Falconer October 2019 Issue

Vol. 45, Issue 2, 24 pages

Friday, October 25, 2019

y .

NEWS . . . A2 OPINION . . . A6 FEATURE . . . A11 ENTERTAINMENT . . . A16 SPORTS . . . A20

*This is the continuation of a story in the September issue of the Falconer.

district could make sure there weren’t any additional threats,” according to Douglas.

Currently, district administrators are discussing how to implement preventative measures.

servers and software are updated so that there will be more virus protections in place.

“There’s a reason why people ask you to update software; some of the protections weren’t there because the [servers] were so old,” Douglas said.

Additionally, the day after the attack hit, the district had scheduled a demo of a new firewall, which will “help monitor the incoming and outgoing traffic” and increase protection against future malwares.

Based on the demo, the district was going to decide if they liked the

firewall or not, and after the attack, they decided it was necessary.

“A firewall helps with identifying when something could potentially be wrong,” Douglas said. “And that’s the piece that we are in the process of purchasing.”

SDUHSD is continuing to investigate and implement preventive measures after the ransomware attack that occurred on Sept. 9 encrypted files and servers throughout the district.

Though the encrypted files are no longer accessible, according to Associate Superintendent of Business Services Tina Douglas, the district never received a request for money to unencrypt them, and the attack was labeled as “malware” instead of “ransomware.”

Malware is anything that is harmful to computers like worms and viruses, while ransomware is a subset and more advanced form that encrypts computer systems and extorts money.

Thanks to the IT department’s quick restoration of files from backups, for the most part, “everything was up and running by [the] Monday” after the attack, and the impact was minimal.

“There were only a few older servers that had files we could not get back from backups,” Douglas said. “Because it happened before school started, I would venture to say that you guys, as students, probably did not feel much either.”

Douglas said the biggest problem presented by the attack was likely for students and parents who wanted to log on to the Aeries portal to see class schedules.

The portal was temporarily shut down out of an “abundance of caution so that the

“We have been working with an outside entity to narrow down where the incident took place and what computer was compromised,” Douglas said.

New precautions include implementing a password policy that would require people to use special photo by ariana huang/falconer characters and renew their passwords more frequently, as well as SERVERS DOWN: The source of the ransomware attack on Sept. 9 that encrypted files and servers across making sure that older SDUHSD, making them inaccessible, is currently being investigated, and new precautions are being set.

Author and widely published professor of psychology at San Diego State University Jean M. Twenge spoke on her research about generational shifts, specifically a term she coined, iGen, on Oct. 14 in the TPHS Performing Arts Center, .

Twenge first mentioned iGen in her book, Generation Me, and claimed that “a generational label needs to capture something about the generation’s experience, and … the Internet and smartphones have defined many of their experiences thus far.” iGen is classified as people born after 1995 and is the first generation to spend

their entire childhood with technological influences.

Twenge was introduced to the study of generational shifts when she began working on her undergraduate senior honors thesis about gender roles.

From nationally representative survey data comparing generations with 11 million people, Twenge “realized that in a 20-year period (1970-90s) there has been a big generational shift (the difference between past and current teenage responses to the surveys), especially for women. That kind of got me interested in that idea.”

Both parents and students came to the event to listen to Twenge’s talk. Suzy Peterson, a TPHS parent, came to learn “how [to] make things work more smoothly

We have been working with an outside entity to narrow down where the incident took place and what computer was compromised.

Tina Douglas

ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF BUSINESS SERVICES

with their technology use and happiness.”

Twenge discussed the trends and generational shifts she found through her analysis of nationally representative surveys, starting with the speed of development of children.

Children growing up between 1995 and 2012 are more protected because parents spend more time nurturing each child.

As a result, there are limits on children’s independence, which result in a higher dependence on their parents.

Twenge’s analysis shows that over the generations, the number of teenagers in high school who have done typical “adult” activities like drinking alcohol, dating and having sex has dropped.

While this is great for safety, without

Technology is great, but we shouldn’t let it take over our lives.

Jean M. Twenge

PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY

photo by lesley moon/falconer

TECHNICAL ISSUES: Jean M. Twenge presents her research on the effects of technology on students’ daily lives and the term “iGen” at the Torrey Pines Performing Arts Center.

these experiences, the jump from high school to college may be a tough adjustment because it becomes difficult to make decisions without the advice of parents.

The second trend Twenge mentioned was a decline in mental health. Twenge’s analysis of four nationally representative surveys of 11 million teens since the 1960s show that in 2011, more students said they were feeling useless and did not enjoy life.

In the years after 2011, there was a 65 percent increase in depression, and double the amount of suicide and self-harm.

Time spent online doubled and social media use went from optional to almost mandatory. In fact, current surveys show that 90 percent of teenage girls use social media sites every day.

Twenge’s analysis shows that in past generations, the majority of teenagers were partying often, hanging out with friends daily and getting the recommended eight to 10 hours of sleep.

But as 2011 approached, there was

a decline in these activities, and in 2019, Twenge’s analysis of nationally representative surveys show that only one in four teenagers do these things.

Also, reading in any form is an activity that has gone from 60 to 15 percent.

All of this data can seem overwhelming and uncontrollable, yet Twenge assured the audience that increasing sleep, exercise and spending time with friends can all make teenagers more happy.

Though the introduction of smartphones seems to be the main reason for this increase in depression, it isn’t scientifically proven. However, Twenge says it is the most plausible explanation because the increase of technology correlates with the increase in depression.

Twenge wrapped up her talk by suggesting ways parents can help their children break their addiction to cell phones.

Twenge said that the blue light that radiates off of cell phone screens stimulates the brain, so it is not a good idea to use these devices close to bedtime. “[I] hope that everybody will go buy an alarm clock ... put their devices outside their bedrooms and get a really good night’s sleep,” Twenge said.

She advised that there should be no phones in the bedroom, and they should be powered down an hour before bedtime.

Twenge noted that teenagers can watch T.V. before bed because it is farther from their faces. Additionally, they could wear orange safety glasses to protect themselves from the blue light.

Some students think these device regulations are too harsh.

“Already we’re not allowed to have phones in our rooms at my house, and I go to bed by 10 p.m. at the latest,” Grace Daniels (11) said.

But Twenge told parents that it was not about completely revoking screen time privileges, but to manage light use and treat the devices as tools.

Some students at TPHS are even setting their own device restrictions.

“I’m trying to limit my screen time because I think it is not good for me or good for anyone,” Naomi Ryder (12) said.

For more information about Jean Twenge, visit her website: www.jeantwenge. com/.

Popular Del Mar music festival, KAABOO Del Mar, announced on Sept. 15 that the festival will switch venues from the Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds to Petco Park for next year’s festival.

At its previous location at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, KAABOO attracted many San Diegans with its extensive music, comedy lineup, culinary attractions and more.

The decision to move was in response to KAABOO’s rapid popularity and growth over the past couple of years. The move also benefits Petco Park’s reputation as it expands into more metropolitan business ventures rather than just as a Major League Baseball stadium.

“The location of Petco Park and its surrounding venues in downtown San Diego provides fans and artists alike the opportunity to enjoy everything that the vibrant metro area has to offer,” said Jason Felts, Managing Partner of KAABOO, in a Padres Press release published on Sept.

15. “We couldn’t be more ecstatic about this partnership and our relocation.”

KAABOO has been popular among

Despite Uber policy prohibiting unaccompanied minors from having Uber accounts and requesting rides, many TPHS students, parents and Uber drivers ignore this rule in the name of convenience.

Uber policy says a rider must be at least 18 years old. Though it is difficult to enforce, Uber advises drivers to decline requests if they believe the potential rider

students because of its lineups, festival fashion and endless Instagram opportunities.

“I had tons of fun, I got a big group of friends together and we all went and saw a bunch of different concerts,” Brooklynn Munce (10), a first-time KAABOO attendee,

I don’t like [the relocation] because the fairgrounds were right down the street from my house.

Brigette Hobbs SOPHOMORE

said.

However, TPHS students who believe the current location is more accessible do not share the excitement.

is underage. But a former Uber driver, Brendon Garrett, was never informed of any policy while working for Uber.

“They never explained it to me during my training,” Garrett said. “They didn’t really care about if we knew or followed the policies.”

Garrett saidUber did not have strict requirements for becoming a driver.

“Anyone with a driver’s license, a registered car and a clean criminal

photo by anna jeong/falconer

AN ILLEGAL RIDE: Despite Uber’s minor policy, Torrey Pines students frequently use Uber services to be dropped off and picked up, even at school.

TPHS visual and performing arts teacher, Marinee Payne, was recently awarded Teacher of the Year by the California Educational Theater Association, or CETA. Payne has been a significant advocate for the TPHS drama department and has dedicated most of her career to helping students embrace the arts and find their inner artist. She pushed for the new Performing Arts Center, which opened in early May. “I really believe that theater is, in lack of better terminology, the perfect art form because it’s the one place in which one human being can share with another human being what is means to be human,” said Payne. “And I feel that theater offers us such a wealth of not only literary information, but also social skills and insights into who we are as people.”

Only one teacher in California receives this award, which was humbling for Payne.

It also brought more attention to the theater program at TPHS. With an award-

winning supervisor and a new performing arts center, Payne is more excited than ever for what comes next.

“Well, I cried [when receiving the award] actually because I have been with CETA for 25 years,” Payne said. “For them to honor me with this made me very grateful about the fact that I was recognized and that someone values what we do as theater educators.”

After teaching many students over the past 28 years, Payne is loved by many present and past students.

“She is one of the hardest working staff members on the entire campus at Torrey Pines. She designs so many costumes, makes most of the sets, and cuts all of the wood herself.” said Cole Parker (12). “She is so much to the theater program at our school that without her, none of the plays would be able to work or function.”

Students comment on what an enthusiastic teacher she is, and how she continues to show them the joy of theater and the arts.

“Marinee is like a mother figure to everyone in the theater. She’s so kind and

“I don’t like [KAABOO’s relocation] because the fairgrounds were right down the street from my house, so it was easy to get there. And now it’s kind of far,” Brigette Hobbs (10) said.

The distance may result in lower attendance of the TPHS student body, especially if the lineup is unappealing.

“I would probably only want to go if I loved the lineup; this year I didn’t really like the lineup, so I would just go at those times but it’s a bigger commitment to go all the way to Petco Park instead of just Del Mar,” Munce said.

The 2019 lineup caused an uproar among festival-goers as it had not lived up to the expectations that previous years had upheld. Nonetheless, the festival was still highly attended and fun.

“We bought the three-day Hang Five passes and it was fun,” Hobbs said.

KAABOO provides various levels of tickets ranging from one-day passes to Ultimate Hang passes, which allow attendees access to seating and lounge areas.

This will not be the first year KAABOO has been held at a MLB stadium. Last May, KAABOO Texas debuted at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The Texas festival

did not do as well as the annual Del Mar festival and will not continue. KAABOO San Diego will not have the same fate for 2020, at least.

“As the KAABOO brand and our live event properties continue to grow and evolve, it’s imperative that we continue to deliver an unparalleled experience for our guests by holding KAABOO in a worldclass venue with exceptional room for growth,” Felts said.

background could basically become an Uber driver,” Garrett said.

Principal Rob Coppo estimates that a third of students use Uber to get to and from school events like dances and sports games and even to school.

“When I do release at the end of the day, there are probably 20 to 30 Ubers that come through to pick up kids after school,” Coppo said.

Students without licenses find Uber a convenient alternative to getting rides from adults.

“In just a press of a few buttons, the Uber is usually there within minutes,” Lisa Powers* (10) said. “Carpooling takes a lot more scheduling and can be a lot less reliable.”

Some TPHS students rely on Uber as their primary mode of transportation.

“If I need to get somewhere, but my mom or dad can’t take me, I just Uber there,” Jack Martinez (10) said. “It saves time, and makes me feel like less of a burden on my parents.”

Some parents are tempted by the convenience and allow their children to use Uber, with conditions.

“I’ve made a policy with my kid that she contacts me before every Uber trip about the reason for taking the Uber and where she is going,” said Kent McCarthy, a TPHS

parent. “I think it is wrong when kids take an Uber without telling their parents.”

TPHS does not have legal liability for students getting to and from school events unless they ride a district bus.

“I understand the convenience but just because something is convenient doesn’t mean it is the right thing to do,” Coppo said.

Some believe the Uber minors policy should be amended so high school students do ot have to violate policy.

“I think minors are a really big market for Uber,” Martinez said. “I don’t think Uber should get rid of the policy, I just think that Uber should make the rules more realistic. For example, they could lower the age limit to 16.”

Others believe that Uber’s minor policy is both reasonable and necessary. They argue that it keeps kids safe and parents liable for their children.

“I don’t think it makes a lot of sense to make exceptions because we didn’t have Uber for a very long time and somehow kids managed to get to and from events,” Coppo said. “My fear with the increasing use of Uber is that it has become “uber convenient” for parents to sort of ‘pass the buck.’” * name changed to protect identity

open to talking about anything and she makes it very known to all of us that we can come to her with anything we may need.” said Tiffany Salantino (‘18). “When we would come in there [the black box] everyday, it was like coming home, and she

was the one who made it feel like home.”

During her career Payne has shown unwavering faith in the drama department and in her students, making her a candidate for CETA’s award.

photo from kaaboo del mar

photo by sam mathe/falconer

ACT OF THE YEAR: TPHS performing arts teacher Marinee Payne wins the Teacher of the Year award from the California Education Theater Association.

news

A4 the falconer

october 25, 2019

OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS

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photo by anna jeong/falconer

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1. THE FINAL SET: Carly Diehl (12) jumps to set a nicely received ball to one of the wing spikers to score against rival LCC. 2. RISE ‘N SHINE: Arriving an hour before school begins, seniors went to the field by the tennis courts to watch the sunrise and have donuts and coffee. 3. A TRIP TO THE TURF: The football team confidently walks back onto the football field to beat Carlsbad.

4. SAILING THROUGH CLUB DAY: Non-school-sponsored clubs, including the Sailing Club, promote their clubs out on the quad during lunch.

“We must reset the vapor category by earning the trust of society and working cooperatively with regulators, policymakers and stakeholders to combat underage use.”

K.C. Crosswaithe Juul CEO

cases of lung injury tied to use of e-cigs and vape products as of Oct. 15, 2019

mango, creme, fruit and cucumber

acute respiratory distress syndrome a life-threatening condition that causes fluid to build up in the lungs that many users have experienced

vape-related deaths in 24 states as of Oct. 15, 2019

information from the food and drug administration and the washington post

vape flavors to be discontinued by Juul vaping company in the United States as of Oct. 4, 2019 infographic by mirabel hunt and jasmine criqui/falconer

PERIOD PRODUCTS: TPHS installs pads and tampons in girls bathroom for students.

Maya Satchell (12) and Bea De Oliveira (12) recently worked with Assistant Principal Rebecca Gallow to supply free feminine products in the girls’ bathrooms.

This long-overdue system allows girls to have easy access to feminine products where they most need them most.

Not having accessible feminine products creates a huge inconvenience for all female students, as periods often come at unexpected times. While feminine products are available at the health office, that is not enough to combat the inconvenience and embarrassment that girls can feel.

“What are you going to say to your teacher after you waste 10 minutes going to the nurse signing the form, getting your period products and then leaving, you know? Some teachers aren’t okay with that, especially the ones who have like timed bathroom limits,” said De Oliveira.

Girls have learned to deal with these situations themselves, albeit unhealthily.

“I think a lot of girls are really comfortable nowadays with just being like, ‘Oh I’ll handle it myself; I’ll put some toilet paper in my underwear and like just survive for the rest of the day,’” De Oliveira said.

After keeping up with period awareness movements throughout summer, De

Oliveira and Satchell decided to take action at their own school. With this system in place, girls do not need to worry about hiding their periods in public. Many have already expressed great appreciation for the new system.

“That’s very generous of our high school to give the girls tampons and pads just in case there’s a little slip-up and totally help them avoid embarrassment,” Paige Younkin (12) said. “If they have an emergency in the bathroom, then they don’t have to walk all the way from the bathroom to the nurse’s office, which can be quite a journey if you have a period stain on your pants.”

There are many reasons this system was never implemented in the past. The first is administrators lack of awareness of female students’ needs due to poor communication. De Oliveira and Satchell brought the problem to light in their meetings with Gallow.

“They were giving me the perspective that obviously we wouldn’t know as staff or as administrators, which was very helpful.

So after they told me what the problem was we looked at a solution,” Gallow said.

After their meetings, the plan was enacted with little opposition.

“There wasn’t a single admin we talked

to who wasn’t open to the idea,” Satchell said.

The main foreseeable problem is the lack of regulation of the distribution of the products.

“The biggest issue with putting them for free in the bathroom is the possibility that girls are just going to abuse the privilege and steal them,” said De Oliveira.

With no one to regulate this system, it falls completely on the students to keep themselves accountable to take only what they need.

“We made signs to encourage people hopefully to respect the products and respect that they’re there,” said Satchell.

“We’ve been checking them almost daily and so far we haven’t found any problems.”

The plan is a significant first step to alleviate the struggles of menstruating at school for all girls at TPHS. The new system is evidence that campus changes can be made, as long as someone is willing to speak out.

“I think it’s important, especially when you’re a woman, to be willing to stand up for what you believe in, and when you see something wrong, be able to speak up about it, especially an issue as simple or as universal as menstruation,” De Oliveira said.

Jimbo’s Naturally opened its new location in the Highlands shopping center on Wednesday, Sept. 18, as part of a broader renovation project to allow for new storefronts.

The main motive of the move was simply more room.

“Jimbo wanted to not only expand to have more room, make it more comfortable for the customers, but they also wanted to expand the food service area,” said Assistant Store Manager Brandi Childress.

“It grew as far as it possibly could. So it was time to upgrade and get into a big space.”

With such a short-distance move, Jimbo’s Naturally’s established customers will not have to go out of their way to continue getting their favorite products.

“The food you can buy there is good, and the people that work there are nice.

The food they prepare [on location] seems good as well. They have nice apple pies and loaves,” said Rose Anderson (10). She was a Jimbo’s customer before it was refurbished.

As part of the renovations, Jimbo’s Naturally has done away with selling plastic water bottles to demonstrate their “ongoing commitment to the environment,” according to the statement posted in the water aisle from Jimbo Someck, CEO

of Jimbo’s Naturally. “Today, with our oceans, landfills, and natural world directly suffering from the overuse of plastic, we have decided to do the right thing and take this stand.”

Instead, the shelves are packed with brands like Just Water, PathWater, and Boxed Water, with containers consisting of glass, cardboard, and metal.

In addition, the store encourages customers to take advantage of its free refillable water station.

And for anyone in the mood to eat something quick, the new Jimbo’s Naturally features an array of housemade food options, including pizza, a mediterreanean bar, a taco bar, a deli, sushi, salads, sandwiches, baked goods and a coffee and juice bar.

The store has kept its trademark wooden nickels, which are obtained for every reusable bag you fill up with your purchase. You can then drop the wooden nickel in one of four donation boxes, and Jimbo’s Naturally will give an actual nickel to whatever charity is on the box.

The charities rotate, but they always fall within causes supporting either animals, social, environmental, or children.

Jimbo’s Naturally isn’t the only part of the Highlands getting a new look. The old Jimbo’s location is going to be torn down in preparation for a project that would

connect the new building to the rest of the Highlands and provide room for new storefronts.

On top of the Jimbo’s Naturally building is The Sky Deck, which will function almost like a food court.

“There’s supposed to be ten different restaurants up there, with kind of an open-air middle area,” Childress said. “I think it’ll really add to the aesthetic of what we offer here.”

I n

addition to the “food court” area, the new complex will include other healthy eateries, a day spa, wellness center, Diesel, A Bookstore, and a row of fitness brands.

Michael Estrin, a teacher who taught freshman math at TPHS for more than 40 years, abruptly retired two weeks into the semester and was replaced by a long-term substitute, Tanner McEntee on Sept. 10.

Students and parents were notified of Estrin’s retirement on Sept. 23 with an email introducing McEntee and explaining that the administration planned to support the students through the transition.

According to students, Estrin left during a morning class citing illness as an excuse.

“During second period, beginning of the class, I saw him outside with another teacher and then he walked in,” Stella Mikolajewski (9) said. “He told us he was taking a sick day and then he just left and we had no teacher the rest of the period.”

The sudden change in teachers left some students overwhelmed, according to Jake Tracy (9).

“It was kind of hard to transition because we learned all this stuff, like how to use his

Google Classroom — he had a special way to do everything,” Tracy said. “And then now we have completely different stuff.”

But according to McEntee, the students have adapted since and are doing well.

“I like to think that they adjusted really well, actually,” McEntee said. “I think everyone took well to me being here. I think they’re listening really well. I think we have a good rapport in each classroom.”

Mikolajewski didn’t notice a large effect on students as a result of the change in teachers.

“I think that the students didn’t get a good chance to know him,” Mikolajewski said. “We were fine with it and we love our new teacher so it’s good.”

The initial transition did not affect just the students.

“I don’t know if [McEntee] is overwhelmed but I just think it’s not fair for him that he had to do this on the spot,” Tracy said.

Switching from being a short-term to long-term substitute was a new experience for McEntee.

“A lot of people just want explanations,” “Yes, [substituting for Estrin’s class] is a huge change. But it’s a challenge I’m Tracy said. “I don’t know when you heard [but] a lot of people didn’t really know what ready to take on,” McEntee said.

McEntee, who is also the freshman happened. Everyone’s just going off rumors baseball head coach, has been at TPHS, though, because that’s easier, I guess.” both as a substitute and as a student.

“The last couple of years, while working on my full-time math teaching credential, I’ve been subbing as much as I can at Torrey Pines because I also coach here, I want to be on campus and I went here [as a high school student],” McEntee said.

The reason for Estrin’s sudden retirement was not disclosed to protect his personnel photo by anna jeong/falconer confidentiality, but his students still want to AN EMPTIED ROOM: Tanner McEntee has replaced know his reasons.

Michael Estrin in room 46 after his abrupt retirement.

photo by anna jeong/falconer

photo by lesley moon/falconer

photo by seyoung lee/falconer

A NEW HOME: Jimbo’s Naturally moved from its old spot near the parking structure to the new shopping center complex in the Del Mar Highlands Town Center for more space.

The following question was posed to a random sample of adults nationwide in a PBS/ Marist poll conducted in August 2019.

Do you favor stricter gun laws that would make it more difficult to purchase a gun?

55%

45%

answered

answered

The Crossroads of the West gunshow reopened at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Sept. 28, after the board of directors overseeing fairground events suspended the gunshow last year.

Daniel Kim

NEWS EDITOR This September, the “Crossroads of the West” gun show returned to the fairgrounds since being banned by the Del Mar Fair Board.

The ban initially was revoked after the Federal District Court Judge Cathy Bencivengo’s injunction prohibited the ban on the gun show. Before taking a stance on the gun show’s return, one must clarify some myths regarding the Del Mar Gun Show.

Many may assume that gun sales are chaotic and promote criminal activity, but the “Crossroads of the West” gun show strictly adheres to all federal, state and local laws that only permit sales on verified grounds by verified sellers and buyers.

Contrary to popular perception, there is a rigorous process that one must go through to buy a gun. The gun show and fairgrounds first must receive permission from the government to sell guns. Once the gun show begins, consumers must undergo a thorough background check by the California Department of Justice to identify any past criminal activity or the potential for the buyers to use the gun for unreasonable purposes.

Selling a gun to anyone who does not pass the background check is a felony, and the gun show abides by the law with thorough checks.

For consumers with no experience with weapons, they must undergo a firearms safety course to ensure that they can control the gun safely and avoid any potential accidents.

Only after completing this long process is the customer permitted to purchase the gun, which will be shipped after a 10-day waiting period to ensure that the firearm is not abused immediately. The long, complicated process discourages criminals from purchasing

firearms, which is why blaming this gun show for increased crime rates is wrong.

Not only is the process incredibly strict, but the gun show also collaborates with government agencies: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to prevent illegal trafficking of weapons and the California Department of Justice to have access to all records of criminal activity and local law enforcement as security in case of emergency.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the gun show has been a popular and wellattended event, attracting thousands of visitors with no incidents. After 30 years of safe gun shows, it is highly unlikely to assume that the future will be any different.

Other than being a completely safe, family-friendly gun show, the exhibit contains several other unique exhibits which do not pertain to firearms. According to Crossroads attorney Tiffany Cheuvront, “The reality is that less than 10 percent of the activity at a gun show involves firearms or ammunition.” The website of the gun show even clarifies that there are also sales of items like survival gear, jewelry, nylon bags, artwork, self-defense items, military apparel, hunting equipment and more. There are also ethical reasons to drop the ban on Crossroads of the West Gun Show. Several small business owners make their living off it. The Crossroads of the West Gun Show website reports that “This is the way they pay their bills, pay their taxes, and support their family.”

Finally, Crossroads owner B&L Productions and the California Rifle & Pistol Association cooperated to file a lawsuit against the fairgrounds and the state for violating their 1st Amendment rights to sell arms on public property with the ban, which was reviewed by Judge Bencivengo who passed an injunction to deem the ban illegal.

From protecting American citizens’ civil rights to being an opportunity for successful commerce and self-expression, the gun show carries more meaning than a simple firearms sales event, and we should protect those rights by continuing to host the Crossroads of the West Gun Show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

Since the gun show has proven to be safe for the past 30 years, there is no reason to demand change in the future.

The annual Del Mar gun show, Crossroads of the West, has recently come under fire as the gun control activists speak out against the lack of regulation of gun sales. Crossroads of the West has always been a popular source of attraction as people from all over the city flock to admire, buy and sell different kinds of guns. Their dealings have never been questioned, but in the wake of recent mass shootings, the controversy over the scope of the Second Amendment and an individual’s right to bear arms have been brought to the shows. Due to unregulated purchases and the ineffectiveness of background checks, gun shows like Crossroads of the West must be eliminated as a stand against all gun violence in America.

The Second Amendment grants people at the Del Mar Fairgrounds the ability to study, practice and enjoy a hobby of shooting. Sales at the Crossroads of the West are conducted in a legal manner, and therefore, should have no reason to be banned.

What these people aren’t aware of is the fact that legal gun sales do not equal safe gun sales.

There is a dangerous loophole in our federal gun laws. Under current law, unlicensed sellers such as people who sell guns online, at gun shows or without a federal dealer’s license, can sell firearms without having to run any sort of background check.

According to Giffords Law Center, an estimated 22 percent of U.S. gun owners acquired their most recent firearm without a background check which translates to millions of Americans acquiring millions of guns with no regulations each year.

Fortunately, all purchases at California gun shows require background checks.

However, even if Crossroads of the West was conducting background checks, a simple background check does nothing to deter first-time shooters because mass murder is not a long-term career path. Mass shootings like Thousand Oaks, El Paso and the Pittsburg synagogue were all committed by people who passed background checks and legally purchased their firearms.

One major problem is the inability of background checks to screen the applicant’s mental health. Current background checks only prohibit people who have been

Amy Ge involuntarily committed to a mental hospital declared by the government. That alone is insufficient, but on top of that, federal law doesn’t require states to make these mental health records part of the background check system, and many fail to voluntarily report the records.

There must be heavy reform to background checks before we can consider whether guns should be sold at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

Most importantly, this controversy is more than just a question of whether Crossroads of the West should be allowed at Del Mar Fairgrounds; the decision is a reflection of our position in the fight for gun control and affects people on a far greater scale.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been over 30,000 deaths this year alone due to gun violence. With gun rights activists clinging to the Second Amendment as legal permission for unfettered gun ownership.

We have to weigh the lives of the thousands of people that die every year to gun violence against the ability to enjoy a hobby of shooting. This should be simple.

Allowing gun sales in any instance in the face of insufficient regulations is an affirmation of the government’s disregard for the safety of its citizens.

While it may seem insignificant, prohibiting gun shows at the Del Mar Fairgrounds affects us and our community on a far greater scale.

Banning Crossroads of the West is an act of resistance against the politicians’ refusal to reform gun laws. Only through these steps can we fight for our safety in the hope that one day, we can truly say “never again.”

There are a myriad of problems facing our generation, including the climate crisis, the spread of disinformation through social media and the growing problem of income inequality across the globe.

One of the most pressing issues of the 21st century, however, is the rise of authoritarianism and the growing threat democracy faces around the world.

The United Nations General Assembly defines democracy as “a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives.” Put more simply, democracy is the ability of any human being to have a choice in their political decisions and to be able to freely exercise their basic human rights in society. It is essential to the health of a functioning democracy to include free and fair elections, competitive political parties, minority representation in government, freedom of speech and of the press, assembly, education and religion.

The U.N. reports that since 1960, there has been a rise in the total number of democracies in the world; more countries have chosen to adopt various forms of a democratic government. Although that growth is noteworthy, the presence of certain democratic elements, such as elections and parliaments, are not sufficient to make a nation a democracy.

For example, an illiberal democracy is one in which a leader is democratically elected, but such leader ignores or eliminates the limits on

to private sellers that make up the other 22 percent of gun sales.

Of course, the subject of gun control and the Second Amendment is a very quick way to make many people very angry. And the constitutional rights of the American people are as valuable today as they ever were. But we should treat the Second Amendment the same way we treat the First and Fourth Amendments, with some notable exceptions. Freedom of speech does not protect libel, and rights to privacy do not include refusal of reasonable searches.

Similarly, the Second Amendment should not prevent common sense gun regulations such as thorough and universal background checks, expansion of Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws, gun safety courses before obtaining a permit, raising the minimum age for purchase to 21, increased mental health resources and holding gun manufacturers accountable for harmful marketing practices.

If that sounds like a long list, consider the 2,258 mass shootings in the U.S. since Sandy Hook in 2014, not to mention the 31,573 people who have died of gun-related injuries (including suicides) in 2019 so far, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

Also consider the 67 gun control or gun violence prevention bills passed by state legislatures across the U.S. in 2018, in the wake of the Parkland shooting and the student activists who sparked a national movement.

Many people will say that gun violence is the fault of the gun owner and not the gun itself, and they’re right. This is not a call for mandatory buybacks of all AR-15s and AK-47s.

But because guns lack a moral conscience, we have to make sure that they only make it into the hands of those fully equipped to use them safely. Responsible gun owners should not be afraid of responsible gun legislation.

TPHS’s new fire alarm policy is well intentioned and probably wise as far as risk management.

But it exposes a growing national problem: our failure to confront the gun violence epidemic at its source.

executive power.

For this and other reasons, the Freedom in the World Report for 2019, which uses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from the U.N. General Assembly as means of its reference, reports that 2019 is the 13th consecutive year of global decline in freedom.

This recent trend of weakening democratic and liberal values across the globe not only threatens everyone with further losses of basic freedoms, but also hampers any global change necessary to address any of the problems noted above, such as the threat of climate change or the growing economic inequality, making restoring and defending democratic values even more important.

Consider three different examples of this rise of authoritarianism and decline in democratic values.

Some countries formerly under authoritarian control that gained their freedom have backslid to an increasingly autocratic form of government. This can be seen, for example, in Eastern Europe. After the end of the Soviet Union, the

block of Eastern European countries that were once under Soviet control adopted versions of liberal democracy with free elections and various freedoms provided for its citizens.

However, in countries like Poland and Hungary, some leaders have been democratically elected, but then use their power to suppress the rights of citizens. Through state control of the media, the stripping of checks and balances on the prime minister’s power and the suppression of opposing political parties, the rights and freedoms of Polish and Hungarian citizens have been severely curtailed.

In contrast, some states that are authoritarian in general have been brazen in demonstrating their lack of commitment in maintaining a facade of a democratic state. China, for example, has various democratic processes, like state elections, which are touted on the global stage as a demonstration of freedoms for their citizens.

However, since 2017, the Chinese government has sponsored the ethnic cleansing, if not genocide, of its minority Muslim population, the Uyghurs. Providing power to the minority is a central feature of any democracy, and the robbing of rights, and sadly the lives, of the Uyghurs in an effort to force the homogenization of the Chinese state is merely an expression of Chinese nationalism and makes clear their absolute disinterest in any form of democracy.

Some countries that pat themselves on the back for being models of a functioning, liberal democracy that uphold democratic principles are seeing a retreat in their democratic practices.

An unfortunate but true example of this is seen in the United States. We are a country whose current president was elected without winning the popular majority and with an executive branch that is holding itself above the law and above the other two branches of government which are meant to be co-equal. The United States is a country that places migrant children in internment camps, and sadly, the list goes on.

There is little justification for our country to ever attempt to spread democratic values around the world in the future if we cannot promote democratic practices and values within our own country.

There are many reasons why these three phenomena occur. Nativism due to a rise in immigration, the threat of economic uncertainty and the fear of change from tradition can lead to a turn toward authoritarian rule. And the most damning reason of them all is the difficulty of staying engaged and connected to national politics.

Yet despite these trends toward authoritarian tactics by governments around the world, there are still grounds for hope: the global climate strikes led by Greta Thunberg that are pushing many global leaders to take action on the climate crisis, the June election in Slovenia of Prime Minister anti-corruption candidate Zuzana Caputova, the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and Marie Yavanavich’s testimony before the House Judiciary committee in the impeachment hearings against the will of the White House.

The most important signal of hope is the fact that our generation is still young. We still have a little bit of time to wake up to the fact that our democracy and the democracies around the world are not as strong and healthy as they appear.

If our generation does not stop and recognize this threat to democratic values around the world, we may lose these freedoms that we take for granted, and we may be in a worse position to combat climate change or address any of the other issues that are receiving more attention.

art by seyoung lee/falconer

art by sam mathe/falconer

When fire drills were first introduced in schools after a Catholic school fire in 1958, the goal was simple: make sure that students understand emergency procedures and remain calm if and when the alarm starts blaring in a real emergency.

After years of practice, the sound of the fire alarm does little more than cause the simultaneous flinching that accompanies strained ear drums, immediately followed by a chorus of groans at having to leave class to evacuate.

Unfortunately, our generation might have to learn not to panic all over again, but for a different reason.

TPHS’s new policy requires that when the fire alarm goes off, students and faculty must remain in their classrooms unless they receive verbal confirmation of a fire over the loudspeaker or if they can see the building burning down around them.

According to Assistant Principal Robert Shockney, the idea behind this is to first determine the location of the fire and then only evacuate those at risk.

But there’s another, more morbid reason for this protocol: administrators are concerned about the risk of school shootings.

“Things have been done in the past at other school shootings where they pull the fire

alarms and everyone evacuates, [so] there’s a vulnerability there. So we don’t want to put ourselves in a vulnerable position,” Shockney said.

When you consider the factors that lead up to a school shooting, whether it be loose gun laws or lack of early intervention, altering the fire alarm policy to decrease casualties is like using bandaids to fix bullet holes. Neither are very effective and neither change the fact that someone fired a gun in the first place.

But the policy change comes accompanied by real-life evidence. The shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida pulled the fire alarm to cause confusion before he began firing, ultimately killing 17 people.

With the new policy, in the process of being implemented at all SDUHSD schools, district administrators hope to diminish this risk.

The risk of an actual fire is lower than you would think. Michael Porche, a firefighter paramedic for San Diego Fire-Rescue, estimated that 85 percent to 90 percent of the calls they respond to are false alarms.

The frequency of these false alarms can lend itself to a false sense of security, which can be exploited by those seeking to cause harm.

Unfortunately, the prevalence of school shootings in the United States can’t be solved with a new fire alarm policy. The 19 year-old Parkland shooter used an AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle that he purchased legally by passing a federal background check, despite his history of mental illness and disturbing social media posts.

And he’s one of the ones who actually had a background check. Under federal law, only federally licensed gun sellers (who account for about 78 percent of gun sales in the US) are required to perform background checks.

This allows for people who would otherwise fail a background check, including convicted felons, domestic abusers and fugitives, access

the same. There is no guarantee that a student will be successful at a certain university just because their parent was. Students should be admitted to colleges based on their own merit and achievement, not their parents.

Colleges are motivated to have legacy admissions because it increases their chance of receiving alumni donations from affluent parents. However, since many colleges are non-profit, they should focus on how they will deliver the best education to a diverse group of students instead of how they will acquire funds from parents.

Asian Americans and those opposing affirmative action need to stop fighting against other minorities. Instead, they need to fight the majority.

/falcon artist

all minorities of various races at a disadvantage from the moment they decide to apply to a college or university. It also puts secondgeneration Americans at a disadvantage because their families may not have a history of attending elite private universities in the U.S.. Therefore, the it is the policy that causes the most damage to Asian Americans and minorities.

Another issue is that legacy puts people of low socio-economic status at a disadvantage because those who are wealthy are more likely to have attended elite universities. Their children are then accepted with the help of the legacy policy and the wealth ends up staying in the family. This allows a dangerous cycle of the rich getting richer while threatening the upward social mobility of capable students in lower economic classes.

First-generation college students, who are usually from a lower socioeconomic background, do not have legacy aiding them. Meanwhile, the kids of higher socioeconomic background have that advantage because their parents most likely went to college. Legacy only helps the rich and takes away fairness from the supposedly “even” playing field.

The justification for legacy admissions is that the values of parents would pass on to their children, making them a good candidate for the school.

However, if the parents really did teach those values to their children, then they should be able to get into the school on their own without the help of legacy. Also, no parent and child are

art by lesley moon

The student group, Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), sued Harvard University under claims that the university intentionally discriminated against a group of Asian Americans students in the undergraduate admissions process. Federal District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs rejected the claims and SFFA is now appealing the decision. If she had ruled yes, there would be groundbreaking changes: colleges would remove affirmative action. But if Asian Americans want more equality in the admissions process, they should shift their focus to repealing the rules for legacy admissions instead of fighting affirmative action, as they are doing now.

Affirmative action helps minorities who have been underrepresented in college, historically due to discrimination and reduced access to a high quality secondary education. Minority communities, like African Americans and Hispanics, benefit from affirmative action, and they deserve it. There is a wealth gap in America, and minority communities suffer the most from lack of opportunity. Their communities are under-privileged and under-funded. A more affluent community will most likely have a better access to a higher quality of education,

private schools, tutors and test-preparation.

Many well-off students receive enough help, but minority communities do not have access to these privileges, so affirmative action helps colleges take this into account. This is why race is involved in college admissions. Affirmative action is a positive policy that helps minorities, and getting rid of it would hurt those who need the most aid in the college admissions process.

Affirmative action also allows college populations to reflect the diversity in America.

Taking race into consideration for admissions allows universities to create diversity on their campuses that represents the diversity in the nation at large. Therefore, it ensures that races are represented on campus and are in proportion to the racial breakdown in America.

Affirmative action allows people of all racial groups to be represented on college campuses.

Affirmative action is currently balancing the diversity. At Harvard University, 45.8 percent of the undergraduate student population is white and 25.3 percent is Asian American. And, around one third of the student population has a relative that attended Harvard University.

Clearly, legacy is the problem.

Getting rid of affirmative action would not bring fairness for Asian Americans, but would help the majority and hurt the minorities like those in SFFA. The group trying to get rid of affirmative action, SFFA, is now led and funded by various white conservatives, such as Edward Blum. Blum is focused on getting rid of affirmative action because he wants to give “spots” to the majority and not help the minority communities.

Asian Americans want fairness in the college admissions process, but it will not come from ending affirmative action. Primary legacy applicants are 45 percent more likely to be accepted than a non-legacy applicant. It puts a

MIKI VOGEL

My life has been plagued by food allergies since my days as a toddler: dairy, eggs, fish, nuts and shellfish seem to haunt me, filling my days with the constant fear of an accidental contamination in my food. In the past, even soy and beef were off-limits. Epinephrine injectors and steroid inhalers have always been on hand due to the danger of an asthma attack or an allergic response. In elementary school, when students would pass out cupcakes to their peers for their birthday, I would sit uncomfortably while everyone else would snack on their treats.

Occasionally a pitying parent would take out an old lollipop from her purse to minimize my discomfort. These experiences in the classroom led me to feel isolated and self-conscious about my inability to eat without restrictions.

Despite clearly feeling and understanding my food allergies’ social impacts, I lacked knowledge about their consequences on my health. Skipping class in the fourth grade to go to a doctor’s appointment, I was able to experience the severity of my condition through the potentially deadly process of anaphylactic shock. After several hours in the enclosed examination room, with nurses slowly increasing the dosage of peanut butter, my throat started to close up, hives covered my body and I felt as if I was about to faint.

The unfortunate “peanut challenge” at the Kaiser Allergy Clinic when I was ten proved to have a silver lining, not just in reinforcing how important food vigilance was for my safety, but also dramatically introducing me to the importance of medical care and how it could entail clear quick team communication and

strong coordination of efforts. While that day at the allergy clinic was filled with anxiety, luckily I was able to calm down by watching my favorite movie, Tower of Terror.

A year after my anaphylactic experience, a mixture of flu symptoms and severe asthma led me to the emergency room. My ProAir inhaler that previously had acted as a life-saving medication was rendered useless when the flu virus overtook my body. Repeatedly pressing the metal button on my inhaler, I hoped for relief from wheezing and shortness of breath. At some point, I realized that the situation was an emergency and that I needed serious medical assistance. By the time my dad and I pulled into the entrance of the emergency room, my lungs had weakened to the point at which walking was impossible. My dad had to carry me out of the car and into the critical care facility.

The nurses in the ER provided me with a breathing mask so I wouldn’t suffocate.

After being assessed by multiple medical professionals, it was decided that I needed overnight care at the Rady Children’s Hospital to increase my odds for a safe recovery. The week spent at Rady’s was an eye-opening endeavor, filled with odd bristled wands being inserted in my nostrils and old Nickelodeon shows playing on the TV. The remarkable 24/7 care from various dedicated nurses brought my lungs back to healthy functioning.

Over the course of my seventeen years, the negative effects of both my asthma and allergies have significantly diminished. While I lack any talent for sports in the first place, the looming fear of an asthma attack has also made

photo by katheryn /falcon photographer

me unable to play on sports teams.

As I have grown up and become more independent from my parents, I have found a routine to prevent any accidental catastrophic ingestions. I always search up the restaurant’s nutritional menu and scan the lengthy charts for my allergens. Just because the online menu might say one thing, there is still a possibility that the chef may cook the food differently.

It is essential that I inform the waiter about each food allergy before ordering. Who knows if there is a secret peanut oil added into the recipe? Mistakes can happen, so I always make sure to keep my EpiPen in my purse so that it is always available in the worst-case scenario.

In the past, eating at restaurants was out of the question. If I had to eat out, my parents would force me to bring along a home-cooked meal or tell me not to eat at all. In elementary

school, I had a hard time coming to terms with my parents’ rules. It seemed unreasonable that I was never allowed to try new foods regardless of the apparent safety of the ingredients. However, this constant badgering from my parents stuck in my mind: the only allergic reactions I have experienced are in a controlled setting in the doctors’ office.

Semi-annually going to my allergy and asthma physician, I look forward to seeing improvements in my health and new developments in the levels of relevant antibodies found in my blood.

The doctor says that I am making progress toward losing sensitivity to milk. While managing my conditions is an ongoing hassle, I am looking forward to the day I finally grow out of my dairy allergy and have my first slice of pizza. Wish me luck!

The last year has seen considerable discussion surrounding climate change following the release of several reports, including ones from NASA and the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, which contend the window for humanity to counteract global warming is narrowing by the second. 16 yearold Greta Thunberg, the face of our generations’ climate movement, aims to ignite a sense of urgency within lawmakers and everyday people alike, so action can be taken to prevent further environmental destruction.

Stemming from Thunberg’s passion to curtail climate change, 4 million students around the globe protested the lack of government intervention in the climate crisis by skipping classes and marching. However, TPHS did not have its own strike on either Sept. 20 or 27, the two key days for the protests. In fact, it’s problematic that many TPHS students were completely unaware that the global climate change strikes had even occurred.

While this initially may sound as though TPHS students do not care about climate change or about fighting to counteract it, the reality of the situation was that it was inconvenient and ultimately meaningless for students. While it would not have fostered much change, the lack of a protest also shows the entitlement of students at this school.

The core reason TPHS did not have a strike is that there was no single individual or club that was dedicated to organizing it. It could have picked up speed among students, but there was no one to spark the initial call for joining in.

If administrators would have approved the plan, the idea of having a school-approved protest is counterintuitive to the nature of a protest. Instead of raising awareness for the cause through defiance, it would essentially turn into a school-wide event, like a tailgate.

But, it should be noted that an administration that respects our right to protest is much

appreciated, and would not necessarily change the meaning for everyone involved.

Inherently, this leaves students with three options: attend a protest and be punished by the school for it, attend a protest that they don’t feel strongly for or maintain the status quo and stay in class. Evidently, TPHS students went with the third option.

TPHS seems to be the only school in San Diego that lacks activist spirit. KPBS reports that schools across the San Diego Unified School District and Sweetwater Union High School District engaged in the protests; our own district’s Canyon Crest Academy had strikes as well, as did middle school students at Rancho Santa Fe’s R. Roger Rowe School.

While climate change is considered by the majority of Americans to be a crucial issue, particularly in our social media driven generation, reasons for not participating in a strike center around the idea that they would have been ineffective and hypocritical; we wouldn’t have the power to sway authority figures that hold the power to change policy, and, at the end of the day, we return to classrooms that blast air conditioning and parking lots full of cars. If our protesting cannot even change the policies of our school, they cannot be expected to change the ones of our federal government.

Students should petition for the school to make environmentally conscious policies, like instituting a recycling program and solar panels, having electric car charging stations or days of conserving AC and electricity. But, while it is established that the strikes would not have inherently changed anything, the lack of involvement in and knowledge of the global protests illustrate an underlying issue at TPHS: we do not think about the world outside of Carmel Valley. Students focus more on the now of homework, grades and tests than the impending threat of global extinction. Even with figures like Thunberg, who is our age, pleading for activism, we, consciously or unconsciously, ignore her message in favor of not disturbing our peace. Without this spirit of wanting to incite change, even in the form of these protests, we set ourselves up for future disaster.

- Whole body vibration technology - Audio immersion system - All levels of fitness and yoga experience are welcome

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A12 the falconer

october 25, 2019

A girl knows the struggles of having her period all too well, from the intense pain and inconvenience, to the stigma surrounding menstruation. In this spread, The Falconer investigates how and why awareness about the natural process should be increased.

by Colette Chiang and Bea De Oliveira Blood. Just the thought of the word makes most squirm. It seems to carry a heavy negative connotation: one associated with death, vampires, medical disasters … and menstruation.

Although periods are a natural part of life for half the population, there is still a heavy stigma surrounding menstruation that can be seen throughout the world, including on the TPHS campus.

According to The New York Times, the average woman has her period for 2,535 days of her life. That equates to nearly seven years of pain, not to mention the costs of pain medication and new underwear.

This inconvenience is exacerbated by the cost of menstrual hygiene products, which according to USA Today, loses a woman anywhere from $150 to $300 a year. Over the total number of years women menstruate, which is 38 years on average, period hygiene products can cost a woman up to $11,400. On the whole, women in the U.S. spend an estimated $150 million a year, according to Natasha Bach in Fortune.

For some girls at TPHS, the question of whether to purchase a tampon or cans of food is a daunting one.

“I have had multiple girls come to me and ask for extra period products,” school health technician Carrie Miller said. “Some ask me because they don’t have the funds, and, of course, I provide the products to them.”

The price of tampons and pads are a strain on low income California families, even though California is one of only 14 states in the U.S. that does not tax feminine products that include menstrual products. It should be said, five of those states have no sales tax on any products.

The concept, called the “pink tax,” which is not a literal tax, but a general tendency for products marketed for women to be more expensive than those for men, has been the subject of great contention for the past four years as women rally for its elimination.

“To me [eliminating the pink tax] is about menstrual equality,” said Sharon Champion, founder of The Homeless Period Project, an organization that supplies menstrual products to shelters and schools. “[Tampons and pads] are things all girls and women need, and they are still being taxed. It is saying ‘This is not a necessity and we don’t care.’ It needs to be removed.”

The sentiment is similar at TPHS. “It’s just crazy that that… men pay less for the same products,” Amrita Moturi (12) said.

“They aren’t [effected by the pink tax] for their shaving products, but we are simply for having a period.” of female TPHS students feel In the past, TPHS uncomfortable leaving class has attempted to because of a period alleviate the financial burden by providing free period products.

The issue: they have only been available in the nurse’s office. According to Miller, she gives out anywhere from five to 10 tampons or pads a day.

Even with the products available, many students are unaware that products are available in the nurse’s office. Others find going to the nurse extremely inconvenient, especially if their classroom is located across the school.

“It’s uncomfortable,” Kelly Wang (11) said. “It is pretty obvious that you’re going to the nurse to ask for a tampon or a pad.”

Only this year did free tampons make their way back to TPHS girls’ bathrooms after a group of students began working with the administration to solve the issue.

They are in a bin labeled with a sign that says “Only take what you need,” but could be removed if girls begin to steal them and the products begin to disappear, which according to Principal Rob Coppo was a problem that led to the removal of the products. For now, it is the school’s attempt at assisting all females at TPHS, who, in addition to dealing with the physical challenges of periods, also face many emotional and hormonal challenges when they are menstruating. “[Premenstrual symptom] (PMS) is real and related due to changes in hormone levels before and during menses,” obstetriciangynecologist Dr. Christine Miller, MD said. “PMS can cause both physical and emotional symptoms [and] most women experience TPHS feel that PMS symptoms at some time during their life.” free or easily In addition to fluctuating hormones, cramps and emotions, periods

of female TPHS students feel that males are unsympathetic toward girls on their periods

of female students at tampons should be accessible

tphsfalconer.com

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add extra pressure to an already stressful high school student’s life.

“Sometimes I just feel really sick… and I don’t want to go to class or I don’t want to go to P.E. I don’t want to suit up,” Wang said. “I just don’t feel like moving. But, as girls, there’s nothing we can do about it … It’s a very uncommon subject to be talked about, which I think is kind of weird because every [girl] has it.”

This is part of the reason why periods have such a negative stigma

Sometimes, I just feel really sick ... [and] I don’t feel like moving. But, as girls, there’s nothing we can do about it. [Periods] are a very uncommon subject to be talked about, which I think is kind of weird because every [girl] has it.

Kelly Wang (11) STUDENT

surrounding them. Some believe that periods are an extremely private matter and should not be talked about. For others, the stigma is because of their culture.

“I would say this generation is a lot more open with the topic… But you were raised to never talk about your period; it was considered dirty,” Champion said.

Even if this generation is less puritanical, periods are still often a taboo topic, especially in a school environment. “[Males] don’t understand the pain of a period, so it is awkward,” Joelle Gardner* (9) said. “There are also stories about when girls are on their period, so they tell their male PE teacher who automatically goes, ‘Oh, okay. Do whatever you need to do.’ They are uncomfortable and stay away from [the subject].”

It can even be an uncomfortable question for girls to ask female teachers, according to Wang.

This discomfort has led to girls avoiding the topic completely and not asking their teachers when they need to use or change menstrual products.

“I’ve never been in a position to and I wouldn’t want to have to ask my male teachers [if I could change a tampon],” Kaia Catz-Johnson (12) said.

For the TPHS administration, conquering the period stigma poses a challenge.

“I don’t know if it’s even worth having a conversation [with the administration regarding menstruation] because I feel like that almost adds too much specificity to it and almost sounds too discriminatory,” Coppo said. “I want a teacher to be able to use their best judgment. They know their kids better than I do. They know their environment better than I do, and I want them to engage in that conversation.”

Students like Wang believe education about menstrual cycles and discussion pertaining to the issue can assist in battling the stigma.

“I think the more people talk about it, the less of a taboo it becomes,” Wang said. “[I want] people to realize that it’s not such an uncomfortable, uncommon issue, and if it becomes normal or okay to talk about, then I won’t be so uncomfortable talking to my teachers about it or asking to use a tampon from the nurse.”

Organizations like The Cup Effect, Period Equity or Bloody Good Period have similar hopes of erasing the stigma.

For instance, Champion, who lives in Greenville, South Carolina, raises feminine products to send to county detention centers and homeless shelters in hopes of raising awareness about how they deal with their periods. Her organization even supplies period products for all middle and high schools in South Carolina.

“I never thought ‘menstrual activist’ was a word,” Champion said. “If someone told me when I was 14, ‘Hey, you’re going to be a menstrual activist when you get older,’ I would have died.”

So although the connotations and squeamishness associated with blood may never change, with significant education and awareness of the challenges menstruation brings, there is hope that the word “period” will no longer carry a stained reputation. *name chosen to protect identity

of male TPHS students feel comfortable talking or hearing about periods

of male TPHS students who feel comfortable talking or hearing about periods because of a female sibling

average score male TPHS students gave themselves on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 was least knowledgeable about periods and 10 was most knowledgeable

Use the CNN Period Poverty Calculator to determine how much time is lost to menstruation in your life.

A14 the falconer

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Information provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Disposables and Nonwovens Association (EDANA)

october 25, 2019

infographic by kevin song/falconer

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tphsfalconer.com

W

hile periods are not uncommon (they come monthly), they are dreaded by females and stigmatized by some males. For a week every month, females have to manage the cost of period products, their self-care and worst of all, the stigma associated with periods.

Some males understand this; some do not comprehend this concept.

Period products are expensive; they can reach up to 30 cents per tampon or pad, and higher quality period products can exceed that price by over 100 percent.

While it varies upon the individual, it is estimated that the (continued at right)

the falconer

Periods have a lot of stigma surrounding them, causing many issues, especially in a school environment.

Males have different reactions to this topic than females.

“I really avoid sweeping directives.

I want a teacher to be able to use their best judgement. They know their kids better than I do,” Coppo said. “They know their environment better than I do, and I want them to engage in the conversation [about the amount of time to use the restroom] because there may be a reason that they want to hold to [three or five minutes].”

Coppo also said he does not want to enforce a rule because there are two different sides of the story; a strict bathroom rule would be unfair to the girls who have their periods, but a lenient rule would allow students to leave class to goof off in the hallways.

Higgins said he thinks women should be allowed to use the restroom for their needs. “[If I was a female] I would definitely want to be able to go to the bathroom and not be discriminated against my gender. It’s something they can’t control,” Higgins said. “We should be able to go to the bathroom for reasons that are more important than what some people go to the nurse for.”

The stigma surrounding periods that girls and women face can be very serious; the stigma often ranges from getting judged to getting teased, despite half the world’s population unwillingly having them.

“It’s a terrible stigma that has been perpetuated over time. We know that teenage boys mature at a slower rate than teenage girls,” Coppo said. “You’ve got girls who are typically more mature at that age. Then, you’ve got this

by Nolan Ezzet

average woman w i l l spend about seven years of her life on her period, which will cost her approximately $10,000.

Students believe that the price of period products should be lowered because half of the population is essentially forced to buy them.

“It’s sort of unfair. But also, the company’s got to make money. And, you know, men have to buy condoms, so women have to buy tampons,” Bain Higgins (10) said. “I think that they should be [free]. I think that women should have very easy access to them and if possible, there should be free sources. But then they could be the extra crappy ones. Then if you want extra comfort, you gotta pay a bit more.”

Many believe that period products should not be taxed because they are a necessity.

“They should not be taxed. That’s stupid.

If you’re not going to tax condoms [then you shouldn’t tax period products],” teacher Lars Trupe said. “Period products are more of a necessity [than condoms], because you don’t have to have sex. At least tampons and pads should not be taxed.”

Some teachers do not have very accommodating “bathroom rules” for girls.

Sometimes, you need a little bit more than three or five minutes,” Anton Glazko (12) said. “Females got to walk to the nurse’s office and take care of them. They’re not going to be able to do it in five minutes.”

Principal Rob Coppo agrees that females should be given a generous amount of time to go to the bathroom to take care of themselves when menstruating, but he does not want to enforce a specific rule that teachers must adhere to.

Generally speaking, I hear more crap about periods from guys. I want to say that it’s pretty equal, but it kind of isn’t.

Eryn Kargman(12) STUDENT

issue, which is sort of harking back to sixth grade giggling. It creates sort of a perfect storm. I think girls suffer some stigma on it.”

Coppo also thinks going through a period is hard enough, so not talking to girls about their period in a stigmatized manner is a good way to respect the individual.

While many males agree that their “type” is what causes the stigma, that is only an opinion, as some girls disagree.

“I don’t think it’s purely male because I know a lot of guys [who are comfortable talking about periods],” Eryn Kargman (12) said. “But, generally speaking, I hear more crap about periods from guys. I want to say that it’s pretty equal, but it kind of isn’t. It all really depends on the person.”

Many students disagree with the stigma surrounding periods.

“I think that the stigma should stop because a period is something that you can’t prevent and happens to all women,” Beau Chap (12) said. “I think that it’s immature for there to be a stigma because it’s just a natural thing that happens in women’s bodies and there shouldn’t be any shame about that.

In fact, over 15 male students have been asked to do an interview for this article. Only four agreed, and one wanted to be off the record, or anonymous.

Many males just do not feel comfortable talking about periods even to another male, which is a prime example of the stigma surrounding periods.

Some males avoid initiating the stigma while some do not, but the fact is that all girls get periods; they cannot help it and the evident stigma surrounding the topic is not deserved.

A15

Justin Trudeau, Canada’s newly-reelected Prime Minister, came deterring others from being insensitive. under fire this year after photos of him from 2001 resurfaced, showing People justify their choices to wear him wearing brown face and a large turban. Apparently, he was dressing offensive costumes on the basis that they up for a gala with the theme of “Arabian Nights” at a private school didn’t realize it would be offensive or they are where he taught at the time.. uninformed about the long-lasting effects of their actions.

“I want to begin by saying a few words directly to racialized Canadians As it was to white people in her childhood, NBC host Megyn Kelly who face discrimination every single day in their lives, even in a country thought of blackface an acceptable part of a costume. But times have like Canada,” Trudeau said. changed and this ignorance needs to This political figure’s past errors be unlearned as generations progress. illustrate an underlying problem that A student at Dickinson College resurfaces every October: racism and posted a picture of himself as NFL cultural appropriation in costumes. player Colin Kapernick on social There exists a culture that permits media, including blackface and an ignorance in the name of “holiday fun,” Afro. The post also included a gun and directly harms groups each year by pointed at his head, a clear attack perpetuating stereotypes and blatantly on Kapernick kneeling during the mocking marginalized groups. national anthem to protest against The most obvious historical example police brutality. He was met with of racially insensitive costumes in the complaints and even death threats for U.S. is the origin of blackface as we the tactless costume. know it today: Jim Crow shows. These Issues like these seem fairly minstrel shows featured actors who common at colleges. Students at the painted their faces black or white and University of New Hampshire gave danced around a stage in order to their peers a reminder during mock African Americans.

October with posters saying, “You PARIS HILTON: Attending the Playboy Mansion’s 2008 Halloween Party wear the costume for one night.

While racially insensitive costumes nowadays are not typically and arriving in a sexualized Native American garb and headdress. (ABOVE). I wear the stigma for life,” and as blatant, they still knowingly or Southern Utah University started a not disrespect certain cultures and groups. social media movement with the message “My culture isn’t a costume.”

For example, ponchos, which have a deep history in Mexico and the Halloween costumes can also perpetuate another negative stereotypes: South American Andes, were previously used as a way to show wealth dealing with gender. and status through embroidery and beads, but are now costumes to be Female costumes, even for young girls, tend to be highly sexualized, worn with stereotypical sombreros and maracas. especially compared to the male versions of the same costumes. Tacking Native American headdresses, or War Bonnets, were worn by the word “sexy” before a costume name and showing more skin has important leaders of the American become normal for women’s costumes.

Plains Indian Nation for formal While there is no crime in a sexuallyoccasions and ceremonies. revealing Halloween costume, the use Latin and Native groups have of Halloween costumes to fetishize protested the use of these cultural and objectify women as sexual objects staples in Halloween costumes, as they creates an impossible standard for debase how important these symbols women, as though they must remain are to their cultures. It ranges from “sexy” even when men are allowed to people celebrating the aesthetic of these be scary or funny. objects and completely disregarding Men are not excluded from this, as the meaning behind them to outright Halloween costumes often perpetuate mocking groups for how they dress or portrayals of them as predators or look. sexually charged animals, such as a Celebrities have participated in breathalyzer costume that centers these insensitive costumes, some around their crotch, or a “flasher” rather infamously. costume which mocks exposing In 2008, model Heidi Klum themelves to unwilling onlookers. dressed as Kali, the Hindu goddess JUSTIN TRUDEAU: Current Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau Just like how women are not always of destruction, for her annual dressed up for a school dance with the theme “Arabian Nights” (ABOVE). sexual beings, men are not always Halloween party. While attending predators. an event at the Playboy Mansion, In our generation, it is incumbent Paris Hilton wore a “sexy” Native American outfit, including a headdress. upon us to educate those around us to prevent ignorance like this to Celebrities have immense influence over people and bear a continue to spread. responsibility not only to avoid perpetuating stereotypes, but also

by Katie Flint

Everyday, my morning routine includes 10 to 15 minutes of yoga — a little downward dog, a couple of warrior poses, chaturanga and, of course, a lot of breathing. Although I am nothing close to a certified yogi, after watching various YouTube tutorials, I am fairly proficient at yoga.

“Are you here for the 8:30 class? I’m sorry, but you cannot come into class. You are late,” the front desk woman at the Carmel Valley Yoga Six said.

“It is 8:33,” I replied.

This was my first encounter with a Yoga Six employee. At 8:25 a.m., I arrived at the Pavilions parking lot in Torrey Hills with my yoga mat and water bottle in hand. However, my stuffy, early morning brain was unable to read Google Maps correctly, and I ended up sluggishly walking around the strip mall in search for the yoga studio.

I am not going to lie, when the front desk clerk at the Carmel Valley Yoga Six told me

VibeFlow Yoga is in a quaint building nestled into a corner of One Paseo. I walked in to find the typical yoga environment: a clean, minimal aesthetic. However, when I entered the initial class briefing that described what would happen during the session, the typical yoga studio vibe was peeled back to reveal the high tech, innovative reality of VibeFlow.

I went into this class thinking I was going to receive the type of yoga lessons that I had experienced in middle school P.E.: a group of 50 kids struggling to hold poses while my concerned teacher tried her best to correct our positions. Instead, I encountered vibrating plates and glowing noise cancelling headphones.

Your confusion in reading that last sentence was exactly what I experienced when I saw the real thing. The studio had two rooms equipped with 20 plates that went under a yoga mat. Ten minutes into the class, the

Located on the second floor of an office building in the Beachside Del Mar shopping center, this small studio features a waiting room filled with mats, cubbies, magazines and even CBD dog treats. I signed up for the class on their website and decided to buy a $25 dropin session for their beginners class, Hatha 1, a gentle and typically easier form of yoga Once I arrived for the 6:00 p.m. class I signed in and rented a yoga mat for $2. Then I entered the studio room with six other adults and followed their lead in grabbing a blanket, strap and yoga blocks. I had no idea what these were for, but caught on quickly once the class began. The teacher turned off the lights, lit candles and put on the type of music one would expect to hear at a yoga studio.

It was weird to be the only teenager among six middle-aged women and bald men, but once I got into the yoga, I only focused on myself.

We started with calming our breathing, then went into different stretches like child’s

I would have to come at another time, I was devastated. Later, I learned that the specific teacher for this class that I had planned on attending had a different late policy than the website, which allows students to be 10 minutes late.

Thankfully, I was able to attend a class at the Solana Beach location the next day.

I loved the family environment in the studio. All of the people who walked into class seemed to be regulars at the studio and knew each other and the teacher very well. The instructor was extremely kind, and her voice almost sounded like ASMR. One of my favorite parts about the class was at the end, when the teacher shared a quote about being unafraid of failure while the class was in shavasana (lying on the floor). I loved how there was a sense that this class was more than a workout; it was a way to improve one’s mental health. It was refreshing to start off my week on such a positive note, especially on a Monday night.

The one drawback to Yoga Six is that they do not offer a large array of classes. There was no beginning class for me to sign up for, so I signed up for a Vinyasa class. The class was not extremely physically difficult, and I would not consider the class a hardcore workout.

However, if someone with no yoga experience took this class, I would presume that they would think the class is very difficult. I was familiar with many of the poses and flows we did in class, so I did not feel very out of place with predominantly 50 year old women, many of whom were once dancers, and the extremely buff, athletic men who warmed up by doing headstands. I definitely recommend that someone would practice some yoga on their own before attending Yoga Six. I would totally come back to Yoga Six and, of course, arrive at least 15 minutes early.

by Maya Satchell

instructor switched on the plates so my whole body would vibrate during the routine. The Whole Body Vibration Technology (WBVT) is apparently used to “contract [muscles] 40 percent more than they normally would, which makes us stronger and improves our balance,” according to the VibeFlow Yoga website.

The complete silence that greeted me when I put on my headset was outright scary. To be fair, I have never put on noise cancelling headphones before, but my fear doubled when the instructor spoke into the microphone connected to all our headsets. It was like God was speaking to me with calming, hypnotic tunes playing behind him. It was terrifying.

We got into the poses that even I, a beginner, was familiar with. After some cat, cow and warrior poses, I got used to my environment.

In fact, the vibration didn’t impede my exercise at all, my body adjusted rather quickly.

The studios are ramped up to 80 degrees during the sessions. So, these classes can be considered “hot yoga,” as opposed to the boring

old “vibration technology based yoga” we’re all so used to.

With the inclusion of chair and tree poses, I was ready to throw off my headphones and fold back into child’s pose for an hour. I am by no means a skilled yoga student, and my minimal experience did not serve me well in this Level Two class.

I have to admit the class was skillfully led, and the instructor made sure to give us tips to prevent straining our muscles. By the end of it, I was noticeably more relaxed and a tiny bit more limber. Ultimately, I’m happy that I took the class since it pushed my abilities, with the help of their kind and courteous staff.

The experience is unique, and I would highly recommend it to anyone intrigued by what I’ve described.

by Vlada Demenko

pose, downward dog, cat-cow and some more obscure ones that were a little challenging flexibility-wise. When I heard the teacher blurt out different names of poses, I, a beginner, panicked slightly, but then found it very easy to follow along. As a student, this class was really great for releasing the tension in muscles and deeply breathing, a rare privilege. The stretches were easy but just challenging enough not to be boring.

After doing different stretches for the first hour, we spent the last 15 minutes resting on the floor. The stretching and breathing completely released the tension that comes from hunching over on science classroom stools. We started stretching at the top of the body and went all the way down and by the end of the class, inhaling and exhaling the whole time.

The teacher made it easy to follow. If you’re a beginner, this class is a great place to start.

It was totally worth it to take some time

away from my usual everyday routine and focus solely on relaxing without my phone, homework or other distractions. The studio gave off the vibe of a therapist’s office rather than a 10 a.m. cycling class. And, despite being the youngest person in the room, if the class were a contest, I would clearly win.

The studio offers an array of classes like MELT, Restorative Yoga and Chakra flow that are slower, and Flow, Iyengar and Dynamic Asana which are taught at a quicker pace.

If you are looking for a class that’s more high tempo than Hatha 1, Yoga Del Mar may not be for you, but if you’re like me, looking for any chance to relax, then you will fit right in and maybe even see me there too.

by Mirabel Hunt

entertainment

A18 the falconer

Near the Westfield Mission Valley mall, The Disturbance horror attraction is marketed as a place for thrill-seeking adventurers.

As a lover of the Haunted Hotel attraction that used to be in downtown San Diego, I had high expectations for The Disturbance, since it is an extension of Haunted Hotel. The original attraction was deservingly ranked the best experience of its type in San Diego, with magnificent acting and sets. At $25, $5 more than its counterpart, the new The Disturbance is not worth its price.

The first notable difference between the original Haunted Hotel and The Disturbance is the size and location of the set. The Haunted Hotel was located in an elegant building in the heart of downtown San Diego, while The Disturbance is next to a Del Taco and Hooters. Parking was admittedly cheaper than it is in downtown, but the mazes were smaller and less visually appealing.

The lack of enthusiasm from the ushers before each entrance was an immediate mood-killer. I felt how tired and uninterested they were in their jobs.

The three main attractions — The Haunted Hotel, Kill-Billy Chaos and the 3-D Freak Fest — are short and underwhelming. In the plaza between the attractions, there are a few photo-taking spots, but surprisingly no food vendors or tables.

When my group of 10 reluctantly walked into the trailer-sized venue of the new Haunted Hotel section, we encountered an “elevator” with a zombie waiting inside. The previous Haunted Hotel had a proper functioning lift, but not this one. Crammed into the tiny room meant to be decorated like an elevator, I felt embarrassed for the zombie who was failing to scare anyone. The rest of the hotel walkway was filled with spooky creatures and demons that yelled angry phrases. At the end of the walk-through, the only thing that made me jump in fear was the loud noise from a buzzing chainsaw. Despite the exciting finale, the entire maze was cliched — ASB could do better!

In the 3-D Freak Fest section, colorful neon paintings combined with boxy 3-D glasses created a psychedelic effect. However, since

the maze also looked cheap and low-budget, everything felt like a badly executed joke. The 3-D glasses enhanced the experience, but I don’t think anything could have saved the lame acting and set designs. When my group got lost in the maze, we would occasionally bump into a clown who seemed unengaged and would stare blankly at us. At least we were able to receive some new, trippy glasses.

The Killy-Billy Chaos section was the most amusing of the three attractions of The Disturbance — not because it was the scariest, but because of the actors’ Southern accents.

The concept was similar to the Haunted Hotel, but with a country-themed twist. Yet again, the walkthrough was ineffective and ended with a man running at us with a chainsaw.

When you’re deciding on which scary attraction to visit this Halloween season, I strongly recommend that you visit The Scream Zone or The Haunted Trails instead. While The Disturbance failed to live up to its hype, it would be a great event to tour with a younger sibling or perhaps for some quick fun when visiting the Mission Valley area.

by Miki Vogel

october 25, 2019

As I stepped out onto the colorful streets of Old Town, I was skeptical about the adventure I was about to embark on. For an overpriced $30, I bought my Ghost Tour ticket for the upcoming Wednesday evening.

The drive was 40 minutes and because I arrived 20 minutes early, I wandered around Old Town, which, frankly, I enjoyed more than the ghost tour.

At precisely 6:30 p.m., a man called the “Dead Preacher” began the tour, claiming to have died in the 1800s. As he gave the paranormal backstory of San Diego to our tour group of roughly 30 people, I found it difficult discerning when he was giving factual information or just following through with his persona.

We walked to our first location, the Whaley House. The Dead Preacher claimed that people have felt cold winds and the odd feeling that someone was watching them when around the Whaley House. I don’t and never will believe in ghosts, so I didn’t buy it.

The Dead Preacher claimed the Whaley House’s roof was painted a certain shade of blue to ward off supernatural creatures and a woman in our group fiercely

fact-checked the tour guide and informed us that it was actually used to keep out bugs; it was the highlight of my whole ghost tour experience.

After arriving at each location, the tour guide would give us time to look around and take pictures.

I was eagerly waiting for him to lead us to the next stop; I had walked around the Whaley House once and came to the conclusion it was just a regular house.

Soon after, we walked to our next location, an exceptionally underwhelming cemetery. The cemetery was essentially a sandy patch with a few decorated headstones. Personally, I wasn’t interested in hearing the stories of arbitrary past citizens of San Diego.

A little while after, the Dead Preacher announced we would be getting on the “Ghost Coach,” a tour bus that would take us to a haunted playground.

I was thankful to be sitting down. One element that surprised me was that the rules of the “Ghost Coach” were narrated by Alfred Hitchcock, a well-known director of thriller movies.

When we reached the haunted playground, it was apparent I wasn’t the only weary one; a few kids paced in circles and some adults even began to wander off out of boredom. We reached another set of gravestones and once again, got the history behind how they died.

After 30 minutes of the tour guide rambling on about the history of some random past residents of San Diego, he informed us we were finally on our way back to complete the tour. It promptly ended at 8:00, an exact 1 hour and 30 minutes of my life I’m never getting back.

As someone who doesn’t believe in ghosts or any supernatural phenomena, this tour was a bore.

It felt more of a history lesson (despite still not knowing the accuracy of his stories) than a fun outing.

Overall, the tour ran smoothly but there were no stand-out features that would incentivize me to recommend the tour.

I am more interested in scary, jump-scare like activities but if you do believe in ghosts and spirits and hopefully manage to get a weekend ticket, you could give it a go. I just wouldn’t recommend it.

by Srishti Thapar

Rapper Yung Chrome, better known at TPHS as Ryan Li (12), released his debut album “The Story of Chrome” on Oct. 11.

“This project is all me. It’s my story,” Li said. “I get the beats off of YouTube, but I write all of the songs myself.”

The overarching theme of the project is Li’s aspirations as an artist.

The songs often make reference to big houses, expensive cars and lots of money.

“This album is about my dream lifestyle and my goal of what I want to get from my music,” Li said.

The songs on the album were written as far back as two years ago and up to one month ago, he says. In that time, he thinks he has grown as an artist.

“A few years ago, my music started off being really, really bad, and no one was a fan of it whatsoever,” Li said. “But then, because of the hard work that I put in, I was able to perfect the craft.”

In addition to creating better quality music, he refined his music style, Li said.

“This album has a different vibe than my old songs,” Li said.

“There are still some hype songs, but there is also more mellow stuff.”

The album’s first track and my personal favorite, “On Everything,” is upbeat, catchy and fun, checking all the boxes for a hit.

Another song, “Dance the Night Away,” although fast-paced, is calmer than the others. “We’re falling slowly in love / look what we have become,” Li sings in the love ballad. This and “Zero Degrees” are the most emotional songs on the album.

The title track, “The Story of Chrome,” follows Li’s journey and development as Yung Chrome. “Skrt skrt skrt, if you know then you know,” Li sings, referencing one of his first songs, which was titled “Skrt Skrt Skrt.” “[The title track] has a lot of meaning to me because the lyrics show who I am, where I want to be and my situation right now,” Li said. “Which is being in school and wanting to get away from the stereotypes of being Asian.”

“Not the Same” has a unique, almost robotic sound. It follows the theme of Li’s dreams of making it big in the industry. “Tell ‘em I be in the Hills when they ask for my whereabouts,” he sings.

Whether he’s rapping about nice cars on “New Beamer,” or buying out designer stores on “We Balling” and Gucci belts and diamond necklaces on “Chrome Hearts,” Li is focused on his aspirations to make a lot of money by doing what he loves.

However, this theme is overdone, not necessarily in Li’s music, but in the rap industry as a whole. Rapping about money, cars and designer clothes can be heard in nearly any popular rap song.

Rather than set Li’s music apart, it makes it seem basic.

Although some of his music feels similar to other artists’, he

avoids comparing himself to anyone.

“I would say that I’m trying to start a whole new wave of music,” Li said.

“The Story of Chrome” exceeded my expectations; it’s impressive that a high school student is able to juggle academics and music-making enough to create a full album, and Li’s story of progression depicted throughout the album is inspirational.

“I want the people listening to understand that they can do whatever they want and can achieve any dream they have, no matter how crazy it is,” Li said. “In my songs, I mention getting millions of dollars and being super rich, which is a crazy dream, but I believe that I can work hard enough to achieve that.”

While Li is not planning on releasing more music in the near future, the music video for “Dance the Night Away” is released and the video for “Not the Same” is on the way. by Dhathry Doppalapudi

Brandon Raimo and Nolan Ezzet STAFF WRITERS

Varsity football (4-4) defeated the San Marcos High School Knights by a score of 2118 on Oct. 18.

“I think today we did great,” running back Cael Helfrich (12) said. “We have really been struggling coming together lately, so today’s a huge confidence booster for the remaining two games and playoffs.”

The Falcons’ defense started by allowing a 68-yard screen pass on the first play, but managed to keep San Marcos out of the endzone and hold them to a successful field goal attempt.

TPHS responded by putting together a 8-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a 10-yard touchdown by Marco Notarainni (11). They then forced San Marcos to punt on their next drive, and got the ball back at their own 37-yard line.

The Falcons’ second drive started with two consecutive first downs on runs by

FOOTBALL GAME: San Marcos’ football

Notarainni and Helfrich, but the drive stalled and ended in a turnover on downs after a rush for no gain on 4th and 2. But, their defense managed to get the ball back at the San Marcos 32-yard line by forcing a fumble.

Despite the good field position, the Falcons’ drive resulted in a punt due to a questionable intentional grounding call. Their defense then forced a quick three and out, but got the ball right back on the San Marcos 32-yard line.

They were able to capitalize on the short field this time, with a 15-yard touchdown run by Dorian Lewis (12) giving them a 14-3 lead.

San Marcos was able to reduce the deficit to four by putting together a long drive, aided by multiple penalties on TPHS, that ended in a 28-yard touchdown pass on 4th and 20.

Following the touchdown, the Falcons punted, then forced San Marcos to punt on the ensuing drive, which led to halftime.

The Falcons started out hot in the second half with a 42-

FOOTBALL GAME: Quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (10) rolling out right as he looks to find an open teammate down-field. yard pass to Mo Vanderwiel (11), but their offense quickly cooled down, as they were forced to punt after a rush for no gain and two incomplete passes by quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (10). Punter Gabe Panikowski (11) was able to pin the San Marcos offense inside their own 10 yard line, and a sack by Ryan Rice (12) forced them to punt from their own 2 yard line.

Two drives later, their offense went on an 8-play, 85yard drive that ended with a

A hyped up Falcons varsity football team runs out onto field during the pre-game, ready to defeat the Knights.

27-yard rushing touchdown by Helfrich.

San Marcos then mounted a long drive that ended in a 1-yard touchdown on 4th and goal, and succeeded on the twopoint conversion attempt. Once they got the ball back, San Marcos had just two minutes remaining and fced a threepoint deficit The Falcons were able to keep San Marcos out of field goal range and got the ball back with one minute remaining.

Three runs by Helfrich solidified their victory.

“Big credit goes to my [offensive] line,” said Helfrich, who finished the game with 117 rushing yards on 19 attempts.

“They’ve been working hard all week and they did great today.”

The TPHS offense was also boosted by Fowler-Nicolosi’s 127-yard passing performance, which is much better than his 78 passing yards in the Falcons’ previous game.

“We were gameplanned pretty well. Our guys just got open, so it was pretty easy for me,” Fowler-Nicolosi said.

The win snaps a three-game losing streak, and moves the Falcons to 4-4 on the season.

“I think we’re a young football team that’s starting to figure it out,” head coach Ron Gladnick said. “We’re putting a lot of investment in our future.”

The Falcons’ next game is at home against Oceanside on Oct. 25.

The NFL landscape has been altered drastically this season, and much of this is due to the number of quarterbacks that have been injured or benched due to poor play. As of Oct. 4, 11 of the 32 projected starting quarterbacks at the beginning of the preseason will not be starting in Week 5, an absurd number considering that the season started just over a month ago.

The first team forced to turn to their backup quarterback was the Indianapolis Colts, when Pro-Bowler Andrew Luck announced his retirement during Week 3 of the preseason. Luck’s retirement came as a shock to most NFL fans, since he was only 30 years old and led the Colts to a playoff appearance last season. Luck’s abrupt retirement meant the Colts were left with Jacoby Brissett as their starter, who started the entire 2017 season and led them to a dismal 4-12 record.

The first quarterback to go down with an injury was Jacksonville Jaguars’ new signing Nick Foles. Foles broke his left clavicle during a Week 1 matchup against the Chiefs, leaving Jacksonville’s offense in the hands of rookie Gardner Minshew, who was a sixth-round pick in the 2019 draft.

Minshew has shown great potential thus far, helping the Jaguars to a 2-2 record as of Oct. 4.

The second week of the season was undoubtedly the most gamechanging, with two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks suffering long-term injuries. The first, Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger, went down with a season-ending elbow injury in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks, forcing 24 year-old Mason Rudolph to take over the starting role. The second, all-time passing yards record-holder Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, suffered a thumb injury in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams that will take six to eight weeks to heal. Before Brees’s injury, the Saints were considered to be Super Bowl contenders by many, but their chances of winning a Lombardi Trophy this season are severely hindered with Brees being replaced by backup Teddy Bridgewater for over a month.

Although injuries have been the main cause of quarterbacks going down, others have been benched due to bad performances: two-time Super Bowl champion of the New York Giants, Eli Manning, was one of them, losing his spot to rookie Daniel Jones after starting the season with two consecutive losses.

Jones, the sixth overall pick in the 2019 Draft, led the Giants to their first win of the season in his first start, throwing two touchdowns and rushing for two more in a 32-31 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Another rookie to supplant his team’s starter was Washington Redskins quarterback Dwayne Haskins. The Redskins benched veteran Case Keenum midway through a Week 4 matchup against the Giants after going down 140, but Haskins struggled in his debut, throwing three interceptions without a touchdown as the Redskins lost 24-3.

The result of these injuries and replacements is noticeable; many teams look drastically different because of changes in their quarterbacks, and this will surely be shown in this season’s results.

Ted Li (9) started table tennis when he was six and became a top-tier player at only 14 years old. Seven years later, he is representing the U.S. at the Poland World Cadet Challenge.

It was time to decide the best at the 2019 United States Nationals among all the male table tennis players in the United States under 15. The number one seed, Ted Li (9) defeated all to become the U-15 National Male Table Tennis Champ.

“Finally, the hard work paid off. It felt really special to win something, especially in other countries where we were told that we are representing the U.S.,” Li said. “It was pretty amazing.”

But Li is only getting started.

“My goal is probably making the Youth Olympic Games and also, maybe in the future, the Olympics,” Li said. “I hope I can keep on playing to go pro.”

At the young age of 14, Li has a long list of achievements in table tennis: 2019 International Table Tennis Foundation Swedish Open & Safir International Under 14 Champion, 2016 U.S. Open Under 11 Champion and 2016 U.S. Youth Ranking Tournaments Mini-Cadet and Cadet Champion.

According to Li, his parents, especially his dad, pushed him to play table tennis, and he ended up immersing himself in the sport.

“My dad got me into the sport when I was six, and I really liked it,” Li said. “And so, I’m playing for seven years now.”

After his parents convinced him to play, Li enjoyed table tennis and was selfmotivated to continue the sport.

“I like the competitiveness and how it is fast-paced and moving,” Li said. “Because I like to get things done quickly.”

Once he was exposed to table tennis, Li watched professional table tennis matches. One player, in particular, was his inspiration.

“Zhang Jike, a retired player from China, is my favorite player to watch. He was ranked number one, and I try my best to become like him.” Li said.

With the sport’s fast, fun gameplay, there are challenges to becoming the best.

“Obviously, playing against different players with different styles is a challenge,” Li said. “There are players with unique serve and receive forms who can be troubling to play against. Also, trying to think of a plan for the match and executing it is pretty difficult and stressful under pressure.”

After years of competing against countless opponents, Li benefits from playing table tennis. Even though the sport is fast-paced, Li realized that he needed to take breaks in between points to calmly analyze his next move.

“It definitely made my mental strength stronger by having to deal with tough situations,” Li said. “When I face hardships and conflicts, I started to try and solve them more relaxed. In the most crucial moments, I try to calmly assess the problem.”

Li also likes the partnership and teamwork involved in the sport.

“There are doubles, singles and teams. Teams are two singles matches, a doubles match and then two more singles matches,” Li said. “So you will feel like you cooperated with the team or at least the doubles partner.”

To become the top player under age 15 in the U.S, Li trained for hours on end. On Mondays and Wednesdays, he practices with his private coach and on every other day of the week, attends group lessons with other table tennis players to play practice matches. On the weekends, Li travels to Orange County to play at a club where he can spar with tougher opponents.

This rigorous training is what prepares Li for competitions.

“There are practice matches all the time,” Li said. “But, once a month, the big tournaments come, and that makes me both excited and nervous to play.”

After years of practice and competing, Li finally became recognized as one of the best by winning the U.S. Nationals and Swedish Open. The joy and excitement from finally becoming the champion in a large, renowned competition was overwhelming.

“I was really happy and excited after winning Sweden Open. I was down 5-10 in the decider set in the finals of singles youth14, but eventually won 12-10,” Li said. “It was great to have all my teammates supporting me. At [U.S.] Nationals, I was down 0-3 in set scores and won the match 4-3.

I was so relieved after winning the match, since I secured my spot for Poland.”

Currently, Li plays for the After School Learning Tree in Sorrento Valley and is preparing for the World Cadet Challenge in Poland from Oct. 23 to Nov. 1W. Being the U.S. champion of all males under 15 is not enough for Li. When the Falconer went to press, Li was in Poland for the 2019 ITTF World Cadet Challenge as one of two athletes selected to represent the U.S. in the prestigious international tournament.

For now, his eye is on the ball and also his future prize: winning the Youth Olympics and Olympics. by Daniel Kim

october 25, 2019

Neha Pubbi and Kevin Song

SPORTS EDITOR AND FEATURE EDITOR One of the most overwhelming aspects of TPHS campus isn’t the schoolwork; but the smell that hangs around the football lockers in the boys’ locker room. It’s the smell of years of sweat and bacteria accumulated as the uniforms are handed down from year to year. It would be expected that sports teams, at least, receive new uniforms for basic hygienic reasons, but that isn’t the case, due to a constant strain on the TPHS sports budget.

Currently, the TPHS sports budget is a part of the total funding allocated to the school by the state, rather than a separate budget designated specifically for sports.

As a result, the amount of financial support sports teams receive is based more on the school’s budget than teams’ individual needs, since the state’s main priority is increasing student access to sports across the board rather than improving the school sports programs already in place.

“The state looks and says, ‘Okay, we’ve got a school like Torrey Pines that has access [through donations] to all of this [sports equipment],”’ Principal Rob Coppo said. “‘Do we need to give them this funding when that funding could be going to a school ... that needs additional support.

The state makes difficult decisions in terms of funding.”

As a result of this dependence on state funding, all TPHS sports teams feel the pressure to perform well and endure the burden of raising sufficient funds for necessary equipment that boosts their performance in the competitive CIF San Diego section. “[Funding the TPHS football team] is hard because there’s so much stuff to get,” varsity football and rugby athlete Jarrek Arendsen (11) said. “It’s such a big team. I

Srishti Thapar

STAFF WRITER Eager to play ping pong, a motivated group of students got together and created makeshift equipment to spice up their lunch break. To most of the student body, lunch is the time to eat and socialize.

However, it’s much more than that to the TPHS Ping Pong Club.

Every lunch, a group of TPHS students meet in front of the classroom of a social science teacher, Matt Chess, for fun, competitive table tennis matches.

This is the first year the Ping Pong Club will be official with Chess as i t s advisor. The club is operated independently, with no funding provided by the school.

“I think it’s great. They [ping pong club members] had an interest, just three or four of them to start with and gradually it’s increased,” world history teacher, Lars Trupe said.

In preceding years, the Ping Pong Club used materials like books as paddles and rolls of paper as nets to replace the equipment needed to play ping pong.

Chess reached out to people he knew in the community and someone offered their ping pong table to the group of students.

Additionally, Trupe aided the Ping Pong Club by buying them a net.

“They were perfectly happy just playing that way, without anything special. They would have probably continued to play on a [regular] table if they hadn’t been able

know we’re trying to get new helmets right now … and then there’s always new gear we need, like these [uniforms] aren’t new … they’re two or three years old.”

Football is not the only sports team on campus that feels strain on its budget.

Because we generally serve an affluent n e i g h b o r h o o d . . .w e don’t get as much as other districts do.

Rob Coppo

TPHS Principal The TPHS tennis teams also have a lack of support, since facilities and equipment deemed unnecessary by the TPHS foundation go unfunded.

“Our tennis facilities are far and away the worst in our [Avocado]-league and worse than any we have played on in the entire CIF,” TPHS girls varsity tennis coach Don Chu said. “Specifically, the courts are cracked. Maintenance is rare.”

Administrators are aware of the lack of support teams recieve and also know that the current sports budget only provides for the basic necessities for each sport.

A major cause of stress on the sports budget, however, are TPHS students’ and parents’ expectations of success. They budget doesn’t allow for the expectations.

These standards of excellence drive the need for additional resources that exceed the minimum — a coach and practice facility — and, of course, a larger budget.

to find a [ping pong table],” Trupe said.

Even though the members of the Ping Pong Club improvised with a regular table, it meant a lot to them when they recieved an official ping pong table.

“It was really cool, we could actually play properly now. We were also pretty glad that people actually wanted to help us,” Anthony Chen (12) said.

The once small group of kids soon grew i n popularity.

“Having the [ping pong table] will g e t more attention a n d people will come by, have fun and make new friends,” Andrew Gomez (11) said.

Along with ping pong being a fun sport in itself, the club brought unsuspecting students together to formulate friendships.

“We can make new friends, have fun and talk together about ping pong or any other thing...”

Gomez said.

Chess also expressed appreciation for TPHS and the warm environment that is provided by this school.

“It’s something that brings camaraderie together, it brings competitiveness together. It’s one of my favorite things about this school. It’s just another example of the school being a vehicle for kids’ interests, and this is a healthy interest,” Chess said.

Whether you’re experiencing trepidation about joining a club or anxious about joining a class that looks interesting, remember the inspiring dedication of the Ping Pong Club.

“We have many families [that] have Highest suggested donations, an expectation for the team that we according to the would never be able to meet with our TPHS Foundation state budgeting,” Coppo said. “They want a certain level of uniform, they want a certain number of coaches, they want certain things and they’re willing to donate to pay for it.”

The school only gives each team enough money for basic necessities. The parent donations, the primary source of money for sports programs, bridge the gap between parent expectations and reality, leading to a suggested donation between $200 and $1000.

“No, the [donations] are not [mandatory],” mother of TPHS cheerleader Maddy Nelan (11), Brooke Levis said.

“There is no pressure because everything is all up front … finances are extremely transparent.”

Average donation requested to play A sports program from an area as a TPHS sport (out of 21 sports and affluent as Carmel Valley would not be not including optional clothing or expected to need to fundraise in order to provide for basic needs such as uniforms. travel costs) But, since the state sees other districts as more deserving of financial help, TPHS sports teams end up in a worse financial situation.

“Because we generally serve an affluent neighborhood ... we don’t get as much as other districts do,” Coppo said. “I’ve worked in two other districts where I worked at one school where the football team alone had Highest costing sports in U.S. a $20,000 budget. Our football team here does not have a $20,000 budget from the school — they’re doing it all on their own.”

For now, athletes can only hope for more parent donations to fund their ever-growing lists of needs. Hopefully, TPHS football will have enough money to purchase new uniforms and clear the air (literally) … it’s not really their fault, but the lack of a sufficient budget to support a demanding program continuously striving for excellence.

Information provided by momsteam.com

volleyball $1,050 football $850

baseball $800

$507.30

Piper Levy

STAFF WRITER Governor Gavin Newson signed a bill in late September, “The Fair Pay to Play Act,” making California the first state to allow college athletes to sign endorsement deals for their own profit.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the billion dollar organization in charge of the qualifications for college sports, does not support the bill because they believe it is unconstitutional and is a way for students to profit off their sports.

Senate Bill 206, created by Senator Nancy Skinner at Berkeley, stated that the NCAA couldn’t stop universities from competing since athletes use their own names and images for profit. The

bill becomes law Jan. 1, 2023, giving the NCAA three years to negotiate and make changes they find appropriate.

The bill would provide opportunities to students, especially those who struggle financially. More financial opportunities would include paid coaching positions and charging money for autographs.

The NCAA believes that if each state makes a different law regarding its college athletes, this could result in a dangerous situation for country-wide competitions deciding what is fair.

A report is due in October from a meeting of college presidents and athletic directors, which will include suggestions for changes to the bill. They are expected to ask for sigificant changes to the bill because they fear it will unfairly penalize small and small-budget sports programs.

Need a second costume for your other Halloweekend party? Sick of bickering with your bestie about who gets to be the devil in your angel/devil costume? Fret no longer. This list, customized perfectly to you and your zodiac sign, will guarantee you the best costume at the party. Unique, clever and cute, your costume will not only make for a fire Instagram post, but will also stand out in the crowd of nerds, police officers and Playboy bunnies. Make some memories before mercury goes in retrograde on Oct. 31 and your life takes a turn for the worse.

(Pssst. Feel free to make these as “body forward” as you want. We know you want to.)

You are a daredevil and can be selfish and quick tempered, but are pioneering and courageous. Conquer everyone’s hearts (no matter how politically correct they are) by being a sexy conquistador. They’ll know who’s boss.

Consistent and reliable, you always want the best products and people say you give the best deals too. Thanks for being the plug we all love <3. Just stop asking to hang out, we don’t want to be your friend.

You’re intellectual and eloquent, and always have the answer. But also superficial and nervous, only caring about the letter grades. It’s hard to stop stressing, so embrace those nerves and wear them on your sleeve … become the Aeries App.

You are loving, nurturing and have an inherent need to act as a caregiver. You also pride yourself on being the mom of the group, because let’s be honest, how else would you fit in? So, looks like you’ll have to be the designated driver tonight...

Before you read this, stop and take some time to reflect. You’re arrogant and pretentious - maybe if you stopped taking pictures of yourself and learned to read, you might even be able to make a friend!

But if you insist on being your superficial and egomaniacal self, dress up as your final form, a Cathedral Catholic Don.

You are a perfectionist, but this often comes across as uptight and overly critical. If we had to describe you in one word, it would preachy. This is why there is only one clear option for your costume: a priest.

You always need a partner and companion to keep you grounded. Sorry everyone in your group already picked a partner. Guess you’ll just have to be half of a couple’s costume alone. A singular prisoner, with no matching cop to be found. :(

You embody teen angst. Misunderstood and jealous, you often take to your private Instagram/Snapchats to vent about your horrible day. Unapologetically passiveaggressive, your perfect costume is a “K” text.

You consider yourself an old soul, often saying you were born in the wrong generation. This costume perfectly captures this. You are Genghis Khan. How does that generation work for you?

You are strong-minded and fierce, with passion to spare. Willing to fight anyone who questions you and having no remorse, no one, not even the manager, wants to mess with you. In other words, you are Karen.

Although you are open-minded and fun, you are also overly casual and emotionally detached, finding it hard to make deep connections. People tend not to want to hang out with you unless they absolutely have to or want something from you. And you’ll do the job, about 95% of the time. You are Plan B.

You may be compassionate and comforting, but you are also out of touch with reality and clingy. This is a name you often get called- a baby.

* All content on this page is purely meant to be comedic and not meant to be offensive.