Issue 3 : Embracing Growth and Renewal Upon Spring's Arrival

The Claw

Campolindo High School

300 Moraga Road

Moraga, CA 94556

Issue III

Volume LXXII

ONLINE AT:

www.thecampoclaw.com & @thecampoclaw

Editors in Chief

Erin McDonald (she/her)

Molly Stephens (she/her)

News Editor

Indira Naylor (she/her)

Lifestyle Editor

Hailey Wilson (she/her)

Junior Lifestyle Editor

Isabella Domingo (she/her)

Opinion Editor

Alex Shrauger (he/him)

Junior Opinion Editor

Anya Houston (she/her)

Sports Editors

John Weaver (he/him)

Harrison Fuller (he/him)

Visual Media Editor

Katie Welch (she/her)

Buisness Editor

Lily Qin (she/her)

Social Media Editor

Parker Blau (she/her)

Photography Editor

Sebastian Whitfield (he/him)

Staff

Thomas Berg III (he/him)

Beatrice Johnson (she/her)

Lauren Kawamoto (she/her)

Karly Kazliner (she/her)

Laiba Khan (she/her)

Nate Littell (he/him)

Brooke Maher (she/her)

Rachel Moen (she/her)

Sarah Moses (she/her)

Daisy Penney (she/her)

Sloan Pullen (she/her)

Ashley Purcell (she/her)

Anjali Rao (she/her)

Claire Riedel (she/her)

Olivia Seelig (she/her)

Matt VonderBrink (he/him)

Tobias Wasicek (he/him)

Adviser

Lauren Henson (she/her)

From the Editor

ALEX SHRAUGER OPINION EDITOR

The winter months are coming to a close, and the warm weather to which Californians are accustomed is beginning to reappear. As we look forward to brighter days, it’s important to appreciate spending time together as possible while school is still in session.

First semester is now a distant memory, but reflecting upon its successes and failures is a great source of motivation and self-improvement. For juniors, the most difficult time has begun: the time where academics and extracurricular performance are at their greatest importance. To them, I would implore they stay true to themselves and avoid slaving over activities designed merely to impress their dream schools. If such places aren’t appreciative of your true selves, such destinations are not meant to be.

It’s easy to be bogged down in a heavy workload, waiting aimlessly for the warmer months to begin. But let’s not forget the hard work we put into academics, extracurricular activities, sports, and time with friends is what makes high school a rewarding journey. These experiences are necessary in order to transition to adulthood.

For me, it has been difficult to find the inspiration to focus on my studies and think about the very different future that awaits. I’ve had to fight against the “it doesn’t really matter” mentality that all seniors encounter once the first half of the year wraps up. However, setting goals that allow me to stay on track and improve in my various activities pushes me to give my best in all facets of my life. Finding something to work towards even when high school feels like it has ended is a certain way to maintain motivation during the most trying of times.

The months of the hardest work are upon us, and it’s important to embrace the challenge. After all, we Cougars don’t give up. When it’s all over, relief and warmth will be felt all around, and the difficult times will have been well worth the struggle.

FRONT AND BACK COVER

BY KATIE WELCH

If you have a story idea, would like to write a Letter to the Editor, or have other comments/concerns, please submit them to the form at https://thecampoclaw.com/submit-a-letter/. The Claw staff will respond as soon as possible.

NEWS BRIEFS

Acalanes District Offers Students Diverse Perspectives in New School Year

In the upcoming 2024-2025 school year, students will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of affinity classes in order to extend their knowledge of the world and the perspectives of different people around them.

AP Human Geography and AP African American Studies are two classes that will be added to the Acalanes Union High School District. Currently a semester class, Ethnic Studies will become a graduation requirement in the new school year. This will add to the unique perspectives that students can be exposed to.

Ethnic Studies was founded at San Francisco State University in the 1960s due to the students demands for more representation of different identities at their school. In similar fashion, the AUHSD is adding more classes for similar needs.

“We’ve been thinking about it and discussing it as a department for a long time,” stated social studies teacher Ryan Boyd, future teacher of the AP African American studies class. “[We believe that] we should begin to have more courses that reflect the rest of the world.”

AP Human Geography is a class that will teach the impacts that geography has on the human race, particularly their economic development, religion and culture. The class will be offered to sophomores, juniors, and seniors, offering diverse perspectives from all grades.

“AP African American Studies has been developed by the College Board in the aftermath of everything that happened in 2020,” said Boyd. “All of the schools in the district decided that since it’s being ruled out nationally, they’re going to offer it.”

A class for upcoming juniors and seniors, students of AP African American Studies will start off by learning about Africa’s societies, cultures, empires, and connections between the continent and the rest of the world. The class will learn about African American history and experiences: such as the Slave Trade and the Middle Passage and go all the way to the Civil Rights Movement in the 20th century.

When asked why he’s deciding to take the class, sophomore Daniel Wang said: “I feel like there are so many prominent black figures in

the past, right now, and just in history- that I take inspiration from… I think it’s important because it’s valuable knowledge.” He believes that anyone can take away something from the class.

Students will be learning about the background of the resistance of slavery in the US and how it has evolved into a distinct culture blending both African and American elements.

When asked why he believes students should join the class, Boyd stated: “It’s an excellent way of adding to our knowledge of America… [and to] hear different voices that we haven’t heard in classes.”

-Isabella Domingo

Successful District-wide Shakespeare Festival

On Wednesday, January 17, the period 5 drama class went to Del Valle campus for the Annual District Shakespeare Festival where all drama classes from the district meet to perform modified Shakespeare plays. This drama class is composed of Drama 2, Advanced Drama and Drama Honors students

Campo performed the plays of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, and The Merchant of Venice. The class struck success when Midsummer Night and Hamlet were performed on the main stage, the ideal stage for optimal success in front of a larger audience and all district drama teachers.

The reason why they achieved their success was because their show caused many emotions from the audience. Senior Cooper Carmichael noted its impact, stating their performance was “very powerful since our adaptation had the ending changed, and I don’t think any of the other teachers were expecting that.”

They were also happy with their own personal performance. Senior Reid Lalli reflected that “It went way better than I thought it would go for me.”

Not only were the students proud of themselves, drama teacher Christopher McNevin was also very pleased with the performance: “I’m extremely proud. They represented Campolindo drama very well.”

The class had major success at the annual festival; however, McNevin noted that there was room for growth: “They gained very valuable experience of how they can expand and challenge themselves in the future, of really working toward

more complexity, a different way of performing or presenting these performances.”

Even though this was Lalli’s last time performing there he simply enjoyed it “It just showed how like three months of work and definitely paid off. And I personally love the show.”

- Tobias Wasicek

Mini Club Day Pivots to Big Gym Amid Downpour

On February 7, Leadership hosted its annual Mini Club Day at lunch amid a sudden rainstorm in Moraga. Rather than hosting the event from its usual spot in the quad, Leadership students pivoted by using space in the Big Gym to set up tables and posters for students to walk around during lunch.

Commissioner of Student Affairs senior Kathrynanne Terry explained, “It was definitely a shock because we were planning on doing it in the quad. However,

of people showed up and we got a lot of signatures because it was so rainy out. Especially because we didn’t offer any candy, we definitely got the dedicated pickleballers.”

Sophomore Lilly Schmidt, who just started the Nature Savers Club, explained that sign-ups from Mini Club Day will help her achieve her goals for an upcoming cleanup trip to “Stinson beach where we’re gonna pick up plastic and clear trash around the area.”

Compared to September’s Club Day, with 137 clubs, this year’s Mini Club Day had about 44 clubs participating. And while Mini Club day is often a space for new clubs to advertise themselves, this year veteran clubs also seized the opportunity to gain new members in upcoming years.

Veteran clubs like senior Natalie Falsafi’s Surfrider Club saw a climb in numbers, especially among this year’s freshman class. As the club looks to pass the baton to the next generation for future years, Falsafi noted, “I am definitely hoping the club can continue since I have a lot of freshies who want to take over.”

PE was playing badminton in the gym so we had to kind of coordinate with Coach Adams and Coach Williams. So we got the tables out and had them set up at the front of the gym with only 10 minutes to spare before lunch started.” But she noted that despite the chaotic change of plans “being in the gym instead kind of worked in our favor because [the rain] forced everyone to congregate in the one place that was covered.”

For new clubs, like the Pickleball Club, being in the big gym provided a huge success. Club leader sophomore Sam Storrs said, “A lot

Aside from sign ups for new and existing clubs, Leadership also used the event to promote initiatives such as Pies for Peace and Valentines Day Candy Grams which were fittingly situated in the front of the Big Gym. Terry explained, “there was a lot going on in one space which definitely benefited the clubs and the number of people who showed up.” While not ideal considering the rainy conditions, Mini Club Day still provided numerous clubs with sign ups while putting Leadership front and center. As they look ahead to the upcoming year, new and existing club leaders used the event to spread the message about their clubs and further integrate themselves into Campolindo culture.

- Nate Littell

SEBASTIAN WHITFIELD/STAFF

Open House Prepares Incoming Freshman and Families

BY PARKER BLAU

On Thursday February 1st, Campo hosted its annual Open House to provide opportunities for students and families to meet its staff, as well as learn about course offerings, student services provided, and various ways to become involved in campus life.

Beginning at 5:30 pm, the parents club sponsored a “Family Social,’’ inviting Ofie’s Kitchen and Groovy Gorditas onsite to provide food for the guests. At 6:00 pm, families and incoming students gathered for the “General Welcome’’ before being released to visit classrooms and participate in breakout sessions.

Associate Principal Robin Harrison worked with teachers, administrators, and the CPC to put together the open house. “The only difference from years past is that we added in a social before everything kicked off. The hope was that new families would be able to meet each other and have a space where they could start connecting or see some familiar faces. The food truck helped a little with that, in terms of having people get to know each other,” she said.

There were several different opportunities for families to drop

in and learn more about how to register for classes and address the difference between the student and parent transition into highschool.

A focused area was to have a place for families to learn more about campus life. “With incoming freshmen, there’s always an air of nervousness that comes with starting a new school, but our Leadership kids did a really good job in terms of creating breakout sessions specifically for freshmen so that they can start meeting people, as well as learn about what it means to be a cougar and how to get involved,” said Harrison.

The breakout sessions were held in various classrooms across campus, where specific questions about courses could be answered. Senior Pinkie Schnayer said she worked as part of Leadership, “helping guide parents and incoming freshmen to different classrooms to learn about the academic departments offered, as well as leading our own seminar on what Leadership does around Campo throughout the school year.”

“Leadership helped set up different booths in the gym for all the sports and some other extracurriculars, like clubs, to show different

activities and awards they have received over the past few years for future students to browse,” Schnayer said. “Our goal was to make sure that future cougars and parents could easily navigate their way around campus.”

The art room put all of the current student’s works on display, as it was very popular for people to visit. Teachers set up presentations and waited in their rooms for visitors as well. “The purpose of open house is to bring people together and to learn what we have here. It really is an opportunity for teachers to showcase all the services that we have,” said Harrison.

“the orchestra and the band put on chamber performances in the CPAC so that attendees could walk in and observe freely,” said senior Naina Srivastava. “We got to choose our own chamber groups and the music we wanted to perform within those groups. We spent a month or two practicing for the performance.”

SOUN/STUDENT

To advertise Campo’s incredible instrumental music program,

Parents and future students also stopped into the auditorium to watch the musical practice, as students were working with one another to learn their choreography. “A lot of families were excited. What I was hearing at the end of the night was that most people were happy that they came because they got to learn a lot about the different programs and services that we offer,” Harrison said.

Success Through Pies for Peace Fundraiser

BY SARAH MOSES

On February 23rd, Leadership hosted an event in the quad called Pies For Peace. Pies for Peace is a “joint fundraiser between the Muslim Student Union and the Jewish Student Union at Campo” said junior Jessica Kelvin. The fundraiser is trying to raise money for the “Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which is an organization that is directly helping and sending money to children in Gaza right now,” said senior Zarah Thomas.

The relief fund gives free healthcare to children in Palestine that would otherwise not have adequate treatment for any injuries they may have suffered due to violence from the ongoing conflict.

In order to raise money, Leadership was selling slices of pie for $5 each. The types of pie that Leadership was selling at this event included cherry pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and chocolate pie. As an incentive for people to buy pie, if they raised enough money, they were going to pie teachers in the face. “When you got a slice of pie

you got to choose a teacher for that money to go to, and we would pie teachers if they got to $100,” said Thomas.

The goal for the amount of money collected from the fundraiser was initially $600, but because many people went and got pies, some even got multiple slices of

pie, “We ended up reaching over $1,000,” said Kelvin. An incentive for getting to and beyond the goal was that Jake Donohoe would get pied in the face if they raised over $600. Several other teachers would get pied if the fundraiser raised over $100. The teachers that eventually got pied because the fundraiser

was so successful included Donohoe, Stephanie Sliwinski, Lindsay Webb-Peploe, Concha Martinez, Jennifer Frugaletti, Jamie Donohoe, and Petro Petreas

It is really important for Campo students to be involved and donate to this cause because there are many people, especially children, in Palestine who are suffering. “It’s important for people to donate to relief for the current conflict in Israel because as a community at Campolindo, we are very privileged, and I think that pitching in our part to donate to people who are in need, especially children ia a really good thing for our community to do” said Kelvin.

Due to the overall success of the fundraiser, it seems that many campo students agree with Kelvin. “We are very fortunate living here and I feel like the least we can do is donate $5 while also getting a slice of pie,” said Thomas. This collaborative event helps raise money for a good cause while also making the school more inclusive.

MADDISON

SEBASTIAN WHITFIELD/STAFF

The Current Snow Drought in California

BY ANYA HOUSTON

California has received a concerning 52% of the average snowfall according to state water officials. The California Department of Water Sources reported, “The mountain snowpack provides as much as a third of California’s water supply by accumulating snow during our wet winters and releasing it slowly during our dry springs and summers.”

A warmer atmosphere leads to lack of snow despite heavy rainfall and a projected atmospheric river. Climate change has been reported as a direct link to the snow drought. Severe consequences must be considered, including a negative impact on water supply for Californians. “By the end of this century, California’s Sierra Nevada snowpack is projected to experience a 48-65% loss from the historical April 1 average,” according to The California Department of Water Sources.

AP Environmental Science teacher Katherine Guy said, “climate change results in extremes like stronger hurricanes and great droughts so [the snow drought] could definitely be climate change related…it’s also an El Nino year so it’s supposed to be warmer and wetter…the two together could be making it worse right now.”

ASB Commissioner of Sustainability, senior Marcus Han said when hearing about the snow drought

it’s important to “have a positive attitude towards the environment because I think change can definitely be made, especially since a lot of people are working towards it and having a pessimistic attitude doesn’t help.”

Many Campo students are noticing the effects of the snow drought through lack of involvement in skiing and snowboarding activities. Spending time with friends and family in the beautiful Northern California mountains is a valuable part of Lamorinda culture. Sophomore Asha Spitzer said the snow drought, “dissuades families from going up [to Tahoe]...[The snow drought] is really startling… we should think about how it’s impacting our environment.” Spitzer’s family experienced this first hand, not being able to travel north as they normally would.

Senior Helen Shephard who spends about 10 to 15 days skiing during the season said, “I’ve definitely noticed the significant lack of snow in the early season but it’s not been completely terrible because most runs are still open. The hardest part about it is the quality of the snow because it has been more wet and icy, rather than dry powder. A few days this season it has even been pouring rain for most of the day.

While hearing about and reading the constant headlines on climate

change can be overwhelming, they are small, consistent contributions we can make. Han suggested some daily behaviors students can continue and start to reduce detrimental environmental impacts, “it’s good to call out the environmental issues right now, people don’t necessarily realize it’s impacting everyone and the severity of what’s happening… Also properly sorting you trash into the right bins is pretty easy in addition to doing research about the environment and becoming more conscious.”

Guy said, “there’s a lot of really simple things that people can do at home like turning off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth, trying to conserve water like when you run you laundry if you make sure your load is full…also turning off the lights…Lots of students come to school and sit in the parking lot with their car running and their just pumping greenhouse gasses into the environment so just turning your car off is a good thing to do.”

In her AP Environmental Science classes, Guy addresses water conservation locally. Educating ourselves either with personal research or a class, then moving to improve our actions is believed to to be accessible and necessary to reduce environmental impact. APES is one way people can put in the effort to educate themselves and others.

New AI Club Intrigues Many Students

BY ANYA HOUSTON AND SARAH MOSES

An academic club working to educate students on the AI revolution was recently formed by freshman Adam Zheng. The club participated in mini club day and succeeded in encouraging 15 people to join. With the 20 priorly signed up, Zheng has quickly created a popular environment. “I feel like I can definitely learn something from the club, and also a bunch of my friends are in the club and it’s generally a very nice environment,” said freshman club member Eric Mu

The first meeting took place on Tuesday, February 8th with an exciting turn out. It was introductory and Zheng along with club secretary freshman Owen Cheng, taught some basics of AI technology. In future meetings Zheng hopes to address, “what’s going on behind the scenes, exploring ideas and the ethics behind it,” he said. In the second meeting they will, “be building an AI model on the platform. It will detect emotions based on data and we’re going to use a training database…basically you take some pictures of you being sad and happy, then train your model based on that,” said Zheng.

AI is something Zheng and Cheng are passionate about not only as revolutionary technology but also in what place it has in our world. “This technology is increasing rapidly and many don’t take the time to learn more about it. If you don’t learn how to use it you could fall behind and might not be able to unleash its potential,” said Zheng. Some members are interested in learning about how AI could be used in the future in order to help people.

AI is prevalent in multiple facets of student life. Some teachers encourage students to utilize ChatGPT to generate practice test questions and study. As Zheng said, AI’s potential matters and it is something that will only continue to get more complicated and advanced. “I like the fact that there’s so many applications for AI, and that it’s touted as the future of computer science,” said Mu. This club is also a resource for students to better comprehend the technological reality they are living in. It is a way to prevent people from becoming terribly overwhelmed by the mysteries of AI inventions.

Meeting a few times a month Zheng will educate in tactile ways to help make what he views as a necessary education, accessible and interesting for many.

BEATRICE JOHNSON/STAFF

E-Waste Drive Combats Excess of Electronics

BY INDIRA NAYLOR

From January 29th to February 14th the Sustainability Board will be holding an E-Waste drive to help dispose of electronic devices. Students can bring in E-waste collectibles including cords, monitors, and batteries in exchange for prizes. Items will be taken to the E-Waste site to be disposed of.

The Sustainability Board of Campo Leadership decided to do this in the first place because they noticed that the school wasn’t doing its best when it came to recycling and reusing waste. “We learned a couple years ago that we were one of the main contributors to all the trash…in the Lamorinda community,” said sustainability board member Sophomore Caitlyn Williams. This also helps set a precedent for the other schools who might be struggling with the waste they’re producing as well.

The idea came from another member of the board, Senior Arjun Krishnan. He said he remembered from his AP Environmental Science class that lots of people have a “big

box of wires that [they] don’t know what to do with and disposing of it improperly can really harm the environment.”

Leadership did lots of preparation for the E-Waste Drive and drummed up student interest. This included getting “together a ton of boxes”, calling “the Berkeley Ewaste site to make an appointment to come and drop off electronics” and making “a ton of videos” to be posted on to the Campolindo Instagram page, said Williams.

This drive helps the environment in a number of ways. Another member of the board, senior Max Marino, said they are mainly trying to make it so “the chemicals that seep into the environment when people don’t properly recycle e-waste” are kept from earth’s habitats by “properly recycling” electronics.

This protection was the biggest goal of the sustainability board and the impact they have made so far has certainly been significant. “I think a lot of [E-waste] ends up in the wrong places and harms

the environment and by actually delivering it to the proper facilities, we can make sure that it’s disposed of properly,” said Krishnan.

Further, doing drives like this don’t just protect the environment from chemicals but allow people to get more use out of products before they are thrown away. “Computers that are old can also get donated and repurposed for their parts,” said president of the sustainability board senior Marcus Han. This is monumental because it helps the environment by reducing energy that would be spent making more of these products when they can easily be recycled.

The drive has been incredibly successful and worked to further the board’s endeavor’s of making Campo more sustainable. “We have around 350 pounds of E-waste right now and we expect to get over 500 pounds by the end of the drive,” said Han. This has been a great achievement for the board and they are very excited about this achievement.

The board has many other initiatives they will organize throughout the year. “We’re holding a night market later this year where people will be able to buy formal coats, clothes, and dresses…it’s going to have a nice little jazz cafe type atmosphere,” said Han.

They plan to focus their sustainability all throughout the campus with different events. The board does lots of work in the garden and the Campo Swap, “which is a great way to recycle or reuse old spirit wear and clothes instead of sending them to the trash,” said Williams.

With the board and their many events Campolindo seems to have made incredible improvement when it comes to sustainability and recycling. “A lot of different programs are going on to make campolindo more sustainable and I think that’s a really amazing positive development this year,” said Krishnan.

By the end of the E-Waste Drive, the Sustainability Board collected over 900 pounds.

KATIE WELCH/ STAFF

The Final Stretch: Seniors’ Last Semester

BY HAILEY WILSON AND INDIRA NAYLOR

When asked about how they felt about their last semester of high school, Campolindo seniors had varying perspectives on how they planned to manage it. There are mixed feelings surrounding the beginning of the end, but most of them are looking forward to their graduation.

Senior Kendall Hollyfield said, “I think it’s sad… my childhood’s ending a little bit, which is a little bittersweet. But I’m excited for this new chapter and new experiences and excited for kind of just like an ability to restart.”

Many seniors shared bittersweet emotions when thinking about their final moments at Campo. In response to how she felt experiencing the last semester of highschool, senior Maya Carrasco said that although it can feel bittersweet “it’s also really exciting…I can’t wait to see what the next step in my life is.” Many students were in agreement with Hollyfield and Carrasco.

To add to these conflicting feelings, students find that there are both things to look forward to and dread in this final semester. Senior Molly Dougherty said she’s “least excited for senioritis to kick in and [her] motivation to drop.” This was a common answer amongst the seniors.

Hollyfield shared what she is excited about during the spring, “I’m excited for an ability to let loose a little bit and be able to hang out with my friends more. And I’m also excited for college apps to be done because that took a lot of my time and I feel like I have a lot more free time.”

Other seniors also had events in mind that they were excited to participate in. Carrasco said, “I’m most excited to go on the trip to Yosemite. I’m excited to be out of school and to get to go to a new place with people and also just get to know the teachers outside of the school environment.” The popular excursion to Yosemite National Park is the pinnacle of their school year for many upperclassmen.

Although Hollyfield has lots to look forward to, she also expressed parts of senior year that she wasn’t excited for: “I’m least excited to say bye to my friends and my school. I’m also not

excited for May and April and still having to work even though there’s not a lot of motivation there.” Dreading final goodbyes to friends and family was a frequent response when asked about the downsides of their highschool career ending.

Senior Michael Tague had similar sentiments when asked what he was dreading in the final semester. He said that “continuing to have homework and keeping up with the grind of everyday life” was going to be challenging because he took hard classes this year.

Already half way through their final year, the majority of seniors are conflicted on whether they think the semester will go by quickly or slowly, and which they would prefer.

Tague said that he feels “it will go by pretty slowly”, but for him that would be preferable. He knows that he “has to embrace [it] because [he] can’t go back” and has accepted the fact that it might feel long.

It seemed that numerous students had heard that the second semester would go by quickly. Hollyfield said, “I’ve heard from a lot of people and I’m definitely expecting it to go really, really fast, which is good in some ways, because that just means you’re having a lot of fun. But it’s also bad because it’s the last one and that’s kind of sad.”

Many of the seniors believe there were things they could have done differently in the last semester which would’ve made their senior year better and more engaging. For example, senior Pinkie Schnayer rumerates on all the events she missed out on because she felt she didn’t have enough time. “I feel I was really focused on school when I could have been more open to activities outside of school,” she said.

Tague also reflected this sentiment. He said being involved with school activities “is the whole point of what makes highschool fun” and he wishes he “had made more of a conscious effort to go to as many school events as [he] could.”

Further, students have learned many lessons over the years that are now helpful in getting them through their final semester of highschool. For example, Carrasco spoke on the importance of accepting herself for who she is: “It’s okay to just be me and embody everything I love.” Further, she said that she appreciates knowing now that although “people come and go in your life… those who are important and care about you the most stay.”

Overall, the final semester of highschool brought on a wave of conflicting emotions for seniors. There is excitement about the prospect of graduating and the anticipation of what will come next. However, many are also saddened by the fact that their childhood is coming to an end which makes this transitional period much more complicated than expected. Despite the bittersweet emotions, the beginning of the end has offered seniors a new perspective on their highschool career, changing them not only as students or athletes but also as individuals who are about to embark on a new journey.

Around the Bay: Restaurant Recommendations

BY BROOKE MAHER

Fridge empty? Looking to try something new? Hungry? The Campolindo community has you covered. Fellow students shared their favorite restaurants from all over the Bay Area and with the many diverse cuisines served by each, everyone is bound to find something they like.

Senior William Vranesh described his favorite place to eat: “I love going to Palm, it’s a smoothie bowl and Açaí place in Berkeley, and it’s really good.” This small business is only a 23-minute drive from Campolindo, perfect for an after-school snack or an early morning meal.

Palm, formally known as Palm Açaí Café, offers a large menu of delicious smoothie bowls to its customers. Vranesh gave his suggestions to Palm first-timers: “I usually get the peanut butter smoothie or the Açaí bowl with cacao nibs and strawberries.”

Senior Emmie Cimperman recommended her personal favorite, Super Duper Burger. With loca-

tions all over California, their orange logo may be familiar. Her go-to order is “the mini burger, with a side of fries and a lemonade.”

Skeptical? Visiting Super Duper Burgers’ website can send you down a rabbit hole of pictures of mouthwatering burgers, fries, milkshakes, and much more. Super Duper Burgers are scattered around California, from Concord to Napa to Los Gatos.

When asked what made the restaurant so special, Cimperman replied, “Their burgers are the best things I’ve ever had.”

Oyama Sushi located nearby in Lafayette is junior Alexis Awad’s top choice. While they offer a wide variety of delectable sushi, there are many other Japanese cuisine options for those who dislike sushi. This includes Japanese noodles, salads, and plenty more.

After being asked what made Oyama her favorite, Awad said, “It has a really good dragon

roll, which is like a California roll.”

Sophomore Kenzie Karp recalled, “My favorite restaurant is Kev’s Noodle House.” Kevin’s Noodle House, also known as Pho Huynh Hiep, is a popular Vietnamese restaurant with multiple locations in the Bay Area. The closest is in Walnut Creek, where the wait time for food and seats is short and the cuisine is consistently delicious.

With a double-sided three-panel menu, it may take time to decide what to eat. Karp suggested her order: “the chicken ramen and the Thai tea boba.”

Some honorable mentions included: Gordo’s Taqueria in Berkeley, Itea in Moraga, In-n-Out in Concord, Pizza Antica in Lafayette, and Sweetgreen in Walnut Creek.

At Campo, favorite foods and restaurants vary greatly. In the future, if you are stumped about what to order or go out to, think about these suggestions and try something new.

CLAIRE RIEDEL/STAFF

Podcast Creates Space for Lamorinda Teens

BY ISABELLA DOMINGO

A passion project rooted in a vibrant friendship, the ‘that’s so real… kind of’ podcast consists of half hour episodes discussing the lifestyles, hardships and pressures of being a Lamorinda teenager. While initially called a fun joke by its creators, it has quickly developed into a show with many dedicated student and offcampus listeners.

Sophomores Akhila Bhagavan and Maneli Malboubi released the first episode last fall. “It was crazy because we started off with these tiny mics that I bought off of amazon,” Bhagavan started. “We recorded our first episode and we got 400 views and 1000 impressions.”

While it may seem hard to believe that a podcast gained such immense traction with just the first episode, Bhagavan and Malboubi’s chemistry makes such a result a no-brainer. “In general I just love talking to Akhila,” Malboubi said. “I

feel like with anyone else it could be awkward to talk about a topic and stick to it, but I feel like the way that we talk meshes well together.”

In the podcast, the two share their thoughts on how societal and cultural norms have impacted their teenage experience. Past episodes have covered specific topics such as money, friendship breakups, burn out and other teenage problems.

The purpose of the podcast is to be a safe environment for their listeners. “We don’t want to recommend others do something in a specific way,” Bhagavan said. “[We] just want to make sure they know that they’re not alone.” Malboubi agrees, saying that a lot of people share experiences of the podcast’s discussed issues, yet don’t have a place to share them. “[To be a] relatable space and safe haven” is an important value held between the two girls.

The production of the podcast has come a

long way from tiny microphones as the girls have made drastic changes to improve the listening experience and engage their audience. When asked to describe the process that went into making the podcast, Bhagavan covers a variety of factors. “I found this one mic for $35. Sound quality is amazing… I usually try to make the episode and upload it the same day so that people know it builds up suspense.”

When discussing their goals, both girls were very adamant about wanting to hire a social media manager for their business to be more recognized. “We’re trying to get a bigger audience and be reconcognized on a local scale.” Said Malboubi.

The girls said that ‘that’s so real… kind of’ can be easily listened to on Spotify and followed on Instagram with the handle @thatssoreal_podcast.

Mean Girls Remake Faces Criticism From Students

BY ANJALI RAO AND OLIVIA SEELIG

The new year started off strong with the release of the highly anticipated Mean Girls remake on January 12. The movie is inspired by the Broadway musical which was based on the groundbreaking 2004 film.

This new remake combines two different versions of the Mean Girls story - the film and the broadway musical. The original movie from 2004 was so influential that 13 years later, the Mean Girls musical debuted on Broadway. The musical was based on the original movie, and added songs to round out the story. The combination of both versions in the latest installment has brought some criticism.

While the older movie received much praise, the latest release hasn’t been met with the same affection from the public. Many have criticized the movie for several reasons, including removing iconic moments from the first movie and changing the music. Sophomore Colbie Freese said, “With a remake, I think you expect a lot of original things but there wasn’t anything from the 2004 original.”

One major critique the movie received was that it felt too “modern.” With the rise of social media since the debut of the story, many things have changed about high school, friendships, and life overall. “The [use of social media] was interesting but the scenes where they lined the sides of the screen with TikTok videos was a little strange,” said sophomore Isabelle Cullinco.

the modernization, but I think they portrayed what a modern high school looks like.”

While many appreciated the movie they did not love it as much as they had enjoyed the first version. Sophomore Claire Johnston said, “I liked it but I didn’t exactly love it. I felt like it had a little bit less personality than the original but I thought it was still pretty okay.”

There were many opinions on the quality of

sometimes.”

This new Mean Girls movie was directed as a musical by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. Many people believe that it would have been better to leave the musical on Broadway, instead of trying to convert it into a movie. Sophomore Akhilia Bhavagan offered her opinion: “I think [viewers] expected a lot of things from the old movie, but it was sort of a build-off of it…It’s great for Broadway but I don’t think it is for a movie.”

BEA JOHNSON/STAFF

Rumors swirled when it came to people’s opinions on the new release. While there were a broad range of thoughts, there was one overwhelming feeling: compared to the original, the updated version didn’t come close to being as popular. Sophomore Maneli Malboubi agreed with the rumors when she said, “I heard it was really bad, which made me want to watch it even more, because people overreact all the time…it was really bad though.”

Others had quite the opposite reaction to the use of technology in the new movie. “I like how they portrayed modern media,” said junior Adriana Carranza. “It’s more realistic. Everyone would’ve had their phones out…they did mess up some parts of it and it was weird because of

acting in the 2024 release.” While some believed the acting was subpar, others thought that the characters were portrayed well. Karen (played by Avantika Vandanapu) and Gretchen (played by Bebe Wood), were well-liked by much of the audience. However, some thought that Aaron Samuels’ character, played by Chris Briney, was awkward and didn’t live up to their expectations. Cullinco said, “It depends on the actors. Karen looked sufficiently dumb. I liked Gretchen’s acting, but some people were a little cringy

Another issue many people had with the remake was the amount of details left out, whether small or large. Claire Johnston stated, “I didn’t like that they cut out Karen and Gretchen’s parts in [the musical song] “Meet The Plastics”.”

The modern version of the movie, while heavily criticized by many, has continued to be streamed in theaters throughout the world. People have spread their opinions online, across countless social media platforms, which contributes to the increased viewing of the movie. Like the past two stories, this one will go down in history as an important moment in pop culture history, despite the negative criticism. Mean Girls will forever be known.

Stepping into STEM!

BY LILY QIN

Campolindo seniors Suraya Mathai-Jackson and Rebecca Ying and junior Vivian Wang started Stepping into STEM, an organization that aims to “promote diversity in the STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics] fields,” according to the club’s Instagram page.

Mathai-Jackson said that “there are a lot of clubs and programs at the high school level to increase diversity in STEM, but we wanted to focus on developing that interest a little bit earlier because by the time people enter high school, a lot of them already have a set idea of what they’re interested in.” This effort is mainly targeted towards increasing representation in STEM, particularly amongst women.

Mathai-Jackson, Ying, and Wang started Stepping into STEM in December of 2022, but

have faced logistical challenges. Ying described that “at the beginning, we wanted to advertise to elementary schools so we could teach at [their] campuses.” However, these attempts proved unsuccessful due to operational issues, so the group moved to the Lafayette Library. They’ve received support from the Lafayette Library and the DEIB grant, which helps them fund their lessons.

“Lessons are mostly 75-minute workshops with a presentation and an interactive demonstration,” Wang said. At their first lesson in January, a strawberry DNA extraction workshop, presenters seniors Audrey Sakamoto and Hanna Birdsong “talked about the mechanics behind DNA, how we’re going to extract strawberry DNA, and how it works. Then [the participants] actually did the extraction,” Wang described.

BY KARLY KAZLINER, SLOAN PULLEN AND ASHLEY PURCELL

Navigating the labyrinth of college preparation is a major part of high school students’ lives. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors alike know the journey of charting the future comes with a variety of emotions and experiences.

Juniors

Junior year has a reputation of being the most difficult year of high school. This year is also often considered by many to be the most important year of high school in terms of the path to higher education due to the demand for exploration, planning, and success in school. These students have a variety of approaches and feelings towards the long to-do lists and the quest to prepare properly to make the right decision of what college to choose.

“For me the biggest challenge is narrowing down the schools that I really would want to go to and dealing with all the expectations,” said Junior Amelia Ra. She has taken advantage of visiting different colleges and talking to students who attend the schools she is interested in to get a better idea of which college is best fit for her. Ra was introduced to the college journey through the mandatory freshman college and career academies that she said left her feeling, “freaked out and stressed about [college] since.” Now being a junior, to help combat the stress she said, “It helps to just talk with people who will be really honest with you.”

Junior Hannah Benson found herself most surprised by, “How much goes into the college planning process with all the essays and things you have to get by certain deadlines.” She has spent most of her college research focused on, “where I want to go and what I want to do.” For a lot of students like Benson, the choice between staying in state or going outside of California is a major deciding factor for which college to attend. Benson noted that, “Naviance helps me find out a lot about what I need for college as well as talking with others,” which has ultimately helped her to feel more prepared.

- Sloan Pullen

Sophomores

While sophomores are not upperclassmen, sometimes they feel like they are being treated as if they are. The intense pressure that most sophomores feel is being surrounded by talks about college. Whether it be from friends, faculty, or family, the topic of college takes place in the majority of conversations. While this may be a comfortable topic for some sophomores to talk about, not all feel the same way.

Sophomore Grace Guthrie said, “There definitely is pressure around taking AP classes and the amount you take because there are standards around how many you should take.” Guthrie expressed her experiences with AP classes and how there is a stigma around the amount you take. “I don’t feel any pressure from my family but more so from my classmates and when people talk about the classes they are going to take and when this happens, I put pressure on myself to live up to those standards.” Guthrie’s thoughts are definitely not abnormal.

There are other students feeling the same way. “I know a lot of people who were pushed into AP classes because it looks good for college. I think it is too early to be talking about college because our brains are still developing and it’s not a great idea to make big decisions now that can affect us for the rest of our lives,” Sophomore Lucy Kao stated. Kao talks about how she feels pressure from classmates and friends which makes her wonder if she should think about

Stepping into STEM is returning to the Lafayette Library in February for an environmental science workshop. Going forward, the club hopes to target more 3-5th graders through lessons at elementary schools, additional libraries, and youth groups.

Mapping the Future: The College Planning Journey

college.

Sophomores talking about preparing for college, puts pressure on others to live up to their classmates’ standards. The conversations about AP classes and “what looks good for college,” causes anxious feelings because of the thought of not knowing what the future holds.

-Karly Kazliner

Freshmen

Freshman year is a year for transitioning to high school. However, the preparation for college seems to slowly creep younger and younger. Although the pressure is nowhere near as immense on the freshman, rather than the older grades, many students still feel a sense of urgency about college.

Freshman Cayley Chang said, “My parents and my brother talk about college a lot, [so] i feel a lot of pressure to go to a good college. My family [also] expects my siblings and I to excel and try our hardest” Chang explained that the pressure for college is mostly from her family, so she tries to “keep up with everything going on in class, study, and learn from other people’s experiences,” Chang feels well prepared for the college process compared to her classmates. She also stated, “learning about college when you’re younger gets you ready for when you actually have to go through it and prepares you for the stress of applying,”

Freshman Kyle Pearlstein feels similarly prepared for the application experience. “I have a college counselor, and I am just working on participating in clubs, doing as many sports as I can.” Pearlstein explained, “I’m trying to finish the year with all A’s so I can get into the college I want to go to… but I don’t know what college that is yet,”

The path to higher education has revealed itself to be a long term exploration starting from the minute the high school journey begins. Through these critical years of planning freshman, sophomores, and juniors are paving the way for a successful transition into the next chapter of their academic careers.

- Ashley Purcell

LILY QIN/STAFF

VIVIAN WANG/STUDENT

Taylor Swift: More Than Just Mu sic

BY ANYA HOUSTON

Taylor Swift: global phenomenon, celebrated popstar, and, practically, religious entity. Yes, she is all of this but she is also so much more. This isn’t a love letter to Taylor Swift or an image of fans kneeling at her feet and screaming for another song to be sung; this is someone acknowledging Taylor’s endgame presence, her final impact on history.

Regardless of intention, whether curated upon planning her career or not, Taylor Swift has become a modern, unique expression of feminism. She is the voice for silenced and shamed women who were forced to internalize their pain by men and societal pressure.

It is important to remember she isn’t the full picture. She isn’t representing all races, sexualities, stories, identities, classes, but no one can expect her to be, as a white, cis woman who hasn’t had all those experiences. No one can expect one person to be everyone. However, she is an umbrella.

Taylor Swift talks about the female experience that many people globally can relate to because while it might not exist everywhere, female oppression exists in most places in some form. “I look at the crowd at her concert and there were all manners of ages, and stripes of people, colors of people…there’s something universal she’s tapping into,” said English teacher, feminist, and Taylor Swift fan, Shannon Sieckert. “I feel seen when I listen to her songs which is really interesting for me because [Taylor Swift] is younger than me… She’s able to capture things in a way where I don’t always have words to understand or adequately describe them,” added Sieckert.

Many women have been betrayed by men, businesses, or friends on top of the other issues they face. Once again, Taylor is the mouth that speaks truths for females who have been taught self-loathing, which she normalizes and validates. This can provide women with the opportunity to verbalize and accept their stories, to understand they are worthy of experiencing the human experience, the pain and grief.

They are justified in their pain, in the wallowing, in the contradiction and protest against men who have been their oppressors and creators of a society that inflicts such pain. “She makes people feel seen and heard…regardless if you’re a fan or not I think that it’s really obvious that what she’s doing and how she’s doing it is super revolutionary,” said sophomore Shira Ayalon, president of the Taylor Swift Lyric Analysis Club on campus. Sophomore “swiftie” Maddie Collins believes, “She said so many things that empower women… I know Gypsy Rose recently said ‘Taylor Swift inspires me; she embodies girl power.’”

Feminism is the equality of the sexes. Susan B. Anthony, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Malala Yousafzai, and so many others have fought for this common goal of equality. While Taylor Swift isn’t often placed in the same arena as these women, understandably so, she has still made an impact on feminism.

She has revolutionized feminism to be so personal and specific that many have been able to

find refuge in her music, in her image. “She puts so much effort and thought into her lyrics and makes storylines and metaphors that are relatable. She paints a really vivid picture that looks into how she’s feeling and her personal accounts,” said Ayalon.

People can see a woman with so much influence and fame speaking the stories they were taught to suppress. This validates and uplifts their experiences. By doing this people are able to cope, mourn, and protest. They are able to feel human. “She picks these things apart and makes us feel okay for feeling and there’s a sort of joy combined with ‘oh my god I’m not the only one,’” said Sieckert. These women can feel like they belong. That belonging, empathy, and solidarity grants freedom, ambition, and a kind of safety. This ultimately creates a form of necessary equality.

EMILIA BARCK/STUDENT

and accomplishments, they will see what she did. They will learn that by making feminism an empathetic, intimate experience she brought out so many underground dwellers, so many women to embrace their own stories, to buttress and propel feminism, all while revolutionizing the way we see it.

Taylor Swift uses the medium of pop tunes for feminist work. Pop tunes often take the form of catchy songs, illustrating females as incomplete beings who require a man, the love and praise of a man to be whole or worthy of a happy existence. This is the genius, intentional or not, of this woman, this artist, and, above all, this feminist. Within the realm of female stereotypes pop tunes can perpetuate, Swift contradicts those very stereotypes.

At first, listening to Swift’s music it can seem incredibly basic and superficial. The melodies can sound the same. The content can seem immature. However, Taylor Swift is more than just music. She has to be because love song after love song isn’t enough to achieve authenticity. It is easy to become lost in the fanfare, in the cult-like, herd behavior environment of Taylor Swift and her music. Maybe that’s why some initially gravitate towards her.

However, in future generations when people recall this artist and review her lyrics, backstory,

“You look at someone like Britney Spears who was chewed up, spit out, and over sexualized, then you look at somebody like Taylor Swift and how everybody comments on her dating life and what size her body is…she is really shining a light on some of that stuff and the toxicity in our cultures towards women. If there was something broader people should take away from her is how not to treat women and girls and how to parse feelings with nuance and tenderness,” said Sieckert.

Sophomore Rodrigo Dominguez, who personally doesn’t enjoy her music, said, “she really uplifts a lot of women, if you’re a woman listening to Taylor Swift for that is great but just listening to her cry over break-ups isn’t good.”

Ayalon continued, “even if you don’t like the music you can understand there’s true meaning behind it and it’s deep even if it doesn’t sound like it…you have to take the whole picture into account and realize how far she has come in what she’s accomplished.” Taylor Swift needs to be acknowledged for this new movement she has created that has allowed people to join and continue to build a world, to rebuild a society, where females are just as human as the rest.

Whatever Happened to High School Driver’s Ed?

BY NATE LITTELL

For sophomores at Campo eager to finally begin their journey to freedom behind the wheel, the process of getting one’s license has proven difficult. Unlike the Driver’s Ed classes from 40 years ago, high school students planning on hitting the roads face expensive online classes, behind the wheel instruction from outside of school, several visits to the DMV, and 50 hours of driving time documented by a parent. Gone are the days where you could conveniently sign up for a semester-long Driver’s Ed class as a sophomore alongside a semester of Health. Now, students must encounter numerous hurdles to juggle schoolwork, extracurriculars, and time dedicated to getting one’s license.

Back in 1990, California pulled funding that paid for high school driving courses in response to a decrease in people getting their licenses. The number of people under 19 with their license has since been on a subtle decline with about 40% who had their license in 2021 compared to 64% in 1996 (The Hill). Despite this steep drop in the amount of people getting their licenses, interest has still remained steady among Campo students. For freshman Clark Gregory, who plans on getting his permit next year, he’s most excited about “getting to drive to different places” since it “ gives you more independence.”

However, deterrents in seeking one’s license outside of school have made it more difficult for

teens to begin the process. Sophomore Sydney Han, who went through the process and now

has a license, explained: “I did have to find time to take the courses because you can’t really take them in school. So instead I had to take them after school all the time.” Sophomore Connor McLemore added that going to the DMV to take the permit test and then later the driver’s test “felt like a chore because we live far away from the DMV.”

Another factor which often stalls highschool students from getting their license is the cost of required online and in-person driving classes. According to Larry Cuban, a Professor of Education at Stanford, “Costs vary from $250 to $500 per person.” While driver’s classes were once free to students at public schools, nowadays expensive fees and numerous trips to the DMV plague what was once an unflawed system.

A further benefit to bringing back optional Driver’s Ed as a semester class for sophomores is not only its convenience, but also its effectiveness in producing safer drivers. McLemore explained that “the class I took wasn’t too good and I had to use separate resources to get useful information.” He added that if Campo were to implement classes for Driver’s Ed, “we’d have better drivers who actually know what they’re doing on the road and could drive more safely.”

Offering Driver’s Ed to the Campo student body could be a game changer for teens eager to gain a sense of freedom and independence with their licenses. With a high demand among Campo students, Driver’s Ed could eliminate the stress of navigating homework, extracurriculars, and driving courses from outside of school. But perhaps most importantly, high school Driver’s Ed would provide students with a more comprehensive education on the slight subtleties many drivers often neglect. Gregory explained, “I think high school Driver’s Ed would clear things up and make getting a license so much easier.”

The Dark Ages Of Third Quarter

BY DAISY PENNEY

It’s that time of the year again… the days are short and cold, spring break seems years away, and summer has become a distant memory. Third quarter fosters an unmotivating combination of too much work with no end in sight and not enough sunshine to make it all a little easier. The students of Campolindo have been struggling to stay afloat in these overwhelming weeks and at the root of the problem seems to be the clouds that shroud the sky.

Senior Molly Dougherty comments on how, “my productivity depends on if the sun’s out. I just don’t like to get outside and do stuff as much, especially when it’s cold.” Exercising is the number one medicine that every doctor will prescribe to a stressed out student. Nothing solves the overwhelming stress that comes with schoolwork more than getting outside and taking a minute to breathe in the fresh air. This remedy of exercise certainly sounds less appealing when rain is pelting down or wind is freezing off fingers and toes.

Senior Holden Anderson agrees with Dougherty explaining how, “[He’s] a lot less motivated because [he] would rather stay inside and be warm rather than go outside when it’s freezing, especially during the soccer season.” Where a student would usually take a study break or simply some much needed relaxation time in the outdoors has now been replaced by staying indoors. Anderson notes that, “when it’s colder

outside [he] stays inside and when it’s warmer and nicer I find myself more productive and motivated.” Within the embrace of summer and spring’s warm rays, getting outside comes effortlessly to students. The sunlight found in these seasons encourages students to release some of the tension that has been building since the days first started getting shorter back in November.

Too much of anything becomes a bad thing and that is exactly the case with these cold dark days. Quarter two is filled with a merry spirit that carries students through the days. It is always exciting to bundle up in a warm blanket and shelter from the cold for the first time. The changing leaves of the trees and crunchy piles that fall to the ground offer a welcome change from the pressing heat of the summer and late fall. But now, in quarter three, winter break with all of its festivities is over and all that is left is the short days and dreary weather. Here an explanation is found for the lack of motivation that not only accompanies exercise but also academic performance. Students are finding it harder than ever to focus on their ever growing to-do list without the breezy peace that the warmer months offer.

Senior Katie Feldman remarks on how, “I feel like there’s more work to do than ever and it’s hard to stay motivated because we don’t get many breaks.” Without a lapse in the workload that other quarters create, this penultimate section of the year provides stress that only get’s amplified when rain floods the hallways between

classes. Each quarter provides an equally challenging homework pile for students to worry about; however, cold weather and dark skies make what was already challenging that much more difficult.

The shorter days also offer less time where students feel motivated to work on their studies. Dougherty mentions that, “on days where we get out late [she] feels like there’s such a short time when the sun is out” which in turn, “affects [her] motivation because when it gets dark all [she] wants to do is stay in [her] bed where it’s warm.” If the sun shining equates to productivity then it is obvious why daylight savings has been giving students such a hard time.

Felman remembers how, “when [she] did soccer sometimes it was right after school so by the time [she] was finished it was already basically dark and it was really hard to get anything done.” If the sun held off on dipping behind the hills for at least an hour Feldman’s scenario would have been completely different. Every problem that these students are having seem to be stemming from one common factor: there is simply not enough sun.

Although the third quarter has been dragging on for the last two months there is no need to worry, sweatshirts will soon be replaced by sweaters and freezing wind will turn into a pleasant breeze. Spring is just around the corner and before Campolindo knows it, the beloved sun will shine on the cougars again.

LILY QIN/STAFF

YouTube Shorts Take Advantage of Teenage Brains

BY ALEX SHRAUGER

The teenage attention span has been rendered nonexistent since YouTube implemented short form content known as YouTube shorts during September of 2020. The addictive, TikTok-esque nature of YouTube shorts has captivated the overstimulated teenage demographic in a predatory manner, since this function cannot be disabled without purchasing YouTube premium.

The value of longer, more thought out content has been greatly diminished because of the ease of producing a popular YouTube short. Genres such as movie clips, kindness content, and short comedy sketches have proven to be a successful and convenient way of achieving monetary gain without the hassle of creating and editing longer, out-of-the-box content. Of course longer videos make greater profits per view, the ease of creating successful YouTube shorts allows for rapid monetary success ranging from 1 cent to 6 cents per view according to Abel Grunfeld of Riverside. fm. While this may seem like a small amount of money, it is certainly worthwhile for content creators to take advantage of this platform.

The issue with YouTube shorts is their addictive nature within the teenage community. According to senior Benjamin Young “[he] spends 60 to 90 minutes a day scrolling through shorts which is not time well spent.” In order to boost the likelihood of maintaining viewers’ attention,

many creators include a splitscreen of a movie clip combined with gameplay of a satisfying video to watch along with it. This further contributes to the decline of teenage attention span as it force feeds viewers with multiple stimuli without them being fully aware. Young noted that these videos “get a lot of likes. People must be captivated by splitscreen content.”

However some find these split screen videos to be very problematic. “It manipulates young viewers to consume content that is otherwise lazy and uninformative by taking advantage of weakened attention span,” according to senior Joseph Floyd. Floyd’s concerns are certainly valid as YouTube has allowed creators to degrade their content into pirating videos or clips with slight alterations while gaining millions of views. The only reason such content is successful is by implementing tricks such as split screening to captivate viewers and coax them into wasting time.

He further explained that the comment section on many of these videos “functions as an echo chamber for hateful people.” With many people expressing hateful, homophobic, and sexist beliefs in YouTube shorts comment sections, it’s easy to see that people with the same belief find comfort in communicating their hateful ideologies with others in the comments.

Others find Youtube short to be an addictive waste of time in hopes of putting off other work. “It’s pretty mind numbing,” noted senior Beck Murphy. “I find myself watching them

for hours everyday taking in one short after the other.” Promoting such robotic, aimless behavior among teens should not be on YouTube’s agenda. Worst of all, these shorts cannot be disabled without purchasing YouTube premium, making this addition a shameless marketing tool for the platform. Actively encouraging teens to waste their time scrolling is a predatory alteration to the application and is a detriment to teenagers in a world where procrastination has become the new normal.

The death of YouTube’s integrity is imminent with the continuous influx in YouTube shorts content and creators’ manipulation of viewers. It is important that we as the next generation stop setting the trend of poor attention spans and a complete inability to concentrate first and foremost by boycotting this poor content. Allowing for ourselves to be taken advantage of at the expense of our valuable time as young, productive people shouldn’t be a precedent that we set for the future. YouTube shorts are just one more way that companies take advantage of our lack of focus in an attempt to achieve mass financial success. The only way to rid ourselves of this content is to purchase YouTube premium, a price we shouldn’t have to pay for an opportunity to focus. For now, all that can be done is to stop consuming such content and use the extra time to enjoy our youth. Like most things, our young age cannot last forever. Let’s make sure we enjoy it to the very fullest.

A Need for Women in Autoshop

Automotive engineering, otherwise known as auto shop, is a class offered at Campo as an elective course. However, the lack of women in the class is evident.

This class teaches important skills about cars like how the car functions, how to fix a car, how to change out tires, and much more. As senior Hanna Birdsong said, “It’s one of the most important classes offered at Campolindo.”

Regrettably, the stigma surrounding this class encourages boys to take it but not girls. Due to the pressure some might feel and the fear of judgment, they miss out on the opportunity to take this class, due to it being a male-dominated course. There is a long standing belief that women are not suited for mechanical tasks or activities. Easton Fang offered his opinion when he said, “It’s not seen as a conventionally female industry that people would go to.”

BY ANJALI RAO SEBASTIAN WHITFIELD/

students how to work on cars in a fun, engaging way. Sophomore Wen-Hui Alford enthusiastically said, “Mr. Boone is amazing. He’s a good teacher. He’s super understanding and he’s really fun. He makes the class entertaining.“

Steve Boone teaches auto shop, and he is a teacher who is greatly appreciated by his students. By playing music and making the environment a safe space where everyone can learn about how their cars operate, he teaches the

More female students should choose auto shop as their elective because it teaches them how to work their cars. When they experience problems on the road they would know what to do because of this class. Not only does this class prepare people for potential disasters on the road, it prepares students for the future

and teaches them to live on their own. Knowing what to fix with your car can help you save time and money. Birdsong noted, “after only one semester I was able to identify problems with our family car, such as the need to replace our brake pads. I’ve also been able to replace the headlights myself and clean the air filter of my car, which definitely saved money.”

Both the subject matter and industry is male dominated. This is because the idea of women being in auto shops is not spoken about enough. In order for that to change, people normalize girls being involved. Alford said, “I think [inequality in the amount of women in this class] can change if people can speak up about autoshop and voice more on it, because it’s just very male dominated and it shouldn’t be. Women should know about cars especially if we’re going to be driving.”

While the surrounding stigma around girls taking autoshop has existed for a long time, there should be a change. People need to acknowledge and normalize the fact that everyone, despite their gender, is allowed to participate in any class. Moreover people should start supporting everyone in whatever choice they make even if it seems unconventional.

The Reclamation of Hyper-Femininity Has Gone Too Far

BY MOLLY STEPHENS

This past year, I spent more time scrolling through the disorienting realm of TikTok than I’d care to admit. Subconsciously, aspects of my personality began to revolve around internet culture, but I wasn’t giving much thought to the content I was consuming. Before long, my algorithm had been completely overtaken by media in support of the latest liberal feminist uprising: bimbocore.

If you’ve been living under a rock, you might not be familiar with the suffix -core as a frequent modifier to describe a type of lifestyle or aesthetic. Specifically, “bimbocore” celebrates hyperfemininity and all things we consider a part of the traditional female stereotype. It glamorizes the candy-pink, velveteen lifestyle that girly teenagers much like myself adore. I loved Greta Gerwig’s Barbie just as much as the next person, finding it exciting to bond with other girls over the difficulties of growing up in a complicated adult world.

There’s also definitely some merit in seemingly reclaiming a derogatory term like bimbo. For years, it was used solely to associate stupidity with femininity. It humiliated women who were assumed to have a lesser (or frankly nonexistent) capacity for knowledge. And unfortunately, that is what I believe the 21st century bimbo feminism has remained: largely anti-intellectual.

Though TikTok’s current bimbo community deems themselves ditzy but in a more endearing way, their rhetoric is still teaching women that undermining their own intelligence is somehow empowering. Creators go viral for explaining everything from Wall Street to geopolitical phe-

nomena in terminology that is “for the girls.” Essentially, these videos are just incredibly watered-down explanations of real-world issues that reinforce the patriarchal idea that women are inherently incapable of learning to the same extent and through the same mediums as men.

Not to mention, something as complex as conflict in the Middle East doesn’t deserve to be condensed into a brief, 45-second TikTok using an allegory to Mean Girls. Its tragic history is very real, and women shouldn’t be discouraged from understanding its full entirety. Bimbocore is infantilizing, and considering the mass amount of impressionable young girls on the app, worries me.

Now, I know this repurposed movement is probably well-meaning, but I can’t help but hear the words of Jo March ringing in my ears when I come across a dumbed-down video of an exceedingly important educational topic. Content creators profiting off videos that equate “for girls” with “for dummies” puts a bad taste in my mouth, and we need to be critical of what they’re truly reinforcing.

Like many trends, it had humble beginnings, and I admittedly overlooked much of the irony and hypocrisy. I also found many offshoot trends like “girl dinner” to be undeniably funny and relatable until I saw young women competing and celebrating those who ate the least. I shouldn’t have to say this, but unbalanced eating habits aren’t quirky, and they definitely shouldn’t be dismissed as normal “girl” behavior. I, for one, love saying “I’m just a girl” to excuse my own silly mistakes and inconveniences, but using it to normalize signs of eating disorders is a larger, much more dangerous issue.

In reality, I want to be treated as more than “just a girl,” and we need the leaders of bimbo feminism to reexamine the depth of the ideology they perpetuate under the guise of female empowerment. It doesn’t help that the endless, mind-numbing activity that is scrolling on TikTok doesn’t encourage viewers to take a closer look at seemingly harmless trends.

That being said, this current wave is setting us back. Young women absolutely have the power to master difficult material in a way that isn’t dumbed-down nor patronizing. If you take away anything from Legally Blonde, let it be that we can be girly while prioritizing our pursuit of knowledge and intellectual fulfillment. And luckily for us, helpful resources do exist, but you won’t find them in the bimbo niche of “feminist” TikTok.

Look Out For AP Art History!

BY BROOKE MAHER

What class at Campo incorporates multiple subjects, field trips, art projects, and baked goods? The answer: AP Art History. It’s an option for sophomores, juniors, and seniors but should be taken by everyone.

The class prepares sophomores for future APs, teaches critical learning skills, is applicable to your daily life, and is engaging.

According to Fiveable, “the critical thinking and the analytical, comparison, and argumentative skills used in AP Art History translate into a plethora of future college majors and professions. Occupations such as scientists, lawyers, economists, and engineers use such skills in their day-to-day work.” So, an AP about what is assumed to be just art will have lasting benefits.

Junior Gracie Walburg explained how she can apply APAH to her life, “It is interesting because now I can go to different landmarks and countries and notice little things about the art.”

Furthermore, the learning path of the class is straightforward. Students are required to learn the content, context, form, and function of 250 art pieces from 30,0000 BCE to present day. The art pieces range from paintings and sculptures to multimedia and photographs. The homework

includes notes, occasional group projects, or individual art projects.

Teacher Molly Kerr explained what makes AP Art History different from a regular history class: “It’s more cultural based in terms of you look at art sculpture and painting and artifacts through a cultural lens. It’s like an artifact that brings us to a time and place to understand that civilization.”

The origins of APAH at Campo are pretty unique. Kerr reminisced on why she teaches the class in the first place: “I love the course. And it was students that brought it to Campo and lobbied for it to be taught and it’s the only course that Campo offers that was brought about by student advocacy.”

After finishing APAH, people were content with the class for many reasons. Walburg recalled “My favorite part of AP Art History was Mrs. Kerr. She did a really good job incorporating fun activities such as art projects into the curriculum that helped us learn.” Projects included a Renaissance film, a recreation of an art piece, and food made to mimic a work.

When asked why she enjoyed teaching AP Art History, Kerr responded “I like going on a journey with students to explore the world through art and architecture.”

For many, APAH is their first College Board test. But, it is the best AP test for first-timers. Being familiar with information about each artwork prepares students for the 80-question multiple choice and 6 essays. Teacher Molly Kerr works hard throughout the year so students feel comfortable and ready for the AP test.

Even though there are many AP options available at Campo, art history should be taken by everyone. The class is unlike any other history class but still provides a plethora of information that informs students about civilizations and places around the world. Students gain knowledge from many different fields while still being entertained.

Senior Lexie Tucker compared her experience in AP Euro (another popular choice for sophomores) to her current experience in AP Art History, “I feel like in comparison to other APs the work is more fun and it is more creative and less homework dense.”

Whether you’re a freshman deciding between classes for your sophomore year or a junior wanting to squeeze in another AP, AP Art History should be at the top of your list. The diverse class has an engaging curriculum and a passionate teacher that guarantee to make you excited for school.

KATIE WELCH/STAFF

Sports Drop to D4 After NCS Proposal Gets Approved

BY HARRISON FULLER

Campo sports in 2024 are going to look much different than they have for the past 10 years.

This is because a governing body of Northern California’s high school sports, the North Coast Section (NCS), has approved a proposal for the way playoffs are contested.

The proposal was approved on January 26, 2024.

Head football coach Kevin Macy called the new system a “step forward.” Macy has been one of the loudest critics of the old system, which was put in place in 2013 and was called ‘competitive equity’.

The goal of that system was to pit the top teams in the section against one another. It started with teams being put into divisions based on enrollment number, but as the years went on, teams were moved up or down in divisions based on how they performed. After a while, enrollment numbers became irrelevant and it became based on winning and losing. In the playoffs, Campo’s football team, for example, found itself playing schools that were many times its size, which Coach Macy felt was unfair.

This new system will change the way teams are put into divisions. Teams will be put into a ‘base division’ corresponding to the school’s enrollment numbers before the season starts. Then, come time for playoffs, NCS would look at MaxPreps’ rankings to determine seeding. In terms of football, the top 8 teams in those rankings would be put into the ‘Open Division’. However, any team outside of the top 8 cannot

be moved more than 2 divisions up or down from the base division that they were put in.

Division 1, which was the division that Campo competed in for football this past year, will now only hold teams that have more than 2,300 students at their school. Because Campo is a relatively small school, with around 1,300 students, they will be put in Division 4 as their base division for next season. Division 4 will only be for schools with 1,243-1,489 students.

Junior quarterback Max Robeson likes the idea of competing at the Division 4 level next year, rather than being in D1. He says that “it just makes more sense.” Robeson added that this new system gives him more hope for a deeper playoff run for the Cougars next year.

There is still a possibility that Campo could compete in Division 1, however. If the Cougars find themselves ranked in the top 8 teams in NCS at the end of season, they would be in the same playoff bracket as De La Salle and Pittsburg, something they had to endure this past season. But, as long as Campo is ranked 9th or below, the highest possible division they could be moved up to for the playoffs would be Division 2.

Some coaches at Campo, like head baseball coach Julian Fiammengo, think that the new system will give their teams a “chance to compete.” Fiammengo wasn’t as opposed to the old system as Macy was. “I thought that the divisions and the brackets were broken up fairly well,” he said. “I didn’t think anything was wrong with what was going on, but I understand why they were

trying to make changes.”

Campo’s teams will all be affected differently. For example, girls volleyball will move from D2 down to D3. Girls water polo, who won the Division 1 Norcal Championships last year, will move down to D2. Boys basketball, who were last year’s Division 2 NCS Champs, will move down to D3. Boys water polo and lacrosse will remain in their current divisions. Baseball will be in D3.

Girls Basketball Victorious On Senior Night

BY ERIN MCDONALD

On January 31, Campolindo girls varsity basketball beat Ygnacio Valley High School with a final score of 62-43. Prior to the game, however, the team celebrated their soon departing seniors with a ceremony that highlighted each senior’s accomplishments throughout their Campo Athletics journey.

Senior night is an extremely valued tradition at Campo that allows athletes and their families to pay tribute to their high school sports career before the last home game of the team’s league season. The ceremony includes the senior athlete’s numerous achievements being announced, along with any future plans that the athlete has regarding their sport. The senior’s family is able to come join them during this time so they can celebrate their child’s accomplishments together.

The three seniors celebrated were guard Sophie Lederle, center Laurel Tringe, and captain post Julia Erickson-King. A shared favorite moment of the night between the three was “when we got to walk out with our parents, specifically walking through the tunnel of my teammates and getting to see all of them because these are the people who I have spent my whole basketball career with,” said Erickson-King.

Before this season, the team was challenged with adapting to an entire new coaching staff. While this may seem like an unprecedented change, it was necessary in order to maintain the integrity of the team. Lederle explained, “[With the previous coaches] a lot of people didn’t want to play the sport anymore. They didn’t even want to play Campo basketball.” However, the new coaching staff and seniors on the team helped

rebuild the team this year and “brought that energy back so people want to join the team and enjoy playing basketball,” Lederle said.

The energy was apparent in the atmosphere before, during, and after this important game. The fact that it was senior night also affected the team’s mentality, making them “really excited. But the goal was ultimately just to have fun and have a good time,” said Tringe.

The team has bonded on and off the court, creating deep connections that allow them to do well but also have a good time. These bonding moments have been some of the team’s favorite times together. “My favorite moments are always just after games when we hang out and get food together. I also really liked before practice when everyone was calm and when we talked and got ready,” explained Erickson-King. With their season soon over, the juniors are beginning to have to step up and prepare to overtake these leadership positions. The seniors have full confidence in them, however, and just hope the team “keeps doing what they’re doing,” said Tringe.

KATIE WELCH/STAFF

MATTHEW VONDERBRINK/STAFF

Campolindo Athletic Boosters: The Engine Of Campo Sports

BY NATE LITTELL

Once a simple fragment of the Campolindo Parents Club which contributes funding to a variety of programs, the Athletic Boosters operated as a low-level provider to yearly projects involving old equipment and worn out facilities. But as parent involvement and interest in Campolindo Athletics has grown over the years, the Campolindo Athletic Boosters Club has evolved into a force of advocating for equity and access amongst the variety of sports programs offered at Campo. With changes to the weight room to provide equipment more necessary to female athletes as well as increased funding in developing sports like Girls Softball and Flag Football, the club has helped define the next era of Athletics at Campolindo towards inclusivity and opportunity.

Athletic Director Ray Meadows testified his gratitude for the Athletic Boosters who’ve participated in numerous ventures from aiding coaches with skill-based workshops, to funding streaming efforts through the NFHS network. “They help get our athletes cleared for physicals as part of a fundraiser each year. They help facilitate projects for various sports teams by organizing field prep days. They helped fund and organize renovating the old storage shed up at the stadium into a team room for soccer and lacrosse teams. And they even started a Broadcasting Club for students.”

This year, the Athletic Boosters have made it

their mission to focus on promoting the health, safety and wellness of student athletes. Meadows explained, “we will be deploying First Aid Stations in eight locations across the Campus stocked with emergency first aid supplies so that it’s readily accessible during games”. He added that new initiatives to support underrepresented athletes have also been introduced with the Female Strength and Conditioning Program. “We started [the program] last year because we noticed that our weight room was used primarily by our male student athletes outside of PE classes. So one of the things we wanted to do was allow for more opportunities by allowing our female students access as well as a strength coach to work specifically with the female students who attend.”

President of the Athletic Boosters Club Bob Sofman was one of the original founders of the organization back in 2020. And while their initial goals were altered due to the Covid-19 pandemic, since then the club has emerged as a powerful figure in fundraising in particular. “Over the past three to four years, we have grown significantly. We now have over 350 Athletic Boosters Members and raise well over $100,000. As importantly, we help engage the larger parent community in volunteer activities in support of our athletic program.”

And the money has not gone to waste with giant changes made to help further the level

of competition and credibility of the Campolindo Athletic program. Meadows explained that the Boosters have funded the score table in the gym used to operate the clock during basketball games, aesthetic upgrades to the softball field including new turf and upgrades to the batting cage, new water polo goals and equipment, as well as the giant blow-up balloon arch used at athletic events like signing days. But despite the long list of changes, both Softman and Meadows emphasized the importance of the Athletic Boosters in unifying the athletic program to foster community.

One new tradition focussed on community that the Boosters introduced last year was the annual Crab Feed Celebration for parents of Campo students and athletes. Sofman described the event as “a fun evening of great food, music and socializing. While our primary goal for the Crab Feed is to provide an opportunity for the larger community to come together, we also want to use this event to recognize some of the coaches, staff and parents who have gone above and beyond in support of Campo athletics.” Meadows added that “the mission is not primarily to raise money but to build community amongst all of our different sports teams and coaches.”

From extensive fundraising to compete at the level that Campolindo has long achieved, to community building activities set across all sports teams, the Athletic Boosters Club has introduced a new age of programming to athletes and coaches.

Distance vs. Sprints: Feud or Friendship

BY DAISY PENNEY

Track and field: the only sport comprising 16 different events, each one set up with specialized training to best benefit its athletes. Within those 16 events, it’s easy to distinguish the differences between distance based competition versus the sprints. The Campolindo Track and Field season began on February 5th and from then until May, the sprinters and distance athletes must share the red oval for their training. While the distance athletes are running seemingly endless laps around the track, the sprinters can be found perfecting technique and strength in their shorter blasts down the home stretch. Common stereotypes arise for both sprinters and distance runners, highlighting the contrast between each and sparking friendship… or feud.

Junior Sidd Iyer, a third year distance runner, shared why he chose distance over sprinting, saying “I already did cross country so I figured I would be better at distance since I’ve already been trained for longer distances.”

Clearly, Iyer chose distance because of the training, assuming that it would come easier for him but the reason he continued to put up with the endless miles was not simply because he was good at it. Long distances seem to form a special type of bond that can only be made through a grueling long run or hill workout. Iyer said that sprinters likely wouldn’t relate to the “deep conversations shared during long runs,’’ which builds a “really close community.” Iyers comments how distance fosters a community that the sprinters will never fully understand, one of the reasons you rarely see sprinters spending time with the distance athletes before or after practice. On the contrary, sprinters have a different point of view. Senior Kyle Fossen said he chose sprinting because “it’s more fun. You get to go faster. It’s not as painful. It’s more exciting.”

Therefore, any feelings of envy regarding the brevity of sprinting workouts may not be justified, as athletes have the agency to select their preferred training approach.

Fossen expressed his perspective on distance workouts, describing them as “pretty terrible” due to their extended duration, including longer warm-ups, workouts, cooldowns, and races compared to sprinting. He indicated a lack of interest in trying distance running, suggesting that distance athletes subject themselves to increasing levels of pain daily until they either persevere or quit. Fossen pondered whether distance runners might become accustomed to this pain to the point where it negatively affects their lives. His remarks convey not anger or envy but rather

about the most difficult race to some extent, but at the same time, hearing the sprinters complain is the last thing they want to hear.

Both athletes, Iyer and Fossen, share the stereotypes prevalent within their respective sports. Iyer shares his opinion about sprinters having “bigger legs” and “always seem to be complaining about anything longer than a 200m race.” On the other hand, Fossen’s had an opposite opinion, saying the distance runners are often “skinny” and “love to hurt themselves for some reason by their workouts that seem to last for hours.” Additionally, Fossen’s mention of the stereotype of sprinters being perceived as “lazy” shows the misconceptions that can exist between each event. These stereotypes influence perceptions and interactions within the running community.

a sense of curiosity and questioning regarding the motivations of distance athletes. From his viewpoint as a sprinter, the idea of opting for longer distances seems perplexing when shorter distances offer a place on the team without the same level of suffering. While sprinters may struggle to comprehend the endurance required in distance running, they should recognize that the training demands differ between disciplines, and each athlete chooses their path based on personal preferences and goals.

Another sprinter, senior Natalie Falsafi, provided insights into her preference for sprinting, citing the exhilarating sensation it offers and the versatility it provides with events like hurdling. She expressed frustration over the misconception that sprinting is easier, highlighting the demanding nature of both sprinting and hurdling. Falsafi pointed out the unique challenges of the 300m hurdles, emphasizing its blend of endurance and speed.

When discussing each other’s sports, Iyer observed that sprinting sessions appear to be brief, typically involving warm-up followed by a few sprints before concluding. This observation hints at a potential contrast with the longer and more repetitive nature of distance workouts, which are often perceived as tedious. However, it’s important to note that participation in these workouts is voluntary, and athletes like Iyer have the freedom to choose their training regimen.

Surprising Fossen, Iyer further shared that his favorite is the “3200m because it’s what we train for as distance runners.” Sprinters can not seem to fathom the idea of racing 8 laps around the track, especially when their races only last a quarter to half a lap. Iyer said that he thinks the hardest event is “either the 100m or the 300m hurdles”, because the sprinters always look like they’re “struggling at the end.” Following the allegations, Fossen, on the other hand, said his favorite event is the 100m because “it’s over really fast and you’re never tired after so you can actually celebrate.” He thinks that the hardest event is the 400m because “it’s not even fun or rewarding because you’re just so exhausted after.” Distance runners agree with Fossen’s claim

Sophomore Emily Koehler’s love for distance running is rooted in the unique experience it offers her. She explains how, “it gives me time to get into pace and it’s not as quick.” Unlike the abrupt intensity of sprinting, distance running allows her to immerse herself in the rhythm of her strides, gradually settling into a pace that feels natural and sustainable. This gradual buildup not only provides physical comfort but also a mental space to focus and find her flow on the track.

In the end, when asked whether it’s feud or friendship, it transcends both. It’s a mutual understanding born out of respect. Within the shared space of the track, where every stride echoes dedication and every sprint reflects determination, the lines blur between sprinters and distance runners. They may jest about each other’s training regimens and poke fun at stereotypes, but beneath it all lies a deep appreciation for the commitment and passion each athlete brings to their craft.

PHOTOS BY ABIGAIL BUCKLEY/PARENT AND JENNIFER KOZIEL/PARENT EDITED BY HARRISON FULLER/STAFF

BY KATIE WELCH (SHE/HER)