Issue Two

November 2021

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TPUSA: Tolerance Paradox USA

Natalie Hanani, Grant Li

The OCSA Turning Point Club's vandalized booth at Club Rush.

Photo courtesy of Annabelle Torres (VA '23)

This year’s annual Club Rush saw the introduction of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) at OCSA, an outreach of the organization centered around spreading conservative values on high school and college campuses. Members handed out pins and stickers with phrases like “I Heart Capitalism,” “China Kinda Sus,” “Women Don’t Need Government to Succeed” and a “Don’t Tread On Me” poster with a machine gun, among other eye-catching merchandise. Dozens of people crowded around the booth to collect the merch and read the flyers—most doing so ironically, some in genuine interest. Before the event was over, the display had been vandalized by graffiti and–notoriously–egged by a stray projectile rumored to be from the Culinary kitchens.

Following the incident, the OCSATPUSA Instagram page issued a statement: “Today the students at OCSA proved they do not value free speech… Leftists do not care about fundamental rights, they do not care about a country where the free exchange of ideas is valued.” Hundreds of people immediately flooded the comments section. Many trolled with jokes and copypastas, while others expressed genuine discontent. Currently, the post has garnered more than 400 overwhelmingly negative comments, but also attention and support from conservative figures outside of OCSA. The club has since been officially removed from the club roster and the advisor is no longer active in accommodating meetings.

As the club’s statement pointed out, freedom of speech is a core American value and constitutionally protected right. However, as political issues around the nation evolve, a complicated conversation in many settings– specifically schools and universities– begs the question: How far does free speech go?

Regarding the controversy over the "China is sus" pin, the chapter president of OCSATPUSA said, “I can kind of understand how some people received it the way it was. That wasn’t our intention, but some people received it as xenophobic and racist.” One core member said that “the China stickers were immature at best.” As far as the possibility of the club bringing discriminatory views to campus, the president said, “I think if you look at what Turning Point USA stands for...they don’t stand for discrimination, they don’t stand for racism or anything like that.”

However, critics point to their past comments and actions to argue the opposite. The Instagram page initially displayed their pronouns as “ne/ver”, an apparent jab at the LGBTQ+ community in a school rich with gender-nonconforming identities. The organization defends its use of the term “illegal aliens'', while the school operates in a city built on Hispanic immigration. One member expressed that organizations like Black Lives Matter “use their identities to control others,” just as the OCSA administration has made efforts to bring awareness to social issues and to work with the Black Student Union. OCSATPUSA comes at a time when social awareness and political activism are widespread, so it’s no surprise they are accused of intolerance.

The paradox of tolerance is a well-known concept in sociology: to achieve full tolerance, a society cannot tolerate intolerance. These themes have developed in the Instagram discourse. They appear in the administration's handling of strong political positions in the student body, both on the right and left. The school will probably see more of both tolerance and intolerance as OCSA reckons with students becoming more involved in their community and forming opinions at an earlier age.

As far as the current state of the future for TPUSA at OCSA, the chapter president says, “It is back. I’m not gonna say where we’re meeting or anything like that. It’s very underground, but it’s back and we’re not gonna give up. We’re here to stay.”

Winter Market Previews: Vendors

Jessica Hong, Melody Wu

It’s almost that festive time of the year again! Sadly, we didn’t get to experience the fun and joyful exchange of artistic creations last year, but Winter Market is coming back this December. To get you all excited for this upcoming Winter Market, here are a selection of vendors that will surely pique your interest.

Axolotl Atelier by Vicky Nguyen (DM ‘23), Sydney Sahagun (DM ’23), Thimandhi Devendra (DM ‘22)

“We hand-craft artisan trinkets that inspire feelings of nostalgia and will bring a modern twist to old-fashion aesthetics. This year, we chose to base our products off of a 50's diner with a modern pastel twist and incorporate it into our clay charms, resin pieces, art pieces and stickers.”

2. Bead Head by Carla Forno (VA ‘22) and Chloe Lambaren (FTV ‘22)

“Our business focuses on creating sustainable, casual accessories for fashion-forward young adults. We use recycled glass beads to create necklaces, bracelets, and phone charms that are not only sustainable but also add a nice “pop” to any outfit.”

3. Wang Dynasty by Sophia Wang (VA ‘22), Lisa Wang (VA ‘23), Amy Wang (VA ‘23)

“Our business’ theme is Asian Fusion, a combination of Chinese and Japanese cultures. Using colors such as black, red and gold, our products will feature blue and white porcelain, fans, designs of dragons and phoenixes and more intricate accessories that come from exclusive Asian production processes and showcase the elegance and complexity of Asian cultures.”

4. Whale Berry by Alisa Nguyen (BCD ‘23) and London San Luis (DM ‘23)

“We are an eco-friendly brand that works to create sustainable wearables and accessories from recycled/ethically sourced materials. Our products, which include tote bags, accessories and reworked clothing, are all hand-crafted with care and come in special designs.”

5. Earth Luv Crafts by Ally Taylor (VA ’24)

“My business is centered around natural and environmental products typically found in a garden. Our products range from brooches to rings made from glittery resin charms,, as well as beaded necklaces and bracelets to handmade buttons and small plushies.”

6. Hanging by a Thread by Cailey Lockitch (PD ‘23)

“My business will be selling string art that can be used as wall decoration. Colorful threaded images are nailed to the wood to create original and beautiful designs. These designs are not only a unique way to blend nature with art, but also a great addition for your home!”

7. Crochet Critters by Emilia Djordjevic (IM-P ‘24) and Audrey Zhang (IM-P ‘24)

“Crochet and Critters is dedicated to making crochet toys and paper goods such as stickers, keychains and pins. Our crocheted products are hand-knit with yarn that come in a variety of striking colors and designs, which places quality and artistic creativity as our priority.”

8. AHHH! Ceramics by Alyssa Uy (VA ‘24) and Melody Wu (VA ‘24)

“Our business is centered around screaming animal-themed planters featuring 10 unique designs and garden decorations that are all hand-crafted from clay and painted with an underglaze. Our planter designs consist of axolotls, Kirbys, cats and bears while our garden decorations will feature mushrooms and goose heads.”

9. Wish by Star Lu (CAH ’22) and Sky Lu (FTV ‘23)

“The concept behind our business is based on Japanese wishing stars. Each of our products contain hand-folded paper stars stored in jars for jewelry, decoration, keychains and more to bring hope and luck during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The A in OCSA stands for “Accommodations”

Caitlyn Mason

One of the top schools in both arts and academic education, it’s no secret that OCSA is known for its ability to cater to artistically-inclined students and give them the opportunities and resources to succeed. For some, coming to OCSA means getting support for their education not received at earlier schools. For others, however, OCSA has fallen short of providing the resources required for them to thrive in its unique environment.

One common complaint of disabled students is the use of the elevator without a pass. “There’s so many elevator users that shouldn’t be using that elevator,” said Finley Coble (CW ‘24), “we have to wait for three elevators to pass before we can even get to our class.”

Combined with COVID-related concerns, it is understandable that many students would want to avoid being on crowded elevators.

When asked about the unauthorized use of the elevators, Leon Metoyer, dean of special services, said teachers are generally responsible with asking students to show their elevator passes, especially when the elevator is packed.

“Part of being a teenager is pushing the envelope, and we try to give grace,” said Metoyer, “but if there is a repeat offender, I contact Dr. Wallace, and we start with a Restorative Practice approach.”

Among newer, stricter elevator regulations, administration has been more adamant this year about the responsible use of temporary elevator passes, asking that they be returned by the end of their usage period.

Moving beyond the physical accessibility of OCSA, some students have found issues with in-classroom accommodations. Through an IEP or 504 Plan, students are often provided accommodations. An IEP, standing for Individualized Education Plan, describes specific accommodations that can be used to help students achieve their goals. As a Learning Education Agency, OCSA is legally obligated to provide students the accommodations outlined in their IEP plan. However, some students feel as if the accommodations or treatment they receive in classes falls short of what is promised in their outlined plans.

Some examples of accommodations that could be outlined in an IEP are: testing in a separate area, receiving extended time on tests, or having specific seating in the classroom.

“I have a specific accommodation for knowing about tests beforehand,” said Lily Gerhard (CW ‘22). “and my teacher was going to just let me fail.”

Gerhard has also seen students with anxiety and autism required to do presentations, regardless of their accommodations.

However, when a teacher is not following the protocols outlined in a student’s IEP or 504 plan, there is a procedure.

“The student contacts their case carrier, and it is part of the case carrier’s job to reach out to that teacher and remind them of what’s in that legal document,” said Mr. Metoyer.

A lot of a disabled students’ experience at OCSA is likely to depend on their ability and comfort level with speaking to administration and their case carrier about the things they need.

“One of my best friends left OCSA because the academics did not accommodate his severe dyslexia,” said Gerhard (CW ‘22), “and OCSA missed out on an amazing creative mind.”

In conclusion, Gerhard said, “there are so many artists with disabilities who OCSA is inaccessible to.”

By no means does this mean that OCSA is a bad place to be as a disabled student, but it does emphasize the fact that disabled students deserve to have their accommodations respected by their teachers.

For disabled students, don’t be afraid to remind your teacher of the accommodations you’ve been promised. For teachers and staff, be receptive when a student comes to you with a concern regarding their accommodations. Everyone deserves to learn in an environment that caters to their needs, and we mustn't forget that.

Rating OCSA meals

Shayna Kaplan

This year, OCSA’s lunch menu introduced new meal options while preserving the classics. But which ones are the best? Made fresh daily by the hard-working staff, OCSA meals are generally more diverse and appetizing than lunches at other high schools. Like all other school lunches, the OCSA lunch menu can be inconsistent with their flavors at times, but a warm lunch and block seven cookie can certainly make even the worst of days better.

A tier

A vegetarian lunch, the pasta alfredo features pasta smothered in Parmesan cheese sauce. The pasta is warm, cheesy and topped with herbs, a safe lunch option with classic flavors. It runs out quickly, so when you have early lunch dismissal, get to the second-floor cafeteria as soon as possible.
After the tragic demise of the pasta bolognese, the Italian sausage in creamy pesto sauce is the closest resemblance to the much-loved former OCSA dish. It’s easy to confuse with the pasta alfredo due to their similar appearances of pasta with white sauce, but it has a distinctive and satisfying taste. The meat can be off-putting, but the sauce definitely makes up for it.
Arguably the most well-known and iconic food at OCSA, the famous chocolate chip cookie is the go-to snack: large enough to share with friends and not overly sweet. The cookie is on the thick and cakey side, but your OCSA experience is not complete without having one of these.
The pizza stick is the child of a Hot Pocket and a calzone, and comes without pepperoni for vegetarians. The crust is flaky, buttery and has a decent cheese pull when heated. Though a bit dry and in need of more sauce, the pizza stick is still a classic and a must-try meal on the lunch menu.

B tier

New to the OCSA menu, jambalaya, a Creole dish, features meat, onions, carrots and other vegetables piled over rice. It has enough spice to be too much for those who can’t handle lots of heat, but the abundance of rice balances it out by soaking up the sauce. Jambalaya normally has shrimp, but this version has other types of meat instead. Regardless, it gives students more flavoursome and diverse options to choose from.
Another recent addition to the OCSA menu, the ahi poke salad features mixed greens, seaweed salad, avocado, roe, dressing, ahi poke and masago. The fish is fresh and pairs well with the dressing and avocado, but not very filling without rice. “For me, [eating poke] is a psychological thing,” said Catherine Hanson (IA ‘23), upon trying the poke for the first time. “Once you overcome those barriers, the salad is pretty good.”

C tier

The vegetable stir-fry rice is a no-meat lunch option, made of fried rice and mixed vegetables. It has a strong soy sauce flavor that overpowers the other flavors of the dish, but is one of the only vegan options. “I’ve had better fried rice here at OCSA,” said Moni Nair (IA ‘23), reflecting upon her experience tasting the dish. The flavor of the dish changes daily, making the stir-fry rice an unpredictable meal.

College Guidance

Aoife McEvoy

College Application Tips

Senior year is supposed to be the “most fun year of high school.” And while that is so far proving to be true, what doesn’t get talked about enough is the stress and impact college applications can have on your entire year, which is why it’s important to get started early. As a senior currently applying to college, I’m here to tell you all the things I wish I knew when I was junior, or any other year of high school.

1. Selecting Your Schools

For this specific article, I enlisted the help of the newest counselor, Sarah Kause. Having worked on the admissions board for the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University, Kause is well versed in what you need to know and do in order to be prepared for application season. “The biggest thing for juniors is to be very connected to each school they want to apply to, because every school is changing and doing something different.,” Kause said. In light of COVID-19 and the changing college landscape, universities are constantly updating their requirements year by year. For example, some schools require two letters of recommendation, while some only require one; some schools still require SAT and ACT scores, and some do not. That’s why it’s important to extensively research each school you apply to and make sure you have everything you need ahead of time in order to complete your application.

2. Letters of recommendation

According to Kause, “Letters of recommendation can probably start at the end of junior year, because the application process is so quick into senior year.” The best time to prepare for letter of recommendation requests would be spring of junior year, giving you enough time to figure out how many letters you need and which teachers would be the best choices to complete them. Kause recommended choosing a teacher you had in junior year rather than senior year because “if you’ve had a whole year with your math or science teacher and they know you really well, it’s going to be really easy for you to come back in August and ask them for a letter of recommendation, versus asking a senior teacher that might not know you as well.”

3. Summer Preparation

Summer is the perfect time to add some extracurricular activities to your transcript. “I think summer programs at colleges are really key,” Kause said. “They give you experience and insight into that world.” In addition to summer programs at colleges of your choice, there are many other activities you can do in order to strengthen your application. For example, taking college classes in the area of study you plan to go into or getting a part time job. Any activity that shows you are responsible and committed to maximizing your time and growing as a person, is guaranteed to make you stand out on your application.

College Fair

Although this year was not structured like a typical college fair, with representatives from universities attending a booth fair in the DMS, lots of valuable information was still provided. This year's college fair consisted of a multitude of on campus college workshops and an online booth fair. No matter what schools you are planning to apply to or what major of study you want to pursue, there is something for everyone.

With the online booth fair, you could explore as many colleges as you want, with unlimited access to the websites, informational videos, and even application deadlines of major universities. Although it was all online this year, some “booths” still had information sessions via zoom such as the Cal State Schools’ zoom presentation.

However, the most informative part of the fair was its information sessions. Some sessions were held in Symphony Hall or in the Tower and speakers would lead sessions over zoom or in-person on campus. It all depended on the school’s COVID regulations and requirements. There were dozens of master classes and informational sessions covering a variety of topics, from beginning an acting career in LA to becoming a finance major at a 4 year university.

One information session that was the most popular with students was “The Art of Writing the College Essay”, in which students learned the basics of how to perfect their Common App essay. The main guideline was to make the essay authentic, and show admissions boards who you really are. Polina Sultanov (ACT ‘22) says “your essay doesn’t need to be a resume, you need to showcase your personality too”. Other helpful tidbits were offered as well such as how to find a healthy balance between a formal and informal tone, how to come up with a unique topic and how to make your essay as authentic as possible. As a current senior, I know how daunting the college essay can be, so it’s important to start early. If any juniors are having concerns on what to write their essays about, and how to even get started, I highly recommend attending next year’s college fair sessions or watching this year’s recorded sessions on the official college fair website.

Although some students, such as Mateo Zarate (ID-BR ‘22”) felt that the speaker-over-zoom format contributed to the “gap of disconnect between the speaker and students”, the overall reaction was mostly positive. As we are aware, COVID has had many effects on education in general and part of living in this day and age is getting accustomed to the changes that come with it. Even with all of the changes, many students agreed that many of their college related worries have been put to rest. “It made me feel more prepared,” says Sultanov. “Because I was getting more information than just what my counselor or university websites could give me”. Overall, college fair is a great resource for students if you are feeling overwhelmed with college applications and need extra guidance. And if you happened to miss out, don’t worry, there’s always next year.

How Instagram Impacts Eating Disorders

Emma Han and Phoenix Lambie

Eating disorders—are you sure you know what they are? The dictionary definition of an eating disorder is any of a range of psychological disorders characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits. There are many different types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, rumination disorder, and pica; however, most eating disorders start out as orthorexia, defined as an unhealthy focus on eating in a healthy way.

In light of Instagram's popularity, social media platforms have glorified eating disorders to make them seem like a trend. This is 100% false— they are not trends nor should be seen as one. Eating disorders affect one’s well-being both physically and mentally; in fact, they are the second most deadly mental illness, as they cause one death every 52 minutes, leading to approximately 10,200 deaths per year all over the world.

Most people learn tips and tricks to hide their weight loss or gain. For example, people who experience rapid weight loss can say it is from a sport. They can also wear baggy clothing and use excuses such as “I’m just dieting” or “I’m not hungry.” People also tend to chew gum or water load. There is hope for those who suffer from an eating disorder. There is special treatment you can undergo, such as therapy at treatment centers or residential treatment. The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) also provides support with its helpline and therapists.

Social media is evidently detrimental to young girls and their body image. Former Facebook product manager, Frances Haugen, recently spoke out against the company to 60 Minutes regarding the “conflicts of interest between what was good for the public and what was good for Facebook,” where they have repeatedly chosen “to optimize for its own interests.”

Following its parent company, Instagram’s algorithm is problematic as harmful content, such as eating disorder accounts and media featuring predominantly smaller girls, saturate the explore page and are widely accessible. CNN explores this idea of confirmation bias, the tendency for people to seek information they already believe to be true to reinforce their beliefs. Specifically people with eating disorders, the app’s content only adds to their unhealthy cycle and validates their destructive behavior. CNN reports that Instagram has repeatedly argued that the harmful effects of social comparison is experienced widely; however, with teenagers and women making up much of Instagram’s target audience, the association between the two cannot be denied and must be addressed.

Now you may be asking yourself: Why do I need to know this? There is an astonishing amount of people who are not educated on the signs, impacts and causes of eating disorders. Teachers and parents need to take their own initiative and educate themselves on this topic because it is very relevant, especially at OCSA.

OCSA is a high stress environment, where people are expected to look, act, and present themselves in a certain way. Eating disorders can impact your way of thinking and learning. Food nourishes and enriches your body and as growing teenagers, our brains are still developing, believe it or not! We need food for energy and to learn as well. Eating disorders have long-term effects and can lead to heart problems, slowed brain function, and countless others. People could also talk themselves out of reaching out for help by telling themselves that they’re “just dieting” or dealing with unrelated worries at the moment. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder of any kind, please reach out to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA).

@ocsa.fad: Behind the Instagram Phenomenon

By Felix Brem

Beyond OCSA’s institution lies a shadow realm of online personas and digital communication, of memes and evolving colloquialisms: the world of social media. Many use platforms such as Instagram to share personal interests, advertise projects or foster a sense of school identity.

Recently, student Instagram users may have observed a pattern in the types of accounts becoming popular. With the shift back to in-person learning, OCSA-centered accounts anonymously highlighting the opinions, outfits, experiences, and other unique features of OCSA students have emerged into the foreground of student conversation. One has to wonder what makes this archetype of accounts so magnetic, what draws students to create and interact with them so heavily.

One prominent example of this phenomenon is the account OCSA Outfits, (@ocsa_outfits), which posts paparazzi-style photographs of student outfits that stand out to the creator. It has grown to over 700 followers in around a month and the comments are typically filled with students excitedly recognizing their friends or themselves in the photos.

On social media, students have criticized the fact that the creator does not ask students for consent to take the photos, to which the creator responded with her policy of taking down posts if requested by students in the pictures.

The creator’s decision to make the account was encouraged by her fascination with OCSA's broad range of styles; “I came from a school where everyone wore a uniform all the time, so being able to wear what I wanted and seeing all these other super cool diverse outfits without anyone getting judged was a really cool thing.” If you scroll through her page, you’ll see a wide array of styles and accessories, from flower crowns and fall sweaters to band t-shirts and chokers.

Her favorite part of running the account is “when people tag their friends and [say], “‘OMG, I got on OCSA Outfits,’ that just makes me happy.” For her, the account is a way to recognize the unique styles of students and make them feel special.

Another popular format for these types of accounts is embodied by the account OCSA Vents, (@ventsofocsa), which invites peers to fill out a Google form and confess anything that’s on their minds. Submissions range anywhere from upperclassmen beef with middle schoolers to rants about emotional baggage and mental illness, but all hold a sense of candor that is fostered through the form’s anonymity. As the account’s creator says, “Humans in general have a lot of thoughts and ideas, but most of them remain unexpressed due to various pressures” which the anonymous structure is designed to relieve.

The account’s owner cites the sharing of relatable experiences as the most enjoyable part of the task, saying, “Some of the vents were so eerily similar to my own thoughts that they freaked me out. From unrequited crushes to being stuck in the stairs to feeling lost and miserable in life, it's really, really touching to see the similarities we all share deep down, and that none of us are completely alone.”

Taylor’s Re-Recording Era

Lara Bilgore

You might have been asking yourself what is the hype on Taylor Swift re-recording her older albums. Well, on June 30 2019, it was announced that Ithaca Holdings had purchased Big Machine Records in a $300 million deal. When it was announced to the media, it was the first time Taylor Swift and her team had heard of this purchase despite her father owning a small share in the company; she was never given the option to acquire her masters, being able to own her own music. Swift was upset over this because Scott Borchetta, owner of Big Machine Records, knew about the bad history between Swift and Scooter Braun, who manages artists. Taylor then shared how some of Braun's clients such as Kanye West have “bullied” her in the past. From this deal, she felt as if she was stripped from her life's work. The feud between Braun and Swift took to Instagram, where other celebrities were left to take sides in this situation. Finally, on August 25, 2019 Swift announced that she would be re-recording her first six albums.

When Taylor was being honored at the American Music Awards, she wanted to perform some of her older songs and use them in her documentary with Netflix. Braun forbade Swift from performing and using her older songs, claiming that it would count as re-recording her songs before her contract allowed her to, which would be the following year. It was then denied by Big Machine Records that this information was true. Taylor then called Big Machine out on not paying her royalties causing them to allow her to perform her older music at the AMA's.

Finally, in November 2020, Taylor Swift was allowed to start re-recording her older albums. Later that month it was revealed that Shamrock Holdings had purchased Swift's catalog from Ithaca Holdings. Shamrock Holdings did reach out to Taylor about their purchase but because of the agreement between the two companies, she told them she would continue with her plan to re-record her first six albums.

On a surprise announcement on February 12, 2021 Taylor revealed that she would be re-releasing Love Story that night and that Fearless (Taylor's Version) would be releasing in April featuring six songs that had never been heard before. Fans everywhere were feeling nostalgic, because that album changed their life. On June 18, 2021 Taylor then announced Red (Taylor's Version) would be coming out on November 19, 2021. In September, Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version) was released as a surprise announcement. Later that month, Taylor announced that Red (Taylor's Version) would be released one week earlier than the prior announcement in June. Currently, on Apple Music there is a message from Taylor talking about what Red (Taylor’s Version) means to her. Now with only a short time left until the release, Red (Taylor's Version) can't come fast enough!

Fall Staff Recommendations

Compiled by Emma Han, Isabel Hahn, and Elena Levin

How to Choose the Best Pumpkin at the Patch

Mia Soumbasakis

You wake up and nothing seems right. Autumn leaves are blowing onto your bed from an open window and you accidentally wash your favorite sweaters with bleach. So, you gather your hat and coat, pull on some boots, and head to the pumpkin patch. You haven’t been here since you were a child, and you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for. Fear not—to find the best pumpkin in the patch, all you must do is follow these steps:

Look for the smallest one you can find, with green and white stripes like a peppermint. Don’t bother with the bright orange ones, more orange with sunset and beaming as if home to a hundred fairies, like the pumpkin you got last year. Don’t get sidetracked by the ones with twisting stems that could be used as a weapon. And definitely don’t get any shaped like lemons; I’m afraid those actually are lemons and will rot to a puddle of juice on your doorstep.
Take the green and white pumpkin and carve it open. It should be so small that all you can find is a single seed, covered in mush. When you eat this seed, the world might shine in places it didn’t before. The effect is the opposite of sunglasses: everything you normally wouldn’t see, like the spiders living in church chandeliers, the vest you wore in sixth grade in the back of your closet, or the gum wrappers beneath your bed. Soon, you’ll start seeing bats and owls in the night before they swoop down next to you.
You may see your pumpkin dying but you have to remember that this pumpkin is not a pumpkin, but a heart. You must trust this fuzzy, caved-in pumpkin flesh before it will revitalize into something more in a day’s time.
After a day, check on your pumpkin. You should see the mold is gone and the remaining guts are red and in motion, globbing into a circle with the stem, the aorta, sticking out at the top. Watch, in horror and awe, as this shapeless mound takes form. A heart is in front of you, beating louder than the laughs of the fairies in your pumpkin last year. Place the heart in a pink blanket.
When the full moon arrives, the pink blanket may start to shake, causing vases to fall from tables and frames from walls. The pink blanket will turn around and around as if in a washing machine before stopping suddenly and momentarily. Then, red vines will burst between the knitted threads of the blanket—or what you believe to be red vines upon first glance. They’ll crawl up the walls like ivy and make your entire home into one giant womb. For these are arteries and veins, writhing in the fresh air from your house (you still sleep with the windows open) before plummeting back to the pink blanket at the center, weaving in and out of its stitches. Pink fur will grow simultaneously, and by the time you realize that Halloween was today, and you slept through it, a pink cat will be standing before you.
Your cat will be pink but not hairless, and will guide you around your desolate neighborhood, leading you to all the candy kids dropped while trick-or-treating and eventually curling up next to you on a park bench and letting you pet its ears. To most everyone else, it’ll look like you’re walking alone, but they just haven’t eaten a peppermint pumpkin seed.

Halloween Highlights

Evolution Staff

OCSA’s Class of 2020: Graduating High School Amidst a Pandemic

Rajsi Rana

It is easy to romanticize the past. For many of us, the beginning of the COVID era reminds us of Dalgona Coffee and binge-watching the first season of Outer Banks. As grades were frozen and the weather became warmer, we became even more relaxed. To many of us, it was an extended summer vacation—but to OCSA’s class of 2020, it was full of missed opportunities.

Albert Bushala (PM ‘20) described his unique experience graduating OCSA during the beginning of COVID and entering his first year after high school as “...super weird. I was right there to completing my entire senior year and then all of a sudden the school year kind of stopped, and the whole world stopped. It was relieving in some way because part of me wanted a rest, and then all of a sudden it just happened.”

After graduating from OCSA virtually, Bushala then went on to take a gap year. “I wanted to have this year to really find myself so that I could come this year and be the absolute best student that I can be. I was probably as busy, if not busier than I was in high school.” His gap year was full of opportunities, in spite of the pandemic.

Bushala was one of the class of 2020 commencement speakers. Because the graduation ceremony was virtual, the speeches at the start truly set the tone for the rest of the event. “Dealing with a stutter my whole life, to me, it felt like something I wanted to accomplish. One of the things I said [in the speech] was to focus on today because we don’t know what tomorrow holds,” said Bushala.

Max Rogoff (FTV ‘20) talked about his experience of graduating from high school amidst a pandemic. “It was tough to have senior year, being a big moment in your life, and have all that stripped away from you. I think we all just figured out how much we were working ourselves and how much we needed a break.”

After graduating from OCSA, Rogoff went on to attend his freshman year of college at Chapman University virtually. “It was crazy because we weren’t just transitioning from high school to college, but we were also transitioning from high school to online school to college.”

Although distance learning was not ideal, it did have its benefits. “My favorite part was that it enabled us to have a lot more free time. I was on way more film sets, and I had a lot more time to make work connections, which is really fantastic,” said Rogoff.

A big part of college is making lifelong friendships and connections with people. Rogoff explained his experience with social life over online college.“It’s very tough to get a true sense of someone’s personality, their likes, their dislikes, just what makes them through a screen. There are some people who seem pretty nice and reserved, and then you meet them in person, and they have the most exuberant, exciting personality ever. Because we’re social beings, having that in-person connection is really necessary.”

Reflecting back on his days in high school, Rogoff offers a piece of advice to all OCSA students. “Make sure to make time for yourself. COVID taught us that it’s ok to make personal time. You’ve got to replenish your creative energy to be able to do your best work and perform your best. Everyone is going to turn out alright.”

Squid Game’s Unexpected Fame

Squid Game Promotional Poster
Photo Courtesy of Netflix

Jamie Lee

Though it was written in 2008, Squid Game has finally made its Netflix debut nearly 13 years later. Director Hwang Dong-Hyuk was unable to find a production to support his show until Netflix picked it up in 2019 in an effort to expand their offerings of foreign media. Since its release on September 17, Squid Game has become the first Korean drama to reach No. 1 on Netflix’s Top 10 and has become Netflix’s most popular show ever.

The series begins when protagonist Gi-Hun is offered money for a game of 딱지 (ddakji), a popular game in Korea that involves flipping the opponent’s paper tile. At the end of the game, Gi-Hun is offered the opportunity to play more games and win even more money. Upon his arrival to the games, it is revealed that the 456 players who were recruited were citizens in massive debt who had the opportunity to play a game to win 45.6 billion won, more than $38 million.

Among members of the Korean community, Squid Game has risen in popularity due to the well-known playground games featured in the show that were once played as children, including 무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다 (Red Light, Green Light), 뽑기 (Dalgona Candy Challenge), and Tug of War. However, Squid Game’s versions of these lighthearted games are much darker: players who fail to complete a game are killed.

The last game played in the series is none other than Squid Game, hence the name of the show. Squid Game is a Korean playground game that was commonly played in the 70s and 80s. Kids play on a squid-shaped field, and the goal is to tap the squid’s “head,” while the defense tries to stop them.

Although the show is entertaining, providing unexpected turns of events, Squid Game also displays brutal deaths and violence, which seems to be popularized in modern society, especially in the lower-working class. With various forms of media exhibiting such violence, such as Kingsman and Parasite, society has become more or less unaffected by gore and horror. Even Director Hwng told “The Korea Times” that, “At the time, the story felt ‘unfamiliar and violent’ and he worried people would find it too abstract to be commercialized and find a wider audience. But after about 12 years, the world has changed into a place where such peculiar, violent survival stories are actually welcomed.”

Nonetheless, the success of Squid Games has paved the way for more foreign shows, with “Alice in Borderland,” a Japanese thriller, and Korean apocalyptic horror drama, “Sweet Home” now trending on Netflix. Additionally, viewers are already anticipating Season Two of Squid Game, and while it has not yet been confirmed, due to the outcome of Season One’s release, it is likely that fans can expect the continuation of Squid Game in the future.

New Experimental Art on the OCSA Campus

Andy Choi

Grease is the Word

Dominic DeArmey

OCSA students are well aware of the infamous Annex Cockroaches—speculated to be 70% of its foundation and structural interface—but have you heard about OCSA’s grease monster? Students and faculty have all pondered what could possibly be making the old and tired Tower smell just as bad as it looks. Grasso, OCSA’s grease monster, inhabits the second floor kitchen feeding on the remnants of our prepared lunches and yummy treats. Grasso enjoys all the deliciousness that has fallen into the drains and offers the utmost praise to the members of the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Conservatory (CAH) for creating the highest dining and cuisine experience; however, poor lactose intolerant Grasso has suffered with terrible indigestion and has created a miserable experience for students and staff alike. Enter: the smell in the tower.

We took to the stairs of OCSA to ask students about our friend Grasso. Here's what they had to say:

Sophia Malone (ACT ‘27): “I haven't heard about the rumors, but I know that it smells like rotten deviled eggs...It definitely gets worse the closer you get to the cafeteria.”

Aidan Meixner (MT ‘22): “I’ve heard rumors that somebody is hiding a body here, but after hearing this, Grasso needs to go. They should try to spray air freshener into the vents in order to scare him away because this smell is overpowering.”

Emerson McDougall (BCD ‘26): “It smells like some of the toilets were dumped out on the floor...I haven't heard the rumor about Grasso, but I think that's insane if it’s true.”

Reese Patterson (MT ‘26): “The smell in the tower smells like body odor and feet. I feel like it gets worse throughout the week and especially on Fridays trying to get from class to class.”

As Grasso lives within our second floor Instructional kitchen, Evolution asked members of the CAH to weigh in on Grasso and to put people at ease that it is not a danger to the members of OCSA who dine within our cafeteria. “No, I do not believe the rumor and no, the kitchen doesn’t smell,” said Natalie Dixon (CAH ‘22). “It is not something rotting so it's fine.” We also spoke to Darian Hojreh (CAH ‘22) about his take on Grasso and his new habitat within the kitchen. “As I cook in the kitchen, I cannot say that I have smelled anything coming from there, however, I am concerned that the tower infrastructure within our pipes and the water that flows through them may release traces of the sulfur in our water supply, which we use for cooking.” Do not be afraid, however, Grasso does not pose a risk to students, according to Dr. Wallace.

Dr. William Wallace, OCSA's newest dean of facilities and supervision, sat down to discuss the matter of Grasso and how OCSA plans to try and eradicate its newest smelly friend. “OCSA is aware of the issue and we have taken the steps with contractors to make and work on the necessary repairs. Our hope is that the issue will be resolved over the weekend so as to not disrupt classes and lunch,” said Wallace. With Grasso gallavanting around in many areas of the tower, time will only tell if the contractors will be able to trap Grasso and release him back into the wild where he can run free with the other grease monsters.

Ghosts in Symphony Hall

Selah Sanchez

Dear Mr. Ciecek,

I hope this letter finds you well. Recently, students have been noticing some mysterious events that make relaxation in Symphony Hall’s basement library difficult. It seems as if the small population of ghosts that we share the library with have begun acting up and causing trouble. We’re unclear as to why this is happening. Perhaps it is the arrival of autumn; perhaps it was the influx of students earlier this year that crowded the basement; perhaps it was the tragic death of Romeo, the plush spotted seal and beloved resident of the library. Nevertheless, it has gotten out of hand. I will record the most recent of these strange events for your reference, so you may understand the breadth of our situation and the proper professionals may be called.

Apparitions roaming the Symphony Hall basement.
Art by Melody Wu

Like most other days, I was there for Block Seven, taking advantage of the comfortable environment to catch up on upcoming assignments. I had arrived unexpectedly early, the only person inside except for Creative Writing Director Josh Wood, who was out of sight in his office. As soon as I sat down and opened my laptop, however, I was attacked by a flurry of dusty, flying books! Many of them spat their pages at me, which were already coming loose due to the old binding. They flapped around like ravenous birds, nipping at my face and hands squawking, “Read us, read us! We’ve wasted away for 20 years waiting for readers and all you stupid kids do is sit around with your techno-gadgets and talk about AP Exams and Spanish homework!” They even blocked the exits, and I was trapped in the adjacent microwave room for the whole night, unable to leave unless I read through “The New Encyclopedia of the Opera” till my throat was hoarse. Luckily, I made it in time for my first block the next morning by crawling out the window. I am unsure of the book-phantom’s backstory but perhaps their cause of death was along the lines of being pummeled by such things. Perhaps the reason for such a brutal demise—possibly being a nerd—correlates to their motives.

Wood left sometime during my library stay, and part of me is rather surprised he did not hear the commotion. Now that I think about it, I’m starting to consider whether Wood is a ghost too—maybe not one of those specters that walk hallways and act cold and creepy, but the inquisitive Casper-type that is unsure of whether he is alive or dead but would rather just enjoy existence rather than spite it. Point of advice: it may be worth looking into. I digress, however. Thank you for reading this, and hopefully a solution can be brought forth to find common ground between these spirits, so that the library can be welcome to visitors both alive and undead.

Respectfully,

Selah Sanchez (CW ‘23)

Senioritis

Elena Levin

It feels like the beginning of the end. It’s amazing how much can change over the course of a few days, weeks, a year or even six. Sitting down to write this is surreal– I don’t think it ever dawned on me that one day I would be a towering upperclassman complaining about the tedium of college apps. Yet, I find myself in a completely different space than I was back then.

I don’t know when I grew up, but suddenly here I am—on the precipice of adulthood—grasping for lost time. As I’m writing this, I’m in the last stretch of my childhood; the sunset of 17. 18 has always seemed too daunting of a concept to even wrap my head around, but I seem to be aging without a choice.

My October birthday has always been one of my most prized traits; I’m forever grateful to my mom for having me exactly a week before Halloween. However, this year has probably been one of the most difficult Octobers of my life. I’m sure my fellow seniors can attest to this, but–– for some reason–– the fact that this is one of the only months in the school year with no days off really hits hard this year. It feels as though I’m constantly sprinting to keep up with my schoolwork, applications and social life. Not to mention that it’s virtually impossible to rejoice in the beginnings of fall and Spooky Season™ when the shadows of early action and other November deadlines loom ceaselessly.

Everyone seems to be feeling the pressure and exhaustion right now, myself included, and we all have different ways of coping. Some may withdraw completely, taking necessary “mental health days” to catch up on work and rest, while others seek refuge in large groups and endless plans with friends. I’m trying to make the most of it all—I really am—but sometimes I wish the world would stop for just a second, if only to take a breath and register the days that are slipping by.

Speaking of time’s acceleration, it’s hard to believe that this was our last OCSA Halloween. One of the last times we were able to shamelessly dress up to our fullest extent–– as a collective. I’m sure there are similar environments out there, but—in my not so humble opinion—no one does it like we do. I’ll definitely miss perusing the eccentric appearances of our school population on a day primarily dedicated to festivity.

After recently moving from my childhood home, I’ve learned to place more value in my memories, while also attempting to embrace change. Although it seems like I’m blinding you with clichés, I think we all have room for improvement when it comes to making the most of our senior year. If we all just took a second to acknowledge that yes, not much has stayed the same, and found some sense of excitement in the prospect of the unknown, it may bring us some semblance of comfort.

So, here I am six years, five friend groups, four French classes, three AP tests and two conservatories later, just trying to soak in my last months of high school. Yes, it may be the beginning of the end, but who said that endings always have to be unhappy?

Issue Two

November 2021

Table of Contents

Natalie hanani, grant li

jessica hong, melody wu

Caitlyn mason

Shayna Kaplan

Aoife mcevoy

Emma Han, Phoenix Lambie

Felix Brem

Lara Bilgore

evolution staff

shayna kaplan, lauren kim, mia soumbasakis

isabel hahn

evolution staff

rajsi rana

Jamie lee

Andy choi

Dominic dearmey

selah sanchez

elena levin

melody chang, lauren kim

isabelle tran

michael mcdonald, brian lin

tabitha finamore

Tabitha finamore, michael mcdonald, rajsi rana

TPUSA: Tolerance Paradox USA

Natalie Hanani, Grant Li

Winter Market Previews: Vendors

Jessica Hong, Melody Wu

The A in OCSA stands for “Accommodations”

Caitlyn Mason

Rating OCSA meals

Shayna Kaplan

College Guidance

Aoife McEvoy

College Application Tips

College Fair

How Instagram Impacts Eating Disorders

Emma Han and Phoenix Lambie

@ocsa.fad: Behind the Instagram Phenomenon

By Felix Brem

Taylor’s Re-Recording Era

Lara Bilgore

Fall Staff Recommendations

Compiled by Emma Han, Isabel Hahn, and Elena Levin

How to Choose the Best Pumpkin at the Patch

Mia Soumbasakis

Halloween Highlights

Evolution Staff

OCSA’s Class of 2020: Graduating High School Amidst a Pandemic

Rajsi Rana

Squid Game’s Unexpected Fame

Jamie Lee

New Experimental Art on the OCSA Campus

Andy Choi

Grease is the Word

Dominic DeArmey

Ghosts in Symphony Hall

Selah Sanchez

Senioritis

Elena Levin

Horoscopes

Melody Chang

Art by Lauren Kim