VOL. 1, NO. 7
MARCH 31, 2022
THE YELLOW PAGES BASIS Independent Fremont Journalism Club
THE RUSSOUKRAINIAN WAR By Aarav Kumar
On February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, invaded Ukraine. Since then, over 1,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, and
country. In return, the Ukrainian people agreed to hand over its nuclear arsenal to Russia. While the Russo-Ukrainian
orienting Ukraine toward the European Union, took over. Another major event leading up to Russia’s invasion was the annexation of Crimea. Soon
over 10,000 Russian troops have died in the invasion.
relationship over the next decade was not all smooth sailing, it
after the Euromaidan protests, Vladimir Putin decided that
Additionally, as tensions rise between the countries and their
remained mostly peaceful until the Orange Revolution in 2004.
Crimea should be part of Russia. Russia ended up invading Crimea
allies, so do prices all over the world, creating a bleak and miserable reality for millions of
In the 2004 Ukrainian Presidential Election, westernoriented Viktor Yushchenko and
and made the country their property. Putin demanded “security guarantees” from
people. Watching Russian
Russia-oriented Viktor
multiple countries, proposing
invasions from afar can be confusing and often leads to many questions. What was the
Yanukovych faced off as the two main candidates. Yanukovych ended up winning the election,
that Ukraine must never join NATO, a military alliance of 28 European countries and two
point of this invasion to begin
but it was revealed that there
North American countries. He
with? Why would Vladimir Putin want to invade Ukraine? What led up to such a dramatic
was massive corruption, voter intimidation, and electoral fraud. Due to the controversies
also demanded that western countries must remove their troops from Ukraine. The
confrontation?
surrounding the election, many
western countries rejected
The fighting between Russia and Ukraine is the result of decades of violent and tense history between the two
Ukrainian citizens took to the streets, demanding a rerun of the election. Shortly after the rerun, Yushchenko, the candidate
Putin’s proposal, and in retaliation, Russia amassed troops on Ukraine’s borders. All in all, the main reason
countries. It all started about 30 years ago, on December 26, 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed due to internal rebellion. With the fall of the USSR, Ukraine
favoring western governments, was declared as the new president by an overwhelming majority. A decade later, in 2014, Russia-oriented Yanukovych ran
for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is due to Putins’s demand that Ukraine must not join NATO. With this invasion, Russia directly violated the Budapest
became an independent and sovereign democracy equipped with former Soviet Union resources. Although the country
for president once again and won, starting the Euromaidan protests. The fact that the president had arrested his
Memorandum, breaking their promise of respecting Ukraine’s borders and not using force on the country. Our hearts go out to
had just been born, it already had the third-largest nuclear stockpile in the world. A few years later, in 1994, the Budapest
political opponent and was now strengthening ties with Russia showed massive corruption in the government. Widespread
those in Ukraine as they defend their country against this unprovoked attack.
Memorandum was held, a meeting in which leaders of the Russian Federation, the United States, and the United Kingdom all agreed to respect the sovereignty and new borders of
protests sparked across the country, and 100 Ukrainian civilians were killed as a result of the protests in Maidan (Independence Square). Yanukovych fled from Ukraine
Ukraine, promising to refrain from using force against the
to Russia, and a new government, committed to
UKRAINE & RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVES By Sachit Parekh
UKRAINE With millions fleeing the country in search of safety and millions more deciding to stay, Ukrainians are coping with the conflict in varying ways. More than 3 million people have fled Ukraine (nearly 7 percent of the total population) to the neighbouring countries of Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. Most of those fleeing are the elderly, women, and children, while able-bodied men and women volunteers stay in the country to fight the Russians. To bolster the military power of the country, President Zelensky ordered that all men of military age cannot leave the country, causing many families to be separated. However, the remaining 40 million people in the country are still staying in their homes, fueled by nationalism and a faith in the Ukrainian army and spirit. Nationalism among Ukrainians is at an all-time high, and many are supporting their country in the effort to retaliate against invasion. The war has brought Ukrainians from all walks of life, everywhere around the world, together, all in support of their country’s efforts, with some even volunteering in the country’s military. There are many phrases used by Ukrainians and their allies to boost morale among citizens such as “Слава Україні!” (“Glory to Ukraine!”) and “Слава героям!” (“Glory to the heroes!”).
VOL. 1, NO. 7
RUSSIA Many Ukrainians are relatives of Russians, causing extreme concern and condemnation of Putin and his unprovoked attack on Ukraine, motivated by false “denazifying” claims. Russian media is feeding propaganda to the Russian population and shining a positive light on the invasion and Putin’s actions. The government has cut all access between Russians and the outside world online and has instituted large fines and long jail times for protesters and dissenters. Now, calling the invasion a “war” or “invasion” instead of a “special military operation” can lead to15 years in prison. Nevertheless, supporters of Ukraine still took to the streets to protest in cities across Russia, leading to thousands getting detained and arrested. Many Russians do still believe that the war is unnecessary and will only cause harm.
CONSEQUENCES OF SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA By Olivia Ma
In light of recent events, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has mostly highlighted the inhumane horrors of war through the lens of the media. While it is difficult to draw ourselves away from the ethical aspects of the war, it is also hard to ignore the economic repercussions that this conflict has had on the world. The Russian economy has taken the biggest hit as a result of sanctions (financial punishments against another self-governed state) from several NATO countries. Many countries stopped exporting goods to Russia and froze all Russian financial reserves in their respective states, including banning Russia from SWIFT, a society executing financial transactions and
2
payments between banks worldwide. As a result, Russia’s stock market plummeted, and its currency, the ruble, has been devalued by 30% since the war began in February. As we see tensions rising between Russia and NATO, several western corporations, such as Apple, Starbucks, Zara, Instagram, and McDonalds have shut down all their stores and services in
Strategic Oil Reserves would work or be sustainable. So, for now, the USFG can only continue striking deals with Middle Eastern oil companies, and American drivers will have to deal with growing gas prices until the US oil supply is back to where it once was.
“Ukraine used to be a part of Russia, which is when they were a part of the Soviet Union. Putin is trying to reform that.” “After Ukraine declared independence, Russia began to say that Ukraine was trying to ‘change history’, and this caused a lot of controversy.”
WHAT STUDENTS THINK: RUSSOUKRAINIAN WAR
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN INFLUENCED BY KNOWING THIS SITUATION?
By Ariana Yi and Ryan Liu
“It really impacted me emotionally. Seeing all of the
government has recently stopped oil imports from Russia as a
We decided to interview some students about their knowledge
happy families getting crippled and broken because of this war
reaction to the Russo-Ukrainian War, leading to a lack of oil. Due
on recent news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This war
made me feel so dejected.”
to the US’s booming gasoline demand and the limited supply, gas prices have risen at an
has devastated many people of many nationalities and has
“All the concerns about Ukraine aren’t helping, and
taken over all the news stations by storm, so we chose to evaluate
Ukraine is about to lose continuous access to food and water, which will most likely
Russia, depriving citizens from several of their go-to producers. On the American side of things, the US federal
alarming rate in the past couple weeks, the highest being $7 per gallon in California. So, why can’t we just make more of our own oil? While American oil corporations do have the capacity to produce more oil, and the US Strategic Oil Reserve has 580 million barrels of oil to be turned into gasoline, neither of these resources hold much hope. First, American oil corporations are making much more money as
the awareness of the students to see what they knew about this devastating event.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE RUSSIAN AND UKRAINE SITUATION? "I know Russia has invaded Ukraine time and time again, like in 2014 when Russia took Crimea, and this time Putin is
devastate the population like it did in the Great Depression.” “In the news, I see the bombs being dropped onto buildings containing several innocent civilians who are screaming for help and being brutally slaughtered all for Putin’s master plan.”
aiming for Kyiv I’m pretty sure.” “Sometimes, I feel guilty sitting
of now than they did before with the rise in oil market prices. Additionally, it would take these corporations about 9 months to
“Ukraine is joining NATO, and Putin wants to re-conquer all that was part of the Soviet Union
produce enough oil to supply the country. This task would mean ramped up labor/work and prices eventually returning back to
and joining NATO would give them way more power, as several countries would be defending Ukraine.”
normal, leading to the loss of today’s extra profit, which oil tycoons would be reluctant to give up. Second, the USFG
“Putin’s been telling his military that they are fighting for the benefit of Ukraine, but in reality,
on the couch, watching the TV while these Ukranians suffer from Russia’s wrath, and it gets on my nerves how the US could’ve stopped this war from happening in the first place by not fighting pointless wars that just escalated the situation.” “It hurts seeing all this suffering at the hands of Putin. If only I could do something to help.”
Strategic Oil Reserves barely hold enough to sustain the nation. In 2019, the US consumed 19.78 million barrels of
he’s deceiving them, and his real plan is to force Ukraine into joining Russia again.”
petroleum a day, meaning that the 580 million barrels would only last us 29 days. Neither solution of complete reliance on
“Apparently, they don’t like each
watching CNN now.”
other.”
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT NATO?
oil corporations or the USFG
“I spend all my free time
DO YOU KNOW THE BACKSTORY OF WHAT HAPPENED?
“NATO is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which was
VOL. 1, NO. 7
“NATO is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which was founded by many countries in 1949.” “It states that countries that join are forced to give help if another country in NATO is attacked, and in return, they get safety in the form of support from all the other countries.” “Russia had to invade Ukraine before they joined NATO because they didn’t want more countries protecting and helping Ukraine.”
WHAT IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH?
3
headlines, mostly featuring advocacy for white women to have voting rights. Their progressive efforts came with controversy and both social and legal obstacles, but after almost a century, their hard work paid off. In 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed, and white women were finally secured the right to vote. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was passed, and voting became a reality for women of color and
Insane Asylum for Women as
feminism. In 1980, President Carter acknowledged the accomplishments of women to
the United States as a national celebration. Women’s History Month,
American history by announcing that Women’s
celebrated each March, is a time to celebrate women’s past and present
History Week would begin on March 8. However, it was only
contributions to the world. Historically, women have often been
until 1987 that the entire month of March was federally designated as Women’s History
future. During the early years of the United States, women were restricted from jobs, owning property, and voting, fueling national outrage in the 1840s as millions of women in America stood up for their own rights. In 1848, prominent first-wave feminists such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott gathered at the iconic Seneca Falls Convention, often referred to as the birthplace of American feminism, to discuss women’s suffrage. The Seneca Falls Convention sought to highlight America’s unfair treatment of women and the erasure of feminine presence from history. Over the course of the 19th and early 20th century, feminism was blazoned across national
the trapped women around her continued to echo. This is the
came and went, women gained rights to own land, have proper
In 1981, Women’s History Month was recognized for the first time in
people around the globe commemorate the contributions of women in history and discuss how to foster greater equality for women in the present and
As occasional raucous screams bounced off the thin walls and ambulance sirens rang around her like a knell to her old life, she laid on the hard mattress and penned her thoughts as the shouts from
other marginalized groups. As different waves of feminism
By Vivian Sun
accomplishments. Every March,
By Amber Wong
story of Nellie Bly, an American journalist who spent ten days at Blackwell Island’s
jobs, and do so much more than they could before large-scale
overlooked by writers and historians, leaving us with little insight on their lifestyles, hardships, and
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH: 10 DAYS IN A MADHOUSE
Month. Today, while the gender gap still exists, we have certainly made huge strides towards a more equitable society. Although the lasting effects of gender norms and stereotypes still linger with us today, feminists will continue to work for true gender equality: a world where any woman in the world can be ambitious and succeed and where both men and women can enjoy equal opportunities.
an undercover patient. Born Elizabeth Jane Cochran on May 5, 1864, Bly’s family owned a lucrative mall in Cochran, Pennsylvania. At the age of six, Bly tragically lost her father. Unable to maintain the land or their
notorious asylums, which she readily assented to. Devising plan, Bly took a room in a boarding house and set out to prove herself insane. She wandered the halls and nearby streets, refused to sleep, ranted and yelled incoherently, and even practiced looking “crazed” in her mirror. Bly’s tenants consequently summoned the police, and Bly was sent to court. Bly, claiming that she was a Cuban immigrant with severe amnesia, perplexed the judge and was sent to Bellevue Hospital, getting her first exposure to the conditions that patients of mental hospitals suffered through. All patients lived in impoverished
house after her father’s death, Bly’s family had to move. Filled with aspirations of a higher education, Bly attended
conditions and were regularly given spoiled food. After a
Indiana Teacher’s College, but due to her family’s strained financial situation, she was unable to finish her education, ultimately forcing her to place
four doctors, all of which determined her to be mentally
her dreams aside. One day, an upset Bly wrote an anonymous letter to the editor of the Pittsburgh Dispatch after the
There, she and the other inmates were subject to harsh
paper had published a deeply misogynistic article. Impressed at her rebuttal, the editor offered Bly a position
short time at the Bellevue Hospital, Bly was examined by
ill, and she was subsequently sent to Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum for Women.
living standards, severe beatings, spoiled food, and baths in freezing and unhygienic conditions. Most of all, the abusive staff assaulted and degraded the inmates,
as a columnist, and Bly went on to write for the paper, focusing on investigative stories for most of her career. In 1887, sometime after she was offered her columnist
preferring to deteriorate their health than care for it.
position, Nellie Bly strode into the office of New York World, a prominent newspaper at the time, expressing her interest
befriended some women during her time at the asylum and quickly realized that an alarming amount of these
in writing a piece about the immigrant experience in America. Although the editor declined, Bly was assigned to
women were immigrants who did not speak English and were simply caught in a foreign legal system and unable to
investigate one of New York’s
communicate.
However, what was most concerning to Bly was the number of patients with no signs of mental illnesses. She
VOL. 1, NO. 7
Reinforced by the bigotry at the time, asserting that immigrants were more likely to be sick, criminal, and mentally ill, these women were simply thrown into insane asylums rather than helped by the government. America’s insane asylums were simply a perpetuating cycle in which law enforcement admitted those who not only had no record of mental health illnesses, but who were also never diagnosed properly or given proper care and assistance Luckily, after 10 days of appalling abuse and neglect, Bly’s newspaper arranged for her release. Though exhausted from her time at the asylum, Bly was more than eager to write about her experiences. Several days later, the New York World published Bly’s exposé, propelling her to new heights of fame and recognition. Her two-part installments prompted an investigation by the city officials and a lawsuit. The grand jury panel of the court case went to visit Blackwell’s Insane Asylum for the investigation. However, as the asylum was informed of the visit before, the inmates that Bly had spoken to had been released or transferred, the buildings were cleaned, the food and water served were much better, and even the boat that the panel had rode on to get to the island was in pristine condition. Despite this, the grand jury believed Bly. Shortly after the visit, officials added nearly $1 million to the asylum’s budget, an enormous amount in 1887, in order to better the conditions of the facility. Not only was Bly considered one of the early activists against America’s systematically corrupt treatment of patients in insane asylums, but her pioneering journalism also demonstrated the faults of America’s legal system and how they treated women, especially those who were immigrants. .
4
SUPREME COURT TRAILBLAZER: KETANJI BROWN JACKSON By Christopher Chen
On February 25, 2022, Joe Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace the retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Over the course of three days and 18 hours, Jackson was
Ketanji Brown Jackson quickly racked up legal experience, from serving as a law clerk to private legal practice to becoming a federal public defender. In 2009,
politics, giving her the crucial push towards where she is today. According to recent polls, Ketanji Brown Jackson has the highest public support ratings out of any Supreme Court
continuously questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee as
Jackson was nominated by President Barack Obama and
nominee since 2005 — a recent Gallup poll found that around
part of the Supreme Court Justice confirmation process. If confirmed, Jackson will become
confirmed by the Senate to become the vice chair of the United States Sentencing
58% of Americans support Jackson’s confirmation. Given the quickly polarizing political
the first ever African American
Commission. Three years later,
environment of today, these
woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Jackson was extremely
she was nominated and confirmed to serve as a judge in the U.S. District Court for the
ratings are truly remarkable and point to a successful confirmation. In her
talented and well-spoken from a
District of Columbia. In her
confirmation hearings that
young age. Inspired by her mother and father, who both worked in the education sector,
various federal positions, she made many important legal cisions that impacted the lives of
spanned from March 20 to March 22, Jackson maintained utmost composure while being
she excelled at speech and debate
many Americans. Last year,
bombarded by tough questions
and won titles in national tournaments. Jackson then went on to study government at
Jackson was nominated and confirmed to be a circuit judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for
and heated exchanges, proving that she was undoubtedly qualified for the position of
Harvard University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1992. Shortly
the D.C. Circuit, often considered the second-highest court in the
Supreme Court Justice. Ketanji Brown Jackson has already
after, she enrolled at Harvard Law School and earned her law
nation amongst its 13 fellow circuits, sitting just below the
created such a brilliant legacy in American law, and if she is
degree. With an excellent education and a colorful background, Jackson was ready
United States Supreme Court. Becoming a circuit judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals launched
confirmed, her name will be solidly planted in history as a leader, role model, and
to pursue her legal career.
Jackson into the public eye of
trailblazer.
WHM WORD SEARCH By Kylah Kao
- HARRIET TUBMAN - ROSA PARKS - MARIE CURIE - HELEN KELLER - FRIDA KAHLO - MALALA YOUSAFZAI - RUTH BADER GINSBURG - MAYA ANGELOU - EMMELINE PANKHURST - ADA LOVELACE
VOL. 1, NO. 7
PI(E) DAY By Kylah Kao Pi Day, a national holiday that commemorates the mathematical symbol π, occurs annually on March 14. This date coincides with the first three digits of pi: 3, 1, and 4. In 1988, a physicist by the name of Larry Shaw founded Pi Day, and in 2019, the United States House of Representatives followed his lead, announcing their support for the recognition of Pi Day as a holiday. Ever since then, Pi Day has been celebrated annually in America. To celebrate, people often eat or throw pies, discuss the importance of π in everyday life, and host competitions to memorize as many digits as possible of the infinite irrational number. Many other businesses and colleges celebrate Pi Day with their own unique traditions. For example, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, otherwise known as MIT, releases its Regular Action admission decisions on Pi Day. 7-Eleven, an American convenience store chain, allows members of its loyalty program to buy a pizza for only $3.14 on this special day! Although π is often celebrated on March 14, Pi Day actually has alternate dates of observation. Pi Approximation Day occurs on June 22, which if written in the day/month format, 22/07, presents the common estimation of pi. Additionally, Pi Approximation Day is also observed on November 10th, which is the 314th day of the year. The next time Pi Day comes up, make sure to make or buy some pie and jog your memories on the first few digits for some friendly competition! Remember, “How I wish I could calculate pi!” (count the number letters in each word)
5
THE OSCARS
BEST DIRECTOR
consisting of makeup department head Linda Dowds, head of hair styling Stephanie Ingram, and Justin Raleigh, in charge of special makeup effects, led themselves to their first ever Oscar nomination and
Will Smith received the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role for playing Richard Williams in the drama King Richard. King Richard documents the life of Serena and Venus Williams, two of the most
Now becoming the first woman to have been nominated twice in the best directing category, and now the third woman in history to win in this category, Jane Campion has won this year’s Best Director Oscar for her work in The Power of the Dog. The Power of the Dog is a western drama that addresses toxic masculinity and how it
phenomenal tennis players in the world. However, the focal point of
shapes society today. With this movie being her first in over a
the film is their father, Richard Williams, who played a major part in the growth of his
decade, she sure made an impactful and iconic comeback.
daughters’ careers and took
BEST SCORE
mistreatment for the sake of his daughters. While Chris Rock was
Hans Zimmer won the award for Best Original Score
Many of the stores you stroll by at the mall are none other
for his work on Denis Villeneuve's blockbuster Dune.
than products of the fast fashion industry. Fast fashion,
Zimmer first won Best Original Score for The Lion King in
the rapid production of low-cost garments that focus solely on
1995, and since then, he’s been nominated in the category nine
instantaneous trend replication and inexpensive material, is
Chris Rock. After receiving his award for "Best Actor in a Leading Role", Smith’s acceptance speech drew parallels between
more times. Unfortunately, due to a performance he had scheduled for the same night
typically associated with the words sustainable, cheap, and
Richard Williams and himself, stating that “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family.” This ignited a controversy of whether what
to give an acceptance speech through a post on Twitter.
By Ariana Yi
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
presenting the award for Best Documentary, he made a joke about Will Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Then, Smith approached the stage and struck
Smith did to Rock was acceptable and understandable or completely out of order.
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Jessica Chastain won the best actress Oscar for The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Chastain spoke about how she treats Tammy as a heroic figure, inspired by her “radical acts of love.” In her acceptance speech, she also addressed several issues, including Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which prohibits instruction on gender identity. Through this speech, Chastain became a trusting ally for the LGBTQ+ community, speaking out about the unjust world.
as the Oscars, he was only able
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM Walt Disney Animation Studios' Encanto won the Academy Award for best animated feature. Encanto celebrates cultural diversity, family, and togetherness and grew exponentially in popularity, eventually leading to a re-release in cinemas. Encanto’s emphasis on diversity in animated film fits in with the fact that one of the film’s producers, Yvett Merino, made history by becoming the first Latina woman to win an Oscar for the Best Animated Feature.
MAKEKUP & HAIRSTYLING The makeup and hairstyling team for The Eyes of Tammy Faye won the Oscar for makeup and hairstyling. Their team,
award. They were challenged to transform actors to match the 80s aesthetic and to style the cast to match their real life counterparts.
FAST FASHION CONSEQUENCES
By Vera Lin
fast. Though fast fashion tempts consumers to buy clothing of every color with affordable prices, its sales blind us from the overwhelming amounts of consumption that hurt our environment and the individuals involved in supplying labor and mass production. Fashion used to be exclusively reserved for high society — that is, until the Scott Paper Co. unintentionally pivoted fashion. The paper napkin company encouraged women to strut down the streets wearing paper shift dresses, which they colored with crayons, in an attempt to advertise the company. Impressively, the late 1960s trend shifted the hottest material of America from lace and velvet to paper napkins. Thanks to one viral marketing campaign of paper wedding dresses, society was primed for fast fashion. How can clothes be made in such massive quantities in so little time? The fast fashion
VOL. 1, NO. 7
industry and its respective factories manufacture clothes by exporting its production business overseas for cheap labor. Among the various issues regarding this business manner, one of the most profound and destructive effects is environmental pollution. The fashion industry consumes a tenth of the entire water supply to run factories. Regrettably, the wastewater accumulated over time is extremely toxic and in many cases, cannot be treated to become safe again. As a result of exposure to this toxic wastewater, the health of garment workers is always in jeopardy. Garment workers are also often overworked, paid unfair wages, and physically abused. The management of fast fashion brands often violate human rights in the name of fashion, although their true aim is to maximize profit. The role consumers can play is taking proactive steps towards advocating for garment workers and sustainable, equitable fashion companies. The fashion industry has caused a substantial amount of damage to the environment, so doing background research on brands before purchasing clothes will not only help an individual become a more informed consumer, but will also support the wellbeing of the environment and the hardworking laborers that make fashion possible.
BIF GSA CLUB By Bella Alcaine DID YOU KNOW? BIFU has their very own GSA (Gender-Sexuality Alliance) club, free and open to anyone and everyone at all times, all expenses paid. As a part of the GSA myself, I attend weekly meetings, help plan future events, and learn how to be an
6
ally to the LGBTQ+ community.
AP EXAM TIPS
RECENT SCHOOL EVENT
By Julee Jiang
From Monday, March 7, to Friday, March 11, the GSA hosted a “Learning about Queers with Peers” week. Every day, there were activities for all grades to participate in and a special presentation for each grade. The goal of the week was to educate BASIS students on the Queer community so that anyone who identifies in any
With the rapidly approaching AP exams taking place throughout the first two weeks of May, students have been diligent in their studies to increase their likelihood of getting a good score. AP exams are standardized college-level exams that cover a wide variety of subjects and are administered by College Board
Interviewer: To start off this interview, please give us an overview of your life at BIF, e.g., which AP exams you’re taking this year, which AP exams you took last year, etc. Ruoqing: Last year, I took AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Government, AP Physics 1, and AP Calculus AB. This year, I
sexual or gender orientation feels welcomed and safe. GSA
every May. The exams are graded on a scale from one to five, with
am taking AP US History, AP Physics 2, AP English
members also decorated the hallways with rainbow
a score of five showing a very strong understanding of the
Language, and AP Calculus BC.
streamers and presented videos on how to be an ally to the
material, a score of three indicating a decent
Interviewer: What resources do you use to prepare for your AP
LGBTQ+ community
understanding, and a score of one correlating to an
exams? Ruoqing: I use mostly the old
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
unfamiliarity with the material. A score of four of five is usually
AP tests and the progress checks provided by AP
Q: When and where are the meetings?
enough for most colleges to grant credit, and some colleges even
classroom since those questions tend to give you the
A: GSA meetings are on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
give credit for a score of three, depending on the difficulty of the
best idea of how the actual test will be like.
in the Art Room. The meeting schedule varies, so feel free to
AP exam. For example, a low score on AP Physics 1, the AP
Interviewer: What’s your study
ask any of the existing members for clarification.
exam with the lowest pass rate and percentage of students scoring a five, will be viewed in
strategy for reviewing the material in AP courses? Ruoqing: I alternate between
Q: Is the GSA planning to do any more events this year?
a better light than a low score on AP Environmental Science,
practicing full AP tests and practicing specific sections
A: In two weeks, on April 14, we will be hosting a guest speaker at our school (more details coming soon). On the
which is considered to be one of the easier AP exams. All AP exams have a multiple choice section and a free-
that I'm less good at. For practicing specific sections, the
other hand, we’re also in the works of planning some new content. If you have any ideas for future events or activities, please let us know.
response section and usually range from two to three hours. Points are not deducted for blank or incorrect answers, so take your best guess if you don’t know the answer, and refrain from leaving answers blank. For students who would like to learn
AP classroom progress checks and review videos are really helpful. I think that getting comfortable with the AP format and types of problems is the best way to succeed on the tests because the question format will be familiar to you during the real AP.
more about efficient ways to prepare for AP exams, please view the interview below! Good luck on your upcoming AP
Interviewer: Any last words of advice for first-timers taking AP exams? Ruoqing: I think the AP test is
exams! Today, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ruoqing Wu, a gifted and accomplished tenth
a test of endurance, and the questions probably aren't as hard as you think. The cutoff score for passing the exam is
grader, on some of her thoughts and tips on the upcoming AP exams!
also lower than you would expect, so you have room for error while taking the test.
VOL. 1, NO. 7
7
RED CROSS: NATIONAL BLOOD SHORTAGE
WAKE UP WEDNESDAY The day that everyone was waiting for…Pajama Day! All students needed to do was wakeup and come to school.
By Katherine He
Interviewer: What is the cause of the national blood shortage? Red Cross Club Member: The cause of the shortage is due to the COVID-19 pandemic since many blood drives in public areas had to be shut down.
ways that we can help with this crisis other than donating blood? Red Cross Club Member: We can help with this crisis by educating ourselves and the people around us about the
Additionally, other factors such as weather-related closures and
blood shortage and sharing with friends and family how
staffing limitations led to this blood shortage.
donating blood can save peoples’ lives!
Interviewer: How has the national blood shortage affected people? Red Cross Club Member: The national blood shortage has affected lots of people because blood is always needed in
SPIRIT WEEK RECAP By Bella Alcaine
From Monday, March 28, to Friday, April 1, BIF Upper School welcomed all of its students to participate in Spirit
donating blood does create a long-lasting impact!
students were in for a whirlwind of excitement.
Interviewer: Will this blood
MAD-HAIR MONDAY
Week! With a different theme for each day of the week,
shortage last a long time, or do you think it will be resolved in the next few years? Red Cross Club Member: I think the blood shortage problem will
Students were encouraged to come to school with crazy hair!
resolve gradually as pandemic regulations lighten, allowing more and more people to donate blood.
hair.
Red Cross Club Member: I think everyone who is physically able should help with the shortage. You have to be 16+ with parent permission and meet certain height and weight requirements in order to donate blood. If you aren’t able to donate blood, please encourage your family and friends to donate! Interviewer: Are there any other
BIFU students dug up their fancy clothes (hopefully not literally) and showed them off! Everyone was excited to take a break from their normal attire to enjoy the more formal items in their closets.
By Louis Lu
Paris Baguette, a global bakery chain owned by a South Korean food franchise, is best known for its baked goods. The bakery sells different types of fluffy bread, lavish cakes, savory pastries, dainty sandwiches, and their signature coffee and tea. On my birthday, I went to Paris Baguette, which is only five to ten minutes away from the BIFU campus. Upon entering the store, I instantly
healthcare for procedures such as blood transfusions. Many people are always in need of lifesaving blood products, so
Interviewer: Do you think everyone should donate blood to help with this shortage?
DRESS TO IMPRESS THURSDAY
PARIS BAGUETTE REVIEW
Any color or style was welcome, as long as it was crazier than their day-to-day
TWIN DAY TUESDAY Time to twin! A ton of students gathered up a friend or two and coordinated outfits. From accessories to hair to complete looks, students had loads of fun twinning with each other.
noticed the serene and joyous atmosphere in the bakery. The music and decorations gave off a relaxing vibe, and the delicious smell of baked pastries added a nice touch to the ambient atmosphere. I ordered a tiramisu cake with chocolate chips and cocoa powder dusted on top and some chocolate croissants. Although the cake was a bit expensive at 55 dollars, the delicious taste made up for the price. The soft cream melted in my mouth, and the moisture of the sponge blended in perfectly with the cream. The chocolate chips added a crunchy texture to each bite, and the cocoa powder added a rich chocolate flavor to the cake. With lines of chocolate drawn out on the croissant, the chocolate croissant was truly a sight to behold. The inside of the croissant was flaky, and the lines of chocolate added a dash of sweetness to the croissant. Overall, I would give Paris Baguette a rating of 9/10. The cake and chocolate croissants were delicious and well-made, but they were a bit expensive. If the prices were slightly lower, everything would be perfect.
VOL. 1, NO. 7
THE RISE OF WORDLE By Caroline Wang
Wordle, the online fiveletter word game that was developed by Josh Wardle, has taken the Internet by storm. With its simple design and appeal to the general public, the game quickly captivated the attention of many and rose to success near the end of 2021.
8
world’s most popular games. The next time you want to exercise your vocabulary knowledge, go to The New York Times website and challenge yourself with a quick game of Wordle!
VALORANT UPDATES By Winston Gu
On the other hand, Astra received huge nerfs, so she is no longer the best pick for a Controller. Now, she only has four stars, and after taking back a star, the cooldown is now 25 seconds, making Astra less versatile. Adding to the list of nerfs, Astra’s Gravity Well’s size was decreased from 525 to 475, and the cooldown of this ability was increased from 25 to
ability to fake it. This increases Yoru’s outplay potential and makes the player’s experience more exciting. During his ultimate, Yoru has the ability to put down utility and is no longer nearsighted, which makes him a much more worthy space-maker for the team. Other than the agent changes, there were also a few
45 seconds. The concuss ability’s cooldown was also
map changes. On Icebox, the doorway to B main was
increased, and stars now individually go under the
reworked to a different position, and the entire space
Last year, Josh Wardle, a software engineer in Brooklyn,
With the release of Valorant Patch 4.04 one month ago, Valorant has once again
used his partner’s favorite word games as inspiration to create one of his own. He developed a
brought significant changes to the game. Players have long-
cooldown. Viper was also nerfed but still remains in a
was reorganized, forcing players to adapt to the new
private word game for just the
awaited changes for multiple agents, and major changes were
two of them, and as a reference to his last name, he named it Wordle. A few months later, in
competent spot for many team compositions. When both
space. For the campers out there, B cubby was also
made to the Icebox map as well. In this act, Riot Games, the
Viper's wall and orb are active, the fuel drain is increased by 1.5 percent. After deactivation,
enlarged. Moving on to the site, the Yellow box was straightened, so players now
each ability’s cooldown is increased. This makes Viper’s
need to get used to the peeks. At mid-site, the container was
ability to sneak around the map slightly more challenging, but it
reworked. Next to CT, the building is now closed off, so
is still possible due to the large size of her wall. Finally, her molly’s duration was shortened
players can no longer stay hidden while going to the site. Riot Games only made minimal
by one second. All of these nerfs may affect Viper’s ability
changes to mid, only enlarging the kitchen. Finally, A site now
in some situations, but her kit is still sufficient for her team.
has a larger box, allowing players to interact more with
Another update that was long-awaited by players is the
their surroundings. Encompassing agent changes
Yoru rework. With a few leaks about his new kit, Yoru is slightly different from what one would have expected. Instead of
and map changes, Patch 4.04 has brought many changes to the game. If you play Valorant and have not played it for a
having a footsteps ability, he now has an identical clone that will serve as a flash when enemies shoot at it. Enemies
while, make sure to check out these exciting new changes!
October, Wardle released the game internationally. In an interview, he said, “It’s not trying to harm you in any way. It’s just a game that’s fun.” Recently, Wordle was taken off of the App Store due to the numerous copies of the game. Zachary Shakked documented his Wordle clone’s rapidly growing popularity on Twitter, charging users $30 a year for full access to the game. The only remaining game on the App Store with the name Wordle is a completely different word game that was created more than five years ago. Despite not being the popular Wordle, the app still got 200,000 App Store downloads in a week, a testament to the popularity of the game. On January 31, The New York Times purchased Wordle, significantly boosting the game’s popularity once again. Overall, Wordle is a fun and challenging word game that puts one’s mind to the test.
developer of Valorant, decided to focus on the Controller role of the team. Controllers are agents that ease the process of taking control of areas on the map, and they also have the ability to force enemies into choke points. The first agent that received a buff was Omen. He is now more versatile and is no longer outclassed by the other agents in the Controller role. His teleportation time was significantly shortened, and his smoke’s travel time was increased. The price of Omen’s smokes was increased, and his flash now appears slightly in front of the figure instead of at the core, making it easy to flash teammates. Next up is Brimstone, who is now constantly referred to as “Stimmy Brimmy”. His name originates from his Stim Beacon, which now increases the player’s movement speed and firing rate by 15%. However, this is not the only
From a simple game that was created for a loved one, Wordle has grown immensely over the past few months and is now
reason why Brimstone shines as a Controller agent. His smokes are now faster and larger, which means players can now use smokes more efficiently in choke situations
considered to be one of the
to contribute to the round.
will see an identical model of Yoru for the clone, while teammates will see a blue model of Yoru as the clone. The dimension shifter now has 2 charges of his TP with the
STAFF:
Teacher Advisors: Ms. Abdelaziz and Mr. Betcher Editors-in-Chief: Christopher Chen and Julee Jiang Editors: Christopher Chen, Julee Jiang, Olivia Ma Student Advisors: Julee Jiang and Olivia Ma Writers: Bella Alcaine, Katherine He, Kylah Kao, Aarav Kumar, Vera Lin, Ryan Liu, Louis Lu, Sachit Parekh, Vivian Sun, Caroline Wang, Amber Wang, Ariana Yi, Olivia Ma, Julee Jiang, Winston Gu, and Christopher Chen