October 2021 Issue

WHAT’S

INSIDE

THE October 11th, 2021

2 News

6 Features

8 Sports

12 Student Life

URLINGAME B Burlingame High School, 1 Magini Way, Burlingame, CA 94010

Issue 1 Vol. 132

California free meal program spurs long lines PHOTOS BY JACKSON SPENNER

Crowds of hungry students line up at food carts outside the D Building and cafeteria, which distribute free food during lunchtime and brunch as of Fall 2021. BY JACKSON SPENNER

Senior Reporter

Every day at around noon, as students are wrapping up morning classes, most have only one thing on their mind: beating out the long lines that are about to form around the food carts. “Well, in reality, it’s not even a line,” sophomore Kaylee Ng said. “It’s just a big mob of people that push, and it’s extremely crowded.” Ng, who takes a math class just before lunch, makes sure to sprint from the portables to the line for a chance to snag her favorite food — a slice of pizza. Since elementary school, she has purchased the district’s prepared meals. But this year, her experience is different because of the increased amount of students

receiving food. Demand for school meals has exploded this fall, mainly due to their price, or rather, lack thereof. Since the pandemic, the federal government has ensured free school meals for all students, including those at Burlingame. The program is set to terminate in the fall of 2022, but California made the change permanent, with $650 million devoted each year to serving the 6 million public school students statewide. All of these changes have led to a sharp increase in students receiving school meals each day, putting strain on the cafeteria system. “Districtwide, we used to do about 1,000 brunch meals a day. Now, we’re doing 2,500. For

lunch, we used to make about 1,800 meals. Now, we’re doing almost 4,000,” said Dennis Vorrises, manager of student nutrition for the district. The increase in school lunch demand has pushed the cafeteria team to its limits. Unable to train student workers during distance learning, cafeteria manager Vicki Ottoboni’s program came into the 2021 school year severely understaffed. “[At the start of 2020], all my kids [working] were juniors,” Ottoboni said. “Now, they’ve all graduated, so we just started this year with nobody. We have a shortage of people, and we’re trying our hardest to get these kids fed.” This staff shortage has caused the distribution process to be

considerably longer. As sophomore Sachi Urushima expressed, this can have ramifications for students and their social lives. “It’s just frustrating because it takes 10 minutes to get your lunch,” Urushima said. “It takes away from time to hang out with your friends and stuff. We already have a pretty short lunch.” While being overstretched has partially led to longer lines, Ottoboni stressed that an undersized staff is not the only cause of delayed lunches. For one, the lines have gotten less orderly and more chaotic, leading to slowdowns for hungry students. “Students don’t want to line up, and they don’t want to put in their personal ID numbers,” Ottoboni said. “They just want their lunch right now — they

don’t want to wait for it.” As the cafeteria begins hiring back student workers, Ottoboni and Vorrises expect that line will recede. However, the hiring process has only garnered a few applications so far, meaning that busy lunchtimes are here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future. “We’re allowed to hire people; it’s just a matter of getting them to actually apply,” Ottoboni said. “And it’s not just on the school level with students. We’re having trouble outside, getting adults to apply.” This is a new challenge for the cafeteria staff. “There used to be a cap on applications. Now, we just get whoever we can,” Ottoboni said.

BY MATTINGLY GERMACK

Copy Editor

BY JACOB ROTHSTEIN

Staff Reporter The new district-implemented student equity group makes posters during a workshop on Monday, Sept. 27.

BY SAM JOHNSTONE

Senior Reporter

students to learn how to better promote equity across their campus. English teacher Michael Ferguson is leading the equity group at Burlingame, and his hope was to make the group as diverse as possible. “We want students to be represented, not just the ones who might be in leadership or who run clubs … so that we work in a campus [and community] mindset, not just the [students] we tend to hear most from,” Ferguson said.

Following the October 2020 San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report, “Hate @ Schools — Opportunities Lost,” which critiqued Burlingame’s passive approach toward racially and antisemitic motivated hate, the San Mateo Unified High School District (SMUHSD) implemented an equity program. Every high school in the district will have an equity group, a yearlong program for selected See in FEATURES page 4

School administrators have access to more digital information than some students are aware of. Last March, the San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) implemented a new monitoring service, Bark, a software program utilizing artificial intelligence that looks “for potential issues like threats of violence, cyberbullying and more,” according to their website. The SMUHSD started using Bark after nationwide privacy concerns arose about GoGuardian, the software they previously used.

“GoGuardian [tracked] individual devices and gave data to teachers about what sites students were visiting and things of that nature,” SMUHSD director of student services Don Scatena said. Scatena said that the groups such as the LGBTQ+ community were negatively affected by the program, as they were at risk of being outed by the software. This ultimately led to the decision to switch to Bark. Bark was originally developed in 2015 for parents to restrict and track their children’s device usage, similar to other well-known apps such as Life360. However, it has since branched out and pivoted into school security programs as well.

GRAPHIC BY RACHEL YAP

PHOTO BY F SAM JOHNSTONE

Student Equity Group Inside Bark, district’s new and forms at Burlingame improved student security tool

Bark exclusively monitors Google Workspace (formerly known as G-Suite) programs used through students’ school emails. It does not monitor search history, a key distinction from GoGuardian. “Our technology ecosystem is scanning and looking at any insights to prevent any issues around [the mental and] physical safety of students,” assistant principal Michele Fichera said. “It is scanning for anything that’s using your smuhsd.org student account, and that would include Gmail, Calendar, Google Docs, forms, spreadsheets, anything that’s in your [Google Workspace] that’s shared.”

See in FEATURES page 3

News

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October 11, 2021

Lack of locker room access for female athletes Head Photographer

This fall, many female athletes are without access to the locker room, having to find alternatives to change for their practices and games, per a long-standing policy of coach supervision of athletes. “It’s a safety issue, just to make sure that kids are safe in a locker room and everything is secure, and that there are no issues or problems,” athletic director John Philipopoulos said. Though teacher Michelle Riley is the co-coach of girls’ golf and coach of junior varsity girls’ soccer, her golf players usually change in the bathroom. During the winter soccer season, Riley tries to supervise the larger soccer roster. “[I] generally try to get out there and be in the locker room so [girls’ soccer] can change. However, because oftentimes for games we’re getting early release, they’re changing with P.E., and that’s with golf too. We get out at 2 p.m., so they’ve been able to use locker rooms if they wanted to,” Riley said. However, with six of the nine fall varsity athletic programs led by male coaches, not every female athlete has had this same access, especially on practice days when there is no early release. Junior cross country runner Minnoli Raghavan changes in the C Building bathroom, a popular alternative space for female athletes to change in. For many, there was no clear reason given for the locker room clo-

Coach supervision is necessary for locker room use, and a lack of female coaches prevents female athletes from changing. sure. “At least in the beginning, I was pretty bothered by the fact that I couldn’t change in the locker room,” Raghavan said. “We were never given any information about why we weren’t allowed to change in the locker room, or why the locker room wouldn’t be open, or even if it would be, ever.” Both Riley and Raghavan agree that the policy should be revised to expand access to the locker room. “Girls should have an equal opportunity to get changed in the locker room,” Riley said. “I don’t know how you would address that if you don’t have female coaches, though, because it’s inappropriate for male coaches to be in the [girls] locker room.” When asked about access to the locker room, Philipopoulos

said that all athletes have the same access. “They do have access to the locker room. If they want to get in there, their coach can let them in there to use the restroom or to grab something really quick. To go into a locker room and hang out and congregate, no they can’t do that, because we can’t leave students in there unsupervised,” Philipopoulos said. While an effort is being made to find more female coaches, the search is difficult. “We often post coaching positions and get no applicants or one applicant, and if we’re lucky, maybe we get two,” Philipopoulos said. “If we can find females, that is definitely a point of emphasis — 100%. We want strong female role models for our female athletes; there’s just not many out there.”

Oak Grove intersection a hazard BY LIZZY WAN

Senior Reporter

Bay University students work in the Burlingame cafeteria. These are decent jobs, and cerBY SAFIYA LOOMBA tainly they’re not the scientists, Senior Reporter but they’re contributing memBay University, formerly bers of those job sites.” Burlingame University, allows Not only do students gain adults between 18 and 22 with work experience that wouldn’t special needs to develop the be available otherwise, but the skills necessary to become in- program also emphasizes the dependent and contributing importance of giving back to members of society. the community. Students do This four-year program beach cleanups, canned food recently changed its name to drives and random acts of Bay University to include its kindness. They recently celprogram overlap at Capuchino ebrated cafeteria workers, as High School and Burlingame they noticed their workload with hopes of providing clarity increased with the implemento parents and students when tation of the new free lunch entering the program. program. Bay University strives to “It’s huge that people know teach students communica- that students with disabilities tion, home living, self man- aren’t the recipient of charity, agement and social skills that that they can go out and help allows them to gain confidence and make a difference themin a safe environment. selves. That’s why it’s super im“The goal [is] for them to portant for people to change become as independent as pos- their perspective from [viewsible…we’re teaching them not ing a disabled individual as a] just world skills, we’re teaching poor thing to [a] capable guy,” them transportation skills — said Smith. how to ride the bus and how The class focuses on empato get from point A to point thy and kindness, not only to B, so that they can use those help the community out of bebuses to go do fun things with nevolence, but because many friends, not just go to work, of the students endure bully” said founder and teacher of ing and as a result gain more Bay University, Jenna Smith. empathy for others. To further their learning, “They don’t necessarily the students are given jobs at need to be rude to us because local businesses to increase we’re all the same. We’re all their confidence and prepare human beings,” Bay University them to be self-sufficient in student Aranzxa Rosales said. the future. They receive payDespite people with disabilchecks through a school grant, ities being targets for bullying, offering the businesses free Bay University teachers highservice and the students ed- light Burlingames’ supportive ucational opportunities. This atmosphere. gives an immersive simulation “Everybody within this in preparation for the “real Burlingame community is so world”. positive, there’s been few neg“We’ve had students go on ative interactions with other and graduate and get jobs,” students here or community Smith said. “I’ve got a student members that it’s just been a who [is] working at Google; I very nurturing safe place,” Bay have a student who is work- University teacher Jared Abing in the cafeteria [at] Gilead. bott said.

maybe in the last three or four months, and we did a whole review of that intersection.” Colson said. “We’re going to be modifying the striping and the signal timing. We’re also going to be installing a new signal when we redo the intersection.” While these may be small changes, Colson hopes that it will help with the confusion of drivers, bikers and pedestrians. Another option to remedy the chaos would be grade separation, which is when the cars and trains have separate pathways. This is already in the works at the Broadway and CalTrain intersection, which Colson denoted as one of the most dangerous intersections in California. However, with a hefty price tag of $350 million, this is not a task the city can take lightly. While the city waits to find the perfect remedy, it is important for citizens to continue keeping the intersection as safe as possible. “Be very sure to never, ever cross into the intersection, unless you have a fully clear path to exit.” Colson continued, “It’s really important to just wait for the train to pass and then proceed. But don’t try to outrace the train, just be patient and pay really good attention. And do not be on your cell phone.” Without a clear solution on the horizon, vice principal Joshua Knudson encouraged students to leave their cars behind: “My advice … tell people to Map of the Oak Grove Carolan intersection highlights the cars, ride bikes,” Knudson said. pedestrians and bikers all trying to cross at once.

GRAPHIC BY LIZZY WAN

With bikers, pedestrians, drivers and a train, the intersection at Oak Grove and Carolan avenues often gets congested with traffic in all directions. In addition to causing frustration, this intersection can become quite dangerous when backed up. Ethan Wan, a junior who gets driven to school by his parents, crosses the intersection on his ride to school. “[The intersection] takes like five to 10 minutes sometimes,” Wan said. For student drivers who recently got their license, the intersection can be intimidating. Jasper Berry, a junior who drives himself to school, shared a dangerous experience regarding the intersection. “One time I was stopped on the train tracks due to some stops that I wasn’t expecting.” Berry said. While Berry managed to make it out safely, it could have ended badly. Karla Cahue, the mother of a Burlingame student, is frustrated with the inefficient and high-risk situations this intersection presents as well. “It’s very difficult; the signs are not good enough,” Cahue said. “Kids from high school are learning how to drive and not everyone knows that the people coming from Oak Grove to BHS don’t need to stop. Plus, the train is difficult and dangerous.”

Due to her frustrations with the traffic in the area, she has resorted to taking a new route when driving her kids to school. While Cahue has been able to find a more efficient route to drive to Burlingame, this is not the case for everyone, especially bikers. Sofia Labonte, a sophomore who bikes to school, said that while the intersection is dangerous, it is still much safer than her other options. However, she noted that the bike lanes on Carolan Avenue have been helpful in keeping her safe. “The bike thing is really helpful actually, because it’s pretty big too, especially for that street,” Labonte said. While the bike lane may be helpful for those biking on Carolan Avenue, bikers coming from Oak Grove Avenue do not have this luxury. “Over there, we don’t have a bike lane,” junior Kai Louie-Badua, who bikes to school, said. “So, what we do is we take the sidewalk and merge in with the cars, which is definitely a little dangerous, but that’s the only way if we want to make the light on time.” This intersection is frustrating for bikers and drivers alike, but it’s not an issue that can be solved by citizens alone. Mayor Donna Colson understands the frustrations of this intersection, and noted that progress to improve the flow of traffic is beginning to be made. “We just had a city council meeting, not that long ago,

PHOTO COURTESY OF JARED ABBOTT

PHOTO BY MICHELLE MOSHKOVOY

BY MICHELLE MOSHKOVOY

Bay University instills confidence in special education students

Bark

Remembering Charlotte Murdoff Business Manager

Masks and testing aim to stop winter surge BY ALEX KELLY Burlingame is utilizing COVID-19 protocols to stop potential outbreaks and a looming winter surge, and so far, they are functioning well. Mask mandates on campus are heavily enforced by teachers while students are indoors, and students have widely accepted these mandates. “I’m pretty much used to wearing masks now, and the fact that we only need to wear them inside, it doesn’t really bother me too much,” junior Sean O’Grady said. The masks are proving to be effective, and as of Oct. 1, there have only been two positive COVID-19 alerts at Burlingame, with no significant outbreaks. California has also had a dropping COVID-19 case rate over the past month of September. “When we look at data from California and other districts around the country that have mask mandates in place, versus school districts that don’t, the data is fundamentally clear… masks are keeping us alive,” history teacher Annie Miller said. Besides masks, other protocols include thorough contact tracing done by the health aides and attendance technicians at each school in the district, and alerting students and parents across the district when there are positive cases on campus. Despite the district head-

“There’s no independent research outside of what the providers say that proves they’re able to do what they claim they do,” Sharifi said. As of Sept. 22, Bark has notified the district of 306 potential risk situations districtwide, an average of just under 10 a day this year. “We have received alerts, and when we receive them, we investigate the alert. We follow a protocol about how to handle the situation with the student and their family if needed,” Fichera said. Since risk alerts are generated by AI, many of these in-

stances are not followed up by administrations. Of the 306 alerts, 59 so far were triggered by profanity, which are cases that are not likely to be pursued, according to Scatena. Although Bark is less invasive than GoGuardian, and everything both programs do is legal, some students are hesitant about having anything on their school accounts monitored. “I feel like going into our personal [accounts] is invasive,” junior Allie Vorsatz said. “There’s better ways the school can give support to students.”

Upperclassmen start new clubs BY KRISTIE KIM

Senior Reporter

BY JULIANNA OLIVER

Senior Reporter

Ava Giere and Adrian Zhang, Students Against Wrongful Convictions Juniors Ava Giere and Adrian Zhang are cabinet members of the Students Against Wrongful Convictions Club, one of this year’s new clubs that is available for students. “The Students Against Wrongful Convictions Club … [is] an organization that learns about the incarceration system in America and how it’s used against people,” Zhang said. “[We are] just trying to understand the systems that can still affect prisoners, and see if we can make a change.” The club has many goals and ideas about how to educate Burlingame students on the topics of human rights and the prison system. “There’s a couple of different parts to [the club], and [it’s] definitely one goal to fundraise, but then also to learn about it with book excerpts, movies or just talking about it,” Giere said. Giere is the president of the club and was inspired to make the club from her own learnings about injustices. “In the past year or two, I started reading more books on the topic like ‘Just Mercy’ and ‘The New Jim Crow,’ and I just realized it’s so much more unfair than I realized,” Giere said. Along with Zhang and Giere, cabinet members Ellie Neuman and Maddie Gillette are part of the Students Against Wrongful Convictions club. They meet every other Friday in Ms. Riley’s room in A-105. “I hope anyone who joins [the club] gets an experience out of it, and really learns about the history of the prison system in America, and how it can be used against people, or how it affects people,” Zhang said. Sophia Lemus, Simply Speaking Sophia Lemus, a senior at Burlingame, began the Simply Speaking club to teach English to high school students in El Salvador, with hopes to eventually branch into STEM subjects as well. “I want to offer the same opportunities we have [at Burlingame],” Lemus said. The club operates online, as students in El Salvador join a Zoom call with Burlingame students who then go into a breakout room together to learn. Since this is their first year,

A meeting for the Students Against Wrongful Convictions Club took place in room A-105 on Friday, Oct. 1.

Sophia Lemus introducing herself and the club at Simply Speaking’s first meeting on Sept. 29. PHOTO BY JULIANNA OLIVER

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ing in the right direction, there will likely be a winter surge in COVID-19 cases, as last year’s holiday season saw the highest seven-day average of cases according to state and local health agencies across the country. To prevent this, the district will be implementing increased testing on campuses for students and teachers to easily access. “We’re starting our expanded testing protocol again, we had kind of scaled back right at the end of last school year … and now, unfortunately, we are seeing cases starting to climb back up again in our community,” Burlingame health aide Ana Herold said. Students will be able to sign up through the California Department of Primary Health and will go to a specified on-campus location to receive their test. Unlike last school year, students will not have to submit their medical insurance, which was a hindrance to many who tried to sign up for tests. The tests this year will also be nasal swabs, different to the mouth swabs used last year. “I think that ongoing testing is another tool in our toolbox to ensure that we can keep schools open and everyone safe,” Miller said. As testing ramps up, and more and more students get tested, the district hopes it can keep COVID-19 to a minimum within the schools.

Student mental health is a priority for the district, but the means they use to combat the issue is, according to some, stigmatizing and unproductive. “Certain actions like involving law enforcement could be really alienating and scary for students,” Policy Fellow with the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) Yasmin Sharifi said. “That’s not necessarily going to result in them getting actual mental health help.” The legitimacy of programs like Bark is also in question; very little has been done to prove they actually make a difference.

PHOTO BY JULIANNA OLIVER

frequently having to miss class, she kept up with schoolwork and maintained a 4.0 GPA. Charlotte hoped to go to college and become a nurse. Charlotte, a frequent Food Network TV-watcher, continued to bake and cook after her diagnosis. To celebrate her clear CT scans each quarter, she would make desserts with the words “clear scans” written in frosting. Charlotte also enjoyed playing sports and battling her friends and family in board or card games. She was known for her jokes, infectious laugh and ability to always bring people together. A memorial at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was held on Oct. 2. A large block party followed, with photos from her life; an opportunity for loved ones to speak; and her favorite foods, including tacos, hamburgers, fries, milkshakes and Drops of Dough cookies. In lieu of flowers or meals, please support her favorite charities: MIB (https://bit. ly/3a4qn2e) or Charlotte’s fund for nurses at UCSF (https://bit. ly/3A9griz).

From PAGE 1

PHOTO BY KRISTIE KIM

After a courageous battle with cancer, Charlotte Frances Murdoff passed away peacefully in her home on Sept. 22, 2021, at the age of 18. She is survived by her mother, Alli Murdoff, her father, Sherrick Murdoff, her older sister, Maggie Murdoff, her twin brother, Matthew Murdoff and extended family. Charlotte was born in San Francisco on Aug. 11, 2003, and grew up in Hillsborough, California. She attended North Elementary School, Crocker Middle School and Burlingame High School. Charlotte was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer that typically occurs in children and teenagers on July 30, 2018. Determined to beat cancer and help other kids, she founded That’s Sew Char, a sweatshirt company fundraising for childhood cancer research. She supported other cancer fighters as a junior board member of Making It Better (MIB) Agents, a non-profit focused on treatments and cures for osteosarcoma. Charlotte also partnered with Battle Osteosarcoma, a local organization that raises money for the Sweet-Cordero Lab at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). She raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. Charlotte spent nearly three and a half years intermittently in cancer treatment. Despite

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLI MURDOFF

BY FARAH CABAN

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Features

October 11, 2021

Talulla Lighthouse, president of Outdoor Skills, showing a member how to tie a clove hitch knot at their first meeting on Sept. 28. Lemus’ primary goal is to get as many volunteers as the club can. After enough Burlingame students join, they will pair off the students in El Salvador and Burlingame. Then, the six-week tutoring program where tutors teach basic English will begin. Simply Speaking is currently raising money through a GoFundMe and is working to spread the word through family. “We are welcoming all kinds of people; there’s definitely a position we can find for you,” Lemus said. The club is currently taking new members, even those who do not speak Spanish. Tallula Lighthouse, Outdoor Skills Tallula Lighthouse created the Outdoor Skills club to educate students about nature,

how to exist in nature and fun activities to do while in nature. This semester, the club is focusing on recruiting new members to join. “I really love doing outdoor [activities], and I’ve always wanted to start a club at BHS,” Lighthouse said. The focus for the club is providing information about outdoorsy skills, so there is no plan for raising money or gathering supplies, as they do not need any. “[Starting a club this year] was chaotic but it’s been a lot of fun,” Lighthouse said. Luckily, Lighthouse was familiar with the process of starting a new club, as she had observed her friends create clubs prior. Outdoors Skills currently meets on Tuesdays at lunch in Mr. Gnass’ room.

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Features

October 11, 2021

District COVID-19 protocols for getting the sniffles ILLUSTRATION BY SPENCER BLYTH

The number of kids between ages 11-17 make up 11.9% of all cases in CA.

BY JULIANNA OLIVER

Senior Reporter

Runny nose, body aches, feverish cold sweat. These are some of the symptoms of the common cold; however, the presence of these symptoms would now require a student to quarantine for 10 days. The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) has instituted strict procedures following both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state guidelines on how to keep COVID-19 cases controlled and when students can return to the classroom. The district health manager, Sara Devaney, has worked with other district officials to ensure the safety of every student and teacher for each school in the SMUHSD. The protocol in place for anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is to un-

dergo a medical isolation. This means staying in one room with no contact with others, never sharing any airspace — even with family members. The isolation lasts for 10 days minimum,the first day being when someone comes down with symptoms. “That’s why it is so important to stay at home when you develop symptoms,” Devaney said. Staying at home for an extended period of time means that students will miss tremendous amounts of classwork because school is currently fully in-person. When students isolate, they are encouraged by the district to reach out to their teachers to gain academic support. “I emailed [my teachers] to let them know I wasn’t going to be at school and most said to check canvas,” said Alex Taylor, a senior at Burlingame who had

gotten sick. When she arrived at the emergency room for her sickness, they automatically COVID tested her as protocol. However, Devaney also emphasized that resting is equally important, and students should only do as much schoolwork as they feel comfortable. Students do not have to share with their teachers why they are absent, but they are required to share a diagnosis with the school health office. When a student tests positive with COVID-19, the district uses contact tracing to find out who that student spends time with, where they sat in class and other extracurricular activities that they might have close contact with people at. “The takeaway is that if you’re sick you need to stay home in order to keep schools open and in person,” Devaney said.

Trash and food fights surge as free meals get more attention Staff Reporter

The free meals that are now being given out on campus thanks to California’s budget surplus help students manage their hunger in a more cost-efficient way. However, the program has also led to an increase in the amount of food waste and food fights since the start of school. Ernesto Nuñez, better known as Coach E to some, who works both as a campus safety specialist and a weight trainer at Burlingame, finds these developments tragic. “How lazy do you have to be to not be able to throw your trash away when a trash can in any direction is about 10 to 15 feet [away]?” Nuñez said. Sophomore Mason Rosales is also disturbed by the rising amounts of trash left on tables

during lunch. “There’s 23 trash cans around. It’s super simple to just walk over and throw [the litter] in the trash can,” Rosales said. The littering of the campus has inevitably resulted in the attraction of birds such as seagulls as well. “Through the whole Covid [situation] the birds stopped attacking the school but now [they] are back,” Nuñez said. In addition to the uptick in littering on campus, there has also been a spike in food fights. “A lot of the kids like to throw food at each other — carrots, grapes, whatever they can get their hands on,” Nuñez said. When Nuñez catches any of the students in action, he makes them pick up litter in various parts of campus at the end of lunch.

“The litter and the throwing of food has become such a problem that [if it’s a repeat offender] we’ve gone up to [assigning] multiple days of garbage duty and detention,” Nuñez said. He also believes that even though a composting system might be beneficial for the campus in general, it might be too big of a change for students to adapt to. “A lot of the problem is the laziness. In theory, it sounds great, it’s genius, let’s do it, but would the kids follow suit?” Nuñez said. Additionally, Nuñez mentioned how important it is for everyone to collaborate and throw away their own trash. “At some point the students have to stop taking what they have for granted and take a little effort and throw away the

PHOTO BY ARDA INEGOL

BY ARDA INEGOL

A ham sandwich and fruit are left on a table in the quad during lunch. food. They have to want it for accountable,” Brooks said. “If themselves,” Nuñez said. you see someone leaving trash, Jim Brooks, who also works just be like ‘Hey man, throw as a campus safety specialist at away your trash.’ Everyone’s Burlingame, agrees with Nuñez got to chip in. We all have to on this topic. have the same goal, and that’s “We have to hold each other to keep the campus clean.”

District implements new equity group PHOTO BY SAM JOHNSTONE

The new district-implemented student equity group makes posters during a workshop on Monday, Sept. 27. BY SAM JOHNSTONE

Staff reporter

THE BURLINGAME B

The Burlingame group is about 30 students who were nominated by teachers or applied themselves through a form. The students were then interviewed in a meet-and-

greet style before possibly being accepted into the program. Sophomore Lauren Cheng applied for the program because she thought it would be an experience that would allow for personal growth. “I was mostly interested in it

B

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because I thought it would be a good opportunity to learn how to be an advocate for my community, and also be in a space where there are there are other people striving to be advocates too,” Cheng said. The equity group met for the first time on Monday, Sept. 27, where they participated in an all-day workshop in the alumni room. A third party, Restorative Equity Partnership, was brought in to lead the workshop. Micky Singer, JD, and Kandace Forrester, PhD, led the Youth Catalysts Liberatory Leadership series workshop. This four-session workshop series focuses on community building and changing campus culture. The first workshop

Lexi Goldstein Sam Johnstone Isaac Bostonmaer Michelle Moshkovoy Farah Caban Alex Kelly Mattingly Germack Elise Spenner

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

Senior Reporters Kristie Kim Safiya Loomba Julianna Oliver Jackson Spenner Lizzy Wan

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started off the day with poster making. “We tried to define and dissect different words like autonomy, trust, those kinds of things, and then relate them to privilege and our experiences,” junior Ava Giere said. “There was also a lot of time we spent in a big circle as a group [after], sharing personal stories and experiences.” The students were inspired and excited from the first session, and are excited to see the impact they have on the school by the end of the year. “The equity team is only [30] people or so, and we were all sharing so many ideas that I don’t think are talked about around the rest of school. So I hope that we can bring these

Staff Reporters Sophia Bella Daria Burnosova Arshia Chakravartti Wali Chaudry Leilani Dougherty Arda Inegol Isabel Liu Amanda Nolan Jake Rothstein

ideas and conversations to our school campus … and classrooms,” Cheng said. “I think this a small group that is a start for something bigger.” As Burlingame continues to reconcile and heal from the antisemitic and racist events of the past four years, more efforts are being made to change campus culture. While this equity program is currently only for the 2021-22 school year, the hope is that it will have a lasting impact on campus for years to come. Seeing as students from all grades are part of the program, there is an opportunity for the underclassmen to carry on their knowledge to their classmates and future grades.

Policy Statement:

The Burlingame B is a student-run newspaper with the role purpose of providing an open forum for student expression. Anything printed represents the opinion of the writer, but not necessarily that of the Burlingame B staff, the administration, or the faculty of Burlingame High School, or anyone affiliated with the San Mateo Union High School District. The Burlingame B does not discriminate against race, political oritentation, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Although The Burlingame B will never refuse to publish guest submission based on the aforementioned factors, we reserve the right to edit or not publish them.

Letters to the Editor

Disagree with the writers? Bring your letters to the room A120 or email them to <theburlingameb@gmail.com>. Letters may be considered for publication. The Burlingame B reserves the right to edit for clarity, length, and accuracy. We welcome all comments.

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Features

October 7, 2021

Is the college admission process fair? College admissions system presents challenges for underprivileged students GRAPHIC BY ISAAC BOSTONMAER

Campus has divided opinions on 10-minute passing periods GRAPHIC BY ALEX KELLY

The data above shows the responses of 245 students on their thoughts on the new bell schedule. BY ALEX KELLY

Senior Reporter

After the brunch break in the bell schedule, the bell screeches out the call to return to classes. Yet around campus, there is little movement. Most students continue talking with their friends, unfazed by the bell; the bell that is supposed to create a sense of urgency to get to class. This year, a new bell schedule was implemented, including 10-minute passing periods between classes on block days, which now occur Tuesday through Friday. This schedule was made to increase time in the classroom with 90-minute periods, thus allowing for extended passing periods. “[The Bell Schedule Com-

mittee] decided that 10 minutes would allow for ample time between second and third period to use the restroom and get a snack, particularly since the class periods were 90 minutes,” assistant principal Michele Fichera said. Because students hear fewer bells, they seem to enjoy the extra time between classes. A poll of 245 students showed that 63.3% of the student body is in favor of keeping the 10-minute passing period. “I like having more time in classes because I don’t find myself being as late, but I feel like it would be better attributed to just give more time to class or lunch,” junior Holden Glavin said. The extended passing period was not just made with students

in mind, but is intended to support teachers as well. Teachers like math teacher Kristin Berglund say the longer break decreases interruptions to lessons with fewer bathroom breaks, and teachers also can relax and eat with the additional time. Berglund has especially benefited from the schedule change, because she teaches her classes in the portables behind the C Building, next to the practice field. In the past, the shorter passing time has made it hard for students to make the trek out to the portables on time, but the new passing period has for the most part decreased tardies. However, Berglund has seen some exceptions to this. “[In] the classes that occur after brunch, I feel like I get more tardies than I have in the past,” Berglund said. The poll echoed this, as 76.7% of students said they wait until 5 minutes after the bell has rung to start actually walking to class. One common solution from those who responded to the poll who believe 10-minute passing periods are too long is to shift the time, as Glavin said. Some suggest that the additional passing time could be added on to lunch or break, or that the passing periods could be shortened to allow for a shorter school day. But Fichera indicated that there will not be significant changes in the near future. “It feels a little long, so maybe there’ll be some adjustments moving forward, but right there there won’t be [changes to the bell schedule],” Fichera said.

more than $200,000 annually have around a 20% chance to get a score of 1400 or above, while those whose parents earn less than $20,000 have around a 2% chance. To combat these systemic inequities that exist in the college admission process, many universities have recently agreed to become test-blind, meaning they will not factor a standardized test score in the admissions process. California Universities (UCs) and California State Universities (CSUs) are all examples of colleges not requiring test scores to be submitted. This recent change lessens college inequity regarding low incomes. “When schools start to get rid of the SAT, that helps level the playing field in terms of the inequities that exist out there,” college and financial aid advisor Jonathan Dhyne said. As of 2021, the SAT and ACT cost $55 and $68, respectively, which does not include the fees for late registration, test option change and test date or location change. Now that colleges

are opting for test-blind admissions, underprivileged students who wouldn’t be able to pay for these tests are disburdened. In addition, the recent trend of going test-blind eliminates the inequity that comes with purchasing standardized testing tutors and classes. The National Education Association states that “the SAT debuted in 1926, joined by the ACT ... in the 1950s. By the 21st century, the SAT and ACT were just part of a barrage of tests students may face before reaching college.” The college application and admission process is a difficult, grueling and sometimes unfair process. However, there are resources on campus that will help guide students who are seeking help or facing difficulties. “Come see us,” Dhyne said. “If you feel like you don’t have access to whatever you need in terms of being successful in the application process, come seek us out because we’re here to help.”

Julian Nasser works on his college application essays during Flex.

PHOTO BY ISAAC BOSTONMAER

The graph uses 2013 College Board data to illuminate inequity in standardized testing through family income. BY ISAAC BOSTONMAER selors should really be working for the kids that actually need Sports Editor them, but they can’t afford those Recently, in news outlets services.” across the country, equity has Essay writing workshops are come to the forefront when another commonly used paid talking about college applica- service that gives students a tions and college admittance. boost in the application process. According to research and sta- To apply to colleges, students tistics from College Board, Na- are required to craft essays that tional Public Radio (NPR) and allow the reader to grasp an unForbes, the college admission derstanding of them and why process presents many challeng- they are applying to college. es for underprivileged students. Similar to standardized tests, Factors such as private college high school students may be counselors, standardized test- unfamiliar with how to write an ing classes, college essay work- essay. Out-of-school paid essay shops and legacy admissions, workshops are meant to remconfer advantages to wealthier edy this obstacle, but students students. whose families cannot afford “Not everybody has the abil- this tool are forced to write their ity to have their own private college essays without adequate college counselor that’s helping practice. According to studies them every step of the way,” carried out by Forbes Magazine, Burlingame counselor Traci wealthier students have a higher Kreppel said. “The private coun-

chance of being admitted into colleges because they are able to craft more appealing essays. Legacy admissions is another factor that adds to admission inequity. A legacy is a student with family ties to the school, which may increase their chance of being accepted. They create a cycle of people from the same family being selected through generations. This results in a lower likelihood that first-generation college applicants will be accepted to a school. According to Josh Moody at U.S. News and World Report, “ …[legacy] flies against the notion that the college application process is about merit, and instead, offers advantages to the children of alumni.” Another expensive tool is standardized testing classes or tutors. Standardized tests such as the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and American College Test (ACT) are required or optional for most colleges. These tests are far different from an average test in school — they are dramatically longer, harder and cover a wider array of topics from multiple subjects. Standardized testing classes and tutors teach test-taking strategies and help students feel familiar with the content and format through practice tests. According to the College Board, on average, wealthier students score 169 points higher on the SAT than low-income students. Students whose parents earn

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New Teachers

“I’m always happy to help anyone by discussing conflicts, personal issues and other needs by directing them where to go,” Burch said.

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“I like the attendance office because I like meeting students and families, and throughout the day it gets very busy, so it makes the day go by fun and fast,” Moreno said.

“I have been absolutely enchanted by the staff, faculty and students, and I’m so excited to be a part of this school,” Asia said.

“I am comfortable and confident, not only with the subjects that I’m teaching but also the other teachers that I’m working with,” Martin said.

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Roxanna Moreno

Reema Asia

Carol Hardesty

Taylor White

“I decided to switch over to being a librarian because it gave me the opportunity to interact with kids more on a daily basis,” Seto said.

“I have three kids, and one of them is on the spectrum … so I got involved volunteering in classrooms and going on yard duty at lunch, and then a school crossing guard and [then I became] a teacher,” Pham said.

“My goal is to help students become the best versions of themselves by helping them achieve their goals and maximize their potential,” Hardesty said.

“I really love my students, my co-workers, and they have all been super welcoming ... it already feels like a great fit and I’m excited for what the future holds at Burlingame,” White said. ar t

“I’ve always loved teaching and I was passionate about Spanish,” Bosinoff said.

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“I wanted to be more impactful, so instead of going through the judicial system and putting teens on probationary terms, I wanted to make an impact in their school work,” Luna-Escoto said.

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Scan the QR code to read the full profiles on our website.

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Marc Martin

Denise Burch

Andrea Mosqueda

“A lot of students are new here and there’s a lot to get used to. I can relate to that,” Mosqueda said. “I want them to know that they’re not alone.”

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Kelsey Fjell-Walton

Eric Vences

My favorite thing about teaching biology here… [is] how they learn and get excited about a class they understand and enjoy themselves in,” Fjell-Walton said.

“You may be struggling in that math class or that history class. Just don’t stop trying. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your teachers,” Vences said.

Elizabeth Wall

“I wanted to teach special education because I had a lot of learning issues growing up. I understand the struggle,” Wall said.

Sports

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INTO THE

October 11, 2021

END ZONE

VARSITY FOOTBALL SWEEPS

FIRST FIVE GAMES PHOTO BY JAKE ROTHSTEIN

BY ISAAC BOSTONMAER

Sports Editor

Burlingame’s varsity football team remains undefeated through their first five games, making their record 5-0. The Panthers have had home-field advantage in all five matches. Burlingame’s first game was held on Aug. 27 against Capuchino High School. Led by stellar defense and an explosive offense, Burlingame won in a blow-out by a score of 35-0. Varsity quarterback Ryan Kall led the team with his three passing touchdowns, two of which were to wide receiver Will Uhrich, who recently committed to the University of Arizona. The team’s success carried over to their second game against American Canyon High School on Sept. 3. Burlingame’s defense shut down the Wolves’ offense, resulting in a 31-6 victory by forcing a total of six turnovers: three interceptions and three fumbles. Offensive-

Junior Lukas Habelt dashes through the Sacred Heart Prep defense in Oct. 1’s varsity football matchup. The Panthers went on to win the game, 22-21 after a touchdown with seconds on the clock. ly, Uhrich led the team with a touchdown and over 100 receiving yards. The Panthers’ third matchup was against Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory on Sept. 10. Unlike the previous matches, this game was a low-scoring

17-7 win for Burlingame. Burlingame’s defense was responsible for three interceptions and their successful run game generated over 150 rushing yards. Burlingame’s fourth match was against Homestead High School on Sept. 17. Burlingame’s

consistently high-performing defense made it difficult for the Mustangs to catch up as they held Homestead to less than 200 total yards and half their points, with a score of 26-13. On Friday, Oct. 1, Burlingame played their first league

PHOTO BY WALI CHAUDRY

SPLASH Copy Editor

CROSS COUNTRY BOLTS AT SEASON BY WALI CHAUDRY

Staff Reporter

Burlingame’s girls’ water polo team is off to a scorching hot start to the year. They’ve kicked off the season with a 6-1 record, a strong improvement from their 3-3 start last year. They have stacked wins against Carlmont High School, Woodside High School, Aragon High School and Mills High School. The team’s only loss thus far came against Menlo-Atherton High School (M-A) on Tuesday, Sept. 28, in a closely contested game that ended 8-6. Outside of that hiccup, the team has been Junior and team captain Lily Hartley passes to a firing on all cylinders. A large part of their early suc- teammate during their 15-9 win over Aragon. cess derives from the team’s de- dence the team holds is more room for improvement as the termination and chemistry. than evident. season continues, especially of“We have essentially the same “We were definitely the better fensively. team as last year,” team co-cap- team,” Hartley said about their “We need to create more ball tain and junior Lily Hartley said. loss to M-A. movement offensively,” Hartley “It’s the same group of girls, and Burlingame has thrived thus said. [they have] a lot of commitment far off of dominant defensive Their next two games are a to the team.” play and an opportunistic of- pair of rematches: Aragon on Even with a loss, the confi- fense. However, there is still Oct. 12 at home, then an away game against M-A on Oct. 18. PHOTO BY KRISTIE KIM

After Burlingame cross country’s chaotic last season during the heat of the pandemic, the team competed at their first meet of the season on Sept. 14 at Half Moon Bay High School. The girls’ varsity team placed fourth and the boys varsity team ninth, both out of 17 schools. Coach Jacquie Haggarty was pleased with the team’s performance at the meet. “[Their placings] were a really strong showing for our first meet for a really young team,” Haggarty said. A lot of runners on the team, such as sophomore Torben Alberts, felt unprepared after a long off-season. “I didn’t feel mentally prepared for the race because my body was telling me to stop running,” Alberts said. “But I

still managed to get to the finish line after some difficulties.” Despite the runners’ struggles, they rejoiced at the end of the race as they were thankful to run with each other after many months. “[Last year, the coaches] expected us to run alone, so it wasn’t very connected,” sophomore Ava Gonzalez said. “It didn’t feel like much of a team … but now when everyone is back together, it just feels great.” The team experienced struggles throughout the race, but the coach and the team felt like they gave it their all and are looking forward to the rest of their season. “I think I pushed myself,” Alberts said. “I definitely know though that I never would have done it without the support of my teammates running alongside me. I mean, this is what I think cross country is all about.”

DOWN

PHOTO BY KRISTIE KIM

BY MATTINGLY GERMACK

Runners Torben Alberts, Nicholas Beringer, Arda Inegol, Evan Kim and Jackson Spenner, warm up at the beginning of their practice on Sept. 23.

game, meaning the game affects placement for Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs, against Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton. The game was a nail-biter determined within the final minute of play. As Burlingame was behind seven points with only seconds left on the clock, Kall threw a touchdown to receiver Charlie Koch on fourth down. After, instead of tying the game with a safe point-after kick, the team decided to attempt a two-point-conversion. Against all odds, running back Elijah La Guardia ran to the endzone to secure the two points and the win; 22-21. Players and coaches alike are excited and optimistic about Burlingame’s season. “I’m extremely confident [about having a CCS run this season]. I think if we stay healthy and stay on this path, I don’t think there’s much that can stop us,” athletic director and varsity head coach John Philipopoulos said.

Girls’ varsity water polo player, junior Gizel Ortiz, defends an Aragon attacker during a game on Sept. 17.

Boy’s Water Polo

Led by Jamie McDonald, first-year water polo head coach and previous swim coach, and Aaron Krimer, senior team captain and four-year player, the team has stumbled out the gate, starting the season 2-4. They have tallied wins against Carlmont and Mills, while losing to Woodside, M-A and Aragon. At the time of print, the team’s next games will be rematches against Aragon and Mills on Oct. 12 and Oct. 14, respectively.

Sports

October 11, 2021

9

Sky’s the limit for girls’ varsity volleyball PHOTO BY MICHELLE MOSHKOVOY

BY MICHELLE MOSHKOVOY

Head Photographer

Sitting at (10-4, 7-1 Bay Division), Burlingame’s season looks promising, led by returning members from the 2019 Central Coast Section (CCS) Division III Championship squad. “The main thing that we’ve been talking about most is energy. What got us to CCS was our energy; we were crazy on the bench,” co-captain senior Kristi Lee said. “We’re trying to get [the underclassmen] pumped up for our game.” Burlingame girls’ varsity volleyball team has some fresh faces this year: head coach Nick Monroe and underclassmen mentored by seasoned upperclassmen.

Senior Emma Madden won Bay Area News Group girls high school athlete of the week of Sept. 13-18, registering 108 kills up to then. The Panthers, who currently sit second in the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) Bay Division, brought that energy in an electric atmosphere on Sept. 23 in their game against

Hillsdale High School, both eager to avoid being handed their first league loss. Burlingame lost 3-1 (17-25, 18-25, 25-20,18-25). “We had a lot of errors to-

day, but we really fought hard. We tried to go after it,” Monroe said after the game. The Panthers have all the tangibles to go far in the competitive PAL Bay Division. “We have the talent, we have the skills, we got to beat Hillsdale to make [a league championship] a conversation,” Monroe said. However, beyond the results, camaraderie is the backbone of the program. “We’re starting to really become a family, and that was my biggest thing, trying to build a culture and build a foundation going forward, and I think we’re getting there,” Monroe said. Coached by Monroe, who has had previous experience at Notre Dame Belmont, Ala-

meda High School and Miramonte High School in the East Bay, the Panthers have had an extra drive to succeed. “He pushes us hard every practice and believes in us. That has a huge impact on how we play and hold ourselves accountable during these rough matches,” co-caption senior Emma Madden said. Knowing no bounds to what this Panther Squad can accomplish, Burlingame has high expectations for this season. “The ceiling is limitless, like the sky, like the sun,” Madden said. “This team can go far; we have a lot of potential on this team. We just have to work out our errors and fight through them.”

BY DARIA BURNOSOVA

Staff Reporter

Burlingame’s girls’ varsity tennis has made a comeback from the inter-district 20202021 school year and has had a strong start to the 2021 fall season. Currently, the team’s Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) record is 5-3. Their previous PHOTO BY DARIA BURNOSOVA

Freshman Sophia Germieder practices her serve on a hot Wednesday afternoon.

season, like many other sports, was greatly affected because of COVID-19. Despite the challenges the pandemic presented, the girls’ varsity tennis team still came back stronger and more united. As the year progressed and safety rules surrounding the pandemic got less strict, the girls were able to come back to in-person training as a team. “I have much more time for extracurriculars,” junior Rorie Stone said. “I used this time to play more tennis.” Adopting the mentality that the pandemic gave the girls more time to practice, the girls brought more energy and excitement to the team’s environment. “Tennis is one of the few sports that benefited from the pandemic,” assistant coach Doug Stone said.

Freshman Ella Schroth and junior Ella Rafferty both note that they want to have a future with tennis and are fully committed to the sport, despite the ongoing pandemic. Since the pandemic began, girls have been finding open courts, hiring private coaches and continuing to practice on their own. “I’ve seen these girls go out and find an accessible court to practice on during the off season,” Stone said. They have two matches every week and practices on Mondays and Wednesdays. The team beat Half Moon Bay High School 7-0 on Sept. 21 and are feeling even more confident. year have paid off. “I am very hopeful in this upcoming season after the tough year,” head coach Bill Smith said.

Girls’ golf returns with booming participation BY ARSHIA CHAKRAVARTTI

Copy Editor

“We are all friends and love spending time on the course with each other,” Hilliard said. “We encourage each other when we hit a bad shot, and congratulate each other when we hit a good shot.” Looking ahead to the remaining season, co-coach Riley is eager to see how the team grows. “It’s just so fun to watch them play and improve,” Riley said. PHOTO BY ARSHIA CHAKRAVARTTI

The fall season has started off with more losses than intended for Burlingame’s girls’ golf. However, girls’ golf is seeing newfound interest and participation this year. The team’s head count has changed drastically from the start of the program. “There was six or seven people on it [at first], to [the current] 24 girls who are committed and coming out all the time,” co-coach Michelle Riley said. The coaches are excited about the newfound popularity, and are focusing on working with younger players to improve and build on the team’s skills. “[We’re] really focusing on how well they’re doing, how well they’re utilizing the skills that they’re taught in practice in a pressure situation...in a match situation and then ultimately how well they’re play-

ing against the last time they’ve played,” Riley said. Sophomore Lucy Moran has noticed how strong the team morale is. “The community is very nice, all the team members outside and inside the team are very nice even if we lost,” Moran said. Senior and veteran player Sydnie Hilliard agrees with Moran on the tight-knit community she has found over the past four years of playing.

Sophomore Ellie Dowd takes a shot in a competition against Menlo-Atherton at Poplar Creek Golf Course.

PHOTO BY MICHELLE MOSHKOVOY

Quarantine revives tennis team

The spirit squad performs at halftime during the Oct. 1 varsity football game against Sacred Heart Prep.

Cheer lifts spirits BY KRISTIE KIM

Staff Reporter

At Burlingame’s past five home football games, the spirit squad is there encouraging students to support players and celebrate wins. The process of entertaining the crowd from the sidelines and at halftime requires plenty of practice, and the junior varsity and varsity squads are focused on stunting and choreography this year. Junior Alina Zohdi joined the team as a freshman and is working alongside her teammates to achieve their current goals. “Right now we’re actually trying to improve our stunts and do more advanced things than just the basics,” Zohdi said. After experiencing a season with little audience last year, the spirit squad is excited to continue moving forward with bigger performances like the annual Little Big Game against rival San Mateo High School. Seniors and varsity co-captains Ava Fornesi and Allie Giammona are working to create new routines for the important event. “Right now we are getting ready for Little Big Game, and that’s going to be very exciting because we have a lot of practices set up,” Fornesi said, “Allie and I are going to start choreographing for that… and we’re practicing with JV.” Giammona sometimes gets nervous during halftime but enjoys cheering for the BHS

community to uplift the school spirit and relishes the process of getting there. “I love the practices throughout the week [and] spending time with my friends,” Giammona said. “I love the game, [being] out on the sideline and seeing my friends on the football team play and [the] cheering in front of the student section.” During the time of the team coming together and creating new dances and collaboration, the team grew closer together. Junior Flavia Cucalon is currently unable to participate due to medical reasons but she will join later in the season during December. Despite her circumstances, Cucalon recalls the unity of the team so far. “My favorite part of cheer is definitely knowing that it’s like a second family,” Cucalon said. “Those are all people … that I can trust with everything.” In addition to the team community, the cheer team understands how important their role is in the school. “As cheerleaders, we are really supposed to promote school spirit and make people excited to come to school … [and to] just show how great of a school we are and how much unity we have,” Fornesi said.

Op-Ed

10

October 11, 2021

Restroom wreckings return — it’s time to talk BY THE BURLINGAME B EDITORIAL BOARD I love weed. I love nic. Ur mom. Mommy, sorry. Mommy, sorry.

restroom facilities stems from their own actions. So far, no bathroom has been permanently shut-down, but there are frequent temporary closures so maintenance can clean up after students. The issue of bathroom misuse now extends beyond stall defacement. The “devious licks” TikTok trend that has taken high schools by storm nationwide has made its way onto Burlingame’s campus. The

many vulnerable adolescents. So far, Burlingame students have taken soap dispensers and toilet paper holders, primarily from the C and F Building bathrooms, which have easy exit routes from school. Maintenance has yet to find any of the stolen items on school property, and while surveillance cameras outside are helpful in narrowing down suspects, no one has been caught. These defacements are nothPHOTO COURTESY OF HOPE PILCH

Walk into a bathroom at Burlingame, and you won’t have any trouble finding messages like these. In fact, every single one of them was found scrawled in Sharpie on the tile walls of the A Building girls’ bathroom. Half of the phrases were so vulgar they could not be published. It’s time for a heart-to-heart. Students were eager to come back to campus in the era of distance-learning, but their return has brought a resurgence of restroom wreckings. Within the first two months of school, each of the 11 main bathrooms have been shut down at least once due to vandalism or theft. In November of 2019, the Burlingame B published an editorial titled “Potty talk: Addressing the bathroom crisis on campus.” It’s been two years. Things have only gotten worse. Bathroom stalls are adorned with messages such as “don’t forget to wipe” and “I love your mom.” Although these messages are harmless to some readers, they prove to be a heavy burden on maintenance staff who have to dedicate their days to patrolling restrooms, removing graffiti via paint-thinner or repainting the door altogether.

On Sept. 21, maintenance had to clean up the F Building boys’ bathroom after a physics student stole multiple raw, intact chickens eggs intended for an educational experiment and threw them in the handicap stall. More recently, on Oct. 6, the seat was ripped off one of the toilets in the boys’ C Building bathroom, and a garbage can was turned over in a stall. Wonder why you keep run-

Graffiti in the A building downstairs girls’ bathroom contains explicit content. ning into locked bathroom doors? Look in the mirror. Oh wait, you can’t. The bathroom is probably locked. Bathrooms are a basic human necessity. Students deserve the right to relieve themselves and prioritize personal hygiene, but the lack of access to

trend includes students stealing bathroom equipment, such as urinals and mirrors, and then posting footage of their theft on the social media app. With more than 1 billion users, TikTok has provided a platform for immoral actions to be perceived as casual and funny by

ing new. Because experts generally agree that people, on average, need to urinate six or seven times per day, it would be impossible to track who goes in-and-out of the bathrooms. Additionally, students who do need to use the bathroom, often during instructional time,

are sent on a scavenger hunt in pursuit of an open bathroom, taking time away from classroom learning. This hindrance to learning shows no signs of slowing down. Maintenance staff estimates 75% of soap dispensers have been ripped off the walls of the bathrooms; this behavior is irresponsible and immature. Since the start of this school year, a combination of lavatory-equipment theft and vandalism has cost the school thousands. Burlingame’s Vandalism Ed. Code 48900(f) states that “students who willfully damage school property will be suspended from school. The Education Code states that any pupil who violates this rule may be suspended or expelled, and the parent/guardian held liable for restitution. In addition, the student may be required to perform a school work service assignment” (Penal Code Section 594). In the apex of adolescence, high school students are still developing their sense of right and wrong, but it’s clear that bathroom misuse is wrong. These childish actions have called the need to have a “potty talk” — an uncomfortable, avoidable conversation if students used the bathrooms for their intended purposes, rather than for immature amusement. Want to pee? Need to pee? Stop throwing eggs, lose the Sharpie and leave the dispensers where they are.

Shang-Chi: Shattering boundaries, Street drugs too presents masterful filmmaking accessible to students Staff Reporter

Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) second entry into the fourth phase — after the third phase which ended with Avengers: Endgame (2019) — comes with “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” Telling the origin story of Shang-Chi, a powerful Chinese warrior with family issues who must face his past, this action-adventure movie hit the theaters on Sept. 3. Now the film is almost surpassing $325 million in the box office worldwide; it is a financial success. But is it really that good, and does it offer something new for both Marvel fans and first-time MCU watchers to enjoy? The movie follows Shaun, played by Simu Liu, who is seemingly an ordinary Chinese-American living in San Francisco. As the movie progresses, viewers learn that he has an extensive background in the martial arts, and that his father, Xu Wenwu, who is the leader of the legendary Ten Rings organization, is plotting an expedition to a spiritual world called Ta Lo. Shaun, who later uses his birth name, Shang-Chi, is accompanied by his friend Katy and his sister Leiko Wu to stop his father from opening a spiritual gate that has the potential to destroy both Ta Lo and the Earth. The beautiful sights and backgrounds included in the movie, specifically the ones featured in Ta Lo, makes it one of the best films Marvel has ever created on a visual level. Even

though “Shang-Chi” entered production in 2001, filming began in 2018, and it is truly stunning how great the final product turned out to be even with the challenge of the pandemic. Similarly, it is a treat to see the fight sequences; the choreography is done perfectly and follows techniques from previous martial arts films. For example, in the train fight sequence, Shang-Chi uses the techniques Jackie Chan uses in his movie “Rumble in the Bronx” to fight off the Ten Rings’ henchman using a jacket, which is a great perk for fans of Chan’s movies. Awkwafina, who plays Katy, does a superb job adapting into the MCU vibe and pleases the audience with her enjoyable acting. Her jokes and one-liners are very nice additions to some sequences of this movie because they remind the audience that they are still watching a Marvel movie and not a random sci-fi flick. When I went to see the movie, her jokes landed nearly all of the time, and left the audience laughing for a little while. Even though it is a Marvel movie, the film does an amazing job in accurately displaying Asian culture. The cast is primarily Asian-American, which makes it easier for the movie to adapt to an Asian environment and provides the film with an ability to show the world the beauties of Asia as well as the traditions of its culture. Throughout the movie, there are references to Chinese traditions and methods, most notably the dragon that is part of

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

BY ARDA INEGOL

Liu and Leung’s spectral battle is depicted in the poster, marking the most important and visually appealing scene in the movie. the culture of Ta Lo. Combined with superior acting and visuals, they depict a magical world that people of all backgrounds can appreciate. So yes, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” really does prove to be an extremely successful movie. With amazing visuals and technical elements, humor that lands consistently, the inclusion of many Asian-American cast members and the incorporation of traditional Chinese culture, ShangChi does a great job setting up a new phase for the MCU as well as a new age for Hollywood in general.

BY LEILANI DOUGHERTY

Staff Reporter

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, Xanax abuse has been surging in high school students since 2016. The drug appeals to teenagers because of its “sedating” effects. Many teens aren’t fully aware of the severity of the drug, since it is often prescribed to treat anxiety. Following the recent tragic death of a Carlmont senior in August, the fear of drug overdoses affecting high school students is becoming less of a faroff thought. According to the CDC, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than morphine, and the most common drug associated with overdose. Overdose deaths increased by 40% in 2020 from synthetic opioids like fentanyl. It is much cheaper to make Xanax pills when laced with fentanyl, allowing dealers to sell them at an affordable price to high school students. Social media can expose high school students to drug dealers who act as a mode of purchase. According to Nexus Recovery, almost all of these dealers sell fake pills laced with fentanyl. The silent epidemic has been sneaking up on California. According to the website State of Reform, “those aged 20-34 years old died more from fentanyl overdoses than from other types of drugs.” In addition, writer Sydney Kurle on State of Reform also states, “research provided by

California Health Policy Strategies (CHPS) shows that the rate of increases of overdose deaths in California far surpasses the national rate of increase as of May 2020. Experts say this trend has increased as the pandemic has continued.” Some teens are unknowingly taking pills laced with fentanyl, and overdosing because of it. Unless a specific drug has been prescribed to you by a medical professional and distributed through a legitimate pharmacy, there is no way to know what you are taking. Even if you are aware you’re taking fentanyl, you can’t be sure of the dosage without lab testing. People everywhere, especially teenagers, need to be aware of the severity of the drugs they are taking. The risks outweigh the effects in every scenario. Feeling high for a couple of hours is not worth the possibility of losing your life. Xanax should only be taken as a prescription because it can be lethal if used incorrectly and is definitely not safe to be used recreationally. If you or someone you know is using pills recreationally, please seek proper assistance. Pills like Xanax are incredibly addictive, and withdrawal can cause serious symptoms — both physical and psychological. Many high school students don’t realize the alarming reality of taking pills. Stories like these don’t seem serious until they are about someone you know. By that time, it’s usually too late.

Community

11

Board of Trustees transition elections to evade suit

GRAPHIC BY ELISE SPENNER

BY ELISE SPENNER

Copy Editor

The San Mateo Union High School District will transition from at-large to by-trustee elections by the fall of 2022 after a private law group threatened to sue the Board of Trustees for violating the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). In January of this year, Shenkman & Hughes, a Malibu-based litigation firm known for challenging election systems in California, wrote a letter to the Board stating that their at-large elections did not align with the CVRA. Under the at-large election system, the entire county elects five members to sit on the Board of Trustees. However, a by-trustee election system would divide the district into five regions, allowing specific communities to vote for their representative. This transition could lower the barrier to entry for elections, elevate the importance of local issues and bring more representation to pockets of the county. For instance, San Bruno and Millbrae don’t currently have representation among the trustees, Laura Chalkley, the district communications manager, said. The by-trustee election system would ensure that their voices are heard. “I think you’ll find good candidates for office emerge, and those candidates pay attention to their constituents in a much closer way than five board members representing a very small portion of the electorate,” said

Credit: National Demographics Corporation

Over the next five months, demographers will divide the distrit to most accurately reflect population and ensure representation. Kevin Shenkman, the head of Shenkman & Hughes litigation practice. Before the firm threatens to sue a district, their team spends about 40 hours analyzing how strong the evidence is in favor of their case. Among the factors that they look for are: racially polarized voting, history of discrimination and unresponsivenss to minorities or wealth and education disparities within a district, Shenkman said. After reviewing the election history in San Mateo County and analyzing the data using ecological regression, Shenkman was ready to send a letter. “It seemed pretty striking — the level of racially polarized voting and the consistent losses of minority candidates,” Kevin Shenkman said. The district administration is prioritizing the inclusion of community members as much

as possible. Those who want to provide input on the subject have three more opportunities to do so in January and February of 2022, at map review hearings. “It will be really important for people to come to speak — to say what they feel is important, what they’d like to see in the end. Ultimately, the Board will have to listen to that,” Laura Chalkley, the district communications manager, said. “It’s easy to weigh in. All you have to do is attend our public meetings.” Sophomore Keziah Gopalla agreed that it is critical for constituents — the people affected by the re-mapping — to share their thoughts in these hearings. “If they’re being impacted by something, they want to know what’s going to happen to them,” Gopalla said. “What are the benefits? What are the pros and cons?”

Community at the center of town square planning BY JACKSON SPENNER

Senior Reporter

For years, Burlingame residents have been searching for a downtown area to relax and socialize. Now, the city is responding, with plans to construct an all-new town square. “The design we decided on is something called the Grove, which emphasizes trees on Lorton Avenue that extend in a single row over to Park Road on the other side,” said Kevin Gardiner, community development director for the city. “And then there’s a variety of hardscape and seating areas and a waterfall — things like that.” Planning for the town square dates back 11 years to 2010’s Downtown Specific Plan. In the plan, officials called for a “signature downtown ‘town square’ open space” to replace Parking Lot E near Burlingame Avenue. Recently, Burlingame city planners have conducted numerous surveys, meetings and

ideation sessions to refine their vision for the project. One key goal was to connect all facets of the diverse Burlingame population in a common space. “Over the last year, we did some preliminary design exercises and community meetings,” Gardiner said. “There was also a website, which helped us do community engagement in the world of Covid, and it was pretty interesting.” On the website, which was designed to be as interactive as possible, residents were able to provide input, upload precedent images and make comments on designs. Despite various ideas for the town square design, participants had one common desire: a place dedicated to the community. “We saw that a lot of people just wanted a place to gather to basically hang out,” Gardiner said. “Maybe for dining or having drinks, but also just to gather, relax and meet friends.”

BY ELISE SPENNER

Copy Editor Sheriff Carlos Bolanos always assumed that a high school diploma was the expectation for every student. But when Bolanos attended the graduation ceremony for the Five Keys Program at the county jail, he realized that the reality was quite different. “I was struck by the number of people that were in this room. It was 20 or 25 folks that were trying to get their high school diploma,” Bolanos said. “And should we really be surprised that jails are not full of Ph.D.s? They’re full of people that got off track somewhere along the way.” These graduates were the success stories. For family members, it was an opportunity to watch their relatives receive gowns, caps and diplomas; for Bolanos, it was an opportunity to witness the impact of jail programming.

“I have to give my hats off to them,” Taylor said. “They’re really committed to providing educational services, human resources and social services to inmates.” The Board of Trustees expressed approval of the program as well. “You can’t really navigate a system or navigate a place without speaking the language,” Trustee Ligia Andrade Zúñiga said. “It’s very isolating; it’s very alienating. It’s a disconnection with rules and laws and policies, but also with social services and resources.” To support those in the justice system, Zúñiga works frequently with Pangea, an organization that provides legal services, information and language support to immigrants and border detainees. The move to bolster language assistance in the county extends beyond the justice system. At Burlingame, Sophie Abitbol, a freshmen English

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There is definitely a correlation between speaking the language, knowing the culture and being incarcerated -Trustee Ligia Andrade Zúñiga

Gardiner and the planning team met with students from Burlingame to gather input, looking to expand their reach to as many residents as possible. “We also met from time to time with [Burlingame’s] architecture club,” Gardiner said. “They provided a lot of ideas as well.” While the project’s completion is a long way away — Gardiner estimates that the square will be open to the public in 2023 or 2024 — the end goal for Burlingame’s town square is becoming clearer and clearer every day. “I look around Burlingame Avenue in the afternoons and see students from BHS hanging out with their friends. This square could be a bigger version of that,” Gardiner said. “To have that kind of space right in the middle of downtown, where it’s never existed before, is really exciting.” PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVIN GARDINER

A rendering of the town square design features a grove of trees and communal seating areas.

Adult school awaits launch of ESL program at county jail

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October 11, 2021

Building on the success of this GED program and other educational services, the county jail is partnering with San Mateo County Adult and Career Education (SMACE) to begin an English Second Language (ESL) program this fall. According to the county jail, over 50% of their inmate population is non-English speakers, creating wide demand for a language support program. While learning English isn’t the same as earning a high school diploma, language can be a monumental first step for those in the justice system, SMACE director Angela Taylor said. Not only is it the first step to a high school education, it can lead to a college degree, a stable career and a life outside of jail. “I hope that by doing this program we’re able to uplift individuals who are incarcerated, to reduce recidivism and to open up opportunities for people that might not have had them before,” Taylor said. “That way, they can really change their lives.” The program, which was approved by the Board of Trustees last month, will have lessons conducted over Zoom. A predicted 52 inmates will begin lessons in one of two core classes: an introductory, multi-level class and an intermediate-advanced one, each occurring twice a week.

and Academic Language Development (ALD) teacher, is leading the push for an English Language Development (ELD) program that would replace a core English class with language help for ESL students. Burlingame had an ELD program until a few years ago, when the cost of living became largely unaffordable for many immigrant populations. But the substitute, ALD, Abitbol said, fails to give learners the assistance they need and leaves them struggling to keep up with mainstream classes. “There’s only so much support that I can provide if you’re reading at a third grade level,” Abitbol said. “You’re going to take a year or two or more to catch up to your grade level, and just being in the ALD class is not enough, so the [students] need an ELD program.” Back at the county jail, the ESL program is full steam ahead, Sheriff Bolanos said. Taylor emphasized the importance of remembering the proximity of those in the justice system. “They’re not just people you hear on TV. They’re your neighbor. They’re at the grocery store. They feel like they’re part of our community. And it’s really important to provide support to people,” Taylor said. “It can help change their lives.”

12

Student Life

October 11 , 2021

Burlingame community reflects on the meaning of National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month PHOTO BY SOPHIA BELLA PHOTO BY SOPHIA BELLA

Burlingame students participate in a Papel Picado crafting activity organized by the Diversity and Inclusion commission.

BY SOPHIA BELLA

Staff Reporter

The meaning of National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month goes far beyond the celebration of a culture. It recognizes the many stories and identities that constitute a rich, diverse community. The reason why communities celebrate it? It varies from person to person. “We are one of the largest cultural groups in the United States,” said Ligia Andrade Zúñiga, a San Mateo Union High School District Board Trustee. “Not recognizing different communities, when our country is made up of so many people, is almost like erasing them.” National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month, observed from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, is recognized throughout the United States to celebrate the Latino-American community’s culture, history, and achievements. Its starting date, Sept. 15, coincides with El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras’ independence anniversaries. Mexico and Chile’s inde-

pendence days fall on Sept. 16 and 18, respectively. For the Burlingame community, National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month holds a broad range of meanings. For some, it is a time to honor the bravery and legacy of past generations that immigrated to the United States. “For me, it means remembering where I come from,” said Eric Vences, a new Spanish teacher at Burlingame. “It’s remembering that the reason I’m able to have what I have is because of the sacrifices my mom, dad and grandparents made coming here.” The month also serves as a crucial reminder of the impact the Latinx community has on modern society. “Like the Farm Workers movement — it’s extremely important because farmworkers are the ones that put food on our table,” Zúñiga said. “And that’s not to mention doctors, lawyers, teachers and even the student body that identifies as being Latino, Latina or Latinx.” To others, it is a time to celebrate the liberation and inde-

pendence of a home country. “Being from Nicaragua, it means the independence of Nicaragua from Spain,” said Julian Martinez, a Burlingame Spanish teacher. “It’s a way to celebrate our freedom, which we can take for granted.” And for many, it is a time to dive deeper into the complex and diverse identities of people within the community. “I grew up more American than my parents because they’re immigrants, and it led to my duality as a Mexican-American,” said Abelina Sanchez, a Burlingame junior and member of the school’s Diversity and Inclusion Commission. “I tend to relate more with American culture and media, but I appreciate the Hispanic and Latino culture because it’s something that I want to continue spreading throughout generations.” A single phrase cannot define the true meaning of National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month. It boils down to something more personal, and its definition reflects people’s distinct identities and backgrounds.

Pep Band prepares for upcoming Little Big Game BY LEXI GOLDSTEIN

Editor-in-Chief

the duo remains contemporary in their decisions of songs to play. The Pep Band has 40 songs in their repertoire, which are kept in red folders. Despite initial setbacks and early call times, playful rivalries keep morale high. “We love trolling San Mateo. Their fight song sounds like ‘O’ Christmas Tree,’ so we sing along to that,” Kong said. In the heat of competition, the Pep Band will sport new uniforms. The prior uniforms, dating back to the 1960s, were phased out and replaced with new ones last year, but were not worn due to distance learning and virtual performances. “We’ve all been refitted and our suspenders are actually on

our pants,” Hay said. New uniforms for all 118 members of Pep Band was a large job, but the vast engagement is exciting for Yamamoto. “Across the board, almost all schools are struggling with re-

tention of students,” Yamamoto said. “But I’m so proud that we kept numbers, not just numbers, but we embedded ourselves to be recording artists and also excited musicians.”

PHOTO BY LEXI GOLDSTEIN

Video-montage performances are out, and the field show for the Little Big Game is in. Returning to in-person instruction has allowed Burlingame’s marching-band musicians to ditch their computers and take back the field. Pep Band — a required activity for any Burlingame students participating in concert band, jazz band or wind ensemble — delayed preparations for their upcoming premier performance on Oct. 22 and field show at the Little Big Game on Nov. 6 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We didn’t know if we were

going to have a Little Big Game and if we were participating or not,” Burlingame’s Director of Music Kyoko Yamamoto said. Practices for the showcases began on Tuesday, Sept. 14, and will continue over throughout October as a weekly 50-minute time slot before school. “Since we have our practices really early, everyone is so tired and drained — they don’t want to do anything,” Drum Major and senior Audrey Kong said. Without Pyware, a software previously used to illustrate choreography, the process of planning the field show is more tedious for drum majors Aidan Hay and Audrey Kong. While returning to traditional roots of planning, via pen and paper,

Band members assemble on the football field for choreography practice on Tuesday, Sept. 28.

Leadership helps to restore school spirit Senior Reporter

Carter,” La Guardia said. “Then we have to fill out paperwork … and advertise it by filling out forms and publicizing it.” Along with planning activities, the class has a variety of goals, including changing their perspective on how they treat and work with the student body. “The two different things to try and get students involved is asking and giving. Last year, we did a lot of asking: we asked students to go to an event, we asked them to fill out a form,” junior and second-year leadership student Ashlyn Witherspoon said. “But this year, since we are in-person, we’re able to give much more [by doing] events and giving out things.” Currently, leadership is organizing Breaking Down the Walls, which will take place Oct. 11-14. This day long program was previously held in March 2020, right before COVID-19 shut school down. Around 500 kids have signed up for this event. “It’s a huge program, and it was a huge success the last time we brought it here,” Yun said.

Leadership hosts a student versus staff volleyball game on the front lawn on Sept. 16, 2021. PHOTO BYFARAH CABAN

The leadership class is taking on new duties this school year to encourage an inclusive campus as students transition back to in-person classes. Leadership students, in their custom jerseys, are easy to recognize on campus — as are their efforts to promote school spirit by creating events and ways for students to connect. Associated Student Body (ASB) President Elisenne Yun oversees events and is head of the Diversity and Inclusion commission. “We’re going to have a huge variety of events,” Yun said. ”[Most] are really easy to participate in, but then we also want to have a few more larger events that are [centered] around unification and building community and connections.” There are different commissions within the leadership class, and each focuses on planning a certain event or achieving a specific goal. Junior and first-year leadership student Kaleia Daga is part of the Panther Pal com-

mission. “Every month we have an event for freshmen, and it usually gets them to know each other a bit,” Daga said. “There are usually games and activities revolving around them [that focus on] social interaction.” Leadership hosts weekly Thursday lunch events, with activities like friendship bracelet making and club scavenger hunts, in hopes of making all students feel welcome. “Our goal is to unify the school and for everybody to participate, and we want it to be more fun than something [that is] a requirement,” junior and first-year leadership student Nicole Burri said. “It’s always optional to participate, [but] we put out these activities so that students look forward to going to school and participating.” Planning events takes about a month for each group, according to senior and second-year leadership student Elijah La Guardia. “We have to plan ahead … and get the ideas approved by our commission lead and Ms.

PHOTO BY JAKE ROTHSTEIN

BY KRISTIE KIM

Seniors dress up for leadership-organized beach/tourist spirit day.