April 19, 2024

Page 3: First-time voter experience

VOLUME 67, ISSUE 6

APRIL 19, 2024

Page 10: Trojans using AI tools

Page 7: Oscars prove Oscarworthy

WE ARE BORN TO SEEK THE TRUTH! W W W. C V H S O LY M P I A N . C O M

House Passes Bill to Ban TikTok

By Wyatt Franklin

CVHS students might lose access to TikTok because the House of Representatives passed a bill to ban TikTok 352-65 on March 13. It is now up to the Senate and while the bill does not exactly ban Tiktok, it effectively will.

If the bill is passed, it would give ByteDance six months to sell the American portion of TikTok to an American company or face a ban from the US. However, finding a buyer will be challenging as TikTok’s size comes with a huge price tag.

“I would be very disappointed if TikTok was banned,” says freshman Josie Franklin.

The House wants to ban TikTok because Byte-Dance, the company that owns TikTok, is a Chinese company. Under the National Intelligence Law from 2017, all Chinese companies and employ-

ees are forced to give up data if required by the CCP. Because of this, the House is concerned about China collecting sensitive American data and using TikTok as a platform to spread propaganda and influence Americans. The concern is so

high that it passed the house with a staggering super majority of 80 percent in favor.

Massive bipartisan support pushed the bill through the House very quickly in only six days.

President Joe Biden stated that he would sign the bill if it passed the

said senior Cassidy Cu. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, abortion has become increasingly inaccessible to women all over the U.S. Women are faced with fewer options for abortions and can be pressured into having unwanted pregnancies, and certain minority groups are often affected more.

“In the U.S., there is a disproportionate effect for women of color,” said health teacher Sue Anderson.

“They have a much harder time having access to mifepristone without disparities.”

Additionally, people who are unable to obtain a safe abortion, whether it be medical or surgical, often turn to unconventional, and often dangerous, methods.

“I don’t support abortion, but if people don’t have access to safe abortion they are just going to do it illegally, so it might as well just be available,” said senior Ayden Lui. With mifepristone now becoming more available, there are also some concerns about the safety of the pill. If people are able to get the pill more easily, there is

a heightened chance of misuse.

However, many are confident that regulations put in place should prevent this.

“The FDA makes clear guidelines to empower consumers to make good decisions,” added Anderson.

In a statement released by the White House, President Joe Biden shared his support for the increasing availability of mifepristone.

“I encourage all pharmacies that want to pursue this option to seek certification,” said Biden.

As for the future of abortion in the U.S., Biden assured citizens that there will be more push for safe and legal abortion for all citizens.

“Vice President Harris and I will continue to fight to ensure that women can get the health care they need, and to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law,” stated Biden.

Despite this push, there may still be regression, as the Supreme Court will decide on the case of Alliance of Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA later this year.

Luis Ochea

Senate. Former President Trump opposes the ban because it would empower existing American social media companies.

Even with massive support, the Senate will not decide on the bill for at least three months as it plans to scrutinize the bill and analyze

every detail. If the bill passes the Senate, TikTok will most likely challenge it in court, citing an infringement on the First Amendment, adding months before the ban could be imposed.

With over 100 million monthly active users in the US, a TikTok ban would affect many people.

The bill has already faced pushback from people who use TikTok regularly, especially from its younger users. Many creators on TikTok and businesses that use it for promotion have been vocal about the potential harm to their livelihoods that a ban would cause.

Many students at CVHS use TikTok and would be affected.

Though it may take a while before a ban can be put into effect, its future is still uncertain.

“I use TikTok regularly and would have to find a new social media platform,” said junior Cole Murphy.

Abortion pill available pending appeal

By Melissa Boussaroque In certain states, specific Walgreens and CVS stores will begin dispensing mifepristone, a pill used for abortion. The pill will be sold at Walgreens in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania, as well as CVS in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. However, this decision may be overturned due to the case brought to the Supreme Court by the Alliance of Hippocratic Medicine.

Mifepristone, otherwise known by its brand name “Mifeprex,” is used in tandem with another pill, misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone, causing the lining of the uterus to break down. Misoprostol then empties the uterus. Misoprostol is already available in pharmacies in certain states and can be used alone, but is more effective when used alongside mifepristone.

“Having this pill available helps make abortion more accessible and effective, especially to those who don’t have other options,”

Matthew Wong

2

TikTok’s time may be running out

Editorial:

The Olympian does not approve of the March 13 decision in which the House of Representatives passed a bill to force TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to a U.S. company. If ByteDance refuses, the app would be banned. We disagree with this bill and believe everyone should be free to make their own decisions on the apps they use.

The House voted 352-65 to approve the bill and it labels TikTok as a threat to national security because it is owned by a foreign adversary.

The bill is now heading to the Senate where it faces an uncertain fate as senators seem divided on the legislation.

President Joe Biden, who created an official TikTok account in February to further his election campaign, has since said that he would sign the bill into law if it passes.

Lawmakers have long tried to regulate the platform because of its ties to China. They argue

that it threatens national security because the Chinese government could use TikTok to spy on Americans or weaponize it to covertly influence the U.S. public through the amplification or suppression of certain content.

Many Olympian staff members see this as an excuse for the U.S. government to

control an influential app and its over 1 billion users.

The House bill says that TikTok can cause harm, but we believe the same can be said for Instagram and any other platform with terrorists out there. There is no significant difference in these apps other than the amount of people they reach.

“Lately, the social media platform has been seeing a surge in socially minded content to reflect the recent Black Lives Matter movement. Like Twitter or Instagram, the app has become a tool for activism and community building,” wrote Christian Allaire in a Vogue article.

TikTok has a huge number

of followers, most of which are teens and young adults. In the past few years, many protests, movements, and ideas are said to have been successful due to the massive audience that TikTok can reach.

Some staff members at The Olympian support the ban.

“I think those that are in favor of the ban might just be scared of propaganda against Americans…I feel like the government and just people in general are more scared of the political influence that it has on young adults and other people because of the way that information is spread throughout TikTok,” said one Olympian staff member.

Many find that the app has too much influence through its algorithm, which if abused by a “foreign adversary,” could turn Americans against the government. This would give China a powerful tool against the U.S. Throughout the next month, the Senate is set to reconvene and the hearings will continue.

“

“

“

“

“

Kalaya Williams

PHOTOpinions What do you think about possibly banning TikTok?

I think it’s good because a lot of people are addicted to social media and it causes a lot of problems.

Vaeh Arango Freshman

”

Trojan Talk Re: Kaitlyn’s positive first time voting experience “The ability to vote in this country is incredibly powerful.

I think researching about all of the possible candidates and whatever else you are voting for is both a great and an important thing to do.”

-Demetrius Kuang Re: TikTok: Banned or Beneficial “I think that the ban violates the First Amendment, and is a abuse of power.”

-Brody Cumming Re:

A’s gone, to be

I think it’s kind of dumb, and I think the US just wants to make money from us.

Nikita Baranov Sophomore

”

forgotten?

“I think it is very sad to see the Aś go. I have been going since I was two years old. Them leaving is them taking away part of my identity.”

-Vladimir Berk Re: House passes ban on TikTok “I feel like a ban on TikTok would cause a big clash between the government and those who favor TikTok (which is most of us). This ultimately reminds me of the time when they banned Vine.”

-Precious Bandiola Re: “Percy Jackson” Makes a Splash “I had planned on watching the new show since I enjoyed

I’m generally against the ban on the grounds that it’s preventing another company from doing business on American soil..

The TikTok ban is okay because I spend too much time on it and it is very addicting and wastes time. Additionally, there are alternatives such as Instagram reels.

Terry Deng Junior

Connor Ni Senior

”

the books when I was younger, and now I’m even more excited.”

-Alyssa Chen Re: Masked intruders with gun reported on campus “I’m glad The Olympian is reporting on this issue, especially when the school did nothing. As students we should know when there’s a potential threat near campus.

I was in 700 hall at the time, and the only thing that alerted me of suspicious activity was the announcement telling the teachers to check their email.

We didn’t lock down, I had no idea there was a threat. There should be more transparency, especially in situations like this.

This is a great article.”

-Scott Baldwin

”

Re: End of an era: Hollywood’s Version “This degrade in movie (and most other products) quality is representative of something that is happening across the board.

It shows that industry after industry is prioritizing profit over people, and it shows in the lack of pay of their employees, dropping product ratings, and over gauged pricings. This fundamentally has to do with the lack of anti-trust and antigreed laws in place that allow these companies to rack up as much money as they so please, at the price of everyone else.

Even if they do break the law, if said law has a fine, they will pay it and to them, it is just a price of operating.”

-Nathan Berg

It’s ultimately damaging, especially for younger kids, but I don’t think the political panic about China getting our information is warranted.

Eric Bahm Staff

”

Re: The issues with striving for unity “I agree that our country is so extremely divided in almost every way, which should be addressed somehow. The twoparty system emphasizes those divides and traps people into doing/supporting things they don’t even support.”

-Lanikai Lependorf

The Olympian April 19, 2024

First-time voting: a fulfilling experience

to preserve voting rights for all.

Whether the candidates or propositions I voted for ended up winning or not, casting my ballot for the first time was a momentous and proud moment for me. I was making my voice heard and affecting

By Kaitlyn Tchang Like millions of other Californians, I cast my ballot in the state primary election earlier this month. This election was special for me, however—it was the first one that I, as a new adult, am eligible to vote in.

Filling out my mail-in ballot was not something I took lightly. I took the time to thoroughly sit down and research all the candidates and propositions on the ballot. I found it incredibly difficult to find unbiased information and sources online, as well as to weigh all the legitimate pros and cons of the propositions. The process of properly researching and understanding what I was voting for highlighted to me the nuances of politics. While timeconsuming, doing the work before you cast your ballot is important to being an educated and responsible voter.

Both observationally and statistically, voting is something that is taken for granted in the US. In the 2020 presidential election, two-thirds of Americans exercised their right to vote; for the 2022 midterm, there was a mere 49% turnout.

These numbers are even smaller

3

“ My ability to

Kaitlyn Tchang

for young voters such as myself.

Many Americans born and raised in this country like me have grown up used to the fact that elections are free, regular, and fair. In contrast, some countries like Russia hold “elections” that are merely farces; they lack the actual conditions for a democratic vote and instead function to perpetuate dictatorship. Other countries do not have elections at all. For the people living under these authoritarian regimes, the right to vote is a dream. Indeed, it is the reason

why many people, including some in my family, have chosen to build new lives in America.

This precious institution must be protected at all costs, and attacks on its integrity, such as the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, are evidence of its vulnerability.

From a young age, we are taught that the right to vote is a freedom that our founding fathers fought for, but in reality these rights were not granted to people who looked like me.

My ability to vote as an Asian American woman is also due

to generations of activism and fighting for change. Prior to the 19th Amendment a little over 100 years ago, my direct voice in this democracy would never have been heard. And just over half a century ago, before the passing of the McCarran-Walter Act, immigrants from Asia, like my own relatives, would not have been allowed to obtain citizenship or cast ballots. So when I cast my vote for the first time this month, it was evidence of how much our democracy has grown, and a reminder of our need to continue fighting

vote as an Asian American woman is also due to generations of activism and fighting for change.

”

future policies that may have implications for generations to come. Voting responsibly is doing my part as a citizen to uphold our democratic institutions and rights. Life often gets busy, and between work, school, and family, filling out a ballot may feel unworth the trouble. Yet it is critical to remember one vote can make a difference in an election, and our democracy as a whole.

Prioritize protecting our oceans

Renata Gutierrez

By Renata Gutierrez For as long as I can remember, the ocean and the animals within have amazed me. The sound of waves crashing onto the sand and the feeling of the sun beaming on my skin brings me back to some of my earliest and most nostalgic memories. As I start to become more knowledgeable on how important the ocean really is, I wonder why more regulations and rules have not been put in place to help our ocean and economy thrive simultaneously.

While we see the fishing industry thriving with fishing on mass scales becoming easier, the fish population itself is experiencing a dramatic decline.

According to an article by The World Counts, 90 percent of predatory fish such as sharks, tuna, and swordfish have been fished. If we continue fishing at this rate, we won’t leave these keystone species with enough time to recuperate and repopulate, causing a dramatic

Renata Gutierrez enjoys a relaxing day at Half Moon Bay. change in the food web. The ocean ecosystem might not be able to recuperate.

Without these species, the intricate ocean ecosystem will start to lose its balance. With 40 percent of fish and other sea creatures being thrown back into the ocean already dead as bycatch, the question of how sustainable our fishing practices really are remains.

If our ocean were to lose its balance, chaos would start to unfold. We would not only lose what I believe to be the most beautiful ecosystem on Earth. A lot of people, especially those in low income countries, would suffer from starvation, which would quickly lead to a widespread famine.

At the same time, while poverty and malnutrition rates increase, the economy itself would start to lose billions of dollars given that globally the fishing industry brings in $362 billion, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Coastal communities would quickly plummet as most of their members lose their jobs.

While fishing itself isn’t bad for the ocean, the rate we seem to be fishing at is the problem.

The faster and more we fish, the more we push the species within the ocean towards extinction. I would like to see the government and government officials who claim to care about our environment do more to protect our oceans.

Castro Valley High School’s journalism class publishes The Olympian, an award-winning newspaper and media empire, from our world headquarters at 19400 Santa Maria Ave., Castro Valley, California 94546. © 2024 Editor-in-Chief......................................................Melissa Boussaroque Editor-in-Chief............................................................Kaitlyn Tchang Online Editor...................................................Renata Gutierrez Multimedia Editor...............................................Wyatt Franklin Multimedia Editor...............................................Ethan Dinh N e w s E d i t o r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M a t t h e w Wo n g Opinion Editor...........................................Gavin Peters Sports Editor....................................................Haku Kremer Arts and Entertainment Editor............Mason Jordan Feature Editor........................................Shannan Chan P h o t o E d i t o r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L u i s O c h e a C o p y E d i t o r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vi c t o r B a h n g C o p y E d i t o r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H a i l e y Yo u n g S t a f f Wr i t e r s : C a t B a l d w i n , M a x i m B o y c h u k , L i l lian Cooke, Brenda Huynh, Samuel Jarvis, Mario Joseph, Michael Lac, Zoe Lawrence, Grace Lopez, Richard Paseman, Zoe Schwartzle, Kalaya Williams Advisor........................................................................Matt Johanson

4

“The Outsiders” makes a rumble on stage

“The Outsiders” cast and crew work hard to bring the play to life.

By Shannan Chan Smoke fills the stage as the burning church roof comes crumbling down. The tense meet between the Socs and Greasers erupts into a brawl.

“The Outsiders,” a beloved tale taught to 7th and 8th graders nationwide, came to CVHS Drama.

Written in 1983 by S.E Hinton, both actors and stage crew had worked tirelessly into the night in order to bring the story to life. Tech week had been both a stressful week and a blast, as finishing touches were added to the stage. Junior Phoenix Chen noted that the smoke machine is the most outstanding part of the set. “It adds a lot of dynamic and texture to the scene,” said Chen.

“I think the smoke machine and the church are really great because it gives the illusion that it’s on fire,” agreed sophomore Grace Remick.

Overall, sets and special

effects for “The Outsiders” seemed to be on point. “I really like what they’ve done with the kitchen in the house and everything. I think it feels pretty homey, and the back interior of the house is very well designed,” explained junior Alex Witt, who plays Two-Bit in Cast A. “I look at it and I’m like ‘Damn, that’s really impressive.’”

Throughout the week, all students in the production worked to juggle the play and school-life balance. Assistant tech director Faith Hudson shared her thoughts. “What are the biggest challenges of tech? Zero sleep, and keeping up with school and everything,” she laughed. “I just hope for the best, power through and hope my teachers understand.”

Other challenges revolved around the actors as well.

Senior Alexis Dones, who plays Sandy in Cast B shared her experience. “The biggest challenge for me is probably because I’m not only an actor,

but also in hair and makeup,” said Dones. “So making the makeup look authentic but natural is probably our biggest thing.”

Despite all these challenges, everyone had a good word to say about the CVHS Drama Department. “What makes drama fun is all the people part of it. I’ve been doing drama for four years and you make a lot of friends along the way,” said Dones. “Anytime you turn around, someone’s doing something random, so that’s probably the best part.”

Others echoed the rewarding experience and invited others to join. “I think it’s the community and the close set of people in tech. It’s really really nice and I feel like it’s really welcoming,” expressed Chen.

“If you ever feel the urge, just give it a try,” said Witt. “I mean, I’m not in drama, I’m a band kid, and I still gave it a shot joining this production. What’s the worst that could happen?”

The Olympian April 19, 2024

DECA finds success at SCDC

Nico Nappi works on his Chevrolet.

Haku Kremer

CVHS wowed by Chevrolet

By Haku Kremer

Nico Nappi’s car, a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro is one of a kind. From the loud engine roaring to the shiny body of the car, Nappi’s car is truly a spectacular car to see. Nappi’s car is especially special because the paint job is from a Chevy C8 Corvette, has a loud 350 crate motor, and the shiny forged wheels make it stand out. Nappi’s mom traded some truck shells for it and it has been in the family for a while before being passed down to him.

“My favorite thing about the car is the feel of it. It’s like steering a boat. The steering is very loose and you feel every bump and pebble in the road.

There are squeaks and chirps that come from the car, and no

5

support from the bench seat.

But the greatest part of it all is the Merican V8 that turns heads at any RPM,” said Nappi.

“Nico is engaged in everything we do, and he gives 100 percent and I appreciate that. You can tell Nico put a lot of heart and thought into all the details. I know he goes home thinking about his car and it’s something really important to him,” said auto shop teacher Darren Rees Although Nappi hasn’t taken his car to a car meet yet, he is planning on taking his car to a car meet and driving it around with his friends. He drives it more on the weekends when the sun is out and the weather is nice. Nappi will be bringing his car to the CVHS car show in May, so make sure to check it out!

The CVHS DECA club poses for a group photo after a successful weekend at the California State Career Development Conference (SCDC).

By Victor Bahng The CVHS DECA club saw great success at the California State Career Development Conference (SCDC), with multiple students reaching the top ten for various events.

The SCDC was held from March 7-10 in Anaheim, CA. It involved nearly 2,500 other students from over 70 schools and was divided into nearly 60 different events. Each event was related to one of six career clusters of business and had two tasks: an exam and role-plays.

“It was a big state conference with over 2,500 students, so I definitely noticed the competition was harder this year,” said club president senior Ava Alburo. “But we were still able to do well in our categories, so it was good.”

Thirty-four students from DECA club competed, and seven finished as finalists. Out of the seven, two students made the top five of their event, advancing to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC).

Alburo and sophomore Grace Tan placed first and fourth, respectively, in their events.

Alburo placed first in the Apparel and Accessories Marketing Series, an event involving the management and marketing process of clothing and similar products. Tan placed fourth in the Accounting Applications Series, where participants search for appropriate solutions after analyzing data.

“I’m proud of what I’ve done and the things I’ve learned, but I know that there’s a lot more to study, especially with bigger changes occuring in the accounting profession in

regards to automation and software,” wrote Tan. “But, I’m most grateful and happy about the friendships I’ve made and the genuine and kind people I’ve met and so excited to compete and chat with them in person at internationals!”

Five students finished as finalists, placing top ten in their events. Senior Esther Cui was a finalist for the Accounting Applications Series, junior Michelle Li for the Food Marketing Series, and sophomore Vedant Naik for Sports and Entertainment Marketing Series. Junior Joy Wong and sophomore Maggie Xie were finalists in a partner event for Buying and Merchandising Team Decision

“

I’m most grateful and happy about the friendships I’ve made and the genuine and kind people I’ve met.

Grace Tan

”

Sophomore DECA member Making.

“We believe that our events

really suited what we were good at, our passions, and our interests, so we were really educated in the event topic, so we performed pretty well,” said Xie. The ICDC will take place between April 27-30, also in Anaheim, where Alburo and Tan will compete against international talent in similar events.

“

It was a big state conference with over 2,500 students... but we were still able to do well.

Ava Alburo

”

Senior DECA president

6

“The Beekeeper” buzzes over audience’s heads

By Gavin Peters Have you ever heard of the term, “Queen Slayer?” Chances are, you probably haven’t. It’s a term used to describe a worker bee who climbs the ranks in the hive until they kill the queen, because she has been producing faulty offspring. This term is the cornerstone of the movie, “The Beekeeper.”

Jason Statham is the Beekeeper, a ruthless vigilante who is powered by his own will and morals to protect the U.S. from all threats, just as a beekeeper would protect a hive.

The movie is a fast-paced and gruesome show of justice and civil defense by the Beekeeper.

It is fun and engaging all the way through, but it has many drawbacks.

For one, characters in the movie are constantly freaking out because he’s the Beekeeper, but no one explains what that means until the movie is starting to close. The story takes over an hour to make any real sense. Throughout the film, it feels like you, the viewer, are being excluded from an inside joke known only by the main characters. It is funny in an almost psychotic way to feel excluded from the main plot of the story. You have to laugh, because you are so confused and don’t know if you are missing something, or if the story is not fully fleshed out yet. All of these ambiguities make the story

convoluted and tiring to follow, but not enough to make you want to leave. Thank god for the over-the-top fight scenes and aggression, because otherwise the movie wouldn’t be worth anything.

Additionally, Statham plays a faux John Wick/Equalizer that has no explanation as to who he is. He starts his killing spree with the scammers who caused his nice old landlady to

commit suicide. He then makes his way up the ladder, making gory kills until he reaches the president’s son.

Once you understand the premise of the movie and learn the concept of who the Beekeeper is, then the story is finally easy to follow.

Although incredibly unrealistic, the Beekeeper becomes an interesting character based on the concept of an all-powerful

American weapon that fights for the country’s general stance on right and wrong, protecting those who need protection and killing those who don’t deserve to live.

Overall, if you like Statham and fictional vigilantes who work to “protect the hive,” then this is the movie for you. But I wouldn’t recommend getting your hopes up over the plot.

I personally would give “The

Beekeeper” a C for fun, but watching it also feels like you are down and being constantly kicked while laughing it off.

the Northern tribes of the Fremen. The protagonist Paul Atreides is played to perfection

by Timothee Chalamet, fully showcasing how both loss and desire for revenge motivates him to fight both inner and external battles against his past, political undercurrents, and interstellar conflicts.

The best parts of the movie was the visual grandeur that Villeneuve consistently presents, from the designs of the sandworms, to the detailing of cities on other planets that appear for just a moment and constantly bring shock and awe to the audience. Every frame clearly displays Villeneuve’s love and dedication to his craft.

Still, there is no masterpiece without its flaws. Even with a magnificent story and visuals, the pacing often led to moments feeling longer and more drawn out then they needed to be and the 166-minute movie was even longer than the original while the dense narrative can be difficult for casual cinema goers to enjoy and understand the ramifications of Paul Atreides actions.

Moreover, as the first installment in a planned duology, “Dune: Part Two” grapples with the challenge of preparing for future sequels while still providing a satisfying standalone experience. While

the film succeeds admirably in laying the groundwork for the saga’s epic narrative arc, it leaves several plot threads unresolved, serving more as a prologue than a complete story in its own right.

“Dune: Part Two” is a visually stunning and thematically rich adaptation that successfully captures the essence of Frank Herbert’s seminal work. While it may not be without its flaws, particularly in terms of pacing, it nonetheless stands as a worthy addition to the pantheon of science fiction cinema. As audiences eagerly await the continuation of Paul Atreides’ journey, one thing is certain: the sands of Arrakis have never looked more captivating.

“Dune: Part Two” shows cinema at its finest

By Ethan Dinh Few sagas are held with as much love and reverence as Frank Herbert’s “Dune.” The latest attempt to bring the endless sea of sand to the silver screen by filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has had heightened

expectations from a devoted fanbase, so does it rise to the occasion or end up crushed by the weight of its own ambition?

Continuing after the cliffhanger of “Dune: Part One,” the final heir of the house of Atreides struggles for control of the planet Arrakis alongside his new allies of

The Olympian April 19, 2024

7

Oscars delight viewers everywhere

By Mason Jordan

A woman with the brain of a baby. The father of the atomic bomb. Systematic murder in 1920’s Oklahoma. These are just three of the visually stunning, superbly acted films that fought for Oscars this year. The Oscars were a rollicking, entertaining, edge of your seat celebration of 2023’s amazing work in the film industry. Although some disagree on the winners this year, one undeniable factor was the heart and soul each of them put into their work/ performance.

Host Jimmy Kimmel announced that next year a new category titled “Achievement in casting” will be added to the roster.

Yorgos Lanthimos’ astounding “Poor Things” took home the second most Oscars, with a solid four. Lead actress Emma Stone won best actress for her groundbreaking performance as Bella Baxter, a woman with the brain of a baby.

Mark Ruffalo was nominated for his hilarious character, but lost to Robert Downey Jr. in “Oppenheimer.” “Poor Things” won three oscars that represent the world the crew created, and provides an amazing example of proper world building in a modern film. Michelle Yeoh, last year’s best actress winner, provided an iconic moment without even knowing, as she handed Emma Stone’s oscar to Jennifer Lawrence that way she could give it to Stone. While this confused Stone at the time, Yeoh later shared on Instagram that Lawrence and Stone reminded her of her and her “Bae Jamie Lee Curtis,” so she wanted them to share that special moment

Emma Stone with each other.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, many feel “Barbie” was underrepresented and undervalued. Besides Ryan Gosling’s viral and hilarious “I’m Just Ken” performance, “Barbie” harshly underperformed at the Oscars. Its only award was for best original song, “What was I made for” by Billie Eilish. Lead actress Margot Robbie and amazing director Greta Gerwig both lacked even a nomination, while America Ferrera and Ryan Gosling were nominated respectively for the supporting categories. As an audience favorite, many viewers were disappointed to see “Barbie” snubbed.

Lily Gladstone made history as the first Native American woman to be up for an Oscars acting award. She earned this through her gut wrenching

“Oppenheimer” performance as Molly Kyle in Martin Scorceses “Killers of the Flower Moon,” a story of murder and corruption as white men took over native Osage land. This story was important to tell, and Gladstone did it impeccably. As Jennifer Lawrence says, “You are the heart and soul of this film.”

Gladstone did not take home the Oscar, but never lost her spirit as she shared in an interview, “We’ve already won.”

Da’Vine Joy Randolph won best supporting actress for her role in “The Holdovers,” and gave a speech with more heart than an audience can handle. Her sweet and appreciative words echoed through the audience and through televisions at home, and touched all of our hearts just a little bit. “Godzilla Minus One” won best visual effects, and the team for the

Cillian Murphy film each came up with Godzilla action figures in an adorable display of affection for the films and their community in Japan and abroad. This award show seemed to have a deeper emphasis on appreciation and the true art of what people do in the film industry.

Of course, Oscars fashion has to be mentioned. The cast of “Dune Part 2” wowed audiences with their outfits, much like their press tour. Anya Taylor Joy wore an amazing look inspired by a 1949 Dior gown, which she paired with a stunning headpiece at the after party. Zendaya gracefully appeared in an eye-catching Armani Prive floral printed dress. Emma Stone rocked a beautiful Louis Vitton gown, which she busted the seam on during “I’m Just Ken.” This provided a hilariously

distraught and relatable speech, where she holds her dress in place as she accepts her Oscar.

Greta Lee stunned in a custom LOEWE silk gown, and Carey Mulligan looked amazing in a pitch black Balenciaga dress.

Oscars fashion is a highlight for many viewers, and it did not disappoint this year.

The best picture nominees this year were “Poor Things,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Barbie,” “The Zone of Interest,” ‘Oppenheimer,” “American Fiction,” “The Holdovers,” “Past Lives,””Maestro,” and “Anatomy of a Fall.” These films all had something a bit different about them, an element that made them stand out above the rest of the films (some more than others). In the end, “Oppenheimer” won best picture and took home a whopping (but expected) seven Oscars. Many saw this outcome a long time ago, but still couldn’t help but hope that a more unique film would be crowned best picture.

The Oscars this year had their ups and downs, but overall proved themself as one of the better awards shows in recent years. The iconic musical performances and heartfelt speeches helped the audience sympathize with and understand the winners, and it made every award feel a little more special. The Oscars have become more and more human every year, going from simply looking at prestige to recognizing the dedication, hard work, and humanity of the film industry. Plus, on the bright side for “Barbie,” they brought back “I’m Just Ken.” No one is getting that song out of their head any time soon!

“Anyone But You,” a classic rom-com

By Lillian Cooke Imagine a fake couple doing “cheesy” romantic things that lead to them falling off of a boat in the middle of the Sydney harbor. This is but one of the many entertaining scenes you can see in the new rom-com movie “Anyone but You,” which has taken fans by storm.

The film takes place in Sydney, Australia with main characters Bea, played by Sydney Sweeney, and Ben, played by Glen Powell.

The plot is similar to other rom-coms, where the two main characters pretend to date, and eventually end up falling for each other by the end of the movie. Most rom-coms are known for having a meet-cute, and this one is no exception.

Ben and Boston University

law student Bea meet for the first time in a coffee shop, as she needs to use the restroom.

Unfortunately, the workers say she needs to buy food before she

can use the restroom. Luckily enough, Ben, a customer at the time, stepped up and got her the bathroom key.

Throughout the movie, the

fake couple try to convince their friends and family members that they are together in order to get what they want. Funny scenes such as the couple

recreating the “Titanic” scene, then falling into the Pittwater in Sydney, Australia, have really caught viewers’ attention.

Along with iconic scenes, “Anyone But You” also has reminded everyone about the iconic song “Unwritten,” by Natasha Bedingfield.

“A rom com has got girls falling out of cinemas singing my song — and now it’s trending!!!” said Bedingfield in Billboard’s editorial.

A popular TikTok trend had also gone around of girls skipping around to the song after watching the enjoyable movie.

If you like a good laugh and a sweet love story, this movie is for you. With lots of enjoyable scenes, a great plot, and a classic 2000s song, “Anyone But You” will go down in history with other famous rom-coms.

8

Super savvy sports stars

By Lillian Cooke and Samuel Jarvis

Mia Kovacs, Freshman

Joshua Joseph, Sophomore

Simon Li, Junior

Ava Thomas, Senior

Nicole Manley, Coach

Track star Mia Kovacs has been having a good season for her first year on the team. “My biggest success would be beating my 400 personal record, and making varsity,” said Kovacs. As a sprinter on varsity, there can be a lot of pressure for her starting year, yet Kovacs loves the community that has been created from the team.

“My ultimate goal is to hopefully play in college in a few years,” commented Kovacs when asked.

Although Kovacs has had a good season, she mentions that she can still get anxious before meets, but she says that her team and coaches are so supportive towards her. She also plans to take her track career as far as she can. If you’d like to see Kovacs and her peers compete, the season is still going on.

Joshua Joseph is a junior varsity baseball player mainly playing left field or general outfield when needed. Joseph’s most impressive stat is his defense, making 71 of 73 plays in the outfield helping his team to win in close games. Joseph also has good plate vision getting seven walks to pad his on base percentage to a respectable .360. “I like the game because they are high intensity,” said Joseph on why he finds the junior varsity team fun. Through Joseph’s play on the field and at the plate he has gained the respect and admiration of his teammates and his coaches that’s why he loves the sport and continues to play it every game.

“My biggest success would be breaking a new CVHS record for 100 back at 52.23,” said great swimmer Simon Li. Being in his third year on varsity, Li has dealt with many achievements throughout his high school years. Yet, what he most appreciates about swim is getting to enjoy the presence of his friends and teammates. Along with many good times, Li also competes on a club team but deals sometimes with burnout. He is also encouraged to do better thanks to his peers. “I couldn’t have done it without the fastest swimmer I know, Daniel Lee and my competition Nathan Nguyen,” said Li. So you’d like to see Li compete, the swim season is still going on, and he has one more year to once again amaze the school.

Ava Thomas has taken a swing on the softball field every year of high school which goes to say something about the belief her coaches have in her to execute at an accelerated pace. Thomas has put up some impressive stats such as a 100 percent fielding rate over 15 games played in the 2023 season as well as a current .400 batting average. Her best game this season was a 17 to 6 blowout mercy rule game where she went two for three with one RBI and two runs. “I had a fun time playing in the game and helping to lead my team to a win.” Though she may not make the LSU roster, CVHS softball will miss her presence on the plate and in the field next year.

Coach Nicole Manley has been coaching for ten years for the softball team here at CVHS. “The best part about being a coach is seeing what the players do after their high school careers. It’s really fun to see the players grow and develop into the young women they become after the program,” commented Manley. With many successful seasons led by Manley, she feels that this year is also leading up to some big things. Yet, one of the harder parts of her career is typically at the beginning of the season when the players are still trying to get to know one another.

Bright future for senior Cooper Matthews

Trojan excels as mutli-sport athlete

By Renata Gutierrez The blinding stadium lights beamed down on senior quarterback Cooper Matthews as he threw the ball in a rapid spiral, granting the win to the Trojans in their hard-fought battle against the San Leandro Pirates.

With his senior season coming to an end, Matthews expresses that playing their second to last game and senior night was a very bittersweet feeling.

Coming from a family of baseball players, Matthews is the first one in his family to play football: “I liked wrestling and football more than anything.”

Ultimately, Matthews decision to play football stemmed from the aggressive nature of wrestling, as well as his competitive nature yearning for a new challenge after being in the wrestling team throughout middle school.

Like many who decide to play

Senior Cooper Matthews plays as quarterback. football, the team quickly became a close-knit brotherhood for him.

“Football allowed me to physically express my feelings,” said Matthews. “Football was never something I had to do, it was something I wanted to do.”

His dedication to the new sport was tested the summer going into his junior year. While

playing volleyball with his friends, Matthews accidentally landed on his friend and snapped his ankle in half from diving for the ball. He was rushed to the hospital with a double break and underwent surgery to insert metal plates on both sides of his foot.

For the rest of the summer, he not only had to push through

Renata Gutierrez

the traumatic injury, but also declining mental health. Coming into his junior year football season he continued to workout and stay active to try and make a speedy recovery, showing up to practices and games even when he couldn’t play.

“I was just so proud of myself for being able to fight through pretty bad adversity and getting

to come back for seven weeks of the season,” said Matthews.

Although his senior season had a lot of ups and downs on the field, Matthews’ commitment to the team drove him to work hard at every game and practice whether they had won or lost their last game.

“I committed myself to the football team and I put in lots of work, so I was never really going to not go hard in practice,” said Matthews. “I didn’t approach a week differently based on the results of the game prior.”

Although most know him as CVHS star quarterback, Matthews carried his number, 11, into the volleyball team as well, where his competitive nature pushed him to take his offseason sport seriously.

With his senior year coming to an end, Matthews is most likely commiting to Chabot Community College, where he will major in construction management and also continue his football career.

“I’ve always felt passionate about that [construction],” said Matthews. “I just know it can make a difference in people’s life.”

The Olympian

Trojans excel in spring sports April 19, 2024

Sophomore Chloe Miao prepares to serve the birdie.

9

Hailey Young

Junior Amber Ditona pushes to swim to the finish. Grace Lopez

Sophomore Maximillian Fruin and senior Renata Gutierrez Lukas Winn send the ball back to the other side.

Members of the CVHS boys track team begin a relay race.

Sophomore Jayla Morales stops a Liberty runner from reaching the base.

Brenda Huynh

Kalaya Williams

Freshman Liam Hogan prepares to serve the ball. Michael Lac

10

The Olympian April 19, 2024

CVHS experiences the impact of AI

By Zoe Lawrence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is key to efficiency and creativity in the ever-changing technology landscape. It impacts all facets of our lives, including social media interactions, banking, and healthcare. AI has become an ever-present factor in our daily lives, transforming personal and business sectors.

Education is one of the industries undergoing this revolutionary wave, as AI integration ushers in a new era of teaching and learning. Just like thousands of high schools across the country, CVHS is experiencing the effects of AI on education.

A significant turning point in educational history has been reached with the accessibility of AI technology, especially with the introduction of ChatGPT in November 2022. With its capacity to comprehend and produce writing that resembles that of a human depending on the input it gets, ChatGPT has given educators and students alike access to a world of opportunities. As per the Pew Research Center, the platform has attracted noteworthy interest and has amassed over 180.5 million users since its launch. This increase in popularity highlights how AI tools are becoming more and

more important in our daily lives, especially in education.

“AI is a really useful tool that is truly underutilized in school. It can help form research questions that aid students in familiarizing themselves with a topic. When taught correctly students can use AI in an effective and academically honest way. AI should be taught in schools to be used correctly, rather than banning a tool that can help learning,” said sophomore Chase Coutinho.

The use of AI in education, particularly through ChatGPT and related apps, has

revolutionized both the way teachers and students approach education. One interesting tendency that the Pew Research Center brought to light is that about one in five American teenagers who are familiar with ChatGPT have used it for academic purposes. This demonstrates the important impact AI is starting to play in assisting students in their academic endeavors.

According to an Olympian poll, over 50 percent of students have used AI technologies, with 47 percent saying they use ChatGPT the most, suggesting

First Amendment defended

By Mario Joseph

The First Amendment gives us the right to freedom of speech.

However, recent events in society have brought many questions and challenges regarding the application of the constitutional right. One thing remains clear: the protection of speech, even if taken offensively, is an important part of our democracy.

David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition and advocate for free speech, warns against the perils of granting the government unchecked authority to regulate expression. He cautions that such power could lead to the arbitrary suppression of speech.

“Handing the government the power to make these kinds of determinations hands the government the power arbitrarily to silence expression,” said Snyder.

Similarly, the regulation of speech within schools raises issues regarding students’ rights.

While schools possess a greater ability to limit student speech to maintain control, the extent of this authority remains subject to scrutiny. CVUSD Assistant Superintendent Nia Rashidchi talked about the challenges with monitoring speech in the school environment, but believed is was necessary to have a approach where monitoring is made when the situation arrises concern for the safety of others.

Looking at the past, the parallels between past and

Mario Joseph

Nia Rashidchi and Katherine Rowlands discussed the Fi rst Amendment. current moral panics and challenges to free expression become apparent. From the censorship of comic books in the 1950s to the vilification of rock and roll music, society has had fears of corruption and moral decay. Today, there are similar concerns in efforts to restrict access to certain books under vague standards of acceptability, such as in Florida. However, there still exists a fundamental right to receive information in the First Amendment.

“It’s not contained in the text of the First Amendment directly, but there is a First Amendment right to receive information,” asserted Snyder.

While traditional media has often been seen as reliable information, challenges exist within news as well. Katherine Rowlands, the co-founder of Women Do News, reflects on the evolving media, acknowledging that people need to be more

informed about the news they receive and looking into more local stations.

“And so our job is… to be very straightforward and very transparent in where the information is coming from so that you can go dig deeper yourself to find more background, more context,” remarked Rowlands. “We are super aware of our responsibility to do a better job of reflecting the communities that we serve.”

Defense of free speech and access to information remains important in a democratic society. With the issues of modern media and societal challenges, it is important to uphold transparency, accountability, and the rights of individuals to express themselves. By doing so, we not only honor the legacy of those who fought for these rights but also ensure a future where voices can contribute more to society.

Melissa Boussaroque

a trend toward using these resources for academic support.

“AI can be very beneficial for teachers too. Even with just creating lesson plans and stuff,” said history teacher Kevin Batchelor.

AI offers teachers the chance to improve their teaching methods, improve administrative work, and understand their student’s learning styles. This may result in a greater focus on handson and individual learning.

Additionally, AI tools can be very helpful in grading and providing comments, freeing up teachers’ time to create a more

creative learning environment.

“AI is something useful but it can also be used in a negative way, you should use it to help you learn but you should not just use it to cheat,” said senior Santiago Soto.

There are significant ethical issues that are brought up by the use of AI in education. With about 52 percent of students responding “No” to whether or not AI should be integrated into school curriculum, there is some obvious apprehension among students. Concerns including data privacy and the possibility of AI reinforcing biases call for strict regulation. Furthermore, in order to successfully manage the potential problems presented by this technology, educators and students must be encouraged to develop critical thinking skills when it comes to AI. The increasing use of ChatGPT and other AI-powered technologies in education indicates a significant shift in the way that knowledge is learned and communicated.

AI has the ability to greatly improve educational outcomes and better prepare students for a future in which technology and the human brain collide, as we stand on the edge of this new era. Adopting AI opens the door to an endless world of learning opportunities.

11

“Process of Art” by junior Frances Lee

“This art piece serves as a reflection of my past self.

Frances Lee Artist

”

The Olympian is excited to publish junior Frances Lee’s artwork, “Process of Art.” “This art piece serves as a reflection of my past self,” explained Lee. “When designing this piece, I thought about my journey, how my art has developed over time, and how I use art. The objects surrounding me are symbols of my struggles and fixations regarding my journey through art.”

To see this piece in color or submit pieces of your own, visit cvhsolympian.com/category/artistsabode/.

“Birddog” by senior Oli Baker you slunk away, all I felt was pity and rage: and I can’t remember why I was so angry.

The Olympian is delighted to share senior Oli Baker’s poem, “Birddog.”

“This piece is about a relationship that was very dear to me. It’s framed as a relationship between a dog and person and person and dog,” they explained. “Dogs are the picture of unwavering loyalty, and I wanted to explore the betrayal that the dog feels.”

You came to my back door, screened to keep out the bugs. You have a cardinal in your Mouth and I yelled at you:

I am changed: you are not. you saw me.

Are we the same? Or are All you remember are the we different? feathers in your mouth and the anger in my voice We have not known each when I saw you. other for years: you chose your path, I Are we strangers? Are we Now it’s my turn: chose mine; lovers? Or we I show up at your front you hunting cardinals, me friends? Are we all of door, poking stick my nose through the my nose through the cat cat flap flap. that I’m too big to fit You wait to be invited, I through. try to get in: doesn’t matter It’s your turn to yell what they think, and say I am here, and you are not.

Why would you give me this?

Maybe we sit down for The present is me. I wanted coffee, we to make you kiss each other on the nose: proud. miss you, love you.

Maybe we walk by each We’re walking together, other on the street hand in hand and we don’t even recogand the sidewalk is inter- nize the other. rupted by a tree caged, roots cut.

All I remember is sitting Is it happy? on the porch, We let go, walk around sticking my nose through and rejoin after we leave your door, and the the tree behind. hurt in your voice when

them, together?

I think we are tw o dogs: you’re a shepherd, I’m a malamute and our paws are caked in snow and our mouths are full of feathers.

12

DO YOUR PART TO PREVENT SEWER BLOCKAGES Maintaining reliable wastewater pipelines and facilities is everyone’s responsibility. There are simple actions we can all take to make sure that our wastewater system works.

Only Flush the 3Ps!

Only flush the 3P’s: Pee, Poop, and Toilet Paper. Those are the only materials that should be flushed down the toilet.

Items like “Flushable” wipes, disposable diapers, and personal hygiene products do not belong in the sewer system.

Never Flush Wipes!

Used flushable wipes belong in the garbage. When flushed, flushable wipes can damage expensive equipment at pump stations and the wastewater treatment plant and only increase the chances of a sanitary sewer overflow.

Put FOG Where It Belongs!

Do not pour Fats, Oils, and Grease, aka FOG, down the drain! Grease collects and hardens inside the pipes and forms a solid plug that can lead to sewer problems. Dispose of grease and fats in the green organics cart instead.

CASTRO VALLEY SANITARY DISTRICT Effective Environmental Services since 1939 (510) 537-0757 | cvsan.org