Orange County School of the (Underfunded) Arts

Tabitha Finamore, Teah Swartzon, Brieana Samaniego

OCSA’s passion for the arts, both by students and teachers, is unrivaled. However, amid our school’s constant quest for a creative renaissance, conservatory teachers are often overlooked.

Passion for the subjects they teach and belief in their students are often cited as the reasons conservatory teachers continue to work for OCSA when they are paid hourly, without insurance and overall employee benefits.

Conservatory teachers are limited to working 29.75 hours a week. Several, including many who teach more than two classes, stated that their dedication to OCSA often surpasses the maximum hours part time teachers are allowed to work.

The time restraints of the conservatory schedule cause a payment discrepancy between academic and conservatory teachers; they are not paid by the Federal and State taxes that provide salaries and benefits for academic teachers.

OCSA is not entirely responsible for the payment discrepancy. Conservatory teachers are paid for through parent donation, and fundraising events (like the Gala) serve to fill the gap between what is raised by parents and the estimated $30 million per year required to keep the school running.

OCSA’s original vision was to provide students with as many teachers as possible to provide a diverse arts education.

“In order to supply students with a well-rounded arts experience, OCSA relies on the “part-time employment of teachers,” said Assistant Principal of the Arts, Dr. Maria Lazarova.

Comparatively, at a “traditional school,” there is a single teacher of the arts who is “usually also an English teacher,” said Lazarova.

As OCSA employs hundreds of highly specialized teachers, the “traditional” school model of teacher payment would not be sustainable.

“[With lack of funding] what does happen is we can't go on that trip; we can't put that show together,” said Lazarova, “[In] the place where we have a significant [funding] drop unfortunately…that's where the vast majority of money goes to pay for those teachers. We have not had to make cuts on days of conservatory which would be not good.”

However, as OCSA evolved, many conservatory teachers have taken on multiple roles, including but not limited to teaching cross conservatory, academic classes, elective classes, working in special services and administrative roles.

Though the role of conservatory teachers has grown over the years, the conditions of their employment–benefits and hours– have remained stagnant.

As a result, several conservatory teachers in recent years have left their positions at the school for full-time employment elsewhere, especially for health insurance purposes.

“I understand why some of my conservatory teachers have to leave…but it feels very bittersweet when my teachers who have taught me so much…who love what they do, can’t support themselves and their families while teaching at the school,” said Julie Lim (IA, ‘23).

The majority of conservatory teachers who continue to work at OCSA are only able to do so by working multiple jobs. Many see their work at OCSA as a passion project rather than sustainable employment.

It has been expressed that these conservatory teachers hope for change in the budget but fear negotiations, partly because, without a teacher’s union of their own, they lack a representative. Teachers interviewed referenced the replaceable nature of working part-time as an obstacle for engaging in negotiations regarding their pay.

One anonymous teacher stated, “[Conservatory teachers] feel like we are oftentimes not valued, not as important teachers. [All we want is] equal treatment, equal pay and equal benefits. But we’re afraid of being let go.”

The school’s landscape is rapidly changing, in part due to a new state-wide CTE (Career Technical Education) requirement. California legislation passed in September 2022 mandated that all teachers at charter schools must earn their teaching credentials by 2027 to continue teaching at California schools. OCSA graciously pays for the required courses for elective and conservatory teachers.

With the recent induction of CTE state laws and the lottery acceptance program, OCSA's culture has continued to change towards more inclusive arts-based education.

Recalibrating OCSA’s original mission to better serve students and teachers alike will help the school fulfill its vision for well-rounded education and a positive working environment for skilled professionals.

Behind the Scenes in the CAH Kitchens

Brie Samaniego

When telling people what my conservatory is, I can usually anticipate getting one of three responses: “So, do you guys just eat all day?”, “I love food”, or, my personal favorite, “I had no idea there was a culinary conservatory.” One reality I had to face since coming to OCSA in freshman year is that the Culinary Arts and Hospitality conservatory is severely under-appreciated.

I've come to realize that not everyone understands the complexities of the conservatory. While not all of the work we do can be interpreted and admired like the more obvious arts such as dancing, painting or playing an instrument, there is still a level of artistry you must have to achieve any level of success in the culinary arts.

Not only is Culinary one of the most under-appreciated conservatories at OCSA, but it is one of the most overworked. When I hear people talking about their conservatories, I’m surprised by how little work many students receive. I am not saying that there are any conservatories that don’t require work; however, the amount of work culinary students receive seems disproportionate to that of other conservatories. I am not the only one in my conservatory who has observed this. One student said “culinary is a lot of work” and when they hear people talk about the work from their conservatories, “it just doesn’t match up.”

Usually, when I tell people my feelings about the disparity between CAH and other conservatories, many are quick to ask “What about P and D?”. I empathize with the struggles of the production and design students, especially since we are in very similar situations, but generally most people know about them. Many of the problems PD students have are also experienced by the CAH students, like the long work hours and limited funding, but PD is typically more appreciated and acknowledged.

42 percent of students said they have worked events that have lasted more than 10-12 hours, according to an online survey completed by 25 percent of CAH . One student recalled a “very upsetting” event where they were “held in the kitchen” until past midnight after already working more than eight hours. When asked what they would like to tell the conservatory staff and director, one student said, “please give us more breaks.” However, the conservatory director, Chef Daniel Mattos, does not have the same perception of the student workload. When told that the student felt overworked, he said to “compare what we ask of our students to the other conservatories.” Yet there are not many conservatories that are quite like CAH.

In this conservatory, events are mandatory and most of the time unrelated to what you are learning in the classroom. In other conservatories, the learning is built surrounding and leading up to events. In CAH, students are often held in class after school is let out. In the previously mentioned survey, 95 percent of students reported that they were held back in class after school let out, and more than 50 percent of those students said staying late was a regular occurrence. One student talked about an instance where the class was locked in the kitchen at 4:45 and they could not leave until everything was cleaned. This caused many of the students to miss their transportation from school.

While this conservatory has faults, I can not say my time here has been wasted. I am still in CAH for a reason. The things we learn from it can be carried with us through life even if we do not choose to enter the business. We learn about how to build an effective resume and how to secure a job, we learn about different cultures around the world, we learn advanced cooking skills and so much more. The students and staff in the CAH conservatory put in an incredible amount of work and deserve appreciation for it.

OCSA E-Sports Levels Up

Edward Chen

Swoosh. You step outside of the Annex building and into the incandescence of the sun. A flash of movement catches your eye. Rubber meets gravel as students play on the basketball court, their hands gripping the asphalt-stained rubber of the basketball. Hollers fill the air as the ball makes it into the net, seamlessly curving through the woven strings of the net fabric. You instinctively duck your head as the ball flies towards you, escaping the confines of the white markings plastered over the blacktop. Amidst the sea of students enjoying their lunches near the shade of the blue containers, this basketball game juts out. Yet, this isn’t the only place in this school where sports reign supreme. Your feet quicken their pace as you head towards DMS 101, the bastion for passion and the nucleus of sports. Electronic sports.

Since its founding during the pandemic, the OCSA Esports Club has grown to over 100 members. Under the leadership of Willie Yao (CAH ‘24), the club has continued to expand its reach, growing to include an online Discord group, monthly tournaments and an ever-expanding community of passionate gamers. Joseph Ho (IM-SO ‘24), the co-vice President of the club, stated that the best part of the club is the “sense of community and dedication members have to the games they play.” Connor Taing (IM-J ‘23), the tournament and team manager, organizes and plans events for members to compete in, including Minecraft events, Valorant tournaments, and Super Smash Bros tournaments. During club meetings, members “are able to enjoy monthly Kahoot questionnaires and giveaways,” said Tane Kim (IM-SO ‘24). This is more than just a school club. It’s a lively hub of ambitious pre-professional gamers.

The most notable achievements of this club are the partnerships that have been cultivated. Since its inception, this club has received over $30,000 in funding for gaming equipment and giveaways from companies like HyperX and Twitch. As an avid leader, Yao has enjoyed being invited to panels and discussions about esports, where he flies out-of-state to network and collaborate with the international esports community, and through these events, Yao has most recently secured a $10,000 sponsorship for his club from Glorious Gaming, an esports gaming gear company. A remarkable achievement, the $10,000 will be directed towards building a new esports lab, where the club and OCSA conservatories can host tournaments, play games, and train.

Currently, the esports team is building a Valorant roster to compete under the OCSA name as part of the North America Scholastic Esports Federation, which will allow the club to represent OCSA in esports competitions for the first time. With its trailblazing expansion and excellence, this club provides leadership roles for passionate student gamers, designers, and developers. If you’re interested, give their website and Instagram a look! You might find their electrifying esports and collective camaraderie a refreshing reprieve from the stresses of school and the tedium of traditional sports.

Website: ocsaesports.club

Instagram: @ocsa_esports

Respect For Marriage Act

Dash Kaur and Lacole Yang

Illustration of two women getting married
Art by Lacole Yang

President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA), securing same-sex and interracial marriage rights through federal law, in response to the instability of marriage equality in the United States. 30 years ago, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defined marriage as between one man and one woman, allowing states to ignore same-sex marriages legalized in other states. But in 2011, DOMA was declared unconstitutional.

After DOMA, the landmark Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges determined that all states must recognize same-sex marriages, setting the precedent that marriage equality is a federal right. Another case, Loving v. Virginia, created a similar precedent for interracial marriage. Roe v. Wade supported the right to abortion on the same reasoning as Obergefell and Loving. But when it was overturned, it sparked fear for Obergefell and Loving’s reconsideration too. RFMA was then presented to the Senate to protect the validity of all marriages if Obergefell is ever overturned.

Essentially, RFMA completely repeals DOMA, so all parts of the US must recognize same-sex and interracial marriages. However, states and religious organizations can still refuse to perform marriages. A concern from conservatives was the right to freely practice religion, so they did not want to necessitate churches to issue marriage certificates to same-sex couples. This act cannot be used to reason against religious practices. The religious aspects of RFMA are vital, because they convinced reluctant Republicans in the Senate to back the act. In any case, while Obergefell remains in place, same-sex marriage is legal everywhere in America. For this reason, the act being instated “should be comforting for anyone who is not heterosexual”, as said by Teah Swartzon (IA ‘23).

Isla Walker (CW, ‘24), one of OCSA’s Gender-Sexuality Alliance co-presidents, pointed out that enforcement of the act will look different state-to-state. California is likely to support same-sex marriage regardless of the act, but elsewhere, “there would be [more] normalized homophobia and heteronormativity.” Yet, as Brie Samaniego (CA&H, ‘24) stated, this act will generally “help with the normalization of queer and interracial marriages.”

Same-sex and interracial marriage have always been believed to be legalized after court cases set precedents. However, a precedent must be mandated through the government upholding it. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas asked the court to reconsider Obergefell; this shows how easily rights from precedents can be taken away from the majority. RFMA will make a lasting impact for future marriages since acts cannot be purposely ignored. Because of the power the government holds when it comes to our rights, it is up to us to elect the leaders we wish to represent us. Becoming civically engaged by staying up-to-date with the news allows us to be informed citizens and voters. Using this knowledge, it is important to make one’s opinions heard through voting.

Matt Manning (MT, 23’) said that this act is “a good step forward. Of course, in a perfect world people would respect marriage in general but I’m glad [this act] will protect marriage for all people.” This act is not the end for the LGBTQ+ movement. There is still a long way to go for queer equality, but staying informed will allow for advancement through public participation.

In 2022, Funding Hit an All-Time Low. What Now?

Grant Li and Felix Brem

Funding for conservatories have always been in a precar- ious position, but this year seemed to be particularly bad. Students and conservatory teachers noticed a shift—shows canceled, events unrealized, and stressed- out directors—despite no official communications. They might feel vindicated to know that they weren’t going crazy. In the fall of 2022, funding was the lowest it had been for the past 10 years.

Money has always been a headache for the administration of a school that spends $30 million a year. During OCSA’s early days, there was a substantial gap be- tween state-provided funds and funds necessary to maintain the school curriculum. They relied on “PTA-style fundraisers”—walkathons and bake sales that barely covered the costs of operations each year. “The fundamental business model was flawed,” commented Steve Wagner, OCSA’s Chief Operations Officer and Vice President. “We were one payroll away from bankruptcy.” To solve the problem, they met with doz- ens of parents individually, asking for donations that would directly benefit their kids’ art experience. That year, they successfully raised one million dollars, and this year, on account of inflation and program expansion, they raised around eight million.

That still falls short of the $10.25 million that the school website reports is needed yearly to fund conservatories. Since the chaos of the pandemic, funding gradually waned to a new low in 2022. “Parents have always been willing to support us, but it’s with the understanding that we will provide value,” Wagner explained. With online learning, the perceived value and quality of classes decreased, and along with it, parents’ willingness to contribute financially. In addition, with the larger financial stagnation that COVID-19 caused, families may have had a more limited capability to donate than in previous years. Only about 70% of donations requested from Creative Writing families were fulfilled this year, says Joshua Wood, Director of CW. Other conservatory directors report similar funding percentiles.

As parent donations typically go towards their own kids’ arts education, financial experiences differ from conserva- tory to conservatory. Some, like Production and Design, have been mostly supported by this year’s funding, but have a reduced capability to supply additional, costly opportunities. Due to the dip in funding, director Kelly Marie Pate noted that “we may have felt less comfortable doing some bigger field trips or buying bigger pieces of equipment that we would have in past years.” However, as students outside of the conservatory may not know, P&D’s budget diverges from the norm--due to their in- volvement in productions across a range of conservatories, the cost of materials and supplies for a show is taken from the budget of the conservatory hosting it, not necessarily from P&D itself. Thus, financial situations differ from show to show. Assistant director Victoria Hoyt-Heydon is optimistic about funding as the economy recovers from the effects of the pandemic: “The further along we get, the more likely we are to have families who feel comfortable funding at a higher level.”

Some conservatories weren't so lucky. Ballet Folklórico has been severely impacted by the

drop in funding—but that’s not a new development for their conservatory. According to Director Marlene Peña-Marin, “We’ve been in the red for the past 20 years...It keeps me up at night.” In contrast with other performance conservatories, they hold one show a year, which only brings in enough money to cover its own production costs. And with the recent decline in funding, they’ve had to cut into even that budget. However, not everything is grim: BF also has the distinction of being one of the 1st- place winners of the Holiday Conservatory Challenge that took place in the winter of 2022. 100% of BF families donated to the fundrais- er, earning them an extra $10,000 from the OCSA Foundation. Even with the funding boost, however, the conservatory is just managing to stay afloat; Peña-Marin says that it’s only “guaranteed that we’ll make it past this year.” Still, she’s hopeful. “What really makes our conservatory are the families,” she says. “Even if they can’t donate, they volunteer their time—setting up our shows, making tamales for booster drives, even the younger siblings donate their pocket change... It makes me teary-eyed to see their donations on the register.” With the backing of a loyal community, she’s confident that BF will continue to provide a crucial curriculum to students interested in the art—“the classes and teachers,” she vows, “will never be cut.”

OCSA’s funding model has been in flux throughout over three decades of operation, and in its current iteration, conservatories rely heavily on the contributions of students and their families; the bulk of conservatory classes and teachers are paid for by voluntary donations, while many parents go above and beyond by volunteer- ing for conservatory events. Since families are so enmeshed in the funding process, it’s more im- portant than ever for Admin to be transparent, open, and informative about how funds are raised and what they are used for.

VALENTINE'S CROSSWORD

Celeste Valadez

Play-by-Play: Mock Trial Makes Finals

Teah Swartzon and Grant Li

LI: We’re here at the scene of the crime, the Orange County Superior Courthouse right in the heart of Santa Ana. Usually filled with buzzing lawyers and white-collar crime, today all eyes are on two schools and their entourages: home team Orange County School of the Arts, and returning visitors El Dorado High School.

SWARTZON: It’s the final round of a months-long slugfest between all the teams in Orange County. OCSA’s Blue team is the only undefeated competitor this season, and they’re anxious to sweep the county and move on to bigger fish at state.

LI: Dozens of students, coaches, parents, and other well-wishers gather into the courtroom. All rise for the judge, and the room goes silent. Up to bat first: Reagan Mading, OCSA’s pre-trial attorney. She’s here to deliver a rousing opening speech, laying the foundation for the entire trial.

SWARTZON: Her bright pink tumbler makes quite the statement at the attorney table.

LI: And we’re off! Mading’s performance is classic: clear, enunciated, going five…words…a minute. This is an excellent strategy—the scorers tend to be a little slow.

SWARTZON: We’re moving on to case statements now, and—what’s this? There’s a time discrepancy between the two schools’ timekeepers?

LI: Things might get ugly, folks. This is the kind of drama you can only get at Mock Trial competitions.

SWARTZON: The judge has settled things and both sides have put down their pitchforks, but that was a close call.

LI: Phew. Nearly avoided disaster there.

SWARTZON: OCSA’s prosecution attorneys are now interrogating the witnesses of each side.

LI: This is where things really start heating up, people: attorneys can object to anything the opposing party says (as seen in hit game Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, based on the Mock Trial competition).

SWARTZON: Objection from OCSA! Prosecution attorney Toby Izenberg interrupts El Dorado’s witness as she answers a yes-or-no question with the entire backstory of her character. “Your honor, the witness has launched into a narrative.”

LI: El Dorado looks flustered, starts again shakily and—what’s this? He interjects again! “Your honor, the witness has, once again, launched into a narrative”.

SWARTZON: El Dorado’s witness looks like she wants to bite someone’s face off.

LI: Masterful move by Izenberg there, unnerving the opposition while cutting into their time. We’ll have to see—he objects again! “Launched into a narrative”!

SWARTZON: The whole room is laughing now! The judge upholds the objection! Izenberg sits down, looking very pleased with himself.

LI: Cross-examination is over, and thankfully so is that “launching into a narrative” debacle. The attorneys have now instead launched into a passionate argument about the definition of the word “flustered.” Swartzon launches passionately into her AP Econ homework.

SWARTZON: Shh, shut up—the round is over and the room has gone quiet. Now comes the 20-minute wait for the scorers and judge to make a decision.

LI: Everybody’s waiting with bated breath. You can hear a criminal charge drop.

SWARTZON: The decision’s being delivered to the judge in an envelope… she’s opening it with agonizing slowness…And the verdict is… GUILTY! OCSA PROSECUTION HAS WON!

LI: Tears are flying, people are running all over.

SWARTZON: Defense lead Charlotte Brandman (MT ‘23)— “I’m so amazed, so proud…I feel like this is the best revenge I’ve gotten ever.”

LI: Michael Ciecek, OCSA’s principal—“It starts with the students having the right leadership: Ms. Coates, Ms. Harper, and all of the attorney coaches.”

SWARTZON: Coach Whitney Coates—“We can do anything. We’re that good.”

LI: After watching three of these trials, I’d have to agree. You have to have a lot of admiration for Mock Trial, both the event and team. It’s a beautiful, self-important performance full of passion and “confergy”—there’s no better way to represent our school on the county, state, and national stage.

OCSA’s YoungArts Winners

Ryan Jeong

Exploring disciplines ranging from visual arts, dancing, to music, YoungArts celebrates the talents of artists on a national level and provides them with training that helps build their careers.

From OCSA’s own YoungArts winners of 2022, I was able to interview Cheungwan (Amy) Wang (VA ‘23) for the Visual Arts Category, Jocelyn (Josie) Wang (PM ‘23) for the Songwriters Category, David Du (FTV ‘24) for the Film Category, Edward Chen (IA/BR ‘24) for the Dance Category, and Nathan Tatsuta (IM-J ‘24).

Amy Wang described the most rewarding part of this competition to be writing the artist statement for YoungaArts. She said, “I realized my artworks do have a cohesive theme: they are usually about animal welfare or social issues. I didn’t notice this before writing that artist statement.”

Josie Wang described her own personal experience as an artist, saying, “[A]s a songwriter, or even just as an artist, I feel like it’s pretty common to have unfinished work. I have hundreds of song sections sitting in my Notes app... I think the most rewarding part about applying to YoungArts was having three finished songs by the end of it, and being proud of finished pieces of art I had created.”

Applying for YoungArts takes a great deal of work, as well as perfecting one’s artistic craft to present it for review, all while knowing that you are in a competition against thousands of other artists around the nation. Chen, who won the finalist award for Hip Hop dance, stated, “It was definitely daunting to start this application, and choreographing a two-minute solo didn’t happen overnight. However, taking the application week by week encouraged me to believe in my own abilities and gave me the confidence to hit the ‘submit’ button.”

An advice to the 2023 YoungArts winners to conquer this stress is to not procrastinate, understand your limits, and to continue forward on your artistic journey. Chen advised, “I find that perfectionism is the greatest catalyst of procrastination. Understand that any first draft will be terrible.” He described his strategy of “vomiting [his] ideas for the entire two-minute solo first, without worrying whether or not the combinations were actually good and then going back and revising and editing them.” Du advised, “Don't make art for the sake of applying to YoungArts ... the main reason that you work on a project should be because you truly are passionate and love the project, regardless of what awards you win.” Du stated that he spent over a year working on his film and that he hadn’t even considered submitting it to YoungArts.

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Jessica Hong

Being an OCSA student, it is likely that you have heard about some of the competitive teams here: the Masters of Public Speaking - Mock Trial, savvy Science Olympiad, and the host of exciting school-wide events: Esports. For years, there has been something missing in this group, but it’s here. In fact, this team made its inception at OCSA two years ago, persisting in gathering new team members full of passion for engineering, coding, and robots and steadfastly competing in local competitions. If you guessed it already, it’s OCSA Robotics!

For many students who are interested in pursuing engineering or coding, the team is accepting members. Under the supervision of coordinator Steve Ho, OCSA Robotics is currently composed of two teams: one for high school and for one middle school. As competition season looms over, the students will diligently work in teams and prepare their robots from scratch. They are expected to have a dedicated and collaborative mindset during their regular two to three hour meetings for three times during the week.

As she was part of Robotics for six years, Shining Chen (CW’ 26) is one of the most experienced team members. She enjoys Robotics for its application of robots and “how everyone has the same interests” as her. Chen describes her experience being in Robotics as a “nice little community” and encourages others to apply if they have a strong interest.

Sunny Li (IM-W ‘24) finds her passions rooted strongly in Robotics, as her main interests are coding and engineering. As she comes across challenges, she enjoys working through them, such as programming and operating their robot to complete difficult tasks. Once Li went to competitions and met other teams from different schools, she described the feeling as “being together like a family.” Olivia Lee (IM-W ‘24), also joined because of her love with programming. She finds that her role as a driver “enriches” her problem-solving skills and creativity and helps her think outside the box. Currently, Li and Lee has been invited to attend the US Open Championships as OCSA representatives, along with students Vivienne Ho (IA ‘23), Daniel O’Grady (IM-W ‘24), Sammie Park (IA ‘25), and Beatrice Yu (PM ‘28).

Likewise, Sumin Cho (IM-S ‘25), she thinks it is “really nice when everyone is working together to reach a common goal.” As all the hardworking practices come down to the competition day against school in Orange County, Cho says she is more excited than stressed because “it is also a chance to learn more and see robots from other teams. Plus, it’s exciting seeing how your robot plays against four other teams in a field during a competition.” Cho and her team recently earned an award for design for her robot and will qualify for the state championships.

As it is centered around teams, OCSA Robotics revolves around a friendly and inclusive, yet competitive environment where students get to explore their passions in the STEM field.

AI: HUMANITY'S FRIEND OR FOE?

Emilia Djordjevic & Melody Wu

For many artists, the rise of AI art has come with mixed emotions. As the industry continues to expand and experiment with different art mediums and materials, AI’s entrance poses both potential and concern. From DALL-E to MidJourney to WOMBO Dream, AI has made art accessible to all. Insert a prompt or an image, and the apps generate artwork or replicate a style. The AI creates work by analyzing the aesthetic of a visual dataset, sometimes comprising thousands of images. However, due to the softwares’ lack of sourcing, various professional artists have been cheated of their labor and talent. Subsequently, while some critics demand accountability for the art it references, others simply deem the trend inevitable. Therefore, though AI art is likely here to stay, just how far should it go?

OCSA students had their own perspectives to share. Many frame the AI art trend as an ethical issue because, as Audrey Yoo (VA ’24) stated, “in a way … it’s plagiarism” – plagiarism of the works of countless artists who have not consented to the integration of their art into AI datasets. Moreover, Yoo shared, “while a real person has their own thoughts, personality and view that is unique to them, AI lacks the kind of specific intent a real artist has.” OCSA teachers agree: Cassandra Bellomo, a VA storyboarding teacher, concurred that AI is simply “a tool, but not one that can replace the human mind.” Nevertheless, both Yoo and Bellomo aren’t too troubled by the concerns raised about AI replacing artist labor.

Even so, Caroline Fleet – an AP art history teacher – believes that in several cases, this situation has already started to materialize. For instance, author Ammaar Reshi recently published a children’s book that used artificial intelligence to generate its illustrations. In order to solve this debated issue, Fleet concluded it’s imperative to “train people to … [use AI tools] responsibly and with the awareness of where these images come from so that they know the risks and responsibilities associated with using such a powerful tool.”

While it might seem hopeless for emerging artists as AI takes over, there may still be possible benefits to this new technology. Digital Media Conservatory Director Patrick Williams discussed several alternative views to the AI backlash. Williams views the controversy not as an ethical issue, but a “legal and intellectual property (IP) issue,” as artists are not compensated for the use of their art. Due to the proliferation of social media, artists have had to deal with repercussions (such as plagiarism) when making their work accessible to the public. As such, with the introduction of AI art generators, artists have lost even more control over their art. “We live in a world where everything gets simplified, because it’s easier to grasp,” Williams stated, adding, “but in reality there are more factors to take into account.” For him, rather than seeing AI as a roadblock, it poses more as an exciting opportunity and launch point for artists and non-artists alike.

Take photography: when the camera was invented, traditional painters responded with similar hostility because they believed it would invalidate their years of experience. “How do we feel about photos now? We take photos all the time, and there’s still legitimacy and value given to somebody who can draw really well,” Williams indicated. In short, he believes AI will not take that away from art either. In fact, an experiment we conducted showed that nearly 75 percent of OCSA participants were able to accurately distinguish human art from AI art. Thus, just as fine art was able to evolve in incredible ways after the camera emerged, AI art may perhaps “allow us to catapult into some totally new space we can’t currently imagine.”

When did OCSA kids start liking sports?

Kayalani DeGrave & Samuel Parigela

It’s no secret that this arts school lacks student-wide regard for sports. However, during the fall, OCSA students built a widespread, never-before-seen interest in one sport particularly…soccer. The World Cup drew in a great deal of student comradery in watching the games at lunch, during class, or in any other free time found. Some teachers even projected the games in their classrooms. So what was so different about this year? The World Cup typically runs from June to July, but since this year’s tournament was during the school year, OCSA students had more opportunities to connect over this event. Furthermore, students like Maya Bleszinski (MT ‘23) were interested this year because it was “so many great players' potential last world cup,” and it was exciting to be a part of their journeys.

With OCSA’s newfound interest in the World Cup, it led to questions about whether or not the student body would take interest in other sports phenomena, like the Super Bowl this month. However, it is unlikely that OCSA will react as strongly to the Super Bowl, partially because it happens every year, so it doesn't have the same built-up excitement as the World Cup, which happens every four years. Additionally, as Bleszinski shared, there seems to be “less incentive to root for Super Bowl teams” than World Cup teams because a majority of students don’t have the same connections with football teams as they do for their “countries of origin.” The World Cup has immense cultural ties and unites people from all around the globe to root for their countries or places of ancestry, which is something that the Super Bowl doesn’t uphold. Rather, each team represents a specific city or region of the United States, which is less personal for many. This year’s game is between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, and because neither of them belong to a nearby region, it is unlikely that a lot of OCSA students will have affiliations with these teams.

For Diego Linn (CW ‘25), soccer was a “totally new interest” as he wasn’t much of a sports fan before. He stated his interest in the World Cup was rooted in the fact that soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo participated in the World Cup, especially given that this is likely Ronaldo’s last. About the Super Bowl, Linn plainly expressed, “I’m not interested in the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is just the U.S., not global, so it’s just less popular.” Linn shared the same sentiment as Bleszinski that OCSA as a whole would likely not watch the Super Bowl with the same enthusiasm, remarking that the school’s culturally diverse student body has “less representation in the Super Bowl as opposed to the World Cup of soccer, which is an international competition.” While many Super Bowl teams have large fanbases, OCSA students can’t connect with these teams the same way they do to the World Cup teams.

VALENTINE'S DUPES ON THE 14TH

Melody Wu & James Yi

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and you might be dreading its arrival. But it’s 2023, and Valentine’s Day is practically becoming irrelevant. To prove it’s true, more than 12 percent of Americans have stopped celebrating the holiday in the past decade. So why continue succumbing to this outdated tradition when there are so many other fun holidays to celebrate on the 14th? Here are a few to keep you occupied.

World Bonobo Day:

Instead of celebrating romantic love, celebrate man’s closest living relatives–bonobos! 98.7 percent of our DNA is shared with bonobos. Their non-violent practices and ability to feel empathy earned them the title of the “Make Love, Not War” apes. You can donate to conservation initiatives or learn more about bonobos online to celebrate this day.

World Sound Healing Day

The motto of World Sound Healing Day is “We heal ourselves, and we heal the planet.” Bathe yourself in vocal sounds (Ah, Hum, Om, etc.), tones (crystal bowl, Tibetan bell, etc.), instruments (piano, violin, etc.) or any other type of sonic presentation. The purpose of this holiday is to “send a Sonic Valentine” to Earth by producing sounds that bring us feelings of peace and harmony. Visit worldsoundhealingday.org to relish the healing nature of sound.

National Cream-Filled Chocolate Day

Just because you don’t have a valentine doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get to enjoy chocolates. Although plain chocolates may not be everyone’s thing, I encourage you to try chocolates with filling–I can confirm that they are 14 times tastier. Some fillings to try include marshmallow cream, strawberry, coconut and hazelnut creme. As Forrest Gump once said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get.”

Extraterrestrial Culture Day

Created by the general assembly of New Mexico, this is a day to honor and celebrate extraterrestrial visitors and their contributions, which include tourist sites, movies and technologies. You can celebrate this holiday and help foster intergalactic peace by watching alien movies, touring sites of alien visits and reading conspiracy theories.

Library Lovers’ Day

Just do something book-related. Extra points if it involves a library. This can be cosplaying, recommending books or simply reading–anything goes. If you are in a quandary, check if your library has anything going on for the holiday. In 2018, the John & Allison Kearney Library displayed vintage typewriters, pens and papers for visitors to write love letters to their dear ones or favorite library.

OSCARS 2023 SNUBS AND DUBS

Caitlyn Mason

When you think of the Oscars, you might think of star-studded red carpets, couture gowns or the award show’s coveted gold statuettes. It has a 94 year-long legacy of recognizing those who work in film, from actors to costume designers.

However, the Academy has received recent criticism regarding the lack of diversity in its nominees. Almost immediately following the release of nominations on January 24, the Academy received backlash for various snubs, many of which have been called discriminatory. Most notably, there were no Black actors nominated in a leading category, nor were there any women nominated in the Best Directing category.

This comes after a two-year streak of women winning in the Best Director category (Chloé Zhao for "Nomadland" and Jane Campion for "The Power of the Dog"). This year, the category is populated largely by white men (with the exception of Daniel Kwan) and no women. Sarah Polley, writer and director of "Women Talking", was left out of the mix, despite receiving a nomination for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Other notable ‘snubs’ in this category include Gina Prince-Bythewood ("Woman King"), Maria Schrader ("She Said"), Chinonye Chukwu ("Till"), and Charlotte Wells ("Aftersun"), with two of them being Black women.

A statement from Women In Film (WIF), an LA-based advocacy organization, noted that “an Academy Award is more than a gold statue, it’s a career accelerator that can lead to continued work and increased compensation.” In an industry where only three in 10 directors are POC and two in 10 are women, this begs the question of how the Academy could use the Oscars to help underrepresented groups gain opportunities instead of continuously recognizing already-successful directors, some of whom have been nominated up to 22 times in their lifetime.

However, it is just as important to note that the 2023 Awards did not come without successes in the field of diversity. Dominating the list with 11 nominations, A24’s Everything Everywhere All At Once boasts history-making nominations, including Michelle Yeoh, the first Asian woman to be nominated in the Leading Actress category. This year’s awards serve as a massive milestone for Asians working in front of and behind the camera.

And while none of us are part of the Academy, we can play our part in encouraging its members to recognize underrepresented groups in the film industry by watching and supporting diverse films whenever possible. Make an effort to see these films in theaters and purchase them legally!

As Seen On the Silver Screen: Winter Formal 2023

Collage by Grant Li

Art by Lauren Kim

Photos by Evolution Staff

How to Make Them Fold

Kate Um and Elise Park

BINGE THESE WITH YOUR BAE

Celeste Valadez

Whether funny, sweet or cheesy, everybody loves a good rom-com movie, especially when in need to set the mood for Valentine’s Day. If movies with a cliche ending are your thing, then this is for you.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

High school sophomore Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik) wants a boyfriend, but she isn’t allowed to date before her older sister Kat (Julia Stiles) does, who is completely uninterested in dating. While it may over-romanticize the high school experience, it’s hard to not love this modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Plus, Heath Ledger’s performance of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and Julia Stiles’s heartfelt poem at the end will make you want to watch the movie on repeat.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

You can’t go wrong with a classic like this one. As the “How to” writer for a women’s magazine, Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) is assigned with the task of trying to lose a man within ten days of meeting for an article. The stars, Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, have undeniable chemistry, and their characters’ playful banter makes the movie even more exciting to watch. Wait to see how it served as inspiration for one of our humor articles on this issue…

Along Came Polly (2004)

Polly Prince (Jennifer Aniston) and Reuben Feffer (Ben Stiller) are the epitome of the trope “opposites attract.” While Reuben needs to plan and calculate everything, his ex-classmate Polly is the definition of spontaneous. Sweet yet realistic, this the perfect feel-good movie to watch.

13 Going on 30 (2004)

In this film, 13 year-old Jenna Rink’s (Jennifer Garner) wish to be “thirty, flirty and thriving” becomes a reality. She is given the chance to live her New York City dreams alongside her childhood best friend, Matt Flamhaff (Mark Ruffalo), but soon realizes the struggles that come with adulthood. With Jenna living the fantasy that many young girls have, this movie is all the more engaging and heartwarming.

She’s the Man (2006)

Teenager Viola Hastings (Amanda Bynes) poses as her twin brother Sebastian at his boarding school while he’s in London. She must learn to juggle her passion for soccer and deal with her feelings for her roommate Duke (Channing Tatum), all while hiding her real identity. This movie is another Shakespeare adaptation (Twelfth Night), and it is a must-watch if you’re looking for a good laugh.

The Proposal (2009)

To avoid deportation to Canada, book editor Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is left with no other option but to say that she is engaged to her assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds). Despite not getting along and having a poor relationship, they are forced to get closer in order to avoid suspicion and make the plan successful. Through their journey of getting to know each other, this enemies-to-lovers movie will leave you wanting more.

Which Teacher are You?

Elise Park

Which Disney character best represents you?
A. Vanellope from Wreck-It Ralph
B. Olaf from Frozen
C. Stitch from Lilo & Stitch
D. Moana from Moana
E. Donald Duck
What is your dream superpower?
A. Flight
B. Time travel
C. Speed reading
D. Turn everything into a dance party
E. Freezing time
Which song speaks to you?
A. “Take Me Home Tonight” - Eddie Money
B. “Everybody’s Changing” - Keane
C. “All This Time” - Sting
D. “Paul Revere” - Beastie Boys
E. “Born to Run” - Bruce Springsteen
What is your dream job?
A. Event planner
B. Computer hardware engineer
C. Chef
D. Flight attendant
E. Journalist
If you could steal anything and get away with it, what would it be?
A. Large large sums of money
B. A nice house
C. Time
D. Keys to Anthropologie
E. A car
Most used emoji?
A. 🤩
B. 👍
C. 🙂
D. 🙌
E. None
Go-to homework excuse?
A. Divorced parents
B. Internet wasn’t working
C. Cat ate my paper
D. I left my homework on the bus
E. I fell asleep
Comfort TV show?
A. The West Wing
B. Breaking Bad
C. For the Love of Kitchens
D. Bewitched
E. The Lakers
#1 thing on your bucket list?
A. Go to all 7 continents
B. See the aurora borealis
C. Have a family meal at The Lost Kitchen
D. Go to Costa Rica
E. Visit the White House
Favorite member of the royal family?
A. Princess Kate
B. Prince Harry
C / D. Princess Diana
E. The butler

If you answered mostly…

A, you are Whitney Coates! While you may be slightly distractible, your animated and outgoing personality brightens the room.

B, you are Andrew Chang! You are a kind, supportive person whose cheerful attitude makes you shine.

C, you are Pamela Smith! Warmly encouraging, you always find a way to blend humor with high expectations.

D, you are Lee Salkowitz! Your personality is best described as sunshine with a little bit of hurricane.

E, you are Karl Peterson! You are a fun-loving sports fan and an enthusiastic leader.

Date Ideas (Normal)

Selah Sanchez

Ah, love. That ever present Lovecraftian horror of a concept. It’s in the air again. There’s no escape from it. One simply must make room for it. This often comes in the form of romantic dates. And like love, dates take on many forms! But let’s face it– it can be hard, and often intimidating to set dates up, especially if it’s with someone new. Well, fret not. This Valentine’s day, find the perfect date idea right here and they will be destined to fall for you, if they haven’t already.

Watch a movie

Coming up with fresh conversation is difficult, and with a partner, it can be even more intimidating. So why not just avoid it for an hour and a half? That’s the easy thing to do. If you are feeling brave you can also try and recreate those rom-com moments where the couples reach for popcorn at the same time and their hands touch before slowly making eye contact. They’ll definitely like that. The rom-com characters do, and as we all know, rom-coms are flawless portrayals of the romantic experience and ideal partner.

2. Take them on a picnic (yes, in this weather)

Picnics are a great way to get to know someone better while enjoying a peaceful, natural environment. Most people wait till the weather is warmer to go out. But you are not most people, and they ought to know that. Marvel in the terrible beauty of Mother Nature as you sit side by side with them and try to enjoy the food you packed. Keeping the blanket from flying off in the harsh winds makes for a fun activity to pass the time as well. If it rains unexpectedly, that’s even better! Here’s the perfect chance to share an umbrella together! Just avoid lingering on the fact that you forgot to pack anything remotely warm. That would put a damper on the evening. Yes, evening. You may have forgotten your real blankets but at least you have the starry blanket of the sky to admire!

3. Show them your secret shrine

You know the one. The one you’ve been building for years as you tried to win them over; complete with candles and polaroid photos. The one in that hollowed out tree stump in the woods full of stuff you’ve accumulated from them over the years: used napkins, dropped change, heck, you even got lucky and found their missing airpods once! You’ve been meaning to give them back, but it's just so hard to let go. Bringing your partner here would make a good excuse to finally return them. And it would show them the depths of your love in the rawest way possible.

4. Complete the Ritual

Usually it doesn’t seem right to invite the first date to your house but this will have to be an exception. The Creature requires blood, and grows impatient by the day. If not them, it will devour you. The mark of the blood pact on your left palm grows more and more visible, and if you go on any longer it will brand you as the next victim. Why are you so concerned with love when your own life is at stake? Hurry. There is not much time left. After all, love requires sacrifice.

HOW TO LOSE AN OCSA GUY IN 10 DAYS

Tabitha Finamore & Sammi Thomas

Any one of these unforgivable crimes could terminate your relationship with your OCSA boyfriend. Use more than one and you’ll be blacklisted from dating an OCSA boy ever again. Use with caution! TW: Not intended to be read by OCSA boys with fragile egos.

It’s raining and you don’t accept his OCSA letterman jacket.
You don’t “yes and” his promposal.
You tell him “good luck” instead of “break a leg” before opening night.
You won't let him borrow your blush for his stage makeup.
You have to stage kiss someone else.
You won't let him put his tap shoes in your locker.
He claps you in during a scene and you out-improv him.
You say “zip” instead of “zop”.
You don’t comment on his new headshots on Instagram.
You forget his orange slices before the dodgeball tournament.
You’re wearing a band tee and can't name five songs.
You don’t vote him for “best playlist” for senior superlatives.
You don’t know about the Santa Ana punk scene.
You haven’t seen “Pulp Fiction.”
Your favorite movie isn’t a black and white 6-hour silent film produced by A24.
You don’t look into his eyes while doing the thriller dance on Halloween.
You don’t want to do an American Psycho couples costume with him on Halloween.
You won't take his AP Research survey.
You mistake his vintage, thrifted sweater for Urban Outfitters.
You don’t pull up to Fishing Club.
You don’t notice his new ear piercing.
You didn’t know he’s a feminist.
You liked the OCSA straight boys article.

SENIORITIS

Emilia Djordjevic

I applaud you, seniors, we’ve made it this far! From the countless applications to the teacher recommendations and transcript orders, all you’ve accomplished is tidied and set. It’s up to the college gods now to determine whether those efforts were done so in vain.

It’s hard to take in what we have yet to face as college applicants: the rejections or acceptances that decide our next steps, and the stress that follows both before and after these outcomes. Even with most decisions a mere month away, the pressure to succeed remains within us, our fears and anxieties ingrained in our very breath, in the way we perceive ourselves and each other. We are anxious to know what the future holds, and scared to be left in the dark about just one of the many major moments of our stories.

Yet this time — like countless others — will come to pass, once you’ve joined the profession of your dreams or started a new passion or career. Remember, this is simply a giant leap everyone must take, in a world ever-changing and growing, so isn’t it better to rise to the occasion together?

And so let’s reflect as we wait, and reason our way through this. One: rejections have their own charms. It can be as exhilarating to wait for as any acceptance, though with the added burn, which is a downgrade. But despite this, with every letdown comes a reward or triumph you’ll have to enjoy sometime, someplace else. Two: your value is weighed by what you make of yourself. College entrances, test scores, SAT and ACT exams, are all short-term results. Don’t allow them to define the whole you. For all that, we deserve to love ourselves for more than a figure on a page.

Three: we must consider that there are only two paths your story with each college will result in. There is only an open course or a dead end, a route which will either lead you on a wondrous ride through the initial steps of adulthood or finish in passing defeat. Regardless, no matter how many colleges make these roads possible, recognize there is no shame in the name of universities who offer you their hand. It can be two, five, 10 who take you in — you can only choose one. Bear pride in your achievements, rejections and all.

Be proud, be strong, be you.

February Horoscopes: The Boy’s a Liar

Lauren Kim

The gifts he promised… but didn’t give you.

Table of Contents

Tabitha finamore & Teah swartzon & Brie samaniego

Brie samaniego

Edward Chen

Lacole & Dash

Felix & Grant

grant li & teah swartzon

Ryan

jessica hong

Kayalani & Samuel

James & Melody

caitlyn

Kate and Elise

Celeste

Celeste

Elise

selah

sammi thomas & tabitha finamore

Emilia

Lauren kim

Orange County School of the (Underfunded) Arts

Tabitha Finamore, Teah Swartzon, Brieana Samaniego

Behind the Scenes in the CAH Kitchens

Brie Samaniego

OCSA E-Sports Levels Up

Edward Chen

Respect For Marriage Act

Dash Kaur and Lacole Yang

In 2022, Funding Hit an All-Time Low. What Now?

Grant Li and Felix Brem

VALENTINE'S CROSSWORD

Celeste Valadez

Play-by-Play: Mock Trial Makes Finals

Teah Swartzon and Grant Li

OCSA’s YoungArts Winners

Ryan Jeong

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Jessica Hong

AI: HUMANITY'S FRIEND OR FOE?

Emilia Djordjevic & Melody Wu

When did OCSA kids start liking sports?

Kayalani DeGrave & Samuel Parigela

VALENTINE'S DUPES ON THE 14TH

Melody Wu & James Yi

OSCARS 2023 SNUBS AND DUBS

Caitlyn Mason

As Seen On the Silver Screen: Winter Formal 2023

Collage by Grant Li

Art by Lauren Kim

Photos by Evolution Staff

How to Make Them Fold

Kate Um and Elise Park

BINGE THESE WITH YOUR BAE

Celeste Valadez

Which Teacher are You?

Elise Park

Date Ideas (Normal)

Selah Sanchez

HOW TO LOSE AN OCSA GUY IN 10 DAYS

Tabitha Finamore & Sammi Thomas

SENIORITIS

Emilia Djordjevic

February Horoscopes: The Boy’s a Liar

Lauren Kim