Winged Post Volume 22, Issue 2

WINGED POST

THE HARKER SCHOOL 500 SARATOGA AVE.

PAID

SAN JOSE, CA 95129

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE HARKER UPPER SCHOOL

VOL. 22 NO.2

500 SARATOGA AVENUE, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95129

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2020

Restrictions ease, campus opens for some remote learning options

2020 TALON yearbook arrives for pickup on all-campus distribution day

Campus has been open since Oct. 19

nicholas wei

ON DISPLAY the yearbook on Back to School Day last

pickup day.

REUNION ON CAMPUS Masked students sat on tables set up in the Quad on Monday, Oct. 19. Although over

lucy ge Starting this week, a limited number of upper school students were allowed back onto campus for supervised remote learning in the afternoon, marking another step in Harker’s plan to reopen.

Although over 100 students filled out the interest form to return to campus, only 24 students went onto campus on Monday, Oct. 19. Students on campus were required to keep six feet of distance from others, wear masks and stay in the quad, auxiliary gym and orchard area.

“It would be pretty unfortunate if our senior year was all online, so [my friends and I] really wanted to make the most out of a bad situation,” Rhea Nanavati (12), one of the students who went back onto campus, said. “It’s a nice way to catch up and still be on campus, which is something we really wanted for our last year.”

The upper school began offering in-person outdoor workouts starting the week of June 22, and lower school stu-

dents were allowed back onto campus for outdoors afterschool activities on Sept. 29.

Since Oct. 19, the middle school is offering outdoors dance, graffiti art and drone classes on certain days of the week in ad-

Students and teachers must take a temperature test Parents must fill out a daily survey on the app Magnus Mobile v2

the county remained in Tier 2 for over 14 days. As Harker plans to continue remote learning while offering opportunities for students to visit campus, other Bay Area schools are reopening their campuses and establishing hybrid schedules.

Harker is transitioning slowly to ensure that students and faculty stay healthy and safe while maintaining social distancing and mitigating the possible transmission of COVID-19.

“I think [Harker is] taking a rightfully conservative approach rather than jumping in and making things up as they go along, and [they are] making a point of paying attention to the information that is coming from multiple directions with often conflicting mandates,” upper school Computer Science Department Chair Dr. Eric Nelson said.

Teachers at Harker received additional training during the summer for teaching remotely to enhance their students’ remote academic experience.

Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

“I think [Harker is] taking a rightfully conservative approach rather than jumping in and making things up as they go along” PROVIDED BY DR. ERIC NELSON

ELLEN AUSTIN

Since the school began covering the costs last year, all students will be receiving a book, along with the other materials they were already planning to pick up.

Since yearbooks are being distributed in the fall, Spring Supplements will be attached inside the book. Spring Supplements, a portion that is normally disseminated separately, captures activities that occur during the last few months of school, normally after the yearbook has been submitted for printing.

Due to the circumstances of the pandemic, the yearbook staff had to find new ways to include coverage on events that were occurring virtually. Reflecting the changes that shaped the previous school year, the theme of the 2019-2020 yearbook is “Emergence.”

Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

MARK KOCINA / OFFICE OF COMMUNICATION

SHREYA SRINIVASAN

Last year’s yearbooks will be handed out to upper school students on Nov. 7 during monthly pickup day

DR. ERIC NELSON COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CHAIR

dition to basketball and soccer-related activities. and Transitional kindergarteners attended their first day of in-person class on Oct. 12.

Santa Clara County allowed schools to resume in-person classes on Sept. 23 as

It’s time. After months of campaigning, billions in advertising and countless clashes over policy, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden will face off in the 59th U.S. Presidential election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are seeking four more years of a Republican-controlled White House against Biden and running-mate Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA). The two candidates remain diametrically opposed on key issues such as their response to the coronavirus pandemic, racial injustice, healthcare, cli-

mate change, the economy and filling the Supreme Court vacancy created with the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Fears over COVID-19 with in-person voting have led to the widespread usage of mail-in ballots, complicating the election.

The USPS, under the direction of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, removed 671 mail-sorting machines and cut down on infrastructure, with letters being sent to 46 states warning that mail-in ballots may not be delivered on time in August. President Trump has also condemned mail-in ballots for enabling voter fraud, though no credible support has been found for his statements.

Go to p. 6 for more on the election.

COME TOGETHER presidential candidate Joe Biden spoke

RALLY THE CROWD President Donald

Washington High School on March 1.

DESIGN BY SARA YEN

PROVIDED BY NIKOLAS LIEPINS / RUBICON

aditya singhvi, anna vazhaeparambil, arushi saxena & varsha rammohan

PROVIDED BY CARTER MARKS / THE ROYAL NEWS

Trump, Biden battle for White House

22 • ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 22, 2020 NEWS VOLUME

2 WINGED POST

Survey shows perception of cheating greater than reality Honor Council reinforces tenets and sparks community conversations during Honor Week

Rohan Thakur (11)

“Students can hold themselves accountable [by] always asking themselves whether what they’re doing contributes to a positive learning environment”

emily tan & sarah mohammed Just like previous years, the upper school Honor Council began preparations for this year’s four-day Honor Week early in the fall semester. Starting in late August, council representatives spent their weekly meetings brainstorming ideas and incorporating feedback from past Honor Weeks.

To adapt to a remote environment, the Honor Council shifted the week’s activities to those that are both more acces-

HONOR PERSPECTIVES “At the end of the day, it’s the student’s choice whether to be honest. I really hope that students make choices that they can P R O VI DE D be proud of” BY

PROVIDED BY ALEXA LOWE

Shray Alag (12)

“Without trusting each other, we really can’t function as a school.

These tenets are all for us to build a better community”

Alexa Lowe (11)

“If we believe in each other and know that there’s honor in the community, we’ll be able to share our ideas more and have more confidence in our work”

Austina Xu (10)

PROVIDED BY GARY DING

PROVIDED BY AUSTINA XU

PROVIDED BY ARELY SUN

Arely Sun (11)

“Being in a remote setting is a huge test of your moral compass.

It’s a good opportunity [for students] to develop their integrity”

PROVIDED BY SHRAY ALAG

Bryan Zhang (12)

“Since a lot of our work is behind the scenes, we want to increase school community awareness with honor” PROVIDED BY ROHAN THAKUR

Betsy Tian (12)

“I hope, through our work, students will [be] able to pursue the academic opportunities they want to”

ADITYA SINGHVI

PROVIDED BY BETSY TIAN

MEET THIS YEAR’S HONOR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

“We want to reinforce the idea that honor is still here. Things have changed, but common core values can still be kept”

sible and engaging in an online format by making two videos, fostering discussions during class meetings, creating environment-related challenges and holding an online plagiarism workshop in addition to sending out an anonymous online survey to upper school students regarding academic dishonesty. Full survey results can be found at tiny.cc/HCSurveyResults. “[The honor week] activities are useful to keep reminding students that, despite their busy schedules, some things are more important,” Galina Tchourilo-

Gary Ding (10)

“It’s really positive that the majority of students were saying [on the survey] that they were being very honorable throughout quarantine”

va, one of the three faculty members on Honor Council, said. “You should not lose [honor] in your perspective; otherwise, you lose part of yourself.”

This year, Honor Council rewrote and simplified the Honor Code for clarity, narrowing the original four tenets down to three: honesty, accountability, and respect. The new Honor Code sets the goal of fostering “a safe, healthy and clean environment in which [students] are comfortable learning and exploring.”

Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

E R G AR GA NO N

H AT

AN O HANA L AY

OR LA M

FORMER REPRESENTATIVE OF HONOR COUNCIL

A

“Not knowing the topic you’re struggling with [and] cheating on tests is only going to VARUN FUL OR hurt you in the long run” I

VARUN FULORIA (9)

of students believe that PEER PRESSURE LEADS TO ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

53.6% of students BELIEVE ONE to two people would cheat on MAJOR ASSESSMENTS in a 15-person class Data from all four charts come from an October 2020 Honor Council survey with 728 anonymous student responses

CARTER CHADWICK

N IF

TAYLOR LAM (‘19)

53.4%

FOCUSED Junior Carter Chadwick works on math homework after school as upper school students continue to take classes from home.

sriya batchu & aditya singhvi As classes shifted to a virtual format last spring, many upper school teachers cancelled tests and quizzes over fears of cheating and a lack of rule-enforcement in a virtual format. Now, armed with the knowledge of a semester of remote learning, teachers have adapted to online testing, shifting toward open-ended and project-based assessments.

One method to curb cheating that teachers have used is intentionally making their tests challenging and grading on a curve, preventing students from sharing test questions and collaborating to avoid hurting their own grades. Others have shifted to open-note assessments, asking more subjective and proof-based questions with time pressure to prevent internet searches.

“I feel like the different techniques teachers are using are great because now you have a sense of trust with your classmates,” said Bryan Zhang (12), one of the senior Honor Council representatives.

Certain teachers, especially for certain math classes that inherently involve more objective questions, have adopted dual-camera systems to better monitor students while testing to recreate the supervision of an in-person environment.

Some teachers, like upper school

“How can we expect

students to learn to do the right thing when no one’s watching [if] teachers are always watching?”

ANIKA RAJAMANI

EN

“It’s important to establish a good study schedule for yourself so that you’re not pushed to do something you’d regret one P R O VI DE D day, like cheating” BY T

of students believe that cheating is more frequent during remote learning

“You get out what you put in. So if you just use other people’s work, what’s the point of it? Why even take the class or go to school? That’s how I feel about cheating in general,” Carter said.

ASST. HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

JOHN NEAR SCHOLAR

76.8%

Students and faculty reflect on maintaining honor in online assignments

JENNIFER GARGANO

NATHAN OHANA (12)

of students say that they have NEVER cheated on major assessments

ZOOMING WITH INTEGRITY?

J

“A huge part of honor to me is that people are respectful and honest with each other outside of the classes. I think that’s what makes Harker such a great P R O VI DE D BY community”

78.4%

SAMUEL LEPLER UPPER SCHOOL ECONOMICS TEACHER

economics teacher Samuel Lepler, have rejected these intrusive methods of supervision, instead hoping to foster honesty through mutual respect.

“I like to treat my students the way

I want to be respected and trusted. How can we expect students to learn to do the right thing when no one’s watching when teachers are always watching? Personally, if I watch you like a hawk, I feel like I’m telling you that you don’t have honor,” Lepler said.

According to the schoolwide Honor Council survey, 21% of Harker students have cheated at least once on a major assessment, although only 3.7% admitted to cheating “sometimes,” “often” or “always.”

At the same time, 77% out of 730 respondents believe that cheating has increased in a virtual format.

Ultimately, teachers want to assure students that although they empathize with the struggles and temptations of virtual learning, honest work is appreciated over dishonest performance.

“I get the day-to-day pressures and I get the temptations to cut corners,” upper school history teacher Katy Rees said. “We will do all that we can to help them succeed in our classes, but we are a lot less than sympathetic when students use dishonest ways to pull themselves up.”

DESIGN BY LUCY GE

WINGED POST 3

22 • ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 22, 2020 NEWS VOLUME

In-person activities, classes open across Bay Area

WHAT DOES OUR COMMUNITY THINK ABOUT REOPENING?

Schools implement daily surveys, temperature tests in Darcy system

KR

“I’m probably not going to be taking online classes on campus. It’s pretty tedious going all the way to school and following all the social distancing P R O VI DE D BY guidelines” IS H

Y

ON L

EE

• When asked if she thinks if climate change exists, Barrett refused to express a view due to climate change being “a very contentious matter.”

“Maybe it’s better for other people to go in person because how they learn better, but I don’t think it’d be beneficial for me to go [on campus] and take online P R O VI DE D BY classes” L IS

Day 3: Oct. 14

SALONI SHAH (9)

AL

ALLISON LEE (10)

Senate to vote on Judge Barrett’s confirmation

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett passes Judiciary Committee vote irene yuan

With the vote of 12 yeas and 10 abstentions in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Oct. 22 moving the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett forward, the Senate plans to vote on her confirmation on Monday. With the current Republican majority in the Senate, Barrett will likely be confirmed.

Democrats boycotted the vote to advance the nomination, forcing the republicans to bypass the rule that required at least two members of the minority party to be present in order to constitute a quorum and allow the committee to vote.

President Donald Trump nominated Barrett on Sept. 26, eight days after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing and 38 days before the upcoming election, making this is the closest a Supreme Court confirmation battle has been to a presidential election in American history.

“Since [the Warren Court], even though the Court has been conservative, it’s always really been split five to four, with some moderates in the middle,” said Timothy Johnson, a professor of political science and law at the University of Minnesota. “And if Judge Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed to the bench, this will be the first time in a very long time that we will have six pretty conservative justices and only three liberal justices.”

Whereas Ginsburg fought against discrimination and for women’s rights through her decisions on many cases, Barrett has a history of having conservative views on subjects such as gun rights, immigration, employment discrimination and abortion. Her confirmation would shift the balance of the court further to

PROVIDED BY ANDREA HANKS/WHITEHOUSE.GOV

• When Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-C.A.) asked Barrett whether she believed Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided, Barrett responded that she “cannot pre-commit.”

• Barrett also said that she does not “have any agenda to try and overrule [Planned Parenthood v.

Casey].”

I SH AH

Day 2: Oct. 13

“I’m a new-to-Harker freshman, so I don’t know very many people. And I figure going to campus is a good way to get to know P R O VI DE D BY other people” S ON

Day 1: Oct. 12

• Judge Amy Coney Barrett delivered her opening statement in-person.

• “It has been uplifting to hear that so many people are praying for me,” she said, referencing her Catholic faith.

JENNIFER SANDUSKY UPPER SCHOOL VOCAL MUSIC TEACHER

AL

varsha rammohan & alysa suleiman

SK

TAKEAWAYS FROM SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS

“I really wanted to meet my teachers in person and start establishing relationships because I’m just a social person,” Mia said. “[It] was strange that I wasn’t able to see as many [students as] I was used to seeing, because only a small portion of the student body was able to go back.”

On Oct. 9, head of school Brian Yager sent parents an email and a video, providing an update on Harker’s current plan for remote learning. Because the online learning environment does not allow students to have access to a full social, emotional and physical experience, the administration is working to have small volunteer groups of students come to campus while social distancing and maintaining a safe environment.

Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

E R S A N DU

Santa Clara County allowed schools to resume in-person classes on Sept. 23 as the county remained in Tier 2 for over 14 days. As Harker plans to continue remote learning while offering opportunities for students to visit campus, other Bay Area schools are reopening their campuses and establishing hybrid schedules.

Valley Christian Schools, which are K-12 and based in San Jose like Harker, began reopening procedures for some in-person instruction after being approved to do so by Santa Clara County on Sept. 16.

“We felt it was really beneficial for students to be in front of their teachers.

Surveys that we’ve sent out to our families [show that] a percentage of our families

really wanted to have in-person instruction,” Valley Christian Schools superintendent Jerry Merza said. “Of course, we were always following state and county guidelines.”

To ensure safety, the school implemented the Darcy system, where students and faculty fill out daily surveys on an app regarding their health and interactions to aid contact tracing. Additionally, throughout the day, students and faculty are screened by 15 Darcy cameras that monitor whether they are wearing a mask and check their temperature. If a safety concern is noted, the Darcy system sends a notification to administration.

Valley Christian High School junior Mia Zhang chose to return to campus starting the week of Sept. 28 when the school asked for 250 ambassadors to volunteer and try out the new systems.

N IF

arely sun & sarah mohammed

“Everybody has a different level of risk that they’re willing to take. For me, hiring a nanny wasn’t an option for our family and so the only way I could do my job was to send my kids out of the house, and that was a really difficult decision to P R O VIDE D have to make” BY J EN

MARK KOCINA/OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

AY MUKHIJA

BACK IN ACTION Lower school students run around on campus in early October while under supervision by Harker staff.

KRISHAY MUKHIJA (12)

NOMINATED Judge Amy Coney Barrett gives a speech after President Trump announces her as Supreme Court nominee on Sept. 26.

the right, 6-3 in favor of conservatives. The potential conservative majority as well as Barrett’s views have raised concerns regarding abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.

“If discrimination protections get overturned, then I or any other LGBT person could be denied employment or housing or healthcare just for being LGBT, and if she plays a part in repealing Obergefell v. Hodges, then it’s equally possible that I may not be able to marry who I fall in love with,” Ally Tiritoglu (12) said.

Although historically there have been unbalanced courts before, if Barrett is confirmed, this will be the most conservative court in recent history. With Barrett and Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh all being near or in their fifties, the court could stay unbalanced for years to come.

When Barrett, a member of a Catholic group called People of Praise, was initially

nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, she was questioned on the influence of her religion on her decisions. Concerns arose over the extremely conservative views of her religious group in particular. The fear was that the influence the church extended over Judge Barrett would impede her from making her own decisions.

Having been mentored by the late Justice Antonin Scalia, Barrett said on Sept. 26 after being nominated, “[Justice Scalia’s] judicial philosophy is mine, too — a judge must apply the law as written.”

Justice Scalia had conservative views but his methods sometimes led him to vote the other way. Barrett’s past cases suggest that she is less likely to deviate from the conservative decision than Justice Scalia.

Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

DESIGN BY LUCY GE

22 • ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 22, 2020 NEWS VOLUME

4 WINGED POST

Harker administration announced that finals would not be taking place for this all-virtual first semester in an email sent out to students and parents on Oct. 6.

Senior-only classes will not be in session after Dec. 14, the day before finals were originally scheduled to start.

“I feel like this is definitely going to take a load off of my back,” Ritu Belani (9) said. “High school finals [were] something that I was stressing out about, because it does carry weight on our grade.”

Instead of taking finals, underclassmen and juniors will be required to attend classes from Dec. 15 to Dec. 18 while seniors are “strongly encouraged” to attend any classes they may have. Teachers now have more time to teach content without

the pressure of covering all class content before the start of finals.

“Like many other seniors, I feel like it is a little bit upsetting because it’s like this extra week of school” PROVIDED BY KARINA CHEN

lucy ge

KARINA CHEN (12) SENIOR

Honor Council chair and upper school math teacher Anthony Silk noted that there were some issues with honor

during finals last semester. He agreed with the decision to cancel first semester finals for the sake of alleviating stress for students, especially during a time when students cannot go to in-person office hours or study in groups.

“For the most part, students make honor mistakes when they are stressed,” Silk said. “The stress can be internal, ‘oh, I really feel like I need to get an A,’ it can be external, ‘oh, you better get an A.’ But that sort of stress can come. And a lot of that happens at finals.”

Like Ritu, Dhruv Aron (10) welcomed the cancellation of finals.

“I’m kind of happy about it actually,” Dhruv said. “The format of remote learning doesn’t really appeal to me, and I feel like I learned better in person with more hands-on activities. So on top of that having finals, and classes that are already harder than last year’s, was just a pain for me overall.”

The cancellation of finals does not affect seniors, who already do not take first or second semester finals. However, with the extension of non-senior-only classes through the week of Dec. 14, seniors like Karina Chen (12) feel pressured to attend an additional four days of classes in order to not miss curriculum content.

“I have teachers who have already said that they will be teaching in that week, so like many other seniors, I feel like it is a little bit upsetting because it’s like this extra week of school,” Karina said. “The three week long winter break has been something that I’ve really looked forward to ever since I was a freshman.”

Students organize Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initatives Student Diversity Coalition hosts first meeting and LatinX speaker event DEI BOOK CLUB RECOMMENDATIONS

A historical fantasy fiction with an adventure plot focusing on Mexican folklore.

AASTHA MANGLA

Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love

by Jonathan Van Ness

A well thought-out memoir great for anyone wanting to learn more about the the LGBTQ+ community.

AASTHA MANGLA

Little Fires Everywhere

by Celeste Ng

Literary fiction on white privilege and anti-Chinese racism shaping suburban family drama.

AASTHA MANGLA

The Vanishing Half

by Brit Bennett

A 2020 release featuring Black twins, where one decides to live as a white woman, one decides to live as a Black woman.

LUCY GE

AASTHA MANGLA

Gods of Jade and Shadow

by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

FIRST MEETING Student Diversity Coalition student leader Uma Iyer (12) speaks during

irene yuan & alysa suleiman The Student Diversity Coalition (SDC) held their first open meeting on Oct. 16, discussing their goals and asking for suggestions on upcoming initiatives.

SDC student leaders Uma Iyer (11), Natasha Yen (12), Brian Pinkston (12) and Dylan Williams (12) founded the organization to “foster an inclusive community, provide a safe space for students to talk about DEI topics and issues, and encourage students to pursue justice for all and act as global citizens.”

Several middle school faculty members attended the meeting as well, looking to establish a similar organization at the middle school. Attendees also reflected upon the speaker event from the previous day, when SDC and the LatinX affinity group hosted a speaker event featuring Dr. Chirstina Guzman, the Director of the Office of Multicultural Learning at Santa Clara University. Dr. Guzman spoke about her experience growing up in the Bay Area as a biracial and binational woman.

When asked about how a community can build inclusivity, Dr. Guzman encour-

aged students to listen to those who are not feeling included.

“Do the work,” she said. “Be comfortable to say, ‘I don’t know something, and I want to learn.’”

As November, which is Native American Heritage Month, approaches, SDC plans to install a plaque on campus for the Ohlone Tribe, as the tribe used to occupy the land Harker currently stands on.

“We want a tribe to commemorate the people that were on our land before us,” Brian said.

Aside from larger events, new clubs such as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Book Club, founded by Anika Fuloria (12), also work towards efforts to promote diversity. The club, advised by upper school English teacher Dr. Pauline Paskali, picks one book each month by an author from an underrepresented group in the English canon. Their goal is to choose each book with the “purpose of making them fun.”

“We want to show authentic experiences, but we don’t want to show only stories of struggle and hardships,” Anika said.

Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

Charles Shuttleworth, annual Moses Greeley Parker lecturer, presents research for Lowell Celebrates Kerouac

PROVIDED BY CHARLES SHUTTLEWORTH

ARIANA GOETTING

Non-senior-only classes extended through week of Dec. 14

English teacher delivers lecture at Jack Kerouac festival

lucy ge & sarah mohammed Hands clasped together, leaning on a wooden podium in his classroom, upper school English teacher Charles Shuttleworth, who was chosen as the annual Moses Greeley Parker lecturer, presents his research on American novelist Kerouac in a virtual lecture titled “Kerouac: The Buddhist Years.”

Since being granted access to The Jack Kerouac Archive in the New York Public Library three years ago, Shuttleworth has transcribed 230 pages of Kerouac’s unpublished writings, previously traveling back and forth from New York with a Harker grant.

“Because I’m focusing on a narrow period, I’m just able to uncover some really specific and very exciting new information about Kerouac, and I think it ultimately illuminates his craft and his artistry,” Shuttleworth said.

As he detailed in the lecture, which was available to watch on the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac website from Oct. 8 to Oct. 12, Shuttleworth has been teaching “English 4: Jack Kerouac and the Beat” at Harker for six years, a class that involves field trips to San Francisco and Mill Valley. Past and current students of this course, along with a few teachers, read excerpts of Kerouac’s unpublished works in the lecture.

Andrew Rule (‘17), a past student of Shuttleworth’s who took the Kerouac elective and read in the lecture, found the video’s focus on one specific part of Kerouac’s life informative and enjoyed seeing his and his former classmates’ clips featured in the lecture.

“It was fun to think back on that class and those field trips and realize that [class] was actually a really unusual and special opportunity,” he said. “It was very cool to see Mr. Shuttleworth, who I’ve only ever known in a Harker context, as a scholar.”

Multimedia specialist Eric Marten from the Harker Office of Communication, Dawson Chen (11) and Alexander Lan (11) assisted Shuttleworth with the editing of the video. For Shuttleworth, his favorite part of the end product was seeing the video clips sent in by students and teachers.

“They took the time to understand what they were saying and to deliver the material in a way that really reflected the emotion of what Kerouac was saying,” he said. “It was really rewarding to see that.”

“It was fun to think back on that class and those field trips and realize that [class] was actually a really unusual and special opportunity” PROVIDED BY ANDREW RULE

Upper school cancels first semester finals

ANDREW RULE (‘17) PAST STUDENT OF SHUTTLEWORTH’S DESIGN BY LUCY GE

GLOBAL

WINGED POST 5

VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 22, 2020

PROVIDED BY CAMPAIGN FOR UYGHURS

‘Culture genocide’: Uyghur Muslims face oppression, internment by Chinese Communist Party

GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION Over 120 organizations from over 50 cities protested at the Global Day of Action, which took place on Oct. 1.

Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Taiwanese, Southern Mongolians, Tibetans and Chinese

HSHA N

DR. SHAUN JAHSHAN UPPER SCHOOL MANDARIN TEACHER

“It’s really important for the Americans who are generally very ignorant of world history to get interested in [Xinjiang]. But if it’s only of interest as a way to criticize China, I think that’s unfortunate because that’s a disservice to the Uyghur P R O VIDE D B Y D people” RU

GLA DNEY

Donate at uyghur.foundation/donation and campaignforuyghurs.org

D

JA

Sign petition titled “My mother is a retired Uyghur medical doctor. Free her from China’s concentration camp!” at change.org to help Abbas’s sister, Dr. Gulshan Abbas

SARAH MOHAMMED (10) MUSLIM STUDENT

“I would like to see the American public be more educated about Islam. There are a lot of biases even about just the group of Muslims who live in Turkistan. There’s nothing like fact and information to shine a light on problems and perhaps to find a solution” P R O VIDE D B Y R.

WHERE TO PETITION AND DONATE:

icans interviewed in this article chose not to reveal parts of their identity to protect their families.

Upper school Mandarin teacher Dr. Shaun Jahshan believes that lack of information is a major component to the crisis.

“I would like to see the American public be more educated about Islam.

There are a lot of biases even about just the group of Muslims who live in Turkistan.

There’s nothing like fact and information to shine a light on problems and perhaps to find a solution,” Dr. Jahshan said.

Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

S

ED

Demolishing Uyghur burial grounds and building crematoria in their place

RUSHAN ABBAS FOUNDER OF CAMPAIGN FOR UYGHURS

BY

M O HA M M

Banning the Uyghur language in schools across Xinjiang

“The Chinese government abducted those two innocent women as a retaliation for my activism”

“Stories like these are the ones that get shoved in the back of the closet, and that’s why it’s even more important for individual people to raise awareness. I try to do my part through my writing” PR O VIDE D AH

Prohibiting long beards and veils

HOW CAN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HELP?

AR

CCP CURRENT ACTIONS AGAINST UYGHURS

Clad in matching light blue hats, the color of the East Turkestan flag, and dark blue shirts, a multitude of Uyghur protestors posed in front of the Capitol, some holding up pictures of family members taken by the Chinese government, as shown in one photo of the Global Day of Action.

The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) oppression of human rights provoked protests from several Asian ethnicity groups, notably Uyghurs, on Oct. 1, the founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.

The Chinese government has detained between 1 million and 3 million Uyghurs, a Muslim Turkic minority native to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, also known as East Turkestan, in Northwest China, in over 380 internment camps since 2017. While the CCP calls these camps Vocational Education and Training Centers, studies and accounts from escaped Uyghurs suggest that these camps involve forced labor.

Having too large of a family is a major reason believed to induce the Chinese government to send Uyghurs to these camps. The CCP is reported to monitor and control Uyghur fertility through pregnancy checks, even forcefully sterilizing women in some cases. Data reveals that the birth rate of the two largest Uyghur prefectures dropped by 84% between 2015 and 2018.

Moreover, Uyghurs are reported to face constant surveillance through police checkpoints and home searches. According to reports, the Chinese government is collecting DNA from the minority group as another method of tracking.

Beyond tight supervision and control, the CCP restricts the Uyghurs’ culture and identity.

For one protester at the Global Day of Action, Uyghur American activist Rushan Abbas, her sister and aunt were abducted six days after she gave a speech at the Hudson Institute think tank in September 2018.

“I have been writing op-eds, being very active on social media, saying that the Chinese government abducted those two innocent women as a retaliation for my activism,” said Abbas, the founder and executive director of nonprofit Campaign for Uyghurs.

Although Abbas’ aunt was released in January 2019, her sister, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, remains detained. Abbas’ story is not uncommon. Two of the Uyghur Amer-

PROVIDED BY CAMPAIGN FOR UYGHURS

GROUPS AT THE PROTEST

sara yen

DR. DRU GLADNEY CHAIR OF ANTHROPOLOGY AT POMONA COLLEGE

isha moorjani & sara yen Armenia and Azerbaijan have been fighting for nearly a month over ownership of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, or the Republic of Artsakh, with around 710 people dead since September. Damage has also occurred in Stepanakert, the capital.

Increasing unrest led to fighting on Sept. 27, and while there have been two efforts to establish a cease-fire, both were unsuccessful. The first cease-fire, started by Russia on Oct. 10, eventually ended due to each side accusing the other of not following the truce’s requirements.

Another truce was set to take place on Oct. 18, but it quickly became void in a similar way. Although the region is inter-

nationally known as part of Azerbaijan, a majority of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population are ethnic Armenians. The disagreement regarding the mountainous region started after the end of the Soviet Union, and although a cease-fire was declared in 1994 after a war which was prompted by Nagorno-Karabakh’s decision to be independent, unrest has always been present.

The fighting currently happening between Armenia and Azerbaijan could cause a war as more surrounding countries become involved. While Turkey supports Azerbaijan, they have repudiated allegations of participating in the conflict near Nagorno-Karabakh. In addition, Russia and Armenia are allies. The U.S., France and Russia, all members of the Minsk Group, have requested for peace talks to take place.

PROVIDED BY ANDREA SIMONIAN

710 dead in Armenia, Azerbaijan conflicts over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE Remains of Zvartnot Cathedral stand in Armenia.

Nagorno-Karabakh region.

DESIGN BY ISHA MOORJANI

6 WINGED POST

LE S H C HE G

U

W AR I

NATASHA YEN (12) LIBERAL

“[Voting] was really easy. [The voter information guide] was basically everything I needed, and the Internet [was] fantastic to crosscheck sources from multiple political views” P R O VI DE D B Y

YD BA

A E N Y Z A LI N A

BAYDEN YAZALINA (12)

FIRST-TIME VOTER, LIBERAL

M

“As citizens, we have an important function in government that requires us to be wellinformed on the issues and institutions for which we are making O F FI C E O F CO decisions” MU

NICATIONS

KATY REES

AMERICAN HISTORY TEACHER

Mock general election reveals students‘ view on propositions

15

No

14.4%

Yes

85.6%

What it would do: Increase funding sources for K-12 public schools, community colleges and local governments by requiring commercial and industrial real property to be taxed based on current market value instead of purchase price.

17

No

12.6%

Yes

87.4%

What it would do: Restore the right to vote to people convicted of felonies who are on parole.

California currently grants suffrage to those with felony convictions only after they complete their imprisonment and parole. This measure would take out parole status but keep incarceration as a voting disqualification.

16

No

48.3%

Yes

51.7%

What it would do: Permit government decision-making policies to consider race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in order to address diversity.

This would repeal Proposition 209, by which the state cannot discriminate against the above criteria in public employment, education or contracting.

18

No

21.4%

Yes

78.6%

What it would do: Allow eligible 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the next general election to vote in any primary/special elections preceding general elections. If does not pass, current rule will remain: no one younger than 18 years of age will be permitted to vote in any election until they become of age.

KATHY FANG

HI

“It’s so important to educate yourself on all propositions and to really vote up and down the ballot. California propositions ARYA MAH impact us more directly” ES H

What happens to Kamala Harris’ (D-CA) Senate seat if she becomes VP?

aditya singhvi, anna vazhaeparambil, arushi saxena & varsha rammohan

PROP

AK

AKHILESH CHEGU (11) MODERATE REPUBLICAN

PROP

BY

PROP

“I’m not very impressed by either of the two candidates, but I would lean towards Joe Biden because he has had 40 years of political experience” P R O VIDE D

Trump and Biden face off for 2020 election

PROP

QUICK TAKES

22 • ISSUE 2 NEWS VOLUME OCTOBER 22, 2020

LOOKING FORWARD

Background: California’s two Senate seats are filled by Diane Feinstein, serving since 1992, and Kamala Harris, who was elected in 2017.

The 17th amendment allows the governor to appoint a replacement to vacant Senate seats.

Who would replace Harris?

Although Gov. Newsom has not commented on replacements for Harris, analysts believe that the appointee, almost certainly a Democrat, would likely be a woman of color to preserve Harris’ historic representation.

Candidates include Secretary of State Alex Padilla, Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) and Mayor London Breed of San Francisco.

PLATFORMS AT A GLANCE

52.4% Presidential general election polling average in support of Joe Biden as of Oct. 18 (Data from FiveThirtyEight)

82.1%

Student mock election polling in support of Joe Biden from 401 ballots

Address systemic misconduct in policing; reduce incarcerated populations; invest $70B+ in HBCUs

Supports cancelling $10,000 of federal student loans for every American

MARK KOCINA / O OF C

Kamala Harris

Plans to increase investments in American products and companies and generate five million jobs

CLEAN CAMPUS Lucas Anderson (9) stops for

Against mask-wearing policies; pledge to 300M vaccine doses by Jan. 2021

MEENA GUDAPATI

Vice Presidential Candidate:

Create personal protective equipment; expand testing; no timeline for vaccine

Pledged to create 10 million jobs in 10 months and one million small businesses during his second term

ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL

All statistics from FiveThirtyEight

Biden

COVID-19

Denied existence of systemic racism in policing; increase funding for Black-owned businesses

ECONOMY

OFF THE CHARTS

RACE RELATIONS

SINGING IN SOLIDARITY

STUDENT LOANS

HIGHER EDUCATION

Proposed a new budget for 2021 that cuts funding for federal student loan programs by $170B

TRUMP

PROTESTING IN PINK

Against Affordable Care Act; no detailed proposed alternative

ILLUSTRATIONS BY EMILY TAN

Expand Affordable Care Act; protect access to abortion

KATHY FANG

HEALTHCARE

Vice Presidential Candidate:

Mike Pence

41.9% Presidential general election polling average in support of Donald Trump as of Oct. 18 (Data from FiveThirtyEight)

9.3%

Student mock election polling in support of Donal Trump from 401 ballots DESIGN BY EMILY TAN

WINGED POST 7

22 • ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 22, 2020 FEATURES VOLUME

“It’s been like a juggling act” Restaurant staff at The Table in Willow Glen experience financial strain, high stress and restrictive protocol amid COVID-19 regulations

ESHA GOHIL

emily tan

PASTRY IN PANDEMIC A waitress at The Table in downtown Willow Glen serves a chocolate cake on Oct. 21. The Table is now only making around 40% of last year’s revenue with reduced indoor dining capacity and decreased demand due to COVID-19.

BRIAN NICHOLAS

GENERAL MANAGER, THE TABLE [WILLOW GLEN]

Some, like the shifted focus to take out, created the need to buy transport-friendly containers and napkins, increasing expenses on top of weekly mask and glove purchases for employees.

“Not only is it an extreme cost of investment and of product, but it’s also about time and energy,” Nicholas said.

“In this world, we just don’t know what to expect. There’s a lot of mental stress that I think the customers don’t see, and then of course the real cost, dollar-wise.”

Overall, employees at The Table feel more rushed even on top of the usually fast-paced workflow, mainly due to the additional behind-the-scenes work in place to ensure the safety of both the staff and diners. “[Customers aren’t] seeing everything that’s going into it as far as our staffing or sanitizing and all the other protocols that are in place, so it’s been like a juggling act like trying to get it all covered,” Lorenz said.

Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

PROVIDED BY ALEX KUMAR

PROVIDED BY ASHLEY RUAN

“Not only is it an extreme cost of investment and of product, but it’s also about time and energy. In this world, we just don’t know what to expect”

Students embark on at-home culinary adventures, perfect signature recipes

PROVIDED BY DAWSON CHEN

CREATIVE KITCHEN:

Across the Bay Area, restaurants that previously boasted crowds of energetic diners now stand empty, spare the few individuals feasting at spread-out tables spilling out of the interior and onto sidewalks.

That certainly has been the case with The Table, an American restaurant in the heart of Willow Glen. From their hand-crafted cocktail program to their classic savory dishes, The Table aims to not only serve delicious food, but to also bring people together over a warm meal.

One of its defining characteristics was its high-energy environment, which has completely changed with fewer diners and tables that stand at least 10 feet apart. “[We were a] bustling neighborhood restaurant,” general manager and partner Brian Nicholas said. “We’re also a kind of a meeting point, a place where people can come and see family and friends. It’s a part of their neighborhood.”

When Santa Clara county implemented risk mitigation guidelines for restaurants Apr. 6, The Table transitioned to takeout only, before opening their doors early June as restrictions permitted outdoor dining.

The Table has also faced financial strain, with the restaurant making only around 40% of last year’s revenue now that fewer people can dine in simultaneously, a trend seen across the nation. According to the National Restaurant Association, total sales in the restaurant and food industry between March and September have fallen short of expectations by nearly $200 billion. Furthermore, customers typically only see superficial results of changes, such as having to dine on sidewalks or waiting longer for their order.

“I thought that people would be really excited to come and eat here, but even from the get-go you still have people that were going to be unhappy. Unfortunately, sometimes it is taken out on people like essential workers,” manager Alisha Lorenz said.

Behind the scenes, however, the spread-out tables coupled with a shortage of staff have placed a heavier burden on employees, since taking orders, washing

hands between bussing tables, and sanitizing hot sauces, salt shakers, check presenters and more all accumulate in time.

“It’s all an issue of labor. We would love to have 20 people on and make sure that everything is expedited and everything’s coming out super fast, but the reality is we can’t afford to have so much staff on,” Lorenz said.

With the many changes to protocol since March, Nicholas describes the experience as similar to “re-opening a restaurant a couple times over.”

PROVIDED BY ANIKA MANTRIPRAGADA

OF THE PEOPLE Pulse of the People explores a social issue relevant to our community and our time. In this issue, we dive into a restaurant and the situations of its essential workers.

PROVIDED BY BRIAN NICHOLAS

ILLUSTRAATION BY PRAMEELA KOTTAPALLI

sarah mohammed P R O VI DE D

BY AN

STEAK KEBABS

IK A

M A N T RI P R

DAWSON CHEN (11)

KU M AR

CHE N

UA N

SO N

EY R

BEEF STEW

P R O VI DE D

BY EX

AW

HL

ASHLEY RUAN (10)

D

AS

TARO CAKE

P R O VIDE D

BY

AL

BY

ALEX KUMAR (12)

AG

AD

P R O VI DE D

POTSTICKERS

ANIKA MANTRIPRAGADA (10)

A

Essential ingredients: Taro, eggs, flour

Essential ingredients: White wine, herbs, tomato paste

Essential ingredients: Garlic, turmeric, cumin

Essential ingredients: Tofu, chili garlic sauce, soy sauce

Chef’s tip: When incorporating the meringue into the chiffon cake batter, do not overstir it or else the cake will be deflated.

Chef’s tip: Don’t burn the fond, which is the leftovers at the bottom of the pot after searing the meat.

Chef’s tip: When buying the skirt steak, look for a cut without much fat around the edges, so it can be evenly cut into one-inch cubes.

Chef’s tip: Don’t be afraid to steer away from the recipe and add some other vegetables or spices that would taste good.

DESIGN BY EMILY TAN

8 WINGED POST

Painting Homecoming eagles

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHELLE LIU

CAMPUS COMPASS

22 • ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 22, 2020 FEATURES VOLUME

HIGHLIGHTS FROM EAGLE PAINTING

AU

“In a way, the eagles sort of reflect the personality of the classes … it’s a way to show the little quirks and whatnot of each class, so that’s how I see P R O VI DE D BY them” ST IN A

XU

Campus Compass is a feature column that dives into the history and significance behind the places and objects that have made Harker what it is today.

BY

SAHANA SRINIVASAN

FR

E Y D R APER

JEFFREY DRAPER

FRESHMAN CLASS DEAN

“It’s really embodying our sense of community in a physical object ... to show how much our community, our class community and our school community, means to us” P R O VI DE D

While the eagle statues may need to be replaced soon, the fact that they have lasted ever since the start has an impact on the students who participate in this tradition.

“It’s sort of like a time capsule too because you get to look back at all the previous classes and who won this, and how their eagle looked too, so it’s a very memorable and unifying experience,” said Austina Xu (10), a student who contributed to the Class of 2023 eagle last year.

The tradition of painting eagles also constitutes a spirit competition between the classes at the upper school, and each class receives points based on the ranking of their eagle. Although the quality of the eagle painting affects the results of the spirit competition, the real benefits lie within the process of the painting itself.

“I never really care in the long run what the eagle looks like,” Draper said. “I love walking by the painting sessions and seeing the laughter and the smiles. That’s the most important aspect of it for me.”

Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

BY

ER IC

KAL L R BIE R

ERIC KALLBRIER

ASST. UPPER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR

“I really love just seeing the creativity of the artists, and then probably my favorite part is the spirit night when everybody comes together and they’re out there working and there’s music and food, and people are just enjoying and having a good time” P R O VI DE D B Y

KE

Y EN RR

GENSP ER G

ER

“It allows a group of students who are often not as gregarious and outgoing … to have different ways of showing spirit, and that’s my favorite aspect of it,” Jeffrey Draper, freshman class dean and performing arts teacher at the upper school, said. “It allows everyone to feel included.”

The eagle statues that are currently in use for this tradition are the exact same statues that students painted when this tradition first started, with a coat of white paint painted over the eagles after each year’s competition to prepare it for the next.

“If you were to look at a redwood tree’s stump, you can count the rings back and see different stories of that year of the tree’s life” Eric Kallbrier, Director of Student Organizations and Assistant Upper School Activities Coordinator, said. “If you were to cut down through the eagle, you would see … different layers of paint for every single year that students have painted it, … [and] you would see the history of The Harker Upper School.”

J

EF

FLIGHT SPOTLIGHT The class of 2017’s “Frozen”-themed eagle stands on display in front of the journalism room, to be judged against other grades’ eagles later in the week.

Laughter and overlapping voices fill Manzanita and the quad as students chat with friends while eating lunch. Four majestic, bright white eagles stand on tarp in a straight line in front of the round tables with brightly colored paints and paintbrushes scattered around each one. A number of students gather around each eagle, exchanging ideas, and by the time the bell chimes signaling the end of lunch, each eagle displays a variety of unique colors and designs.

The tradition of painting eagle statues to celebrate Homecoming is something that many students look forward to as a way to bond with other members of their class and contribute to a friendly spirit competition.

Initially, students at Harker celebrated Homecoming with stationary floats and displays. But around 15 years ago, Chris Daren, the activities director at the time, developed the idea of painting eagles, and the deans were involved as well.

Soon, Harker bought four eagle statues, thus beginning a tradition that still lasts.

EAGLE PAINTER

“I love seeing it grow and change and become what it eventually becomes because there’s a lot of learning that happens during that” P R O VI DE D

Community reflects on the history and importance of the Homecoming eagle painting tradition isha moorjani

AUSTINA XU (10)

KERRY ENZENSPERGER UPPER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR

Y

B ON ATI U STRLLE LI U L IL CHE MI

PROVIDED BY SARAH ROBERTS

MEET YOUR TEACHER

New journalism teacher finds confidence through skiing Sarah Roberts draws on endurance from slopes in teaching Introduction to Journalism as recent college graduate, joins growing publications department

sally zhu

FUN FACTS

about Ms. Roberts Favorite activities

PROVIDED BY SARAH ROBERTS

Imagine looking out at the beautiful Colorado mountains, which rise high above the rest of the world, covered in a blanket of snow. Now imagine you see that beautiful view every week.

Upper school Introduction to Journalism teacher and middle school speech and debate assistant coach Sarah Roberts, 21, certainly had that opportunity throughout her childhood. Growing up in Colorado, an hour away from a ski hill, Roberts’ first memories are of her being led by her parents down a bunny slope as a four-year-old. Roberts has since moved to the Bay Area, but she still skis whenever she has the chance.

For Roberts, the most difficult part of skiing is not physically making smooth turns across an expansive slope. It is actually having the correct mentality and personal drive and belief in her own abilities.

“It took me a while—I don’t think it was until the last five years, which for how long I’ve been skiing is relatively recent, that I realized that it was the moments when I would face the slope and might recognize that it was difficult or might recognize that it was a little bit scary, and believing in myself to get down that allowed

DIAGONAL DESCENT Introduction to Journalism teacher Sarah Roberts skis the Alps last year in Andermatt, Switzerland. Roberts joins Harker after graduating from UC Berkeley.

me to take the turns sufficiently and not have that doubt in myself,” she said.

Roberts has carried that mindset with her throughout other aspects of her life as well. She had the confidence in herself and her abilities to step out of her comfort zone and apply to be a teacher at Harker. And even at Harker, being a relatively young teacher, she felt intimidated at first, but the supportive community and her own confidence and positivity allowed her to tackle her new job.

Ellen Austin, director of the journalism program who has worked with Roberts this year, has noticed her confidence as a new teacher.

“I love it that she made what is a bold and brave decision to take a job at Harker and to do this. I love the initiative she’s showing in helping to build the curriculum for this new class, and not being afraid to jump in with both feet,” Austin said.

Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

Spending time outside, cooking and baking bread

Favorite food Bread!

Favorite book

IQ84 by Haruki Murakami

Favorite TV show Planet Earth

Goal for the school year

“I’m really excited to become more of a part of the Harker community and get to know my fellow faculty members and students” DESIGN BY SARAH MOHAMMED

WINGED POST 9

22 • ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 22, 2020 LIFESTYLE VOLUME

Poll Worker sriya batchu & michelle liu

and putting up signs. Then, the volunteers spend the whole day helping voters. They only get to go home around midnight after they disassemble all the booths and clean up the area.

“I would want volunteers to be congratulated for stepping forward,” Souza said. “It’s a very selfless thing to give up your whole day for another purpose.

Know that what you are doing helps our democracy move forward.”

Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

HOLIDAYS AT HOME

SPICING UP YOUR COSTUME GAME Here’s a treat for you from last year so you can trick yourself out in ghostly gear and spooky suits

ALYSA SULEIMAN

arely sun

ALYSA SULEIMAN

SOLO CUPS AND SUNGLASSES Nicole Arena (11) and Imogene Leneham (11) wore clothing remniscent of “frat boys” as a convenient and humorous costume.

YEEHAW French teachers Galina Tchourilova and Agnes Pommier pose in their matching cowboy costumes.

Going out?

Staying home?

Maintain social distancing and Set up a grab-and-go candy table wear a mask (even under a on the side of the street costume face covering). for trick-or-treaters.

If you have younger family members who want to go trick-or-treating, try a drive-through method.

Make some spooky treats like chocolate-covered banana ghosts, decorated cookies or pretzel spiders.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THANKSGIVING Don’t attend or host large indoor gatherings, especially if they involve taking masks off to eat.

Instead, host a“Zoomsgiving” and invite distant friends and family to share a meal together on video call.

Reflect on what you’re thankful for, especially in these difficult times.

ILLUSTRATION BY ARELY SUN

Attend a training session

JUDI SOUZA POLL WORKER

IL

Permission from parents and school

GOH

At least a 2.5 GPA

“I would want volunteers to be congratulated for stepping forward. It’s a very selfless thing to give up your whole day for another purpose”

ESHA

At least 16 years old on Election Day

“I want to really understand how the whole system works. Since I’m only 16, I feel like if I can be a poll worker then I can learn more about the system by the time that I’m able to vote,” Aimee Wang (11) said. Aimee plans to volunteer the weekend before Election Day in Sunnyvale.

Being a poll worker is not without its challenges. On election days, Souza had to arrive at 4 a.m. to set up the polling stations by assembling all the booths

ILLUSTRATION BY ARELY SUN

United States citizen

Anyone who has ever cast a ballot in-person has been helped by a poll worker, individuals who dedicate their time to staffing the election.

From checking voters in to counting each and every ballot at the end of Election Day, poll workers play an essential role in the election process. Judi Souza, who first began volunteering as a poll worker in the election of 1980, has helped voters at the polls for more than 20 years, gaining a valuable and extensive amount of experience along the way.

Souza first started out as a clerk at the polls, learning how to help voters and count ballots under the guidance of the poll leader, a mentor who helped all the poll workers accomplish their role. As she became more experienced staffing the election, Souza soon became a leader herself at the polls, teaching new workers how to run the polling stations.

“I have always been civic-minded, and I thought [being a poll worker] would be something to do,” Souza said. “There were ads in the paper saying that they needed help, and I was intrigued.”

Poll workers complete many essential tasks in order to help run the election.

One of their roles is to make sure that voters know and understand their rights, helping to answer any questions that voters may have at the polls. On Election Day, poll workers also guide voters through the entire process, from checking voters in to keeping ballot stations clean and organized. After the voting period has ended for the day, poll workers then complete one of the most crucial assignments for the election: tallying the votes and making sure that each and every ballot has been accounted for.

ESHA GOHIL

HIGH SCHOOL POLL WORKER REQUIREMENTS:

Bring gloves, hand sanitizer Watch a scary movie with family and disinfecting wipes to use and friends. If you can’t meet in after every stop. person, the WatchParty Chrome extension can help.

DESIGN BY ARELY SUN

10 WINGED POST

22 • ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 22, 2020 STEM VOLUME

COVID-19 AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Less traveling leads to improvement in carbon emissions in 2019

Global Reset highlights topics related to climate change and how they pertain to the Harker community in every issue of the paper.

66%

Projected air travel drop in 2020

decrease in united states greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector

in 2020

-20%

decline in u.s. transporation greenhouse gases

surface transportation has decreased by more than

50 % 50 % in over

of the world population

40%

“If we can pivot into using less fossil fuels and jump right into renewable energies, we can continue to see a decrease in greenhouse gases”

+ 21 %

INcrease in Packaging due to the Pandemic

The transportation sector is in decline in 2020 due to reduced travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Rhodium Group, an economic data research provider, the United States experienced minimal change in greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector in 2019, decreasing by 0.3% after a few years of growth. However, a study published in August for Nature Climate Change indicated that in 2020, country-level transportation emissions are within a 20% decline.

Transportation in the Bay Area is also taking a toll due to the pandemic, as fewer riders have led to reduced operating hours and fewer buses and trains.

Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

increase in bike use during the pandemic in U.S. urban areas from March to mid-June, compared to last year’s numbers.

MARK HU

17%

increase in other forms of plastic due to the Pandemic

- 84.7%

decrease in bart ridership from sept. 1 to oct. 15, compared to baseline values from last year

84.7% 20%

Projected Decline in transportation emissions in 2020

10%

Drop in us Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2020

82%

decrease in air travel bookings in 2020 Statistics from www.iata.org, insideclimatenews.org, climateactiontracker.org

... but public health concerns lead to restrictions on reusable goods, causing dramatic increase in single-use-plastics

“A lot of stores have forbidden the use of reusable bags, so they have forced the emergence of single use plastic bags” ALYSA SULEIMAN

Average drop in BART Ridership in Sept. and Oct.

JEFF SUTTON UPPER SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE TEACHER

DR. KATE SCHAFER UPPER SCHOOL BIOLOGY TEACHER

multiple cities have paused their restrictions on single-use plastics.

San Francisco,

which banned disposable plastic bags in 2007, temporarily lifted the ban to protect customers and retailers.

US cities have restricted recycling streams, so

single-use plastics are mixed with

solid waste.

DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, demand for plastic packaging will increase by

+ 40 % and plastic demand in other areas will increase by

+ 17 % food and drink brands like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts do not accept personal cups or mugs anymore

Large corporations like Target and Whole Foods no longer allow customers to bring their own reusable bags DESIGN BY MARK HU & MICHELLE LIU

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MICHELLE LIU

FAST FACTS

-0.3%

mark hu & sabrina zhu

WINGED POST 11

22 • ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 22, 2020 STEM VOLUME

STEM classes try new softwares and teaching styles Students use Pivot, Mathematica and conduct at-home experiments 2020 Nobel Prize winners sabrina zhu

PHYSICS

VISHNU KANNAN

ROGER PENROSE, ANDREA GHEZ, REINHARD GENZEL

Roger Penrose received one half of the Nobel Prize in Physics for proving that black holes can exist and that they are direct results of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez jointly received the other half for providing evidence for a black hole or supermassive object at the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

VIRTUAL LABS Honors Biology students picked up enzyme lab materials on Sept. 19. STEM teachers have adapted to an online setting.

“It’s certainly not going to be optimal. I would rather be in person for sure. But clearly, this is the safest option we have” DR. VICTOR ADLER UPPER SCHOOL MATH TEACHER

“For Advanced Research in particular, I needed to make very few changes to the curriculum because the curriculum was designed from the start to be more flexible,” Spenner said.

Betsy Tian (12), who takes Advanced Research, believes that maintaining interactions with others is beneficial to performing effective research.

PHYSIOLOGY OR MEDICINE

“I think when you’re working on a research project in isolation it does make the process naturally more difficult,” she said.

Upper school math teacher Dr. Victor Adler, who teaches Multivariable Calculus (MVC), has continued to use Mathematica, a tool capable of visualizing and analyzing complex graphs.

“There’s Zoom and its whiteboard, but Mathematica has been and will be for the foreseeable future, the tool of choice for my class,” he said.

However, Dr. Adler has adapted his teaching style to ensure that his students remain engaged in class.

“Where I wouldn’t normally cold-call kids in a regular classroom, I do in remote [learning], just to make sure that they’re paying attention,” Adler said.

Overall, Adler hopes to make the experience as smooth as possible.

“It’s certainly not going to be optimal.

I would rather be in person for sure. But clearly, this is the safest option we have.

And I’m hoping the students seize the opportunity of what, from what I can understand, is about as good a remote program as anywhere in the Bay Area,” he said.

Visit harkeraquila.com for full article.

HARVEY ALTER, MICHAEL HOUGHTON, CHARLES RICE

Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of the Hepatitis C virus. Their work has saved the lives of millions of people suffering with liver cancer and cirrhosis by making blood tests possible and developing new treatments.

CHEMISTRY

EMMANUELLE CHARPENTIER, JENNIFER DOUDNA

Harker alumnus competes in International Math Olympiad

Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing the CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors, a new technology that can modify the DNA of microorganisms, plants, and animals.

Their work can greatly impact the discovery of new cures and treatments for cancer and inherited diseases.

Jeffrey Kwan (‘20) participates as one of 6 students representing United States sabrina zhu

ECONOMIC SCIENCES KATHERINE ZHANG

On Sept. 21 and 22, the 61st annual International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) was held virtually, with Jeffrey Kwan (‘20) participating as one of six students representing the United States. Jeffrey received a Silver medal at the IMO, and the United States placed third after China and Russia.

The two-day olympiad consisted of two four-and-a-half hour exams with three essay questions, and it is hosted by a competing country each year.

The 2020 competition was planned to take place in St. Petersburg, Russia, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was postponed and later moved to a virtual environment.

616 participants from around the world competed with video conferencing supervision. A total of 105 countries sent competitors to the IMO. Jeffrey was chosen to represent the US. Jeffrey has been involved in math ever since he was young, frequently attending summer camps and participating in local competitions.

Dr. Anu Aiyer, upper school math

COMPETITION Jeffrey Kwan (‘20) works on practice problems for a math competition.

Jeffrey competed in the virtual International Math Olympiad this year on the US team.

teacher and advisor to the Math Club, taught Jeffrey and interacted with him through Math Club, where Jeffrey was co-president in his senior year.

“What I observed from his teaching [in Math Club] was how he connected different topics … It’s one thing to learn the material, and it’s another thing to present it in a way that’s meaningful to the other person,” said Dr. Aiyer.

For Jeffrey, a large part of math is problem solving. He has always enjoyed finding patterns and observing his own thought processes.

“I think the most fun part of it for me is noticing when two things are connected. The way I like to think about it is these two things look different, but they’re secretly the same,” said Jeffrey.

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PAUL MILGROM, ROBERT WILSON

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MICHELLE LIU

As the upper school continues in remote fashion, teachers of STEM classes have adopted new teaching methodologies while adapting old ones in order to create a productive learning environment.

Upper school science teacher Chris Spenner, who teaches Research Methods, Advanced Research and AP Physics C, has accommodated his teaching methods to better suit his students, who do not have access to sophisticated lab equipment.

“What I’m doing more of is having them do very simple measurements at home to try to get some experience with that kind of experimental design and work. I’m also adding on a lot more quantitative analysis, so more statistics, more working with big data sets.”

For his AP Physics C students in particular, Mr. Spenner has used videos in order to assist students in learning concepts that require visual aids.

“In Physics, there’s a website called Pivot Interactives … I also make some of my own custom videos of both lectures and demonstrations,” Spenner said.

Pivot Interactives has been useful to help Spenner’s students practice taking

measurements and performing labs virtually. Spenner has kept most aspects of his Advanced Research curriculum more constant.

KATHERINE ZHANG

nicholas wei

Paul R. Milgrom and Robert B. Wilson received the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel for their extensive research on auctions. They also developed new auction structures for products that are not easily sold in traditional models, which have helped consumers, producers, and taxpayers.

DESIGN BY SABRINA ZHU

12 WINGED POST

22 • ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 22, 2020 OPINION VOLUME

EMILY TAN U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

RESPECT SCIENCE Even scientific practice is political in this year’s climate

14.7% unemployment in April, highest in recorded history

8.4 million positive cases and a mortality rate twice as high as Canada’s and fifty times that of Japan. Could they have been prevented? A recent study from researchers at Columbia University estimated that policy interventions could have saved at least 130,000 lives. The study also points out the source of the lacking response: politicization.

On Oct. 1, Scientific American broke their 175 year history of political neutrality to not only criticize President Donald Trump’s treatment of scientific consensus but also endorse Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. If a scientific magazine with an apolitical record predating Lincoln’s presidency has taken such a strong stance on the political schism in America, can science, particularly those fields pertaining to public health, remain nonpartisan?

Ideally, both political parties recognize the importance of assessing scientific research in order to determine related measures of response, and therefore, scientific research is granted the right to transcend party alignment. However, over the past year, political interest has shown itself to trump empirical evidence.

Ideally, both political parties recognize the importance of assessing scientific research in order to determine related measures of response, and therefore, scientific research On Oct. 16, officials from the Trump administration responded to California’s request for wildfire relief by explaining why the request was unfounded. Despite the later reversal of this initial ruling, it is rather alarming that the federal government, a structure dedicated to “insure domestic Tranquility” and “promote the general Welfare,” refused aid to a state in which wildfires have burned over 4.1 million acres and killing 31 people this year. The disregard for one of the most populous ar-

NICOLE TIAN

eas of the nation brings to mind that California is also one of the most reliably Democratic areas of the nation, making it a weak spot for Trump’s voter base and displaying the grim triumph of personal interest over human life.

The initial decision to withhold disaster relief aligns with the president’s previous statements in aversion to the state.

When it comes to national pandemics, are responses any less political? As of late October, the United States saw over 8.4 million citizens infected by SARS-CoV-2. Answers in direct denial of these numbers do not exactly constitute suitable responses to the explosive numbers of COVID-19 in America, the highest number of positive cases of any country in the world.

Therefore, rather than outright denying that 2.5 percent of the population have contracted COVID-19 and thousands die daily to COVID-19, the Trump administration resorted to methods of downplaying the effects of the virus such as denigrating infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci and taking a lap around the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with a president who was himself infected. The Trump administration also understated the significance of the pandemic by discrediting the effectiveness of masks and then promising the arrival of a vaccine before the end of the year.

Although science provides us with factual evidence, political choices frame our treatment of those facts. When the bare results of scientific studies are viewed, or ignored, through a partisan lens, stand against the rejection of scientific practices by choosing those with respect for research.

Questions such as “do those in power deny climate change?” or “how is healthcare regulated to minimize the deadly costs of a pandemic?” become crucial.

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Community effort can maintain integrity of remote learning srinath somasundaram During the first week of October, Harker Honor Council held the first-ever remote Honor Week replete with various workshops about plagiarism and academic integrity. Coming with this fall Honor Week, the Honor Council announced their new more-focused tenets of respect, honestly and accountability, and each of us in the community, students and faculty, was charged with coming to terms with how we individually define these three tenets for ourselves.

Now, let’s be honest. The COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for school make academic integrity harder (and make cheating easier).

In an Honor Council survey with 728 anonymous student responses, nearly 77% of students agreed with this sentiment that cheating is occurring more frequently in a remote setting than in an in-person one.

This obviously isn’t a surprise. We have easier and more readily available ac-

THIS I BELIEVE A continuing project about what students value.

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cess to outside, online resources than we did before remote learning, so cheating on classwork, homework and especially assessments is more convenient.

Going to school through a Zoom frame has given us similarly unprecedented freedom while in the classroom with countless opportunities to ignore class for an assortment of distractions.

The pillars of respect, honesty and accountability transcend the honor code.

They matter without any threat of punishment at all But possibly the biggest test to our honor is the lack of a real, tangible negative incentive over Zoom like there usually is in real life. First, actually catching off-task or dishonest students is nearly impossible. Even if it were possible, the usual threats of detention or mandatory study hall carry no weight over Zoom.

COURAGE

COMPASSION

you have to live with everyday, and being able to live like that, that’s what makes a person strong. That’s courage.”

least some amount of solidarity and companionship in humans, complex societies would never be formed.”

INTEGRITY

“Fear is something “If there was not at “Integrity is key to

Julie Shi (9)

Dilsher Dhaliwal (10)

Putting schools and communities first cady chen

White House tied to 34 positive COVID-19 cases since Sept. 27

nicole tian

eart of Harker

great leadership...it demands openness and honesty. These two traits empower a leader to accept and learn from failure.”

Olivia Xu (9)

We often concern ourselves most with the enforcement of an honor code, because we are wired to react to the associated punishments. From a young age, we’re trained to weigh costs and benefits, so such a drastic shift from a high, tangible cost to a lower one in a virtual setting seems like it should shift the balance in questions of honor.

Yet, the pillars of respect, honesty and accountability transcend the honor code. They matter without any threat of punishment at all. Being part of Harker requires the understanding that a successful high school experience involves these guiding principles.

Simply put, it’s impossible to build a community without mutual respect, honor and accountability between all its participants. This necessity is most evident in our discussions, which are undeniably more effective when we are all present and respectful. In a larger sense as a school community, these three tenets underpin all our interactions. Let’s not let the pandemic divide us inside our virtual classrooms.

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GRATITUDE PERSEVERANCE “Each day, instead “If any of these of thinking of my schedule as a list of tasks I must complete, I try to think of it as opportunities to be grateful for.”

people had lost their determination and gave up, we would not have lightbulbs, airplanes, and many other ingenious inventions.”

Ella Yee (9)

Edward Huang (9)

Over the past few decades, we have watched California’s education system crumble; our basic services, counselors, and teachers have experienced significant cuts and our music, art, and STEM classes have gradually vanished.

Over the past few months, we have watched as our neighbors’ businesses have closed their doors indefinitely and our healthcare services have staggered under the never-ending stream of cases. And despite the massive strides the Black Lives Matter movement has made in fighting for social justice, racial disparities continue to harm our minority populations.

In an increasingly chaotic world, it seems that control is spiraling out of our hands; however, this November, Californian voters will have the opportunity to spur the lengthy recovery process by voting yes on Proposition 15.

Only through passing Proposition 15 can we even begin to repair our broken education system to provide equal opportunities Proposition 15, also known as Schools and Communities First, seeks to reclaim up to $11.5 billion, as estimated

by California’s Legislative Analyst Office, for those who are most in need. As a splitroll tax, Proposition 15 would require reassessing commercial and industrial property every three years at market value while exempting all residential and agricultural lands as well as corporations worth less than $3 million. In other words, the top 10% largest corporations would finally pay their fair share of taxes, relieving struggling businesses and homeowners of the tax burdens they have shouldered for decades.

40% of the reclaimed $11.5 billion would go to a statewide K-12 education and community college fund. The most diverse districts within our state–Fresno Unified, San Diego Unified, etc.–would receive up to $50 million in order to close existing funding gaps and empower BIPOC communities. Only through passing Proposition 15 can we even begin to repair our broken education system to provide equal opportunities.

Meanwhile, the remaining 60% of the reclaimed $11.5 billion would return to fund our most essential services: fire department, hospitals, public infrastructure, etc. I strongly believe that raising local living standards is a crucial step in the fight for social and racial equality.

Furthermore, it is crucial to consider Proposition 15’s ability to help small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only does the ballot measure preserve existing tax protections for corporations worth less than $3 million and home-operated businesses, but it also eliminates the business personal property tax on their capital and resources, further alleviating the financial stress COVID-19 has overwhelmed them with.

I work with a dedicated and passionate team to organize and mobilize youth like me around the Proposition 15 ballot initiative. Students can sway and do sway the opinions of voters through fervent demonstrations and simple conversations.

The call for racial, social, and economic equity has never rung more clear, and we must answer it now. I urge you to join me in supporting Proposition 15 this November.

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DESIGN BY NICOLE TIAN

WINGED POST 13

22 • ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 22, 2020 OPINION VOLUME

OUSTING TRUMP THE ONLY CHOICE EDITORIAL: THE OFFICIAL OPINION OF THE WINGED POST

Over 221,000 Americans dead from coronavirus. The killing of unarmed Black men and women prompting protests across the nation. Unemployment shooting up to 14.7% in April. Leaders are defined by their challenges; in the face of historic emergencies, Trump’s inadequate policies have highlighted the need for a change in the White House.

As teenagers, the majority of us cannot vote this time. But effectively all of us will be able to vote in 2024, and this election will have consequences far beyond the immediate future.

In the spring, coronavirus cases skyrocketed across the nation. Trump has continued to downplay the impact of the virus, holding campaign rallies even after the president tested positive. While Trump has criticized measures such as masks and the necessity of testing, Biden promised to heed the advice of the scientific community, planning to rejoin the World Health Organization.

Visit The Winged Post online at www.harkeraquila.com Follow us on instagram with the handle @harkeraquila The Winged Post is published every four to six weeks except during vacations by the Journalism: Newspaper Concentration and Advanced Journalism: Newspaper Concentration courses at Harker’s upper school, 500 Saratoga Ave., San Jose, California 95129.

The Winged Post staff will publish features, editorials, news, sports and STEM articles in an unbiased and professional manner and serve as a public forum for the students of The Harker School. Editorials represent the official opinions of The Winged Post. Opinions and letters represent the personal viewpoints of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Winged Post. All content decisions are made by student editors, and the content of The Winged Post in no way reflects the official policy of The Harker School. The opinions expressed in this publication reflect those of the student writers and not the Harker board, administration, faculty or adviser.

Letters to the Editor may be submitted to Manzanita 70 or emailed to wingedpost2020@gmail.com and must be signed, legible and concise. The staff reserves the right to edit letters to conform to Post style. Baseless accusations, insults, libelous statements, obscenities and letters that call for a disruption of the school day will not be considered for publication. Letters sent to The Winged Post will be published at the discretion of the editorial staff.

The Winged Post is the official student newspaper of Harker’s upper school and is distributed free of cost to students.

2018-2019 NSPA Pacemaker 2017-2018 NSPA Pacemaker 2017-2018 NSPA Best-in-show publication 2017-2018 Gold Crown-winning publication 2016-2017 NSPA Pacemaker Finalist 2016-2017 Silver Crown-winning publication 2015-2016 Gold Crown-winning publication

OUR GENERATION’S NEXT STEP: PROPOSITION 18 We are running out of time, year by year, month by month.

The world we inherit is shaped by the decisions and problems of previous elections. For a generation watching as the climate rapidly fluctuates and the ocean creeps into cities, we don’t have the luxury to wait.

For the first month of school, we woke up to dim orange skies and the smell of smoke in the air. Some of us packed bags for evacuation, others faced permanent loss and the unforgiving raze of wildfires. California’s fire season this fall was a direct consequence of global warming, and students and older generations both faced the unprecedented damage.

As the Arctic Ice shrinks and global emissions increase, politicians fail to even come to a consensus on the real existence of climate change. It took a 16-year-old activist and global climate strikes led by members of our age demographic for many to even realize the need to reduce emissions by 55% before 2030 in order to prevent irreversible damage to our planet.

18 of 50 states have already implemented measures to allow 17-year-old citizens to vote in the primary elections if they turn 18 by time of the general election deadline. Those eligible to vote in the general election should also be provided with the right to determine which names

EDITORIAL: THE OFFICIAL OPINION OF THE WINGED POST ILLUSTRATION BY ARELY SUN

Aquila A&E Editor Alysa Suleiman Aquila Sports Team Vishnu Kannan Kushal Shah Muthu Panchanatham Saurav Tewari Humans of Harker Editor Saloni Shah Humans of Harker Managing Editors Erica Cai Esha Gohil Humans of Harker Team Nicholas Wei Sally Zhu Reporters Arjun Barrett Aastha Mangla Sriya Batchu Dilsher Dhaliwal Anmol Velagapudi

ILLUSTRATIONS BY NICOLE TIAN

Aquila Managing Editors Arushi Saxena Aditya Singhvi

Closer to home in Silicon Valley, where the technology industry employs those working on H-1B visas, the Trump administration’s June suspension of an array of work visas cuts off a crucial immigration pipeline. Beyond consequences for large tech companies, the suspension poses a far more immediate threat to families who have built lives in the United States.

With the murder of George Floyd in May, Black Lives Matter protests began across the nation with millions taking to the streets to demand police reform.

Biden responded with a video calling for racial justice, expressing his condolences for Floyd’s death. Trump deemed protesters “thugs” for speaking out against systemic racism and failed to denounce white power groups — telling them to “stand back and stand by” — in front of an international audience.

President Trump’s disregard for the weight of his words has eroded trust in our nation’s democracy. Faced with crises, he has repeatedly sown partisan disorder rather than providing the stable leadership that the country needs.To be sure, Biden is not a perfect candidate, but his years of political experience and concrete plans compel us to give him a shot.

Although it might appear like two white males running against each other in this election, it’s not just about him: it’s about her. As the first woman of color on a major ticket, vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris represents a changing American demographic reflected in our own school community.

To us, there is a clear choice on Nov. 3. We cannot afford to sit back and watch.

No matter the results, remain politically active and campaign for steady, rational leadership over partisan politics. And if you can, cast a vote that would not allow Trump to return. Pick the better candidate, and vote for Joe Biden in the general election.

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appear on the ballot in the first place.

If we are engaged enough to march in the streets and lead national movements such as March for Our Lives, why not bring that acute awareness to polling stations and ballots? After all, power to elect public policy that shapes our present and sets a precedent for our future lies in voting.

We are taught that the number 18 separates adult from child, active member of society from bystander. So in the meanwhile, we call our local representatives, take to the streets and express our opinions. But our most basic right as a citizen, our most direct voice of expression, is cut off until we cross an invisible and intangible threshold.

Our generation understands and utilizes the fastest and most effective methods of communication, and we do not hesitate to continue. As students, we are also rightful members of society and part of a generation finely in tune with current issues. Voting is only a natural extension of our duty towards civic participation.

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200,000 statewide voters who were eligible in 2016 and 2018

18

states have implemented the same measure DESIGN BY NICOLE TIAN

ILLUSTRATIONS BY NICOLE TIAN

Editors-in-Chief Arya Maheshwari Sara Yen Managing Editor Srinath Somasundaram News Editor Lucy Ge Assistant News Editor Isha Moorjani Features Editor & Graphic Designer Emily Tan Assistant Features Editor Sarah Mohammed Lifestyle Editor & Social Media Editor & Graphic Designer Arely Sun Opinion Editor & Graphic Designer Nicole Tian STEM Editor Mark Hu Assistant STEM Editor Sabrina Zhu Sports Editors Vishnu Kannan Muthu Panchanatham Photo Editor Esha Gohil Multimedia Editors Michael Eng Irene Yuan Design Editor Michelle Liu Adviser Ellen Austin, MJE Aquila Editor-in-Chiefs Varsha Rammohan Anna Vazhaeparambil

14 WINGED POST

SPORTS

VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 22, 2020

DANCING AT DAWN

The APEX repeater profiles Harker athletes who compete at the highest level in their respective sports. This installment of APEX features junior Alice Feng’s journey to rediscover her love for skating.

ON A STAGE OF ICE

Alice Feng rediscovers her love for figure skating

PROVIDED BY ALICE FENG

PROVIDED BY ALICE FENG

anna vazhaeparambil

ART ON ICE

If there’s one thing Alice Feng (11) has learned after nearly ten years of figure skating, it’s how to wake up early in the morning.

Driving into the Solar4America Ice parking lot at 5:20 a.m. on Labor Day, she’s up and moving on the ice before the sun has even risen. From an outsider’s perspective, the skating rink is a flurry of motion, filled with the sounds of blades scraping the ice and skaters zooming past. Alice compares the feeling of wind blowing against her face and her stomach dropping during each jump to riding a roller coaster. She craves the rush and the speed, which come so naturally.

“When you skate long enough, the skates become a part of your body,” she said. “It’s really exciting when you get into a spin in the right position, and it just keeps going. You don’t even have to try that hard for it to get really fast.”

Alice first joined the world of figure skating when she was six years old, after a trip to an ice rink in Sacramento with friends piqued her interest in the sport.

She signed up for a lesson soon after and has been training regularly ever since. As a senior lady skater, she’s part of the most advanced group in her category and competes with Olympic-level athletes. But her journey thus far hasn’t been easy.

When high school began, it became more challenging for Alice to keep prioritizing her sport. In addition to the demanding schedule, skating affected other aspects of her lifestyle too. She admits that it’s important for skaters to maintain their

weight: while they need the strength to perform the jumps, they also need to be light enough to make all the rotations before landing. For her, the weight requirements brought additional pressure.

“While my coaches personally haven’t ever been incredibly strict about my diet, I’ve always felt the expectation that I have to maintain my weight, or lose weight if I go over the desired amount,” Alice said. “These past few years, I’ve had to watch what I’m eating a lot, and it’s made it difficult to enjoy the sport as much.”

With all of these factors, Alice’s sophomore year became overwhelming, to the point where she was considering quitting the sport. In fact, for a brief period of time, skating did leave her life, when she was no longer training in March after her rink closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But what seemed to mark the end of her career actually became a turning point instead. When Alice stepped back into the rink three months later, she rediscovered her love for the sport through the joy she felt from the simple action of skating.

“It was really fun to be able to go through all the spins [and jumps]. I realized how much figure skating means to me,” she said. “Going back on the ice [after a long break] taught me not to take it for granted.”

Alice’s journey through skating, from almost quitting to now pushing for change in her community, is ultimately a reflection of how she masters a new trick on the ice. She’s had falls and setbacks, but she’s grown from these incidents and come back even stronger.

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The NBA GOAT Debate

A question for the ages: LeBron or Jordan?

MICHAEL JORDAN

nba championships

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHELLE LIU

wins - losses

6x nba champion 5x finals mvp 5x league mvp 14x all-star 10X scoring leader

15

total

10 total

4-6

wins - losses

NUMBER OF SEASONS PLAYED

17

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHELLE LIU

6-0 6

LEBRON JAMES

& counting kushal shah

Regardless of which generation a person is from, regardless of whether they are a basketball fan or not, ask anybody who Michael Jordan or LeBron James are, and they certainly won’t hesitate to tell you that they are two of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Obviously, MJ and LeBron are two NBA players for the ages, but there can only be one greatest player of all time (GOAT). But before I name who I think is the GOAT, let me slow it down a bit and first dissect some of the most significant metrics that solidify a player as the basketball GOAT. Ready? Let’s dive right in.

So first up, we have the champion-

ship rings comparison. On one hand, we have Michael Jordan who went 6-0 in his NBA Finals appearances. Meanwhile, on the other hand, LeBron James has gone 4-6 of his Finals appearances.

Now at first glance, MJ easily takes the crown on this metric, but I just think we wouldn’t be doing LeBron justice if we failed to acknowledge that LeBron has not only made the Finals four more times than Jordan but has also gotten to the Finals on three different teams and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Even better for him, don’t forget how LeBron came back from down 3-1 to steal the championship from the historic Dubs team that broke the record for most wins in a season.

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4x nba champion 4x finals mvp 4x league mvp 16x all-star 16x all-nba selection

DESIGN BY VISHNU KANNAN, MUTHU PANCHANATHAM, AND MICHELLE LIU

SPORTS

WINGED POST 15

VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 22, 2020

Facing off across the virtual board

PROVIDED

BY

D

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CHESS TERMS

O N C HEN

Online chess becomes increasingly popular during quarantine

Castle

DAWSON CHEN (11) JUNIOR CLASS PRESIDENT “People received [the junior chess tournament] well.

We got a lot of positive feedback.”

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P R O VI D E D

BY

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With online chess, enthusiasts can set up matches with players across the globe and then find another opponent immediately after their match has finished. Most Students use Lichess or Chess.com to play for free. These platforms offer a variety of game options, such as streamed games, tutorials and game lobbies.

“Reach out of your comfort zone.

SEASONS DEFERRED

Seniors weigh in on hopes and dreams for last year of school sports

A

AM ATH

VIJAY VIYAS (12) FOOTBALL

“I’m super excited to get out with the guys for our senior season. We’ve had really good chemistry with our seniors, so being able to go out and compete and MUTHU PA have fun, I think that N will be the best thing ever.”

ARJUN VIRMANI (12) BASKETBALL

Jock of All Trades returns

AN

IL

IL

AMB AR EP

AMB AR EP

MICHELLE NING (12) VOLLEYBALL

“I’m looking forward getting the chance to play alongside my teammates one more time. I miss them so much, and I just miss playing a team sport and being around ANNA V my teammates and AZ HA coaches.”

JAMES PFLAGING (12) EX-COMPETITOR “To me, chess is one of the most challenging mental exercises because there is always a deeper level you can go.”

CH

“I’m definitely looking forward to getting back in the gym with people again.

I know we’re outside right now for workouts, but it’s a completely different ANNA V AZ feeling.”

H

HA

IC K

VIGNESH PANCHANATHAM (‘18) INTERNATIONAL MASTER

C A R TER C

W

Promote

“Chess is enjoyable because of its community and the mental challenge.

I’ve learned a lot over the past fifteen years. You get a lot of opportunities to play and it’s always fun to win”

D

Black and white pieces dance across the digital board at the direction of two unseen players, attacking and defending in complex maneuvers. The junior class watches through Zoom as a white knight jumps over a row of pawns to simultaneously attack a black bishop and rook. Two voices deliver live analysis to the eagerly listening members of the grade, scrutinizing every capture and check.

The players cannot hear the cheers of their fellow students or the commentary for they have been isolated in a breakout room devoid of distractions. Eventually, the match comes to its final moves with the player controlling the black pieces low on time. Recognizing this advantage, white plays out the game until black’s clock runs out. The players acknowledge each other’s play with encomiums, and they return to the class meeting, concluding the junior chess tournament.

Quarantined by an unfortunate pandemic, Harker students have turned to new and surprising hobbies to quash their frequent boredom. Among these new hobbies is chess, a well known board game that originated nearly 1500 years ago in India. Although students are un-

Chess can seem intimidating because it is often a mind game. One thing that really helped me was practicing with other people and meeting new people,” Ashritha Eswaran, an International Master studying at University of California, Berkeley and the 12th ranked woman in the nation, said.

“You can work together and think of new ways of looking at games or problems. You can make a lot of friends that way.

Due to popular demand, junior class council members Dawson Chen and William Chien organized a grade-wide blitz chess tournament with the winner being crowned “grade master”. After a week of intense duels on Lichess, juniors Alex Hu and Muthu Panchanatham faced off in the finals. With a time control of five minutes, Muthu was able to fend off Alex’s attacks and won on time.

“Over quarantine, a lot of people became interested in chess. They started discussing chess theory with each other and playing blitz games once in a while. That’s why we thought chess was a great way to unite the community in the beginning of the year,” Dawson said. “More people play board games now instead of sports. You can’t really meet people on your teams to play sports. So, chess has become the new sport, in a sense. It’s pretty exciting.”

VISHNU KANNAN

Pin

able to play with physical pieces, there are many websites that give them the opportunity to engage in the intricate game of chess online.

MUTHU PANCHANATHAM

muthu panchanatham

AN

-

ITHA ESWAR

MUTHU PANCHANATHAM

HR

WHEN HORSES FLY

ASHRITHA ESWARAN INTERNATIONAL MASTER “I definitely prefer in-person chess because you get to see your opponent, and there’s just a different vibe.”

JOAT

kushal shah

“For baseball, this is probably going to be our best year to make CCS. Winning the league and then making a run in the playoffs for CCS would be what I’m most looking forward to.”

L AURE N

AN

AN

LIU

“I’m just looking forward to things getting back to normal. Our season was cut really short last year. so I’m really excited to get back into it, meet the new freshman MUTHU and get closer with the PA N team from last year.”

CH

M

NICK COULTER (12) BASEBALL

AM ATH

“I’m excited for [golf] to be during the spring. I think that will be better for the team because we’ll be more used to school. Having boys season at the ALYSA S same time will [also] UL EI probably be really fun.”

NATALIE VO (12) GOLF

ZOE SANDERS (12) LACROSSE

*Quotes are from a video produced by Michael Eng.

From Kushal Shah (12), Vishnu Kannan (11), Muthu Panchanatham (11), and Saurav Tewari (11), Harker Aquila brings you “Jock of All Trades,” a podcast which dives deep into the current news and intricacies of the sports world, on both the high school and professional level.

Typically featuring exclusive interviews with Harker guest coaches and players, “Jock of All Trades” is here to bring you the latest with not only in-depth discussions on the latest happenings in athletics as well as some spicy, red hot takes!

DESIGN BY VISHNU KANNAN AND MUTHU PANCHANATHAM

22 • ISSUE 2 BACK PAGE VOLUME OCTOBER 22, 2020

16 WINGED POST

WELLNESS COMES FIRST.

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11

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DAY 60:%#',#$-+%&$,"#.

14

D+*4%*%.(0-*++$:3-.1*40#3%8*+5%('% ,##1:/&%7('%*%0"*46#%(7%&*0#2% Follow Foll ow Harker Aquila (@harkeraquila) DESIGN BY ARYA MAHESHWARI