Issue 3 by The Pen Newspaper

The Pen Newspaper

Art by: Abby Lee

OPINION

...Tick, Tock, Tiktok?

Since its release in September 2016, the social media platform TikTok has claimed 170 million users in the U.S. alone and over one billion worldwide (SCOTUS). With its numerous viral shortform videos and popular trends, the app has resonated deeply with the younger community and cemented itself as a cultural phenomenon. However, with a permanent nationwide ban threatening the platform in the name of security, users are questioning whether this restriction would violate their right to free speech. Conversely, banning TikTok does not violate any Americans’ constitutional rights because there are many other platforms and apps that allow the same freedom of expression that TikTok offers, and a ban would eradicate any potential risks that the Chinese-owned company may pose to the U.S. government and the app’s users.

On March 23, 2023, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew went to a congressional hearing where he tried to defend himself and TikTok after multiple questions were repeatedly fired at him about the safety of his app. The main concerns that arose were of TikTok and Bytedance’s

affiliation with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), data privacy of users, teen misinformation, no oxford and fentanyl. When asked if TikTok or Bytedance has shared any data of U.S. citizens with the CCP, Chew was unable to give a straight answer and dodged the question. Later in the hearing, one Congressperson revealed that if the Chinese Intelligence Agency called upon TikTok or Bytedance to share the data of its users, they must cooperate and are sworn to secrecy. He also revealed that the Chief Editor of Bytedance is the Secretary of the CCP (ABC News). Chew claimed that TikTok is starting on a potential solution to the issue of data privacy and user security called Project Texas. He said that it would act as a “firewall” to store U.S. user data in the U.S. managed by U.S. personnel. TikTok claims to have spent billions of dollars on this project. The problem that Lawmakers <why caps? have with this, is that it is still incomplete, and China still has access to U.S. data as it did for years past. In

addition, it will still be possible for China to access the data if Project Texas goes into effect (Forbes Breaking News).

“I [believe] that TikTok is collecting its user’s data,” senior Isabella Murillo said. “[Although] it may not be necessarily for the Chinese government, [it is] still a risk to the U.S. and [some precautions] should be taken.”

In December of 2019, the Pentagon recommended all U.S. military personnel delete TikTok from all their personal and government-issued phones after multiple alarms were raised on the security of the app (AP News). In August 2020, President Trump gave 90 days for ByteDance<this is caps in two places whereas it isn’t above. You should also include this intro to what bytedance is sooner in the article, the parent company of TikTok, to sell the app to a U.S. corporation or be banned from

did not violate any rights (CBS News). In the case of a ban, TikTok users would still have access to other platforms such as Instagram, X and Facebook that TikTok users can use in lieu of the app, the ban would not violate the free speech of its users.

“Many people in the U.S. are addicted to TikTok,” freshman Amira Madhyasta said. “It is their main source of entertainment. [If it were to be banned], they would get very bored. [However], a ban would improve their daily lives and mental health [by reducing the sources of addiction].”

However, some say that a ban on TikTok would violate its users’ freedom of speech. A ban on the popular communications platform can take away freedom of expression of millions of U.S. users rather than protect them, which endangers democracy (A Library Association). Also, a ban can destroy small businesses, since many of these companies use TikTok for advertising and job applications.

hours (BBC News). TikTok challenged the ban, saying it violated first amendment rights. However, on January 17, The Supreme Court rejected the challenge, saying that the law was constitutional and

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Josie Kwak

Alena Rhoades

COPY EDITOR

Andrew Lu

HEADS OF GRAPHICS

Veronica Chen

Abby Lee

EDITORS

Melina Ajami

Neekta Baghoolizadeh

Zahra Habib

Haylie Kim

Sivan Stoler

Angelina Wang

WRITERS

Isabella Attallah

Giana Geerdts

“I think a ban on TikTok [could] negatively affect small businesses [who rely on it] to have their business noticed,” freshman Lilith Stine said. “The small businesses use it for advertising and put out links to their establishments for people to be interested in them. [Also], [it is] easier to advertise on TikTok than some other platforms.”

Although these may be valid points, there are many other platforms that are like TikTok that are not owned by a foreign country that has a strong Communist Party. Also, a ban on TikTok may force businesses who use it for advertising to switch to platforms such as Instagram, YouTube or Facebook, which can lead to a broader audience and reduce reliance on a single platform. Also, the TikTok Shop sells high-risk items, such as beauty and health products. These products are from unverified sellers and have elevated risk, due to authenticity and privacy concerns (A Guide to Safe Online Shopping).

Overall, TikTok poses too many concerns to the U.S., whether it be national or personal. From its ties to the Chinese government and affiliation with the Chinese Communist Party, it is too risky of a platform to still be allowed to operate on any U.S. devices and therefore should be banned.

Selah Hartman

Sura Kiasatpour

Mason Kim

Soren Kim

Elyssa Lee

Gunnar Lee

Jewell Lluz

Shawn Lo

Adam Lu

Sydney Malicse

Kyra McGath

Jarrett Meza-Torne

James Pan

Alesha Paramasivum

Soha Shah

Elena Thomas

Thanh Vuong

GRAPHICS

Kat Espedido

Makayla Glaneman

Zoe Hollingshead

Brian Hong

Angelina Jo

BUSINESS MANAGER

Marisa Tan

BUSINESS

Maryam Ali

Asher Brunski

Caide Jung

Sophia Meneshian

Emma Pusavat

WEBSITE

Kohta Kinoshita

PHOTOGRAPHY

Isabella Attallah | 9

by: Neekta Baghoolizadeh

Art by: Zoe Hollingshead

Freedom on ICE

Recent Deportation Cases Raise Questions Over Civil Liberties

Alena Rhoades | 12

The United States is a nation founded on dissent — so much so that the Founding Fathers entrenched the rights to peaceful assembly and free speech into the Constitution after the British had attempted to silence them. Now, the very same government that once upheld these rights with pride, has shown that constitutional rights are selective: the “land of the free” has its limits. On the evening of Mar. 8, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided the apartment of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and Palestinian activist that led student protests on Columbia’s campus last spring. They informed him that his green card had been revoked and took him into custody, with a plan to eventually deport him (AP News). Regardless of one’s personal feelings on the pro-Palestinian protests that erupted across college campuses last year, the seizing of a permanent resident based on their political opinions is unacceptable; especially given the dangerous precedent Khalil’s example could be setting for political participation in the U.S. Though Khalil’s arrest itself was sudden, this storm against free speech has long been brewing. While on the campaign trail in August 2023, President Trump threatened to deport pro-Palestinian protesters if he were to win re-election. “One thing I do is [with] any student that protests — I throw them out of the country,” he reportedly told supporters.“ You know, there are a lot of foreign students” (New York Post). Many believed that this sentiment would exclusively apply to college protesters on student visas, especially considering Trump’s latest restrictive immigration policies. However, recent actions have shown a

drastic escalation. Khalil is a green card holder and thus a lawful permanent resident in the eyes of the government. Permanent residents are generally protected by “all the laws of the United States”, given that they obey the law themselves (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). Soon after his arrest, Khalil was transferred and held in a Louisiana detention facility — one that is infamous for abusive and inhumane living conditions — to await a hearing with an immigration judge, despite not having any criminal charges against him at the time (Newsweek).

A U.S. judge has since ruled that the Trump Administration can legally deport Khalil, and his lawyers have until April 23 to appeal. Though supporters of his detention have claimed that Khalil is pro-Hamas and have used this reasoning to justify his deportation, Khalil has rejected the allegation and states that he simply wishes to advocate for Palestinians’ safety and rights (NPR). Additionally, he worked as a mediator between Columbia’s administration and demonstrators during the protests (AP News). Since the arrest, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has quietly added charges against Khalil, seemingly to avoid further backlash for having kidnapped a man who exercised his constitutional right to peacefully protest. The DOJ alleged that Khalil did not disclose his work with the British Embassy in Beirut or the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in his green-card application, though a spokesperson for UNRWA has since claimed that Khalil was never a part of the payroll of the agency in his brief stint of work there (Reuters). Either way, the latest charges were likely lodged as a last-minute red herring; Trump and other government officials have made no attempt to hide their true intent—punishing those who publicly dis-

agree with the government, as shown by their recent targeting of other dissenters.

Another Columbia student and lawful permanent resident, Yunseo Chung, is also facing deportation for her involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. A federal judge temporarily halted federal agents from detaining her, and Chung subsequently sued the Trump administration to prevent her deportation. Chung, who moved from South Korea to the U.S. at seven years old, participated in campus protests but did not assume a leadership role (The New York Times). The rationale used in the attempt to arrest her is the same that was used in Khalil’s case — the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)’s statute proclaiming that an “alien whose presence or activities in the U.S. the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States is deportable” (US Code). Comments from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump imply that they are planning to broadly apply this provision to protesters, despite this caveat in the INA being written in for exceptional circumstances and not having been used since 1997 (The Hill). Additionally, this McCarthy-esque law gives near absolute power to Rubio in deportations, considering the vaguely worded “reasonable ground to believe” could apply to a myriad of activities.

Constitutional rights are not a privilege. Even if the aggressive arrests and deportations of green-card holders are allowed under a hidden clause in the INA, perhaps the nation needs to reconsider its legality. These college students may be the newest targets for deportation, but it’s only a matter of time before more people bear the consequences of disagreeing with those in power.

OPINION 4

The Fight for Birthright

James Pan | 9

Immigration has always been a defining aspect of American history. It plays an undeniably significant role in every aspect of American life, with many arguing that it was integral to its foundation. However, the topic has become increasingly fraught over the years, with the locus of attention shifting away from undocumented immigration toward immigration as a whole. This is reflected in the data: a majority of Americans would now like to see immigration decrease as a whole, the highest percentage since 2001 (Gallup). President Donald Trump has certainly benefited from this change, having taken an even more aggressive stance toward immigration in his second term (ACLU). Since his inauguration last January, Trump has already implemented a number of anti-immigrant policies, from revoking protective status in schools and churches to expediting deportations (American Immigration Council). Out of the 10 executive orders and proclamations Trump issued, the one attempting to unilaterally end birthright citizenship remains the most controversial. The law currently faces a litany of lawsuits attempting to halt its implementation, with a number of interest groups and state governments citing overt unconstitutionality and deleterious effects on immigrant populations throughout the nation (TIME). Despite this, the order still represents a considerable source of anxiety regarding immigrant families’ legal status, if they are to have any (American Immigration Council). Trump’s order is not only blatantly unconstitutional but also represents

a deep-seated sentiment of xenophobia and racism in immigration politics.

The 14th Amendment states that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside” (National Archive). This provision has long been applied in support of birthright citizenship, which is supported by over a century of Supreme Court precedent stating that anyone born in the country is a citizen, irrespective of background. Trump’s executive order argues that the children of undocumented immigrants are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and are therefore excluded by the amendment’s extension of citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States” (The White House). There are many evident issues with this line of reasoning. Undocumented immigrants are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. — they still must follow the law. When they commit crimes, they receive punishment for them. Additionally, in United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898), the Supreme Court ruled that the son of two undocumented immigrants from China was a U.S. citizen. The court stated that “every citizen or subject of another country, while domiciled here, is within the allegiance and the protection, and consequently subject to the jurisdiction, of the United States” (The Washington Post). Trump’s rejection of common interpretations of the 14th Amendment fundamentally undermines the guiding principles that undergird American democracy.

“I feel overwhelmed [regarding] what the future may look like,” senior William

Wei said. “[Trump] is already willing to skip over the Supreme Court’s [precedent] and set a new [interpretation] of the Constitution. It makes me wonder what other extreme policies he may establish later regarding immigration. It is [imperative] that we protect the rights of children.”

Specifically, Trump’s executive order would create a dangerous precedent for stripping away rights for certain groups. This would disproportionately affect people of color, who have historically been the target of anti-immigrant attacks against birthright citizenship (The Atlantic). Independently, this policy reinscribes a deeply violent logic that some populations are less American and thus less deserving of legal protection than others. It perpetuates a harmful notion that immigrants, especially those who are people of color, are not as welcome in American society. It would require millions of Americans to prove their citizenship over and over again, which opens up the possibility for catastrophic administrative errors that could have an irrevocable effect on legal status. These bureaucratic obstacles could exacerbate existing inequalities that many immigrants face, making them more vulnerable to loss of legal status or deportation.

“It is all kind of dystopian for me,” senior Aaron Yi said. “People who are nonwhite will [likely] have to carry things that are important to them. It [may] erase [diverse] cultural identity as people will try to be as American as they can be to avoid the risk of deportation or [loss] of legal status.”

While anxiety regarding the policy is undeniable, it is not entirely worth despair. Trump’s executive order has already been challenged in the courts as unconsti-

tutional by many, including a coalition of immigrant rights groups and the attorney generals for 22 Democratic states (TIME). In addition, it attempts to rewrite the Constitution by fiat, which the states argue the president does not have the authority to do (The Atlantic). Amending the Constitution is complicated, even without the robust legal opposition. It requires a twothirds vote in both chambers of Congress or a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of all state legislatures and ratification by three-quarters of all states (The Guardian). While undeniably counterproductive to downplay the danger posed by policy, Trump’s efforts to end birthright citizenship will almost certainly be an uphill battle given extensive historical precedent to the contrary and fierce opposition from states.

President Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship is not only blatantly incoherent from a legal standpoint but also represents an overt attempt to make the nation more exclusionary. While despondency regarding the policy’s implications is a reasonable reaction, the robust legal opposition stands as a testament to the importance of standing up for the marginalized. In a chapter of such political and social turmoil, now is the time to fight for a more just, inclusive America.

“I [believe] it is increasingly important for young people to [spread awareness] about issues like [immigration], whether it be [via] social media or contacting a [representative],” sophomore Alex Wilner said. “Considering the [potential] impacts of Trump’s policy, it is important that everyone do as much as they can to make sure the [affected] feel safe and included.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRYAN R. SMITH VIA GETTY IMAGES

Boxed In

Created by: Andrew Lu | 12

Beyond the Algorithm

As the sun rose on Monday, Jan. 27, the world awoke to Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) Sputnik moment. DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, released a groundbreaking AI model on par with OpenAI’s ChatGPT on Jan. 20, and just one week later, the Chinese startup surpassed OpenAI as the most-downloaded free app in the U.S. App Store. This achievement was made more notable when the differences in resources are taken into account, as DeepSeek used roughly $6 million worth of leading technology company Nvidia’s lower capability H800 processor chips. In contrast, OpenAI raised $6.6 billion from investors and had the more advanced H100 Nvidia chips at their disposal (Reuters). With the stopwatch now ticking in the “Space Race” of the 21st century, domestic companies have been scrambling to re-establish their comfortable dominance over the AI industry, while the U.S. must reassess and readjust their relations with China. The development of AI has become the cornerstone of

common use of generative AI was, in reality, obtaining in formation, brainstorming and asking questions that they felt uncomfortable posing to teachers or parents (Harvard Graduate School of Education). Outside of chatbots, AI has become a regular part of many people’s daily lives: it produces recommendations for streaming service users through viewing patterns, curates social media feeds, sorts through results from an inquiry to search engines and even operates self-driving cars (University of Liverpool). With their lead in the development of AI, domestic companies — and by extension, the U.S. as a whole — benefited from the revenue generated from every new advancement in the industry. Junior Zumi Lee, secretary of Peninsula’s NextGen AI Entrepreneurs Club, gives her assessment on the significance of AI in today’s world and the years to come.

“I believe [AI] will both damage and [improve] our society,” Lee said. “Humans will soon rely too much on AI, ultimately taking away from their creativity and ideas. Yet, I do believe in the fields of research and medi-

However, the rise of Chinese company, DeepSeek and its leading language model, DeepSeek R-1, uprooted American control over AI, although not for any lack of preventive effort on the part of the U.S. On Oct. 17, 2021, the White House blocked foreign access to the advanced chips designed by Nvidia and other domestic companies in an attempt to secure an American lead over the development of AI (Reuters). Against all odds, DeepSeek-R1 reached an intelligence and capability on par with the leading generative AI and demonstrated that billions of dollars in funding and access to the most advanced resources were unnecessary to produce the same result. It has reached an almost human-like approach to problem solving, has a 90% mathematical accuracy and possesses advanced writing skills. However, as a Chinese corporation, DeepSeek faces the same censorship imposed on Chinese citizens: for example, R-1 reportedly refuses to answer questions regarding controversial topics such as the Tiananmen Square Massacre and the Hong Kong Protests (CNN). Senior Rachel Mar, President of

rushed to block access to DeepSeek in the US. President Donald Trump called DeepSeek a ‘wake-up’ call to domestic AI companies, while Italy, Taiwan and Australia have outright banned its chatbot (TechCrunch). Several companies, as well as the U.S. Navy, Congress, NASA and the Pentagon have also prohibited the use of DeepSeek within their staff on the ba- sis of potential data-stealing from the Chinese government (TechCrunch). However, data-stealing was likely not the only motive to the widespread banning of DeepSeek. Similar to the initial blocks on Nvidia’s chip exports, these current prohibitions were likely placed in an attempt to retain U.S. monopoly until foreign countries were forced to rely on U.S. technology for modernization (The Diplomat). Senior Dylan Suarez presents his predictions for how the emergence of DeepSeek will alter relations between China and the U.S.

“The increased competition from DeepSeek and [other] companies outside of our domestic sphere may be a concern for [American] industry in AI, robotics and applied sciences, [as] newer firms in other nations have the advantage of rapid prototyping and development because they [can] piggyback off of the work done by U.S. firms over the past decade.”

her experi ences with ChatGPT and DeepSeek.

“I prefer DeepSeek,” Mar said. “[It] has a feature [where it will go on] the web, [make] sure [all of its information] is credible and will tell [the user] which sources [the information is] from. [The user can also] upload an unlimited [amount of] pictures. The only downside is that the DeepSeek server is [sometimes] down at certain times of the day, which usually does not happen with ChatGPT.”

These same results, accomplished through a drastic difference in funds, sent shockwaves through the public. Investors sold their shares in Nvidia, leading to a

These restrictions may paint DeepSeek to be a threat — but it also represents a new age in AI. Before the Chinese AI model, funds and resources were an insurmountable obstacle to developing AI — but DeepSeek’s success proves that lacking such access is not an impediment, only a means to new breakthroughs. Now, a U.S. monopoly on AI no longer appears to be on the cards for the upcoming decade — rather, a global market for the technology seems increasingly likely.

Art by: Kat Espedido | 12

Alesha Paramasivum | 12

UPDATE: Just after midnight on Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2025, Israeli airstrikes bombarded the Gaza strip, killing more than 400 people (AP News). Two months of negotiations on the ceasefire deal had failed to materialize long-term peace. The attack came just two weeks after Israel had cut off aid distributions in Gaza: a sign that talks were already breaking down (BBC). The attack itself ended with one of the highest death tolls for Palestinians in the entire war, as well as the highest death toll for Palestinian children in a single day. This was due to the deliberate targeting of residential buildings in Gaza, a choice made by Israeli officials to influence negotiations with Hamas in Israel’s favor (Washington Post). Israel informed Trump of their decision according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, with Leavitt conveying Trump’s sentiments for Hamas, “All hell will break loose,” (Reuters).

Gaza Ceasefire

Mason Kim | 11

Over the course of 15 months of bloodshed, bombing and risks of famine, the deaths of nearly 46,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis have made the conflict in Gaza one of the bloodiest to hit the Middle East in years (AP News). For the dozens of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and the thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, an end to the conflict has been long overdue (BBC News). Fortunately, on Jan. 15, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal, which went into effect Jan. 19 (BBC). The deal comes after months of negotiations between both sides, overseen by the United States, Qatar and Egypt. Phase one of the deal included a complete ceasefire, the exchange of 33 hostages held by Hamas and 1,900 Palestinians held by Israel and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas. After an extended impasse in negotiations, Israel and Hamas entered negotiations for phase two of the deal, more than 50 days after the original deadline (Reuters). Finally, the deal would conclude with the reconstruction of Gaza and the return of the deceased hostages’ bodies (BBC News). While the long-term prospects of the deal remain in question, the weeks following the ceasefire’s start have proven it to be an undeniable relief for both sides. One of the harshest impacts of the Gaza conflict has been hunger. For thousands of Palestinian families and children, malnutrition is a pervasive reality. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system, the hunger crises in Gaza have consistently neared, but never quite reached, the official classification of famine. The conflict itself has made obtaining critical information regarding malnutrition and deaths difficult, causing some scholars to advocate redefining “famine” (Reuters). The ceasefire has already helped to mitigate the threat, with the World Food Programme stepping up to deliver more than 10 million metric tons of food aid since Jan. 19 (UN News). For other relief organizations, however, distributing aid has not been as easy. Just days after the ceasefire, Israel’s ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) went into effect, undermining a crucial vehicle for aid. UNRWA claims to have delivered over two-thirds of all food assistance in Gaza since October 2023, a figure that Israel claims is exaggerat- ed. Israel further believes that UNRWA has been infil- trated by members of Hamas, making a ban necessary to “depoliticize” the delivery of aid (NBC News). Furthermore, aid that does successfully reach Gaza is often unsuccessful in reaching those who need it. Restrictions on essential goods by Israel and middlemen reselling aid for inflated prices have

made distribution difficult for other UN agencies such as UNICEF (PBS News). Thus, while aid is flowing at a faster rate, it is yet to be seen whether the ceasefire will be sufficient to remedy the hunger crises in Gaza. Concerning the disruptions to food distribution, junior Cameron Farjami explains that the deal is still a source of optimism.

“What we are seeing from Israel right now is not much different from their actions in the past [15 months],” Farjami said. “[Still], the ceasefire has opened the way for organizations to provide aid at a much larger scale in a much safer environment.”

A great contributor to the political will for a ceasefire was the pressure for the return of hostages taken by Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced plummeting approval ratings following the Oct. 7 attack, exacerbated by his repeated failures in negotiating the release of Israeli hostages (AP News). With the new deal, Netanyahu stands to gain a spike in public approval over the return of 33 women, children, older men and sick hostages. On Jan. 30, the first exchange was made, with Israel releasing 110 Palestinian prisoners, and Hamas returning eight hostages. On the other hand, hard-liner Israeli politicians like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have threatened to withdraw support for Netanyahu if the war does not resume (AP News). For some of those hostages, their return is not enough. To Keith Siegel, an American-Israeli and one of the eight released hostages, concern for the hostages left behind was second only to announcing his return to his family. Siegel asked upon return, “What can I do to help bring the other hostages home?” (AP News). In Gaza, the ceasefire has been a source of na-

last long-term,” Munro said. “The point of the ceasefire should be to create a safe environment for both sides to figure out what they want to do to sustain peace. However, Trump’s recent video plan showing A.I. footage of [his] ideal Gaza rebuilding [jeopardizes peace]. The implications [threaten] Palestinians living [in the Gaza Strip] as it portrays the space as a luxury spot for rich people to enjoy. For [Trump’s plan] to happen, it requires the [displacement] of Palestinians living there now, which was a key reason for [the conflict] occuring in the first place.”

The contents of the deal itself were proposed by former President Joe Biden in May 2024 and crossed the finish line only after months of negotiation. Part of these negotiations was Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, who played a significant role in finalizing the deal (NPR). From Trump’s comment that there would be “all hell to pay” if the hostages were not returned by the time he took office to the ceasefire starting the day before his inauguration, it is hard to attribute the deal to convenient timing alone (Washington Post). Some of Trump’s plans for Gaza, however, have drawn criticism from U.S. allies such as Egypt and Jordan for threatening the prospects of a permanent ceasefire. Trump has repeatedly suggested that displaced Palestinians be permanently resettled and for the U.S. to redevelop the Gaza Strip as a tourist destination (AP News). Regarding Trump’s proposals, junior Zainab Khaja criticized his rhetoric.

“The U.S. has been the one supplying Israel the weapons necessary to continue the conflict,” Khaja said. “Now [the U.S.] is saying it is too destroyed and that [Palestinians] cannot [return, which is partly] our fault that they cannot go home in the [first] place.”

tional celebration, with crowds flocking in the hundreds to welcome returning Palestinians home (BBC). Due to the fragile nature of the current ceasefire, the potential for extended peace rests on the safe exchange of the hostages, making it an utmost priority. Senior Roman Munro expressed concern for the durability of the ceasefire.

“The current ceasefire deal [lacks] the potential to

To reach a long-term conclusion to the conflict in Gaza, it is important that international actors remain dedicated to fostering further diplomatic talks. As seen with the barriers to food distribution and concerns over hostage safety, tensions are far from being completely resolved. The only path toward sustainable peace is for nations to build a solution that can address both sides’ needs. Negotiations failed to begin the second phase of the ceasefire, as the first phase expired on Mar. 1 (BBC). On Mar. 18, Israel launched a barrage of airstrikes across Gaza, marking an official end to the ceasefire which saw the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages for approximately 2000 Palestinian prisoners (NPR). Netanyahu justified the attacks as a failure on Hamas’ part to accept a U.S.-backed deal which would require the release of more Israeli hostages in an extension of the first phase. Hamas has advocated starting the second phase (BBC). On Mar. 26th, anti-Hamas protests broke out in Gaza City, the largest since the start of the war (NBC News). Polling data shows that support for Hamas among Gazans has dwindled to 35%, although this may be inaccurate (NBC News). Negotiations are currently underway.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AL JAZEERA

Winner Takes AI

Gunnar Lee |10

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a central issue in the new Cold War between the United States and China. OpenAI, the American company responsible for developing ChatGPT, urged the U.S. to prioritize AI development in a 15-page “economic blueprint” document released on Jan. 13. It outlined their vision for the future of American AI, describing the new technology to be as revolutionary as the invention of the automobile (CNBC). They highlighted the potential benefits of investment into the industry: the creation of data centers would in turn lead to the creation of a new job market, the modernization of electricity infrastructure and the expansion of local economies (OpenAI). They suggested developing “common-sense” regulations, such as using AI to improve education and creating AI that is shaped by and promotes American ideals. OpenAI warned that unless the U.S. steps up, AI will become dominated by China and expand the Chinese Communist Party’s global influence (New York Times).

Generative AI has existed since the mid-20th century, developing alongside but slower than computer technology. In the 2010s, deep learning, a type of AI trained on a large dataset which is capable of recognizing complex patterns, was revolutionized with superior graphics processing unit (GPU) power and the emergence of a stronger algorithm. As the vast majority of generative AI utilizes the deep learning system, the 2010s marked a period of rapid

development for the emerging technology. It was in 2020 that the AI boom began in earnest, with deepfake and image-generating programs becoming mainstream (The Atlantic). The release of ChatGPT in Nov. 2022 prompted major companies to invest in AI; Google, Meta and Apple are some well-known examples. Chinese companies also began racing to create their own AI, efforts aided by a supportive government (UN).

OpenAI’s economic blueprint was published days before the inauguration of President Donald Trump. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was formerly critical of Trump, posting on his personal blog how he considered him dangerous (ABC News). However, with Trump’s reelection, Altman ingratiated himself with the president, even making a personal donation of $1 million to his inaugural fund (Reuters). The new administration has been open to AI development: as early as 2018, Trump supported U.S. dominance in the then-nascent industry (White House). Following reelection, he undid Biden’s executive order regulating AI development and is collaborating with OpenAI on the Stargate Infrastructure Project.

In December, Trump struck a deal with SoftBank, a Japanese investment management company, to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. projects. An immediate $100 billion investment is being used to construct AI data centers in Texas and is expected to create 100,000 jobs (CBS News). Elon Musk, who had been a key figure in OpenAI’s early days, soon fell out with Altman over disagreements regarding the leadership and future direc-

tion of OpenAI and later founded a rival company, xAI. Compared to ChatGPT, xAI’s model Grok 3 can hold more complex conversations, produce real-time information, generate uncensored images, and provide sources for its research. It is also directly connected to X (formerly Twitter) and trained to be anti-“woke” (Business Insider). Despite the two now serving Trump in intimate positions, Musk continues being hostile towards Altman, posting on his social media platform X that the government has nowhere near the amount of money promised for the project, although this claim was later disputed by Altman (AP News).

In a bid to get ahead in the race for AI, the Biden Administration made several efforts to restrict Chinese access to Nvidia’s powerful AI chips, or computer chips used to process the large amount of data required for AI (Reuters). Additionally, OpenAI blocked their tools and services in China on July 9, which prompted a surge in support for domestic AI companies. Of the several Chinese AI companies, DeepSeek, a relatively unknown startup, emerged as OpenAI’s true rival. Despite being built with inferior technology and a significantly smaller budget, built with $6 million opposed to $100 million for OpenAI, their DeepSeek-R1 model released in mid-January outperformed all major U.S. AI models in accuracy in complex problem-solving, garnering massive attention in Silicon Valley (NBC News). If the Stargate Project succeeds, OpenAI will reclaim and keep their previously unopposed hegemony.

Wildfires Devastate California

Soha Shah 11

Los Angeles County’s wildfire conditions have made the most recent California wildfires destructive enough for mass media attention. During an abnormally warm 2024 in Southern California, vegetation that had grown due to the two preceding wet seasons had dried, and on Jan. 7, sudden strong winds from Santa Ana ignited the Palisades Fire in the Santa Monica Mountains (CBS News). The fire destroyed 6,837 structures and burned 23,713 acres of land in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood and Malibu (Cal Fire). The wildfire is the third most destructive in California’s recorded wildfire history, and has left damage that will take years to repair (Cal Fire). Along with the thousands of homes that have been ravaged by the fire, a number of restaurants, schools, and churches have been lost (CBS News).

The Palisades Fire ignited in a shrubland area, which, scientists observe, would not have contained an adequate amount of fire fuel for a wildfire to start (Heatmap). Since there have been no natural ignition sources, such as lava or lightning, and because wildfires in the winter are not very typical, human activity has been heavily speculated as being the cause of the LA County fires (LA Times). Currently, there is an investigation being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on potential human causes of the Palisades Fire, as well as the origins of other fires. It was reported by evacuees to have erupted mere blocks away from where the Lachman Fire burned six days prior. Although the cause of the fire still remains uncertain, scientists heavily speculate that the Lachman Fire could have been reignited into the Palisades Fire due to the Santa Ana winds, as this is common with wildfires in western states (CBS News).

burned in the Altadena area of LA County and destroyed 7,500 structures, including businesses, churches, countless homes and a historic African American community. Schools near the fire in Pasadena began to reopen in late January (Pasadena Now). The Hughes Fire, which burned near Castaic Lake at 10,000 acres, grew rapidly due to the continued heavy winds, which firefighters struggled with across LA County. No reports of damaged structures or injuries as a result of

York Times). Former LA County Fire Chief Kristin Crowley addressed this by stating that the LAFD would not be utilizing the fire hydrants, as water drops from aircraft were currently more effective. Former Chief Crowley and LA Mayor Karen Bass have been engaging in a public argument over the lack of water, budget cuts and inadequate equipment given to the LAFD (The Guardian).

Panic has also contributed to the spat on social media. Images generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and resurfaced old videos of past fires in other areas have now gone viral. In addition, there have been online conspiracy theories and speculation regarding geoengineered weather, directed energy weapons, and dried up reservoirs. To address this misinformation, governor Gavin Newsom posted to his X account a link to a website for official information on the fires.

the Hughes Fire were made by officials. Although the Hughes Fire was contained, it was expected by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to evolve, given how quickly it grew in just days (CBS News). At least 29 people are believed to have died (ABC News).

The various forms of aid for the victims of the LA County wildfires includes Peninsula’s own charity drive, organized by ASB. Senior ASB member Katie Marley, along with the ASB publicity commissioners, were able to maximize the amount of donations they received with a variety of methods.

“Using the school’s Instagram page, the daily bulletin and the principal’s update helped to get the message out literally overnight,” Marley said. “Overall, the advertising tools were what made the drive successful.”

Besides the Palisades, two large fires have burned in LA County: the Eaton and the Hughes Fires. The Eaton fire, the second largest after the Palisades at 14,000 acres,

The destruction caused by such rapidly growing and destructive wildfires highlighted the general ill-preparedness of the systems in place in LA County to fight fires. Empty fire hydrants were an issue faced by the LA Fire Department on Jan. 14, due to the heavy demand for water to fight the massive Palisades Fire. The storage system in the Pacific Palisades was not built to transport the amounts of water that were needed (The New

For the first week after the Palisades Fire was ignited, Peninsula students and parents donated items at basketball games and at the Attendance office which were to be donated to the “It’s Bigger than Us LA” foundation. Olivia Rasic, a junior ASB member, observes the success of the drive, indicating the sheer amount of donations that accumulated in the ASB classroom.

“[The drive] was way more successful than I originally anticipated,” Rasic said. “When you look [in the ASB room], there’s just bags and bags of stuff. It makes you feel like you’re doing your part.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW SCIENTIST

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The Price of Deportation 10 FOCUS

James Pan | 9

mmigration has always been a defining aspect of American history. It plays an undeniably significant role in every aspect of American life, with many arguing that it was integral to its foundation. However, the topic has become increasingly fraught over the years, with the locus of attention shifting away from undocumented immigration toward immigration as a whole. This is reflected in the data: a majority of Americans would now like to see immigration decrease as a whole, the highest

tension of citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States” (The White House). There are many evident issues with this line of reasoning. Undocumented immigrants are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. — they still must follow the law. When they commit crimes, they receive punishment for them. Additionally, in United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898), the Supreme Court ruled that the son of two undocumented immigrants from China was a U.S. citizen. The court stated that “every citizen or subject of another country, while domiciled here, is within the allegiance and the protection, and consequently subject to the jurisdiction, of the United States” (The Washington Post). Trump’s rejection of common interpretations of the 14th Amendment fundamentally undermines the guiding principles that undergird American democracy.

“I feel overwhelmed [regarding] what the future may look like,” senior William Wei said. “[Trump] is already willing to skip over the Supreme Court’s [precedent] and set a new [interpretation] of the Constitution. It makes me wonder what other extreme policies he may establish later regarding immigration. It is [imperative] that we protect the basic rights of children.”

“It is all kind of dystopian for me,” senior Aaron Yi said. “People who are non-white will [likely] have to carry things that are important to them. It [may] erase [diverse] cultural identity as people will try to be as American as they can be to avoid the risk

of deportation or [loss] of legal status.”

While anxiety regarding the policy is undeniable, it is not entirely worth despair. Trump’s executive order has already been challenged in the courts as unconstitutional by many, including a coalition of immigrant rights groups and the attorney generals for 22 Democratic states (TIME). In addition, it attempts to rewrite the Constitution by fiat, which the states argue the president does not have the authority to do (The Atlantic). Amending the Constitution is complicated, even without the robust legal opposition. It requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress or a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of all state legislatures and ratification by three-quarters of all states (The Guardian). While undeniably counterproductive to downplay the danger posed by policy, Trump’s efforts to end birthright citizenship will certainly be an uphill battle given extensive historical precedent to the contrary and fierce opposition from states.

The DEI Dilemma

Shawn Lo | 12

On Jan. 25, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14173, ending diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government that aim to promote diversity across various demographics in employment. By cutting DEI programs, Trump hopes that the qualifications for leadership positions in corporate and governmental organizations would shift to a merit-based system, removing race and gender as factors for employment. However, DEI supporters argue that it helps establish equity within employment, benefiting in-

- Brian Son | 12 “

DEI [covers] people with disabilities and veterans who deserve equal respect. Only DEI can address biases that prevent [disadvantaged] individuals from [obtaining] employment.

inventions and products. In addition, workforces that emphasize DEI have been shown to adhere to comprehensive and cooperative dialogue because employees feel more valued and willing to share their unique insights in decision-making (Forbes). Trump’s executive order could disrupt these benefits by limiting diversity-focused initiatives through several steps. First, the executive order will direct the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to dismantle DEI principles within federal grant and financial assistance allocation (The White House). Secondly, Trump’s policy will also revoke several executive orders from the Obama Administration, including Executive Order 13672 which mandated affirmative action programs for ethnic and racial inclusion in federal contracts (National Archives). For now, the private sector can still implement DEI, but the executive order will oblige Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate corporate DEI programs. Moreover, the executive order will specifically issue federal lawsuits targeting publicly traded corporations worth more than $500 million that practice “illegal” DEI principles (White House). Because of potential legal liability, more businesses could end their DEI policies as Target and Meta recently have (TIME). Senior Brian Son believes that Trump’s plan to erode DEI undermines efforts to help individuals who are disproportionately disadvantaged in the workforce.

“DEI [covers] people with disabilities and veterans who deserve equal respect,” Son said. “Only DEI can address biases that prevent [disadvantaged] individuals from [obtaining] employment.”

While DEI can foster a diversity of opinions, Trump’s executive order to end it could also prove beneficial in terms of fiscal policy. In 2021, the Biden-Harris administration allocated a total of $1 billion toward DEI programs (The Committee on Education and Workforce). Moreover, press secretary Karoline Lewitte criticized the DEI initiatives organized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), calling them fiscally wasteful (Forbes). Lewittee disclosed that USAID spent a significant portion of taxpayer dollars specifically on foreign DEI operations including $1.5 million for Serbia’s DEI workforce program and $75,000 for a DEI musical in Ireland (Forbes). Republicans have argued that DEI funds could have been directed towards more “pressing issues” like inflation and the rising national debt. At the same time, there are concerns that DEI funding isn’t being used efficiently as a former director at Facebook was found guilty of laundering $4 million meant for diversi-

ty and inclusion projects (U.S. Attorney’s Office). While Trump’s policy to end DEI could help redirect taxpayer money to more immediate priorities, his executive order also highlights an increasing frustration regarding DEI’s supposed preclusion of meritocracy. In Runkel v. City of Springfield, Illinois Mayor Jim Langfelder purposely hired Black employees into his administration without ever reviewing employee qualifications (Reuters). Langfelder supposedly utilized DEI initiatives to promote his campaign race as progressive and diverse (Reuters). Moreover, in another case, Lutz v. Liquidity Services Inc., white employees were fired to improve Liquidity Services Inc’s diverse public profile. In light of increasing scrutiny over DEI reverse discrimination cases, senior Chiamake Ukeje, Peninsula’s Black Student Union president, shared her perspective on how DEI, on the contrary, has made progressive steps for inclusion across multiple racial groups.

“The [debate] about DEI isn’t simply an issue of merit versus race,” Ukeje said. “DEI is set in place so workplaces cannot discriminate against employees [that are part of a minority]. [Critics of DEI] fail to take into consideration that DEI has also helped white women and veterans attain jobs in workplaces that would not have hired them otherwise.”

While Trump’s executive action may be subjected to injunctions that could prevent its immediate enforcement, the policy of the executive action itself could have lasting effects on diversity, equity and inclusion in the private and public sectors. Supporters of Trump’s policy have highlighted that meritocracy should be the sole factor in employment and that DEI itself is discrimination. Moreover, the executive order also poses the question of whether DEI funding, especially foreign projects, is an efficient use of limited resources. At the same time, DEI initiatives have been shown to foster cooperation and representation. DEI is also responsible for promoting equity for individuals who are disadvantaged economically. Junior Issac Kim shared his perspective that DEI is essential. “In an ideal society, a meritocracy could function as a way to separate the wheat from the proverbial chaff, but [we don’t live in an ideal society],” Kim said. “[The world] objectively has social, educational and economic inequality, [and DEI is a tool to prevent] both the professional and academic spheres [from being] stuffed with only a certain kind of privileged [people].”

Edited by: Angelina Wang | 12

STUDENT LIFE 12

From Dreams to Debut

Sophomore Minami Heffernan details her acting career

Elyssa Lee | 10

From the applause of an audience to the flashes of cameras, sophomore Minami Heffernan has turned her passion for performing into a career. After being captivated by seeing “Wicked” on Broadway at nine years old, Heffernan discovered her love for performing through theater. However, she decided she needed something less time-consuming that allowed her to spend time on her other hobbies, such as dance. Still eager to pursue her passion, Heffernan found inspiration from her own home. At age eleven, her mom showed her the commercials and photoshoots she did in her twenties, which convinced Heffernan to give acting a try. After a year of auditions, she landed her first job in a Ring doorbell commercial, which encouraged her to act for more companies. Her mom, Linda Heffernan, shares how she recognized her daughter’s early love for performing and supported her as she pursued her dreams.

“I always knew that Minami’s true passion was performing in front of the camera or on stage because from a very young age, she always gravitated toward dancing, singing and performing,” Linda Heffernan said. “When Minami landed her first TV commercial for Ring, I was so elated because she [had] just started pursuing acting and already landed a national commercial. A part of me was worried about how this industry [might] affect her because she was so young, but I wanted her to live out her dreams. She is so lucky to do so at such a young age.”

In addition to the Ring commercial, Minami Heffernan has appeared in commercials for Starbucks, T-Mobile, Domino’s, Yamaha Piano and the clothing line Wind and Sea. She has been in three Domino’s ads, which have been her favorite so far because was able to meet other teenagers and form lasting friendships with them. Another favorite of hers was her commercial shoot for T-Mobile because she got to travel to Seattle, Washington. The filming process was the same for both ads and typically spanned four to five days, with ten-hour days on set. Since her directors had a specific vision in mind, much of the time on set was spent waiting for every detail to

be perfected. During these waiting periods, Heffernan would work on the homework she missed from school or socialize with the other actors. Building strong relationships with everyone, especially the director, not only made her job more fun to do, but also led to future opportunities and callbacks. Heffernan learned the importance of fostering friendships and how to modify herself to adapt to the directors’ vision. When they send out emails that detail upcoming auditions, the directors outline specific traits that they are looking for the actors to display, such as “outgoing” and “bubbly” qualities. Heffernan aligns herself with these attributes for her auditions, demonstrating her dedication and ambition to land the job. To fully immerse herself in the characters that she plays, Heffernan also focuses on imagining how her character would act out the scene. Ultimately, Heffernan takes pride in her finished commercials, which reflects the time and effort she put into the projects. Senior Leylie Ammeraal shares this pride with Heffernan.

“Finding out about Minami’s different activities was definitely something I did not expect when I first met her,” Ammeraal said. “Not only is she a varsity song member, but she is also an actress [who] travels for different types of ads and is still an amazing student. I am more than impressed with her.”

When Heffernan first started auditioning, she expected rejection because she knew that jobs do not come easily, especially for newcomers in the industry. During her entire first year, she did not land any jobs and lost hope as she questioned whether her dream could ever become reality. However, her mom’s unwavering support pushed her to persevere and keep auditioning. When she received her first role, she realized that a career in acting was possible. Once Heffernan experienced the sense of accomplishment that came with shooting commercials, her motivation to continue auditioning and pursue more opportunities grew immensely.

“I started losing hope in the first year when I was not getting any jobs,” Heffernan said. “[Despite this], my family and friends kept supporting me, and I never let the rejections get to me. [I knew] that it was going to take

some time and that it was never my fault; I just was not the person that the [directors] were looking for. [Once] I got my first commercial, I knew that this career really is possible and that anyone can [pursue] their dreams if they do not give up.”

A challenging aspect of filming for Heffernan was ignoring the camera in front of her and acting naturally as the entire crew watched her act. Eventually, after filming numerous commercials, Heffernan learned to look past the camera and completely absorb herself in the scene. Additionally, balancing school with this career in modeling tested her time management skills, especially as a member of the varsity song team. She would often miss a few days of school and need to make up classwork or tests. Although this process was stressful, her teachers have been supportive and understand the difficulty of making up assignments. Heffernan’s ability to manage her various responsibilities displays her resilience and commitment to pursuing this career.

In the next five years, Heffernan hopes to continue shooting commercials, but also branch out to acting in TV shows and movies. Her ultimate dream is to land a leading role in a movie and work alongside actors like Adam Sandler or Jennifer Lawrence. She aspires to act in Broadway at least once in her life to gain more experience in performing for a live audience rather than a camera. She plans to continue reaching out to casting directors or those with major roles in entertainment and continue fostering relationships with crews she worked with. Throughout the onset of her career, Heffernan has made her dream a reality. With each job that she lands, she takes pride in her hard work and looks forward to a bright future.

“Seeing myself in the Starbucks commercial on my own TV was so mind-blowing because it was the first commercial that I saw [myself in] on national live TV,” Heffernan said. “I want to see myself on the big screen one day, hopefully as a main character in a movie. Acting has built my confidence, and now I know that [having acting as my career] is actually possible and I am excited for my future.”

Selah Hartman | 10

As winter slowly goes by, it is hard to feel inspired throughout the cold, gloomy months. Especially with spring break feeling far away, it’s difficult for students to channel their energy and motivation during what are seemingly the longest months of the year. It is not uncommon for students — especially secondsemester seniors— to lose motivation in their academics, sports and even in their relationships. This phenomenon, known as the “winter slump,” has repercussions that can lead to lethargic behavior, making it hard to go about everyday life. However, with the proper self-care, mindset and hobbies, anyone can beat the winter slump and successfully make it to spring break feeling refreshed and motivated. Senior Megan Repogle shares her own experiences with being in a winter slump.

“Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed or have a lot going on,

January

it is easy to just get on my phone and scroll away,” Repogle said. “[However], being on my phone doesn’t usually help the slump go away, and it can sometimes even aggravate it by making it harder

Slumps usually take the form of several symptoms, including excessive procrastination and not having sufficient energy throughout the day. People who are experiencing a seasonal slump also tend to isolate themselves from their loved ones, mostly because of the fear of pressure or judgment. Anxiety, mood swings and fatigue are all symptoms of a winter slump and according to the National Institute of Mental Health, can negatively impact your mental health. Consequently, if left untreated, a winter slump can even lead to seasonal affective disorder (SAD). To combat this, getting exercise by going for a walk or doing yoga is an amazing way to create healthy habits that will energize the body and boost physical health by reducing stress hormones (Harvard Medical School). Yoga teacher Tamara Sheridan shares her advice on how to keep physical and mental health in check to avoid getting into

Crawling Toward Greatness

Insect enthusiast Michael Chao is president of Bug Club

As an entomologist, taxidermist, museum worker and president of the Bug Club, junior Michael Chao has an early start to his ideal career, surrounded by his two main interests: animals and insects. This passion set him up for a long journey of adventure, eventually leading him to Tam Dao, Vietnam, where he discovered a brand-new species of praying mantis. Discovering the species was no easy feat — Chao received help from a friend to get him access into an off-limits governmen tal forest. Though originally only hunting for beetles, an insect that he had never seen before soon caught his eye, which he later determined was a type of moss-mim icking mantis. Like its alliterative name suggests, the moss-mimicking mantis is an insect that has evolved to resemble moss, helping the organism effectively camouflage with its natural environment. Af ter discovering this, though, he did not know that he found a new species until a year later when comparing the specimen with other species and seeing that the specimen did not match any of them. Following his discovery, Chao published a scientific paper and decided to name the species Arria stanleyi, after his father. Chao details the experience that sparked his lifelong interest in insects.

“My interest in insects [started] when I was around six years old,” Chao said. “When I went to Japan, I was on the playground going down the slide and there was this big stag beetle on it. What made me really interested with that beetle wasn’t [only] its size and unique look, but also its overall biology. It moved almost mechani cally and looked like a being from out of this world.”

Chao’s affinity for bugs has led him to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, where he assists in taking care of their small collection of in-

sects. Occasionally, the museum receives large bee tles and staff turn to Chao for help with breeding them. At Peninsula, Chao is also the president of the Bug Club, which serves to educate and interest the student body about the world of bugs.

cal hikes to find and col insects, some of which are dis played during meetings. Some of the bugs Chao shows to the members are mantises, beetles, roaches and even tarantulas. Junior Joshua Yoon is a member of the Bug Club and he loves being around Chao due to his expertise.

Art by: Brian Hong | 11

he was 12 years old, Chao also has a penchant for saving the looks of animals with taxidermy, instead of letting them decompose. While completing online schoolwork at home during the pandemic, a bird ran into his window inadvertently and died. Upon observing its magnificent vibrance and color, he immediately wanted to preserve its beauty, sparking a lifelong hobby. Now, he works as a taxidermist at the Ladera Linda Community Center, which houses a small collection in their Discovery Room For Chao’s own collection. He generally taxidermies birds, like parrots and ducks, but for institutes, he taxidermies hawks, owls and songbirds. Chao has also taxidermied a Southern Sea Lion that weighed about 500 pounds, which was his favorite animal he has preserved. AP European History and World History Teacher Donald Frazier is amazed by Chao’s work and thinks it is very unique.

a slump.

“Power yoga can be a great tool for energizing and moving your body, and restorative yoga is amazing when you need to relax [and recharge] from a long day,” Sheridan said. “Getting outside of your house and going for a 20-30 minute walk every day is [also] essential because it allows you to reconnect with nature, and it can help invigorate your energy.”

Sleep is also a pertinent factor, playing an integral role in energy production and bodily functions. Though the effects of procrastination during a slump may make it hard for people to get a substantial amount of sleep, multiple research studies have proven that sleep deficiency can alter brain activity and can lead to having trouble controlling emotions, making decisions and solving problems (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute). It can also lead to a decrease in physical health and can increase the likelihood of contracting dangerous diseases such as heart disease and even some types of cancers. While this may seem alarming, the best solution is to prioritize sleep, since it is the best way to regain energy that is beneficial for both physical and mental health. It’s natural for energy levels to fluctuate throughout the year, and a decline in motivation is a common result. However, adjusting daily routines and self-care habits can help counteract this slump. Sophomore Halynn Campos emphasizes the importance

“Michael is really proud of his work, and he is a really fun person to talk to,” Yoon said. “Talking to Michael, I [have picked up more] scientific [names] for bugs; he [also] has backdoor access to the museum, so I am able to go inside to see more insects and understand [them].”

Beginning when

“I think [his work] is unusual, [but] I think it’s amazing,” Frazier said. “I had him in European History last year and I have a few powerpoint slides where I show some animals, one of which was Michael’s [taxidermied] animals playing cards. He is the only student I know that has that unique skill.”

When looking toward the future, Chao aspires to build a career working with wildlife, whether that be through exploration, research or education. He is enthusiastic about opportunities that allow him to study the natural world and further his expertise. Though Chao has had many memorable moments, he will never forget finding a new species of insect.

“The discovery of Arria stanleyi not only made my hopes and dreams come true, but also helped build me as a person too,” Chao said.

of taking time to unwind when feeling burnt out.

“Take time away from your busy schedule [to relax]. If you do not, it is very easy to [get caught up in a cycle], which leads to getting burnt out,” Campos said. “In between homework [assignments] or after a long day I like to put on a face mask, read, watch my favorite shows or play relaxing games on my iPad.”

Calling a friend or spending time with family can also prove beneficial; getting support and advice from loved ones is essential to get yourself back in the saddle. Hobbies and activities are also a fun and engaging way to get out of a rut, as they are good distractions from spiraling into a lazy or sluggish mood. Being involved in extracurricular activities and sports, going out with friends, reading, writing, drawing and crocheting are only a few of the wide variety of activities that will keep you entertained during the seemingly unentertaining winter months. Repogle shares her insight on why calling on others is important in getting motivation back.

“As a senior, my best advice to anyone going through a slump would be to call on people for help,” Repogle said. w“Many people [are hesitant to do this] because they think that they don’t have anyone to call, but the truth is that many people have been through the same things and are [willing to help] if you just reach out.”

Edited by: Melina Ajami |

PHOTO COURTESY OF ESPERANZA ENGLE-TSENG

Sydney Malicse | 9

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A Tale of Two Tales

The stars of “It Ends With Us” face off

Sura Kiasatpour | 12

The movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s book, “It Ends With Us,” is facing backlash–not just for the story itself, but for the scandals between the cast. The movie was released on Aug. 9, with Blake Lively as the main character, Lily Bloom, and Justin Baldoni playing Ryle, her abusive love interest. Upon the release of the film, Lively drew criticism online for the unserious direction she took in responding to interview questions, like saying to “wear their florals” to watch the movie. The hate train really began to take off when one of Lively’s previ ous interviewers, Kjersti Flaa, re leased an unseen interview from 2016 where Lively behaves in an extremely condescending and rude manner. After being complimented on her “lit tle bump” while pregnant, Lively sarcastically recip rocated the compliment and acted icily to her through the subsequent questioning, despite the interviewer later revealing she had been struggling with infertility. After this clip resurfaced, fans began to hyper analyze clips from the “It Ends With Us” press tour as more of Lively’s tone deaf comments were brought to light. Lively had no issue mak ing out of place jokes when asked about the heavy themes in the movie like domestic vio lence–even attempting to market her haircare line while audiences were waiting for insightful commentary on the abusive marriage Lively’s character finds herself in. Her lack of sensitivity was noted by the public and led to even more intense hate being spread online.

mation, separate to the $400 million defamation and civil extortion countersue against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and her publicist, Leslie Sloan. One of Lively’s arguments was her discomfort with the lack of an intimacy coordinator on set. Baldoni’s legal team later revealed how not only was there an intimacy coordinator, but that she refused to meet with them. Baldoni’s team also revealed that many of Lively’s versions of the messages were

A few months later, when people were beginning to forget about Lively’s media bloat, she filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department on Dec. 20, suing Baldoni for sexual harassment and for orchestrating a smear campaign against her. Fans then began to speculate about the timing, being a Friday just before Christmas, when he would be less able to respond (Tiktok). Junior Cadence Chuang is also hesitant to blindly believe the genuinity of Lively’s claims.

“Blake Lively’s claims come off as a bit unconvincing, given her jokes about domestic violence during the press for the film and her rude behavior in general,” Chuang said. “If she truly experienced harassment, she deserves justice, but the timing of this accusation makes it seem like a strategic move rather than a pursuit of accountability. It’s unsettling because false accusations can undermine real survivors, but I’d hope no one would weaponize something as serious as sexual assault for personal gain.”

The New York Times published these claims going through the alleged harassment and inappropriate behaviors with descriptions as well as text messages between the two that showed. Subsequently, Baldoni countersued The New York Times for $250 million for spreading misinfor-

“ This shows how easily selectively presented evidence can sway public opinions as proven by how the public keeps going back and forth between siding with Baldoni and Lively.

”

-Melina Mokhtarian | 12

saying her character’s clothing “should be much sexier” (Variety). Senior Melina Mokhtarian shares her opinion regarding the complexity of celebrity lawsuits with how easily things can be misconstrued.

“I think [the lawsuit] goes to show how complex legal battles become when they are in the public eye,” Mokhtarian said. “It shows how easily selectively presented evidence can sway public opinions as proven by how the public keeps going back and forth between siding with Baldoni and Lively. When the claims are regarding something as sensitive as sexual assault it’s tricky to take a single side and fully believe it or stick to it.”

People following the details of these lawsuits are speculating that Lively’s attempt in strong-arming Baldoni is to torment him, bullying him off the project for a potential sequel. I believe she and her husband weren’t expecting him to fight back so now their strong aggressive initial approach, followed by the way they quieted down once Baldoni countersued, has now jeopardized all three of their careers. This hasn’t only caused controversy in the “It Ends With Us” world, but now has implications for the future of Baldoni and Lively’s career. Lively’s ‘nightmare to work with’ reputation is being further pushed, while Baldoni faces professional consequences with his agency already dropping him. Lively’s strategic cherry-picking of messages and dishonesty leads me to question her sincerity (Variety). Her past history of taking over films and micromanaging scripts despite not having a director role highlights the possibility of her ulterior motives (Yahoo). It makes sense that she and Baldoni would clash, as he was very passionate about the project as a director, and they had different perspectives on how to go about the film, with Lively treating the film as a story about girl power and one woman’s coming of age, while Baldoni was more interested in pushing the importance of domestic violence themes. Senior Alexa Mihara shares her take, considering both of the actors’ pasts.

“Blake Lively has a history of being ficult, and this legal batlike just another power play,” Mihara said. “Meanwhile, Justin Baldoni has always been respected in the industry, yet he’s the one being vilified. One has used their platform to tear others down, and the other has used theirs to build people up. It’s clear and unfair how easily public perception can be manipulated—and Lively possibly knowingly using this to her advantage with such a serious and sensitive topic is very disturbing.”

Ultimately, there are always two sides to every story and not everything is black and white. Especially complex celebrity scandals that involve such sensitive topics–both Baldoni and Lively may not be entirely blameless. It cannot simply be reduced to an announcement of one person being wrong and right. The public will take sides based on their own biases or personal morals specifically in public celebrity disputes, the public loves to fuel drama and entertain themselves which leads to the loss of the big picture of these heavy topics. Even if reports and evidence suggest that a celebrity is guilty, bias still plays a role–fans will continue to have their own interpretations just simply because they idolize the person in question. Bringing these reports to the public will always lead to mixed opinions and speculation, so the full truth of Baldoni and Lively’s feud may never be truly known.

Soren Kim | 11

ITed Lassoes in a New Season

n the modern day of multiplying streaming services, television shows are more common than ever. As a result of this, there is an overflow of content that lacks any substance or emotion, making it difficult to find media that scratches the feelings that modern viewers crave. However, there has been one show that meets this criteria: “Ted Lasso,” a sports comedy-drama created by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt and Joe Kelly. The concept of the show started in 2013 with a one-time com mercial made to promote NBC Sports. It follows Sudeikis’ comedic character, Ted Lasso, an American football coach who knows nothing about soccer yet has been tasked with coaching an English Premier League soccer team, the Tot tenham Hotspurs.

Due to its popularity, the commercial was expanded upon and turned into a full TV series. This new iteration of “Ted Lasso” released on Aug. 14th, 2020 on Apple TV+ and Warner Bros, follows a new version of Sudeikis’ char acter who has lost his original ignorant and brash de meanor and instead is eternally optimistic, humorous and welcoming to everyone around him. As he and his right-hand man, Coach Beard, go from their American football team to England to coach AFC Richmond, a fictional Premier League football club, they are met by an emotional owner who tries to sabotage him and skeptical players who are far from quick to accept him as their new coach. Although this exposition may seem to be setting the stage for a boring and generic, sports-centric comedy, the show isn’t just a sports sitcom. Instead, “Ted Lasso” is a show that dives into mental health and philosophy with top-notch character writing and beautifully raw production quality.

decision to make such a life-changing coaching decision. Soon after their divorce, Ted’s mental issues start to spiral as he deals with not only his feelings of regret from their marriage, but also long-standing trauma that he has ignored for years. Panic attacks become common for Ted, occurring anywhere and everywhere — from karaoke performances to important games, he is constantly left paralyzed and over-stimulated by his situation. The show’s portrayal of a panic attack is spot on, too: uncomfortably close and blurry fish-eye camera shots, accompanied with a ubiquitous buzzing noise, put viewers in Ted’s terrifying perspective. Another significant emotional challenge that Ted undergoes is overcoming his childhood trauma from his father’s suicide. Since he and his mother did not take time to properly grieve, Ted began using comedy as a coping mechanism and as a mask to hide behind instead of facing his issues. It is not until Ted starts to look into thera - py and takes measures to improve himself that he starts to change. Fittingly, that same sentiment could be used for the show in and of itself; the

There are numerous sensational character arcs like that of the shy kit man, a sort of assistant to the team, Nathan Shelley who becomes an assistant coach of the team gaining the players respect. Or another example being arrogant football star Jamie Tart, who goes from one of the worst teammates Ted has ever seen, to a model leader who leads by example.

Through Ted’s character, the show dives into very intense and emotional themes. Although Ted is usually extremely optimistic and humorous, throughout the show he deals with a multitude of different challenging situations — from the beginning of the series, Ted gets divorced by his wife who “needed space,” sparking his

conspicuous humor of the show masks the more sensitive undertones of grief and vulnerability. Ted is not the only character who embarks on an emotional journey, as many other supporting characters go through emotional struggles and captivating development as well.

Part of what makes “Ted Lasso” such an enjoyable watch is its top-notch character writing. Every character has their own development throughout the run of the show, from a side character with a measly five minutes of screen time to the central characters at AFC Richmond.

Amid all of the unique and interesting characters in the show, one rises above the others with her compelling background and quick wit: Rebecca Welton, the owner of AFC Richmond. Rebecca’s story starts off with her divorce from the club’s original owner, Rupert Mannion, who had cheated on her multiple times. As a part of their divorce settlement, Rebecca inherits the club and hatches a plan to get back at her ex-husband. Because Rebecca knew Rupert loved the club, her goal was to make the club suffer and thus hired Ted, expecting him to be an awful coach that would ruin the team. Rebecca is the main antagonist of the early part of season one, often butting heads with the ever-optimistic Ted, but her character arc is one that turns from malicious to tragic very quickly. The audience soon realizes that Rebecca’s actions are not evil, but are rather misguided as we see that her acts of sabotage are really just her efforts to heal from her divorce. In a way, she mirrors Ted, as both are going through divorce and trauma. The only difference is that they both deal with their emotions in contrasting ways. Rebecca chooses to hurt others as a result of her own pain and Ted chooses to use coping mechanisms that don’t allow him to process his feelings properly. Instead of dealing with his issues head on, he pushes them off to the side, an example being his use of comedy to diffuse situations. Rebecca’s story is a reminder to viewers. Ted himself says it best: “I hope that either all of us or none of us are judged by the actions of our weakest moments, but rather by the strength we show when and if we’re ever lucky enough to be given a second chance.”

Ultimately, “Ted Lasso” is a brilliant show with amazing humor and writing. Though the show sadly concluded on May 31, 2023, it was recently announced that a season four is in the works. So, there is much to look forward to from the lovable football coach Ted Lasso.

Art by: Veronica Chen

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A Musical of Mediocrity

Elena Thomas | 10

Out of the Oscars’ previous 96 years of award shows, its most nominated movies include greatly praised titles such as “Forrest Gump” with 13 nominations, or “Titanic” with 14. This year, “Emilia Pérez” joined this list of most acclaimed movies, with 13 nominations for categories like Best Picture and Best Actress, but not without waves of criticism surrounding it. This controversial movie, “Emilia Pérez” (CBS News), faced significant backlash.

After its release to theaters on Nov. 1, the media branded it as a terrible movie, especially after it took home four awards, including Best Motion Picture, at the 2025 Golden Globes and was highly nominated for the Oscars, topping the record for a non-English language film (Rolling Stone). It went on to only win two awards at the Oscars on March 2—Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song—but still, the earlier success of “Emilia Pérez” shocked the public, causing many to wonder how this disconnect occurred and turn a more critical eye upon the film (The New York Times).

In theory, “Emilia Pérez” is innovative and fresh. This Spanish-language film is the story of a cartel boss who decides to let go of a violent past, fake his own death, and secretly transition into a woman named Emilia Pérez (Karla Sofía Gascón), with the help of an underappreciated lawyer, Rita Mora Castro (Zoë Saldaña), the recipient of the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The film strives to represent and shed light upon many serious topics, including the struggles of transitioning and cartel violence. Nevertheless, its execution and performance completely fail to achieve these goals—what could have been an inspired and imaginative idea turned into a confusing mess of tangled plotlines, which is a thought shared by many, including sophomore Zain Qazi.

Pérez’s character was called out by many, including the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), which advocates for the accurate and fair representation of LGBTQ+ people in media. The organization spoke out, saying that “[‘Emilia Pérez’] is a step backward for trans representation” and that its inauthentic portrayal in the movie “recycles the trans stereotypes, tropes and clichés of the not-so-distant past.” GLAAD finds one of the faults within Pérez’s character to be that she partly uses her gender transition as a vessel to escape her brutal life and atone for her wrongdoings, instead of as a means to live as her true self. She views her transition not only as a transition but also as a rebirth, in which she can ex-

ed to cover, demonstrating that the creators of “Emilia Pérez” simply do not concern themselves with these very real problems.

To add to the many inaccuracies and poor representation, audiences also had to endure the movie’s many chaotic musical numbers. While the songs did draw much attention from the public to the film, like the number “La Vaginoplastia,” only the absolute absurdity was commented on. The songs of “Emilia Pérez” consist of flat notes, harsh and distracting lighting, and disorganized choreography. They simply cannot compare to other musical nominees that the film is in competition with. Since the announcement of Oscar nominations, the media has begun contrasting this film with other Best Picture contenders, like the popular musical “Wicked.” In this successful and loved movie, its leads often sang live while filming to authentically capture their emotions (Playbill), but in “Emilia Pérez,” artificial intelligence (AI) was employed to enhance Gascón’s vocal range (The Guardian). This AI controversy has stirred up anger and agitation around the movie’s Oscar nominations and wins. Many, such as freshman Kimia Dadashi, cannot understand how “Emilia Pérez” has been placed on the same level as the other outstanding nominees.

“The way ‘Emilia Pérez’ was produced made it very confusing,” Qazi said. “Its lighting, music and little substories [were] all over the place. The movie’s lack of cohesion just lost me many times.”

This slow, discombobulating, drawn-out film, which also contains numerous unamusing musical numbers, lacks depth and curiosity. Pérez and Castro were loveable at first, but the vapid script ultimately failed to hide their simplistic and surface-level characterization. In an attempt to add another layer of meaning to this film, the director has Pérez devote her life to founding and running a nonprofit as part of her story arc. Through her organization, she finds and helps missing victims of cartel violence in Mexico, likely to repent for the fact that she

This movie is plain boring, hard to follow and the only entertaining part is the song ‘La Vaginoplastia’ which is so bad that it’s actually good.

- Lia Bacon | 10

presumably caused the disappearances of many of these victims. Gascón’s acting was strong in spite of the script, and she received praise for her performance, becoming the first openly transgender actor to be nominated in an Oscars’ acting category (CBS News). Still, “Emilia Pérez” has many flaws that are being angrily pointed out by news sources across the globe.

Edited By: Sivan Stoler

ploit the changes and leave behind what she no longer wants. It being portrayed as an act of cleansing of Pérez’s violent past fabricates the thought that she has had two personalities: one being malicious before her transition and benevolent after. She seeks to erase that past by faking her own death and transforming, posing her change as inherently deceptive, a harmful depiction of transgender women using their gender alignment to benefit themselves. True gender transition representation should simply show that it makes one’s appearance more fitting to their inner self. There are also problems to be found in the fact that whenever Pérez becomes angry and threatening, her voice lowers into a masculine vocal register, which can introduce the harmful idea that underneath her surgeries, there is still a man to be found.

Not only is the authenticity of transgender portrayals deserving of criticism, but also the director’s ingenuine depiction of cartel violence in Mexico. The French filmmaker, Jacques Audiard, has already received disapproval from the public for how he directed this film with seemingly little research into the actual culture he was portraying. In this cartel storyline in particular, accuracy seems to have been given little thought. Instead, the movie capitalized on a significant topic that deserves attention, creating a performative spectacle at the expense of being factual. It looks as though Audiard has no interest in crafting a meaningful messag. Audiard seemingly did not understand the cultural depth of the problems he sought to demonstrate. Pérez, in spite of her past life as an infamous cartel boss, was shocked at the number of missing person cases that cartel violence caused and sought to rectify this crisis. She then spewed money— earned through violence and crime in her past life—at the problem, because obviously, money can easily fix this deep-rooted and systemic problem she was previously entrenched in. This inconsistency exhibits a lack of care or thoughtfulness for the serious topics the movie attempt-

“In ‘Wicked,’ the actors are full of overwhelming emotion in their singing performances, but in [‘Emilia Pérez’], I [did not] really get to see that,” Dadashi said. “And in the songs, I felt that they could have done much more. The singing felt flat with little emotion. With ‘Wicked,’ there was a deeper connection with the material that everyone could feel.”

In comparison with renowned and extravagant musicals, such as “The Lion King” or “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Emilia Pérez” deprives its audiences of engaging and emotionally moving material. Additionally, the musical aspect of the movie did not add anything to the film but actually dragged it down with ridiculous numbers. The best musicals utilize songs as an outlet for their characters to express deep feelings, but many of “Emilia Pérez’s” songs felt unnecessary, emotionally dull, and occasionally ironic. The song “El Mal” performed by Castro, awarded with the Oscar for Best Original Song, strongly condemns the corruption and hypocrisy of the Mexican elite who engage and profit from criminal activities, yet simultaneously donate to charities that aid the victims of those crimes. Ridiculously, Castro performs this in the presence of Pérez, who has also participated in and benefited from unlawful acts, and now assists the people whose lives she most likely ruined. Sophomore Lia Bacon, who describes herself as an “avid movie lover,” does not believe that this film deserves the applause.

“It is frustrating that other movies that are better in all categories are not getting as much attention as they should be, like ‘The Substance’ and ‘Wicked,’” Bacon said. “The other Oscar contenders are entertaining and intriguing, having amazing music and visuals, while [‘Emilia Pérez’] lacks [these qualities] entirely. This movie is so boring that the only entertaining part is the song ‘La Vaginoplastia,’ which is so bad that it is actually hilariously good.”

Bacon’s opinion sums up how most critics and viewers feel about “Emilia Pérez.” The film’s coverage of important topics were not dealt with in a sensitive manner. While the leads deserve their flowers for their performances, this pretentious and frivolous film was inexplicably placed on a golden pedestal, despite its raging and apparent mediocrity.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AP PHOTOS

Josie Kwak | 12

SENIORS MAKE A SPLASH

Graduating class participates in Senior Assassin

For the past month, many seniors have been seen with a pair of bright pink swim goggles and inflatable children’s floaties when they leave their house. However, this isn’t just some eccentric sartorial fad — it’s an element of the recent high-stakes competition known as Senior Assassin. In accordance with a trend that has overtaken many high schools, around 270 members of Peninsula’s graduating class have been participating in this months-long tradition, starting on March 17. Using rudimentary water guns, players must spray other targets to eliminate them and evade others who are doing the same. Players track their prey using the app “Splashin,” which shares contestants’ locations to track players, eliminations and overall standings in the game. The game is not affiliated with Peninsula.

To ensure fairness in the game, there are several “safe zones” — places where participants cannot be assassinated — that have been established since the beginning of the game. Moderators who run the Instagram page, @penseniorassassin, instruct that players cannot be targeted on school grounds, during school events, or while driving, to name a few. Additionally, players are not allowed to wear camouflage to level the playing field. Nevertheless, the game remains remarkably intense, with many participants demonstrating unwavering dedication in pursuit of victory — and the $1,100 prize. Participant Sarah Porter commented on her earlier brush with death.

“[Last Sunday] was a purge day and my friends Haley,

Kaylie and I went to the Trader Joe’s parking lot, and sat [in] each other’s company,” Porter said. “Lo and behold, 10 minutes later, Rocco Kuykendall and Eric Nishimura show up — they [had] their water guns and [were] ready to kill us. [was] like a hostage situation, but we eventually ended up backing up and getting out of the parking lot. It was very stressful as a driver, but I applaud their determination to win.”

expectedly shot while eating dinner with their families, others were targeted while exiting the gym and unsurprisingly, many were shot while loitering in their own vehicles.

To heighten the tension, immunity items like goggles are not allowed on Sundays, the fated “purge day,” as more people are eliminated. Tactics are frequently used: some people have rung participant’s doorbells, pretending to be Amazon delivery drivers to shoot them when they open the door. For contestant Eric Nishimura, he decided to jokingly eliminate one of his closest friends, Sebastian Richardson on purge day — the day where anyone can be eliminated, with or without goggles. Unfortunately for him, doing so brought along some guilt.

- Sydney Torcasso | 12

Senior Assassin has been really fun — it’s a really good thing to see people getting out of the house and it makes the senior class more bonded.” “

Being eliminated might not be the end-all be-all though. Throughout the week, moderator Sydney Torcasso has been dropping “revives,” opportunities for players to bring their teammates back to life. Eliminated players located near revives can claim them and enter the game once again.

Another interesting element to the game is “public elimination,” or rather, “public humiliation.” To ensure that rules are followed and eliminations are fair, targets must be recorded as they’re assassinated. Each video is posted to Instagram, making the page a medley of some 200 seniors’ most humbling moments. Some were un-

“I felt pretty bad,” Nishimura said. “It was [a] purge day, so we were on our way to get a couple people out. Sebastian’s house was on the way, so we sprung a trap — he fell for it, and I chased him for a quarter mile and got him out.”

With the game down to its last 20 players and only one month of school left, time is of the essence. Torcasso shares her experience over the past two months.

“There are some people that fully go all out for this game, especially on purge days,” Torcasso said. “A lot of people [are eliminated] on purge days, [because] people like to go for anyone, not just their [assigned] targets, so a lot of friendships are [betrayed]. Senior Assassin has been really fun — it’s a really good thing to see people getting out of the house and it makes the senior class more bonded.”

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The Zoo Groove

Varsity Boys Basketball looks to energize the Zoo for the 2024-25 season

Jewell Lluz | 11

Whetherit’s at the football field, the gym or the pool,

The Zoo brings panthers together, cheering on and energizing athletes at any time of day. This year’s winter season, though, has been even more electric following an increase in funding from seniors Abdul Shaikh and Cameron Bobich, members on the varsity boys basketball team. Having played for the team for four years, they observed that the Zoo always brought a positive, contagious energy to their games and therefore wanted to bring more students to The Zoo.

“I like interacting with The Zoo,” Bobich said. “The Zoo be hating on me sometimes, saying ‘your shorts are too tight’ or ‘you’re balding’ they be hating on me, but I think it’s funny. I’m the one on the court, [and] they’re all here for me.”

Their dads, Robert Bobich and Abdul Shaikh contributed to this season by developing and manufacturing the team’s uniforms. Mr. Bobich designed the fine details, such as the lettering and patterns of the jerseys, while Mr. Shaikh’s apparel company produced the uniform for the athletes. The boys basketball team has two main uniforms: white jerseys for home games and black jerseys for away games. Each jersey is outlined with the contrasting color and on the front, “Panthers” is boldly printed in a cursive font

with a golden shadow.

“[Our fathers are] best friends,” Shaikh said. “[They] did this on the side, just for us, you know?”

Furthermore, Mr. Bobich and Mr. Shaikh provided additional items to be thrown by the zookeepers into the

comes from the money received from students who buy ASB cards, allowing students to attend sports games for free and school dances for a discounted price. At the beginning of this school year, ASB director Kimi Hendrick estimated that about 40% of the students at Peninsula purchased an ASB card, which was used to fund The Zoo and is used for other necessities such as the coffee house technology, class competition games and dance venues.

audience, hoping to encourage more students to show up. For example, the first fifty attendees at the minionthemed game against Torrance High received yellow beanies to wear. Though this was just a small accessory, the student section appeared more united and spirited, with over half the crowd dressed up in on-theme outfits.

Usually, the funding going toward school-wide events

The Zoo’s process of preparing for games is long, but rewarding. The four zookeepers meet everyday for a week to decide on themes and elements to add to the game to make it more spirited; these extra elements include purchasing olive wreaths for students to wear during the Greek-themed game or renting a food truck to fit the Barbeque Dad theme. To add more flair, members of ASB will spend their days painting posters that fit each theme and decorating the gym leading up to the games. Though money and extra decorations go a long way, junior zookeeper David Kohn believes that it’s actually the way people act that influences the atmosphere of the student section and the performance of the athletes themselves.

“It’s up to the people to want to have a good time and get loud, [which] energizes [the athletes],” Kohn said. “If I had tons of people I knew watching me, I would want to do my best. There’s that pressure on [the players] to play better. It makes them push themselves more to play well”.

New Season, New Coach

Peninsula Football welcomes new Head Coach Wagner for the 2025-26 season

With a fresh football season start this upcoming fall comes a new football head coach, Coach Wagner. Peninsula’s football team is experiencing many changings, chiefly the entrance of new head football coach, Michael Wagner. The juniors on the football team are looking forward to what coach Michael Wagner has in store this year. Being hand picked by coach David Young himself, entrusting the future of the football team to him. Although pumped to see a new face they are also sad to see Coach Young depart from his role. Players are preparing for a new set of eyes to guide their team to victory out on the field. With Coach Wagner’s 30 years of football coaching under his belt, the team hopes to build upon the success of this year’s season, when they made it to Round 2 of the CIF Division 7 Playoffs. Many students that Coach Wagner has taught in the past and is still lecturing now appreciate his input to their games and share the same passionate output when it comes to their training. Junior, Varsity player Landon Becker explained his impact on the team.

“Coach Wagner brings a philosophy that weightlifting and being stronger than the other team is[a key advantage,” Becker said. Explaining how to become mentally strong they must place physical challenges in their way such as lifting heavier than you did last time, reaching a new goal. Physical strength and muscle comes with a tough and disciplined mind. Same goes for a test you take in class. In order to do well on your exam you must train and exercise your mind to be prepared for what’s to come of the task.

Coach Young will be retiring from coaching this year, to spend more quality time with his family. Before his departure, he wanted to ensure the position went to coach Wagner, an individual capable of leading the team to victory. Junior, varsity player Conrad Parvin, shares why he will miss Coach Young.

“[Coach Young] brought me in as a freshman having played very little football before, and taught me everything I know up to now,” Parvin said. “He gave me a chance many times, and really believed in me.I could not thank him enough for what he has done for me and this program.”

Edited by: Zahra Habib

Jarrett Meza-Torne | 11

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAYA EBIHARA

Cheer’s CIF Triumph

Peninsula Cheer qualifies for CIF State and scores second at USA Nationals

Kyra McGath | 9

After dominating two of the three regional competitions, the peninsula varsity cheer team had their sights set on the USA National Championships. The competition took place at the Anaheim Convention Center, with the preliminaries on Feb. 14, and in order to move on in the competition, the team had to place in the top three. They successfully completed this task, and the team moved on to day two of the competition, where they found themselves awarded with the title of winning second place in the nation.

After placing fifth at the CIF Southern Sectional Competition in the Advanced Nontumble Division on Jan. 26, the cheer team earned a spot to compete at CIF State. However, after careful consideration, they decided to forgo this opportunity and fully commit to training for the USA Nationals. The timing of CIF State conflicted with their Winter Formal, and this factor, along with the need to perform their new, more difficult routine to earn higher points, made it a challenging decision. While the new routine could potentially lead to a win, not all team members had fully perfected it, and their previous routine was unlikely to score well, making it a risky choice. Considering these factors, the team ultimately decided to prioritize their preparation for the USA Nationals over competing at CIF State. Senior Kylee Johnson believes that Winter Formal played a big part in not going to CIF State.

students and college level students, totaling to around 1,000 teams, competing at the Anaheim Convention Center. However, each team competes only against others in their specific category. The team’s chances of moving forward depend on their score, which is determined by several factors: the execution of stunts, whether the girls are wearing nails or jewelry, if anyone steps off the mat, exceeds the time limit or if any stunts fall down, to name a few. The routine must also include specific sections, such as jumps, single stunts, pyramids, a dance and a cheer section. Over 20 judges evaluate each routine, awarding or deducting points based on things like technique, creativity and adherence to the rules. The sport requires a deep understanding of both legal and illegal elements, and the team had to stay educated on every detail.

We honestly were so shocked we made it to the second round, when they announced that our team qualified, we all looked at each other with the most confused look on our faces.

- Claira O’Connor | 12

There were many challenges on the first day of competition, there were stumbles and one stunt group fell down. The girls had mentally prepared themselves that the chances were high they wouldn’t move forward. But when the announcer called out the teams that qualified, Peninsula was one of them. Most of the girls were shocked they had made it, which encouraged them to push through and leave the struggles of day one behind. Ultimately, day two went better, and despite their doubts, they secured an incredible second-place finish at Nationals. Senior and varsity cheer captain Claira O’Connor explained the team’s surprise at the announcement.

“We honestly were so shocked we made it to the second round, when they announced that our team qualified — we all looked at each other with the most confused look on our faces,” O’Connor said. “Coach [Kim] even went to ask the announcer if he was sure because we all didn’t expect it at all.”

“If not [for] Formal [being on the same day], we would have [competed],” Johnson said. “Most of the girls wanted to have fun with their friends and not have to worry about a competition.”

Having foregone attending CIF State, the team turned their attention to preparing for the USA National Competition on Feb. 14 and 15, with 30 girls on the mat for the competition. The event is massive, being a mix of high school level

Placing second at Nationals was a testament to the team’s skill. Coach Kim Stoneman expressed how proud she was of the team, not only for their performance, but also for their commitment to improving and supporting one another throughout the competition.

“I’m 100% proud of them,” coach Stoneman said. “When you get that close and you make it through the preliminary round and you’re now the top two, you want that first, but it’s not always meant to be. We’ll be back at nationals next year.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF PVPHS CHEER