PULSE MAGAZINE Volume 15 Issue 4

Volume 15 Issue 4

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Unprecedented is the most overused word of the year, but there is no other term that can describe our lives these past months. The first announcement of school closure was met with shock and excitement--some may have almost considered it a blessing. March, arguably the longest and most stressful month of the school year, was now cut in half. Many of us walked out of school on March 13th with the mindset that these next two weeks were going to be a pre-spring break.

Deep down, we all knew this was too good to be true. Over the next two weeks, each and every one of us was forced to realize the gravity of the pandemic. Death tolls, shutdowns, and protests filled up our screens each day. Social-distancing orders have trapped us inside our homes and have seemingly forbidden us to see anyone outside our immediate family. All of a sudden, we were told our daily activities--learning inside a classroom, ordering food at a restaurant, hugging those we care about--were life-threatening? We were being told that this flu-like virus required the quarantining of an entire nation to combat?

Stepping back, it seemed like we were living inside a horror film--and the situation seem to have only worsened .

Stepping back. It may seem hard to do. It feels as if our lives have been turned upside down--no, it feels as if our lives have been turned upside down, inside out, wrung-out, and hung out on a clothing line during a thunderstorm. Never before did we think we would miss the uncomfortable plastic green chairs of the CCA classrooms. Or wincing at our demonic reflections in the aluminum foil mirrors of the C-building bathrooms.

Stepping back, it is no doubt that we have all been robbed of something.

But humans are resilient. CCA is resilient. We are not ones to let ourselves drown in an ocean of self-pity and sorrow. We are change-makers and innovators. We take each challenge thrown our way and transform it into an opportunity to grow. The absence of a physical classroom should not mean our intellect and individualism are silenced--and the simple barrier of distance shouldn’t separate us from forming together and accomplishing great change in our world, especially considering the escalating crisis plaguing our nation and world at large.

And we here at Pulse Magazine want to highlight these ideas--this issue is nearly double our normal size with stories that hope to bridge the physical gaps between all of us, whether it be through an open letter for the graduating class of 2020 from Elise Kim or Ellyse Given’s tips on managing mental health through the uncharted territories of quarantine. Don’t forget about CCA’s annual college map, where we commemorate the four years of hard work the class of 2020 has put in and look onwards to the amazing things we will do in our futures. And if you’re looking for a more lighthearted note on how to best pass the time, Emily Fowler put together a few of Netflix’s recent hits to start binging--but if that's not your cup of tea, Sarina Hegli has a few “activity suggestions” that are more than a little questionable (at best). And besides, the coronavirus pandemic isn't all bad: Kate Bennet and Iris Kim encourage us to look on the bright side and find the silver linings to quarantine. But beyond ourselves, we must stand with those close to us in these trying times--sentiments reflected in Emily Gao’s feature on Hector (with a pandemic twist) or Justin Wang’s interview with an ER doctor. And looking past our immediate surroundings, we must understand and come together with those outside our communities. Many citizens of other countries live in a much different world where, as Ethan Chang explains, the responses to coronavirus have varied from totalitarian crackdowns to mass disobedience. Additionally, Ella T. Lifset analyzes the cultural and epidemiological origins of the virus, and Alex Reinsch-Goldstein gives us a dire look to the future, and how government actions can set uncharted precedents and change our lives forever.

The year 2020 and its relentless onslaught has affected nearly every part of the world. But just as we run the gauntlet of foreign tensions, continent-wide bushfires, and the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant, among other harrowing events, we will get through the pandemic and quarantine just as we did everything else--together. As a community, where no man, woman, or child is below any other.

We hope that all of you, both readers and beyond, stay strong and safe throughout these unprecedented times. It is our honor to present Volume 15, Issue 4 of Pulse Magazine.

letter from the editors

Sincerely,

Emily Gao & Justin Wang Pulse Magazine Editors in Chief, 2019-2020

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6 8 9 10 12 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 26 30 32 34 35 36 38 40 41 42 43 46 48 50

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining Frances Chai Defense Production Act Andrew Gu Prom Redone Carson McCloskey Singapore Christina Byun The Truth Behind Vaccines Elliot Frueh Binging Season Emily Fowler Second Wave Jasmine Elasaad The New Classroom Hannah Quini How Good We Hive It Iris Kim & Kate Bennett How’s Hector?

Emily Gao Wet Markets: Birthplace of COVID Ella T. Lifset Quarantined Trends Aerin Flaherty & Sophia Larson Nature’s Comeback Cole Colleran To the Class of 2020 Elise Kim College Map Emily Gao Celebrities with COVID Amy Shore Democracy Dies in... Pandemic?

Alex Reinsch-Goldstein What in the World? - Journal Entries Anonymous On The Shelf Sofia Fischel More Than Enough Ellyse Givens Front Lines Justin Wang Tokyo 2020 Ryan Bridges The Different Sides Ethan Chang Economy Gone Awry Peter Hong Keep Calm and Ruin the Curve Sarina Hegli Higher Education Lena Chen Introverts vs Extroverts Alex Reinsch-Goldstein & Maxine Mah If Roles Were Reversed Liam Rosenberg

“Right now it’s George, Breonna, and Ahmaud. Before that it was Eric, Sandra, and Michael. It just goes on, and on, and on. Race and racism is a reality that so many of us grow up learning to just deal with. But if we ever hope to move past it, it can’t just be on people of color to deal with it. It’s up to all of us--black, white, everyone--no matter how wellmeaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out. It starts with self-examination and listening to those whose lives are different from our own. It ends with justice.”

- Michelle Obama

Due to the time constraints of our printing deadlines, Pulse Magazine was not able to cover the recent Black Lives Matter movement and the related events occurring in our nation.

However, we would like to reaffirm that together, as a staff, we stand with the black community. We stand for inclusion. We stand against racism. We stand against injustice. We stand together--and we encourage all our readers and community members to do the same.

LISTEN CHANGE BE ACTIVE BE VOCAL EDUCATE

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EVERY cloud has a

silver lining frances chai

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It’s hard to stay positive during COVID-19, to say the least. Lives are being turned upside down and there’s no way to tell when they will get back to normal--but what does normal even mean anymore?

Despite the bleakness of the current situation, people are finding ways to be helpful and hopeful. Here are some silver lining stories to shed some light on your day.

Hugs and handshakes are a thing of the past, and rare in-person interactions happen from a distance of six feet. In this new reality, people are placing a high premium on connectivity. Brooke Baldwin, a CNN anchor who was diagnosed with coronavirus, was reminded that “connection is more vital to our health and happiness that we might care to admit.” People are rediscovering the power of family time; family movie nights, board game tournaments, and bedtime stories are all in full swing. But what about the outside world?

Obviously, due to social distancing and stay-at-home orders (stay inside please!), the way people connect with others has been altered. In Siena, Italy, residents reached out to one another and displayed their unity by leaning out their windows and singing Il Canto della Verbena, a traditional patriotic song. Birthday parties, baby showers, and other celebrations are now drive-by parades, complete with balloons, signs, and honking. In the UK, people are displaying drawings on rainbows in their windows as a sign of hope and solidarity for those who are still outside due to their essential

jobs. Residents Residents in Copenhagen, jobs.

Disneyland, and MGM Resorts Denmark took to their balconies and International have been donating Denmark took participated in in a social distancing participated their food and supplies to those in group workout. workout. In this era of social group need. In early April, the National distancing, people aren’t the only Health Service (NHS) put out a distancing, people ones connecting connecting with each other in ones notice looking for volunteers to ways like like never never before. In Chicago, ways escort patients from the hospital and the Shedd Shedd Aquarium Aquarium let their the deliver medication, among other rockhopper penguins, penguins, Edward and rockhopper things. It only took one night for Annie, explore explore the empty aquarium Annie, over 170,000 people to answer the and meet meet dolphins dolphins and sharks from and call. the other side of the glass.

While many things across the the other side All around around the world, people All world are shutting down in the name are showing showing that that they care for one are of flattening the curve, it’s nice to another.

In this time, even the see that the arts are still alive and another. In this smallest act act can can have the smallest well. Time in quarantine biggest impact. impact. Three biggest has seen many people high school students take up new skills, high school students In Milan, from Massachusetts Massachusetts from citizens have participated such as playing an formed Mask Mask instrument, formed in impromptu dance and knitting, and Force , a nonprofit Force, a nonprofit sing-alongs from the safety of baking--never organization organization their own balcony; in dedicated to to have there ever dedicated Copenhagen, the song of providing personal b een so many providing personal choice for this activity was p ictures of protective protective “You’ve Got A Friend.” equipment (PPE) (PPE) to homemade bread on equipment the healthcare workers s ocial media. In Milan, the healthcare c itizens have participated on the frontline of on the frontline i n impromptu dance and singfighting coronavirus. coronavirus. Becky fighting Hoeffler, aa Duke Duke University project alongs from the safety of their own Hoeffler, balcony; in Copenhagen, the song of coordinator, has been using her coordinator, has choice for this activity was “You’ve work-from-home lunch breaks to go work-from-home on grocery grocery runs runs for the elderly, Got A Friend.” In response to on thereby reducing their exposure.

In theater closures and canceled shows thereby reducing across Broadway, New York City’s Spain, families families leaned out their Spain, windows and and went out on their Metropolitan Opera has been windows balconies to applaud healthcare hosting free, opera streaming events balconies to applaud for fans. fans. Other Other music music events events have have workers and chant “viva los for workers and chant “viva los also been hosted online to lift spirits medicos!” (“long (“long live live the the doctors!”). doctors!”). also been hosted online to lift spirits medicos!” and (virtually!) (virtually!) bring bring fans fans together, together, Similar efforts efforts have have also also been been seen seen and Similar such as BTS’s Bang Bang Con in New York City and across the such as BTS’s Bang Bang Con in New York City and across the concert weekend, Chris Martin’s UK. As As stay-at-home stay-at-home orders orders force force concert weekend, Chris Martin’s UK. impromptu Instagram Instagram Live Live concert, concert, business closure, places such as The impromptu business closure, places such as The and ABC’s Disney family singGrove pub in southwest London, and ABC’s Disney family singGrove pub in southwest London,

along (complete with a High School Musical cast reunion).

There are key elements at the core of every one of these silver lining stories: compassion, kindness, and creativity. Unfortunately, not everyone is maintaining these core values during COVID-19. There are people hoarding toilet paper, selling hand sanitizer at obscene prices, and committing racially motivated hate crimes. But it’s important to note that the majority of people, healthcare workers, and citizens are bringing about ways to help the world get through this crisis. And these sentiments are not unique to just the coronavirus pandemic.

Survivor accounts from 9/11 reveal that people maintained a “no, you first” attitude while going down the stairs to escape the falling buildings.

Experts from the University of Delaware’s Disaster Research Center have conducted around 700 on-site field studies on natural disasters since 1963 and the results were more or less the same: negative behavior is always outshined by the vast majority of people helping on another. A social psychologist from the British Psychological Society adds that “we’re more likely to see prosocial behaviors across multiple types of disasters and extreme events.”

Whether you believe it or not, disasters disasters bring bring out out the the best best in in people. people. This, This, too, too, shall shall pass, pass, and and when it does, we should always when it does, we should always remember remember the the ways ways people people came came together together to to help help each each other. other.

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your questions answered:

DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT Over the course of the pandemic, calls for the administration to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to boost production of medical equipment have grown louder and louder. But what does the Defense Production Act even do? How could we use this Cold War relic to reinforce our beleaguered medical system, and will it even help?

Essentially, the DPA gives the federal government three main powers: resource management (Title I), the ability to grant special funding (Title III), and the ability to grant noncompetitive contracts (Title VII). There are other powers, such as bringing industry leaders together, but these are the big three.

Title I, or resource management, means that the US government can allocate private resources to hotspots (like i rect ing companies to send more masks to New York or compelling hoarders to give up their supplies). The US government can also require companies to prioritize government contracts above all others. This all seems well and good in a crisis, but implementing Title I may have potentially deleterious effects. Topdown resource management tends to be incredibly inefficient, and though it might be helpful in a pinch, Title I could end up shifting decisionmaking power from those on the

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ground to authorities who have access to far less information.

Moreover, forcing companies (such as the N95 mask company, 3M) to put all their resources into aiding the US denies other countries desperately-needed medical supplies. This may, in turn, result in those countries refusing to send aid to the US. For instance, on April 3rd, US officials working under chaotic conditions seized 200,000 N95s bound for Germany in an act that the German government called “modern piracy.”

To contrast, the DPA’s special funding authority (Title III) may be more helpful in fighting the pandemic, as the funding can be used to boost medical production and research. Already, a billion dollars have been appropriated for this section of the DPA, but the additional investment may not be timely enough to boost certain kinds of production. For example, it takes months to construct the facilities for the machines needed to make meltblown polypropylene, the material used in N95 masks. Because of this, the DPA’s effects on the complicated supply chains present in producing specialized equipment may take too much time to materialize. Making use of the DPA weeks earlier may have helped mitigate this, but the US’s initially sluggish response to the pandemic

andrew gu

wasted weeks of desperately-needed time. Therefore, the special funding may be most efficient in boosting production of simpler supplies, such as testing swabs.

The third power (Title VII) gives the government the ability to grant noncompetitive contracts. This streamlines the process of entering into government contracts while also providing companies the opportunity for tremendous, timely, and guaranteed profits. It provides a substantial incentive to invest in retooling manufacturing towards mass producing medical equipment at the cost of quality and efficiency.

However, it is possible to regulate noncompetitive contracts by refusing to purchase from companies that underdeliver. This power has (as of April 22) been comparatively underutilized.

In a nutshell, the DPA gives the federal government control of resources, funding powers, and special contract authorities, which can all be used to incentivize production and manage a unified response against the pandemic.

However, it does not directly give the power to increase production, and its watered-down usage by the administration has yielded mixed results. Alone, the DPA isn’t a miracle worker, but it has tremendous untapped potential in the right hands.

Carson McCloskey

Everyone has dreamed of their perfect prom. Fancy dresses, nice suits, corsages and boutonnières, prom pictures, the basics that make up the equation for a perfect prom.

No matter who you are, chances are you have given some thought to prom at one point or another. But now, in the age of COVID-19, everyone’s minds are on the overwhelming thought of everything getting canceled or postponed, including prom. Juniors and seniors alike have been looking forward to this night from the beginning of high school, from already trying on prom dresses to attempting to guess the venue location. But just because CCA’s prom is canceled, it doesn’t mean the idea of prom can’t still happen.

In California, gatherings of 10 or more have been banned until further notice, and a mandatory stay at home order has been placed, obviously making CCA’s prom effectively impossible. A social distancing order of 6 feet makes it difficult for students to meet up with their friends or dates--forget about taking prom photos. But all of this doesn’t necessarily mean that students can’t experience

a glamorous night of glamorous night of dressing-up and dancing.

Although untraditional, we can still create a prom from home.

By now, the majority of students are familiar with the technology that CCA has implemented to continue classes, such as Google Hangouts, Zoom, and FaceTime. This technology doesn’t have to be used solely for school. With Zoom and FaceTime, students can call and see multiple people at once, making it a perfect “place” for friend groups who were planning to go to prom together to “gather.” Students and their friends can get dressed up, throw some music on, call each other, and throw a prom from the comfort of their homes. It is a simple solution to a disappointing situation. It can bring people together, while still social distancing, to celebrate something many have been looking forward to since freshman year.

For many students, a big part of prom was not the event itself; but rather the pictures that are taken beforehand. Pictures like these let people look back on a night to remember, but for the seniors and juniors this year, traditional prom

pictures are not feasible. Students can still get dressed up and take photos from home, but obviously it won’t be the same. Students may not be able to meet up with others to take their pictures, but that just makes the perfect opportunity for a solo photoshoot--or even one with family. Students and their families can dress up and take family prom pictures to make up for the loss of traditional pictures.

Although prom 2020 was canceled, students can still replicate the iconic high school experience without having to break any laws--through online contact with friends, dressing up, and taking individual pictures.

Although it’s not the fairy-tale-like experience many of us had hoped for, it’s a reasonable alternative that keeps everyone virus-free and still lets students live through the major aspects of prom. Students will still be able to commemorate this time and remember the unique--and undoubtedly unforgettable-- experience of creating a prom from home.

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DIGGING DEEP: SINGA “Singapore... wait, is that in China?”

When I first moved to the U.S. after having been born and raised in Singapore for twelve years, these were the kinds of remarks I received when I told my peers where I had moved from. During my first two years of life in the U.S., I didn’t come across one person who had even heard of Singapore. Now, the story is a completely different one; when “Singapore” is mentioned, people think of Crazy Rich Asians, the 3 buildings with the boat on top (though some have said it’s a wingless airplane that is perched above the architectural wonder), the cleanliness, and the laws against chewing gum. It’s safe to say that over the past 3 years, Singapore has done a remarkable job of becoming the golden child of Southeast Asia in the eyes of the West--and its initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic was no exception to this narrative.

Sometime in February when I was driving home from school, I decided to listen to NPR, and I heard a Singaporean accent on the radio--a sound for sore ears. NPR was interviewing a doctor in Singapore and praising the country for its amazing containment and

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quick response to the virus. They weren’t wrong. The number of cases managed to stay extremely low consistently throughout March, and it seemed like the government had it under control. When I checked Instagram, I could even see that my friends 8,000 miles away were still going to school and eating out, so it seemed as if everything was normal.

On March 13th, CCA announced that school was shutting down for an undetermined length of time. Then on March 19th, Governor Newsom ordered a stayat-home order for California. Those first 2-3 weeks of quarantine were not easy, as we all know, and it was especially strange for me when I would Facetime my brother, who lives in Singapore, and it felt like we were in contrasting worlds. Due to the time difference, I would usually catch him when I was on the couch winding down from an extremely tiring day of doing nothing and he was walking to his neighborhood hawker center to get a cup of Kopi C--“kopi” meaning “coffee” in Malay and “C” meaning “fresh” in a Hainanese dialect--a sweet cup of Singaporean iced coffee with evaporated milk. However, things have drastically changed since that call. Within days, the number of

cases doubled on the small island and now the country is on lockdown. But, how? The answer: migrant workers.

Migrant workers in Singapore are mostly from Malaysia, China, India, and Bangladesh, among many other Asian countries, and make up over a third of the labor force.

Mostly working in construction, they are the ones behind the sparkling images of Singapore that westerners are familiar with: Marina Bay Sands (the boat building), Sentosa, etc. To travel around the island, they’re herded onto the backs of pick up trucks and at night they sleep in overcrowded dormitories: the newest breeding grounds for COVID-19. In these living spaces, 12-20 workers sleep together and share bathrooms, kitchens, and other communal spaces. The Ministry of Manpower is currently increasing stricter safety precautions and moving thousands of migrant workers to places such as gymnasiums and military camps.

Seeing the recent progression of COVID-19 in Singapore and the way that Singaporean news sources have been covering it--statements

APORE

CHRISTINA BYUN

from the Ministry of Manpower saying that it “wasn’t necessary to take action earlier”; propagandaesqe photographs of a nurse walking outside of dorms with a megaphone saying “you are one of us. We will take care of you,”-- is a reminder to me about how complex and unique the social ecosystem of Singapore is. The widening gap between the wealthy and the poor isn’t unique to Singapore at all, but where almost 30% of the population are nonresidents (a.k.a. “Expats”, short for expatriate), other factors of race and what passport you hold come into play. Nonresidents are for the most part either wealthy business people whose children go to private international schools, or poor migrant workers as described earlier. Additionally, among Singaporeans the gap between wealthy and poor is extremely dramatic--I mean, look at Crazy Rich Asians. I’ll admit, I had tons of privilege in Singapore. It would be ignorant to say that my American accent and clean international school uniform had nothing to do with it, but it was also complicated as someone who wasn’t white, and at first glance might have looked like a local because of the color of my skin. So, on the outside, I wasn’t

immediately a “westerner.”

Currently, Singapore is in the midst of a “circuit breaker”; perhaps they call it that to dampen the intensity of words such as “lockdown” or “quarantine”, although they’re very much the same thing. However, compared to what we have, their measures are more extreme: fined up to $300SGD (~$210USD) if caught without a mask on or not standing at least 1

“S’Porean woman, 30, faces S$10,000 fine, 6 months’ jail for meeting boyfriend during circuit breaker” meter away from strangers, and arrested and fined up to $10,000SGD (~$7,020USD) if caught holding any sort of social gathering or being with someone whom you do not live with.

Singaporean news outlets have made it clear that the government is not taking matters frivolously. With headlines such as “Three Men Plead Guilty to Kayaking in Pulau Ubin During Circuit Breaker” and “S’Porean woman, 30, faces S$10,000 fine, 6 months’ jail for meeting boyfriend during circuit

breaker,” news outlets are working hard at drilling fear into Singaporeans so they adhere to the rules. Yet you can find wealthy white expats in Robertson Quay (a fashionable area by Singapore River) sipping martinis at bars in large groups, not social distancing, and masks barely hanging onto their chins--and no one is arresting or fining them! Even if someone did call the police on these expats, who would show up and arrest them? An 18 year old straight out of high school serving their two years of National Service?

Considering that Singapore is significantly geographically smaller than San Diego, the amount of disparate social worlds it contains is amazing: from Singaporeans to migrant workers to crazy rich Singaporeans to white foreigners to mainland Asian foreigners to AsianAmerican foreigners, etc. For each of the inhabitants of these different social worlds, one’s version of Singapore might be the antithesis of another’s, yet this invisible virus called “COVID-19” seems to be the apparatus that is disrupting and unmasking these realities.

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protection was complete. After the like particles, weakened bacterial rejection of his first paper to the toxins, or other substances derived Royal Society describing his from pathogens are all fair game. observations, he rewrote the paper After the exploration stage is with more cases into a small booklet complete, scientists will have a and published it a year later. He candidate vaccine. The pre-clinical named his new procedure stage revolves around assessing the “vaccination,” after the Latin word safety and immunogenicity, or for cow, vacca, and cowpox, ability to provoke an immune vaccinia. This radical new response, of the candidate vaccine procedure took hold in London as through tissue-culture or cell-culture multiple renowned and respected systems and animal testing. The surgeons began implementing studies conducted in this stage will vaccination A into their arsenal of It isn’t determine human cellular vaccine isn’t a cure. a from athe Libyan-born slave named medicaltreatment practices. response to different vaccines as either. Vaccines are, at Onesimus.

Mather noticed scar on Bytheir the very yearcore, 1800,a preventative vaccinations well as what a safe dose mightabe.

Onesimus’s arm similar to scars left had reached most European stage also has the highest measure.

Vaccines are not given toThis behind after being variolated-countries.

Although not the team may or gosmallpox, through those with a virus, theyfirst are to given inscrap-rate; treatedafor variola, discover thistoprocess even makethat hundreds of to varying candidates in order preventorcontracting similar the methods supposedly note ofvirus it, Jenner’s hard work in the pre-clinical stage to achieve the in the future.

Vaccines, used in Early China. developing a sound process and desired results. although known for their Variolation was a practice used instrumental part in prolonging spreading the knowledge Typically one throughout mosttooftwo the years 1700sof until a lifespan and eradicating disease, are revolutionized the way medicine testing later, the Edward desired Jenner vaccineused man named often misunderstood. Not only is the was practiced. makes its wayinoculation out of thetolab and cowpox effectively history of the vaccine poorly taughtinto the real world for Years a series of prevent smallpox. before outside of the medical world, but time-consuming however, when Jenner was 8 years trials.

A sponsor DEVELOPMENT PROCESS their development cycle and the will submit old, he was inoculated with an application for an Like any behind scientific process, science how they work is Investigational smallpox and contracted a mildto New Drug (IND) vaccineobscured development too. is intricate and case, but survived.

Inoculation was, the U.S. Food and Drug meticulous. The development as with variolation, an unpredictable Administration, describing the processHISTORY is generally recognized in procedure that ran the manufacturing and testingrisk of six stages: exploratory, pre-clinical, infecting patient.

This The history of the vaccine processes, labthe reports, and theis how the clinical,starts regulatory modern belief that vaccines can as earlyreview as 200 and BCE in Chinaproposed study. After being approval, manufacturing, and cause the patient to contract the with the smallpox inoculation. reviewed by an institutional review disease the vaccine prevents was qualityThere control. are reputable accounts of board, the FDA has thirty days to born.

The exploratory stage issmall often inoculation by rubbing approve the application.

In 1764, at onlyOnce fifteen years overlooked when expectingmatter new into samples of smallpox approved, the product goes through old, Jenner began an apprenticeship skin or blowing them vaccines to tears be created as soon asup a the three to four trials.

Starting with a in early What’s 17th-century diseasenostrils is discovered. so China, with George Harwicke, a medical grouppractitioner of twenty who to eighty a taughtadults, the young whilecan’t somethe sources claimjust hard? Why scientists promising trial will progress to man about the medical practice. around almost two make ainoculation serum withwas some of the Phase II. Incompleting this second a After hisphase, apprenticeship, thousand years before then. disease?

The first stage typically J enner went to medical history larger group of several hundred with takes about The two accepted to four years ondon several at-risk individuals areLtested immunization continues becauseoflaboratory scientists needaround to and using randomized and controlled 1706 when British minister find antigens that might help became Cotton Mather received a gift procedures with a placebo group. prevent or treat the disease, whether Phase III trials involve even more natural or synthetic. Weakened participants; thousands to tens of strands of the disease aren’t the only thousands of people. These tests are antigens12 that scientists test; virus-

randomized, double blind, and involve a placebo group. This phase will bring out the rare side effects that usually do not show in the smaller trials, as well as show a general level of group safety provided by the vaccine.

If successful, the developer will submit a Biologics License Application to the FDA. The FDA a student John Hunter, whothe was will inspectofthe factory where on the staff of St. George’s Hospital. vaccine will be made and approve In 1773, after two years with the vaccine’s labeling. After Hunter, studying natural sciences licensure, the interest FDA will continue with a keen in all things to monitor production.

Phase IV biological, Jenner returned to trials his may be conducted during hometown, Berkeley, in order to production and manufacturing in practice medicine. order toNot ensure safety and untilthe 1796, twenty-three efficacy of the vaccine. years after leaving the side of John The FDA and the Hunter in London, didVaccine Jenner take Adverse Reporting System the firstEvent step toward eradicating smallpox.aJenner had heard stories (VAERS), voluntary reporting of dairymaids that they system set up byclaiming the CDC and FDA, could never contract smallpox then oversees the Quality Control because they had suffered phase.

If anyone is already administered a through cowpox and were now vaccine and sustains an event that immune.

These claims were, to may be associated with the vaccine, most, assumptions by those it can bewild reported to VAERS and it who didn’t know any better; will be investigated. Another quality however, they caught Jenner’s control device is the Vaccine Safety interest.

Datalink (VSD).

Thea dairymaid VSD is a Jenner found collection of linked databases named Sarah Nelms who had fresh containing information from various cowpox lesions from her arms down large medical groups allowing to her hands. He used matter from officials gathertodata aboutan eightNelms’tolesions inoculate vaccination among served year-old boy, named James Phipps. populations.

In general,resulted vaccines are This first inoculation in the boy’s mild contraction, though two developed similarly to other drugs later Jenner once againdue butmonths are usually more thorough inoculated the boy and no disease to the larger group of human developed.

Jenner clinical concluded thatand subjects in vaccine trials closely-monitored post-licensure by the CDC and FDA.

protection was complete. After the rejection of his first paper to the Royal Society describing his observations, he rewrote the paper with more cases into a small booklet and published it a year later. He named his new procedure “vaccination,” after the Latin word for cow, vacca, and cowpox, vaccinia. This radical new procedure took hold in London as multiple renowned and respected surgeons began implementing vaccination into their arsenal of medical practices.

By the year 1800, vaccinations had reached most European countries. Although not the first to discover this process or even make note of it, Jenner’s hard work in developing a sound process and spreading the knowledge revolutionized the way medicine was practiced.

DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Like any scientific process, vaccine development is intricate and meticulous. The development process is generally recognized in six stages: exploratory, pre-clinical, clinical, regulatory review and approval, manufacturing, and quality control.

The exploratory stage is often overlooked when expecting new vaccines to be created as soon as a disease is discovered. What’s so hard? Why can’t the scientists just make a serum with some of the disease? The first stage typically takes about two to four years because laboratory scientists need to find antigens that might help prevent or treat the disease, whether natural or synthetic. Weakened strands of the disease aren’t the only antigens that scientists test; virus-

like particles, weakened bacterial toxins, or other substances derived from pathogens are all fair game.

After the exploration stage is complete, scientists will have a candidate vaccine. The pre-clinical stage revolves around assessing the safety and immunogenicity, or ability to provoke an immune response, of the candidate vaccine through tissue-culture or cell-culture systems and animal testing. The studies conducted in this stage will determine the human cellular response to different vaccines as well as what a safe dose might be.

This stage also has the highest scrap-rate; a team may go through hundreds of varying candidates in the pre-clinical stage to achieve the desired results.

Typically one to two years of testing later, the desired vaccine makes its way out of the lab and into the real world for a series of time-consuming trials. A sponsor will submit an application for an Investigational New Drug (IND) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, describing the manufacturing and testing processes, lab reports, and the proposed study. After being reviewed by an institutional review board, the FDA has thirty days to approve the application. Once approved, the product goes through three to four trials. Starting with a group of twenty to eighty adults, a promising trial will progress to Phase II. In this second phase, a larger group of several hundred with several at-risk individuals are tested using randomized and controlled procedures with a placebo group.

Phase III trials involve even more participants; thousands to tens of thousands of people. These tests are

randomized, double blind, and involve a placebo group. This phase will bring out the rare side effects that usually do not show in the smaller trials, as well as show a general level of group safety provided by the vaccine.

If successful, the developer will submit a Biologics License Application to the FDA. The FDA will inspect the factory where the vaccine will be made and approve the vaccine’s labeling. After licensure, the FDA will continue to monitor production. Phase IV trials may be conducted during production and manufacturing in order to ensure the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.

The FDA and the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a voluntary reporting system set up by the CDC and FDA, then oversees the Quality Control phase. If anyone is administered a vaccine and sustains an event that may be associated with the vaccine, it can be reported to VAERS and it will be investigated. Another quality control device is the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). The VSD is a collection of linked databases containing information from various large medical groups allowing officials to gather data about vaccination among served populations. In general, vaccines are developed similarly to other drugs but are usually more thorough due to the larger group of human subjects in vaccine clinical trials and closely-monitored post-licensure by the CDC and FDA.

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HOW THEY WORK

Vaccines don’t work the same way most other medicines do because they serve a different purpose. While most medicines are pills or syrups that work to reduce the effect of viruses or boost the immune system in fighting it off, vaccines are injections given to the patient in order to build antibodies to prevent contraction of the disease in the future.

Regarding vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) writes, “Vaccines contain the same germs that cause disease But they have been either killed or weakened to the point that they don’t make you sick,” and put that simply, that is true. Instead of buffing the immune system by empowering preexisting antibodies, vaccines work by creating a part of the immune system that immunizes the patient. There are multiple different types of vaccines, though, each working slightly differently than the next.

Starting with the vaccine most people know about, the live attenuated vaccine, we’ll go through the main categories. The live attenuated vaccine contains a weaker, asymptomatic form of the virus and introduces it to the body.

The weakened virus is not strong enough to reproduce and spread throughout the body and cause sickness, but is still alive so that an

excellent simulation is provided for natural antibodies. Live attenuated vaccines are some of the most efficient vaccines and can cause lifetime immunity in one to two doses. One large disadvantage to live vaccines is that they can not be given to individuals with immune system deficiencies, such as those undergoing chemotherapy or HIV/AIDS patients. The measles vaccine is a prime example of a live attenuated vaccine.

Inactive vaccines introduce dead cells to the body which can still learn from the dead antigens and fight live versions in the future.

Unfortunately, since the antigens are dead, the simulation for the immune system is not entirely accurate, so multiple “booster shots” are often required. The polio vaccine is one of the most prominent inactive vaccines.

Subunit/conjugate vaccines inject a specific protein or carbohydrate from select pathogens that will still provoke a response from the immune system while eliminating any risk of contraction; the HPV vaccine is one of these vaccines that accomplishes this goal well.

Some bacterial diseases such as tetanus damage the body by secreting harmful toxins. Toxoid vaccines “deactivate” some of these toxins using a mixture of formaldehyde and water followed tby an injection of he deact ivat ed

toxins, working similarly to an inactive vaccine.

Some other vaccine types, conjugate and DNA vaccines, are still in experimentation. So far, only one use for conjugate vaccines is listed by publichealth.org, Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib), while DNA vaccines using only harmless DNA strands of pathogens are being dveloped for various strains of influenza and herpes.

In the midst of recovery from one of the most devastating pandemics in recent history, knowing the truth from the falsity of what will fight disease versus prevent it is important. The entire vaccine development process can take multiple years--and often does. In unprecedented times such as these, vaccine production can be accelerated down to under two years. It is important to know that vaccines are used to prevent sickness rather than fight it, and with worldwide misinformation about vaccines, getting knowledge out to the community is a top priority. I highly encourage everyone to read up on vaccines, no matter what prerequisite knowledge you possess; The CDC’s website, cdc.gov, has excellent information on vaccines as well as thousands of pieces of information about the entire medical world.

STAY SAFE AND INFORMED.

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MOVIES Invisible Man (Mystery/Sci-fi) Available on Youtube, Google Play, and Amazon Prime TV This movie is about a man who stages his own suicide after his ex-girlfriend, Cecilia, decides to leave him. Being a scientist, he has constructed equipment to make himself invisible, and he uses this to stalk, torture, and inflict paranoia upon his ex-girlfriend. The storyline of this movie is so intriguing that you can’t take your eyes off the screen. The focus on suspense in each scene makes it captivating and an edge-of-the-seat thriller.

Jojo Rabbit (Comedy/War) Available on Youtube, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Jojo, a boy living in Nazi-occupied Germany during World War II, believes that his country can do no wrong. However, he is lonely, and his only friend is an imaginary Adolf Hitler. One day, Jojo discovers that his mother has been hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. Being a naive German boy, he is conflicted because he had been taught that Jewish people were evil, but he eventually learns the truth. The director, Taika Waititi, makes this film special with poignant social commentary, the use of satire and a creative plot.

BINGING SEASON movie and show recommendations to spice up your days emily fowler

SHOWS Law & Order SVU (Thriller) Available on NBC, Hulu, Sling TV, Youtube TV, fubo TV, and Youtube This series is about the New York City Special Victims Unit, where the detectives primarily investigate hate and sex crimes. Because this show has been around for over 20 years, there are so many episodes to watch and it’s likely you won’t even finish the entire series before the lockdown is over.

It’s an exciting and dramatic look into the NYPD, and it’s always fun to see a famous guest star or two grace the Special Victims Unit.

Waco Available on Netflix, Youtube, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Prime This is a Netflix Original that I have currently been binge-watching. The plot follows the Waco siege that took place in 1993, where the ATF, FBI, and U.S. military got involved in sieging Mount Carmel Center, a ranch that was owned by David Koresh. There has always been numerous theories speculating what happened in the Waco siege, and the showrunners give the audience the true perspective using books by David Thibodeau and Gary Noesner when making this show.

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The Second Wave Jasmine Elasaad Elasaad Jasmine

Isolation, empty empty store store Isolation, helves, restaurants restaurants turned turned sshelves, ttoo ghost ghost towns. towns. The The mergence of of the the eemergence oronavirus has has caused caused panic panic ccoronavirus o n a massive global scale and on a massive global scale and h as impacted the global has impacted the global conomy and and the the lives lives of of eeconomy b illions.

Even more billions. Even more isturbingly, the the director director of of the the ddisturbingly, Centers enters for for Disease Disease Control Control and and C P revention (CDC) has warned Prevention (CDC) has warned hat the the imminent imminent second second wave wave of of tthat oronavirus this this winter winter will will prove prove ccoronavirus ttoo be be even even more more dangerous dangerous and and ifficult to to deal deal with. with. But But how how can can ddifficult wee prepare prepare for for this? this? w The reason that this second second wave wave The reason that this iiss predicted predicted to to be be so so deadly deadly is is because because would resurface resurface during during flu flu season. season. iitt would O ur current healthcare system is Our current healthcare system is already strained as it is with this current already strained as it is with this current pandemic--there is is aa general general lack lack of of pandemic--there protective equipment for medical staff, protective equipment for medical staff, testing kits, and ventilators.

Political testing kits, and ventilators. Political leaders continue continue to to promote promote social social leaders distancing and implement quarantine distancing and implement quarantine measures in in aa desperate desperate attempt attempt to to measures suppress the the number number of of cases cases and and ration ration suppress out an adequate amount of necessary out an adequate amount of necessary equipment. Facing Facing two two respiratory respiratory equipment. epidemics simultaneously simultaneously would would epidemics undoubtedly overwhelm hospitals.

The undoubtedly overwhelm hospitals. The CDC director explained that the current CDC director explained that the current COVID-19 outbreak outbreak could could have have been been COVID-19 far more difficult for us to deal with if far more difficult for us to deal with if the seasonal flu wasn’t considered low the seasonal flu wasn’t considered low at the the moment. moment. at Recently, governments have have Recently, governments considered loosening the restrictions considered loosening the restrictions that were were targeted targeted at at slowing slowing down down the the that transmission of the virus.

But with the transmission of the virus. But with the arrival of of this this new new threat, threat, the the director director arrival has strongly strongly advised advised against against doing doing so. so. has Having these restrictions in place is now Having these restrictions in place is now more important than ever, and people more important than ever, and people

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should spend spend the the next next few few months months should continuing to to social social distance distance and and continuing hopefully increase testing and contact hopefully increase testing and contact tracing efforts.

It is also extremely tracing efforts. It is also extremely important to to keep keep up up to to date date on on flu flu important vaccinations to boost herd immunity and vaccinations to boost herd immunity and reduce flu-related hospitalizations during reduce flu-related hospitalizations during the second second wave wave of of COVID. COVID. This This will will the allow more room for those with weaker allow more room for those with weaker immune systems systems to to get get the the care care they they immune desperately need. need. desperately Many governments have been been Many governments have successful in adopting contact tracing successful in adopting contact tracing efforts with with assistance assistance from from big big tech tech efforts companies.

The Chinese government companies. The Chinese government monitors its its citizens citizens through through aa health health code code monitors system in in an an effort effort to to slow slow the the spread spread of of system coronavirus.

They track the places they coronavirus. They track the places they have traveled, traveled, any any exposure exposure to to virusvirushave carriers, and and time time spent spent in in outbreak outbreak carriers, hotspots.

From this data, each citizen is is hotspots. From this data, each citizen assigned a green, yellow, or red code to assigned a green, yellow, or red code to indicate whether whether they they are are healthy healthy and and free free indicate to leave their house, or if they should be to leave their house, or if they should be placed into into quarantine quarantine or or hospitalized. hospitalized. placed Some governments governments have have even even created created Some publicly-available maps detailing the publicly-available maps detailing the locations coronavirus carriers have locations coronavirus carriers have visited. The The U.S. U.S. is is also also planning planning on on using using visited. contact-tracing measures to keep people contact-tracing measures to keep people safer and and prevent prevent the the virus virus from from spiraling spiraling safer further out out of of control. control. further Though the arrival of of the the second second Though the arrival wave may prove inevitable, there are still still wave may prove inevitable, there are many precautions precautions we we can can take take to to ensure ensure many that the effects of coronavirus aren’t as that the effects of coronavirus aren’t as devastating as they could potentially be. devastating as they could potentially be.

By continuing continuing to to maintain maintain social social By distancing, adhering to the preventative distancing, adhering to the preventative measures taken by the government, and measures taken by the government, and increasing our our testing testing and and contact contact tracing, tracing, increasing we may be able to mitigate the future rates we may be able to mitigate the future rates of infection and lessen the impact of the of infection and lessen the impact of the second wave. wave. second

By the end of 3rd period on Friday, March 13, 2020, the news was set; school is out and no one knows when we’ll be back.

Assuming we’ll return to school after Spring Break, and with absolutely no inkling of an idea that we’ll all be locked inside our own homes, we say a quick goodbye to our friends and run off to savor the last bits of a free Friday evening. A few weeks pass by and the world takes quite the turn. Rumors begin to spread about not coming back to campus until next year, and the district begins sending information about a new system. Online school?

Never, before quarantine started, did we think that our educational instruction would consist strictly of Zoom calls and Google Classroom assignments. The pandemic we know as COVID-19 has changed the face of CCA from a beautiful campus to the computer screens in our homes. As the staff and students at CCA preach, we are not alone; online classes have taken place at our neighboring schools, too: Torrey Pines, Cathedral Catholic, and every other school in Southern California has made the same shi ft we have. Ou r school has turned into an entirely virtual experience; all of our class meetings and assignments are dependent on the electronic devices we have at home. This system was quite unexpected for our 2020 spring semester. Mixed opinions flow through the student body at Canyon Crest

THE NEW CLASSROOM

Academy as online classes seep into our lives.

With the new “credit/no credit” grading system, wherein the letter grade system is replaced with either a pass or fail, one could think online school might be much easier than regular schooling; most classes are now based on participation. Despite this, there are still a few bumps in the road. An anonymous senior stated, “Online schooling could be more structured, but it is understandable considering the newness and chaos of it all.

Sometimes I won’t know if I have a video lecture from 1 day to as little as 20 minutes in advance. Although it can be frustrating in situations where you are assigned a group project, or classes run over and overlap, each teacher is taking the time to find a different approach to distance learning and are struggling as much if not more than the students. The most important thing I’ve learned through our new online curriculum is patience and community. We are all here for each other, we all understand the frustrations of our current situation, and we are all growing and developing in new and beautiful ways”.

Some teachers prefer the “watch this

HANNAH QUINI

video and answer these questions” route, while others take the “I’ll share my screen and pretend like we’re in a classroom” route. There are pros and cons to each teaching style, and although it’s different, it’s safe to assume that the staff at CCA is giving their all to their students. Although it’s slightly depressing, thinking about how seniors were all robbed of their senior year, we can see the bright side, knowing that our classes are much easier to pass.

Personally speaking, online school has been mediocre; my friends might have to call to wake me up seconds before class, and maybe the senioritis has become more of a lifestyle than a “disease.”

But despite all this, I’m thankful we have some sort of connection to our teachers and classmates, instead of being completely cut off from them, which would also completely destroy our education systems. I will dearly miss seeing my friends in person and being instructed by lovely people who can stand in front of me, and I will forever regret waiting four years to use a specific mashup for my club’s set in the pep rally, but these days learning on our laptops will never be forgotten.

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IRIS KIM & KATE BENNETT

March 12th and 13th came with a feeling that I never knew existed. With the sudden news of schools closing, quarantine, and the idea of there being no school for the rest of the year, it felt like the world was at its end. Laying in my bed, I played my “if my life was a movie” playlist on full-blast and listened to the rain in the background. Was I feeling overly sentimental? Maybe so.

Did I care? No. At that time, I was still holding onto the concept of school continuing to stay open. The idea of school closing a month before midterms felt absurd, but it soon came to my attention that the whole COVID-19 situation is way out of my comfort zone. School is now online, and I am spending my days making dalgona coffee, begging my parents to buy me Animal Crossing, and playing hours on Just Dance to keep fit. Although I do my best to keep busy, I also spend a lot of time thinking about things I took for granted, but never thought too much about.

-Iris Kim

“I definitely took the “Something I took for ability to hang out with granted before quarantine friends for granted. I would was my freedom. I initially put it off sometimes, because I took this quarantine lightly but I thought that we would always have started missing the little things that the chance to meet up soon. I miss the outside world provided: cafes, people. I miss being in a crowd. It’s sunsets, breezes... I miss the little nI ice to be surrounded by people “ “On that Friday, things that made you fall in love was completely oblivious to sometimes, even if I don’t with life.” the gravity or dread of the know them that well.”

-Kayla Luu, 2020 situation, mostly just happy to not -Tasha Fuller, 2020

have a break. Now, I’m thinking about all of the plans I had canceled in the months leading up to this, or the friends I didn’t get to hug. There’s so much fun and happiness I would have “Funny enough, I used to crammed in and stocked up on.” resent going off for lunch “Quarantine made me - Grace Ziegel, 2021 because I always felt the pressure realize that small things like to find plans so I don’t end up sitting going out to get boba or taking idle in my car. But looking back on it walks in the canyon, even having a now lunch was one of the best parts of my routine or schedule that I didn’t really day. When we would be going 45 mph need to create myself, were things turning onto the 56. And then just sitting in the car waiting for class that I took for granted.” to start. I miss that a lot.”

-Andrew Gao, 2022 -Reem Elemrani, 2020

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“We are stripped of every “I can’t wait until I can go to luxury we have come to the beach again. I really took for consider routine. Going out to granted the ability to just leave my lunch with a friend at a sit-down house whenever to go surfing and meet restaurant used to feel like another day in up with my friends. I am excited to be the life. Now, if I were presented with that able to surf this summer and am really opportunity it would be the most exciting looking forward to going to the thing that’s happened to me in weeks. beach.”

It’s really opened up my eyes to -Robby Moragrega, 2020 how much value there is in the “I’m not really a homebody--I mundane.” love being outside. So the moment -Abby Bond, 2020 that was taken away from me, I

realized how often I was outdoors, and how much I miss it. Hanging out with people after school was something that I “I miss the little “There are many things always looked forward to, and now it i nconveniences, like getting that I really miss. One of the is gone.” u pset about something small. main things is going to school -Brooke Lanfried, 2020 Now, my life is focused around this and interacting with my friends and huge problem that people are dying teachers. I’ve realized I really took that from. I never thought I would miss my for granted. At the time, seeing the naivety. I miss caring about if someone people that are so close to me seemed looked at me the wrong way, or if I like an everyday thing that wasn’t “I’ve realized I wasn’t stuttered during a presentation. I anything special, but now I realize appreciative enough of the grow from every inconvenience, that everything can change in an space and time CCA allocated but now I am stationary.” instant.” for dancers. It never hit me just how -Sarah Hendrix, 2022 -Cole Colleran, 2020 lucky we are to have these opportunities that allow us to pursue this art form. I’m a pretty big homebody, but I realized I’ve overlooked the value of being able to do things without worrying about my safety or “I haven’t gone outside for others’ safety.”

“More than anything else, I really weeks due to COVID-19, and that -Lydia Zhong, 2020 wish I did more dancing with friends. has made me realize that I took the I wish I spent more time going to the ability to go anywhere outside for beach. More time telling people that I granted, whether it was a short trip to enjoy being with them.”

Starbucks or the park with my friends.”

-Elizabeth Bruch, 2021 -Molly Ojeda, 2023

Quarantine has taken a lot away; but it has also given me a great gift. The radical shift that we all have experienced has left us with nothing but our time, our memories, and for the lucky ones, our health. I think about life before social distancing and I am envious of the person I was then. Driving to school, going to classes, seeing friends, speeding during the lunch rush. I look back on those times fondly. Times when I would smile, and go to bed thinking about my plans for the days I had ahead of me. I was never one to waste a moment. Yet still, I don’t think the grandeur of the life I led really set in until now.

I used to be someone that could find such happiness and beauty in the mundane, in a stranger’s smile and the scribble of a pencil on paper. I think I am that person still, it’s just a lot harder. There were a lot of little things to appreciate about life before the chaos. There's a lot to look forward to when normal life resumes. But one thing's for sure: it's hard to know how great you have it until it’s taken from you. So let's remember how good things can be, and patiently await the day our lives will be full of the things we love, once more.

-Kate Bennett

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EMILY GAO

CCA is simply not CCA without Hector Gutierrez. His iconic “Happy Wednesday!” and “Hola Amigos!” never fails to brighten our days. With a simple “Good morning muchacha!” as he directs traffic each morning, he is the only person that seems to be able to raise CCA students’ spirits during the mornings before a treacherous six-hour day of school. Just call him the “the face of Canyon Crest Academy.” Hector is not just a campus supervisor, he is a friend to all students and staff.

Whether he is cheering on CCA’s basketball team during a home game, directing the chaotic rush hour traffic, or cruising through the quad during passing periods, it feels like he knows every person on campus by name and goes out of his way to make everyone feel cared for and welcome.

Just as Hector is an integral part of CCA, this school is an

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integral part of Hector too. He was on the same boat as us students during March, when the spread of COVID-19 led to district-wide school closures.

“I never anticipated it. Even after school was closed, I still hoped that we would at least have one month of classes in May or June. I didn’t realize that this was going to be impossible until the end of April,” Hector says. Like many of us students, he was initially happy about the two-week break. It was an opportunity to relax and destress from all the things going on in the community and around the world. “I was also so nervous and confused,” he adds. “Because this stuff has never happened before! No one knew what the right thing to do was.”

We can all agree that it is simply impossible not to break into a wide, unceasing grin when approached by Hector. His friendly, gregarious personality is contagious --and no doubt something we could all use during this era of isolation and social-distancing. “I miss seeing the smiles each morning when I direct traffic. The high-fives, the hellos they were all such good energy! The CCA home games are also something I wish I could go back to. I often look back to the times where I would be able to cheer for our athletes while enjoying some really good snacks from the concession stands. They were some really good memories,” recalls Hector.

“It’s kind of weird. The students of Canyon Crest Academy were the reasons why I smiled each day. Now that I don’t get to see them, I don’t really have any reason to smile.”

But Hector’s positivity has found itself in other avenues. While he respects all social distancing orders, he has spent his time gardening, watching soccer, and catching up with his family and old students. His backyard consists of zucchini plants, cucumber plants, avocado trees, guava trees, and much more.

“It was also really exciting to see my face on the signs for the graduating senior class. When I found out that the school was doing that, I got excited and drove down to the neighborhoods by CCA and saw so many of the signs. It made me really happy, almost as if I was back with all the students again.”

“I know the class of 2020 has lost a lot graduation, prom, senior week. Graduating high school has probably been a dream of a lot of students for a long time. I am so proud of all the students because they are still staying positive during all this. They are still pushing through and graduating. Even though it’s not a perfect scenario, I think all the seniors should be proud of themselves and all they have accomplished A whole pandemic came and that wouldn’t stop them from graduating! That’s pretty amazing to me.”

We all know the drill. Stay inside, don’t panic, and don’t go out stockpiling toilet paper. COVID-19 has affected nearly all aspects of everyday life, and we have been inundated with enough coronavirus news to consider ourselves experts.

But where exactly did it come from?

Many have a vague understanding of the coronavirus origins, citing China and late 2019 as the genesis.

Although the first is true, the story begins much earlier, during a period of economic reform and political shifts known as the Opening of China.

Before 1978, the reign of Mao Zedong brought a period of state ownership to the Chinese economy.

Millions died under the infamous Great Leap Forward, and market reforms didn’t take place until Deng Xiaoping became leader. One of these economic reforms was the decollectivization of agriculture, or legally allowing private farming to take place. While large agricultural companies focused on more popular meats like poultry, there were smaller peasant farmers who turned to wildlife trading, which included animals like turtles and bats. The government officially endorsed this practice in 1988 with the Wildlife Protection Law, which despite its name, allowed those “engaged in the development or utilization of wildlife resources” protection under

law. Thus, a profitable industry was born.

But where to sell all of this wildlife? The answer lies in the wet markets. A wet market is a location where live animals are slaughtered and eventually sold to consumers.

These places can be found all over the world, but the Chinese wet markets are well-known due to the exotic meats that they carry.

Animals in cages are stacked on top of each other, allowing for a free exchange of diseases between them.

This is one of the only places in the world where a bat, a pangolin, and a human could potentially come into contact.

Of course, it was only a matter of time before these wet markets caused an outbreak. In the early 2000s, the SARS outbreak made headlines across the world and killed nearly 800 people. The virus likely originated from civet cats, which were a prevalent delicacy in these wet markets. Although Chinese officials banned the wildlife trade, the ban was lifted only a few months after the outbreak.

In 2018, the wildlife farming industry was worth 148 billion Chinese yuan. It had also shifted to a different marketing tactic to stay relevant. Exotic animal parts were marketed similarly to snake oil products; they promised enhanced strength or immune systems to those

who consumed them. These products became especially popular with a particular portion of the population: those of the elite upper class.

It should be noted that the overwhelming majority of China does not consume these meats.

Those dining on exotic tiger meats or pangolin delicacies are those that are wealthy. These powerful individuals are the reason for maintaining this dangerous practice, and for the government to begin sanctioning the trade of more exotic animals in 2016. Thus, the Chinese government has chosen to favor this exclusive minority over the safety of the rest of its population, and the rest of the world.

After the COVID-19 outbreak, Chinese officials once again shut down wet markets across the country and placed a temporary ban on the trade of exotic wildlife. In the midst of the pandemic, there is a strong vocal opposition supporting more permanent measures against wildlife farming. Animal activists and healthcare officials have spoken out against the trade and demanded stricter enforcement. With the cases of SARS and COVID-19, it is clear that if nothing is done to curb this wildlife farming industry, these outbreaks could be the first of many.

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AERIN FLAHARTY & SOPHIA LARSON As the entirety of the American population has been quarantined inside their houses due to coronavirus, nearly everyone has become extremely creative in finding seemingly ridiculous ways to entertain themselves.

Picture this: it’s 3:37 a.m. and you’re scrolling on your phone while listening to Billie Eilish, contemplating if it's worth getting out of bed and going to the kitchen to cut your hair with a rusty pair of scissors (we’ve all been there). As you continue scrolling through TikTok you can’t help but wonder how your bangs would look, but as you come across a girl with blue hair on your “for you page,” you find it much more inviting to dye your hair. But don’t let the box fool you, that neon blue will eventually fade into a mucus green. Apparently, you aren’t the only one with this idea, because the next day you look on Instagram to find six of your friends with newly dyed pink hair. During quarantine, it seems as if everyone is experimenting with their hair and, whether we like it or not, sharing it with the world. Many people can be found with an electric shaver in their hands--for their brand new buzz cut, sponsored by quarantine. And just a disclaimer, your amateur asymmetrical hair isn’t your best look. Even if you’re telling yourself, “we’re still in quarantine, it’ll grow back and no one will see it,” at the very least you might want to rethink your decision of sharing it on Instagram. Maybe just stick to baking or the tie-dyeing trends.

The next challenge, known as the 10 beautiful people challenge, was created as a way to spread positivity among teenagers on Instagram. Arguably, this challenge missed the mark. In a chain the entire world thought would never end, the 10 beautiful people challenge can be quite annoying to tap through. Don’t get us wrong, it’s a good way to hype up your friends, but when the chain turns into a never-ending loop, the entire Instagram population notices--and suffers. To complete this challenge, you must upload a picture you find of yourself on your Instagram story, slap on some hashtags, and “nominate” ten friends. Intended to spread positivity, this challenge can do the exact opposite. Those who don’t get nominated may feel left out and isolated, or even worse, not validated by a hashtag.

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While scrolling through social media, you notice that the photos on your feed are all captioned “until tomorrow.” After the initial period of utter confusion, you start frantically investigating and find that the “until tomorrow” caption is actually a challenge.

Those participating post photos on Instagram of themselves that they find unattractive and leave them on their account until the next day.

This is arguably one of the worst trends on this list, but it does occasionally garner a subtle chuckle from the participant’s followers.

For those trying to get big during quarantine, the Instagram push-up challenge seems to definitely be the way to go (we say sarcastically). Composed mainly of skinny teenage boys, this testosterone-fueled challenge is often passed on from friend to friend. Spoiler alert: beware the fatigue of watching shrimpy arms barely carry their weight. Although we do have to admit, at least this challenge has succeeded in including both genders into the world of boredom-induced social media activities.

With all of these quarantine trends, there is obviously no shortage of time passing activities people can come up with, and there is no denying there will be many more in the months to come while still stuck in quarantine. While people are desperately searching for new activities to do, many of their ideas are outrageous. Sometimes, Netflix just is the right choice.

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I won’t say “we never could have predicted this,” because, if you’re like me, you did. As the months went by and senioritis started to take over more of my life, I looked at my semester-long projects and thought, “maybe if I just procrastinate long enough, the world will end before I have to turn it in.” Back then it seemed like wishful thinking. Now it’s coming closer and closer to our reality. All of us are finally realizing that our childhood dream--no school for months!--is actually terrible. No school means no seeing our friends everyday, no waving to Hector as we walk home, no accidentally getting to school at 7:50 on a late start, no bonding with our classmates on tricky calculus problems, no pouring our blood, sweat, and B-grade fears into 40-minute AP Lit essays. And it’s not just the day-to-day rhythms of CCA life that we’ve lost. It’s prom, Disneyland, graduation--the rites of passage, official and unofficial, that would have capped the last of our four years of high school.

This pandemic is undeniably disappointing and challenging--and, after weeks on end of being stuck at home, maybe a little depressing. Class of 2020, this is not the senior year you hoped for--this is not the year anyone, anywhere hoped for. But I still believe that we have the power to shape something out of it.

Many of us are missing being in the classroom.

Despite all the challenges of rigorous academics at CCA, our school had a unique camaraderie and enthusiasm that made each day a joy. It’s something a computer screen can’t quite replace. But perhaps the coronavirus outbreak is a chance for a different kind of learning. We’ve been pushed out of our classrooms, and now we are asked to learn from the world. Keep your eyes open, Seniors. Watch as leaders emerge in crisis or are overwhelmed by it. Pick up a thing or two about epidemiology, or get a better understanding of politics as the US government becomes more and more involved in our everyday lives. Watch the news, observe the coronavirus responses of other countries, and consider how an invisible enemy has pulled us together as a single human race. By the time this is over, if we’ve studied the world around us, we’ll return to our classrooms as changed thinkers.

Every few days, I’ll think about a restaurant I want to visit, a friend I want to meet, a beach I want to walk on--and then I’ll remember that for pretty much any activity I want to do, the answer is simply no. I’m sure

I’m not alone in feeling this quiet anxiety that everything has changed, and this insistent craving for normality. Yet I think our generation is going to deal with this crisis better than most, because we are astoundingly adaptable.

Prom may be canceled, but in universities across the country, the college class of 2024 is already planning prom for freshman year. Social distancing regulations make it easy to feel lonely and isolated, but our generation is capable of using all the power of the internet to stay connected. Our senior class has such a diverse range of interests that, by the end of this lockdown, quite a few of us will emerge from our houses with prodigy-level saxophone skills, a newfound ability to cook macaroons, a finished art portfolio titled “Drawn In Quarantine,” or college credit from an online course in advanced astrophysics. Carpe dies--seize the days-because there’s going to be a lot of them.

No matter what we do while under lockdown, however, we’re still ultimately going to feel disappointed about graduation. Maybe the idea of baking outdoors in a black cap and gown on a field that smells like plastic isn’t fun in and of itself, but graduation is a ritual, meant to give full weight to the moment we can cross the boundary line between being a young high schooler and a college student ready to face the world. Or perhaps, in the absence of graduation, we’ll realize the ceremony wasn’t necessary. The line between teenager and adult isn’t one we all cross at once on one early summer day.

Maybe some of us already crossed it years ago. Maybe this pandemic has pushed us in ways an academic diploma can’t describe, and we’re crossing it now.

Maybe we still don’t know where the boundary line is.

We’re still finding it, and finding ourselves, and will keep doing so for years to come. Graduate? We’ve already graduated--or if we’re doing things right, we’re in a constant process of graduating, of changing, of growing, of learning. There is no single change that a ceremony would have done for us that could measure up to the hundreds of changes we work in ourselves each day. There is no paper diploma that could describe the full extent of the things we’ve learned at CCA. There is nothing anyone could say in a graduation speech that we don’t already know in ourselves.

There is certainly a pandemic that can take away our ceremonies, but not one that could take away the things they celebrate.

sincerely, a senior 25

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of CCA Pulse Magazine or its members.

There is considerable variation from nation to nation when it comes to how governments choose to handle the coronavirus crisis.

Sweden has imposed essentially no social distancing measures; in Turkmenistan, according to the decree of the comically eccentric dictator Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, it is illegal to even say the word “coronavirus.”

But these are exceptions to a general rule: around the world, governments are seizing unprecedented powers, and it appears that, to the governing classes of the world, democracy and civil liberties are just more of those things that people will be forced to live without until the crisis is over.

It is no secret that the Chinese government used totalitarian methods to suppress the virus in its original epicenters. This is nothing

new of course; the Chinese government is no stranger to employing brutishly Orwellian means of social control. What is new, however, is the startling tendency of governments in formerly functioning democracies to assume sweeping powers that they claim will help them fight the coronavirus pandemic: mass surveillance, restriction of civil liberties, restrictions on movement, and the suspension of legislative or electoral processes. It is important that we understand how governments seize powers in response to a crisis; and also that once they have these powers, they may well resist giving them up.

In Hungary, parliament passed a bill which gave the Prime Minister, the proto-fascist Viktor Orban, the authority to rule by

decree and enact laws without the consent of the legislature. Even in 2018, observers like Vox were describing Orban’s government as “soft fascism”: virulently antiimmigrant, blatantly authoritarian, and occasionally expressive of admiration to the more unsettling episodes of Hungary’s past (such as when government-controlled media sanctioned a parade honoring the Nazi SS troops which defended Budapest from the Soviets in 1945).

Now, claiming that parliament continuing to meet would violate social distancing measures, Orban has seized the power to rule dictatorially and impose his radically reactionary agenda on Hungary without any checks whatsoever. The law has no expiration date, and it suspends parliament and elections

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indefinitely, as well as permitting records all phone calls made by the government to imprison those those in the database and marks the who are accused of recipient’s name and spreading “fake phone number. No news” (given phone Orban used his new conversation dictatorial powers to and no trip arbitrarily ban sex-change Orban’s out of the autocratic house in operations for transgender tendencies, Israel or the people the prohibition occupied on fake news could territories is very well be applied as a private anymore--all of prohibition on criticism of the it is now being shared with Big government). Orban used his new Brother. The Israeli government dictatorial powers to arbitrarily ban also continues its illegal blockade of sex-change operations for the Gaza Strip region, which will transgender people, an escalation of make it impossible for medical the transphobic agenda fanatically supplies to reach the many Gazans pursued by Orban and his who are likely to become ill with reactionary party. The Washington coronavirus.

Post was blunt about the situation in Even countries that are held up Hungary: following the passage of as models of successful pandemic the emergency powers bill, the management were not able to get paper published a story headlined where they are without mass “Coronavirus Kills its First violations of civil liberties. South Democracy.”

Korea, which successfully flattened In Israel, a state whose claim to its curve early on, did so with the being a functioning democracy is help of a massive database that already tenuous at best, the far-right tracked every move a citizen made. government of Prime Minister Italy, which faced a horrific struggle Benjamin Netanyahu has ramped up against the virus before the outbreak mass surveillance and deployed in America seriously intensified, troops to restrict freedom of imposed harsh restrictions on its movement. The Israeli government citizens: armed soldiers and possesses a database containing the policemen patrolled the streets, personal information of every single determining whether people had a person under its jurisdiction, both valid reason for leaving their Israeli citizens and the Palestinian houses. residents, and claims that they will The United States has not thus use it to track coronavirus cases. far seen such grimly totalitarian Not only does this database measures deployed to fight the constantly track the location of coronavirus pandemic. Yet there are every single person in Israel and the disturbing signs in this country too, occupied territories, but it also and it is important that we

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remember that the only thing standing between this country and the authoritarianism we see in other parts of the world is our vigilance and our resolve.

The Justice Department floated the idea of temporarily suspending habeas corpus--the mandate that a defendant must appear in court for the government to give lawful reasons for the defendant’s arrest--in light of the pandemic. While some at the Justice Department claim that it would be “safer” to indefinitely detain people for the length of the crisis, the right to a fair and speedy trial is enshrined in the constitution along with prohibitions on indefinite imprisonment without trial. Habeas corpus can only be suspended with the approval of Congress, an event which seems unlikely at this point, but the idea that some at the Justice Department have suggested suspending a bedrock constitutional right in the name of “public safety” is highly alarming.

In New York, the epicenter of America’s coronavirus epidemic, state and local governments have employed draconian measures to fight the disease. The New York City Police Department has created a special 600officer task force designed to impose the city’s social distancing guidelines, often brutalizing and abusing citizens for violating these rules. In Brooklyn

on on March March 27, 27, NYPD NYPD officers officers pepper-sprayed pepper-sprayed aa gathering gathering of of unarmed unarmed citizens citizens after after the the officers officers found found them them to to be be not not in in compliance compliance with with the the city’s city’s social social distancing distancing ordinances. ordinances. Three Three of of the the pepper pepper spray victims were arrested, spray victims were arrested, and and one one was was detained detained in in aa cell cell with with more more than than twenty twenty other other women women for for aa day day and a half, without even the ability and a half, without even the ability to to wash wash their their hands hands with with soap soap (it (it is is not not surprising, surprising, given given these these awful awful conditions, conditions, that that the the rate rate of of Coronavirus Coronavirus infections infections in in New New York’s York’s prison prison is is nearing nearing one-in-ten). one-in-ten).

Two Two weeks weeks later, later, NYPD NYPD officers officers violently violently dragged dragged an an eight-year-old eight-year-old boy boy off off aa subway subway for for allegedly allegedly selling selling candy candy to to passengers, passengers, aa violation violation of of the the social social distancing distancing guidelines. guidelines. At At another another subway subway station, station, police police officers officers accosted accosted citizens citizens for for not not maintaining maintaining the the appropriate appropriate distance. distance. When When one one man man ppointed ointed out out that that there there was was nnoo way way to to do do so so the crowded crowded oonn the tation sstation latform, the the pplatform, fficers oofficers andcuffed him him hhandcuffed nd dragged dragged him him aand way. aaway.

Meanwhile, eanwhile, aa M v ideo surfaced of of video surfaced NYPD officer officer aann NYPD unching an an innocent innocent ppunching w oman in the face for woman in the face for pproaching during during the the aapproaching rrest of of another another individual-individual-aarrest violation of of the the aa violation overnment’s own own vaunted vaunted ggovernment’s rohibitions on on interpersonal interpersonal pprohibitions ontact, as as well well as as aa ccontact, oathsome display display of of the the lloathsome

thuggish thuggish brutishness that is dished out out all all too too often by New York’s finest. finest.

As As far far as preserving the freedoms freedoms we hold dear during and after after this this crisis, the prospects are far from from sanguine. sanguine. Governments around the the world world are seizing dictatorial, Orwellian Orwellian powers for themselves, and and our our own own government flirts with suspension suspension of of the the

the Israeli government stop spying on its citizens? Would these emergency powers not prove advantageous to the country’s rulers seeking to maintain their grasp on authority? Experience has shown that once governments claim greater and greater powers, they often do not want to relinquish them (think the mass surveillance of American citizens and the indefinite illegal detention of terrorism suspects instituted after 9/11, which is still ongoing 19 years So what separates a later). This pandemic gives every petty good guideline from a strongman and bad, tyrannical one? would-be powergrabbing scoundrel to assume all the power that Constitution they could ever dream of, and Constitution and many of them will not want to give and rampant rampant police brutality. those powers up. There is no magic brutality.

Obviously, Obviously, strong measures are democratic force field protecting the necessary United States, and so we must necessary to control the spread of the remain vigilant and make sure that the virus--stay-at-home virus--stay-at-home orders, school closures, closures, the shuttering of school such forays into totalitarianism are non-essential businesses, etc. Things not made in this country. We have non-essential must change change to protect the lives of must to draw the line between measures people across across the globe. So what people that are necessary for our safety and separates a good guideline from a separates measures concocted by the ruling bad, tyrannical tyrannical one? A fair dividing bad, classes to hang on to their power. line is is whether whether these new line And we must remember above all emergency powers are ones that a emergency that cynically contrived babble government with totalitarian about “necessity” and “public government aspirations would want to hold on to safety” is the age-old cries of the aspirations after the the crisis crisis is over. Obviously after oppressor. the government is not going to the government decree that that we must all stay at home decree permanently, meaning that under permanently, this definition definition stay-at-home orders this are aa reasonable reasonable and justified action. are But why why would Viktor Orban give But up the the ability ability to rule by decree once up the pandemic pandemic subsides? Why would the

Disclaimer: The The opinions opinions expressed expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not Disclaimer: purport to to reflect reflect the opinions or views of CCA Pulse Magazine or its members. purport

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A Fellow CCA Student’s COVID-19 Journal Entry Compilation **edited for clarity

1

Written during the school closure announcement

So this is probably the last day at school before coronavirus shuts down the school. There’s an emergency Little Women meeting at lunch today, so it’s probably going to be canceled. Okay, school was just officially canceled. No plans for online school, but Lockhart made a Google Classroom last night so I’m sure there will be at some point. This is unprecedented. I’m scared, like, really scared.

It’s the apocalypse you hear about in books and movies. It’s happening. Oh my God, this is surreal.

I don’t even know what to say. There’s an emergency meeting for Little Women. I’m sure the show will be canceled.

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Written 1 month and 9 days after school closure

I feel busy this week. Looking back on my normal school schedule I know obviously I’m not busy, but I feel like I am. Instead of having classes at the same time every day, I have to keep track of when the Google Hangouts are, what assignments I have, and most importantly, decide when in my now countless hours of time to actually do those assignments. Well, the individual assignments I can handle. It’s the projects that are getting me. I have time, so of course I’m going to procrastinate. It’s worse now because I know how much time I’ll have the day before it’s due. Of course, it hasn’t all been bad. Far from it. I’m much less stressed. Is that bad? It’s a global pandemic, but I feel more relaxed than ever.

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2

Written 10 days after school closure

So, school is closed. Last week was a “blackout week” so we weren’t assigned any work. This week is the first week we’re talking to our teachers/doing any schoolwork. It’s weird. I’m doing stuff, but I’m not. I have school and I’m doing school work, but I’m not in school. It all feels very off. I should do my math homework. I probably should, but I don’t even know if it’s due. I should do math homework, but the thing is, we haven’t learned anything. I don’t know what to do. I’m honestly just doing this to do something.

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Written 2 month and 10 days after school closure

These past couple of weeks have been crazy. AP tests were ridiculously stressful but at least they’re over now. I’m really not a fan of the College Board. Why should I have to pay to take an exam? $94 to take a 45-minute exam in my bedroom.

Wearing pajamas. Then, of course, there’s the district’s insane decision to switch to grade “optional” three weeks before the end of the year.

It’s not optional, at least, not if you want to be viewed favorably by colleges. My teachers are mad and I’m mad too. Also, the amount of Netflix I’ve watched is insane. It’s now legitimately weird to me when I’m watching something and people are getting together in big groups, hugging and touching like it’s nothing. It’s hard to believe that was my normal once, too.

“I feel stressed,” Sprouts cashier Dayna Dajak says, and “[I’m] scared of getting the virus.” She’s working less, Sprouts is closing two hours earlier to allow its “dedicated and hard-working team members the chance to rest and refresh,” according to the COVID-19 page of their website. Dana still enjoys her job, stating that it’s “always excit[ing] to see the regular people who come in” she says. There are some, though, that make “the job...more stressful”: They “don’t respect new policies and get upset at certain ones we have.” She wants to add that customers should take initiative, bag their own groceries, and stay off their phones.

The job has changed noticeably. New safety precautions have been enforced to ensure the wellness of employees and customers alike: “Gloves, masks, constant cleaning, bags from home have to stay in the shopping cart and can’t touch the counter.” The Sprouts website says their stores have implemented programs to ensure safe social distancing protocols; Dayna says this is in the form of plexiglass to separate the cashier from customers at checkout, among other things.

Dayna, and countless other grocery store employees across the nation, have been thrust into a unique, and dangerous, position due to COVID-19.

Unlike the millions of Americans stuck inside due to mandatory quarantine, Dayna is permitted to leave the house, as she is classified as an essential employee. To her, “it becomes apparent that people are controlled by access to their food.” The community needs the service she provides, so Dayna cannot simply stop going to work.

During the outset of the coronavirus, grocery stores were flooded by panicked citizens hoping to stock up on essentials--or anything they could fit in their cart. The fear was semi-warranted, as there were talks of possible shortages from potential complications in the food supply chain. To preemptively combat this, stores began placing two per item per customer caps on specific products, and kinks in the distribution network were worked out; experts in the industry claim that the scarcity of some food will be an inconvenience rather than a major problem (NYTimes.com)--yet some items are rarely on shelves: flour, rice, pasta, etc. People find themselves in a selfperpetuating cycle. First, people buy certain staple foods in larger quantities than normal, then others fearing shortages rush to join them, which leads to low inventory, causing people to panic and purchase more in case the store runs out, leading the store to actually run out, and the shortage concern is “justified” and the process

repeats as stores work tirelessly to stock shelves.

Dayna feels “fine” at her location, but this is not a mentality shared across the state. At a Safeway redistribution warehouse in Central Valley, California, around 50 confirmed cases and one death have been reported. Though Safeway provides workers with hand sanitizer and wipes, anonymous employees within the facility have reported that the warehouse was slow to implement safety procedures, and, although they are now in place, employees fear it may be too late. Many who show symptoms of illness are afraid to stay home from work because they cannot financially handle doing so (ABC10.com).

Despite working in potentially life-threatening situations, essential employees are not receiving proper pay in the face of this pandemic. These hard-working citizens provide integral labor, putting themselves in harm’s way, yet their current wages--averaging around $13.57 for Sprouts employees--do not reflect the short and long-term risks to which they are being exposed.

Dayna emphasizes this by stating, “I do not think the wage reflects that my job is essential at all,” All people still working outside the house right now--those deemed essential workers--need to receive recognition for the hard, possibly life-threatening work they perform on a day-to-day basis the work that keeps the community from falling apart. But beyond acknowledgment, these workers need support, they need better protection from illness, they need a wage that reflects the essential work they provide. Essential workers are just like the rest of us right now, they are concerned about their safety and wellbeing. If they are putting themselves in harm’s way so others can stay home, then they should at least be compensated; bills should not be the main worry right now.

On behalf of everyone at home, we don’t know what it’s like to be in the shoes of an essential employee right now, and we don’t know the stress and worry that accompany these jobs. Instead of making a hard time even harder for these heroes, let’s be considerate. Take it from Dayna: “Don’t be a pain...be understanding!”

HEL SOFIA FISC

F L E H S E ON TH 35

ELLYSE GIVENS I never thought it was possible to feel so overwhelmingly lost in the confines of my own bedroom.

My quarantine experience has been defined by illusions of comfort in the form of distractions, like school assignments, exercise classes, runs, movies--those delightful periods of time in which I forget about the coronavirus and the tragedies transpiring outside of my window.

And then, it all comes flooding back. Death tolls plastered in large fonts on my phone. Tiny red circles slowly expanding and spreading atop a digital outline of the United States like a cruel rash. The uncertainty of what exactly postpandemic life will be like, whether or not the pillars of our everyday lives and interactions will be deemed fictitious concepts of the past. The anxiety can seem inescapable. There is such a significant, yet undeniably necessary, emphasis on our physical health and sanitation, which makes it easy to overlook the formidable mental health crisis that may be unfolding concurrently.

The concept of mental health during this pandemic is unique: it is no longer coping solely with personal struggles. It is now also fused with a chronic feeling of heaviness blanketing us everyday-sometimes manageable, and sometimes not at all. Becky Stuempfig, a Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist with a private practice in Encinitas, says that the concept most closely resembling this ‘heaviness’ we are experiencing is, in fact, grief.

“Globally, people are moving

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in and out of the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. On any given day, they may move in and out of all of these stages, as their psyches struggle to make sense of the world.” She foresees there will be a monumental increase in the need for short and long term grief counseling, as well as other mental health services, in addition to increased rates of substance abuse, anxiety, and depression as a result of the pandemic and social

The concept of mental health during this pandemic is unique: it is no longer coping solely with personal struggles.. distancing orders. “There has not been anything remotely close to this unbelievable situation in my career nor my lifetime... the ripple effect on our global mental health is, sadly, going to be long-lasting, widespread, and nothing like we have ever experienced before,” Stuempfig says.

And for the 43.8 million Americans who experience mental illness in a given year (National Alliance on Mental Illness), anxiety is not new, and the pandemic could have the ability to significantly exacerbate their pre-existing struggles. “Almost all of my clients are experiencing sleep difficulties and increases in worries and fear.

People have so much on their minds right now. They are worried about their health, the future of their

education, their family’s health, their ability to care for their children if they were to become ill, the future of their jobs, and the health of the older members of their family,” Stuempfig states. And these fears can only appear more irrepressible when facing them alone: Stuempfig has noticed the exceptional difficulty of social distancing orders among her clients that live by themselves. “Many people are taking advantage of virtual gatherings, but most will agree that while it is a great option, it is not the same as having in-person connections where you can give and receive physical affection.”

Moreover, conditions such as those within the realm of anxiety and mood disorders thrive and manifest within environments that appear uncontrollable. And now, as the pandemic continues to tighten its grip on the world, our surroundings are indeed out of control; fears that were labeled as irrational two months ago can no longer be considered as such. Stuempfig suspects that the acute awareness of germs and the limitation of exposure to others could be “extremely worrisome and trigger increases in unhealthy coping mechanisms” for someone who suffers from an anxiety disorder, such as obsessive compulsive disorder.

For those recovering from depressive symptoms, there may be difficulty grappling with “the weight of so much uncertainty, isolation, loneliness and fear for what their future looks like. They may experience increased sleep difficulties, appetite disturbances,

and increased substance abuse as a way to self-medicate their symptoms,” Stuempfig notes. Those suffering from or who have experienced a form of eating disorder are also at a potential risk for relapse or heightened anxiety, with such an emphasis on food hoarding and trendy livestreamed workouts, amalgamated with the closure or decreased services of many in-patient eating disorder recovery programs.

Fortunately, mental healthcare workers throughout the country are collaborating to assist in the management of the potentially devastating byproducts of the pandemic, generating a source of strength and stability for those suffering--even if by virtual means.

Stuempfig is able to continue working through Telehealth, providing therapy via phone and video sessions. “I miss the in-person connection with my clients that takes place in traditional sessions, but I am so grateful that technology has allowed me to continue to offer support, especially during such a traumatic time.” she says. Many other mental health providers are offering phone and video sessions at a reduced rate during quarantine; anyone seeking help can locate a therapist in their area through Psychology Today’s website.

This refined acquaintance with remote mental health support is bringing together the mental healthcare community in a way not seen before, and could possibly allow for greater access to resources for those who hadn’t had the privilege in the past. Stuempfig

points to David Kessler as an example of this. He is a world renowned grief expert who has begun offering daily life grief support groups on Facebook, free of charge. Additionally, she mentions that many states and nonprofits are beginning to provide increased mental healthcare through crisis hotlines, a tool that can reach a much broader audience than traditional mental healthcare. “We are finding that some, [although] not all, of the typical barriers to treatment are being broken down as mental health providers are adjusting to life with social distancing. I am hopeful that many of these resources will continue after stay at home orders are lifted.”

For the general population attempting to mitigate the onset of new quarantine anxieties, Stuempfig recommends adhering to a daily routine, and having safe, regular contact with people each day through phone calls, virtual meetups, letters, or texts. “Keeping personal connections going as much as possible helps us feel more supported and less alone,” she says.

She also suggests expending a greater amount of our energy on the things in our world we can control: one can choose to keep themselves and others healthy by observing social distancing guidelines, wearing a mask in public, and wiping down surfaces on a daily basis. Stuempfig adds that maintaining a healthy diet as well as incorporating exercise into daily routines is integral to bolster both immune systems and moods.

Although it is important to stay

informed, limited exposure to news and media can also help tranquilize anxieties, since “too much of [news and social media] can lead to unnecessary anxiety and comparison to others,” Stuempfig notes.

Furthermore, she encourages people to reflect upon how they would like to remember this time, when it all comes to an end. “How do you want to look back and remember how you coped? What will stand out as a positive coping mechanism you used? What is something you will feel proud of that you did to help your community, family members, or friends? This period of life will likely be something you share with your future children and grandchildren, so consider what you would like your pandemic story to be, and try to match your reality to that.”

So, as high schoolers, let’s not suppress or ignore the mental health struggles brought on by this peculiar period of solitude--even if they are new to us, even if we do not want to fully come to terms with them. Let’s treat ourselves with kindness, and not disparage our self-efficacy if we do not emerge victoriously from quarantine donning newfound hobbies or polished passion projects. Rather, let’s do what is necessary in order to keep making small steps, to keep surviving.

Because that is so much more than enough.

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Throughout the first half of 2020, the only thing that’s truly remained constant is change. First, the escalating tensions between the US and Iran--and now, the coronavirus outbreak has flipped daily life on its head for people across the socioeconomic spectrum.

As stay-at-home orders continue to hold most people inside, many have started using tools like Zoom and FaceTime to stay in touch with friends and coworkers. Almost everyone has more time on their hands than ever before--with one notable exception.

Those on the front lines of the “silent war,” doctors and EMTs, are stretched to their limits. Many states across the country are reporting critical shortages of not only protective equipment, but doctors themselves to manage and assist patients. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, on March 18th, cleared and called for medical students to assist fully-fledged doctors in the crisis-- a sentiment reflected by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who created the California Health Corps to recruit rising medical students to assist the front lines. Furthermore, as more accurate curves and models begin to emerge, it is evident that the situation only becomes more dire-projections estimate that although social distancing and quarantine are beginning to show positive effects,

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it will be a long time before the curve has truly been “flattened.”

With the scale and severity of such a crisis, comes panic bred by misinformation. Many experimental treatments like hydroxychloroquine have proven to be, at best, of no benefit to patients. And even beyond the technicality of treatments and testing, the government response at both the state and federal level has been widely contested. To shed some light on such a serious situation, Pulse reached out to Dr. Sean Neath, an ER physician at UCSD, for his take on the outbreak.

Even from the onset of the epidemic in Wuhan, Neath had his suspicions of the severity of the epidemic-- “it readily dawned on me that this was going to be a big one, and it was going to travel the world rapidly.” As an Emergency Physician, Dr. Neath serves a vital role as crucial “emergency providers” and first responders--but he maintains that his role hasn’t changed dramatically. The main differences the pandemic has enacted comes in the form of new guidelines for personal protective equipment--Dr. Neath reports that “we’ve had a pretty strong mask-allpatients policy, even from the beginning...we had some inklings that transmission was pretty intense, even from asymptomatic people.”

But even with such preparations, the

scale of the epidemic was still unexpected--Dr. Neath and his emergency department still had to consider “mask shortages which led toward conservation strategies,” strategies that proved successful in part due to “government-mandated social distancing” that helped to prevent a complete overflow of hospital systems.

Dr. Neath isn’t entirely optimistic about the future of the pandemic either: “even if [the number of people infected is an order of magnitude greater than the number that have tested

JUSTIN WANG positive,” the amount of people without natural immunities to the virus is still staggeringly high.

Neath predicts that “we’re probably at risk for a trickle-torture,” or in other words, “a constant low rate of infection that’s going to be pretty hard to contain.” Adding to the bleak prospects is the “long haul” that comes from such a case behavior--Neath believes that the hardest part about the upcoming months will be the social distancing, quarantine, and preventative measures we will all have to take to flatten the curve further.

He

points to “countries that are 1-2 months ahead of us” and their crises and responses, but warns to consider the differences between our situation and those of other areas on South Korea’s aggressive response to the virus, he adds that “in terms of epidemic control, you’re comparing apples with oranges in terms of how the society is structured and also the vast scale, distances involved”. And even when considering these differences, South Korea is still undergoing the “trickle-torture” effect that may well be a harbinger of the future in the United States.

Neath also mentions that this pandemic differs from those in the past most notably in globalization, saying that “ the information age that we’re in” is completely new -”we have the ability to transfer information, or in some cases misinformation rapidly around the world,” creating a media bubble that can act as a calming or panicinducing influence, depending on the circumstances. “Mondaymorning quarterbacking,” as Neath jokingly calls it, of world leaders and their actions around the epidemic have, in some cases, contributed to the rising tensions not only around the pandemic, but toward authority and government as well.

On a personal level, Dr. Neath demonstrates the selflessness and

bravery of our doctors on the front lines--he likens COVID to dealing with tuberculosis or influenza, albeit with a more serious tone in mind.

And for us students and citizens, Dr. Neath maintains that the best thing we can do to help the front lines is just upholding the status quo-“everybody’s been phenomenally appreciative and helpful for the healthcare community but the major thing for the [surrounding] community is avoiding those aggregate gatherings of students and parties and things that are normal fabric of [college and high school life].” Neath also emphasizes the importance of masks, pointing out that many healthy people may be going around with coronavirus unknowingly, and that “masking is a two-way thing,” helping not only to prevent infection of the virus, but also preventing possible transmission.

Dr. Neath, among many other doctors across the country, set an example that many look up to and follow--one that demonstrates resolve and the ability to keep moving forward. Only time will tell how we will look back on 2020 months or years from now, but it is clear that the pandemic that swept across the world will not be easily forgotten.

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The Olympics have been one of sports’ greatest traditions dating back to the ancient Greeks. The games started in 776 BC and continued onto 393 AD. However, after those ancient times, the games did not resume until 1503 years later.

Greece once again hosted the Olympic Games in the summer of 1896. The event brought in 14 nations and 231 athletes from around the world. In 1924, the Winter Games were founded to feature ice sports which could be logically played in the summer.

The Olympics have been going strong to this day. The most talented athletes in the world set the bar higher and higher each time they make an appearance. The reality of the Olympics is that we scoff on our couches and think that this is simply another event. But to these athletes, every practice run, every workout, and every minor competition for the last four years has led up to that one moment. That is the reason why the games never disappoint.

Cancellations for the Olympics are extremely uncommon, and it takes a worldwide issue to derail timing the games. The only times the Olympic games have been canceled were in the summer of 1916 due to WWI, and the summers of 1940 and 1944 which were canceled because of WWII. One thing to keep in my mind is that the Olympics are not being canceled. They are simply being postponed to the summer of 2021. This is why this year is not your normal cancellation of the games.

This change could impact the Olympics and its athletes way past the year 2021.

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There will be certain athletes that will thrive and some that will suffer from this delay. For instance, the clock is ticking for some of the older athletes that don’t have many more years where their body is in Olympic level shape. Will a new young star become eligible to compete and breakout on a global stage 3-4 years earlier than they are supposed to? Will teams rethink their selections of who is going to represent them in the games now that athletes that didn’t make it before have had a year to progress?

On a more serious note, how will this impact Japan’s economy? Now that all of the stadiums that were built specifically for these games have to sit there with no influx of money coming in? Fitch Solutions, a global leader in financial information services, says that “the Tokyo Olympic Games will probably extend the negative impact” They go on to say, “Cancellations of the games may widen the effects beyond 2020.”

The Olympics don’t have the luxury of postponing its games to next year. Your traditional professional sports leagues in America can rebound from cancellations or games being postponed because they have a new season every year. Yes, the Olympics relies on people’s excitement building more than if they were watching a traditional American sport because of how often they hold a competition; however, it will be a big branding challenge for the Olympics to re-establish enthusiasm that they once had.

The Olympics are in a historic position. They could either shine on an unexpected and shock the world or lose many fans’ interest for years to come.

These next Olympic games could define how relevant the event is in the realm of sports.

The devastating tolls of the coronavirus have become quite clear. Not only has the pervasive virus has spread to over 184 territories and countries with over 5 million confirmed cases, but it has also caused economic panic with over 30 million people in the US alone filing for unemployment and catastrophic decline in major industries. To resolve this major crisis, governments worldwide are developing different ways to combat this epidemic with varying levels of restriction to individual freedoms.

UNITED STATES

Compared to other countries, the United States looks like a safe haven. While the U.S. has yet to impose a federal, nationwide law, the degree of regulation is determined by the individual states. As an example, on March 19, governor Gavin Newson and the Californian government issued the first statewide stay-at-home order, allowing residents to go out for basic goods as long as they continue practicing social distancing. Going outside for exercise is allowed, and residents are permitted to take part in essential activities that involve leaving the house as long as they maintain social distancing. These orders are not being administered by police.

From the perspective of the individual, the loose constraints of health regulations in the United States seem like a luxury; however, on a macro-scale, a lot more needs to be done in addition to these hypothetically effective lockdowns.

ITALY

CHINA

In Wuhan, of the Hubei province in China, where the deadly COVID-19 virus was first identified, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has taken drastic measures to prevent the proliferation of the deadly pathogen. Starting in mid-January, authorities introduced restrictive measures that suspended movement in and out of the Hubei province, ceasing all forms of transportation. Soon after, the government issued a draconian residential lockdown in many cities, causing over 760 million people to be isolated in their homes. Utilization of China’s advanced arsenal of high-tech surveillance tools along with its use of an effective grid management system allowed them to collect information and tightly restrict population movement. While the range of strictness varied between cities, the efforts were quite coercive, often involving local officials exercising direct authority over people’s movements. In many cities, armies of enforcement workers were stationed to make sure the ETHAN CHANG lockdown regulations were being complied and residents were often kept in check by other residents and volunteers that monitored logs of people leaving, entering, and their temperatures.

In China, the lockdown came at the high price of sacrificing individual privacy and freedom.

In some neighborhoods, only one person per family could leave the house every other day. Furthermore, activist groups have exclaimed that the lockdown violated human rights by not allowing some residents to obtain necessities and medical care.

Despite such limitations, the sacrifices in personal freedom and privacy have made a large difference, as the World Health Organization highly praised China’s public health response stating that it “reversed the escalating cases.” China ultimately lifted the Wuhan lockdown on April 7.

THE DIFFERENT SIDES

As China’s lockdown neared its end, countries like Italy followed its lead and enforced similar regulations Italy’s tally of cases jumped monumentally--by over 30%--as the weeks progressed. On March 9, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte implemented a nationwide closure of Italy.

This ordered all shops except for grocery stores and pharmacies, along with schools, to close down. Still in effect, the lockdown regulations only permit people to leave their homes for food or medicine. Currently, there are over 35,000 cases in Italy and the lockdown deadline has been extended beyond the original end date of April 3rd in hopes of further slowing the spread of the virus.

In the end, everything comes down to public trust.

It has been reported that in the first week over 43,000 people were caught violating regulations. Because Italy does not have the same totalitarian power as China does to monitor and survey civilian activities without strict enforcement of set laws, the harsh orders are essentially useless.

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ECONOMY

AWRY PETER HONG

The global economy has tapped into one of the most unfavorable economic periods of history, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our current reality draws some eerie parallels to the same economic trends during the Great Depression (1929-1933) and Recession (2007-2009). The dreaded global pandemic has created a suffering economy that targets every business from cozy mom and pop stores to large fortune 500 corporations.

Ever since the coronavirus lockdowns were enforced at an extensive scale, small businesses have struggled to stay afloat, as many of them were forced to cut back on the number of employees, implement pay cuts, or even completely shut down. The NSBA (National Small Business Association) conducted a survey and concluded that 3 out of 4 small business owners are worried about the coronavirus’ impact on their businesses. Fortunately, however, there are measures that the government is taking to support these struggling businesses and numerous fundraising efforts have already been initiated. It is reported that the United States government is giving approximately three hundred and fifty billion dollars in loans to assist small businesses in getting back on their feet once more.

The stock market has responded to the coronavirus pandemic with extreme volatility.

American multinational investment bank Morgan Stanley has cautioned investors that the economy may

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suffe r until March of 2021 at the very least, when a possible coronavirus vaccine may be available to the public. Rival Wall Street investment bank Goldman Sachs is recommending that investors avert their attention away from buying assets of companies that are currently receiving government relief funding. On a different note, billionaire Warren Buffett is advising investors to rule off daily news headlines on the coronavirus, suggesting that one should not buy or sell assets merely due to a trending headline.

As for the movie industry, the pandemic has caused reason to worry about the futures of companies like Disney and Pixar.

Hollywood is facing the cancellation of the blockbuster season, and high caliber films have already halted public releases. What used to be months of desperate wait for movie releases on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu have been abolished, as consumers are now watching movies that are simultaneously being released at home and in theaters. This notion of streaming movies may cripple the movie industry forever, as consumers adjust to the growing digital world and the convenience that comes with it. Individuals do not feel the need to take a family out to the movies anymore when there is a simple option to effortlessly stream

a movie at home with the click of a few buttons.

A number of major sports leagues have altered their agendas drastically due to the pandemic, and as a result, have taken on a considerable amount of financial losses. As of now, the National Basketball Association has suspended the remainder of its 2019-2020 season, and many experts are unsure as to when play can or will resume. Consequently, a large handful of employees working for the NBA are now furloughed, and various other sports leagues across the world have followed this disappointing trend. The colossal number of unemployed individuals in the sports world is only contributing to the growing number of international unemployment, as millions are filing for unemployment week by week.

Analysts are widely anticipating that the coronavirus will present the worst economic adversity to America since the 1930s. Unlike the financial crisis in the late 2000s, all sectors of the economy are being heavily hit, and many industries are praying for a government bailout. After months of social distancing and thousands of casualties, uncertainty still best construes this historical period of time in our lives. The global pandemic will have permanent consequences on not only the social atmosphere, but the economic ones as well, in ways that will only be apparent once time plays its role in this unprecedented period of time.

SARINA HEGLI You may have heard of social distancing, that odious term floating around that public health officials are all too happy to explain in mindnumbing detail. But before you fall into their carefully-spun web, there is another way: Don’t comply with so-called proactive health and safety measures. Just don't. Live exactly as you have been living, and join the thousands of Americans who have been thronging into public spaces and taking back their freedoms at the expense of others and, occasionally, themselves. Just kidding, of course.

As this article is being written, in late May, the country is (finally) opening back up: Malls are opening, many beaches are open, and you can get a much-needed haircut--with some remaining limitations, of course. But approximately two and a half months ago, many US cities essentially went on lockdown as the scourge of COVID-19 posed a new and deadly threat.

Not everyone was on board to keep their social distance, though, so how cleanly did near-total quarantine really go? Let's take a

look at March, April, and May's greatest blunders and milestones to judge how well we performed.

For context, American state and federal leadership implemented sweeping restrictions to stop the spread of the virus. For example, California Governor Gavin Newsom, on March 19, announced a statewide stay-at-home ordinance, excepting only essential journeys out of the house: to the grocery store, pharmacy, certain workplaces, etc. On April 17, Newsom announced the formation of an eighty-person committee to deal with the economic fallout of this stay-at-home order and the pandemic as a whole, the committee including former California governors Jerry Brown, Gray Davis, Pete Wilson, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. At the national level, President Trump on March 11 implemented a month-long ban on travel from Europe and on April 20 hinted at a sixty-day ban on all permanent immigration.

The stock market tumbled, schools countrywide had to rely on technology that not all students had access to, and Saturday Night Live

made a relatable-comedy sketch about the popular video-calling platform Zoom: What a time! And at the rotten core of these closures and suspensions, cancellations and expulsions, seemed to be the order to self-isolate, tipping the situation from manageable for most to positively unbearable for some.

Politically, the reluctance to order the closure of businesses and public gatherings was known as herd immunity, a policy that relies on widespread--at least 60%-immunity but consequently banks on greater ultimate losses as a result of foregoing precautions. The United Kingdom abandoned the herd immunity strategy in midMarch and shut down nonessential businesses.

A few renegades held intimate, rebellious parties across the nation this spring, notably in Connecticut.

Party-throwers might have called such things ragers, but The New York Times referred to them as something closer to super-spreading events with global implications.

Furthermore, there was considerable person-to-person transmission suspected in Kentucky due to

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coronavirus parties. In Louisiana, particularly but not exclusively at Life Tabernacle Church, the refusal to close or transition to online services similarly resulted in high rates of infection for loyal members and the city of Baton Rouge as a whole. In Missouri in May, a symptomatic hairdresser exposed 91 people, seven of them coworkers, to

the disease; later, after one of these coworkers tested positive, it was estimated that another 56 people were exposed.

Internationally, protests and violations were less about the maintenance of First Amendment rights and more about economic impacts. For example, chefs and restaurant employees in Brussels, Belgium, protested unnecessary closures on May 7 by laying chefs’ jackets on the ground in a public

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square, according to FactCheck.org.

Another issue that arose and led to backlash, particularly in Poland, was the inability of some employees to pass across the European Union's once-open borders to jobs in neighboring countries.

Closer to home, a California coronavirus party held on April 11 in Bakersfield unfortunately resulted in six people shot in what was potentially a drive-by, possibly committed out of anger that the party was disobedient of Newsom's stay-at-home order. On a smaller scale, at right, notice the police tape cut down in mid-March to allow access to a closed bike trail in San Diego.

Furthermore, the closure of beach parking lots did not initially prevent newly outof-school or workingfrom-home individuals from relaxing and exercising under the sun-and, really, who did you think was going to win: Gavin Newsom? Or Southern California Beach Season?

Rebellion against distancing rules had myriad effects in the United States this spring, the most obvious one being speedy, unnecessary spread of coronavirus.

There were also new legal consequences: for example, Laredo, Texas, on April 2, imposed fines of up to $1,000 for not wearing masks in public. Elsewhere, party-throwers were jailed, cited, or summoned for

disobeying stay-at-home orders; Sughuy Cepeda, 43, of New Jersey, is surprisingly not alone in facing significant prison time for spitting on police officers while claiming to be positive for the virus.

Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York City, tried on April 18 to control quarantine rebels by encouraging that all offenders be photographed and their images messaged to 311-692. The result, according to the New York Post, was a steady stream of nonsense and trolling denouncing the idea and confirming, once and for all, that Snitches Get Stitches (or, at least, Snitches Get Rebuffed).

On a more serious and reflective note, it seems obvious that anti-quarantine protesters in the heat of spring were (and remain) a danger to themselves and others, particularly members of more vulnerable groups who still had to make periodic trips to the grocery store or pharmacy, like those suffering from preexisting conditions (data from February shows that coronavirus patients with heart disease had an approximated 10.5% death rate, as opposed to the 0.9% death rate for victims without preexisting conditions) or those ages 65 and up (in March, the CDC reported that 80% of coronavirus deaths were within this age bracket).

But if you didn't rebel, what were you supposed to do except twiddle your thumbs and watch the grass grow? How long would you be made to stay at home, and when were we going to be allowed to get back on our feet as a nation? These

questions effectively summarize the helplessness of March and April, a feeling that something sinister was lurking behind every corner, invisible but ever-present.

Indestructible.

Defiance of national and international advisories was also prevalent at the governmental level, with leaders anxious to give their state economies a boost and get back to normal, perhaps prematurely. For example, in Colorado, Governor Jared Polis ended the statewide stay-at-home order on April 26 and opened some businesses in early May, citing that “every business is essential,� according to the Associated Press. Likewise, in Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp reopened some businesses on April 24, and, in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis reopened some beaches in midApril, provided that all who used them continued to distance themselves from one another on the sand and in the waves, which--of course--they didn't. (Another point to Beach Season.) After these early efforts, on May 12, Anthony Fauci spoke before a specialized Senate committee, warning of possible relapses in the fall and winter should the national reopening occur too hastily.

This is not to say that economic concerns are invalid or inconsequential. On the contrary, reporters and experts like The New York Times's Paul Krugman continue to highlight the evolving

economic situation and the plight of individuals and businesses hit incredibly hard by closures.

However, not everyone has this completely-defensible justification for wanting to end stay-at-home policies. Comedian Ricky Gervais, on April 14, criticized people who had the luxury of staying at and working from home for complaining about boredom, particularly

Keep Calm and Ruin the Curve, as us CCA students have been doing for over a decade.

celebrities whose prisons are essentially Bradburian four-wall televisions. This was and remains a time of sacrifice: for some--medical workers, FedEx drivers, grocery store employees, small business owners, and anyone on the front lines who must interact with the public daily--great sacrifice. And for many people, it was and is a notgoing-to-Starbucks or not-seeingyour-girlfriend kind of sacrifice, with restrictions loosening all the time. To liken the early pandemic to World War II, perhaps inappropriately (the national coronavirus death toll sits at approximately 100,000 as of May 26, whereas American deaths in World War II amounted to over

400,000), we all had to Keep Calm and Carry On. Keeping Calm and Carrying On is still a useful sentiment, as we all prepare ourselves for a few more months (or another year? Years?

Who knows!) of at least semiisolation, helped along by everincreasing opportunities to get outside safely. But how did we do, when the pandemic was a novelty and quarantine was at its strictest? Overwhelmingly well, as it turns out, with precaution-compliant organizations donating to relief funds and distributing supplies, governments enforcing life-saving yet economically devastating restrictions, teenagers making masks and volunteering for organizations like Meals on Wheels, and schools from sea to shining sea transitioning to both synchronous and asynchronous virtual learning in a snap. It's all too easy and intriguing to point to outliers holding coronavirus parties and use them to define the national response to this unprecedented, tragic pandemic--but let's not minimize the curve-flattening efforts of the vast majority of the population, not to mention fearless healthcare and essential service providers, by falling prey to unrepresentative yet flashy, shocking generalizations.

Keep Calm and Ruin the Curve, as CCA students have been doing for over a decade.

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HIGHER EDUCATION Lena Chen

The presence of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has brought about many unexpected changes and stripped us of our daily schedules. Our definitions of “normal” seem to be far away and out of reach. With this new global pandemic, we have been urged to stay at home as much as possible in order to slow or potentially prevent further spread of the virus. This, in turn, has prompted many schools and universities all over the world to temporarily close and transition to online learning. Even the most prestigious Ivy League schools have been faced with no other choice but to send their students home for the remainder of the school year in an effort to adhere to social distancing orders. The end date for virtual schooling is uncertain at this time, and these cancellations have put the lives of many students on pause.

The shift to virtual learning has forced universities to adjust their teaching methods and requirements for both incoming and current students. Some of these reactions

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may be apathetic and unfair, while others may be beneficial.

The explosion of coronavirus cases in the United States initiated the closure of many university campuses across the country within just one week, which was quite a surprise given the fact that many universities have a reputation of being reluctant to change, especially in a rapid manner. Following the closures, online instruction was soon implemented. Because of this rapid transition, many students found it difficult to make arrangements; whether it be returning home, finding somewhere to stay, or just expensive last-minute travel in general. Along with these issues, many were still on spring break or studying abroad, making it even more difficult to effectively social distance during the outbreak.

The majority of students studying abroad were forced to selfquarantine for fourteen days before returning home or had to deal with the travel ban inflicted by President Donald Trump. For many students,

the rapid closure was extremely stressful and overwhelming. Forced evacuations were even worse for the students who had no home to return to, requiring them to search for a place to live with short notice.

Along with challenges associated with travel, universities across the country such as Harvard and Tufts are still charging their students full tuition, despite the lack of in-person instruction. Without financial aid, many elite universities in the United States can be very expensive. COVID-19’s arrival in the U.S. has hit lower-income families hard and brought about even more struggles for them.

Financial aid recipients on scholarships or student loans often rely on their school for food and jobs. Therefore, universities may not be providing adequate resources for their students with a poor internet connection and tough living situations while they are away; in particular, “first-generation, lowincome” students are affected. The scarcity of wealth and access to off-

campus necessities for these students highlights the financial problems and poverty associated with higher-level education, even when financial aid is available.

Students at Johns Hopkins University are among the many distressed young adults participating in somewhat of a rebellion against universities who are not giving a partial tuition refund to their scholars. Their college tuition remains the same: $27,675 per semester, even though it no longer includes the holistic academic and social aspects of the university.

Remote teaching means that the students are receiving a style of teaching with less personalization.

Student government leaders there sent a letter to the university recently asking for a 25 percent refund; about $7,000 per student. But still, the university has failed to give back their fees. Other colleges have allowed for varying amounts of refunds for room and board fees for the students who believe that their spring semester was cut short. The

suspension of in-person teaching fails to deliver the unique college learning environment worth the price to students.

Universities’ reactions to COVID-19 have had an impact on current high schoolers as well.

Choosing a college has become more challenging for current seniors, who have had to cancel campus tours for their potential colleges. For current juniors, however, there are some benefits that have been brought to the infamous college admissions process. The ACT and SAT standardized tests are no longer required for admission to many well-known universities in the 2021 school year, including the entire University of California system.

This further illustrates the idea that test scores don’t define an applicant in the realm of college applications.

This pandemic has caused schools all over the world (not just universities) to adapt, and test the abilities of their technology during this time. As of now, online learning

and the challenges that come with a pandemic outbreak may be difficult to overcome for both students and faculty members, and much of the situation is uncertain and still an experiment. However, this will be a beneficial learning experience for the system of American higher education. The closure of college campuses also emphasizes that colleges may need to focus more on simply educating their students rather than the extravagant events that typically make up the so-called “college experience”. The simplicity of the current status of online teaching makes it clear that education doesn’t need to be as expensive as it is today. Now, universities are charging students excessive amounts to give them events, amenities and services that do not contribute to their future degree. But students deserve more options when it comes to higher education, and they deserve to get their schooling at a reasonable cost.

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INTROVERT INTROVERT V INTROVERT MAXINE MAH sit

Who doesn’t love months upon months of free and endless time to yourself? We introverts sure do!

This is everything we’ve been dreaming of: staying up until 4 a.m. scrolling through TikTok, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, Reddit, or whatever your heart desires, then waking up at 2 p.m. only to discover that you can do it all over again. Quarantine is just another excuse for us introverted people to stay home and “recharge.”

And, if that’s not good enough as it is, we’re helping to flatten the curve by simply being the homebodies we were meant to be!

Not to mention online classes are basically all on our own terms.

Nobody distracting or annoying us to ruin our self-learning about the Civil War or sine graphs. Even better, on class calls, no one even sees or hears us if we don’t want them to.

All I have to do is turn off the microphone and camera and now I’m invisible!

When assigned, group projects aren’t as much

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of a nuisance either because we don’t even have to see each other.

For us, quarantine is just what we needed. In the seemingly neverending month of March, where breaks are nonexistent and we have to spend countless hours interacting with people, “social distancing” (a practice we’ve been perfecting for many many years) proves to be heavenly. For once, it’s good to be introverted! Being able to have time to yourself and getting the opportunity to learn new things or simply indulge in being alone brings out the positive in the current situation. For example, finally getting around to finishing that 1,000 piece puzzle of the canals in Venice, or finishing that one acrylic painting of my grandma on my mom’s side. Practicing hot cross buns on my french horn (to the rest of my family -- I’m terribly sorry), or even catching up on the latest episode of Tiger King can make this quarantine a paradise for those who like being alone.

However even while being

introverted, I still miss my friends and being able to safely walk around outside without thoughts of dying. And of course, pity goes out to all my extroverts out there who have never been able to experience the joy of having plans canceled, but we have to still do our part, right?

Aside from being oh-so-overjoyed about having to be far away from people, social distancing is something that everyone can learn and grow from. It’s something we all have to do in order to have life go back to normal, even if normal means being around people again (gross, I know). Watching desperate people (not only extroverts) hang out with friends even while we are supposed to be staying six feet apart, hurts. It hurts not only the introverts but the rest of the world too. Who knows how long we’ll stay inside for, and even if it sounds good to introverts, we still miss being able to see and talk to people; it’s human nature, after all. So stay at home, introverted or not. For the good of society, stay at home, because even if it feels like heaven to us, paradise can’t last forever.

EXTROVERT EXTROVERT S EXTROVERT ALEX REINSCH-GOLDSTEIN

For a hyper-extrovert like myself, socializing with others is like a drug: it’s great, and the more of it the better!

I am not all alone or totally without anything to do. My family is good company, my furball tuxedo cat is as good a boy as ever, and my copy of The Essential Chomsky is quality food for socialist thought.

And yet there is an indefinable something missing from my days: the good cheer one gets from a friendly hello on the way to class, the boundless promise of a night out, or the conviviality of being with friends as I climb into a recycling bin for a dare. Socializing is to people like me as invading a country for oil is to the US government: it has to be done regularly, or else things no longer feel normal.

Many of the memories I look back most fondly on involve having a good time with others, and it is therefore impossible to make good memories like those now. Some of the episodes I most remember seem almost ludicrous in an era of social distancing. Going to Disneyland with my 8th-grade class and almost being kicked off the Pirates of the Caribbean ride for yelling “are you guys real?” at the animatronics

would be impossible today, given that Disneyland is a hotbed of germs even in good times. The time I tapped a random man on the shoulder in the bathroom of an El Pollo Loco thinking it was my father could likewise not happen today, seeing as touching others and dine-in restaurants are both forbidden at the moment. Nor would it be possible in times like these to pick up a glass of orange juice at a social gathering, as I once did, only to find that someone had dumped a spoon load of mayonnaise into it.

Social gatherings and mayonnaisebased practical jokes have both been temporarily abolished.

Just as frontier folks in the nineteenth century substituted for coffee by drinking warm peanut water (true story), extroverts like myself have to substitute for social interactions in new and different ways. Zoom and FaceTime are both cool, but my internet router dates from FDR’s third term or thereabouts, and consequently I appear to most of my digital compatriots as a pixelated potato.

Substitutes are rarely as good as the original, but they’re all we’ve got at the moment.

(On these digital platforms, my attention-seeking tendencies are

manifesting themselves in increasingly odd ways--such as wearing garish sombreros during class Zoom calls, for instance. I feel that I need to stop doing this.)

The things that define a good time for extroverts like me are often out of reach at the moment, and so we have to work around it as best we can. But the entire world has gone thoroughly topsy-turvy, and everyone is having to learn to live new lives--many to much more radical degrees than people like me. I suppose all we can do at a time like this is drink our peanut water, hold our Zoom calls, and wait until the all-clear signal arrives. In the meantime, heck it.

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IF ROLES WERE REVERSED

LIAM ROSENBERG

As high schoolers, we constantly look ahead to care for how our future unfolds. From micromanaging grades, excelling in sports and extracurriculars, to eventually touring colleges, teenagers have developed an algorithm for a surefire shot at success later in life. Especially in a competitive academic environment like our own, emphasis on one’s future is extremely pronounced. However, this school year could not stray any further from the climate in which these bygone strategies once thrived. Nearly half a year of physical school has been lost to time spent in quarantine. With an uncertain outcome on the horizon, coronavirus has made us all look at the introspect and ostensibly brought us closer to our friends and family. Even so, many of us may have passed the disease to a loved one without even knowing.

According to CDC director Robert Redfield, 25% of people with the new coronavirus don’t present any visible symptoms but are still at risk of transmitting the illness to others. 80 percent of all coronavirus-related deaths in the United States were attributed to people aged 65 and over. this again poses the same dilemma: Are kids spreading the disease to the elderly, perhaps just by being careless?

This point is difficult to come to terms with--after all, they are our grandparents; those we provide a great deal of respect to as a society. But seeing as the mortality rate for kids and young adults are significantly lower, it is more than likely. Simply scrolling through Instagram and other social media reveals that kids aren’t taking quarantine as seriously as their older counterparts. Beach settings like South Florida and even here in Southern California are still swarming with spring breakers, either deliberately ignoring or protesting the law--leading to arrests in Malibu, protests in Huntington Beach, and defiant college students eventually coaxing the Miami government to ease social distancing restrictions.

Of course, the blame cannot be pinned on merely the actions of kids.

In cities like our own, entire industries are built upon outdoor interaction, whether it be at the beach or elsewhere. One also must keep in mind that kids really don’t learn to make sensible choices and skew toward thrillseeking behavior until they’ve reached their mid-twenties. So instead of addressing who is most at fault in our reality, consider if the roles were reversed.

As stated previously, the “spring break stragglers,” a.k.a. the significant number of college students that are disregarding CDC guidelines by publicly congregating at the beach, are amplifying panic surrounding the outbreak. If the roles were switched, this burden to global health would arguably vanish. It can be assumed that senior citizens, many of whom have survived epidemics like polio and early influenza in the past, would have an innate predisposition to treat coronavirus more seriously.

Because of this, a lot of fear related to social meetings would not be as severe.

In a time of hypotheticals, we need to be focusing on our new reality.

Researchers are projecting the coronavirus to become normalized and likely a disease that will be as persistent as the common cold. So as we come to terms with our self-quarantines and adjust to life through a screen, let’s not dwell on the “what could have happened if”s. Rather, acknowledge the steps that our predecessors have taken in the past, and make the leap to improve oneself. Like it has been said time and time again, we are all in this together. The little things that we can change in our lifestyles now will make a difference in the long run.

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EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

STAFF WRITERS

ADVISOR

Emily Gao Justin Wang

Kate Bennett Ryan Bridges Frances Chai Ethan Chang Lena Chen Cole Colleran Carolyn Cui Jasmine Elasaad Sofia Fischel Aerin Flaharty Emily Fowler Elliot Frueh Ellyse Givens Isabella Hirst Peter Hong Iris Kim Sophia Larson Carson McCloskey Hannah Quini Liam Rosenberg

Christopher Black

ONLINE EDITOR Alex Reinsch-Goldstein

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Ella T. Lifset

GUEST ARTISTS Isabella Kwon Angela Zhang

GUEST WRITERS Amy Shore Andrew Gu Christina Byun Elise Kim Maxine Mah Sarina Hegli