” But more and more, Broadway’s small businesses are shutting their doors for good, leaving spaces vacant for long stretches. In 2017, Earthbeam Natural Foods, a health foods store, closed. Five years later, the building remains empty, with windows shuttered and lights off. “We’re struggling because we don’t have the density, and we don’t have people patronizing,” Kevranian said. “When businesses see that [Broadway] lacks foot traffic, they’re not going to invest half a million or 1 million [dollars] to come and build a restaurant or bakery.” Chain restaurants like Stix and Feng Cha Teahouse moved onto Broadway, hoping to restore the street’s popularity. At the same time, beloved shops like Magda Luna, Big Joe’s Cafe and Sesame Korean Cuisine have had to move out. Arguably, these trendy chains are exactly what Broadway needs: they cater to a younger, modern audience. But at the same time, they sacrifice Broadway’s character as a local downtown. And, according to Kevranian, they distract from deeper problems on the street. One obstacle to Broadway’s success is that it has become a major thoroughfare to the I-101 highway. Several businesses, such as Centro Pizza, mentioned that because cars drive so quickly down Broadway, pedestrians don’t like to walk along the street. “On Burlingame Ave, the street is bigger and there is more space, so you have people sitting outside. On Broadway, though, the streets are very narrow. It’s very dangerous,” Centro’s owner
In the 1940s, Broadway was bustling with activity and was Burlingame’s city center. PHOTO COURTESY OF BURLINGAME HISTORICAL SOCIETYWWW
Today, the answer seems obvious — Burlingame Avenue, a wide boulevard lined with globally-recognizable chains just minutes from the high school. But 50 years ago, the answer was vastly different. Back in 2002, Jennifer Pfaff, president of the Burlingame Historical Society, began a blog where members could share stories of their childhoods in Burlingame during the mid20th century. One section of the blog contained memories about what used to be the town’s “main street,” according to Pfaff: Broadway Avenue. For years, Broadway was the heart and soul of Burlingame. As Rocky Kramm reminisced on the blog, he and his classmates — some on bicycles, some on foot — would “cruise the strip” in search of toys, ice cream and magazines. As they grew into high schoolers, they worked as ushers at Fox Theater and laid pins at B Bowl, the street’s bowling alley. Today, Broadway has retained some of its historical relics: Preston’s Candy and Ice Cream is still in operation after 75 years, children still ride their bikes up and down the street and the unmistakable arch still spells out “Broadway” for incoming cars and pedestrians. But Broadway has lost much of its past charm: old businesses are shutting their doors; fewer passersby drop into local shops and restaurants; even two of the old arch’s lights burned out. “[Broadway] has changed so much,” Donna Luna Keys wrote on the Historical Society’s website. “Remembering keeps so many things alive.” Even the memory of Broadway, however, is fading away. New residents, who may be unaware of the street’s history, tend to gravitate to Burlingame Avenue.
“A lot of our older customers are passing on and moving,” John Kevranian, owner of Broadway’s Nuts for Candy, said. “It’s funny; every week people come in and say ‘Oh, you’re a new business.’ We say, ‘Oh, no — we’re going into our 28th year.’” Though his business has been on Broadway for fewer than three decades — a relatively short time span in the scope of Broadway’s history — Kevranian’s connection to the street dates back to his childhood. Both of Kevranian’s parents worked on Broadway more than 40 years ago — his father a cobbler and his mother a seamstress. According to Kevranian, Burlingame Avenue used to look a lot like Broadway, too. But after a wave of larger chains reached Burlingame Avenue, it grew into the regional shopping destination that it is today. Over the years, the city made frequent campaigns to modernize and refurbish Burlingame Avenue — but barely touched Broadway. If it had, Gerald Weisl would have seen it from outside his wine store, which has been in operation since 1961. “[Broadway] was always the stepchild of Burlingame Ave. It was always treated as a somewhat lesser area,” Weisl said. “Burlingame Avenue got all the attention from city council and all the efforts to improve the
PHOTO COURTESY OF BURLINGAME HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BY JACKSON SPENNER
Once Grain Grocery, Village Host now resides in the dated Broadway building. — who also manages Sapore, a restaurant on Burlingame Avenue — said. “Just crossing California Drive to get to Broadway takes you forever.” The building zoning surrounding Broadway also poses a challenge to business. On Broadway, surrounding buildings are regulated as “medium/high density residential” — apartments and condominium buildings that are left vacant during the day. Without surrounding commercial activity, Broadway’s businesses struggle to attract foot traffic, often reducing their hours. By comparison, Burlingame Avenue’s downtown area is structured according to a specific plan developed by the city, which allows commercial and mixedused lots on the surrounding streets.
“During the day, all of [Burlingame Avenue’s] surrounding buildings are filled with workers: lawyers, real estate agents, title companies, banks, professionals,” Kevranian said. “They patronize Burlingame Avenue for breakfast, lunch and dinner.” At the end of the day, Kevranian, Weisl and Preston all agreed that Broadway’s fate will ultimately fall on Burlingame residents. If the local community doesn’t patronize local businesses, competition with larger corporations is impossible. “We want to see a bakery; we want to see a Mexican restaurant; we want to see an Indian restaurant,” Kevranian said. “But we have to see the local community supporting these businesses.”
Burlingame’s new community center to open in May ‘22 PHOTO BY JACKSON SPENNER
A construction worker installs an HVAC system in the youth area of Burlingame’s new community center Burlingame Avenue. Today, it’s only months away from opening Senior Reporter its doors to the public, showcasNearly two years ago, Burlin- ing more than 15 modernized game’s community center was a enrichment areas, including a mere pile of rubble on the side of two-story community hall, a BY JACKSON SPENNER
social lounge and a creative arts studio. Although the previous center was demolished in May 2020, planning for this construction dates back a decade. In 2012, the city began drafting the Community Center Master Plan that featured conceptual designs for the building. After the plan’s approval in 2014, community input became the city’s primary focus. Over the next eight years, the Burlingame Parks & Recreation Commission surveyed as many residents as possible. They hosted study sessions with the city council, feedback sessions at farmers’ markets and even lunchtime kiosks at Burlingame schools. The commission also took to the internet, making a survey accessible through Facebook, Nextdoor, local news sites and the city’s own webpage. “We went to the high school, we went to the middle school, we went to the business community,” Margaret Glomstad, Bur-
lingame Parks and Recreation director, said. “We even talked to the neighbors and the field users.” One of the project’s biggest focuses was accessibility to senior citizens. In the old space, they were shuffled around when summer camps were in session. Now, seniors have a dedicated room on the second floor of the center, along with access to the art, fitness and multi-purpose spaces. “I think our seniors are excited that they will have their own space, and I know our community groups will be happy to have technology spaces,” Glomstad said. Featuring a green roof, electric vehicle charging stations and solar panels, the new community center will be a carbon net-zero energy building. The building’s photovoltaic panels alone cost upwards of 1 million dollars, a significant investment in renewable energy. The entire project is esti-
mated to cost the city a total of $52,283,603, and as Glomstad emphasized, it impacts every corner of the community: children, teens, adults and senior citizens. Plus, the construction has required collaboration between various aspects of the city government. “There’s so many moving parts — it really took every department in the city working together to make sure this building comes out,” Glomstad said. “Public works was involved. Community development was involved, because they’re the ones who do the inspections. Even the fire [department] was involved.” In the early stages of planning, the Parks and Recreation Department made it a goal to “meet the needs of all members of all ages of the Burlingame community that will have a useful life well into the future.” After ten years of waiting, that goal will finally become a reality.
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Student Playlists DESIGNED BY
BY SAFIYA LOOMBA
Senior Reporter
Sounds of Spring
WRITTEN BY BY SOPHIA BELLA
Staff Reporter
BY KRISTIE KIM
Senior Reporter BY LIZZY WAN
Senior Reporter
BURLINGAME STUDENTS’ FAVORITE SONGS
Music has been a key part of our culture for centuries. It has allowed people to express themselves, tell stories and connect listeners to the artist and each other. At the end of 2021, Spotify recorded 406 million active users monthly, making it the most popular music streaming service worldwide. The widespread variety of music genres ensures everyone can discover a community that shares common tastes. We asked Burlingame students to describe their favorite songs and what they meant to them, then compiled it into one playlist.
Junior Arriana Cruz
Favorite song: Ray Mysterio by The Alchemist
This song is perfect to listen to for any occasion, even if you just want to chill and listen to music. Since I am a person who’s mostly interested in ‘90s R&B and rap (2Pac, Notorious B.I.G, Ice Cube, ect.), this song definitely satisfies me and anyone else who’s into ‘90s R&B and rap.
Senior Taylor Wong
Favorite song: Whatsername by Green Day
Green Day has always been one of my favorite alternative artists, and this song comes from their album, American Idiot. When I was growing up in the 2000s, I loved listening to the 1990s and early 2000s pop-punk and scene bands. I love this song because it is very nostalgic for me and reminds me of when life was simpler and I could just listen to music all day with no worries: just laying in my bed, closing my eyes and playing Green Day on my iPod.
Sophomore Finn Lorian
Favorite song: Night Shift by Lucy Dacus
The lyrics are so incredibly relatable and they give me nostalgia for a time I haven’t known. The chorus is just fantastic, and it makes me feel like I’m somewhere else.
Senior Molly Abramson
Favorite song: Giant Steps by John Coltrane
It has an unusual chord progression, yet Coltrane is able to connect seemingly contrasting undertones quite fluently, and arguably, brilliantly.
MOST POPULAR GENRES
Freshman Alexa Barraza
2.4% soul
Favorite song: Remember That Night by Sara Kays
4.8% rock
I love this song because of the lyrics and the feeling it gives me. It makes me feel a sense of euphoria and calm, and it makes me feel free.
4.8% jazz 23.8% pop
Junior Emmalea Krasts
7.1% gospel
Favorite song: Wannabe by Leyya
I like this song because it has a powerful message that everyone wants to be like somebody else, and that nobody is perfect. It gets the message across that we should love ourselves with our insecurities and imperfections. This is the song that I always come back to no matter how long it has been since I last listened to it.
7.1% EDM (electronic music)
16.7% indie 31% rap
Junior Elise Ehrhardt
Favorite song: Boys Don’t Cry by The Cure
I like this song because it’s a song I can never get sick of. The drums, the guitar and the lyrics all fit together so well. I could get lost in my head just listening to this song for hours straight.
Sports
8
April 18, 2022
PHOTO BY SOPHIA BELLA
PHOTO BY SOPHIA BELLA
BY SOPHIA BELLA
Staff Reporter
Sophomore Isaac Van Voorhis ended in first place in the boys’ frosh-soph 1600-meter race on March 9. At the same meet, junior Romer Rosales-Hasek placed first in the varsity boys’ 1600-meter race. “They prepare very hard for cross country, and then continue to train all the way through the beginning and end of the track season.”
whole season… and that’s the reason they run so well.” Senior Will Uhrich, a three-sport athlete committed to the University of Arizona for football, translated his athletic ability and team sportsmanship into this year’s track season. “We don’t get many football athletes, but his athleticism and ability to be a great teammate really encouraged some of the track athletes,” distance coach Steve O’Brien said. With championships and postseason right around the corner, the team’s running practices ramped up from building a foundation to honing in on speed and precision. “In the first part, it’s more endurance and stamina,” O’Brien said. “Now we’re going to really start to peak speed for the championship. That’s the way we have done it for so many years.” The track and field postseason consists of two separate competitions: the frosh-soph championships and the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) championships for varsity. PAL is split into three divisions: the Bay, Ocean and Lake divisions. With Burlingame currently competing in the Lake division, one of the team’s main goals is to move up a level. “I think there’ll be some individuals that will make [Central Coast Section], but our goal is to move up a division to the Ocean Division to have more competitive quad meets next year,” O’Brien said. Despite the focus on competition, Coleman emphasized that improving in the sport is more about training growth than numbers. “With track, people often look at what times you ran, how far and high you jumped, how far you threw,” Coleman said. “But what the coaches see is the development in the workouts… [we’re] very pleased because we’re starting to see athletes develop.”
Sophomore Elise Spenner finishes first in the girls’ varsity 1600-meter race on March 9, the first meet of the season. “I didn’t see her run track last year, and she’s excelling really well,” assistant coach Sharon Reichow said.
PHOTO BY SOPHIA BELLA
PHOTO BY SOPHIA BELLA
Sophomore Raymond Frank finishes the final leg of the frosh-soph boys’ 4×100 relay on March 22. “His performance in the 400 and 200 puts him on a level that we haven’t seen from a frosh-soph sprinter in a number of years,” head coach Chris Coleman said.
When the Burlingame track and field team heads off to championships at the end of April, they will be doing so with one of the youngest teams in recent memory. The sheer amount of underclassmen presented an opportunity to discover and foster new talent. The first competition of the season, a quad meet hosted at Burlingame, allowed experienced athletes to re-enter the competitive environment and new athletes to get a feel for their events. “I think overall, [the first meet] was a good introduction for a lot of newcomers,” said head coach Chris Coleman. In the two subsequent quad meets featuring competition between Burlingame, El Camino High School, Oceana High School, South San Francisco High School and Jefferson High School, new athletes showcased their skills and focused on their chosen competition categories. “We were able to get more athletes involved in more events. And we found more talent that way,” Coleman said. Coleman emphasized that the underclassmen girls — running in the “frosh-soph” heats — have performed exceptionally well this season, and that the group is the largest on the roster. “Just by sheer numbers and trying different events, they have an opportunity to place very well in the frosh-soph championship,” Coleman said. Students who played other sports during the offseason also had memorable performances. Experienced competitors like junior Romer Rosales-Hasek and sophomores Isaac Van Voorhis and Elise Spenner also participate in cross country in the fall. “They are experienced, but that’s not what makes them good runners,” Coleman said. “Their training regimen is year-round. They do take breaks to recover, but they prepare very hard for cross country and run the
Senior Will Uhrich celebrates a victory in the boys’ varsity 4×100 relay on March 22. “We don’t get many football athletes, but his athleticism and his ability to be a great teammate really encouraged some of the track athletes,” distance coach Steve O’Brien said.
Depth of talent on boys’ golf roster spurs undefeated streak Sports Editor
As the only undefeated team among Burlingame’s spring sports, boys’ golf leads a highly successful season, spewing Panther pride. As of April 13, the team has competed in nine matches, winning them all by large margins. The team currently stands tied in first place with Aragon High School out of the seven teams in the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) Bay Division. “We have been playing great,” senior Will Mendell said. “We have an amazing amount of potential and so much room to grow and get even better.” What separates Burlingame’s golf squad from other golf teams in PAL is the depth of talent throughout the roster, according to assistant coach Taylor White.
“We don’t really have one or two specific players that are that much better than anyone else. We have eight or nine players all of whom, on any given day, could be the lowest scorer,” White said. “Seeing certain players step up and unexpectedly be the lowest scorer in a tournament has been the highlight [of the season so far] for me. We’ve had a number of players who played as the number five or six player and ended up being the lowest scorer for the day.” The team consists of 11 golfers from all grades, nine of whom have participated in matches thus far. For golf matches, each team participating must choose six of their players to compete. The coaches carefully determine who competes based on different factors. “We typically factor in two things. One, the scores that
they’ve had in previous matches, so how well they’ve done at particular courses. Some players play certain courses better than other players play certain courses,” White said. “And [second], their scores in practice. Golf is very numbers-based. If you’re shooting a lower score than your teammates, you’re going to play in that week’s match.” This means golfers are constantly working to prove themselves compared to their teammates. “It’s very competitive,” Mendell said. “Everyone gets a chance to compete. We all have to try hard to qualify for our matches each week.” And the coaches’ decisions on who plays have paid off in the form of an impressive win streak. The Panthers believe they have a more than strong chance of winning a PAL league title
PHOTO BY ISAAC BOSTONMAER
BY ISAAC BOSTONMAER
Freshman Ian Lai attempts and makes a putt shot four feet away from the hole in a match against Sequoia High School on April 7. and playing in the Central Coast Section playoffs. Every team remaining in Burlingame’s schedule, other than the Aragon Dons, has already lost to the Panthers this season. Burlingame’s only match against the Dons will be the last
game of the regular season, an exciting note to end off on. “April 28w — it could literally be the deciding match [for the PAL title],” White said. “In all likelihood, we’ll both be undefeated leading into that final match.”
Sports
April 18, 2022
9
Supportive atmosphere key to swim team’s ongoing success
Battling baseball mid-season burnout PHOTO BY AMANDA NOLAN
Girls’ varsity co-captain Maryanne Maxwell cheers on the 50-meter relay team during their race. BY AMANDA NOLAN
Staff Reporter
itive environment. Teammates greet each other with undeniable support and enthusiasm. “Honestly, it’s a wonderful experience. It feels so good to be cheered for, cheer for other people and see your teammates win,” Sullivan Wu said. To unite the team more, swim meets include relay events, swam by four teammates integrated with a balance of communication and instinct. The coaches of the swim team have fostered bonds between relay teams, by allowing swimmers to converse throughout practices. “It turns a daunting collection of people into a connected group of people and the coaches have really let that happen,” Burlingham said. The swim teams’ collaboration has led them to a total of nine wins this season: boys’ varsity with two, girls’ varsity with four and JV with three. But the true winning was the camaraderie and character built throughout the season. “I’m very proud to be the captain of this team,” Burlingham said. “I look at the people in front of me and I’m truly honored. I have so many amazing people around me and we all support each other and make each other better.”
BY MATTINGLY GERMACK on the field and picking up on opposing players’ strengths Copy Editor and weaknesses — especially Time is not of the essence pitchers. “It means a lot to have the in baseball. Much of the baseball sea- guys that went up and batted son is time spent idle. It’s one against them to come back of two team sports offered at and tell you what they see,” Burlingame without a fixed Dempsey said, “but anyone clock; games regularly last that sees anything is importmore than two hours. There ant to what we do as a team.” As the Panthers enter the are wait periods between innings, batters and even pitch- second half of their season es. And besides at-bats, there’s and fatigue starts to set in, no guarantee that anyone be- players’ passion and love for sides the pitcher, catcher and the game is tested, and so far, first baseman will even touch they’ve passed that test. Burthe ball. Fielders can go in- lingame holds an 8-6 record nings, and on rare occasions, as of April 12. They’re 3-1 in even games, without an op- league matches, with two wins against Hillsdale High School portunity to make a play. Pair this slow pace-of-play and a two-game split with with the longest season of any Aragon High School. “That [Central Coast SecBurlingame sport — 27 regular season games plus playoffs tion championship] banner, — it’s hard for the middle- we’re all chasing that, right? to-end stretch of the regular So we all want to be out there season to not feel drawn out. and compete,” senior Ryan Baseball fans coin this part of Kall said. Their success has been the season the “dog days,” and it’s exactly where the Panthers spearheaded by their pitching aces, Dempsey and junior find themselves right now. Much of the fun of baseball Holden Glavin. Dempsey is finding ways to stay dialed boasts a perfect 4-0 record, into the game as the season with an ERA of just 1.24 and progresses. Fielders are con- an average of just over one stantly communicating with strikeout per inning. Glavin each other, reminding them- is 2-1 in five starts, allowing a selves of the amount of outs batting average of .200 with a and where the ball needs to go 1.66 ERA. They’ve struggled to manif hit in-play. “Having a good, solid de- ufacture runs this season, fense is kind of the frame- averaging just 3.3 per game. work for what we have to do,” But their pitching staff paired senior Blake Dempsey said. with exceptional, fundamen“You can’t win a game if you’re tally-sound defense — somegiving up a lot of runs, even if thing they emphasize in practice — has helped make up for you are hitting.” And it’s not just the play- it. “I think defense is by far ers in the game that need to stay active and focused; the the strongest quality on our bench is a critical part of any team,” Kall said. “I think doteam’s success. They play a ing those drills day in and day substantial role in keeping out… it makes those ground fielders aware of the situation balls and fly balls so routine.” PHOTO BY MATTINGLY GERMACK
Swim meets are the epitome of competition. Every event is an all-out sprint to the wall; every stroke can mean the difference between a win and a loss. At Burlingame, swim meets are also relatively enjoyable — or so the team’s coaches and captains hope. The swim team, divided into three groups — girls’ junior varsity (JV), girls’ varsity and boys’ varsity — has four captains who all share one goal: uniting the teams. Whether this is through team bonding, passionate cheering or a mentor system, they believe the most successful team is one that supports each other inside and outside of the pool. “It really makes all the difference in a team sport because you have a different support system,” junior Natalie Sullivan Wu said. “You have teammates and coaches to rely on, to be there for you and to cheer you on in everything.” With that mindset, senior girls’ varsity co-captain, Ella Guglielmi, strove to cultivate the ideal team dynamic by creating a mentorship program between the upper and underclassmen. Newer swimmers can seek guidance from an experienced teammate as they ad-
just to the flow of swim meets. The team also carries on the Burlingame swim and water polo tradition of Secret Fish, similar to Secret Santa, where swimmers are assigned a teammate for the season and bring snack bags to each meet for their “fish.” Though the swim team spends all week together at practices and weekly meets, the captains also plan team-bonding events to integrate the team even more. “I just want to make sure everyone feels supported, and like they can do their best, and it’s a fun environment,” Gugliemi said. Junior Tarik Burlingham, co-captain of the boys’ varsity team, encourages open communication between the teams. Burlingham strongly believes captains are responsible for ensuring that all swimmers feel included and are meaningfully involved in team decisions regardless of the team they are on. “Communication is the main way that everyone gets to know each other and supports each other in any way possible,” Burlingham said. While swimming is an individual sport — racing against yourself and your times — the overwhelming support from the team overrides the compet-
Varsity lineup excels in “dog days”
Fiztgerald leads girls’ lacrosse team on and off of the field BY DARIA BURNOSOVA
Staff Reporter
Girls’ varsity lacrosse is currently in the middle of league competition for the school season. As of April 12, the Panthers have a league record of 5-2. The team won their most recent home game against Presentation High School on April 6 by a final score of 18-3. The West Bay Athletic League places the team in third, after their victory. Diversity in age this season has proven itself, as the team involves all four grades, including six underclassmen. Diversity also exists in the team’s leadership roles, as junior Elizabeth Fitzgerald is the youngest co-captain on the girls’ la-
crosse team, alongside seniors Ella Bradley and Melia Choy. Fitzgerald’s responsibilities as junior co-captain includes observing how the team functions and learning how to be a stronger captain to lead the team again next year. “We find it beneficial that Elizabeth is a junior because she knows how to be a leader so they have a strong figure for next season,” Bradley said. Fitzgerald’s leadership capabilities come from being president of the All Student Body Executive Board. Her involvement in leadership activities and responsibilities in a position of power have helped her fulfill her role as a co-captain. “In the classroom and on the field, there are different leader-
ship skills that are needed, but a lot of the time those skills correlate, and you see them kind of project themselves on the field,” Fitzgerald said. Unfortunately, Fitzgerald is out for the rest of the season after suffering from a tibia fracture. Rest assured, she continues to go to games and fulfill her commitment on the sidelines by keeping up the team morale, cheering on her teammates and talking to coaches about new plays. “I think being injured allows me to have a different perspective of the game. I’m able to use that perspective to share different viewpoints to my teammates that I didn’t see before when I was on the field,” Fitzgerald said.
Senior shortstop Jonny Suarez makes an off-balance throw to first base in Burlingame’s victory over Aragon High School on April 6.
Opinion
10
April 18, 2022
Editorial: Summer exacerbates educational divide PHOTO BY LEXI GOLDSTEIN
Math teacher Sonny Lau supports a student in his seventh period Algebra I class. BY THE BURLINGAME B EDITORIAL BOARD April and May are notoriously busy months, bookended by end-of-year essays and projects, Advanced Placement (AP) exams and final assessments. But flip the calendar from May to June, and 74 days of empty schedules and free time await. Or so we wish. For many students, summer break is an opportunity to leapfrog standard or college preparatory courses in favor of summer-term AP classes. In today’s world, the days we spend outside of school are responsible for the severe inequities we
observe inside school. With pandemic-related educational setbacks, the push for streamlined curriculum and phased-out advanced tracks is becoming more popular. As schools remove advanced curriculum to avoid tracking students early in their academic career, now more than ever, students will turn to summer classes as a way to get and stay ahead. Especially in middle school and early high school, offering advanced options can create a toxic, competitive learning environment and perpetuate inequities in opportunity and ac-
cess. However, in the Bay Area, where a notorious competitive culture looms over public and private schools alike, dropping advanced classes from the curriculum will not keep students from accelerating their academic track. Instead, getting ahead will no longer depend on ambition and desire, but on having the privilege to dedicate time and money over the summer to courses and intensives. This year, students face a specific incentive to spend their summer with formulas, calculators and triangles: jumping ahead to a higher math class in the fall. California recently
made headlines for the proposed California Mathematics Framework revisions, in place of the previous 2013 standards, which would essentially eliminate accelerated math tracks, with all students set to take Algebra I in ninth grade. Last year, Burlingame Intermediate School did away with their advanced Algebra I course for eighth-grade students, requiring eager math students to take the class through an independent study platform. This news comes in conjunction with the released analysis of eighth grade Smarter Balanced math assessments, taken in 2021, revealing average ability levels comparable to fifth grade expectations. And at Burlingame, advanced standing English courses were removed from freshman course offerings in 2020, and there are currently no Advanced Placement courses intended for freshman curriculum. The year before, an ethnic studies social science course replaced both college prep and advanced standing contemporary world studies courses. The idea of a “summer break” is becoming a laughable thought. June and July is resume-building time, and the playing field is far from equitable. With the prospect of fresh-
man schedules free of advanced classes, incoming students that want to get ahead will — and they will do it over the summer. But the system is rigged. It all boils down to time and money. Students that must get a job over the summer to support their family will gain valuable work experience, but lose the chance to enter advanced classes during the school year. Alternatively, students with responsibilities at home — taking care of younger siblings or elderly grandparents — will miss out on the summer opportunities afforded to their classmates. On the other hand, for students without familial obligations and accessibility to money for splurging on college intensives, the sky is the limit — concurrent enrollment at local community colleges, pre-college programs at prestigious universities and private tutors at one’s beck and call. Removing advanced courses from high school curriculum is a treatment, not a cure, to the inequities that pervade Bay Area schools. In the years to come, schools might claim to advance equity, but summer programs will continue to separate students based on wealth — not potential.
What happened to free speech, Gov? BY JULIANNA OLIVER Senior Reporter Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, signed a bill on March 28 that was dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by opposers. While the bill does not explicitly say this phrase, it mentions the terms “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” multiple times,w which is where the bill’s name originates from. The most controversial part of the bill states that in Florida public schools, teachers and third parties are not allowed to discuss gender identity or sexual orientation in kindergarten, first, second and third-grade classrooms. The state conveyed they would keep a careful eye on teachers by throwing in the phrase “in accordance with state standards.” I read the formal bill statement on the Florida State Senate website, House Bill 1557, officially titled “Parental Rights in Education.” In some ways, that sounds a whole lot worse than “Don’t Say Gay,” because it means Florida’s government has decided that parental control in education is more important than truth in education. The writing in this bill specifically targets young kids, which is why it applies to the first four grades of elementary school. It focuses on the old and worn argument that if children are exposed to “homosexual” tendencies — the same way they are to same-sex couples — they will in turn end up a part of the LGBTQ+ community. First off, what’s wrong with that? Second, a public school talking about the existence of same-sex attraction, various sexual orientations and gender identities rather than the heteronormitive will not make
a kid gay. Sexuality and gender identity is not a choice, but rather an innate, fluid part of one’s identity. In fact, in my eyes, gradually teaching young kids about the realities of the world and different ways of expression would help kids be more accepting of themselves and others, rather than causing harm. The vague language in this bill regarding the expectations of Florida citizens is also problematic, because it can be interpreted in more ways than one. Allegations against teachers and schools could arise left and right, possibly even being brought to court where, once again, words and phrases used to talk about an entire community would be under scrutiny. Although the bill may not specifically state it, the vague language implies that parents would be notified if their child talks about potential same-sex attraction in a school setting or brings up a topic that diverges from the heteronormative. The way the bill was written and the focus on “the fundamental right of parents to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control of their children,” (HB1557 7-9) creates a tone urging parents to suppress those tendencies and curiosities in their child. All people, including young kids, deserve the privacy and protection of the state they live in, not a stigma-filled law that implants in their heads that what they want to feel isn’t normal. Because it is. I thank my lucky stars that I live in California. I wouldn’t want to live in a state where I couldn’t love who I wanted to and truly be my non-binary self.
Opinion
April 18, 2022
11
For extracurriculars, don’t forget quality over quantity Staff Reporter
As a student in the Bay Area, it’s likely that you feel the pressure to join every club, fill every leadership position and spend 20 hours a week volunteering. There’s an impending sense of failure when you aren’t being productive or building your resume. But not every moment needs to be spent on impressing colleges or filling the 10 activity slots on the Common Application. Instead, focus on the quality of your efforts to bring change to your community and learn more about yourself. When I entered high school, I caved to the pressures and joined five clubs, spent my weekends volunteering, played water polo and practiced Kung Fu. I told myself if I didn’t participate in all of those activities and more, I wouldn’t get into college. I dedicated my time to spreading myself too thin by participating in too many extracurriculars. The result — minimal effort because
all I was doing was showing up without the intention of doing good for the community. And I’m sure my feelings of not doing enough and fear of being denied from every college is one many students can relate to. However, doing an excess of activities isn’t the answer. First of all, I highly doubt universities are expecting students to join every club, charity league, sport and cabinet role. While I am not in the mind of a college admissions officers, after talking to admitted college students, I came to the conclusion that extracurriculars aren’t everything. Sure, they still matter, but the quality holds much greater importance than the quantity. It starts with a mindset change. Instead of participating with the sole goal of gaining prestige on a application, you should focus your efforts on improving the community. Colleges are looking for students who can dedicate themselves to being a leader and making positive impacts on their
community. When you pursue a leadership position, ask yourself what you will get out of the time and effort you put into it. Will you make a difference in your school and the surrounding community? Will the time you put into the activity correlate to a positive impact? Focus your extracurricular activities on something that you are passionate about. If you don’t like sports, then don’t play one. If you don’t like to write, don’t join your school’s newspaper. It’s that simple. If you spend a large chunk of your time on something you couldn’t care less about, will you really create lasting change in your community? Without passion, it is difficult to display qualities that demonstrate your character. Extracurricular activities were designed for students to find their callings and explore opportunities outside of the classroom for further enrichment, not to promise a college admission at a prestigious college.
GRAPHIC BY AMANDA NOLAN
BY AMANDA NOLAN
Overloading yourself with extracurriculars is pointless. Focus on strengthening your character and impact to the community around you when outlining your resume.
Sport uniform standards perpetuates gender inequities Senior Reporter Gymnastics: from the Greek word gymnos — meaning to exercise naked. So it would make sense that gymnasts wear tight leotards to practice, covering nothing more than a one-piece swimsuit. Alas, this is just in women’s gymnastics. Men have it much differently. In men’s gymnastics, they often practice in a t-shirt with pants, and in competition, they wear a singlet and pants. Despite doing very similar activities, the group’s uniforms are vastly different in coverage. More often than not, female athletes wear a different uniform than men, which seems obvious, I know. Men and women don’t need to be wearing the exact same thing, but why are women forced to wear tighter, more revealing outfits? While it is clear there are biological differences
PHOTO COURTESY OF PURVI JAIN
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXANDER ISTOCK
BY LIZZY WAN
Junior Alexander Istock and sophomore Purvi Jain wear their respective uniforms during competition. While men and women do similar skills, their uniforms are vastly different. between female and male anatomy, the unfavorable option is almost always given to women when it comes to uniforms. Some argue that uniforms help
S P R IN G WO R D SE ARC H
with flexibility, aerodynamics and speed. However, men do not seem to have the issue when it comes to their uniforms. For example, in volleyball, women
wear short, form-fitting shorts that end at the upper thigh, while men wear longer, baggy shorts that end right above the knee. In other sports like tennis and lacrosse, rather than wearing a pair of shorts, women wear skirts. In cases like these, there seem to be no benefit women can gain from their uniforms. During the 2021 European Beach Handball Championship, a controversy broke out over the Norwegian women’s beach handball team. The athletes protested wearing bikini bottoms and instead opted to wear thigh-length, tight-fitting elastic shorts, similar to a pair of Nike Pros that indoor women volleyball players would wear. The International Handball Federation fined the team $1,700. It’s not just in professional sports. In gymnastics, as women are forced to wear leotards, if undergarments are showing
through, the gymnast will receive a deduction from their score. Men do not have to worry about such reductions, for they wear pants. But if women were to wear pants like their male counterparts, they would be disqualified. In regulating women’s uniforms so harshly, we take the conversation away from their skills as athletes and revert our focus to the clothes on their bodies. These conversations rarely have to happen with men. Is there a biological difference that forces women into one uniform and men into another? When women first entered the Olympics in 1900, they dressed in modest clothing, wearing long dresses and skirts to sporting events like tennis, golf and equestrian. Although the 20th century brought some level of equity to sports, it’s time for us to consider why uniform standards remain so lopsided.
Student Life
12
April 18, 2022
BURLINGAME’S GIRL SCOUTS
Burlingame High School
bered “barely being able to count change” and being too intimidated to approach people. “Now it’s really easy to handle money. Honestly, it’s also exciting if people actually want Girl Scout cookies and if you have it for them. I feel like I’m doing something they might appreciate,” Liu said. Moving forward, Liu hopes to complete a Gold Award by researching and creating a solution to an issue seen in her local community. The Gold Awards are the highest community service awards and completed only by Seniors. “It’s definitely not set in stone yet, but building Little Free Libraries was one of the ideas I had. I’ve been fond of reading since I was little and I want to try something hands-on,”
engagements, Liu’s troop primarily focuses on community service and team-bonding activities. They regularly cook together, have movie nights and paint ceramics. They have also volunteered at local food banks amd participated in coastal cleanups. What Liu enjoys most, however, is going on camping trips. “Going camping was a great opportunity for us to learn more applicable skills like maintaining fires, setting up tents and cooking,” Liu said. “It was kind of daunting for me initially, because I didn’t know any of the people in my troop too well, but inhabiting the same tent as them and having to deal with very awkward, cramped sleeping configurations helped us connect better with each other, weirdly enough.” Being a Girl Scout often entails extending one’s comfort zone by trying new things. For example, when Liu started selling cookies, she remem-
Liu said. FINN LORIAN Sophomore Finn Lorian has been a Girl Scout since they were in kindergarten, beginning at the first level, Brownies. They are also a Girl Scout Senior, though their troop refers to themselves as “Scouts” to include the variety of gender identities in the group. Lorian explained that initially, they did Scouts because of their parents, but it soon became a safe haven for friendship. Lorian recalls feeling socially isolated in the Spanish Immersion program at McKinley Elementary School. “The Girl Scouts program, or our troop, really made it a lot easier to bond with people outside of school,” Lorian said. “I just feel like it opened up another way for me to use my time well, while still getting to know the people around me in a non-academic environment.” Lorian’s troop centers primarily around team
DESIGN BY FARAH CABAN
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANGELYN LIU
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bonding, with their favorite memories including a beach bonfire and annual Santa Cruz trip. However, they find their time with Girl Scouts decreased with age and the COVID-19 pandemic. Lorian hasn’t completed the Gold or Silver Awards either, however, they remember watching other Scouts complete the process and the impact it had on the community. “My friends did the Silver Awards a while ago, where they established more LGBTQ+ education at [Burlingame Intermediate School]. It was really great and they managed to talk to a bunch of teachers,” Lorian said. “Nowadays, volunteering is more by choice — a lot of people only come to the team-bonding activities.” But like Liu, Scouts PHOTO BY ISABEL LIU
ANGELYN LIU Sophomore Angelyn Liu has been a Girl Scout for four years. Although her troop has yet to complete her bridging ceremony — a celebration of her time as a Girl Scout and her readiness to move to the next age group — Liu is technically a Girl Scout Senior. Liu claims her troop isn’t as active as other troops, but she still remembers several memorable trips her troop made. When she first joined in seventh grade, her troop visited NASA’s Ames Research Center and met a NASA-sponsored Girl Scout Robotics team, Space Cookies. “They showed us around, and we did a lot of girl-empowerment activities,” Liu said. Besides a few academic
were a fundamental part of Lorian’s development, particularly the experience of selling cookies. “When we were younger, it was kind of like, ‘Oh, if you sell this many cookies and you can get this prize!’, and now it’s less about that — it’s just a really great way to foster a sense of independence and dealing with money, talking to people you don’t know,” Lorian said. Lorian also claims their troop isn’t all that formal, with less structured meetings and the Scouts themselves handling the schedule. Even so, Lorian remains dedicated to the troop. “[Scouts has] been a great way to just sustain our friendship… like it’s a great way to bond, and especially now when a lot of people are busy with other things,” Lorian said. “And honestly, these are the people I grew up around. They’re my best friends since elementary school.”