February 15, 2023 issue by Leland Charger Account

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 942 SAN JOSE, CA

Leland High School 6677 Camden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95120

The

CHARGER ACCOUNT Vol. U No. 4 Wednesday, February 15, 2023 Leland High School 6677 Camden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95120

@lelandchargeraccount

@thechargeraccount

thechargeraccount.com

DESIGN BY SOPHIA QIN

a y spe k it gain in s n ers s u i t g m n h e t m d f r u o o c t m S

uval ew D r d n A

Sta ff W

rite

On Tuesday morning, the GBA filled with students eager to hear experienced professionals share life lessons, job advice and insight gained from years working in their respective industries. An instructional designer began their speech, explaining how they became an educator and why financial concerns should not discourage anyone aspiring to pursue a similar career. From Jan. 24 to 27, the Associate Student Body (ASB) hosted its first-ever Career Week, inviting students to attend speaker panels centered on specific fields—including Education, Legal, Medical, Engineering, Business and Emergency Response—during tutorial. Career-oriented events are commonly held at middle and high schools. However, at higher grade levels, greater importance is placed on such events as students begin to delve deeper into possible career options by choosing classes geared toward their interests, signing up for courses offered at local colleges and participating in summer programs. The specialized panel featured business owner and winemaker Kim Engelhardt, news photographer Rudy Garcia, associate pastor Matt Hall and social media director Ashoorina Barreto. They each gave an introduction on the responsibilities their jobs entailed and the required level of education needed. ASB member Senior Ethan Chang helped facilitate conversation between the students and the panel, asking questions to the speakers and calling on students with raised hands. “Hearing from the panel, I learned that it is never too late to switch to a new field even if it is different from what you studied in college. The social media director stood out to me because she designed an entirely new position and taught herself the necessary skills to help advertise for a government agency. Attending Career Week and hearing the stories of industry professionals helped me gain greater reassurance about my path and made me aware of the manifold career possibilities I can explore,” Senior Erica Song said. The business presentations—which took place on Wednesday and Friday, were led by a global account executive, chief people officer, digital strategy lead and the co-founder of Palo Alto-based company Xage Security. They answered questions on a wide range

of topics, such as how startups can differentiate themselves from other businesses, and explained what type of people their jobs might appeal to. For example, the chief people officer detailed how their job is fit for those who enjoy helping others and value an inclusive workplace environment. The speakers also shared valuable resources—including internship and networking opportunities—and offered tips for maintaining a worklife balance and setting priorities. Career Week was organized by Activities Director Meg Walsh and ASB students Junior Rohan Talwar and Senior Kaily Yoshioka-Meonske. In August, Walsh began reaching out to the local community to figure out what careers students would be interested in learning about and find volunteer speakers. There were concerns that there would not be enough volunteers, so they utilized multiple channels to advertise— asking school staff to contact friends, sending newsletters and posting on Nextdoor and Facebook. In order to encourage student attendance, they promoted the event using posters, announcements over the school speakers and posts on the Chargers’ Instagram account. Many students found the school’s first ASBsponsored Career Week as informative and inspiring, noting that it offered them greater clarity and direction on their future career path and the pros and cons of working within specific industries. “Attending all three engineering panels played a big role in sparking my interest in engineering. The panels covered topics about machine learning, artificial intelligence and biomedical engineering. Career Week was extremely beneficial; choosing what you want to do for the rest of your life is no easy task, and it helped direct me towards a career path best catered toward my interests. It is not everyday you can talk to a mechanical engineer lead from Cisco or a machine learning expert from Roku,” Sophomore Jeffrey Tseng said. In the current era of widespread data proliferation regarding higher education and possible careers, students found it a valuable experience to be able to connect with professionals on a more personal, faceto-face level and receive specific advice relevant to their future career goals.

Poll: What field do students aspire to enter in the future?

lled

on page 5

le po

Recruitment ruse: Tricking teens into enlistment

1 NEWS

ils W

pe op

% 19 eerin gin

100

ter Sci u p m o C en ur La ve by eslo led r pi Ye rs m ia ite Co d L Wr an aff St

4% Music

22 % ture ec t i h c Ar

29 % ence En

% 26 ical d Me

QUINCY HAN ART

The toll of China’s Zero-COVID plicy

Lost in memory on page

SUVIA LI ART

on page 13

3 INVESTIGATIVE REPORT 4 OPINIONS 6 ENTERTAINMENT 11 FEATURES 14 SPORTS 16 LAST WORD

FEBRUARY 15, 2023

COMMUNITY NEWS Chris Odisho: Trust and Safety Project Manager

Jay Li

DESIGN BY IMRAN SHAIKH

A degree of change for UC workers Staff Writer

Imran Shaikh Community News & Feature World Editor

As a Trust and Safety Project Manager at Meta, Chris Odisho protects Meta’s platforms from fraud, harassment, offensive content and spam. He uses and expands on tools that protect users’ security during times of crisis. Odisho spends most of his day in meetings with multiple teams across the company to ensure that the projects in his portfolio are completed. Odisho has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from UC San Diego and a Master of Science degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics. Odisho explains that since his team focuses on citizens, government agencies and their affiliates, his background in political science adequately prepared him for his career in social media integrity. Prior to joining Meta, Odisho was a consultant for Google and a project manager at a Smart City Startup, where he worked on various projects throughout San Francisco. Having experience in both the public and private sector has significantly contributed to Odisho’s career, especially since his current team works with government agencies and their associates. “I have learned two important lessons throughout my career. The first is that you are your best advocate: You cannot be afraid to voice your own opinions. If you want to shape your own career, then you must stand up for it. Second, you can never give up. No matter what you do or how talented you are, you will sometimes fall short of your expectations, but these moments build your resilience. It took me three tries to get the job I have now; if I had given up then, I would not be where I am today,” Odisho said. In his early career, Odisho worked in city government and met many famous politicians, including Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, Jerry Brown and London Breed. Odisho’s favorite part of his job is working with such smart people. He has co-workers from all around the globe, so he collaborates with a diverse group of people every day. However, this is a double-edged sword, as he has to work around multiple time zones. “Anyone who has an interest in social sciences, current events or humanities would love working in civic trust and safety. My advice to anyone pursuing this field, or any field really, would be to be open to new opportunities; even if they do not align with what you see for yourself at the moment, they may be what you need in the future,” Odisho said.

On Nov. 14, 2022, 48,000 UC graduate student researchers and faculty members collectively walked off their jobs and took to the streets, shouting and hoisting picket signs in a battle for increased wages, childcare subsidies, enhanced healthcare coverage and lower tuition for international students. The strike lasted until Dec. 23, 2022, becoming the biggest labor strike of the year and the largest higher-education strike in U.S. history. Represented by the United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union, the striking students and faculty ratified two two-and-a-halfyear contracts, formally ending the strike and significantly improving wages and working conditions. Despite their historical ties to the automotive industry, UAW now consists of about 25% academic workers. Those participating in the strike were organized into three different UAW unions: SRU-UAW represented student researchers; UAW 2865 represented graduate tutors, teaching assistants and readers; and UAW 5810 represented postdoctoral and academic researchers. According to UAW, the contracts will increase wages by 20% to 80% across the board, standardizing pay throughout campuses and raising starting salaries to nearly $35,000— from the previous base of $24,000 —by Oct. 1, 2024. Strikers say that the wage hikes will significantly offset rising costs of housing and healthcare. The contracts also enhance benefits for employees with children, add new protections against harassment and discrimination and provide new paid leaves. It is unclear how the UC system will afford these wage increases, however, as the UC Office of the President estimates that the raises will increase costs by more than $570 million while the contracts are in effect. Reactions to the deal were mixed and many workers were left disappointed. Some were unhappy that the union gave up on demands to tie wage gains to housing costs: Surveys by UAW found that 92% of graduate workers and 61% of postdoctoral scholars are rentburdened, meaning that they spend over 30% of their salary on rent.

UAW negotiators originally requested housing stipends and a five-year housing guarantee for graduate students that would last until the UC built affordable homes for them, but were quickly struck down. Other demonstrators criticized the UC for only agreeing to subsidize $1,400 for child care per quarter, falling short of union leaders’ goal of $6,000 per quarter. Around 65% of the three UAW unions’ members backed the final agreements; however, 21 of the 40 UAW leaders voted against the contracts and led a campaign imploring others to do the same, pointing out that they should leverage their power by continuing the strike. “In the department I teach in, there have been persistent funding deficits, making it difficult for students to enroll in courses and creating a high workload for teaching assistants. I participated in the strike to bring attention to the pressing nature of these issues. My department was granted a negotiation process for increasing staffing sizes for classes, and while I wish there was a concrete staff increase guarantee, negotiation rights are a great first step” UC Berkeley Senior Allison Li said. However, the workers’ victory came with a significant pitfall: The UC is demanding that strikers repay the money they earned while on strike, citing state and federal guidelines that forbid universities from paying employees who do not work. UAW countered with an unfair labor practice charge against the UC on Jan. 26, claiming that the university system is violating state labor laws by docking pay without first consulting workers on how much money they plan to reclaim.

“Though I sympathize with the workers’ cause, it does not make sense for them to be paid for the time they were on strike because they earn their paycheck from the work they do. Moreover, the strike negatively impacted the student body,” Junior Kavya Desai said. The strike stymied classes, lectures and grading just before midterms and final exams, as the UC relies heavily on graduate workers to teach and conduct research. Several professors canceled classes and final exams in solidarity with the strikers, and over 200 faculty members pledged to withhold final grades until the strike ended. Several students skipped classes altogether and joined the picket line in support of the strikers. “Although the UC strikes had an adverse effect on classes, it was necessary in order to achieve livable wages. Without such drastic action, it is unlikely that the graduate students would have attracted the attention and leverage needed to achieve their new contracts,” Sophomore Ameya Kiwalkar said. The UC strike has garnered attention nationwide due to its massive scale and effect on one of the most prestigious university systems in the U.S. Fueling the growing wildfire of unionization in universities across the nation, the strike’s ripples are being felt at Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of New Jersey, where stipends for graduate research students are increasing at unprecedented levels. Many academic workers predict that the strike is a preview of things to come and expect a surge of union activity to address similar issues across the nation.

INSEO KIM ART

“The UC’s concessions were helpful, but there could always be more. For example, receiving only $2,000 per semester for childcare is insufficient, considering that the cost of raising a child can be over $1,000 per month.” —Sophomore Zadela Valero

Quotebox: What are your thoughts on the UC strike?

“For the UC graduate students living in cities like Berkeley or Los Angeles, the cost of living is quite expensive. If the UC offered housing to graduate students or provided stipends proportional to the cost of living in their area, it would largely alleviate the students’ financial burdens.” —Jeff Lutze, Math Department

“The concessions were most definitely an advancement when comparing the original working conditions to what they are now. However, there is always room for improvement, so the UC should continue to further improve working conditions.” —Senior Maryam Tavern

Compiled by Tammy Newman Staff Writer

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: Friends Maintaining a balance: The powerful influence of friends

DESIGN BY ISAAC ANG

Diya Boyapati

Media Staff

From taking a certain AP class to picking out a dress for a party, friends shape beliefs, values and behaviors through both direct and indirect means. They are crucial in forming personal identity, improving cognitive health and shaping personalities. Friends influence how an individual communicates, dresses and behaves around others. For instance, according to the National Library of Medicine, if an introvert joins an extroverted group, they could find themselves becoming more outgoing as well. Additionally, as reported by the British Broadcasting Company, an analysis of 28 different studies with a total of 139,000 participants revealed that talking about anti-smoking campaigns with friends actually reduced smokers’ cigarette intake. Research has also shown that friends can shape one’s personality through more subtle means, such as by influencing beliefs and values, which in turn can also affect behavior and the decisions one make. An increasing number of studies suggest that friends are crucial in promoting overall health. Mayo Clinic found that adults with strong social connections have a reduced risk of health problems

such as depression, high blood pressure and unhealthy body mass index. Additionally, older adults with meaningful relationships and social support tend to live longer than those with fewer connections. The qualities that friends influence have a significant impact on one’s

KAILEY HU ART happiness and mental health. Personality traits such as extraversion, generosity, diligence and openmindedness can positively influence people’s overall well-being and their interactions with others. Making choices that are consistent with core values can also lead to greater satisfaction and health. Peer pressure stems from the innate human desire to conform to group norms, and it is particularly influential during adolescence— when the brain’s reward system is more sensitive to social cues, making people more likely to engage in risky behavior to gain social acceptance. A 2009 study published by the American Psychological Association found that adolescents with friends who engaged in risky behavior were more likely to engage in those behaviors themselves, even

after controlling for other factors such as parental monitoring and individual personalities. “Once, I was out with my friends at night and we were playing games in the street; my parents had told me my curfew was 11:00 p.m., but as we were in the middle of a game, my friends convinced me to ignore the curfew. I lost track of time and found my mom had called me multiple times. I later realized that my parents were very worried regarding my whereabouts, which got me in a lot of trouble,” Junior Juhi Ketawat said. In a lifestyle essay published by Mayo Clinic, experts discuss how to maintain a balanced and strong relationship with friends. They shared that it is important to set clear Courtesy Of Yearbook

Freshmen

Edward

Chang

and

boundaries while communicating expectations and considering the advice of friends as suggestions rather than directives. Practicing empathy, understanding and forgiveness will also help to keep relationships healthy. By balancing personal needs with those of friends, people can ensure that their relationships will flourish while still maintaining control of their own life. “I look for someone I can be comfortable with or someone loyal and I usually seek out people with similar ideologies. My friends and I support each other by being there for each other when needed,” Sophomore Vedika Byakod said. Friends can serve as role models, provide support and guidance and influence beliefs and values. As many studies suggest, being surrounded with positive and supportive friends whose goals and values align with one’s own can stimulate personal growth, while being surrounded by negative people is often detrimental to one’s health.

Daniel

smile

for

group

photo.

Embracing differences: The importance of diversity in friend groups

Bertina Fan

Lifestyle & Feature School Editor

While some people may choose to remain in homogenous friend groups, others choose to transcend cultural norms and invite people of distinct ideologies or mindsets to their table, developing a more wellrounded understanding of people from different cultures. Embracing diversity in friend groups can provide numerous benefits, both for individuals and for society as a whole. Exploring different cultures, ideas and perspectives can help break down stereotypes while providing a sense of community, allowing people to connect with others who have similar and different experiences and backgrounds. The idea of diversity being beneficial for individuals has been explored by various psychologists. A study from The Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), found that students who reported having mostly same-gender friends— approximately two-thirds of the subjects—had increased prejudice against other genders, especially when compared to children with friends of various genders. Those with less prejudice against other genders ended up having more comfortable shared interactions and an increased chance of being in relationships later.

However, it can be challenging for people to step out of their comfort zones and interact with those who are different from them for a variety of reasons. An important one is homophily: Individuals tend to stick with those similar to them because it is more comfortable to interact with people with shared values, beliefs and experiences, as noted by University of Arizona

sociologist Miller McPherson. According to McPherson, however, it is important to overcome this fear, as expanding one’s social circle to encompass diverse individuals can help prevent the development of surface-level stereotypes about other groups. “The friend groups I am a part of are predominantly formed through shared interests, culture and good first impressions of one another. My friends are people who play the same sports and video games as me and because of these connections, I hang out with them often,” Senior Aiden Bulow said. Diversity can also come in many other forms, including ethnicity, race, religion and sexuality. Thus, one can connect with others on certain topics, while benefiting from their differences. As reported by Verywell Mind, a website focused on health and wellness, homophily in race Ab and ethnicity can be the ou t7 stu hardest to overcome, as lar ge dent s the fear of rejection and oppression can prevent individuals who belong to minority groups from forming friendships, while racial prejudice acts as a barrier that discourges from majority groups from reaching out to minorities. Nonetheless, a meta-analysis combining results from 515 different studies revealed that the more contact one had outside

Poll: On average, student friend groups at the school are... Compiled by Antara Gangwal and Ella Polak Staff Writers

77% same faith

79% same gender

71% ce same ra

DANA LIM ART 71 students polled

of their racial group, the less prejudiced they were. “There are some patterns in the friend group I hang out with. Usually, people connect with each other over non-academic interests. On top of sharing the same hobbies, my friends and I communicate with each other on a daily basis. That brings our friend group together, our ability to bond through shared memories and laughter,” Senior Shivali Upadhyay said.

“Exploring different cultures, ideas and perspectives can help break down stereotypes while providing a sense of community.” Though the stigma around diversity may sometimes be discouraging, helping peers educate themselves about different views can help friend groups become more accomodating to different. Additionally, diversity is slowly becoming more established with recent movements such as #MeToo or #BlackLivesMatter being promoted across the media to bring different perspectives to light. Greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures have also grown, and by engaging with individuals of different backgrounds and cultures, people can broaden their view of the world.

FEBRUARY 15, 2022

FEATURE: WORLD

OPINIONS

DESIGN BY SUVIA LI

An unfair trade: The Brittney Griner prisoner swap

Andrew Duval

Staff Writer

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT Leland High School 6677 Camden Ave. Principal Peter Park San Jose Unified School District San Jose, CA 95120-2142 (408) 535-6290 thechargeraccount.com

EDITORS IN CHIEF Keirah Chen, Raymond Dai, Miranda Lu, Larry Ye ART AND PHOTO DIRECTORS Kailey Hu, Ellie Kim, Julia Nakanishi NEWS EDITORS Sophia Qin, Imran Shaikh OPINIONS EDITOR Suvia Li SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR Sophia Qin FEATURE EDITORS Bertina Fan, Inseo Kim, Imran Shaikh VIEWPOINT AND LAST WORD EDITORS Isaac Ang, Daniel Lin ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFESTYLE EDITORS Bertina Fan, Reagan Liu INVESTIGATIVE REPORT EDITOR Isaac Ang SPORTS EDITOR Breanna Lu STUDENT SPOTLIGHT EDITOR Reagan Liu AD MANAGER Breanna Lu MEDIA MANAGER Jeehee Kim, Claire Pham MANAGING EDITOR Manasa Sriraj ADVISOR Elaine Ngo COMMUNITY CIRCULATION Parent Club and Leland Bridge

Infamous Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout gives a polite smile and quick nod to the cameramen recording his release from prison as he briskly climbs up the steps of a jet. Brittney Griner, a renowned WNBA player arrested on drug smuggling charges in Russia, eagerly leans forward as journalists ask her, “Are you ready for a flight?” “Yes, yes,” she responds. On Dec. 8, 2022, Bout and Griner were exchanged by the United States and Russia in a controversial prisoner swap. In response to the event, many voiced concerns over the Biden administration’s foreign policy decisions, with some accusing it of caving in to the demands of authoritarian regimes. Others questioned the media’s influence on the selective release of prisoners. Griner was arrested on February 17, 2022 in Russia after the Federal Customs Service discovered that she possessed medicinal cannabis, which is illegal in Russia. Griner pleaded guilty on July 7 but claimed that she did not intend to break the law. Bout was sentenced to 25 years in prison in the U.S. in April 2022 after attempting to sell over 100 missiles and rocket launchers to a DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) informer. Bout was charged with conspiring to provide material support of a designated foreign terrorist organization, conspiring to kill Americans, conspiring to acquire and use an anti-aircraft missile, illegal purchase of aircraft, wire fraud and

The Charger Account Editorial Staff

Ella Polak Gilina Voon Kyan Wang Lauren Wilson Lia Yereslove Lyn Kang Dana Lim Jude Tantawy Kenneth Yang

PHOTOGRAPHERS Hsi Lok Chan William Huang

Gilina Voon

MEDIA TEAM Diya Boyapati Our mission in the community is to inform, educate and investigate the events occurring within Leland’s community and beyond. The ideas and opinions expressed in our articles represent over half of The Charger Account staff but do not represent the views and beliefs of any particular staff member. The Charger Account invites submissions of signed letters of opinion. We reserve the right to edit submissions and pieces will be published at the discretion of the editorial staff. Readers can notify The Charger Account to any errors in print by emailing us at lelandchargeraccount@gmail.com. We will acknowledge our mistakes in our next issue. For advertising information and pricing, please check out our website at thechargeraccount.com/advertise-with-us. The Charger Account is distributed to the Leland community free of cost.

The Charger Account Feb. 15 | Vol. U No. 4

were being used for political purposes. “The Biden administration should not have traded Bout away for Griner because Bout is a great threat to the nation. While Griner only accidentally committed a crime, Bout deliberately harmed many,” Freshman Catherine Wang said. Bout aided in the deaths of millions by supplying arms to warring governments and terrorist groups. Since his release, he has joined an ultranationalist political party in Russia. Griner, on the other hand, brought a relatively small amount of medicinal cannabis into Russia with no intent to distribute it. There is clearly a substantial difference in the nature and impact of their crimes, making the trade unwise. However, a factor that must be taken into consideration

A capitalist weapon

ARTISTS Daniel Choi Kayla Choi Quincy Han Jane Hong Harry Kang

KAYLA CHOI ART

The right to replace planned obsolescence

STAFF WRITERS Gwen Carroll Andrew Duval Antara Gangwal Jay Li Tammy Newman

money laundering. Nicknamed “The Merchant of Death,” Bout has smuggled arms into Afghanistan, Angola, Liberia and more. During the invasion of Iraq, Bout’s firms were instrumental in bringing supplies for American troops into the nation. Both the prisoners’ respective governments argued that their detentions were unjust and that they

Competition for customers and profits form the heart of capitalism, stimulating innovation and diversity in available products. However, in pursuit of victory in this rat race, manufacturers often employ deceptive tactics such as planned obsolescence—purposefully designing products to stay in style for only a limited amount of time—that ultimately harm consumers. Planned obsolescence is a primary contributor to America’s problem of cyclical overconsumption. Decreasing the reliability of products so that customers are forced to replace them regularly, planned obsolescence can significantly boost profits. However, manufacturers are careful to make product lifespans reasonable for their price to maintain customer loyalty. Planned obsolescence also comes in the form of periodic product upgrades, as customers may feel pressured to always own the newest versions of products. Fast fashion is a notorious example of planned obsolescence: It

makes “old” fashion styles obsolete, typically replacing them in months— or even weeks—with new trends to increase consumption. Fast fashion behemoths Shein and Uniqlo often use cheap, synthetic fabrics and severely underpay their workers, maximizing profits. In the technology industry, Apple is infamous for abusing planned obsolescence; in 2020, NPR reported that the company was accused of slowing down old iPhone batteries. In 2021, Apple faced further allegations that it had provided customers with low-quality, secondhand replacement devices instead of new parts during repairs, per The Verge. Such instances of exploitation have prompted many to repair their existing belongings through third-party suppliers. In December 2022, New York enacted the most extensive “right to repair” law to date, requiring companies to make repair information available to independent providers. Politicians praised this policy, describing how repairing products drastically reduces electronic waste and increases affordability. However, The Verge shared that companies have already exploited several loopholes in the bill. Some businesses have merely provided instructions for assembly rather than actual components, and the act excludes various goods including home appliances and medical devices.

is the publicity and sensationalism surrounding the case. Many influential people such as NBA star LeBron James urged the U.S. to negotiate for Griner’s release through social media. This put immense pressure on the U.S. to make the trade and boost public trust in the government. Contrarily, this trade also exposes government bias toward the well-known and powerful. Marc Fogel, an American teacher, was arrested in Russia in August 2021 for possessing medicinal marijuana, the same crime that Griner committed. However, unlike Griner, his case did not receive widespread public attention or media coverage, and he was not classified as wrongly detained. “While it was right for the United States government to push for Griner’s release, they should not have freed Bout. The government needs to help out its citizens, but not at such an expense,” Sophomore Sophia DeRollo said. The U.S. government should have instead pushed to trade for a Russian detainee who has committed a crime of similar severity to Griner rather than Bout. Instead, our government buckled to the pressure of publicity and media. To promote public trust in the government, fair and balanced prisoner swaps must be made in the future.

December issue corrections Opinions: “Pure Colour”: • “Pure Color” should have been written as “Pure Colour” in the review box. Feature School: Plants: An unlikely feline foe: • “who” should have been added after “avid cat lover.” Student Spotlight: Photo by Anonymous: • “San Francisco” was misspelled as “San Fransisco.” Sports: Successful seasons: The school scores at CCS: • Amber Lee ’24’s name was misspelled as “Amber Lu.” The bill’s wording is also ambiguous; some argue that devices manufactured before the bill’s passage are not bound by the stipulated protections. Although planned obsolescence spurs economic growth by increasing consumption, it is highly detrimental to consumer and environmental well-being. Until this practice becomes better regulated, we should opt for higher-quality, longer-lasting products and make tangible efforts to reexamine our relationship with consumption.

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

DESIGN BY SUVIA LI

Recruitment ruse: Tricking teens into enlistment

Gwen Carroll

OPINIONS “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow”

Staff Writer

As spring draws nearer, many addition, the constitutional right to free removed from campus. Additionally, seniors are occupied with college speech is suspended—individuals in military recruiters disproportionately admissions, including academics, the military can be court-martialed target low-income schools. According to location and tuition. With this in mind, for criticizing the President and other Education Week, a low-income school some students enlist in government officials. in Connecticut was visited by recruiters the military as they seek The situation is even worse for ten times more often than a nearby alternative options for a future women interested in enlisting. school with more affluent students. more suited to them. By According to Pathfinder, The Army’s School Recruiting enlisting in the military, one out of four Program Handbook teaches predatory one can behavior, encouraging recruiters to JUDE TANTAWY ART gain respect, “be so helpful and so much a part of receive free women in the the school scene that [they] are in healthcare, cultivate U.S. military constant demand.” It offers examples industrial skills have reported such as offering to be a timekeeper at and, critically, being sexually football games while wearing dress blues obtain financial assaulted, and and participating in school events to aid for college. Any their assaulters rarely commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. military recruiter face justice. The Army only Day, helping recruiters build rapport one meets on campus will tout opened all positions to with staff and students. the same benefits, hoping to recruit women in 2015, with the sexist culture Military recruiters have been high schoolers in need of financial aid. still restricting opportunities for women. employing these manipulative “Schools receive federal funding, so “It is wrong to take advantage of techniques since 2001, they should allow federal employees on students who do not yet know what when the No Child campus, including military recruiters. direction they want to take in life to Left Behind Act Enlisting in the military is an excellent convince them to join the military. I was passed. This option for students looking to escape used to want to enlist as well; however, legislation granted their current situation and gain after doing my own research, I have the military access practical skills that will aid them later realized that military recruiters exploit to the same student in life,” David Hilger, Social Science people in need of assistance,” Senior information as Department, said. Jack Stone said. college recruiters, However, recruiters often fail to Recruiters also have no qualms including academic ers ruit ? c mention that service members are 15% about going to extreme lengths. history, address and e ls yr lled itar schoo l o i more likely to have PTSD than civilians Stone recounted a contact details. p s gh dm ent oul d in hi d h u S or that depression rates are five times time when Navy As enticing t e l: s Pol allow 116 e higher, as reported by CNN. It was also recruiters came to as the benefits b found that the percentage of suicides the school and were of enlisting in on among veterans is twice as high—in only permitted to the military Vo rs ina rite l i G ff W fact, nearly 20% of all suicides in the station themselves are, recruiters’ d an Sta oll r U.S. are committed by veterans, despite outside the office. tactics are manipulative r a nC making up only 10% of the population. However, the and understate potential we G by d Recruiters bury the fact that these recruiters proceeded dangers. Until military recruiters e il mp mental illnesses can interfere with to visit classrooms can be trusted to be transparent with Co reintegration into society: In January individually without students, a high school campus is no 2020, 37,252 veterans were homeless. In permission and were subsequently place for them.

85% Yes

15% No

Reagan Liu

Gas stoves ignite heated debates Entertainment & Student Spotlight Editor

Environmental activists have angered many with their recent calls to ban gas stoves, widely considered a basic commodity. The Energy Information Administration reports that around 35% of American households rely on natural gaspowered stoves, raising concerns among progressives due to an array of new discoveries on the harmful effects of gas stoves on human and environmental health. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, approximately 13% of respiratory illnesses in children, such as asthma, are linked to gas stove usage. Furthermore, long term studies performed by Stanford University on gas stoves found that they emit dangerous greenhouse gases like nitrogen dioxide and methane. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has already proposed a bill to ban gas stoves, and other officials, including some California policymakers, are taking notice. Politico reports that around 100 California cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, have started enacting similar bans, citing climate change prevention as a key motive. Despite reasonable concerns over the health implications gas stoves bring, many disagree with the banning of them because they

feel it is not the government’s place to interject in the private lives of citizens. “God, Guns, Gas Stoves,” tweeted Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, referencing topics that he feels have been compromised in recent politics. Some Republicans have felt that their Democratic compatriots have gone too far, viewing their attempt to limit access to gas stoves as an attack on individual rights. Others find it counterintuitive to rid the nation of such an important and efficient tool in the average American kitchen. There simply are no strong alternatives to the traditional gas stove. According to a Constellation Energy article, the average electric stove uses up to three times as much energy as a gas stove, making it much more costly for consumers. “Gas stoves are the most accessible cooking utility many people have. Even in remote areas, one can use a portable gas stove. Far too many people rely on them to ban their use,” Junior Maxwell Zhao said. According to a Brown University research paper from November 2019, the U.S. military alone produces around 51 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, and the U.S. Department of Defense accounts for 80% of the government’s energy consumption. In comparison, gas stoves only account

for 0.12% of greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. It is ironic that the government will go to lengths to ban people’s stoves when it is responsible for far more emissions. Even within households, there are other appliances that produce much greater emissions like water heaters and furnaces. In other words, banning gas stoves would JANE HONG ART hardly make a dent in climate change. “I prefer gas stoves, as electric stoves are too inefficient and weak to cook with. There are so many things that are much worse for the environment. Banning gas stoves should not be our primary concern,” Senior Sehyeon Won said. While their climate impact is insignificant, health issues related to gas stoves are still a problem. There is no benefit in banning something as useful as gas stoves, but regulations on manufacturers are essential to ensure the safety of consumers. The majority of hazardous gases from stoves originate from leaks, so producers need to be held to higher standards and have stricter safeguards in their tubing systems, a change that can be easily implemented. A ban would only harm American consumers; instead, more targeted solutions should be prioritized.

Antara Gangwal Staff Writer

Upon finishing the novel, I was imbued with grief that arose from the end of the characters’ stories. As much a sprawling epic as an intimate exploration of love and relationships, Gabrielle Zevin’s “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” crafts an unconventional, striking narrative. The story begins with a chance encounter between its two teenage protagonists: Samson “Sam” Masur—a half-Jewish half-Korean boy suffering from a permanent leg injury—and Sadie Green, a Jewish girl whose older sister has cancer. In the same hospital waiting room, the two connect over their shared love of video games. Zevin continues to document their lives for the next 40 years, detailing their relationship as friends, coworkers and foes—yet never lovers—as they start a video game company together. While its expansive timeline calls for a spiraling plot, the novel never fails to portray the characters three-dimensionally; it is driven by its three main characters—Sam, Sadie and Marx Watanabe, Sam’s Japanese-American roommate who forms the third pillar of their company. Zevin exhibits meticulous attention to detail, unveiling the characters’ realistic emotions, histories and relationships. The book also excels in its exploration of video games, from comprehensive game descriptions to pressing issues such as cultural appropriation in the industry. The novel is divided into 10 parts, with a blend of experimental and conventional storytelling. One part is written in second person during a climatic event, juxtaposing a tense, heartbreaking moment in the plot with a detached point of view to instill discomfort. Yet, the vivid penultimate part is where Zevin’s craft truly excels; written as a video game, it explores the characters’ stories within a new world, elevating the novel’s depth and weaving it together seamlessly. Although Zevin’s prose is powerful, the middle is burdened by frequent time skips—many years pass in mere paragraphs, making it difficult to understand. Fortunately, it finishes on a powerful note in a scenario mirroring how it all began, with Sam and Sadie meeting each other once again. It is this circular motion that truly drives the novel—the idea that despite change, love will always persist tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow.

“Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” (5/5) worth the read?

+ experimental and unique style + powerfully character driven - pace lagged in the middle

FEBRUARY 15, 2023

ENTERTAINMENT “Puss in Boots”

Antara Gangwal

DESIGN BY REAGAN LIU

Avatar: The way of white saviorism Staff Writer

Daniel Lin Viewpoint Editor

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” follows everyone’s favorite fearless hero Puss in Boots—voiced by Antonio Banderas—as he discovers that he is on the last of his nine lives and goes on a quest to restore his lives. Along the way, he learns valuable lessons and faces obstacles that challenge his entire belief system. The movie begins with Puss partying, slaying a giant and then dying. This opening scene does two things: it establishes Puss’ character by showing him acting heroically and living recklessly, and draws attention to the striking and vibrant visuals. However, Puss’ usual arrogance is immediately curbed after he learns that he is down to his last life and survives an encounter with Death, a massive wolf, by the skin (or fur?) of his teeth. Unfortunately, this fantastic beginning is followed by a less interesting midsection, in which Puss learns of a wishing star that could restore his nine lives and goes on a very ordinary adventure to find it, where he meets other characters. The film concludes with a spectacular fight scene between Puss and Death and a feel-good, albeit somewhat cheesy, ending. Although Banderas’ performance as Puss was outstanding, the true star of the show was Death—voiced by Wagner Moura—the main villain. Death is menacing, terrifying and positively scene-stealing— easily my favorite character in the movie and one of my favorite villains from any movie. Quality-wise, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is top-notch. The animation uses hand-drawn techniques, making it more textured and unique compared to the traditional “Pixar look”— a photorealistic style that most animated films use. This unique art style, in addition to the frame rate drops and striking color contrasts during action scenes, contributes to the feeling of being dropped into a fairytale. Furthermore, the actors do an amazing job voicing their characters. The story is well written and revolves around a surprisingly deep theme, given that it is meant to be a children’s movie—the importance of valuing life and living life to its fullest. Despite being a spinoff of “Shrek,” “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” was a masterpiece that blew my expectations out of the water. I highly recommend watching it.

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (5/5) how movie-ing was it?

+ Astounding animation + Perfect villian - Cheesy ending

Reuniting viewers with an the storyline of perpetuating acclaimed fictional universe, the a white savior narrative. In an sequel to the award-winning film interview with CNN, Echo-Hawk “Avatar” sparked controversy by explained that white director James Indigenous activists, many of whom Cameron limits his exploration of believe it promotes a storyline of colonization by centering the story white saviorism. on a white character. “Avatar” is currently Similarly, a JANE HONG ART the highest tweet demanding grossing film a boycott of of all time, the film by earning over Navajo artist $2.9 billion and co-chair since release of Indigenous in December Pride Los Angeles 2009, as per Yuè Begay said Box Office that the film Mojo. The employs blueface; sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water” it blends many native cultures was released over 13 years later on together to create characters that Dec. 16, 2022 to high anticipation are played by white actors. In from global fans of the first film. the tweet, Begay also mentioned Deadline reports that the new previous statements made by installment made over $2.12 billion Cameron in a 2010 interview with by Jan. 22, cementing its place The Guardian, where t h e as the fourth highest grossing director stated that film worldwide. he was inspired to “Avatar: The Way of Water” takes create “Avatar” place 15 years after the events of the after imagining first film and follows protagonist what would have Jake Sully after he chooses to live occurred if the on the fictional moon Pandora. Lakota Sioux tribe had Here, Sully dons a body based on fought harder against colonization. its indigenous inhabitants—the Begay’s tweet incited debate over Na’vi. In the sequel, as chief of Cameron’s comments and casting the Na’vi Omaticaya clan, Sully of the sequel, which still includes and his family must fight against a majority of white actors. human colonization of Pandora. “While the film was lacking Along with praise, however, in plot and I would not want the film has also become a topic of to watch future installments, I debate; Indigenous activists such was not aware of the criticism it as Crystal Echo-Hawk, the founder received. Nonetheless, I agree that of social justice organization more Indigenous people should be Illuminative, have accused in the cast, as the plot is based on

Lauren Wilson

their cultures,” Sophomore Saanvi Deb said. Other films have also been denounced for submitting to white savior stereotypes. For example, “The Last Samurai”—a 2003 film about efforts to fight U.S. westernization of Japan—is centered around a white general played by Tom Cruise rather than Japanese characters. However, Japanese actor Ken Watanabe, who played Katsumoto in the movie, stated in a 2022 interview with The Guardian that his own role was important for Asian representation in Hollywood. Likewise, Lakota activist and attorney Chase Iron Eyes told CNBC that “Avatar: The Way of Water” accurately depicted Lakota beliefs through its portrayal of the Na’vi connection with the natural world. However, Iron Eyes has also accused the film of blueface and having limited representation. Cameron responded to backlash in an interview with Unilad in December 2022, stating that he recognized the importance of listening to criticism about the perspective of white privilege. He elaborated that he meant to celebrate indigenous spirituality, and that it was not his intention to portray white saviorism. Some will continue to boycott the Avatar franchise, while others hope to find improvement in the upcoming sequels. Above all, Indigenous activists like Begay advocate for media where Indigenous people are writing and starring in their own stories.

Andrew Tate: Face of media misogyny Staff Writer

Right-wing social media on his supporters. Tate’s message influencer Emory Andrew Tate is interpreted by many to be that has rapidly grown in popularity women are inferior to men and online over the last decade for that their main purpose is to be his videos promoting misogynistic controlled. Critics of Tate believe views. Advocating for violence that he not only invalidates the against women and toxic experiences of sexual assault masculinity, Tate is seen as a role victims, but also indicates model by many young men, but to young boys that it is okay to is widely criticized by the engage in abusive behaviors. The numerous viewers who find his White Ribbon Charity, a women’s content incredibly toxic. rights charity working against Andrew Tate is known as a violence, states that Tate’s popular internet celebrity who promotes sexist views and DONGWOO KANG ART “high value men.” He claims that by being a “high value man” in a relationship, men should have total control over their girlfriend or wife. According to The Independent UK News, in August 2022, Tate had 4.6 million followers on Instagram and the hashtag “#AndrewTate” received 12.7 billion views on derogatory comments create violent Tiktok. Tate began his social media environments that encourage men presence on Twitter in 2011, and to abuse women. he continued to use Twitter as his “Andrew Tate makes a lot of central platform until 2017—when sexist comments which many he was banned for violating terms people, including myself, do of service for tweeting, “If you not agree with, but that is put yourself in a position to be why he attracts attention. All raped, you must bear some in all, Tate is not a figure to be responsibility” amidst the #MeToo completely hated and is a very movement. Tate then switched misunderstood individual. Tate will platforms, moving to TikTok and be like any other TikTok trend as Youtube in 2022. Tate also began he will be remembered, but will podcasts sharing his beliefs on not have much of an effect in our marriage, relationships and dating. day-to-day lives,” Junior Abhishek Despite Tate’s massive following, Roy said. many viewers found his content By August 2022, Tate was sinister and worried about the banned from Instagram, Twitter, influence his posts would have Tiktok and Youtube, as stated by

the Revolutionary Program Design Newsletter. The platforms explained that they believed Tate spreads hate and banned him in order to protect others from his rhetoric. His statements degrading women were regarded as violations of Twitter’s terms of service. However, Tate’s Twitter account was reinstated following Elon Musk’s purchase of the company. Additionally, CBS News announced that Tate and his brother were detained on Dec. 29, 2022 on charges of involvement with an organized crime group associated with human trafficking. Prosecutors said they found six women had been sexually exploited by the group. Prosecutors claim the group recruited and housed women with the intention of using them to create pornagraphic material sold on websites. “Because of Tate’s influence, his viewers will think objectifying women is acceptable. It seemed like a joke at first, but now that Tate is in jail for human trafficking, we need to completely eliminate his platform so young kids will not be swayed by his content,” Sophomore Alisha Ahuja said. While Tate has been called out for his toxic and misogynistic behavior, and even been arrested, the influence he has on his audience is not forgotten. One student from the school remarked that he would continue to admire Tate despite his criminal charges.

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

LIFESTYLE

DESIGN BY BERTINA FAN

Noma’s closing: Reckoning with the realities of fine dining Sophia Qin

Udon Mugizo

School News & Science & Tech Editor

Boasting three Michelin stars and to expand their culinary skills and voted best restaurant in the world boost their resumes but instead, they five times by The World’s Best 50, found themselves having to contend vaunted Copenhagen restaurant with a host of systemic problems— Noma is known for its New Nordic which Noma has received repeated Manifesto, which features the backlash for—including sexual and use of unconventional fermented verbal harassment, The New York and foraged ingredients and a Times states. commitment to ethical production “Noma should compensate its and high quality. Noma’s innovative workers for having to work long, approaches have inspired legions grueling hours completing the same of young culinary students, long- task. The work that interns established chefs and aspirational are subject to makes it restaurateurs alike, many of whom sound like they are have attempted unsuccessfully working in a to recreate its distinct flair. ART Consequently, when co-founder LIM A N and chef René Redzepi suddenly DA announced on Jan. 9 that the restaurant would be closing in 2024—citing that the long hours and high-pressure workplace culture were unsustainable—he rocked the culinary world. In The Atlantic, Rob Anderson, a self-described burned-out chef and owner of Massachusetts-based factory, rather than restaurant The Canteen, shared a renowned fine dining restaurant. that while the announcement was Usually with internships, you expect shocking, it was long overdue and to acquire new knowledge and not unexpected. Noma’s colossal essential skills, but Noma does success had been underpinned by not provide opportunities for the unpaid labor from its conception in employees to do that. However, I 2003 until October of last year, when can see the flip side. Workers know it finally began paying its team of what they are getting into before around 30 unpaid interns—which is they start working at Noma; it is up responsible for completing intricate, to them to decide how much they painstakingly repetitive tasks. Many are willing to sacrifice for a resume of these workers initially hoped boost,” Senior Kylie Duong said.

The restaurant has grappled with a myriad of other contradictions. Its manifesto champions the values of welfare and sustainability, yet the Financial Review states that Noma employees work an average of 15 to 16 hours per day. Additionally, meals cost around $500, which is nearly a fifth of the global median annual household income, per Vox. “High costs are warranted if there is something particularly unique about the food and it incorporates rare and expensive ingredients. Personally, I would rather stick to home cooking or an affordable meal at a local restaurant—and would likely be the case for most of the general public,” Junior Medha Nemani said. Redzepi also shared future plans for Noma in his announcement. According to NPR, he hopes to transform it into a food laboratory devoted to developing new flavors and experimenting further with fermentation. Redzepi also plans to establish an online platform, providing cooking classes and periodically hosting pop-ups. Moving forward, Noma’s model may continue to exert sizable influence within the restaurant industry. However, the forthcoming end of its regular service and global media coverage regarding its toxic kitchen environment signals a potential widespread reckoning of fine dining’s unsustainable practices.

All terrain-wheelchairs blaze new trails at state parks Sophia Qin Whether it is enjoying fresh air in Yosemite’s lush green forest or braving the biting cold of the Great Smoky Mountains, all-terrain wheelchairs give mobility-impaired individuals the opportunity to experience the distinct climates and breathtaking beauty of America’s geographical landscapes to the fullest. Compared to regular wheelchairs, these models feature thicker wheels with deep tread, offering better stability and traction and enabling them to navigate through uneven terrains including sand, snow, mud and water. They also allow users to adjust speed, direction and seat angle, which proves useful when traveling up or downhill. According to Orlando-based broadcasting company WKMGTV, beginning March 3, visitors to Florida’s Seminole State Forest can make a free reservation for its allterrain wheelchair for up to three hours. Spearheaded by nonprofit organization Friends of Seminole State Forest, the state’s first-ever track chair program is the latest in efforts aimed at increasing outdoor accessibility for those with neurological and physical disabilities. The family of Colorado-native Mark Madsen, an outdoor enthusiast who continued searching for ways to immerse himself in nature following a paralyzing car accident, sparked this movement towards

greater accessibility within public parks. In 2016, following his passing, they collaborated with Friends of Staunton State Park and Colorado Parks and Wildlife to establish the Mark Madsen Accessibility Fund and a track-chair program, Rocky Mountain PBS states. Currently, the program has purchased eight chairs and upgraded its fishing piers and equipment for wheelchairs users. Following in its footsteps, Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore provided a track chair in 2019, becoming the first U.S. national park to do so. Reservation requirements for allterrain wheelchairs differ depending on the state. In Georgia, where the Department of Natural Resources and Aimee Copeland Foundation (ACF) partnered to bring Action Trackchairs to 11 state parks in November 2022, visitors must provide a photo ID and proof of disability and complete an online certification course three days ahead of their visit. This gives the program sufficient time to notify the intended park. All-terrain wheelchair users must also be accompanied by an adult “buddy” without disabilities. Each chair weighs 500 pounds, and buddies provide necessary assistance in case an emergency occurs. “The buddy system is a valuable tool that promotes safety and inclusivity for the

School News & Science & Tech Editor

mobility-impaired. It is essential that everyone has equal access to nature, regardless of physical challenges, and the system helps to ensure this by providing additional support and protection,” Senior Parsa Ansari said. However, the benefits are accompanied by a hefty price tag, making it difficult for parks and individual users to acquire track chairs. According to Friends of Staunton State Park’s website, the cheaper of two track chair models purchased by the program cost $15,000. Maintenance fees rack up further costs; new batteries cost around $550 and tracks cost $750. Aimee Copeland Mercier—a quadruple amputee and founder of ACF—is working to improve accessibility; The Washington Post reports that ACF fundraised $200,000 to purchase $12,500 chairs at each for Georgia’s state parks. “All-terrain wheelchairs should be implemented in not only state parks, but in all local and national parks as well to ensure more access to the beauty surrounding us,” Junior Daniel Xu said. Despite financial limitations, the recent series of initiatives reflect a gradual, ongoing shift towards increased accessibility focused on bridging the gap between nature and individuals with disabilities. RT KIM A ELLIE

Ella Polak Staff Writer

A minimalistic, slate gray building with red trimmings and a pointed roof reminiscent of traditional Japanese architecture, Udon Mugizo’s San Jose location is both an architectural and gastronomical mix of Western and Eastern influences. The restaurant, located off Saratoga Avenue, serves a variety of classic and modern Japanese dishes centered around udon, thick noodles made from wheat flour. After arriving at the restaurant for lunch, I was quickly seated. I was surprised at the high prices, so I ordered an appetizer of Agedashi Tofu and one of Udon Mugizo’s signature dishes—Mentai Cream Sauce Udon—rather than a traditional bowl to get my money’s worth. Mentai cream udon is a modern Asian-fusion recipe that is popular in big cities in Japan like Tokyo and Osaka. My dish arrived with the udon noodles gleaming in parmesan cream sauce and a bright pink scoop of cod roe topping the plate. Chopped green onion, parmesan flakes and tempura sat atop the noodles, along with small portions of bean sprouts and seaweed. I slurped up the steaming hot udon and was instantly hit by the distinct acidity of the parmesan. The roe’s umami taste balanced out the intense flavor of the cream sauce and the bitter bean sprouts deepened the dish’s complexity. The crunch of the crispy tempura batter, bean sprouts and green onion complemented the soft, chewy noodles. However, despite the variety of flavors and textures, the taste of the parmesan was a bit too strong and overpowered other parts of the udon. Halfway through my entree, the agedashi tofu arrived, simmering in a dashi-based broth. I enjoyed the inside of the tofu, which was silky and cooked to perfection. However, the deepfried exterior was not crispy enough for my taste. Udon Mugizo has a few unique dishes that could be worth the high price; however, some of their traditional dishes seem to lack the distinct flavor profile I found in my mentai cream sauce udon. Still, with the right selection of food, Udon Mugizo delivers a memorable, flavor-filled experience and is a great choice for satisfying noodle cravings.

Udon Mugizo (4/5) deal or noo-dle?

+ very attentive service + visually appealing dishes - expensive dishes

DESIGN BY DANIEL LIN

Lost in memory Tammy Newman Staff Writer

Memory is a crucial component of the human experience, yet studies suggest that people forget over half of the information they learn within one hour. Although it can be frustrating to forget to complete an important assignment or tune into a decisive sports game, the ability to forget is actually instrumental in allowing humans to function the way they do. While many fear the thought of losing memories, the concept of forgetting is not always a bad thing. In fact, as reported by Verywell Mind, a health and wellness website, many memories never make it to the long-term memory stage in the first place and those that do are often simplified to efficiently store memories for the future. Forgetting can also be attributed to a phenomenon known as interference. Because some memories compete and interfere with others, they are gradually forgotten. According to Psychiatry News, forgetting can actually benefit cognitive and creative abilities that allow the mind to work more efficiently. For example, brains often disassociate when reading for long periods of time to help one focus on the story, which is scientifically considered a branch of memory loss, as claimed by Vice. Forgetting is also a normal process of aging that generally occurs to those 65 years old and older. Help Guide reports that at a certain age, the brain becomes less capable of producing new brain cells, which can lead to remembering less and less. Nevertheless, there are always ways to reduce memory loss such as training and improving cognitive skills at a young age, remaining physically healthy, consistently getting enough sleep and staying connected with others through social activities. “I always thought diseases that target memory loss were the worst kind of pain. The thought of a family member forgetting my identity is tragic, but it is nice to learn how there is a bright side to everything. If we remembered absolutely everything in our lives, there would be too much for the brain to process and it would become unhealthy for us,” Junior Parmis Broumandi said. On the other hand, excessive forgetfulness can often be a sign of a disease or condition that targets memory, such as Alzheimer’s or amnesia, especially when people grow older. According to the National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer’s—the most common type of dementia—is a disorder that gradually destroys the brain’s memory and cognitive skills to the point that it is unable to carry out simple tasks such as conversing and recognizing faces. Meanwhile, amnesia is the loss of memories that leads to individuals forgetting their own identity, as stated by Mayo Clinic. Both conditions have varying levels of severity, but for extreme cases, Penn Medicine found that memory loss can stimulate mental health problems such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. The loss of memory can also affect patients’ loved ones because in the later stages of memory loss, people may no longer be able to recognize family members or remember the relationships they once had. As stated by Medical News, the brain can instinctively block out memories after undergoing overwhelming trauma as an attempt to protect itself. While the safeguard can be helpful in the short term, memory suppression is temporary, so those who block out trauma usually end up receiving painful flashbacks or intrusive thoughts. “The idea of completely forgetting something is scary, but it is good that the brain is powerful enough to get rid of a memory that is extremely traumatic. I can see how memory suppression could be beneficial momentarily, but therapy is probably the best solution to combat flashbacks when they begin to occur,” Senior Daria Kouzminova said. Overall, forgetting is a complex phenomenon that plays a crucial role in our lives. Although the idea of memory loss may seem frightening, memories are constantly changing and evolving, and the act of forgetting can be helpful to make room for new memories. By taking steps to reduce memory loss, one’s memories can remain intact for years to come.

The influence of memory on life Isaac Ang Investigative Report & Last Word Editor

LYN KANG ART

Phone passwords. The formula for the area of a circle. Eating ice cream with friends. Whether it is information, events or nostalgia, memory is the heart and essence of our lived experience that connects and makes meaning of the individual events of our lives. Memory formation can be divided into three chronological stages: sensory, short-term and long-term. Lasting approximately one second, the sensory stage consists of identifying a stimulus and interpreting it. After information is registered from the sensory organs, data already stored in long-term memory is used to categorize the stimulus. For example, after seeing a round red object with a green stem on top, prior knowledge allows one’s brain to classify it as an apple. There are several types of sensory memory. The most well-known is iconic memory, or information gathered through sight like text or images. Other types of memory include echoic memory, like remembering a musical tune, and haptic memory, which is recalling the texture of an object. Once a stimulus is interpreted, the sensory information is converted into a short-term memory, where it is stored temporarily in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that processes memory and emotion. The information is manipulated for a variety of cognitive tasks: making a decision, understanding a concept or performing a calculation. Information can be pulled from long-term memory to aid in this process; for example, recalling a formula is crucial for performing a mathematical calculation. Sleep is essential for converting short-term memories to long-term memories by saving old memories and preparing the brain to receive new information. A study by Matthew Walker, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at UC Berkeley, revealed that participants who took an afternoon nap were 20% better at remembering face-name pairs than those who stayed awake. Specifically, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep allows short-term information in the hippocampus to more easily be transferred to the cortex, where long-term information is stored. NREM sleep is often associated with factual recall, while rapid eye movement sleep helps with problem solving. Getting a good night’s sleep may help students remember more on an exam, whereas pulling an all-nighter would be counterproductive. “I make sure to get a full night’s sleep if I know I am completely prepared for an exam. Even if I need to study, I still make sure to sleep before 2 a.m. to ensure I am able to recall facts during the exam,” Junior Rohan Talwar said. Yet memory can be more complex than factual recall. Nostalgia, the mysterious joy that comes unbidden when running into an old friend or hearing a familiar tune, is more than sensory memory: it is episodic, resulting from a combination of sensory and emotional memory. Memories from childhood tend to be the most reinforced, as people form their first connections between objects in the real world during this time. But nostalgia is more than a temporary feeling of joy—scientists have found that nostalgia helps individuals cope with stress and find meaning in their lives. According to online magazine Inverse, nostalgia motivates people to pursue their goals in life and engage in prosocial behavior. Notably, looking at old pictures was found to help soldiers returning from war deal with depression and homesickness. Furthermore, memory is often recognized by students, parents and teachers as a significant aspect of education. However, a greater emphasis could be put onto working memory, which allows students to process and draw connections between a new concept and an old one in the classroom. According to a study conducted by the University of Strathclyde, a public research university in Glasgow, Scotland, emotion strengthens memories, so a possible tactic to help students remember facts in the long run is incorporating humor in lessons. “I write down assignment deadlines to free my memory of cognitive load. Good analytical skills sprinkled in with a decent memory allows one to better comprehend concepts; having a strong memory by itself is not enough to learn new information,” Senior Ishir Garg said. While having a strong recollection may help students get ahead in school, memory encompasses countless other aspects of everyday life as well. Rather than trying to remember distinct events, the brain always seeks to find connections between pieces of information, creating meaning in an otherwise meaningless life.

DESIGN BY DANIEL LIN

Lost in memory Tammy Newman Staff Writer

The influence of memory on life Isaac Ang Investigative Report & Last Word Editor

LYN KANG ART

FEBRUARY 15, 2023

SCIENCE & TECH

DESIGN BY SOPHIA QIN

Good Pizza, Great Pizza

The future of 3D printing Tammy Newman Staff Writer

Suvia Li Opinions Editor

After beating me at Word Hunt, my cute friend Inseo sent me an iMessage sticker of a muscular cartoon man dressed in a white chef’s hat and apron, laughing menacingly. Inseo informed me that this man was the infamous antagonist Alicante from Good Pizza, Great Pizza—a restaurant simulation game launched in 2014. Intrigued by the character, I decided to download the game. Good Pizza, Great Pizza’s premise is simple: Users become a new pizza shop owner, learning to take orders from customers, assemble toppings and bake pizzas. The game cycles through 100 unique characters, including Dracula and Elvis Presley, who walk into the shop one at a time and place an order. Deciphering the often-ambiguous orders of the customers is a fun challenge. For example, one of my customers asked for a pizza that would help lower their risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and cancer “...with basil.” After guessing the type of pizza desired, I manually assemble the order by spreading sauce and cheese onto the dough, adding toppings like eggplant and mushrooms, baking the pizza, slicing it and placing it in a box. The game is organized into chapters, each of which are composed of about 25 days and cover different developments in the restaurant’s storyline—such as attending pizza convention and facing off against new antagonists. Each day lasts 12 hours and at the end of each day, players are shown a summary of their finances. Cash can be used in the game’s shop to unlock more toppings, purchase furniture and decorations—I secured a skinny cactus and a retro neon open sign—and hire helpers to complete tasks such as sprinkling pepperoni. The game’s art style is comforting, with a warm color palette featuring sunset orange and pastel pink. Additionally, there are whimsical sound effects that add to its relaxed ambiance: the soft plops of placing toppings on pizza, the gibberish that customers communicate in and the gentle and calming soundtrack. Playing Good Pizza, Great Pizza has been an enjoyable experience—from its delightful design to its enigmatic characters, it is perfect for anyone looking for a fun and easy-to-learn game.

Good Pizza, Great Pizza (5/5) how app-ealing was it?

+ cute and cozy design + variety of characters - excessive promotions

Around 1440, the Gutenberg Printing average $10,000 on a project, stated by All3DP, Press was created, revolutionizing the sharing a 3D printing magazine. of information by allowing knowledge to “Not only are these homes more sustainable for spread faster than ever. In 1981, a new type the environment because they are helping preserve of printing was invented by Dr. Hideo non-renewable resources, but they are saving Kodama, who created a rapid prototyping expensive material budgets, becoming cheaper than machine that constructed items layer other conventional methods. I would definitely look by layer with a resin that could be into purchasing a 3D printed home one hardened under UV light. Since Kodama’s day,” Senior Adrian Oshana said. an r y invention of the first 3D printer, 3D printing 3D printing is also playing an K ite r by d technology has evolved immensely and increasingly W important role in e il ff mp , Sta o become extremely popular. the medical world. It has been C ng a In the professional sphere, W implemented in order to create 3D printing’s popularity can custom prosthetics that reach partly be attributed to its reduced amputees sooner, at a cheaper manufacturing costs, as stated by price and with the same level of EOS, a 3D printer manufacturer. When functionality as traditional prosthetics; producing complex items, multiple molds special surgical instruments which are often required. Once each element can be printed at extremely small of the product leaves its mold, additional sizes to perform as precisely as labor is needed to combine them. Purchasing possible; detailed anatomical models on a 3D printer can be costly, but it is capable of which doctors can practice complicated creating more complex pieces without a mold, procedures before operating on a patient omitting the need to combine different and tissues and organoids that can be parts of an item later on and reducing used for medical research. the chances of product failure caused “Though we are still However, 3D printing is not by incorrect assembly. decades away from seeing limited solely to the medical Although 3D printers are personal, affordable 3D printers in and construction fields. Some commonly used for creating every home, many artists are already individuals are constructing smaller objects such experimenting with 3D printing; for as unique designs with their prototypes or replacement example, designer Sophy Wong prints own home 3D printers. These fiction-inspired science items, it is now possible for futuristic, are cheaper than professional individuals to obtain a powerful costumes and fashion pieces.” printers—home printers cost around printer that can create massive — Senior Austin Caroll $1,000 while professional printers structures. According to NPR, can reach heights of $30,000—and architectural designer Leslie Lok recently collaborated with “In the professional Germany-based printing provider sphere, 3D printing’s Peri 3D Construction to popularity can partly be construct the first ever twostory 3D printed house. attributed to its reduced The house is being built manufacturing costs...” using a machine that d e s exudes a wet concrete mix ill be u es, nting w s, with tissu i r p from its nozzle and slowly achieve results comparable to the D d l “3 e ed fi t l edica s prin c i m layers the material. Currently, t o $50,000 printers of the previous e i b h in dy. rost t’s bo and p n s e it is halfway through a twoi decade. Home printers may n t a a e org e p becom tch th o s a l year construction process. Lok a require m an item to be reprinted to as may cture, inting e r t i p plans for her own design firm, multiple h times before coming out c D 3 ar ce tant in ically redu r o Hannah, to expand the scale p just right, but this can be an m i st ction.” ld dra and efficiency of their 3D printed attractive factor for those looking it cou ts in constru os homes and hopes that they can ynh, labor c into 3D printing as a hobby, on Hu ent s n h o m —J be a potential solution to pressing t since more reprints means more r a e Dep Scienc construction challenges such as labor time spent experimenting with shortages and natural disasters. printing. Professional printers Considering that the process differ from this approach: They has been moving smoothly, 3D are built for efficiency and to printing could potentially help save time, both of which can be with the housing crisis, reflected in their prices. which has been plagued “I find 3D printing to be a by rising costs. As good way to pass time and society is often looking relieve stress. I design for ways to improve figurines and watches affordability, there with a graphic have been multiple design software on attempts to replace my computer, and the traditional homeprinter constructs what building materials with “I have purchased I draw in a few hours,” 3D printed ones. Insurance 3D-printed alternatives Senior Aditya Nair said. comparison site The Zebra for licensed lightsaber The growing popularity states that over the past replicas that were a of 3D printing indicates the few years, construction fraction of the price of technology’s versatility and workers have used 3D the traditional products. The potential; it may help printers to build small quality and durability felt improve efficiency, sections of homes similar, so 3D printing goods sustainability and such as walls or could be a cost-effective quality of life across basic foundation way of producing products for many social spheres. As pieces. Many are looking developing countries.” it becomes more accessible, towards following the same —Sophomore Ashton Ancheta more individuals may route, considering that 3D begin to explore the creative printed homes can save an possibilities behind it as well.

at h W x: ture o b e t fu Quoes the r 3D do old fo g? h intin pr

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT DESIGN BY BERTINA FAN

Lia Yereslove

FEATURE: SCHOOL

Club rush: Changes in club constitution Staff Writer

Spirituality

Beginning on Apr. 22, 2020, a expression or religion. However, SJUSD’s rules enacted to ensure court case ensued between the Judge Kenneth Lee said in the inclusivity within clubs. Article San Jose Unified School District 2-1 ruling that the discriminatory 3.2 states, “Membership in this (SJUSD) and the Fellowship of policies set by the district were club and participation in any Christian Athletes (FCA) club selective, noting that “the district and all activities and programs at Pioneer High School over has not withdrawn recognition of this club shall be open to student rights and free speech of Leland High’s Senior Women’s all students and not restricted principles. The district believed Club, whose members are all in any way other than what is that the FCA was acting specifically stated herein.” WILLIAM HUANG PHOTO discriminatorily towards While the policies were the LGBTQ+ community and set in place for the school’s Gwen Carroll refused to officially recognize clubs, the initial situation Staff Writer their club. This led the created much controversy After being raised Catholic, FCA club to sue the district, throughout the student body. Julie Montgomery, Math turning a high school “My club was not affected Department, had an epiphany disagreement into a long directly, but we altered our at age 25. Her spiritual situation discrimination suit, a ruling policies so that we stay did not satisfy her—something of religious discrimination on away from any limitations was off. It was at this point in the part of the district and of learning about a culture time that she was introduced to eventually a semester-long so we can fully understand Buddhism, thus beginning her postponement of clubs at Students crowd around a club booth during lunch. the heritage and not exclude spiritual journey. SJUSD high schools. female 12th-graders.” He also anyone’s identity and where Montgomery first joined Pioneer High School’s FCA claimed that the district’s decision they are from,” Junior Marcus a Japanese Buddhist group branch was denied official to revoke recognition for the Firoozye, Vice President of the founded by Nichiren Daishonin. recognition by SJUSD in 2019 FCA club was targeted due to its Cultural Awareness Club, said. Later, she entered Tibetan In April 2020, the FCA filed a religious-based views. Other student club leaders Buddhism, where people make lawsuit against the school district. The school was also affected also kept up with the lawsuit. an effort to treat every living Elizabeth Sinclair and Charlotte by the court’s ruling. Club “Our club was not affected thing, from humans to animals Klarke, the plaintiffs and student Rush—a week-long event in by the rules, but the district to insects, as having been one’s leaders of the club, claimed which students can learn about handled the new policies well. I mother in a past life. that the district’s refusal to and join various clubs at the hope no lawsuit regarding any “If you view every other recognize the club was an act of school—never had a set date, but discrimination happens in the person as having been your discrimination and “violated their was postponed from its original future,” Junior Jessica Burriesci, mother, it invokes the idea constitutional rights based on date in early September. Instead, secretary of the Humane that every living thing has their religious beliefs,” according it was held in the week of Jan. Society, said. sacrificed so much just to let to the Mercury News. 17 due to SJUSD’s reevaluation The controversial FCA club you live. Realizing how a person The issue originally arose of its clubs and its non- lawsuit sparked conversations has loved and cared for you when Peter Glasser, a Pioneer discriminatory policies. Club rush throughout SJUSD regarding unconditionally is the first step High School teacher, posted a was delayed as SJUSD lawyers non-discrimination policies to being able to return that copy of the FCA’s Statement established a new constitution as well as students’ rights, compassion, no matter how they of Faith and Statement of and application process for club treat you. With this mindset, Sexual Purity, which stated that recognition in order to ensure I want to be able to fully feel marriage is an act occurring only that all clubs abided by its that compassion for everyone,” between a man and a woman. non-discrimination policies. The Montgomery said. The club also had rules dictating district has justified its decision Montgomery heavily that LGBTQ+ students could by citing the need to ensure a focuses on how she treats other not hold leadership positions, safe and inclusive environment people. She remains aware of causing the district to revoke its for all students, while the FCA every aspect of her life—what recognition of the club, claiming club and its supporters maintain is happening to her, how she the FCA broke the district’s non- that their constitutional rights to reacts, what she says and does. discriminatory policy—the rule freedom of speech and religion “In teacher-student that discrimination based on are being violated. relationships, one must sex, race and religion will not “The process was long, and it simultaneously command be permitted. was hard to have clubs delayed, Leland Digital Art and Design hand respect and show compassion. A verdict in August 2022 but it was an important process out brochures to passerby students. It is especially difficult when by the Ninth Circuit Court to ensure clubs are available for causing a significant amount of faced with a full classroom, of Appeals in San Francisco everyone,” Activities Director controversy and backlash from and I am yet to find a ruled that SJUSD’s decision Meg Walsh said. club representatives. Despite perfect balance between my to refuse to certify the FCA The new policies for clubs the semester-long delay, clubs spirituality and my professional club was an act of religious set by the district are consistent have officially resumed since life,” Montgomery said. discrimination. U.S. District Judge between both middle and high Jan. 17, with many new ones As Montgomery navigates Haywood Gilliam of Oakland schools in the district, according being introduced at the school her spirituality in a school argued that the school district to Walsh. A constitution such as the martial arts setting, she makes sure to pushed a reasonable policy overview was created for all club, the life skills club treat her students with kindness that fostered equal participation the clubs by Walsh, based on and the chess club. and respect. Many people define without limiting freedom of compassion simply as being kind, but she believes it is something much deeper. To her, it also consists of being helpful, directly or indirectly, and using it to make people’s minds more peaceful. “If I could go back to the outset of my personal improvement, I would tell myself, ‘You need to change your selfimportant attitude immediately. The more you hold onto these inflated views of yourself, the more obstacles you create for yourself.’ Every negative thought, no matter how small, will weigh like a boulder if you KENNETH YANG AND QUINCY HAN ART let it fester for enough time,” Montgomery said.

FEBRUARY 15, 2023

FEATURE: WORLD

DESIGN BY INSEO KIM

Slippery slopes for European ski resorts

Nuclear Future Gilina Voon

Staff Writer

Kyan Wang Staff Writer

The power of the atom has been one of the most feared—and most revered phenomena—known to man. Since the discovery of nuclear fission, a method used to split a large atom that releases tremendous amounts of energy, the energy stored in an atom’s subatomic forces has been utilized for both weapons of destruction and lifegiving electric power. Even more powerful than fission, which nuclear power plants use, is nuclear fusion. The process involves the fusion of small atoms into larger atoms, and releases more than double the energy of a comparable nuclear fission reaction. The U.S. Department of Energy states that nuclear fusion, the same process that powers the Sun, is a clean power generation process that could provide much of the future’s energy needs. According to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, on Dec. 5, 2022, researchers at its National Ignition Facility achieved a breakthrough by creating nuclear ignition for the first time in a laboratory setting. The amount of energy used to initiate nuclear fusion was less than the total amount of energy created by the fusion, resulting in a positive output of 54%. The researchers achieved this by shining highpowered lasers into a pea-sized gold cylinder holding a frozen pellet of hydrogen isotopes, causing them to fuse into helium atoms. Nuclear fusion has long been sought after as the gold standard of power generation with its high potential for energy efficiency that only produces minute amounts of short-lasting radioactive waste. Although a long running joke among the nuclear fusion research community is that controlled nuclear fusion will always be 30 years away from realization, this joke has become increasingly outdated as nuclear fusion development accelerates. Fusion energy holds the potential to end non-renewable energy dependence, providing a virtually endless source of energy that does not contribute to climate change. Although nuclear power is still confronted with many critics, including those rightfully fearful of potential nuclear meltdowns—as seen in past incidents such as Chernobyl—safe maintenance of nuclear plants lowers the risk of failures. In fact, nonprofit organization Media Matters for America explains that the Environmental Protection Agency’s limits on nuclear power plant radiation levels are so strict that the U.S. Capitol building itself exceeds them by several hundred times. Nuclear fusion energy will begin a new chapter in human progress, bringing an era of peace and prosperity as unlimited energy production becomes the next breakthrough for humanity.

Up on the mountains 11,000 feet high in Europe, skiers can see the outstretches of the glistening snowcapped Alps as they take in the breathtaking view and the crisp cold air that fills the landscape. That was until 2020, when many European ski resorts closed due to COVID-19; unfortunately, the pandemic would not be the only factor to hurt the ski industry. This winter’s rising temperatures gave a glimpse of what would come in the future with climate change. According to The Washington Post, the French ski resort in the Les Gets commune experienced highs of 59 degrees

KAYLA CHOI ART

Fahrenheit this winter, nearly 35 degrees higher than usual. Climate change has taken a toll on ski resorts, especially those at lower altitudes, as resorts situated below 1,700 meters rarely receive snow. As a result, many lowerelevated resorts closed down, winter competitions were canceled and tourism dropped. The closure of resorts hurts both the ski tourism business and Europe’s economy, as they transformed these once quiet towns into popular tourist destinations. The holiday season is especially important for ski towns, as wealthy tourists pour in to enjoy skiing, snow activities and winter sports competitions. Without snow, tourism will decline. Regardless, ski resorts have attempted to find different solutions to stay in business. Some resorts use snow cannons to create artificial snow, while others use helicopters to carry snow. National Geographic found that in 2019, Germany, Austria and Switzerland invested $1.5 billion in total in skiing infrastructure—mostly on snow cannons— to create man-made mountain slopes. However, this is not always feasible. Snow cannons require a temperature of around 25 degrees Fahrenheit to work, but many ski resorts face warmer weather.

Furthermore, snow cannons consume a lot of water, which drought-ridden countries such as France cannot afford to do. “Snow cannons and helicopters that transport snow are a waste of energy and contribute to the climate crisis. It is best to leave nature to heal on its own so that one day, it can naturally provide people with ski slopes again,” Junior Steven Rapp said. On the other hand, some residents of ski towns oppose ski resorts. They believe that the industry is hurting the beauty of the mountains and no longer creating the job opportunities that it had in the past. Many Europeans argue that other activities like mountain biking, hiking or simply enjoying the landscape are sufficient alternatives to skiing. Per The Washington Post, some climate change activists believe that governments have not been actively working to resolve ski resort challenges. However, in 2021, the Spanish government prohibited parts of a small resort near Madrid from operating, which activists celebrated. “Governments should restrict ski resorts more actively. Despite the lack of snow, many do not close in an attempt to stay in business. Slopes without enough snow can cause injuries and other problems,” Senior Aditya Mishra said. The future of ski resorts is unclear, with many businesses struggling to do anything to stay in business—despite troubles from factors outside of their control.

Grassroots organizations at the forefront of change

Ella Polak

Staff Writer

Born in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, Kennedy Odede never received formal primary school education and spent most of his childhood on the streets. Despite his circumstances, Odede attended Wesleyan University and, in 2004, was inspired to create a nonprofit that could help others experiencing urban poverty. By 2021, that nonprofit, called Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), had supported 2.4 million people across 17 slums in Kenya. In a country plagued by police brutality, political corruption and crime, many Kenyans struggle to escape poverty, especially the four million inhabitants of its slums. SHOFCO aims to provide critical social services such as schools and health clinics, water, sanitary public bathrooms, loans and youth training for competitive jobs. By filling in the gaps left by the government, SHOFCO has a crucial effect on the people it works with. One vital aspect of the nonprofit’s success has been commitment to its Kenyan roots and direct access. Rather than being a large corporation with faceless donors and foreign volunteers, SHOFCO was established directly from the Kibera slum, with a founder who has an acute understanding of how urban poverty restricts social mobility. By gaining people’s trust in its services and cooperating with local

leaders, the nonprofit has made an impact that even larger organizations have struggled to achieve. “Regional nonprofits have an advantage over larger nonprofits because they have a connection to the community and can focus on local issues, directing funds based on the community’s unique needs. Still, larger nonprofits may have more resources, broader reach, diverse sources of funding and professional staff, making them effective as well,” Sophomore Aileen Bump said. In The Guardian, Odede describes how he observed an outside aid group build a public bathroom in Kibera, only for a neighbor to claim the structure for himself once the organization left—thus creating no tangible impact. SHOFCO seeks to avoid similar situations by continually working with local communities. The nonprofit also empowers selfaction communities rather than accepting support from foreign groups rooted in historical Western imperialism; many non-governmental organizations that work in the Global South are funded by Western governments that directly oversee their policies. Other grassroots organizations around the world have had comparable success, including Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), a Bangladeshi nonprofit that supports small South Asian farmers and advocates

for minorities. BRAC shares loans, provides education and

DANIEL CHOI ART organizes workshops for poor neighborhoods, along with aiding Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Just like SHOFCO, the organization’s success stems from its personal engagement and localized support. “As a project coordinator for Key Club who works with many local nonprofits in the Bay Area, I feel that their services are more directly felt within communities and thus more impactful. Large organizations such as the American Red Cross that have regional chapters instead of a single national program are also helpful,” Junior Mia Nguyen said. With billions of dollars in funding, the impact of large international organizations cannot be understated. However, SHOFCO’s locally receptive model is slowly gaining ground in developing countries. When communities struggle to sustain themselves, leaders like Odede are increasingly stepping up to make change, one small neighborhood at a time.

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT DESIGN BY IMRAN SHAIKH

Kyan Wang

FEATURE: WORLD The toll of China’s Zero-COVID policy Staff Writer

China’s zero-COVID policy, which sought to aggressively eliminate COVID-19, has ended. The controversial program saw the government going to extreme measures to prevent the spread of the virus, such as enacting complete lockdowns of cities, sealing apartment doors shut and providing food delivery services in locked-down cities. Although the policy kept cases at relatively low levels—with only about 1,000 cases reported daily in the country throughout much of 2022 compared to the United States’ 10,000-plus daily cases—it came at the toll of public discontent as cooped up citizens became restless and tired of the seemingly incessant lockdowns. According to the South China Morning Post, despite initial support among the Chinese public for zero-COVID, economic and social frustrations caused many to iiiturn against the policy. Citizens, particularly in Shanghai, Beijing and Wuhan, took to the streets and gathered in city centers to protest zero-COVID in late 2022. A prominent catalyst for the protests was the death of 10 people in a Xinjiang province apartment complex fire, in which protestors blamed the excessively harsh quarantine measures enacted by the government that prevented people from escaping the building. One man, Peng Lifa, has been credited by The Telegraph

Lauren Wilson

as an instigator of the protests. He hung banners over a busy highway overpass dissenting to the government with slogans that were used as rallying cries by zero-COVID protestors, spurring their cause’s quick growth despite suppression by the Chinese government. However, the abrupt end of the policy in December 2022 led to mass infections, with Peking University estimating that 64% of the population, or 900 million people,

had been infected since zero-COVID was lifted. These numbers were heavily underreported by the Chinese government— PBS states that while under 10,000 cases were reported daily nationwide, Zhejiang province officials said that there were over one million new cases in the province alone. The massive influx of COVID-19 cases in China are possibly due to a lack of exposure to previous variants of COVID-19 as well as the lower efficacy of Chinese inactivated-virus vaccines against the Omicron variant—the primary strain in the country. “Stopping all measures abruptly was an ineffective way to handle the situation. The best method for

the Chinese government would have been to relax restrictions over an extended period of time, rather than all at once,” Freshman Dominic Wang said. Since the end of the zeroCOVID policy, the Chinese border has reopened to international travel and travelers are flocking en masse to foreign nations. Additionally, the Associated Press predicts that the reopening of the ChinaHong Kong border will increase tourism and retail in the semiautonomous state. However, The Wall Street Journal finds that many countries, such as the U.S. and Australia, have enacted COVID-19 testing requirements for Chinese travelers due to a perceived lack of government transparency in reported cases. “My Chinese cousin contracted COVID-19 a few weeks ago, right after the end of zero-COVID protocols. The high population density of the country’s cities was definitely a major factor in the

spread of COVID-19,” Sophomore Wei Wang said. According to CNN, COVID-19 testing booths, health code scanning signs and lockdown barriers across China were rapidly removed following the announcement of the cancellation of zero-COVID, and a virus-tracking app ceased operations. The Chinese government has paused reporting daily deaths and cases altogether. Furthermore, previous methods used to report COVID-19 deaths were characterized as misleading. Reuters reports that only deaths directly caused by COVID-19 were included in the official tally; those with pre-existing conditions who died while infected with COVID-19 were not. On the other hand, other countries adopted different stances towards COVID-19 control in the past three years. For example, Sweden employed a more handsoff approach, opting to forgo extreme control measures and instead attempting to achieve social distancing via public safety guidelines, in stark contrast to the authoritarian methods of China and other East Asian countries. However, the smaller population size and density of countries such as Sweden may have contributed to the efficacy of their safety measures. Although the pandemic phase of COVID-19 may be over in the public’s eyes, its persistence reveals KAILEY HU, ELLIE KIM AND JUDE TANTAWY ART the dangers of abruptly abandoning precautions.

Egypt’s legacy of looting Staff Writer

In January, three thieves attempted to use a heavy crane to lift out a 2,000-pound 10-foot granite statue of one of Ancient Egypt’s most magnificent pharaohs, Ramses II. While authorities successfully caught them, attempted robberies of ancient treasures intended for sale on the black market have been a recurring concern for the Egyptian government. Following the arrest of the three unnamed thieves, The Washington Post stated that it is unknown if the statue was damaged, or how close the thieves were to successfully moving the statue. According to Mohamed Ibrahim, Egypt’s Antiquities Minister, Egyptians will have to continue to fight looting for many years as it is a “centuries-old business” and crime. USA Today reports that looters

TIANSHU YANG ART

are generally organized in gangs and are occasionally violent or armed. In desperation to escape poverty, some robbers turn to looting to sell artifacts for money. The Middle East Institute states tomb robbers often dig holes to steal artifacts or to find the mythical “red mercury,” a substance believed to immensely strengthen the holder, cure diseases and grant the owner control over others. In 2013, caretakers at tomb sites remarked that every night groups of up to 40 arrived with machine guns and complex equipment to move mounds of sand. Guards failed to stop the looters and a total of three of them faced severe injuries in their attempts that year. “Egypt’s looting problem needs greater attention. It disturbs the peace and disrespects the years of culture surrounding items inside tombs and other historic buildings. If looting worsens even further, it could result in mass vandalism or even the destruction of culturally important locations,” Sophomore Aidan Longtin said. A study using satellite imagery by Cambridge University

Press shows that between 2002 and 2013, damage to archaeological sites due to looting increased. The rise began in 2009 during the global economic crises and worsened from the commotion of the Arab Spring in 2011. The origin of antiquities entered in the black market can be predicted by using satellite data. Satellites recorded that the Pyramid of Amenemhet III at Dahshur appeared to have no looting during November 2009 but over the course of three and a half years, a significant portion of the site was looted. Moreover, political news journal The Majalla News announced that from 2017 to 2019, Egypt recovered 1,000 illegally trafficked objects by working with auction houses and international culture groups. The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement managed to bring five artifacts back to Egypt by

opening an investigation on a network that illegally stole cultural items, known as “Operation Mummy’s Curse.” The Egyptian government declared to foreign museums that artifacts are the property of their country and any illegally smuggled items must be returned. To celebrate the return of repatriated artifacts, the Egyptian Museum dedicated an exhibit to them in 2015. However, some items that were illegally stolen from Egypt were not given back, such as the Rosetta Stone—which the British Museum refuses to return. “It is important to preserve the history of ancient items. Looting is a very severe problem because it harms the integrity and culture of countries such as Egypt, and significant items like artifacts should not be meddled with,” Junior Christie Nguyen said. The perennial looting of ancient antiquities continues in Egypt. Unless the true cultural value of these artifacts are appreciated by looters, theft will continue, while Egypt will continue calling for repatriation.

FEBRUARY 15, 2023

SPORTS NFL fumbles safety: Damar Hamlin’s near-fatal injury

DESIGN BY BREANNA LU

Andrew Duval

Staff Writer

On Jan. 2, Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin—a young and promising safety—collapsed after absorbing a hit from Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals, requiring prompt medical attention. Hamlin’s condition was severe; he went into cardiac arrest and had to be revived by medical staff with nine minutes of CPR and supplemental oxygen. Later, he was transported to a nearby hospital and placed on a ventilator. His survival was credited to the rapid response and CPR given by medical staff. This incident has caused many in the sports industry to question safety standards and how situations like this should be handled. “Sports assocations must do more to protect their athletes. The well being of players should be a major NFL priority, and their failure to protect Hamlin in the moment of his injury shows that this is currently not the case,” Junior Eshan Velidandla said. KAILEY HU ART

Jay Li

Nine minutes after the injury, the game was halted. On Jan. 9, the NFL announced that the game would not be resumed. Players and audience members were stunned by Hamlin’s injury. Also, according to Forbes, former NFL players hope that Hamlin’s injury will bring light to how the league treats applications for disability pay, which supports injured players. NFL players who apply are often denied or forced to undergo a lengthy process to receive their pay. Hamlin’s injury also shed light on how the league treats injured players, which could result in further progressive action. Unlike some other players in the NFL’s history such as Mike Cloud, who did not receive his pay for years when he was injured, Hamlin will be receiving disability pay. Hamlin will receive his full salary this year, and more if needed. “Football is a sport in which the threat of severe injuries is always lingering, meaning the NFL must provide their players with disability pay and insurance. A high-contact sport like football also requires quick-acting medical support to provide rapid assistance to players,” Sophomore Shrivas Sudharsan said. As of Jan. 28, fellow players and fans have donated over $9 million to Hamlin’s charity, “The Chasing M’s Foundation

Community Toy Drive.” Additionally, over 200,000 donations were made to the GoFundMe of the charity. Not all reactions to the injury were seen as positive or appropriate. Sports columnist Skip Bayless tweeted, “No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game–but how? This late in the season, a game of this magnitude is crucial to the regularseason outcome.” Bayless received heavy amounts of backlash after his controversial tweet. Even Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens joined in, tweeting, “I hope you LOSE YOUR JOB!!” Later, Bayless apologized, claiming that his tweet was misunderstood and that Hamlin’s health is all that matters. On Jan. 11, Hamlin was released from the hospital as he was able to walk, speak and showed no signs of neurological damage. However, he continues to require oxygen support and regular heart monitoring. A long recovery lies ahead for Hamlin, according to CBS. Nevertheless, Hamlin appeared in the Bills’ locker room and cheered on his team during a game. In fact, CBS reports that Hamlin has been making regular visits to team facilities.

Hamlin has not publicly stated whether he will be playing again, but due to his long recovery time and the Bills’ elimination from the playoffs, Hamlin will

not play again this season. Many fans hope that in the future, Hamlin will be seen once more on the field surrounded by his teammates. However, his physicians say it is too early to make such decisions. Some also believe that this incident will help progress the conversation about the NFL’s treatment of players. The NFL’s history of brushing off major injuries may be behind them. While several agree that injuries are part of any sports game, incidents such as Hamlin’s may push many to acknowledge the seriousness of ensuring player safety.

U.S. women’s soccer: A sport for White America Staff Writer

U.S. soccer player Crystal Dunn was often forced to play on all-boys teams when she was younger, experiencing a lack of recognition and support, constantly being referred to as “too small” or “not strong enough” by coaches. Even now, after having competed at two Olympics and being one of her team’s star players she still lacks recognition for her talents. Dunn’s lack of opportunities and resources as a Black woman in professional soccer is not uncommon. The notion that women of color must work harder to get much less than their white peers rings true in many industries—including professional soccer. Despite their success on the field, Black women in U.S. women’s soccer continue to face discrimination and inequality in the sport. The sport has long had a lack of diversity, being traditionally dominated by rich, white women due to a web of barriers holding back lower-class and marginalized players. Club soccer in the U.S. is often considered a “pay-to-play” sport in contrast with several other countries that offer youth soccer at minimal or free cost. A lack of government funding or support for youth soccer programs in the U.S. means teams and clubs must rely on player fees to cover expenses. Field maintenance,

lower-income players develop their talents. Otherwise, potentially very talented players may never see the field. Low-income players have

coaching salaries, equipment and travel fees make running a youth soccer program a difficult task without government funding, contributing to expenses that can be tens of thousands of dollars. The problem plagues many other sports in the U.S., such as ice hockey. Many youth ice hockey leagues require players to cover costs such as ice rink time and hockey gear. This often creates a barrier for lowerclass families— many of whom are marginalized minority groups—from accessing the sport, thus contributing to a lack of diversity and representation in soccer. “The simple answer to pay-to-play culture is increased government support to soccer leagues. Local governments such as Santa Clara County could provide funding for programs that help

KAILEY HU ART

paywalls to competition and this should never be the case for a sport that wishes to be competitive, diverse and have an equal playing field,” Sophomore Arion Habibvand said. Compared to the rest of the world, the U.S. lags behind vastly in youth soccer opportunities due to the structural inaccessibility of club soccer. In other countries such as England, coaches spend a lot of time in the non-professional scene to seek out new talent. On the contrary, U.S. coaches focus on those who already play professionally, resulting in low exposure for others. Thus, the demographics of the U.S. Women’s National Team has remained predominantly white. For example, in the 2019 World Cup team, out of the 23 players, eight were players of color, including two Black players. A study from Ohio University on the top five European soccer

leagues indicated a strong relationship between diversity and team performance, suggesting that diversity is a positive factor that increases creativity and lowers groupthink. “The impact of diversity can be felt outside of the field, because a diverse soccer community allows individuals of all backgrounds to feel welcomed and valued. Additionally, diversity in sports can also have a positive impact on society. For instance, promoting inclusivity can help break down barriers and promote understanding and acceptance of different cultures, backgrounds and beliefs to create a more well-informed community,” Freshman Max Nguyen said. Various organizations have been created to combat the lack of diversity. The U.S. Soccer Foundation is among those that are pursuing greater accessibility for communities that are traditionally excluded from such opportunities. Since 2008, their Soccer for Success program has been working with 400,000 children—90% of whom are from communities of color—and expects to serve upwards of 100,000 kids this year. Through the program, the founders aim to provide equal opportunities for children of different backgrounds, creating a safe and inclusive environment for all players on the soccer field.

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

DESIGN BY REAGAN LIU

Art by Vishnu Kumar IG: @vishudhevkumarvdk7

By Freshman Addi Shah

Medusa’s Advice

IG: @aadicshah

Dear Medusa, How do I accept that things have changed? That I have changed? You need to stop feeling sorry for yourself. I too once thought of myself as a blooming prayer, as springtime imminent. Every flowerfield was someplace sacred, every stranger was one more person to call me beautiful. It was not until the sea god saw me as a tidal woman, as something always on the verge of crashing— it was not until Athena saw me as a savage wave, as a challenge to her dignity. It was not until all this happened that I changed, that I became something to be avoided. There is nothing like being enshrouded in cool shame to make people think looking at you will turn them into burning stone. Just as there have always been snakes inside of you, even if you never saw them, there will always be flowerfields. Even if you never see them. Let yourself be delicate. Treat yourself like a waning gift; not even the gods stay immortal. Remember, you are a cherished moon. No one thinks of the moon as any less beautiful just because she has changed phases. A gibbous shines just as much as a crescent; light is light, even when it looks different. You have changed, but times have changed with you. The world will learn to love you despite your aching stones. You will learn to love yourself despite your hardening shame. Shield your eyes if you must, but know that you are the one who must learn “This artwork was inspired by the films Ponniyin Selvan and Bahubali and the famous monk Bodhidharma. It represents an aspect of The Way of the Warrior: In the face of adversity, we must stay strong and focused.”

Photos by Anahita Kashani Gregg

“Crevice” By Senior Nicholas Yen

My window sits in a tight crevice, Flanked by two fat buildings That loom large and dark; But on rainy days like these, You can trace the myriad streams Coming down from the roofs, Sliding onto woods and metals, Making countless little waterfalls; Each droplet must brave such heights, Eventually dropping onto plants Waiting at the bottom of the ravine, On these days they look so green, The smooth rain pats them on the head For passing a long and faithful wait, And all of us dwellers of the crevice Shall receive our share of life.

Art by Alexander Guan

I fall apart

Venetian waterways

Photo by Anonymous

Foggy afternoon in San Francisco

Secluded canal

Photo by Anonymous

Abandoned street art

Visit thechargeraccount.com to learn more about the student submissions. Do you want your creative work featured in The Charger Account? Email lelandchargeraccount@gmail.com for more information!

45 co % ex mpa of da perie nies U. ta bre nced hav S. e ach . a

Cracking the code: Applications of secret communication Lia Yereslove Staff Writer

HARRY KANG ART

dre Sta w Duv ff W al rite r

end-to-end encryption such as iMessage or Signal, which encrypt the message on the sender’s side and decrypt it once it reaches the receiver. “With daily use of technology, much of our important private data exists on online databases. If individuals with malicious intent get ahold of it, it could result in the loss of money, privacy and personal identity. Encryption adds an extra layer of protection and assurance for users, so it is critical that more personal and company data is secured,” Senior Amanda Bui said. Another prominent type of hidden communication utilized within cyberspace is steganography, which involves concealing information within an innocuous cover medium, such as an image, audio or text file. While steganography has positive applications, it is more often used by hackers to send ransomware. Information technology certification provider CompTIA provides an example: Attackers can embed scripts within Word documents. Upon opening it, the user activates the script, which prompts the installation of an app that will download malware from the Internet, quickly compromising the computer. Secret communication plays an indispensable, ever-changing role in this complex world. As user privacy becomes increasingly infringed upon, greater focus may be placed on improving methods of secret communication of to ensure greater security.

d by

It mo too da nth k a ta s bre to id ppro ach en xim in tify ate 20 an ly 22 d c . on nin tai e na

cryptologists figured out how to replicate the German Enigma machine and decipher their secret codes. By 1942, the Allies were reading 4,000 Enigma intercepts per day, which helped circumvent German U-boat raids on supply convoys. “It was a textbook example of military intelligence done right and of the impacts of revolutions in cryptography. It is likely the first major example of what modern signals intelligence work looks like,” Senior Andrew Konstant said. Outside of its military usage, decoding secret communication has been a means for humanity to uncover the past. After embarking on a year-long project of deciphering archival documents listed as “Italian texts” in France’s national library, an amateur group of codebreakers made the startling discovery that they were coded letters written by Mary, Queen of Scots, while she was imprisoned. In The New York Times, Israeli computer scientist George Lasry, one of the codebreakers, explained that the process of decoding the 50,000 words written in the letters was painstakingly complex as her cipher was composed of 200 symbols representing names, letters and numbers. The group’s findings were released on Feb. 8, providing historians with a deeper understanding of earlier ciphering techniques and Mary’s own preoccupations. Furthermore, cryptography plays a salient role in cybersecurity, protecting home addresses, credit card numbers and other sensitive information. According to The Washington Post, when states began passing bans on abortion following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, a Nebraska mom and her teen daughter, who had received an abortion procedure, faced criminal charges—supported by data from private Messenger conversations that Meta had willingly turned over to prosecutors. Protecting unwanted agencies from accessing personal data is difficult, but there are steps that can be taken to minimize the risk. Users can chat through apps with

Com pile

Exchanging an inside joke scrawled in invisible ink with a best friend. Completing hard level word scrambles for fun. Translating the Fantasian alphabet in Geronimo Stilton’s Kingdom of Fantasy series. Decoding cryptograms in the Gravity Falls end credits to get a highlyanticipated next-episode sneak peek. Growing up, kids are exposed to countless forms of secret communication that have practical, real-world applications—such as protecting company data from cyber attacks or ensuring private correspondence between military or government organizations. During World War II, both the Allied and Axis powers transmitted crucial commercial, diplomatic and military information using advanced cipher devices that encrypted messages through an electrical current passed through spinning wheels. However, while the German Enigma machine featured three rotors, the United States’ SIGABA included 15 rotors, making it far less susceptible to cryptologists, or expert codebreakers that analyze data and patterns to decipher secret communication. This difference proved to be consequential for the Allies. According to the National Museum of the United States Air Force, in the 1930s, Polish

February 15, 2023 issue

Articles inside

Art by Vishnu Kumar IG: @vishudhevkumarvdk7

U.S. women’s soccer: A sport for White America

NFL fumbles safety: Damar Hamlin’s near-fatal injury

The toll of China’s Zero-COVID policy

Grassroots organizations at the forefront of change

Nuclear Future Slippery slopes for European ski resorts

Spirituality

Club rush: Changes in club constitution

Lost in memory

All terrain-wheelchairs blaze new trails at state parks

Noma’s closing: Reckoning with the realities of fine dining

Andrew Tate: Face of media misogyny

Avatar: The way of white saviorism

Gas stoves ignite heated debates

Recruitment ruse: Tricking teens into enlistment

The right to replace planned obsolescence

An unfair trade: The Brittney Griner prisoner swap

Embracing differences: The importance of diversity in friend groups

Maintaining a balance: The powerful influence of friends

A degree of change for UC workers