URLINGAME B
THE
theburlingameb.org
GRAPHIC BY ALLISON SZETU
BY AMELIA HARRIS Editor in Chief
T
o our readers,
Above all else, 2020 has been a year of change. As we’ve transitioned to online school and encountered lifestyle restrictions we’ve all learned to adapt, be it in terms of family dynamics, academics or social interaction. By no means has this adjustment been easy, yet in one of the most challenging times our country has faced, we as a community have managed
to stay united through virtual spirit days, featured online events and conversations with peers over Zoom. As a news organization we have shifted gears this year; while we have been unable to distribute a print publication, we have focused on online content, improving our social media posts and teaching the first year journalism students various styles of news writing. Each news cycle has shifted: what was once a week of in-person interviews has become a barrage of emails and Zoom calls; our frantic rush to print previously filled with
last minute photographs and edits has become a steady stream of articles flowing onto our website over the course of a week. Our new staff members have dedicated themselves to learning an unfamiliar style of writing along with technical design skills over the past four months while the advanced journalism students adapted the program to support newcomers. We covered the presidential election, writing about student involvement in democracy and posting live updates as we monitored election results. We released articles addressing local issues as the San Mateo Union High School District Board met about increasing diversity in the district and reopening schools. We’ve worked to find a balance between our coverage of the pandemic and snippets of normalcy through features about student life. Our staff has managed to unite and form a community through Zoom and we have done our best to unite you, and all our fellow students and Panther families to the Burlingame community through our coverage.
Things look different this year but we wanted to bring you one last issue of The Burlingame B for 2020. Our team of nine page designers has compiled some of our articles from the semester into a mini-issue of six pages. Primarily designed by our J1 students, it features articles from a variety of reporters. This issue is our attempt to bring a semblance of normalcy to your year. I am so proud of the work our class has accomplished this semester. From our new students who enthusiastically assumed a daunting workload in a difficult learning environment to the returning students willing to meet after school and edit articles at all hours of the day; our class has dedicated themselves to producing content in order to keep our community informed. Please take a moment to read through some of our work; I look forward to sharing what we create next semester. Sincerely, Amelia Harris Editor-in-Chief
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Each news cycle has shifted: what was once a week of in-person interviews has become a barrage of emails and Zoom calls; our frantic rush to print previously filled with last minute photographs and edits has become a steady stream of articles flowing onto our website over the course of a week” - AMELIA HARRIS
WHAT’S
INSIDE
01
COVID-19 on the Ave: Your guide to Burlingame’s safest restaurants
03
Human disregard for the environment caused the pandemic
04
The trials and tribulations of a Wednesday
05
A24 coming-of-age films have transformed cinema
1
News
December 17, 2020
COVID-19 on the Ave: Your guide to Burlingame’s safest restaurants BY JACKSON SPENNER
Staff Reporter
Staff masks? Staff gloves? Customer mask requirements Posted information Table distance Distance from passerby Sanitization provided Accessibility of pick up Curbside pick up? Payment methods offered Payment location Menu type Overall cleanliness Line/Waiting area After detailed inspection
Pizzeria Delfina
Caffe Central is strongest in its clearly-marked indoor ordering area — offering a safe, organized and comfortable space. Where Caffe Central lacks, though, is in its dining area. Tables are hardly separated, cramped together next to the sidewalk. Not only are Caffe Central’s customers in close contact with others, they are also exposed to pedestrians on one of Burlingame Avenue’s busiest intersections. Furthermore, Caffe Central has a somewhat laissez-faire protocol for cleaning tables, allowing food waste from past customers to sit unattended at tables for long periods of time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a “schedule for increased, routine cleaning and disinfection,” something that was not evident at Caffe Central. Overall, Caffe Central attained a mediocre-at-best rating, at a ‘C’. Caffe Central declined to comment on this story.
Crepevine
PHOTO BY KRISTIE KIM
Crepevine, one of Burlingame Ave.’s most popular restaurants, sits at a prime position on the street, offering American cuisine and its signature crepes. Yet, this Burlingame attraction (both in location and food) also creates problems when it comes to providing a safe and civilized eating experience. Crepevine mainly falters in its line structure, with nonexistent social distancing and a cramped, clustered ordering space. Furthermore, Crepevine’s curbside pickup location is not clearly marked, causing both delivery services and take-out customers alike to fall into the same chaotic line as sit-down diners. However, Crepevine does provide unique services in some aspects of its protocol. For example, hand sanitizer can be found at each and every table, and outdoor tables are separated by around five feet of distance from edge-to-edge. Taking a similar approach to Pizzeria Delfina, Crepevine has wooden cubicle-esque barriers at some tables. Overall, Crepevine received a B- when graded for safety. Crepevine declined to comment on this story.
Pizzeria Delfina offers dine-in, curbside pickup and delivery.
Crepevine continues to serve their crepes and other dishes with curbside pickup, dine-in, or delivery.
Blue Line Pizza
washing hands and sanitizing high contact surfaces, we sanitize our pens after every use, we sanitize our POS (point of sale) screens, door handles, countertops, tables and chairs in between each use.” However, Klotzbach also recognized that there is always work to be done to improve protocol. Providing past examples of safety guidelines that have come to be accepted as necessary in restaurants, Klotzbach acknowledged that with a novel pandemic, the ability to adapt is crucial. “When the shelter in place was first implemented in mid-March, facial coverings weren’t mandatory,” Klotz-
bach said. “That was something that everybody took a while to learn and catch on to.” Klotzbach also recognized that customer safety needs to remain the top priority for restaurants around the world. “It’s about training, it’s about constant communication, and it’s about constant follow-up,” he said. “And it’s just about building great habits and best practices. I think our team members and other restaurants as well, understand how important it is to follow through.”
Blue Line Pizza, a restaurant known for its cornmeal crust and deep dish pizza, stands out most in the information and resources it offers to customers. For example, Blue Line does not merely post its COVID-19 certification like other restaurants, it also provides information about mask fitting, tips for distancing and state guidelines for restaurants during the pandemic. Additionally, Blue Line exceeds expectations for sanitization, frequently cleaning surfaces, mandating employee gloves and offering multiple hand sanitizer options. However, they fail to meet criteria in the organization of their waiting area, which contains few markings to indicate social distancing indoors and has a clustered area at the storefront. California’s state restaurant guidelines clearly state that “Any area where guests or workers queue should also be clearly marked for appropriate physical distancing.” Although they do offer curbside pick-up, Blue Line does not clearly indicate where this can be found. All in all, Blue Line received an ‘A-.’ Jake Klotzbach, Blue Line’s Operations Manager, presented even more detailed information about Blue Line’s safety policies. “We’re wearing gloves when we’re handling food and delivering food,” KlotzCaffe Central offers outdoor seating, delivery, and takeout after bach said. “We’re constantly ordering iside.
PHOTO BY KRISTIE KIM
Pizzeria Delfina maintains a comfortable, safe environment for its customers, offering plentiful distance between tables, cubicle-like isolated sections, a clean restaurant and an accessible pick-up location. However, Delfina also fails to ensure certain crucial measures for its customers, such as seating customers a reasonable social distance from passerby, which is not recommended by state guidelines. California’s industry guidance states that“servers and waiters are required to wear gloves and maintain a coordinated line for those ordering. However, the ease of access for pick-up and take-out allow Delfina to manage a solid grade — a ‘B+’ in review. Pizzeria Delfina declined to comment on this story.
PHOTO BY KRISTIE KIM
In the seven months since the COVID-19 pandemic began, it has quickly redefined our lives. Our new normal is a constant cycle of masks, gloves, empty hand sanitizer bottles and reminders to stay six feet apart from one another. Restaurants have suffered as a result of the pandemic, having to close their doors and offer takeout options for several months. Now that outdoor dining is permitted in San Mateo County, one question is on the minds of diners: Which restaurants have my safety in mind? Though every restaurant has some form of COVID-19 certification plastered on their door, some exceed expectations for safety protocol, while others hardly meet the mark. After examining local and federal guidelines for coronavirus safety, it became evident that certain key criteria were needed to judge restaurants:
Caffe Central
2
News
December 17, 2020
COVID-19 on the Ave:
Your guide to Burlingame’s safest restaurants part two By: Jackson Spenner
Mingalaba, a popular Burlingame restaurant serving Burmese cuisine, shows many strengths in its safety policies. For one, its entire interior is dedicated to pick-up, take-out, or delivery services, providing a functional, efficient way for customers to receive their food. All staff don masks and gloves when serving and preparing food, as well as taking orders. Outside dining is also well-executed — customers are able to sit in sectioned-off tables facing away from each other, ensuring a safe experience. At every table, diners are provided with a hand sanitizer bottle for even more precaution. However, Mingalaba is not perfect in customer safety; the restaurant does not offer contactless payment and the inside waiting area is, though very spacious, unmarked. Overall, Mingalaba’s standards went above and beyond expectations, landing it an “A-” in the ratings.
La Corneta, a Mexican restaurant located on Burlingame Ave., offered a similar set-up to Caffe Central (which was previously rated for safety by the Burlingame B in October). Customers are prompted to wait in an indoor line to order and pay, proceeding to eat outside. However, where Caffe Central lacks ideal protocol — cleanliness and social distancing — La Corneta shines. The restaurant is well-cleaned, with sanitized tables and surfaces. Inside, the line is marked and orderly; however, diners did not necessarily abide by the social distancing guidelines, occasionally mingling between the taped markings on the floor. The outdoor tables are separated by ample distance — at least five feet — with no barriers. La Corneta’s main weakness is in pick-up and take-out, where customers have to walk through the restaurant to the back to pay and pick up their food. Though staff at the restaurant wore masks, they did not always have on gloves. Ultimately, La Corneta was rated with a solid score of a ‘B’.
Rise Pizzeria, one of Burlingame Ave.’s many pizza restaurants, fell slightly below the rest of the pack in its safety protocols. For starters, Rise’s strengths come in its dining patio, a covered but well-ventilated seating area with substantial distance between tables. However, the seating outside of the patio was less managed, with distance between tables ranging from about three to five feet. Even less space was evident between those tables and the sidewalk, presenting further risks for walkers and diners alike. Rise also provided minimal signage and certification on its storefront, with only one visible notice posted, which spoke to California’s mask mandate. Ironically, though, customers entered and exited the restaurant without masks on, signifying loose restrictions at the restaurant. At Rise, when paying and waiting in line, customers are indoors but provided with proper ventilation (large, sliding doors are open), though no markings for social distancing were evident. Rise’s staff wore both masks and gloves at all times, which is a positive aspect of their procedures. In conclusion, though, Rise received a ‘C+’ in ratings.
Limon Rotisserie, a Peruvian restaurant situated at the corner of Burlingame Ave. and California Drive, offers some unique features in its pandemic-adapted dining experience. For starters, Limon has opened its doors to both indoor and outdoor seating. For outdoor seating, some of Limon’s tables are even separated by plexiglass, which is an extremely safe offering. Tables are situated about six feet apart from one another and customers are a significant nine feet away from passerby, a number that increases if diners choose Limon’s street extension area. This distance from the sidewalk exceeds all other restaurants that the Burlingame B has reviewed thus far. Limon also goes above and beyond with touchless, digital menus that are available through a QR code. Safety precautions inside the restaurant, however, were mediocre, with some ventilation in the form of open windows, but more crowding overall — as the CDC recommends, it’s best to stay away from indoor dining if possible. Furthermore, Limon’s line to enter the building left much to be desired: no spacing, marking or organization could be observed, and the line simply protruded along the sidewalk. All in all, though, Limon scored a ‘B+’, mainly due to its exceptional outdoor eating environment.
3
Opinon
December 17, 2020
BY ELISE SPENNER
Staff Reporter
In a recent documentary, the voice of nature has, at long last, spoken out. It’s weathered, deep and gravelly. It’s angry, upset and frightened. But, it is simultaneously uplifting, energized and confident in a brighter future. No, it’s not Mother Earth. But it’s close enough. It’s the voice of English broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough. It’s the voice that permeated your childhood, narrating shows like “Planet Earth.” It’s the voice that taught you more about nature, animals and the world than any science class never could. It’s the voice that carried you into distant lands, and that brought seemingly unreachable destinations to life around you. His new documentary, titled “David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet,” and coined by Forbes as, “the most important documentary of the year,” is described simply by Attenborough: it’s his “witness statement and vision for the future.” At 94, he’s telling his story, and the story of our planet. By chronicling his life in tandem with the rapid decline of this world, Attenborough showcases the imperative need to restore vitality to our planet. In his documentary, Attenborough asks the viewer to look out over their world for the very first time and see what they can do to change the course of the planet. For 70 years Attenborough has
traveled the globe, criss-crossing continents and countries and exploring the far reaches of this planet. For the past 70 years, Attenborough has watched these untouched areas slowly dwindle, and then rapidly disappear, like a smoldering fire that sparks on brush. In the 1950’s, Attenborough was young and energetic, with his life and the world ahead of him. Mainstream global air travel opened the barred doors to the natural world, and Attenborough sped through them, sailing and flying around the globe as a young naturalist. But as the documentary continues, an animated ticking meter depicts the decline of our world due to the rapid increase in global population, the soaring amounts of carbon in the atmosphere and the drastic decrease in remaining wilderness. For the first half of the documentary, Attenborough focuses on one central message; the 20th century may have been defined as a time of discovery, advancement and awe, but it will be remembered as a time of ignorance, destruction and decline. The current century, however, which Attenborough will not live through, remains unwritten, and our generation still has the chance to choose what mark they will leave on this planet. The second half of the documentary juxtaposes two starkly different possible futures. Attenborough first portrays the dystopian world of the next centu-
ry. Although it may appear to be a hyperbolic parade of horribles, it is the scientifically proven future we are barreling toward, one where the natural world collapses completely in our lifetimes. Suddenly, he switches tones, presenting the rosy utopic future where we rewild the planet. As Attenborough explains, the natural world is our greatest resource in the fight against climate change. For millions of years, forests and oceans have absorbed and stored carbon from the atmosphere, and they will continue to do so. It is critical that we let nature do its job, that we stop considering nature as a victim and instead as our biggest ally, that we work with rather than against this planet. Perhaps this is a message you have heard thousands of times over the past decade. Perhaps you have scanned thousands of headlines that blare the dangers of climate change and the inevitable collapse of the planet. Yet, Attenborough’s documentary feels less like doom and gloom and more like an homage to our planet and a recognition of our potential to revitalize it. It flashes images of the abhorrent damage done to nature: the overfishing, the deforestation and the melting ice caps. But despite this, it portrays the beauty of our planet. By pulling scenes from biomes around the world, the documentary allocates long moments of silence to the simple allure of nature.
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
Listen to the voice of nature, Attenborough’s new documentary warns
94-year-old naturalist David Attenborough takes a stand on climate change in his recent documentary, which can be viewed on Netflix. More than anything, ‘David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet’ proves that nature is something worth fighting for. Nature is some-
thing miraculous, something irreplaceable and something that will restore balance to our world. If only we work with it to do so.
Can we get a blackout? Human disregard for the environment caused the pandemic BY HUBERT CHEN
Senior Reporter
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLINE YEOW
The current pandemic is only one consequence of human irresponsibility. Climate change, trash in the ocean and damaged habitats are among others. BY CAROLINE YEOW
Senior Reporter
Open-air stalls line the market, boasting countless exotic animals. Some notable mentions include porcupines, baby crocodiles and beavers. Live fish slosh around in tubs of water. Blood drips from slaughtered animals hanging on hooks. Slabs of meat lie on aggregates of ice cubes, which melt into water and drip onto the floor. By now, you’ve probably heard of the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market — a wet market located in Wuhan, China and widely regarded as the superspreader of COVID-19. Experts credit bats for being the non-human reservoirs of COVID-19, who scientists claim spread it to the other animals sold at the market. I have a problem with this theory. It’s not that I think it’s untrue — in fact, scientists have discovered antibodies that protect against COVID-19 in bats, which is evidence of prior infection. My problem is that it gives us an excuse to place the blame somewhere else. We blame the bats or the people at the market for causing the pandemic. We are the victims — the pandemic happened to us. The blame isn’t on us. But it should be. And here’s why.
Even though there are more viruses on Earth than stars in the universe, only around 200 infect humans, and only a fraction of them are fatal to humans — some examples are rabies, HIV and coronaviruses. Most of the viruses that have infected humans in the past have originated from non-human reservoirs, like animals or the environment. Bats have been natural reservoirs for many viruses that have infected humans, because their immune system allows multiple viruses to simultaneously persist in their bodies. But viruses that are common in animals only have the chance to infect humans through human activities that allow for consistent and regular interaction between humans and animals — that is, humans only get infected if they put themselves in the line of fire. The Huanan Seafood Market is a superb example. The plethora of species kept in small, cramped spaces allow viruses to easily transfer between animals and human market-goers. To me, this just seems like irresponsibility. Knowing all that we know about viruses and sanitation, this shouldn’t be happening. But the Huanan Seafood Market origination and resulting COVID-19 pandemic is hardly a
stand-alone event. The Ebola outbreaks, Hendra virus, and Nipah virus all have parallels to COVID-19 in terms of transmission: the interaction between humans and animals. Pandemics are becoming more and more frequent because of general human irresponsibility. Climate change damages natural habitats and prompts animal relocation into human-populated areas, equating to a higher chance of virus transmission. Urbanization and human encroachment into the wilderness results in more human-animal interaction. Our reckless eating behaviors, like wet markets, are yet another example. We’ve long known about climate change and humans’ overall negative impact on the planet. Experts and environmentalists tell us that the time to change is now — we need to start driving electric cars, being conscious of where our food comes from and using reusable containers. We nod our heads absentmindedly, or wave them off. But the rising ocean levels and the current global pandemic should be spurring us into action. The pandemic, like the trash in the ocean and the rising temperatures, is only a symptom of the planet’s ailment. And human irresponsibility is the cause.
4
News
December 17, 2020
The trials and tribulations of a Wednesday BURLINGAME B EDITORIAL BOARD
ILLUSTRATION BY HUBERT CHEN
This year, our bedrooms have become our classrooms, blurring the lines between personal and academic time and leaving us to redefine who we are as 2D faces on a screen. As winter approaches, we brace ourselves for an emotionally fraught few months: the changing seasons replacing our excitement for the new year as we submit to the reality that this year of difficult adjustments will continue with a vengeance. In this strange new world it’s become ever more difficult to set aside time for personal development. At such a significant stage in our lives, it’s critical that we have time to independently discover who we are. The school year has introduced seemingly endless challenges for students and teachers alike. Though the struggles faced by staff and students often differ, one irrefutable point of contemptment is that we are spending far too much time on Zoom. This new part of our lives is frustrating and exhausting, distinctly foreign from the normalcy and routines we formed throughout years past. Virtual Zoom classes are something we have been forced to come to terms with, but we still should aspire to improve the quality of our lives in any way we can. In the spring of 2020, with distance learning still in its first stages, students were able to make the most of the new school system by enjoying newfound freedoms in the day. With largely asynchronous schedules, we chose when and how to do assignments, exploring the independence of working from home and figuring out how to operate in our new realities. While we longed to return to campus
and normal life, the chance to regulate our days as we wished and feel responsible for ourselves was a surprising positive to come from the changes. Lack of interaction as well as the implementation of pass/fail grades may have led to less productive learning, but we continued to self-manage our school work and stay on top of assignments. Beginning Zoom classes in the fall brought on a new wave of anxiety. Being on camera for hours on end takes a serious mental toll; it’s a constant reminder that you are being watched and recorded, an additional layer of self-consciousness added onto the existing insecurities of being a teenager. The anxiety often associated with social media has found its way into our school hourws, perpetuated by Zoom’s video filters which allow participants to artificially alter their appearances. Zoom classes can feel like walking around with a spotlight on you at all times. It’s exhausting. Students’ discomfort is undeniable; classes are consistently quiet as teachers urge us to talk and breakout rooms often increase the awkwardness. Though some students collaborate, many use breakout rooms as an opportunity to shut off their cameras and mute their microphones, opting to stew in silence instead of risking being left unanswered by their classmates. At times, each Zoom class is another step into a hypnotic void, we stare at our screens like robots and lack a connection to our outside surroundings. The stress of being on camera coupled with the anxiety of breakout rooms distract from our purpose in school: learning. The introduction of asynchronous Wednesdays was a glimmer of hope for many, be-
Zoom adds like and comment features in a recent updates coming an opportunity to gain back a sense of independence and have a day free from the anxieties of Zoom. Getting to break away from Zoom and choose what our day looks like allows us to feel more in control in a time where we feel anything but. It’s a chance to breathe and give ourselves a moment to be present in our teenage world, free from the virtual reality which is Zoom. We can run outside during the middle of the day or bake cookies in between assignments. Asynchronous learning allows us to take advantage of our time away from school and spend more time pursuing our personal passions, helping us feel like individuals again, not just squares in a Zoom classroom. Our extracurricular activities such as clubs, drama and robotics, which were previously breaks in the day to relax and casually talk to friends, have all been moved online, adding more Zoom time to our already technology-filled days. Is it worth sacrificing these activities to spend less time on
Zoom? Taking part in these activities, core aspects of many students’ identities, is important to maintaining normalcy in our lives. A decrease in overall Zoom time reduces Zoom fatigue, restoring our capacity for screen socialization and allowing us to feel like we can continue to participate in our online extracurricular activities. We understand that asynchronous Wednesdays can put additional strain on teachers who are already adapting their lessons to meet the new standards of distance learning. It’s important that teachers feel they have enough time to cover all curriculum, but we believe that recording lectures and posting independent work assignments can help continue the flow of learning without taking away the freedom students enjoy in asynchronous learning. We can agree that last spring’s entirely asynchronous schedule is not a realistic long-term option but with Zoom hours piling up, one asynchronous day per week offers a feasible balance between
live engagement and off-screen independence. With this approach, students and teachers maintain a primarily synchronous learning schedule, and the consequences of long Zoom hours are offset by a more relaxing Wednesday. Keeping some sort of balance in our lives is crucial; we want to be successful students and receive the best possible education, but maintaining a healthy mental state shouldn’t be a lesser priority. Months into this pandemic, we have faced unprecedented challenges in many facets of our lives. In the face of seemingly insurmountable trials, timely decisions that advocate for the well-being of students can ameliorate some level of despair. These are defining years of our lives, years that will forever be marred by the tragedy of this pandemic. Giving asynchronous Wednesdays to our students not only helps us feel more in control of our education, but gives us time in our week to choose how we want to define this era of our lives.
Universities, forced to scale down admissions factors amid a global pandemic, might change their admissions process forever, in favor of more genuine applications Caroline Yeow
Senior Reporter
maybe this is a good thing. As students divert their time from studying for the SAT and attending five clubs a day, they have more time to write that research paper about receptor tyrosine kinases, practice their baton-twirling or refine their lemon meringue pie baking-technique. Sure, resumes won’t be as long, but the quality of activities will increase. Students, instead of feeling like they have to fit the mold of a perfect student with perfect scores and countless clubs, now have the opportunity to do what they like. As admissions committees review this year’s applications, perhaps they’ll enjoy the unique, personal activities applicants partake in, instead of having to sift through all the activities applicants do because they “look good.” Maybe application criteria will continue to be different, even after the pandemic. However, it is not just admissions committees who must scale down on their evaluation factors. Students, when selecting the campuses they want to apply to, might focus more heavily on education –— professors and programs, rather than how
Photo Courtesy of Caroline Yeow
Getting carpal tunnel from long essay writing sessions at Starbucks, taking last minute SAT tests and knocking on your past teacher’s classroom door are all symptoms most high school seniors develop. The ailment? College application season. However, this year things look a little different. And not just in the application process, but the admissions process. And they may look a little different forevermore. According to the University of California (UC) website, the UC system will be test-optional for fall 2021 and fall 2022 enrollment, meaning that students can choose whether or not they want to submit their SAT, ACT or SAT subject test scores. The UC system will be test-blind for fall 2023 and fall 2024 enrollment, meaning that the schools will refuse to look at a student’s standardized test scores. Across the country, many other universities are also going test-optional. Following the pattern of a decreased importance of numbers and stats, many current seniors
had a credit/no credit grading policy during the second semester of junior year. Although some students may be anxious at the decreased weight of objective admissions factors, the focus is now shifted to what really matters: character and passion. So, doesn’t this mean an increased weight of essays and extracurriculars? Yes, and no. The pandemic severely limits students’ access to different activities. The club you go to every Friday at lunch? Gone. Volunteering once a week at the local hospital? Poof. But because you can’t go out, you’re likely to only continue the extracurriculars that really matter to you (and that are possible, since many sports and extracurriculars that are reliant on in-person gatherings are not possible). All of the “fluff,” the extracurriculars that students do for the sole purpose of boosting their college resume, are gone. An application year where the scores, numbers and numerous clubs are gone from students’ applications might make for more genuine applications. And considering the college admissions process is heavily criticized for being a “game,”
When scores, grades and numerous clubs are taken away, colleges are forced to base admission on personality and character. beautiful the architecture is, where the nearest Starbucks Coffee is and how lavish the dormitories are. Without college tours, applicants’ selections of where they want to receive their next four years of education will be based on exactly that –— education. Not how tall the trees are. The pandemic has brought the focus of college admissions exactly back where it needs to
be –— where passion and character are the focus. In a system that has spiraled out of control, where being the president of ten clubs and starting nonprofits is the norm, the pandemic has brought things down to a calmer level. Ultimately, the crisis has steered college apps toward what really matters has steered college apps toward what really matters –—education.
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December 17, 2020
5
A24 coming-of-age films have transformed cinema Copy Editor
Over the past century, film production has undeniably become more advanced and viewing has increased in popularity as a pastime activity due to gained accessibility through platforms such as Netflix, Blockbuster, Hulu and the classic movie theater. These massive platforms offer a plethora of action, horror, drama and comedy films, but one specific genre has thrived in recent decades: coming-of-age. This genre is catered towards angsty adolescents absorbed in their overactive minds in a stressful waiting game for adulthood. These films touch on notable themes of growing up such as romance, yearning for independence, fears of adulthood and responsibilities — ultimately letting go of the innocence of childhood. Many filmmakers, writers and artists alike have toyed with this concept since the term “teenager” was coined in the 1950s. While many have been successful in portraying these themes in diverse mediums of cinematic arts, A24, a young, New York based independent entertainment company has revolutionized the template for this genre. T h e c ur-
rent array of coming-of-age movies suffer from whiney, whitewashed narratives which makes the genre seem overwritten and redundant. A24 values diversity and differentiates itself in the film industry through their selection of boundary-pushing narratives and aesthetically pleasing films; in which they give a platform to smaller filmmakers. A24 has managed to bridge the gap between low budget, low circulation indie films — an abbreviated term for independent movies — and big box hits. Notable for their work on “Lady Bird,” “Moonlight” and “Eighth Grade,” A24 has mastered relatable story lines which resonate with people of different socioeconomic standings, races and sexual orientations who have been historically excluded from Hollywood. Producing “Moonlight” helped A24 build their repubitbility in the industry as the film won three Oscars, including Best Picture. The flim tells the coming-ofage story of a Black, homosexual boy growing up in a tough neighborhood in the ‘80s. A frequently overlooked pairing of minorities in film performed by a Black person further highlights A24’s devotion to quality content delivered by underrepresented people. More impressively, A24 has actually O OT PH
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PHOTO BY COMPLEX
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&'(%))*+,'%-'),*.#$+'(/*0*(1,02'-0%3'0,2",(1#4,'&56'(%3#$+7%-7*+,'8)329 breaking down these barriers, which is an immense feat in the cutthroat film industry, as seen in raving film reviews and their partnership with Apple in 2018 to produce new films. The entertainment company carefully selects films and television show projects not by how impressive the CGI possibilities are, as so many other film companies do, but how authentic the feel of the story is; how moving and stimulating the collective cinematic work is. A24’s impressive marketing tactics and refined, yet quirky, qualities have garnered them significant attention in the entertainment industry as their audience goes beyond the usual hipsters crowding at indie film festivals, reaching more common folk. Indie films bring a beautifully organic perspective to the roundtable of cinematic arts. With raw authenticity, the audience feels closer to the story and characters. It is an equivalent to watching the Instagram story of a classmate who you never quite got to know, on screen, confined to a two hour time limit and with a respectable filter placed atop the visuals. But given A24 film’s widespread
distribution, it’s several million people seeing their classmate’s story; thus showing how interrelated we all are by the aspect of human nature, quietly fighting similar battles underneath smiling faces. Coming-of-age films tenderly touch on hindrances of the teenage years to connect mentally isolated teens. It is so important for these films to reach mass audiences as they set practical notions of early adulthood and celebrate the beauty of utterly unromantic moments in one’s life. While many production companies play it safe with their marketing color schemes, A24 embodies their unique, daring charisma with a more eye catching palette. Disney may be associated with simple, blue tones, but a color palette defining A24 would include an array of neon colors paired with a stark black to represent the vividness of the stories told but the chill of reality which trails behind. In the case of the highly regarded film “Eighth Grade,” eighth grader Elsie goes through one of the toughest years of adolescence in a stereotypical suburban town so many of us can relate to from
our own childhoods. Her hardships and blatant awkwardness endorse the stripping down of Hollywood coming-of-age films in which the main character is not a put-together teen living in utopia, but an average person living a woefully average life. Similarly, films “Mid90s,” “The Florida Project” and “The Spectacular Now” shed a similar light on realistic adolescence. The youth of today needs to know that growing up is not glamorous; it is acne-ridden, tear-inducing and full of mood swings and voice changes, and it’s not only okay — it’s normal. Films are an escape from reality, but reality should be accepted and celebrated, and all narratives should be accepted and celebrated. Without the representation of averageness and minorities on the big screen, young viewers will find themselves disappointed when their teenhood doesn’t live up to the unrealistic expectations many other coming-of-age films set. A24 recognizes the importance of commemorating the bad in life, learning from it and accepting that it isn’t the ceaseless sunshine cinema the past century of films have endorsed.
Public schools like Burlingame are feeding into the “elitism” the SAT fosters Design Editor Is the SAT a representation of how intelligent you really are? This is an age-old question that has long plagued the minds of high school students, parents and college admissions officers alike. While many schools have gone test optional due to COVID-19, the cancellation of standardized tests including the SAT has caused colleges to reflect on whether the test is necessary at all. Many colleges argue that the test fosters classism, discriminating against people who cannot afford test prep or additional help. Other schools have gone test-optional, while others, including the University of California system, have gone test-blind, meaning that they will not take scores at all. However, for students at Burlingame, test optional does not necessarily mean test optional, as many students have gone to
great lengths to take the SAT even flying to different states such as Nevada and Texas. Does this mean that we are part of the elite class that the colleges are trying to dismantle along with the SAT? It is important to recognize that our school is one where many students can afford to partake in test preparation such as tutoring or classes. If they cannot, our counselors, teachers and access to technology can help us prepare. On Oct. 14, Burlingame, along with several other schools in the San Mateo Union High School District held an SAT, requiring students to wear masks and sit six feet apart. We are extremely lucky to have had this opportunity, as many Bay Area students were unable to take the test at all, and students felt that this opportunity was too good to pass up. Seniors at Burlingame did not want to waste the money they had spent on test prep due to the cancelled tests this year to accommodate COVID-19,
so they quickly flocked to take the test. Although this seems like the logical option, most students in other areas of the county resigned themselves to the fact that they would not be able to take the test. However, SMUHSD pushed to make the test available for students, demonstrating how centered on test scores and grades we are. This goes to show that the influence of Bay Area wealth can create opportunities for students that are unavailable for those in other areas — not only are our students lucky enough to be given a test unavailable for the many schools in the country currently, but students are competitive enough to take advantage of this opportunity. So how could we not take the test? We couldn’t bear to waste our money on countless hours of Princeton Review and Kaplan subscriptions, as I too am guilty of, so we took the SAT, continuing to increase the competitive caliber of our school when test
ILLUSTRATION BY ALLISON SZETU
BY ALLISON SZETU
On Oct. 14, seniors at Burlingame took the SAT despite most colleges going test optional. scores are not even required. Moreover, the fact that we were able to take the test fosters the idea of elitism, as the SAT is designed so only wealthier school districts have students that are formidable players in the SAT. In the end, students at Burlingame and other schools in the Bay Area are a prime example of the classism that the SAT encourages. So, if a public school such as Burlingame is feeding into the
classism that some colleges are working to fight against, imagine what more affluent schools are doing with their students now that most schools are going test-optional. However, there is simply no way to remedy this classism as pressure from parents for schools to offer students a leg up will not stop. Therefore, the best way to end classism in the admissions process is by ending the administration of the SAT.
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PHOTO BY JOY YEO
STUDENTS IN QUARANTINE PHOTO BY ANA LUNA-PARRA
Sophomore Ana Lunaparra enjoys taking her dog Coco on hourSophomore Joy Yeo has been using this time to go on long hikes, here she long walks while FaceTiming her is at Mori Point Pacifica. friends throughout this quarantine. PHOTO BY KAI LOUIE-BADUA
PHOTO BY ABBY MITCHELL
Freshman Abby Mitchell uses Postmates to order boba multiple times a week to avoid going out during this pandemic.
Sophomore Kai Louie-Badua continues to train hard at gymnastics practice, here he is doing a handstand on parallel bars. PHOTO BY ETHAN WAN
PHOTO BY ANNA PORTO
Senior Anna Porto has had plenty of school work to keep her busy during this time.
Sophomore Ethan Wan has enjoyed bonding with his dad and brother on long walks during this times, here he is seen at Crystal Springs.