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Message The grimy, outdated main gym is nally scheduled to receive a much-needed revamping. Our beloved main gym, since its opening in 1964, has worked overtime these past decades: hosting nu-merous spirit assemblies, basketball and volleyball practices and games, award ceremonies, and so much more. And with the upcoming exciting renovation, many San Clemente High School students have begun to wor-ry, questioning what their upcoming school year will look like.The senior class of 2026, in particular, has voiced their concerns about the upcoming renovation. Ju-nior Rylee Kervick described the changes as “a bummer because all of the biggest highlights of the year that are traditionally held in the gym and focused around the senior class will not be the same.” These events in-clude practice graduation, Senior Awards, and Grad Night, to name a few. With-out the gym, everything will have to be held outside in Thalassa Stadium. While the stadium can hold many peo-ple, the black bleachers ab-May 2025tritontimes.comSCHS gym renovationGabby Miller | WriterThe action of the youth is what keeps the spark of America alive. San Clemente High School and the Triton Times high-light these voices to foster imagination and involvement in its students. Wealth’s role in education (2)Protecting our beloved coastline (2)Articial Intelligence: helping or hurting students? (3)Mastery over memo-rization: SCHS’s new grading system (4)Ms. Bro wins Orange County Teacher of the Year (5)Sienna Miller | Head EditorThe decline of journalismDuring the last de-cade, journalism has undergone severe setbacks that have reshaped the media environment that was once a symbol of free-dom but now uncertainty for our country. Journalism, democracy’s prized commod-ity, is now threatened by eco-nomic duress, technological advancement, and changing patterns of public consump-tion. These are not just jeop-ardizing the survival of jour-nalists but also the critical function of media to keep cit-izens well-informed and hold those in power accountable. Dwindling mainstream jour-nalism is revolutionizing the way society receives the news, and its repercussions extend far beyond that.The nancial downfall of mainstream media is a major factor that has contributed to the downfall of journalism. Once protable businesses, print newspapers have been severely hit by the rise of digital media platforms. Ad revenues, the primary sourc-es of income for newspapers, have shifted to online media like Google and Facebook. Advertisers now ock to these digital media because of their ability to target consumers with precision, leaving print newspapers, which relied on paper-based adver-tising, to bask in nancial insecurity.“As a senior who has done Yearbook for two years at San Clemente, the digital aspect of journalism is denitely apparent,” SCHS student Bella Noble said. “We do our entire layout digitally which requires an entirely new set of skills than just fact-checking and solid writing.”Therefore, some news organizations have attempted to transition into digi-tal forms but the experience has been unsuccessful. Subscription mod-els--suited for some of the big pub-lications like The New York Times and The Washington Post--are dif-cult to implement to small local dailies with limited resources to produce content that would appeal to enough digital read-sorb heat, mak-ing the already glaring sunlight even more in-tense. Kervick re-called her freshmen orientation, which was held in Thalas-sa Stadium due to COVID-19, described how “[she] had to sit out-side on the bleachers and was dying of heat.” Howev-er, Kervick remains optimis-tic, understanding that as an upperclassman it is her job to make the best of the situation.Sophomore and ASB Head of Tech Matthew Nye shared his take on the gym renovation as a student TRITONContinued on page 4Continued on page 12TIMES

What makes San Cle-mente truly spe-cial is its beautiful Southern California beaches. The perfect waves, warm sand beneath your feet, and the stunning coastline all come to-gether to shape a city that draws millions of visitors each year.But these adored beaches are under threat. Rising sea lev-els, powerful storms, and con-stant erosion are putting them in danger.“A beach town must have a beach, after all,” Leslea Meyer-hoff, an environmental plan-ning and regulatory compli-ance specialist employed by the city of San Clemente, ex-plained. “The community and city leaders have called coastal erosion an existential threat to the community, its surng her-itage, and the quality of life en-joyed by residents and visitors.”Responding to the ev-er-evolving risk of coastal ero-sion, the Orange County Trans-portation Authority (OCTA) has suggested projects to preserve the rail line, including plans to bring in 540,000 cubic yards of sand to help maintain the tracks. While these efforts are part of a bigger plan to min-imize the risk of erosion and landslides, many people are concerned that these projects might end up damaging the very beaches they’re meant to protect.One proposed solution is to add riprap -- which are large boulders -- along parts of the coastline to protect the rail line. However, this approach has raised concerns. While riprap can offer short-term protection, it can make erosion worse in the long run.“The best way to protect the track is not through more boul-ders, the best way to protect the track is through more sand,” City Councilmember and his-tory teacher at San Clemente High School, Mark Enmeier, emphasized. “In putting those boulders in, it actually [creates] a positive feedback loop where the waves are coming in harder, and it [tears] out more of the sand, so our beaches [are] dis-appearing because of this.”Meyerhoff explained that the rst phase of the restoration plan is to add 237,000 cubic yards of sand to the San Cle-mente Pier and North Beach. Experts suggest that around 5,000,000 cubic yards of sand will be needed to restore the city’s beaches fully so that they remain walkable even at high tide. To achieve this, the city is conducting an offshore sand source investigation to nd reli-able, long term sources of sand T he road to higher education is long, com-plex, and often costly. With the end of afr mative action, as well as an ongoing shift against legacy admissions, the college admissions process is a constantly evolving system searching to achieve equitability for all students. However, wealth and income play a signicant role in the admissions process. This factor not only affects the ability for students to afford a college education, but their access to integral and benecial resources throughout the application process.Resources, such as private college counselors, provide an immense advantage in the admissions process. Providing one-on-one guidance and assis-tance throughout each and every step of the college admissions process, talented and well-experienced counselors offer students incomparable strategies for gaining admission to top universities. However, private counselors are an exceptionally expensive resource, often costing families thousands of dol-lars over the course of college application season.Additionally, students with access to private SAT/ACT tutors tend to receive higher standardized test scores, helping to solidify their academic standing and make their application stand out. These tutors generally cost hundreds of dollars per hour, mean-ing they are simply not a viable nancial option for many students. These resources are incredibly advantageous and benecial, yet are limited to higher income students. “Having sources of aid, whether they are private college counselors, high school counselors, or family members who have completed higher education, makes all the differ-ence,” explained senior Madelyn Mitchell. “Wheth-er you are completing the Common Application, ling for nancial aid through the FAFSA and CSS Prole, or writing your college essays, having ac-cess to resources and facets of guidance is crucial for success.”In order to combat the lack of equity caused by disparities in wealth and income, SCHS offers an exceptional, free college resource for all students: the College and Career Center. SCHS’s College and Career counselors and specialists provide extensive support, offering guidance in exploring univer-sities and majors, aid throughout the application process, and help in discovering scholarships and nancial assistance opportunities. Students are able to set up one-on-one appointments to gain personalized, individual support in navigating the college application process. “The College and Ca-reer Center is an amazing free resource for SCHS students,” noted senior Hannah Ellinger. “The op-portunity to get advice and guidance at no nan-cial cost is an incredible benet and privilege.” By providing free college counseling services for stu-dents, SCHS serves as a trailblazer in the path to achieving equity for all students seeking to pursue higher education.Protecting our beloved coastlineEROSION OF OUR BEACHES RESUltINg IN tHE wAvES HIttINg tHE tRACkS. (www.SAvEOURBEACHESSC.COm)Keely Cabatuan | Photo EditorWealth’s role in educationCarly Altman | Head EditorUSC       ,  $99,139/. (T  C M)NEWSTRITON TIMES2““You can‘t have a beach town without a beach.offshore.San Clemente has already secured several major projects to help replenish its beaches. The U.S. Army Corps of Engi-neers (USACE) is set to bring in 2 million cubic yards of sand over the next 50 years, replenishing the beach every 5 to 6 years. The SANDAG Regional Beach Sand Project 3 will add 1.1 million cubic yards of sand every 5 to 10 years. On top of that, OCTA’s Coastal Rail Stabilization Project is in the process of transporting 540,000 cubic yards of sand, guaranteeing that the railroads remain protected.The city is also now working with the University of California, Irvine (UCI) to search for alterna-tive solutions to transport sand to San Clemente’s beaches. This collaboration is expected to present fresh and innovative ideas, with more details antic-ipated in this coming summer.Ultimately, San Clemente’s biggest hurdle to overcome is securing consistent, sustainable funding for restoration efforts of our sand. Currently, there is no dedicated local funding, putting the lasting health of the beach-es at risk. While the city applies for state and federal grants, these often require a cost to res-idents as well.Leslea Meyerhoff added, “Personally, I think investing in the beach makes a lot of sense because it will pay dividends for many generations.”The community can also play an essential role in assisting these efforts by writing letters to OCTA and speaking at city council meetings. By collaborat-ing, we can salvage our adored beaches and railroad for future generations.

Picture this: you’re a high school student. You’ve sat down, ready to begin an as-signment, but then you remember that our dear friend Chat GPT exists… so you use it, just once. Because it is just one time. Because you really did not feel like completing that one, singular assignment. A few days roll by, it’s 11:30 pm and you realize your math homework is due in thirty min-utes. So, you ask AI to show you the steps for each prob- lem, and you mindlessly copy it down. All of a sudden your math test is tomor-row, and you haven’t learned any of it. This is the plight of high school students in 2025 and this is the environment our youth is heading into.Depicting it as a ‘plight’ may seem extreme, after all, if students just had an ounce of integri-ty, as many parents like to say, they wouldn’t be in this situation. But, when students are thrown into a school system where the emphasis is placed on grades over learning, where it is typical for them to When AI is an option, students question why should they analyze something for themselves when they can ask it for the meaning. Why should they take time to complete an assignment when AI can do it for them? AI is creating a culture within schools where students who already nd themselves with a lack of motivation to learn have an easy out. The problem is that if AI is doing the assignments, then AI is doing the thinking.Whether or not students always realize it, essays hone their craft of writing. History lectures teach about the world before them. Labs demonstrate the complexity of science. When students choose to turn to AI over their own abili-ty, it prevents their pursuit of knowledge and inhibits their growth as a learner. But, if AI could be viewed differently; if it could be a virtual assistant as opposed to a virtual assignment-completer, if the entire perspective of AI in schools were to shift, then it could be a tool that helps students learn in the way that’s best for them.In psychology, there’s a concept known as ‘psychological re-sistance.’ It’s when one has a Audrey Folia | Head EditorCHATGPT       N-  2022   ,          . (O)Wspend 12 hours straight on a Sunday struggling to get everything done on time… AI is going to be abused. But, a complete shift in how schools operate seems unlikely, and until then, it’s im-portant that students understand the gravity of using AI, while teachers understand the poten-tial it holds as a tool.AI, as AP/IB Language and English I teacher Mr. Ho put it, has the potential “of erasing critical thought and doing everything for [a student].” 3NEWSTRITON TIMESArtificial Intelligence: helping or hurting students?HATARETHECONSOFAI?stronger desire to par-ticipate in a be-havior when it’s restricted. Banning AI entirely would make it all the more rewarding to get away with using it. And, to completely eradicate AI is to limit its full potential. The solution is not com-pletely prohibiting AI, but using it in such a way that, as opposed to being the engine of a car, it’s the steer-ing wheel; there to guide one’s thinking but not be the thing running their brain. AP/IB Language and English III teacher Ms. Kang suggested AI’s possibilities as a sort of peer review-er, in that one could write their own work, “then maybe look at what AI says and get feedback from AI as supplementals.” Still, she conceded that, as previous-ly mentioned, AI doesn’t have “the deep emotional thinking” that humans do to give real feedback. Students at SCHS have been nding it useful to have it generate practice study questions for them and to reword confusing con-cepts in a way different from their teacher.AI can have a place in a classroom, but it would require a shift in everyone’s mind-set. It can’t be seen as this evil thing by teachers, and in turn, students can’t abuse it. If this mutual un-derstanding is reached within classrooms, then learning will ourish like never before.What some teachers are saying:Mr. Salway“I think there needs to be a responsibility about how AI is used and the context in which it is used. It’s foolish to ignore AI and it is coming no matter what. So students need to learn ways to use it as an assis-tant to their work and not as a replacement of their work.” Mr. Ho“AI has the potential of erasing critical thought and doing everything [for a student].” Ms. Schmidt“All AI does is take every idea about a topic ever writ-ten and distill it into one response in the most ge-neric way. Nothing fresh. Nothing that reects a stu-dent’s mind, or soul, or interpretation. You sacrice your individuality by defaulting into a techno-echo chamber. I get it—writing isn’t fun or easy—and secondary institutions hyperemphasize academic achievement as a central value, so the temptation and pressure to ‘cheat’ is high. People who write their own work will get smarter and brighter, and AI use will make you lazier and dumber. Of course the corporate world lauds AI because of the potential of maximum gains in less time. Of course, we contin-ue to see a push for it, and no doubt it maximizes efciency. But what’s the cost? Weakened human connection and personal expression, devaluation of human expertise and reection, loss of cognitive resilience, adaptability, and individuality.”Mr. Miller“AI will be the reason I’ll nally be able to retire.”

Are traditional grading methods no longer ef-cient? Well according to CUSD, they are not. In comes mastery grading: grades derived from mastery of subjects and con-tent rather than completion of busywork assignments that mask a student’s true understanding of the material. As CUSD Board Mastery over memorization: SCHS’s new grading approachSTUDENT LIFETRITON TIMES4Emmerson Cattich | Opinion Editorexpressed her fears about the new system, as she is a self-proclaimed “test-bomber.” However, though mastery grading may seem like it puts too much pressure on test grades, the new grading system actually allows for reassessment. As stated by SCHS Principal Dr. Baker, reassessment gives “stu-dents opportunities to improve and truly grasp concepts rather than accepting a lower grade and moving on.” The growth mindset approach of mastery grading al-lows students multiple opportu-nities to demonstrate their under-standing, or “mastery,” of subjects, rather than penalizing them for struggling the rst time they learn something. This reinforces that “learning is a process, not a one-time event,” according to Dr. Baker.Additionally, mastery grading is benecial for encouraging stu-dents to focus on learning the ma-terial, not just earning points. Our principal believes this “shifts the mindset from ‘How can I get an A?’ to ‘How well do I understand this concept?’” Students deeply understand-ing concepts will provide a better educa-tion through holding “students to higher expectations because they must demonstrate true under-standing before moving forward.” These high expectations lead to more college-ready students.The implementation of mastery grading is also very timely. As we are in the age of AI, many students have begun to rely on it to com-plete their homework as-signments. These students then proceeded to take and fail tests because they didn’t actually learn anything from the material given to them. Mastery grading will force stu-dents to do the work and learn the material, and it will give them multiple opportunities to do so.Therefore, as intimidating as mas-tery grading seems, if students commit to doing the all of the work and real learning that this new system requires them to do, then we, as students, will reap the benets.Policy 5121 states, beginning on a class-basis in the 2025-2026 school year, some class grades will be based “solely on mastery of dis-trict and state content standards.”This “mastery” can be proven through measures such as tests, quizzes, and projects; but it can not be proven through simple home-work assignments. San Clemente High School junior Dylan Nelson ““SCHS gym renovation from page 1....NEWFUTURheavily involved with organizing events usually held in the gym. Nye described how it will “require some creative solutions to ASB events” but he remains hopeful that “by the end of next year, SCHS will have a brand new gym to call home for all the activ-ities that SCHS has to offer.”This renovation also presents many difculties for our student-athletes. Varsity basketball and soccer star Reese Tremper described the situation as “unfortunate and sad because [her and her team] won’t have the gym for [their] senior season.” Playing at home was one of the junior’s “highlights of basketball season,” and Tremper now struggles with the thought of never having a home game in the main gym again.The Physical Education department will also face signicant changes. The yoga course offered to 10-12th graders is traditionally held in the gym, and now students question if it will still be offered next year. Additionally, the locker rooms are being renovated, which presents a major challenge on where the athletes and P.E. students will change and store their uniforms. Students also worry about the safety of their personal items traditionally held in lockers.Although this much-needed gym renovation will certainly present trial and error for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year, with the right attitude and school spirit, we as Tritons can stay positive and look forward to the trans-formation of our sacred main gym.Learning is a process, not a one-time event.-Dr. BakerESSCHS’ CURRENt gym HAS BEEN IN A StAtE OF NEEdEd REpAIR FOR yEARS. (tAylOR vAN dIjk)tHE NEw gym IS SEt tO BE BUIlt OvER tHE SUmmER OF 2025. (dR. BAkER)

Out of thousands of teachers in Orange County, San Clemente High School’s very own Ms. Bro has been recognized as Orange County Teacher of the Year! Ms. Bro is the the rst teacher in SCHS history to win this pres-tigious award, and she is now in the running for California Teacher of the Year.According to SCHS Principal Brad Baker, Ms. Bro was also awarded a $25,000 check as a “power-ful acknowledge-ment of her impact, dedication, and the lives she continues to shape.” Not only has Ms. Bro demon-strated that she is an amazing teacher, but also “a leader, role model, and true Triton through and through,” Baker stated.As the AVID Coordinator, Ms. Bro has touched the lives of many Triton students. Senior AVID student Melanie Lopez full-heartedly believes Ms. Bro deserves this award. “She believed in me Ms. Bro wins Orange County Teacher of the YearThe truth about scholarships: pushing athletics over academicsAt San Clemente High School, both athletic and academic achievements are val-ued, but there’s no denying that sports often take the spotlight. Over the years, SCHS has made great strides in celebrating stu-dent success beyond athletics, yet athletic scholarships still tend to receive more recogni-tion than academic ones.From pep rallies to signing ceremonies, student-athletes committing to college teams are rightfully celebrated. How-ever, students earning presti-gious academic scholarships or acceptance into top universities don’t always receive the same level of school-wide acknowledgment. While sports bring excitement and school pride, it’s important to ensure that academic excellence is recognized just as much.Mr. Ho, an AP/IB Language teacher and coach at CVHS, has seen this shift rsthand. “When we switched from Senior Night to Se-nior Achievements, we began putting a greater emphasis on academics rather than athletics,” he said. This change reects San Clemente’s progress in supporting well-rounded student success, but there is always room to grow.Balancing academics and athlet-ics is no easy task. Student-athletes often have built-in support systems, including coaches and eligibility re-quirements that help them stay on track. However, students in rigorous academic programs like IB or Model UN often navigate their challenges more independently. “It’s incredi-bly difcult for students who want to achieve at a high level in both,” Mr. Ho explained. “That’s why I love teacher-coaches. They try to help stu-dents succeed in both.”At the same time, athletes should recognize that academics play a criti-cal role in their future. While an ath-letic scholarship is a great achieve-ment, only a small percentage of high school athletes go on to play professionally. Even those who do will eventually need a career beyond their sport. Strong academic perfor-mance not only prepares students for college coursework but also pro-vides stability and long-term oppor-tunities.Prioritizing education ensures that whether or not an athlete con-tinues competing at the next level, they are set up for success. Senior Ashley Stafford, who is committed to Yale for gymnastics, feels a similar way. Reecting on her high school career, Stafford noted that “although gymnastics opened the opportunity for [her] to go to Yale, [she] would have never made it through admis-sions if [she] didn’t focus on school as much as [she] did.” With an out-standing 4.5 GPA, she is a testament that not only is it possible to balance both, but it should be the goal of many other high achieving student athletes. To her, “gymnastics is tem-porary but the education [she’ll] re-ceive at Yale will follow [her] through [her] life and allow [her] to succeed in [her] future.”San Clemente and its students have made great progress in valuing both academics and athletics but can continue to try and close the gap. By celebrating all forms of excellence, SCHS can ensure that every student, whether in the classroom or on the eld, feels equally recognized and supported.5STUDENT LIFETRITON TIMESNEWTIMESTaylor Van Dijk | Editor-in-Chiefand my potential. All of my achievements are attributed to her. Without her help I would not be able to attend a four-year university and pursue my dreams,” she stated.Ms. Bro herself was proud to represent SCHS and the Capistrano Unied School Dis-trict as an OC Teacher of the Year. “In recogni-tion of the support I’ve received over the years, I am going to donate a portion of this award to fund this year’s Cameron Lovett Memorial scholarship. I am so proud to be a Triton,” Ms. Bro said. Mr. Lovett was formerly an assistant principal at SCHS until his untimely passing in 2022..Congratulations to Ms. Bro and thank you for all of your contributions to our school!Charlotte Yeskulsky | Head EditorHONOREd: ON mAy 1, mS. BRO CElEBRAtES wItH tO HER pARENtS AS SHE wIll NOw REpRESENt ORANgE COUNty AS A FINAlISt FOR tHE CAlIFORNIA tEACHER OF tHE yEAR. (dR. BAkER)

SENIOR SPOTLIGHTTRITON TIMES6GRACE PRATTMACEY PUNAKEnglish and Social Science Plaque RecipiantMathematics and Science Plaque RecipiantAs such a strong leader in both academics and extracurriculars, Grace Pratt is bound to extend her reach far beyond San Clem-ente High School. At school, she is an Activities Commissioner on the Associated Student Body, the founder and president of the Banned Books Club, an International Baccalaureate candidate, and an Education Foundation Student Representative. She has also spent the last thirteen years learning Chinese, and is now considered to be uent in English, Chinese, and Spanish. She continues this trend of involvement outside the classroom as well, working on Mike Levin’s campaign as a paid can-vasser.“I only commit to extracurriculars that reect my values and work to create productive change, having a positive impact on those around me,” stated Pratt.This year, Pratt received a plaque from both the English department and the social sciences department. In college, she plans to study interna-tional relations with a minor in Chinese in hopes of becoming a foreign service ofcer. She will attend Stanford University in the fall and continue to strive to reach her goals.In college, she is most excited to meet new people. “I got a glimpse into what college will be like when I attended Girls State, and I can’t wait to meet all these new friends with super cool interests, backgrounds, and passions. I plan to get involved as much as I can, joining a run club, rush-ing a sorority, studying abroad, and participating in student government.”As a future face of the medical eld, Macey Punak has already begun to dedicate her time to advancements in her craft. Along with committing to playing varsity water polo all four years, she has developed her interests in science through a vigorous course schedule and a biomechanical engineering internship at Johnson and Johnson.This solidied her desire to study medicine. “It was my rst experi-ence in the eld, I was part of the research and development team for the Veritas System, a device for Cataract Surgery. I was able to work and learn under an amazing female engineer, and I ultimately decided that I wanted to be a doctor so I can be close to the people I am helping,” Punak stated.This year, Macey received a plaque from both the math and the sci-ence departments. She will study cellular and molecular biology at the university level, and she is very grateful for the classes at San Clemente High School for laying the foundation for her studies. “Mrs. Compean with the test retakes laid a really good conceptual base for AP/IB Calcu-lus BC, and I loved the freedom to explore and make mistakes during labs in Mr. Nguyen’s AP Chemistry class,” said Punak.Macey is excited to move into the next phase of her academic journey and “to meet new people and make new friends.” She is also excited to experience living on the east coast because she “loves experiencing seasons. Change is very exciting.”

7SENIOR SPOTLIGHTTRITON TIMESTHEODORE PREISLEREMILY OHMANMathematics Plaque RecipiantEnglish and French Plaque RecipiantIn both sports and academics, Theo Preisler is dedicated to exceeding the bar. At San Clemente High School, he has played on the football, basketball, and baseball teams. He was also chosen as a represen-tative for Boys and Girls State, which he attended over the summer in Sacramento, California. Whilst balancing a physically demanding athletic schedule, he nds time to excel in advanced courses, particularly in the science and math departments. Taking AP/IB Calculus BC as only a junior in high school, Preisler is several mathematical levels above most of his peers.“I always needed the extra challenge in math, which is why I decided to skip levels. It helped me earn many college credits in math before college and I should be able to minor in math wherever I go with only one or two more classes,” Preisler stated.He earned a plaque from the math department for his unparalleled suc-cess in this eld. He plans to use these skills to study engineering, com-bining his passion for math with his dedication to success. He has gotten here through “hard work and enjoying the process” and will continue this philosophy as he heads into college.However, Preisler attributes his biggest accomplishment senior year to “winning senior assassin.” He would not have been able to do it without the tenacity and planning that he learned while studying and grinding at San Clemente High School.From pirouettes to podiums, Emily Ohman has dedicated her past four years to excellence. Ohman is an International Baccalaureate candidate at San Clemente High School along with the co-president of the Blue Oceans Club and secretary of National Honors Society. Outside of school, she is a ballet dancer at Pacic Ballet Conservatory, where she spends countless hours every week dedicated to the renement of her prac-tice.“Dance has helped me to succeed on an academic level because it has become a stress reliever to allow me to calm down and focus. Dance is such an important artistic outlet for me, and I really plan on continuing to pursue it,” said Ohman.This year, Ohman received a plaque from the English department and the foreign language department along with an achievement award in IB Biolo-gy. She has spent the last four years excelling in language arts, prompting her to major in international studies and minor in dance at the collegiate level. She plans on attending University of California, Berkeley in the fall to continue her academic efforts.At UC Berkeley, she will continue her involvement in her community, and already has set many goals. “Berkeley is such a historical center of politics, an involvement that is relatively unmatched elsewhere. Being in this envi-ronment is such a unique opportunity and experience. My goal is to go into human rights law so that I can do my part to help the world improve for not just the United States, but everyone,” Ohman stated.Articles written by Taylor Van Dijk | Editor-in-Chief

Acuna, Luke - Biola Univer-sity, SFSU, Azusa Pacic University Africa, Izzy - University of Georgia, University of Tennessee, TCU, University of Colorado Boulder, Auburn University, SDSU, College of Charleston, Boise State, University of Arizona, University of Alabama, Univer-sity of UtahAkers, Kirra - Boise State, University of Oklahoma, University of Alabama, University of Arizona, Arizona State, University of UtahAllen, Abby - University of Utah, Utah Valley University, Chico State, Pacic Hawaii University, Baylor UniversityAlpay, Saige - UCSD, UC Da-vis, McGill University, Ohio State, Uni-versity of Toronto, Vermont University Altman, Carly - UCSB, SDSU, Northeastern University, Uni-versity of Miami, University of Georgia, Fordham University, Southern Method-ist University, TCU, Rutgers University, University of Oregon, University of DelawareAshizawa, Alexis - UCSC, Cal Lutheran University, Trinity College, University of Connecticut, Seton Hall University, SDSU, Cal State Monterey BayAyala, Andrea - California Baptist University, Cal State Fullerton, CSUSM, Cal State Channel Island, UC RiversideBacon, Jake - Chico State, CSUMB, Cal State Fresno Baedeker, Liv - Montana State University, University of UtahBagley, Poppy - NAU, Montana State University, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Or-egon, University of Utah, University of Indiana BloomingtonBarbernell, Emma - SFSU, UC Merced, Pace University, De-Paul University, Columbia College Chi-cago, Emerson College, Parsons School of Design, FITBarnash, Yasa - UC Mer-ced, UC Riverside Barton, Charlotte - Uni-versity of ArizonaBates, Anna - Boston Col-lege, Boston University, Pepperdine University, TCU, SDSU, Colgate Univer-sity, University of Utah, Notre Dame University Benito, Ana - SDSU, UCSB, University of Missouri, Colorado State, Cal Poly SLOBennett, Camille - Cal Poly SLO, Oregon State, UC DavisBird, Sophia - UC Merced, Oregon State, Seattle University, Reed College, University of Colorado Den-ver, University of Washington, Wash-ington StateBlair, Grin - Cal State Ful-lertonBlake, Payton - UCLA, UC Berkeley, UCSB, UCSD, UCSC, Universi-ty of Oregon, University of WashingtonBlunt, Jackson - University of ArizonaBolliger, Max - University of Tennessee, University of Wisconsin, Cal Poly SLO, University of Colorado Boul-der, Florida State, University of South Carolina, Auburn University, University of Oregon, University of UtahCOLLEGE ACCEPTANCESTRITON TIMES8Bonilla, Yahir - Cal State San Francisco, CSULA, UC RiversideBreshears, Kiana - Baylor University, Cal Poly SLO, UCSB, Point Loma, CSUSM, UC DavisBrophy, Camille - Univer-sity of OregonBrown, Audrey - Palm Beach Atlantic University, California Baptist University, Gordon CollegeBrown, Caden - CSFU, Uni-versity of Utah, University of Alabama, Arizona State, Southern Methodist Uni-versity Budhu, Bella - SDSU, Cal Lu-theran, Cal State Long Beach, CSUSM, UCI, UC Davis, UCSC, USDBullock, Joe - University of Oregon, Michigan State, Northwest Nazarene University Bush, Coco - University of Utah, Colorado State, University of Ha-waiiButler, Drew - Chatham Uni-versity, University of Oregon, Universi-ty of St. Louis, University of WisconsinBwabwa, Antoinette - Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State, CSUSM, Cal State Northridge, Point Loma Nazarene UniversityCabatuan, Keely - SDSU, UC Merced, Cal State Channel IslandsCasaw, Kaila - University of Wisconsin, University of Washington, USC, University of Colorado Boulder, Arizona State, SDSU, Cal Poly SLO, UCSBCasey, Dane - Chico State, Colorado StateCastaneel, Natalia - LMUCaudillo, Diana - CSUSM, Cal State Fresno, CSUMB, GCU, NAUChild, Charles - Naval Academy, Air Force AcademyChristensen, Alexis - Arizona State, Baylor University, Savan-nah College of Art and Design, Marist University Cobb, Hailey - Colorado State, Point Loma, Pepperdine, CSULB, SDSU, Cal Poly SLO, UCI, UCSD, UCSBColson, Avery - Chapman, Colorado State, University of Colorado Boulder, PLNU, UCSC, UC Merced, Uni-versity of DenverColvin, Norah - University of Washington, Oregon State Univer-sity, University of Utah, Colorado State University, University of Colorado Den-verCorbett, Lyra - TCUCorbridge, Hadley - BYU Cummings, Caelin - Cal State Fullerton, CSULB, SDSU, Point LomaDeJesus, Leonardo - Chico State, Drexel University, UC Da-vis, Sacramento State, OSU, Michigan State, WSUDelaney, Michael - Cal Poly SLO, USC, Pepperdine University, Chapman University, USDDemoss, Phoebe - UCSBDeNault, Chase - Concor-dia University, Ohio State, University of Alabama, University of Utah, LSU, Okla-homa City UniversityDesrosiers, Sarah - SDSU, Cal Poly SLO, UCSC, Cal State Ful-lerton, Cal Poly Pomona, San Jose State DeVanna, Blake - PLNU, UCSC, University of Utah, Cal State Ful-lerton, LMU, CSUSMDiaz, Brianna - NAU, GCU, HIU, CSULB, Cal State Fullerton, HPU, USD, UCSCDiaz, Vanessa - Cal State Channel Islands, CSULA, CSULBDillbeck, Liam - Suffolk University, Seton Hall University, Hof-stra University, UCSC, CSU Northridge, Cal Poly Pomona Donaldson, Brielle - BYUDonis, Kristel - Cal State Fullerton, CSUSM, Chapman Univer-sity, Concordia University, UC Merced, UC Riverside, ASUDorn, Sydney - Chapman University, UC Riverside, PLNU, Cal State Fullerton, CSUSMDuncan, Joshua - Uni-versity of Colorado Boulder, Colorado School of Mines, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly Humboldt, SDSU, Cal State Fuller-tonDutton, Scarlett - Cal Poly Pomona, SDSU, Arizona StateDuzman, Marcos - ASU, University of Utah, Cal Poly SLO, SDSU, UCSB, UC Davis, UC BerkeleyDyer, Liv - University of Arizo-na, Oregon State, CSUSM, Sacramento State, University of Tennessee, Univer-sity of MississippiElizalde, Zackary - Chap-man UniversityEllis, Sarah - UCSD, UCSB, SDSUErspamer, Mike - Stan-fordEscario, Ava - UConn, UNCW, Coastal Carolina University, SDSU, UCSC, Old Dominion University, Cal Poly SLOFarley, Mckenna - Ore-gon State, Penn State, SDSU, Univer-sity of Colorado Boulder, University of Wisconsin Fawler, Mackenzie - ASU, Syracuse University, UC Davis, University of Arizona, University of MissouriFigueroa, Daniela - SJSU, Concordia University, CSUSM, Fisher, Travis - Boise State, Northwest Nazarene University Flagler, Brody - GCU, PLNU, CSU Fresno, Oregon State, University of Oregon, CSULB, LSU, University of Arizona, Arizona StateFroggatt, Andrew - Em-bry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of Arizona, Seton Hall Uni-versity, James Madison UniversityGallagher, Audrey - SDSUGarcia, Aiden - SDSU, UC Riverside, UC Merced, Cal Poly Hum-boldt, Cal State San Jose, UCSCGarcia, Natalie - UC River-side, Chapman University, CSULBGarcia, Noemi - UC River-side, Concordia, Chapman University, University of Colorado BoulderGeraci, Brooke - Concordia University, PLNU, University of Notre Dame, University of Alabama, Virginia Tech, Westmont CollegeGhyzel, Trevor - Indiana University, University of Minnesota, University of Illinois, University of Iowa, University of ArizonaGiacobello, Owen - Uni-versity of Oregon, University of Utah, Arizona State, Colorado State, Loyola University, Penn State, TCUGieselman, Ryan - Chico State, CSUSM, SDSUGiord, Oliver - Chico State, Cal Poly Humboldt, Cal Poly Po-mona, UCSC, UC DavisGillie, Macady - BYUGomez, Stephanie - Cal Poly SLO, UC RIverside, UC Santa Cruz, Chapman University, Cal State Long Beach, Chico StateGood, Jaidyn - University of Utah, Boise State, CSUSM, Chico State, Cal State Fresno, University of Cincin-nati Goodwin, Travis - Oregon State, Pennsylvania State, University of Arizona, University of Wisconsin, Uni-versity of Massachusetts, University of Manchester, UCSC, UC Davis, UCSD, SDSU, Cal Poly Pomona, University of Washington Goulet, Charlie - Univer-sity of Arizona, University of Nevada, University of Oregon, Marquette Uni-versity, University of Wisconsin, UC MercedGregath, Cameryn - Cal Poly SLO, University of Tennessee, Au-burn University, Penn State, Michigan State, Colorado State, Oklahoma State, University of Wisconsin, Texas A&MGrin, Tocci - UCSD, UC Davis, UCLA, UC Irvine, Santa Clara University, Biola UniversityGrill, Nina - University of Colorado Boulder, LMU, San Francisco State, Cal State FullertonHaderlie, Adelyn - Uni-versity of Utah, University of Oregon, Pace University, Rutgers University Hadfield, Will - BYU Hall, Kalista - University of Kentucky, University of Tennessee, University of Iowa, University of Utah, Loyola University New Orleans, Uni-versity of South Florida, University of Miami, University of Tampa, University of South Carolina, University of San Di-ego, Ohio State UniversityHansen, Porter - BYU, LSU, UNC, TCUHarris, Cole - UCSBHarvey, Trevor - UCSB, Cal Poly SLO, SDSU, University of Arizona, University of UtahHeal, Mitchell - UC Merced Hernandez, Isabel - CSUSM, CSULA, CSUDH, Cal State Channel Islands, GCUHernandez, Taylor - USD, Cal Poly Pomona, Illinois Institute of TechnologyHill, Harbor - BYUHill, Tenley - UCLA, UCSB, UCSD, Cal Poly SLO, BYU, University of UtahHo, Jayden - Cal Poly Pomo-na, Cal Poly Humboldt, UC Riverside, CSULB, CSUMBHogan, Blake - Auburn Uni-versity, Ohio State, University of Colo-rado Boulder, Cal Poly SLO, Pepperdine University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Baylor University, Univer-sity of Oklahoma, Clemson University, University of Utah, San Jose State, University of Nebraska, Southern Utah UniversityHood, Maddie - Universi-ty of Utah, PLNU, University of Hawaii, Boise StateHornig, Owen - University of WisconsinHoyos, Victoria - Cali-fornia Lutheran University, CSUSM, Northridge University, UC Riverside, Cal State FullertonHumphrey, Brent - UCSC, UC Davis, Cal Poly SLO, Chico State, Colorado State University, Or-egon State University, University of OregonHusbands, Jamo - South-ern Methodist University, LMU, Univer-sity of Colorado Boulder, Purdue Uni-versity, UCSC, UC Davis Hutchinson, Dalila - Cal Poly Pomona, UC Merced, Cal State FullertonHyde, Sophie - University of Utah, Cal State Fullerton, Chico State, Boise State, CSUSM, San Francisco StateIglesias, Jonathan - University of Florida, Santa Clara Uni-versity, USD, SDSU, Pepperdine Univer-sityInsley, Emry - Arizona State, University of Utah, TCUJohansson, Finn - Au-burn University, Indiana University, Clemson University, University of Utah, University of Illinois, University of Col-orado Boulder, Ohio State Johansson, Tosh - BYU Johnson, Callan - DePaul University, University of Delaware, University of Tennessee, University of Oklahoma, Seattle University, Universi-ty of Utah, University of MissouriJohnson, Dylan - Univer-sity of Colorado Boulder, University of Oregon, University of WisconsinJohnson, Eli - GCUJohnson, Isaiah - Kan-sas State, Penn State, University of Utah, Cal State Fullerton, Arizona State, University of Arizona, University of Laverne, NAU, Ohio State, Rutgers University, Oklahoma State, Colorado State, University of AlabamaJohnson, Roman - Pep-perdine, GCU, Baylor, Arizona Pacic University, Westmont, UCSC, Cal Poly Pomona, ACUJohnson, Taegan - Uni-versity of Arizona, University of UtahJones, Beniah - United States Naval AcademyJoutz, Ryker - PrincetonKallas, Brielle - BYUKelley, Riley - SDSU, Cal Poly SLO, University of Arizona, Arizona State, Ohio State, FAU, Colorado State, LSUKennedy, Shayne - BYU, Utah Valley University Kerrigan, Pierce - Cal Poly SLO, SDSU, Baylor, TCU, PLNU, Montana State, University of Utah, SFSU

9COLLEGE ACCEPTANCESTRITON TIMESKim, Ethan - UC Merced, UC Riverside, Cal State FullertonKohl, Colin - TCU, Universi-ty of Wisconsin, Clemson University, Penn State, Boise State, SDSU, FAUKostechko, Kyla - Uni-versity of Arizona, ASU, SFSU, Montana State University, University of Alabama, Marymount Manhattan CollegeKotiranta, Maxwell - USD, Boise State, Colorado State, University of Arizona, University of MontanaLaMarre, Sam - UC Davis, SDSU, Cal Poly SLO, UCSC, University of Utah, University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State Laszewski, Drake - TCU, Chapman University, Coastal Carolina University, University of Arizona Lederer, Colin - Cal Poly SLO, UCSB, UC Davis, UCSC, SDSU, Uni-versity of Utah, Colorado StateLewis, Mia - Cal Poly SLO, Cal Poly Pomona, SDSU, Colorado School of Mines, UC Davis, UC Merced Llanos, Luis - GCU, NAU, CSUSMLogue, Payton - Montana State UniversityLoper, Jack - StanfordLoper, Quinn - USCLopez, Melanie - Chap-man University, Washington State, New York Institute of Technology, Uni-versity of North Florida, CSUSM, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Fresno, UC Merced, UC Riverside, Manhattan Uni-versity Mack, Hayden - University of Washington, University of Denver, University of Utah, University of Col-orado Boulder, Montana State, Boise StateMalone, Sophia - Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long BeachMarcisz, Kylie - UC Berke-ley, Georgia Tech, UCSD, Cal Poly SLOMarquis, Emma - Univer-sity of Utah, BYU, Utah Valley University Martin, Gage - UCSD, UCSBMartinez, Rodrigo - CSULAMassamiri, Claire - Cal Poly SLO, Culinary Institute of America Matthews, William - University of Utah, University of Colo-rado Boulder, Arizona State, Utah StateMaxfield, Julia - BYUMcAlpin, Gracie - TCU, Southern Methodist University, Emer-son University, UNC Charlotte McCann, Isabella - UCSB, UCSC, UC Davis, Cal Poly SLO, University of Colorado Boulder, Uni-versity of Hawaii, Montana State, Colo-rado State, NAU, UNC WilmingtonMcCullough, Hazel - BYUMcGraw, Finn - Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly PomonaMcKay, Katie - Cal Poly SLO, Wheaton College, SDSU, PLNU, GCU, NAU, HIU, UConn, Boise State, Colora-do StateMckay, Maggie - UCSC, Cal Poly SLO, UC Irvine, Cal State Ful-lerton, CSULB, UC Riverside, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly Humboldt Metcalf, Russell - PLNUMeyerhofer, Miriam - Chatham University, University of Wisconsin, University of Illinois, Sarah Lawrence College, Seattle University, University of Missouri, Southern Illi-nois University Miller, Sienna - University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania State, Cal State Long Beach, Rutgers University, Syracuse UniversityMitchell, Madelyn - UCSD, UCSB, SDSU, Cal Poly SLO, Bay-lor University, Colorado State, Universi-ty of Arizona, University of OregonMitchell, Peyton - Chico StateMitrevski, Troy - Oregon State University, University of Wash-ington, Gonzaga University, Seattle University, UC MercedMonier, Michelle - Cal Poly SLO, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, UCSC, SDSUMontero, Robert - GCU, NAU, HIUMoody, Sadie - BYUMota, Vicky - Cal State Ful-lerton, New York Institute of Technol-ogy, GCU, NAU, CSUSM, University of Utah, Michigan State, Suffolk Universi-ty, Loyola UniversityNachreiner, Ruby - UCSB, SDSU, CSULB, Pace University, Chapman University, Cal State Fuller-ton, University of Colorado Boulder, Pepperdine University, LMU, Arizona State, Hawaii Pacic UniversityNebrits, Noah - Cal State Long Beach, Pepperdine University, Cal Poly Pomona, UC RiversideNellab, Nadjie - Univer-sity of Utah, Cal State Fullerton, Chico State, CSUSM, SFSU, NAU, GCU, HIUNelson, Cameron - Sac-ramento StateNoble, Isabella - SDSUNorgren, Liliana - UCSC, UCSB, USD, SDSU, LMU, Cal State Ful-lerton, Cal Poly SLO, SFSU, University of Utah, University of OregonNorman, John - Cal State Channel Islands, CSULB, PLNUO’Flynn, Connor - Univer-sity of OregonOchoa, Trevor - Cal Baptist UniversityOhman, Emily - George Washington University, Boston Univer-sity, UCSB, UCLA, UC Berkeley Ortiz, Ariadna - SDSU, Cal State Fullerton, Suffolk University, Uni-versity of Massachusetts Padhya, Mir - University of Il-linois, University of Chicago, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, Cal Poly SLO, Purdue University Palman, Matea - UCSD, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Riverside Pantoja, Daniela - Cal Poly SLO, UCSB, UCSC, USC, University of Alabama, Boise State, SFSU, Univer-sity of Arizona, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State FullertonParke, Stella - BYU Pearson, Emily - Perdue University, Montana State, Portland State University, Truman State Univer-sityPearson, Kendall - Uni-versity of Arizona Peralta, Ava - Colorado State University, Syracuse University, Oregon State University, University of Utah, UCSC, University of DenverPerez, Caleb - UCSB, SDSU, University of Utah, Arizona State, Uni-versity of Arizona, UCSDPerez, Carolina - Cal State San Marcos, Cal State FullertonPintor, Alessandro - University of Illinois Pothier, Hayden - Utah State, Utah Valley University, BYUPratt, Alex - University of South CarolinaPratt, Grace - UNC, Univer-sity of Virginia, UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC, Wake Forest University, William and Mary, Stanford, Duke, St. Andrews University Preisler, Theodore - San Jose State, UC Davis, Cal Poly Po-mona, Cal Poly SLO, UCSB, USC, Purdue University Puhek, Brier - NAU, GCU, HIU, Boise State, CSUSMQuade, Haaken - West-mont CollegeQuigley, Sasha - USD, Pepperdine, University of Colorado BoulderRaymond, Kaden - Uni-versity of Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, University of UtahReid, Xandon - UCSB, Cal Poly SLO, Purdue University, UC River-side, UC Merced Rico, Andrea - CSUMB, Sonoma State, Cal State East Bay, Chico State Ridha, Rnad - NAU, GCU, HIU, CSULB, Cal State Fullerton, CSUSM, Cal Poly SLO, Chapman Uni-versity, UC Irvine, UCSB, UC Riverside, UC MercedRiggs, Madilyn - Univer-sity of Wisconsin, Villanova University, Syracuse University, TCURiley, Natalie - PLNURivas, Taylor - Boise State Roberts, Nate - University of Utah, University of Arizona, Arizona State, UCSC, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, University of Ala-bama, University of Arkansas, LSU, Col-orado State, Boise StateRorvik, Lukas - Pepperdine University, USD, Oregon State, HIU, GCU, NAU, California Lutheran Univer-sity, Cal Poly Pomona Rosen, Lauren - Santa Clara University, SDSU, Lehigh Univer-sity, University of Vermont, University of Colorado Boulder Rubinstein, Zeke - ASU, Baker University, NAU, University of Utah, Cal State Fullerton, University of Arizona, Baylor University, Boise State UniversityRussomanno, Antho-ny - Cal Poly SLO, UCSB, PLNU, CSUSM, LMU, SDSU, UCSC, UC DavisRyan, Hailey - Penn State, Baylor, University of Utah, Indiana University Bloomington, University of ArizonaSaenz, Ryder - UCSB, UCSD, UCI, SDSU, Wisconsin, WashingtonSatterlee, Sophia - CSULB, Cal Poly SLO, University of Ari-zona, University of Colorado Boulder, University of UtahSautner, Luke - UCSB, UC Berkeley, UCI, UCSD, SDSU, Purdue University, Cal Poly SLO, University of Colorado BoulderSharp, Noah - University of Utah, Southern Methodist University, University of Arizona, Boise State, Ari-zona StateSipelis, Julia - UC Berkeley, UCSC, UCSB, University of Oregon, University of Washington, University of Wisconsin, Boston University, Emerson College, Northeastern University, Mc-Gill University, St. Andrews University, University of Colorado BoulderSmith, April - NAU, GCU, SUU, CSUSM, Chico State, UCSC, UC Riverside, University of Oregon, Ore-gon State, King’s College, Loyola Uni-versity, HIU, Howard Payne University, Vanguard University, Creighton Uni-versity, University of Utah, USFSnyder, Stella - University of Arizona, University of Mississippi, Baylor University, University of Utah, University of Colorado Boulder, Hawaii Pacic University, USD, Texas Christian UniversitySpilsbury, R Dax - BYUStadick, Hunter - Cal State Fullerton, San Jose State, CSUSM, CSUMBStaord, Ashley - Yale UniversityStark, Carson - North Naz-arene University, University of Utah, Montana State, University of Montana, University of AlabamaStone, Lincoln - BYUSuckiel, Grace - Cal Poly SLO, University of Utah, University of Oregon, UCSC, College of Charleston, Sonoma State, Montana State, PACESwenson, Paige - UH Ma-noa, Chaminade, UC Merced, PLNUThomas, Finn - UC Davis, UC IrvineTolliver, Chase - University of UtahTolosa, Jason - PLNU, Uni-versity of Utah, Cal Poly Humboldt, Cal Poly Pomona, CSULBTranberg, Andrew - UC RiversideTrevisan, Sofia - Montana State University, Cal State Fullerton, CSUSM, CSULATuomi, Keira - University of Utah, Montana State UniversityTurner, Will - BYUUnger, Gavin - Oregon State, Montana State, University of Col-orado BoulderUnseld, Anne-Sophie - Urije University, University of Van AmsterdamVan Dijk, Taylor - USC, UCSD, UCSB, UCSC, University of Ore-gon, Fordham UniversityVeale, Reagan - Wheaton College, Point Loma, Westmont Col-lege, Baylor University, Biola UniversityVillalvazo, Ella - UC Davis, Chapman, SDSU, Cal State Monterey Bay, University of Arizona, University of UtahVillarroel, Arantza - CSUSM, GCU, Northern Arizona Uni-versityViola, Giovanna - Pep-perdine, Concordia University, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly Sonoma, NAU, GCU, Vanguard University, ASU, Cal State FullertonWagner, Jonathan - Au-burn University, University of Colorado Boulder, Pepperdine University, Uni-versity of Utah, University of Washing-ton, University of Oregon, University of South Carolina, SDSU, UCSD, Cal Poly SLO, UCSC, UCSB, UC Berkeley Wagner, Luke - UCSD, UCSB, USC, Northeastern University, UC Berkeley, Rutgers University, Bruns-wick University, SDSUWaldfogel, Koen - Col-lege of the Florida Keys Walker, Avery - UCSC, SDSU, University of Oregon, OSU, ASU, Cal Poly Humboldt, Chico State, Sacra-mento StateWeissmann, Esther - Chico State, Sonoma StateWenrick, Heidi - Arizona State, Montana State, University of Wyoming, University of Oklahoma, University of Alabama, TCU, University of Colorado BoulderWestover, Tatum - BYU, Arizona State, Utah State, University of Utah, Utah TechWilcox, Gared - Baylor Uni-versity, Indiana University, University of Tennessee, Texas A&M, University of Colorado, Auburn University Willardson, Audrey - BYU ProvoWilliams, Allison - CSUSM, Cal Poly Pomona, UC Riverside Wilson, Elijah - UCSC, PLNUWood, Hannah - Cal Poly SLO, UCSC, CSULB, University of Port-land, UCSD, LMU, UCLAWood, Makena - Chico StateWoodworth, Pierce - SFSU, UT San Antonio, San Jose StateYeskulsky, Charlotte - University of Colorado BoulderYeskulsky, Sophia - Uni-versity of Colorado BoulderYoung, Aubrey - Cal Poly Pomona, UC Riverside, UC Merced, Cal State Fullerton, Texas StateEvery student self-reported their names and the colleges they were accepted into for this survey. Acceptances were veried, but any missing college acceptances or stu-dents were due to self-reporting errors. Congrats to the Class of 2025!!

POLITICSTRITON TIMES10Decline of U.S. leadershipThe White House was once a symbol of global diplomacy, democra-cy, and moral leadership, but now under the Trump admin-istration, it has been staging xenophobic and nationalistic ideologies. In light of address-ing Trump’s domestic policy, the problem of immigration is a growing concern for many Americans. On day one, he dropped ten executive orders regarding immigration with dozens of policy changes em-bedded in each one. Some pol-icies include halting refugee admissions, making asylum seekers wait in Mexico for U.S hearings, denying benets to unauthorized immigrants, and allowing ICE to enter schools. Although many of Trump’s ex-ecutive orders were blocked in court, the effects on immi-grants remain strong.“For many Hispanic stu-dents, school has always felt like a safe space, so the fact that this policy could change is unsettling,” said the president of the SCHS Latino Student Union, senior Miranda Arzola.Taking into account all of these harsh changes in policy, on February 18th, an ASMR vid-eo was dropped by the White House Instagram account that undermined the process of deportations and family-forced separations. The video, present-ed in what was supposed to be “calming” voice overs, was instead showing harsh immi-gration measures as a comical, bureaucratic process, not as a deeply alarming humanitarian crisis.SCHS Latino Student Union vice president and senior, Stephanie Gomez, added that “many students are increas-ingly aware and hesitant to leave their homes and attend school, as we don’t want to face the possibility of our situation ““being mocked, especially after the ASMR video released by the White House.”Besides immigration, Trump’s rhetoric and aspira-tions have eroded America’s leadership position even more as a global superpower. His constant claims of territories—calling the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” and profess-ing to want to annex Canada—have rendered U.S. foreign pol-icy a global joke. Rather than casting off the strategic con-dence of a global superpower, these statements make the United States look desperate, volatile, and disconnected from the geopolitical environment.This emerging ideology is not an isolated development. It is part of an extended global transformation of conservatism that stands for nationalism over collectivism and, as such, undercuts transnational coa-litions toward globalization. Pulling the United States out of progressive world-wide docu-ments, like the Paris Agreement (2016), renders the United States’ decade-long alliances null and void while decreasing its inuence on a global scale.With the decline in soft pow-er in the United States, which is dened as a persuasive ap-proach using cultural or eco-nomic inuence, there is cause for concern regarding its future status in international diploma-cy. Will it remain a front-runner, or will other gloabal threats such as China, Russia, or the E.U. step into this huge power vacuum? If America continues down this path of self-disintegration both on a national and global scale, it not only stands to lose the support of both American citizens and allies, but also its status as the world’s leading power.The future of the Department of EducationPresident Donald Trump has renewed his call to abolish the U.S. Depart-ment of Education and argues that education decisions should be returned to the states. This proposal aligns with his broader vision of reducing federal over-sight and allowing state and local governments to determine policies that best t their com-munities. Supporters of this idea believe it could lead to a more tailored education system, while critics worry about the potential funding cuts and disparities in resources.The Department of Education, established in 1979, primarily serves as a funding body rather than a policy-maker. As San Cle-mente High School AP Econom-ics teacher Mr. Salway explained, “First, it provides funding for spe-cial education activities. Second, it provides something they call Title-One funds for low-income schools. Beyond that, it does not set curriculum or policies.” While the department does not dictate classroom content, it plays a cru-cial role in distributing federal funds to schools that need addi-tional support.If the Department of Edu-vides extra support to schools in lower-income areas, could also be affected. “Schools that can document that their incomes are low enough receive extra federal funding to help close that learn-ing gap from these communities that need it,” he stated.At the state level, California has historically prioritized educa-tion funding, which could lessen the impact of the potential fed-eral changes. For San Clemente High School, the local funding structures might provide stabili-ty. Ms. Jasso, the school’s College and Career counselor, remains optimistic. She explained how, “They could denitely axe a cou-ple of programs from the district, and we could be one of those pro-grams. Am I worried about that? No, and I’ll tell you why—because I think our state is pretty on the side with programs like this be-ing that it’s so helpful and such a good resource for students.” She emphasized the importance of staying informed, adding, “I just feel like staying present and as informed as possible, and I think that our district really cares about our students.”Ultimately, the proposal to abolish the Department of Ed-ucation remains uncertain, as it would require congressional Why is no one saying the pledge?Sophia Yeskulsky | Head Editorcation were to be dismantled, states would have full control over how they allocate educa-tion funding. Advocates argue that this could lead to more ef-cient spending. However, op-ponents raise concerns about the economic impact on schools that rely on federal assistance. “Economically speaking, it’s go-ing to lose funding to programs that need it,” Mr. Salway added. Title-One funding, which pro-approval. While some see it as a step toward greater state autono-my, others worry about the nan-cial consequences for schools that depend on federal funding. For San Clemente High School, California’s commitment to edu-cation could act as a buffer, but the long-term effects would de-pend on how the state and dis-trict respond to potential federal changes.Ryan Bautista | News EditorPlease rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. These words ring out daily through every school loud-speaker, and a version of the famous oath has been said in schools since 1942. However, in recent years, students have be-gun omitting saying the actual pledge and instead just standing or ignoring it completely.Reciting the pledge is a rou-tine that takes less than 15 sec-onds per day, but high schoolers have been saying this pledge for around ten years every school day. That amount of repetition can weigh heavy on anyone, especially high school students with shorter attention spans. The repeated words can lose meaning for most students, and eventually thoughts of “why am I even saying this” can creep in.Additionally, the stereotype of high school laziness, in the words of AP US History teacher Marc Popovich, “can’t be un-derestimated.” If students look around and see their peers lazily not saying the pledge, they im-mediately feel alone if they are saying it. Mr. Popovich described this “peer pressure” as an im-portant “factor” in why students are moving away from reciting it.Some students, on the other hand, do not care about their peers and instead do what they want to. Junior Connor Crilly says the pledge “every time” because it “honors both his country and the people who protect it.” He described the way he sees the pledge as helping support “the people defending democracy and pledging allegiance to a group that protects people.”Even with all of these factors, one needs to remember that stu-dents who make the conscious choice to not say the Pledge of Al-legiance are not based on others, but based on themselves. Some people choose not to say the pledge because it goes against their personal beliefs, from our country to not wanting to say “...under God.” These students have this right given to them by the First Amendment, and nothing will be able to take it away from them. As Mr. Popovich said, “This is America, and if they do not want to pledge allegiance to America, that is OK.”““Peer pressure is an important factor in why students are moving away from the pledge.It is a part of an extended global transformation of conservatism, that stands for nationalism over collectivism.Sienna Miller | Head EditortHE UNItEd StAtES dEpARtmENt OF EdUCAtION IS UNdER tHREAtS OF dESOlvmENt. (tExAS RURAl EdCUAtION ASSOCIAtION)

POLITICSTRITON TIMESThe impacts of Trump’s environmental policiesUnder the direction of Pres-ident Donald Trump, envi-ronmental policies and reg-ulations that have been in place for decades have been reversed in the days following the inauguration. Leg-islation such as the Clean Air Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and Climate Change regulations have been on the chopping block. It is no secret that Trump views climate change as a “hoax,” leaving many concerned that this administration will fail to address the public’s concerns for the quality, safety, and future of our environment. According to National Public Radio (NPR), Trump has slashed government spending on environmental programs, environmental agencies, and climate change protection initiatives. Now, communities who relied on climate change beneciaries will suffer, im-pacting predominantly Republican states. As of now, AP News reports that 2,600 programs pertaining to global warming, sustainable energy, energy costs, reducing emissions, and in par-ticular the Clean School Bus Program have been frozen.Furthermore, Trump has already removed the United States from the Paris Agreement, an international trea-ty signed in 2016 governing climate change. He has declared an “energy emergency” as he hopes to maximize oil and gas production by revoking en-vironmental policies and regulations, opening up public and private lands, oceans, and national parks for future energy and oil development. Now, the U.S. can nally “drill baby drill,” as promised by Trump.Fortunately, California has adopted some of the most stringent environ-mental legislation in the country, so the removal of some federal policies may have little effect on our state and city. However, a future alongside Presi-dent Trump may prove to be unpredict-able and contentious for our state, and even San Clemente may encounter consequential changes. San Clemente’s coastal environ-ment is susceptible to the chaos un-leashed by climate change, creating rising sea levels, soil and cliff erosion, and shifts in weather trends. Rising sea levels have resulted in a recurring sand crisis. As a result, the city has re-quested funding and support from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to establish a 50-year sand replenishment program which “will place around 200,000 cubic yards of sand” every ve years to restore the beaches (Dredging Today). Surprising-ly, the city and California State Parks only fund 35%, and 65% is nanced by the federal government. Trump’s federal budget cuts to environmental programs could affect future funding of environmental projects like our city’s sand replenishment, potentially impacting San Clemente’s coastline and beach towns across the nation. Additionally, Orange County Transpor-tation Authority (OCTA) has received $100 million of federal aid for cliff side erosion repairs impacting the railroad and Mariposa pedestrian bridge. Fed-eral budget cuts could impact needed future repairs due to landslides. Like many, junior Michael Havel is worried that the U.S.’s lack of environ-mental concern will cause “the hard work and dedication of climate activists to go to waste, and then we [will] feel the consequences on our own beach-es“ but it will be too late. Furthermore, oil drilling off the California coast, which has often been viewed as contro-versial and a threat to marine life, may become a possibility under the new administration. As a result of the 1969 Santa Barbara County oil spill, beaches were closed, marine life and birds were impacted, and wetlands felt the conse-quences for months. After the oil spill, offshore oil and gas drilling have been prohibited in California state waters, which only extend three miles off our Pacic coastline. The Biden adminis-tration ensured that new locations of offshore drilling would not be allowed.To the dismay of Californians, Trump has done away with this law, paving the way for more oil and gas drilling and explorations, even though the U.S. has been producing more oil than any other country for the past six years in a row.The policies of our government must reect concern over the fu-ture of our environment 11Kat Piantka | Newsroom ManagerClEANUp CREwS wORk tO REpAIR ANd REOpEN tRAIN tRACkS AFtER A lANdSlIdE. (SC tImES)and assure young-er generations that these cherished and irre-placeable natural won-ders we are fortu-nate to witness will not be lost un-der the leadership of President Trump. Instead, Trump’s goals are short-sight-ed and are only focused on economic domi-nance. If the feder-al government fails to ad-dress the glob-al warming crisis, the city and state govern-ments must step in to protect the vulnerable environment and coastline. Junior Natalie Deyhimy, a par-ticipant in the Global Sustainability Project argued that since “we live by the beach,” climate change “could denitely hurt our town,” and therefore San Clemente must combat the growing risks rather than “move backwards” like the new administration.Withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and repeal-ing climate-focused Biden Administration EOsDeclaring a national emergen-cy regarding insucient domestic energy, invoking the National Emergencies Act to boost energy generationIncreasing oil and gas drilling by reopening those in-dustries in Federal watersPotentially revoking Elec-tric Vehicle and clean energy/technology goals Terminating environ-mental justice (EJ) oces and positions within the federal government

LETTERS TRITON TIMESLI have never been a particularly political person until recently. In the past, I have always learned about political issues when they aected me, easy to do in a childhood that was not directly impacted by much. I responded to political questions with, honestly, the answer that was eas-iest to justify. I lacked the acute sense of observa-tion, almost like a passive onlooker onto a distant scene rather than an active member of the world.But, I recently turned 18, which might sound young to some of you reading, but for me, it tru-ly represented a dramatic change in my mindset. It dawned on me that I could not hide behind ad-olescence any longer; it was time to grow up and face the world. In January, there was a change in political power just in time for my birthday, and my rst steps into adulthood coincided with President Donald Trump’s rst steps back into the Oval Of-ce.Whether you are rejoicing or cringing at the mention of President Trump, there is no denying that this transition in power is a turning point to the long-term buildup of tensions that separate the Re-publican and Democratic parties. is represents a change in not only the way that we practice politics, but the way in which we report on topics and set the standards for what is tolerated within our country.On Tuesday, March 5, two days before I sat down to write this letter to all of you, I did my democrat-ic duty to tune in to President Trump’s address to Congress. President Trump’s rhetoric mirrored his campaign exactly. While I was pleasantly surprised by his attempts at pathos being relatively inclusive, most of his other main points were denitely divi-sive, alienating liberals through the constant degra-dation of the Democratic party and their principals. However, in a pre-planned attempt, the Democrats responded by blatantly booing and putting up signage in contradiction to a sitting president, something that I never expected in such a professional and highly-regarded environment as a presidential address.is is just one example of the divide in the United States of America, a divide that continues to grow with each passing month. is trend in our country is so much more than a stark dierence in views; it is a divide that is breeding a gross lack of respect for others. And, these actions are not just taken by politicians, they are manifesting into the actions of us as citizens as well. e United States as a whole has a growing chasm of hatred and disrespect that is drilling itself into the middle of our country and manifesting it-self into our everyday actions and treatment of one another.At a school level, I wonder: Why is there more respect for others amongst high school students than our elected ocials? And, to be honest, I do not exactly know the answer to that. I cannot control everything that happens in the United States of America because I am only one in 340 million people. at being said, I can control how I contribute to political dis-cussion and how I as an individual choose to treat others. But, the way I see it, that is the be-ginning of meaningful change.It seems like we have a problem that does not have an easy solution, but that does not mean we should not try. As citizens, just because we aord politicians our votes does not mean we have to give them our minds and our spirits as well.When thinking about what was important to highlight in our school for this print edition, I kept going back to our turbulent and polarized political climate. Many high school students express concern that they are not equipped to speak on political issues, which is far from the truth. It is my genuine belief that the voices of the youth are what keep the spark of America alive. We are the ones breathing the hope of a brighter future into the lungs of America, but we must make the conscious eort to think these thoughts before they can be conveyed. For this reason, I thought a progress-cen-tered issue was relevant, and I encouraged the writers of the Triton Times to think about an issue, then think some more, and only when we consider dierent perspectives can we begin to nd a solution. Even-tually, we were able to write those ideas down and bring you this print before you.Decline of journalism from page 112ETTER FROM THE EDITOR---Taylor Van DijkEDITOR“This trend in our country is so much more than a stark dierence in views; it is a divide that is breeding a gross lack of respect for others.“ers. Because of this, local and regional news outlets have been subjected to closures, consolidation, and deep reductions in personnel, which subsequently result in less investigative reporting.Platforms like X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram are now mainstream means through which millions of people get their news and although they provide immense amounts of information, much of it is unveriable. The potential for getting news in real time has led many to abandon traditional sources of news entirely, however the speed with which information circulates on social media comes at a cost. Misinforma-tion and disinformation spread as quickly--if not quicker--than actual reporting. Algo-rithmic bias gives clickbait material, and sensationalism preference over substance. This shift away from journalist fact-checking and accountability has eroded public trust in the media. So, everyone no longer believes in media sources and polarization and the spreading of disinformation have increased.One of the worst things about the decline of journalism is the disappearance of local news. Local dailies in the United States have been most affected due to the dig-ital era. More than 2,000 local newspapers have shut down or merged in the past 15 years, Pew Research Center nds. Local journalism is in decline because local dai-lies are shutting down as the primary sources of information about the government, schools, crime, and matters of local concern.“The only thing my mom uses for local news is the Next Door app,” senior Cora Gehret said. “Misinformation about everything spreads on that app, especially in-cluding important issues about crime and bomb threats. These accusations can be extremely dangerous and chaotic.”When local news media close, communities lose a critical watchdog on local au-thority. Investigative reporting that keeps local governments and institutions in check happens less frequently, enabling corruption, mismanagement, and power abuses to take hold. Fading local news coverage also supports a decline in civic participation, as citizens are less well-informed about matters that most directly affect them.The loss of traditional journalism is not only a blow to the media; it’s a blow to democracy. An independent press is necessary to keep power in check and inform citizens so that they can make well-informed choices. The future of the press is not just dependent on the new’s industry creativity, but also on the people’s willingness to embrace and invest in honest, fact-based reporting.NEwSpApERS EvERywHERE ARE StRUgglINg tO mAkE ENdS mEEt. (pROmARkEt)

RFK Jr.’s recent attempt to limit anti-psychotic and anti-depressant medication as a part of his “Make America Healthy Again” commission is both dangerous and reveals his uneducated point of view on the topic. This potential movement has sparked a lot of controver-sy, especially for those directly impacted by it, either through their personal use of these medications or through peo-ple they know whose quality of life has beneted from these substances.RFK Jr.’s main argument is his belief that the abuse of prescribed medication has be-come too common and is the leading cause of most mental and physical illness. While this should be addressed, a solu-tion this extreme leaves those who genuinely need these medications to treat conditions such as depression, anxiety, or psychosis at risk of depleting their quality of life and overall happiness. Samantha Bahnam, a counselor at San Clemente High School, explained that students who take these med-ications benet from taking them because it allows them to “connect with society in an appropriate way” and to “feel and act normal” in an academ-ic setting. She brings atten-tion to the fact that while this movement may likely have a signicant impact on the coun-try as a whole, it will also affect communities as small as SCHS. RFK Jr.’s plan would negatively affect the progress of SCHS as a community because it would set us back in terms of mental health care and advocacy for “invisible disabilities.”Another aw in RFK Jr.’s argument is the belief that a healthy diet or balanced life-style could aid these mental illnesses. While it is always encouraged to adopt these habits, there is no guarantee or scientic proof that these traits could cure mental ill-ness. SCHS nurse, Nancy Vega, explained that many students on campus are prescribed an-ti-depressants to improve their mental health, and asked the Flaws in RFK Jr.’s plan to banrhetorical question of “who am I to say who can and can’t take them?” This ties in the over-involvement of the gov-ernment in personal and med-ical issues of the public. While there should always be reg-ulations and rules regarding prescribed medications, the nal decision on whether or not to give a patient medicine should be for their doctor or psychologist, not a politician who has little to no education in the medical eld.RFK Jr.’s plan to rid Ameri-ca of these necessary medica-tions is a misguided and un-informed decision that should be re-discussed before any action takes place. A more pro-ductive solution to this issue is increased access to health-care, and stricter regulation on anti-psychotics and anti-de-pressants in order to ensure that it goes only to those who need it, and a decrease in the misuse of prescription medi-cation.Catarina Wilfong | WriterPolitcsTRITON TIMESNow that he is in of-ce, President Donald Trump is enacting a se-ries of new economic policies in the United States, most notably implementing tariffs on import-ed goods. The tariffs weigh most heavily on imports from China but also encompass goods from Canada and Mexico.The Trump administration’s method of tariffs is based on the economic idea of import substitution industrialization, or ISI. The theory behind ISI is for a nation to place an economic barrier, in the form of tariffs, to hamper an inux of cheap goods imported from other countries and allow the nation’s own in-dustries to compete and develop. This permits domestic industries to expand and develop without being squashed by more de-veloped industries from abroad that could ood the markets with their cheap goods.Although competition be-tween companies is integral to the capitalist economy of the United States, the heavy impor-tation of goods arguably leads to a system of outsourced labor that prevents the development of domestic industries and lim-its job opportunities here in the United States. A primary goal of these tariffs is to instead bring these jobs back to United States citizens, fostering developing industries and creating more job opportunities.However, tariffs in this form have proven slightly unreliable, succeeding during the Industrial Revolution, and failing in later in-stances in Latin America. Further-more, this is the rst time that a nation as large, powerful, and de-veloped as the United States has implemented a program of ISI in the modern global economy.Today’s global economy is very complex and interconnect-ed. So, with roughly half of the manufactured consumer prod-ucts in the U.S. being imported, the implementation of tariffs will undoubtedly be met with some backlash from our nation’s trading partners. As explained by SCHS junior McPhinneas Holmes-Selby, the modern glob-al economy is “interconnected and interdependent,” prevent-ing any nation from establishing itself as “an economic island.” Based on previous historical trends and the gridlock of inter-national trade, Holmes-Selby believeed that “raising tariffs will be met with a quid pro quo, where our country’s producers will be limited and the average consumer will pay the price.”The fear that these tariffs will cause a considerable increase in the price of goods for the av-erage American is prevalent. Sophomore Luisa D’Acosta also believes that there will be sig-nicant repercussions regarding President Trump’s decision to place tariffs on goods from Can-ada and Mexico. She explained that “the Mexican president pre-viously responded that Mexico is willing to impose tariffs on US imported goods” in response to Trump’s tariffs, leading D’Acosta to believe that “Trump’s promise of lowering grocery prices will not be achieved through tariffs.”The question of whether the tariffs will foster development and offer jobs in the U.S. or will raise prices has arisen as a press-ing concern for San Clemente’s consumers and workers alike. We can hope that domestic industry will ourish and valuable job op-portunities will be brought back home as a result of the tariffs, but the fear of rising prices and in-ternational economic retaliation lurks in the shadows of this hope. However, only time will tell if the strengths or setbacks of these policies will prevail.Taris: helpful or a hindrance?As the United States has shifted into the new year, President Trump’s recent initiatives have shocked many across the nation, one in particular being that he has appointed Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, and currently the richest man in the world, to lead the newly made Department of Government Ef-ciency (DOGE). Musk, being a private citizen with no political background whatsoever, has been given the task of over-viewing government spending and operations. However, this new agency has cut many government jobs and benets. Musk’s appoint-ment has raised tensions and drawn extreme criticism from the American public. Could Musk’s appointment allude to President Trump’s attempt to “casualize” politics?Musk’s new leadership in the U.S. government is not a good look on President Trump’s administration due to the deci-sions being made that are con-tradictory to the Constitution. The Senate is to conrm who works under the government agencies and although Trump has essentially found a loop-hole to appoint Musk, it is still an act of disservice to those who are in line for working under a federal agency. With Trump’s suspicious tactics, many have questioned the legitimacy of his presidency as recent deci-sions make it seem as if Trump is attempting to “casualize” pol-itics.This stunt pulled by Presi-dent Trump reveals a bigger pic-ture of what the future of Amer-ican politics might look like. With Trump and Musk working hand-in-hand leading the coun-try, business and politics get woven together too closely for comfort. Mrs. Bennett, an AP/IB Lan-guage teacher at San Clem-ente High School, expressed her worries regarding Musk’s new inuence on politics. She believes that all appointed gov-ernment ofcials “must abide by the Constitution,” which any president should know is, “the Casualized politics and DOGEhighest law of the land.” Just like Mrs. Bennett, nu-merous citizens are sick and tired of watching our democra-cy crumble in front of our eyes. As a nation, we must feast our eyes on what’s really important here, the sake of the future gov-ernment. Musk’s sudden entry is a foreshadowing of politics turning into a free-for-all where the notion of abiding by the Constitution is not taken as se-riously.Bennett emphasized how her worries are not only of the contradictions of the Consti-tutions, but the fact that Musk and his employees have been “granted access to private in-formation” of U.S. citizens and operations of the government. All politics aside, President Trump’s decision to appoint a man with no political expe-rience or validation from the Senate points directly to an effort in “casualizing” politics and it should, at the very least, concern you.Bella Hirtzel | WriterSedona Sweginnis | Sports Editor13pRESIdENt tRUmp SIgNINg OFF ON tARIFF pOlICIES. (NpR)

Tritontimesword searchTEACHER EDITIONToo many clubs: less is moreClubs and extracurricular activities are a huge part of what high school is about. They are the foundation of bringing students closer to-gether, while also providing the opportunity for students to foster leadership skills outside of the classroom. In recent years, an overwhelmingly large number of clubs have appeared, but not all for the right reasons.Many clubs that are being created exist solely for the en-hancement of college appli-cations, rather than stemming from genuine passions. This has led to a large dilution of mean-ing and a decline in club quality. To counter this trend, San Clem-ente High School must limit the number of clubs that are offered. This would promote clubs that are well-established and strive to leave a lasting impact on the students and the community.While variety within the club scene is important, many of the clubs that are currently being formed are causing more issues than benets. The main issues consist of a lack of commitment and a small percentage of people showing up to their meetings, assuming that the meetings happen at all. Olivia Wusstig, a sophomore at San Clemente school time and resources, since it is becoming increasingly dif-cult to nd advisors. Teacher ad-visors serve to help support their clubs, but the issue is that many teachers already have respon-sibilities for many other clubs. Without the proper amount of resources, clubs that are genu-inely attempting to make a dif-ference are limited within the scope of the school.Additionally, students are also spread too thin when trying to join numerous clubs.Limiting the number of clubs offered would strengthen the ex-isting ones’ commitment, partici-pation, and resource use. Cutting back would also promote mean-ingful operations, as, with too many clubs, ASB is ineffective in regulating club action or lack thereof. The end goal should be instead of students getting bom-barded with dozens of minor clubs, they can invest more time and energy into well-established clubs; therefore strengthening the foundation of participation and outreach of the club com-munity.Activities Director and ASB Advisor, Mr. Reid, viewed the widespread use of clubs as a “way for students to express their interests,” and that it truly allows for a more inclusive space for our students. While variety is valuable, we had a total of 110 clubs this year. The greater reality is that most clubs that are small-er are being neglected, which Kyla Currie | Opinion EditorHigh School, shared that during her freshman year “[her] and [her] friends started a club, only to have one meeting, and the club was dumped that next year.” Many clubs at SCHS exist purely for the student’s image, lacking all meaning and contribution to the progress of the school. As a result, these clubs are wasting decreases overall student body involvement.Student clubs are vital when it comes to bolstering our com-munity and school develop-ment. However, a more strategic approach to upcoming clubs is essential to increasing student commitment. This will not only ensure the efciency of our re-sources and time, but will also preserve the leadership integrity from our students, and further benet our school.““A more strategic approach to up-coming clubs is essential to in-creasing student commitment.tHE QUAd wAS pACkEd wItH StUdENtS ANd ClUBS dURINg ClUB RUSH. (FINN tHOmAS)AlizadehBennettBischBrislenBroCainCompeanCurrieDollarDuttonFinnertyGouletHoLucianiMackMillerMorrisNobleNguyenRasorSalgadoShickSmithSwensonWestlingWilsonYoungTriton Timesstaff 2024-25ADVISOREDITORS-IN-CHIEFNEWSROOM MANAGERHEAD EDITORSPHOTO EDITORNEWS EDITORSSTUDENT LIFE EDITORSA&E EDITORSOPINION EDITORSSPORTS EDITORSSOCIAL MEDIA EDITORSWRITERSMr. MillerTaylor Van DijkMichelle MonierKat PiantkaCarly AltmanAudrey FoliaSienna MillerCharlotte YeskulskySophia YeskulskyKeely CabatuanRyan BautistaLiam DillbeckMegan LanderMarlie LangerSophie LeBourgeoisColette MoffroidEmmerson CattichKyla CurrieCarson NeuhausenSedona SweginnisCelia MannGabby MillerLucia BybeeKylie DrunaskyMakenzie DrunaskyBella HirtzelSarah HoustonElla KittlerEmily OtaSienna StoneEmma SutherlandCatarina Wilfong

Too many clubs: less is moreSnow machines, smoke cannons, and re-works: the cherry on top of San Clemente High School’s extravagantly well-ex-ecuted events. Associated Stu-dent Body (ASB) is the orga-nization behind this, allowing SCHS to host large-scale events that people actually remember. Events like homecoming, prom, spirit assemblies, and football games frame the ASB class in high regard, which encourag-es students to not only attend school events, but also to join the next class of ASB members.However, the spike in inter-est for ASB might have caused an unprecedented decrease in involvement. Internally, ASB is overlled with members, yet the quality and quantity of events has remained the same. As the SCHS constitution (yes, that is a real thing) states, there are only 56 necessary positions available in ASB. Despite this, ASB currently has 84 people “participating” in the program. This would not be a problem if not for several confessions that this surplus allows certain stu-dents to steal the merit of being in ASB without actually doing any work.Does ASB need 84 students then?In recent years, ASB has struggled with attendance in their large events. The most prominent problem is the 2025 Winter Formal Dance, which had the lowest attendance in years. Though the dance is en-tirely hosted by ASB, that is not to say the low attendance is their fault. Of course, students have slowly pulled away from the formal dance over the years for multiple reasons, and despite ASB’s attempt to entice student participation through publicity and incentives, it never seems to work. Low attendance was unfortunately a result of this gradual decrease in interest, which is interesting given the increase in students joining the ASB organization. Another attendance issue surfaces at football games. Undoubtedly the most well-funded and ad-vertised event, football games, start with packed stands and screaming fans, but neither last past half time. In fact, ASB was forced to take attendance of their own members to ensure that they did not leave. If ASB cannot get their own members to stay, clearly the smoke and mirrors are not as effective for engagement as it seems.Yet, despite the seemingly inverse relationship between ASB size and student involve-ment, as a student-led organi-zation, it is comprised of all stu-dent workers. This has offered students a unique opportunity to involve themselves in the SCHS community. Furthermore, ASB is broken down into several subsections where students can contribute to jobs, namely loud crowd, photography, and tech. Most positions are lled with someone who takes pride in their job, and it allows them the space and platform to explore their interests and future ca-reer paths. Senior Julia Sipelis, a member of activities in ASB, reected on her last two years, “whether it was making post-ers, or rehearsing for the spirit assemblies, everyone gave it their full attention and effort.” However, with a class size so large, for every involved stu-dent, there is another who does not show up or put in the effort, which places the strain upon the highly-motivated members.With the pressure to host such large events, more bodies seems helpful. In actuality, the added burden of the many falls on the few.SCHS’s ASB program has been a well-oiled machine through the years, making sure the school is electried with spirit and occupied with enter-tainment. While it is important to address ASB’s shortcomings, it is equally as important to not underestimate what ambitious students can accomplish under strong leadership and mean-ingful appointments. Like many students, I am hopeful that the program will bounce back next year, showing us all just how much ASB is for the students.OpinionTRITON TIMESASB numbers swell to 84 yet involvment falls shortLiam Dillbeck | News EditorImagine a world where ev-ery high school graduate enters adulthood with a sense of responsibility, empa-thy, and motivation to make a positive change in this world. Young adults, who not only have developed an academic portfolio, but have also devel-oped an essential set of skills from real-world experiences. Volunteering is more than just something to put on a college resume–it builds character, helps others, and shapes fu-ture leaders.Some students at San Cle-mente High School already recognize these benets and actively participate in volun-teer work. Sophomore Ashlee Murray, who volunteers reg-ularly at a local animal shel-ter, said, “Volunteering at the shelter has brought me some of the most rewarding experi-ences of my life. It has taught me responsibility, teamwork, and gave me a better outlook on life. I think every student should have the chance to ex-perience that.”Similarly, sophomore Emily Saw, who volunteers and cares for disabled kids at the Shea Horse Center, shared, “At rst, I started volunteering to earn service hours for college, but I ended up loving it. Seeing the smile that comes to a kid’s face is so rewarding.”Evidence indicates that re-quiring community service hours for high school students can contribute to an individu-al’s development of essential life skills and prepare them for future employment opportu-nities. According to the Corpo-ration for National and Com-munity Service (CNCS), “82% of employers” favor hiring in-dividuals who have volunteer-ing experience. This statistic highlights the importance of community service and how it can give ambitious students a stronger opportunity in the job market.Community service doesn’t just benet students, it strengthens the community as a whole. As reported by the National Center for Education Services, high school students “contribute approximately 1.3 billion hours of service each year.”In the end, volunteering is more than just fullling a re-quirement–it’s about learning the value of giving back.The importance of volunteeringMakenzie Drunasky | Writer15SCHS SENIORS AvA vANO, BlAkE HOgAN, mARCUS kOSOlCHAROEN, ASHlyNN RUSSEll gIvE BACk By pICkINg Up tRASH At t-StREEt. (mICHEllE mONIER)tHE OvERENROllmENt OF ASB StUdENtS SHINEd tHROUgH At ASB CAmp 2024. (FINN tHOmAS)

SPORTSTRITON TIMESCelia Mann | Social Media Editor16The sexualization of women in sportsWhy this year’s March Madness fell flatPRSOTSNot only do girls’ uniforms continue to conform to the traditions of the past, but they prioritize appearance over functionality, encour-aging athletes to focus more on what they look like over their skills or performance. Junior at San Clemente High, Catherine Golles, a track and cross country runner, noted that the race day “jerseys are denitely tted, which makes it tight and constricting when running.” In agreement, fel-low junior and lacrosse player Paige Williams remarked that she’s “not the biggest fan of the skirts” as they “aren’t super comfortable.”When designing uniforms, it is imperative that function-ality is considered for both girls and boys. Girls should not have to worry about their tops being too tight or their skirts or shorts being too short in the middle of a game, but instead on the pace they are running at or their specic skills.In addition to being phys-ically uncomfortable, the t of some uniforms can affect the mental game of many female athletes. Sophomore and lacrosse player Naomi Seldow described that “since we have photographers taking our pictures during games, sometimes the skirts will ip up when we are running, giv-ing the camera a clear shot of our spandex under our skirts.” Many teenage girls already struggle with lack of condence or feeling un-comfortable in their bodies during their high school years. Form-tting and revealing ath-letic wear such as the spandex shorts in volleyball and tight tops with v-necks or scoop necks can cause girls to feel extremely self conscious, even objectifying them. The add-ed fear of ashing spectators while trying to participate in a sport can not only affect their play, but majorly hinder their mental health and the way they view themselves.What’s more, boys in sports don’t have nearly the same is-sues as girls do. Their uniforms are designed to be signicant-ly looser-tting and longer, op-timizing comfort and function-ality to allow these athletes to focus solely on performance.Golles further explained that “girls usually have more pressure to look good or ap-pealing, which is why our jer-seys are more tight and reveal-ing than the boys.” This only furthers the difference in prior-ities between male and female sports, as men are judged solely on their abilities while women’s looks are signicant-ly considered in addition to performance.Although many female ath-letes have a negative view to-wards the uniforms they are re-quired to wear, some athletes have learned to adapt and look at the positives. Beach volleyball player Lacey Lou Haggar said their jerseys are “thin enough that [she] won’t get too hot while playing,” and even with the scoop neck tank top design, “they don’t restrict [her] arm movement while playing.”While the current situation of women’s uniforms is far from ideal, many athletes hope for change in the near future. Something as small as provid-ing more options for what girls can wear if they feel uncom-fortable, or simply changing the priority from appearance to functionality, could go a long way in improving the per-formance and health of female high school athletes.Involvement in sports is a huge part of the high school experience for many stu-dents, offering an oppor-tunity to compete, build condence, and be a vital part of a team.However, many female ath-letes step onto the eld or court with a challenge separate from the sport itself: the sexualization of their uniforms.From spandex in volleyball to skirts in la-crosse, many uniforms embody traditional gender norms for women. Historically, women have been encouraged to keep up a sense of femininity in their appearance while compet-ing, as sports have previously been viewed as inherently masculine. This leaves us with the question: Are these norms too outdated to con-tinue in today’s society?March Madness is known for its unpredict-ability and upsets, but this year the ex-citement has been lacking. For many fans, the tournament has felt as if it was just going through the motions rather than the usual excitement. Why is that?Firstly, the lack of upsets and Cinderella stories has been the main issue for fans. One of the trade-marks of March Madness is the surprise team that comes out of nowhere to make a deep run, beating top teams along the way. However, for the most part, many of the higher seeds beat the lower seeded schools with the exception of McNeese (12-seed) taking down Clemson (5-seed). This absence of upsets has led to fans criticizing some of the new NCAA rules and regulations, spe-cically NIL.NIL is a program that was intro-duced to college football in 2021 and has made its debut appear-ance in basketball this year. NIL allows college students to prot from their name, image, and likeness, hence the ac-ronym NIL. Specically, student athletes can now be paid for sponsorships, sign endorsement deals, make money from social media, get paid for signing auto-graphs and merchandise, and also hire agents. This doesn’t sound like a problem on the surface, but many teams use booster clubs and large donors to create NIL funds that pay players to come to that school. For example, one-seed Florida has one of the highest NIL budgets in the nation and gave out the most amount of NIL deals this year. It is because of this recruit-ment ability that they were able to make it so far in the NCAA tourna-ment.Every starter on the Gators be-sides Alex Condon was a transfer portal acquisition. Walter Clayton Jr. transferred from Iona, Will Richard came from Belmont, Ali-jah Martin transferred from Flori-da Atlantic University and Rueben Chinyelu was a former Washing-ton State Cougar. Junior at San Clemente High School and avid college basket-ball fan Cole Fuller expressed his disdain, “This tournament just hasn’t felt like the normal March Madness.” When asked why, he said “It’s for sure NIL; some teams just can’t be stopped.”Furthermore, many of the games have been lopsided. Blowouts dominated the tourna-ment, reducing the number of close nishes. Highly anticipated games such as one seed Duke vs. two seed Alabama and one seed Houston vs. the two seed Tennessee ended in uncompet-itive 20-point victories for each respective one seed. SCHS boys basketball player and Tennessee basketball fan AJ Creek said it was “painful to watch. It was such a boring game.” Fans crave the drama that comes with very tight games. Without them, the tournament be-comes dull due to the lack of game winning shots or triple overtimes. I n the end, March Mad-ness has failed to live up to its storied reputation this year. The predict-ability of the games, NIL, and abundance of blowouts have all contributed to a tournament that feels un-derwhelming.tHE FlORIdA gAtlORS’ wAltER ClAytON jR. CElEBRAtES wINNINg tHE NAtIONAl CHAmpIONSHIp AFtER dEFEAtINg HOUStON 65-63. (CNN)Carson Neuhausen | Sports Editor