Issue 1 - October 2024

THE PROSPECTOR The Impact of Social Media on Sports A deep dive into the impact of social media has had on sport teams

OPINIONS The Problem With the Pink Tax pg. 8

New Principal: Bill Schloss p. 12

LIFESTYLES

Hero or Villain? Global Sweethearts pg. 16

NEWS

Drawing Up Funds: Proposition 28 pg. 6

ISSUE 1, VOL 67 OCT. 2024

FEATURES

IN THIS ISSUE

news

Trust(ee) Method...........................04 Drawing Up Funds: Prop 28 .........06

opinions

The Problem With the Pink Tax............................................... 08 Should Museums Reform Their Norms?....................................... 10

features

New Principal: Bill Schloss...........12 New Teachers at Tino...................13 Navigating Language Barriers.....14

lifestyles

Hero or Villain? Global Sweethearts................................. 16

8:

The Problem With the Pink Tax

investigations

FUHSD Student Representation............................ 20

sports

Athlete of the Month: Anika

The Crumbl-ing Health of

Malik............................................ 24

Mukbangers................................ 18

The Impact of Social Media on

28:

Letter to CHS Ants

Sport........................................... 26

postscript

Letter to CHS Ants...................... 28 The Prospector Games............... 29 Would You Rather? Tino Edition...30 Front Cover Designed by Alexander Liu, Shaona Das, Benjamin Liu Back Cover Designed by Alexander Liu

THE PROSPECTOR

STAFF 2024-2025

editors-in-chief Benjamin Liu Joyce Lee Shaona Das news editor Brian Kuo opinions editor Alexander Liu features editor Amrita Brar lifestyles editor Noah Kang investigations editor Nikhil Krishnaswamy sports editor Victoria Hunt postscript editors Benjamin Liu Shaona Das Joyce Lee Scarlett Guy copy editors Amrita Brar Hailey Ryu Nitya Dhulipala Victoria Hunt

photo editors Yeechen Pang Hailey Ryu online editors Alexander Liu Katie Kim Katie Mak Miya Widman Nikhil Krishnaswamy Nitya Dhulipala Noah Kang Scarlett Guy Yeechen Pang Zain Haseeb business manager Brian Kuo writers Aaron Luc, Angela Kim, Anshika Jain, Atrisa Rahgozar, Ashley Qi, Cathy Wu, Celine Zhang, Chloe Choe, Hannah Kim, Joe Zheng, Laura Chen, Madalina Zheng, Mason Lien, Nimrit Gandhi, Rebecca Wawda, Rosa Lee, Saba Sharifolnasabi

advisor Ann Shriver-Peck Editorial Policy “The Prospector” is an open forum of expression for student editors to inform and educate their readers. It will not be reviewed by or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisors may and should coach and discuss content during the writing process.

The staff of “The Prospector” seeks to recognize individuals, events and ideas and bring news to the Cupertino community in an accurate, professional and unbiased manner. “The Prospector” will not avoid publishing a story solely on the basis of possible dissent or controversy.

If you believe an error has been made or wish to have your opinion expressed in “The Prospector,” please contact us via mail or email. Letters sent become the sole property of “The Prospector” and can be edited for length, clarity or accuracy.

“The Prospector” editorial board reserves the right to accept or reject any ad in accordance with its advertising policy.

Contact Us: chsprospector@gmail.com The Prospector 10100 Finch Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014

A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Dear Reader, Welcome to another new school year at Cupertino! At The Prospector, we’ve been greeting this new year with enthusiasm, and we’re excited to finally present the product of our staff’s hard work since this past summer. We are also pleased to announce that our issues will be in full color for this year, and that we are bringing back a section of the magazine that was formerly discontinued: Lifestyles! This year, The Prospector remains committed to our mission of meaningful, human-centered reporting.

On page 12, Angela Kim and Hannah Kim behind one of the largest recent changes to our Tino community: our new principal, Bill Schloss. On a broader school-wide and district-wide level, Celine Zhang and Joyce Lee examine ways students are represented in FUHSD on page 20.

Amrita Brar expands the scope of our reporting nationwide on page 8, examining the detrimental effects and societal implications of the pink tax on women all over the country. Victoria Hunt and Yeechen Pang continue this with their article on the impact of social media on the world of sports on page 26.

Madalina Zheng’s humorous letter to the ants plaguing the CHS campus brings our first issue to a close on page 28.

Your support means so much to The Prospector, and we look forward to an amazing year at CHS. Cheers, Benjamin Liu, Shaona Das, Joyce Lee

NEWS

TRUST(EE) 2 METHOD The Fremont Union High School District is transition-

4

ing to a By-Trustee Voting Method for the upcoming School Board elections ALEXANDER LIU, MIYA WIDMAN, NITYA DHULIPALA, ANSHIKA JAIN, CATHY WU, ZIXIN SONG

HOMESTEAD HS

staffers

3

MONTA VISTA HS

1 5

FREMONT HS

CUPERTINO HS

LYNBROOK HS

4 | DESIGNED BY ALEXANDER LIU

Map infographic made by Zixin Song and Alexander Liu.

T

he Fremont Union High School District is transitioning to a By-Trustee area method for board elections, in which each representative will be elected from the five zones that the district is divided into. This is so that residents of each zone will be better represented within the

school board. Voting to fill the two out of five empty seats will take place in November.

The previous system followed the At-Large policy, in which members were elected regardless of what zone they resided in. This led to the under-representation of communities in the north side

of the district and the over-representation of residents towards the south of El Camino. The transition to a By-Trustee method aims to evenly distribute power between the schools and make the Board of Trustees more representative of all students in the district.

FUHSD was prompted to make

these changes following lawsuits $193 million. “Allocations to each filed by the 2002 California Vot- school site are made based on ing Rights Act, which were aimed the number of students, facility against other schools within the requirements, contractual requirestate that violated equal voting ments and student needs,” Disrules. Additionally, the power with- trict Superintendent Graham Clark in the school district was uneven, said. “My thought is that the movewith representatives from certain ment to Trustee Areas will not have regions holding a majority of seats a significant impact on the budget on the Board and other positions process.” of power. The residents of North Outlooks of residents and leadSunnyvale expressed concern ers varied, however, with commuabout this issue, providing solu- nity members bringing attention tions through map proposals that were more “OUR STRONG FEELING IS representative of the enTHAT IF THE ENROLLMENT IS tire community.

BALANCED BETWEEN THE FIVE In these maps, the area SCHOOLS, WE CAN CONTINUE was divided into five TO PROVIDE EQUAL EDUCAzones: Zone One with TIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT ALL Monta Vista, Homestead, FIVE SITES.” Cupertino and Fremont High School, Zone Two with Fremont and Homestead High School, Zone Three for Monta Vista and Homestead High School, Zone to possible flaws of the new sysFour with Fremont and Homestead tem. Parents of Monta Vista and High School, and Zone 5 for Cu- Lynbrook High School students pertino, Monta Vista and Lynbrook protested this change during a High School.

Silicon Valley school board meetApproved by the Board, the Annu- ing. Residents, predominantly in al FUHSD General Fund Budget the Lynbrook area, voiced their for the 2024-2025 school year is concerns about the divisions and

GRAHAM CLARK

PHOTO BY REBECCA WAWDA | A panel of school administration officials, including new Cupertino principal Bill Schoss and superintendent Graham Clark, answered questions about new election developments.

NEWS | 5

expressed worries that the policy, which would decrease representation from their area, may hinder their attempts to voice their concerns regarding school closures due to declining enrollment.

ADJUSTMENTS However, resi- The images bedents in North low are some of S u n n y v a l e the map proposwere hopeful als considered that the de- when dividing the cision would district into five increase the areas. Source: area’s rep- CTAD. resentation, which had continuously decreased since Sunnyvale High School’s closure in 1981.

“Our strong feeling is that if the enrollment is balanced between the five schools, we can continue to provide equal educational oppor tunities at all five sites,” Clark said.

This new method aims to ensure a balanced power distribution among residents inside the district’s lines. If successful, families from all over the map will have representation on the Board. If unsuccessful, zones with a higher student population will have an equal amount of representation compared to zones with lower numbers of students — leading to an advantage for residents living in areas with fewer schools

DRAWING PROPOS Proposition 28 brings extra funding to Cupe NIKHIL KRISHNASWAMY, REBECCA WAWDA, CHLOE CHOE investigations editor | writers

6 | DESIGNED BY BRIAN KUO

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alifornia voters passed Proposition 28, a 2022 ballot initiative aimed at rekindling arts and music education in public schools, providing a million dollars to the Fremont Union High School District. This mandated that 1% of California’s general allocated funds must be used annually to support the employment of additional arts and music teachers, as well as the purchase of necessary supplies in Kindergarten-12 public schools.

Said FUHSD Associate Superintendent and Chief Business Officer Christine Mallery, “[the funding was] allocated to the schools in the form of staffing and supplies, and there are certain rules that we have to abide by.”

Of the allocated funds, 80% must be used for employment, to hire more teachers or support staff, and 20% for purchasing supplies and additional resources.

Proposition 28 has the possi-

bility to make a huge impact on arts education and the funds remain long term. Said Mallery, “This supplemental source of funding that was passed by the voters, Prop. 28, it’s [currently] not scheduled to end. This is an ongoing source of funding for the district.”

This source of funding provides new hope for reviving dying arts education programs in schools. At Cupertino High School, Proposition 28 has

“

[PROP 28] HAS ENABLED THE SCHOOL TO OFFER FOUR EXTRA SECTIONS IN ART, MUSIC AND DRAMA.

BILL SCHLOSS

”

already made a visible difference.

Said Principal Bill Schloss, “[Proposition 28] has enabled the school to offer four extra sections in art, music and drama [...] which we probably would not have offered if we didn’t have Prop. 28.”

Additionally, Proposition 28 has allowed lower student-to-teacher ratios and overall improved learning experiences. The district is also looking to provide stipends for extra staff members to support extracurricular activities like the marching band, ensuring greater supervision and assistance for these programs.

More specifically, the funding has had a positive impact on the CHS m u s i c

UP FUNDS: ITION 28 rtino High School’s art and music departments program. According to Band Director Gilbert Iruegas, the program has allowed more staff to support students in the marching band, which has allowed for more one-on-one attention and a better experience for the students.

Though the Proposition 28 funds are scheduled to be around until further notice and provided every three years, there are speculations that schools may start to depend on the funding and concerns regarding what schools will do in the absence of the funds.

Transparency with funding is important. Band Teaching Assistant Momo Park explained that some large purchases

are made each year, but these decisions are typically made without the student body’s knowledge.

Given the significance of how funding impacts students, it is imperative that they are informed on the logistics of the funds and currently, students generally are not given much information on funding as a whole.

While Proposition 28 funding is guaranteed for at least three years, its reliability long-term is uncertain. Despite this, it is a promising initiative that will continuously improve arts and music

education at CHS and throughout FUHSD through stipends, additional class sections and hiring employees. With persistent investment in these programs, students can expect a more enriching and higher-quality experience in arts education

NEWS | 7

OPINIONS

THE PROBLEM WITH THE

PINK TAX AMRITA BRAR features editor customer is strolling through the aisles of their local supermarket when something peculiar catches their eye. The exact same product, from the same company, sold at two vastly different prices. The only reason? One of these products is catered towards women.

The term “pink tax” refers to the gender-based price discrimination in which the costs of goods marketed towards women are inflated, despite functioning indistinguishably from their male counterparts. The phrase, coined the “pink tax” as it is the color most often used in products designed for women, was first popularized within mainstream media around the mid-1990s when the Gender Tax Repeal Act of 1995 passed in California, prohibiting unequal prices on services.

According to a 2020 study conducted by the California Senate Committee on Judiciary and Senate Select Committee on Wom-

8 | DESIGNED BY ALEXANDER LIU

A

en, Work & Families, the average American woman pays approximately $2,831 more per year than men do for the same products and services, despite many women already earning a lower annual income than most men. Over the years, the “pink tax” has even begun corrupting toys and equipment marketed toward young

girls, such as pink bikes, scooters and helmets.

Discussions surrounding the inherent gender-based prejudice that the “pink tax” is rooted

in have only started recently, despite being a persistent issue that has heavily impacted the country’s large population of working-class women.

This stems from the classic stereotype that women are simply willing to pay extra for certain products — that the “pink tax” is simply the “price of beauty.”

The dismissal of the “pink tax” reflects a general social ignorance towards the financial inequality women face every day. Some argue that higher prices on women’s products, particularly hygiene products, are simply a result of supply and demand, as women statistically purchase these products at a more frequent rate and in larger amounts than men do. Others insist that some businesses use higher pricing

“

A COMPANY CAN’T CHARGE A PINK TAX AND THEN USE MEDIA TO SAY THEY ENCOURAGE GENDER EQUALITY ... YOU DON’T GET BOTH

”

X USER

due t o the additions to their products that are catered specifically towards women, such as appealing fragrances, aesthetic packaging and feminine colors.

Said one Reddit user, “The vast majority of differences in product costs are a result of basic economics: women are willing to pay more [...] for feminine-branded products and the firms selling these products price them according to competitive laws of supply and demand such that they maximize profit. There’s no broader gender discrimination.”

However, many women have never wanted or requested these unnecessary product additions and would prefer to just buy a product for cheaper as long as it serves its basic purpose. In the case of items such as razors, this can be remedied by buying products marketed towards

men, but this is an unavoidable issue in regards to services and clothing. Boycotting brands associated with the “pink tax” such as Nivea, Old Spice and Gillette, and supporting ethical brands instead is a simple and effective way students can take action to challenge this injustice in their day-to-day lives. If this is not a viable option, buying the versions of products designed for men prevents

“

WE KNOW THAT WOMEN KNOW THEIR WORTH, AND WE ARE GOING TO HELP THEM CLAIM IT.

Women spend

more per year than men for the same products and services

*According to a 2020 survey from the California Senate Committee on Judiciary and Senate Select Committee on Women, Work & Families.

s t u dents from spending extra. Using one’s voice to advocate and reach out can also be an incredibly powerful tool in holding large corporations accountable.

If a company is unfairly pricing their fem-

OPINIONS | 9

$2831

”

SHERRY BAKER

inine products higher, consider contacting their customer service or public relations team to question why their products for women are costlier. Reaching out and encouraging local state legislators to take action is another effective alternative.

Many have also been quick to call out the performative actions of brands such as Gillette, pointing out how their claims of social awareness directly contradict their inequitable pricing. Said one X user, “OK so I’m all for the ideas in the Gillette commercial, I think it’s wonderful in theory, but a company can’t charge a pink tax and then use media to say they encourage gender equality and awareness, it doesn’t work like that. You don’t get both.”

Other corporations have taken the initiative to adapt their pricing and marketing strategies in response to the steadily increasing awareness surrounding the “pink tax.” For example, Boxed, an online retailer that sells a variety of bulk items, has significantly lowered its prices on female-targeted goods to combat the luxury tax that some states charge on tampons and pads. In addition, European Wax Center, a popular chain of hair removal salons, has organized a campaign dubbed #AxthePinkTax in an effort to educate consumers and amplify women’s voices.

Said Sherry Baker, President of Marketing and Product Development for European Wax Center, “[This is] money women will never get a say in how to spend and money that will never get invested, donated or used to fund a passion project or business. We know that women know their worth, and we are going to help them claim it.”

SHOULD MUSEUMS REFORM THEIR NORMS? NITYA DHULIPALA in-depth editor

10 | THE PROSPECTOR

T

he Museum Association Code of Ethics promises to “treat museum collections as cultural, scientific or historic assets, not financial assets.”

While this may seem obvious, numerous museums have struggled to meet this standard.

Many modern-day museums align with the centuries of conflict and colonialism they display in their exhibits through their lack of respect for artifacts and the countries they are from. Countless large museums present cultural artifacts taken from their original countries, as seen with the British Museum, which holds stolen cultural artifacts ranging from the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon Marbles. It is also a common trend for museums to display offensive and graphic images for profit and inaccurately present the artifacts they display. To become more ethical, these museums should return the artifacts to their countries of origin and stray away from using harmful business tactics for commercial gain.

An artifact is more likely to be respected when displayed in its place of origin, rather than being reduced to just another item in a museum of looted treasures in a foreign country. These artifacts are vital to the countries they come from, and their significance diminishes when located in a place where they hold no direct cultural relevance.

Should repatriation, the return of stolen artifacts to their countries of origin, not be feasible, the cultures represented must be portrayed accurately and respectfully, rather than perpetuating harmful stereotypes or merely using these significant relics as decorations for a curated aesthetic.

Museums need drastic reforms in the unethical ways in which they source artifacts, often through cultural theft. The British Museum itself has admitted on its website that “the British Empire [...] ac-

OURS? quired both large and small collections in the countries under British rule [...].” Nevertheless, a majority of these items from across the world continue to be displayed, rather than being returned to their places of origin. Furthermore, the British Museum’s funding has historical ties to Sir Hans Sloane’s wife’s slave plantations in Africa,

expanding its controversial history of profiting from historical violence.

Additionally, museums have profited off of distressing subjects, as seen at The Museum of Death, which displays graphic crime scenes, explicit photographs and body bags. These exhibits depict real crimes involving real victims, and the insensitivity is further heightened by the selling of merchandise featuring distressing images of notorious serial killers.

It is also a common trend to see museums misrepresent the cultures they display through the placement and arrangement of artifacts in their exhibits. An example of this includes artwork from indigenous tribes or minority groups frequently being placed in ethnographic museums, rather than art museums. This practice reflects the broader issue of minorities being excluded from the mainstream art world. The Metropolitan Museum has received praise for featuring Indigenous art in its American Art wing, demonstrating how rare inclusivity in museums is — so much so that an unassuming act like this led to such significant acclaim. Unethical museums also have a habit of using these cultural artworks and relics as decoration, with the help of specific lighting and aesthetics.

While these differences may be subtle, they allow for increased subconscious bias.

There are many examples of

museums that respectfully handle the works they display. For instance, the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum is widely recognized for its dignified portrayal of the concentration camps of Nazi Germany, with all artifacts preserved and respected on-site. Similarly, while the Pompeii Antiquarium is often a controversial topic due to its graphic displays of a fatal event,

“

THE BRITISH EMPIRE [...] ACQUIRED BOTH LARGE AND SMALL COLLECTIONS IN THE COUNTRIES UNDER BRITISH RULE [...].

”

THE BRITISH MUSEUM

Image credits: Boston Globe (bottom right), European Observatory on Memories (top).

OPINIONS | 11

it is notable for at least keeping artifacts at their original site rather than displacing them from their country of origin. These museums are proof that unethical practices such as cultural theft and biased displays are not necessary for profit.

However, museums play a crucial role in helping the general public explore various cultures and historical periods in a single location, and without an accessible and streamlined way for people to access these artifacts, the public likely could not appreciate

them to the extent that we do today.

Additionally, the types of practices a museum may need to implement to be truly ethical may be difficult to achieve.

Nevertheless, as difficult as it may be, it is a possible feat, as some museums have already taken the first step in returning stolen cultural artifacts in their possession to their places of origin.

For example, the Louvre returned seven Italian artifacts after uncovering their wrongful acquisition, and the Manchester Museum is in the process of returning thousands of stolen items to Indigenous Australians. If these museums can take such measures to amend their unethical actions while still being considered some of the best collections in the world, then all institutions should be expected to do the same.

Thus, museums should risk being boycotted if they continue to profit off of stolen artifacts or misrepresentations, as they should be pushed to return these pieces to their native countries and begin accurately displaying what they ethically source. Significant steps are already being taken to ensure that all repatriation requests are honored, particularly in France, where President Emmanuel Macron is actively drafting laws that mandate museums to return artifacts upon request. Although progress is being made, this is only the start of a major reform in museums

FEATURES

NEW

PRIN

CIPAL

BILL SCHLOSS

Exploring new Cupertino High School principal Bill Schloss’s background in teaching, what brought him to CHS and his goals for the student body this year ANGELA KIM, HANNAH KIM writers

12 | DESIGNED BY AMRITA BRAR

B

ill Schloss took on the role of Cupertino High School’s new principal in July, following former principal Kami Tomberlain’s retirement.

As the principal, Schloss upholds a firm commitment to ensuring that students are both supported and intellectually challenged. Said Schloss, “I want to provide the best possible education for [the students], the most challenging and rigorous education that we can to prepare them for the next level, but also with tremendous support.”

Schloss was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and grew up with his dad, who worked as a teacher. He was deeply in-

fluenced by his father’s resourcefulness, which helped him obtain qualities that have influenced his approach to education and being a principal today.

“You know when your dad’s a teacher, there’s not a ton of money in teaching in Oregon so he was always looking for deals and making things happen,” Schloss said. “My dad was kind of a wizard when it came to providing for his family and making everything happen for them.”

Throughout Schloss’s childhood, he frequently engaged in outdoor activities and athletics like skiing, baseball and football.

Sports were more than just a pastime — they were a central part of his upbringing.

“My family was really built around sports and activities and

stuff and none of us played any instruments, none of us took lessons. Just wasn’t part of what we did. The opposite of my kids,” Schloss said.

Schloss pursued both his bachelor’s and master’s degree at the University of Southern California. After graduating from USC, Schloss went directly into teaching.

Having over 24 years of experience, Schloss has developed extensive expertise as the principal at California High School for 14 years. Schloss said, “I [was] a principal [at California High School] for about almost 14 years now and it’s the best job I’ve ever had. But it’s also the most complex.”

Schloss defines his values clearly as a principal, emphasiz-

ing a balance of hard work, enjoyment and mutual respect within the school community.

“We’re going to work really hard, but we’re going to have a lot of fun, and we’re going to be good to each other. That’s probably the real key for me is those sorts of things,” Schloss said.

Regardless of unforeseen circumstances, CHS’s students remain Schloss’s first priority.

“I think the older I get the more I’m willing to give kids a second, third, fourth and fifth chance, and I try to influence the people around me to do the same,” Schloss said. “Our job is to serve you guys.”

Schloss’s primary goal is to maintain Cupertino’s prior culture

maintain Cupertino’s prior culture and take over Tomberlain’s role with minimal impact on

feel so very lucky to have landed in a place where I feel comfortable almost immediately. I feel like it’s a wonderful place for kids to go to school, which is exactly the kind of place I want to work. It’s a very supportive environment.”

Schloss reflects on the preexisting strength of the Cupertino community.

“I think there were fantastic things going on at [this] school before I got [here]. There will be fantastic things going on at this school after I’m gone,” Schloss said, “And my job is to be a caretaker and a steward of the great work that the teachers and staff do.”

“

WE’RE GOING TO WORK REALLY HARD, BUT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN, AND WE’RE GOING TO BE GOOD TO EACH OTHER.

BILL SCHLOSS

”

students. Already having gotten a taste of it as the new principal at Cupertino, Schloss said, “I feel very much at home already. I just

New teachers at Tino SCARLETT GUY postscript editor

A

s the 2024-2025 school year begins, there is a considerable amount of new additions to the Cupertino High School staff. David Chen, Alexander Shieh and Dulce Hernandez are on their journeys of navigating a new school and coworkers. For CHS students, however, new educators bring unique insights and fresh ideas that can magnify their learning experiences

DA V

D U LC

E HE

ID C

HEN FEATURES | 13

EX

“I feel very accepted in my position as the ‘newbie’ of the science department. Funnily enough, students seem to forget that I’m in my first year at CHS, so I’m learning alongside them.”

EZ A ND

al

“I believe that you get to know a culture and community with time. I am looking forward to learning about Tino’s culture and what my student’s community as well.”

RN

a

SHIE

H

n D ER

“I did my preliminary teaching credential at UCLA. I had a rough start entering into teaching as I had two teaching positions that didn’t work out from overall anxiety starting the school year.”

NAVIGATING LANGUAGE BARRIERS Exploring the benefits of the new ELD Buddies Program in supporting ELD students CATHY WU, MADALINA ZHENG, MASON LIEN, JOE ZHENG, AARON LUC writers

I

n partnership with Cupertino High School’s English Learning Development Department, CHS’s International Club has cre-

ated the “ELD Buddies Program” to connect ELD students with the rest of the student body.

The system encourages students to interact with members of other ELD divisions and native English speakers to foster interconnectedness on cam-

educators expressed their concerns about language barriers negatively impacting the students and their experiences. Junior ELD student Jimmy Li states that being in ELD innately creates a disconnect between

foreign students and the remaining student body.

“I think ELD is like a lock, and we can only take the lower level [classes] despite our abilities as students,” Li said. “It’s hard to communicate with native speakers when we feel [constant] pressure, especially [at]

ticipate in such activities.

“I tried to go to [a club].

Since it was the first day, they talked so fast, I got lost,” Patino said. “[I] never went again.”

Lynn Chen, an ELD level

two teacher, has observed that activities at school relating to internationally recognized interests tend to be more popular among ELD students than those that are not. To increase participation from ELD students, she highlights the importance of creating communities surrounding common interests amongst both ELD and non-ELD students.

14 | THE PROSPECTOR

pus.

Over this past summer, International Club officers began developing a school-wide program for ELD students to interact with participants outside of their social circles. The officers collaborated with Cupertino’s ELD advisors and administrators, and began promoting the program through translated flyers and other campus news outlets.

In years prior, issues regarding the inclusion of students in ELD on campus arose as ELD

the lower levels of ELD, such as [levels] one and two.”

In addition, ELD students often struggle to form bonds with other students due to how schoolwide activities such as rallies and clubs are often not catered towards English-learning students.

Sophomore Nicole Gonzalo Patino, who has spent four years in ELD learning programs, noted that negative experiences can inhibit ELD students’ willingness to par-

“Creating that culture of noticing them when they’re not being talked to, or [doing] the things that they enjoy,” Chen said. “I would say that draws kids out of their shells a lot more.”

With the ELD Buddies Program, International Club seems to be meeting that demand. Senior Sophie Hua, president of International Club, described the

objective of “ELD buddies” as for students in the department to continue building connections with others and to integrate themselves with the rest of the student body.

The club had its first meeting for the new program on Wednesday, Sept. 11, with over 70 attendees. It was hosted at the ELD center for all students to indulge in snacks, board games and other activities organized by club officers. Many attendees were pleased by the event setup overall and the atmosphere it carried.

“

‘I WANT TO CONNECT.’ I THINK THAT’S THE THING THAT I HEAR THE MOST. LYNN CHEN

”

feel involved with the school without the constraints of being in ELD. “Something that we can provide as an International Club is we’re able to bring these people together and can see ‘Oh, we’re not so different’ [...] Our biggest goal with this buddy system [is] to have ELD students

make friends,” Hua said.

As more ELD Buddies events are held, the International Club will continue to develop the program to improve the overall ex-

perience of English-learning students and to ensure that it has a long-term impact on the CHS campus. The implementation of the program is a positive step forward towards meeting more of the ELD students’ needs.

Said Chen, “‘I want to connect.’ I think that’s the thing that I hear the most.”

FEATURES | 15

“It was crazy. It was like we had games planned, and we weren’t able to do them because it was so surrounded by so many people,” Hua said. “But I’m really happy that people were able to find each other and basically connect over their shared language. I think that was really, really nice to see.”

Li, who attended the first

meeting, attributes the program’s appeal to the incentive students are given to attend. They are given an opportunity to branch out to students who do not speak their preferred language and

LIFESTYLES VICTORIA HUNT, HAILEY RYU sports editor | copy editor

I

4 || THE PROSPECTOR 16 DESIGNED

BY NOAH KANG

t only takes one statement to ruin someone’s life.

People constantly swoon over female celebrities, praising them for their beauty or succ e s s , but are just as quick to turn on them and criticize them.

A common trend is often seen w h e n female celebrities go

through recurring cycles of receiving love and hate from the public, while their male counterparts are rarely held to the same standards.

For example, Taylor Swift, who is often referred to as “America’s Sweetheart,” has faced her fair share of controversies since her rise to fame. In July 2016, Kanye West infamously included a fake image of 18-year-old Swift naked in his music video “Famous,” also taking credit for her fame. Swift responded on Instagram that she never agreed to be called the derogatoryterm West used in the song, or naked in the video.

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West’s former wife, then leaked an edited phone call to frame Swift as a liar. #taylorswiftisoverparty soon became the number one trending hashtag on X. People also took to Swift’s Instagram, flooding her comment sections with snake emojis, and even calling her names like calculating, attention-seeking and a fake good girl.

She then disappeared from the public eye for a year.

Despite Swift successfully reemerging onto the music scene in 2017, West was never held accountable when the full phone call was leaked in 2019, revealing that Kardashian and West were lying.

I n t h e

past, West has posted anti-Semitic statements, worn a White Lives Matter shirt during the Black Lives Matter movement and done numerous other controversial things.

West has rightfully received significant backlash for his actions, but Swift has unjustly received similar amounts of hate, taking the heat for West’s actions.

In many cases, the public does not care about holding celebrities accountable, instead focusing on putting down successful women due to

Hero O Glo internalized misogyny.

This cycle of hate towards female celebrities is seen beyond the music industry, extending itself into Hollywood — and even celebrities’ personal lives.

In 2019, actor Johnny Depp sued his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, claiming Heard defamed him with allegations of domestic abuse in an opinion editorial published by The Washington Post in 2018.

While these allegations seem as though they should be private between a divorced couple, due to Depp’s large platform, the public became quickly involved, ready to turn on Heard without looking at

the full story.

According to Vox’s article, “Johnny Depp, Amber Heard and their $50 million defamation suit,” the couple’s marriage counselor determined their relationship to be mutually abusive, stating clearly that neither was innocent.

Despite these facts, the public chose to put Heard under public shame, referring to her as “Amber Turd” and trending hashtags like #AmberHeardisanabuser. Meanwhile, Depp received almost all of the pub-

significant amount of Anonymous User career opportunities due to this controis replying versy and has since Does the public truly care about holding celebrities completed only her accountable, or just about putting down successful women ongoing projects, due to internalized misogyny? whereas Depp has returned to the acting scene as the star of a recent French respectively, and this was after romance.

Jung’s sentence was reduced Aside from interfering with cefrom six to five years. Even after lebrities’ personal lives, the public serving sentences in prison for seems to perceive even the slighttheir crimes, both idols still remain e s t actions of female somewhat active, though not in celebrities as the public eye, and are supportannoying, not ed by fans — Seungri was spotgiving hate to ted in Malaysia performing at a male equivaparty and Jung was recognized lents for signifiin France. Despite the clear difcantly more seference in the magnitude of these vere actions. events, female idols constantly Jang Wonyoung, receive hate for innocent actions a Korean pop idol, faced immense while fans do not hold male idols backlash for simply eating a strawaccountable for their more severe berry with two hands. She was wrongdoings. sent death threats, got shamed for From “America’s Sweethearts” the way she was eating and was to “fake” or “pick-me’s” in the pubcalled a “pick-me” on social melic view, female celebrities know dia by fans. However, the same no shortage of love and hate from fans have unconditionally supthe public. Is the hate they are reported male idols and continued ceiving justified, or is it the sexism to defend them despite their outthat is so deeply rooted in our sorageous crimes. One example is ciety? the Burning Sun scandal, in which male idols Jung Joon-young and Seungri were involved with sex t r a f f i c k i n g . Some fans have expressed that these scandals may have been publicized so that the idols’ management companies could cover up their own conflicts. Additionally, Seungri and Jung only had to serve 18 months and five years

OR Villain? obal

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“Snake

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Fak e LIFESTYLES | 17

l i c ’s sympat h y, with ter ms such as “Justice for Johnny” gaining immense p o p u l a r i t y.

The support he had was further exemplified by the crowds of people who waited outside the courtroom, ready to cheer for him as he was leaving.

Many completely disregarded the fact that Heard won the court case in the United Kingdom.

Although both Depp and Heard were in the wrong, this is an extreme case of the public turning their back against the woman in a serious situation. Heard has lost a

THE CRUMBL-ING HEALTH OF MUKBANGERS

LIFESTYLES

The flaws within mukbang culture ROSA LEE writer

A

18 | THE PROSPECTOR

lready two steps behind society, mukbangers are steadily losing track of their health conditions. In a rare case, infamous 32-year-old mukbang YouTuber Nikocado Avocado, whose real name is Nicholas Perry, recently made a U-turn back towards achieving a healthy lifestyle. Perry, who used to devour intangible amounts of food routinely, shed 250 pounds in the past year. The young influencer’s drastic weight loss hinted that the mukbang community may not be what it appears on the superficial level.

Mukbangs, videos in which content creators consume large amounts of food, are currently a hot topic across social media platforms. These trending videos originated in South Korea with the purpose of providing company to

solo eaters. However, mukbangs have slowly transformed into much more sinister content. As the popularity of mukbangs grew, viewers started raising concerns about the unhealthy, dangerous and even grotesque eating habits they observed.

Although viewers witness the destructive eating habits of mukbangers, many fail to address the concerns surrounding the ethicality of mukbangs. Mukbangers do not simply consume large meals, but practically gorge on an amount that typical families would consume. Without proper care, overconsumption gradually destroys one’s internal organs and can even cause death, as shown

by Pan Xiaoting, a Chinese internet personality who recently passed away during her livestream from a stomach tear after consuming 22 pounds of food, according to Daily Mail.

Despite mukbangs’ initial purpose of providing company to solo eaters, numerous channels upload food videos for malevolent purposes. Feeder accounts, or channels that feed into the fetishes of people, have been on the rise. Viewers with specific fetishes

pay feeder accounts to eat extremely unhealthy food in messy ways, which encourages sickening behavior such as stuffing one’s mouth with handfuls of food or letting cupfuls of sauce drip off one’s mouth. This rise in feeder content exposes mukbangers to potential customers, who will pay them great deals of money to endorse their fetishes. This can transform the mukbang community, which originally swarmed with food enthusiasts, into a marketplace for feeder accounts.

Not only do the content creators themselves acquire unhealthy habits, but viewers are impacted by mukbangs too. Said registered dietician Grace Derocha in a CNN article, “The more extreme videos could encourage some viewers to overeat, avoid certain foods or fail to eat the various nutrients their bodies need.”

For individuals who already have unhealthy relationships with food, mukbangs may aggravate their conditions. Said Suzanne Fisher, another registered dietician, “I think a lot of it is almost voyeuristic in a way, almost romanticizing what it would be like to consume such a large amount of food.” Fisher explained that individuals with eating disorders may use mukbangs to suppress their appetite.

In addition to the inducement of unhealthy eating habits, a variety of abnormal food creations originated from mukbang videos

— candied burritos, torched gum- the video,” meaning the students my bears and more grotesque themselves have tried recreating inventions. While these food com- the noxious foods consumed in binations are creative, viewers mukbangs. subconsciously follow Despite the drawthese trends and backs of mukgradually justify bangs, some the incorporaargue that tion of bizarre mukbangs dishes into cultivate their diets. cultural A group of appreciaresearchers tion. TikTok conducted a creator @ subjectively affected by mukstudy about mariavehabangs in their eating habits the direct efra257 recentfects of mukly went viral bangs on students’ for consuming a eating habits, and the Dubai chocolate bar results were startling. Said filled with pistachio paste researchers Sang-yeon Park, and kataifi. The secret ingrediJeongha Eom, Sangyoun Choi, ent in these chocolates, kataifi, Jinhyun Kim and Eunchol Park, are crispy pastry shreds used in “38.6% of students watching Muk- several Dubaian desserts. As a bang and Cookbang reported result of @mariavehara257’s influthey are subjectively affected by ence, food influencers are starting

38.6% %

of students are

to incorporate kataifi and other Dubaian ingredients in their recipes.

Despite the Dubai chocolate craze, unhealthy eating habits are still more prominent in mukbang culture. Even when mukbangers feature cultural food, they often ingest massive amounts of the dish, which promotes repulsive behavior.

While mukbangs serve as entertainment to many, the overconsumption observed in such videos is detrimental to content creators’ health, and viewers may subconsciously copy or adapt to the unhealthy eating behaviors portrayed in mukbangs. Mukbangs may unknowingly be twisting societal norms and universal standards about health. As viewers, students of Cupertino High School should reconsider how the adverse effects of mukbangs may alter our society

LIFESTYLES | 19

20 | DESIGNED BY NIKHIL KRISHNASWAMY

INVESTIGATIONS

FUHSD STUDENT REPRESENTATION How well are students’ opinions represented in FUHSD?

writer

I

es more accessible.

In addition, each school’s Gender-Sexuality Alliance

e v i D ect S H sp U F er P

and Equity Task Force work with district leaders to improve in- clusivity.

A few years ago, GSAs from all five schools implemented a district-wide process for name and gender changes.

Said Gross, “We’d want to know the best way to publicize the information, how the process would work, et cetera, so a colleague of mine and I had convened all the Gender-Sexuality Alliance groups and shared the process with them.”

Gross also emphasized the diverse backgrounds of student leaders at the district level.

In addition to members of the Associated Student Body, she has collaborated with students from clubs such as Future Business Leaders of America and Model United Nations. Regardless of extracurriculars, student advocates within FUHSD are comfortable speaking with adults and garnering peer support.

“By the time someone is applying for Student Board Rep or considering Intra-District Council, […] they’ve gained some skill around thinking about what it is they’re advocating for, and determining to whom to advocate, and also being able to network with their peers,” Gross said. “Because you need to have some grassroots efforts there as well.”

INVESTIGATIONS | 21

share peers’ concerns at board meetings, calling attention to stun addition to academic ex- dent perspectives. cellence, Fremont Union High In some school districts, School District heavily values student board members play a student engagement at the district largely symbolic role — their input level. Trudy Gross, FUHSD’s Asso- and importance are limited. This ciate Superintendent of Teaching is not the case in FUHSD. Said and Learning, works closely with Gross, “The connection that our student leaders and advocates. student has with our board, and Gross communicates frequently the degree to which they are truwith the Student Board Represen- ly brought in as a member of that tative, Intra-District Council and board, is very significant.” other student groups.

FUHSD board members routinely Originally a teacher, Gross ask for the representative’s opincontinues to build meaningful re- ion, making it more impactful. Stulationships with students. This in- dents are encouraged to share volves taking note of and address- any concerns they have with the ing their concerns. Said Gross, “I Student Board Representative. feel like one of the [things] I’ve Although student involvebeen able to do working with IDC ment dipped after the COVID-19 is really listen to what the students pandemic, it is now on an upare hearing, what they’re experi- ward trend. An example is the encing [and] what questions they FUHSD Climate Collective, which have.” was created by former Student This emphasis on com- Board Representative Elisa Floyd munication carries over into the in 2023. Through the Climate Colwork of the Student Board Repre- lective, students present sustainsentative. Gross has collaborated ability concerns and advocate for with the representative, a different district-wide change. Said Gross, FUHSD student each year, for six “Students are having a real conyears. The representative acts as nection to that work particularly.” a liaison between the board and The FUHSD Wellness their peers. They raise awareness Council is another approach to of what student representation. Formed in t h e response to changing educational board policies, this group advises disdoes trict leaders on student wellbeing. and Areas of focus include sleep, nutrition, workload and mental health. The Wellness Council ensures that FUHSD’s goals and the resources TRUDY GROSS it offers align with student values.

Students’ consid“THE CONNECTION THAT OUR erable participation in disSTUDENT HAS WITH OUR BOARD, trict activities has made a AND THE DEGREE TO WHICH tangible impact. In previous THEY ARE TRULY BROUGHT IN years, for example, students AS A MEMBER OF THAT BOARD, updated FUHSD’s website to IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.” make financial aid resourcCELINE ZHANG

Intra-Distrct Council Perspective

Intra-District Council Perspective JOYCE LEE editor-in-chief

22 | THE PROSPECTOR

O

n a school and district level, students from each of the five Fremont Union High School District schools, as well as Middle College, are represented by the Intra-District Council, consisting of IDC Representatives, officers and the Student Board Representative. Each FUHSD school has two IDC representatives, who participate as part of the Associated Student Body and the IDC Council, while the Student Board Representative is chosen from one of the FUHSD schools and represents all five high schools.

Said senior Kira Liang, one of Cupertino High School’s two IDC representatives, “I think our school does a great job at every function of supporting student life, mental health and all those things.

But I feel like there are things that we may not really know, and the school can’t really address, and I [want] to be there to help students advocate for themselves in more public spheres that seem more formal and it’s harder to communicate what they want.”

Recently, Liang, her fellow CHS IDC representative Lawrence Chen and Associated Student Body President Annabel Liu released an anonymous feedback form for students to voice their

to the Board of Trustees. Singhal, concerns.

“Every time we get a re- who was previously Lynbrook’s sponse, we’ve been communi- class of 2025 vice president, was cating with admin about what’s chosen as Board Representative the best way to go about ad- through FUHSD’s annual multidressing these concerns,” said step application and interview Chen. “Also, we’ve been letting process. The application consistour FUHSD Student Board Rep ed of a school-wide written form, know of these concerns so that he interviews on the school level concan bring them up in district-wide ducted by the IDC representatives board meetings so that the Board and interviews on the district level of Trustees is aware of it and is conducted by a board member, Trudy Gross and an IDC represenworking to address it.”

In addition to the IDC rep- tative from each school.

“Mental health [was] my resentatives’ primary responsibility of submitting biweekly board main motivator, because I definitereports summarizing the current ly thought mental health was destate of CHS, representatives take teriorating among students,” said on commissioner roles within IDC, Singhal. “[There’s] this perception such as the equity commission, of high school as a drag, and you which Liang serves on, and the just want to get out of it, and kids mental health and wellness com- aren’t having a good time, just trying to get completed with it. mission, which Chen serves on.

Said Chen, “Right now, we’re And I totally understand that — of working on planning two wellness course, there’s a whole bunch of fairs alongside the city of Cuper- stressful times, but I also want to tino and the city of Sunnyvale, in make sure that there’s resourcorder to make wellness resources es and those kinds of things are more accessible to the people in available so that students can also have a stress-free environment, our district.”

Currently, the IDC repre- and also highlight the opportunisentatives are focusing on gaining ties to have fun, and make them a a better understanding of the stu- bit more apparent.”

Other projects that Singhal dent body’s needs. hopes to work Said Liang, “We’re on include pubstill working tolicizing allergen wards [improving EVERY TIME WE GET A information for student representaRESPONSE, WE’VE BEEN each school’s tion] — trying to use COMMUNICATING WITH lunch line, partthat form, get more ADMIN ABOUT WHAT’S nering with IDC perspectives, make THE BEST WAY TO GO representatives sure that we’re putABOUT ADDRESSING to create Word ting ourselves out THESE CONCERNS. on the Street vidthere, letting them eos recording KIRA LIANG know that they can responses from contact us and diverse groups trying to do it in a on their respeclow-pressure way that [shows] we’re really here to tive campuses and creating a social media platform informing support.”

As Student Board Representative, students of subjects discussed at Lynbrook senior Arnav Singhal board meetings.

As Student Board Reprerepresents the five FUHSD schools

“

”

sentative, Singhal is also part of the IDC officer team, which leads the council of nearly 30 students.

Said Singhal, “At the end of the day, IDC changes every year. So it’s very hard to build upon its progress. But the schools, they stay constant, right? It’s the same ASB teachers, you have commission leads who are growing with each other. So these [are the] kinds of things that the schools have done to reach out to all groups in the student body and trying to bring that into the district level.”

Fremont senior Dhruti Halambi serves as the president of the Intra-District Council, overseeing a group of around 30 mem-

bers and four separate commis- that we have within IDC each year is as sions. The upcoming school year good as we can get. I really enjoy having is Halambi’s third year on Fremont the perspectives of all of these different High School’s ASB, and she joined people from all of these different schools IDC in her junior year as a repre- — I think that’s something IDC does really sentative and secretary of the IDC well at.”

In the upcoming year, Halambi officer team.

“I think we do a pretty good would like to focus on IDC’s outreach withjob with making sure that every in the district and raise awareness about school in the district is account- the representation students have on a dised for,” said Halambi. “I know that trict level. sometimes we’re not able to as Said Halambi, “I feel like not a lot of people equally distribute the participants know about IDC as much as they should. as much as we would like to, and The knowledge of IDC is usually pretty remaybe that’s because of the dif- stricted to within the ASB class, and peoferent ways that ASB classes are ple who attend Fantastics or our exchangstructured. But I think that overall, es.” the representation of each school

Have your voice heard!

To advocate for their needs, students can communicate their concerns and ideas to Tino’s IDC commission, consisting of representatives Kira Liang, Lawrence Chen and ASB President Annabel Liu, through the schoolwide feedback form. If students wish to be more involved in district-wide affairs and initiatives, they can apply to become an IDC representative of Cupertino High School or the FUHSD Student Board Representative towards the end of the school year.

JOYCE LEE editor-in-chief

In addition, the district holds periodic events where students and parents can voice their concerns such as the FUHSD Board Office Hours. FUHSD staff, council members and ASB members can either help directly with Cupertino-specific issues or direct students to someone else who can help resolve their concerns.

INVESTIGATIONS | 23

24 | DESIGNED BY VICTORIA HUNT

SPORTS

ANIKA MALIK

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Anika Malik’s journey to becoming a CCS champion

social media editor

W

hile most four-year-olds were learning to play hopscotch or balance on one foot, Anika Malik was out on the tennis courts.

Years later, Malik, who is currently a junior, is ranked second on the girl’s varsity tennis team, with an impressive Central Coast Section Doubles Championship win her sophomore year. Additionally, Malik’s hard work helped push the team to CCS finals, resulting in the Northern California Championship win in her freshman year.

Throughout her childhood, Malik found a sense of belonging and purpose on the tennis court.

As she began to reach new highs in her career, Malik began playing in higher-level national tournaments, which involved traveling outside of California. “ N a -

“State finals were definitely one of the highlights of my experience with tennis — being on a team in general is just a super supportive environment and it takes some pressure off knowing that it’s not all up to you to win,” Malik said. “We had such a great time at the championships and it’s made our team a lot closer.”

Now, Malik has started off her third

year on the team dominating her opponents with a 6-0 record.

“The team and just tennis, in general, has taught me that not all of

“

THERE’S GOING TO BE DAYS WHERE I’M TIRED, AND WHERE I DON’T WANT TO GO TO PRACTICE AND ALL, BUT THEN I JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT, AND THEN ULTIMATELY, EVERYTHING WILL PAY OFF IN THE END.

ANIKA MALIK

the value of tennis is in winning because that is only temporary, but the people you meet are timeless and so much more important,” Malik said.

In the future, Malik hopes to play

the number one position during her senior year and follow in her sister’s footsteps to play collegiate tennis after high school

SPORTS | 25

tional tournaments are probably the highlights of my competition because traveling takes away some of the pressure of winning,” Malik said. “My favorite tournament site was Arizona. I went on mountain hikes, and saw so many cacti.”

One of her biggest achievements was placing second in sectionals in Lafayette, California. “It felt like all my hard work paid off because I usually don’t do well in sectionals, since it’s a very high level, and

I was really proud of myself,” Malik said.

To maintain her progress, Malik has a rigorous practice schedule, consisting of daily two-hour tennis practices, along with fitness sessions multiple times a week.

Despite her nonstop training, Malik has learned to effectively balance her academic, social and athletic commitments through years of crammed schedules.

“There’s going to be days where I’m tired, and where I don’t want to go to practice and all, but then I just have to deal with it and then ultimately, everything will pay off in the end,” Malik said.

The Cupertino girl’s varsity tennis team has had great success throughout Malik’s time on the team, holding their own in the upper De Anza league, placing first in their league her freshman year and third her sophomore year.

“

MIYA WIDMAN

THE IMPACT OF SOCIA A deep dive into the impact social media has had on sports teams

VICTORIA HUNT, YEECHEN PANG sports editor | multimedia editor

26 | THE PROSPECTOR

I

n today’s digital age, social media has impacted the way fans watch sports and interact with players. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube allow people to connect with each other and their favorite teams in real time, whether it is through official or fan accounts, and have skyrocketed certain teams into the mainstream sports world.

While the National Football League’s Instagram is used mainly for the typical promotion of games, their TikTok account takes a different approach to their promotion. The videos feature more content directly from players, funny moments from pre- and postgames, showcasing the different personalities of players.

The NFL is not the only sporting league using this kind of marketing technique. The National Basketball Association’s TikTok also focuses on showing the emotional side of sports, conducting interviews with players and posting memes alongside the usual game content.

Additionally, many players have their own accounts, where they post content with behind-thescenes looks into their day-to-day lives. This content not only gives sports fans the opportunity to connect with their favorite players, but also allows them to connect with other fans around the country.

Fans will often post memes of comedic highlights, interact with fellow fans and even create edits

of players, continuously deepening the sense of community between fans and helping to build loyalty towards their teams.

Aside from allowing fans to create a genuine connection with players, social media has also brought more awareness to different leagues and various sports.

In the past, the Women’s National Basketball Association has significantly lacked viewership, with their previous highest viewer-

“

ASIDE FROM ALLOWING FANS TO CREATE A GENUINE CONNECTION WITH PLAYERS, SOCIAL MEDIA HAS ALSO BROUGHT MORE AWARENESS TO DIFFERENT LEAGUES AND VARIOUS SPORTS.

”

VICTORIA HUNT

ship being 601,000 in 2004, compared to the NBA, with 29 million in 2008.

Caitlin Clark, who got drafted into the WNBA in 2024, has helped skyrocket women’s basketball into the public atmosphere. Previously playing at the University of Iowa, she garnered attention at a rapid pace due to the influx of edits to popular songs, and the continuous coverage of her on various platforms due to her extraordinary skill. Fans on social media helped highlight the phenomenal play-

er Clark is, bringing more regular people to watch the WNBA, not just previous basketball fans.

Clark’s debut into the WNBA helped the views jump to 2.23 million viewers for one game on Aug. 18, 2024, adding up to a total amount of viewers of 54 million over the season. Clark is not the only player to receive this attention, however — players like Paige Bueckeres also gained a significant amount of attention in a similar manner, with many fan edits of her and an abundance of coverage.

Without the help of fans and the constant flow of content being created, the amount of attention brought to women’s basketball has also surfaced light to issues in the WNBA, such as the pay gap and lack of transportation.

Despite the multitude of positives social media has brought to sporting communities around the world, it also provides a platform for teams and players to receive hate.

Fans often take to social media in order to bash rival teams, flooding comment sections with negative statements. Players and teams are constantly belittled on social media for small mistakes or because people are angry about a certain play.

The lack of sportsmanship and support towards other teams is not new to sports, as in-person fans can often be seen booing the opposing team. However, the amplitude of hate that players receive is taken to an extreme extent, where

AL MEDIA ON SPORTS fans are even found creating hateful edits towards opposing players.

Even with the unpleasant aspects that come with social media, it has changed the sports world.

Social media fosters a sense of community between teams and their fans, and it will continue to

bring both positives and negatives to various aspects of sports

SWALD’S RETURN CHLOE CHOE writer

SPORTS | 27

After stepping down as a football coach last season, Chris Oswald entered a new stage in his career as the new athletic director of Cupertino High School.

During his 31 years of educational participation at four different schools, Oswald taught a variety of subjects including economics, world history and government. One of the most prominent parts of his career was his past coaching experience, with 31 consecutive years spent as a football coach.

Said Oswald, “So far, it’s been a big learning curve. It’s a lot of time sitting at a desk behind a computer, which wasn’t my strong suit, so I have a lot of learning to do.”

Oswald emphasized the significance of his past coaching experience, which helped shape his approach as an athletic director.

“I know how [just being visible] made me feel as a coach when my athletic director was visible to me and listening and maybe even looking for things that I wasn’t aware of, so I try to do that for [the athletes] as well,” Oswald said.

To establish further connection with CHS athletes, Oswald aims to visit two practices of ongoing sports per day. Additionally, to maintain his connection with the student body, Oswald serves as the advisor of the CHS Badminton Club and Ultimate Frisbee Club.

Oswald expressed his struggle with his career transition, from putting in hundreds of hours each summer to prepare for the football season to lead the team to success. One of his biggest challenges was walking away from devoting his time and effort to players who are current sophomores to seniors.

Said Oswald, “I hope people understand the word ‘retirement’ is different than quit. I would never quit on those guys [...] every day that you’re responsible to somebody, a group of people, and they’re responsible to you, I miss that part of it tremendously.”

Moving forward, Oswald hopes to provide a positive experience to the athletes at CHS by hiring competent coaches. He also emphasized his goal to increase the involvement of students in sports, addressing issues such as sports that do not have a junior varsity team

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28 | DESIGNED BY BENJAMIN LIU, MADALINA ZHENG, CELINE ZHANG

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LETTER TO CHS ANTS

RESTRO STORAGE

A “friendly” letter to some not-so-friendly visitors of our school MADALINA ZHENG writer

Dear Cupertino High School ants, Hello there! I hope this letter finds you well. I just want to say –SOFTBALL WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON MY LAPTOP?!?! GET THE COACHES 🐜 OFFICE

OFF!!!

Anyway, you guys are spotted everywhere around CHS. Your colonies form a complex network beneath the cracks of the school, silently carving tunnels to invade our personal space. When I look around the campus, specks of moving black dots decorate the white backdrop of our walls. Every teacher seems to have an issue with you – the source of snacks in each classroom can be located by following the trail of your footsteps. “Please throw food away outside,” becomes a daily reminder for us students to hear.

Speaking of food, GAS STORAGEMy goodness.

Don’t get me started on the food.

ROOM 10 WEIGHT ROOM TEAM ROOMS

CONNEX/ CLEANING It seemsSUPPLIES like the moment I place my lunch on the floor, twenty of you guys spawn into my check-

ered paper tray. I constantly need to make trips back to the cafeteria because my utensils are conPOOL taminated from trying to scoop you out of my meal. I get that you’re hungry and have a colony to DANCE CHEMICAL ROOM feed, but do you really need to send your entire supply of soldiers to invade my food the moment I STUDIO turn away? I thought ants were supposed to be scavengers who picked up scraps dropped on the GIRLS LOCKERS floor, not little thieves who steal directly from my bowl! Even the seagulls show more respect than you.

REST

TENNIS You also show up in the most random places: my desk, my shoes, my backpack, myCOURTS laptop — MAT POOL each appearance accompanied by a minor jumpscare. Every time you crawl within a close proximiROOM HOUSE ty to me, my short-lived peace is replaced withFIELD an “ew.”

The creepy mandibles and six disgustingly TANK out of your exoskeleton resemble something of a sleep paralysis demon. Thank hairy legs sticking god you’re only a few millimeters long.

BOYS LOCKERS Although CHS preaches for inclusivity and acceptance, you are definitely not welcome here.

Please do us all a favor and leave this campus for good.

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OUTSIDE SCREW & YOKE

POSTSCRIPT | 29

Not wishing you the best, Madalina Zheng

30 | DESIGNED BY SHAONA DAS

SHAONA DAS

editor-in-chief

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