2026 Nearly Spring Edition

Teenagers Take Over the Capitol

Youth & Government delegates step into the role of lawmakers during Sacramento conference. This past weekend, Sacramento looked a little different. Instead of elected officials filling meeting rooms and debating bills, the California State Capitol was crowded with teenagers in fancy suits and name badges, hustling across the crowded hallways carrying folders and practicing speeches. At the Youth & Government Model Legislature & Court Conference, students from all across Calif

Arely Rodriguez '26

3 min read

Op-Ed: From Jawlines to Eugenics, how streamer Clavicular is creating a new hierarchy of ‘alpha’ manhood

"Looksmaxxing" creators claim attraction is objective and biologically determined that echoes historical eugenics and racial hierarchy. In the process, they have revived a familiar logic about inherited worth. On a random TikTok that's come up on your feed or a Kick stream you happen to click on, you may come across a man explaining to you how you can “ascend”. He will describe how to change your bone density and “maximal projection”— obvious things everyone thinks about whe

Mimi Nikolic '26

5 min read

Don't Stereotype Me

African Americans are constantly stereotyped based on narratives from years ago. Why? A stereotype is a belief about a group of people that is misrepresented or over-exaggerated to the point that it becomes harmful. For centuries, African Americans have been stereotyped in ridiculous ways, from what they eat to how they talk. This made me question whether these stereotypes have any truth to them or if they just come from ignorance. One of the most common stereotypes I hear i

Kyleigh Butler '29

4 min read

The Evolution of Entertainment: The Super Bowl Halftime Show

Every year, people joke that they are only watching the Super Bowl for the halftime show. But how did it come to be, and does it really live up to the hype ? By the time halftime rolled around at Super Bowl LX, most viewers were looking for anything with life to compensate for the rather boring offensive performances by both teams in the first half. So, by the time Bad Bunny took the stage, it was a welcome relief to some to see the energy pick up. Though not all Super Bowls

No Mom, My AI Girlfriend Loves Me!

Why are so many turning to AI for romantic and social interactions? In recent years, artificial intelligence has been in the spotlight with its hundreds of different functions and applications. It gives easy access to the entire internet with just a question, but research is far beyond the only use of the technology. Recently, many users have either found AI tools specifically built for relationships or turned tools like ChatGPT into tools for socializing. The very first A

Has America Entered Its Seventh Party System?

America has had numerous changes to its political ideals ever since the days of Washington. However, are we entering a new era of populist dominance, or is neo-liberalism still the dominating figure in American politics? The reelection of Donald Trump as President of the United States in 2024 was distinctive in that only once before had a President been reelected after losing an election as the incumbent office holder. With this arguably surprising turn of events, social sci

Memories and Mochi: A Venice Buddhist Temple New Year Tradition

My story of Mochi's cultural background, or Venice Buddhist Temple Gets Ready for Mochitsuki. Mochi is a traditional Japanese rice cake made from steamed glutinous rice flour. It is a delicious treat beloved by all, but do you know that there is so much more to it than its amazing texture and yummy taste? The Japanese Buddhist community at the Venice Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles has been making their own mochi once a year as part of a New Year's tradition. Every December,

How will Australia’s Social Media Ban Affect the United States?

Australia takes initiative on the issue of social media for minors, striking controversy. On November 28, 2024, Australia’s government passed a law called the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024. It prohibits minors under 16 from having a social media account — and it raises questions on what social media limitations for minors here in the U.S could look like. The law came into effect on December 10, 2025. It requires social media platforms (such as Y

Breaking Bias: Gender Inequality in Healthcare

How gender bias affects diagnosis and treatment, and what people are doing to fix it Despite advances in equality in healthcare, gender bias remains a large issue. This leads to misdiagnosis, unequal treatment, and overlooked symptoms - especially for women and non - binary individuals. However, there is a growing group of researchers and activists who are trying to address this issue, and people are pushing for a brighter future where medical care is truly equal and fair. G

Owning a dog can benefit many in significant ways

In a society plagued by increasing social and economic stressors as well as mental health challenges, dogs have taken an important role in our lives. For decades, dogs have been known to serve as loyal companions providing social, emotional and therapeutic benefits, and the research backs up this common understanding too. Owning a dog is extremely beneficial on multiple different health aspects of life. Research shows that having experienced living with a dog, people experie

Op-Ed: 2026 is the new 2016?

Twas’ was the year of Pokémon Go, Snapchat filters (especially the dog filter – still a fan a decade later), Drake, and Stranger Things. But beyond chokers and trends, 2016 was a time when the future still felt open. Today, we live with a constant sense of dread; we carry stress on our shoulders instead of animal hats on our heads (IYKYK). 2016 was the peak area of social media just before being on social media turned into doom scrolling. Back then, you could simply log off

A History of Emo Music In Southern California

An abridged emo history by decade, subgenre, band, and scene. GLOSSARY : Post-Hardcore : a punk rock subgenre that emerged in the mid-1980s, retaining the raw intensity and aggression of hardcore punk while introducing more complex structures, experimentalism, and melodic elements. Emo : a genre of cathartic punk/alt rock music derived from the hardcore genre known for its personal lyricism, loud/soft dynamics, and occasionally twinkly guitar work which all follow a distinct

Jack Dorfman '28