OCSA Evolution - October 2020 by Cassandra Kesig

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OCTOBER 2020 we

change

with

you

evolution Features History of OCSA Halloween, Staff Recommendations, Pumpkin Recipe, Gender Horror, Drive-ins, Birdwatching, Among Us, Senioritis, Horoscopes

Fashion/Arts Halloween, Student Businesses

Satire/Humor Extermination, Mr. OCHSA, Head in the Sand

Pp. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8

Pp. 4, 5

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A HAUNTING HISTORY OF OCSA HALLOWEEN

Calendar ACT: An Evening of Cowards - Nov. 7

Elena Levin

ith OCSA carrying out distance learning since the beginning of 2020’s fall semester, the cancellation of one of its integral celebrations has devastated much of the school’s population. Halloween. The holiday that is so embedded into OCSA’s culture that it sets the scene for the entire rest of the school year. The day that every student, whether new or old to campus, is left astounded and amazed. But was October 31st always this exceptional? After uncovering the tales of Halloweens past, one can piece together the history of this acclaimed OCSA holiday. After the school’s move from its Los Alamitos campus to Santa Ana in 2000, OCSA’s culture underwent an ir-

reversible change which was exhibited through its following Halloween celebrations. Although the significance of the holiday had not yet been established, there were inherent assumptions that the student body would show up in costume come October 31st. Stacie Cruz, an OCSA staff mem-

dents dressed up as, Cruz stated that those decisions were heavily influenced by the pop culture inspirations of the time. From "Lord of the Rings" to "Star Trek", OCSA students were likely to be seen donning a costume from whatever the popular movie or TV show of the year was. However, these com-

duction and Design began to incorporate their talents into their costumes, a precedent was set for the splendor of OCSA’s Halloween apparel. Even without a formal costume contest, like those held on 10th Street in recent years, a sense of friendly competition among students regarding the intricacy of their costumes developed, which later extended to teachers. “I think for us as teachers, when we saw the kids getting so into it, it inspired us too,” Browne-Davis said. Without the inclusion of OCSA’s current Halloween traditions such as the “Thriller” flash mob, the costume contest and the pumpkin auction, the first ten years of OCSA Halloween had a particular emphasis on costumes, lending itself to the present-day expectation that each student must come dressed up on Halloween. However, apart from these current norms were other events and traditions that became eradicated in place of newer festivities. One of these included a Haunted House organized by the Production and Design conservatory, held within their conservatory building. Despite its lack of inclusion within the Halloween celebrations for a number of years, as displayed last year with the DMS Haunted House, it may be making a comeback! As for the significance of the holiday within school culture, the commitment that goes into each Halloween, is what sets OCSA apart from any other high school. “This is the one day where everybody can be something different… And for everybody to celebrate that together, to me, that’s what OCSA stands for– think outside the box, be different, but do it together,” Browne-Davis said. Yet the influence of OCSA’s spirited devotion to Halloween

This is the one day where everybody can be something different… And for everybody to celebrate that together, to me, that’s what OCSA stands for – think outside the box, be different, but do it together. ber since 2000, offered some valuable insight into the origins of OCSA Halloween. “I would definitely say that coming in costume ubiquitously across the campus was almost built into the DNA of what it meant to be an OCSA student,” Cruz said. As for what the stu-

mon themes did not place any limitations on the creativity of the student body. As for extravagance, students have never missed the mark. As Sharon Browne-Davis, an OCSA staff member since 2002, described, as soon as some of the students from conservatories like Visual Arts and Pro-

The early years of OCSA Halloween as pictured in OCSA Dreamscape’s 20002003 editions.

IMJ: Lecture Recital Nov. 12 Illuminations Writers Discussion Panel - Nov. 13 ACT: War of the Worlds - Radio Broadcast - Nov. 14 IMP: Junior Conservatory Solo Recital - Nov. 19 DM: Fall Show - Dec. 2

For extended articles and exclusive content by the staff, visit

ocsaevolution.com This month: Lunar Events, Virtual Homecoming

extends beyond the student body, even teachers who used to be more guarded and modest in their celebration can’t help but feel inspired to join in. “Because of OCSA I love the holiday more. I’ve always decorated my home, but I am willing to put on a costume now,” Cruz said. In the face of a relinquishment of a typical OCSA Halloween celebration this year, teachers like Cruz and Browne-Davis are attempting to keep the spirit alive through the inclusion of Halloween decorations in the background of their Zooms, playing spooky music before the start of class each day, and even incorporating Halloween-related lessons within the curriculum! Apart from those small gestures in order to maintain this integral part of the OCSA experience, it is important to find the silver lining. In the words of Browne-Davis, “I just hope that everybody doesn’t give up hope in the sense that even though it’s a different year, we’re going to think now about how epic it’s going to be next year!”

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OCTOBER 2020

features

EVOLUTION RECOMMENDS: HALLOWEEN Movies

"Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit": Pierce Lewis "I liked Wallace and Gromit and it is a childhood classic. As a kid I was kind of scared of the were-rabbit despite watching it like a hundred times." "ParaNorman": Anica Sherry "First of all, it's a Laika Studios film, the same studio that brought us Coraline and The Corpse Bride. The animation is really engaging and beautifully done and it's full of cute little moments, while playfully dealing with topics of wrongfully accused witches and child mediums." "Donnie Darko": James Herde Donnie Darko (2001) is a unique film. I felt weird calling it a horror film, or a halloween movie, because it's genre really is just Donnie Darko. If you're a teenager feeling weird about your life right now, watch it! Or maybe don't.

Music "Winter music... it's superior": Zola Franchi What person has ever hated Michael Buble singing about roasting chestnuts on an open fire or about a spinning dreidel? No one. I have heard people dislike Halloween music and I unfortunately have to agree. 10/10 for Halloween movies and recipes, 0/10 for Halloween books and music. "Calling all the Monsters by China Anna McClain": Jennifer Woo, Lauren Le, and literally every Evolution staff member "A modern classic, she didn't need to pop off like she did but she DID. No Disney Channel original song could ever be "Calling All the Monsters" by China Anne McClain, nor will they ever top it." - James Herde

Books

"Frankenstein": Erick Ferrufino "It's a classic that shows the ego of man kind and the horror it creates." "Pumpkin carving manuals, maybe:" Kai Matias-Bell "I don't think I have any halloween-related books to think of anyway."

PUMPKIN MUFFIN TOPS Lauren Le

Ingredients Ө Ө Ө Ө Ө Ө Ө Ө Ө Ө

2 ¼ cups all purpose flour 2 eggs, room temperature ½ cup brown sugar, packed ½ cup granulated sugar 15oz (1 can) pumpkin puree 1 cup coconut oil, melted and cooled 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt 2 tsp pumpkin spice

The best part of the muffin is the top. If you think otherwise, I may have to show you to the door.

Reviews "It goes right up your nose, the pumpkin. But like, in a good way" Caleb Yang (IA '22) "I don't like pumpkin. But these are really good." Reagan Vallejo (IA '22) "Let me take a picture of them in Portrait Mode" Lauren Le's mom

Instructions Prepare some baking sheets with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Make sure your ingredients are ready to go and at the right temperature, if applicable! Whisk the flour, leaveners, salt and spices together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine together the sugars, eggs, pumpkin and vanilla, whisking until smooth. Stream in the oil while whisking constantly to homogenize. Then, gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients with a rubber spatula. Make sure to stop mixing as soon as there are no dry bits left. No one wants gross, overdeveloped, glutinous cookies. Unless that’s your jam, but I’ll definitely judge you. At this point, the batter will be pretty runny, but don’t worry, this is what it should be like! Pop the bowl into the fridge for about 30 minutes, or even up to 24 hours! The longer you wait, the more the flour can hydrate, giving you a nicer crumb and deeper flavor. It also makes the next step a lot easier. Once your dough is relatively solidified, use a small cookie scoop (two tablespoons also work really well!) to form cute little dough dollops. It feels super counter-intuitive to be scooping batter directly onto a baking sheet instead of pouring it into some sort of pan, but the results will be worth it! Rinse and repeat for the rest of the dough! Make sure you space these out at least 2 inches apart, because they will spread. (To be honest, I kind of like monstrous mutant muffin tops that have no sense of personal space, they have character!) Feeling extra? Sprinkle some fun little toppings on the muffin tops before baking, like coconut shreds, turbinado sugar, almonds, pumpkin seeds, or sprinkles (if you’re a monster)! Bake the muffin tops for about 14 minutes, or until they are fluffy, and the tops look like the crackle nail polish trend from 2011. Let them cool on the sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack for another 10. Enjoy with a nice cup of tea or coffee, maybe even a PSL if you’re feeling basic and craving overkill. Happy fall, y’all!!!

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GENDER HORROR

James Herde

orror movies have been a huge part of my life ever since I first saw “Scream” on TV when I was 10 years old. Or maybe when I first saw “Seven” at 6, or when I saw “The Shining'' at 5, who’s to say? Did I know I was trans when I came out at 12, or maybe when I first heard what being transgender was at 8, or when I was playing soccer with all the other boys at recess when I was 6. Who’s to say? Growing up as a trans kid, watching movies like “Ace Ventura Pet Detective” I didn’t understand why the ending made me so uncomfortable. These narratives were affecting how people, including myself, were viewing trans people. This is seen more in horror films than in any other genre. They’re notorious for their cissexist portrayal of trans-women. Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” originally popularized the notorious “Transgender Killer” trope and it’s been harming trans people ever since. The thing about trans-women in horror that most irks me is that I feel uncomfortable even defining them as such. It’s true that in the canon of most of these they’re meant to be trans-women. But to quote Dr. Lecter from “The Silence of the Lambs,” “Billy hates his own identity, you see, and he thinks that makes him a trans-sexual.” Clarice reiterates this again later “There’s no correlation in literature between transsexualism and violence. Transsexuals are very passive.”

OCTOBER 2020

features If we were to use the factual logic displayed here in “Silence of the Lambs”, I would argue that none of these characters could be described as trans. The most common backstory among these killers is that they were men forced to grow up as women, or projecting onto a woman in their life. “Psycho”, “Insidious,” and “Sleepaway Camp” for examples. This archetype didn’t begin with “Psycho”, but the Hitchcock film surely popularized the “Transgender Killer” concept. Hitchcock didn’t let people enter the theater after it began and viewers were sworn to secrecy about the ending. A similar thing happened later with the 1992 non-horror film “The Crying Game”. This, as a trans person, is gross. This idea that if someone doesn’t tell you if they’re trans means that they’re hiding some big secret is harmful and disgusting. In “The Crying Game” when our main character finds out the woman he’s seeing is trans, he vomits, which is a cliche created by this film and used in “Ace Ventura Pet Detective” like I had mentioned before. So similarly to “Psycho,” I suppose both of those films have created cliches

that are harmful to trans-people. It’s important to know that this concept didn’t come from Alfred Hitchcock’s head out of pure genius, or even from the influence from other films. It started with a lie. Real life serial killer Ed Gein was coerced into confessing that he was trans

Nica Pierce, Cult of Chucky (which he was not) due to some of the gruesome details of his crimes that you can research for yourself. Art imitates life, and after Gein was arrested in 1957, the book “Psycho,” which was based loosely on his crimes, was

published in 1959. Then only a year later Hitchcock's “Psycho” was released. Gein has had a wide effect on horror, with his work being direct influences on many famous horror movies such as “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, “Terrifier”, and “Silence of the Lambs”. Not to mention the influence those films had on many others including, “House of 1000 Corpses”, “Halloween”, “Friday the 13th”, “Dressed to Kill”. With “Dressed to Kill” perpetuating the use of the harmful “Transgender Killer” concept. I would say that the only films that use this trope with any degree of care are “Seed of Chucky” and “Cult of Chucky.” And I don’t think that it was a coincidence that both of those were written and directed by Don Mancini, a gay man. The sad fact is that neither of these films were well received. “Seed of Chucky” focused on the child of Chucky and his wife’s tumultuous understanding of their gender identity. Which, to be fair isn’t what most people are expecting when they go to see a slasher. “Cult of Chucky,” on the other hand has a character named Nica Pierce become possessed by Chucky. Chucky’s plan is to live out the rest of his days as Nica with his wife Tiffany Valentine, who says she’s “fine with that.” We aren’t going to get into that, but I will

say that I wouldn’t classify that as a harmful choice towards bisexual people as Tiffany is by far a fan favorite character. Tiffany is one of the few queer characters in the franchise and she’s the secondary antagonist, but we’re rooting for her. I think the distinction between these “Transgender Killers” is that fans are rooting for these characters. In the other cases I mentioned, we’re meant to fear and be disgusted by the killers because they are trans, or it’s supposed to be some backstory that explains why they kill people. However in these films, they’re fan favorites, even outside of the cult followings for these franchises. These movies are harmful towards the trans community because without a doubt, these concepts in horror movies perpetuate the bigotry that leads towards violence against us. But, even as a trans person, I love all these movies. I’m not arguing that we should burn all copies of “Insidious” and never watch “Sleepaway Camp” again. I saw some of the “Insidious” sequels in theaters and I watched “Sleepaway Camp” twice when I first saw it because I liked it so much the first time. But, despite our enjoyment, we need to be critical of these tropes and as writers and artists we need to make sure we’re not instilling fear towards marginalized groups when we create our stories. As a viewer, think about how characters could be harming the real-life people they’re meant to be representing. Simply put, watch your horror movies critically next time.

A BLAST FROM THE PAST Drive-ins are making a comeback Monica Johnson, Kaitlin Roth, Kira Turk

rive-in movies used to be a thing of the past, something associated with wing tip shoes and old fashioned diners, reminiscent of 1950s American culture.With the pandemic forcing many to abandon certain pastimes and activities, drive-in venues have begun to reopen, providing a night out while following CDC mandates. 5,000 drive-ins opened during the 1950s, slowly declining with the increased popularity of rental movies, leaving only 500 drive-ins open. However, due to social distancing, drive-in movies have begun to rise in popularity. Many shopping centers have been using their parking lots to put up large screens and play many popular movies and classics such as "Grease" and "JoJo Rabbit". Musicians, bands, and all sorts of performers have taken advantage of opportunities like drive-ins to keep working and providing entertainment as well. The Irvine Spectrum, an outdoor mall in Orange County, not only did a drive-in movie but also drive-in comedy shows with comedians like Pete Lee and Becky Robinson. Concerts have popped up at the OC Fairgrounds, The Muckenthaler Cultural Center, the Anaheim Packing House, and more. Additionally, The CAMP, a shopping center in Costa Mesa, hosted drive-in concerts during the summer where local bands provided live music. Danny Hudson (PM ‘22), the bass player for an Orange County based band, Sean Oliu and the Coastline Cowboys, recounts his experiences with COVID-safe venues. “I enjoy them ‘cause it allows me to go to gigs, and I love

being able to play for other people again” Hudson says. However, drive-ins don’t completely make up for the experience of seeing live music normally, with masks, distance, and horn honking as an alternative to clapping. “I’m glad I can still perform but it’s awkward when your mom’s Toyota Prius honks at you when you finish a song,” Hudson jokes. “Still, it’s a great way to do stuff during the pandemic and I can’t wait to see what more we can do with this.” Halloween has encouraged drive-in opportunities,

A drive-in show at the Irvine Spectrum Photo courtesy of Kaitlin Roth with the appearance of drivein haunted houses such as the “Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience.” The events all follow mandatory social distancing guidelines meaning that people who attend must be wearing a mask when leaving their vehicle and practice social distancing at

all times. When asked about the safety of drive-ins, Erick Ferrufino (PD ‘21) said, “The staff were really helpful...and they seemed very cautious of COVID.” These new experiences are not only helping many to find safe activities, but they’ve also served as a benefactor to businesses. According to an article by Chauncey Alcorn from CNN Business, several businesses that were forced to shut down due to “COVID-19-related social distancing mandates” have started to reopen by using old drive-in’s or even making their own theaters in parking lots to “make up for lost income.” This can be seen in many Orange County shopping centers, who have been hosting drive-in’s to bring money to businesses such as local restaurants. Kaitlin Roth (IA ‘21) attended one back in August. With drive-in prices being anywhere from $10 to $120, compared to the 25 cents for a car in the 1950’s, these drive-ins are definitely a positive step towards the income that was lost in the beginning. These tickets may include some benefits (depending on where you go), like a $20 Irvine Spectrum gift

card for food. With this increase in patrons, some places have been able to rehire employees. From the same article by Alcorn, one of the people they interviewed is head of operations at the Bel-Aire dinner in New York who was able to “... rehire staff members he furloughed in March after government officials enacted shelter-in-place orders that decimated foot traffic at restaurants throughout New York City.” In a time where drastic changes have been made to our lifestyle, drive-ins have been a necessary means for businesses to adapt to a world with COVID-19. Not only has this led to a new rise in the revenue of artists and venues, but it has also allowed many to have a sense of normalcy. Most people miss the activities available to them before the pandemic but drive-ins provide a safe alternative to typical avenues of entertainment. It’s hard to say whether the cold will prevent experiences like them in the coming winter months, but hopefully there will be more opportunities to support artists in the upcoming holiday season.

Most people miss the activities available to them before the pandemic, but drive-ins provide a safe alternative to typical avenues of entertainment.

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OCTOBER 2020

arts

EAT, DRINK, AND BE SCARY Halloween in Quarantine

Photos courtesy of: Lauren Le, Haven Hanson, Jamie Lee, Desiree Sturrock, James Herde, Elena Levin

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OCTOBER 2020

arts

STUDENTS KICKSTARTING THEIR CAREERS Jewelry for Smiles

Harmonies from Home Jamie Lee

midst the pandemtheir Youtube channel and ic, many music their Instagram. students were left Although the unable to continue music idea was initially hers, lessons and lost interest in Yun reached out to friends music. Sein Yun (IM-SO that also shared a passion ‘22) believed that children for classical music, and should be able to access her idea was carried out music lessons free of charge by the team members. She and have access to virtual believes that this organiperformances, so they can zation would not be nearly be inspired to continue as successful if it weren't pursuing the arts. for her team. Since March, In March of 2020, the busy high school team Yun started an organization has dedicated much of their called Harmonies from time to filming, editing, Home, that provides acces- and uploading Youtube sible lessons and classical videos, which are released music performances to twice a week. inspire and foster musical While music is growth. In addition to the not a career path that she pandemic, Yun felt that, “Classical music is now heavily declining in modern society, and it is something everyone should be able to enjoy.” Yun's team has contacted local music teachers and schools in order to teach their students about music, because they recognize how hard it is to introduce new instruments through a digital platform. Described by Yun as the “musical Khan Academy,” Harmonies from Home provides students with a list of resources and set curriculum that can be easily accessed through

is thinking about, it is something she will still be heavily invested in, and it is something that she is very passionate about. In the future, Harmonies from Home hopes to become a registered non-profit organization and partner with other organizations and schools to continually provide students with the resources they need. Harmonies from Home can be found on Instagram @harmoniesfromhome, as well as their website: harmoniesfromhome.org

Karli Larsen and Serapina Chung

anuary of 2020, Priscilla Kim (MT ‘21) started her small business Jewelry For Smiles in hopes to raise money and awareness for Smile Train and Black Lives Matter organizations by making homemade jewelry. As club president of Smile Train, an international charity that supports children’s cleft surgery, and performer for their annual benefit concerts, Kim wanted to extend her impact on the community through a more tangible and artistic outlet. She saw jewelry as a perfect opportunity to promote this cause because she loves adding accessories to her outfits and has fun customizing miscellaneous styles without limitations to her creativity. “I was also inspired by my peers at OCSA, especially from Winter Market because there’s so many people who have made gorgeous handmade jewelry, and I wanted to learn how to make it myself,” said Kim, now developing her own designs. For Kim, every jewelry-making process is experimental and exciting; she’s passionate about her business because she’s able to help others while doing something she enjoys while expressing her artistic license and diversity: “I have [earrings] that use special paper, and I bake them in the oven to make it plastic charms. For the other ones, I

use wires, chains and beads.” Kim plans to continue Jewelry for Smiles throughout her senior year before college, where she hopes to pursue new passions and empower more communities. For now, she’s confident her business will continue to foster her vision of helping those in need. Jewelry For Smiles can be found on Instagram @jewelryfor. smiles and through their website at https://jewelry-for-smiles.square. site

Olive Street Collective OC Jennifer Woo

CSA alumnus, Brandon Calderon (MT ‘19) realized that many students from his community had not received the same resources and assistance in the college admissions process that he had, and decided to take action. He reached out to many of his fellow OCSA alumni and community members, and created Olive Street Collective OC, named after Olive Street Elementary School in Anaheim, which Calderon attended. They strive to remove barriers to higher education, and primarily serve first generation low-income students, but their services are free to anybody in need of them. Their website contains many resources and services, as well as peer advisors’ bios to help students match with an advisor. Many of the advisors are OCSA alumni and will have a greater understanding of OCSA student’s backgrounds. “With privilege comes power and responsibility, and [when I heard] about Brandon’s mission, I wanted to join.” said Samantha Horio (VA ‘19), a current sophomore at UC San Diego. “Our end goal is that this

program is not something that will be running forever and ever, because obviously we don’t want there always to be this education gap, we don’t want there always to be this wealth gap,” said Heera Kamaraj (IM-WS ‘20), a current freshman at UCLA. When asked what her biggest advice to current students applying to college, current Chapman University freshman, Iran Gomez (ID-BF ‘20) said, “Use your resources.” Horio, Kamaraj and Gomez acknowledged that they are grateful for the resources they received during their college application process, and that they are thankful for the opportunity to help others through the process. “When Brandon reached out to me, it was just a question of ‘Do I recognize this privilege that I have, and am I willing to take the time to commit to make change?’ and I really wanted to do that,” said Kamaraj. To receive Olive Street Collective OC’s services, visit https://olivestreetcollectiveoc. com/ and follow them on Instagram @olivestreetcollectiveoc.

Olive Street Collective OC peer advisors during retreat

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OCTOBER 2020

satire & humor

EXTERMINATION: X-GAMES ADDRESSING NY'SMODE RAT ISSUE

Erick Ferrufino

ndrew Cuomo, Governor of the state of New York, has recently approved a controversial plan that promises to solve the rat infestation in New York City. The plan was created by former Columbia University Professor, Connor Ellis.“This’ll put that blockhead (Andrew Cuomo) to work for once,” The Professor said, when asked about what inspired him to create this plan. Ellis has a doctorate in Environmental Science and worked at Columbia for 15 years before his termination. According to many staff members, that termination was the result of an argument with the Dean, James J. Valentini. Both men refused to go on the record about Ellis’s termination, however Valentini’s wife told insiders that when he came home the night Ellis was fired, the Dean had a large black eye and missing jewelry. Despite these controversies, and the sporadic insults Ellis gave during the pitch, Governor Cuomo approved funding for the plan under the reasons of, “[being] bored with these lame sustainable plans, [and that] Ellis really has something here.” The former professor received an $18 million grant from the state and began work with seeing his plans through. But what is Ellis’s actual plan to end this rat infestation? Well that can be found on his twitter (@realconnorellis) where he posted a large document detailing

his ideas. The following are excerpts from that document: “So as many are aware by now, New York has had a rat problem since the colonial era. Many have been waiting for our darling governor, Andrew Cuomo, to do something about this, but it looks like in his last nine years of power, nothing has been done! So after months of creating mockups and spreadsheets, I have gone through the effort of creating a three-step plan to

end this problem once and for all. If this plan goes through, it will cost $18 million (assuming we don’t have to pay for labor) and will (more of less) kill every rat in New York City. “Phase I: The first phase will require a trap that will attract every rat in the city into one spot. After some deliberation, I believe that Times Square will be the best place to do this because of all the open space. We’ll need an attractor, or something that will get all their attention. And I think everyone can agree that rats love nothing more than cheese.

If we get a large cheese cube (1,000,000 cubic feet) we can get the rats into one condensed area, leaving them open for an attack. “Phase II: Once every single rat is in Times Square, we can unleash our rat killers. What would those rat killers be? Snakes. Hundreds and thousands of snakes, all unleashed into Times Square, eating rats left and right. There will be no chance to escape from our snakes. There will be no survivors. “Phase III: Now that all our rats are dead and there are hundreds of thousands of snakes loose in NYC, we begin phase three which will be the clean up process of this ordeal. In all honesty, this plan will end up with lots of waste, but since this is New York, it will blend in with the rest of the trash just fine. In order to dispose of all the snakes, we’ll need to unleash another large swarm of animals that will eat the snakes. Hawks are typically found to be the direct predator of snakes on the food chain, so unleashing thousands of them will deal with the snake problem. “After an unbelievably successful extermination, the hawks will fly away, having served their purpose, leaving our ‘city’ rat-free!” The overwhelming majority of New Yorkers have openly insulted this plan, concerning the amount of trash and property destruction it would create. Though many praise Ellis’s bravery to take charge on an

issue that many other public figures try to ignore. Chris Cuomo of CNN (Brother of Andrew Cuomo) stated, “I love this plan! A giant cheese block would be awesome to have in Times Square, and the leftovers from the extermination can be used to feed our New Yorkers and supply our Delis!” Now that Ellis’s experiment has become a nation-wide hot topic, many landlords, property owners, and extermination businesses have begun their own similar plan. OCSA administration specifically has become very

HEAD IN THE SAND

THE TALES OF MR. OCHSA

Pierce Lewis

t was a cool night in the summer of 1985, two years before the high school we all know and love started its first year of instruction, where Joe OCHSA sat at his house finalizing the building plans for his creation. The plan consisted of a multi-building campus filled with many secrets and a soon to be rich history. They included everything from million dollar laboratories to secret bunkers and most importantly a labyrinth of hidden tunnels. Mr. OCHSA never planned on adding these things to his up-and-coming school. It wasn’t until right before construction started that he realized that his school could be more than what he had originally planned. Mr. OCHSA’s first idea was to fix the problem of walking through such a large campus, with hidden underground tunnels. It started out with connections from the tower to symphony hall, but soon grew into multiple pathways into other rooms with tunnels to Chase Bank, the Probation office and even to Pop’s Cafe.

These pathways were supposed to be only for the man himself but in modern years, faculty of all positions use them. There are now hundreds of hallways connecting each building and room, with additions to the DMS, Webb, and the Annex, so that the Deans, Security and Teachers could navigate quickly and more efficiently. Most entrances have been covered up, however there are still some out there. In the DMS, the main entrance is direct-

fascinated by this experiment and made an announcement last week that they will be conducting a similar venture in the Annex to exterminate the cockroaches. According to Board Member Buckley Carlson, “This is genius! OCSA has already started collecting tarantulas and we plan on releasing them in the Annex on Jan. 10th to prepare for reopening!” With the whole nation’s attention, we are patiently awaiting Professor Ellis’s next big move in the world of science.

ly under the Ralph Opacic Statue. In the Tower, with the right key, you can access its main entrance through the staff elevator. In the Annex, the tunnel is all the way in the back, around the corner next to the Main Street door. It’s pretty hard to see because it is hidden under some faux tiles on the floor. Speaking of the Annex, it wasn’t always a student accessible building. When Mr. OCHSA first constructed it, it

James Herde

was a laboratory he used to test animals, mainly insects such as spiders, cockroaches, and flys. He used million-dollar equipment to research how these insect minds worked and how he could manipulate them. He even almost found ways to grow these insects to extreme sizes and do complicated math such as Calculus and everyday human activities. However, a couple of days before finalizing his calculations and experiments, a new student had wandered into the unlocked laboratory. It was a shocking sight to see a room full of cockroaches taking the AP Calc AB test, that the innocent new student had run out of the lab screaming and crying. Within 24 hours, hundreds of news articles were published around the nation. The secret of OCHSA’s secret experiments had gotten out. The Seventh grader was quoted by many sites, stating,“Arachnids were Narrowly Navigating Enclosed X-ray laboratories!”. The U.S. Government got involved and forced Mr. OCHSA to cease these unethical experiments. Within months, the building was renovated and students nicknamed the building the A.N.N.E.X. short for what the new student had witnessed.

Before Mr. OCHSA had gotten into any more trouble with the government, he made quick renovations to the Tower as well. He used his tower office as a work space and a vault, which went tens of miles under the Earth’s surface. In this vault holds Mr. OCHSA’s secret stash of a million dollars and stolen jewelry. Though being paranoid of his vault being confiscated he renovated it, covering up the floor with a few feet of cement and turned his office into what is now known as Student Services. Somewhere deep down under the Tower, there are hidden secrets of OCSA. However, no one except for the man himself, knows what’s truly down there. To veteran OCSA students, this might be all a surprise and to be honest it was really hard to discover these secrets. When Mr. OCHSA died at the age of 83 in 2011, the next year the faculty agreed to change the school name to OCSA to get rid of any connection and correlation to the devious man. Even though he died, it is said that he still lives in the buildings of the school, mainly the annex where he controls the various insects to scare new students out of his once X-Ray Laboratory.

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features

BIRDWATCHING: MY CLAIM TO FAME Mia Soumbasakis

he bird lady appears like some determined lollygagger in flared jeans and a tank top from a lollipop store that says “suck it.” She tried throwing bread to me last week upon realizing I’m on a frog-only diet, and watched in pure awe as I stabbed and swallowed two frogs in a row like the carnivore of the century.

She's obnoxious. She brings a bike with squealing broken brakes, binoculars and a book with at least fifteen tabs, and normally I’d fly away, but she pulls out a camera, one long silver eye peering into mine. My feathers flare and it clicks—I’m a celebrity now, the type that is famous simply for existing. I hear that you’d like to be the bird lady, or like her, and honestly I cannot blame you. You all want to watch me, bathe in my glory, capture my image, frame me in gold. I’m sure you, flightless as ever, want to know my whereabouts—which rocks I perch upon to hunt or the roof I visit when the moon is a lovely orange. I know the sound of me awakens something lost and deep within you; I’m an absolute inspiration. A Great Blue Heron with a frog. Courtesy of Mia Soumbasakis (CW '22)

I'll converse with you, darling, but only under these terms: I work solely at sunset, all my sides are my “good sides,” and no bird must be pictured more than I. Where should you go? Anywhere with water. Bike paths, ravines, lakes, swamps. More specifically: Peters Canyon Hiking & Riding Trail • A part of this bike path is near the train tracks, and my fellow aviators and I have grown immune to the noise. Lately I see Black-Necked Stilts, Black-Crowned Night Herons, Red-winged Blackbirds and Snowy Egrets here, but every once in a while a Green Heron or Whitefaced Ibis shows up. Audubon Society Sea & Sage • This is a bird sanctuary, home to an Osprey and many Western Grebes, Forster’s Terns and Black Skimmers. The Double-crested Cormorants and Tree Swallows visit more than I do. Quail Hill Trailhead • These trails have an abundance of Killdeer and some vicious Brown-headed Cowbirds. Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve • This walkway is closer to the beach, so along with the American Avocets and Great Egrets, you might spot a pelican! Your backyard! • If you want to see hummingbirds What should you bring? • A camera (duh) • A fully meditated mind • Binoculars (I’m sure you wish you had my eyes) • The app iNaturalist to record your observations and identify birds • NOT bread (most of us are carnivores) Who should you see? Me! (Great Blue Herons) • We are probably the most regal of anything that flies, with long yellow beaks and grey eyebrows, perfect for sleek magazine covers and eyeliner commercials. We fish in shallow waters and nest in colonies with up to 100 birds. The most impressive meal I've had was a stingray. Black-crowned Night Herons • They are not afraid to stare you down, with fierce red eyes (which are yellow when they’re juveniles) and a keen sense of awareness. They

they hunt the most at dawn and dusk and have two long white nape hairs. Green Herons • These are rare! They’re gorgeous, with a dark blueish green back, chestnut neck and black wings. They can extend their necks to almost four times their original size. Snowy Egrets • Snowy Egrets are everywhere nowadays, with black legs and bright yellow feet. The space around their eyes turns a fiery orange during mating season (spring-summer) and one of them is featured on a Los Retros song cover. Great Egrets • These birds were almost hunted to extinction in the late 1800s for their plumage (which were used in ladies’ hats), and they look like Snowy Egrets except they’re larger and have black feet and orange beaks. They lay teal eggs. Glossy Ibises • These are similar to White-faced Ibises in their deep scarlet and blue coloring, except they have dark faces. They’re bug eaters and sometimes eat beetle and aquatic insect larvae. American Avocets • American Avocets have striped rusty wings and upturned beaks which they swing around underwater in search for insects. They’re born knowing how to swim. Black-necked Stilts • Their legs can be mistaken for neon coral-colored straws, and they have the longest legs in proportion to body in the bird kingdom. In the summer, they transport water to cool their eggs by drenching their stomachs. Double-Crested Cormorants • Cormorants are often seen near the beach, spreading their wings to air them out in the sun. Unlike other birds, they lack the oil gland which prevents their wings from being waterlogged. Out in the ocean, they fish in groups and follow dolphins. Cinnamon Teals • They’re ducks, but beautiful and toasty. They have red eyes and crimson bodies. Brown-headed Cowbirds • These birds are parasitic and ruthless, known for overtaking the nests of other birds to lay their eggs. The bird who made the nest often will care for the cowbird eggs equally or more than they will their own.

I've indulged you enough; there are frogs to be stabbed and eggs to tend to. I'll consider thanking you and your silver eye in one of my acceptance speeches for first place modeling prizes.

WHY IS AMONG US SO POPULAR?

Serapina Chung

he sci-fi multiplayer game that has sparked millions beyond the gaming community—“Among Us” is similar to the game “mafia,” but in an intergalactic setting. This murder mystery consists of impostors lurking among a crew whose job is to complete tasks and call emergency meetings if they discover a dead body or have any suspicions of who the impostors might be. The impostors? Their job, besides disguising as a crewmate, is to kill as many people as possible, with access to an extensive vent system and diverse methods of sabotage. Luckily, there’s a kill and sabotage-cooldown that prevents impostors from going on a frenzied murder spree, so not all hope is lost for the crew. Even if you get hunted down, nothing can tear you apart from doing the things crewmates love most: completing tasks (who knew ghosts could be so hardworking?). But beyond the game, there’s an even bigger mystery that has yet to be revealed, and one might even say it’s kind of sus: How did “Among Us” become so popular? Innersloth, the creator of the game, released “Among Us” with its first map “The Skeld” on June 15, 2018, two years before it blew up in popularity. Though many South Korean and Brazilian gamers were initially invested and live-streamed their gameplays to the public, it wasn’t until the summer of 2020 when Twitch streamers and YouTubers came across the game and began uploading “Among Us” content that the game started getting recognized worldwide. Even today, it continues to engage gamers, artists, and the general public alike through its exhilarating creative outlet. The game itself presents simple graphics and easy-to-understand gameplay, as well as low to no-pricing for greater accessibility. Yet, it not only grabs the attention of players but the meme culture that encircles a wider media, resonating a prevalent absurdity, comedic relief, that is applicable to everyday life. On top of that, with an unpredictable crew, suspenseful atmosphere, and plot twists that keep both crewmates and impostors on their toes, it’s no wonder “Among Us” gained so much popularity. One reason people are so drawn to this game is due to the psychologically reinforcing impression people gain whenever they fulfill their role as either crewmate or impostor. Whether it’s finishing our tasks or getting away with murder, we obtain this feeling of accomplishment that activates our neural reward pathway and stimulates a positive, reinforcing response. This doesn’t mean we become hedonistic serial killers every time we’re impostor, because it’s more the sense of control we value than the pleasure we derive from our murderous exploits. Our ability to manipulate others through deception and physical obstacles further reasserts our dominance of the situation, which seems to be a common goal among the vast majority of players. Another key appeal of “Among Us” is its platform for communication, which is especially intriguing when considering the current pandemic that requires our social isolation. Thus, by allowing players to interact through an active multiplayer chat and server, "Among Us" promotes a social license for people to forge alliances (or rivalries) that ultimately invest them in the game. If you haven’t done so already, I highly encourage everyone to try playing “Among Us”, for it kindles genuine feelings of trust, betrayal, remorse, and empathy that empowers people not only as characters of a game, but as a community.

Don’t forget, “Among Us” is a game of strategy, so you’ll need a few tricks up your sleeve. Here’s a few tips to improve your gameplay: IMPOSTORS 1.

Take advantage of your sabotages (oxygen, reactor, lights), especially comms and doors. With comms, all technology and task bars are disrupted, so this sabotage cannot be ignored. With doors, you can distract, trap crewmates, and hide bodies. Use the O2/reactor sabotages wisely! For example, if you killed a crewmate in Navigation, lead the crewmates to the reactor, which is at the opposite end of the ship and will prevent anyone from reporting you right away. Look out for cameras; if they’re red and blinking, this indicates someone is in security watching you.

CREWMATES 1.

3. 4.

Identify your allies with visual tasks such as scanning in Medbay, shooting asteroids, emptying garbage, and priming shields. (Note: if the shields are already activated, crewmates will no longer have the visual cue to prove their innocence) Take note of O2/reactor sabotages! If any of these sabotages occur, don’t immediately rush over to fix it. Instead, scope the area away from them to see if there’s a body that could’ve triggered the sabotage in the first place. Keep an eye out with the admin map! If you see at least two icons blink in the same room, it’s possible there’s just been a murder. Finish. Your. Tasks. As mentioned, both living and dead crewmates can complete their tasks and can win by doing so.

OCTOBER 2020

WHAT YOUR "AMONG US" COLOR SAYS ABOUT YOU Julia Motakef Artwork by Serapina Chung (CW '21) If you main RED, you’re a cool person in real life, but in the game you’re pretty ruthless. You’re not afraid to call anyone out and you’re not afraid to be wrong either. You always follow your gut instinct on who the impostor is, but sometimes your gut instinct is incorrect and it makes crewmates lose trust in you. You tend to accessorize with mostly the hats and switch it up occasionally. As a crewmate you do your tasks most of the time, but sometimes you like to investigate and just walk around looking for clues. When you're an impostor, you’re generally pretty good as long as you keep a crewmate as an “ally.” When you travel alone as an impostor, people have a hard time believing you were where you said you were/ doing what task you claimed to be doing. Overall you’re a player that impostors like working with, and crewmates like accusing. If you main PINK, you’re probably more of a sensitive person, and you don’t play video games very often. You tend to accessorize with the little flower, or nothing at all. People who main pink are usually better at playing crewmate, because you work well with others and you are a team player even if you’re killed early on. You don’t prefer playing as an impostor because killing other players stresses you out, and you hate lying to people in the chat. People rarely suspect you though, because when you’re impostor you’re good at pretending to be innocent. When you get killed, you’re pretty upset, especially when you’re the first or second person killed. Overall, you finish your tasks and stick around so your fellow crewmates have a better chance of winning! If you main CYAN, you’re fun to be around and overall a good player. You accessorise with different things, but usually it becomes your staple, and you don’t really switch it up often. As a crewmate you’re most likely to die first, or get voted off early on in the game. This mainly plays into the joke that cyan is suspicious (even if you’re not). If you do end up living a long time as a crewmate, it’s probably because you made an ally and they trust you enough to run around and do tasks with you. On the other hand, you tend to use vents way too often as an impostor, and that’s what gets you into trouble most of the time. People end up catching you venting or walking away from a dead body, and that’s what gets you caught. Your downfall will most likely be getting called out in the chat, and not knowing how to defend yourself. Overall you’re a lot of fun to play with, and you’re always a good sport if you end up losing. If you main BLACK, you’re a very competitive person at heart, even if you don’t like to admit it. You tend to accessorise with skins a lot. As a crewmate you’re pretty good, but since people don’t trust you to be a crewmate, you usually work alone. When you’re an impostor, you don’t leave any trace which is super helpful, but then when it comes to defending yourself you don’t have an alibi. You prefer being an impostor over a crewmate because you like to be in control and make your own rules. In the chat you talk a lot, but it’s because you want to win the game and if chatting non-stop is the way to do it, you will do it. Overall you’re a fun player to have on the team, and other crewmates appreciate how helpful you are. If you main LIME, you’re a really good player that doesn’t get enough credit. You don’t accessorize very often, as you don’t feel the need to, but every once in awhile you go all out from head-totoe. As a crewmate, you usually find an ally along the way, and you stick together so no one suspects you. You’re good at doing tasks, but sometimes you’re the last person to finish, and that can bring the crewmates down. Because of this, sometimes towards the end of the game people suspect you more than they should, and you get voted off when you're innocent. But if you’re an impostor, one wrong move and everyone has their eyes on you. As an impostor, you have to be cautious because of your conspicuous neon-green skin, and there are no mistakes if people see you vent or kill. In the chat, you’re constantly proving your innocence because people have a hard time trusting you. Overall you’re a good player, as long as you stay on your toes and keep an ally by your side.

CHECK OUT EVOLUTION'S ONLINE EXCLUSIVE CONTENT TO READ MORE!

N. °02

OCTOBER 2020

Evolution

SENIORITIS: THE SCARIEST PARTS MAY BE YET TO COME Cas Kesig

sticker back over the camera for cyber-security. Scary! The only perception of me is one refracted through the internet and spit out on someone else’s computer monitor. Is this what an E-girl is? 2020 has been sort of like a trash compactor, or I’ve noticed two distinct thought processes lately, one of those rooms in movies where the walls close in. Even and I respect both for their with the appalling state of the honesty of character: nation and our identities all 1. The world is enddigitized, lots of people seem ing, so I can take it easy determined to proceed with 2. The world is business as usual and forge ending, so I must ring it dry ahead through the crisis. I of every useful and exciting realize that we’ve been in moment left pandemic-mode for eight If you don’t feel like the world is ending, I’d like to months (some of us, anyway) and I’m probably just slow on know your secret. the come up, but then a new horrible thing happens every I am in the unfortuweek, and here I have another nate purgatory of “The world reason to justify my sore lack is ending, so though I should of motivation. be able to take it easy, I have Then there’s college, grown up with the immense which I won’t even deign to pressure to convert all my extra time into labor. Basical- discuss at length. How can I transition into adulthood in ly, I will do nothing and be anxious about it all the while” such a state? The only time I feel joy these days is when Darn you, capitalism! I get packages in the mail. Actually attending Ouch ouch ouch. class is a whole different It gets dangerous beast. The mortifying ordeal of being known, coined in Tim when I start to convince myself that I’m deserving of Krieder’s essay “I Know What things I absolutely haven’t You Think of Me”, becomes earned because there’s simply significantly more mortifying no other way to complete over Zoom, where I am also tasks than preemptively staring at myself seven hours rewarding myself. “You sat a day in the reflecting pool through the presidential of my 16:9 Zoom tile. I’m debates,” I tell myself, “so conscious of myself from the you should get a reward.” In second that green light turns on to the moment I put my cat a turn of events, I am both ctober is over. I thought that declaration might help me come to terms with it, but here I am still trying to tie up loose ends from July.

STAFF

Editor-in-Chief Cassandra Kesig

Managing Editors Lauren Le Jennifer Woo

The mortifying ordeal of being known

becomes significantly more mortifying over Zoom.

Pavlov and the dog, unable to start my homework or make headway on college apps until I’ve treated myself to a Dunkin’ cold brew for the third time in a day. Is this a shared experience? It’s hard to tell while staring into the slate of your screen. 2020 began on a Wednesday and will end on a Thursday. 2020 is a leap year, the Year of the Rat, and marks 580 years until the Age of Aquarius officially begins. There’s no guarantee that on

January 1, 2021, things will take a sudden turn for the better, redeeming the events of this year in full. If we’re lucky, 2021 will be neutral at best. Maybe boxing all of the horribleness into the 2020 container is preventing us (me) from truly facing it, but the false promise of a resolution is just unrealistic enough for me to invest faith in it. In any case, we’re much closer to the end of the year than we are the beginning. Maybe we’ll be able to put this one on our resumes.

HOROSCOPES

Contributing Editors Emma Han Monica Johnson Pierce Lewis Will Lynam Anica Sherry Staff Writers Erick Ferrufino Reagan Gift Isabel Hahn James Herde Karli Larsen Jamie Lee Jane Lee Elena Levin Mallory Mckenna Max Mikkelsen AJ Miyake Julia Motakef Ashley Nguyen Kaitlin Roth Mia Soumbasakis Kaon Suh Kira Turk Production Team Serapina Chung Zola Franchi Multimedia and Website Mehra Marzbani Kai Matias-Bell Summer Zaminska

Anica Sherry and Monica Johnson

Aries, as we approach Scorpio season, your interactions with others are likely going to intensify. Embrace these interactions, but also be sure to focus on your responsibilities. Last month it may have been difficult to convey exactly how you feel because of Mars’ retrograde through Aries’ house of intimacy, but on November 4, Mercury resumes direct motion, improving communication in your relationships.

It’s time to try new approaches to finding emotional contentment, Taurus. Jupiter and Pluto will meet in your ninth house, indicating that to enjoy life, you will need to let go of old perspectives. After November 10, it will be easier to understand what you want out of a relationship and what you need emotionally. Managing money has been a little rough for you, Taureans, but November 30’s Lunar eclipse will hopefully inspire you to make changes to your spending habits.

Leo, this November you might have to face uncomfortable circumstances involving interpersonal relationships. Communication might be sluggish, specifically between your coworkers and employers. The Lunar Eclipse on the 30 will bring an end to a partnership or collaborative project in the workplace as well. If you’re having a difficult time with a loved one, don’t rush to make quick decisions. Instead mull things over and patiently reassess the goals in your relationship.Instead mull things over and patiently reassess the goals in your relationship.

Until November 21, as Venus transits your second house of money and personal values, your finances may seem uncoordinated, Virgo. You can avoid difficulty balancing income and expenses by creating a budget for yourself and establishing restrictions. The eclipse on the 30th indicates a big work change, perhaps your employer will implement changes in the workplace. Venus will influence and your charm and persuasion skills this month, and because of this you might find yourself in a sticky situation. Remind yourself of your needs and wants in a relationship.

Emotions and homelife affairs will be in the spotlight this next month, Sagittarius. Your social and romantic life will be especially active because of Venus’ influence until November 21. Be on the lookout for romance and new friendships and keep an eye on family relationships. To avoid stress this month, keep your schedule very organized. Financially, your intuition will guide you to make good decisions this month, but for the most part, steer clear of intense money-related commitments.

On November 10, Mercury, which rules Capricorn’s house of work, will transit into the house of friends and collaborative projects, leading to progress in your professional and financial life. There will also be a lunar eclipse in the same house, causing a significant work-related turning point at the end of the month. In your personal life, you’ll finally put your fears aside and make a change in your love life or in one of your relationships. You’re in control, Capricorn.

Your love life is taking the spotlight this upcoming month, Gemini, with Venus, ruling your fifth house of romance and love affairs, transiting your fifth house until the 21st. There will be an intense period relating to relationships this month that might lead to complications. Work and financial goals this month will be ambitious, as Jupiter conjuncts Pluto, ruler of Gemini’s sixth house of work and health. Jump at professional opportunities, prepare your resume and keep an eye out for important events.

Cancer, this November, your professional life will be full of motivation, bravery and security. Although you may feel high strung, don’t push your limits and rush things. Your fifth house of love, romance, and entertainment will be well lit up, with the November 15 New Moon and the Sun’s presence until the 21st, followed by Venus taking its place. New relationships are on the rise, but you might also be reminiscing about past romantic interests. It’s okay to reach out and rekindle whatever it was you had with that someone.

Libra, next month keep an eye out for academic interests, as well as communication problems. Many learning opportunities will be made available to you, and possibly romantic ones as well. Family communication might be difficult, though. Misunderstandings with older family members will be common. The best thing to do is to ground yourself and try to bring the situation under control.

Scorpios, November is a great time for redecorating your space. This month you will find the confidence and motivation to just that, and there will be a spike in your charisma as well. Similar to Libra, family tensions might be high and there will be a lack of harmony in your household. Specifically, there might be miscommunication between you and older family members. Try your best to be patient with loved ones.

Aquarians, there may have been recent tensions in your love life, but with Mercury moving past your 10th house on November 10th, the steps to resolve them will become clear. The lunar eclipse at the end of the month will also officiate an end to a problematic relationship. On another note, November will be a great opportunity to launch a project, perhaps a business or blog. Allow yourself to be ambitious this month.

This November, there will be an emphasis on your social life, influenced by the Blue Moon on October 31st, Pisces. Open up to friends, have a lighthearted conversation or a long, personal one with a loved one. It’s time to embrace your talkative side. On November 13th, Mars will end its retrograde in Pisces’ second house of money and resources. It’ll be easier to make ambitious financial decisions and you will definitely be motivated to make income, but be weary of mindless spending.