The
CHARGER ACCOUNT
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 942 SAN JOSE, CA
San Jose Unified School District Leland High School 6677 Camden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95120
Vol. S No. 1
Wednesday, October 14, 2020 Leland High School · 6677 Camden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95120
Putting the “distance” in learning
Larry Ye and Nancy Zheng
Staff Writer and Investigative Report Editor
On the eve of Santa Clara County’s announcement of travel restrictions in March, Junior Hanks Lin and his
family flew back to their home country of Taiwan. On the same day, San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD) announced the termination of in-person learning. H. Lin’s family decided to stay in Taipei, Taiwan, because Taiwan has significantly less COVID-19 cases than the U.S. According to Worldometer, Taiwan currently has 523 COVID-19 cases while the U.S. has over 7.7 million. Continued on School News, Page 2
Extramural extracurriculars
Bertina Fan, Janice Lee, Miranda Lu and Norah Shen While the proceedings of academic courses in the wake of the pandemic have largely been settled, how extracurricular activities operate remotely is constantly changing, as many of them involve handson activities and work best in a shared physical location. Distance learning has brought many difficulties, but the students and staff involved in these activities continue to adapt while striving towards their goals. Luckily, students participating in activities such as
Continued on School News, Page 2
Changes Campus to without the campus due students: to and distance Faculty staff stilllearning hard at work
Ashley Lee and Matt Wang
Staff Writers
peer tutoring, ASB, drama and speech & debate can still engage in their passions.
AUDREY LUI PHOTO
Community News & Feature School Editor and Sports Editor
When the bell rang in the middle of March, classroom doors would fling open, dismissing hundreds of students to their next class. Now, when the bell rings, Webex calls come to an end, and students and teachers prepare to log in to their next class. This school year is unlike any previous year: classrooms that were once crowded with students only have a teacher inside, and many staff members are working from home. One noticeable change to the school is the decrease in campus population: over 1,900 students used to attend the school in person, but now, all students engage in distance learning. Thus, the Counseling Resource Center (CRC), which was constantly filled with students for various reasons—to meet with academic counselors, utilize computers and printers, obtain and submit volunteer forms and seek test preparation materials—is now sparsely populated. Even though many counselors are working from the CRC, students are not allowed to enter the area under any circumstance. Therefore, counselors have to communicate with students remotely. Hannah Banks, Academic Counseling Department, for instance, now speaks with her students through email and Webex appointments.
“Initially, virtual school was difficult because I had to learn how to utilize Canvas and Webex and could not easily call students out of class to talk to them. However, despite these challenges, there are also benefits of a socially distant school: we are keeping students safe and teaching them how to solve the various issues that arise with virtual learning,” Banks said. Unlike students who are mandated to learn from home, staff members have some flexibility in whether they teach from home or from school. For instance, Heidi Pimentel, Foreign Language Department, works from home because it allows her to focus on her students while also looking after her two children. In contrast, Susanna Young, Math Department, has decided to teach from school because it allows her to communicate easily with Veronica Burton, Math Department. Since Burton and Young both teach the same courses, Young explains that communicating promptly is crucial to them in order to
maximize collaboration and efficiency for their students. “It feels strange to teach in an empty classroom. I usually think of my classroom as a positive and collaborative space, but with distance learning, it has been challenging to get to know students or for students to work collaboratively throughout the entire class,” Young said. In addition to some teachers, the custodians also commute to school. Their current duties are similar to the tasks they performed prior to distance learning: they clean the bathrooms, windows and more, ensuring that the campus remains clean. However, in order to minimize contact with staff members, custodians are only permitted to sanitize outside surfaces including door handles and are unable to physically enter classrooms. Thus, teachers are now responsible for cleaning their rooms with disinfectants provided by the school. “As only a few people are allowed to come to school, the campus is very clean.
However, I still sanitize the main office and the bathrooms every day. I used to regularly clean the classrooms, but I am unable to sanitize them unless teachers request it. Even though I am commuting to school, I feel safe on campus because my job does not require frequent contact with other staff members,” Carlos Carranza, Head Custodian, said. While custodians and some teachers have remained on campus, the cafeteria staff no longer work from the school during distance learning. A partnership between San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD), the state of California and the National Student Lunch Program provides students with free grab-and-go meals at 24 different schools throughout the week. However, since the school does not offer this meal program, the student nutritional employees prepare lunches for students at other SJUSD schools while the cafeteria on campus remains empty. In spite of the challenges distance learning entails, the school continues to operate both on and off campus. Although numerous parts of the school have changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers, custodians and other staff alike attempt to maintain continuity and provide the help students need to succeed.
AUDREY LUI PHOTO
Police officers remain on SJUSD campuses on page 3
1 NEWS
4 OPINIONS
Lego’s Braille Bricks pave new path for the blind on page 7
6 ENT. & LIFESTYLE
Mental health issues come to the forefront during the pandemic on page 10
BEOMHEE KIM ART
8 VIEWPOINT 10 IR 12 FEATURES 15 SPORTS 16 LAST WORD
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OCTOBER 14, 2020
NEWS
Putting the “distance” in learning cont. Meanwhile, Sophomore Patricia Zhang and her family are currently living in Silverthorne, Colo. COVID-19 cases in Colorado have also been less widespread than
center and her sister is also able to train with her snowboarding team. The time zone difference between California and Colorado is one hour, meaning that
NICOLE KIM ART
Junior Wells Lin is also currently living in Taipei, Taiwan; due to concerns of the pandemic’s progression in the U.S., his family decided that living together in Taiwan would be the safest option. As the time difference between Taipei and San Jose is 15 hours, H. Lin and W. Lin participate in online school throughout the night; for them, school starts at 10:55 p.m. and ends at 5:35 a.m. To sync their scheduling with Pacific Time in California, both students aim to go to sleep in the early afternoon. However, this has posed various difficulties, such as outside noises and natural daylight disrupting their sleeping and conflicts with schedules for local activities. Nevertheless, H. Lin and W. Lin both prefer the safety of Taiwan over the more convenient timing of online learning in San Jose. “The hardest challenge is sleeping at the same time everyday, but through this experience I have learned to keep better track of my time and make schedules so I do not end up procrastinating and sleeping for only a few hours a day,” H. Lin said.
that of California, and more activities have been allowed to resume with precautions. For instance, in Colorado, Zhang is able to join volleyball clinics at a local community
school starts at 8:55 a.m. for Zhang. With a less drastic time zone difference compared to Taiwan, Zhang faces fewer adversities studying outside of California.
“I like living in Colorado because I get an extra hour of sleep in the morning, and I am able to participate in more outdoor activities to relieve stress,” Zhang said. All three students claim they have not experienced noticeable changes in academic performance despite their different locations, and attribute this to the format of distance learning: all classes and assignments function online. Therefore, with internet access and a working technological device, students are able to keep up with school regardless of their location. Even before the pandemic, many students around the U.S. who were enrolled in exclusively online college courses attended class from abroad. According to Education Data, in the fall of 2017, more than a third of these students participated in their classes from a different state than their actual school was located in and nearly five percent of them studied from outside of the U.S. Now, because of the pandemic, more students are transitioning to this method of distance learning.
Extramural extracurriculars cont. Peer tutoring Aiming to provide students with an “I would like to have online sessions easily accessible resource for academic as an option for peer tutoring when we assistance, peer tutoring has redesigned return to campus. Some students prefer their program to function entirely online. this to in-person meetings, and it is “Although teachers give their best often more flexible in terms of tutor and effort to provide as much support as tutee availability. Usually, tutors could possible, they can only help to a certain only hold in-person sessions to 5 p.m. extent. Peer tutoring gives students the Online sessions can start at 7 p.m. or 8 opportunity to get help in any class through p.m.,” Peer Tutor Coordinator a one-on-one setting that they can access Kat Thoman, Math from home,” Senior Kathryn Le said. Department, said. Moving the program online took months of preparation for Thoman and student leaders. All physical files and materials had to be moved onto online documents and all tutors had to create online profiles for tutees to choose from. While most students were unfamiliar with the format of online tutoring at the beginning fo the year, approximately 50 students have signed up to help the program grow and reach out to more students. Furthermore, peer tutoring’s new system is one that can potentially be used even after the school reopens. Courtesy of Peer Tutoring
Drama
Courtesy of Drama
Putting on plays and musicals, drama students typically spend their time preparing for live performances. While the ability to participate in group work has been hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the class continues to explore the different aspects of drama with individual assignments. In class, cast members have been working on writing original monologues, while stage and sound management study scripts for light and sound cues. Additionally, costume designers create mood boards and sketches and prop masters brainstorm different props that could be used in performances. To increase collaboration within each drama position, classes have also been rescheduled: actors now have class on Wednesdays and Fridays and crew members go on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “Despite having different roles, drama students are usually very closely-knit.
With all classes being online, it is much harder to get to know and collaborate with others,” Senior Lindsey Evon said. Despite the challenges of building class bonds online, drama continues to brainstorm ways to effectively collaborate during distance learning. Furthermore, they are currently preparing for a virtual performance in November.
ASB When in-person classes were in session, Associated Student Body (ASB) was responsible for promoting and hosting school-wide events intended to bolster school spirit. However, due to the nature of the pandemic, the club has found itself working harder to reach out to the community. “Because we do not have on-campus events such as dances and rallies that are taking up our
time, we have more time to work on building connections,” Activities Director and Leadership Advisor, Meg Walsh said. This year, ASB has been conducting activities with a greater focus on creating local connections. They wrote thank-you letters to local firefighters, conceptualized plans to recognize students and their achievements and are currently brainstorming ideas for a virtual homecoming rally. ASB also recently collaborated with Blvd Coffee in making the Super Charger drink, emphasizing bonds between the school and the rest of the Almaden community. Furthermore, to reach out to students, ASB has created a Google Classroom for each grade. “While ASB cannot hold as many events as we did previously, we still want to stay in contact with students and other members of the community. Despite the pandemic, we aim to make high school more enjoyable for everyone,” Senior Sahana Venkatesh, ASB President, said. Courtesy of ASB
Courtesy of Speech and Debate
In a regular year, students in Speech and Debate compete in tournaments every weekend. Amidst the pandemic, students continue to attend tournaments virtually, but find that preparing for them is more difficult online. During class, students now split up into their coaches’ personal rooms to work on their projects.
Speech and Debate
“The biggest challenge for Speech and Debate is the loss of the sense of community that people usually love. Video calls are much more awkward compared to in-person meetings, as it is easy to accidentally cut others off when talking,” Senior Parker Beyersdoerfer, Speech President, said. Furthermore, Beyersdoerfer found that at tournaments, audience reactions and energy are now harder to gauge, as virtual tournaments essentially consist of people watching performances through their screens. However, Senior Devon Shao, Debate President, made it clear that the changes were not all negative. For instance, chances to go to more tournaments across the nation, such as at Yale University and the University of Ky., opened up as restrictions imposed by transportation and money are less of a concern with virtual participation.
Top left: Tutors in peer tutoring meet for a meeting on a Zoom call. Top right: Senior Qylie Quo writes words of encouragements on students’ cars for ASB. Bottom left: Juniors Ainsley Heston and Kiana Tavakoli and Joely Karrer, Class of 2020, perform in last year’s “Steel Magnolias” play Bottom right: The school’s Speech and Debate policy team pose after a tournament held before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Spot the differences: changes to the UC application process
Serena Atkinson
Although nearly 25 years have elapsed since the adoption of Prop. 209, Calif. still remains divided over the issue of affirmative action. Ratified in 1996, Prop. 209 has prevented the state’s public employers and institutions from considering race and gender when reviewing applications. However, recently, new measures have been proposed to change the college application systems in Calif.: Prop. 16 and the elimination of standardized tests. Endorsed by many state politicians after the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests, Prop. 16 will appear on Calif.’s general election ballot. If passed, it would reallow affirmative action in public universities. However, this would only be an option and would not be mandatory, nor require universities to meet specific racial quotas.
Prop. 209 originally intended to provide applicants with equal opportunities by considering only students’ merit. The Washington Post reports that although the system
Staff Writer considered socioeconomic status under Prop. 209 to promote equality, Black and Latino students were still underserved: their admission rates to UCs declined by 15 percent after the passage of Prop. 209, according to a study from Duke University. “Prop. 16 has good intentions because it will give minorities more chances to get into
Although the UC Board of Regents voted to waive testing
groups since they often have less opportunities, such as how many low-income students cannot afford to take the SAT or ACT numerous times. However, Seligman’s decision has also faced criticism. For instance, p aa s Comhyay the Bloomberg editorial r e it ad Wr board argued that, instead of Up ff Sta RT eliminating standardized tests A LIN in college applications, UCs should A C I S JES emphasize financial aid opportunities 100 peo ple polle for low-income applicants and prohibit d requirements until applicants from superscoring their test 2024, the court ruling now scores to prevent advantages for students prohibits UCs from going test- who can afford to take the SAT or ACT higher education. optional as well. USA Today reports that numerous times. UC Academic Senate Affirmative action even test-optional would be unfair since Chair Kum-Kum Bhavnani told the Los would create a more standardized tests are less accessible due Angeles Times that standardized testing is diverse community in to the COVID-19 pandemic, and students necessary for underrepresented students higher education; but, not who are unable to submit test scores because the test scores actually make regarding Asians as an would be be at a disadvantage compared applications more holistic as admissions underrepresented minority because of to students who are able to. officers adjust applicants’ test scores based their presence in the UC system and the Apart from the pandemic, Seligman on their socioeconomic status. large Asian population in Calif. could be was concerned that requiring standardized “I mostly support the decision, as discriminatory,” Senior Megan Lee said. test scores was unfair to disabled students the SAT has been unfair to low-income However, the change in the status who are unable to take standardized students. However, in terms of how this of affirmative action is not the only tests due to the lack of accommodations. will affect college admissions, public difference in the UC application system. Furthermore, Mark Rosenbaum, director universities might now place more priority In September., Judge Brad Seligman ruled of law firm Public Counsel’s project and emphasis on students’ essays and that the UCs cannot consider applicants’ Opportunity Under Law, told USA Today extracurriculars in order to distinguish Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or that considering standardized test scores applicants from one another,” Senior Smit American College Testing (ACT) scores. discriminates against underrepresented Ahir said.
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San Jose school districts contemplate contracts with cops Natalie Gao and Michelle Qiao As San Jose school districts make the switch to virtual learning to minimize the risks of spreading COVID-19, many schools have also reconsidered their contracts with the San Jose Police Department (SJPD). The Black Lives Matter movement’s condemnation of police brutality in tandem with the uncertainty of reverting to in-person models in the near future led many administrators to question the morality and necessity for police officers to remain on school campuses. On Aug. 25, SJUSD held a board meeting with community leaders to discuss the possibility of ending its contract with the SJPD, according to The Mercury News. While students would no longer be on campus, SJUSD administrators ultimately decided to continue working with the SJPD to maintain the safety of staff members commuting to school. During the summer, however, many students from San Jose districts had petitioned to remove police officers from campuses. A petition from the San Jose Unified Equity Coalition to terminate contracts with the SJPD got over one thousand signatures, and
another petition directed toward the East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD) received over two thousand signatures. “Police should not be on SJUSD campuses. It is unnecessary and does not result in a safer environment on campus. Putting police on school grounds only serves to create a more hostile and dangerous environment,” Junior Conner Shih said.
In contrast to the SJUSD, other school districts in the community have taken a different approach. For instance, the boards of education of Alum Rock Union School District (ARUSD) and ESUHSD have both unanimously decided to stop funding police officers on their campuses and to end their partnership with the SJPD. San Jose Spotlight finds that ARUSD and ESUHSD decided to terminate their contracts due to their concern for students’ anxiety caused by the presence of police officers as well as data that indicated that the possibility of requiring police officers’ services to combat GRACE LI ART their schools’ altercations is low. According to The Mercury News, removing police
Staff Writers
officers from campus will save $100,000 in ARUSD’s budget and $700,000 in ESUHSD’s budget. Some administrators suggested using this money towards funding the districts’ other needs, like counseling and classroom resources. It may also help offset budget cuts, especially during the age of COVID-19; The Washington Post projects that public schools in Calif. will lose 20 percent of their state funding due to the pandemic. Despite some believing that the money would be better spent towards more community-based projects such as mental health professionals, SJUSD spent a total of $1.3 million on police contracts in the past two years. “Police officers should not be on campus since they are unnecessary. It is uncomfortable to have someone walking around with a weapon during school hours, and it makes my friends and me uneasy. Instead of utilizing funds to place intimidating figures on campus, the district should allocate the money towards more important things such as improved mental health resources and rehabilitation,” Junior Ruby Grimes said.
Quotebox: Should schools terminate their contracts with the police department? “Although police officers are not always necessary, school districts should not be so strict and completely terminate their contracts with the SJPD. Police officers should be allowed to work on campus when there are dangerous threats at school, especially since that could lead to school property being damaged or destroyed.” —Junior Sean Yang “In areas or schools with higher records of crime rates, it would definitely be useful to have police officers in the school or at least nearby. It is not just stopping the students from crimes, but also protecting the students from potential threats, especially when school shootings have been increasing. However, for schools in safer areas and have good records, police should not be necessary to be on campus. And because of COVID-19 this year, it is completely unnecessary for schools that are doing online classes.” —Senior Nikhil Chandra “Police officers should not be on campus because they are overburdened with tasks that they are not qualified to handle. Redistributing the budget by cancelling these contracts will not only be a more efficacious use of the money, but will also give rise to more tangible benefits forental health workers andacademic counselors.” —Junior Shraya Pal Compiled by Ashley Lee, Community News Editor
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OCTOBER 14, 2020
OPINIONS
The overcorrection of cancel culture Ridge Coffey and Nam Nguyen
The Charger Account Leland High School Principal Peter Park San Jose Unified School District 6677 Camden Ave. 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 SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR Jonathan Yue OPINIONS EDITOR Hannah Moon FEATURE EDITORS Ashley Lee, Nam Nguyen VIEWPOINT EDITOR Aileen Xie ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Ridge Coffey LIFESTYLE EDITOR Cindy Zhao INVESTIGATIVE REPORT EDITOR Nancy Zheng SPORTS EDITOR Matt Wang LAST WORD EDITOR Evelyn Liu AD MANAGER Nancy Zheng ADVISOR Stacy Dawson
The age of the internet has brought a new sense of anonymity. In the modern age where almost anybody around the world is just a call or text away, publicly denouncing individuals has never been so impactful in such a short period of time. Consequently, cancel culture has evolved from demands for accountabillity to exposés of individuals that are blown out of proportion, often with little supporting evidence. The internet has allowed for the permanence of whatever is “posted,” where it could be unearthed years later and ruin reputations. The COVID-19 pandemic has only heightened this phenomenon as people’s social lives have become even more dependent on online interactions, resulting in increased attention and scrutiny over what is found by clicking and scrolling. Today, cancellation can be defined as the social rejection of someone by a group of people based on an allegedly unacceptable action or an opinion, as explained by the New York Times. There are instances where an influencer does something that is simply inexcusable, and making cancel culture possibly necessary for accountability. For instance, men like Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby and Bill O’Reilly have been canceled as part of the #MeToo movement after numerous sexual assault and harassment allegations, some pending in court. However, outrage towards Robert Downey Jr. for his satirical usage of blackface in the 2008 movie Tropic Thunder, Ellen DeGeneres for her rude
Entertainment Editor and Feature World Editor and cold off-camera personality or J.K Rowling for her transphobic remarks reveals how complicated and unclear it is to cancel someone. Canceling has become an all-encompassing phrase for all types of scenarios, each with unique circumstances and details that warrant unpacking. Clear examples of moral wrong, like Weinstein’s
AILEEN XIE ART sexual abuse, are grouped together with nuanced situations. “While it is true that those who have done something wrong, especially those who have big platforms, need to be held accountable, it is important to understand that people can change over time and that we do not always see the full picture in their lives. Holding people accountable for their actions does not condone the toxicity,’” Senior Jianna Wong said. Paradoxically, canceling someone can draw more public attention towards them,
when the objective is to de-platform and criticize. Despite being canceled for his public support of President Donald Trump and controversial remarks about slavery, rapper Kanye West continues to produce chart-topping albums and is considered the highest paid musician, as Billboard notes. Trump himself has weaponized his contempt for cancel culture to rally his supporters, despite calling for the cancellation of others himself. What is clear, however, is the environment cancel culture has created. The widespread accessibility to others’ opinions and thoughts online has given people the ability to demand accountability from public figures, but its excesses have fueled a toxic atmosphere where people choose to shame and blame out of cathartic anger rather than forgive. “Cancel culture is extremely toxic in that the majority bandwagons to hate on someone that is being canceled without researching the issue for themselves. The irony with cancel culture is that people always say ‘educate, don’t cancel’ yet do not give people the chance to be educated,” Senior Yangyang Lai said. Cancel culture’s flaws and inability to successfully hold significant figures accountable for their actions demonstrates the danger of misinformation and outrage in modern culture. A free society should offer a larger environment for debate and personal expression but cancel culture limits that. Instead, there needs to be open dialogue and a belief that people can change when seeking accountability.
Questioning the merits of qualified immunity Blanket protection for officers leaves little room for justice The Charger Account Editorial Staff
STAFF WRITERS Dhruv Anish Serena Atkinson Keirah Chen Raymond Dai Bertina Fan Natalie Gao Janice Lee Reagan Liu
Breanna Lu Miranda Lu Michelle Qiao Norah Shen Manasa Sriraj Pavana Upadhyaya Lawrence Ye
ARTISTS Quincy Han Beomhee Kim Rachel Kim Jessica Lin PHOTOGRAPHERS Junan Ke Rex Li Wendy Lee Audrey Lui Jonathan Morris Julia Nakanishi Diana Yousef-Nejad GUEST CONTRIBUTORS Grace Li Carolyn Nguyen The Charger Account October 14 Vol. S, No. 1
As school districts across the country, including San Jose Unified, reevaluate the status of their contracts with police departments, legislation governing police conduct also warrants investigation. When Breonna Taylor was fatally shot seven months ago, three police officers were present on the scene. Collectively, Louisville Metro Police Department Officers John Mattingly, Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove fired 32 shots on the night of her death, six of which hit her body. Even though Taylor died as a direct result of the officers’ actions, only one has been indicted by grand jury: Detective Brett Hankison, for a negligible wanton endangerment charge. With all three officers evading what many believe to be warranted manslaughter charges, questions have again risen over qualified immunity—the judicial doctrine of granting law enforcement officers immunity from civil lawsuits. In the 1967 case Pierson v. Ray, the U.S. Supreme Court established qualified immunity to protect law enforcement from frivolous lawsuits and improve the efficiency of police operations by enabling
officers to make split-second decisions. So long as qualified immunity does not violate “clearly defined” constitutional rights—the definition of which often depends on past court rulings for similar situations, if any—police officers are exempt from prosecution. However, in practice, qualified immunity protects law enforcement from truly egregious conduct, because ironically, “clearly defined” constitutional rights are actually ambiguous. Lawyers have also frequently turned down cases involving police brutality because of blanket protection through qualified immunity, as reported by Reuters. However, the concern of frivolous litigation, or baseless lawsuits with the sole purpose of harassment, does not pose a genuine risk to police officers. Even without qualified immunity, numerous safeguards against such lawsuits have already been enacted: according to the Cato Institute, litigation against law enforcement must be held to more stringent pleading standards, founded in good faith and are subject to early dismissal. Likewise, the Fourth Amendment already protects officers from legal repercussions for erroneous actions that are reasonable. Concerns about ruinous financial burden are also unfounded: a New York University Law School study spanning 81 law enforcement agencies, including 44 of the nation’s largest, found that the government furnished 99.98 percent
of the money paid to plaintiffs in police misconduct cases. Thus, even if a case bypasses qualified immunity, indemnification prevents the vast majority of officers from most, if not all, monetary culpability. Complete abolition of qualified immunity would not be a perfect solution either; as predicted by a Columbia Law Review article by Joanna C. Schwartz, professor of law at the University of Calif, Los Angeles, its absence would not significantly increase the success rate of lawsuits against law enforcement nor allow for proliferation of groundless litigation. While cases would be more efficiently handled, many irresponsible police officers would still fall through the cracks of the legal system. While qualified immunity comes with good intentions—to equip law enforcement with the means to perform their duties—it denies litigants their right to a fair trial without genuinely benefitting the police. Officers cannot take personal responsibility for their behavior without the threat of material consequences to force them to maintain a higher degree of diligence in following constitutional guidelines. As it stands, qualified immunity overcompensates for unlikely scenarios and fails to hold officers accountable for excessive violence. Especially considering other laws have rendered it unnecessary, qualified immunity has defeated the very purpose of law enforcement: justice.
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OPINIONS
USC’s failed attempt to be anti-racist Raymond Dai and Reagan Liu At the University of Southern California (USC), communications professor Greg Patton was dismissed after accusations of distressing students’ mental and emotional health. While discussing filler words in different cultures, Patton explained the Chinese filler word “nèi ge,” an expression that sounds similar to the N-word but means “that.” The implications of USC’s decision led many to raise concerns about how the professors’ dismissal imposed western values onto ethnic ones. After receiving multiple complaints, the university placed Patton on administrative leave for the rest of the school year. The decision outraged many Asian students, as they felt that Patton did not intentionally use the words in a degrading manner. Since the dismissal, Patton has apologized for the offense but claimed that there were no intentions to disrespect the students. “His suspension was unjust, students failed to see the professor had no ill intent, as well as the fact that the professor had no control over the fact that a common Chinese word coincidentally sounds like a slur. People should be more accepting of other cultures, and imposing western values onto nonwestern people is only going to lead to more pointless conflict,” Junior Kevin Yang said. Due to ongoing social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter, taking precautions against racist language is emphasized now more than ever. According to The Mercury News, Marshall Dean Geoffrey Garrett, chairman of business administration of USC, justifies the decision by asserting, “It is simply unacceptable for faculty to use language that can marginalize and harm the psychological safety of our students.”
Staff Writers
Aileen Xie Viewpoint Editor
“The Book of Longings”, a historical fiction novel by Sue Monk Kidd, tells the biography of Ana, a rebellious young Jewish girl who challenges societal expectations for women by fighting to make her voice heard. Her curious mind, relentless spirit and passion for writing are reflected in the secret narratives she writes of neglected women around her. Just before a forced betrothal was to take place, a chance encounter with a young Jesus changes the course of her life. The two marry and settle down amidst the restless resistance to the Roman occupation of Israel, and
QUINCY HAN ART “I can understand why USC punished Professor Patton harshly. Amidst the social justice movement surrounding racism, saying something that sounds like the N-word can induce shock. Coming from an immigrant background where English was not my first language, I have also said ‘nèi ge’ while stuttering in conversations, but I stopped saying it both in and out of my home because people accused me of being racist,” Sophomore Leon Huang said. USC must recognize that not everything can be viewed through an English language. While Patton himself could have shown more sensitivity in planning his lesson given the diverse student body, his punishment sets a dangerous precedent. The dismissal
established a negative stigma on the Chinese language as a whole by portraying common words used in everyday conversation as taboo. USC needs to recognize the diversity in its student body and faculty and embrace its varied cultures and languages, not discourage students from speaking their own languages While USC may have attempted to be anti-racist, they only contributed more to cultural division. Additionally, their swift actions only prove that the administration hastily made its decision without considering its implications, perhaps to compensate for other accusations of discrimination within the school. Awareness and acceptance of other cultures and languages would go a long way in preventing prejudice, bigotry and racism.
Northeastern University enforces social regulations Dhruv Anish and Norah Shen Near the end of August, Northeastern University, a private university in Boston, dismissed 11 first-year students for breaking COVID-19 regulations by partying in a hotel without masks or social distancing. Although students will be able to return to campus in the spring, , the university will not be refunding their $36,500 tuition payments. The dismissal sparked public outrage, as many felt that the punishment was too harsh. According to a survey conducted by Boston.com, 51 percent of interviewees agreed with the students’ dismissal but disapproved of the university keeping the tuition. This may reflect how the United States as a whole has not been taking the regulations as seriously as other countries have, with 27 percent of Americans choosing not to wear a mask in public according to BBC. “The decision by Northeastern to dismiss those students for violating social distancing guidelines is entirely warranted. The students were jeopardizing both their health and the health of those around them; even if they all tested negative, inaction from Northeastern’s end would have set a dangerous precedent. Still, choosing to keep their tuition, instead of refunding it, even partially, seems to just add insult to injury for these students,” Senior Edward Hwang said. Furthermore, several universities and colleges in the United States have been influenced by Northeastern’s decision. The New York Times detailed that Purdue University has also suspended 36 students for partying, and the University of Connecticut
Reflecting on Kidd’s “The Book of Longing“
removed several students for a dorm gathering without masks. Other colleges have taken a milder approach: when Iowa State University discovered a huge party that consisted of hundreds of students all violating
BEOMHEE KIM ART social distancing, administrators sent letters to students and parents explaining the university’s situation and limitations in current circumstances. Many universities are trying to send a message of unity to their students instead of threatening punishment. On the news program Greater Boston, Julia Marcus, a public health researcher and infectious diseases epidemiologist from Harvard Medical School, warns that harsh retribution will only discourage other students from reporting their symptoms and participating in contact tracing. “Following social distance rules is important to keep everyone safe, so it needs to be taken seriously. However, students are excited to meet people again and catch up
Staff Writers with friends. The school’s purpose should not be to discourage kids, and having strict punishments means students cannot adjust to school,” Freshman Amber Lu said. Colleges are not implementing rules without reason; many have seen outbreaks of COVID-19 spread rapidly on campus after reopening. As stated by The Washington Post, almost every major university that reopened in-person has reported a surge in cases. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill switched from a hybrid curriculum to purely online because of an outbreak that spread to 130 students within days, and the University of Notre Dame suspended in-person classes for two weeks due to an outbreak caused by parties that rapidly spread to 147 people. Although students should act responsibly in the midst of a pandemic, opening the campus prematurely risked the health of both students and teachers, and universities must also shoulder part of the blame. Universities cannot prioritize regaining the lost revenue from COVID-19 over the health of the students, professors and staff, nor can they expect students to behave perfectly— universities must acknowledge that students want to socialize with other students. While partying cannot go unpunished, the school must recognize its own role in enabling such behavior and create monitored spaces for students to interact safely.
“‘The Book of Longings’ details one woman’s journey as she realizes the potential inside of her despite a time and place designed to silence her.” when Jesus’s public ministry clashes with the Roman rule, Ana flees to Egypt where she finds purpose in unexpected places. Readers do not need to be religious to appreciate this novel’s fantastic writing. To avoid the controversy of giving Jesus a wife, Kidd says in an interview with Penguin Random House that his character is shaped from many sources—although he exudes the typical biblical virtues commonly associated with him, such as devotion and faith, Kidd both humanizes and modernizes him by reimagining the well-known figure as an everyday man with the same frustration and selfishness as everyone else. Although it does narrate part of Jesus’s life, the heart of the book is about Ana. Her story illustrates the importance of womanhood, motherhood and spirituality. Kidd offers countless examples of times women have been silenced, from Ana having her scrolls and pens burnt by her mother to Ana’s aunt being accused of murder after her husband’s death. Additionally, the interdependent relationship between Jesus and Ana demonstrates the vitality of balancing different values, beliefs and personalities to complement one another. Although the writing shows strength in character complexity, it falls somewhat short in plot and relationship realism. Jesus and Ana’s relationship is unusually tame and can seem shallow, lacking any serious conflicts that are not easily resolved. Additionally, the events of the plot seem not to stem from the protagonists’ decisions, but from external coincidences, such as an accident or an introduction of a new character or concept. Despite its weaknesses, the book is still worth enjoying. “The Book of Longings” details one woman’s journey as she realizes the potential inside of her despite a time and place designed to silence her.
“The Book of Longings” (4/5) worth the read
+ handling of content + character complexity – weak plot
6
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
OCTOBER 14, 2020
Movie Review: Boys State Playing it by ear: musicians rethink performances during pandemic Reagan Liu and Michelle Qiao
Dhruv Anish Staff Writer
Directed by Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss following the 2018 Boys State Conference at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), the film “Boys State” captures the proceedings of a yearly event that takes place in 49 of the 50 states in the U.S. Filmed in 2018, the documentary was released by A24 and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Jan. 2020. As its name suggests, boys who are chosen to attend the conference participate in constructing a fully functional government. Upon arrival, students are split into two parties: Federalists and Nationalists. Both function independently from one other until all officials for their respective parties are voted in, after which the gubernatorial candidate from each preccinct will campaign to be elected as governor for the entire state. The program is very prestigious because successful politicians like former Vice President Dick Cheney, former President Bill Clinton and former Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut have all attended Boys State in the past. In the documentary, the crew follows the boys through all stages of the program, detailing how they develop both as leaders and individuals. Although the crew takes care not to follow any one participant religiously, the documentary most heavily revolved around the story of Steven Garza, a soft-spoken boy from a modest family of immigrants. Upon arriving on campus, he feels out of place being in the minority of liberals, as a majority of the boys at Texas Boys State are conservatives. Slowly but surely, he goes from a recluse who nobody wants to vote for, to finishing second in an election in a manner that seems fairly cinematic. As a whole, the documentary dives into the psyche surrounding one’s political beliefs and examines the future of politics, conveying the message that people with opposing mindsets are able to come to satisfactory compromises. From a technical point of view, Boys State is executed skillfully. The cinematography makes the viewer feel as if they are in the same room as the boys while the prospective legislators learn the political process from the ground up. To eliminate the perception of bias, the directors do a great job featuring people with a variety of different political opinions without trying to portray any particular group unfairly—a difficult task to complete in a political documentary. Overall, Boys State was one of my favorite films to watch this year and I recommend it as a action-filled documentary with exciting new perspectives.
Boys State (3/5) worth a watch
+ solid cinematography + minimal bias - too much focus on Steven
Over the past few months, nationwide and audience members noted the sense social distancing measures have been of community the gatherings provided, implemented to slow the spread of some may still have been wary of the COVID-19. As a result, many large consequences of attending. social gatherings have been canceled or “It is brilliant that people are finding postponed. Along with other industries, the new ways to perform. However, I would music industry has been forced to adapt, not be likely to attend a pop-up concert. with artists around the world reinventing Even if the audience was socially how they perform for audiences. distancing and wearing masks, there Social media platforms like Instagram is still a risk of contracting COVID-19 in and YouTube have proved to be useful a public gathering,” Sophomore Cindy tools, enabling artists to stream live Zhuang said. performances. Taking advantage of these platforms, musicians across the world continue to share their music. Artists like John Legend, Chris Martin and Elton John, among others, have performed in online live streams, often garnering large audiences from various geographical regions. In addition to using social media, musicians have created innovative ways to continue performing in-person while following mandated social distancing guidelines. The New York Philharmonic Orchestra has AILEEN XIE ART performed pop-up concerts in parks, on cars and in other public areas. The orchestra has also created Pop-up concerts and social media are N.Y. Phil Plays On, a free online portal not the only method of performing music that connects visitors across the world while still remaining socially distant. A with digital music content. For the N.Y. brand new musical exhibit at Central Philharmonic, a return to pre-pandemic Park created by Pulitzer Prize-winning concerts remains unlikely to happen in composer Ellen Reid has recently opened the near future. However, audiences have up, enabling park visitors to enjoy music reacted positively to the pop-up concerts, that interacts with their surroundings. with large crowds forming and recording Otherwise known as a Soundwalk, the the performances. Although performers exhibit can be accessed through a free
Staff Writers mobile app. It plays a score of classical music performed by the N.Y. Philharmonic Orchestra. The soundtrack is dynamic, changing as users stroll through parks. Experiences are unique for different users because the playlist depends entirely on the route users take while exploring the park. Soundwalks have even popped up in different cities such as San Francisco and Paris, each with an individual atmosphere. In the state of California, many unconventional events have also begun to emerge. By introducing safer ways for artists to perform, these innovative concerts and exhibits have created a new environment in the music industry. Attempting to make the best out of the situation, most musicians have been open to giving these unique events a try. With a return to normalcy unlikely to occur in the near future, the musical artists may continue to take advantage of virtual options as social distancing measures are difficult or even impossible to enforce with large audiences. Even if conventional concerts returned, potential attendees may still be concerned about contraction of COVID-19. “It could be beneficial to go back to normalcy and entertainment. However, more lives may be lost. Even though concerts are enjoyable, especially in person, I would prioritize health over them,” Senior Annie Borders said.
The success of online learning platforms
Aileen Xie Viewpoint Editor The COVID-19 outbreak has touched professionals show themselves performing want, rather than being bound to a strict upon many aspects of life, including specific techniques and methods: in and limiting schedule on campus,” Junior conventional in-person education, forcing one Masterclass, tennis player Serena Samuel Wu said. everyone to adopt alternative methods Williams demonstrates her lessons on Masterclass is not the only online of learning. As a result, online learning the court. All teachers also offer words of learning platform gaining leverage— platforms have seen an influx of new wisdom about the struggles and successes websites like Coursera, Udemy and edX are students, with many exploring new of their careers, hoping to instill a sense of also becoming more popular. They are all subjects out of curiosity. insight into students. taught by college and university professors, One online platform has emerged as who instruct major-oriented the lead: Masterclass, a platform curated courses as well as courses on and taught by “masters” in specific fields. practical skills that focus on In Masterclass, violinist Itzhak Perlman workplace initiatives, civic teaches the violin, Oscar-winning actress leadership and interpersonal Natalie Portman teaches an acting relationships. On edX, computer class, world-renowned primatologist science professors from the Jane Gooddall teaches about University of Calif., Berkeley, conservation and many more courses teach a class titled “Bitcoin and are included. According to Expert Cryptocurrencies.” On Coursera, Editor, the platform has amassed its Yale University offers a class wide appeal from the idea that being titled “The Science of Wellbeing,” taught by world-class professionals designed to help students build can guide viewers to succeed in productive habits. their own endeavors. The video Furthermore, students are production quality of each class also using other resources to is a standout feature, with refine their knowledge and their Hollywood-level production practical skills. Despite being an catching the eyes of many entertainment-streaming outlet, according internet consumers. to the National Education Association, EVELYN LIU ART To provide a special YouTube has countless educational and experience for each class, instructors “Learning culinary skills online instructional videos, listing free tutorials bring their own experience as well as through Gordon Ramsay’s culinary for hobbyists and review videos for their personal styles to make classes more masterclass has been extremely helpful students. Even though there are a large engaging. In writer Joyce Carol Oates’s in motivating me to further pursue my assortment of online learning resources, short story writing Masterclass, she uses passion in the culinary field. The teaching most people agree that they cannot workbooks and writing assignments to in Masterclass has been just as effective replace the rapport of in-person settings, help stimulate students’ creative thinking as real-life instruction, even offering even during a pandemic. Even so, online and writing skills, as well as workshops in new insights that I would not be able to courses can serve as an additional avenue which she analyzes amateur writers’ short encounter otherwise. I also like that online to help students develop academic skills fiction pieces. In classes that teach sports courses provie you the flexibility to learn and to motivate people to pursue interests such as tennis, basketball and gymnastics, wherever you want and whenever you or hobbies.
THE CHARGER ACCOUNT
Lego’s Braille Bricks build inclusivity in toy industry
Raymond Dai and Miranda Lu
Adapting to changes during the coronavirus pandemic has been difficult for schools, especially those with visually impaired students who have struggled to continue learning. To address this, schools have turned to Legos. On Aug. 20, Danish toy company The Lego Group launched Lego Braille Bricks, a new product designed to help children with impeded vision learn the braille alphabet. The bricks are molded into the same shape as regular Lego bricks, but the studs on top have been rearranged to match letters and numbers in the braille language system. French teenager Louis Braille created a reading and writing system in 1824 with raised dots for people with limited vision to be able to read each pattern representing individual alphabet letters and numbers. Now simply known as Braille, the system has declined in use due to both the rise of online learning programs and audiobooks and the difficulty teachers and parents have teaching it. According to the World Health Organization, around 19 million children around the world are either blind or visually impaired, and only 10 percent of those children in the U.S. are learning to read braille. To help address the declining popularity of Braille, Lego announced in 2019 that it would distribute Braille Bricks similar to its mainstream building blocks. Before Lego decided to release the bricks in the fall, the company tested them in schools and community centers in Brazil, Denmark, Norway and Great Britain. In the September 2019, the product was expanded to four more countries including the U.S. Braille Brick toolkits have been sent free of charge to parents and schools
that work with children who are visually impaired or blind. Plans to make Braille Bricks available in stores have not been released yet, but in an effort to increase accessibility in the toy industry, Lego aims to expand toolkit
BEOMHEE KIM ART
distribution to include more countries next year. The Lego Braille Brick toolkit is available in several languages and includes over three hundred bricks in five different colors that reflect the braille alphabet, numbers, punctuation marks and mathematical signs. Braille Bricks can also be connected to form words, sentences and math equations as well as fit together with regular Lego blocks. The letter, number or symbol corresponding to the studs are printed on top of the brick, allowing children with visual impairment to play and learn with sighted children. Lego’s new toy fosters a unique and inclusive approach to learning the braille system, possibly helping children with lack of sight develop skills like collaboration and communication. Stine Storm, Senior Play & Health Specialist at the Lego Foundation, has already reported a large amount of positive feedback from children, parents, and teachers who tried the Braille Brick toolkit through the testing program. “Braille Bricks are an important advancement in the toy industry because
Dictionary.com’s September update features over 15,000 new words and revisions. Reflecting the shifting political and social landscapes of 2020, the majority of revisions concern mental health, race and gender identity. The update is not only intended to reflect important events, but also how ordinary people’s use of language adapts over time. With the internet revolutionizing various aspects of everyday life, many have found it difficult to keep up with the ever-evolving lexicon of web language. To break this barrier, Dictionary.com added internet lingo to their database. New entries like “ish,” defined as somewhat, “nothingburger,” referencing a situation with no outcome and “G.O.A.T,” an acronym for “Greatest Of All Time” intend to familiarize the public with how people communicate over the internet. Nationwide Black Lives Matter protests have also led Dictionary. com to incorporate words relating to race, identity and culture in order to remove negative connotations around certain words. In an effort to encourage people to embrace their true identities, the dictionary’s editors focused on creating clear, standardized meanings for previously ambiguous words. Perhaps the most significant change was the company’s effort in differentiating between the two distinct definitions of “black.” With a capitalized letter “B,” the word “Black” now refers to members of the African-American race, while “black” refers to the color, or the condition of being dirty.
“Braille Bricks are an important advancement in the toy industry because they facilitate accessibility for children who are visually impaired.”
Yes: 74%
of Lego Braille Bricks could push the toy industry to offer a wider range of products for disabled children. “The launch of Lego Braille Bricks could potentially set the stage for more inclusivity within different industries, compelling businesses to create more products geared towards people of all abilities,” Senior Jacqueline Pham said.
Staff Writers
“Dictionary.com’s efforts are conducive to promoting inclusivity and awareness. In this diverse world especially, acknowledging specificities helps create safe spaces for everyone,” Junior Nitika Rao said. When changing the language in reference to suicide and addiction, the dictionary’s editors avoided using the word “commit,” which has negative undertones associated with
IVAN ZHU ART
crime and sin. “Commit suicide” was replaced with with “die by suicide” and “end one’s life” while “addict” has become “a person addicted to” or “habitual user of.” According to John Kelly, a senior research editor at Dictionary. com, these changes were influenced by the recommendations of mental health professionals to focus on the humanity of those affected by addiction and mental illness, thereby reducing stigma around sensitive topics.
LIFESTYLE Charlie’s Cheesecake Works
Staff Writers
they facilitate accessibility for children who are visually impaired. Fewer children are learning Braille nowadays, even though they need it to receive more educational opportunities. Braille Bricks will motivate them to learn Braille and will also present a creative methodology to teach language in classrooms,” Sophomore Karis Moon said. Lego’s Braille Bricks are not the first products to be developed for children with undermined vision. Other products also help these children learn braille. Some examples include Alphabet blocks and Uno playing cards with braille dots etched onto them. A few other toys focused on helping impaired children were recently developed, one of them being Light Stax plastic blocks that light up and connect with one another; similar to Legos. Nevertheless, Lego bricks are mainstream among children, and the new Braille bricks can be an attractive approach to helping these visually impaired children learn braille. More importantly, the advent
Redefining identity: Dictionary.com updates terms
Serena Atkinson and Manasa Sriraj
7
Dictionary.com has also redefined many words relating to the LGBTQ+ community. According to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, homosexuality was originally considered a mental illness. Similar to the capitalization of “Black,” Dictionary.com capitalized the word “Pride” in its latest update to reaffirm the LGBTQ+ community’s rights and celebrate their dignity. Throughout the site, terms like “homosexual” and “homosexuality” have been replaced with “gay,” “lesbian,” and “asexual” to acknowledge the distinct identities within the the LGBTQ+ community. The definition of “themself” was also updated to include its use by nonbinary or gender non-conforming people. Additionally, the words “Filipinx” and “Pinxy” were added to expand identification beyond the traditional “Filipino” (masculine) and “Filipina” (feminine) terminology for people from the Philippines, similar to how “Latinx” and “Chicanx” use a variable “x” to indicate genderneutrality and acceptance. “This is a smart move by Dictionary.com—it is always a good idea to add on to existing definitions when changes are made to their meaning in society. The update reveals that many of us may be subconsciously biased about certain issues because of unintentional suggestions in the media, and it is important for us to maintain awareness of these assumptions so we can respect others for who they are,” Freshman Vijay Tirumalai said.
Hannah Moon
Opinions Editor
Situated among a few quaint shops in Almaden Valley’s Redwood plaza, Charlie’s Cheesecake Works has provided customers with handmade gourmet cheesecakes for over a decade. From “the classic” flavor to “raspberry white chocolate,” the bakery boasts forty different flavors along with seasonal favorites. The noticeably compact storefront featured a humble but colorful sign, while the simple and rustic interior of the shop suggested its extensive history. As I entered the store, I faced a wall lined with enormous steel refrigerators. Next to the checkout, there hung a plain blackboard menu of the flavor selections. Right away, the shop’s friendly owner cordially greeted me and offered some samples—but I knew exactly what I was going to try. Encouraged by its positive online reviews, I ordered a twelve-pack of Charlie’s Poppers—assorted mini cheesecake bites of the most popular flavors—twelve vibrantly-colored cheesecakes with flavors of raspberry, strawberry, lime, chocolate, blueberry and coffee. They came packaged in
“As with all cheesecakes, the cheesecake bite featured a deliciously thin crust at the bottom, which was perfectly crisp with a subtle hint of sweetness.”
a thin plastic container that cleverly minimized refrigerator space. As soon as I opened the box, the delightful scents permeated the room. Each of the mini cakes were delicately crafted, and each cup perfectly sized to constitute a single bite. The tanginess of the cream cheese perfectly complemented each of the individual flavors. There was no single flavor that overpowered another. Before visiting the store, I was concerned that the cakes would be too sugary but there was an excellent balance of sweetness and tartness. On the other hand, the rich chocolate-flavored cakes were indescribably creamy and melted immediately in my mouth. As with all cheesecakes, the cheesecake bite featured a deliciously thin crust at the bottom, which was perfectly crisp with a subtle hint of sweetness. During my time at Charlie’s Cheesecake Works, not only were the staff members amiable, but the menu offered a wide variety of flavors. The cheesecake bites are perfect to snack on, and overall, they are worth it. I will definitely be visiting the store often.
Charlie’s Cheesecake Works (5/5) hitting the sweet spot
g + perfect to snack on + friendly staff + diverse flavors
10
OCTOBER 14, 2020
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: Mental Health
Wellness during quarantine: Spreading concerns and fostering awareness Serena Atkinson and Cindy Zhao
Staff Writer and Lifestyle Editor
thoughts ur yo re a t ha W x: o b te Quo ness? on mental health aware ntal s a better future where me “In order to work toward ive ect eff a problem, providing health is not as much of the e cat help to successfully edu counseling for students can ior Kanoa Allas youth about the issue.”—Jun ntal ess Week and inviting me “More initiatives like Welln ive ect eff the school would be health experts to speak at ss ue.”—Junior Emma Ro ways of addressing this iss hetic towards being more empat “We as a society must work of ant lth. We need to be cogniz to those with poor mental hea ms pto ical and physiological sym the disastrous psycholog .”—Senior Peter Chong and effects of mental health raj Breanna Lu and Manasa Sri Compiled by Bertina Fan, Staff Writers IVAN ZHU ART
The word “upended” has practically become a cliché over the past eight months, but the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly upended several aspects of life, from the economy to academics to communication. In particular, this year has seen a rise in mental health challenges, with people constantly stressed from the precariousness of the pandemic. According to National Public Radio, almost 25 percent of people in the U.S. are experiencing symptoms of depression, nearly triple the amount before the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic’s uncertainty has impacted the mental well-being of teens, as Mission Harbor Behavioral Health reported that seven out of 10 teenagers experienced mental health issues over the past few months. Factors
such as stressful life events, extended home confinement, financial struggles, grief, domestic violence and increased screen time could be contributing to the increase in these issues, as stated by researcher Sélim Benjamin Guessoum. In addition to these new challenges brought by the pandemic, many were forced to adapt to online school as their school’s campus closed. “Distance learning has definitely made me feel very disconnected from my classmates. You are hardly interacting with others and everything is reduced to a screen,” Senior Allison Wang said. However, others have found a silver lining in online education—people with anxiety no longer have to fear conversing face-to-face with teachers and peers. Additionally, the online schedule gives
some students more free time to explore new hobbies or activities to help them relieve stress and maintain wellness. “Going to school and meeting people in person made my anxiety worse. Less of this in-person interaction from online school helped maintain my mental wellbeing. My mental health also improved because I was able to spend more time doing creative things at home. Lately, I have been experimenting with different art mediums, such as gauche, collaging and poetry,” Junior Muskaan Grewal said. Nevertheless, while several people have still faced an increase in mental health issues due to the pandemic, the National Alliance on Mental Illness states that public stigma around the topic remains a significant barrier for those seeking mental health help. A study by Angela M. Parcesepe at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that those with mental illnesses are often perceived as dangerous or inferior. However, some argue that the COVID-19 pandemic may be the answer to removing this barrier. Psychiatrist Jessica Gold, assistant professor at Washington University asserts that the pandemic serves as an equalizer: to some degree, everyone is experiencing anxiety from the pandemic. The public is becoming increasingly open to issues of mental health, which can be seen on social media, where people are visibly showing more vulnerability and transparency. Especially with the recent increase in mental health issues, schools are raising more awareness and providing more education about the topic. Some
schools having gone entirely online, are providing teletherapy, a form of therapy conducted through phone or video calls, to students. Other schools have increased mental health resources: the Mountain View Voice reported that the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District moved from having on-site therapists two days a week to five who connect with students virtually. As a combined effort from students and staff, the school has provided events and clubs to help students improve their mental health, even before the pandemic. Each spring, the school holds a Wellness Week where teachers can opt to replace their tutorial sessions with a relaxing activity, including nature walks, napping or meditation. In addition, clubs such as Bring Change to Mind focus on mental health advocacy and awareness. As the pandemic caused schools to switch to virtual learning, San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD) started to provide wellness resources through the School-Linked Services program in collaboration with the nonprofit behavioral health provider Uplift Family Services. On campus, the school also has three Young Women’s Christian Association counselors reachable both in person and by email. SJUSD also provides a wellness form for students to request a live session with a member of their wellness team. As schools transition to virtual education, mental health and counseling services are following. While the stigma around mental health still remains an issue, it is slowly decaying. “Knowing that people used to refuse to talk about mental health, I would argue that progress has been made. Now, people are more open to talking about how they feel but we still have a long way to go,” Freshman Nicole Mui said.
GRACE LI ART
Top 5: Resources for emotional well-being 1. The Student Mental Health Podcast The Student Mental Health Podcast hosted by Boston University graduate Alison Cebulla goes in depth about mental health, student life and student wellbeing. Cebulla interviews her guests—mental health and academic professionals or college students—on their mental health struggles and how to get through them.
4. Beacon Beacon is an online portal to different resources addressing mental health issues, such as This Way Up, an online courses based in CBT to help users with depression. Australian National University’s Centre for Mental Health Research reviews each resource and rates their effectiveness. Beacon also hosts links to online support groups for mental health.
3. MindShift MindShift is an app that helps users destress and become more mindful. It uses techniques derived from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to improve emotional health and offers easy self-care strategies. The app also has a journaling feature where users 5. OK2TALK 2. A Life of Happiness can keep records of what caused their stress Run by the National Alliance and Fulfillment in order to pinpoint what could be on Mental Illness, OK2TALK is a blog Coursera offers a free, four-week hindering their emotional health. where teenagers and young adults can share course called A Life of Happiness and stories about their mental health through different Fulfillment, which offers lectures from well known types of media submissions, including poems, videos thought leaders such as Dan Ariely and Ed Diener. It and song lyrics. The website also provides links to aims to educate people on what goes into leading a Compiled by crisis centers and resources to learn about happy life by answering questions like “Why Serena Atkinson and Keirah Chen mental health and to help others who are are the smart and successful not as Staff Writers struggling with their mental health. happy as they could—or should be?” GRACE LI ART
THE CHARGER ACCOUNT
11
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: Community College
Uncovering the overlooked post-high school pathway
Keirah Chen, Breanna Lu, Norah Shen and Larry Ye
Yes 61.2% Compiled by Nancy Zheng Investigative Report Editor
Staff Writers
Poll: Would you attend community college?
No 38.8%
165 students polled
JESSICA LIN ART
Over the years, misconceptions and local, so students will not have massive class of 2020, the pandemic played about the lack of prestige and reputation debts or have to travel far away from a major role in students’ decisions in of community colleges have created home. Attending a community college is choosing between a four-year university stigma around these institutions. While a great way to pursue higher education and community college. Although most community colleges have less field-specific graduates from the school who now attend classes and networking opportunities community college were eligible to go to a “Students chose community in comparison to four-year universities, four-year university, many opted not to go. college to determine thier numerous sources have proven that These students chose community college community colleges also have various major,...save money [and] remain to determine their major before attending benefits for students. a university, save money, remain closer closer to home.” Compared to four-year universities, to home or to increase their chances of community colleges have much lower being accepted into their preferred in-state tuition. According to Community College which is extremely important nowadays, ” public university. Review, tuition for in-state students is Freshman Jeannine Yu said. Before seniors determine whether around $4,804 per year. In constraor fourAccording to GenFKD, a peer-to- they will attend community college or year universities, out-of-state students peer educational platform, the number of a four-year university, the school offers can pay up to $35,000 for a year of students enrolling in community college various activities and workshops to assist public university and $74,570 for private from 2014 to 2025 is expected to rise by 15 them in choosing a major. In sophomore universities, as stated by the National percent. Although community college has and junior year, students use Naviance, Society of High School Scholars and become increasingly appealing for many, a website that helps students determine CBS News. Additionally, the California they also fall short of universities in a their interests, possible majors, colleges Promise Plan provides financial aid for number of ways. Community colleges have and jobs. Despite the school’s resources for first-time, full-time community college students. In 2019, California even joined a handful of other states including Maryland and New York in providing free “Instead of staying at the school for my senior year, I chose two-year tuition for full-time freshmen at community colleges. to go to community college because I was encouraged by Attending a community college my parents, and it is less stressful than having to deal with can also provide time for students to the college application process during a global pandemic. improve their high school grade point Every semester, I plan on taking four classes, each of which averages and work towards transferring QUYNH NGUYEN PHOTO have lectures twice a week. I enjoy all my classes, and to a four-year university of their choice. After earning an associate degree at nowadays, I have more time to take care of my mental health compared to community college, students can then when I was in high school. I plan on transferring to a University of California transfer to a university and earn a as a biochemistry major with a potential minor in Japanese to pursue the bachelor’s degree. Alternatively, an pre-pharmaceutical path. Along with having less student debt, community associate degree could also provide college students who study hard can be just as successful as their peers students with an opportunity to immediately begin working in some who went to a four-year university immediately after high school, so I fields, such as computer programming recommend considering this pathway.” —Carolyn Nguyen IVAN ZHU ART and air traffic control. In addition, several required courses for graduation are shared between community colleges and universities, so students can complete general education courses in community a limited curriculum and more general helping students choose majors, many still college while reducing student debt. education classes, making those who struggle to determine where their interests know their intended field of study unable lie. Community colleges essentially give to take as many major-specific classes as students the opportunity to explore more “In 2019, California even joined a at a university. They also lack networking pathways and find a fitting major at a opportunities, but whether it be job- cheaper cost. handful of other states including For students who choose to attend Maryland and New York in providing hunting or getting work recommendations, networking plays a crucial role in pursuing community college after graduation, free two-year tuition for full-time various careers. activities and resources to support and freshmen at community colleges.” With an increasing number of colleges guide them are available at the school. switching to online learning due to the The school’s academic counselors provide COVID-19 pandemic, several students students and parents advisory period Furthermore, the flexible schedules are considering this alternative, cheaper and back-to-school night presentations, of community colleges also offer a balance option. According to The Hechinger explaining the benefits of community between school and life with more classes Report, one in 10 seniors have alternative college. Furthermore, according to offered during weekends and at night. This college plans because of the pandemic, Samantha Peters, English Department, for provides students with more time to work and almost 50 percent of those seniors are seniors, the “What’s Next” workshop held a part-time job or pursue other activities. going to community college. by California State University Expository “I really appreciate that community Shira Solomon, Academic Counseling Reading and Writing Curriculum (ERWC) colleges exist. It is much more affordable Department, explains that for the school’s teachers in which different post-high-
A fresh start in place of senior year
school options including community college are presented and compared to the four-year university pathway. “We discuss the benefits of community college during our tutorial presentations and at parent nights. Local community colleges also assist students with application workshops, information on financial aid and give college overviews,” Solomon said.
“It is not anyone’s place to judge what someone chooses to do after graduation.” Students at the school essentially have access to several of these local community colleges such as De Anza College, West Valley College and San Jose City College. Solomon suggests that students who plan to transfer from community college should also consult the Destination College Arriving Corps counselor at the school to create appropriate plans. Furthermore, she advises students to research Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) agreements, which provide eligible community college students guaranteed admission to a University of California. Despite the school’s efforts to educate students on the benefits of community college, the stigma that surrounds this path still exists at the school. According to Solomon, students at the school can often feel pressured into attending a fouryear university directly after graduating and going to community college first is often seen as a last resort or inferior choice. Many students also believe that attending a community college makes them ineligible for a four-year university afterwards. However, Solomon explains that these judgments are false, as many of the school’s seniors that chose to attend community college first, were later accepted into selective universities. Furthermore, these students were able to graduate from college with similar degrees as those who attended a four-year university right after high school. “In the past, I was pressured into believing that if you went to community college, you were not as good as other students. It was not until I went to San Jose State University and actually met and shared classes with some brilliant people who were transfers from local community colleges that I realized I was wrong. Everyone moves at different paces, and it is not anyone’s place to judge what someone chooses to do after graduation,” Elaine Ngo, English Department said.
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OCTOBER 14, 2020 APRIL 29, 2015
FEATURE: WORLD Contact tracing: safety Countries replacing in-person learning with television
versus privacy
Dhruv Anish and Larry Ye Staff Writers
Jonathan Yue School News Editor As countries around the world loosen COVID-19 restrictions and return to normalcy, governments are developing vaccines to prevent a second wave of infections. Many are also using contact tracing, the process of identifying who may have encountered an infected person. Contact tracing allows public health workers to isolate those who may be at risk before they potentially transfer the virus to others, which has contributed to the success of containing the disease in South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. To handle the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic, many governments have looked towards digital contact tracing, which warns of contact with an afflicted individual through newlydeveloped smartphone applications. Many are rightfully concerned about possible privacy and security threats. Digital contact tracing has been implemented in two distinct formats: through the Global Positioning System (GPS) data of users, which is highly intrusive and a second, less invasive method that involves Bluetooth signals to log user proximity to other cell phones. While transparency concerns could potentially be solved with open sourcing, the risk of leaking millions of users’ location data remains. Distrust towards governments and companies providing these applications may also be a barrier: even before the COVID-19 crisis, authoritarian and democratic governments alike have been using public surveillance to advance their political agendas. Norway’s GPS-based contact tracing app was suspended after Amnesty International found that their app went beyond tracking by uploading information into a central database. With a skeptical public, it is hard for the applications, regardless of how foolproof they are, to be widely adopted. A study published on Science Magazine found that 80 percent of the population must download the application for contact tracing to be successful. In Singapore, only about a fifth of its 5.7 million inhabitants have installed it, with no significant benefit. Fortunately, not all hope is lost: after a generally successful response, the German government’s contact tracing application was downloaded 6.5 million times on its launch date alone. India's COVID-19 tracking application, Aarogya Setu, rapidly grew to 50 million users within the first 13 days of its release. Companies like Google have collaborated to incorporate contact tracing into their respective operating systems. In the United States, 11 states have already adopted this program, and the Calif. public health authority plans to do so as well. It is paramount for the public to understand the efficacy of contact tracing applications, but also the privacy and security risks involved. Only then can we make educated decisions to help contain the spread of the virus.
With COVID-19 shutting down difficult for students to obtain clarifications form of education in places like Mexico educational institutions across the and teacher support in a timely manner. will surely to widen gaps. Can an globe, students and teachers have found “Learning through television and environment where students are less themselves in a logistical dilemma radio programs is more challenging supervised and cannot receive answers about the new school year. While because lessons are not as engaging. to questions really be considered class? most schools in the U.S. have started Concentrating on coursework will also be With this in mind, I would not be virtual instruction through computers a lot more difficult without a teacher in surprised if there were massive inequity or smartphones, schools in some other attendance,” Sophomore Daniel Xie said. consequences from television-based countries have decided to utilize air Parents also have reservations about education,” Senior Edward Hwang said. broadcasting for their students to learn. the new instructional programs because of Despite Mexican national reports Countries like Afghanistan, Brazil and limited resources for student supervision. indicating that 49 percent of students Mexico have all implemented learning Since the majority of them work, staying who were enrolled in television learning through television, radio or both. programs scored below average Most students have limited on the national language exams, internet access since they do not a 17 percent decrease from have WiFi devices, but the majority traditional schools, governments of families in these countries have are still hopeful that schools will television. A study by Mexican be able to maintain high quality authorities found that 14 out of education for students. Programs every 15 families in Mexico have like “telesecundaria” provide television, with the remaining secondary schools with curriculum families having radios. Designed specifically tailored to television to keep students safe from the learning. These programs combine pandemic, learning through broadcasts from past classes with JESSICA LIN ART radio or television programs group chats, enabling students has also been able to reach to contact their peers and 1.2 billion children in 186 countries affected more students and ensure teachers. They also help by school closures due to the pandemic their access to education. students better comprehend While students may information presented Compiled by the World Economic Forum be able to continue their to them during lectures. education over television By implementing and radio, there are still television and radio broadcasts differences in comparison to home during the day is challenging. i n place of virtual learning over the online distance learning. Through the Additionally, households with multiple internet, governments have been able to internet, students can interact with their school-age children and only one television reach school-age children in indigenous classmates and teachers in real time, set are unsure of how their students are and rural communities who previously which is valuable to teachers who rely supposed to take classes at the same time. have not been able to obtain a formal on immediate feedback from students to In some areas, lack of access to technology education. Although learning through adjust the pace and content of lectures. could widen the gap between students with television and radio may represent a Based on face-to-face interactions, they the necessary equipment and students significant shift from common practice can also ask questions and participate in from rural or indigenous backgrounds. in previous years, students can still take group discussions. However, instruction “A lot of education gaps are the advantage of the situation's unique benefits over television or radio requires students consequence of financial discrepancies and continue their education virtually. to watch pre-recorded lessons, making it and using the television as the main
THE CHARGER ACCOUNT
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FEATURE: WORLD Financial and political pressures mount on the USPS Breanna Lu and Miranda Lu
Amidst nationwide delays in mail delivery and allegations of financial collusion, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has postponed cost-cutting changes to the United States Postal Service (USPS) until after the November presidential election. Contrary to popular belief, the Postal Service is not funded by tax dollars, relying rather on revenue from postage stamps and website merchandise. With COVID-19 exacerbating financial difficulties, the USPS has sunk even further into debt. Since Congress enacted the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act in 2006—requiring the USPS to prepay 75 years’ worth of retiree health benefits— the USPS has been short on funding. A report by the Pew Research Center found that the Postal Service has been unable to make any profit since then, with cumulative losses totaling $83.1 billion. Shelter-in-place and social distancing orders have only compounded financial strains, creating surges in online shopping and forcing the USPS to hire thousands of additional workers it cannot afford. Since his appointment in June, DeJoy has made significant changes to the department in response to financial difficulties—eliminating overtime for postal workers, cutting post office hours and ordering the removal of hundreds of blue postal drop boxes. Nationwide, DeJoy’s decisions have caused a massive amount of delivery delays, doubling
monthly shipping costs and delivery times, which has been most detrimental to small businesses who rely heavily on the USPS for shipping orders. Several small business owners report that packages previously taking only a few days to deliver now take several weeks. The set backs have also had an impact on elections. According to the New York Times, over one million absentee ballots were mailed late during primary elections. Greatly increasing the likelihood of the ballots not getting counted, this phenomenon has raised concerns among those who have opted to vote by mail for the presidential election. Many states have requested extensions for mailing ballot deadlines to give voters more time to send ballots. “I have not noticed delays in shipping, but I think they are likely to affect the election in a negative manner. If the ballots were mailed out late, people will not be able to fill them out on time, and depending on where they live, different regions might not be able to get their votes in,” Sophomore Maggie Liu said. Although DeJoy has temporarily suspended changes until after the presidential election, he has stated that he does not intend to reinstall the hundreds of mail sorting machines and postal boxes that were removed. He has also yet to lift a ban on extra mail trips for surplus packages, a staple for USPS employees. Due to
DeJoy’s rhetoric, the District of Columbia and six states sued the Postmaster General on Aug. 21, arguing that his reforms would sabotage the agency’s ability to function successfully during the election. “Voters should try to fill out and send in their ballots as soon as possible to increase the chance of getting their vote counted. If social distancing rules are enforced, they could also consider dropping off their ballots at a local polling booth,” Sophomore Mithali Iyer said.
“A report by the Pew Research Center found that the Postal Service has been unable to make a profit since [2006],” DeJoy has been heavily criticized by politicians and the general public, with many questioning whether or not his actions were influenced by political biases. From his avid support for the Trump administration, some have surmised that DeJoy’s adjustments to the USPS were intended to sabotage the Democratic Party during the presidential election. Dejoy has been summoned to testify in front of the Senate and House Oversight Committees despite backlash from Republicans, justifying the reforms as necessary to process vast amounts of election mail, for which the USPS is currently unprepared.
Staff Writers
Allegations of a conflict of interest have also been made against DeJoy due to his stakes in the company XPO Logistics. True North Research executive director Lisa Graves stated that the company “could financially benefit from privatizing or parting out the U.S. Postal Service.” DeJoy has denied all allegations, claiming that his decisions were in the best interest of the Postal Service. Moreover, President Donald Trump, who has been openly hostile towards mailin voting, has refused to approve a $25 billion relief fund for the Postal Service, states Business Insider. He further insisted that 2020 will be a flawed election due to the USPS’s inability to handle election ballots. Critics warn Trump’s attacks on vote-by-mail elections and DeJoy’s controversial decisions regarding the USPS are steps to politicize and privatize an independent government agency. While there may be significant delays in the USPS, voters can improve the probability of their votes getting counted by filling out and sending in their ballots as soon as they receive them or dropping them off at a polling station. With the USPS’s current crisis, no one is sure of when the shipping speed will return to normal, compelling voters and businesses to continue to learn how to adapt to the delays.
IVAN ZHU ART
China launches “Clean Plate Campaign” against food waste
Natalie Gao and Manasa Sriraj
QUINCY HAN ART
China has recently announced a new “Clean Plate Campaign” directed at reducing food waste. Proposed by President Xi Jinping, the campaign is aimed toward changing individual citizens’ consumption habits and encouraging them to limit waste as much as possible. The Chinese Academy of Science found that in 2015, China’s cities produce around 18 million tons of food waste per year, enough to feed 30 to 50 million people. Additionally, the Global Times has found that up to 20 percent of food is wasted in the production process. Identifying these
two distinct problem areas, Xi Jinping and his government officials intend to target both with its new campaign, which limits the number of plates diners can order at restaurants to one less than the number of diners. Also known as “N-1,” the system was implemented by restaurants across the nation, despite overwhelmingly hostile responses from the general public. To add to the controversy, some restaurants are weighing customers when they walk in to help them make more frugal choices. “China’s position is understandable, but I do not agree with the specifics of the N-1 policy. What if each person in the group wants to order a different dish? As far as I have seen, people tend to finish their plates in restaurants, so I think the initiative should be focused on other areas
of consumption. Perhaps if China could work with other countries, the world could collectively hash out a new and more effective plan to reduce global food waste,” Freshman Nikita Parakala said. The policy also placed blame on “mukbangers” for promoting food waste. Originating in South Korea, “mukbang” is an internet trend where users livestream themselves eating large quantities of food in a short time period while interacting with their audience. Taking issue with the trend’s popularity throughout Northeast Asia, the Chinese government has reprimanded participants, especially those who wasted food through bluffed eating—when “mukbangers” would film rather than livestream, chewing the food on camera but actually spitting it out off camera to appear as though they are eating even more. In compliance with the policy, various social media platforms threatened
“Food plays a big role in Chinese customs: a big feast is almost always expected during holidays and when eating with guests.” to delete or restrict their popular videos and admonished users against overeating. Many people have complained that this move is too strict and authoritarian, especially since food has such high community value in Chinese tradition. Culturally, families consider food equivalent to pride. Ordering extra is
Staff Writers
considered polite, as empty plates signify that there was not enough food for the guests, and leftovers symbolize the generosity of the host. For some, Xi’s new policy is reminiscent of the Great Chinese Famine of 1959, which placed restrictive limits on rations in order to promote economic growth and killed approximately 36 to 45 million people. “Food plays a big role in Chinese customs: a big feast is almost always expected during holidays and when eating with guests. Even though the campaign Compiled by has its economic benefits, there are societal Hannah Moon norms that need to be taken into account,” Staff Writer Sophomore Grace Zhang said. Floods and locust invasions have already diminished food production in China this summer. Coupled with the pandemic and the US-China trade tensions, food production has further declined. Bloomberg reports that food prices have increased by ten percent since July, with the cost of pork increasing by 86 percent. While China is the largest producer in the world, it is also the largest consumer, requiring imports from foreign countries, including adversarial ones. The policy is an attempt to create a self-sufficient China with increasing geopolitical tensions. Nevertheless, whether it is a traditionally-oriented person entertaining guests at a family reunion, a celebrity “mukbanger” or a modernized college student who just wants to take a break from cooking, the eating habits and customs of many Chinese people could be affected the “Clean Plate Campaign” as its sentiment and potency is debated.
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FEATURE: SCHOOL Serving the community from the comforts of home
Bertina Fan and Manasa Sriraj
The world has seen major transformations in the past six months: a contagious virus spread, an economic depression occurred and disastrous fires scorched acres of land. However, in the midst of this, clubs at the school— namely Journey Around the World (JAW) Nonprofit and Music Club—spearheaded virtual volunteering projects during the summer to help aid local communities. JAW aims to provide equal opportunities for everyone by breaking the race, gender and socioeconomic barriers prevalent in society. Since their initial summer plans to travel to Cambodia
“During the pandemic, it is even harder for the less fortunate to access essential resources. We wanted to find more ways to make a difference.” and teach at the Doris Dillon School were disrupted by the pandemic, they came up with a safer way to continue their work and help the community: by expanding the club to an online platform. After establishing a partnership with
CARO N
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Staff Writers LifeMoves—a homeless shelter in downtown San Jose that strives to provide homes for its members’ families—Junior Varsha Shankar, the founder of JAW, created a GoFundMe page to raise money and help assist the residents. “Especially during the pandemic, it is even harder for the less fortunate to access essential resources. We wanted to find more ways to make a difference during this time, and LifeMoves’s honorable mission really appealed to us,” Shankar said. JAW raised over $800 through their GoFundMe. Most of the money went towards food, but a smaller portion was used to buy masks, sanitation supplies and hygiene products. Shankar looks forward to conducting more virtual fundraisers via GoFundMe to help those in need lead more comfortable lifestyles. She also hopes her club will gain more opportunities to collaborate with other organizations like the Malala Fund. Meanwhile, Junior Brandon Kwon, Vice President of Music Club, geared his initiative towards a different demographic: elementary school kids in Almaden who share his love for music. Kwon states that Music Club decided to conduct a virtual summer camp in order to continue working towards their mission of introducing people to the joy and thrill of music. “Many kids are involved in music just for the reputation-building aspect of it, specifically winning competitions. However, our club wants kids to understand that music is also a way to express emotions in a creative, unique and meaningful way,” Kwon said. Over the course of the one-week camp, five instructors worked with 25 students in two-hour long classes to
60% Virtual
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40% In-Person Compiled by Natalie Gao and Reagan Liu Staff Writers 164 students polled
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help them master three musical pieces. During the first hour, students received music lessons for various instruments like cello, piano and violin; during the second hour, students learned how to utilize Soundtrap to produce their own recordings. At the end of the week, a virtual recital was held to showcase the students’ learnings. In the future, Music Club aspires to assist the community by partnering with low-income schools and making this program a regular extracurricular class held on Zoom. Kids without instruments will concentrate on creating music with Soundtrap while those with instruments will perform virtually for senior centers over Zoom.
Making a difference in the face of COVID-19
distributed. Volunteering in-person was an unique experience, but since the YMCA strictly adhered to social distancing rules, I felt safe,” Sophomore Hillary Nguyen said. In the future, Key Club plans to attend another in-person volunteer opportunity: Guadalupe Garden’s Beautification Day. At this event, volunteers will plant at the Guadalupe Native Plant Garden. However, since in-person volunteering has health risks, Key Club also plans to host two virtual events: a Freerice event and the U.N. Children’s Fund’s Math For Good challenge. Every time students answer a question correctly, Freerice donates rice and UNICEF donates money to humanitarian organizations. In addition, DAWN, a student organization that focuses on homelessness, partnered with the Gilroy Compassion Center, an organization that provides support to homeless individuals, to conduct an in-person volunteer event. They collected used clothes from local residents and donated them to the organization’s clothing drive. To minimize the risks of contracting the virus, DAWN decided to pick up donations from donors’ doorsteps. Furthermore, by utilizing Instagram to promote the clothing drive, DAWN donated over 800 clothing items, surpassing their initial goal of 300 articles of clothing. “We were happy that people donated clothes to the clothing drive. Initially, we were hesitant to work with the Gilroy Courtesy of Key Club Compassion Center due to COVID-19,
Giving a voice to Hindu Indian Americans
Would you rather do virtual or in-person volunteering?
Janice Lee and Pavana Upadhyaya
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, several students came together during the summer to help assist the community. Two of the school’s service clubs, Key Club and DAWN, conducted in-person volunteer sessions to package meals and donate clothes, respectively. For four sessions during June and July, Key Club—a chapter of the service program Key Club International—volunteered with the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Summer Eats program. The club members packaged and distributed free grab-and-go meals to help feed the youth who regularly rely on schools’ free and reduced lunches. However, to maintain safety and follow COVID-19 guidelines, the volunteers were screened for COVID-19 symptoms prior to the events, practiced social distancing and wore masks. “The volunteer event was successful; on one day, there were over 80 meals to be
OCTOBER 14, 2020
Staff Writers
but we decided to contribute to Courtesy of DAWN the clothing drive because we wanted to support the community. Through this volunteer event, we learned that even during the pandemic, in-person volunteering can be effective and have a tremendous impact on society,” Junior Karin Liu said. DAWN also plans to continue their volunteer work this year through inperson and virtual events. Similar to how they donated to Gilroy Compassion Center’s clothing drive, DAWN will also be donating items of clothing to CityTeam—an organization that strives to combat hunger, homlessness, poverty and addiction. They also aim to organize webinars with guest speakers and post infographics on their social media platforms to further educate students and debunk common misconceptions and stereotypes about homeless individuals.
Left to right: Senior Lina Jackson distributes the grab-and-go meals. Juniors Wenwen Gu and Michelle Tang organize the donated clothes.
During her free time, Priya Garcia, English and Visual Performing Arts Department, likes to read the books her students are reading. She recently came to love the Aru Shah book series, written by Hindu Indian American author Roshani Chokshi. “When my sisters were around the age of my students, they were fascinated with the Percy Jackson book series by Rick Riordan. At that time, the series was groundbreaking because it featured a main character who struggles with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia, but who is also part of a magical universe where his mental illness was a result of his superpowers. The series gave a voice to children who were part of that community and gave them the chance to see themselves in the heroic characters,” Garcia said. Over the course of his career, Riordan realized that as a straight white male author in America, he was in a position of privilege and wanted to use that advantage for good. Thus, he set out to find other religious pantheons and offered to sponsor and mentor authors of color within those communities.
“Aru Shah may be a young adult series, but to see a character who looks and sounds like you...or has similar interests as you is very valuable.” Aru Shah is very similar to Percy Jackson since she is an adolescent hero. But whereas the characters in Percy Jackson are descendants of gods, the characters in Aru Shah, including Aru herself, are avatars, or reincarcerations, of ancient Hindu heroes. “The recipes are similar. You have these young heroes going on quests that have magical and divine implications, but they are for a particular community,” Garcia said. As a Hindu Indian American, Garcia appreciates the cultural tales Chokshi embeds into her series. Meanwhile, people who are not Hindu can still enjoy the stories through the book’s glossary with explanations of the folklore, terminology and pronunciations referenced in the book. The characters face many conflicts they must work through, including complicated quests and personal problems. Relatable teenage issues are dispersed throughout the books, along with various themes of friendship, family and community. In particular, Garcia recognizes the need to diversify the literature students are exposed to. The literary canon we invest in—even today—fails to include and represent everyone. “Aru Shah may be a young adult series, but to see a character who looks and sounds like you, goes through similar experiences as you or has similar interests as you is very valuable. I did not feel like I had that when I was in school and I want to change that for my students,” Garcia said.
THE CHARGER ACCOUNT
15
SPORTS
Virtual PE focuses on student wellness
Keirah Chen and Pavana Upadhyaya
Staff Writers
“Exercise can trigger a physiological response to help manage stress, which is important with everything going on in the world.”
it does not offer the same atmosphere of past classes. Normally, students could interact in a social environment, but online PE is more focused on individual lessons, activities and workouts. “Online PE is a lot less appealing because we cannot exercise with friends. Since it feels like I am not really at school, my motivation has gone down a little,” Freshman Vanessa Burriesci said. Because of these challenges, teachers were worried about participation. With in-person activities, teachers could actively encourage students to participate. Fortunately, students seem to be participating to the best of their ability. “I am happy to say that students are participating well and making it work considering their situations. It also helps that everyone has been a lot more flexible this year,” Headley said. The absence of a First Aid and CPR Unit this year is also concerning to many students. A
do you feel w ab Ho ou : e b i n n g p ox e a s o o stp s tr s o
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the mind, decreases blood pressure and strengthens muscles. Pamela Headley, Athletic Department, is excited about the new changes. “The pandemic seems like an ideal time to teach students how to design fitness plans for themselves due to the absence of sports and physical fitness classes. Exercise can trigger a physiological response to help manage stress, which is especially important with everything
going on in the world during the age of COVID-19,” Headley said. The change in curriculum has been well received by many students. Sophomore Tammy Newman views the change as highly beneficial during what many consider to be challenging times. “The focus of PE has shifted to general health, rather than traditional sports. I see this as a huge advantage because it has really helped me relieve stress in the mornings,” Newman said. Moving PE online has also created its fair share of challenges. Like other classes, internet bandwidth difficulties have made communication much harder. Playing team games like capture the flag are also infeasible. Not everyone has enough space to exercise either: on days where the focus is on cardiorespiratory endurance, instead of running laps, students jog in place. For many, online PE class is not as enjoyable as the traditional version of PE since
Qu ot sp eb o
As a result of the transition to online learning, physical education (PE) courses have been forced to adapt alongside traditional classes. Teachers instructing through WebEx have decided to focus on more than just fitness exercises. For instance, lessons expand on how cardiorespiratory endurance and adequate nutrition positively impact the heart and lungs. Other lessons cover how yoga calms
“For many students, online PE class is not as enjoyable as the traditional version since it does not offer the same atmosphere of past classes.” into future years’ curriculums. They see this as a valuable opportuntiy to change traditional curriculum itineraries. According to Headley, the school year is off to a promising start. “All of the PE teachers at the school are doing their best to adapt to this year’s unique circumstances. We are making it work and providing some quality fitness and wellness learning opportunities. And burpees!” Headley said.
“It was disappointing to hear that the season was canceled. However, our coach is organizing practices with social distancing so that we can stay in shape.”
“At first I was upset to hear that the season was postponed, but in a way, it actually works better for me because now I have more time for college applications.”
- Kelsey Apen ‘23, Field Hockey
- Annie Xu ‘21, Girls’ Volleyball
“I was disappointed to hear about the cancellation since I was looking forward to it. My team has made efforts to reconnect, with encouragement to join a club team so we stay in shape when the season starts again.” - Neekou Mombini ‘22, Boys’ Water Polo
mandatory unit for graduation, the First Aid and CPR certification requires students to have access to both a swimming pool and a CPR dummy, which most students do not have access to. Overall, both the district and students have been flexible during these circumstances. With the relative success of the year’s new experiences, PE teachers will likely incorporate more fitness units
“Over quarantine, people did not practice badminton, but some have begun to resume their training. However, with current conditions, I do not think that there will be a spring sports season this year.” NICOLE KIM ART
- Mandy Lin ‘21, Badminton
Compiled by Miranda Lu and Michelle Qiao
Keirah Chen
Staff Writers
Recruited athletes adapt to fall sports cancellations
Due to COVID-19 concerns, the the spring may prove to be detrimental. Calif. Interscholastic Federation (CIF) has Sparrer suggests that these prospective decided to postpone the fall sports seasons college athletes research different colleges, of Calif. high schools. For student athletes who hope to play at the next level, the lost exposure may present difficulties for catching the attention of college coaches. According to Athletic Director Mike Sparrer, football, field hockey and cross country have been postponed to spring for the time being. However, start dates for activities like cheer, which usually takes place in fall and winter, have yet to be decided. Moreover, students who planned to participate in both fall and winter sports may be forced to choose one over the other. REX LI PHOTO “It will not be easy from a logistical or physical standpoint Julia Saunicheva ‘22, UCLA women’s soccer for students to play two sports in one season, especially without preseason attend reputable camps and contact training due to COVID-19. Coaches and coaching staffs. parents will need to coordinate with great “Stay in shape to the best of your detail to make this happen,” Sparrer said. ability and as soon as colleges open up, For athletes relying on school sports attend as many events as you can with for college recruitment, the cancellation of teams outside of the school. Take this the fall season and uncertainty towards time to research the appropriate schools
for your playing ability. Make sure they also fit your social, academic and cultural interests,” Sparrer said. For athletes already committed to a college team, fall cancellation poses different sets of challenges. Julia Saunicheva ‘22, a University of Calif. Los Angeles (UCLA) women’s soccer
Staff Writer
In addition to individual cardio exercises, she practices dribbling and other skills on the field. Though she has not been able to see her UCLA teammates since January, they socialize and workout through Zoom. “Even with the cancellation of the season, my teammates and I attempt to stay motivated. It is difficult to maintain enthusiasm when you cannot train with friends, but all we can do right now is to keep doing the best we can,” Saunicheva said. Rebecca Womer ‘21, a women’s soccer commit to the University of Georgia, has spoken with her head coach about the next season and is continuing to train with her own routine, mainly focus on footwork due to the lack of proper space. Her college team has continued to hold conferences for recruited players and is starting to plan for the YEWON LEE PHOTO upcoming season this fall. “Everyone on my team is disappointed, but we are Rebecca Womer ‘21, University of Georgia women’s soccer keeping our fingers crossed for commit, has stayed in shape by working one last winter or spring season before we out with teammates from her club team. graduate,” Womer said.
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The Rise of Politics on TikTok Modern Youth Culture
Tokking Poli-Tiks: Teen activism and advocacy Raymond Dai and Natalie Gao Staff Writers
Quotebox: What do you think of TikTok activism? Compiled by Dhruv Anish and Raymond Dai Staff Writers
Activism on TikTok can be good if it genuinely shines a light on issues that not many people know about. At times, people feel obligated to post stuff to seem like a better person when it really does not have that much of an impact. With that being said, people should not be scrutinized for not posting their political opinions on TikTok because at the end of the day it is just a video sharing platform.” -Junior Aidan Cain
“Teens are more aware of politics in the world, but a significant amount of activism is showing off that one is ‘woke’ and disregarding politics beyond that. Significant political exposure has also desensitized many teens, with some TikTok users doing fun and energetic dances while describing tragic situations, which is disrespectful and should not be normalized. I have followed political TikTokers that support issues I want to know more about and signed petitions that TikTokers introduced to me.” -Sophomore Piyal Zia
NICOLE KIM ART
Most teenagers may not be eligible to vote in this coming election, but they are still making an impact on politics through TikTok, a social media app released in September 2016 by Chinese company ByteDance. At a glance, this app may not seem like a traditional political platform, but teens have found ways to utilize the app to voice their political beliefs and raise awareness about social issues. Despite originally being designed as a social networking app based on short-form videos, TikTok has become a platform for political activism among adolescents and young adults. USA Today reports that 29 percent of 18 to 21-year-olds cited TikTok as a reason for hearing about the 2020 presidential election. Because TikTok videos are limited to one minute, they can better connect to teens with shorter attention spans as opposed to traditional cable news that appeals more to older voters, stated The New York Times. After the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Black Lives Matter (BLM) related content on the platform surged, including posts advocating for justice for Black victims of police brutality, promoting Black-owned businesses and organizing protests. Vogue reports that TikTok users also reserved spots for, but did not take part in, President Donald Trump’s rally in Tulsa, Okla., leading to the 19,000 seat capacity selling out when only 6,200 supporters attended. The New York Times found that users have influenced the spread of information through the use of hashtags. Korean pop (K-pop) fans have flooded hashtags such as #Whitelivesmatter with videos of K-pop groups and idols, to make the TikTok algorithm classify these hashtags as K-pop trends rather than political hashtags. TikTok has also been used to spread information relating to Uyghur Muslims in China, the Beirut explosion in Lebanon and COVID-19 related news. TikTok hosts an array of politically diverse communities with different groups making videos advocating for legislation and memes criticizing other political groups. These coalitions, which can be conservative, liberal, bipartisan or undecided, are known as “hype houses,” inspired by the Hype House in Los Angeles, a famous influencer collaborative house for TikTok stars. The app can also act as an echo chamber where each community thrives in isolation. Since TikTok recommends content to users based on what they have interacted with in the past, some users only experience content from political views they agree with. Although, politically opposing hype houses often “duet,” or post videos of each other’s posts side by side, to argue over political issues. “Political activism on TikTok is not productive or useful. Activists just list out reasons why the other side is bad, attacking them and breeding toxicity,” Sophomore Leon Huang said. Many creators are urging eligible voters to vote by tagging their videos with #vote. Generation Z voters can influence the election in an impactful way as Al Jazeera reports that they make up 10 percent of eligible voters. While Trump had previously threatened to ban TikTok in the United States, the company’s negotiations with Oracle and Walmart to allow the company to continue operating in the United States has led some TikTokers to believe that support for the app as a political platform will increase, according to Al Jazeera.
“TikTok has led to more involvement in social issues and politics, but there is fake news and propaganda everywhere. A platform like TikTok, where teens are easily influenced and do not actively seek out factual information on their own, has led to some uninformed political activists. Teens run social media, and with this boom in social media activism and advocacy, it has become hard for anyone on social media to avoid recent developments in the news, political theories and ideologies as well.” -Sophomore Keshav Sethi
“TikTok overall has been decently enjoyable for me. I find it a nice way to kill time. However, I think activism on TikTok is extremely pointless and often times annoying. I’m on the app to watch funny or enjoyable videos. I do not need uneducated adolescents screaming their political thoughts over the internet and having lots of other people trying and refute their claims. If TikTok did not have all these onesided political battles, I would find it much better.” -Junior Victor Man
“TikTok is a great source for spreading information, but also a platform where hate and fake information can spread easily. TikTok has changed activism in that it allows the youth to be more aware of issues and voice their opinions. This freedom of opinion, however, may come with a lot of backlash from the TikTok community and hate that affects people emotionally. Personally, I try to stay away from voicing my political, religious, or other opinions on a platform that is not mature enough to handle it.” -Senior Sparsh Garg
“Teens may not realize that Tiktok has a huge impact on their opinions. Users can have a group mentality and bully others who disagree with them. Many teens will repost TikToks and distort facts on other social media platforms without knowing the actual meaning of the video. TikTok has encouraged teens to act on political issues, but often in a rushed and misinformed way, which is counterproductive. The political atmosphere on Tiktok is very toxic and not ideal for civil discussions.” -Sophomore Michael Sher