Column: On healing, spirituality and slaying dragons

By Lena Jones, Columnist
December 6, 2019
“Symptoms?” Painful pressure on the right side of my face. Forehead, temples, down my neck. “Does it hurt now?” Only if I take off the sunglasses. “So there’s light sensitivity?” Yes, definitely. “You’re having migraines.” At that moment, I honestly tried to ...
Column: Cultural complexities of sustainability

By Abigale Lischak, Columnist
December 4, 2019
The summer after ninth grade, I traveled to Zhuhai, China with the U.S. government program National Language Security Initiative for Youth. While I was there, the other 20 U.S. students and I took part in a community service project. The goal was to converse with locals about plastic bag usage and try ...
Column: Farewell, Swingers

By Grace Wilson and Lauren Evans-Katz
October 16, 2019
Plaid diner booths, vegan flapjacks and an extensive milkshake selection: this was Swingers Diner. Established in Hollywood, Swingers started swingin’ in 1993. Shifting zip codes, it soon found a second home in Santa Monica. On August 31, the late-night eatery served its final basket of french fr...
Column: Yes, I’m ‘Into the Environment’

By Abigale Lischak, Columnist
October 4, 2019
'“Oh, so you’re into the environment.” This is a frequent response I receive when I tell people that I’m vegetarian for sustainability reasons, that I bring my own produce bags to the farmers market and that I want to pursue environmental studies in college. I respond with a short “yeah”...
Column: Flower power — California’s ‘super bloom’ phenomenon

By Grace Wilson and Lauren Evans Katz
June 5, 2019
Spring sprung, meaning it was inevitable that Californians saw flowers somewhere on their social media feed. From the unkempt greens of the bluffs to the bundles of vibrant colors that scattered the coastline, flower power was everywhere. The heavy winter rainfall we all just (barely) fought throu...
Column: IHOP — Not a pancake house, but a pancake home

By Lauren Evans-Katz and Grace Wilson
May 29, 2019
I’m sure you all – our beloved, devout readers – have been wondering where exactly it was that the two of us first hung out. After nearly two years of middle school together without an outside-of-school encounter, we opted to eat a hefty meal of mozzarella sticks, pancakes, french toast, hash br...
Column: Stereotypically slimy snails

By Zoe Bush, Columnist
April 15, 2019
Snails: you either love them or hate them. Ask someone their opinion on snails and you will get answers ranging from “They eat my lettuce and are gross and slimy” to “My whole life’s purpose is dedicated to them” (a highly rare but nonetheless valid answer). Personally, I believe snails to be ...
Column: A natural connection

By Zoe Bush, Columnist
April 11, 2019
Maybe it’s my last name, but I’ve always felt a strong connection to plants. At a young age, my ability to feel one-sided empathy for greenery was strong. I have vivid memories of pretending to be a ‘plant doctor’ and placing bandages on the vine in my backyard whenever it secreted milky...
Column: What it’s actually like being Latina in the classroom

By Celeste Ramirez, Staff Writer
February 14, 2019
“Are Latinas responsible for teaching their peers about their race?” This is a question that has popped up in my life multiple times recently. Whether it comes up at an Hermanas Unidas affinity meeting, at a debrief of "The Hate U Give" at Archer's Diversity Conference or when setting classroom norms for our race unit in hi...
Column: Lights, Camera, Action — Street Food Cinema’s groovy outdoor movies

By Grace Wilson and Lauren Evans-Katz
February 12, 2019
Street Food Cinema has revamped the classic movie-going experience. With the same vibe as the popular Cinespia and Rooftop Cinema Club, Street Food Cinema is a production company that projects classic pop culture films in a variety of outdoor venues across Los Angeles, while also offering gourmet street food and live music. ...
Column: Let them eat…pretzels?

By Courtney Wernick, Columnist
February 10, 2019
I have never lived by the famous Marie Antionette phrase "Let them eat cake!" The "cake" part has always been substituted with some other food. Imagine 6-year-old me at my best friend’s birthday party. This is a typically momentous event for a little kid, especially when the frosting-filled cake ma...
Column: Killing two birds with one stoner — marijuana industry affects native wildlife

By Zoe Bush, Columnist
January 22, 2019
California’s beautiful forests are ridden with poison. The culprit? Recreational marijuana. It’s not the cannabis plant itself that is fatal, however — it is the chemicals that the illegal growers leave behind. Safe permitted marijuana cultivation is not the problem. Legally, a Californian over 21 is al...