Feb. 16, 2022 Issue

The CHARGER

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

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Vol. T No. 4

Wednesday, February 16, 2021 Leland High School 6677 Camden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95120 The myth of young business prodigies on page

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Genetically modified pig heart transplanted into a human being

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on page

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James Webb Telescope begins its cosmic voyage 7

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DESIGN BY MIRANDA LU

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KENNETH YANG ART

Quotebox: Why did you decide to participate in the talent show?

“I plan on participating in the talent show with two different groups: 3K and 4K. For 3K, I will be singing a hip-hop song by Gray and Mino called ‘Breathe’ and in 4K, I will be dancing to ‘Lemonade’ by NCT 127. I am excited for the performance because I enjoy listening to these songs.” —Sophomore Andy Kwak

“Bollywood dance runs in my family—I started doing it when I was three and my mom also used to dance. I am excited to perform a routine in the talent show with Naach because I love dancing and I enjoy working with my team members. The experience of practicing with them made preparing for the show especially fun.” —Junior Nora Thomas

“I decided to audition for the school talent show because I enjoy singing in front of large crowds. I usually do not have the opportunity to sing in front of a lot of people, so I thought participating in the talent show would be a great chance for me to do that.”

—Senior Yacoub Ajlouni

“I have been dancing for five years, and I decided to participate in the school talent show because I want to express my love for dance and share Naach’s routines with everyone. My club members and I have been practicing everyday after-school to prepare.”

—Freshman Saanvi Khanna T SUVIA LI AR

Compiled by Tammy Newman, Staff Writer

While students often see school as a place to learn and improve their academic skills, the talent show provides them with an opportunity to display their unique talents and interests.

Aired online last year due to COVID-19 regulations, the show will return to its original in-person setting in the cafeteria this year on Feb. 17 and 18.

The switch in format is not the only difference between this year and previous years’ talent shows. Instead of creating a panel to critique acts, the Associated Student Body (ASB) opted for a new audience-interactive system to decide the winners of the talent show. With this new approach, viewers can vote for their favorite solo talent and group performances, helping to determine which acts should receive awards for each category.

Auditions for the talent show took place from Jan. 19 to 26 during tutorial and

after school in the cafeteria and GBA. Students displayed their skills in five minute acts, which were judged by the talent show’s event chairs—Junior Ariana Amato and Senior Ken Alexopoulos. After being notified of their results a week following their audition, students began actively preparing for their performance.

The school’s singing club, Glee, is one of the groups that will be participating in the show. With a total of seven performers in their act, the club plans to sing the song “The Other Side” from the 2017 movie-musical “The Greatest Showman.”

Freshman Sienna Lee, Secretary of Glee Club, will perform with her club in the talent show. Lee has maintained her love for singing since joining her elementary school choir in third grade.

In middle school, she honed her skills by singing in her school’s concert chorale.

To prepare for the show, Lee arranged practices and learned all parts of the song to help members who were struggling.

“I am excited to carry on my club’s tradition of performing in the talent show and to do it with people who enjoy singing just as much as I do. Through the act, my club members and I hope to showcase our talent and encourage others to join Glee,” Lee said.

In addition to Glee, 4K will also be participating in the talent show. 18 members in the club, including Freshman Aidan Longtin, were split into two groups, and they will each be performing a separate dance cover—one by Twice and the other by NCT 127. Longtin has been dancing for seven years, and he hopes to express his passion for dance through his participation in the show.

“I look forward to showcasing 4K’s dancing and my love for performing. I am confident that my incredibly talented groupmates and I will do amazing at the show—we have practiced in several two-hour-long sessions to prepare for it,” Longtin said.

In anticipation of the show, ASB has been advertising on social media, encouraging students to come and support their classmates.

Many students, including Senior Maxwell Wu, have already made plans to attend and see their peers showcase their talents.

“I am looking forward to watching 4K perform because I always see them practicing diligently after school. Their dedication, confidence and coordination are amazing and I want to see the results of their hard work, Wu said.

The school talent show will display the student body’s diverse range of skills and interests and offer parents, staff and other students the opportunity to see the performers’ routines and support them by voting for their favorite acts.

SUVIA LI ART

1 NEWS

4 OPINIONS

6 ENT. & LIFESTYLE

8 VIEWPOINT 10 IR

11 FEATURES 14 SPORTS 16 LAST WORD

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FEBRUARY 16, 2022

NEWS An annual tradition continues: Preparing for the school’s Bridge Night

DESIGN BY LARRY YE

Sophia Qin

Staff Writer

Bridge Night, parent volunteers, students and performers came together to plan for the event.

Due to the various tasks that needed to be completed in preparation for the night of the event, 13 board members shared the responsibilities. To ensure that the event proceeded smoothly, the board members planned performance auditions, volunteer training, raffle prizes, advertisement sponsorships, stage decorations and food distributions.

Performances and auditions are a big part of Bridge Night: the event features dances, songs and comedic acts. Performers who passed the audition, many of whom are students at the school, DESIREE VU-DE LEON PHOTO followed a two-week rehearsal period, where they practiced Freshman Emily Liu tunes her guqin for the show. their performances in the school’s The school’s Bridge Night is an cafeteria before the real show. Freshman annual fundraising event that supports Joshua Yan was one of the performers Bridge Club, an organization of Chinese in this year’s Bridge Night. Yan hoped to American families who are involved in express himself by performing a hip-hop school-wide activities. With 20 years of dance piece with his team. prior experience hosting Bridge Night, the organizers welcome students and community members to celebrate the Lunar New Year. To prepare for the 21st

“Bridge Night reminds me of the community I am in, and I was excited to share my skills and love for dance with my community. Although I just started dancing last semester, with the help of my mentor, I was able to overcome my stage fright,” Yan said.

In addition to performances, volunteers played a crucial role in executing a successful event. Student volunteers helped with several tasks before and during Bridge Night. For example, volunteers were involved with backstage coordination, stage decoration, donation booths and food booths. One of the volunteers, Sophomore Elaine Ju, helped with the donation booth and stage decoration.

“Volunteering for Bridge Night was extremely important to me because I wanted to give back to my community.

Additionally, being able to learn more about my culture is fascinating,” Ju said.

Student volunteers that helped with Bridge Night came together to perform a finale dance at the end of the event. The choreographers taught the volunteers during their two-week training sessions to help the students

prepare for the stage. This year’s choreographers, Freshman Sophia Qin and Sophomore Sarah Sun, created a dance to a four-minute Chinese song.

The Master of Ceremonies (MCs) performed the finale dance as well, leading the other volunteers at the front of the stage. Besides contributing to the dance and introducing the shows, the MCs made sure that the event ran smoothly. Since they had been attending daily rehearsals and thoroughly communicating with the backstage crew, the MCs believed they were on track for an excellent performance.

“This year, we had a lot of interesting and compelling instruments and dances, all of which I am sure everyone enjoyed. Furthermore, there were special guests who spoke with us during the event,” Senior Jasper Wu, one of Bridge Night’s MCs, said.

Even though the guests, performers and volunteers had to follow new COVID-19 protocols, the Bridge Club envisioned this year’s Bridge Night to be just as great as previous years’. The performers are excited to encourage students and parents to participate in school-related activities and support the school’s fundraising efforts.

COURTESY OF YONGCHUN GONG From Senior

left to Selina

right: James Tsou, Lion Lu, Junior Daniel Tsai,

Dance Senior

Coach, Sean

Junior Jeffrey Zheng, Junior Greg Yang and Dalston Chan pose for

Chu, Freshman Anthony Xie, Sophomore Aiden Ren, a picture after a successful Lion Dance practice.

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

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COMMUNITY NEWS

DESIGN BY LARRY YE

Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love

Quotebox: What are your thoughts on California’s new compost law?

Compiled by Suvia Li and Sophia Qin Staff Writers

“I think this bill will be successful because is waste organic usually dumped into creating landfills, methane gas that is extremely harmful to the earth. Separating trash will slow down global warming and alleviate pollution.”

—Freshman Vedika Byakod

“I support this plan because of the benefits it will have on the environment, and I can see it becoming a positive long-term change for the world.”

—Sophomore Yunnah Moon

“The redu bill garb ce the will d amo efinitely succ age in l e a s n s dfi unt on h u ow w ltimate lls, but of i ell it ly de pe ts i Sanj —Jun s enforc nds ana ed.”

Subrior ama nyan

“The law is beneficial, but it should have implemented been sooner. Americans generate a lot of food waste each year, so the law will make a huge difference.”

—Senior Hannah Moon

California tackles methane emissions with a new compost law

Imran Shaikh

Staff Writer

There are three types of waste bins in California: a black bin for garbage, a blue bin for recycling and a green bin for composting. Now, due to the passing of Senate Bill 1383 on Jan. 1, Californians will need to utilize the green bin more often. This bill aims to reduce methane emissions by removing food, green waste and other organic materials from California’s landfills. By 2025, the policy aims to decrease the state’s levels of organic waste by 75%.

In the past decade, California sought to cut methane emissions by converting the gas into usable energy through methane digesters. Methane digesters produce byproducts that can be used for heat energy, electricity, fertilizer or animal bedding. This law was initially part of Senate Bill 1383 when it was first passed in 2016. Now, the organic waste aspects are being added to the bill.

In California, landfills are the third largest producer of methane.

According to CalRecycle—the state agency in charge of recycling—half of the content in landfills is organic material, such as cardboard, paper, yard trimmings and food scraps. As these materials decompose,

they release methane, forming 20% of its emissions in the state.

To reduce the emission numbers, Senate Bill 1383 demands each Californian jurisdiction to supply all businesses and residents with organic waste collection. Additionally, each jurisdiction must educate its residents and businesses about the organic waste collection requirements.

Currently, the most common organic waste collection method is curbside compost bins, which is present in San Francisco, Berkeley and several neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

“My family will reduce some of our waste due to this bill. Right now, we do not waste a lot of food, but we can always do a better job. I am planning on getting a compost bin for my garden to be more eco-friendly,” Junior Brian Jackson said.

One major obstacle to the implementation of Senate Bill 1383 is compost infrastructure. CalRecycle received $170 million for composting in 2021 and 2022, $60 million of which were distributed among cities to help them implement the new bill. However, CalRecycle estimates that the state will require over 100 composting facilities to reach the bill’s goal of a 75% reduction of organic waste in landfills by 2025.

The cost to maintain these facilities could potentially reach billions of dollars.

“While I would like to believe that the bill will help reduce food waste, I m a y Claire Ph Compiled b think it is not being Staff Writer advertised well.

There has not been much coverage about 131 students polled it, and when I asked my family members, none of them had ever heard No s Ye of it. Unfortunately, 84% 16% people will not follow a law if they do not know it exists,” Sophomore KAILEY HU ART Rachel Jirman said.

st?

o Poll: Do you comp

To encourage both individuals and jurisdictions to follow the bill, California will impose fines on those who do not abide by it. These fines will not be enforced until 2024, but residents and businesses could potentially face fines of up to $500 if they do not comply. Moreover, Public Information Officer Joe Conroy of Bakersfield stated that areas like Bakersfield could experience penalties of up to $10,000 a day for not following the rules.

“While this bill has good intentions, some families could have difficulty following it because they may not have the time to sort their trash. In addition, people might have a difficult time adjusting from their previous routine where they defaulted to throwing all of their waste into one bin,” Freshman Suhan Lai said.

Although it is not its primary objective, Senate Bill 1383 also works to address food insecurity. The bill requires businesses like grocery stores and food distributors to give their leftover edible food to food banks or recovery organizations. Currently, only food distributors, wholesale food vendors, supermarkets and food service providers are mandated to follow this section of the bill, but

by Jan. 1, 2024, the bill will apply to more businesses, such as health facilities, hotels with on-site food facilities and restaurants with over 250 seats. This policy aims to help the one in four adults and one in three children of the world who suffer from food insecurity.

Senate Bill 1383 hopes to reduce California’s methane emissions, help those without enough food and convert some of the methane produced into renewable energy so the planet can have a cleaner, healthier environment. While the feasibility of acquiring enough funding and reaching the goal of decreasing organic waste in landfills by 75% in 2025 raises concerns, the new law presents an opportunity for Californians to contribute to their communities.

Nicole Mui Staff Writer

As rosy petals fluttered, cameras shuttered and spray-painted hearts drifted in the background, models in a 90’s Parisian runway show strolled down walkways wearing ruby-red clothing. The seasonal items the models wore—translucent veils, heart-shaped corsets and floral bouquets—displayed seasonal couture. Due to these designs’ groundbreaking cultural effect, they were exhibited at the Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love exhibit in the de Young Museum from Oct. 23 to April 24.

When the show drew to an end, the designer joined the models and was greeted with applause. Patrick Kelly is the first African-American fashion designer admitted to the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture. While the music swelled and dancing began, Kelly’s blissful energy excited the audience as they gleamed at each piece he crafted.

Kelly’s visions for his designs began at a young age: his exposure to fashion magazines as a child and his grandmother’s persistent sewing inspired him to make clothes more accessible to Black women. The first several stands in the exhibit showed mannequins wearing a litany of colorful buttons in various patterns.

Disk-shaped, cyan blue buttons were repurposed as earrings, vibrantly mixed colors were sewn in the shape of a cardigan and white plastic buttons were plastered along dresses to spell his name.

Despite limited finances, Kelly is viewed as innovative because his works involve slim silhouettes of seamless dresses. In his 1985 collection, Kelly and Studio Invention experimented with fleece jackets and red spandex dresses pressed with plastic pearls to flaunt his unique patterns.

Kelly’s most common branding is the golliwog, a cocoa-toned face with bright eyes and red lips historically used to ostracize Black people, which he fashions onto his 1986 pieces.

Along the opposite end stood his 1988 piece, a skirt blooming with rows of red bandanas. This represents Kelly’s bold narrative of “Aunt Jemima,” a stereotyped image of Black domestic workers.

By rebranding racist memorabilia, Kelly hopes to challenge anti-Black ideologies.

After viewing articles of clothing in the Runway of Love exhibit, I was initially delighted by the diversity of patterns matching Kelly’s persona.

However, despite analyzing garments to understand Kelly’s intent, the gallery lacked context around his personality, focusing primarily on the fabrics of each item rather than his unique perspectives or background. Kelly’s narratives on racist memorabilia, for example, appeared off-putting due to the lack of explanation. Despite these shortcomings, the gallery’s descriptions of clothing, materials and designs were pivotal to understanding 90’s couture.

Patrick Henry: Runway of Love (3/5)

a monumental experience

+ unique designs + lighthearted music and lighting - lacking context

4

OPINIONS Keirah Chen

FEBRUARY 16, 2022

The myth of young business prodigies

DESIGN BY RAYMOND DAI

Entertainment & Student Spotlight Editor

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 Ashley Lee, Aileen Xie, Cindy Zhao, Nancy Zheng ART AND PHOTO DIRECTORS Beomhee Kim, Julia Nakanishi NEWS EDITORS Miranda Lu, Larry Ye OPINIONS EDITOR Raymond Dai FEATURE EDITORS Manasa Sriraj, Pavana Upadhyaya VIEWPOINT AND LAST WORD EDITORS Yong Ooi, Breanna Lu ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFESTYLE EDITORS Keirah Chen, Miranda Lu INVESTIGATIVE REPORT EDITOR Breanna Lu SPORTS EDITOR Pavana Upadhyaya STUDENT SPOTLIGHT EDITOR Keirah Chen AD MANAGER Nancy Zheng MEDIA MANAGER Cindy Zhao ADVISOR Elaine Ngo COMMUNITY CIRCULATION Parent Club and Leland Bridge STAFF WRITERS Isaac Ang Daniel Lin Dhruv Anish Nicole Mui Aaron Dalton Tammy Newman Sophia Qin Imran Shaikh Suvia Li Kevin Zhang ARTISTS Daniel Choi Desiree Vu De Leon Quincy Han Suvia Li Kailey Hu Dana Lim Ellie Kim Jude Tantawy Inseo Kim Kenneth Yang PHOTOGRAPHERS Bertina Fan Desiree Vu De Leon MEDIA TEAM Jeehee Kim Claire Pham 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/advertisewith-us. The Charger Account is distributed to the Leland community free of cost.

The Charger Account Feb. 16 | Vol. T. No. 4

Recently accused of 11 federal charges, Elizabeth Holmes is eligible to face up to 20 years in prison after the Wall Street Journal exposed the deception behind her start-up company Theranos and its blood-testing machines. Holmes’ story has further tarnished the shining image of Silicon Valley’s aspiring entrepreneurs; the Valley’s quintessential discipline of pushing young individuals toward success—regardless of the individual’s qualifications— made it possible for Holmes to quickly launch Theranos into fame.

However, many scandals regarding startup companies have swept over Silicon Valley, credited to its history of believing in young business prodigies despite their lack of credentials.

Holmes had promised the public that Theranos could run hundreds of medical tests with just one drop of blood, but it was found that they were using other companies’ machines to achieve this. Such lies allowed Holmes to reel in business investors easily, making her the youngest self-made woman billionaire— her company was worth $9 billion by the time she turned 30.

Lily Robotics is another example of a company that boasted false achievements.

Founded in 2013 by two college undergraduates, the company emerged when both sought to create a quadcopter camera drone. They raised over $15 million in funds after publicizing videos of an autonomous, video-capturing drone in 2015. Two years later, the company filed for bankruptcy when it was exposed that their drone never existed. With these accusations curtailing their funds, Lily Robotics failed to refund everyone involved. Similarly, Holmes has not compensated her patients, revealing how these frauds curse both the tricksters and the tricked.

Public news’ constant search and coverage of Silicon Valley’s affairs illustrates its obsession over new startup companies and their young leaders.

Reporters write eye-catching headlines questioning whether young CEOs are scammers or geniuses. However, the media also reinforces the hype around new company founders, evidenced by business publications like Forbes having “under-30” young entrepreneur lists.

According to Business Insider, these showcase individuals who started a company before turning 30, leading to fallacious associations of entrepreneurship with youth.

“Even though the media is filled with success stories from people as young as teenagers, there is no age limit on when someone becomes successful. This concept that one must attain life success by a certain age can negatively impact people’s mental health. It is hard to not compare yourself to those covered by the news, but it is important to consider that you are still capable of achieving success regardless of age,” Junior Helen Tran said.

Media’s portrayal that anyone can become rich by a young age intensifies the pressure young people place on themselves, even encouraging some to lie about their age to fabricate a reputation of early success. Such misdeeds are fruitless—the idea of the “perfect young prodigy” is a myth. A study done by the Harvard Business Review found 45 to be the average age of when successful founders created their company. This distorted embellishment of younger investors perpetuates age bias, which can lead to older citizens being denied

Ethical editing

Reconciling advancement with moral considerations

jobs out of this false narrative that age and competency are inversely related.

Furthermore, the public’s fixation on young prodigies is emotionally harmful, often instigating feelings of inferiority amongst older individuals who feel they do not possess the badge of “young success.”

Self-defeatingly, young individuals feel pressured to equate their capabilities with those of prodigies.

“While people achieving goals like founding a company before the age of 30 are incredibly impressive, their qualifications are important. Young business prodigies make for inspiring stories, but the fact that someone started a company in their 20s can appear misleading as they can only gain so much expertise in that amount of time. Older business leaders, having more experience, should be seen as more trustworthy,” Freshman Daniel Fogg said.

The lies told by some entrepreneurs cast a negative light on all those professionally-ambitious, making it difficult for anyone interested in starting a business. Stories like those of Theranos and other failed start-up companies can serve as cautionary tales for both investors and consumers going forward.

BEOMHEE KIM ART

November/December issue corrections

The Charger Account Editorial Staff

The human condition is often hardwired to navigate an unpredictable world in fragile, sometimes diseaseridden bodies. Since the advent of gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9, hope has dawned for those with previously untreatable illnesses through medical innovations such as gene therapy and RNA editing. Although genome editing techniques such as CRISPR have the potential to improve one’s life, they come with considerable risks and should be approached with caution.

Persisting over five decades, the ethical debate on human genome editing (HGE) reached consensus that genetic alterations should be limited to not affect reproductive cells. Due to its advanced DNA recognition and RNA editing capabilities, HGE has been commonly used to research cures of human diseases including cancer. In 2010, leukemia patient Doug Olson underwent a CAR-T gene therapy procedure, where doctors genetically modified Olson’s white blood cells to locate and attack cancer cells; he has had no sign of cancer since the treatment, per the Associated Press.

However, if HGE is used on reproductive cells to manipulate human

embryos, unintended, irreversible changes can occur in their chromosomes and continue onto future generations.

In 2020, when Columbia University researchers used CRISPR to alter human embryos, entire chromosomes were wiped out. Moreover, the chance of these consequences occurring is heightened due to a lack of research around gene-editing—according to the CRISPR Journal’s study of 106 countries, only 23 allowed laboratory research in modifying embryos; only 11 permitted scientists to edit genomes. With narrow research, scientists cannot predict the potential problems that may transpire from gene-editing.

Synthetically knitting together a living being is synonymous with God’s creation of man, but with one difference; it is not man’s original image, but a utopian ideal that “designer babies” are modeled after. When attempting to alchemize perfection, genetic modifiers forget that there is no perfect mathematical equation for a human paradigm; identity comes from a synchronization of strengths and flaws. Our neurons and DNA are more than origins of illness—they form who we are. By manipulating them, we reject the human condition itself.

Regardless, science is bound to advance and challenge new frontiers— gene-editing is not an exception.

Henceforth, we must be pragmatic, taking responsibility for our scientific ventures while avoiding selfish incentives along the way.

Opinions: When competition undermines unity: • “their” should be replaced with “its” in the last paragraph.

Entertainment: “Dune”: • “for” should be replaced with “of” in the last paragraph.

Lifestyle: Decades of war leave a lasting mark on the elephant population: • “in” should be deleted in the last sentence of the first paragraph.

Viewpoint: Behind the scenes: The making of a tabletop RPG: • “Kickstarter” should be capitalized in the second to last sentence of the fourth paragraph.

• An apostrophe should be inserted after “characters” at the start of the second paragraph.

Feature School: Outward Realms: An escape from reality: • “is” should be replaced with “are” in the second sentence of the first paragraph.

Sports: Athletic dress codes exacerbate gender inequality: • “judgement” should be spelled as “judgment” in the second sentence of the eighth paragraph.

For the full list of errors, visit thechargeraccount.com

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

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OPINIONS

DESIGN BY RAYMOND DAI

Suvia Li

The rise of lab-grown meat

Over the last decade, lab-grown, or cultured meat has surfaced to the public’s eye due to its potential to improve the environmental and ethical concerns of traditional meat production. The meat industry’s immoral treatment of farm animals and contribution to climate change make it unsustainable long-term.

Lab-grown meat provides an alternative for those who enjoy eating meat but are concerned with the problems traditional meat brings.

Cultured meat is made by collecting cells from tissues in farm animals, then cultivating them in a lab to replicate the muscle structures of flesh, eventually forming a palpable lump of meat. Initially developed for food security, lab-grown meat is different from plant-based meats: The latter is created from a combination of soy protein, potato protein and plant oils and contains no animal parts, while cultured meat still contains animal cells.

Traditional meat production’s damage on the environment makes lab-grown meat a more sustainable substitute. An investigation by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations revealed that the meat industry accounts for 14.5% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

In contrast, manufacturing cultured meat releases 96% less greenhouse gas than traditional meat, as evidenced in a 2011 study by the University of Oxford.

Irony lies in the fact that the preparation of meat has contributed to misuse of water and agricultural produce.

One kilogram of beef alone requires 15 thousand liters of water to produce, as discovered by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The value that comes from traditional meat

does not warrant the excessive draining of the global water supply. Additionally, researchers from the University of Minnesota found that only half of the world’s crop yield is being consumed by people; a large portion is used to feed livestock. Meat production’s inefficiency makes it unsupportable; converting to labgrown meat not only reduces the world’s water expenditure but can free the land used to raise animals.

“Climate change, an ever-growing issue in today’s society, changes weather and temperatures and harms wildlife. If made accessible, I recommend switching to eating lab-grown meat for people who want to help with this issue but do not know where to start. Changing our eating habits is conducive to helping curb climate change,” Sophomore Emma Duong said.

Regarding moral conscience, industrial animal farming has a history of unethical procedures. Although killing animals for meat is not necessarily wrong—being embedded in humans’ biological nature for survival—the way animals are treated in the modern meat industry is loathsome.

Animals are confined,

“A Long Petal of the Sea” Staff Writer

mutilated, separated from their children and forcefully bred.

While lab-grown meat is produced differently than traditional meat, its components and nutritional value are no different. Both are high in cholesterol and saturated fat while being rich in salubrious nutrients including iron and vitamin B. Although it is not flawless, cultured meat rivals the nutritional composition of its traditional counterpart, so consumers can replace their traditional diets with labgrown meat without any dietary losses.

“I would be willing to switch to eating lab-grown meat because it is better for the environment and prevents immoral treatment of livestock. However, there may be people unwilling to try it because it feels unnatural to them to consume something genetically modified,” Sophomore David Kim said.

Even though lab-grown meat is perfectly edible, hesitancy toward cultured meat is likely. People may refuse to eat food grown in a lab, even choosing to pay more for natural, organic products. The price gap between organic and inorganic foods perpetuates a stigma where people tend to associate more expensive products with higher quality.

Informing the public about the overwhelming benefits that labgrown meat has on animals and the environment, as well as the process of cultured meat, can reframe negative appraisals of lab-produced food, potentially encouraging countless people to make the conscientious decision to switch their diets.

DANIEL CHOI ART

China’s masculinity campaign raises concerns about identity

Dhruv Anish and Nicole Mui

Aiming to achieve a cultural revolution, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), censored representation of Chinese idols in September 2021 as part of his campaign to reinstate traditional views of masculinity. By trying to protect young men from being “corrupted” by effeminacy, what defines a “man” has shifted away from a fixation on being a strong and silent family presence, increasing societal pressure on young boys to mold themselves into this socially contrived ideal.

Blurring images of men with earrings, dyed hair and makeup in Chinese media, alongside forming long-term plans to implement intensive physical education programs were all efforts taken by the Chinese Education Ministry to promote its perception of masculinity.

BBC News reports that Si Zefu, one of China’s delegate body members, finds that representations of more effeminate men hamper male strength, discouraging skills of governance which endangers the nation’s economic and political strength.

However, much of the Chinese public strongly opposes the restrictions, arguing that they villainize men for showing emotion and individuality.

“The Chinese government’s censorship is rooted in representational stereotypes—by believing men make China socio-politically stronger as compared to women, which perpetuates the idea that men must exert authority and suppress traits associated with sensitivity,” Sophomore Eric Yue said.

Staff Writers

However, such notions do not reflect Psych Central states that starting China’s values alone—they question conversations specific to each person’s universal ideologies of manhood. experiences can reconfigure masculinity Masculinity is commonly as a valuable quality that supports unique desired as an admirable identities, regardless of gender. As NPR quality for its virtues of reports, movements like the Masculinity strength, independence and Action Project have harbored healthy resilience. However, radical discussions around intimate topics such attitudes toward masculinity as empathy and gender expression that associate it with hostility. reframe male identities as a self-determined Men are viewed as “toxic” for intertwining of values, whether those repressing empathy, yet values be masculine or feminine. paradoxically weak for “Reconstructing beliefs of expressing how they feel. masculinity could drastically change Many young men are what expectations men and boys feel troubled with existential the need to conform to, creating space crises either because they for individuals to feel more secure about feel they failed to meet these hyper- their identity,” Freshman Jay Li said. stylized standards, or because of guilt To defeat distorted views of manhood caused by the societal backlash they as aggressive, one must recognize that face for fulfilling them. Those who lack masculinity itself is not something a father figure to model after, defined as to be ashamed of. The integration of “dad deprivation,” experience extreme vulnerability, compassion and kindness confusion on understanding their gender aligns with feminist movements that identity. Dr. Warren Farrell, educator encourage women to adopt on men’s and women’s issues, traditionally masculine states that paternal absence also characteristics, balancing lessens the likelihood of boys the two interdependent developing the discipline for conditions. Only through self-accomplishment, leading to accepting masculinity as a set of feelings of purposelessness. This nonexclusive traits can young persistent dejection increases men nurture their personhood. risks of depression and suicide.

With that achieved, today’s Questioning the core of generations can bridge the gap male self-expression and between men and women manifestation allows men and allow for freedom to accept themselves in expressing both while simultaneously masculine and rewriting the blackfeminine qualities, and-white constructs creating a more BEOMHEE KIM ART of gender stereotypes. inclusive culture.

Pavana Upadhyaya Feature School & Sports Editor

Spanning two dictatorship regimes and 60 years, Isabel Allende’s 25th book, “A Long Petal of the Sea,” traces the hardship and suffering of a family after exile.

Amidst the tensions of the Spanish Civil War in Barcelona, Victor Dalmau, a bookish medical student, is at the frontlines of battle, assisting Republican soldiers as a doctor in the fight against General Franco’s fascist forces. His brother Guilem, a soldier fighting for the Republic, tragically dies in battle. After losing his brother, Victor resolves to move out of Spain, bringing Guilem’s pregnant girlfriend, Roser, with him on a ship to Chile.

Victor and Roser find themselves starting from scratch in a new country rocked by political turmoil.

The book’s strength lies in Roser’s character, whose experiences exemplify the arduousness of immigrants adapting to a new country. When first introduced, she is a piano prodigy living in Victor’s parents’ house. Leaving Spain does not just mean leaving home—it also means relinquishing her piano career.

Growing up, Roser was abandoned by her parents—her talent for piano was her source of emotional refuge. Unlike Victor, who is able to resume his career in Chile, Roser must contract a new occupation of owning a pub for financial sufficiency. Though she enjoys being a restaurant owner, music remains her true passion. Moreover, the country’s strict gender roles stifle Roser’s freedom, giving insight into the lengths immigrants, particularly female refugees, had to undertake to integrate themselves into society.

Despite the struggle of immigrating to a new country with stricter societal norms, Roser and Victor later find themselves inexplicably tied to Chile.

When political tensions escalate and result in a coup, the couple is forced to flee the country they had just acclimated to. Even though they faced hardship arriving in Chile, both Victor and Roser cannot fathom leaving.

Their story represents one that many immigrants experience: the paradox of struggling to fit into a new culture, yet nesting themselves in this culture they call home.

While the plot itself was gripping, Allende’s writing style became tiring to read, employing detached, impersonal writing. The book’s second half feels like a contrived list of events that happen to the characters, rather than an immersive analysis of each characters’ lives.

Overall, “A Long Petal of Sea” is an interesting read that explores the complexities of immigration through the eyes of two refugees.

“A Long Petal of the Sea” (4/5)

bookmarked

+ well written characters + immersive plot - writing at the end is uninteresting

6

ENTERTAINMENT “Licorice Pizza”

FEBRUARY 16, 2022 DESIGN BY KEIRAH CHEN

Pursuing meaningful reform: Hollywood boycotts Golden Globes 2022

Tammy Newman

Staff Writer

Dhruv Anish

Staff Writer

ART

+ whimsical score + hilariously funny - problematic age difference

inequality, revealing that while they had a number of people of color, there was not a single Black member out of the 87.

This time, Hollywood shunned the Globes’ ethical missteps: NBC refused to broadcast the award show, celebrities boycotted the show and PR firms called off deals with HFPA. Famously, Tom Cruise returned three of his Golden Globes; Scarlett Johansson, who was nominated for five Golden Globes in the past, urged other celebrities to boycott the show, further claiming the HFPA would often make sexist inquiries in public interviews that made her uncomfortable.

Collectively, Hollywood added pressure.

HU

reel-ing it in

”...while the HFPA had a number of people of color, there was not a single Black member...”

“The HFPA’s unethical behavior and lack of diversity in nominations are clear indicators that the show must be fundamentally changed. NBC was right to cancel the Golden Globes and refuse to stream it as it provides them with an incentive to reform,” Junior Eric Lien said.

In response to the backlash, the HFPA hired its first chief diversity officer and swore to reform their rules for accepting gifts. Promising to publish a membership list for transparency, they also added 21 new members to their organization— making 29% of their journalists black— and began accepting foreign journalists who are based across the U.S. Despite the reforms, large companies have pledged to cut ties with the HFPA until they make meaningful changes to the group’s demographics. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos announced his company’s leave in a letter on May 6, noting the “collective failure” of the HFPA to address their problems urgently, with Amazon Studios and WarnerMedia chiming in shortly after.

What lies ahead of the Golden Globes is unclear, but the HFPA seems to be making active changes. Nonetheless, celebrities and companies are anticipating an authentic change from the organization and will continue placing pressure until they see substantial reform.

LEY

“Licorice Pizza” (4/5)

luxury resort by Paramount Network, the show’s production company.

“I was not surprised when I heard that the Golden Globes was not being televised this year. I have watched the award show in the past, but I stopped watching when I heard about all its scandals, like with Pia Zadora and Sharon Stone,” Junior Ariana Amato said.

Meanwhile, a L.A. Times investigation last February spotlighted the HFPA’s culture of corruption and demographic

KAI

Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson has made some of the most profound and thought-provoking contributions to cinema in the 21st century. His characters are fundamentally flawed, revealing raw emotions. However, if “Licorice Pizza” was your introduction to Anderson’s films, it would be hard to discern the director’s cinematic quirks present in his previous works.

“Licorice Pizza” is Anderson at his most carefree, perfectly encapsulated in 1973 San Fernando Valley where the story takes place.

It stars Cooper Hoffman as Gary Valentine, a 15-year-old child actor who meets Alana Kane, a school photographer played by Alana Haim.

Together, the two prance around the valley, sell waterbeds, start an arcade and audition for commercials, all while falling in love with one another.

Contrasting Anderson’s previous films, “Licorice Pizza” is belly-achingly funny. In particular, Bradley Cooper’s Jon Peters, an eccentric Hollywood producer looking to buy a waterbed from Gary and Alana, is a prominent source of entertainment in the film’s second act. His deadpan delivery and erratic behavior wonderfully play off Gary’s ignorance, leading to moments that left me howling with laughter.

The film’s pacing is also consistent, with emotional and comedic beats tying into the narrative. To call composer Jonny Greenwood’s score spectacular is an understatement, orchestrating music that fits the film’s light tone. The performances from all the actors, in particular Hoffman and Haim, are formed from chemistry and an understanding of how to best deliver the witty dialogue. Clever set pieces and attention to detail augment worldbuilding, with period-accurate advertisements, clothing and slang.

Despite all the excitement, “Licorice Pizza” has a problem for which it has faced backlash from fans and critics alike: the age difference between Gary and Alana. After viewing the film, I still do not understand Anderson’s narrative decision to make Gary a teenager and Alana a 25-yearold woman. The film addresses the age disparity and never makes anything disturbing happen between the pair, but knowing the film glorifies a relationship between an adult and a minor was off-putting.

Overall, “Licorice Pizza” is like a summer day—short and sweet—but leaving you with a smile on your face.

Despite the age difference between the two protagonists, I enjoyed the film and think it deserves to be crowned as Anderson’s most unique work.

With NBC refusing to televise the awards show, the 2022 Golden Globes held Jan. 9 had no red carpet, cheering audience or live telecast to announce its winners. For the past eight decades, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) held this annual award show to honor the best in American film and television. Though they started successfully, the organization’s incessant scandals and lack of diversity have prompted major Hollywood players to boycott the show.

In the 1940s, when Hollywood was growing more popular, a trivial group of struggling journalists banded together and formed the HFPA. To advertise and draw celebrities to their organization, they decided to hand out awards, establishing the Golden Globes.

However, as the show grew in popularity, it became mired in scandals.

It started with bribery: In 1982, actress Pia Zadora was named Star of the Year because her husband had dined with the organization, NPR reports. Furthermore, in 1999, comedy actress Sharon Stone was nominated Best Actress in Comedy, after the film company sent the HFPA several costly watches. More recently, the HFPA nominated Netflix’s “Emily in Paris” for the Best Television Series of 2020, which received significant backlash. A later investigation uncovered that more than 30 HFPA members were gifted a trip to a

Tammy Newman

Remembering Maya Angelou on the quarter Staff Writer

Positioned in front of a rising sun, Maya Angelou’s lifts her arms to mirror a bird in flight. Taken from Angelou’s poetry, these symbols are etched on cupronickel as part of the American Women Quarters Program, a new initiative introduced by the U.S. Mint to recognize five notable women for their contributions to American culture.

As a result of this, Angelou, an American civil rights activist and award-winning author, will be the first Black woman to ever be featured on the quarter. Best known for her 1969 memoir, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” Angelou often reflected on her experiences with racism while growing up in the deep South in her writing. She received many honors for her career, including two NAACP Image Awards and a Grammy Award for her poem “On the Pulse of Morning.”

Aside from Angelou, the program also plans on releasing designs for women such as Sally Ride, Wilma Mankiller, Nina Otero and Anna May Wong.

Spotlighting women of color, the program received a positive response from the public: The news of Angelou’s appearance on the quarter began trending on Twitter, with Congresswoman

Barbara Lee commenting that women of color have gone unrecognized for far too long. Wong, for example, is a Chinese American Hollywood movie star and the first Asian American actress to receive

DESIREE VU DE LEON ART international recognition. In the center of her quarter’s design, she rests her chin on her hand, surrounded by the lights of a marquee sign.

Previously, the U.S. had plans to honor the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment by replacing Andrew

Jackson with Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. However, the change has yet to occur, due to controversy surrounding whether it is what Tubman would have wanted for herself—some claim Tubman would not have wanted her face on the money of the country that hurt her people. According to ABC News, however, President Biden is planning on speeding up the effort to put Tubman on the $20 bill.

“The new American Women Quarters program is a shifting point in history where we are finally uplifting women through public recognition. As a woman, this is important to me, because I feel like our efforts are noticed,” Junior Jayna Forman says.

Angelou making her way onto the quarter is a remarkable stepping stone toward gender equality. Plenty of women—Jane Addams, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Emily Dickinson and Angela Davis—have made significant impacts in history, but have not received recognition due to a history of sexism and racism in the U.S. With lifted arms, women are finally welcoming equal recognition through making an appearance on U.S. currency.

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

7

LIFESTYLE

DESIGN BY MIRANDA LU

Re-emergence of foraging redefines human-nature connections

Manasa Sriraj

Deviating from the mainstream approach of purchasing groceries from stores, foragers turn to nature for a cheaper way of acquiring food ingredients—gathering various plants and animals from their local ecosystems to make creative, nutritious and more ecofriendly dishes.

While foraging was key to survival for most of human history, it became stigmatized in the 1900s as a necessity for the poor amid the normalization of grocery stores. However, Business Insider reports that interest in foraging rose sharply at the beginning of the pandemic when food insecurity spiked as fear of blocked supply chains caused hoarding.

Eager to find safe and healthy foods in their surroundings, thousands of internet users began interacting with foragers, who share their experiences via social media.

Although its popularity has only recently hit an all-time high, foraging’s resurgence started much earlier than the pandemic and outside of social media.

According to The Guardian, several Michelin-starred restaurants began incorporating foraged ingredients into their food in the 2010s, and many culinary television shows demonstrated the potential of local wild foods in enhancing typical eats.

In addition to widespread advocacy for foraging from internet influencers, its environmental benefits may be another driving force behind the younger generation’s newfound interest in the activity.

Harvesting local plants decreases reliance on industrialized food production, which pollutes the air, degrades soil and decreases biodiversity. Responsible foraging—which involves refraining from harvesting endangered species and removing plant parts involved in regeneration from the soil—increases biodiversity by introducing more

“[Foraging’s] environmental benefits may be another driving force behind the younger generation’s newfound interest in the activity.” variety in human diets and controlling populations of invasive species through consumption, stated the blog Four Seasons Foraging. Additionally, some young people see foraging as a refreshing outlet from their highly digital lives.

“Foraging allows us to truly witness the natural world hands-on, experiencing how humankind lived for thousands of years,” Sophomore Eshan Velidandla said.

Many foragers, such as Alexis Nikole Nelson and Lateefah Stanford, were introduced to foraging for medicine and food by their families at a young age. Other foragers like Maria Wesserle and Mark Vorderbruggen began foraging after finding that the activity brought them “a deep sense of satisfaction.”

“As a nature enthusiast, I could not turn down the opportunity to learn urban foraging with my

Feature World Editor

friends. My experiences have taught me that there are more edible, versatile plants out there than we are typically told, and this knowledge allows me to make my lessons on plants more immersive,” Sarah Lofgren, Science Department, said.

Challenging racial stereotypes, many people of color have also started practicing foraging as a way to reconnect to a nearly forgotten aspect of their heritage. Nelson, of Black and Iroquois ancestry, explained to NPR that enslaved African Americans foraged in their surroundings to survive and traded their knowledge with Native Americans in the vicinity, as the latter’s traditional lifestyle involved gathering food directly from the land. However, restrictive laws and foraging’s eventual defamation forced Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities to abandon this tradition. With this history in mind, Nelson encourages all BIPOC people to keep their ancestors’ expertise and culture alive by taking up foraging.

Alongside boosting environmental health, foraging also carries several physical and psychological benefits for its practitioners. People who consume wild food receive a broader range of nutrients and obtain exercise through bending, squatting and other forms of physical movement involved in foraging.

Mentally, foragers can continuously expand their knowledge about different plants, learning to be more mindful of the nature around them. They live in the moment to observe how local wildlife looks and behaves, realizing nature’s tendency to openly and generously give in the process.

ELLIE KIM ART

Genetically modified pig heart transplanted into a human being

Aaron Dalton and Yong Ooi

In a groundbreaking surgery daily, reported the U.S. Health Resources completed by the University of Maryland and Services Administration. Of those on Medical Center, David Bennett, a the list, only 3,000 Americans are able to 57-year-old man with terminal heart get a heart transplant and 20% of disease, received a heart transplant those waiting for a heart die from a genetically modified pig. Since or become too sick to receive the operation on Jan. 7, Bennett’s body one. Many others are has been rapidly healing with promising unable to qualify for signs—his cardiovascular condition is the application at all. improving and his body has not shown “Given the organ symptoms of rejecting his new heart. shortage crisis and the need for Bennett agreed to undergo donors, Bennett’s successful xenotransplantation—defined by the surgery could mean that Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as xenotransplantation ends up being used a procedure involving the transplantation out of sheer necessity as it would provide of live cells and organs from a non-human a larger supply of organs,” Senior Ishaan animal to a human recipient—after his Gollamundi said. irregular heartbeat, heart failure and gaps Bennett’s case is not scientists’ in medical history made him ineligible first attempt at animal to human for an artificial heart pump or a donor transplantation. In the 1980s, a baby born heart. Although the surgery risked fatal with hypoplastic left heart syndrome— consequences, the FDA permitted it under which negatively affects blood flow— a “compassionate use” clause, stating that was given a baboon heart. However, such types of treatments are allowed if a the baby’s immune system attacked the patient with a life-threatening condition new heart, killing the baby after three has no other option. weeks. More recently, in September 2021, Currently, to receive an organ a gene-edited pig kidney was successfully transplant, applicants must first fill out a transplanted into a brain dead patient with form, after which their name is placed kidney failure by the University of on a waiting list. Due to Alabama at Birmingham. a chronic shortage of Due to the human body’s organ donors, this proven tendency to reject waitlist is increasing transplanted organs, the with each new pig heart used in Bennet’s day, resulting surgery was genetically in a backlog of altered by Revivicor, a roughly 106,000 regenerative medicine Americans with firm that genetically around 17 dying modifies pigs to DANIELL CHOI ART

Bertucelli’s La Villa

Staff Writer and Viewpoint Editor

reduce the possibility of rejection by the the transplant’s recipient. Additionally, following the recent success in pig organ transplants, studies have focused on pigs because of the genetic and size similarities between pig and human organs, as well as consistent empirical success in human heart procedures involving pig heart valves.

Despite the potential it holds for people in need of organ transplants, opinions surrounding xenotransplantation are mixed. Some have raised ethical concerns, including animal rights group Animal Aid which protests the procedure, asserting that animals have a right to life without being genetically altered and killed. Others with a more moderate stance like Dr. Katrien Devolder, a bioethics fellow at Oxford University, believe that xenotransplantation is fine as long as the animals do not suffer unnecessary harm.

“Xenotransplantation is an ethical mechanism for treatment when there are no other options. Being able to use organs from non-human animals is crucial for advancement and with more research and experimentation, they could become alternatives to organs donated by human donors,” Sophomore Steven Rapp said.

So far, Bennett’s recovery has been successful. If his new heart maintains its upward trajectory, his xenotransplantation may spell hope for thousands of Americans in need of new organs.

Suvia Li Staff Writer

Willow Glen’s main street, a beautiful avenue filled with colorful eateries and towering trees, is home to Bertucelli’s La Villa—an Italian deli founded in 1947 that specializes in prepared foods including sandwiches, meatballs and ravioli. A faded red, green and white overhang emblazoned with the restaurant’s logo dangles over the deli’s entrance, and glowing neon lights hang in its storefront, matching the aesthetic of the street.

Upon entering the dimly-lit delicatessen, I was immediately hit by a pungent smell wafting from the blocks of different cheeses stacked on one side of the room. The store’s interior matched the outside overhang; its decor and checkerboard floor featured the same three colors. A rack of wine was placed parallel to the shopping aisle and a cabinet filled with pasta and a variety of home-made sauces and bottled condiments stood nearby.

Having seen the restaurant’s Yelp reviews, I immediately ordered its most recommended item, the Chris Combo sandwich­­—known as the team sandwich of the 49ers—and a pint of beef and spinach ravioli.

The food came in a paper bag, inside of which I found a plastic bowl filled with ravioli encased in red sauce and dusted with parmesan cheese. I tasted it first, biting into the creamy filling, which was cushioned by a soft and chewy dough wrapper. The sauce was slightly sweet with a touch of acidity that perfectly complemented the richness of the ravioli. Despite finding it difficult to distinguish between the flavor of the beef and spinach, the ravioli still tasted heavenly.

After finishing the bowl, I unwrapped the Chris Combo sandwich—revealing a multi-colored cross-section composed of bread, cheese, meat and sauces. Several layers of thinly-sliced turkey, ham and salami were enclosed in a fresh, soft bread roll and a variety of yellow, green and white sauces were spread between each layer. I took a bite, my teeth sinking into the pillowy bread and savory meat moistened by the sauces.

A thin blanket of crisp greens added a crunchy texture to the sandwich.

The bread roll was fragrant, the meat was salty, the greens were refreshing and the sauces were piquant, making the Chris Combo one of the best sandwiches I have ever tasted.

From its appetizing assortment of delicacies to its unique store design, Bertucelli’s La Villa is a must-try for anyone looking to sample exquisite Italian food.

Bertucelli’s La Villa (5/5)

how bowl-tiful was it?

+ unique dishes + variety of menu options - long wait for food

10

FEBRUARY 16, 2022

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: School Shortages Teaching no one: Declining student enrollment in Bay Area public schools

DESIGN BY BREANNA LU

Isaac Ang

Staff Writer

The aversion to online learning, coupled with the high cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area, has fueled a decline in public school enrollments in recent years. While the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic spurred debates on reopening schools to inperson instruction, the current crisis in public K-12 education could result in permanent school closures.

The Bay Area has experienced declining public school enrollments ever since 2016, the Marin Independent Journal states. The notoriously high living costs and limited housing have caused families to move out of the metropolis in large numbers. This, along with a declining birth rate and reduced immigration nationwide, leads to fewer students. Eight out of nine counties in the Bay Area expect to lose public school students within the next decade; Santa Clara County will lose the fifth most in California.

Some student groups are hit harder than others. According to a report by the Public Policy Institute, kindergarten and pre-K are most affected by the pandemic. Parents worry that long hours of video instruction are not suitable for their young children. They also fear that even in person, social distancing

and mask-wearing may negatively impact their child’s social development.

Minority and low-income enrollment has also decreased substantially. As per the report, California schools had 20% fewer Black kindergartners, 11% fewer Latino and 3% fewer Asian students from 2020 to 2021; these ratios are held across higher grades but with smaller declines.

Low-income enrollment declined 3.2%, compared to 1.7% for highincome students. At the school, several extracurriculars are lacking students due to such shortages.

“This issue is very concerning, as almost all school districts in Santa Clara County are experiencing some degree of declining enrollment. Unfortunately, until an economic balance is restored, I do see this issue persisting,” John Mackey, Special Education Department and former Board President of Oak Grove School District, said.

The pandemic has largely been responsible for recent declines. In Marin County, enrollment dropped by 5% last year, compared to 1% in previous years. Switching between online and in-person learning, students, teachers and administrators face growing confusion and mounting operational costs. Furthermore, families that lost

jobs in the pandemic have moved out of the Bay Area in search of more affordable housing, Ed Source reports.

For some schools, lack of funding and failure to meet the quota for classes have forced them to shut down entirely.

According to the Marin Independent Journal, in the next three years, eight schools could close in Hayward Unified School District. Since the start of the pandemic, Cupertino Union School District has already closed two: Regnart and Meyerholz Elementary Schools.

Tanking enrollment is not limited to the Bay Area—public schools in other regions of California and the U.S. also face challenges. Statewide, enrollment dropped by 3%, mostly concentrated in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. According to Ed Source, there has been a decadelong enrollment decline in California.

Across the nation, the pandemic has shut down schools already struggling with enrollment, but whether the pandemic’s impacts will persist is highly debated.

Online learning and school closures have accelerated the recent surge in private and homeschooling, as parents are prompted to rethink what is the most optimal and safe learning environment for their children.

Some parents chose to enroll

their children in private schools as they offered in-person options prior to its widespread resumption among public schools. Private school enrollment increased by 4% from 2020 to 2021, the California Department of Education reveals. Others who cannot afford private school tuition chose to homeschool their children. EdSource reports that almost 35,000 California families filed an affidavit—a legal statement—to switch to homeschooling for the 2020-2021 school year, compared to 22,000 in the previous year. While student rates decline in public schools, other sources of learning witness boosts in enrollment as parents seek to continue educating their children.

“Although the school has lost around 200 students in the past two years, the school can sustain this loss; it will not shut down, unlike some of the other schools in the Bay Area. This is because many elementary and middle schools feed into the school, and it can be the parents’ choice to have fewer children.

However, I would not draw serious conclusions until we have more data,” Principal Peter Park said.

ELLIE KIM ART

Dhruv Anish

No one teaching: Staff shortages in California public schools Staff Writer

Empty offices and classrooms surround campus, the staff directory filled with new faces and names of people that stay for a long time, or not at all. This is the crisis that California public schools have been facing for the better part of the past 13 years, following the Great Recession of 2009.

Teacher turnover rates in California are higher than the national average, with 9% leaving the profession, or even the state, in 2019, as per US News. The primary reason for this high rate of turnover is that a majority of teachers— approximately one-third in 2018—are 50 or older, which is close to the average retirement age. In California and especially the San Francisco Bay Area, teacher pay rates are higher than the JUDE TANTAWY ART

national average, ranging from $75,000 to $100,000, but the exorbitant cost of living outweighs the above-average payscale, with median house prices ranging from $310,000 to $1.3 million, per the University of Southern California. With the third highest cost of living in the nation, California finds itself with a 70% decrease in the number of teacher applicants and the largest student to faculty ratio in the country, National University reports.

The statewide staff shortage has been worsened

by COVID-19, with populous districts like San Francisco

Unified and Kern County Unified missing 17% and 15% of staff respectively, upon welcoming back students in person at the start of 2022. The everincreasing demand for teachers and substitutes has led to lowered preparation standards to ensure faculty are properly trained. According to University of Massachusetts Global, more than 100,000 newly-hired teachers in the U.S. are not “fully qualified to teach,” meaning they do not necessarily have sufficient experience in the academic fields they are instructed to teach.

Districts, like the San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD), have even resorted to employing counselors, intervention specialists and instructional coaches to serve as substitutes.

“The front office staff has done a fantastic job actively recruiting and nurturing substitutes that come to the school, sending them care packages and detailed plans to ensure that students have the highest quality of education available even without their actual teacher being present. Full-time teachers have also given up their prep periods to substitute for their absent colleagues.

Compared to other high schools, the school is managing the lack of substitutes well,” Assistant Principal of Instruction Harveen Bal said.

Taking measures to address the staff shortage issue and concerns about

diminished learning environments, SJUSD, which has gone from 125 active substitutes pre-pandemic to 70 currently, enacted the Teaching Permit for Statutory Leave plan. This plan rewards pay raises to substitutes who have a relevant bachelor’s degree in the subject they are teaching and have completed a 45-hour training course.

Districts have also begun offering pay incentives to substitute teachers based on the duration of their teaching period. Prepandemic, SJUSD’s substitute teachers earned $135 per day, but rates have since increased to $150 per day with long-term substitutes earning $225 per day, San Jose Spotlight reveals.

With increased responsibilities falling on faculty members, avoiding burnout has become a relevant problem among educators. US News found that teachers were two times more likely to say they had frequent stress and nearly three times more likely to report symptoms of depression, compared to other professions.

Switching between different modes of instruction, increased workload and restrictive COVID-19 protocols are all reasons staff members cited as a cause for work-related stress.

“Since I substitute once a week due to my SJUSD contract, it is hard adjusting to new classrooms so often, which can be emotionally and mentally taxing. I would appreciate kind actions that students can take, such as saying ‘thank you’ for teaching class,” Erin Cahill, District Coach for Literacy Assessment and a former English teacher at the school, said.

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

FEATURE: SCHOOL

DESIGN BY PAVANA UPADHYAYA

Environmentalism within the student body

Claire Pham

As the conversation around environmental health intensifies, students are taking their seats at the table by participating in environmentbased clubs that aim to preserve nature.

In the past few decades, crises such as food shortages, land rights and poor sustainability have been looming over the environmental community and raising concerns. These issues were further heightened after the first wave of the pandemic. In response, students have created clubs such as the Food Conservation Club (FCC), The Leland Hiking Club (LHC) and Students for the Environment to raise awareness and protect the environment.

According to the COVID Hardship Watch by the Center on Budgeting and Policy Priorities, financial hardships such as food shortages and struggles to pay rent peaked from December 2020 to January 2021 due to pay cuts, reduced hours and lay-offs caused by the pandemic. This caused a spike in nationwide hunger for families in poverty. The FCC and LHC COURTESY OF AARNA GARG

Junior

Benjamin

Sosnowski

and

recognize these issues and strive to help conserve the environment.

FCC focuses on food conservation by collaborating with food banks. They intend to reach families suffering from food shortages and provide free food. In addition to volunteering at food banks, the club plans to hold fundraisers and educational events to raise awareness about this global issue.

“The COVID-19 lockdown motivated me to empathize with less fortunate people and their situations. It made me wonder how their lives were impacted since many were unable to continue working,” Sophomore Aran Ramakrishnan said.

Similarly, the lockdown influenced the formation of LHC. The club’s objective is to encourage socialization, physical health and mental leisure through hikes. This activity allows people to temporarily release their burdens while creating new, lasting bonds. The club members participate in weekly two-hour group hikes in locations such as the Echo Canon and Fortini Trailhead.

“Hiking gives me a chance to de-stress by spending time in nature and hanging out with my friends. It lets me forget about school for a while and is a great way to take a break when I have a lot of work to do,” Sophomore Gilina Voon, a member of LHC said.

Not only did the lockdown inspire the creation of new nature-focused clubs, but it also motivated more students to become involved in environment-related student organizations.

Senior

Andrew

Seto

plant

11

A weekly family ritual Media Staff

Miranda Lu Lifestyle & School News Editor

COURTESY OF ZACH DERSE Sophomores Ethan Aji, Jack Kraus, Zach Derse and Jahan Garg and Junior Nolan Ching and Sophomore Gilina Voon go on a group hike.

Senior Aarna Garg, the President of Students for the Environment, leads a youth organization that centers around environmentalism and sustainability.

They hold extensive discussions, volunteer opportunities and events that educate students about ecology and social issues. The club strives to raise awareness about lesser-known environmental concerns such as indigenous land rights and the impacts of climate change on minority groups.

“During the lockdown, there was a lot of uncertainty. I founded this club to create a space where people can work to better their community,” Garg said.

As the number of nature-based clubs continues to grow, these organizations are trying to inform their communities and help future generations be more environmentally conscious. Though each club covers a multitude of differing issues, they have all expressed their faith that communal effort can initiate a rippleeffect, inspiring larger environmental movements and ultimately accomplishing seemingly infeasible tasks. crops

at

Williams

Elementary.

Forever Chargers: Faculty alumni detail their experiences

Kevin Zhang

Staff Writer

In its 55-year history, the school has two years as a student, the school was an and the whole idea of ‘cool’ was been through many changes. open campus, so students were allowed turned upside-down in the best way.

Several teachers and to go off-campus during lunch.

It literally made me tear up and I felt staff, such as Scot Gillis, Gillis and Headley were inspired incredibly proud to work at a school History Department, to teach by their baseball and volleyball that celebrated people from all these Pam Headley, Physical coaches, respectively. Throughout their different ethnicities and social circles,” Education Department years of teaching, they have discovered Rapoport said.

Helen Kim, Student several overlaps between coaching and Although the school has Services and teaching. For example, both coaches experienced numerous changes Stacy Rapoport, and teachers continuously push their throughout the years, there are also Art Department pupils to improve their skills. many similarities. With the exception attended the school “I started coaching at the school of a few classes being dropped from as high school before I became a teacher here, the curriculum, most of the courses students and have and through this job, I learned that offered are the same. Moreover, many reflected on their I really enjoyed working with high school events and traditions, such as experiences as a school students. It was a rewarding homecoming, prom and football games student compared experience, so I decided to switch are similar to those of the past, to staff. careers and go back to school and earn carrying the same school “I attended my teaching credential,” Headley said. spirit and energy. Therefore, the school as a Besides physical differences, the the staff members believe student because school culture has also changed, that at its core, the school I had to rewriting the perception of what has always been the same JULIA NAKANISHI PHOTO go to the is considered cool. Rapoport because the factors that closest school in the San Jose Unified recalls how in the mid made the school special, School District. During this time period, 90s, the school followed such as graduation, there was a different school system traditional stereotypes homecoming and the where middle school was four years and of popularity. However, student body, are high school was only three, so I came to she was shocked when still present in the school in tenth grade,” Gillis said. she returned to teach the school.

Headley and Kim recall that when at the school 15 years they were enrolled, the campus looked later and saw the BERTINA FAN PHOTO different: The stage in the quad was homecoming court. replaced by a large tree and the parking “There was this lot did not have solar panels. In addition, diverse group of kids Headley explains that during her first of different ethnicities Helen Kim, Classified Support Staff, and Scot Gillis, History Department, poses for a portrait at the school

Every Sunday afternoon, Beth Guo, Math Department, makes an hour-long stop at Obu Ramen House with her husband, two-year-old son and six-year-old daughter before grocery shopping at a nearby H-Mart.

Situated in a small plaza near San Jose’s Japantown, the restaurant serves authentic Japanese ramen, rice bowls and a variety of appetizers, including truffle fries and fried pork gyoza—her kids’ favorite dishes.

“We were trying to figure out where to eat one day and my husband wanted something hot and soupy, so we browsed through a list of restaurants on Yelp and found Obu Ramen. My husband is an immigrant from Taiwan and often craves hot noodles and East Asian food, so Obu Ramen was the perfect place to try.

We went to the restaurant together a few times and enjoyed its savory ramen and laid-back atmosphere, so we decided to bring our kids along, and it quickly became a weekly ritual,” Guo said.

The ramen house opened in 2018 with its namesake as Obū, a city in Japan’s industrial Aichi Prefecture where good health and longevity are highly valued. Obu Ramen embodies the city’s philosophy through its welcoming and relaxed environment, where customers can converse, enjoy a warm bowl of ramen and watch a sports game from one of the two sleek, high-definition television screens that line the top of the restaurant’s bar. It has a modern yet homely interior with a black, red, white and gold aesthetic. Meals are served in themed bowls and utensils, brightly-lit red and gold lanterns hang from the ceiling and the kitchen is separated from the dining area by large glass window panes, allowing customers to see the chefs prepare their meals.

Guo looks forward to eating at Obu Ramen every weekend as it offers her the chance to relax after a busy week, people-watch customers sitting at the next-door Peet’s Coffee and bond with her family. For the main course, she and her husband usually order the restaurant’s mouthwatering Classic Tonkotsu and Daiginjo Spicy Miso Ramen. While waiting for the food, Guo gives her son and daughter a pad of paper for them to doodle on so that they can take a break from looking at electronics.

“Obu Ramen is perfect for my family as it is conveniently located next to an H-Mart and has a cozy and well-lit outside seating area. The ramen is also delicious—the broth has just the right amount of salt and its flavor is enhanced by the addition of fried burdock. They offer reasonable sized portions so you will not have too many leftovers after each meal,” Guo said.

Guo loves the restaurant’s relaxed ambience, themed decor and flavorful ramen, and she recommends the restaurant to anyone who finds themself in the Berryessa area, looking to try traditional Japanese food while bonding with family.

12

FEATURE: WORLD The nonsensicality of NFTs

Raymond Dai Opinions Editor

“This pic go hard, feel free to screenshot.” Such has been a common reaction to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), digital media that is bought and sold through cryptocurrency. The word “non-fungible” signifies uniqueness; in theory, NFTs cannot be replaced or duplicated. Having quickly gained traction across the internet, with Twitter founder Jack Dorsey notably selling one for just under $3 million, NFTs are exchanged on blockchains— databases to store transaction details— such as Ethereum and can cost over tens of millions of dollars. However, in their current state, NFTs are fundamentally flawed and therefore a significant waste of money.

Perhaps the most pressing problem is the core vulnerability of NFTs. Reliant on links to direct users to the artwork, NFTs are highly susceptible to hijacking—the associated URLs can be changed to redirect users to incorrect sites such as Rickrolls. The link system itself could also break down if hosting fees are unpaid, leading to the loss of millions of dollars for owners without proof of possession.

Moreover, NFTs essentially lack value. Since these artworks are digital, anyone can download or screenshot the same files that NFT buyers pay millions for at no cost, although buyers claim that the blockchains store proof of their ownership of the true NFT. NFT transactions themselves impact far more than the purchaser’s satisfaction in the long-term. As The Conversation explains, blockchains employ cryptocurrency mining functions, where specialized computers compete to guess a combination to a digital lock, and the winner is rewarded with cryptocurrency. On average, the cryptocurrency Ethereum alone consumes about 31 terawatt-hours of electricity yearly, nearly as much as the entire country of Nigeria. These immense energy costs culminate in carbon emissions, exacerbating an ongoing climate crisis.

Furthermore, most NFTs are created from stolen art, making them unethical as well as dangerous.

According to Hyperallergic, a public art forum and newsletter, artists have reported that their work uploaded on the popular sharing platform DeviantArt was stolen and minted as NFTs. With Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown requests being reviewed very slowly and overwhelming waves of bots minting artwork, the situation is impossible to mitigate. Consequently, anonymous NFT scammers are not held accountable and punished for their actions.

While NFTs do have positive potential—Rean Uehara, an information technology consultant, notes that they could help ensure the authenticity of products, protect patents, preserve medical records and much more—their current model cannot be practically applied. Instead of shelling out millions of dollars for a larger digital image, internet users should save their wallets for something more worthwhile.

FEBRUARY 16, 2022 DESIGN BY MANASA SRIRAJ

Imran Shaikh

James Webb Telescope begins its cosmic voyage

Space: An endless expanse of darkness. An ever-growing region home to black holes, quasars, dark matter and other objects of wonder and mystery.

An entity whose nature has intrigued humanity since its very beginning. With so much to learn about what takes place beyond Earth’s boundaries, NASA’s recently deployed James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is on a mission to help decipher more of the universe’s secrets.

infrared and near-infrared light: a nearinfrared camera (NIRCam), a near-infrared spectrograph (NIRSpec), a mid-infrared instrument (MIRI) and a near-infrared imager and slitless spectrograph (NIRISS) with a fine guidance sensor (FGS).

According to NASA, these instruments will intercept light released by distant objects to help scientists classify them.

Each element has a unique number of protons and electrons, giving it a distinct

Staff Writer

intercepts. Because the sun poses the most significant threat to the mirror’s temperature, the telescope is equipped with a tennis court-sized sunray shield.

“Launched on Dec. 25, 2021, the JWST will allow scientists to see star systems up to 13.5 billion years old [by sensing] wavelengths of light that were inaccessible to previous telescopes.”

Instead of orbiting the Earth like Hubble, the JWST orbits at Lagrange Point 2 (L2), 1 million miles away from Earth. Named after the solution to the “three-body problem” by mathematician Joseph-Louis Lagrange, the point allows the telescope to stay in line with the Earth and sun during its orbit and shields it from excess light.

To make the deployment process easier, the JWST was folded during its launch. In an intricate, eight-day long deployment procedure consisting of 50 steps and 178 release mechanisms, the telescope, sunshield and mirror were extended to their full, functioning size.

On Jan. 24, the telescope reached its final destination of the Earth-Sun L2 Lagrange point, approximately 100 million miles from the Earth. At this specific point, the sunshield can optimally block light from the sun, Earth and moon.

“The JWST is sure to revolutionize astronomy. We will be able to see into aging planetary systems as well as those that appear to still be in the creation process, paving the way for a better, more extensive understanding of the universe,” Sophomore Krish Desai said.

With the JWST, o t astronomers will d e Intend 3.5 be able to peer 1 k see bac ars through dust ye d billion 18 gold-plate clouds to gain f eo mirrors mad new insights size: beryllium Mirror re into how galaxies a u 270 sq are formed. In feet the upcoming months, the telescope Total weight: will continue to Solar array 14,300 lbs. on align towards stars power of Earth 2,000 W

bb e sW e am ope J : c lesc i h ap e Te r g Info Spac

Launched on Dec. 25, 2021, the JWST will allow scientists to see star systems up to 13.5 billion years old. Equipped with new advanced technology, the telescope can sense wavelengths of light that were inaccessible to previous telescopes. The JWST’s predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope, was launched in 1990 to detect ultraviolet and visible light emitted from cosmic Compiled by objects.

However, Nicole Mui and a few years before Imran Shaikh Hubble’s launch, Staff Writers scientists discovered that galaxies may have formed as early as 100 million years after the Big Bang, meaning Total cost: $10 they would emit light outside the billion wavelength range that Hubble could capture. Since Hubble had already been in development for over 20 years, it was instituted without infrared detection capabilities, rendering it unable to see these galaxies.

“Reportedly 100 times more powerful than Hubble, the JWST is a major milestone JUDE TANTAWY ART in space technology. I am looking and calibrate each instrument for proper forward to emission spectrum, or range of light function. Starting in June, NASA looks the pictures the wavelengths that the element’s electrons forward to having the JWST conduct infrared sensor will be able to produce, release when moving to a less energetic routine scientific operations to look for especially ones relating to the beginning state. By analyzing the emission spectra faint young galaxies, signs of life on other of the universe,” Senior Minjae Kim said. detected by the JWST, scientists can planets and more, officially beginning The state-of-the-art, $10 billion determine the chemical compositions of its decade-long mission to help uncover telescope is named after James Webb, the cosmic objects of focus. the extensive unknowns of the early and the director of the monumental Apollo Designed in a roughly circular shape, modern universe. the telescope’s 270 square foot mirror “By analyzing the emission The mission was made possible by a team of 10,000 focuses light into collaborators, from 17 countries. NASA manages spectra detected by the JWST, the smallest parts the project, while the European and Canadian Space of the instruments. scientists can determine the Agencies supplied the instruments of the telescope.

Infrared light is chemical composition of essentially heat, cosmic objects.” meaning that the mirror must be mission in which the first humans set kept cool so that its foot on the moon. During its mission, own temperature anticipated to last five to 10 years, does not affect the the telescope will utilize four main data it collects on instruments to “see” in visible, mid- the light that it

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

13

FEATURE: WORLD

DESIGN BY MANASA SRIRAJ

Britain adopts rewilding initiative to protect native wildlife

App Review: Wordle

Isaac Ang

In an age where pesticide-ridden cornfields are a common sight, the U.K. government urges the public to work toward re-establishing landscapes of wild grasses rustling in the breeze. On Jan. 6, the British

government unrolled the Agricultural Transition Plan, a massive volunteerbased initiative aimed to restore wildlife in agricultural fields—a process called rewilding—and fully switch the country to sustainable farming by 2024. However, the initiative received criticism from small farmers who worry that it could put their financial stability and national food security at risk.

The rewilding initiative comes amid a national environmental crisis—according to State of Nature, the U.K. ranks 189th out of 218 countries on biodiversity. Fifty-six percent of the country’s species declined in population from 1970 to 2013, and 15% are currently extinct or endangered. Of all the environmental polluters in the nation, agriculture had the greatest impact by deteriorating soil health, eroding natural habitats and reducing keystone plant populations. In response, the new initiative aims to bring 60% of agricultural land under sustainable management by 2030 and restore 300,000 hectares (about 700,000 acres) of wildlife habitat by 2042.

“By encouraging farmers to preserve the environment, the rewilding initiative is a timely solution to the U.K.’s severe losses of biodiversity. Moreover, the plan’s focus on preserving soil fertility will benefit both wildlife and food production,” Junior Rachit Verma said.

To encourage the implementation of environmentally friendly practices, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs proposed three plans projected to cost the equivalent of $912 million in total. The Local Nature Recovery scheme subsidizes farmers for making small-scale improvements to their farming practices while creating space for nature through actions such as planting trees or restoring peat. The Landscape Recovery scheme focuses on largerscale environmental changes, including establishing nature reserves, restoring floodplains and cultivating woodlands.

Finally, the Sustainable Farming Incentive pays farmers to transition to sustainable farming methods while maintaining food production rates.

Before Brexit, the U.K. was subject to the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which subsidized farmers based on their food production rates. However, under the policy, larger producers were rewarded while smaller-scale farmers struggled, exacerbating land inequity.

Furthermore, the CAP encourages farmers to undertake unsustainable farming practices to boost their overall crop outputs. In contrast, the Agricultural Transition Plan rewards farmers for paying heed to the environment.

Staff Writer

Despite its progressive intentions, the proposal has received significant opposition, especially from small growers.

The Daily Mail reports that by converting productive farmland into natural habitats, rewilding could cause food shortages.

With 1% of U.K. landowners owning more than 50% of the land, wealthy farmers are poised to benefit more from the rewilding plan, which would subsequently fail to solve the inequality of the former CAP. Furthermore, some believe that the government, lacking agricultural experience, should not regulate farming.

“Opposition to the rewilding initiative is unwarranted—small farmers can fund food production using the subsidies they receive for taking care of the environment,” Junior Abhishek Kaushikkar said.

Although it is controversial, the U.K.’s rewilding initiative is a milestone for environmentalists around the world. As a teamwork-based approach to restoring environmental health, the initiative could help create a nature paradise in Britain, where animals roam free and plants grow unhindered.

DANA LIM ART

Tensions over social injustice erupt violently in Kazakhstan

Breanna Lu

Investigative Report & Last Word Editor

Initially sparked by a rise in fuel prices, a series of violent protests have recently erupted in Kazakhstan against government corruption, poverty and a lack of democracy. The uprisings were met with prompt police retaliation, which involved the arrest of 8,000 citizens and the use of violent methods of riot control.

Frustrations began on Jan. 2 after the government lifted the price cap on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)—a common source of fuel for vehicles—nearly doubling its cost, per BBC. Although this event was the breaking point, NPR notes that the unrest in Kazakhstan is deeply rooted in the nation’s widespread inequality—of which the rising gas costs were just a symptom. Although Kazakhstan has a successful oil industry worth billions of dollars, little of this prosperity belongs to the common people.

Many protestors see the rise in gas prices as disrespectful towards oil workers, who are responsible for generating most of the nation’s wealth.

The issues of the protests’ focus have been present since the reign of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the previous president of Kazakhstan. When he was in office, Kazakhstan appeared to be an emblem of stability and economic prosperity, but this apparent success cost citizens many freedoms. For example, the Nazarbayev administration criminalized public protests without permits, jailed journalists who criticized the president and masked corrupt elections. Although Nazarbeyev passed his title onto his hand-picked

successor Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in 2019, NPR describes that he still holds a great amount of economic and political authority. Subsequently, according to the New York Times, protestors also demanded political reforms, including the removal of Nazarbayev from his position as the head of the National Security Council.

DANA LIM ART Some of the protestors’ demands, such as Nazarbayev’s dismissal, were accepted by the government, Reuters states. Kazakhstan’s Cabinet resigned on Jan. 5, unable to quell the protests. In an attempt to create an illusion of a stable country, Tokayev announced that the chaos was largely neutralized on Jan. 7 and ordered the acting Cabinet to reinstate price caps on LPG. Nonetheless, Tokayev’s claims were disproved when the protests, beginning peacefully in the town of Zhanaozen, quickly spread to the city of Almaty, where extensive violence has since destroyed the Almaty City Hall, police vehicles and various other buildings. On Jan. 7, Tokayev authorized police to “kill without warning,” resulting in 44 deaths and

about 1,000 injuries that same day, BBC estimates. Aside from violent repression, the government has also blocked social networking apps and shut down Almaty’s internet for five days in an attempt to slow the protestors.

“Both the government and the protestors are at fault for the casualties in Kazakhstan. The citizens have the right to protest, but only peacefully,” Junior Maya Chivakula said.

Amidst the turmoil, Tokayev summoned mostly Russian troops from member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization—an allied group of former Soviet territories—to help stabilize the country. A political ally of Tokayev, Russia now has various military and business installments in Kazakhstan and may have been motivated to intervene to protect its economic interests.

“While it is critical for the government to respond to the protests, the s t a n d a r d should be using more peaceful methods such as lowering prices of common goods to calm the crowd.

The harsh use of force is unnecessary,” Sophomore Karl Xing said.

Kazakh citizens are not Tokayev’s only targets—he also arrested intelligence chief Karim Massimov and fired his deputies on suspicion of treason. Tokayev has blamed foreign terrorists for the situation in Almaty, although there has been no evidence to support this allegation.

As the protests in Kazakhstan intensify, the government will likely take further suppressive measures. Although it has harmed many, the situation in Kazakhstan could be another step in the global march toward increased rights.

Larry Ye Community & School News Editor

Although it seems just like any other word puzzle at first, diving deeper into the history and inner workings of Wordle—the novel word game that is taking the world by storm—reveals the unique traits that make it such an engaging pastime.

First released in October 2021, Wordle quickly went viral, garnering over 300,000 plays on the first day of 2022 and over two million just two weeks later. The gameplay is simple: players are allowed six tries to guess a five-letter word. With each guess, Wordle informs users if their letters are correctly placed, incorrectly placed or do not appear in the word at all. The player then uses these clues to identify the correct word of the day.

Wordle is free, has no ads, does not officially archive past puzzles and takes only a few minutes each day to play, contributing to its immense popularity.

Wordle’s unique design allows multiple people to simultaneously guess the word of the day, encouraging casual competition among friends.

The story behind the game’s creation is especially fascinating to me. According to the New York Times, Josh Wardle—a software engineer from Brooklyn—initially created Wordle for his partner, a word puzzle enthusiast.

After he shared it in a family Whatsapp group, Wardle’s game received a great amount of positive feedback, leading him to publish the game online. Wordle spiked in popularity when a player from New Zealand posted her results encoded in a grid of colored emoji boxes on Twitter, which inspired Wardle to add a similar share results function to the game.

I have been an avid Wordle player for the past month—the gameplay is straightforward yet extremely addicting. Although Wordle does not offer any rewards, I enjoy comparing my results with friends and family.

My friend group now plays Wordle daily, and the person who guesses the word in the least amount of tries gets bragging rights for the day.

With a global reach, Wordle often trends on Twitter as a result of players sharing their guess count and color grid. According to experts like Chris Headleand, professor of game design technology at Staffordshire University, Wordle’s success can be credited to its role as an outlet from the stress of working from home, a virtual catchup session during the pandemic and a reminder of an unmonetized Internet.

An engrossing activity, Wordle has now become a part of my daily routine, and I encourage everyone to explore what this game has to offer them.

overall app-eal

Wordle (5/5)

+ fun and free to play + exercise word skills - only one game per day

14

FEBURARY 16, 2022

SPORTS Getting back in the game: Injuries and preventative measures

DESIGN BY PAVANA UPADHYAYA

Jeehee Kim

Media Staff

With the increasing popularity of athletic participation in high school, specialization and year-round training lead to the concern that many studentathletes are at high risk for injury.

A study by Safe Kids Worldwide found that 90% of student-athletes experienced an injury during sports activities. Injuries among young athletes fall into two basic categories: acute and overuse. Acute injuries are caused by sudden trauma, which includes collisions with obstacles on the field or between players. Since high school athletes are often experiencing physical growth and puberty, they are more susceptible to tendon, muscle and growth plate injuries compared to adult athletes. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the most common injury diagnosis is muscle sprain, reaching up to 42% of injuries during competitive sporting events and 50% during practice.

“I have been running in track and field for six years and my calf and quad muscles are constantly under hard strain.

After extensive practices, I often find myself having difficulty walking due to pain afterward,” Brian Jackson ‘23 said.

Injuries that are not caused by a single collision are referred to as overuse injuries; they occur gradually over time, especially when an athletic activity is repeated so frequently that parts of the body do not have enough time to heal before the next time it is strenuously used. Both acute and overuse injuries may cause damage to soft tissues and bones in athletes, but overuse injuries— such as shoulder impingement—mainly affect tendons, ligaments, muscles and especially bones. Bones tend to first be affected from overuse injuries since continuous overuse leads to weak areas or small cracks in the bone, as per the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Sports injuries can also be divided into short and long-term effects. Short-

term injury refers to torn ligaments, broken bones and lacerations. However, according to Tenet Health, various injuries, including the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, may lead to longterm consequences. An ACL injury occurs when the ligament in the knee tears or over-stretches. It mainly occurs in high-impact sports that involve sudden stops or jumps, including soccer, basketball and tennis, and could result in the limitation of sports practices and competitions. Tia Chikara ‘23 has been playing soccer for 13 years but recently tore her ACL and meniscus, a pad of cartilage between the shinbone and thighbone. This injury has severely impacted her ability to play soccer as the recovery takes about nine to 12 months.

“My recovery process started with reconstruction surgery of my ACL and meniscus and now consists of physical therapy. I definitely learned a lesson to warm up longer before playing and eating healthier,” Chikara said.

Preventative measures such as injury surveillance, a collection of data that describes the occurrence of and factors that are associated with the injury,

are available for athletes to reference.

Specifically, the High School Reporting Information Online (RIO) compiles data from high schools across the U.S. needed to make recommendations on how to help sports be as safe as possible for student-athletes, in an effort to help prevent injuries and promote athletic success.

Another mode of injury prevention consists of active stretching and techniques to make it less likely for injuries to occur or recur. Healthline states that stretching keeps the muscles flexible so that they can stay at their fullest range of motion. At the school, PrepandRoll is an athletic performance program run by student-athletes, and it holds muscle rollout sessions for the school’s sports teams.

“We focus on teaching studentathletes how to roll out their muscles using foam rollers and tennis balls, along with nutrition tips to support their athletic activities. As they learn during the session, our hope is that they will implement time to roll out during the day to release tensions in their muscles—and help prevent injuries,” Krystal Montgomery ‘22, PrepandRoll’s 2020 Principal Leader, said.

COURTESY OF KRYSTAL MONTGOMERY

The

Aaron Dalton

school’s

track

and

field

team

streches

at

a

PrepandRoll

muscle

rollout

event.

A look into the true impact of sports television broadcasting Staff Writer

Through television screens, almost half of the world’s population watches the Federation Internationale Football Association (FIFA) World Cup each year it is held. The National Football League’s (NFL) Super Bowl attracted 96 million viewers in 2022, and in total, football, basketball and hockey in the U.S. have combined revenue of $4.6 billion.

However, niche sports such as cricket or figure skating and women’s sports specifically, are often a rare sighting on mainstream broadcasting.

Sports broadcasting serves as a source of revenue and extended outreach for many athletic teams and leagues.

To obtain media rights to a sports organization, broadcasters and sports teams make a contract. According to the World Intellectual Property Association, financial gain from broadcasting and media rights is the largest component of revenue for most sports organizations, while royalties generated from selling their footage to media outlets allow broadcasters to

expand their reach, making these contracts mutually profitable.

Prime time—the period between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.—is expected to garner the greatest number of viewers. Thus, many sports with established domestic popularity are chosen for prime time television coverage; the NFL occupies prime-time slots with Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football and Sunday Night Football on national television networks such as ESPN and NBC. Moreover, NBC holds the right to broadcast the Olympics in the U.S. until 2032 and has utilized the prime time to not only show live events but also broadcast reruns of popular events that may have occurred during inconvenient times of the day, due to international time differences.

Global management firm Kearney explains that the sports media market obeys the concepts of supply and demand—since resources for broadcasting are limited, they are allocated based on what sports events are most popular among the target audience. According to a Gallup poll updated in 2017, most Americans prefer to watch football, basketball and baseball, while only 1% would choose figure skating as their favorite sport to view; cricket does not make the list. The rationale behind the lack of attention on cricket is simple: gaining popularity in 19th century Britain, the sport failed to reach the freshly independent U.S. Meanwhile, former figure skater Dick Button attributes the decline of figure

skating popularity to its complicated Traditional sports scoring system, CNN Money reports. broadcasting utilizes “Quality broadcasting can make blackouts, or specific a sports game more fun to attend or sporting events that are watch; however, it is not an accurate selectively televised— measurement of a team’s success or not at all—to encourage because there are always plenty of viewership on a particular good sports teams that do not get lots network or platform or in-person of attention from the media,” Dylan attendance. For example, in order Schweighardt ‘22 said. for games to be broadcasted, Even across popular Major League Baseball requires sports, gender disparities a minimum number of tickets to are exacerbated in broadcasting due to be sold due to blackout restrictions, which stagnant efforts of media companies to may hurt teams with venues that seat cover women’s sports coupled with a fewer people. traditional dominance of men in athletics.

“Professional sports are A 30-year study conducted by researchers entertainment for the general public, at the University of Southern California so reaching as many people as possible and Purdue University found that only 5% should be the primary goal of sports of sports broadcasting in 1989 included leagues and broadcasting companies,” Ian women’s sports, and the change has Marshall ‘25 said. been minuscule since then. Evaluating Since the first televised sporting televised news and highlight shows, the event in the U.S.—a collegiate baseball study also revealed that women’s sports game between Columbia University took up only 5.4% of the sampled airtime in and Princeton University in 1939— 2019. March Madness, the playoff season sports broadcasting has served as a for U.S. college basketball, consists of both significant source of sports-related women’s and men’s teams in the National media consumption for many. With the Collegiate Athletic Association. However, technological advancements and the men’s tournament took up over an the limitations of COVID-19, hour of selected local television shows, online streaming has allowed compared to just three minutes for the sports organizations to women’s tournament in 2019. diversify their reach to more The underrepresentation and often younger audiences. of women’s sports is a While traditional television cyclical issue: according broadcasting’s influence is to Bleacher Report, lessening due to streaming, it publishers and advertisers still remains a considerable blame each other for a lack force in determining a TIANSHU YANG ART of content and advertising. sport’s prosperity.

15

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

DESIGN BY KEIRAH CHEN

Article: Rep. Thomas Massie Undergoes Emotional Epiphany, Holds Impromptu Press Conference Announcing Resignation Senior Ishaan Gollamudi On Wednesday afternoon, Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie held an impromptu press conference on the subject of the controversial Christmas card he posted on social media. The card in question depicts Massie and his family posing with military-style rifles, alongside a caption asking Santa Claus for ammunition. Sources report that their sources report that Representative Massie’s impromptu press conference was precipitated by the delivery of a framed version of this card, which Massie reportedly stared at, before throwing it against a wall and storming out of his office in “teary-eyed rage”.

Art by VDK |

For reasons that will become apparent, an unedited transcript of Massie’s address has been reproduced below: “What happened to me? What have I become? Where did the old Thomas go, and why have I been left with a man who voted against sanctions on North Korea? In the entire House of Representatives, I was the only one who voted against sanctions on the communist dictatorship, America’s favorite pastime! And while I’m on the subject of favorite pastimes, how did I end up a climate change denialist?

With two degrees from MIT— y e s , the one in Massachusetts— IG: @ vishnudhevkumarvdk7 how can I deny the existence of climate change?”

At this point, Representative Massie reportedly began to sob.

“Oh, and you thought I was done?

In the midst of the pandemic, when my fellow Congresspeople were sheltering in place like everyone else was supposed to be, I called a quorum vote and forced them all to return, and then had the gall to portray it as protecting the Constitution!

Even Trump didn’t like that, and all it takes to make him happy is a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken: the one thing my state does well!”

By this time, Representative Massie had finished sobbing and was now, by all accounts, getting into the swing of things.

“And for what? Money? Glory? I used to be a real man, dammit! I used to write poetry for my wife and drink kale smoothies; I was an accomplished equestrian and my wit was the toast of our country club’s

weekly parties celebrating the fact that we were so obscenely rich we could throw “We Are So Obscenely Rich That We Can Throw Parties Celebrating How Obscenely Rich We Are, and Still Be Obscenely Rich Enough to Justify Holding Said Parties On A Weekly Basis” themed parties. Now, what have I been reduced to? A man of pomp and circumstance who can do naught but make pathetic attempts at grandstanding to placate my gun-toting, redneck constituents. Why else would I give my children guns and tell them to pose for a Christmas photoshoot? I would be a fool to trust them with butter knives, yet I gave them guns! Think about how badly I endangered my own safety! Well I’ve had it. I cannot keep up this charade any longer. I’m done with being a man of the people: I am first and foremost a man of taste and refinement, and I am resigning!”

Photo by Rachel Jirman | IG: @incorrectdog_

“This is a poster for my upcoming short film called ‘Life’s Meaning.’ Life can sometimes be boring and interesting but in the end it is all about experiencing the moment and living it. My life is like an unfinished painting—there are more areas to paint and discover—and it still needs to be done.”

—Sophomore VDK

Art by Anonymous

“Alexandria Bakery: There were so many different shops and sights along the busy roads.”

—Sophomore Rachel Jirman

Art by Tiffany Ng | IG: @ oneevii

Poetry: Pocketwatch Anonymous

Once beloved, dearest treasure Lost to time, curs-ed wonder Forgotten here, in this place Anguish, pain, and disgrace But what is that, what do i hear My lord returns, they draw near I see them there, so close, so real My saving grace, i can feel

“I was inspired by the recent release of ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach’ to draw fan art.”

—Anonymous

Photo by Michael Rodrigues

In all my glory, in all my shame They see me here, they call my name I’m free at last, or so i thought But ‘twas not them, assuredly not Without care and without love Thought for my life, none thereof Torn from peace, my life appraised

My soul in gold, does this thief weigh

“My images show something with a new perspective.”

—Senior Michael Rodrigues

“I enjoy Genshin Impact and I decided to draw one of the characters from the game.”

—Freshman Tiffany Ng

Rust and moth, come doth destroy The world, of hope, now gone; devoid Into this sea I do now sink This is the end, indeed I think

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DESIGN BY BREANNA LU

Digital Music Production - How Music Makes Us -

ence

A synthesized symphony: Digital music’s influ Kevin Zhang

Staff Writer

thunderous applause to a whisper, letting the audience’s n dow ic mus the ds win DJ the , a few decades ago, As the concert reaches its end day musical performances, but just entpres in mon com are ces rren s to generate overtake the ambiance. Such occu allowed for anyone musically ambitiou has gy nolo tech New DJ. the ace repl l music. a conductor and orchestra would limelight to shift away from classica with just a few devices, causing the ds soun transition to and this es ents ibut rum attr inst of .co leys med live performances. Tech for d nee the d ene less e hav ices serv ing each section’s Digital releases and streaming of recording the song by parts, optimiz sists con er form the ing— mix live r in a studio and the rise of multitrack recording ove lessly. As for live recording, artists stay seam s flow that g son a te crea to result before blending them together ome. g until they achieve the perfect outc light. Some run repetitive tracks of the entire son digital mediums have risen to the spot on ly sole rely that res gen ic mus new s, ical themes yet Besides new recording method , each characterized by signature mus step dub and lofi M), (ED ic mus ce dan of these genres include electronic tly digital sounds. only a computer to share one similarity–they contain mos means of creating music; one needs an itari egal an it ers rend ility ssib Garageband and Electronic equipment’s acce software—many of which are free like on ucti prod n ctio tifun mul —a Ws) ing and choosing use digital audio workstations (DA ruments, making them great for test inst d eate recr tally digi of n ctio sele quickly test multiple Audacity. All of these contain a is still important, but the ability to s ertie prop ’ ents rum inst with tal production various sounds. Being familiar required. These advantages make digi not is ing and erst und deep ly edib combinations means that an incr be used almost anywhere. r mobile devices are portable and can othe and ops lapt e sinc melodies until I find ker quic and cheaper t I am going for, then experiment with wha of d moo the fits that beat a rwards, I record, mix “To create a song, I would find ngthen the sound of that melody. Afte stre to on irati insp al tion emo ious something I like. Then, I take prev or Alexander Guan said. tever I feel like would fit the song,” Juni wha add then and work with one als voc e thos ter and mas understanding which combinations with s help ry theo ic mus in cy cien of “language” the Within music production, profi theory is akin to understanding a sort ic mus ing and erst und that s lain another. MajoringinMusic.com exp song producers to learn. me a common recommendation for beco has ry theo ic nger generations. mus s, Thu ks. spea song be losing its popularity within you to s seem ic mus l sica clas ad, spre orchestras, where As digital music continues to common example of this are youth A ion. erat gen r nge you the age eng arrived to where it However, there exist methods to current state of music may not have the ic, mus l sica clas t hou Wit . tage adolescents celebrate music’s heri tal music artists is today. l music; even on TikTok, we see digi sica clas st boo help to ic mus tal digi e it coexists with “I think there is a possibility for ys the sound of classical music, I hop enjo who e eon som As ks. trac ular remix classical music and make pop said. d new technology digital music,” Senior Claire McNab ic, classical musicians have employe mus ern mod and l sica clas een centuries. These Realizing the symbiosis betw ruments, built in the 17th and 18th inst g strin rius diva Stra by fied produced by these for restorative purposes. This is typi could deafen future years of music them g losin age— with ying deca and transition instruments’ physical conditions are recorded every single possible note and ed play ns icia mus five that rts that can then be orchestral legacies. Luckily, NPR repo nd within thousands of digital files sou d lele aral unp the ng ervi pres , on four Stradivarius instruments musicians have reproduced with AI. g antagonists, but many of today’s ittin unw as on ucti prod ic mus ic ned a new path for Many see physical and electron ability of technology, they have ope vari e nsiv exte the zing utili By . two discovered the nexus between the r to unprecedented levels. s cooperate in amplifying each othe form l sica clas and tal digi re whe one music:

Top 3 Digital Music Production Softwares

bytes of loop storage and Magix Acid Pro offers nine giga l user interface, something very features a modern and sleek graphica d to other DAWs. This gives abundant and versatile when compare with what works best. beginners more room to experiment of hardware synthesizers, Propellerhead Reason contains a mix encers and mixers, which are samplers, signal processors, sequ uction for both beginners and several tools that facilitate music prod ne musical instrument digital professionals. It also utilizes multi-la building drumbeats or working interface (MIDI) editing, perfect for with melodies and chords. most fully-featured DAWs, Magix Samplitude Pro X is one of the wares contain at limited soft r implementing many of the features othe industry professionals for ice selections. This makes it a perfect cho rs. but possibly overwhelming for beginne Compiled by Daniel Lin,

QUINCY HAN ART

Staff Writer