THE YELLOW PAGES THE YELLOW PAGES
LIT MAG’S OPEN MIC NIGHT
By Shubh Bachkethi
Every year, the Literary Magazine Club hosts a few open mic nights for anyone to come in and share a piece of literary work. It could be a poem, short story, or even a piece from an instrument. These events attract a multitude of people, including teachers such as Ms. O’Connor, Mr. Betcher, Teacher Jasica, and many students from all grades.
At about 4:15 PM, the open mic night began. Saanvi Atluri (9) was first in the lineup, with a poem called “Types of Laughter”, describing the different types of laughter, in a short and sweet way. Next up came Kaiyra Marwaha (9), an accomplished poet and short story writer, who presented three poems. All three poems connected to the soul and evoked emotions using imagery and emotion with a steller choice of words. The works were about love and heartbreak, perhaps connected to personal experiences. After Kaiyra came the 6th grade choir group, who sang “Something Just like This” by the Chainsmok -
ers & Coldplay, accompanied with piano. They performed excellently, full of passion and excitement. Afterwards, Sharanya Chouhan (10) and Richa Charora (11) dazzled us with their piano pieces, the emotional tones of their performances enhanced by the ambience of the room.
Not long after, I came up and recited a poem about nostalgia and the effects nostalgia can have on someone. Following that, Mr. Betcher presented a poem discussing the idea of societal expectations and opinions, specifically gender-based stereotypes.
After Mr. Betchers’s presentation came a 10 minute intermission, during which Oreos and Chips Ahoy were allowed to be eaten. After the intermission was over, Nina Khanna (10) sang a song and received applause and acclamation. There were several performers who followed this, and they all did an amazing job expressing themselves through different forms of art.
BIFU’S NEW ALL-SCHOOL MURAL
By Shubh Bachkethi Staff Writer
Every morning, students of BASIS Independent Fremont Upper School enter the double doors and flood the hallways with their chatter. On their way to prepare for their next class, they pass by an empty, white wall on their left hand side. The lockers from the opposite side of the Student Affairs’ office had just recently been moved, and as students continued with their classes, the BIFU staff had been planning on what to do with this new space.
“We were looking at the wall and decided, why don ’t we have every student and staff member and teacher at this school participat e in creating an all-school mural?” said Ms. Apra, Head of Operations.
The students of BIFU seem to approve of the idea for a new all-school mural.
“I think it’s very interesting that you get everyone to create a small piece,” said student Helena Huang (9), “It’s all about school community and it’s very nice to see your own piece once the mural is put up.”
Other students also have similar views regarding this upcoming mural.
“It’s a very interesting idea. I think it’s really creative and can help bring people together because they all can make art together on one wall,” said student Mihika Vangapalli (9).
Students believe that this mural gives them the opportunity to represent themselves as well as it allows them to see what their fellow peers are interested in.
“I think [the mural] gives the opportunity that students can now ex -
press their dreams and everything they want in a piece of art,” said Vangapalli, “I feel like art can help really express your feelings in a really good way and now, with this mural, everyone can see it and everyone knows how you express yourself.”
This inclusive project seems to be so well thought of that students are looking forward to projects and events similar to this in the future as well, because of how fun it is and how it helps our school.
“It’s interesting and they’re not pushing you to do anything, but it’s fun to do. They’re giving you this surprise and giving us something cool,” said Huang, “Our school could always use something to make it more interesting.”
Rather than just having regular bulletin boards or something similar to that on this wall, the BIFU leadership team and staff settled on the idea of this mural. At the same time, they also put down some goals and hopes for these new achievements.
“I hope that when students graduate and they come to visit and they see what they created, they think of that and they have a laugh or have a smile about that,” said Ms. Apra, “I hope it is a symbol of inclusivity, nostalgia, and togetherness.”
BASIS Independent Fremont Upper — 39706 Mission Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539
Staff Writer
Photos by Olivia Ma
Photos by Katherine He & Canva
mr betcher and mr magee at open mic night
rishi janga (12) and chloe zhang (12) performing
bifu choir club singing “something just like this”
POLITICAL CHAOS IN SOUTH KOREA
By Angela Cao News Editor
President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea has launched the country into political chaos after his declaration of martial law. In a televised address, he accused the opposition, the Democratic Party of Korea, of conspiring with North Korea in order to act against the state. He then declared a state of martial law, which is typically only used in wartime or other emergency states. This declaration greatly increased the power of the South Korean military. Historically, martial law has been known to cause the suspension of civil rights to promote greater order. In the US, martial law has only been declared after significant natural disasters, wartime, and domestic insurrections.
Immediately after the declaration, protests erupted, as South Korean citizens called for the resignation of President Yoon. Members of the South Korean Parliament rushed to the National Assembly to overrule martial law — which requires a simple majority vote — with some lawmakers scaling the walls of
Parliament to help them reach a quorum for the emergency vote.
The emergency vote to exit martial law passed 190-0, with 18 members of Yoon’s own political party voting to overturn his ruling. They later moved to impeach Yoon after this “unconstitutional,” “illegal,” and “dictatorial” action.
President Yoon’s swift impeachment follows an intense decline in his reputation due to deep political struggles and various personal affairs throughout his presidency. Yoon has struggled to get any of his policies written into legislation, as the opposition has the majority lead in Parliament. His desolate situation was worsened by connections to political corruption, stock price manipulation, and cheating rumors surrounding his wife, though he cleared his wife with his own justice department. Yoon’s martial law declaration was the last straw for many Koreans, as protests erupted all around Seoul, and his own party, the Conservative People Power Party, discussed his expulsion.
GIRL UP MEETS WINTER WONDERLAND WONDERLAND
By Aarna Kamath and Pooja Kanthala
A&E Editor and News Editor
to
BIFU Girl Up Club, a club dedicat -
the
recently hosted their Winter Photobooth event during middle school and high school lunch. This event was
held to raise money for Girl Power USA. Specifically, Diya Rahul (12) and Sahiti Bulusu (12), the two co-presidents of the club, are fundraising for pads for schoolgirls in Northern Uganda, where
IT’S THE HOLIDAY SEASON AROUND THE WORLD
By Aaron Ely Staff Writer
The Monday after Thanksgiving, everyone gets into their cars to go to work or school. They crank up the radio, only to hear Christmas music dominating the tunes. It’s that time of the year again.
Starting just after Thanksgiving, Christmas season lasts nearly the entirety of December and leads to one of the most widely celebrated holidays. Many get into the holiday spirit, with people going out to buy gifts and trees popping up inside houses. More specifically though, this is not holiday spirit—it is Christmas spirit. However, the holiday season is not
Despite surviving the initial impeachment vote, President Yoon was later successfully impeached and banned from travel in a second vote.
The future remains to be seen, but the
defined by Christmas alone. In many other cultures, people are putting up their menorahs, making Rosca De Reyes, lighting up kinaras, or baking Yule logs. Holidays from other cultures are all part of the holiday season.
Día de los Reyes Magos, or Three Kings’ Day, is celebrated on January 6th in Spanish-speaking cultures. Los Reyes Magos (the Three Kings) come on the night of January 5th, bearing gifts for baby Jesus. Families get together to share a meal on January 6th, famously including Rosca de Reyes, or Wreath of the Kings.
political situation in South Korea is incredibly unstable. The president continues to face pressure from members of his own party to resign, and new cases are constantly being opened.
there is a lack of feminine hygiene products, in order to keep girls in school.
The event took place in the music room, where students paid $1 per person to use the provided backdrop and digital camera and $2 per polaroid photo taken with the backdrop.
The backdrop itself was chosen and created to match the event’s theme of White Christmas and winter weather. The stunning backdrop was white with Christmas trees and string lights, and the highlight of the backdrop was the small gold nutcracker statue. The backdrop truly made the event memorable for all BIFU students.
“I think senior year we’ve been really into documenting everything, and digicams have become really popular lately,” said Rahul and Bulusu, when asked about what inspired this idea. “We just thought ‘What’s one way we can use a popular item and raise money from that?’”
However, the event was not without complications. Problems with supply delivery interfered with the original event
Our very own Spanish teacher, Mr. Sanders, who celebrates Dia de los Reyes Magos, provided us with the inside scoop of some traditions regarding Rosca de Reyes.
“Traditionally, you would make Rosca de Reyes, which is like an oval-shaped sweet bread with some dried fruits on top,” said Mr. Sanders, “and inside, you would hide a small figurine of Jesus, and when getting slices of the bread, whoever got the figurine would have to throw a party on February 2nd, which is called Día de la Candelaria.”
Other traditions on Dia de los Reyes Magos include gift-giving and leaving straw and hay out for camels to eat. Some kids will even leave their shoes out so that the Three Kings can fill them with candy.
Next, Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday lasting from December 25th to January 2nd. Hanukkah celebrates the recovery of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Second Temple. The main tradition of Hanukkah is to light the eight candles of a chanukiah, also known as a menorah, and to use the middle candle, the shamash (meaning “helper” in Hebrew),
date, and creating a budget-friendly yet visually aesthetic photo booth proved to be a challenge.
“It was a little complicated, and we had to keep pushing the date of the event back,” said Rahul. “We first had to change the date because of a delay in supplies, and then we had to change it again because the middle schoolers were not at school. We needed to find out how to create the winter setup with something affordable and get the polaroids at a decent price as well.”
Despite these complications, the event was a major success with students in both middle school and high school. All throughout the two lunch periods, BIFU students were seen walking around with polaroids in their hands and smiles on their faces.
“I think the event was really cool, and I liked that it was for a good cause,” said an anonymous junior appreciatively. “I also really like the way digicam and polaroid pictures look. I hope Girl UP and other clubs do more events like this in the future.”
to light the eight candles, one every night.
Ms. Sagal, our middle school Latin teacher, gave insight into other Hanukkah traditions.
“Another big thing is oil, or anything fried in oil, because the whole idea was that in the temple, they light the candles with oil that they thought would last one day but it lasted eight,” said Ms. Sagal, “and some foods made to honor this miracle are Latkes, which are fried potato pancakes, and Sufganiyot, which are jelly-filled donuts.”
Other traditions include playing dreidel and betting chocolate gelt on the 4 Hebrew characters on each side of the dreidel.
The holiday season also includes Kwanzaa, an African-American festival celebrated from December 26th to January 1st, and Yule, a Germanic holiday that begins on December 21st and lasts until January 1st.
These diverse celebrations remind us that the holiday season is a time of shared joy and unity, where cultures around the world light up uniquely beyond the traditions of Christmas.
The
ed
inspiring females in
next generation,
south korean soldiers attempt to enter the national assembly
Photos by Chung Sung-Jun
photo by bifu girl up club
Photo by Getty Images
Photo by Familia Kitchen
lighted menorah
rosca de reyes (three kings bread)
LIFE AFTER GRADUATION: C/O
By Olivia Ma and Sachit Parekh Editor-In-Chief and News & Sports Editor
As BASIS Independent Fremont Upper finishes the first half of the school year, BIFU’s Class of 2024 has just completed their first semester or quarter of college. To get a glimpse of their lives in college, we interviewed four 2024 graduates about their experiences.
The most valuable resource universities have to offer are, of course, what they were built for — academics and connections. Yifei Long, a freshman at Emory University, said he is enrolled in a discovery seminar, which is a class with an experienced professor in his field of choice, who then be comes his advisor for the rest of his time at college. For Long, this means both professional and academic guidance in the real world and the focused field of neuroscience, making this the biggest step he’s taken to wards his budding career.
However, the independence and freedom that
2024
students have also found solace in being able to explore campus activities.
Christopher Chen, a former editor-in-chief at The Yellow Pages and a freshman at MIT, has not only been able to expand his engineering skills in his school’s motorsports’ team, but also further his singing skills in an acapella group and tours along the east coast, something he wanted to do in high school but did not have time for.
university offers can be a double-edged sword. While the flexibility gives students more time to pursue their niche interests, it also means they must push themselves to use that extra time.
Esha Bansiya, a data science major and public policy minor at UC Berkeley, said academic opportunities and freedom exist for students to chase after and experiment with, instead of being pushed to fulfill for credits or school requirements.
“You just have so much freedom and what you decide to do with that freedom is daunting, but I think [high school] has prepared me well to be self-motivating and pursue things I’m interested in, [like internships],” said Bansiya. “No one’s going to tell you to do that.”
Beyond just academics however,
Others, like Ada Costiniano, a prospective
physics major at Carleton College, have embraced school spirit. She found community in her school’s frisbee tradition, where freshmen each throw a frisbee with their room number into a field, pick one up, and return it to its original owner, bringing students together. Intense course loads and a
hectic first-year experience have certainly changed the class of 2024’s lifestyles and connections with old friends. Costiniano finds her college experience to have matured her BIFU friendships.
“We’ve been changing but grow ing in the same ways together,” said Costiniano, “and I think that’s really valuable, especially since nobody from [BIFU] is going to Carleton.”
As for making new friends, Chen sees going to a large university as a two-sided equation — it’s easier to find like-minded peers, but it is harder to find the same closeknit community he said he had at BIFU.
“Having a lot of people around you means there’s a lot of diversity, and there’s a lot of people with a lot of different skills and a lot of different backgrounds that you can talk to,” said Chen. “You’ll never know all of them, [but] I would still prefer a big school, just because the chances that you meet someone that shares a lot of common interests with you is much higher than if you’re at a small school.”
Choosing which college to attend is an inevitable
dilemma that every BASIS student will encounter. Long applied Early Decision to Emory, a binding commitment that means students must attend a school if they get accepted.
“Don’t worry about getting into the highest ranked college, just try to get into the college that’s right for you,” said Long. “Your parents bragging about what
“If you have a passion for something,” she said, “you will go out of your way to find it.”
Rather than fitting into a specific mold to be a competitive applicant for a specific major, Bansiya encourages students to follow their true passions — ultimately making their ap plications more genuine.
Starting from as early as sophomore year, it’s common for students to forget about their well-being for the sake of college admissions.
school you got into is not as important as your future, [which is] something that a lot of people here at [BIFU] struggle with, to be honest.”
The college admissions process places a significant focus on extracur ricular activities, and many students seem to have the perception that extracurriculars must be related to their intended major. Bansiya was admitted to Berkeley’s data science program despite only having a couple extracurriculars dedicated to the field.
HUMANS OF BIFU: NINA’S PATH OF PURPOSE
By Julee Jiang Editor-In-Chief
The loudspeakers crackle. It’s Thursday morning, and a voice pours out, narrating recent school events in a cheerful manner. Presenting… Nina Khanna (10). If you haven’t heard her voice narrating the morning announcements, you’ve likely witnessed her active participation in numerous school roles, ranging from Public Relations Head of Student Panel, to Psychology Club Co-Chairman, to Dance Team Communications Chair.
Khanna’s journey on Student Panel began in middle school. In eighth grade, her role consisted more of planning school activities. In ninth grade, she transitioned to the morning announcements sector of the Panel, writing and delivering the announcements every other Thursday — a commitment she has carried on up to the present.
Beyond announcements, Khanna’s
role as Public Relations Head also means she is a representative for her peers. By encouraging open communication between students and staff, she fosters a flourishing and supportive community.
“I’ve been part of the Student Panel for three years now,” said Khanna. “I had a lot of opportunities to represent my school, and also give back to the school and really enrich the community.”
Outside of non-academic ventures, Khanna is passionate about psychology. This passion stems from a deeply personal place — when she struggled with anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder marked by an intense fear of gaining weight and severe food restriction.
“I’ve always loved biology,” said Khanna. “When I was battling anorexia
nervosa, the only thing I wanted, besides to recover from it, was to understand how it happened and what was going on.”
After learning that her condition was psychiatric, Khanna dove into the field of psychology, where she then discovered the branch of neuropsychology — a speciality that focuses on the relationship between the brain and someone’s behavior.
“Neuropsychology explores the biology of it all, which perfectly integrated what I was good at and what I liked and what I wanted,” said Khanna.
She took this interest further by enrolling in a clinical psychology class at UC Berkeley over the summer. Her work culminated in a research paper that explored the neurological puzzle behind anorexia nervosa, where she investigated the intricate ways the brain and body interact during chronic starvation. She also became Co-Chairman of the Psychology Club, working to spread her passion for the field to other students.
Beyond psychology, her school involvement is fueled by her passion for creating a close and loving community with those around her.
“Nina was the first person who reached out to me on the first day of school,” said Sharanya Chouhan (10), one of Khanna’s close friends. “She was so sweet, and if it wasn’t for her, I probably wouldn’t feel as welcome at the school.”
The same warmth and energy fill the room when Khanna takes the stage. Her love for performing arts, especially singing and dancing, comes from her childhood.
“My grandmother liked to sing, so we used to sing together, and that really bonded us,” said Khanna. “And then, as I did it more at home, I realized that I was good at it. It was a tal -
“Don’t take a class you don’t think you can do well in or you don’t have time for socially,” said Bansiya. At the same time, she, Costiniano, and Chen believe that a BIFU education has aided them with respect to college classes through high-level academics, a wide range of rigorous classes and subjects, and a heavy workload. With the college application process and their high school lives behind them, BIFU alumni view college as a way to explore new opportunities and become a new person. Through touring east coast schools with his acapella group, making new friends, and ending up in a scavenger hunt in NYC, Chen said he believes it’s important to cherish old memories and relationships, but also stay open to the freedom university brings, both academically and socially.
“It’s like you look through your photos app, and you just see all the trips you went on, good moments that you had, reflecting on those occasionally is very nostalgic,” said Chen.
“And it’s like, damn, that happened. And I can savor those moments, but it’s also time to discover new ones.”
ent, so then I really harnessed it.” All of these experiences, from her personal journey with anorexia nervosa, to school involvement, have shaped Khanna into the person she is today — someone who devotes herself to serving and helping others.
“If there’s anything I’m really passionate about, it’s about taking care of people and bringing them together,” said Khanna. “I want to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Photos by Olivia Ma and Nina Khanna
yifei long
esha bansiya
christopher chen
ada costiniano
Photos by Esha Bansiya, Ada Costiniano, Jackie and Jennie Wang, and Yifei Long
THE ROLE OF AI IN VISUAL ART
By Emma Ma A&E and Sports Editor
Ever since artificial intelligence (AI) has become more advanced, it has made significant, long-lasting impacts on numerous industries, particularly the world of visual art. With its ability to produce digital pieces in any medium, whether it be hyper-realism or abstract, AI technology is con stantly expanding the boundaries of visual art. However, the rise of AI comes with both benefits and draw backs. It aids artists by streamlining elements of their creative process, but it also enables art theft and a loss of authenticity.
AI’s ability to immediately generate ideas from a single command is highly valuable as it quickens the creative process by offering a range of concepts that artists may then choose from to refine further. This allows artists to explore concepts that they may not have considered otherwise. AI not only saves time, but also enables art -
ists to sift through new and innovative ideas that can further their own ability. Furthermore, with the presence of AI, non-artists can take their first step into the world of creating art. AI significantly simplifies the art-making process, meaning that you don’t need
extensive skills to create art with it.
“As an artist, I’m pretty opposed to AI,” says BIFU’s art teacher, Ms. Quihuiz. “As a teacher, I think that it’s a responsibility to understand it and use it responsibly.”
Quihuiz’s perspective focuses on the balance between accessibility and ethical usage. She highlights the need to regulate the extent to which AI should be utilized. It’s easy to see why AI is useful in art education; it provides a starting place for beginners and offers them the tools to eventually learn how to make art independently.
Countless controversies discussing whether AI “steals” art to train its databases have emerged. Many argue that AI systems generate art by analyzing vast collections of images that may contain copyrighted work.
“AI isn’t that good because it steals other artist’s styles and it’s not like it's actually a unique thing creating its own artwork,” recalls Hailey Schmerge (9th).
“It’s like taking inspiration from people and not giving them credit.”
While AI is able to take elements from various sources and combine them, it never creates something truly independent of existing artwork. Unlike human artists who are expected to verbally reference their inspirations or transform them in a way that’s unique, AI lacks the ability to credit the creators of the works it uses. This point raises questions about ethics. Why are the original artists not credited or repaid despite powering AI’s abilities?
Fortunately, artists are now taking steps to create a clear divide between their art and AI art. When asked whether AI would cause artists to approach the art-making process in a different way, Rachel Wu (9th) agreed.
“People are already putting AI distortion on their art.,” she said. Whether celebrated as a ground-breaking innovation or critiqued as a thief of authenticity, no one can deny how AI has expanded the boundaries of art.
WICKED DEFIES GRAVITY TO REACH AUDIENCES FAR AND WIDE
By Thanisha Thambidurai News Editor
“Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” - Glinda the Good Witch, Wicked. Universal Pictures and director Jon M. Chu present Wicked, a visually stunning and thought-provoking film based on the Broadway play and novel of the same name. Wicked boasts a dazzling cast of Tony and Grammy winner Cynthia Ervivo, Grammy winner Ariana Grande, Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh, four-time Emmy winner Peter Dinklage, Jonathan Bailey, and Jeff Goldblum. Wicked has an IMDB score of 8.1/10 and sits at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, a testament to its cinematic prowess and appeal amongst audiences. Wicked presents a backstory to Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Ervivo), the Wicked Witch of the West and the main antagonist in the acclaimed children’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The movie opens with the song “No One Mourns the Wicked”, as citizens of Munchkin land celebrate Elphaba’s death at the end of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, before cutting to the past to show Elphaba’s descent into villainy. Discriminat -
ed against for her naturally green skin, Elphaba faces much taunting and disgust from a young age. In addition, Elphaba possesses uncontrollable magical skills. Unloved by her father, she is sent to drop off her younger sister Nessarose at Shiz University. There, Elphaba meets Glinda (Ariana Grande), who hopes to become the star pupil at Shiz University. Initially hated throughout the university and by her roommate Glinda, Elphaba grows to be appreciated by her peers while also juggling intense magic les - sons with Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), tension with Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), knowledge of the decline of talking animals from Doctor Dillamond (voiced by Peter Dinklage), and a visit to Oz (Jeff Goldblum).
One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Elphaba joins the stu dent gathering at the Ozdust Ballroom, which is essentially an underground club Shiz students sneak out to visit. After being sarcastically invited by Glinda and given a black hat to wear, Elphaba joins the students and is instantly ostracized. Regardless, she performs a unique dance, to which Fiyero says, “She really doesn’t give a twig what anyone thinks.” In response, Glinda states, “Of course she
DECEMBER COMIC DECEMBER COMIC
By Brandon Yu Staff Writer
DECEMBER STRANDS
By Olivia Ma Editor-In-Chief
Strands is a word puzzle where you find words related to a specific theme in a grid of letters. Connect letters in any direction to form words, and look for the special spangram, which touches two opposite sides of the grid and helps you find more hints. Find all the theme words to complete the puzzle!
Scan to play:
does. She just pretends not to.” This moment beautifully encapsulates one of the most realistic features of human nature: people will act strong in front of others to show that they can’t be hurt anymore. In her guilt, Glinda chooses to dance with Elphaba, a beautiful gesture that launches their ill-fated friendship. Raw and emotional, the Ozdust Ballroom scene powerfully shows how much a little acceptance can change someone’s life, and how hard it can be to step up and help someone widely hated. As someone who has never seen the Broadway adaptation, I had no high expectations before watching the film and knew close to nothing about any of the cast members besides Ariana Grande. I’d only heard about the play and vaguely knew of its plot, so I had little clue what to expect. While watching the movie, I was drawn to its music, visuals, and in -
tricate character development, finding it a beautiful watch and a definite rewatch. Its connections to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz through subtle easter eggs and direct references only made it more interesting. Overall, Wicked was definitely worth the theatre experience and is a wonderful film for people of all ages. Wicked: Part Two will be released on November 21, 2025, to continue Elphaba’s story and will be based on the second act of the Broadway play. Discussions about who will play Dorothy have ensued, already stirring hype for the unreleased film. A spellbinding take on the concept of “make me your villain”, Wicked presents a touching story of friendship, discrimination, and the lengths one would go to achieve their dreams. If you haven’t already, be sure to catch Wicked in theatres while you still can.
DECEMBER CROSSWORD
By Olivia Ma Editor-In-Chief
Theme:
Across
2. Where Elphaba and Glinda share a dance during an emotional scene in Wicked
3. How Yifei Long, a freshman at Emory University, got paired to work with a neuroscience professor for his time at college
6. How many Primetime Emmys has Arcane won?
7. Which sister school did the basketball team play in late Novemeber?
Down
1. What has seemingly taken popularity next to AP Courses in recent years?
4. A jelly donut that is eaten during Hannukah to honor the miracle of the candles that were lit for 8 days, despite there only being enough oil for one.
5. Student Affairs’ newest project on campus
ARCANE AWES WITH ITS FINAL SEASON
ARCANE AWES WITH FINAL SEASON
By Katherine He Editor-in-Chief
As the Fortiche Production workers paint their final strokes on the Arcane Season Two project, they let out a collective sigh of relief, knowing that they have just completed the most expensive animated series of all time. Arcane, an animated show created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee of Riot Games, in partnership with French animation studio Fortiche Production, is based on Riot Games’ League of Legends, a globally popular online game known for its diverse cast of playable characters and creative perspective on multiplayer games. Many characters and realms in Arcane were taken from League of Legends, although the majority of character designs and pre-existing details
were loosely interpreted. In fact, many Arcane fans are unfamiliar with League of Legends, and are able to watch it comfortably without any prior knowledge.
To start, Arcane tells the thrilling tale of two sisters Vi and Jinx, and their development as the cities they reside in, Piltover and Zaun, work out their political differences.
“I first heard about Arcane on Twitter(X); everyone was talking about it,” said Shreyas Jay (11). “I fell in love with it immediately; I really loved the story.”
Arcane is no stranger to awards and has even received nine Annie awards and five Primetime Emmys, three of
MOANA 2 MAKES BIG WAVES MOANA MAKES
By Ailsa Wu Feature Editor
“Moana 2,” the highly anticipated sequel to the 2016 Disney animated film “Moana,” tells a heartwarming animated story about community and self-discovery, while highlighting the vibrancy of Pacific Islander culture. The film was released in theatres on November
which were for its writing and overall merit.
Like any other animated series, Arcane has undergone the challenges and limitations of portraying a story and all of its characters only using 2D drawings and animations. However, Fortiche Production has taught everyone that there is no limit to animation — it can be optimized in what we have now. Animated with Autodesk Maya, Arcane’s ability to depict extremely realistic emotions and expressions to the micro-level is truly something to behold.
“I really like Arcane’s artstyle; I’m really drawn to it, ” said Jay. “I think I’m really drawn to it because I can see the passion [for the art] in it.”
Unfortunately, most people have no idea who the ones responsible for the flawless animation in Arcane are.
When two fans, Iris Cheng (9) and Jay, were asked if they knew anything about the studio that handled the ani -
mation, they respectively replied, “No, I really don’t know,” and “Absolutely nothing.”
Fortiche Production is a relatively small company that has only mainly made commercials until Arcane, so it’s understandable that most still don’t know who they are. With Arcane, it has established itself as one of the entrepreneurs in the world of animation through its use of a unique mix of 2D and 3D animation. People especially enjoyed Arcane because of its creative animation style compared to other animated shows.
“[My favorite part is] just the animation style because it’s so unique to Arcane, kind of like in [Across the] Spider Verse where it creates its own genre and thrives in it,” said Jay.
Without Fortiche Production and its careful attention to detail in animation, Arcane would never have reached the popularity it achieved over the past month.
she ventures beyond her home island in search of other signs of human life. Learning of an ancient story of a malicious god who sunk a legendary island which once connected all of the islands on the seas, Moana is determined to find the island and reunite the people of the ocean. Along with familiar faces such as the demigod Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, and Moana’s pets Pua and Heihei, a dynamic new cast of unique characters joins Moana on her adventure. With help from her new crewmates and guidance from her ancestors, Moana shows once again that there’s no limit to how far she can go.
The visuals of the sequel were just as beautiful as the first movie. From the lush greenery of Moana’s island, to the shimmering blue waters of the ocean, to the mythical realms inhabited by various fantastical creatures, each and every scene was breathtakingly animated and filled with color.
Several new and fun musical numbers were introduced in the movie. Moana’s solemn but determined signature song “Beyond,” sung by Auli’i Cravalho, was reminiscent of Cravalho’s “How Far I’ll Go” from the first movie, and once again showcases Cravalho’s incredible vocal ability. The motivational “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?,” sung by Dwayne Johnson, has the same catchy and upbeat energy as Johnson’s iconic “You’re Welcome” from the first movie. Another notable song from the movie was “Get Lost,” sung by Awhimai Fraser playing the enigmatic bat-woman, Matangi. Both the message of the song and Fraser’s powerful vocals made it a standout in the movie.
“Moana 2” explores many impactful themes that can inspire young audience members. Throughout the story, Moana and her friends face many difficulties as they attempt to accomplish their daunting task. However, they also learn many valuable lessons, such as the importance of braving unfamiliarity, never giving up even in the face of danger and adversity, and learning to work together to harness their unique contributions.
Beyond self-sacrifice, Moana also goes on a journey of self-discovery. Though she initially doubts herself and her ability as a leader, with support and motivation from herself and those around her, she learns not only how to be a good leader, but also a good older sister.
Her character progression teaches viewers that the first step to success is to believe in yourself. The movie’s overarching message emphasizes how community and interconnectedness is essential for a society to thrive.
“Moana 2” has especially been praised online for its powerful and authentic representation of the Pacific Islander culture that it is inspired by, which often finds itself underrepresented in Western mainstream media.
“As a Samoan man, watching Moana 2 was more than just entertainment— it felt like coming home,” said Google reviewer S M. “This wasn’t just another animated movie; it was a story rooted in the pride and strength of Polynesian heritage.”
Another Google reviewer, Meagan Rose, claimed that the movie made her feel a deep sense of pride as someone who is Polynesian, writing, “Disney’s effort to honor Polynesian culture through accurate and respectful representation stood out.”
27, 2024, and on its opening weekend broke several records, including the highest-grossing global opening for an animated movie of all time.
“Moana 2” continues the story of the beloved wayfinder heroine, Moana of Motunui, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, as
The theme of self sacrifice and selflessness is also explored through Moana’s decision to leave behind her home again and embark on a dangerous quest for the greater good of her people and all of the people of the ocean.
The film’s dedication to cultural representation can be seen in its production crew and cast. Two out of three of the film’s directors are of Samoan descent and several of the main cast members are of Polynesian descent, including Native Hawaiians Cravalho and Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, who voices Moana’s little sister Simea. According to the Walt Disney Company, Disney partnered with the Oceanic Cultural Trust on both Moana movies to ensure proper representation. The movie incorporated inspiration from many aspects of Pacific Islander mythology and legends, traditional cultural ceremonies and rituals, and small details like clothing, accessories, and tattoos. Overall, “Moana 2” was an amazing release. With its impactful story, beautiful visuals, and perfect blend of humor and profundity, “Moana 2” is perfect to watch with your family. The post-credits scene hints at a possible third movie, so it seems Moana’s story is not over yet.
ekko at the dance party scene in 207
powder at the dance party scene in 207
Photos by Katherine He
photo by disney
THE DECLINE OF BLACK FRIDAY
By Sarah Wu Opinion Editor
The spectacle of Black Friday shopping is a memory of the past. People no longer crowd in long lines, waiting to enter stores at the crack of dawn. Instead, shoppers opt to leisurely click buttons within the comfort of their own homes. During the November 2024 Black Friday weekend, a Mastercard survey estimated that in-store sales rose by just 0.7 percent from last year, while e-commerce sales increased by 14.6 percent.
It’s no surprise that consumers have been rethinking their spending habits. The downfall in in-store shopping has long been predicted. What once made Black Friday an enticing and competitive event for shoppers were the doorbuster deals that drew huge swaths of customers, acting as a key driver for early morning crowds.
But the past Black Friday frenzies, although lively, caused more harm than good. Stores were unable to handle the overwhelming crowds, and strained staff and inventory shortages became a widespread phenomenon.
Times have changed now. Technology and online shopping have created an alternative that is more convenient
and accessible. Consumers have grown more comfortable with online shopping over the years. The fact is that they can receive the same deals online and in person, with a greater selection to choose from online. Shoppers spent a total of 10.8 billion dollars online this year. Now, Black Friday is a tradition that is being kept alive by online shopping rather than the traditional system of retail.
American shopping has changed, but our consumerist culture has not. Black Friday is a demonstration of the consumerism that leads people to go on shopping at this time, fueled by the “created wants,” described by Professor Noam Chomsky, a man known as the “founder of modern linguistics,” to turn the population into consumers of goods they do not need.
Technology has made it easier for people to follow the microtrends, creating a fast-paced environment of consumption. But at the same time, Black Friday sales are beginning to drag on for extended periods of time. Retailers, such as Amazon, now offer deals over the entire month of November.
The phenomenon of Black Friday
THE DISAPPEARING AP COURSES THE DISAPPEARING AP COURSES
By Nick Yin Staff Writer
APs have been slowly losing their dominance since their creation in 1952. Although they are still very much required for college admission, recent changes have sparked discussions about their academic rigor. This year, the College Board, the organization responsible for creating APs, implemented new changes regarding the scoring of some AP exams, including US History and US Government. These changes have made it easier for most students to pass the exam, with a 72.2% pass rate on the US History exam compared to 48% last year.
College Board claims that these changes were implemented to ensure fairness and precision in awarding credit. However, some people believe that these changes make it harder for colleges to distinguish exceptional work from average work due to the diminishing value of AP scores. Critics argue that the true reason behind the change is financial benefit and that these changes mask the deeper problem embedded in the system, the unequal access to quality AP instruction. If the exams appear more accessible, more people who lack such instruction will be encouraged to take them, leading to
financial gain for College Board. I agree that these changes are simply for financial gain, but I’m not against them. Although it undermines the value of a five in the AP exams, the easier the better.
Another thing that shows the diminishing of AP dominance is the fact that specialized AP courses are slowly disappearing across the nation. Although they still teach the same things, many schools now call them honor courses, which is a more advanced version of the default course. As I look toward prospective high schools, I notice a trend showing that AP courses are slowly but surely disappearing, as evidenced by eight Washington-area private schools getting rid of them.
There are numerous reasons as to why this change is happening.
One of those reasons is concern about equity. Some schools believe that AP courses benefit those with stronger academic backgrounds, leaving underserved populations behind. That is why they are shifting to courses that are accessible to a broader range of students, allowing everyone to learn. These include dual-enrollment programs or honor programs, as mentioned above.
is bound to lose its status in America, as this extended period will render it obsolete by removing the thrill of obtaining the once limited-time deals. The crowds at stores were once what defined Black Friday as a cultural phenomenon; without the enthusiasm, its essence is lost.
This may be for the best. Overconsumption caused by spontaneous purchases on Black Friday negatively impacts the environment and puts a strain
on consumers. Over an extended period of time, shoppers are given the opportunity to think more thoroughly about their purchases, and retailers face less pressure to offer exorbitant discounts. On the other hand, the loss of Black Friday may worsen the American economy, but online retail has made up for those losses. The decline in Black Friday and the switch from in-person to online shopping could mark a positive shift away from overconsumption.
Another reason is the actual teaching style of AP courses. Many people believe that these courses are too centered around test preparation rather than actual learning. This is true because, after all, the AP exams are still tests. A course teaching about APs would be considered a test preparation instead of a traditional lesson. This is why some schools are turning to options that better align with college expectations.
Another reason is a shift in teaching philosophy.
In the 21st century, skills that were considered vital 100 years ago are now deemed unnecessary. However, schools these days that still focus on standardized tests are still preparing their students for the world 100 years ago. A lot has happened in these 100 years. The internet was created, artificial intelligence took the world by storm, and space exploration became common, yet classrooms remain the same. They still
teach the same values as they did 100 years ago.
As more and more people realize this problem, schools are turning to project-based learning, having little to no standardized tests, and focusing on projects that develop valuable skills like critical thinking, teamwork, and creativity. This complete shift in philosophy is turning many schools away from AP courses. I would still like to have the option to take an AP course. Although this new world that we live in requires so much more than just a good AP grade, we still can’t deny the fact that they are a key component of our college applications. Even though the importance of AP exams is waning, they won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. In the meantime, we still have to prepare for all of these complicated AP exams, but maybe, just maybe, our children won’t have to go through the same pain that we had to.
photo by sarah wu
photo by canva
photo by canva
By Selena Peng Feature Editor
Before going off to Thanksgiving break, the BIFU High School Basketball Team competed against the Junior Varsity BISV Team with a narrow victory of 34-31. This game was filled with anticipation and energy since it marks the start of many games this season.
The day began with pre-game preparation, with the players dressed in formal attire and taking group photos during lunch. The team left in the middle of the day and carpooled to BISV with excitement, playing music on the way. However, from the beginning, challenges for the game became apparent.
Alex Liu(11) said: “We didn’t have enough rest during the day, so by the game, we were all kind of tired.”
This had an impact, as the game
proved to be tough right from the start. Nevertheless, with a strong offense and defense, BIFU was able to prevail against BISV, who focused mainly on their defense. Another factor impacting our team’s performance was that the team players hadn’t played many games together prior to this.
Liu stated: “I feel like for a lot of us, it was our first game, and it was also our first game together. So in the first half, it was pretty rough. But the third quarter was our best in terms of statistics. And then overall just the second-half was much better. We were playing more comfortably.”
The game presented multiple challenges, however, as it progressed, the players were able to get more accustomed to the game, ultimately leading to BIFU’s win.
“It felt great, it’s great. First game of the season, 1 by 3, so we’re happy about that. Everybody balled out today,” said Mihit Puvvula, a team captain of the BIFU Basketball Team, in a post-game interview.
2024 WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
By Vincent Yang Opinion Editor
November 25th, 2024 marked the start of the 2024 World Chess Championship: a 3-week, 14-game match between the reigning champion Ding Liren from China, and the challenger Gukesh Dommaraju from India.
One might be thinking, “What happened to Magnus Carlsen? I thought he was the champion.” In July of 2022, the five-time title defender, citing a lack of interest, abdicated the throne, leaving the title of champion up for grabs. The 2023 World Chess Championship was played between the 2023 Candidates tournament winner and runner-up, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren, rather than the reigning champion and the Candidates winner. Nepomniachtchi and Ding traded blows in the classical portion. Eventually, the stretch of 14 classical games ended in a tied score, and the match moved to rapid tiebreaks, where Ding famously declined a draw by repetition in a nail biting final game, beating Nepomniachtchi with the black pieces.
Ding was crwned the World Chess Champion, but the next year was rough for him. Consistent underperformance resulted in him dropping out of the Top 20 FIDE rated players. On the other hand, 2024 was a meteoric year for Gukesh, the 18-year old challenger. Not only did he win the 2024 Candidates to earn the right to challenge Ding for the world champion title, beating out players like Fabiano Caruana, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Hikaru Nakamura, he had several other strong tournaments, including a dominant performance in the 2024 FIDE Chess Olympiad. Therefore, the expectation before the match was that Gukesh would steamroll Ding.
“I thought that Gukesh had a really easy win,” said Rishi Gupta (11). “He was being praised consistently by others and people were criticizing Ding’s mental state.”
However, after the first game, it was abundantly clear that this wasn’t the case. To everybody’s shock, Ding won the first game, with the black pieces no less, outplaying Gukesh in a complex middlegame.
“I was really surprised that Ding won the first game,” said Angela Cao (10). “I thought…that he would have a chance to win if Gukesh wasn’t mentally strong enough to bounce back.”
But Gukesh was able to stabilize, striking back in the third game and equalizing the scoreline. The next seven games ended in draws, but some trends emerged. It seemed that in every game, Ding was trying to steer
towards equalization, while Gukesh was willing to press more. Some speculated that Ding’s strategy was to stall the match to rapid tiebreaks, where he would have an advantage in faster time controls that Gukesh was not as strong in. Ding was also consistently spending a lot of time out of the gate, indicating that his opening preparation was not as in-depth.
“Ding didn’t take his chances and kept underestimating his positions,” said Kevin Yan (12). “Gukesh was also not playing great, but he was being ambitious in positions that should have been drawn.”
In Game 11, blood was finally drawn. Ding’s poor time usage finally bit him; he made a critical blunder on move 28 in a game where he used over an hour on the clock by move 5. It seemed like Ding had mentally collapsed, and many predicted that he wouldn’t recover.
Ding was in a similar position in the 2023 World Championship, trailing by a point after the 11th game. There, he was able to land a crucial win in the 12th game against Nepomniachtchi, allowing him to make tiebreaks.
Pushing through everybody’s doubts after the disaster in Game 11, Ding was able to replicate his achievement from a year prior, retaliating with a crushing Game 12 against Gukesh after suffocating him positionally.
“Ding completely wiped Gukesh off the board,” said Yan. “I was sure this match was going into tiebreaks where Ding would be the favorite in faster time controls.”
But tiebreaks never came, as the match ended in the final Game 14. Ding had made a series of nonoptimal decisions, and eventually blundered in a pawn down endgame—the nail in the coffin. Gukesh quickly capitalized and won the game and with it, the title. A new champion had been crowned—the youngest champion, beating out the previous record holder Garry Kasparov.
USA FENCING DOMINATES AT FIE AWARDS CEREMONY
By Brandon Yu Staff Writer
Fencing is a sport that combines precision, agility, and strategy: thus its moniker as a “physical game of chess.” It involves three disciplines—foil, épée, and sabre—each with its own set of rules and techniques. Governed internationally by the Fédération Internationale d’Escrime (FIE), the sport has a long-standing tradition and continues to be celebrated on the global stage. The FIE, founded in 1913, is the central organization responsible for overseeing international fencing competitions, including the World Championships, Grand Prix events, and Olympic fencing.
This past 2023-2024 season, Team USA was recognized by the 2024 FIE Awards Ceremony held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan for earning an astonishing 10 out of 28 awards. Having won two more awards than last year’s event, Team USA rose above all other nations in triumph. The FIE Awards Ceremony, held annually, celebrates exceptional achievements in fencing, honoring the top-performing junior, senior, and veteran fencers, as well as teams from around the world.
“When I moved to the US from Israel my parents wanted me to do a sport so I can acclimate easily to my new life in the states,” recalls the cur -
STAFF MEMBERS:
rent top-ranked women’s junior epee fencer Leehi Machulsky. “Naturally, they put me in fencing since my mom’s brother just opened the club.”
When asked what advice Machulsky would give to young athletes who aim to balance their time between academic rigor and competitive sports, she replied,
“Manage your time as best as possible.. I would say that it is really important to have fun and not be too harsh on yourself and not make your life all about school or your sport or else you will get burnt out.”
“I was super honored to be recognized. It was very satisfying to see all my hard work pay off and [it] made me more motivated to keep going and try to achieve even bigger things.”
Editors-in-Chief: Katherine He, Julee Jiang and Olivia Ma
Section Editors: Angela Cao, Aarna Kamath, Pooja Kanthala, Vera Lin, Emma Ma, Sheil Mody, Sachit Parekh, Selena Peng, Josh Peter, Thanisha Thambidurai, Ailsa Wu, Sarah Wu, Vincent Yang, and Tycho Young
Staff Writers: Shubh Bachkethi, Angela Cao, Aaron Ely, Hemangi Ghimire, Aarna Kamath, Pooja Kanthala, Vera Lin, Natalie Luo, Chen Ma, Emma Ma, Sheil Mody, Sachit Parekh, Selena Peng, Josh Peter, Thanisha Thambidurai, Ailsa Wu, Sarah Wu, Vincent Yang, Nick Yin, Tycho Young, and Brandon Yu
Graphic Design: Katherine He, Julee Jiang, Olivia Ma,and Ailsa Wu
Thank you for reading the fourth issue of the fourth volume of The Yellow Pages! We hope you enjoyed reading the issue as much as we enjoyed the process of creating it! If you have any comments, suggestions, questions, or notice any mistakes in our newspaper, please contact bifyellowpages@gmail.com . We will include corrections for any errors and typos in the following issue.
towards the end of the basketball game
Photos by Katherine He & Olivia Ma
the bifu basketball team after a successful game
in the midst of the bifu vs bisv
gukesh emotional after winning the championship