the Epic, Volume 58, Issue 7, May 8, 2023

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Volume 2023 Volume58 58Issue Issue76||May April8,10, 2023

Lynbrook High School, 1280 Johnson Ave., San Jose, CA 95129

lost in translation.

Watch your tone! pg. 7 ASL education bridges communication between students pg. 7 Many languages may be speaking their last words pg. 8

GRAPHIC IL

Bilingual or bye-lingual? pg. 9

LUSTRATIO

Words aren’t enough: exploring limits of translation pg. 9 WTF?! The origins of swear words pg. 10 How slang and emojis have slid into your DMs pg. 10

N BY AMY

LIU

NEWS

02 the Epic

PHOTO BY NICOLE GE

Letter from the Editors Dear Vikings, Welcome to Issue 7! Our centerspread surrounding languages delves into topics ranging from meaning that’s lost in translation to the application of swear words in daily conversation.

Don’t forget about our usual coverage, either! In News, travel to Japan with the Japan Bowl team; in Opinion, delve into what it means to be “woke”; in Features, meet four of Lynbrook’s budding YouTubers; in In-Depth, learn about the politicization and history of drag; and in Sports, break school track records with senior Evan Taylor. Make sure to visit our website for exclusive content, including behind-the-scenes coverage of the InDesign fashion show and a video about students’ favorite song lyrics.

During spring break, 22 Epic staffers traveled to San Francisco for the annual JEA/NSPA Journalism convention. Six staffers won individual awards and the Epic took home a prestigious second place among scholastic publications from across the nation.

Get excited for Issue 8, our final issue of the year dedicated to the Class of 2023! Our seniors will be writing columns reflecting on their high school experiences. If you’re an underclassman, look forward to celebrating the Class of 2023’s senior bequeathals!

Good luck on your APs, Elizabeth Cheng & Amy Liu Editors-in-Chief

PHOTO BY CATHERINE ZHOU

City to improve Lynbrook pedestrian safety

BY AUDREY SUN

T

o improve pedestrian safety and reduce traffic speed, the City of San Jose is proactively taking measures to add bulb-outs, or curb extensions, to the sidewalks at the intersection of Donington Drive and Johnson Avenue just outside the Lynbrook main entrance. Through the work of San Jose Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei’s office and the Department of Transportation, the city also plans to create a safety plan for all public and private schools in San Jose.

“Lynbrook is an area where we have gotten community concerns about traffic and how fast the cars are going,” San Jose Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei said.

The T-intersection of Donington and Johnson experiences heavy traffic during student drop-off and pick-up times, rendering it a hazardous area for bikers and pedestrians. These bulb-outs will narrow the road to force drivers to slow down, increasing pedestrian safety by offering a buffer area from cars. Bulb-outs are just one of the many features that the city has implemented in the community to ensure pedestrian safety.

“I think the addition of bulb-outs will

be helpful to students who walk to school because it will provide more room on the sidewalk, which will make it safer for us,” junior Cyrus Wong said.

To establish safer speed limits for pedestrians and bikers, DOT has employed a dedicated consultant to update engineering and conduct traffic surveys to reevaluate what should be the appropriate speed limits around school campuses. The city sources its data by sending out surveys to school principals, which allows them to identify specific issues related to each school and understand the needs and concerns surrounding its facilities.

“We’re locating areas around schools to see if there have been incidents with pedestrian crashes or if cars are driving faster than speed limits,” Kamei said.

Lynbrook is in an area which has received particularly numerous community concerns about the speed of traffic. A report of a student that was hit by a car during the 2021-22 school year was also a spark for the city to take the safety of student pedestrians more seriously. Due to this incident, DOT has planned to lower the speed limit near Lynbrook’s main entrance on Johnson

Avenue to 30 mph, but are awaiting the outcome of the study to make a final decision.

“Slowing down the speed limit will help to a degree, but people should be driving closer to a 25 mph limit any time they are close to schools that are in session,” Lynbrook crossing guard Tim Wehner said. “It might help community members, both elderly folks and younger children, who may cross further up Johnson towards Bollinger, which is great.”

In addition to the new safety measures the city is taking, Wehner suggests that drivers and pedestrians know the rules of the road as well as practice patience when the rush is on. Earbuds and phones are an unnecessary distraction for the 90 seconds or so it may take to cross any busy intersection.

“The risk-reward between a tardy and someone being severely injured is not worth taking,” Wehner said. “Parents can consider leaving the house earlier, and perhaps dropping off their student a few blocks away from the school, which could alleviate congestion.”

In June, DOT is expected to finish developing a school safety work plan with data from public and private schools.

Juul pays its largest settlement over minor-directed advertising training on it from the staff level, so we knew what to be looking for and what was n April 12, California announced happening,” Assistant Principal of School that they would receive the largest Climate Tara Grande said.

In 2019, an FDA investigation found settlement a state has ever received from Juul Labs. The company settled with that Juul was selling its products without six states, amounting to $462 million appropriate authorization and implied that paid for advertising its e-cigarettes to their products contained less tobacco than audiences under 21 years prior to its they did. Additional criticism and lawsuits company-wide reset in 2019, in which the from states over various issues resulted company redefined its ethics after in Juul taking on a change in leadership.

Under new CEO K.C. criticism.

Crosthwaite, Juul “By using pledged to earn the advertising and trust of the community marketing strategies and rebuild to lure young people relationships with to its products, million paid by Juul for public-health officials Juul put the health advertising its e-cigarettes and policy-makers, and safety of its to underage audiences of with its primary goal vulnerable targets less than 21 years of preventing the use and the California of e-cigarettes among public at risk,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said underage users redefining the brand.

“I felt that the company and the to the Mercury News. “Today’s settlement holds Juul accountable for its actions category, quite frankly, needed a reset and puts a stop to its harmful business given the trajectory that we were on,” Crosthwaite said to Bloomberg. “There was practices.”

Since 2019, Juul has settled with 47 states clearly erosion of trust that existed for our over 5,000 lawsuits, amounting to a total of company and for the category.”

While Juul never explicitly advertised nearly $3 billion. In its latest settlement, attorneys general from California, Colorado, to underage users, their products came Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico and in sweet flavors which appealed to the Washington D.C. received compensation age group; they used young models and for lawsuits in their individual states, with celebrity influencers in their ad campaigns; California receiving the largest sum of hosted launch parties for products and gave $175.8 million. California plans to put the free samples to underage users at events.

“I’m sure that advertising from vape money toward education and prevention of companies affects the number of students e-cigarette use as well as research.

Launched in 2017, Juul quickly found who vape, I mean, that’s why they do it: to itself at the center of a teen vaping epidemic hook kids young,” Grande said. “That’s why as its flavored e-cigarettes rapidly rose in there are so many anti-vaping, anti-smoking popularity among minors, even making its commercials directed toward youth: they know that that’s what’s happening.” way to Lynbrook.

One Juul pod, the cartridge containing “That was when we started doing some education around it and having more the flavored liquid, contains as much

BY SAMYUKTA SARMA

O

$462

nicotine as a pack of 20 cigarettes. Prior to a lawsuit from the state of New York in 2019, it was not disclosed on the packaging of Juul products or on its website that their products contain nicotine, nor did Juul define nicotine as an extremely addictive chemical derived from tobacco. A warning about nicotine is now disclosed on the packaging of Juul products and on the website, with an age-verification pop-up when browsing products as well.

During its 2019 reset, Juul stopped all advertising in the U.S. and has yet to restart it. Additionally, Juul has discontinued all sweet flavors of its vape pens after backlash arguing that these flavors specifically appeal to underage users. The FDA is currently in the process of reviewing Juul after banning their products in 2022 after it alleged that Juul did not provide sufficient data in toxicology reports. While Juul’s products have reentered store shelves, the only flavors available for purchase are menthol and Virginia tobacco.

According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey, underage use of Juul products has declined by 95% since 2019. However, lawsuits from that era in Juul’s history continue to cost the company billions of dollars. Juul’s leadership has said that it continues to pay these settlements in order to atone for the company’s problematic past and show the public its commitment to transparency going forward.

“With this settlement, we are nearing total resolution of the company’s historical legal challenges and securing certainty for our future,” Juul said in a statement released on April 12. “Now we are positioned to dedicate even greater focus on our path forward to maximize the value and impact of our product technology and scientific foundation.”

Although the use of Juul among

PHOTO BY INAAYA YOUSUF, GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY INAAYA YOUSUF AND VIDUSHI UPADHYAY

underage users has plummeted, underage accessibility to vaping has not halted.

Alternative brands, such as Puff Bar, are on the rise. In the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey, 14% of high school students and 3% of middle school students reported current use of e-cigarettes, with Puff Bar being the most popular brand.

“Whenever new products come on the market and we start seeing our kids be interested in them, we want to take action to do education and prevent it,” Grande said.

Of those who reported e-cigarettes use, 85% reported using flavored e-cigarettes, most commonly fruit-flavored, followed by candy and other sweet flavors, largely reflecting the legacy of Juul. While no amount of money can undo Juul’s actions prior to 2019, this settlement will contribute to the California government’s efforts to combat underage vaping.

May 8, 2023

NEWS

03

"Magical language" captivates sophmores

BY CALVIN ZHOU

O

Scan to read the full story

n May 3, San Jose-born poet and author E.J. Koh spoke with Lynbrook World Literature students, who listened intently as they learned of the struggles and triumphs Koh experienced while caught between his two cultures. Based on her experiences as a second-generation Asian American, Koh wrote “The Magical Language of Others,” a memoir filled with raw and emotional storytelling that delves deep into the complexities of family relationships, cultural identity and power of language.

The book, newly introduced this year to diversify the World Literature curriculum, gave students a glimpse into a unique, yet relatable story.

“The book is a refreshing change from the others we read this year because of how relatable it is,” sophomore Brian Kao said. “Although we aren’t exactly the same, I felt like she told a story that I endured and experienced.”

Koh’s memoir takes readers on a journey through her teenage years when she lived in Davis, California with only her older brother after her parents moved to Seoul, Korea for her father’s career.

Feeling a deep sense of abandonment,

oh struggled to find her identity and sense with Koh’s memoir. of belonging, unwilling to forgive her mother “It was just great to have what I felt for leaving. The memoir weaves together were both familiar and unfamiliar Asian letters that her mother wrote to her in experiences represented,” Chen said. “I Korean, stories of her ancestors and Koh's appreciate that it helped my students — a own experiences discovering who she is. lot of them being from an Asian American “There are some parts of it that some background — have some really great L y n b r o o k conversations students may about the ways not connect to that we receive at all, like her or don't receive parents living in a love from our different country i m m i g ra n t for a majority parents.” of her life,” The teachers sophomore Arnav loved the book Singhal said. “But and felt it the story of an reflected the Asian protagonist diverse student who has struggled experiences on with her parental campus as it relationships is explores themes very relatable to of cultural identity many of us.” and family Although relationships, this is the first which many year that “The s t u d e n t s PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM E.J.KOH Magical Language grapple with.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY APURVA KRISHNAMURTHY of Others” is Many students being taught Author E.J. Koh explores themes of cultural identity with e x p r e s s e d in Lynbrook’s Lynbrook students during her virtual author visit. comfort in curriculum, Cupertino High School taught being able to resonate with the memoir’s the book in the 2021-22 school year. In 2020, perspective on these issues. the district’s World Literature teachers “It is one of the only AAPI texts that we were looking to add diversity to the largely would get the chance to read throughout eurocentric English curriculum. When “The our whole high school career,” sophomore Magical Language of Others” was published Sophie Mak said. “It's an important book in January of that year, Cupertino World to me because it shows how life truly is for Literature teacher Lynn Chen, who knew Asian Americans in America.”

Koh personally, suggested taking a more modernized approach to AAPI literature Scan QR code to continue reading.

Conquering the 31st Japan Bowl if they don’t know something,” Kitchen said.

Immediately after passing the tryouts n the 31st annual National Japan Bowl to create Lynbrook’s teams in October, the Championships on April 13 and 14, competing students immersed themselves in Lynbrook won second place in every Japanese studies for more than six months. competition level, surpassing nearly 200 They met multiple times each week with students from 19 high schools across the their mentor, senior Benjamin Chang, for U.S. After being quizzed on numerous student-led study sessions. As a Japan Bowl topics from Japanese history to manga, competitor for the past three years and ynbrook s teams have placed in the top five part of the first-place level four team last of all three levels for the second year in a row. year, Chang used his experience to help To compete, students must not be native motivate and prepare this year’s teams.

Japanese-speakers or speak the language The first year I competed was during at home. Teams of two or three students the COVID-19 quarantine, so there was a are placed in levels two, three or four/ point when we hit rock bottom — where AP in accordance with the course level in everyone’s motivation, including Kitchen which they are Sensei’s, was really enrolled at school. low,” Chang said.

In the first “During that point, round, students an upperclassman answer trivia showed a lot of questions and are dedication even tested on accuracy. though everyone The second round was ‘dead.’ That adds the factor motivated me, and of speed, as the PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM JEREMY KITCHEN I wanted to become top three teams Level four champions will go on a "Champions' Trip" a mentor to act as face individual to Japan paid for by the Bowl's organization and the a role model too.” grammar questions Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Kakehashi program.

Lynbrook’s and a team teams attribute speed round. Because the questions much of their success to their selfdraw from a broad range of content, they accountability and passion for Japanese can be unpredictable and challenging. learning.

Looking forward to the “It’s hard when you repeatedly come Bowl next year, they plan to further across questions you don’t know and feel develop their skills and maintain the like ‘We’re not going to make it, we don’t work ethic of this year’s competitors. know enough,’” Japanese teacher Jeremy “I think the reason we were so successful Kitchen said. “Especially since our team is because we have a lot of passion for the studies throughout the whole year, it’s a culture and we work really hard toward really emotionally taxing competition.” winning,” senior Saahil Gupta said, who But in Kitchen’s experience, if a team competed on the level four/AP team. answers about 80% of the questions correctly, Cupertino High also placed in the top it is likely that they will make it to the second three for all three levels, making the moment round. He advises his teams to trust their event more special as Lynbrook’s teams gut feeling when answering questions. stood on stage with a fellow FUHSD school “The major piece of advice I give them “It’s a wonderful thing to see the top is to just trust the work that they put into places go to Lynbrook and Cupertino,” studying and know that some of it is luck at Kitchen said. “There’s a friendly rivalry the end of the day, in terms of what questions but it was really fun to see both of our are asked, so not to be hard on themselves programs shine on a national stage.”

BY CHELSEA LEE

I

Upcoming Viking Events 41st Annual FUHSD Art Show, May 1-23 Admire pieces of art created by FUHSD students in the district office lobby.

Senior Prom, May 12 Seniors will have their “Happily Ever After” at the Corinthian Grand Ballroom.

Senior Athlete Signing Day, May 15 Recruited athletes will be honored before continuing their athletic career in college.

Pops Concert, May 18 The music department, Viking Vocalists, and members of the Senior Skit will perform in the auditorium.

Indesign Fashion Show, May 19 Peer into “Pandora’s Box” with Lynbrook Indesign at the quad at lunch.

Campus Wellness Week, May 22-26 Students can have a furry therapy session with dogs and receive freebies.

No School Memorial Day, May 29

By Nicole Ge, Inaaya Yousef and Apurva Krishnamurthy.

Photo by Nicole Ge.

OPINION

04 the Epic

Bomb threat or not, emergency drills are no laughing matter

O

n the morning of April 11, Lynbrook that it was anything faculty identified a potential other than ‘business bomb threat that resulted in the as usual’ when the cancellation of the rest of the school day drill started.” and forced numerous students to leave Despite the their belongings in locked classrooms. potential for Despite being unaware of the full scope of students and staff the situation, students and staff exhibited to become desensitized, the drills’ repetitive exemplary behavior in evacuating in an and consistent nature has also been able to orderly and timely fashion. In the future, establish a standard for students’ conduct students should continue to stay alert during an emergency and played an and avoid becoming desensitized by important role in maintaining the organized emergency drills. While Lynbrook is in behavior of students and staff in response to an area where such emergency situations the bomb threat. rarely occur, being “ L y n b r o o k prepared and students and staff knowing how to are very thoughtful react swiftly and and responsive to calmly can make all instructions,” Assistant The fact that we conduct the difference in the Principal Tara Grande drills regularly makes event of an actual said. “The fact that we the students more emergency. conduct drills regularly comfortable with the Residing in a makes the students evacuation process. relatively peacful more comfortable with c o m m u n i t y, the evacuation process, Tara Grande, students may feel and they know where Assistant Principal that many of the to go and what to do in crimes, tragedies such situations.” and destructive While the behavior weather events of students during broadcasted on the evening news, exist emergency drills and especially the bomb only on television. threat, has been commendable, some chose “Sometimes, these threats and drills to cope with the boredom of the drill by are hard to take seriously because nothing socializing with friends or playing games really crazy happens at Lynbrook,” junior on the field. owever, there is a time and Nimalan Elanchelvan said. place for students to express humor or have Even with little information about fun with their friends; emergencies or drills the situation, it is essential for students can be a complicated place to do so. While to approach emergency protocols in waiting for extended periods during lengthy a serious manner. Although repeated drills with no clear and present danger drills can seem tedious and disruptive to or no indication from the faculty to academics, these drills serve as vital tools the contrary, some degree of in preparing students for real emergency playfulness is expected, but situations. students should remain “You need the drills, but at the same vigilant and prepared to time, doing the drills can desensitize you respond appropriately to to the seriousness when you actually potential emergencies. have a real situation,” computer science “I think it’s okay if people teacher Brad Fulk said. “If you can’t are having fun and messing identify the difference, which around because it is even the staff had a hard time just a distinguishing, since it was the fourth alarm in a month, none of us knew

way to pass the time,” sophomore Mahati Ramakrishnan said.

“But if we get an update that shows the severity of the situation, people shouldn’t be running around, and faculty should know where all the students are.”

As outlined in the California ducation Code, schools are required to conduct several different types of emergency drills throughout the year. igh schools are required to conduct at least one fire drill per semester, whereas earthquake drills only have to be administered once in an academic year. The only drill not required to be conducted during the school year is Run, ide, Defend drill. School administration was unable to conduct such a drill this year, but is planning to hold one next year.

“A lot of the drills are mandated by the education code and required by the state,” Grande said. “Then, the planning and execution of safety measures are done school by school based on what works best for each school. The safety committee assists in planning, and the administrative team is heavily involved in t h e process.”

While it is easy to

Staff Editorial The Voice of the Epic

become complacent in a community that seems immune to emergencies, it is crucial for students to remain prepared and vigilant, and to continue to take emergency drills seriously. By doing so, they can help ensure the safety of themselves and those around them in the event of an emergency.

“We always strive to improve our safety drills, and I appreciate the cooperation and feedback we receive from our students and staff,” Grande said. “We have a safety committee, and any students interested in joining can contact me to participate in planning and provide a student perspective on safety measures.” the Epic voted 32-0 in favor of this stance with 8 abstaining.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ANUSHKA ANAND AND LILLY WU

BY VALERIE SHU// IN MY OPINION

Finding my calling as a camp counselor

L

ightning split the crimson sky as I aimed my flashlight into the gloomy dusk, surrounded by the chaotic voices of my campers while raindrops filled the air. Carrying heavy backpacking gear and half a week’s experience as a camp counselor, I scanned the storm approaching the mountainside during our first overnight hike with terror. The darkness made my campers blend in, but by now I could do a head count in my sleep. I took a shaky breath to calm my nerves before lifting my voice and taking the first steps down the rocky trail. “Follow me!” ver since oining White Stag Camp one summer as a shy middle schooler, I had dreamed of becoming a camp counselor. Despite never having pitched a tent in my life, I was enthralled by the spirited traditions, co y campfires, starry

night skies — and most of all, the people. As a scout-style outdoor and leadership camp, White Stag introduced me not only to invaluable skills, but also to a tight-knit community of volunteers dedicated to the same goals. Almost entirely youth-led, the camp’s teams of youth staff were amazingly knowledgeable and confident, inspiring me to one day be like them. Even so, it took me four years to work up the courage to join the staff at the beginning of 9th grade. I worked alongside a team of staffers to plan the camp’s logistics and schedules, while building skills to lead the groups of 10 to 13-year-old campers for the coming summer. owever, nothing could have prepared me for my first day, where I was given an abrupt introduction to the complexities of managing a group of kids with a wide range of backgrounds and personalities. I soon discovered that my new campers’ favorite activities seemed to be either complaining, resisting my directions or squabbling among themselves. Most of all, nothing could have prepared me for the assignment fluke that made shy, quiet Julie the lone girl in my group of rambunctious boys.

While I was eager to show my campers what White Stag had to offer, it seemed like the first few days were wasted mediating quarrels or coaxing reluctant kids into participating. During lessons, their attention seemed to fall through my hands like water. The doubts that had held me back from joining the staff returned to plague me as I lay exhausted, staring at the ceiling of my tent at night.

I felt like I was failing kids like Julie, who were eager to learn but had to endure conflicts of the group. ut most of all, I felt like I was failing myself. I had joined the staff out of a desire to help and inspire others, in the same way that the camp had influenced me when I was younger. ow, the

long days of seemingly lost effort were brutally discouraging.

Maybe I was better off in a regular summer program, something to slap on my resume or college applications.

These doubts, fueled by panic and uncertainty, resurfaced on the night of the thunderstorm as I led my campers down that steep trail. The only thing that kept me from slipping was the determination to remain strong in front of them — to act as that unwavering guiding light I’d wished to be since my first summer at White Stag. And it was on this wet, dark hike where I heard something I would never forget from one of my youngest kids.

Come on,” he was saying. Come on, we can do it Just stay positive, we can do this together!”

My campers — who had just this morning huffed up this trail at a snail’s pace, who had spent four long days refusing to work together — encouraged and helped each other on the trail all the way down.

I finally felt glad for the rain and darkness because my campers couldn’t see my tears of relief.

Nothing could have prepared me for the challenges of being a counselor, but even more so, nothing could have prepared me for the immense payoff. Watching them pull together as a group to overcome hurdles like the storm filled me with incredible pride. Seeing kids like Julie shed their shells and light up the group with their brightness and energy. Eagerly observing them apply the skills I’d taught — the very lessons that I d struggled to keep afloat in the initial chaos.

But the growth that surprised me the most was my own: a kid who first stepped foot in White Stag as a timid -year-old too shy to even look at my groupmates, now facing hundreds of campers and parents as I presented Julie with the ost Outstanding Camper award.

May 8, 2023

OPINION

Does “wokeness” need to wake up?

BY RIKI MURASE

W

hat does being “woke” really mean?

In modern times, being woke has become synonymous with a focus on increasing inclusivity and diversity, empathy and the empowerment of disadvantaged groups. onetheless, the term has recently come under fire for being a form of moral absolutism. The common understanding of the “woke” movement is that any deviation from a strict set of progressive beliefs is met with social ostracism and exclusion. In popular media, it has sometimes been portrayed negatively and associated with radicalism and hatred, leading to its demonization.

While being “woke” has helped to push important social issues to the forefront of public discourse and encouraged many communities to advocate for their rights, it ultimately harms progressive ideals, exacerbating the division between those with opposing beliefs. Therefore, people need to be aware of the potential repercussions of misinterpreting “woke” ideals.

“Being woke is worn both as a badge of honor and placed on others as a badge of shame,” government teacher Jeffrey Bale said. “It largely just depends on context.”

The misinterpretation of the ideology of wokeness alienates people who would otherwise be amicable to progressive ideas through efforts such as cancel culture. Some people who brand themselves as woke often work together to cancel others who aren’t as woke as they are. This includes people who don’t actively and publicly present themselves as woke even if they are actually aware of social issues.

Individuals and businesses often ride the wave of wokeness through performative activism that does little to truly support progressive movements,

and are done instead to line their pockets with cash from a new consumer base. Consumers are just as performative — increasingly susceptible to a corporation’s supposed support of a progressive cause. Actions such as promoting petitions, sharing social media awareness posts and exploiting LGBTQ+ representation in products to boost sales and turn a profit are examples of performative acts that are often used to boost one s public image or profits rather than actually supporting a particular cause.

People that do this are often labeled as woke and spearheaded for anti-woke movement ustification.

“People believe that being woke will make more people like them by making them seem like better people,” Junior State of America club officer Allison Hsu said. “In reality, that’s not what activism is actually about.”

This misinterpretation of the concept of being woke can also lead to activists’ misplacing their attention on attacking others who are politically aligned with them instead of focusing on actual social injustices at hand. This implicit trap of selective outrage thereby hurts progressive values such as undermining racism and closing the gender equality gap by causing infighting within progressive causes and thereby decreasing solidarity overall, while also demotivating actual progressive individuals and organizations from wanting to push for progressive policies.

While “woke” movements often have good intentions, they ultimately hurt the ideologies that they are intended to support through a fundamental misunderstanding of the meaning of being socially aware; that is, interpreting performative activism and radical politics as being woke. Arguments over cultural appropriation or minority and LGBTQ+ representation and rights highlight the flaws embedded in extreme progressive ideals that are frequently labeled as “woke," diminishing the

05

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION

BY CALVIIN ZHOU

legitimacy of the term.

Viewing wokeness as a singularly positive or negative ideology is dangerous due to the complexity of the concept’s many interpretations.

Through the erosion of the original idea of wokeness, political alienation has been exacerbated to the point of large-scale societal division. Being woke is a constantly evolving term that requires consistent and up-to-date awareness of the sociopolitical environment to understand.

The dark side of dark comedy

BY EMILY PEDROZA

T

he phrases “it’s just a joke,” or “why are you so upset?” regularly pollute social media in light of outrage concerning yet another comedian’s controversial humor. What can often begin as dislikes and angry comments soon quickly tumbles into a snowball of death threats and intense harassment.

Can their response be ustified Considering the large influence comedians can have, they should be held accountable by consumers and streaming companies for jokes that can harm communities through skewed factual inaccuracy or biases.

Similarly, critique against comedians should be constructive, rather than attempting to censor a comedian’s speech because repetitive harsh criticism can push comedians even

further from improving their conduct.

There’s no mistaking the incredible things comedians have continued to achieve through their performances — for instance, Jon Stewart’s advocacy for 9/11 responders and survivors health care funding through “Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act,” passing after Stewart pledged his support to the bill in a scathing televised address against apathetic congressmen, mounting pressure on lawmakers. Because of their large followings and accessible conversationstyle speech, comedians can make complex political and social issues more digestible and engaging, especially in comparison to the dronings of painfully uncharismatic politicians, or jargonfilled newspaper articles. owever, when comedians slip up or intentionally spread

Dave Chappelle famo s ome ian ame n er re for his transpho i omments hi h ha e sparke a k ash from m tip e omm nities.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ALYSSA WANG AND SURYA SARAF

misinformation, these statements can be amplified through the media and cause ripple effects — low self-esteem and wavering acceptance within people, especially in youth.

It’s getting increasingly easy to step onto a stage and get messages spread on the internet, such as when Dave Chapelle did a set where he ridiculed transgender people. These comments and actions on stages are dangerous because of their potential to become widespread and eventually encourage or sanction hateful acts. In particular, Chapelle’s messages can potentially impact transgender youth by influencing the American public to adopt negative perceptions of transgender individuals. By pushing these videos to television and beyond, subconscious messages can normalize these “jokes’’ relaying harmful stereotypes and misinformation.

“Comedians in today’s society have the role of being social or political commentators,” junior Peter Aguirre said. “They also have larger audiences and as consumers, we constantly absorb their messages every time we engage in media.”

Because of this, a lack of feedback or criticism allows comedians to fall into the excuse of “it was just a joke.” This blanket statement enables a cycle of insensitive or inflammatory okes to be brushed off as insignificant, while the number of communities hurt will keep growing.

Although it is important to hold comedians responsible for the words they say, criticism through mediums like cancel-culture are not productive in fostering change. While it s difficult to hold respect for someone who has displayed a staggering lack of it, criticism should be civil and not degrading — allowing the feedback to actually reach

the comedian. This can even take the form of simply not laughing at a joke.

After all, death threats and slurs will often result in nothing but an eye roll or getting blocked, and may even embolden them to integrate even more extreme views into their jokes and sets.

“If my brother told a joke that I thought was insensitive or racist, I wouldn’t react. I’d say ‘That’s not funny, try again,’” Spanish teacher Michael Esquivel said. “If you’re a comedian, that means you’re constantly working on your craft.”

Often, the fine line between constructive criticism and cancel culture is hard to detect, as cancel culture is argued to both be someone’s free speech and while having the potential to harm the speech of others. Regardless, it’s good to set groundwork towards informative comments, rather than ones that immobilize comedians from speaking entirely.

“Extreme cancel culture is a dangerous road to go down,” librarian Amy Ashworth said. “If you look hard enough you will eventually find dirt on everyone.”

Although the appeal for many people coming to comedy shows is to listen to unfiltered dialogue, it doesn't take away from the responsibilities comedians hold as public figures. ecause of accessible and engaging storytelling comedians produce, consumers are more likely to internalize the message being said. Especially when a comedian is talking about groups that they aren’t a part of — they should be more open to taking feedback, instead of labeling people offended snowflakes or overly sensitive.

CENTERSPREAD

the Epic 07

ASL education bridges communication

BY KATIE CHIN AND NEHA AYYER

R

eleased in 2022, CODA, a movie featuring the life of a Deaf family, brought Deaf culture to mainstream media, spurring discussions about the importance of American Sign Language.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans use ASL; as sign language is incorporated into the modern world, it has become increasingly important to learn beginning from childhood.

Schools should incorporate ASL into their curriculums and teach sign language to students from a young age, allowing for better inclusion of Deaf students in the U.S. and teaching others useful communication skills for their future.

ASL has its own grammar rules, as it features a combination of hand, facial and full-body movements such as raising of the eyebrow to ask a question. ASL is entirely distinct from the English language, though it has varying regional accents and dialects as many spoken languages do.

“ASL is a beautiful form of communication, in which you’re taught not only the language but how to act in a Deaf community,” junior Halie Yung said. “Some things that are considered polite in English are actually considered rude in ASL. In English, when you’re interrupting someone talking, you say ‘excuse me.’ But, in ASL that’s actually considered rude and the polite way is to quickly walk between the people having a conversation.”

Deaf education was not introduced in the U.S. until 1814. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet created the first American school for hard of hearing students in 1817, which sparked the rise of Deaf education across the country and in 1960, ASL was declared to be a genuine language. Many colleges today offer Deaf studies or ASL courses, yet there is currently only one college for the Deaf in the U.S. While there has been recent legislation proposed to offer ASL as a course in high schools, there still is a lack of education in ASL and Deaf culture.

Deaf children fall under the category of

handicapped children entitled to a public education rather than enrolling solely in residential schools for the Deaf. However, many schools have little to no Deaf education, creating a divide between hearing and hardof-hearing students. Many teachers in public schools a re not trained to adapt to Deaf students’ needs, making it difficult for these students to participate in classes.

“As we are exposed and educated, we change our attitudes and perspectives,” LHS speech therapist Nicole Tseng. “A class or workshop on ASL would be beneficial to many but it’s just not a common thing.”

Sign language allows Deaf people a detailed mode of communication, facilitating social interactions with their peers.

Learning ASL from a young age can have significant benefits, including an increased understanding of body language, better reaction times and heightened reasoning skills. Incorporating ASL into early education would allow hard-of-hearing students to overcome obstacles they may face in social environments a n d help hearing ones develop empathy.

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elcome.

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While these phrases extend a warm invitation, the various tonal changes in each language pressure the brain to perceive them differently. Thus, discrepancies in accents and tone switches often give rise to stereotypes, which can have far-reaching effects on both a regional and global scale.

Roman emperor Charles V declared, “I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men and German to my horse.” Although not as blunt, the conception of “romantic” versus “ugly” languages continue to prevail.

Sociolinguistic studies have observed that the allure of a language is determined by how positively one views a community. In its most simple form, this phenomenon is evident in history and international affairs, where language perception is altered by former expectations. For example, when listening to German, one may often misconstrue syllables as harsh or commanding.

“Particularly, cultures that have languages that

“Learning ASL brings awareness to the Deaf community because it helps build a bridge between the hearing and Deaf community where you can communicate and understand each other’s stories,” Yung said.

“It allows for change, for an easier way for the communities to understand each other better.”

Currently, most public schools in the U.S. do not teach ASL and online courses, such as Duolingo, are one of the primary ways that students learn ASL. ASL should also be prioritized as much as foreign languages are in schools. Elementary schools can implement short ASL classes and schools can provide teachers with training on ASL, they can use ASL when teaching other subjects so students can become accustomed to signing and understanding ASL. Hearing students learning ASL can help bridge the social gap between hearing and Deaf communities, creating a more inclusive learning and work

environment. If adding an official ASL course is not feasible, schools should offer resources for students to learn ASL on their own and students should consider enrolling in online ASL courses.

Watch your tone!

BY SRUTHI MEDEPALLI AND SAMIYA ANWAR

don’t use a lot of tones tend to find tonal languages almost like gibberish because they’re missing so much,” English teacher David Clarke said. “‘People who speak in Cantonese, they always sound like they’re arguing,’ is what the kids will say. It has to do with both stereotypes about the culture being imposed upon the language and the language itself.”

Language value is often linked to the prestige of the speaker — the increasing popularity of Chinese as a global language is linked to the country’s major economic growth; conversely, languages spoken by a less economically powerful group may not be seen in the same positive light.

Linguistic stereotypes are even pertinent in lighthearted children’s media. In “The Lion King,” king Mufasa has an American accent while Scar, the villain, dons a British one.

Furthermore, Dr. Doofenshmirtz, nemesis of Perry the Platypus in “Phineas and Ferb,” has a German accent and often references the culture. The use of German, Eastern European and Russian accents for animated villains in Western movies is likely a reflection of the U.S.’s hostility toward these countries during World War II and the Cold War. In one study done by sociolinguist Calvin Gidney, which analyzed random samples of television shows, a majority of heroic characters were American-sounding. By symbolizing defeat of a foreign threat by an American hero merely through accents, American media places the U.S. on a pedestal for younger audiences as they are developing views of the world.

“As long as the media fed to our children perpetuates these harmful stereotypes, the next generation will continue to contribute to negative ideas surrounding specific groups,” Intersections club president Vineeta Muvvala said. “It’s up to us to change the narrative and promote a more inclusive future, starting with television.”

The language processing center of the brain attempts to form patterns out of foreign stimuli. When responding to words or sounds that cannot be interpreted, it resorts to a more basic understanding based on tone. As such, guttural and more consonant-based languages are taken to be brash or

harmful, while more harmonic and vowel-heavy languages are perceived as more sophisticated or advanced. Languages like Mandarin consist of many tonal changes, whereas those such as French are relatively smooth-sounding. While this doesn’t impact native speakers, these shifts in tone or lack thereof influence how foreigners view various cultures. Arabic, one of the most frequently misunderstood languages and difficult to learn, is spoken throughout the Middle East. The center of much political conflict and controversy, confusion surrounding Middle Eastern politics can be compounded by views of the languages spoken there.

“As a mixed person, people are often surprised that I speak Spanish,” junior Peter Agguire said. “Especially with my parents, I do feel my family is treated somewhat differently when we’re speaking our native language instead of English in public.”

Even within the U.S, the wide variety of ways to speak English create preconceived notions about certain geographical areas. Discrepancies between the timing and rhythms of southern English dialects in comparison to northern speech styles have contributed toward beliefs about the competency of residents in these regions. Southern “drawl” or “twang” is characterized by slower syllables and exaggeration, which can become associated with struggling to properly comprehend English, form words or think quickly.

Harsh opinions concerning the culture and language of certain groups typically bounce off each other. The South’s historical resistance to change and focus on traditional values has also contributed to slow-paced ideas of the South. In another example, stereotypes placed on African American Vernacular English judge the language for its colloquial tone and increased number of contractions or slang. The extent to which linguistic stereotypes are based on culture, or that cultural stereotypes are linked to language, remain hazy. Of 201 Lynbrook students polled, 87.5% agreed that stereotypes could be formed based on their language’s tone and resulting accent.

“People tend to think of those speaking Southern dialect as being ignorant because they take longer to say things,” Clarke said. “But that’s also an effect of the juxtaposition between that accent versus what you might call a common, stereotypical, newscaster English.”

As the world becomes increasingly global due to connections from social media and the Internet, language will adapt to change. Phrases across the world have begun to insert themselves into American English. Yet, stereotypes concerning specific vernacular and accents continue dividing people, and whether they will persist remains unknown.

Many languages may be speaking their last words

BY ANUSHKA ANAND AND APURVA KRISHNAMURTHY

A

s English continues to globalize and be prioritized over other languages, language isolates are left behind. Many communities lose a part of their culture as younger generations forfeit a link to their heritage and identity.

“Languages tell you about culture and act as the memory of older generations,” freshman and Shanghainese speaker Cindy Tao said.

There are over 7,000 recorded languages spoken in the world today, about 35% of them being endangered. A language dies when its last known speaker dies. According to the Language Conservancy, nine languages die every year.

Some languages die out quickly when small communities are wiped out by disasters. El Salvadoran speakers of the indigenous Lenca and Cacaopera languages abandoned their languages to avoid being identified as natives after a widespread massacre in 1932. The Dunser language of the Papua region in Indonesia has only a handful of remaining speakers after flooding in devastated the Dusner village.

“The Cherokee tribe had a written language which was wiped out in an attempt to Americanize,” Clark said.

In the digitalized age, online or televised content tends to cater to society’s most prominent languages. Children in multilingual homes are often exposed to the most dominant language media from their area, making them more accustomed to the dominant languages during a crucial age of language development. As this content does not favor indigenous languages, populations lose familiarity with them, especially with the most integral parts such as colloquialisms, making it harder to pick up native languages later.

Colonialism is one of the leading causes of linguistic endangerment in areas with large indigenous populations. Historical emphasis on assimilation and suppression of indigenous languages promoted attitudes of cultural superiority, as proficiency in uropean languages was viewed as prestigious and could further oneself in a colonized society.

With the globalization of English came English schools, using styles of instruction in English throughout Asia and non-English speaking European countries. Younger generations begin to lose proficiency in their native dialects as nglish is placed at a higher importance. “Historically, languages have really been a political issue because they’re such a powerful tool,” Clark said.

Immigrants often prioritize learning English to bring more economic success to future generations.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY VALERIE SHU

Many second-generation U.S. immigrants do not speak their native language fluently because it is more economically and culturally beneficial to speak English. However, elderly speakers of a language are often left behind in rural communities, holding on to the fleeting traces of the language as others begin to forget it.

“It’s sad because we can see languages disappearing for newer generations,” Tao said.

Preservationists have been working to revive endangered languages as these languages are closely linked with regional or ethnic identity. For instance, Hebrew died out as a colloquial language in the 2nd century but was revived in the 19th-20th century. The language was continued through religious mediums as well as used in scholarships causing it to come back in prevalence. ow, it is the first language for many in Jewish countries.

Languages that are considered “dead language” are often commonplace within academia. Many high schools and higher education institutions offer classical languages such as Latin, Greek and Sanskrit despite the former two not having any native speakers. The efforts have proven influential in reinvigorating these languages as there are roughly 25,000 native Sanskrit speakers and such education promotes the culture and furthers the language into future generations.

Preserving languages maintains longstanding cultures. Spoken words are linked with values and traditions which can be passed down through generations, which enable speakers to connect with older generations. As speaking languages connect a person to their nation’s history, it also gives the speaker a sense of personal identity. When languages are lost, a part of a culture is lost.

“You lose the language, the history and an understanding of the people,” Clark said. “Then the whole world just becomes too homogenized. The diversity makes a richer world.”

According to a survey of 202 Lynbrook students

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Bilingual or bye-lingual?

BY LILLY WU AND EILEEN ZHU

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s multilingualism continues to shape the world, the ability to speak more than one language has become an increasingly valuable asset. The benefits of learning a new language range from improved cognitive function to enhanced cultural understanding and global communication. As such, the pursuit of linguistic mastery is a worthwhile endeavor, regardless of an individual’s age or background. Lynbrook students and teachers have embraced the benefits of learning a new language.

Spanish

Sophomore Paula Begonia immigrated from Venezuela to California in 2021. As a native Spanish speaker of 16 years, she faces her own set of challenges when fusing two languages into her day-to-day life. At times, she struggles to navigate her own identity when trying to adapt to communicating with different people.

“It was hard to feel like I was a part of something because there’s not a lot of Hispanic people here at school,” Begonia said. “Sometimes I feel like I’m translating a word that I know the meaning of but just can’t find the written word. eople make comments about my pronunciation. It’s sad because they usually don’t know about all the effort others are putting in.”

French

French teacher Denise Schang exemplifies how learning a language goes beyond putting words and grammar together.

“I always tell my students not to stress over pronunciation or making mistakes, because at the end of the day, what’s most important is for one to understand the culture,” Schang said. “What’s great about learning a new language is that you challenge your own thoughts and broaden your perspective.”

She cultivates a deeper understanding of French among her students.

“Instead of limiting another person to just their accent, recognize this person is being exposed to two cultures as there is so much to learn from each other,” Schang said.

Chinese

Until 2015, sophomore Riley Dowdell attended an international school in Shanghai before moving to California. At this school, he spoke English with the rest of the students, who all came from different countries all over the world. Within eight years, he picked up parts of the Chinese language by taking classes everyday at school.

Despite forgetting much of the Chinese language, he remembers the customs and cultures that were exhibited in his International school.

“We had uniforms so it was a cultural shock for me when I went to the states,” Dowdell said. Their cafeteria food was definitely much better in China and classes were a lot stricter.”

Japanese

When Jeremy Kitchen was in high school, he was enthusiastic to leave his hometown and travel somewhere new and exciting. Due to the influences from his Korean friend, he decided on South Korea as his destination. After finding out the option was unavailable, Kitchen found himself in Japan, which opened up a new chapter in his life.

Kitchen can often relate to his students and understand their struggles when learning the language.

“We actually have a mistake counter in my classroom where my students keep track of my mistakes, and it really helps me realize that while I am teaching my students, I am also learning along with them.”

st in translation

rds aren’t enough: exploring limits of translation

characters. “井底之蛙” (jǐng dǐ h w is a well-known idiom used language is uniquely influenced by their own environmental factors, to criticize someone with a closed mind. Direct translations render so none can convey direct translations for Inuit snow vocabulary, as doku” is the Japanese word that describes the habit this phrase as “frog in the bottom of a well,” disregarding all meaning these words are only central to Inuit daily life. ambitiously buying books but letting them pile up and context. erely examining its definition and translation, one “Of course, it’s possible for the English language to create words ead. Uniquely expressed only by this language, the would be unaware of the fable from which the idiom emerged from with the exact same denotations and connotations as words from apanese cultural connotations that are unable to be a large aspect of its aesthetic value. Sacrificing any of its general other languages,” Zhuang said. “But the spread of new words from a slated to other languages. Likewise are multitudes of features may debilitate the original beauty and message of Chinese niche creation into everyday use is very much a culturally contingent e words isolated by linguistic and semantic barriers. literature. matter — oftentimes there won’t be enough people using the word for ion of translated text is often left unnoticed and can “Untranslatability often comes from deep-seated cultural meaning it to be embedded into the common English vocabulary.” and authentic communication or that is understood by everybody in the culture To mitigate the inevitable impact of translation in literary works, preciation of secondary literary where it originates, but otherwise has to be some languages have adopted words or phrases from others to Would you rather read explained at some length in a paraphrase,” preserve linguistic and semantic authenticity. “Déjà vu,” a familiar literature in its original action of how text communicates Stanford University Comparative Literature French term used to describe the feeling of having already experienced C Davis English and Comparative language or the language you Professor Roland Greene said. a current situation, is frequently used across different cultures. By are most familiar with? ofessor Joshua Clover said. “As soon Direct translations may also erase using the French term, people are able to evoke the term’s concept late, you’re moving the word or historical context. “Whakapapa,” a word without having to lose connotation or conciseness. new context. As soon as the context in ori, most commonly spoken in ew “Nothing has a perfect translation,” Clover said. “It’s more connotation gets really difficult to Zealand, encompasses the idea that people important to feel the experience that the writer and translator are are connected to their ancestors and the land both constructing, rather than focusing on understanding everything. g to understand every language they come from. In ori history, natives The experience encapsulates both meaning and emotion.”

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(61 votes) nnotation, allusion and aesthetic and culture.

To address this phenomenon, many of Lynbrook’s literature iginal language — when translated, Linguistic differences can also challenge teachers incorporate short lessons and research projects before of these formal features must be precise translations between languages; beginning reading units to immerse students into the cultural and preserve another. Translators must one example can be shown by comparing historical context of the literary pieces. This allows for more efficient t to sacrifice, while readers must fill in the blanks. possession in English and French. The English language uses analysis and helps students better understand the author’s intent and he most common factors that interrupt precisely possessive nouns, while the French language uses passive voice to message behind particular details in the book. ent translations are cultural, historical, linguistic and show possession. For example, an English speaker may say “the cat’s Although there is importance to understanding the context of a text, onmental differences. collar,” while a French speaker may say, “le collier du chat,” which literature should be appreciated by the experience that authors and Language is the backbone of a culture,” sophomore directly translates to “the collar of the cat.” The lack of possessive translators construct, rather than small imperfections of translations. eya Iyer said. “Language not only serves as a source of contractions in French makes French text almost always longer than “All translations are imperfect,” Greene said. “We must embrace e for cultures, but it also serves as a way through which English text. French possession represents just one of many language- this imperfection and make the translation a part of the art.” ural folktales are passed down through generations.” specific grammatical rules that pose challenges to translators.

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10 CENTERSPREAD

May 08, 2023

WTF?! The origins of swear words

BY MEERA NAMBIAR AND SURYA SARAF

T

hey say a single “F—ck!” is worth a thousand words — a profane but clear cry of frustration, or a little emphasis to everyday conversation that holds a potency in its resounding four letters. Swear words permeate our lives as forms of self expression, cathartic cries and bitter insults.

But from where do these deep-rooted exclamations come?

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Swear words have convoluted origins.

In terms of etymology, today’s American swear words have roots in German, Dutch and Middle English, sporadically developing from historical phenomena or by random occurrence. For instance, the word “crap” was supposedly familiarized after sanitary engineer Thomas Crapper developed lavatorial innovations in the late 1800s.

However, the practice of swearing shares the intention to express oneself in ways that ordinary words simply cannot do, and in doing so, its power lives on.

“Swearing is a way to strongly express oneself in a fairly harmless way,” English teacher Anna Kirsh said.

A deep dive into etymology reveals the linguistic distinctions but emotional commonalities between each swear word.

Swear words are typically short and punchy, which adds to their emotional impact, and most stem from taboo topics like sex and blasphemy. The F-word, the most common cuss word used by Americans today, has roots in Latin and Old German. Originally used to mean “to strike or penetrate” or engage in sexual intercourse, it became a widely accepted swear word in the mid-19th century. The common

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saying “motherf—cker,” was popularized in Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five, having originated from an 1898 Texas trial.

The timeless “sh—t,” of German and Dutch origin, having long meant “to poop,” serves now as an exclamation of frustration, though its original meaning is still widely used. The addition of “bull,” meaning “false talk,” was popularized in the mid-14th century. “Crap” has origins in Old Dutch farming language while “ass” started and is still used to mean donkey.

Other forms of “Ass” in Old English include “arse” and “buttocks” — both have retained their meaning over time.

Swear words also hold similarities across languages. According to a study conducted by the Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, certain harsh sounds signified by phonetic letters “k”, “t and “p” are found in swear words across many languages. Other less aggressive sounds like “w”, “r”, and “l” are much less likely to be found in swearing.

Although swearing is widely considered taboo, it has a unique position in language — it is one of the most powerful and persuasive ways of communicating with others. Some studies have found that swearing leads to a higher pain tolerance. It also has positive effects in social groups, often seen as a sign of a friendship and trustworthiness.

“Swearing is healthy to use at times, especially with your friends when you’re joking around because it shows you’re not being too serious,” senior Maïa Bline said.

“You might be tempted to please a lot of people and speak in a certain way, but it’s good to let out your feelings sometimes. And I think swearing is a good way to do that.”

It is important to note that some aspects of swearing have roots in racist, sexist culture, creating a fine line between swear words and slurs. Slurs, intended to insult and damage one’s reputation, often used against specific racial, ethnic and

How often do you swear? gender groups, differ from swearing in their connotation. Words like “c—nt” and “sl—t” are rooted in antiquated views of women as promiscuous and contemptible. “B— tch” can be seen as both a slur and a swear word depending on the audience, rooted in misogyny, and used to refer to women who rebel against societal norms. Many women, however, have reclaimed such terms to signify a compliment or form of empowerment for other women, an example of how the culture of the present shapes views of swearing.

Slurs such as the n-word, which were more commonplace in the past, are now widely seen as derogatory due to changes and increased awareness in societal standards.

The current generation is increasingly well informed about racial prejudice and discrimination, and open minded in terms of accepting different cultures and treating them equally.

It’s no question that swearing is complicated. Its ethics, origination and intention are not only crudely defined but also constantly changing. The present culture has its own rules for the use of slurs and swear words, yet their precedent for use is never fixed. Regardless, these short and punchy terms are ingrained in the English language — their capacity for use is ultimately up to the speaker.

Emojis have slid into your DMs

BY SOPHIE AU

L

OL: Lots Of Love or Laugh Out Loud? Is the emoji with two palms clapsed used to clap or to pray? In the age of rapid communication via cell phones, texts with abbreviations, shortened words and emojis convey thoughts with less effort and less characters. Texting has taken over the world as the fastest method of communication, a new language for younger generations.

PAGE BY SOPHIE AU

S

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hort essage Service, the first form of texting in cell phones, was the pioneer of sending short messages quickly from one phone to another.

Shorter than a proper email, quick communication over text has become the tool for people with busy lives.

Originally limited to 160 characters, SMS users needed to pack whole sentences into a couple of phrases, which eventually gave way to an essentially new type of language, nowadays known as textism or textese.

“When I started using Instagram and social media, abbreviations were quite new to me,” sophomore Vrishank Chandrasekhar said. “But after a while, it’s easier to understand.”

To send messages quicker, run-on sentences and lack of punctuation are forgiven as long as the receiver understands the message like spoken conversation.

Common trends include replacing entire words with one letter and acronyms for common phrases, though meanings may be confused through short and abbreviated messages.

“If it’s a more serious topic, and I accidently put an exclamation, it just sounds kind of off,” senior Teresa Chen said. “My friends might be a little confused, but I think they understand it anyway.”

s convenient as texting is, short messages are often misunderstood; the same message with varied wording or acronyms can completely change how it’s perceived. With the increased usage of texting within younger generations, it is important to separate and distinguish conventions for both formal English and casual texting.

“Sometimes I do use abbreviations in real life too, like ‘BRB’ or ‘ILY,’ ”Elangovan said. “It’s easier to say and just sneaks into normal English.”

While textism can occasionally slip into formal English, textism can exist as a language in addition to English — a separate set of words that people communicate in.

D

eveloped by cell phone developer and artist Shigetaka Kurita in the late 1990s, emojis further helped texters save characters in messages by depicting emotions, symbols and ideas in small images.

Since then, emojis have evolved to become an essential part of communication and internet culture.

“When it comes to texting, words are really just words,” Chandraeskhar said. “There’s not much tone compared to emojis or sending a random video of yourself crying.”

Having multiple unique uses is part of the criteria for a new emoji, though it may lead to misunderstandings of the emoji’s meanings.

“Some people don’t use emojis because they think it’s extra,” senior Sruti Elangovan said. “If you’re texting you can’t really convey the same tone as actual speech, so if it’s light hearted, you might as well just add an emoji to show that.”

FEATURES T

he camera is set up. The lighting is perfect. And… action!

While watching Youtube videos is an entertaining pastime, for sophomore Colin Chow and juniors Haley Tamtoro and Adithri Sharmi, creating their own content is even more gratifying.

Chow started his Youtube channel, Coin Cow, while bored during quarantine. While he’s always imagined being a outuber, he derived inspiration to finally fulfill his dream from the TikToks and consistent creators that kept him entertained from childhood to his time in isolation. Chow began by posting snippets of his life, from adventures with his friends to basic school work.

Tamtoro’s vlogger roots also originated with quarantine, when she grew interested in lifestyle videos, and specifically, the artistic videography her favorite creators used. What began as a simple obsession with popular Youtubers led to an exploration of video production, opening her horizons to playing around with exposure and framing cinematic clips. She joined Youtube under the name heyyelah, pledging to herself that she would make videos at least once a month for consistency.

“I wanted to make videos, but I had no kind of excuse to do so,” Tamtoro said. “Youtube holds me accountable.”

Singer Sharma expanded to Youtube after establishing herself on other platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. For all three students, the process behind posting Youtube videos follows the same basic steps of planning, recording, editing and uploading. Nevertheless, each

the Epic 11 has tailored the process to fit their own habits. Tamtoro primarily films on her phone for convenience and portability, while Chow uses a Canon camera for higher video quality.

From production to editing, the completion of a video often requires advanced equipment and editing software. Chow and Tamtoro have invested both time and money into video production equipment, and are committed to producing high quality content.

Chow can spend anywhere from a couple of days to a week editing a video, painstakingly color grading, trimming and adding visual effects to his clips on Adobe Premiere Pro. Tamtoro spends roughly a week editing her videos, mainly during the night with LED lights the only source of brightness in her room, as she reserves the afternoons and evenings for homework and other school-related activities. osting consistent content on outube is a difficult task, especially during the school year and periods of creative burnout — when content creators lack inspiration to start a new project. For Chow, Youtube is more of a hobby, a passion project and not a priority, so he mostly works on videos when he feels a creative itch. e aims to find a balance between Youtube and his other pursuits, especially by producing a mix of more labor-intensive, longer videos and shorter videos.

“Youtube helped me realize that even the littlest moments in my life, no matter how many views that they received, are worth remembering,” Tamtoro said. “Moving forward, I hope to continue learning more about video production so I can document my experiences with greater creativity.”

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12 FEATURES

May 8, 2023

Peer Court: for the students, by the students

BY TANIKA ANBU

R S

ather than sentencing a student to uvenile court in the case of misdemeanors, the Santa Clara County eer Court program helps to break the school-to-prison pipeline by allowing students to share their story and receive a genuine chance for improvement. eer Court, run by students, trains students to act as attorneys and represent students who have broken California State ducation Codes, such as those concerning drug use and student initiated violence. Student attorneys put together their case by interviewing the client and performing statements to a udge that evaluates the outcome of the student. Instead of real sentences, students are instead instructed to write apology letters or receive counseling. ynbrook uniors Aishani Chikkaredy and yrsten Su are avid participants in eer Court and work to help students receive second chances. u joined Peer Court to help the community and apply what she has been practicing in her school’s Mock Trial team to real cases. In Mock Trial, Su developed a strong understanding of courtroom procedures and has honed her skills as an attorney by participating in numerous scrimmages and competitions that have prepared her to present herself in court.

“I am excited to use my legal knowledge and public speaking skills from Mock Trial in real life applications,” Su said.

Su is dedicated to becoming an attorney and will be taking on her o w n cases o n c e s h e

practices Peer Court procedures. very new member of eer Court is guided through training led by the program’s advisor and is educated on the school-toprison pipeline. Su attended a dedicated attorney training where she learned about the acceptable rules of evidence, common cases and speeches. While Mock Trial is more analogous to a fast-paced debate competition, Peer Court emphasizes fairness and restorative measures. umani ing the student offender is one of the main goals of Peer Court.

“We try to help students change behaviors, not punish them. This helps to redirect a life path that might eventually lead to prison,” Su said.

S

ince 7th grade, Chikkareddy has acted as an attorney in the Peer Court program, successfully arguing several cases ranging from vandalism and school fights.

Driven by her passion for community service and desire to help others, Chikkareddy uses her skills to advocate for her clients in eer Court. When interviewing her clients, she makes sure to give them space and ask them thoughtful questions so she can develop strong examinations and speeches. She appreciates Peer Court’s mission of helping students in a more restorative way and typically recommends counseling, community service and apology letters to the students she works with. y providing these sorts of alternatives to traditional punitive measures, students aren't pushed out of school and into the criminal justice system,” Chikkareddy said.

In one of her most difficult cases, she only received the facts an hour before trial, as it was being decided whether

the student should even report to eer Court or if they should be presented with immediate expulsion. Chikkareddy helped prevent the student from being expelled or going to uvenile court.

Chikkareddy has learned that cases are never about winning or losing, but instead, about helping the student and their needs.

She advises her clients to suggest anger management or community service when deciding on restorative interventions.

Learning new tactics from the opposing counsel has also helped her grow as an attorney.

We try to help students change behaviors, not punish them. This helps to redirect a life path that might eventually lead to prison.

By providing alternatives, students aren't pushed out of school and into the criminal justice system.

Kyrsten Su, Junior

Aishani Chikkareddy, Junior

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SAMIYA ANWAR AND AUDREY SUN

PHOTOS BY KATIE CHIN

Yechan Lee marches his way into military academy

BY ALYSSA WANG

“S

ound off! One! Two!” For senior Yechan Lee, this army chant will soon become a daily routine while attending the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York for the next four years.

There, he plans to continue his studies in computer science while simultaneously preparing for his five years of mandatory service in the army, where he hopes to work as a cyber operations officer.

The United States Military Academy, also referred to as S A or West oint, is a prestigious institution providing a rigorous education to cadets and preparing them to become officers in the nited States Army. The student life at USMA is unique as each cadet must learn to balance academic studies with military training and physical fitness requirements.

Before applications began, Lee was skeptical about applying to a military academy despite his mom’s efforts to convince him that his leadership qualities and participation in wrestling and band would make him a good fit for West oint. e eventually decided to attend a week-long summer program at the academy to learn more about life at West oint. veryday, he woke up at 5 a.m. for an hour-long workout and informational meetings about the academy. In addition to being free, with housing and materials all provided for each cadet, S A emphasi es physical fitness ,which ee believes is necessary to maintain good health and enforce discipline.

The academy also focuses on maintaining character by implementing its strict honor code — a cadet will not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do.

There is definitely a lot of discipline involved,” ee said. Their way of teaching makes me feel that everyone who is there is taught to be honorable and the best person they can be, and that is the biggest part that drew me in.”

In June of 2022, Lee began the long application process, which included various requirements such as recommendation letters, supplemental essays, a nomination from a congressman or senator and a physical assessment, as mandated by the USMA application. During his week-long stay at the USMA, he was unsuccessful in passing the physical assessment.

So, he attended a summer wrestling camp in Los Gatos and continued training throughout the school year to improve before the official administration.

Meanwhile, he applied for the nomination from both of California’s senators, Senator Feinstein and Senator Padilla, as well as Congressman Ro Khanna. In late December, Lee was informed that he received a nomination from einstein after two interviews with einstein and hanna.

“That was such an accomplished moment because without that nomination, there is no chance of getting accepted into any service academy,” ee said. The interview offers from Congressman Ro Khanna and Senator Feinstein were huge opportunities, and I am grateful that Senator Feinstein chose to nominate me for the academy.”

As he prepares to join USMA next year, Lee is excited about meeting new people and improving as a leader and a person, anticipating the connections and memories that he will make with his fellow cadets.

After he graduates from the academy in 2028, Lee will oin the army for his five years of mandatory service.

During his service, he hopes to implement the lessons he has learned at West oint and fight for his country and something bigger than himself.

It is definitely going to be hard,” ee said. There are going to be some points where I wonder why I chose this life. owever, I know at the end of the road, it is going to make me a better person and I know I will not regret it."

PHOTOS USED WITH PERMISSION FROM YECHAN LEE

IN-DEPTH S

trutting down runways, singing and dancing to captivating music while advocating for charitable causes, drag artists foster a culture of their own. Whether it be the early English Shakespeare plays of the 1500s or recent involvement of drag in political policies, the art form boasts a rich cultural history.

Drag — the art of dressing up in hypermasculine or hyperfeminine clothing and makeup — has risen in popularity through social media apps TikTok and Instagram, which have introduced the art to mainstream popular culture.

Now, drag is typically seen as a form of entertainment as artists perform comedy, singing, dancing or lip-syncing, however, a number of drag artists have opted away from performing at all, serving as figures in their respective communities. Over time, the art of drag has evolved and adapted to fit the needs and desires of each generation.

“Drag has been around since the beginning as one of the earliest forms of self-expression for LGBTQ+ people,” said Gender and Sexuality Alliance club officer Spencer ppstein. It s precedent for all of queer history for the most part, and it s also very important today.”

The origins of drag can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, around 240 B.C., when performers in plays wore masks and exaggerated costumes. Due to societal norms, men typically played both male and female roles, distinguished by excessive portrayal of feminine features.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, men often played “trouser roles” in plays, by explicitly playing female roles during Shakespearean plays with voluminous skirts and corsets. Historians believe that one possible origin of the word is from how the dresses and petticoats would drag” along the stage floor, or that it once was an acronym for “Dress as a Girl”.

During the 1900s, drag had a heavy influence on audeville performers a form of live entertainment consisting of comedians, musicians and magicians who traveled across the nation to perform in a variety of theater shows. Specifically in the s, the number of drag shows spiked across America, as an illegal form of entertainment within speakeasies during the Prohibition Era. During the Harlem Renaissance, drag ball culture was not only popular among the LGBTQ+ community, but also attracted many straight, artistic and curious audiences.

In later decades, the popularity of these balls spread among the gay community and became a safe space for gay men to gather.

To mainstream society, it was deemed illegal and immoral, yet despite this, these balls would continue to occur and became a crucial aspect in maintaining LGBTQ+ culture.

They created a welcoming environment, where members of the community could connect with one another. Additionally, they helped establish and define queer culture well into the decade and gave many the chance to explore their sexual and gender identity or expression.

“A lot of the time, when we think of gay people, drag queens are included,” Eppstein said. “For many, drag offers a form of self expression that allows them to be how they truly are, without being judged by those around them. It also provides, for the most part, a very accepting community, if you can find the right part of it. It just makes you happy.”

Throughout the 1970s-80s, drag balls and culture increasingly integrated African American and Latino LGBTQ+ communities into the art, providing a safe

space for performers to showcase their skills and culture. Specifically, performers their public performances, arguably like Divine and RuPaul rose to fame part of their right to freedom of speech.

“As the haters continue to show their faces in by pushing the boundaries of what defined drag” and what was considered our government, on the news and social media, acceptable in mainstream culture. we must continue to show ours,” MORE! said.

As drag evolves to fit the needs of the Successful shows like u aul s Drag ace community and inspire new generations took the entertainment of drag a step further into the 21st century. Since then, drag has of performers, LGTBQ+ rights and visibility become much more mainstream, with drag continue to be debated political issues around performers of all genders and backgrounds the world. Drag remains a significant aspect of being celebrated for their creativity, talent maintaining morale and pride for the LGBTQ+ and individual ethnic cultures and styles. community, fostering safe spaces for gender Drag isn t restricted by gender or and sexual expression, serving community sexuality, because anyone can do it,” Eppstein organizations and sharing success stories.

“Everyone needs to share their story with their said. “I think that a lot of performers use drag as a way to express their gender while friends, families, and allies; we need their voices,” still identifying as straight. Also, it s very MORE! said. “Tell everyone about your triumphs entertaining, so it s kind of a bridge between and struggles of the queer community and mainstream media.” being queer; this hopefully However, several conservative politicians will have criticized drag as being immoral or trigger something those who inappropriate, seeking to restrict or ban in hate, as a simple drag performances within certain contexts.

A drag queen and that In 2018, the Bristol City Council in the U.K. reminder faced intense backlash after it was revealed we are all human activist who was a that the council had paid for a drag queen to and made of love.” prominent g re in read stories to children during library events. the Stonewall Riots Protestors outside of the library eventually heavily disrupted of 1969 the event, causing its discontinuation.

Similarly, in the U.S., controversy A drag king during the surrounding drag queen story hours Harlem Renaissance who has seen rightforged a path for Black wing activists using people in queer spaces rhetoric that these events promote “inappropriate c o n t e n t ” to young children, with protests surrounding libraries and bookstores.

“The rise in extreme anti-LGBTQIA+ hate rhetoric and the laws rapidly evolving around them across the United States from far-right extremists is ugly and unrelenting,” said Juanita MORE!, San Francisco-based drag queen and Absolute Empress 56 of the Imperial Council, the world s oldest G T nonprofit. Their message is poisonous and a sideshow to distract from more pressing issues.”

Criticism has sparked retaliation from drag performers, who argue that drag is an important and valuable form of self-expression crucial to the LGBTQ+ culture.

Many performers continue to speak out against attempts to limit

Marsha P. Johnson

Bobbie Minton

Bianca Del Rio Winner of the 6th season of RuPaul’s drag race, gaining recognition for her comedic style

Lypsinka

Lip-syncs to iconic songs lyrics and movie dialogue as a drag artist, showcasing the rise of entertainment in drag

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY EILEEN ZHU

BY SAMYUKTA SARMA AND MAPLE LEUNG

the Epic 13

IN-DEPTH

Addicted to the art of binge-watching

BY INAAYA YOUSEF AND VIDUSHI UPADHYAY

S

itting with laptop in hand and schoolbooks scattered about, the tedium of studying sets in and the allure of a brightly-lit screen and a beckoning etflix tab eventually proves too strong to resist. Binge-watching, or the act of watching multiple episodes or an entire season of a show in one sitting, has gained immense popularity in past years. Currently, around 70% of Americans say they binge-watch television shows. These numbers are worrisome to experts, as binge-watching can lead to unhealthy consequences such as issues with depression and sleep and the loss of a healthy lifestyle.

Binge-watching initially grew in popularity from 2011-2015, as streaming services such as etflix offered entire shows on demand for viewers to consume. The term binge-watching” was first coined in but it wasn t until 5 that binge-watch was named word of the year by the Collins English Dictionary. With the proliferation of streaming services, viewers have increasingly more opportunities to consume large quantities of content at once.

Streaming services have definitely allowed for a lot of people to binge-watch more episodes at a time,” sophomore achana Dandamudi said. efore, on T channels, you had to wait for episodes to come out every week, but for etflix and other streaming services, they re all available for you right then and there so you can watch them without anything stopping you.”

Sitcoms like riends,” rooklyn ine- ine” and The Office,” with episodes usually running for minutes, offer viewers a large amount of content in sectioned proportions, making them easier to consume in a single sitting. The result is an addictive and satisfying viewing experience for fans to fall into the ust one more episode” trap.

During CO ID- , living in isolation caused the percentage of people binge-watching to increase dramatically. Starting from March 14, 2020, O ax observed a 5% increase in the number of subscribers who watched three or more episodes in one sitting. Other streaming services such as etflix and Ama on rime reported similar trends, creating and releasing more content in order to keep up with viewer demands.

Streaming services make a lot of money out of people getting addicted to these shows,” said Grace strada, h.D., a full-time sychology faculty member and the Student earning Outcome Coordinator for vergreen alley College. Their algorithm is made to recommend more shows that viewers will like, so you re even more stuck.”

eople tend to binge-watch as it leaves them with a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment due to the dopamine that is released during the activity. Satisfying one s desire for entertainment activates the part of the brain that provides a sense of accomplishment.

With today s streaming services, there is no need for delayed gratification,” strada said. eople see no reason to wait to watch television shows, whether they are hoping to be the first to finish the episodes or are desperately trying to catch up to their friends and family.”

The addictive nature of binge-watching deteriorates attention spans. Unable to wait to consume media at their fingertips, binge-watchers have a constant craving to be entertained; thus, companies and streaming services feed on this addiction by creating episodes with cliffhangers, compelling the audience to continue watching. xperts have linked increased chances for cardiovascular disease, depression and sleep problems with binge-watching. Binge-watching results in heart problems as spending long periods in a sitting or reclined position while watching T reduces one s overall health and increases the risk of developing fatal diseases. any binge-watchers have been found to lead unhealthy lifestyles with a lack of exercise and a habit of binge eating which is directly linked to a weakened heart and increased vulnerability to sleep problems, blood clots and cognitive decline.

"But binge-watching can still be done in a healthy way," strada said. I en oy binge-watching with my family, and if it s done with others, you avoid isolation.

Watching with others also increases accountability and eliminates the desperation to finish first or catch up to others.”

Feeling SAD? Blame the weather

BY CHELSEA LEE

M

any people breathe a sigh of relief when the weather warms up and starts to feel like spring, but it may not bring as much relief to others.

Illuminated on social media as seasonal depression” and formally known as seasonal affective disorder, this condition is related to changes in seasons. eople most commonly experience winter-onset SAD, but its other form is summer-onset SAD. oughly 5% of adults experience SAD for 40% of the year, according to the American sychiatric Association.

The symptoms seen in both types of SAD include losing interest in activities, feeling sluggish and thoughts of suicide. Winter depression” specifically has symptoms of oversleeping, greater carbohydrate cravings, weight gain and tiredness, whereas summer depression” may show as insomnia, poor appetite, weight loss, anxiety and increased irritability.

I once made it to the final round of a contest that involves a pre-scheduled interview, but because of my SAD, I didn t do anything for an entire week and did not find out until I finally checked my emails, but the interview already passed,” said sophomore li abeth Jiang. This made me reali e my experience isn t normal.”

The symptoms of SAD generally improve on their own as the season changes but can be mitigated with a combination of antidepressant medications, communication-based counseling or light therapy. According to the A A, SAD is linked to the lack of sunlight in winter which causes a biochemical imbalance in the brain.

Thus,

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY VIDUSHI UPADHYAY

increasing light exposure by ust being outdoors or near a window in daylight can improve symptoms.

Although I have not been formally diagnosed with SAD, I hated the fall because of how progressively dark it would get,” S psychologist rittany Stevens said. or years, I had an office at ynbrook with no window. After we moved into the GSS building, I got an office with a window and became happier, probably because I had more exposure to natural light. It s unbelievable what a difference it makes for me.”

There is often a stigma around mental health conditions like SAD. Since there is no medical test to identify many mental health conditions, they are sometimes seen as illegitimate or more self-controllable” than other physiological conditions.

In our society, there s an expectation that people should ust be stronger than a feeling like grief, depression or anxiety that they should be able to ust power through that,” Stevens said. Whether it s in the brain or another organ, telling someone, don t be depressed or don t be anxious, is ust as insensitive and inaccurate as telling someone to power through any other body dysfunction.”

To create a more accepting community, Jiang expresses that respecting the needs of people with SAD can go a long way.

It s not like people with SAD want to be sad when the sky is gray, but the weather influences our mood a lot more than others,” Jiang said. Just being courteous can really help us feel understood.”

14

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY VIDUSHI UPADHYAY AND NEHA AYYER

May 8, 2023

SPORTS

the Epic

15

New Biden proposal addresses transgender athletics

BY NICOLE GE

women. However, since August 2022, the NCAA has required athletes to meet required n April 6, the Biden Administration specific testosterone levels that vary by and the U.S. Department of sport.

Education proposed a rule that The ongoing debate regarding transgender offers educational institutions a new athletes highlights the challenges of framework for formulating eligibility balancing inclusivity and fairness in sports. standards for transgender student- Some individuals are concerned that athletes. The proposed policy allows including transgender athletes in women’s schools to create their own policies while sports may violate Title IX, which aims to ensuring that all students have equal promote equality and fairness in sports. opportunities in sports. However, the new A key issue in this debate is whether rule has ignited controversy regarding transgender girls possess a testosteronethe extent to which transgender athletes based advantage over cisgender girls, should be allowed to participate in sports which could potentially undermine fair alongside cisgender girls and women. competition. If this is the case, it is argued The proposal requires universities that Title IX should be used to protect the and K-12 schools, who receive federal rights of cisgender girls and women, and to funding to take into account age, level ensure fairness in competition in sports. of competition and the nature of a “There is a biological difference between sport when developing policies that transgender women and cisgender women,” would prevent transgender student track and cross country runner Lily Fang said. athletes from competing. For example, “I believe the best way to have transgender basketball and tennis may warrant athletes compete in sports is to create a new different restrictions due to varying division for them.” physical demands. Nevertheless, the This idea falls in line with the fairly proposal forbids recent ruling by outright bans the International against transgender Swimming Federation, athletes, allowing which banned The proposal would prevent them to compete in transgender women schools from targeting sports depending on from competing in the school’s policies transgender athletes, women’s events in and discretion. The June 2022. The ruling but wouldn’t combat U.S. Department came three months transphobia. initiated the after Lia Thomas, a proposal to alleviate transgender woman Charlotta “Charlie” Dai, uncertainty on the University of Freshman surrounding Pennsylvania’s swim the eligibility team, won the NCAA of transgender Division I swimming students in sports championship in the and to provide clarity for students, 500-yard women’s freestyle, highlighting parents and coaches. the issue of balancing equity and inclusivity “My main opinion is that it’s not in sports. FINA’s solution to maintaining an a good law,” Lynbrook Gender and inclusive environment was to establish a Sexuality Alliance member Charlotta new, “open” category for transgender women “Charlie” Dai said. “Although it would to compete in in the future. The public prevent schools from directly targeting response to the ruling was divided, similar transgender athletes, it would not to the reaction to the Biden proposal. Some have the effect needed to combat the argued that the ban was discriminatory rampant transphobia against transgender towards transgender athletes and lacked athletes.” scientific evidence to support it.

The National Collegiate Athletic If a person identifies as a woman, then Association has already made changes they are a woman, and if a man identifies as to rules regarding the eligibility of a man, then they are a man,” Dai said. “Title transgender female student-athletes to IX is against sex-based discrimination, and compete. In 2022, transgender women to discriminate against transgender athletes need to have taken a testosterone- would be to violate Title IX.” suppressing treatment for a year before Past research has led to inconclusive competing against other cisgender evidence over whether transgender women

O

Do you think transgender women should or should not be allowed to compete in sports with cisgender women and girls at each of the following levels?

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS

28%

58%

14%

COLLEGE SPORTS

28%

58%

14%

HIGH SCHOOL

30%

55%

15%

YOUTH SPORTS

33%

49%

17%

Source: Washington Post poll of 1,503 U.S. adults

Should be allowed

Should not be allowed

No opinion

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ASHLEY HUANG

athletes do have an unfair advantage in competition. While some studies suggest that transgender women may have a performance advantage over cisgender women, other research has shown that hormone therapy and testosterone suppression, which has been implemented at the collegiate level, can significantly decrease muscle mass, bone density, and other physical characteristics, leveling the playing field and reducing the possibility of unfair advantage.

Many fear that the proposal may encourage more discrimination against transgender athletes. While the law prohibits bans on transgender athletes to participate in sports, many see the proposal as a disguised way for

schools to legally restrain transgender athletes from elite and collegiate sports through their enforced policies.

The proposal marks the first time the government has directly addressed this issue. This is an important first step toward finding a solution that balances fairness and inclusivity while protecting transgender students’ access to sports.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ASHLEY HUANG

16 SPORTS Evan Taylor sprints through two Lynbrook track records

BY DEEKSHA RAJ

A

fter a final burst of energy, senior Evan Taylor is milliseconds away from breaking yet another school record — his team holds their breaths as they watch him cross the finish line of the 200-meter dash in 21.74 seconds, the fastest time a Lynbrook athlete has ever run.

Evan was thrilled to see his record-breaking time appear on the stopwatch as he crossed the finish line, something he had been anticipating for months. His teammates erupted in cheers and rushed over to celebrate the memorable moment with him.

“I felt completely overjoyed and relieved when I crossed the finish line,” Evan said. “When I saw my time on the stopwatch it was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.”

On April 13, Evan broke Lynbrook’s 44-year-old record in the 200-meter dash event.

Following that, at the Central Coast Section Last Chance Invite, he broke another 30-year-old Lynbrook record in the 100-meter dash event on April 16. In his fourth year of running for Lynbrook’s track and field team, Evan was determined to leave a mark in its history.

The previous record for the 200-meter

celebrating this huge victory with him.

“Right when he crossed the finish line, I saw him jump up into the air and everyone was cheering,” Evan’s father and Lynbrook physics teacher David Taylor said. “At first I didn’t know he broke a school record — I thought he just set a personal record — but when he told me later we were all very happy and proud of him.”

Just three days later, Evan broke Lynbrook’s 30-year record of 10.75 seconds in the 100-meter dash event with a time of 10.63 seconds.

During this race, the result for first place was very tight between Evan and another runner — it ultimately came down to a lung toward the finish line to determine the winner.

“I didn’t expect to break the 100-meter dash record,” Evan said. “But I just gave it my all and was confident because I had just broken the 200-meter dash record.”

Evan has been involved in track and field for the past seven years. His impressive performance in 6th grade track and field motivated him to continue to train and improve.

Evan’s efforts to become a better runner started showing during his sophomore year when he began placing and has also allowed him to constantly set new records.

“I’m proud of how far I’ve come since middle school and I’m really glad that I made the decision to continue track.” Evan said.

21.74s 10.63s

m

200-

dash

dash was 21.91 seconds, held by class of 1979 alumnus Stan Mitchell. During Evan’s 21.74-second race, he recalls feeling like he was slowing down.

“Out of all the records that I had my eyes set on, the 200-meter dash was the one I was most confident about, so I knew I’d be able to do it,” Evan said. “It was just a matter of when.”

At the r a c e , E v a n ’ s friends and family w e r e among the audience

h

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY DEEKSHA RAJ AND MAPLE LEUNG USED WITH PERMISSION FROM PATRICIA CHANG

100-m da s

Mental health in the world of sports

BY QIANZI LOO

O

ne in seven people between the ages of 10 and 19 suffer from some sort of mental disorder, according to a 2021 global study by the World Health Organization.

While exercise has been recognized as one of the most effective methods to improve mental health and maintain a healthy lifestyle, engaging in intense exercise at a competitive level greatly increases the potential for injury and may lead to increased stress and anxiety due to heightened expectations.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 36.7% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the U.S. have experienced persistent feelings of depression, based on data collected from 2018 and 2019. Some suggest exercising as a method to remain active while regulating negative emotions. Similar to many other methods of stress reduction, playing a sport or exercising causes the body to release endorphins — chemicals in the brain that relieve pain and stress.

“Exercise is time for myself,” sophomore Kasturi Kirubaharan said. “I feel better about my body and health.”

Regular exercise can significantly reduce risks of developing cardiovascular disease, Type 2

diabetes and some cancers, according to National Library of Medicine reported that the CDC. A consistent workout routine is around 60% of all high school athletes also effective in maintaining healthy weight, experienced a moderate to extreme level of potentially helping athletes feel better about stress related to their sport. However, many their body image or lifestyle. institutions have started to recognize this Level of intensity and type of exercise problem and develop programs to aid student can drastically influence how a sport affects athletes. mental health. For instance, a calmer form of “Sometimes, training designed for the team exercise like yoga or meditation seeks to calm is not necessarily designed for the student, the body and focuses on and they have to adjust stretching and connecting to that,” Post said. “Thus, with oneself. Meanwhile, a lot of schools will have high-intensity exercises a psychologist or a small Exercise is time for such as swimming or team with other degrees football invoke more who work in the athletic myself — it makes me competitive spirit, putting department or college feel better about my stress on the students. counseling center.” body and health.

For competitive athletes, While psychologists playing sports go beyond are available to students Kasturi Kirubaharan, fulfilling their sports after games, coaches also Sophomore credits and may implicate often work to encourage their future careers or a positive environment scholarships for colleges, for athletes to train. This causing greater stress. coordination in placing In some sports, injuries can also become an emphasis on building a strong community common, with students taking longer breaks to facilitate tighter bonds between players between games in order to recover, potentially is crucial in ensuring healthy psychological resulting in both physical and mental setbacks. mindsets.

Athletes also often need to strategically plan “I’ve always emphasized to my students: their time to make sure they’re able to meet if you’re coming through those doors for their athletic, academic and personal goals. practice, you are one team, one family,” P.E. For sports that require more time in training teacher Kevin Tran said. “If I allow for drama or competitions during the weekends, efficient within the team, that creates a weak link organizational skills prove to be crucial. which ultimately creates a weak community.”

“Students have to balance athletics Aside from biological benefits, sports commitments with their academics and social can help improve overall mentality, improve life,” said Lisa Post, psychiatry and behavioral cognitive thinking and reduce short-term bciences professor at Stanford University. anxiety. Perseverance and dedication are some “They have an opportunity to learn to be of the main qualities athletes need to embrace more organized and universally effective, as they immerse themselves in their sport and because they have a different or exercise routine since most training plans workload.” are over long periods of time. Overcoming Additionally, the pressure to obstacles to reach their goals can help build a perform better from peers, positive mindset, giving them a clear vision of mentors and students what to do. Outside of sports, they can apply themselves can lead to the same mentality to maintain a growth lower self-esteem mindset in their classes. or mental health “Exercising takes away all my stress issues.A 2023 from academics,” sophomore Adithya s t u d y Venkataraghavan said. “The gym community published gives me motivation to accomplish things.” in the While exercising and playing sports can be beneficial for one’s mental health, they can also cause more stress depending on the sport.

Thus, knowing the limits of our mind and body can be just as important as exercising itself.

May 8, 2023

editors-in-chief amy liu elizabeth cheng managing editor anirudh seshadri copy editors sruthi medepalli timothy kim design editors catherine zhou sophie au adviser josh miller news editors chelsea lee sam sarma opinion editor myles kim features editor katie chin in-depth editor neha ayyer sports editor susanna tang web editors jason shan meera nambiar business/pr manager anushka anand social media manager jasmine rihal staffers alyssa wang amishi chandra apurva krishnamurthy ashley huang audrey sun calvin zhou daeun chung deeksha raj eileen zhu emily pedroza inaaya yousuf larry wang lilly wu maple leung nicole ge qianzi loo riki murase samiya anwar sarah zhang surya saraf tanika anbu valerie shu vidushi upadhyay small print: the Epic is the official newspaper of Lynbrook High School and is a student-run open forum not subject to prior review, as protected under the California Education Code.

Views expressed in the Epic do not necessarily reflect or represent those of the administration or faculty of this school or district. Letters to the Editor, guest columns and other materials to be considered for publication are welcome. Visit lhsepic.com/ submissions for the guidelines and submission form. valued contributors: Yunhee Hong and Sanghoon Kim.

GRAPHHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH ZHANG