Vol. 59 No. 4 March 9, 2021

March 9, 2021 Vol. 59 No. 4 Image By Jaime Chen Keeping Up with the Seeing Eye to Eye: A Blast into the Past: Football Team and The Power of Camera Usage Teachers as High COVID Spectating Reconciliation Through A Student School Students Guidelines pages 14-16 Lens pages 6-7 pages 10-11 page 21 4333 Factoria Blvd. SE // Bellevue, WA // 98006 2 News March 9, 2021 MARCH-APRIL SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 8 9 10 11 12 13 International Women's Day 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Daylight Savings St. Patrick's Day Regular school March Equinox Time starts day 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Senior Grad Item Distribution 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Easter Sunday Easter Monday The Stock Market's COVID-19 Craziness MAGGIE MALLEY Reporter It came as a mighty shock for many when the stock market continued to thrive regardless of the pandemic and economic struggles that followed. As stated by CNN, “the stock market is never exactly indicative of the economy, but right now the stock market seems to be operating on its own planet.” The United States economy has been declared as in a recession according to the AARP, with “more than 40 million people…out of work, a global pandemic [raging]” and “economists [predicting] that the gross domestic product fall” significantly. The AARP describes this as “a time when sober Wall Street investors rub their eyes and say, ‘what on Images courtesy of Google Images. Investors have faced some unanticipated outcomes earth is going on?’” throughout the pandemic. The answer lies in a few factors, with CNBC claiming one of them is that “the a chief market strategist of the U.S. equity strategy for CFRA, agreed with this market has theory, claiming that “it all boils down to optimism surrounding the reopening powered of the economy.” AARP notes another potential factor of the surging stock higher” market could be that “the Federal Reserve has pushed short-term interest due to the rates to near zero”, thus making “it cheaper for businesses to borrow and “expectations expand” which also positively impacts the market. Adam Rashwan (12), of a period an active stock investor, stated that stocks “struggled when the pandemic first of strong happened but later on lots of stocks had their perks like Bitcoin.” A few other growth after stocks that impressed Rashwan with “a blowup out of nowhere” included AMC vaccines and GameStop, “but they dropped later, so it is kind of 50/50.” His ultimate are widely recommendation was to avoid “[investing] in Doge coin [though] Fisker will distributed blow up in 2022 for their new car release.” He also predicted that XLM is and the the up-and-coming Bitcoin. For these investors’ sake, may the stock market economy full continue an unprecedented path of success in this pandemic. However, reopens." another dip has occurred in recent days and there is limited certainty on Sam Stoval, where the stock market is headed. MARCH 8, 2021 News 3 GAVIN FRITZ Editor A Mutating Threat As the world tentatively begins to hope become the dominant strain of COVID. the question of whether or not we will ever for the end COVID-19 and the return of Thankfully, vaccines have shown about the fully eradicate COVID-19. Will it simply normal human life with the widespread same efficacy against the British variant. be something we have to live with for the rollout of vaccines, there is still a lurking However, there is new evidence showing foreseeable future or will the arrival of threat. Variants of COVID-19. In Britain a significant reduction in the efficacy of vaccines fully eradicate COVID-19? and South Africa, two alarming variants of certain vaccines against the South African COVID-19 have appeared in recent months, Variant. Pfizer and Moderna have claimed casting doubt on the efficacy of vaccines and that their vaccines, while still effective, will our ability to move on from the pandemic probably have slightly diminished efficacy in the near future. Christine Cui (10) “is against the South African variant. The concerned with the new variants of COVID” AstraZeneca vaccine, which is being used because she has heard that “they are more around the world, saw drastic reduction in contagious and could possibly increase the its efficacy in preventing infection from the risk of death.” South African COVID variant. Both variants seem to be significantly What this means for our hopes of ending more contagious, anywhere from 30-70 the pandemic is still relatively unknown. If percent more. This has sparked massive vaccines continue to prevent severe illness Source: Google Images. spikes in COVID cases and deaths in and death from COVID, then life will likely countries where these new variants have be able to continue as normal. This poses Black History Month Made Optional at Utah School KATHERINE CHANG Reporter With the end of this February, another Black History Month their childrens’ education. How much power, if any, should parents has gone by. With last year’s developments in the Black Lives have over their students’ curriculum? Many worry that parent bias, Matter movement, Black History Month became even more crucial coupled with the power to control school material, could hinder in celebrating Black heritage and educating people about the their children’s studies, while others believe that parent critique extensive struggles Black people have faced in America. Schools, could help improve their students’ learning experiences. Sixty-one companies, and public figures across the country brought attention percent of Knightlife survey respondents concurred that parents to this significant event. However, one public charter school in should have a little control, while 24% said they should have a Utah did quite the opposite and sparked controversy after allowing good amount, and 15% believed parents should have no control. parents to withdraw their children from Black History Month No respondents thought that parents should have full control over curriculum. their childrens’ education. Kirkpatrick agreed with the majority of Maria Montessori Academy, an elementary and junior high Newport, saying that “there should be a balance between listening school in North Ogden, Utah, sent out an opt-out form to parents to the voices of parents and the voices of educated and committed who had requested the option for students to not partake in Black professionals.” She also added that “although most parents believe History Month. However, the school quickly changed its mind and that they have what’s best in mind for their children, districts need removed the option, describing the episode as “alarming.” While to draw the line if such feedback jeopardizes a school’s purpose the school is publicly funded, it is a charter school, so it has an of promoting growth, empathy, and an open view on our world independent board and can control its own curriculum. among students.” This debate seems to be far from ending, but Micah Hirokawa, the director of the academy, said that the hopefully, controversies such as Maria Montessori Academy’s families “that initially had questions and concerns have willingly curriculum policies will allow for more discussion and solutions to come to the table to resolve any differences” and that “at this time be discovered in the future. no families are opting out of our planned activities, and we have removed this option.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of North Ogden has a population of around 20,000, more than 94% of whom are white. Black people make up less than 0.9% of North Ogden’s population, and only three of Maria Montessori Academy’s 322 students are Black. Lauren Kirkpatrick (11), a leadership member of Newport’s Black Student Union, expressed her frustration on the situation, saying, “that district has not only failed its Black students but students of all identities. If a student can opt out of Black history, they’ve ultimately opted out of American history altogether.” When asked about his thoughts on the issue, Conner Anderson (10) said, “I personally wouldn’t [opt out of Black History Month], but I believe opting out of any education should be a right.” This brings to light the larger issue of a parent’s control over Source: Google Images. Maria Montessori Academy in North Ogden, Utah 4 News MARCH 9, 2021 The Future of Office Spaces GAVIN FRITZ Editor As COVID-19 shut down the world about one year ago, one of the first things to go was in person office work for companies that were able to move online. People began to work from their homes full time to eliminate any chance of spreading the virus at the workplace. Meetings over Zoom began and one year later they seem to be going just as they were one year ago. Many people still work full time from home and those that are going into their offices are doing with new safety measures including a much-reduced capacity for office buildings which still reduces the need for large office spaces. This has upended downtown areas, with demand for office space plummeting without Image courtesy of Google Images. An Uber driver starts their workday by opening the Uber app. the usual bustle and economic activity of those who work downtown. There is uncertainty surrounding the way forward, whether this workers. According to a survey conducted by work is done at home. While the return to a change will be permanent and remote work will Mercer, a human resources firm, 94 percent of a sense of normalcy from COVID-19 appears to be become dominant or people will eventually get survey of 800 employers reported that employee on the horizon, the future of downtown America tired of working from home and be itching to productivity was higher or the same as before.

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