Mar. 17, 2021 Issue

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

Vol. S No. 4

Wednesday, March 17, 2021 Leland High School · 6677 Camden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95120

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Back to school: Some students return in cohorts Ashley Lee and Norah Shen Community News & Feature School Editor and Staff Writer

On Feb. 26, in a letter from San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD), Superintendent Nancy Albarrán announced that the district will reopen some of its campuses for a limited number of students on April 21, more than one year after closing down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, students who have been unsuccessful in transitioning to distance learning cannot afford to wait that long. On Feb. 24, 30 SJUSD campuses began hosting a total of 39 in-person support cohorts.

Unlike previous in-person models, the cohort plan is provided to students even when the county is in

the purple or red tier. In the “In-Person Support for Distance Learning” webinar on Jan. 26, Jodi Lax, Associate Superintendent of Instruction at SJUSD, explained that for the students with the highest needs, the longer they stay in distance learning, the more dire their situation becomes.

Currently, in-person cohorts are being prioritized for students with low academic performance, low socioeconomic status, chronic absences or who are in special education. Furthermore,

kindergarten, first, second and 12th grade students are amongst the first students to attend in-person cohorts. In the same webinar, Lax states that the younger students are prioritized because their curriculum includes fundamental topics like reading and writing, and seniors are emphasized because they need to graduate and prepare for college. In total, approximately 400 to 500 students are allowed to attend certain campuses which have been equipped with cohort

supervisors and leaders to facilitate distance learning from the classroom.

Even though students in the academic cohorts are attending school in-person, they will still be participating in distance learning, receiving instruction via Webex from their teachers exactly as if they were at home. In classrooms, cohort leaders will help students log in to their WebEx classes, stay focused during lessons and understand their assignments.

Cohort leaders are current SJUSD employees, such as After School Education and Safety partners, who are available to lead the academic groups.

Continued on School News, Page 2 QUY NH NGU YEN PHO TO

Up and running: School sports kick off

Miranda Lu, Michelle Qiao and Manasa Sriraj

Staff Writers

Over the past year, athletes like tennis player Katelyn Bump ‘23 have undergone a rollercoaster of emotions as policies around their sports seasons fluctuated due to the pandemic’s unpredictable nature. Last February, team rosters and practice times were finalized in anticipation of the spring sports season’s first games. However, when midMarch rolled around, athletes were informed that their seasons would be canceled until conditions were safe. As quarantine extended from weeks to months to now a year, school sports have remained inactive.

However, most athletes have finally begun to receive updates on the status of their school sports. On Feb. 10, Athletic Director Mike Sparrer hosted a webinar, Chloe Yun announcing ‘22 cradles to students the lacrosse and parents ball across that some the field. athletes would be able Courtesy of Yearbook

to start conditioning with their teams by the end of the month. This came after San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD) Deputy Superintendent Stephen McMahon announced on Jan. 28 at a board meeting that the district would allow students back on campus in small groups, or cohorts, that follow California’s COVID-19 guidelines. Public comments made during the meeting also asked the SJUSD to lift the ban on school sports, as the county and state had already done so.

At an earlier SJUSD board meeting on Jan. 14, Lincoln High School students Chloe Ligsay and Matteo Parodi supported the reopening of school athletic activities, citing concerns

about the mental health and well-being of students. Ligsay pointed out that students hoping to get recruited for college sports are put at a disadvantage as athletes in several other states have already resumed their training. The school’s athletes have echoed this sentiment.

Regency-era media gains attention from the public on page 6

1 NEWS

4 OPINIONS

6 ENT. & LIFESTYLE

Interscholastic

Federation

T a n n e r condensed certain school sports Frank ‘22 into two seasons and identified takes a punt. each with one of the state’s four

Courtesy of Yearbook

“Sports allow students to relieve their stress and anxiety with something they love while keeping healthy. Playing on a team allows students to connect with their peers and make new friends over a common interest.

This is especially crucial during the pandemic when many people are mostly confined indoors and not very active,” Megna Nayar ‘23, a lacrosse player, said.

Based on each sport’s level of contact, the Blossom Valley Athletic League and California

Street food awarded for cultural richness on page 8

COVID-19 color tiers—yellow, orange, red and purple. Since the yellow tier is the least restrictive and indicates a low risk of infection, yellow tier sports are high-contact and indoors, while sports that can be played while a county is in the purple tier are low-contact and outdoors because that tier is the most restrictive and indicates a high risk of infection. In order for a sport to restart, the county needs to be in its respective color categorization. As ordinances become less restrictive, more sports will be allowed to resume play.

“Access to your favorite hobbies is extremely important to maintaining good mental and physical health. For now, athletes should start conditioning, since many have been sedentary during the p a n d e m i c ,” Matthew Namba ‘24 runs at Cross Junior Varsity Country practice.

Girls Lacrosse Coach Sarah Schuster said.

Continued on Sports, JONATHAN MORRIS PHOTO Page 15 EVELYN LIU ART Government corruption endangers rhino population on page 13

8 VIEWPOINT 10 IR 12 FEATURES 15 SPORTS 16 LAST WORD

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February 3, 2021

NEWS

Back-to-school: Some students return in cohorts cont.

Continued from Front Page They are responsible for overseeing students and maintaining safety protocols.

In the same webinar, J. Dominic Bejarano, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, explained that cohort leaders receive training and participate in professional development activities to further enhance their technical skills so they can properly help students improve their academic performance.

In order to maintain health guidelines, Lax states that a maximum of 10 students are allowed per academic cohort, and everyone will be mandated to wear masks and social distance.

“It is important to keep students’ physical health in mind as well as their mental health when reopening. As long as cohorts are small and social distancing and mask-wearing are strictly enforced, this could be very helpful for those who have decided to go back to campus,” Freshman Dharini Vamathevan said.

To better assist students, on April 21, after SJUSD teachers receive vaccinations, all campuses, regardless of whether they are currently offering the support cohorts

or not, will implement a hybrid model of distance learning and in-person learning. The school has already assigned students based on their answers to the Family Choice Process in November of

“It is important to keep students’ physical health in mind as well as their mental health when reopening.”

2020. However, since some students’ and parents’ preferences may have changed since the fall, SJUSD gave families until March 16 to make their final decision on going back to campus.

While the district did not give the school an in-person support cohort, it has begun hosting extracurricular cohorts for activities such as sports, and plans on allowing in-person club meetings with staff advisors. These support cohorts and upcoming in-person learning options are only the first of many plans to welcome students back to school.

Bridging virtual audience to cultural celebrations

Reagan Liu and Nancy Zheng

Staff Writer and Investigative Report Editor

Courtesy of the Yao family

Instead of entering the bustling From a variety of musical Bridge, noted that since a virtual Bridge cafeteria filled with Lunar New Year performances to magic shows, students Night was unprecedented, finding student decorations, the audience members of showcased their engagement volunteers to help with technological this year’s Bridge Night were entertained in extracurricular activities. tasks and submit videos of performances virtually, starting off the event with a Senior Karen Lin played in a short amount of time proved to be commemorative slideshow. Before this cultural music on her major obstacles. year’s student performances and guest pipa, a traditional Chinese Furthermore, Bridge Night is Bridge speakers were presented, pictures of instrument, and Freshman Parents Group’s largest annual fundraising previous emcees, student volunteers, Hailey Tan recorded a lively harp event and primarily relies on entry and attendees and other piece. Junior Sophia He presented raffle ticket sales for funds. However, due activities such as annual an energetic Latin dance, Freshman to this year’s virtual format, the event was fall barbeques and teacher Daniel Xu displayed a sword routine free to view and proceeds only came from appreciation luncheons of Kung Fu, a form of Chinese martial raffle ticket purchases. On top of that, were revisited as the arts, Shao exhibited his cardistry cancellations of in-person school events Bridge Parents Group skills and Zhu performed such as Back-to-School Night—when the began celebrating its card tricks.

Juniors group usually advertises Bridge Night— 20th anniversary.

Alice Mao and Yudi Li led to less interest in the event compared Bridge Parents created comic videos to previous years.

Group, the regarding COVID-19 Despite these obstacles, school’s nonprofit and Lunar New Hung deems this year’s Bridge Courtesy of Hailey Tan organization made Year. Some students, Night successful given the up of Chinese including Junior Victor Man circumstances, as it exceeded American families, and Sophomore Greg Chu, initial expectations.

The Freshman Hailey Tan performs at her first Bridge Night. hosts Bridge Night filmed their exercise regimen livestream also featured Courtesy of Karen Lin every February, to and daily routine during the speeches from Principal Peter Park and “In the winter of 2000, Bridge Parents celebrate Lunar New pandemic, respectively.

District 10 Councilmember Matt Mahan, Group Co-Founder Huayan Wee and Seniors Karen Lin performs Year and fundraise With this new honoring the organization’s anniversary, fellow parents helped make phone calls her pipa at Bridge Night. for school-related virtual form of Bridge as well as commentary from all of their to Chinese parents to raise money for endeavors. Due to the pandemic, the group Night, the parent group endured previous presidents, voicing their pride for the Media Center. In just three weeks, decided to hold Bridge Night via Facebook various challenges while preparing. the organization’s strong development and over $30,000 was raised, and the parents livestream, and numerous alterations took Angela Hung, Vice President of impact over the past 20 years. discovered that Chinese families wanted to place. For instance, the authentic Chinese contribute to the school but were unable to dinner that student volunteers would because of language and cultural barriers,” traditionally serve to guests was absent Annie Huang, President of Bridge, said. this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

To bridge these gaps, in early 2001, Additionally, in place of the lion dance the parents published the first Chinese that usually introduces the event, Senior newsletter, Leland Bridge, and the Bridge Curtis Luu shared a video compilation of Parents Group was officially named as a previous years’ lion dances. nonprofit organization in the fall of 2001.

After the slideshow, this year’s Over the years, the group has continued emcees—Seniors Audrey Lui, Devon to provide financial support for facility Shao, Janice Shih and Vincent Zhu— improvements such as picnic tables and guided viewers through the two-hour electronic signs and programs including virtual event, which consisted of student speech and debate, journalism, robotics performances, day-in-the-life montages, and the school’s Music Department. guest speakers and raffles. Shih states During the pandemic, Bridge Parents that although the virtual format eased the Group has been hosting online seminars heavy responsibility of being an emcee, regarding course selection and college each of them still spent several hours preparation through Zoom, which have preparing activities, writing scripts and gained more attendees than past inrecording their parts. person lectures.

“I love being able to share and celebrate “Bridge Parents Group does not only Chinese New Year with everyone during raise funds for the school, but it also Bridge Night. However, what I miss most mobilizes parents to get involved in school about in-person Bridge Night is being able activities. As a collective effort, our group to introduce my culture to more people, will continue to make the school a better Devon Shao and Audrey Lui, Bridge Group President place for all students,” Huang said. including several friends and teachers From left to right: Seniors who usually attend the event,” Shih said. Annie Huang and Seniors Janice Shih and Vincent Zhu pose for Bridge Night.

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

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COMMUNITY NEWS Compensating for risks: Companies reward essential workers with extra pay Bertina Fan and Miranda Lu Staff Writers

Poll: Do you support hero pay?

99% YES

Compiled by Bertina Fan and Michelle Qiao, Staff Writers 100 people polled

In early February, California reinstituted hero pay, a bonus wage given to retail and grocery store employees, healthcare professionals and other essential workers, to acknowledge the heightened risk of continuing to provide essential services. The extra pay was reestablished following protests from many essential workers who have to take extensive precautions on a daily basis to protect their health.

Although Costco, Walmart, Target and several other leading chain stores initially voluntarily offered hero pay when the pandemic first hit in March of 2020, by the summer of 2020, the majority of companies ended their pay raises. Consequently, many grocery store workers across California called for the reinstatement of hero pay and accused companies of prioritizing profits over employees’ welfare. NBC Los Angeles reported that in May of last year, employees at a Sherman Oaks Ralphs grocery store joined a picket line to protest the end of their extra two dollars per hour pay and mourn the deaths of two co-workers from COVID-19. Additionally, grocery store workers at a Food 4 Less supermarket in the Los Angeles Boyle Heights neighborhood organized protests in November to demand the return of the hourly pay raise, according to CapRadio.

“Employees should be recognized for continuing to work, despite the high risk of contracting COVID-19. Every day, I have to take a screening of my temperature when I get to work at Safeway, wear gloves and a mask and frequently wash my hands and use hand sanitizer to minimize the chance of getting infected and jeopardizing my family’s health,” Senior Darcy Eliasi said.

In San Jose, Councilmember Sergio Jimenez proposed the extra wage policy, and the city council voted 7-3, in favor of the ordinance, according to The Mercury News. The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), a labor union that represents around 1.3 million workers in the U.S. and Canada, helped pass the policy

by urging the San Jose, Los Angeles, Irvine and Oakland city councils to assist their essential workers. In San Jose, workers will be paid an additional three dollars per hour; in Irvine, hourly income will increase by four dollars; and in both Los Angeles and Oakland, essential workers will receive five more dollars per hour.

“Frontline workers deserve to have compensation because we put ourselves in danger on a daily basis to provide essential services to the community. When working at Safeway, I try to take all the precautions I can to stay safe, but there is still a risk of contracting COVID-19. Additionally, there are sometimes customers who do not understand the importance of adhering to safety measures. Since smaller businesses have less profits, they should receive government assistance to give workers hero pay, but bigger businesses have the obligation of supporting their workers,” Senior Cyris Leonard said.

Moreover, many people believe that hero pay should also be extended to other essential workers, such as teachers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and healthcare workers.

For instance, Leila Park, Math Department, believes that receiving hero pay and additional resources would be beneficial for teachers during in-person learning.

“Hero pay would be helpful, but as a teacher, I would prefer to have access to more resources that could help make teaching easier and safer. Supplies—such as masks, hand sanitizers and disinfectants— would help essential workers protect themselves,” Park said.

Although most companies have agreed to comply with the new orders, a few have refused to raise their

essential workers’ wages. For instance, USA Today stated that Kroger closed two stores in order to avoid boosting its employees’ salaries by four dollars per hour, ultimately causing over 200 employees to become unemployed. The city’s mandate was also challenged by the California Grocers Association, which filed a lawsuit against Long Beach by claiming that the ordinance interfered with collective bargaining— the negotiation of working conditions amongst a group of employees—between unions and grocery store workers.

In response to the opposition, Marc Perrone, the international president of UFCW, declared that the union will hold

: box e t Quo t are Wha ughts tho r u ay? yo p ero h n o

retailers accountable for neglecting their workers and forcing them to pay for their own safety equipment.

Workers, unions and city councils believe it is imperative that essential workers receive a bonus wage since they are risking their lives to help bolster social welfare. Hence, many people hope that the initiative will soon encompass a wider range of essential workers to help more workers pay for sanitation supplies and ultimately protect their health.

U IVAN ZH

ART

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e e ive th . How ld rece g the public er—it u o h s rkers helpin ented earli r into tial wo m a lth by “Essen g their hea been imple e cities a ye riskin ould have ted in som e r a y the nda e Leon ge sh nd ma tra wa e Vu d e r i s e the ex proposed a re D nly homo was o emic.”

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MARCH 17, 2021

OPINIONS

Finding a balance between censorship and sensitivity Larry Ye Staff Writer

The Charger Account Leland High School 6677 Camden Ave. Principal Peter Park San Jose Unified School District San Jose, CA 95120-2142 (408) 535-6290 thechargeraccount.com EDITORS IN CHIEF Kelly Cui, Minji Kim, Sophia Lu ART AND PHOTO DIRECTORS Nicole Kim, Ivan Zhu, Quynh Nguyen NEWS EDITORS Jonathan Yue, Ashley Lee OPINIONS EDITOR Hannah Moon FEATURE EDITORS Ashley Lee, Nam Nguyen VIEWPOINT AND LAST WORD EDITORS Aileen Xie, Evelyn Liu ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFESTYLE EDITORS Ridge Coffey, Cindy Zhao INVESTIGATIVE REPORT EDITOR Nancy Zheng SPORTS EDITOR Matt Wang AD MANAGER Nancy Zheng SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEBSITE MANAGERS Cindy Zhao, Ivan Zhu ADVISOR Stacy Dawson COMMUNITY CIRCULATION Parent Club and Leland Bridge

As Congress assembled to certify the 2020 presidential election results on Jan. 6, a crowd gathered outside of the White House to listen to former President Donald Trump speak. In his address to the audience, Trump encouraged them to “fight like hell.” Soon after, riots broke out on the Capitol Building’s steps, forcing evacuations in the House of Representatives and Senate Chambers. Later that day, Twitter cited “the risk of further incitement of violence” in a tweet as they suspended Trump’s account.

Facebook and Instagram soon followed suit, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg justifying his decision by referring to Trump’s rhetoric as possibly

inflammatory and provocative. In the following week, YouTube, Snapchat, Twitch and Shopify all imposed similar bans.

Twitter has since permanently banned Trump’s account, even if he were to assume the presidency again. In addition, the company stated on its blog that it had suspended more than 70,000 accounts for spreading QAnon—a disproven far-right conspiracy theory—related content, which they believe may have contributed to the Capitol riots.

“The ban of Trump’s Twitter account is a polarizing subject, but it is definitely within reason. When users sign up for a service such as Twitter, they agree to follow the guidelines to maintain safety. Although Trump was a powerful figure with tens of millions of followers, his language on the platform sparked violence, which is unacceptable,” Sophomore Keshav Sethi said.

However, these platforms have also been criticized for banning accounts.

Consequently, Trump and other prominent conservatives, including Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo and radio host Mark Levin, flocked to Parler, an app that promotes its lack of censorship. Apple and Google later removed the service from their app stores, justifying the move by citing transmission of violent posts in the past. Amazon Web Services then stopped hosting the program, BEOMHEE KIM ART leaving Parler with no backend provider and sparking further backlash against Big Tech industry.

However, the topic of censorship is a major area of controversy for the U.S. as a whole, not just Trump supporters. As shown in a 2020 Pew Research survey, about three out of every four American adults feel that social media companies intentionally censor objectionable political views. The same survey shows that Americans are split on whether platforms should label posts from elected officials as inaccurate or misleading, with 51 percent approving and 46 percent opposing.

“There should be more censorship on posts that encourage violence or spread misinformation on social media platforms to protect users from harm and ensure that they receive accurate information,” Freshman Jonathan Ouyang said.

Although it is essential to curb violence online, social media platforms must adhere to standardized protocol to decrease bias and ensure that any ban is backed by clearly outlined reasoning. While social media companies do set their own terms and conditions, their vague wording often leaves room for interpretation and sparks retaliation from those who are subject to them.

Nevertheless, silencing a governmental figure, like Trump during his presidency, hinders the spread of possibly useful information. While specific, strict content guidelines must be accompanied by consequences once violated, a ubiquitous expulsion from all mainstream social networks is unreasonable for most users— especially when it impedes an official’s duty to speak to the people.

As prominent public entities, companies and governments must set aside their differences and work together to establish a new set of regulations that ensures equal moderation for all users and content. In doing so, both authorities and the public alike can express their views and be respected without restrictive constraints.

STAFF WRITERS Dhruv Anish Serena Atkinson Keirah Chen Raymond Dai Bertina Fan Natalie Gao Janice Lee Reagan Liu

Miranda Lu Breanna Lu Michelle Qiao Norah Shen Manasa Sriraj Pavana Upadhyaya Lawrence Ye

The bright line of social media justice When addressing misconduct becomes public shaming The Charger Account Editorial Staff

ARTISTS Quincy Han Beomhee Kim

Rachel Kim Jessica Lin

PHOTOGRAPHERS Junan Ke Jonathan Morris Rex Li Julia Nakanishi Wendy Lee Diana YousefAudrey Lui Nejad 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 March 17 | Vol. S. No. 4

This past summer, online conversations galvanized entire sociopolitical movements, evoking widespread reckoning on issues like police brutality and systemic discrimination. In terms of combating oppression—whether that be racism, sexism or other forms of hate—social media serves as a linchpin for dismantling unjust power structures and unifying the masses for the benefit of all.

When used reasonably, social media rightfully exposes offensive behavior: think Kendall Jenner’s Pepsi Ad, Matt Lauer’s inappropriate sexual conduct and most recently, Meyers Leonard’s anti-Semitic remarks. Social media is consistently used to quickly expose misconduct, increasing public awareness and holding wrongdoers accountable.

However, the sense of detachment afforded by the Internet also allows users

to rain down retribution at any hint of misbehavior. Targeting someone that is only known through a username or profile picture is unjust and unreasonable; likewise, watching a one-sided TikTok or reading a single tweet without context is no reason to become judge, jury and executioner for a complete stranger. This sense of entitlement to denounce any problematic individual leaves no room for nuance, and opens dangerous avenues for excessive vitriol.

Take Justine Sacco, for example.

Before boarding a flight to Cape Town in 2013, Sacco posted a satirical Tweet to amuse her 170 followers: “Going to Africa.

Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!” While Sacco clarified that her only intention was to critique white privilege, the 12-word post was undeniably offensive and insensitive.

Sacco may have deserved rebuke for her actions, but the series of events that quickly unraveled after her post escalated out of proportion in mere hours. Before Sacco’s plane even touched down, public responses to her statement devolved into vicious personal attacks and malicious invasions of privacy. Not only did it take her a year to obtain a new job after being fired in a public and humiliating manner, she was also incessantly stalked for months on end, even receiving numerous death threats.

Attacking a single person for an ignorant comment or post without knowing anything about them is wrong and unjust. Instead of using social media as a tool to address social issues, people have begun to expect the very opposite, immediately jumping to drastically overblown reactions to statements or videos shared on the Internet. Such swift retaliation may, at best, corner the offender into an empty apology if only to save face; more likely, however, they could resort to being defensive and aggressive, making it unlikely that any progress or understanding can be made regarding the very social cause accusers aim to uphold.

Hate speech and discrimination have no place anywhere, online or face-to-face.

It is justified to point out offensive rhetoric, but hurling more hate while hiding behind a screen will neither educate nor reform. If we base our moral decisions on the beliefs of strangers, we take the easy way out by impulsively posting bitter comments and not understanding both points of view, often harming the lives of those who face public shaming. Instead of swarming online platforms with immediately hostile backlash, developing a comprehensive understanding of the context behind other people’s comments and facilitating conversations around the topic is crucial and far more productive in addressing social issues.

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THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

OPINIONS

The complicated question of celebrity vaccinations Serena Atkinson and Ridge Coffey

The Authenticity Project

Staff Writer and Entertainment Editor

In the late 1940s, an outbreak of polio devastated an average of 35,000 people annually and nearly 60,000 children were infected. When the polio vaccine came out in 1955, many teenagers and children were reluctant to get the vaccine. However when Elvis Presley received the polio vaccine on live television in 1956, he inspired millions of teenagers to do the same.

By 1960, this increase in vaccinations had reduced yearly cases of polio by 90 percent in the U.S., according to the University of Cambridge.

Now, some believe that today’s celebrities should follow Presley’s lead and promote vaccination among reluctant African Americans and other minority groups.

NBA player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the many figures who favors early vaccinations for athletes due to the influence that they can have on communities hesitant to receive the vaccination, according to The New York Times.

As shown by a survey he cites, only 55 percent of African Americans under 35 and only 65 percent of African American adults as a whole are willing to get vaccinated.

This could be due to cultural factors, as ABC News states that many Black Americans distrust medical institutions due to their history of discrimination and unethical treatment. The Wall Street Journal also reports that fewer vaccine clinics have been set up in minority neighborhoods, making it difficult for people of color to access them. At the same

time, many African Americans do not have access to reliable health insurance which causes uneven access to medical services and more devastating outcomes regarding the coronavirus.

Abdul-Jabbar believes that celebrity influence may be a feasible solution to the doubt surrounding vaccinations.

Although many people are eager to take the vaccine, stumbling blocks currently exist with its distribution, one of which is supply. While multiple pharmaceutical companies, such as Moderna and Pfizer, have already developed and begun distributing vaccines, The New York Times reports that they are already in limited supply, and

QUINCY HAN ART that numerous states in the U.S. may struggle to keep up with increasing demand, because many manufacturers are already working at full capacity.

After vaccinating healthcare workers, states have begun focusing on the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

According to the Financial Times, only about 60 percent of people over 65 have received at least one dose of the vaccine in the U.S.,

compared to 94 percent in the U.K.; CDC data shows that 81 percent of COVID-19 deaths fall in this age group. However, entertainers and other celebrities have argued that they should receive the vaccination alongside this group; former NBA player Charles Barkley felt that professional athletes should have easier access to the vaccine due to paying more tax dollars compared to the average American, according to The New York Times.

“If people are being mindful about the situation, they are going to choose to get the vaccination. They should not need basketball players or influencers telling them to get the shot,” Senior Zachary White said.

Although Elvis Presley proved the power of celebrity influence on teenagers over 60 years ago, it may not be enough to mitigate the effects of the distrust and disparities rooted in the healthcare system.

Furthermore, unlike essential workers, celebrities do not have to go to work and interact with hundreds of people every day—and thus constantly expose themselves to COVID-19—in order to survive.

Considering the limited supply and overload U.S. vaccination efforts already face, prioritizing vaccinations for celebrities would, at best, encourage the public to obtain vaccines that are not yet even readily available to them. At worst, they would only feed into preferential treatment for the rich, as exhibited

by Barkley’s statements.

The issue of vaccinations is just one facet of suspicion and inequality in healthcare; relying on celebrity endorsements would be a superficial solution. To truly address this problem, America must prioritize its most vulnerable and neglected populations and rebuild trust in science, not starpower.

Aileen Xie Viewpoint Editor

What if one book could suddenly force a group of strangers to cross paths? That is what the eponymous notebook of “The Authenticity Project,” a 2020 novel written by Clare Pooley, does for an unconventionally puttogether cast of characters.

As highly as we regard ourselves, we live cloaked in an assortment of deliberate lies, omissions and halftruths, which is what Julian—the original owner of the Authenticity Project—aims to unravel. Reflecting upon the dishonesty in interpersonal relationships and his own frivolous past as an eccentric artist, Julian writes his truth into this notebook and leaves it in a local cafe for the next stranger to find and answer with their own story.

This cafe is owned by Monica, a middle-aged woman who enjoys professional satisfaction but secretly yearns to be a wife—more importantly, a mother. Hesitant to reveal her maternal desires to anyone else, she instead finds a place to express them in this notebook. Her entry is in turn picked up by Hazard, a charismatic man seeking to escape the guilty emptiness of drug addiction and return to the kind man he once was. He sets out on a mission to find the “perfect man” for Monica, bringing Riley—a carefree Australian—into the picture.

Every page left off by the previous holder is resumed by the next character, whose own unique confessions create a convergence of different stories.

After they all meet each other, this sets in motion a series of events that result in unexpected friendships, difficult revelations, and new romances. Over time, they eventually become like family, but not everything proceeds smoothly or happily as they face challenges and confrontations. Their irreconcilable secrets lead each character to believe that their own inner conflicts will fade once they go their separate ways and become strangers again. Yet, the memories they create reveal that one’s troubles do not simply go away with avoidance—we are infinitely better prepared to handle them when enveloped by a circle of people who we love and care for.

The book is not without its flaws, however. Although it has a unique premise, the character development and plot realism falls short. Its overall trajectory often appears distractingly far-fetched, with contrived plot points and cliched side characters. The second half of the story becomes muddled with side plots, yet everything falls in line with an almost too happy ending. At times, the story contains cringeworthy tropes: a guy running down a pursesnatcher, a young mother standing up to her negligent husband. Major conflicts are glossed over without serious attention, resolved by time instead of initiative from the characters.

Nonetheless, this heartwarming story is eye-opening about what honesty actually entails—being true with not only others but yourself as well. Upon reflection, authenticity is not always accurately defined by selfperception, but rather the experiences and connections we share with others.

The Authenticity Project

(3/5)

worth the read

+ Unique premise + Heartlifting story - Distracting side characters

MARCH 17, 2021

6

ENTERTAINMENT Movie Review: The Father

Twitching and turning: Gaming platform gets a new twist

Raymond Dai and Bertina Fan

Dhruv Anish Staff Writer

Released on Feb. 26, “The Father” is directed by Florian Heller and stars Anthony Hopkins as Anthony, a man in his 80s suffering from dementia.

Another main character, Anthony’s daughter Anne, is played by Olivia Coleman, who moves in with her dad to take care of him in old age. The movie also features Imogen Poots as Anthony’s nurse—Laura—and Rufus Sewell as Anne’s husband. However, Anthony is the story’s protagonist, and his mental collapse is the film’s main focus.

To me, “The Father” is unique because it delivers Anthony’s story from a first-person point of view, making the audience also experience the disorientation Anthony feels as he begins to succumb to dementia.

One of film’s most well-executed components is its shuffling of different actors to play the same role, making the viewer witness the confusion Anthony encounters while suffering from dementia. Heller also treated Laura’s character similarly, first casting Imogen Poots to play her, but then switching to Olivia Williams. The timeline of the film is also purposefully out of order, with Anthony talking to Laura about his daughter one day to Anne waking up Anthony the next day to meet Laura for the first time. Perhaps the strongest part of this film is Hopkins’ performance as Anthony. He perfectly encapsulates the delirium, hopelessness and confusion that come with living with dementia, shifting moods rapidly from scene to scene and perfectly creating the sense of fear and loneliness that come for some with old age. Coleman also delivers a fantastic performance that sees her play a patient witness as Anthony’s condition progressively worsens.

I do not normally cry or become emotional when I watch films, however, The Father was different. Witnessing Anthony’s experience was absolutely heart-wrenching, leading to one of the most emotional viewing experiences I have had in a while. The Father tells a story that we can all relate to, as this film perfectly captures the sadness that comes with a family member’s health struggles and the effects it has on everyone else in the family. Watching Hopkins break down crying from not being able to remember his own daughter is a moment that had a tremendous impact on me by making me think about my relationship with my grandparents, long after I finished watching the film.

I truly believe that The Father is an absolutely fantastic experience that everyone can relate to, and I would highly recommend seeing the movie soon as possible. From the amazing performances to the emotional story, the Father gets a 4/5 from me.

The Father (4/5) W

worth a watch

+ great performances + deeply moving - cinematography slightly bland

Over the past few years, Twitch has become an increasingly popular platform for gaming and internet culture, being used by influencers, celebrities and politicians alike. Despite its positive attributes, the platform has also faced several controversies regarding its creators as it continues to garner more popularity among young consumers.

Owned by Amazon, Twitch is the 16th most-visited website in the U.S. ahead of Etsy and Walmart, according to Wired. At any time, the site has approximately 2.1 million viewers, with 81.5 percent of its user base as male, and 55 percent of those viewers ranging from 18 to 34 years old.

Outside of its most typical usages, Twitch is sometimes used by politicians. Congressional candidates and representatives, especially from the Democratic side of the aisle, stream on Twitch to encourage voting across younger demographics.

For example, in October 2020, Congresswoman Alexandria OcasioCortez played Among Us, a survival party game, alongside Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, which Wired reports became the third-largest stream in Twitch history with over 430,000 viewers. Ocasio-Cortez even claimed that the stream was the largest ever to IWillVote.com. In November 2020, Wired notes that Ocasio-Cortez also used a fundraising stream for local food pantries, eviction defense legal aid and community support organizations, raising a total of $200,000. More recently, according to ClutchPoints, a sports media

Staff Writers outlet, AOC attracted over 600,000 live Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. Furthermore, viewers from a stream discussing the Twitch has come under fire over its GameStop stock situation. Other notable inconsistent enforcement of regulations. political advocates who used the platform For instance, Natalia “Alinity” Mogollon, to increase voter turnout include Hasan a controversial and popular streamer, was Piker, a liberal political commentator who temporarily suspended over accidental ran an election week stream that drew over nudity while streaming. However, the 230,000 viewers, and Nse Ufot, CEO of platform hesitated to ban the user, which the New Georgia Project nonignited outcries about hypocrisy from profit, who streamed on other users. Moreover, Alinity the day of November has repeatedly faced calls to be general elections banned after alleged abuse to encourage of her pets on camera. In more voting contrast, other creators in Georgia. such as body painter MizzyRose have been wrongly suspended for nudity—body art is an exception to Twitch’s nudity policy—and often RACHEL KIM ART have to undergo extensive appeals processes in order to reverse their wrongful punishment.

“Twitch can fix its current problems While Twitch by using common sense, has previously attracted a having clearer rules and only banning lot of positive press, in the past users who deserve to be banned. Animal few months, various controversies have abuse and nudity violate the site’s policies, also been problematic within the platform and Twitch should have taken more direct as well; for example, the removal of the action against Alinity. By doing so, the “Pogchamp” emote, a type of emoji used platform can establish a clearer set of within Twitch’s chat rooms. One of the regulations,” Junior Jerry Cheng said. platform’s most popular emotes, often While Twitch may be inching more seen in live stream chats and across the towards more mainstream viewership and platform, Pogchamp was removed with reaching out to a larger political audience, almost no notice. Twitch explained that its controversial moderation practices the person in the emote, Ryan Gutierrez, could hold it back from being a platform may have incited violence, because of that leaves a net positive impact on controversial postings on Twitter after the internet culture.

Regency-era entertainment remains timeless Keirah Chen, Raymond Dai and Nam Nguyen

Over the past few years, Regency-era media content has become increasingly popular due to its unique fashion styles and dramatic plots, gaining even more popularity during the pandemic. Amassing over 82 million viewers in its first month of release, Netflix’s newest Regency-era TV show, “Bridgerton,” topped the streaming service’s most watched original series list, surpassing other hits like “Stranger Things” and “The Witcher.”

Set between the late 18th and mid19th centuries, Regency-era content has become a staple in entertainment.

The genre often explores romance and class division themes through mostly fictionalized narratives, drawing attention to the time period’s differences in demeanor and conduct, from formal greetings to gender roles. With elaborate costumes and sets, these films are often high budget and involve complex cinematography, aiming to immerse audiences in the Regency-era past.

“Bridgerton” is not the first Regency-era piece that has captured the public’s attention. Similar shows like “Downton Abbey” reached a peak viewership of 9.6 million by the end of 2015 and garnered several Emmy Awards, while films like 2005’s “Pride and Prejudice” earned hundreds of millions at the box office. Despite being released years ago, such movies and films remain an enduring component of pop culture, states Entertainment Weekly.

“Bridgerton” offers audiences various attributes found in other popular period pieces: ornate accessories and wigs, scenic filming sets and a typical romantic storyline between the main protagonist, Daphne Bridgerton, and her love interest, Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings. Like many period pieces, the TV show provides escapism for audiences, transporting viewers into fantasy lands for one-hour episodes before they are returned to reality.

“With any show, there is a sense of imagination that allows you to indulge in a different reality. I enjoy movies such as “Pride and Prejudice” and “Little Women” because they depict a lifestyle of extravagance we do not usually see in our everyday lives. Those films and shows tend to romanticize life in the olden days by usually taking out the EVELYN LIU ART

Staff Writers and Feature World Editor racism and misogyny that took place in history so it seems almost idealistic and simplistic,” Senior Jianna Wong said.

However, Netflix’s new hit series also offers a modern take on this familiar genre. “Bridgerton’s” primary plot line features a biracial couple and several Black characters, including the queen, a rarity in historical pieces as the show takes a mostly colorblind approach to its plot that nods towards the racial diversity of today.

In addition, the inclusion of music from contemporary pop artists, like Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande, and the modernized costumes, accentuating brighter colors and less historically accurate patterns, offer a different experience than more traditional period pieces.

Social media has also embraced the genre, with the show featured on TikTok trends like “cottagecore” and “royalcore,” which are internet fashion aesthetics that romanticize a vintage or regal lifestyle, according to Motherly. The Hollywood Reporter notes that the period drama has also sparked demand for Regencystyle jewelry, fashion and even furniture, with antique online marketplace 1stDibs seeing a surge in sales.

While most of the customs and traditions from the Regency period may seem outdated, its emblematic aesthetic serves as both a refuge from and an inspiration for modern trends. Just like the centuries-old stories the time period tells, these forms of historical media content continue to endure and entertain.

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

The sky is the limit for vertical farming

7

LIFESTYLE Lady M Cake Boutique

Miranda Lu and Michelle Qiao

Staff Writers

In 2015, high school friends Andrew Hare and Matt Daniels founded indoor farming company Vertical Roots, hoping to bring fresh and healthy produce to their community and create jobs for local farmers. Vertical Roots is now one of the leading farms of its kind in the nation, integrating agriculture and technology for crop cultivation.

The South Carolina-based startup uses controlled-environment agriculture (CEA)—an intensive form of indoor plant cultivation that uses technology to optimize growing conditions. Inside the facilities of Vertical Roots, temperature, light, water and nutrients are regulated using a CEA technique known as vertical farming, where crops are grown in vertically stacked layers and nutrient-enriched water, rather than soil.

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1. Hydroponics

roots Plant liquid in are submerged solutions of different nutrients, which is able to increase the production of crops while decreasing the water demand.

2. Aquaponics

Nutrient-dense wastewater from aquatic organisms is pumped into a hydroponic setup to transfer nutrients to plants.

3. Aeroponics

Plants are suspended on foam-like material in a soilless environment and exposed to a misting chamber.

Aeroponics was activity that most successfully more people should used by NASA try to support the in the 1990s. environment with their food choices,” Sophomore Cindy Zhuang said.

The vertical farming industry is growing rapidly, with its market size expected to reach $22 billion by 2026, according to Global Market Insights. As more companies invest in sustainable farming systems, crop cultivation could soon see a shift toward cleaner produce. If both corporations and consumers commit to sustainability, vertical farming and other alternatives could bring agriculture to an entirely new level of both productivity and efficiency.

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Known as hydroponics, the soilless cultivation of crops has several advantages compared to traditional farming methods. Non-profit organization Green Our Planet reports that hydroponic systems use 90 percent less water, increase production by up to 10 times, produce crops that are more nutritious and allow crops to grow twice as fast compared to traditional agriculture. The technique also provides a solution to the ongoing loss of agricultural land. According to media company The Balance Small Business, the world has lost one-third of its arable land in the past 40 years due to urbanization, erosion and industrial development. Since CEA methods allow crops to grow without soil, maximize limited farming space and accelerate plant growth, they present a

possible alternative to traditional agricultural practices. Beyond providing local produce, vertical farming could help increase food production and contribute to feeding the growing world population, which is expected to exceed 9.7 billion by 2050 according to a U.N. report.

Hydroponics has helped Vertical Roots save 98 percent more water than their previous conventional systems.

Because of its versatility, vertical farming can be implemented anywhere with the right equipment, including urban areas, significantly cutting down on the distance food needs to travel before reaching consumers. Vertical Roots, which specializes in lettuce, claims that their local urban farming centers on the East Coast remove the need for thousands of miles of transportation; the lettuce they grow would have otherwise needed to be shipped from the other side of the country in states like California and Arizona.

“It is great that Vertical Roots is growing crops using hydroponics since it is more efficient than traditional farming and very beneficial to the environment.

Hopefully, the company’s actions can inspire other farms to be more sustainable and change the way they grow food,” Sophomore Maya Chivakula said.

Currently, agriculture company AeroFarms in New Jersey is using aeroponics—another vertical farming technique that relies on misting plant roots to stimulate growth—to produce food. It grows over 800 types of crops and sells its fresh produce through Dream Green, the company’s own retail brand. In 2019, it was recognized in TIME’s annual list of 100 Best Inventions, and co-founder and CEO David Rosenberg stated that the company is continuing to work on improving quality, reducing the operating costs of their technology and growing healthy, dependable and nutritious food.

“As the population grows, it will become increasingly difficult for traditional farms to consistently provide food. With future development, vertical farming could become a viable option of mass producing crops like fruits and vegetables,” Sophomore Soojin Lee said.

However, critics of vertical farming argue that it actually uses more energy than traditional farming, which could reverse the sustainable benefits the technique offers. CEA systems use artificial lighting and require complex machinery, which has both high upfront costs and operating expenses. Meanwhile, urban agriculture may compete with rural agriculture.

Without the government piloting clear strategies and programs, the transition to CEA could hurt existing agriculture industries and families that rely on agriculture for income. Additionally, some argue that the technology is not mature enough to be executed on a large scale.

While a shift to vertical farms like AeroFarms and Vertical Roots that rely on advanced technology and large facilities may be infeasible in the short term, small scale changes made by communities and individuals can also lessen the environmental burden of agriculture.

Individuals can also buy food locally, shop for organic foods and start private or community gardens—all of which reduce their carbon footprint.

“Sustainability is big in my family. We have a garden in our backyard where we grow our own produce. It is a rewarding

Hannah Moon Opinions Editor

As I walked towards the corner in front of Macy’s on the first floor of Valley Fair’s Westfield mall, I was met with the clean storefront of Lady M Cake Boutique. The shop’s interior resembled a high-end jewelry store, with elegantly decorated cakes placed on pearl white cake stands and pristine countertops, and the sophisticated atmosphere was not what I was expecting from a confectionary shop.

Originally founded in New York, the Lady M chain now has over 45 locations around the globe in cities from Irvine to Shanghai. In addition to a variety of cakes, the dessert shop also offers bon bons, which are small candies delicately wrapped and placed into boxes, made for gifting.

Although the store was small, it made up for the lack of space with a comprehensive assortment of desserts.

Since the boutique is best known for its cakes, I decided to order four cakes: a signature crepe cake, a chocolate crepe cake, a green tea crepe cake and a red velvet cake.

Lady M’s Mille crepe cake is made with over 40 alternating layers of paper

“The subtle bitter notes of the matcha harmonized perfectly with the richness and sweetness of the cake, and it was irresistibly good.” thin crepes and pastry cream. The cakes were finished by drizzling a thin layer of icing, making them extremely glossy. The edges of the crepes were slightly toasted which added a warm brown aura to the cake. After snapping a few pictures of the vibrant cakes, I was finally going to see if they were as good as they looked.

First, I tried the chocolate crepe cake. It tasted like an average chocolate cake but the texture was exceptionally rich and fluffy. Next, I took a bite of the signature crepe cake. Although it tasted like sweet egg tarts, I found the creaminess too overpowering. The red velvet cake was good, but there was nothing notable about it. My favorite was the matcha crepe cake, which had an elegant coating of Japanese powdered matcha. The subtle bitter notes of the matcha harmonized perfectly with the richness and sweetness of the cake, and it was irresistibly good.

Overall, my Lady M boutique experience was pleasant, and I enjoyed trying crepe cakes for the first time. For anyone who is looking for a diverse variety of cakes, Lady M boutique may be a cool place to try!

Lady M Cake Boutique (4/5) hitting the sweet spot

g + classic flavors + fancy cake designs - on the pricier side

10

MARCH 17, 2021

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: Mass Media

Hashtag takeovers and co-opting trends Dhruv Anish and Natalie Gao Staff Writers

The rise of social media sites such as Reddit, Twitter and Instagram have expanded the ways people can express their opinions and stay informed about current events, as well as connect with each other globally. According to the Pew Research Center, with roughly 900 million people in 2020 now using online platforms to influence real-life events, mass media has become largely influential in counterculture movements.

Counterculture, which refers to ideas and movements that oppose existing norms, emerged in the U.S. with the hippie movement in the 1960s as a response to racial segregation and the Vietnam War, setting a precedent for future activism.

With the internet, activism became more widespread via social media, and global users have been able to reach a larger audience without being restricted to newspapers, as noted by Legal Anthropology Professor Ronald Niezen at McGill University.

Internationally, media has been utilized to garner mass support for political co-option movements. During the Arab Spring in 2010, millions of tweets, videos and posts under the hashtag #ArabSpring allowed people to create collective action for democracy throughout the Middle East, as noted in a study by the University of Washington. Moreover, in April of 2015, Rodrigo Rato, Spanish Finance Minister, was arrested for tax and shareholder fraud after secretly spending government money and lying to shareholders about the Spanish Bank losing money, as stated

by BBC News. By using the internet to find more information on Rato’s false claims, members behind the #15mpaRato movement compiled evidence and used Twitter to organize protests against the Spanish Bank, leading to a civil lawsuit in Spain’s Supreme Court.

Recently in the U.S., there have also been several instances of users taking over threads and hashtags to

“Mass media can create awareness around issues to benefit society. However, untrue or radical ideas about how society should be changed can also be easily spread.”

—Sophomore Ishir Garg

generate support for causes, as well as joining communities that challenge established norms. Last year in June, Korean pop music (K-pop) fans and TikTok users sabotaged Donald Trump’s presidential rally in Tulsa, Okla., by spreading posts on Twitter and TikTok that encouraged others to claim online tickets and not show up. This contributed to the skewing of expected attendance numbers, with less than half the event venue being filled up.

In the same month, K-pop fans conspired over the internet to prevent the Dallas Police Department from shutting down Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests. By flooding the iWatchDallas app with video clips of their favorite idols, the police force was unable to locate protestors and to deploy officers to break up the ongoing demonstrations.

Co-opting can also be used to take over hateful tags, as shown when Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s supporters hijacked #AOClied, a tag aimed at ridiculing the

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politician’s fears over the Capitol riot, with pictures of their pets wearing costumes. In conjunction, K-pop fans coopted #AOClied by causing it to overflow with K-pop-related content, and have utilized the same tactic to counter antiBLM hashtags on social media such as #whitelivesmatter and #bluelivesmatter.

Likewise, the economy has been affected by media-based co-option as well. This January, members of Reddit’s r/WallStreetBets online forum organized mass purchases of GameStop stocks, motivated to ridicule hedge fund owners who short sell—trading stocks that are predicted to decline and rebuying it at a lower price—and subvert the societal expectation that the wealthy brokers of Wall Street have more power than everyday citizens. Redditors’ act of driving up the price and forcing short sellers to purge their stocks at a loss led some to identify the event as a clash between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, according to Yahoo Finance. Others, such as the wife of Justin Speak, a California pastor, blatantly labeled the intent of the movement as one to “eat the rich,” as found by the New York Times.

“Digital activism has had a large impact on the educational advocacy group, Generation Up (Genup), that I am a part of. For instance, Genup’s mobilization over passing statewide legislation to mandate ethnic studies was greatly aided by the high user engagement of our Genup Instagram post. Social media accounts of advocacy groups are some of the best resources in unifying people around political change,” Junior Iris Zhou said.

The New Yorker noted that social media coopting gives people who are excluded from elite media spaces—such as newspapers

Poll: Which media source most influences your opinions and decisions?

38% TikTok 32% Instagram 14% Reddit 16% Other (A pple News, Twitter, Wall Street Journal)

Compiled by Dhruv Anish and Keirah Chen

100 students polled Staff Writers

and television channels—a chance to discuss social issues with a large audience, allowing counterculture ideas to become well known. In 2020, Pew Research Center found that the number of people behind these movements has also increased in recent years—36 percent of social media accounts were used to show support for a cause in 2020, while 34 percent did the same in 2018.

In order for social media pages to attract larger audiences, they employ several methods, including Google integration, which uses keywords to classify content, hashtagging and sharing weblinks and memes. By harnessing media algorithms and publishing posts that feature pop culture references, these pages are able to spread their messages more effectively than they used to. Hashtags also allow pages to categorize the content they are uploading, making it easier for users to access desired content. To further increase the likelihood of amplifying their impact, social media users and companies establish partnerships with other users.

For example, pop singer Camila Cabello started a collaborative initiative with the Movement Voter Project to promote the voices of various social movements and to fund activists’ mental health resources.

While mass media co-opting has helped people advocate for their social and political beliefs, many have also recognized the negative impacts it can have on advocacy. During the BLM protests in June of 2020, millions of social media users chose to show their solidarity by posting a black square captioned with #blacklivesmatter. Although this seems like a harmless gesture, the influx of black squares overflooded the hashtag and blocked many crucial resources from being seen, such as video footage of police brutality and information on how to actively support the movement and related organizations.

“Social media has become a great way to raise awareness for social issues, but it is incredibly important to put action to words—not only spreading awareness but also applying what you are posting in your everyday life,” Senior Jianna Wong said.

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Compiled by Raymond Dai and Breanna Lu Staff Writers

QUINCY HAN ART

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

11

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: History of the School

Branching out: Rediscovering the school’s roots Raymond Dai and Breanna Lu From early alumni to present day traditions, the school carries a unique history—one that reflects the school’s culture, campus, course offerings and customs today.

According to Principal Peter Park, the school’s mascot—the Charger, an armored warhorse that carries a knight into battle— was chosen by the first Associated Student Body (ASB). It is embodied by the Charger statue located next to the quad, which remains one of the campus’ significant points of interest. Rob Miller, Social Studies Department, explains that when the school first opened, students were able to take a metalshop course. In 1970, Steve Austin, a student at the time, created the Charger statue in the metal shop and gifted it to the school.

To explore the school’s history and student works, an array of notable items can be found in the school office, including student artwork. One piece that has been on display since 1979 is a student-created stained glass picture of the school. Apart from artwork, some alumni are also honored through their old sports jerseys, including Tristan Nguyen, a studentathlete who passed away during his junior year at the school.

Both Park and Miller confirm that the campus has remained mostly the same since its establishment, though many small renovations have been made to provide a better experience for students. In recent years, the campus installed new water fountains, replaced whiteboard signs with televisions for announcements and renovated the stage with new video and sound equipment. Park also recalls that the school’s campus used to have an L-Wing with several classrooms that were demolished after a termite infestation.

However, a variety of classes that taught useful life skills or technical skills are not offered at the school anymore.

In the past, students were able to take many unique vocational classes on campus, including keyboard typing, farming and raising livestock through Future Farmers of America, woodshop, metalshop, driver’s education, auto shop, drafting and stained glass art. Gradually, these courses disappeared from the campus as the school shifted towards a more STEM and college preparatory-based curriculum with 21 Advanced Placement courses and San Jose City College classes to accommodate student needs and parent demands, in addition to college A-G requirements. However, students still have access to career-training and vocational courses like they did in the past through Silicon Valley Career Technical Education. Heather Hendry, Foreign Language Department, and Miller both believe that the school has transitioned well through the years to prepare students for their futures, but wish that some of the old courses were still around.

DIANA YOUSEF-NEJAD PHOTO

The Class of 1979 stained glass artwork hangs in the principal’s office.

“There used to be a good balance of vocational education and STEM courses, which provided for students who did not wish to pursue tertiary education, but at the same time sent many students to top-tier colleges. The school is currently focused on achieving the latter, which is a shame because many interesting programs are now neglected,” Miller said.

In addition to career-preparatory classes, alumni believe that athletics involvement has also decreased with the change in curriculum. Steve Seandel, Social Studies Department, who is the son of the school’s first principal, Aaron Seandel, believes that sports are a crucial part of high school that have now taken a back seat because many are choosing to participate in academic programs such as Robotics and Speech and Debate instead. Due to changing times, engagement in the community and school spirit is demonstrated differently as well. For example, past students could be DJs in the school’s former rock radio station,

how the past Battle of the Bands, where students showcased their musical talents, has transformed into the annual Talent Show today. One unique practice that has existed for a decade involves collecting metal leaves that hang from the top of the quad stage. Miller explains that in 2010, a student wrote his name and graduating year on a fallen metal leaf and placed it on his classroom wall, and other students followed suit. However, this year, students have been unable to participate due to distance learning.

Over half a century has passed since the school’s inception in 1967, and several past alumni have left significant impacts on both the school and larger communities,

WENDY LEE PHOTO

Below: Alumna Erin Coelho, Class of ‘87, sports a school letterman jacket.

QUYNH NGUYEN PHOTOS Above: Steve Seandel, Social Studies Department, stands in front of a collection of the school’s boys basketball team pictures.

KLEL, to play music for all students.

Currently, the Charger News Channel serves as a similar program, periodically broadcasting school news to students and their families digitally.

As social media has become much more prevalent compared to previous decades, the school’s ASB now utilizes multiple platforms such as Instagram to encourage student involvement in school events and school spirit weeks.

“There was a lot of school pride and the community was quite social: our spirit squad consisted of the mascot, cheerleaders, song girls, letter girls, the dance team, the school band and even a baton twirler. Our basketball games, football games and track meets were always well-attended and fun,” Alumna Erin Coelho, parent of Senior Alyssa Blodgett, said.

Aside from classes, participation in sports and class camaraderie, school policies have also changed. According to alumna Michelle Pantiga, wife of Joe Moura, Social Studies Department, and parent of Senior Nicholas Moura, the school used to have an open-campus policy, where students could leave campus during lunch breaks.

As for past traditions, Hendry recalls how each grade level used to make floats, or decorated platforms, for Homecoming and parade them around the school track, whereas nowadays, each grade performs a musical skit. Additionally, Park mentions

IVAN ZHU ART

Staff Writers

Above: Alumna Michelle Pantiga, Class of ‘86, displays the 1986 school yearbook.

As the school adapts to new standards throughout the years, Park is proud to assure that students will always have access to an abundance of academic opportunities and activities outside of the classroom. Whether there is a change in curriculum or student traditions, the school will continue to prepare students for their futures.

including astronaut Steve Smith (Class of ‘77), former Arizona Cardinals footall player and former veteran Pat Tillman (Class of ‘94), former Portland Trail Blazers basketball player Reggie Smith (Class of ‘88), animator Joe Murray (Class of ‘89), Korean pop rapper Yubin Kim (Class of ‘06) and Calif.

State Assemblyman Evan Low (Class of ‘01). Similarly, current students hope to leave their own legacies in different ways, whether it be through clubs, activities or athletics.

Blodgett hopes to make a lasting impact through the CAN club that she started sophomore year, which supports those who lack food in the community.

Moreover, N. Moura wishes to leave his mark through his friends—wanting them to cherish the memories they had in classes together.

The student-gifted Charger statue stands in the quad.

DIANA YOUSEF-NEJAD PHOTOS

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MARCH 17, 2021 APRIL 29, 2015

FEATURE: WORLD

Space exploration garners interest

UK-China tensions simmer over new Hong Kong visas Serena Atkinson and Larry Ye Staff Writers

Jonathan Yue School News Editor

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) rover Perseverance and the small robotic helicopter Ingenuity confirmed their Mars landings, both after launching on July 30, 2020. With more than 21 million Youtube livestream views and 10 million “Send Your Name To Mars” campaign registrations, the Feb. 18 landing captivated the public imagination and raised space exploration awareness.

Beginning in 2013, the Mars 2020 program, which includes Perseverance, aims to investigate the Jezero crater, which scientists speculate was an 820-foot deep lake approximately 3.5 billion to 3.9 billion years ago. Armed with 19 cameras and two microphones, Perseverance will study Mars’ surfacelevel geological features and search for biosignatures. Different from previous missions, Perseverance will leave behind sample containers along its route for retrieval by potential future Mars sample-return missions. It will also test a device that can produce a small amount of pure oxygen from the carbon dioxide-abundant Martian atmosphere. According to NASA, the goal of the mission is to help scientists assess the possibility of past life on Mars and survey the environmental conditions that could affect future manned missions to Mars.

This achievement is even more impressive considering the obstacles that NASA faced. The COVID-19 pandemic required many to work from home and has made transporting key personnel and components to the launch site difficult. Additionally, NASA has experienced multiple funding cuts in recent years, forcing it to slash various programs. For instance, the Artemis 3 mission that plans on sending two astronauts to the moon in 2024 may be delayed because the Senate only granted 1 billion out of the $3.2 billion that NASA requested for its Human Landing System program, a key component of the crewed mission.

Space exploration’s importance lies in expanding scientific and technical limits, which helps us better understand the universe. In recent years, commercial business moguls have also taken a prominent role in the industry. A couple of years ago, Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa first announced personal plans to participate in SpaceX’s Starship mission to the Moon and invited artists to join. Projected to take flight by as early as 2023, this will be the first private citizen’s venture to space.

Additionally, the Gateway Foundation, a California-based company, announced its plan for a cruise-styled space hotel slated for 2027.

Carrying an aluminum plaque with the imprint “tribute to the perseverance of healthcare workers around the world,” the successful landing of the Perseverance rover is a feat of human ingenuity that showcases the ability to come together to overcome challenges.

Since Jan. 31, Hong Kong residents have been able to apply for new British visas that will allow them and their dependents to become British citizens.

The U.K.’s announcement is part of a series of actions intended to clarify its opposing stance towards China’s foreign policies: it has already suspended an extradition treaty with Hong Kong and banned 5G networks from Chinese telecommunications company Huawei.

The new visa is open to all Hong Kong residents born before 1997 who hold a British National Overseas (BNO) passport. According to the BBC, 2.9 million Hong Kong citizens and 2.3 million of their dependents are eligible to move to the U.K. under the program, and NPR reports that about 258,000 to 322,400 people are expected to use the new visa within five years.

“Many Hong Kong protesters have left the region through BNO passports to escape the Chinese government. Although my family has already left Hong Kong, I would definitely consider moving to a different country if I were still living there for more freedom,” Freshman Hailey Tan said.

The visa is intended to show the U.K.’s support towards Hong Kong and strengthen their relationship. According to the BBC, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that the visa reflected the countries’ shared values of freedom and autonomy as China encroached on Hong

Kong’s self-government. For example, a national security law passed in June 2020 was widely criticized for suppressing protests and freedom of speech. The law was passed in wake of anti-government protests in Hong Kong against a potential extradition bill that would force Hong Kong to extradite people to countries it does not have such treaties with. Many protestors faced police violence or detainment for being pro-democracy, and The Atlantic reports that the new national security law was interpreted as further disregarding the “one country, two systems” agreement

NICOLE KIM ART where autonomous regions such as Hong Kong and Macau can keep their own economic and administrative systems separate from mainland China.

The new program has faced criticism from both China and other countries.

The BBC stated that the visa is somewhat limiting because China’s national security law targets young protesters, most of whom do not have BNO passports, and thus will not protect them. Additionally, in retaliation to the announcement, China

announced that it will no longer accept BNO passports as travel documents, though The Washington Post noted that this was most likely symbolic because Hong Kong residents do not use BNO passports when traveling to and from China. Additionally, Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, condemned the visa program during a press briefing and stated the U.K. was breaking the terms under which it returned Hong Kong to China in 1997, and that the program violated both China’s sovereignty and international law.

Zhao noted that the Chinese government reserved the right to take further action if necessary, possibly referring to plans to deny the right of abode to people with dual citizenship proposed by proBeijing officials.

“The relationship between China and the U.K. is already very complex and contentious due to their opposing views on Hong Kong’s autonomy.

This new visa program will make their relationship even more complicated in the future because each side is doing what it thinks is right for Hong Kong,” Senior Amritavarshini Chennapragada said.

The new visa program is an opportunity for Hong Kong residents to flee their changing homeland as the U.K. reaffirms its social and cultural ties with its former colony. As China quickly condemned the move as encroachment of its authority over Hong Kong, the U.K. and other countries see the disintegration of Hong Kong’s unique autonomy as a threat to democracy and a violation of the historic “one country, two systems” agreement.

Oxygen shortages compound problems in Latin America Keirah Chen and Michelle Qiao Staff Writers

Latin American countries have been struggling to maintain oxygen supplies as their populations battle a second, deadlier wave of the pandemic. The BBC reported that inadequate oxygen supply has played a significant role in driving the death toll in Latin America to over 610,000, totaling the second highest continental death rate after Europe. Lack of oxygen cylinder supply and transportation has spiraled into a crisis, with the families of patients begging for government assistance.

Medical oxygen comes in two forms: pressurized gas cylinders or liquid tanks.

Although liquid oxygen is cheaper and more concentrated, it requires infrastructure that less wealthy Latin American countries do not have. The World Health Organization reports that approximately one in five COVID-19 patients require respiratory support; based on this projection, with over 19 million total cases, roughly four million Latin Americans have required oxygen cylinders over the duration of the pandemic. According to the public health database NGO PATH, at the beginning of this year, daily oxygen demand in Latin America surpassed 20 million gallons, but less than half of the amount needed was made available to patients.

Manaus, the center of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, and Lima, the capital of Peru, have some of the highest proportional death rates on the continent. In Lima, lines for oxygen have become so long that family members of the infected have

camped outside for days in front of distribution buildings. Supplies have also struggled to reach remote areas; helicopters are required to deliver cylinders to Manaus, where medical staff have been forced to decide which patients receive oxygen, and which patients will have to go without.

Although wealthier countries such as the United States produce large quantities of liquid oxygen, as the volume of infections continues to expand, oxygen supply and other medical resources have already faced similar strain. For example, record-high COVID-19 hospitalizations in December overwhelmed Los Angeles medical staff and strained resources, forcing medical centers to stop ambulances from taking calls to pick up injured and sick people.

“I definitely believe that governments could have been better prepared for the pandemic as scientists have predicted this and have been warning us for years.

This could have involved putting in restrictions earlier on to stop the spread of the virus or even simply providing more medical equipment,” Sophomore Pranavi Gandikota said.

Oxygen supply chain delays in Latin America, as well as high cost, have pushed desperate family members to turn to illegal methods of purchase. This emerging black market is fueling a feedback loop, with reports of thieves breaking into hospital storages to steal cylinders. As the situation in Manaus worsens, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has come under fire from

critics who accuse his administration of inaction. Turning to social media, many Latin Americans have also called for international support.

“If the oxygen crisis continues, the pandemic will worsen. As a leader, President Bolsonaro needs to step up and help his people. Deaths will continue to spike, but these deaths should have been preventable as everyone was aware of the deadly effects of this virus,” Sophomore Desiree Vu De Leon said.

Despite infections falling across North America, COVID-19 cases continue to overwhelm the healthcare system in Central and South America. With several variants spreading across the continent and vaccine rollout slow or delayed by international shipments, Latin America’s recovery from the pandemic may be in peril.

NICOLE KIM ART

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

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FEATURE: WORLD

A virus-induced sanctuary: The pandemic saves rhinos but corruption remains Breanna Lu and Pavana Upadhyaya

Since 2019, the poaching of South African rhinos has declined by 33 percent due to strict lockdown regulations during COVID-19 that made it difficult for poachers to access rhino habitats, according to BBC. However, staff members from South African National Parks have claimed the reported decrease as inaccurate, insisting that the numbers were fabricated to cover up administrative corruption. Protection efforts against rhino poaching in South Africa have been consistently undermined by suspected instances of illegal collaboration between government officials, regional administrators and criminal syndicates.

Rhino horns, which are sometimes used in Asian herbal medicines as grounded up powders and pills to treat various illnesses despite no medical evidence, are trafficked to countries like China and Vietnam, where large rhino horn black markets exist. This product is incredibly expensive—rhino horn powder can cost up to $60,000 per kilo on the

Staff Writers

black market. While rhinos can survive without their horns, poachers kill the animals before removing their horns in order to avoid being injured. To deter poachers and save rhinos’ lives, reserves across South Africa have even cut off rhinos’ horns.

Aside from external threats, internal corruption within the South African government, judicial courts, ranger force and police have further endangered the rhinos. The wealthy and well-connected crime organizations often offer hefty bribes to law enforcement, who turn a blind eye if the price is right.

“Government corruption is rampant. Since there will always be the temptation of money, the best way to hinder corruption is to expose it.

Journalists who document government corruption should be better protected,” Junior Brandon Kwon said.

Possible instances of syndicate influence on the South African government include the Skukuza Regional Court’s closure, which previously succeeded in convicting over 90 poachers. Despite the court’s achievements, Naomi Engelbrecht, an administrator for the Mpumalanga province in Kruger, ordered the Skukuza’s closure in 2019. More recently, Engelbrecht has repeatedly ignored requests to reopen the court and hired a personal defense attorney, which led some to suspect she was in cahoots with criminals. Other criminal indications include delayed poacher convictions, court rescheduling and wildlife bureaucracy corruption, specifically pertaining to Kruger rangers.

The government’s dismissal of useful DNA testing in June 2019 for no specified reason also sparked backlash from prosecutors who insisted the testing was essential for identifying poachers.

After the Skukuza Regional Court’s closure, Kruger rangers had to travel over 50 miles to attend a hearing, leaving more time for poachers to attack. Furthermore, Kruger rangers report low pay, poor training, fear and stress, which could make them more susceptible to bribery.

According to Saving the Wild, a nonprofit that advocates for endangered African wildlife, two Kruger rangers were arrested for alleged association with poachers in 2019. In another instance, a Kruger ranger accused of poaching made unproven allegations towards Don English, an official, of torturing him, which resulted in English’s suspension and more rhinos being killed during his absence.

Aside from ranger corruption, some South African police have also colluded with the poachers. Several South African police have been implicated in poaching cases, states BBC. Also, the police have compromised effective methods to identify poachers for unclear reasons.

The University of Pretoria’s Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, which identifies poachers by matching rhino carcass DNA to recovered horns, was denied a contract renewal by the police.

In efforts to ensure integrity, the South African government has arrested 21 officials during 2017 and over 12 rangers since 2012.

Also, BBC claims that South African parks are testing all potential officials using questionnaires and lie detector tests.

“Rhinos are essential to the ecosystem because they are important grazers and keep vegetation in

check. To better protect them, non-profit organizations could spread awareness by hosting fundraisers and partnering with national organizations,” Sophomore Sanjana Subramanyan said.

Rhinos’ frequent grazing limits overpopulation of select vegetation and allows for a greater diversity of plants, which provides food to more animals. This maintains ecological balance in places where rhinos reside. Consequently, the disappearance of African rhinos could result in the overcrowding of some species and extinction of others. There are about 18,000 wild rhinos left, says National Geographic, with 30 percent living in Kruger.

The populations of rhinos are increasing slowly: the black rhino population has grown 2.5 percent between 2012 and 2018. Unfortunately, the threat of rhino extinction remains.

Because of this, governmental officials must create new measures in order to control corruption and foster law enforcement fidelity—before it is too late.

QUINCY HAN ART

Countries explore drug decriminalization as new solution to opiod crisis Keirah Chen, Reagan Liu and Larry Ye Staff Writers

In a 12-month period ending in May 2020, drug-related overdose surpassed 81,230 deaths in the U.S., as shown by data from the Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics—the largest quantity of fatal drug overdoses over 12 months in American history. Following the COVID-19 pandemic’s progression, America’s drug overdose epidemic has further deteriorated, causing U.S. states like Oregon to reevaluate existing legislation in hopes of curbing drug addiction.

On Feb. 1, 2021, Oregon became the first U.S. state to decriminalize possession of hard drugs like heroin, methamphetamine and LSD. Now, instead of being arrested, Oregonians caught in possession of hard drugs with no intent to sell will only need to pay a $100 fine or take a health assessment to determine if they need addiction counseling. To further bolster recovery efforts, Oregon has also approved increased funding for rehabilitation centers by redirecting tax revenue from its legalized marijuana industry.

Proponents of the new legislation claim that it will prevent relapses and accelerate recovery. They also hope that decriminalizing drug based offenses will destigmatize addiction, thereby motivating people to reach out for help.

“Before drug decriminalization, people who needed drug treatment or medical assistance may have avoided it to hide their shame or avoid punishment. With the new law, however, people will be able to ask for help more openly, which will only help

them recover more quickly from their addictions,” Sophomore Soojin Lee said.

For years, racial and ethnic disparities have also persisted across felony drug convictions in Oregon. One study, conducted by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, found that African Americans in the state were convicted at twice the rate of whites, all other factors

BEOMHEE KIM ART

considered equal. Hence, supporters of Oregon’s drug decriminalization anticipate that the new legislation will smooth out racial inconsistencies in drug convictions.

However, not everyone supports the decriminalization of drugs. As stated by PBS, two dozen district attorneys argued against the bill, claiming it would increase drug use and the acceptance of dangerous drugs. Vote No on Measure 110’s official website argues that the measure would encourage more children to test hard drugs without any consequences. In addition, opponents contend that by channeling funds from marijuana tax revenue, the new drug decriminalization law will divert necessary funds away from schools, the police force, mental health programs and municipal governments that need support.

“Although decriminalizing some drugs could be tolerable, ultimately, it depends on the type of substance that is targeted by the law. Drugs such as heroin, oxycodone and LSD are extremely dangerous, and users could pose danger to others, so the decriminalization of such drugs could cause more harm than good. However, it would be a good idea to decriminalize less potent drugs,” Junior Danibel Kasbari said.

Despite the potential for people to abuse the law, t h o s e in favor of it point out that drug decriminalization in Portugal

was extremely successful. After the law’s introduction in 2000, rehabilitation increased by 20 percent as drug-related prison sentences fell from 2001 to 2008, while the number of drug deaths fell, according to PBS. Other countries, including the Netherlands and Switzerland, have also

“Working on rehabilitating drug abusers is a good action to take.

Many users and addicts are people Compiled by going through tough Hannah times, and Moon Staff Writer have to cope with many problems.” decriminalized drugs, with mixed results.

Deutsche Welle, a German newspaper, reported that Netherlands’ drug policies have led to the country becoming one of the largest exporters of synthetic drugs, leading to drug cartels and other illegal organizations taking advantage of the law.

On the other hand, Switzerland’s drug policy effects have been mainly positive, with the number of overdose deaths in the country decreasing by 50 percent, HIV infections falling by 65 percent and reports of new heroin users diminishing by 80 percent, as stated by Stanford Social Innovation Review.

With the introduction of Oregon’s new law, it is still too soon to draw conclusions about long-term benefits or harms.

However, the legislation will be scrutinized closely by other states who could also contemplate decriminalizing drugs.

14

MARCH 17, 2021

FEATURE: SCHOOL Technological advancement: Boon or burden?

Cindy Zhao Lifestyle Editor

In the world of “The Andromeda Strain” by Michael Crichton, an alien life form that vaguely resembles bacteria, wipes out the population of Piedmont, Ariz. in mere seconds.

Since this fictitious event, the U.S. government has never met an enemy so minuscule yet so deadly.

Robert Peng, Physical Education Department, found himself immersed in these worlds during his summer breaks as a student. Although he does not read as much as he used to, Peng has always enjoyed Crichton’s books because they capture a sense of reality. By combining scientific material like ecoterrorism or artificial intelligence with colorful diction and futuristic settings, Crichton crafts vivid scenarios of future disasters that readers can see themselves possibly living through.

“His work interlaces realistic concerns with fictional elements.

Unlike books such as “Lord of the Rings” that involve a lot of description, Crichton’s novels are always straightforward. He writes with an engaging voice that keeps your attention at every page turn,” Peng said.

Students apply to summer programs for hands-on opportunities Dhruv Anish and Norah Shen Staff Writers

Every year, students at the school apply for summer programs to gain college or work experience and explore topics they are interested in. Although most programs take place during summer break, The Washington Post reports that they have become increasingly selective and require an extensive application process that students complete as early as December and as late as May. This year, Freshman Ethan Chang applied for California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS), a month-long program that teaches students a variety of STEM subjects through advanced lectures and research projects.

Although this program is usually a college residential program, due to COVID-19, it is now an online course. By attending this program, Chang hopes to learn more about bioengineering and explore possible career paths for his future.

“I want to pursue science or engineering, so I applied for a group related to bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego. It would be fascinating to apply the STEM concepts I learn in school to a real project at the camp,” Chang said.

In addition, Junior Anika Bhatia wants to pursue a career in medicine, so she applied to the

Stanford Science Technology and Reconstructive Surgery internship and the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute Summer Student Research Program (CHORI SSRP). Similarly, last summer, she participated in an independent study group and researched COVID-19’s impact on New Zealand with former classmates. Her research ultimately helped improve her collaboration skills and provided her with more insight into the healthcare field.

This year, Bhatia was motivated to apply to more lab-based programs to gain experience in the medical field and further her excitement in STEM. Unlike Bhatia and Chang, Junior Krystal Montgomery is interested in both design and computer science, so she applied to three programs, including Carnegie Mellon University’s National High School Game Academy. She was interested in this six-week program as it not only explores software development, but also the art, audio and game design aspects of game development. She looks forward to gaining an introduction to software engineering and strengthening her understanding of design and computer science by creating her own video game throughout the summer.

“This program initially caught my attention because it is a college-level interdisciplinary program that allows me to learn about my interests: computer science and design. Moreover, I would be able to participate in interactive projects that simulate aspects of a future career in software development.

Especially since the summer before senior year is important for students to demonstrate that

they are spending their time wisely and efficiently, I am motivated to do my best,” Montgomery said.

However, unlike previous years, the majority of summer programs have been moved online or cancelled in order to

JULIA NAKANISHI PHOTO prevent COVID-19 from spreading further. Regardless, Bhatia, Chang and Montgomery all believe that it is beneficial to learn from professionals and are eager to study through virtual platforms. Hence, despite the changes, the students are still hopeful that they will learn new topics and delve into diverse career pathways.

“Although summer programs are now virtual, they are still great opportunities to explore or solidify areas of interest and deepen knowledge or skills, especially since we have been unable to experience working in any hands-on activities all year.

I hope the summer programs will provide me with more specific knowledge on the medical field and present more research opportunities,” Bhatia said.

Therefore, the students are eager to challenge themselves and apply the knowledge they gained from classes to new projects. They encourage other students to apply to summer programs to further enhance their education.

Left to right: Freshman Ethan Chang and Junior Krystal Montgomery fill out their summer program application forms.

“In his books, [Crichton] wants you to question if innovation is a good or bad thing for humankind.”

Michael Crichton was a prolific American author and filmmaker who wrote 26 novels including “The Andromeda Strain,” “The Terminal Man” and “Jurassic Park,” several of which have been adapted into films.

All of the books focus on the failures of human interaction with technology that end up resulting in catastrophe.

Altogether, they have sold over 200 million copies worldwide.

“Crichton often includes social commentary on the ethical conflicts that scientists face with the rapid advancement of technology. In his books, he wants you to question if innovation is good or bad for humankind,” Peng said.

Peng believes technology is already a burden because it has dramatic consequences on humanity.

“Inventions such as the mobile phone and the world wide web have severely affected the ability of everyone to stay in the present and deal with issues in real life. Powerful technology has potential for abuse.

Without proper ethical decision making and strict regulation, it can threaten humanity,” Peng said.

Crichton’s novels may be fiction, but they remind us of real threats that potentially come with each scientific breakthrough. For students who are interested, Peng recommends they start with “Jurassic Park,” as it is a longtime classic and an excellent introduction to the fantastical worlds of Michael Crichton.

Stock-savvy students participate in trades for long-term savings Natalie Gao and Manasa Sriraj Although the stock market is often for this evaluation. The model uses neural associated with the world’s network technology to assess the market most powerful corporations from three viewpoints: one component and entrepreneurs, many utilizes the news to determine the students have also been market’s performance, while the other two investing in companies, components analyze how likely it is for a according to CNBC. For stock to gain value over time. instance, despite “I have different patterns for longtheir young age, term and short-term investments.

Junior Aakash Prior to purchasing long-term stocks, Sriram and I thoroughly research the market.

Seniors Shreya However, for short term stocks, I do Thayaparan and simpler chart analysis to Luke Lin have identify which stock will been purchasing be the next breakout,” and trading Sriram said. shares for Even though several years. the students are now Sriram first experienced, they initially became interested faced numerous difficulties. in the activity when For instance, when Sriram was he saw his dad beginning to invest, one of his analyzing stock stocks’ value decreased, causing his JONATHAN MORRIS PHOTO market charts in entire collection’s price to decline ninth grade. Likewise, by 30 percent. To minimize Thayaparan discovered the market in long-term consequences, he quickly eighth grade while exploring the stocks sold his shares. Lin, on the other hand, application on her phone. Meanwhile, Lin was challenged with navigating the was motivated to become a shareholder stock exchange, as he could no longer to disprove the common notion that the visually analyze stocks when he went institution was solely for the geniuses, and blind. However, his parents supported he ultimately purchased his first shares of him by introducing him to a group Intel when he was in fourth grade. of successful blind investors In order to make successful purchases, who taught him Sriram and Thayaparan wake up at 6 a.m. how to pursue every weekday, right before the market the hobby opens. After analyzing chart patterns, regardless of not JONATHA price-to-earnings ratios and company being able to see N KE PHO TO values, Sriram and Thayaparan make their the charts. purchases. On the other hand, Lin uses a The students encourage self-developed artificial intelligence model future investors to take risks, as long as

Staff Writers

they are wisely thought out. They also advise students to let go of the “fear of missing out” (FOMO) in the stock market.

Instead, they urge others to trust their plans and not feel pressured to buy a certain holding just because other traders profit from it.

“I witnessed how quickly some people earned ... money ... and felt pressured to do the same.”

“When I first started investing, I made several mistakes due to FOMO. I witnessed how quickly some people earned large sums of money in a short period of time and felt pressured to do the same before potent shares were sold out,” Lin said.

All three students have different investment goals: Sriram plans to add his earnings to his college funds, Lin wants to start a business and retire early and Thayaparan works to save her profits for other investments. These three students’ experiences demonstrate that although the stock market may initially seem like a difficult place to navigate, developing a well thoughtout plan, having a strong work ethic and persevering will greatly help investors save money for the future.

Left to right: Junior Aakash Sriram and Senior Luke Lin analyze the stock chart prior to making an investment.

THE CHARGER ACCOUNT

Up and running: School sports kick off cont. from Front Page

15

SPORTS

Miranda Lu, Michelle Qiao and Manasa Sriraj

“I am still a bit doubtful about the status of the season. Safetywise, I am also not sure if rejoining lacrosse was the right choice.” orange tier. Practices for these sports started on Feb. 22 and competitions were scheduled to begin on March 8, but some games, like field hockey, were cancelled as the level of contact required was deemed unsafe. Season two consists of the normal winter and spring sports, with track and field, golf, swimming and tennis in the purple tier, baseball, softball and girls lacrosse in the red tier, badminton, soccer and boys volleyball in the orange tier and basketball, cheerleading and wrestling in the yellow tier.

Sports in the second season will begin official practices on March 22 and competitions on April 5. As with the first season, safety will

be continually evaluated.

Even with the excitement of the renewed seasons, there are still concerns about the safety of athletes and coaches.

“Since my doctor did not clear my physical until recently, I was not able to attend the first couple of lacrosse practices. Even though I have now started playing, I am still a bit doubtful about the status of the season.

Safety-wise, I am also not sure if that was the right choice,” Janice Shih ‘21, a lacrosse player, said.

In order to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, athletes, coaches and other staff are taking precautions.

Everyone is required to wear masks at all times, maintain six feet of social distancing, sanitize equipment, take their temperature at home, wash their hands and complete a daily symptom screening. There are now designated pickup and drop-off areas; group gatherings and spectators at games are forbidden. Additionally, athletes within a sport will be divided into

cohorts—designated practice groups— where attendance is taken on a daily basis. Members are mandated to stay in one cohort for a minimum of three weeks before switching to another. In spite of the numerous restrictions, many students and coaches alike support the reopening of athletics, highlighting that sports play a crucial role in many students’ lives.

“I am very excited about sports reopening. The social connections that sports provide are incredibly important—I would not have become the athlete or person I am today without the support of the school’s athletic community and my teammates. In this pandemic, it is easy to feel isolated and withdrawn, making in-person sports’ resuming critical,” Sam Chock ‘21, who participates in track and field as well as field hockey, said.

In order to prepare for these modified sports seasons, Sparrer recommends that athletes begin acquiring information about their sport’s schedule and stay as active as possible, doing cardio and weight training workouts and practicing sport-specific skills. However, some athletes like Ved Rao ‘24, a tennis player, find it hard to get the most out of their training.

“Since outside activities are limited, I am unable

Staff Writers

to practice very frequently. I play with my coach and some of my friends, but I am not improving as quickly as before— in tournaments, I had the opportunity to learn from my mistakes and the skills and strategies of various opponents. However, with restrictions still in place, I cannot do much more to prepare for the upcoming season besides focusing on staying active,” Rao said.

Sparrer explains that the focus will be primarily on students’ enjoyment as well as physical and mental wellness. Games and matches will not be a major part of the experience, although they will take place outdoors and with safety precautions.

“Our main goal is to keep people safe. We hope that everyone knows that we have the best of intentions.

It is a fragile situation, with many students, parents and staff involved,” Sparrer said.

Recognizing that the circumstances are less than ideal, Sparrer asks for understanding on the part of athletes. The Athletic Department is hard at work making the best out of the situation and they hope that athletes will be able to enjoy the new season in every way they can.

NICOLE KIM ART

Season one consists of the regular fall sports, with cross country in the purple tier, field hockey in the red tier and water polo, football and girls volleyball in the

Equestrian enthusiasts take their talents to new levels Manasa Sriraj and Pavana Upadhyaya Staff Writers

am only aware of what is around me right then, right there, which is very refreshing,” Scott said.

When it comes to training and preparing for competitions, Scott practices gymkhana routines with her horse and experiments with and develops techniques for progressing through these patterns faster while maintaining precise movements. A key aspect of preparation involves taking care of the horse itself—making sure it is in shape

Madison Scott ‘22 trains for her monthly gymkhana competitions.

COURTESY OF MADISON SCOTT

Aly

COURTES YO FA

“Riders strengthen important muscle groups and develop alertness and compassion.”

and emotionally well. Scott’s normal s with a horse she works w 1 pose i th a routine is to practice with her 2 ‘ e t eq tyr n uin I horse at least four times c et M a E he i R Y a week, but due to T v N r I MC A I distance learning, V LY she can practice much more often.

Scott is passionate about horse riding, and would like to continue the activity as much as possible, but she is not sure if she can keep it up when she goes off to college. make their rider feel as “Not only is horseback riding time comfortable as possible. consuming, but it is also expensive. I do “I once worked with a boy with lownot know how much time and money I will functioning autism. At first, he was nonhave to spend on horse riding in college, verbal and very uncomfortable with being so I cannot make any plans right now,” touched. During his weekly riding lessons, Scott said. the horse helped calm his nerves, so he Competitions, however, are not the was much more engaged in conversation only way that students are involved in the while riding. Eventually, he became much equestrian world. McIntyre is pursuing a more relaxed and confident. I even saw career in equine therapy or hippotherapy, him tell his mother ‘I love you’ for the first in which people with special needs time, right after a lesson,” McIntyre said. receive treatment through horse riding.

McIntyre explained that she is Starting college at Husson University this passionate about horses as well as helping fall, McIntyre plans to earn a doctorate people, and equine therapy is a career in Physical Therapy and establish her that involves both. She does not plan to own hippotherapy center. McIntyre’s participate in competitions, because she passion was also sparked at a very young is more interested in establishing good age—her mom, also a horse rider, would relationships and having fun with horses often ride with McIntyre on her lap. She rather than showcasing their abilities explains that horses were a key part of her together. The pandemic has not had any childhood, so she naturally developed a drastic impacts on McIntyre’s routines— love for connecting with and riding them. she continues her riding practices and McIntyre’s mom is also a certified lessons as usual, just with measures like master level therapeutic riding instructor, social distancing. and her work gave McIntyre a firsthand Whether Scott and McIntyre’s passion look at the benefits of equine therapy. By will become a part of their career or not, working with horses, riders strengthen both students agree that working with important muscle groups and develop horses has been an important learning alertness and compassion. McIntyre adds experience. McIntyre says that she has that horses’ movement patterns resemble learned how to handle serious injuries those of humans, so people who struggle and medications, while Scott explains with mobility can exercise the same that horse riding has taught her focus and muscles involved in walking by riding a patience. For these two students, horse horse. Horses are also very supportive, riding has been an invaluable opportunity altering their behavior and gait to to care for and work with animals. y.

an invigorating and relaxing activity— when she is riding, she is able to focus on the moment and destress.

“There is no way to exactly describe the fun of horse riding with words. When I ride, I forget my worries and obligations. I

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While focus of many traditional sports involves developing collaboration skills with fellow teammates, horse riding is a unique activity that involves a different kind of teamwork between rider and animal. Two such athletes, Madison Scott ‘22 and Alyvia McIntyre ‘21 are taking their talents in this less mainstream sport to a further extent, expanding their hobby to professional heights.

Scott is a competitive horse rider who developed her passion for horse riding at a young age. After encountering horses at the age of three, Scott promptly began horseback riding lessons. One of her first instructors was a competitive horse rider, and Scott accompanied her to many tournaments throughout her childhood. Watching her instructor piqued Scott’s interest, and she entered her first competition in sixth grade. Now, she participates in an event called gymkhana, where riders guide their horses through an obstacle course-like setup. Each horse-rider pair needs to follow a certain pattern of actions based on certain items in the setup—for example, a task in the pattern might be to walk around a barrel three times before moving on. Scott participates in monthly competitions, often in county divisions. Scott finds that competing is both

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Return of Old Modern Yo

Technolog y

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Poll: Are you interested in old technology?

Larry Ye Compiled by Pavana Upadhyaya and Staff Writers 100 people polled

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The thought of a decades old film camera fetching over $1000 on auction websites like eBay or Facebook Marketplace might be unthinkable by Staff Compiled to some; however, this recent surge in popularity of film characterizes just one aspect of younger generations’ new interest in older forms of media. Once thought to be outdated Sp ort relics of past decades, photographic film and vinyl records have seen sE logy dit an unprecedented rise in demand despite the rapid development of modern d techno r n a or ia d e an technological advancements. ow old m g more popula dV tty cool h e r ory omin p is t I “ Today’s digitalized era offers an unlimited selection of music through streaming and hist and bec ie w n g io in it c d a f a r r own ct po is resu services for just under ten dollars a month, yet teens continue to purchase vinyl a specifi ord player and es y r r in a c c c e tE as they records—a more expensive option. According to The Conversation, they are willing to pay if differen own a r e many di them. I h t old in o t d h e n it a u t w it means listening to better quality music and recapturing the mood that “makes people feel at or orms , and d f t ls la y p in v g ave many home.” Additionally, not every music artist streams their work online, opting to sell their albums streamin , I cannot say I h o w e n n e ic us ing t betwe through exclusive LPs and other physical formats instead. ning to m ing said, listen d is e t s li f o ways The exact reason behind older technology’s comeback is difficult to pin down. For Millennials That be nefits an ve its be often hear ference. a e r h p s e a o and older generations, the popularity could be attributed to nostalgia. For younger consumers, player d you can ening to a record its own way as personal memories likely have little to do with it. Members of Generation Z—those born after 1996— n list e in han whe on a screen t u r iq e n tt u e b did not grow up with 35mm film, records or cassettes, so something other than fond memories of the d much ed to go the soun ic and do not ne past or or even a general familiarity with the materials must be contributing to the renewed interest in us digital m music.” these mediums. e h t y etawat to pla Many chalk it up to mere trends, but actual consumers cite a multitude of reasons. Film Juhi Kh n a m h s at way -Fre photographers, for instance, claim that the noticeable grain in pictures taken on older cameras results in is a gre ia d e m n. It is old a more natural, organic feel. In a New York Times article, author Nick Bilton explains that the “grit and ence of generatio using g r r e u s ld e r o e “The grime” of film was what sparked his interest in photography. Similarly, collectors of records claim that the with th are even ays, connect t music artists e r wad o t tangible nature of vinyls helps them create a deeper connection with songs and the rich sound quality of an but no cen e , r , e t is a d h t n cha BO Max cool analog record makes the listening experience more enjoyable. or mer easier to use. H f ie s v e o tt e m cass “The feeling of holding a record in my hands and then hearing the music is a special moment. Since my vices are ice, has diverse ming ser a e r ol in an t g surv s dad kept records from his days as a DJ, I have grown up listening to vinyls and have special memories with treamin olaroids are co In the s r la u p t. a po them. However, I cannot say that my enjoyment of them is wholly connected to nostalgia. The physicality of while P vestmen ns and are an in pair, it would io t y p e o h t , t records is still very important for me,” Senior Aida Mushell said. aspec ing re ly aesthetic old media need is not common Another explanation for the revival is that the tactile experience of records, film and cassettes provides a e s h it p t o e f t c o p in e la cas ore s like m s e refreshing contrast to an increasingly digital world. In an interview with The Guardian, DJ Phin, an artist based t s ic o v c e d probably ared to fixing in London, said that she finds tapes attractive because, like living things, they have physical lifespans. p m o c , d .” e y us As for the psychology behind the modern fascination with old media, it is the idea that vintage products every da t we use ammy Newman a h t reflect aspects of the past century that are now rare in contemporary tech innovation: these items serve as ore T -Sophom handheld tokens with personalized connotation. With the rapid-fire production of online content and digital devices, Gen Zs want to be able to know what it was like during simpler times, according to Timehop.

“I like film cameras because they let me preserve a hard copy of the memories I make with my friends. My dad cting also owns vinyls himself, and going through his old records allowed for us to bond over his old interests,” Junior joy colle en n e I d n h player a Rachel Choi said. stalgic w d wn a CD s and I feel no ea o t I s “ in r Brands have taken notice of this rise in popularity. Popular clothing chain Urban Outfitters has begun selling e CD playe it r D o C v a e f h t refer my records and turntables, once considered niche equipment for DJs. Business Insider cites that record sales brought disks on ever, I do not p re e h t y la w o Ip r mo in over $200 million in the first half of 2020, double that of CD sales and the first time vinyls have outpaced CDs in phone. H echnology is fa y m n o t of odern revenue since the 1980s. media, m fficient.” ld o Photography brands have started catering to film’s resurgence as well. Kodak reintroduced once discontinued nd e actical a Nora Thomas r p film products like the Ektachrome 100 film which was discontinued in 2013 and reintroduced in 2020. Dutch ore -Sophom entrepreneurs from The Impossible Project acquired Polaroid’s production facilities in 2008 and because they did not have the actual chemical recipes, reverse engineered the original Polaroid instant film emulsions, allowing new film to be produced for the famous 1980s camera.

Although each person has different motivations for owning these antiquated devices, one thing seems to be commonly shared: for the Gen Zs, being able to touch upon a past that they themselves did not actually experience is worth the high-priced expenses of these anachronisms.

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