Del Norte High School
Volume 1
No. 4
dntalon.com | @dnthetalon
June 2021
Students Return To Campus After A Year of Virtual Learning English teacher Melissa Darcey and sophomore Ava Brooks comment on returning to school after many months of virtual learning.
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Daniel Oviedo (’21) “Daniel Oviedo (’21) and a New Musical Experience”
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COVID-19 IMPACTS “SD’s COVID-19 Restaurant Scene: A Series of Closings and Openings”
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ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Features Local Global Opinions Entertainment
2-4 5-6 7-8 10-11 12-13 Picture credits: Rebecca Wei
Del Norte High School is pictured at dusk of a rainy day.
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Del Norte High School
Features
June 2021
STUDENT PROFILE:
Daniel Oviedo (’21) and a New Musical Experience
By Ida Mobini Staff Writer
Del Norte student Daniel Oviedo (’21) joins the All-State Orchestra in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions and online rehearsals. Oviedo has played the piano for as long as he can remember. “I’ve always enjoyed it,” he says. “I enjoyed messing around with it and just playing what I want.” In middle school string orchestra, he picked up the viola, which he now calls his main instrument. Later, upon gaining interest in jazz, he began playing the saxophone. “I’ve just been fostering those instruments, practicing and getting better.” Currently, Oviedo is a part of Del Norte’s string orchestra, marching band, jazz band and jazz combo. He also pursues music outside of school—notably as a member of the All-State Symphonic Orchestra, a selective ensemble which Oviedo was accepted into earlier this year.
In a regular orchestra, Oviedo explains, one might audition and rehearse weekly, or daily. However, in the case of the All-State Orchestra, the experience typically only lasts one weekend. Last year, Oviedo flew to Fresno, participated in eight-hour rehearsals and ultimately gave a performance with the group in February. “It was pretty fun overall,” Oviedo recalls. “I got to play with a lot of talented people.” Naturally, COVID-19 has changed this year’s experience. “All-State just got a little closer to home,” the flyer for potential auditioners reads. Rather than one rehearsal period such as the one in Fresno, Oviedo joined a three-hour Zoom meeting each weekend for two weeks. The conductor conducted through a click track and students played along. “So it was definitely not the full expe-
Internship at Del Norte Provides Hands-On Training in Sports Medicine
rience,” Oviedo says, noting that virtual rehearsals were less engaging, “but I still did learn some stuff, because there’s also clinics and master classes.” More recently, with Del Norte having reopened, Oviedo has returned to in-person rehearsals with the school’s string orchestra. “It’s definitely refreshing to go back to playing in an ensemble,” he says. But for virtual students, the story is different, he adds. “When everyone’s playing in person, you feel like, ʻWell, it doesn’t really matter if I play or not; I can just turn my camera off.’” Still, Oviedo said it feels good to return to an ensemble with his peers. “It’s been fun seeing [myself] being able to play more things, and sounding better,” Oviedo says in regard to his musical journey as a whole. Having recently committed to UCLA, he says that he plans on continuing music in college.
UPPERCLASS ADVICE
By Emma Sandrew
The interns working for the athletic training program assist Kimberly Woolstencroft to treat and prevent injuries of Del Norte High School student-athletes. An athletic trainer is able to diagnose, prevent, and treat injuries. “Coaches, teammates, and parents are not able to give expert advice regarding health and injury prevention that an athletic trainer would be able to give,” student-athlete Jake Todd (ʻ21) said. According to Todd, this program provided a great opportunity to “gain more hands-on experience in the medical field, and to gain more knowledge of anatomy and physiology.” Having a healthcare professional present can support an athletic career by identifying the potential for serious injuries before they occur. According to one of the athletic interns, Anushka Edlabadkar (ʻ21), “Our athletes in general are safer, healthier,
and more aware of the potential risks of their sport, and having an athletic trainer on campus allows athletes to seek immediate help after an injury.” In addition, the program provided insight into the responsibilities of a medical professional. This also allowed those in the program to gain an understanding of anatomy, first
aid skills, and injury. Additionally, this program allowed the interns to meet new students and create new friendships. Intern Anusri Thokachichu (ʻ22) says she feels that she “made the right decision of wanting to go into the medical field track even if it may be challenging.” She states, “I knew that I also would like
Illustrations by Rebecca Wei
Staff Writer
to have a similar impact on those around by becoming a doctor.” The pandemic has provided unique experiences for those participating in the internship. While medical care relies on physical interactions, the programs have had to shift to follow safety protocols while still aiding those in need.
Rebecca Wei
Graduating Senior Linda Long Gives Insight on the College Application Process By Risa Iwazaki Staff Writer Linda Long (ʻ21) is graduating from Del Norte this year and is currently deciding which college to attend. Long explains how it was difficult to manage priorities while struggling to complete college applications. “I began brainstorming for my UC essays and activity list in August,” Long says. She completed at least six drafts for each of her essays, and submitted each of them a week before her deadline. In September, she asked her teachers and counselors for a letter of recommendation. Long describes the ways Del Norte has pushed her to reach her goals, and how it positively affected her in the long run. “Through AP courses, Del Norte has given me the opportunity to acquire knowledge in various fields. The time in Del Norte inspired me to look through different frames and delve in the subjects deeper.” Long says Del Norte’s inclusive community helped her “develop into a more open-minded person who concerns worldwide issues and truly understands that equality is key to human progression.” Long encourages rising seniors to start the college application process early, and submit them at least three days prior to the deadline since it is easy to overload with college apps, school work, and extracurriculars. Long hopes that every student will use the resources Del Norte provides to write the best college essays. Long says, “Take time to think about your college application essays, and always “show not tell” your experiences, especially for the personal statement!”
The Talon
Vol. 1 No. 4
AS STUDENTS RETURN TO CAMPUS...
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Features
Students Return To Campus After A Year of Virtual Learning By Mia Magdaraog Staff Writer
CLUB CORNER: San Diego Food Bank Club
San Diego Food Bank Club Holds Virtual Events to Help Alleviate Food Insecurity By Emma Sandrew Staff Writer
After a year of virtual learning, Del Norte students return to campus starting April 5th to finish off the 2020-21 school year. For English teacher Melissa Darcey, the experience has been “bittersweet.” While she finds that it has been nice being back on campus with a sense of returning to normalcy, she misses seeing students in the hallways and hearing the morning song before first period. Despite being back on campus, Darcey says school doesn’t feel the same due to limited interactions. Although she is able to see a handful of her students in person in her old teaching environment, Darcey explains that she finds it difficult to connect as much with them as she typically would before virtual learning. One of Darcey’s students Ava Brooks (ʻ22) claims that being able to return on campus where she used to spend so much of her time has been a “sigh of relief.” Prior to this year’s virtual learning experience, Brooks spent 30 or more hours a week on campus. She says the opportunity to return has given her “a new energy and optimistic outlook for potentially returning to normalcy in school, and everyday life as well.” Aside from the aspect of returning to a familiar learning environment, Del Norte has put in place safety protocols. Darcey says she has found these precautions to be easily followed, and noticed the biggest difference was getting used to wearing masks. Even though she is fully vaccinated, Darcey explains she has been more mindful of sanitizing her hands, touching too many surfaces, or standing too close to others for too long.
“I’m certainly pro-masks and understand their necessity, but they’re not easy for communicating for long periods of time,” Darcey says. In addition to the disadvantage on the communication side of things, Darcey mentions that she also misses seeing people’s smiles and easily recognizing students. She details how she failed to recognize a student who returned to campus due to her mask covering half of her face. Even though the student always had her camera on in the virtual environment and participated in class frequently, Darcey was shocked to recognize how much harder it was to pick out a person’s unique features while they’re wearing a mask. Brooks says the biggest difference between her on campus experience during a typical school year and this year is the learning environment. Despite being in the same physical environment, Brooks details the struggles with collaborative work in spaced out classroom desks in addition to a majority of her peers participating over zoom. “On Zoom, most people are afraid to talk in the breakout rooms and it usually only consists of a few hello’s and a question or two,” says Brooks. Being able to participate in the physical classroom has made it much easier for Brooks to communicate with her peers, even if she isn’t familiar with them like she might be during a typical year. From a teacher’s perspective, Darcey has found that because of having to run both a virtual and physical class simultaneously, she tends to focus more on the digital students than those in class. With her
attention torn between the two groups, Darcey worries that she is not giving her full attention to students. Furthermore, Darcey has found the social distancing contributes to the disadvantages of her new teaching method. With her attention torn between virtual and in-person students, she finds it a challenge to fully attend to both groups of students. Managing her online students at her computer while also having to maintain her spot at the front of the classroom for students on campus has created new boundaries for Darcey that she didn’t experience prior to the virtual learning environment. “There’s an unspoken rule in teaching that you should always be moving, walking around, and interacting with students,” Darcey says. Having to refrain from her typical teaching behavior—such as constantly interacting throughout the classroom—has contributed to her confidence as a teacher dropping, accompanying her worries of not teaching, supporting, and engaging with her students enough. Having to go through trial-and-error over the last few months, Darcey said she has realized that this year taught Del Norte how important face-to-face interactions are. Brooks mentions that being able to talk to students has been a really big advantage for coming to school. Despite challenges that have come with the new hybrid learning experience, Darcey and Brooks both say they are hopeful that all students will be able to return to campus next school year in an environment with students’ safety and mental health in mind.
MATH TEACHER ARLENE ASHTON COMMENTS ON HYBRID LEARNING AT DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL By Ellie Lee Staff Writer Arlene Ashton talks about her own experiences as a current math teacher at Del Norte High School, who simultaneously teaches students in person and through Zoom when DNHS began their hybrid learning in March. . Ashton says the largest challenges are the mental energy needed to navigate both the online class and in-person classes while having to teach with a mask on. Not only does the mask make it more difficult for many teachers to talk and breathe, but it can also make it hard for students to understand their speech and interpret non-verbal communication (such as teachers’ mouth shapes that are very helpful in language classes). “ ʻTired’ would be an understated description of how I have felt in hybrid learning,” says Asthon. She also says she feels “chained” to her desk
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ʻTired’ would be an understated description of how I have felt in hybrid learning.”
-Arlene Ashton (Math Teacher)
as she must stay in a position where all the students can see her. However, Ashton says she believes students who are in-person have advantages compared to those at home. Teachers can usually respond to questions faster when students ask questions in person by reading faces. Although collaboration is still on a smaller scale since not all the students are in the classroom, Ashton says it is much easier to connect with those on-campus. For those who are staying online, Ashton says these students can overcome
communication barriers by taking responsibility for their own learning by asking questions and responding to teachers and classmates. “I have not met a teacher yet who won't put time aside for their student, but many are hesitant to ask,” Ashton says. Despite the challenges of adapting to teaching two different groups of students, Ashton says she enjoys having fun conversations with her students and watching them interact with each other on campus in between periods and during lunch, something that had been lost for many months due to COVID-19. “While some students seemed a little uncomfortable when they first began to come in, they seem to have settled in and are less hesitant to interact with me and with each other- appropriately distanced, of course,” says Ashton.
The San Diego Food Bank Club aims to collaborate with the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank to support their hunger relief efforts through fundraisers and club volunteering activities. According to Co-Social Media Director and Treasurer Amanda Philip (ʻ22), the club's mission is to “empower our fellow Nighthawks and our broader community to collectively take financial and humanitarian action to mitigate the hunger struggles in our home of San Diego.” Due to COVID-19, the club has been operating virtually. They held a virtual food drive for four weeks, collecting donations from schools in the community including Del Norte High School and Oak Valley Middle School, and additionally raised $2,000 for the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank. They held another food drive with Peer Counseling to aid PUSD families struggling with food insecurity. The club is currently preparing for an in-person volunteering opportunity at the Mira Mesa Branch of the Jacbos and Cushman San Diego Food Bank with a date to be determined. The club aims to create a connection between the community and Del Norte to raise more awareness and support for the relief efforts. “ [The San Diego Food Bank Club] increases our gratitude for all the resources we have available to us, and also enables us to help use our power and time to aid others,” says club president Hetvi Trivedi (ʻ23). Similarly, Philip participated in this club to help the community deal with the hunger crisis and to develop her passion for humanitarianism, while aiding a cause larger than herself. She says she is proud to participate in meaningful events that directly help others. If you are interested in joining the club, contact them on instagram: @dnhsfoodbank.
CONTACT: Instagram @dnhsfoodbank
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Del Norte High School
Features
June 2021
KOREAN STUDENT’S ASSOCIATION’S EFFORTS FOR ANTIRACISM By Ellie Lee
Staff Writer
President of the Del Norte High School voices that are not heard enough, and she Korean Students’ Association Minju Kim says representation is the first step to empow(ʻ23) shares her perspective on the Asian hate er the oppressed. “As Koreans, we're basically a ʻminoricrimes that have increasingly surfaced. This includes a shooting at a spa in Atlanta on ty in a minority.’ What I mean by that is that March 16th that killed eight people, six of in the Asian minority, we're yet another whom were Asian women. As a Kore- minority (Korean), making it even harder for an-American, Kim and other members of the our voices to be heard,” Kim said. She encourages all students--regardKSA have taken action to advocate against the racism Asian-American communities face, less of their ethnicities--to educate themselves on others’ backgrounds and experiencincluding Korean-Americans. Kim said, “My initial response to the es, including Asian-Americans. “I really do think Asian hate crimes was that looking at something outrage. The video that rose “I really do think that from another person's lens up on social media about an looking at something from really puts into perspective elderly Asian woman another person's lens really the enormity of racist getting kicked in a wheelputs into perspective the events such as ones the chair especially stood out to AAPI community is facing enormity of racist events me and it really blew my currently. I encourage such as ones the AAPI commind that this was even a everyone to also speak up real event”. munity is facing currently. against such acts, especialKim uses her Insta- Minju Kim (’23) ly if you're Asian. Particigram platform to post pating in panels like the awareness videos and posts. She also spoke as a panelist in the Asian BIPOC panel that's coming up, taking a stand Americans and Pacific Islanders panel set up on social media, are all important as well as by the Anti-Racism and Equity Taskforce. effective ways to support the AAPI communiAlong with other panelists, Kim shared her ty right now,” Kim said. Kim has suggested referencing the experiences, hopes, and worries about her future as a person of Asian-descent who has resources below that provide information on both the history and current events on racism grown up in the United States. Along with Kim, other members of the towards the AAPI community: KSA created infographics about Korean culture and recent events to raise awareness on Korean traditions and the sufferings of Sources can be found at Asian communities. In honor of AAPI Heridntalon.com/features/koretage Month, the KSA aims to spread awareness through their Instagram page and an an-students-associations-efadditional newsletter. Students can follow forts-for-anti-racism/ their Instagram page @dnhsksa for updates. Kim created the KSA at Del Norte to educate and advocate for Asian American
“
Infographic provided by Minju Kim
Del Norte’s First AAPI Panel: Was it effective? In response to the recent rise in anti-Asian sentiment, Del Norte’s Racism and Equity task force hosted its first cultural awareness panel on April 7th in order to highlight the voices of Asian American and Pacific Islander students. The panel itself was composed of 8 student panelists and 2 moderators who directed the conversation. Panelists discussed their experiences with Asian stereotypes and racism, their perception of the model minority myth, what they’d like teachers and staff to know in regards to the Asian American experience, and their feelings toward the rise in anti-Asian sentiment. At one point, the AAPI panel had 135 students in attendance. Panelist Minju Kim (ʻ23) expanded on her experience as both a speaker and observer. Kim mentioned that she gained new insight after hearing about the other panelists’ experiences, especially the ways in which they related to her own. Kim noticed commonalities in the way the model minority myth pressured AAPI students into being better than their peers. She also said that many AAPI panelists had a similar experience hearing insults about their cultural foods. Kim went on to say that “although [the panelists] may share some common experiences or thoughts, we also had some very different perspectives. It was good that we all felt Asian culture
By Meghna Mohan Staff Writer
should be shared and educated but it was also inter- to take action against it.” Del Norte’s first AAPI panel aimed to portray AAPI experiesting to learn about the individual experiences that each person went through. Overall I learned that ences and start conversations about how to combat anti-Asian sentiothers were willing to stick up for themselves just as ment and highlight cultural experiences. I was, and that made me feel empowered.” Minju Kim Kim hopes the panel will have “sparked people to start thinking about how we feel as people who are being targeted today, and I hope it started a conversation about how people in the community, regardless of race, can help others who are being victimized right now.” One member of the audience, Eva Crickard (ʻ23) remarked that this panel helped her know what to look out for when trying to support the AAPI community. She commented on how Kim’s experience having to extensively practice English outside of school in order to fit in resonated with her. “It’s so disappointing to me that that’s something she felt was required of her. It’s such an unreasonable thing for a second grader to have to do.” Crickard said that the AAPI panel was effective in raising awareness about the microaggressions students in the AAPI community face and the harmful effects of them. “If you understand the AAPI students’ point of view, if you understand how these microaggressions are hurting them, you’ll be more inspired
The Talon
Vol. 1 No. 4
Local
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Vaccination Experiences of Del Norte Students
By Eva Crickard
On April 15, San Diego County opened vaccine availability to all residents ages 16 and older. As a result, Del Norte students are receiving their first and second vaccine doses to protect against COVID-19. Before receiving his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, Alex Zakoor (ʻ22) said that “the availability [of scheduling vaccines] in San Diego was not the greatest.” Despite having to drive all the way to Indio for his first vaccine appointment, Zakoor expressed how “it would be exciting to get my vaccine and return to normal
Emilia Wightlin
a bit.” Zakoor has “been keeping interaction to minimum” because his “family has been taking COVID pretty seriously” and quarantining effectively. Zakoor said he is “probably just going to wait until two weeks after the first dose or after the second dose” to start interacting with his friends on a more regular basis, based on what vaccine developers Pfizer and Moderna state regarding effectiveness growing over time. “It is definitely worth [getting the vaccine] even if there are potential aftereffects,” said Zakoor. However, Zakoor does not anticipate experiencing many symptoms based on the lack of symptoms his family experienced when getting their first vaccine shots. Emilia Wightlin (ʻ23), who received her first dose on April 4, said that her first vaccination shot was painless and “hurt less than a flu shot.” Other than feeling a bit tired, Wightlin reported no post-vaccination symptoms. Wightlin received her first dose at the CVS Pharmacy in 4S Ranch. She said that there was a “check-in table outside and a then really long line” wherein “everyone was socially distanced” in addition to wearing masks, however she was not “outside for very long” as the line moved relatively quickly. Wightlin also shared how the actual vaccination “happened really fast.” After getting the shot and receiving her vaccination card, Wightlin walked around CVS for fifteen minutes so the vaccinators could make sure she was not experiencing any immediate side effects. She said that getting herself fully vaccinated will help her worry less about COVID-19 and “feel less stressed when [she is] out in public.” Wightlin was also excited to see so many people of all ages lining up to get their vaccines: “The more people who get [the vaccine], the more we will be able to protect the community and help protect the people who aren’t able to get the vaccine.”
Staff Writer
Rohit De
Rohit De (ʻ23) received both of his vaccinations at Rady’s Children’s Hospital and said that on his most recent dose, he almost didn’t feel it, thinking instead that the nurse “was still wiping [his arm] with the alcohol wipe.” De said that after he got his second dose, he “only woke up with shoulder pain.” De said he wanted to get the vaccine as early as possible to have “more freedom in the current pandemic situation.” He also added that he “hopes that everyone else gets it as soon as they can” so that we can “get back on track from the virtual [learning] experience.” It is not yet known how the increased availability of vaccines will impact the way schools in San Diego operate, and PUSD has yet to release a statement regarding how the 2021-2022 school year will operate, being either in person, virtual, or a hybrid of the two. However, multiple Del Norte students have expressed high hopes for the future of vaccinations in our community.
How COVID-19 Has Affected the 2021 Advanced Placement Exams Rebecca Wei
By Lily Wu
Staff Writer
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected how the 2021 Advanced Placement (AP) exams are being conducted. In previous years, students took the AP exams in person during May. Last year, the format of the exam changed from the traditional paper exam to a digital exam, which was taken at home on a device. This year, College Board has provided multiple options to take the AP exam to provide flexibility for students as the pandemic continues. The 2021 exam includes three administrations that are held between May and June. The first administration takes place from May 3-7, May 10-12, and May 14 and 17. In this administration, all subjects except for AP Chinese and AP Japanese are taken as paper exams in school. AP Chinese and AP Japanese are assessed digitally in school. The second administration is from May 18-21 and May 24-28. This administration consists of some
subjects held as paper exams in school and others held digitally at home. The last administration is from June 1-4 and June 7-11. All of the exams in this administration are conducted digitally from home. In addition, there are differences between the format of the digital and paper exams. On the digital exam, students are not allowed to revisit previous questions, whereas on the paper exam, students are allowed to do so. There are also differences that are specific to each subject. For example, many of the science AP exams conducted digitally have more multiple choice questions and less free response questions than their respective paper versions. Students at DNHS are able to select whether they want to take their AP exams in person or digitally for some subjects, while other subjects are offered as solely in person or solely digital.
Kevin Do
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Del Norte High School
Local
June 2021
SD’s COVID-era Restaurant Scene: A Series of Closings and Openings By Amanda Phillip
Staff Writer
The large-scale lockdowns that marked the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic spelled economic uncertainty for America’s restaurant industry. While some eateries were able to adapt their operations to navigate the ever-changing restrictions posed by the virus, others were not as financially fortunate. Yet the fate of San Diego’s restaurant scene over the last twelve odd months has not been an entirely dismal one; a wealth of new eateries made their debut in America’s Finest City over the course of the pandemic.
Nicole Pi
ITALIAN FARE
MEXICAN CUISINE Due to the economic and social uncertainty posed by the coronavirus, Casa Sol y Mar owner and operator Diane Powers announced a few months into the pandemic that it would be closing its doors after seven years of serving authentic Mexican cuisine to locals and tourists alike. Loved for its masterful take on Mexican classics, this restaurant garnered hundreds of Yelp raves not only for its cheery authentic decor, but also for its deliciously large nacho portions and tempting carne asada. And while this Casa is no longer at home in the Del Mar Highlands Town Center, Powers encouraged diners in her farewell announcement to venture out to her other three now-reopened Mexican restaurants: Casa Guadalajara in Old Town, Casa de Bandini in Carlsbad, and Casa de Pico in La Mesa. Should San Diego’s Mexican cuisine aficionados have an appetite for a dining experience a bit closer to Del Mar’s pristine beaches, they need not look any further than newly-opened Tamarindo Del Mar. Originally touching down in the North Park area in 2017, this establishment resettled in mid March of 2021 amongst the beachy boutiques and eateries of Del Mar Village. Tamarindo offers diners a Latin American inspired menu, of which Yelpers appreciate the reasonable prices and praise the seaside molcajete, Mexican elote spears, and carne asada and fish tacos. Though pictures and more information can be found on Tamarindo’s Instagram, interested foodies should know that this establishment is open from 11-11:30 AM (depending on the day) to 10 PM and currently offers dine-in by reservation as well as curbside pickup.
La Jolla’s authentic Italian deli-restaurant-cafè combo Sicilia Bella has faced temporary closure since the summer of 2020. Owned and operated by husband-wife team Sidne and Benedetto Marchese, this establishment draws inspiration from their homeland of Sicily, Italy. The couple expresses their Sicilian roots through a vast selection of pastas, paninis, and other authentic Italian entrees. Their menu draws hundreds of enthused Yelpers who gush over the dishes like the Gnocchi Gorgonzola & Noci, the Meatballs Spaghetti, and the Cannoli. While their website promises patrons of their return and their Yelp page estimates a September 1, 2021 reopening, those craving a taste of this eatery’s Italian delights need look no further than their Instagram. While awaiting the return of La Jolla’s Sicilia Bella, local Italian cuisine enthusiasts and culinarily adventurous tourists may find that Little Italy’s newly opened Allegro hits the spot. This eatery’s open kitchen design invites patrons to eat with their eyes first by viewing the chef’s culinary creations as they are assembled and notes on their website a desire to “provide a high end Italian experience chocked with a vibrancy that embodies high energy while meeting the needs of the individual who seeks to embellish a carefree dining experience in harmony with a lifestyle.” Yelpers rave about Allegro's menu and dishes such as a house-made fig jam alongside Zucchini Blossoms, a chef’s selection of pasta tossed in a cheese wheel, and a Fig Ravioli. After splashing into San Diego’s restaurant scene in February 2021, this family owned and operated establishment has settled into a 4-10 PM operation during the week and a 12-10 PM weekend offering. To explore more of Allegro’s offerings and operations, see their website, Instagram, and Yelp page.
BAKED GOODS AND DESSERT DELICACIES For some time now, the Champagne Bakery’s Del Mar Highlands location has discontinued its output of French desserts and baked goods. One of three San Diego County locations and one of seven total California-based eateries, this establishment’s Yelp reviews largely halt after September 2020 and its website lists the location as “temporarily closed.” This cafe derived much of its culinary inspiration from the Champagne province of Northeast France near Paris and provided extensive breakfast, brunch, and lunch offerings curated with the establishment's French roots in mind. While it remains unclear if or when the Del Mar Highlands Town Center location will reopen, those craving a touch of this eatery’s French fare can explore the Champagne Bakery’s Instagram or consider venturing to one of the
other locations. For desert devotees craving the flavors of authentic Taiwanese cuisine, Meet Fresh recently opened their second San Diego cafe in Kearny Mesa. This eatery was established in late February/early March 2021, and makes the traditional Taiwanese flavors and techniques of Meet Fresh’s internationally established franchise accessible to locals and tourists alike. Amongst other indulgences, the cafe’s menu offers Taro balls, grass jelly, milk teas with boba, and egg waffles. Yelpers rave of the Jasmine Green Milk Tea, the Ice Grass Jelly Signature, and the Icy Taro Ball Signature. The cafe is open daily from 10-12 PM, currently offers delivery and takeout for online orders, and gives a curated glimpse into its offerings on Instagram.
Rebecca Wei
The Talon
Vol. 1 No. 4
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Global News
China Boycotts Western Goods with Xinjiang Controversy
Nicole Pi
By Vivian Magahis, Staff Writer Many Western brands such as H&M and Nike are now facing backlash from Chinese citizens after expressing concerns over alleged forced cotton labor in Xinjiang, China. Some brands continue to express concerns while others remain united with Xinjiang cotton picking. Xinjiang produces about a fifth of the world’s cotton. However, there have been reports that Uyghurs, a Muslim minority group, are being forced to pick cotton. Last summer, many Western brands expressed their concerns over human rights and forced labor, leading some corporations to cut ties with Xinjiang cotton. Although China has claimed that these allegations are false, many brands continue to speak out on the issue. In September 2020, H&M announced that they were deeply concerned about the alleged forced labor and would no longer buy cotton from Xinjiang. Soon after, they received major backlash from the Chinese government. Xu Guixiang, a Xinjiang government spokesman, told BBC that he does not believe “a company should politicise its economic behavior.” Because China is one of H&M’s main sources of supply, Guixiang asked BBC, “Can H&M continue to make money in the Chinese market? Not anymore.” BBC reported that in H&M’s response, the brand made no explicit remarks towards cotton or Xinjiang, but they replied that they wanted to be “a responsible buyer, in China and elsewhere.” The response also included that they were “dedicated to regaining the trust and confidence of our customers, colleagues, and business partners in China.” After Nike and H&M announced their stances on Xinjiang’s cotton labor, Chinese citizens responded by boycotting them. After H&M’s statement was released, one Chinese citizen addressed them, posting on social media that “for you, China is still an important market. But for China, you are an unnecessary brand.” Others were frustrated that Western brands refused to support Xinjiang cotton, yet still wanted to continue selling their goods in China. BBC reposted a comment from Weibo, a popular blogging website in China, that claimed that “spreading rumours to boycott Xinjiang cotton, while also wanting to make money in China was ʻwishful thinking.’” Besides H&M, brands such as Nike, Burberry, Adidas, and Converse also faced backlash and boycotts from citizens in China. However, there are still many brands that have made statements supporting Xinjiang. Hugo Boss and Uniqlo have verbally supported their use of Xinjiang cotton, while other brands such as VF Corp. and Zara have removed their policies against forced labor. Fashion reporters Vannesa Friedman and Elizabeth Patton for the New York Times said that China is expected to be the largest in the luxury market by 2025 and that if businesses want to remain successful, it would be beneficial for their products to be sold in China. For these corporations, these decisions are based on their morals. Scott Nova, executive director of the Workers Rights Consortium, told the New York Times, “If they do the right thing, they face serious commercial risk in China.” On the other hand, “they know consumers globally will be repulsed by a brand that willfully abets forced labor. It is a profound moral test,” Nova said. Nicole Pi
Climate Crisis Affects the World By Anusri Thokachichu, Staff Writer For the past few years, Earth’s escalating climate crisis has devastated the natural landscape with environmental disasters and rising sea levels. The United Nations believes that these tragedies are occuring at an even faster rate than scientists have presumed. Countries around the world have been facing the consequences of this intensifying climate crisis. In Japan and Washington D.C., cherry blossom trees have begun blooming earlier. This occurrence is believed to be caused by an increase in temperatures, which is causing seasons to arrive earlier. GreenMatters, an organization dedicated to fighting the climate crisis, found that the “pollen season” when plants begin blooming has been occurring 20 days earlier than in 1990, and temperatures have been increasing by 1.1 degrees Celsius per century. This means that annual events such as the National Cherry Blossom Festival have been pushed forward in Washington D.C. Various countries have suffered from extreme weather conditions as well. In 2020, India and Bangladesh were hit by a damaging cyclone, while the Philippines experienced the most intense cyclone to reach land. Africa faced severe flooding, while the United States was scorched by some of the largest wildfires. In a 2020 UN climate report, it was determined that 80% of oceans had encountered at least one heat wave affecting marine life. In Australia, record-breaking heat waves led to agricultural difficulties and an increase in death rates from heat stroke. Currently, many of these countries are still working on improving their conditions, but poorer places are left more vulnerable than before. While some countries such as South Korea and the United States have promised to provide more funds to battle the climate crisis and reduce carbon emissions, other countries such as those in Africa are facing extreme weather, poverty, and now debts for money borrowed to recover from damage to their communities. Areas in rural Alaska are suffering from water shortages caused by thawing permafrost that is breaking water pipes. Land movement is also allowing salt water to pollute the freshwater that many indigenous Alaskans rely on, leaving civilians weak and suffering from psychological trauma. As people that not only rely on water for their physical well-being but also their culture, Alaskans have been forced to adapt to these life changing situations. As the world continues to struggle with the effects of the climate crisis everyday, people and communities are working together to share their stories and rebuild their lives.
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Del Norte High School
Global News
June 2021
Countries find Ways to Honor Lost Lives as Pandemic Death Tolls Rise By Anusri Thokachichu, Staff Writer
Kevin Do
Teenagers Across America Take a Stand Against AAPI Hate By Vivian Magahis, Staff Writer
Amid the recent attacks against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, May was the month to celebrate the AAPI community. Both in the streets of San Diego and Washington D.C., Asian Americans and their allies stood together to fight against Asian Hate. Teenagers across the country are also finding their own ways to speak out. At Torrey Highlands High School in San Diego, high school senior Emily Tianshi and her family told NBC 7 San Diego that they have open discussions about racism against Asians and lean into the difficult and uncomfortable topics that are discussed. Tianshi told NBC 7 San Diego that when Tianshi and her classmates went to downtown San Diego for a field trip, a man began verbally attacking them for their ethnicity. Tianshi described that the man “looked like a businessman; he’s obviously involved in society.” She explained her frustration that “people have the audacity to do that because they think they have more power over young Asian girls.” Tianshi and her family have since then organized an anti-hate demonstration in which over 900 people attended in three different locations. On social media, Tianshi said, “We see a lot of buzzwords, we see a lot of pretty infographics, but that’s not enough. We really need policy-wide structural change.” On May 20, President Biden signed the COVID-19 Hates Crime Act into law. It intends to make reporting hate crimes more accessible by developing public outreach and providing resources in multiple languages. The organization Stop AAPI Hate acknowledged the legislation on their website stopaapihate.org for putting the time into “community-centered solutions and provisions to mitigate anti-Asian rhetoric,” but they also believe that the “root causes of systemic racism and oppression” in the American government need to be addressed. More about their statement can be found at https://stopaapihate.org/statement-on-house-passage-of-the-covid-19-hate-crimes-act/. Just outside the White House, highschooler Karen Xu expressed her fears to WUSA9 after the shooting in Atlanta, Georgia, where six out of the eight victims were Asian women. “It’s so heartbreaking,” Xu told WUSA9. “I could envision my own parents, and like just being at a spa and hanging out and some guy just going and shooting. It was really, really personal to me.” Xu decided to take action and met with Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to come up with solutions on how to handle racism. Keam and Virginia's General Assembly thus formed the Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus. Their purpose is to develop and pass law enforcement policies that protect the AAPI community. If the law is passed, they aim for the Justice Department to review hate crimes more efficiently. “I just don’t want another small Asian girl and boy to feel and experience the things I did,” Xu told WUSA. “I hope that no one else has to go through that. The next generation deserves better.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic was announced last March, the U.S. has taken the spot for leading deaths. In March of 2021, 400,000 people died in the U.S. due to the virus and the number continues to rise. Countries across the world have faced similar casualties and found several ways to honor those that have lost their life due to this pandemic. In the U.S., many states have held different commemorations to honor those that have died from their state. For example, artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg personalized small white flags with names/messages and placed them in the Washington Armory. Firstenberg told PBS that this would help represent the large number of deaths and emphasize each individual person who lost their life due to Covid. Other flags memorials include the American flags the COVID Memorial Project planted on the National Mall and the orange, pink, red, and white flags that another artist Shane Reilly planted on his yard in Austin, Texas to commemorate all the Texans who died due to the pandemic. Washington state also took a musical approach by asking the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to perform Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings,” as a musical tribute to the lives lost during the pandemic. States like Detroit declared August 31st as “Detroit Memorial Day” and created a “drive-around” that allowed relatives of COVID-19 victims to place their pictures at Belle Isle State Park in Detroit. In other countries, such as England, cities like London are honoring COVID-19 losses by creating a memorial blossom garden in the capital’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This garden is made up of renewed materials and 33 newly planned blossoming trees and provides an opportunity to reflect on the pandemic’s effects. Architecture firm Gomez Platero also announced their plan to build what they named the “World Memorial to the Pandemic” memorial structure in Uruguay, located at the edge of an waterfront as another place for reflection. On the other hand, specific cemeteries such as Campo 87 Cimiterio Maggiore di Milano in Milan have been dedicated to COVID-19 victims. Websites and specific twitter, instagram, and facebook pages have been created to create a digital collection of the lives lost during the pandemic. Some events that have even been created outside the US include the Wail of Grief on April 4th in China during which sirens were blasted while everyone was asked to keep a moment of silence. Others in Germany have even started lighting red candles to commemorate those who have died due to the COVID-19 virus.
Nicole Pi
The Talon
Vol. 1 No. 4
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Rebecca Wei
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Del Norte High School
Opinions
The Tik-Tok Influence In September 2016, a Chinese company called “Byte-Dance” released a product called “Douyin,” or formally known as “Tik-Tok.” What was initially supposed to be a “China only app,” was released internationally the following year, and ever since the February of 2019, the social media app has blown up with over a billion worldwide download. The insane increase of popularity has consumed the common person's way of living, to the point where Tik-Tok now influences what someone does and says. People describe TikTok as a new-creative app that can serve as an outlet to fuel imagination; however, I really don’t think this app is a new concept. The apps Musical.ly and Vine were exactly the same thing, but Tik-Tok just contains more subcategories, which is appealing to more groups of people. For example, Vine was limited to just creating comedy content, and Musical.ly was limited to musical/lip-syncing content, but Tik-Tok on the other hand has those things, as well art content, reaction content, and other miscellaneous sub categories. Despite the app's structural unoriginality, I have to admit some of the content is really appealing, and quite relatable. However, one thing I did notice in general is actually how popular this app is. Big new outlets such as CNN, MSNBC, FOX, etc, have actually covered Tik-Tok in their news stories. Some of these news stories aren’t even anything “important” or worthwhile covering, and the fact that it is in the news itself is pretty concerning. For example, on Dec 2, 2020, CNN included a whole segment on the most viral Tik-Toks in 2020. Although it doesn’t necessarily seem harmless, CNN is a pretty huge news outlet for many people, really all over the country, and instead of the viewers watching teeny-bopping kids dance for twenty seconds, we could be learning more about COVID-19, how to stay safe, maintain well-being, and literally anything more important than this. Another piece to consider, when talking
about its popularity, is the Tik-Tok trends. Some trends, such as the “#SelfCareRountine” trend, aren’t promoting dangerous or risky behavior, but are actually promoting self-care and positive mental health. However, not all trends are positive and uplifting. The app has such a tight grip on viewers that a twelve-year-old boy named Joshua Haileyesus died on April 19, 2021, from participating in a TikTok challenge that involved him choking himself until he went unconscious (Insider 21). Surprisingly this isn’t the only case of children dying because of dangerous TikTok trends. Last year, a fifteen-year-old girl who lived in Oklahoma died by overdosing on Benadryl when partaking in the “Benadryl challenge.” The fact that it took someone to literally die for the trend to stop/lose its popularity is the scariest part of it all. Lastly, the main influential part of Tik-Tok are the influencers themselves. Influencers on Tik-Tok are typically tennagers or young adults who are already well-off financially and have gained popularity relatively fast (though there are exceptions). Some of these creators help inspire others. Like some content creators share their stories of mental health and help spread hope and happiness to those that need it. For example, Josh Kukula, a Tik-Tok influencer with over twenty-five million followers, helps spread kindness by feeding the homeless and encouraging others to do the same. Sadly, not all influencers are influencing the right thing. Many “top-tier” influencers have often been caught partying in the pandemic or meeting their friends without masks and posting about it. Personally, making mistakes is human nature; however, when someone is educated and has many followers who are young and impressionable, and then posting about something that isn’t objectively right, should that person really have such a big platform? My main takeaway with Tik-Tok is that it is an app that can help someone, but it also can be a weapon to hurt someone. There is no doubt that it
By Uma Sharma Staff Writer is in most peoples’ lives, but the fact it can cause people to hurt themselves for likes, or the fact that this app is so powerful that it is plaguing news channels, is quite eerie.
This is Not About Abortion Last week, the Del Norte Students for Life club posted a promotion for Club Rush. Their post was immediately swamped with comments, some of them incredibly hostile. Then someone started a petition on change.org calling for the removal of that club from Del Norte. Within about twelve hours of being posted, it had more than seven hundred signatures. To put it in other words: a club existed that advocated for ideas and policies that many other students disagreed with. Instead of expressing why they support different ideas and policies or taking action to advance said different ideas and policies, many students reacted with extremely aggressive comments and attempted to wipe the objectionable club off the map. This drama prompts two questions, one practical and the other a matter of principle. One, should DNSL or any similarly controversial club be allowed to exist as an ASB-sanctioned club? Two, if so, should students respect their peers’ rights to organize and advocate for their beliefs? Yes, to both. To forestall any objection to my thoughts based on political disagreement, I would like to explicitly state that this article is not about abortion. It’s about student freedom of expression and advocacy. My personal views on abortion are irrelevant, though I will say that I am not a member of Del Norte Students for Life and have absolutely no intention of becoming one. There’s no legitimate reason to say that DNSL isn’t allowed to be a club under current rules. The Equal Access Act, explained by the Anti-Defamation League in this article, “requires public secondary schools which meet certain criteria to treat all student-initiated groups equally, regardless of the religious, political, philosophical or other orientation of the groups.” Non-curriculum groups, like the jewelry-making club, mock trial
June 2021
club, etc., are all required to be treated the same. If the jewelry-making club is allowed to post promotions on Instagram for Club Rush, so is DNSL. According to the ADL, schools are only allowed to “prohibit clubs and organizations that are contrary to the educational mission of the school or present a danger to the health and safety of a school”—not clubs whose message the community disagrees with, even if they disagree passionately.
Rebecca Wei
Several students apparently believe that their problems with DNSL exceed mere ideological disagreement and have implied that the club presents an immediate threat to their rights and feelings of safety. I attempted to reach the individual who started the petition for comment, but as of this writing I still don’t know who it is. The entire text of the petition to ban DNSL from Del Norte reads: “Abor-
Rebecca Wei
By Isabelle Brady Staff Writer tion is a human right and a basic right. No person with a uterus should have the right to terminate their pregnancy taken away from them. This club supports taking away that right. They must be stopped. #Womensrights.” There is no mention of how DNSL poses an immediate concrete threat to the student body, merely the implication that their abstract ideological support of an issue is dangerous. Some of us have conflated supporting an idea that we find harmful with actively harming others. We’d be having quite a different conversation if we were talking about pro-life students kidnapping another student to prevent an abortion. But we aren’t talking about that. We’re talking about a club with a message that some students passionately disagree with, but that hasn’t actually done anything objectionable based on the criteria outlined in the EAA. According to the DNSL president, the club’s activities include bimonthly meetings, listening to presentations, and participating in events in the community related to their cause. None of these activities violates the rules laid out in the EAA. The logic behind those EAA rules rests on an appreciation for the importance of freedom of opinion, an appreciation that some of us lack. I am reminded of a piece entitled “The Indispensable Opposition,” written in 1939 while the world was falling apart. In it, Walter Lippmann tried to remind his audience of how important freedom of opinion is because he noticed that their reasons for supporting it were hazy and fallible. They were failing to recognize its practical and invaluable benefits, rendering them vulnerable to becoming apathetic towards others’ freedom of opinion. But I must note a key difference between Lippmann’s audience and my own. Lippmann lived in a world in which freedom of opinion was apparently jeopardized for lack of awareness of how important it is. We live in a world
The Talon
Vol. 1 No. 4
in which, as is the case with the student petition, some people openly suppress opinions in the name of justice. Because of an inability to distinguish opinion from action, the abstract from the concrete, they mistake contradictory ideas for bullets fired in their direction. We seem to have already forgotten exactly why freedom of opinion and the skills that complement it—the ability to truly listen to others’ beliefs and to articulate your own—are indispensable to any society. Slight spoiler for Lippmann’s article: parallel to the importance of freedom of opinion is the necessity of interacting with different opinions. I’d be remiss if I failed to address that some people find not only the DNSL but all clubs dealing with political or otherwise controversial issues inappropriate for school. Some suggested that our learning environment should be free of any potentially offensive ideas and that we must focus on “unbiased education.” Such a suggestion is wildly unfeasible, since it amounts to a flagrant violation of EAA rules. But there is more than a practical reason that schools shouldn’t stifle exploring and advocating for ideas that make some people uncomfortable on campus. School, especially high school, should not be an extension of the sheltered bubble in which so many of us grew up. We have to learn at some point how to participate in serious discussion and advocate for what we believe in, don’t we? Why not now, when we’re still learning everything else? Why wait? Why not check those critical thinking skills that we were supposed to have acquired? Are we to insulate ourselves from conflict for the rest of our lives? Shall we censor our curriculum to remove any and all ideas that “make people uncomfortable?” High school should be a safe place to begin testing the waters of new ideas, to push our ideological boundaries and broaden our intellectual horizons under the loose supervision of teachers who can ask us questions to steer us from fallacy and curb our nastier impulses. Can anyone honestly imagine that a face-to-face conversation in a classroom would have reached the same level of hostility (and unproductivity) as those Instagram comments? Can anyone imagine how much worse it
Opinions might have been if students expressing extreme disagreement had only the proprietors of the group advocating those ideas to express that disagreement to, instead of the school administration? Where would we have ended up if there was no one to pull the brakes on this runaway train, no authority figure to remind us of how important it is to respect other people’s opinions? Speaking of, I recognize that there is something of a paradox inherent in respecting other people’s opinions. If opinions counter to yours aren’t “wrong,” then how can yours be right? How can you justify believing what you believe? But this binary perspective ignores the complexity behind people’s opinions and ideologies. Supporting legal abortion or not isn’t choosing between respecting women’s autonomy and taking it away. Nor is it a choice between protecting or not protecting fetuses. There is a vast array of factors and hierarchies of priorities underlying each individual’s choice to support or oppose legal abortion and make decisions on countless other complex issues. If you were to adopt the premises and values of someone who disagreed with you, chances are your logic would lead you to a different conclusion than what you already believe in. In essence, respecting other people’s opinions is respecting that they have their own perspectives shaped by their own unique backgrounds and experiences. It’s respecting their right to be different. Difference, of course, leads to tension. But we transcend our differences. The mere fact of being human makes us all more similar than different. Only in remembering each other’s humanity can we effectively cope with that tension, not in absolving ourselves of our responsibility to manage it by burying those unlike us so deep below ground that they never see daylight. Not only is that impossible, it’s also cowardly and despotic. In the gladiatorial arena of public and political discourse, you cannot shoot your opponents in the back and drag them out of the ring. You cannot lock them in the dungeons or feed them to the lions and pretend that they don’t exist. You have to face them head on. If your argument is the stronger one, it should win. If not, fear not—for good or bad, there is no cap on how many times you can fight for your
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point. And fight you must—but not literally, of course. If you want to advance your ideas, argue logically and with principle. Spewing vitriol doesn’t win debates. I can call people stupid a thousand times over, but until I actually explain why I disagree with them, they’ll have no motivation to reconsider how they think or respect my thoughts. There are infinitely more effective (and less destructive) alternatives to insulting or erasing those with whom you disagree. To the pro-choice students out there who feel passionately about this issue: you could organize a pro-choice club to counter the pro-life club. (Perhaps it could escort women into Planned Parenthood, past anti-abortion activists on the sidewalk.) You could ask for a debate—though, if the Instagram comments on that post were any indication, this is too charged an issue to debate coherently. You could even write an opinion for a student publication like the Talon. There are several options for facing your opponent head-on instead of cursing at them, silencing them, and trying to lock their ideas away in a cold, dark corner of public discourse where you won’t have to see them. Because let us not forget, ideas don’t disappear just because someone finds them offensive. All of that being said, people on both sides of abortion and other serious issues have to recognize that their opinions are more than just words. They’re beliefs and intentions that, when you articulate them, ripple far beyond your tiny, insulated corner of the world’s pond. When we talk about grave matters, some people forget that such matters are more than intangible ideological debates. They’re people’s lives. Your words could help someone, or scar them for life. When you crusade around acting like you are “right,” momentarily inserting yourself and your judgement into other people’s lives, “the other side” doesn’t suffer for it. It’s the people whose lives you’ve intruded upon who bear the potentially lifelong burden of your opinion. You have the incredible gift that is the right to freedom of opinion. Don’t forget the momentous responsibility that accompanies it.
As the world reopens, how Sustainable Seafood: Reality or Myth? cautious should we be? By Surya Ambatipudi Staff Writer
By Adrita Chakraborty Staff Writer
March 13, 2020.The day our lives changed forever. The beginning of quarantine was a hopeless time for most of us. We had to quickly adapt to the struggles of boredom, online learning, and isolation. For over a year now, we have developed our own coping mechanisms for what felt like the end of the world. But recently, hope has resurfaced as the COVID-19 vaccinations are being distributed throughout the world at an immense rate. But does mass vaccination mean we should automatically return to our pre-quarantine lives? Our original lives can never be picked up from where they left off. We will never be able to fully enjoy the activities we used to with the constant threat of viruses spreading and neither will we be
able to socialize as easily as before. However, there is also the question of whether we should even try to return to our old lives. Should we really be using all of our spit to blow out candles on a cake shared by 50 people? Should we really be huddled in massive groups when we know we could be sick with a highly contagious disease? Should we really be sharing hot cheetos with our friends and random classmates? Though there is newfound hope for our society, we should reopen our communities slowly in order to prioritize the safety of ourselves and our neighbors. The vaccinations are a great first step but we must continue to wear masks and abide by social distancing rules to prevent unnecessary exposure to COVID-19. We must continue to take the consequences of spreading the virus seriously in order to prevent another pandemic. If you don’t want to relive this nightmare, then open your eyes. Take this virus seriously even after you’re vaccinated, or we may have another pandemic on our Iris Ding hands.
Whether it’s grilled salmon, simple sushi, or a casual packet of seaweed, seafood is an important part of many people’s diets. For many, eating seafood provides a source of essential nutrients and proteins. In fact, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment states that eating fish can provide one with healthy omega-3 fatty acids that lower risks of heart disease and halt plaque growth. Seafood is also a cultural part of many individuals’ lives worldwide, such as in places like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and West Africa, where fish is a staple food. With environmental changes and dwindling resources, people are looking to sustainable seafood as a new solution. Sustainable seafood refers to sea life that is caught for consumption, either wild-caught or farmed, in a manner that will not decrease the biodiversity of the species as a whole. Processes that attempt sustainability, including aquaculture practices as stated by the NOAA, aim to prevent “over-fishing and destruction of wild habitats.” Over the years, different regulations have been put on fisheries in order to ensure sustainability. Recently, however, critics such as those involved with the Netflix film Seaspiracy have questioned the ethics of sustainability itself. Ultimately, the question is can seafood really be made sustainable? Or is every catch slowly decreasing wild biodiversity? Will we, as human beings, have to shift to plant-based diets in the future? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration claims that seafood available for public consumption is indeed sustainable in the United States. It states that ten different national standards ensure that fisheries adhere to guidelines that
promote the safety of sea life populations. The NOAA also suggests that national management plans ensure that overfishing does not occur during wild-catch and aquaculture practices. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch organization also claims that seafood really is sustainable, and that timely assessments are placed upon wild-catch fisheries to ensure this said sustainability. The assessment grades the fishery on a scale of “Best Choice, Good Alternative, and Avoid”. In order to reach the legal “Best Choice” tier, a fishery must minimize bycatch, maintain the trophic (ecological) role of the species being caught, and secure the health of the fish. Though these organizations assure the general public that fisheries are maintaining regulations, critics still believe that it is impossible for seafood to be inherently sustainable. Dr. Dana Ellis Hunnes, Ph.D., through Huffpost, states that “eating these fish is like eating a rhinoceros, an elephant, an orangutan, or a cheetah.” She claims that larger fish such as tuna and swordfish have been caught at ages that are too young to reproduce, implying that as each one is caught, the biodiversity of their habitat decreases. Others agree with Hunnes. Larger organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund state that overfishing is a result of attempted sustainability, and it decreases genetic diversity and reproductive success of aquatic species globally. The debate over sustainable seafood is one that has evidence on both sides. Some claim that fisheries are legally regulated, while others claim that these regulations are faulty. In the end, as environmental conditions change, ocean life numbers also change. Regulating the amount of fish one eats and clarifying that its source is ethical are both key elements in Kevin Do keeping our planet healthy.
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Del Norte High School
Entertainment
June 2021
93rd Acade
The Best Picture Nominees By Jason Marcaida, Staff Writer Number 8: Promising Young Woman CW: Rape/Sexual Assault
Promising Young Woman is the directorial debut for actor Emerald Fennell, who also wrote the film. The film covers Cassie Thomas, a woman who takes revenge on predatory men after a traumatic experience. The film is nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. It is very difficult to articulate why I dislike this film, and that is for a variety of reasons. My grievances with this film go down to how its narrative is handled, as well as how it handles its themes. It is near impossible to be specific about these grievances with these two things without spoiling the film, so I will not attempt to. It is also difficult to criticize this film so intensely without feeling as though it looks like I am dismissing films that cover topics such as rape culture, sexual assault, and patriarchy. I want films to cover these topics. I am glad films with these themes are being made. That does not mean I think all films covering these themes are automatically good by virtue of their exploration of these themes. This film is irresponsible in its exploration of these themes, and it is difficult to look beyond this fact when talking about a film that is intended to confront its viewers with its themes. Beyond its poor exploration of its themes, the film itself is fine. I would be lying if I said there weren't commendable aspects of this movie. The film itself isn’t completely generic in presentation, which makes the experience more special. I wish this film was so much better, as it is a theme I want to be explored in more films. I just wish it was executed better.
Number 7: The Trial of the Chicago 7
The Trial of the Chicago 7 is Aaron Sorkin’s latest film and second directorial work. The film covers the 1969 trial against seven antiwar protestors charged with counts of conspiracy and crossing state lines with intent to start a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The film is nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Song, and Best Film Editing. Though I don’t feel as though this is the worst film of the nominees, I feel as though this is the least deserving film of the nominees. All of the other nominees feel as though they explore something genuine, whereas Trial feels like it wants to capture something for its timeliness rather than its content. This film screams cultural revolution until the very last moments where it finds itself conceding to the system it sets up the entire film opposing. The emotions of the film feel incredibly artificial, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but when executed in the way this film is, the artificiality behind this film becomes hard to ignore. Sorkin shines as a clever screenwriter, packing his interesting story structures and punchy dialogue, but matches it with an incredibly sloppy direction that does not do the story justice. This film exists on a very weird plane of not being the best in a lot of areas. This isn’t the best film of 2020 about the effect the Vietnam War has had on oppressed members of American society, that would be Da 5 Bloods. This isn’t the best courtroom drama of 2020, that would be Mangrove. This isn’t even the best film nominated for Best Picture that features Fred Hampton as a character, that would be Judas and the Black Messiah. Overall, Trial stands as one of the least exciting picks in this year’s nominee list.
Number 6: Mank
Mank is David Fincher’s first film in 6 years. The film follows screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he develops the screenplay for Citizen Kane. Mank is this year’s most-nominated film, competing for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. This film is a stylistic and narrative shift away from Fincher’s typical crime drama affair. The film is based on a screenplay Fincher’s father wrote in the ’90s. The film is a passion project of Fincher’s, and it is clear that a lot of care was taken in the production of this film. The technical aspects of the film are incredibly impressive, with much attention paid to feeling like a film from the era it is depicting, suiting the subject matter of the film even more. The performances from Gary Oldman and especially Amanda Seyfried are great. The film is well made from a technical standpoint, however, the film is not that will emotionally entice audiences beyond one viewing of the film. The structure of the film is more interesting than a typical biopic of this type of subject matter, but it does not create a more lasting impression for it, which is a shame considering how monumental its subject matter is to the art form of cinema. It is a worthwhile watch, but not one that is entirely necessary or impressionable.
Number 5: Nomadland
Nomadland is Chloe Zhao’s third feature film and the winner of the 2020 Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion Prize. The film follows a woman who decides to navigate America as a nomad after the death of her husband, the closing of her town, and the economic recession. The film is nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing. This film has been this year’s awards darling, racking countless awards from critics circles and other ceremonies. Though this film did not register with me the same way it did for a lot of people, I still believe this film is very well made and very worthwhile. Nomadland is an ambitious film. The film mixes elements of fictional drama and documentary filmmaking so seamlessly that the result feels grounded in reality more so than many other films that try to achieve the same goal. There is a real weight to this film, a depth to it that is added because of its blending of drama and documentary. Throughout the film, real nomads are featured, who tell their real stories about who they are and why they decided to live the life they do. These moments are the most interesting part of the film, far more than the meandering fictional story. To be honest, if this film was a documentary following the nomads of America rather than a film about a fictional nomad that interacts with real nomads, it would be far stronger. The fictional story meanders at many points, and it takes away from the atmosphere of the nomads. Overall, this film is flawed, but still worth a watch, and definitely deserving of the awards it may (and probably will) win.
The Talon
Vol. 1 No. 4
Del Norte High School
June 2021
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emy Awards
From WORST to BEST Illustrations by Nicole Pi
Number 4: Judas and the Black Messiah Judas and the Black Messiah is the second feature film by director Shaka King. The film follows the betrayal of Chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party Fred Hampton by FBI informant William O’Neal. The film is nominated for Best Picture, 2 Best Supporting Actor awards (Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield), Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Song. It is also the only film nominated in this year's ceremony to come out in 2021. Judas and the Black Messiah is a solid, entertaining, biopic. The performances across the board are stellar, with Kaluuya being the clearest highlight, giving one of the best performances of the nominees as the invigorated revolutionary Fred Hampton. The filmmaking on display is skilled, the story is consistently intriguing and revelatory, the technical aspects are well cared for. This film provides a new perspective of the Black Panthers in American cinema that we don’t get enough of in the mainstream and it does so in a way that doesn’t alienate. The film, like Hampton himself, invites the audience to see eye to eye, regardless of differences in race, to achieve a common goal of the greater good. It is somewhat disappointing that the film doesn’t go in-depth about the politics of the Panthers. It plays less like a political film and more like a drama with simpler storytelling elements, ala The Departed. However, this doesn’t take away from the film being a great film with excellent performances and an entertaining plot.
Number 7: Sound of Metal
Sound of Metal is the second feature film by director Darius Marder. The film follows metal drummer Ruben Stone as he begins to lose his hearing. The film is nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound. Though this film may follow the typical structure of a person experiencing immense transitions in life, the film differs from others of similar stories by its presentation and how it handles the subject. The film so cleverly presents the experience of being deaf to really make the audience understand the pain and difficulty of losing a crucial aspect of your life from his perspective. The sound design in this film is excellent and needs to be experienced with the best audio system available. The performances are very raw and realistic, with Riz Ahmed and Paul Raci giving two powerhouse performances as a man transitioning into a life that cannot include his previous sources of joy, and a man who found peace in his deafness respectively. Sound of Metal is a film that will leave a lasting impression, especially with its haunting ending.
Number 2: The Father
The Father is an adaptation of Florian Zeller’s play of the same name. Zeller handles this adaptation. The Father follows an elderly man who begins to lose his memory. The film is nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Production Design If one were to simply consume the advertising material for this film, one might reasonably guess that this film is another Oscar-bait drama about an old person. However, this film is far more than that. This film, much like Sound of Metal, depicts a loss of the main character’s senses from the perspective of that character instead of from the outside looking in. The Father puts the audience in the shoes of someone with dementia and shows how distressing the disease can be. Anthony Hopkins gives what is one of the greatest performances of the year, with intense dramatic range throughout the film. The editing behind this film is near genius in its ability to disorient and confuse the viewer, further driving home the experience of dementia, so much so that it genuinely becomes difficult to see this narrative working as a theatrical production, which is where it originally comes from. This film is heartbreaking. It aims to be a downer. And it succeeds with flying colors.
Number 1: Minari
Minari is the fifth film by director Lee Isaac Chung. Heavily based on Chung’s childhood, Minari follows a family of South Korean immigrants as they settle onto an Arkansas farm during the 1980s. The film is nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Score. This is an incredibly personal pick for me. Again, this entire list is a personal ranking. This film is my pick for not only the best film out of these eight but my favorite film of 2020. This film is one of intense empathy. There has not been a film that has made me cry more. Minari shatters your heart and proceeds to put it back together stronger than ever. The film is incredibly emotional, each scene carrying indescribable emotional weight. The story is set up in a way where the audience wants nothing more than for the characters to be ok. The audience wants nothing more than the story to work out for the characters, in spite of the challenging journey that lies ahead of them. Minari also puts to screens the experience of the Asian American family, specifically that of the Asian immigrant family. This film is so successful in nailing its representation of being Asian in America, that it is not unreasonable to say that it is the defining Asian American film. Minari is a beautiful, powerful film that must be on everyone's radar, especially those who are Asian American.
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Del Norte High School
COLOPHON The Talon, Volume 01, Issue 04 Del Norte High School’s Newspaper and Student-forum. Published on June 13, 2021. Del Norte High School, 16601 Nighthawk Lane San Diego, CA 92127 Phone: (858) 487-0877 Fax: (858) 487-2443 https://www.powayusd.com/en-US/Schools/HS/DNHS/Home https://www.dntalon.com/ dnthetalon@gmail.com School Population 2,168 students 192 full-time staff Font Families NYT Cheltenham (titles/body text) NYT Imperial (image credits/pull quotes) Misc. fonts (titles/pull quotes)
June 2021
WORKS CITED Computer Hardware and Software Windows 10 Adobe Illustrator Adobe Photoshop Autodesk Sketchup ProCreate The positions expressed in any of the articles are solely those of the individual writer(s). They do not represent the viewpoints of The Talon, nor those of Del Norte High School or the Poway Unified School District. Mission Statement The Talon is a student-run forum dedicated to providing relevant information to the Del Norte community through ethical, truthful, and professional journalism. Scholastic Affliations The Talon is a proud member of the National Scholastic Press Association.
CONTRIBUTORS Staff Contributors Jeffrey Sheng (ʻ22) - Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Wei (ʻ22) - Editor-in-Chief Russell Kang (ʻ22) - Editor-in-Chief Rachel Wei (ʻ22) - Features Editor Alex Zakoor (ʻ22) - Local News Editor Shannon Zhu (ʻ22) - Global News Editor Nicole Pi (ʻ23) - Entertainment Editor Carolyn Espinosa (ʻ22) - Sports Editor Esther Jin (ʻ21) - Photography Editor Adian Rosen (ʻ22) - Web Editor
Logo by Nicole Pi (ʻ23) Talon Icon by Rebecca Wei (ʻ22)
“Accepting Asian Americans” Monica Garske, Scott Baird. “'America Is My Home': How an Asian American Family, With Kids, Talks About Hate And Takes Action.” NBC 7 San Diego, NBC San Diego, 25 May 2021, w w w. n b c s a n d i e g o . c o m / n e w s / l o c a l / a m e r i ca-is-my-home-how-an-asian-american -family-with-kids-talks-about-hate-andtakes-action/2609177/. Sprunt, Barbara. “Here's What The New Hate Crimes Law Aims To Do As Attacks On Asian Americans Rise.” NPR, NPR, 20 May 2021, w w w.npr.org/2021/05/20/998599775/bi den-to-sign-the-covid-19-hate-crimes-bi ll-as-anti-asian-american-attacks-rise. Yu, Author: Annie. “'The next Generation Deserves Better': The Younger Generation Is Working to Combat Anti-Asian Hate.” wusa9.Com, 14 May 2021, www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/as i a n - y o u t h - a r e - c a l ling-for-an-end-to-hate-and-violence/6 5-439de3fa-9c71-4beb-99c9-f337eb8d 8b8d. “Countries find Ways to Honor Lost Lives as Pandemic Death Tolls Rise” Avramova, Nina. “As London Honors Covid-19 Victims and Key Workers with a Blossom Garden, Experts Consider the Power of Memorials.” CNN, Cable News Network, 25 May 2021, www.cnn.com/style/article/blossom-memorial-covid-london/index.html. Baldwin, Eric. “World's First Large-Scale COVID Memorial Designed for Victims of the Pandemic.” ArchDaily, ArchDaily, 19 Aug. 2020, w w w . a r c h d a i ly.com/945873/worlds-first-large-scale - c o v i d - m e m o rial-designed-for-victims-of-the-pande mic. Barajas, Joshua. “How Communities across the Country Are Honoring
COVID Victims.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 19 Jan. 2021, w w w . p b s . o r g / n e w s hour/arts/how-communit i e s - a c r o ss - t h e - c o u n try-are-honoring-covid-victims. Schmitt, Edwin, and Laia Colomer. “Covid-19 Memorials: How People around the World Are Remembering Those Who Have Died.” Sciencenorway, 16 Jan. 2021, sciencenorway.no/covid19-history-researchers-zone/c o v i d - 1 9 - m e morials-how-people-around-the-worldare-remembering-those-who-have-died /1798348. “How 2021 AP Exams Are Conducted” “AP Exam Registration.” Poway Unified - Counseling DNHS, www.powayusd.com/en-US/Schools/HS/DNH S / C o u n s e l i n g / A P- E x a m - R e gistration. “Korean Students’ Association’s Efforts for Anti-Racism” Hauser, Christine. “Asian-Americans Were Targeted in Nearly 3,800 Hate Incidents in the Past Year.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 Mar. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/03/17/us/hate-crimes -against-asian-americans-community.html. “The History of America's Anti-Asian Hate.” Open Society Foundations, www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voice s / a - h i s t o r y - o f - a n ti-asian-hate-in-the-united-states. Richard Fausset, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs and Marie Fazio. “8 Dead in Atlanta Spa Shootings, With Fears of Anti-Asian Bias.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26 Mar. 2021, w w w . n y times.com/live/2021/03/17/us/shooti n g - a t l a n ta-acworth?action=click&pgtype=Artic le&module=&state=default®ion=head er&context=breakout_link_back_to_br iefing.
Advisor Ms. Melissa Darcey Writers Adrita Chakraborty (ʻ23) Amanda Phillip (ʻ22) Anusri Thokachichu (ʻ22) Ellie Lee (ʻ24) Emma Sandrew (ʻ22) Eva Crickard (ʻ23) Ida Mobini (ʻ22) Isabelle Brady (ʻ21) Jason Marcaida (ʻ21) Lily Wu (ʻ24) Meghna Mohan (ʻ23) Mia Magdarog (ʻ22) Risa Iwazaki (ʻ22) Surya Ambatipudi (ʻ23) Uma Sharma (ʻ24) Vivian Magahis (ʻ22) Graphic Designers Nicole Pi (ʻ23) Iris Ding (ʻ22) Kevin Do (ʻ22) Rebecca Wei (ʻ22) Rebecca Wei