Humor: An Update from University Plank
By KRISHNA KHAWANI Staff Writer Dear Students, We here at University Plank hope that you are staying safe during the COVID-19 crisis! Now while we understand that this may be a difficult […]
Dear Class of 2020…
By HARRISON HILL Staff Writer This year’s seniors, including myself, will be graduating in less than two weeks, and the entire class will enter the next phase of life. Students will be […]
Crypto-Wars: The Fight for Online Privacy
By ALBERT RONG Staff Writer COVID-19 has sent society into disarray as people try to adjust their daily lives to a new reality. Underneath the cloak of chaos, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) […]
Online Edition – 2020 Senior Issue
Senior Issue June 2020 Feel free to download the PDF of this issue from the link above or enjoy it in your browser by opening it from the embedded viewer below. Thank […]
IUSD Announces Partnership with Harvard Expert
By CAITLYN L.J. KIM and CATHERINE RHA Staff Writer and News Editor IUSD announced a partnership with Harvard expert Shawn Achor, called Optimistic Household. This program consists of six interactive modules specifically […]
Uni Students Compete at Online Tournament of Champions
By CARLY ZHOU Staff Writer University High School sent two teams to compete at the Tournament of Champions, a national Speech and Debate event. Seniors Eric Lu and Anthony Liang represented Uni […]
Students Experience Technical Problems with Online AP Testing
By HEIDI JIN Staff Writer During the last two AP testing weeks, more than 10,000 students experienced technical difficulties during the online Advanced Placement exams this year. Some of the problems were […]
2020 Olympic Games Postponed to 2021
By BROOKE BAXTER Staff Writer The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the largest and most complex sporting event in the world, has been postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19, although it will still […]
What to Bake During Quarantine
By ELAINE ZHOU Staff Writer Classic Banana and Chocolate Chip Pancakes. Start your morning off with a nice breakfast. Turn up the song Banana Pancakes By Jack Johnson while you wait for your […]
Suffocation
By Sky Reynolds Staff Writer It’s interminably dark, damp, a dungeon, Suffocating, layers of boredom, Scattered papers, paper upon papers, A distant cry, oxygen is somewhere. Looking for me, festering idiocy, No […]
IUSD Confirms Virtual Graduation Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic
By CAITLYN L.J. KIM Staff Writer IUSD has confirmed a virtual commencement ceremony for seniors this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing guidelines. On Thursday, Superintendent Terry Walker sent […]
Teachers Adjust Curriculum to Fit Reduced AP Exams
By CARLY ZHOU Staff Writer Teachers have been adjusting their curriculum to concentrate their focus on the select aspects and material that will be tested in response to the shortened AP exam. […]
There’s Still Time
By ASHLEY OMIYA Staff Writer
Duty Calls
By Austin Kaufman Staff Writer I have a serious problem… I own thirteen wallets and counting. I know what you’re thinking – but let me just put your mind at ease. I’m […]
In Support of a Pass/Fail Grading System
By NIKKI GHAEMI Staff Writer On Tuesday, April 14, the IUSD School Board voted unanimously to change grading to a “pass/fail” system for the 2020 spring semester, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
Marmalade
By Atia Anwari Staff Writer Oh marmalade! The sweet honeysuckle thrill of taste. The smear of its immaculately robust filled fruit with rich color on top of cream butter and freshly baked […]
University High School With Most NHD Winners in Orange County
By CAITLYN L.J. KIM Staff Writer The UHS National History Day Club (NHD) produced the most champions out of all of the participating high schools in Orange County, with 17 winners at […]
Tips for Working at Home
By CLAIRE CHOI Staff Writer I associate my home as a place of comfort, a sanctuary to come to after a long day of working. For the past few years, my daily […]
Coronavirus: A New Way of Life
By CLAIRE CHOI Staff Writer In this difficult and surreal time, looking after our mental and physical wellbeing and caring for those around us has never been more important. One of the […]
IUSD To Move To Credit/No Credit Grading System
By KRUTIK PATEL and CATHERINE RHA Staff Writer and News Section Editor IUSD will be implementing a “Credit/No Credit” grading system for the second semester, in a decision by the IUSD School […]
How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Impacted UHS Athletes
By JOSHUA NGUYEN Staff Writer On April 1, 2020, Governor Newsom, along with the Superintendent of Public Instruction Thurmond, directed all California schools to remain closed for the rest of the school […]
Coronavirus: How the pandemic has affected the sports world on a more local level and what we can take out of this as the importance of sports shines brighter.
By: Luke Curtis As the sports world shuttered to a close as COVID-19 loomed over America, fans and players alike have taken to social media voicing their endearment to the games they […]
Breath of the Ocean
By Jerry Zou Staff Writer
Summer
By Clara Seely-Katz Section Writer When the sun seeped into Our skin, Causing fatigue Mixed with bubbly Hysterical Joy. When ice cream, Cookies, When sherbert Made our day. I see young moms, […]
Staying Productive During Quarantine
By Harrison Hill Staff Writer Within the past several weeks, COVID-19 has spread rapidly throughout Europe, Asia, and now the United States, forcing schools to close until the end of the school […]
Bot Nation 2.0: The School Away From School
By KRISHNA KHAWANI Staff Writer March 13, 2020 marked a momentous day for students in Irvine Unified School District (IUSD), for it was the day that the district announced the switch to […]
Humor: The Quarantine Diaries
By KRISHNA KHAWANI Staff Writer Day 1: UHS has just shut down and the feeling buzzing around campus is like nothing ever experienced before. A mix of euphoria and fear makes its […]
“The Platform”: A Relevant Social Allegory for Today’s Pandemic
By LAUREN LEE Staff Writer With all the time in the world and Netflix right at my disposal, I decided to watch the movie “The Platform,” which has been talked about quite […]
Broadway Shuts Down Due to Coronavirus Outbreak
By LAUREN LEE Staff Writer Broadway, the center of theater and a symbol of resilience in New York, has shut down until June 7, extended from April 12, amidst the threat of the […]
The Invisible Man: a Movie Review
By KUNAL AMIN Staff Writer Last Saturday, my friends and I decided to watch The Invisible Man directed by Leigh Whannell. Making over 124 million dollars in the box office, as well […]
Doom Eternal: Heart-Ripping is Heart-Pounding!
By ADITYA TYAGI Staff Writer Doom Eternal is all about juggling ammunition and chainsaw fuel during a race from kill to kill. If that sounds exhilarating enough for you, go play it! If […]
Orange County Enacts COVID-19 Restrictions on Restaurants
By CAITLYN L.J. KIM Staff Writer Several restaurants have closed in Irvine due to the evolving COVID-19 crisis and the restrictions placed on food service establishments. On March 15, Governor Gavin Newsom […]
Competitions Cancelled due to COVID-19
By CARLY ZHOU Staff Writer Many UHS competitions and events have been canceled or modified in the interest of public safety due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Future Business Leaders of America […]
Online Voting to Replace Election Convention
By HEIDI JIN Staff Writer Online voting will be replaced by Election Convention due to school closure from COVID-19. The online voting will be open to all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, and […]
A Criticism of America’s Justice System: Capital Punishment
By ARUSH MEHROTRA Staff Writer “Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper to a night already devoid of stars.” This quote by Martin Luther King Jr. exemplifies my position regarding the […]
An Examination of Healthcare in 2020
By OZHAN ZARIFI and NIMA MOHAVEDI Staff Writers One of the most important issues in this coming election is what is going to happen to the nation’s healthcare options and what could […]
Why Military Recruitment at High Schools Should be Outlawed
By JAX ARMSTRONG Staff Writer At the initial conception of the United States of America, teengagers were encouraged to join the American military and motivated to fight for their nation’s sovereignty. In […]
CollegeBoard Announces Revised AP Exam Due to Coronavirus Shutdown
By TANVI BARGAJE Staff Writer AP exams will be administered online this year through a 45 minute free-response exam that students may take at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Exams will […]
IUSD Officially Shuts For the Rest of the School Year Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
By DYLAN DU and VINCENT WOO News Section Editor and News Copy Editor Update: In a statewide announcement on Wednesday, April 1st, CA Governor Newsom and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Thurmond […]
Rejection Letter from University of Barvard
By CLAIRE CHOI Staff Writer Office of Admissions and Financial Aid 1080 Eastway Street Barvardtown, Massachusetts 96246 Dear Tommy Trojan, After careful consideration of your application, in which I took 30 minutes […]
Krishna Not Answering the Questions You Asked
By KRISHNA KHAWANI Staff Writer Q: Are your pants always tucked into your shirt? A: It’s easier to think that your shirt is simply eating your pants. Unless your shirt is tucked […]
STEM Takes Root at UHS
By ELAINE ZHOU Staff Writer We have all experienced the academic rigor at UHS. It is what the school is known for, and it is part of our culture. One of the defining […]
Custodian Rudy, Friend to Students
By ELAINE ZHOU Staff Writer UHS custodian Rudy Lopez will be retiring at the end of the school year after working at UHS for almost seven years. Rudy was named Staff Member of […]
Physics Field Trip Cancelled Due to Coronavirus Warning; All March Field Trips Cancelled
By CAITLYN L.J. KIM Staff Writer The annual physics field trip to Knott’s Berry Farm was abruptly cancelled yesterday morning due to Governor Gavin Newsom’s calling for all large gatherings to be […]
How Coronavirus is Impacting Sports on Campus and Across the World
By ELEANOR HANSSLER Section Editor Following the closure of all IUSD schools due to COVID-19 (Corona Virus), effective Monday, March 16th, all UHS athletic events have been cancelled. Previously, athletic events not […]
University High School Prepares Coronavirus Response
By TANVI BARGAJE and CAITLYN L.J. KIM Staff Writers IUSD officials are developing emergency measures to be implemented in the event of an outbreak of coronavirus in the local Irvine area. IUSD […]
Government Reports of Vaping Deaths Causes Change in Student Usage and Opinion of Vapes
By KRUTIK PATEL Staff Writer Student usage and opinion regarding vaping has shifted from two years ago due to federal government investigation and research. Last year, reports of e-cigarette, or vaping, product […]
Ms. Ozoa to Retire After 18 Years at Uni
By CARLY ZHOU Staff Writer Ms. Teresa Ozoa, an English teacher who has been part of the UHS family since 2001, will be celebrating her last year teaching this year. She is […]
Boys Swim Takes First Place in Capo Valley Relay Race
By JOSHUA NGUYEN Staff Writer Boys and Girls Swim competed in the Capo Valley Relays this past weekend, lasting from Thursday March 5 to Friday on March 7 at Capistrano Valley High […]
Track Has Mixed Results in Meet Against Huntington
By BROOKE BAXTER Staff Writer The Trojans raced strong in their Track and Field home meet against Huntington Beach on Thursday, March 5th. The Boys won 74-49 while the Girls lost 64.5-57.5. […]
LeBron James: King On and Off the Court
By BROOKE BAXTER Staff Writer LeBron James is most famously known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time; however, his accomplishments go far beyond the scope of basketball. […]
A Perspective in This Time of Crisis
By ARUSH MEHROTRA Staff Writer “I can’t breath.” These were George Floyd’s last words as former Officer Derek Chauvin of the Minneapolis Police Department murdered Floyd by putting his knee on Floyd’s […]
The Real Heroes in the Coronavirus Situation: A Satire
By NEHA BHARDWAJ Staff Writer The media has repeatedly championed the so-called heroes during this “pandemic” – healthcare workers, scientists, and other frontline workers. Frankly, it sickens me to see such flagrant […]
