Issue 7

VOL . X L I IS S UE 7 JUNE 15, 2021

PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL www.pvphsnews.com

Sophomore harnesses her young entrepreneurship to advocate for education reform STUDENT LIFE, PAGE 8

A MASKED DEBATE

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

NO HYPE FOR THE HOUSE

Lifting CDC Mask mandate guidelines debated as helpful or hurtful

The altered 2021 Oscars Awards garner both praise and criticism

Social media influencer Netflix “Hype House” show lacks anticipation

NEWS PAGE 4

FOCUS PAGES 5-6

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 11

2 BRANCHING FROM THE TREE Students discuss the diversity of college choices on Declare Day

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CLARA RECKHORN Every year, May 1 is an exciting day for high school seniors. Known as National College Decision Day or Declare Day, this day represents the deadline for most high school seniors to decide on the university or college they want to attend in the fall (U.S. News). Though National College Decision Day is on May 1, this year, Peninsula seniors announced which college they will be attending on Saturday, May 8 through Peninsula’s own Declare Day event. At this gathering held on the football field, students wore the merchandise of their chosen schools and took pictures to publicly document their choices.

Additionally, some students chose to recognize their school before Declare Day by posting photos on various social media platforms. For many students, Declare Day is an exciting experience, sharing where they will be venturing to after high school. On the other hand, Declare Day can also be an unpleasant event for students who are selfconscious of their choice, as there is pressure to attend a prestigious institution, such as an Ivy League school.

However, Declare Day should be a positive experience for seniors nationwide, as they are able to see that their own hard work has paid off and should be celebrated. Even if seniors do not attend prestigious universities or colleges, as a society, we should consider the prioritization of finding a school or other opportunity that suits an individual’s needs to be a success. All individuals are heading into different futures, and their college experiences should reflect those differences—one school does not fit all. Understanding that each student has their own path and respecting their decisions without judgment makes Declare Day a much more heartwarming and memorable occasion.

“Getting into any college is a major accomplishment, and I think it is really important that we celebrate every student and every school,” College and Career Center director Julie Arico said. “What is important is how the student can grow and what they can learn at the school, not what is written on [their college] sweater.”

As mentioned, the “fit” of a school is subjective to individual students. Nonetheless, some students still internally fear not attending name-brand colleges because they believe that these schools are better perceived by society. However, students should research various aspects of an institution before considering a school simply for its overall ranking, as prestige does not guarantee that their need will be met. According to Scott L. Thomas, the Dean

of the College of Education and Social Service at the University of Vermont, a student’s major program rank is more important than the place in the academic hierarchy awarded to that college by statisticians. This means that the school’s ranking is not exactly equivalent in benefits it can provide to a student. Yet, due to Peninsula’s academic rigor and expectation of excellence, it is easy for individuals to still feel self-conscious about their school choice. 79 percent of all Peninsula students have taken at least one Advanced Placement (AP) exam, almost two times higher than the California average of 32.4 percent (US News). On top of this, Peninsula is ranked 360th in National Rankings and the 49th high school in California, according to National Rankings. This emphasis on extraordinary achievement in high school can lead Peninsula students to believe that only prestigious schools are acceptable, leading many to not consider other schools as well.

“I think it is a big problem that some students do not consider smaller colleges because they are less famous,” senior Nicole Siembieda said. “The most important thing is that you can find a school or opportunity that suits your needs, and not one that sounds cool to other people.”

Furthermore, a great reputation does not guarantee success. When Princeton University professor and economist Alan Krueger and his fellow researcher Stacy Berg Dale measured student success at different schools, they found that when a student performed well enough to enter an Ivy League school but instead went to a second-tier school, they earned just as much money as their Ivy League counterparts (Investopedia). Though education matters, performance and work ethic are far more important. How a person later works with customers, employees and others in a working environment is more important than their school of choice. Instead of paying attention to a school’s name, students should focus on what school choice would work best for them and make them happiest. Overall, Declare Day is the end of the stressful college acceptance frenzy and represents the beginning of all seniors’ futures. Students should respect the futures their peers chose, be happy for each other and not judge others’ choices based on their own ideals of success.

“I think it is amazing that we can get together to celebrate our achievements on Declare Day,” senior Gaby Pack said. “No matter where we go, we should be proud of ourselves and the things we have already accomplished. Different things are right for different people, and that should be okay.”

3 MISSISSIPPI’S NEW ABORTION BAN: RISKING RIGHTS FOR RESTRAINTS EDITORIAL STAFF On May 17, the Supreme Court finally chose to review the Mississippi abortion law that faced contention for eight months (Wall Street Journal). The proposed abortion law seeks to ban most abortion after 15 weeks, except in cases of medical emergency or fetal abnormalitites (National Public Radio). Mississippi already put a ban in place for pregnancies 20 weeks in beginning in 2014 (TIME), but the state found renewed reason to argue that fetal viability should not be the standard for allowing states to ban abortion. Fetal viability is a term used in the original Roe v. Wade case of 1973, and is defined as a stage where the fetus’s life “may be continued outside the womb by the natural or artificial life-supportive systems” (The Supreme Court on Abortion: A Survey). Instead, Mississippi hopes to prove that by 15 weeks, the fetus has significantly developed, legitimizing lawmakers’ concerns in the protection of fetal life.

Although this is only a five week difference from the original law in Mississippi, the real issue lies in the Supreme Court’s willingness to entertain this proposal. With a 6-3 conservative-leaning majority on the court, Democrats and abortion activists alike fear that the court will use this case as an opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Seeing as Roe v. Wade was a landmark case securing one’s right to an abortion in the U.S., if the bill is overturned, a precedent will no longer exist for protecting abortion rights, leaving the decision entirely up to the states. Therefore, those able to get pregnant will lose bodily autonomy and be at risk for decisions made about their bodies conflicting with legislation. Without the protection of Roe v.

Wade, conservative states in particular can place harsher abortion bans while increasing pro-life (or anti-abortion) sentiment within their jurisdiction, cultivating an oppressive atmosphere for those able to be pregnant across the country. As Californians, we are blessed to be able to enjoy fairly liberal abortion policies even without the standard of Roe v. Wade, but we must not forget the crisis that other pregnant people face in more conservative states. As a result, it is vital that states enact the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) in their respective areas, and the general public must provide greater outspoken support of pro-choice advocacy groups, such as American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and in particular, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Mississippi’s sole abortion clinic statewide.

The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment protects a pregnant person’s fundamental “right to privacy,” and this privacy consists of their choice to have a abortion (Oyez). A state law that broadly prohibits abortion without respect to the stage of pregnancy or other interests violates that right (Oyez). As a result, states attempt to enact bans based on a timeframe relative to fetal viability, as well as the health of the pregnant person. However, making laws through this lens of only regarding fetal development overshadows the drastic impacts of restricting abortion

for pregnant people. Thus, completely overturning Roe v. Wade would be a devastating blow to abortion rights in general. Already, Mississippi pushes some of the most aggressive abortion restrictions in the country, and clinics in the state aside from Jackson Women’s Health Organization are actually encouraged to feed their patients misinformation about abortions. According to Mississippi’s abortion requirements, a patient make two in-person trips to the clinic, separated by at least 24 hours. At the first visit, Mississippi requires the clinic to give clients misleading information about a connection between abortion and breast cancer to deter patients from seeking the medical procedure (ACLU Mississippi).

Moreover, people of color and low-income people would be struck the hardest if Roe v. Wade was overturned. Income inequality is deeply intertwined with access to abortion. The Kaiser Family Foundation’s (KFF) 2012 survey about insurance for women across the U.S. displays the grim reality of low-income women of color seeking abortions: 44 percent of African American women, 54 percent of Hispanic women and 50 percent of American Indian or Alaskan Native women were either supported by Medicaid or uninsured. For those that depend on Medicaid, abortion access is a struggle, since the Hyde Amendment bans federal funds for abortion care in Medicaid. Furthermore, Native Americans who use the Indian Health Service are also disproportionately affected, since the program severely lacks funding for abortion access.

On the other hand, 77 percent of white women in the study had private or other forms of insurance, giving them viable access to abortions if they required such services (KFF). It is unreasonable to place such heavy restrictions on abortions when the government and the states have little to no plans to support the vulnerable populations being impacted the most.

As such, it is all the more clear that supporting FOCA is an essential step states need to take in order to ensure the safety, health, and equal rights of pregnant people across America. As introduced by the 110th U.S. Congress, this federal bill would ensure that people have the fundamental right to make individual decisions about the trajectory of their pregnancy, whether that be carrying the baby to term, or terminating their pregnancy before fetal viability or “after fetal viability when necessary to protect her life or her health” (congress.gov). If Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court during Mississippi’s case, there would be nothing stopping states from banning access to abortion altogether.

However, enacting FOCA would act as an effective security blanket for abortion rights, especially in states who remain neutral in their stance on abortion but could be at future risk without protective measures in place. The recent developments with the Mississippi case display that an attack on abortion in one state is an attack on us all.

Like an individual’s power to make a choice about abortion, power is also vested in us as individuals in this publication to speak out about this pervasive threat, and we call upon the states to take action.

THE PEN PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL 27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

EDITORS IN CHIEF Fiona Andersons Fiona Yang MANAGING EDITOR Keila Bara HEADS OF DESIGN Helen Huang Maddie Yeh HEAD OF BUSINESS Lina Kugaya ADVISER Jaymee DeMeyer OPINION EDITOR: Maddy Christen WRITERS: Clara Reckhorn Tilly Safavian NEWS EDITOR: Caitlyn Lee WRITER: Jenna Long Nomi Tsogmagnai FOCUS EDITOR: Kaitlyn Ho WRITERS: Hannah Corr Riley McAlpine STUDENT LIFE EDITOR: Jeremy Kim WRITERS: Jacelyn Chen Jami Galdones Deborah Mok ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT/SPORTS EDITORS: Emma Mulligan WRITERS: Jillian Farley Imogene Tomicic GRAPHICS Shai Becker Hana Fujii Alicia Jeong Giulia Monti Sakura Sasaki Jihee Seo Lynn Takahashi Brian Wang ADS Leah Aoyagi Makayla Lui Victoria Rhodes

“The Pen” is the student newspaper produced by the advanced jounalism students of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. It is published eight times per year. Advertising inquiries may be directed to Head of Business Lina Kugaya at (424)404-0303.

The Pen editors appreciate Letters to the Editor, which are accepted up to one week before publication.

You may submit them digitally to thepennews@gmail.com in an email.

Copyright © 2021 COVER DESIGN BY HELEN HUANG

FIONA YANG / THE PEN

4 JENNA LONG Since the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many people have anticipated a return to normalcy. However, this date may be closer than expected. On May 4, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially confirmed a new mask mandate allowing fully vaccinated people to be outside without needing to wear a mask as well as engage in safe outdoor activities with people of either the same household or a limited number of other households. However, the CDC still insists vaccinated people should continue to be masked in the company of large crowds or indoor spaces with partially or non-vaccinated people, and around people who carry increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness—this includes those with preexisting heart failure, high blood pressure or respiratory issues. This mask mandate also carries various other benefits for fully vaccinated people, like more flexible travel guidelines. Some experts support this new mask guideline, as it appears to be a promising advance toward normalcy prior to COVID-19, but others argue that with most of the population not fully vaccinated, this new mask mandate has been approved far too early. Given the recent news, senior Nicolas Constantino fears normal life is becoming far less achievable than what people initially anticipated.

“For a while I was very optimistic that life would return to normal soon,” Constantino said.

“That is what the experts were predicting as well, especially given the amount of vaccines available for people. With vaccination rates declining, it seems as if that is not possible anymore, which makes me believe this was not the best time to implement this new mask mandate.”

The New York Times further emphasizes that the severity in the rise of new COVID-19 variants and low vaccination distributions will cause the U.S. to stray further from reaching its goal of herd immunity, which occurs when a significant portion of a population becomes immune to an infectious disease and is likely to prevent any further spread of it in the area. About 42 percent of both children and adults are fully vaccinated in the U.S.; however, the 58 percent who are not vaccinated cannot be easily identified without a vaccination passport.

Because the vaccine passport has yet be instituted, the identification of non-vaccinated people is nearly impossible. Thus, The New York Times predicts that unvaccinated people will take advantage of the new mask mandate to avoid wearing a mask.

Throughout the course of the pandemic, mask wearing and the COVID-19 vaccine has become an increasingly polarizing topic. While many people

THE CDC CONFIRMS NEW NATIONAL MASK MANDATE wear a mask or get vaccinated for the purpose of protecting oneself and others, other people argue the mask mandates implemented by the federal and state governments infringe on their personal rights.

Moreover, the leadership of the contrasting parties hold a large influence that often leads members of those parties to prioritize different social, economic or safety issues in America. In the early stages of the pandemic, former President Donald Trump, his campaign team and cabinet members implicitly discredited the validity of masks by never enforcing nor wearing masks and disregarding the pandemic safety precautions all together. In recent months, fake vaccine cards have risen in popularity since people want to avoid the vaccine and not wear masks. Overall, the growing opposition toward mask mandates, vaccines and other precautions implemented to protect the public from COVID-19 prolongs the threat of infection in the U.S. Since the increased removal of mask mandates, The New York Times states that vaccination rates have decreased, affirming that vaccinations are not as much of a priority recently. Senior Jackson Frankwick understands the importance of taking a more cautious approach in alleviating mask mandates.

“It is amazing to see the progress that our country has made with COVID-19 thanks to the vaccine,” Frankwick said. “However, I do believe there is still much more that needs to be done before we can let people just walk around without a mask. I have seen first-hand people who have jumped at the opportunity to not wear a mask, and this mandate only encourages that.”

Before this new mask mandate, states had already started to alleviate or even completely

eliminate their mask guidelines and COVID-19 restrictions. On March 2, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was one of the first governors to have entirely disbanded his state’s COVID-19 restrictions and officially open Texas. Since then, scientists have reported new COVID-19 variants in Texas that have increased the infection rates (The New York Times). However, Texas is not the only Southern state to have eliminated its mask mandates.

Around the months of January and early February, Covid Act Now, an interactive U.S. COVID-19 map and vaccine tracker, stated that Tennessee closely followed Texas in disbanding their mask mandates, resulting in a 70 percent infection rate and critical positive test rate of 22.5 percent. Since Texas is one of the largest states in the U.S., the numbers for infection rates and vaccine distribution will be skewed in relation to the most vaccinated states who, on average, have a significantly smaller population.

While Vermont remains the most vaccinated state with 79.8 percent of the population vaccinated, Texas is ranked No. 37 with 35.71 percent of its population vaccinated and vaccine distributions barely climbing each day (Cable News Network).

Since the confirmation of the new mask mandate, Columbia Broadcasting System has also revealed that over a third of the states, where vaccination rates are declining, plan to end their COVID-19 mask mandates.

Despite recent progress in decreasing COVID-19 infections, California has 43 percent of the population fully vaccinated, leaving barely over half of the population still susceptible to infection. While this vaccination statistic is edging toward a steady majority, the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy states that the number is still not high enough where people should be comfortable being without a mask. Within the last 3 months, the Los Angeles Times has documented COVID-19 infection rates, as California has gone from being the most infected state in the U.S. to one of the lowest due to strict mask mandates and COVID-19 regulations. As a result, many experts and residents of California were optimistic in the state’s return to normalcy. However, low vaccination rates across the country, similar to that of Texas, have somewhat diminished said hopes, as California also plans to take part in ending their COVID-19 mask mandate.

As much as junior Claire Traina wants to return to a life pre-COVID-19, she realizes the importance in not rushing this process, especially if there is such uncertainty.

“California has come such a long way since the beginning of quarantine,” Traina said. “I [cannot] wait to see life get back to normal, see my friends and possibly have a normal senior year. On the other hand, there is still so much that experts and the public do not know regarding COVID-19 and only a handful of people have been fully vaccinated, so I think it would be better if everyone continued to wear their masks regardless of the new mask mandate.”

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NOMI TSOGMAGNAI Over the past couple of months, many people have noticed the signs of a boba pearl shortage in their local boba shops, from posters listing “no boba” to local boba shops closing temporarily. Boba is a type of drink topping made from tapioca, and depending on how the boba is manufactured, there can be different textures and flavors. Currently, however, businesses are facing a shortage of the most commonly purchased variety—black tapioca boba pearls. This boba shortage is largely due to sea traffic, caused by a backlog in ships at the eastern U.S. docks (The New York Times). Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there have been less workers available to unload the ships at the docks, elongating the unloading process past the usual period of one week (The New York Times). Statista reports that the amount of workers at the dock decreased from 16 percent to 5 percent in the last few months of 2020 as well due to the increased number of COVID-19 cases.

States all over the U.S. are being affected by this shortage, including California and New York.

This boba shortage reflects larger issues beyond the boba industry in the economy due to COVID-19—as a result of the wait, many small businesses, not just boba shops, have begun running low on certain supplies that need to be shipped

from overseas. For example, Business Insider reported that toilet paper and tampons are also experiencing a shortage. The Wall Street Journal interviewed Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka, who said that traffic at the ports is improving by the day. In the meantime, avid boba drinkers like freshman Haruka Yuasa have found other ways to cope with the boba shortage.

“I am really surprised [about this shortage],” Yuasa said. “I did not know about it because I go to drink boba about once a month, and the shop I go to [still has boba pearls]. [Unlike other people who bought boba after hearing about the shortage],

I WOULD DEFINITELY TRY MORE DRINK TOPPINGS IF THERE WAS NO BOBA TO CHOOSE FROM. - SENIOR RACHEL VETCHEIN I started buying boba online because I was not allowed out [because of COVID-19].”

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have turned to online shopping as a safer alternative to shopping in-person (British Broadcasting Corporation). Digital Commerce conducted a study showing that e-commerce has grown 44 percent in the U.S. since 2020 as the pandemic continues to influence the economy. Despite decreasing COVID-19 cases, the aftermath of the first wave still influences the congestion today. Sophomore Sydney Chung believes that if the situation with COVID-19 were to improve, then traffic congestions impacting deliveries would follow suit.

“I think there is no other [alternative for online shopping], but we might need a solution,” Chung said. “If the vaccine [is widely distributed] and COVID-19 becomes better, then people might shop

[in-person] more, [which would improve the traffic at the ports].”

Many local boba chains in Los Angeles that depend on these suppliers are now suffering from this boba shortage. According to National Public Radio, business owners report that there have been less drink sales since their boba pearls ran out. The New York Times interviewed Aaron Qian, the owner of three boba shops in New York, who explained that when his customers find out that there are no boba pearls available, they do not order tea and leave. As a result, these shops lose money with less sales made, and when revenue decreases, the owners may be forced to find cheaper materials or fire employees.

To reclaim their revenue, most owners are substituting boba pearls with other toppings, which has given other customers a chance to try toppings like coconut jellies, popping boba and coffee jelly. Some of these toppings are made from different ingredients than the ones used in boba pearls, so they are more available to buy. Senior Rachel Vetchtein has tried a few of these alternatives and views them as an opportunity to branch out from her usual choice of boba.

“I have tried [pairing] grass jelly, coffee jelly and egg pudding [with my drink],” Vetchtein said. “[While] I enjoyed them all, boba is [still] my favorite [drink topping]. I prefer the chewy texture of the boba, and I like how it is not as sweet, so it pairs well with sweet milk tea.

[However], I would definitely [be open to trying] more drink toppings if there was no boba to choose from, [like] red beans and popping boba.”

JIHEE SEO / THE PEN

6 THE OSCARS MAKE EFFORTS TO INCREASE DIVERSITY This year, the 93rd annual Academy Awards ceremony had a rise in the diversity of nominees and winners.

According to the British Broadcasting Channel, the Academy Awards, or the Oscars, are regarded as one of the most prestigious awards ceremonies in the entertainment industry. The awards are given for artistic and technical presentations to honor films and commend directors, actors and other members of the film industry from the past year. USA Today reports that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Academy)—the organization that selects nominees and winners—made efforts to increase diversity, as nine of the 20 acting nominees were people of color. According to Insider, only one out of 20 people nominated at the 2020 Oscars was a person of color. The Academy has come a long way to become more inclusive in its nominations, and it is likely that this growth of diversity will continue on.

Filmmaker Chloe Zhao and actress Youn Yuh-Jung made history with their nominations. Youn, a prominent South Korean actor, won “Best Supporting Actress” for her role as Soonja in Minari, making her the first South Korean actor to win an Oscar. “Minari,” as described by Screen Rant, follows the story of an immigrant South Korean family that moves from California to Arkansas in hopes of a better life. During her 50-year career, Youn starred in many South Korean films such as “The Housemaid” and “Canola” but has only recently received recognition for her acting. Additionally, Chinese filmmaker Zhao became the first woman to receive four nominations in a single year. Zhao was nominated in the “Best Adapted Screenplay,” “Best Director,” “Best Film Editing” and “Best Picture” categories. With her win of “Best Director” for her film “Nomadland,” Zhao became the second woman and first woman of color to win this award. “Nomadland”

follows the story of a woman who becomes a modern-day nomad by travelling through the American West in a van. According to TIME, Zhao used non-professional actors and their real-life stories to guide the script.

The movie is considered to be timely, as its escapist cinematography takes viewers--many of whom have been on lockdown due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic--on a journey.

Sophomore Emily Kallah sees Zhao’s win as a step in the right direction for fairer representation of women and people of color in the film industry, especially since there has been a 150 percent increase in the number of Asian hate crimes since 2020.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a lot of Asian hate, so I think this [win gave Zhao] a new legacy,” Kallah said. “Her win is a lesson for [those] who want to work in the film industry [about perseverance], as it shows that anything is possible.”

As stated by North Jersey Media Group, Asian representation in films is “few and far between.” Thus, Zhao’s and Youn’s wins have opened doors for Asians, setting precedent for future representation. These awards show the impact of recent initiatives to increase representation in the film industry. Five years ago, a social justice campaign began on social media under the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite in response to all 20 acting nominations going to white actors in the 2015 Oscars ceremony. It was used to call out the film industry for lacking representation of people of color. The Academy responded to the second wave of criticism in 2016 by announcing their goals to make their voting body more diverse in gender, race and ethnicity by 2020.

As someone of Mexican and Middle Eastern descent, freshman Amani Ghazi felt inspired by the victories of minority communities this year.

“I have not seen much representation of Asian actors [or actresses] at the Academy Awards, so [Youn and Zhao’s] wins are a step in the right direction,” Ghazi said.

An article from Insider states that films such as “Nomadland,” “Minari” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” are significant because they employed people of color and contributed to the most diverse round of Oscars nominations. The Oscars also announced representation and inclusion standards for eligibility in the “Best Picture” category as part of its Academy Aperture 2025 initiative. The initiative was designed to encourage equal representation on and off screen “to better reflect the diversity of the movie-going audience,” according to the Academy.

Pushed by the general public as well as the film industry, it says that at least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors must be from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group to be eligible for the “Best Picture” award. Freshman Kayla Soltis hopes more women and people of color will improve the industry. “[It is important] for women to be in [high] positions in a maledominated industry,” Soltis said. “[The diversity] can bring hope to others who aspire [to be in the movie industry, as it] shows others that they can [achieve] it.”

The Oscars has been an award ceremony for 93 years, and diversity is only now becoming prominent. Due to the industry being predominately white and male-dominated, many filmmakers, actors, directors and other members of the film industry have been excluded from nominations and wins. However, with the increase in the amount of diversity being produced each year, it is likely that coming cermonies will see more inclusive nominations.

LYNN TAKAHASHI / THE PEN

RILEY MCALPINE

THE 2021 OSCARS:

7 CONTROVERSY SURROUNDS THE ACADEMY AWARDS HANNAH CORR The 2021 Academy Awards (Oscars) saw positive changes in diversity, but many were disappointed in the event. This was evident by the drop in the number of viewers from 23.6 million in 2020 to 10.4 million in 2021—a 56 percent decrease, according to Nielsen Data. The Oscars is a yearly event run by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Academy), a group of filmmakers that decides on the recipients of Oscar awards, which are given to members of the film industry for work in various projects.

This year’s event aired on television through the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) on April 25, and the awards presented ranged from “Best Hair and Makeup” to “Best Picture” (ABC). Many chose to disregard the Oscars due to the lack of celebrity attendance, controversial formatting and the lack of an event host.

Furthermore, when recently deceased actor Chadwick Boseman did not win “Best Actor,” there was even more outcry (The New York Times).

Traditionally, the Oscars invite a host to direct the flow of the award presentation, but this year, there was no one to fill that role.

According to Vanity Fair, the award show producers wanted the event to be more experimental. By having fellow celebrities present awards, the producers thought that a sense of camaraderie would be achieved.

The amount of people attending the event was also limited to a maximum attendance of 170 people, as the coronavirus (COVID-19) safety regulations released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at

FIXES AND FAILURES

the time restricted the capacity of the event. The Academy addressed this issue by scheduling cohorts that rotated in and out of the event all night. The event organizers separated guests into the main room, where in-person presentations were given, and they led them into an outdoor courtyard area. For each award, the nominated group was brought into the area where the aforementioned award presentation occurred and then left the room once it was finished.

Although this process was essential to ensuring the safety of those who attended, the rotation created a lack of celebrity involvement. Senior Allison Kwon attributes this as one of the reasons why this year’s Oscars was the lowest-rated in history.

“I noticed a major format change this year—the venue was socially distanced with far fewer celebrities,” Kwon said. “Since there was not a main host or celebrities that I personally love at the event, the Oscars this year were less interesting to me.”

According to The New York Times, spectators were also confused because the Oscars changed the order of presentation. While the Oscars usually present “Best Picture” last, this year, the Academy chose to present “Best Actress” and “Best Actor” last. This increased anticipation, since many thought that Boseman would win “Best Actor” for his role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Viewers made this assumption seeing how Boseman recently passed away at the age of 43 due to cancer. Many thought the honor would have been an appropriate tribute to end the Oscars.

Furthermore, the Academy flew Boseman’s family out to watch the event, which enforced predictions that Boseman would win. People also felt Boseman deserved the award because of the impact he had on the film industry through his other appearances like T’Challa from “Black Panther” and Jackie Robinson in “42” (The New York Times). As such,

observers were upset when Anthony Hopkins beat Boseman with his performance as Anthony in the film “The Father.” Critics were unhappy with Boseman’s loss as well as how he was unacknowledged specially by the Oscars. Junior Savannah Montgomery felt that the Oscar award for “Best Actor” did not go to the right actor and believes Boseman should have been the obvious choice.

“I really think [Boseman] should have won the award,” Montgomery said. “[The Academy] could have gone about it differently because I knew people who watched the awards just to support Chadwick, and [they were disappointed] when he did not win.”

In addition, when Anthony Hopkins won the award for “Best Actor,” he was not allowed to give a speech because he did not attend in person.

This was unprecedented, as award winners usually give acceptance speeches. The Academy defended their decision that there would be a no call-in policy by explaining that they wanted an intimate event that mimicked the traditional style of the event. Instead, Hopkins decided to post an acceptance speech to his Instagram account, but viewers were still confused by the Oscars’ choice.

English 4 and Advanced Placement English Language and Composition teacher Tim Coleman was among the ruffled audience members, as he found it hard to understand why the 2021 Oscars suddenly changed.

“I thought that the [Oscars] were difficult to watch this year because of the format,” Coleman said. “I know they were trying to do something different, specifically [because] there were no Zoom participants.”

The Oscars were a controversial event for many, and the Academy has yet to respond to the disappointments of their audience. Next year, viewers hope for a better experience by returning to watch the show without COVID-19 restrictions, and also anticipate that there will be a more traditional presentation for the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony.

8 GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS

Sophomore Entrepreneur Works to Reform Education System JAMI GALDONES As an entrepreneur, business woman and student, sophomore Naomi Porter has seen and done it all. While attending Palos Verdes Intermediate School, Porter realized the level of impact she could have on the world given her experiences and knowledge gained from the educational opportunities she had received. Porter sought to explore a new project that would push her engagement with learning, prompting her to start two of her own companies: Spice It Up, an eco-friendly business that sells travel-sized “spice kits,” and Bright Futures Tutoring & Academic Coaching, which helps students foster study skills through organizational strategies and academic assistance. She advertised her services at local trade shows, local street fairs, local magazines and especially by word of mouth. Porter was able to sell out her first launch of “spice kits” and helped over 15 students with her tutoring business as of this year. Although she still runs these businesses today, Porter realized that there were still more educational and societal issues in her community that she could resolve.

In hopes of continuing her problem-solving pursuits, Porter started EntrepreYOUership in 2019, an organization that democratizes access to entrepreneurial education courses. EntrepreYOUership’s main goal is to reform the way others educate and train teenagers’ minds by hosting workshops, webinars and events. Here, EntrepreYOUership tailors their lessons and presentations to an organization’s desires. If an organization wants to focus on the business side of entrepreneurship, EntrepreYOUership will host lessons on the process of managing money and profiting off of start-up projects.

Most events are sporadic and advertised to teenagers globally through their Instagram account, @gsentrepreneurs, and about 30 to 130 students attend.

Following the founding of EntrepreYOUership, Porter began giving in-person presentations and speeches to peers her age at events with Google, Girl Scouts of the USA and Rotary International. She talked about her personal journey with entrepreneurship while also expressing to her audience why entrepreneurship is changing the way teenagers are looking at problems and making the effort to fix them. As a Girl Scout, or a member of the Girl Scouts of America program, Porter was also working on her Gold Award project during this time, an honor which Girl Scouts earn by fixing a problem in their community. To be awarded this distinction, Porter used the platform she had grown with EntrepreYOUership to host an event in October 2019, in which she collaborated with five other organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles Harbor. The organizations worked in tandem to implement their shared knowledge by creating a start-up funding competition. Three winners were chosen to receive specific supplies to continue their entrepreneurship journey. For example, if they wanted to start a mask business, they would receive fabric, sewing supplies and more.

After receiving positive feedback from participants in the competition who felt the event inspired their continuation of entrepreneurship, Porter began furthering the outreach of her EntrepreYOUership company. To help spread her message, she collaborated with Forbes Magazine, Voyage LA Magazine, The Conversationalist, the United Nations and most recently, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). Porter advertises herself through numerous social media platforms, her personal website, social events and LinkedIn, which allows companies and organizations to get in contact with her to collaborate.

During these podcast and article collaborations, Porter mainly talked about her experiences as a young entrepreneur, including her work towards education reform, sustainable development goals and promoting collaboration over competition. EntrepreYOUership has currently impacted over 900 middle and high school students on a global scale by equipping them with an “entrepreneurial mindset”, or the mentality of looking at the world, seeing what can be innovated and adapting to it.

UPenn was the first university SH A to write an article about Porter I BE C K ER in March 2020 for their website, / T HE P EN

Knowledge @ Wharton, and to film a podcast with Porter. Initially, UPenn was only going to write an article about Porter, but after discussing the content of the article further with Knowledge @ Wharton managing editor Diana Lasseter Drake, they both realized that the topic could be expanded upon vocally. As a result, their podcast on Knowledge @ Wharton further discussed the need for education reform in society today and detailed the structuring of interactive lesson plans for secondary educators. During Porter’s conversations with Drake, they emphasized the need to redefine success in the education system by changing students’ outlooks on problems in their community as something they can fix instead.

“There are many opportunities these days for students to explore their interests beyond the classroom and deepen their awareness of the problems that need addressing in their communities and globally,” Drake said. “[This generation] is starting their own businesses and developing their entrepreneurial mindset to tackle problems with creative thinking and experimentation. They are embracing cutting-edge trends in business education, such as data analytics that impact investing and financial technology, so they feel empowered to be effective changemakers in whatever they pursue.”

Becoming a business owner at such a young age led Porter to meet some important people who have acted as mentors throughout her entrepreneurial journey. One of these people is Pastor Paul Barrett of St. Peter’s by the Sea Presbyterian Church. As a member of the church, Porter has always been able to depend on Pastor Barrett, a prominent person in her life, to always give her advice and support. He also worked alongside Porter when she was earning her Gold Award for Girl Scouts. Throughout the entire process, Pastor Barrett got to see Porter’s ability to adapt to changes thrown at her and use them to her advantage first-hand.

“Throughout [earning] her Gold Award, she demonstrated perseverance in the process of adapting to the constantly-changing landscape of the pandemic,” Barrett said. “Naomi is a dependable and thoughtful leader who works hard to do meaningful work in our community. She is a wonderful influence and inspiration for her peers.”

In the future, Porter hopes to educate more of her generation through EntrepreYOUership and earn grants and start-up funds from various applied programs to give to aspiring young entrepreneurs. Her journey in entrepreneurship has not only impacted her outlook on the world, but also the way she acts and chooses to navigate certain challenges, and she cannot wait to continue spreading the lessons she has learned to others.

“I love collaborating with other activists and places to work toward a common goal,” Porter said. “When you do something you love for a greater purpose, it makes the work easier and not a chore, but an opportunity.”

9

JUNIORS CREATE VIDEO PROMOTING SOCIAL EQUALITY JACELYN CHEN Amid the spike of discriminatory incidents against minority groups in the U.S., many activists nationwide are fighting to amplify marginalized voices and advocate for equality. Efforts to combat these growing issues are also happening close to home. In early November 2020, junior Niki Abolghassem created the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) Equality Project. The purpose of this initiative is to produce a video that promotes speaking up against social injustices one feels strongly about and the importance of equality in regards to religious and racial injustice. Abolghassem was particularly motivated by the fact that she is a person of color herself, and she wanted to ensure that all marginalized voices are heard.

“Our project will help fight against inequalities by educating younger generations to not make the same mistakes past generations have,” Abolghassem said. “We want them to love one another, respect each other and never judge anyone [by] the background they come from.”

To begin the project, Abolghassem recruited her friends, junior James Terrell and Palos Verdes High School (PVHS) junior Eden Paddock to join the Equality Project’s “Inner Circle,” or their group of student leaders. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion executive board member of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Council of Parent Teacher Associations and Paddock’s mother Trisha Paddock is overseeing the project.

They also recruited professional videographer James Tyler to enhance the production quality of their video.

Their next step was to find students and organizations from Peninsula and PVHS to appear in and help produce the video. Thus, the team turned to social media for outreach. By posting their mission on Peninsula’s Instagram account, @pvphs, they found many students who wanted to help produce the video.

P EN “Promoting the importance of equality T HE / within the district was easier said than TI ON M done,” Terrell said. “We really wanted IA GU L

to [stress] the purpose of our project so the viewers would [have a clear vision of our mission].”

One organization from Peninsula that chose to participate in the Equality Project is the Black Student Union (BSU) club, which serves to spread the importance of Black culture and function as a community outlet. BSU president Banke Osibamiro chose to join the project because she felt its purposes were similar to her own club’s goals. She expressed the critical nature of sharing their message of empowering students to make change in social issues they feel passionate about.

“When Niki reached out to me asking if I wanted to be a part of this organization, I was extremely thrilled to spread the message [further],” Osibamiro said. “This organization made me understand how important it was to spread [a message of] equality within our [district and community], and by making this video visible to students, it might actually make a difference in history.”

The PVPUSD Equality Project hopes to finish the production of their video over the summer. They will then share their video to high school students across the district during the first semester of the next school year by publicizing it through social media and playing it during English class periods.

After this, they will expand presentations to the elementary and middle schools in the district, as they feel that the concept of universal equality is also relevant to younger students.

“We want the younger kids to be educated on topics like [the importance of ending inequality] because they are very wise for their age and knowing at a young age will [better teach them],” Abolghassem said.

“We really hope they will understand the importance of our purpose and make change happen.” *Certain details regarding the content of the video and its production were not included in this article as the creators of the Equality Project hope to keep it confidential until the film is completed and released.

10 JILLIAN FARLEY

BRIAN WANG / THE PEN

On April 22, Netflix announced that the Hype House would be starring in their own reality show called “The Hype House”. The Hype House Instagram account, @thehypehousela, stated on April 22 that the influencers who will be appearing on the show are Kouvr Annon, Nikita Nyugen, Sienna Mae Gomez, Cole Chase Hudson, Larri Merritt, Thomas Petrou, Alex Warren and Jack Wright. Located in Los Angeles, the Hype House is one of the first collaborative living spaces for influencers, also known as a content house.

Merriam-Webster defines an influencer as “a person who is able to generate interest in something by posting about it on social media.” The influencers living in the Hype House operate primarily through the popular social media platform TikTok. While some social media users saw no harm in the show’s creation, many were unhappy with Netflix’s decision because they felt the concept of making a reality show about people whose lives are already projected on social media was unnecessary. Already a viral petition on Change.org to cancel the show has garnered over 20,000 signatures. Some people, like junior Mikaela Funiciello, see the benefits of content houses.

“I see [TikTok influencers] creating content houses as a way for them to [successfully] live their own lives and do their job at the same time,” Funiciello said. “They should be able to live their [teenage] years doing what they want, [since] they have the opportunity to do so.”

However, since Netflix has canceled fan-favorite shows, not everyone is pleased that these TikTok influencers are recieving a new show. Although there is no evidence that these events are directly correlated, fans have been given the impression that Netflix does not care about user opinions, seeing as they canceled fan-favorite shows while giving way to “The Hype House”.

Some Netflix users have even threatened to cancel their subscriptions over the Hype House show because they consider the members to be

irresponsible and too young to handle their fame.

In comparison to actors who spend years training and going to auditions, many believe that TikTok influencers’ fame is determined by luck rather than merit. Due to the maximum length of a video on TikTok being 60 seconds, some feel that the amount of money influencers make and the attention they receive does not equate to the

HYPE HOUSE SHOW SPARKS CONTROVERSY opportunities they are handed, such as the Netflix show. Netflix, which is known for its long-form content, is an entirely different platform than what these influencers produce for. Critics do not feel that a big streaming service should be showcasing the careers of people who solely make one-minute videos on TikTok. “I [do not] believe [TikTok influencers] deserve a Netflix show because there are actors and actresses that study acting for their career and are being [overlooked in favor of] this show,” junior Skylar Lee said. “I feel as if the Hype House did [not need their own show], and I can understand many

people’s frustration over other Netflix shows being canceled [instead of] ‘The Hype House’ show.

Netflix has promised that the show is unscripted and will reveal a hidden side of these influencers and their relationships, yet these influencers are already posting most of their lives online for their followers. In marketing the show as a novel view into the hidden side of these influencers, they present it as exclusive content; people who want to watch the show will download Netflix and pay for a subscription, giving netfliz monet for a show that recycls public information already widely known about these influencers.

The many scandals these specific TikTok influencers have gotten involved in also contribute to the public’s wariness of the show. Members of the Hype House and other similar content houses have been notorious for hosting parties during the height of the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, the most notable occurring on July 22, 2020. Over 60 influencers gathered to celebrate member Larri Merritt’s birthday, with no evidence of masks or social distancing guidelines being followed.

Moreover, one of the members, Sienna Mae Gomez, is currently undergoing a sexual assault allegation against one of her co-stars in the show, Jack Wright, while he was unconscious and intoxicated (Insider). To award a spot on the show to someone accused of a serious crime leaves a bitter taste in many viewers’ mouths. If Gomez is guilty of this crime, it would be entirely distasteful if Netflix proceeded to allow her to stay in the series. People now are sharing concerns that expanding the Hype House’s platform will allow them to set a bad example for their impressionable, young audience.

“Netflix should not be shining any attention or fame toward these [irresponsible] influencers,” junior Patrick Tiu said. “These influencers are young and arrogant, and because they are famous, they have the mindset where they think they can do whatever they want and get away with it.

Netflix providing more fame and spotlight [to these influencers provides the] possibility of enabling this kind of behavior.”

11

TO D GE AY’S N Z R TRE FA ESH NDS SH IO APES : N

IMOGENE TOMICIC

13 million followers, is a perfect example of this. By simply posting her outfits on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, she single-handedly elevated Gen Z style to the world stage. Her publicity has garnered the attention of the high-fashion industry, allowing her to attend fashion shows and acquire sponsorships with designer brands like Louis Vuitton, all while showcasing her Gen Z style.

Having social media as a way to communicate their likes and dislikes in fashion, through their use of social media and eclectic styling habits, Gen Z has cultivated a diverse and unique community of fashion. Gen Z has also created a fad of thrifting for used clothing, which allows people to find pieces that are not widely available or mass-marketed, as well as one-of-akind items. For junior Justin Baek, his generation’s fashion helps him connect with his peers on a personal level.

“Gen Z style more or less is from everyone having the same interest in clothes and a lot of people shopping at the same stores and websites, while still allowing us to feel like individuals,” Baek said. “Since there is such variety in what is available in Gen Z style, it is flexible from person to person.

Having such a style allows people to be themselves while still having the same appeal and identifying with [our peers].”

Gen Z’s tendency to draw from the style of any generation or time period also gives them access to an abundance of stylistic choices. This array of adaptation allows more people to partake in the world of fashion, making Gen Z a more unified community

through its interconnected style.

Today, possessing individuality is key in fashion. Although being part of a bigger community is an empowering trait unique created by Gen Z. “I think it is really cool that our generation can identify with each other through our [distinct] styles,” senior Alyssa Matsuzaki said. “We are going through life at relatively the same time, having similar experiences. Gen Z fashion allows us to relate to each other more and identify each other as people we can relate to because we are from the same generation and I am grateful for it.”

MADDIE YEH / THE PEN

Generation Z (Gen Z) is exceptionally able to visually distinguish themselves through style and fashion trends. The fashion trends set by Gen Z, or those born between 1997 and 2015, often take inspiration from previous decades—with stylistic fads such as mom jeans, scrunchies and flared pants, Gen Z’s revival of various trends from earlier generations allows the fashion industry to revisit past eras.

For sophomore Emily Wu, Gen Z fashion helps her feel more confident. By trying new styles and trends, they are widely appreciated.

“Gen Z does have a distinct style, and my favorite part is how our signature mark [consists of] throwback trends,” Wu said. “It is impressive how what Gen Z enjoys can so influentially impact products in the fashion industry. I love throwback styles and trends and I hope that Gen Z keeps finding more of them and incorpertating it into their styles.”

A major factor in how Gen Z has come to create a universal, appealing fashion sense is social media and celebrity influence. With social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, Gen Z is able to easily popularize trends and take inspiration from others by shopping at the same places. On these social media platforms, celebrity and peer influencer promotions of products and stores largely contribute to Gen Z style.

Social media influencer Emma Chamberlain, with her largest platform on Instagram boasting