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FUHSD receives new tier of sustainability award
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Club reflections are turning into club fiction
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Girl Scout cookie sales sweeten campus
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Representation is knowing we’re all different but the same
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Indopak dance teams encompass many styles
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Volume 63, Issue 5
Homestead High School 21370 Homestead Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014
March 5, 2026
Large-scale student walkout protests immigration measures Jason Lai, Ethan Xue and Kaylin Yi
“City councilmember Linda Sell helped me so much throughout this entire process,” Syed said. “We discussed how to get people To express opinions against recent to show up and how to de-escalate situaimmigration measures, students from tions, and she put me in contact with people HHS, FHS and Sunnyvale Middle School who ran No Kings Day parades across the walked out of fifth period together on Bay Area.” Although the school aimed to respect Feb. 4, walkout organizer, senior Imaan Syed said. Numbering close to 1,000 peo- student independence and is not legally ple at its height, Syed coordinated the responsible for student protests, staff still demonstration with other HHS students provided water and supervision to keep stuand with support from staff, admin and dents safe at the walkout, principal Denae Nurnberg said. city officials. “During the school day, we feel very After hearing about the success of othstrongly about ensuring that er school walkouts, students are under our walkout organizer, care,” Nurnberg said. senior Brian San“When there are big chez said he posted “A lot about what’s going on groups, we choose to go the first online prowith ICE is that they have with [them].” motion of the demonbeen acting out of order. To On the day of the stration on Feb. 2. counter that behavior solidwalkout, numerous stu“My family memifies that we don’t need to dent volunteers such as bers are immigrants. break the law to advocate senior Vanessa Muñoz I know a lot of people for people and our beliefs.” helped lead the walkthat are immigrants, out by shouting chants especially from the — Scarlett Ozturk, 12 to maintain morale, school,” Sanchez said. Muñoz said. “Seeing what was hap“A lot of immigrants pening on the news and the internet, I wanted to do something for and families are scared to go out,” Muñoz us students from Sunnyvale. I wanted to said. “Since we have the privilege of going make a difference and help others make to school in America and being in California, where it’s very Democratic, we have the a difference.” While students organized the pro- freedom to do this. We’re using our voices test, Syed said school administration and for those who can’t.” While hundreds Sunnyvale city officials coordinated to provide meaningful guidance and sup- m a r c h e d port student well-being.
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on, some students directly impacted by immigration issues did not attend the walkout, lacking the privilege of confidently participating because of a fear of legal retaliation. The Epitaph spoke to one student, who will be referred to as Taylor to protect their anonymity. Leading up to the walkout, Taylor said their parents brought up possible repercussions upon hearing their plans to attend, and after multiple conversations they were persuaded not to go. “My parents were worried because [although] we have green cards and we’re legally allowed to be here, we’re still not citizens, so we can’t 100% deny that we’re going to be deported or threatened,” Taylor said. “Also, there are people supporting ICE. Just because I look Asian or I’m not a citizen, they could say or do things that are dangerous, even though I’m legally fine.” Taking these fears into account, student leader, junior Zoe Moozarmi said in future instances, she hopes for greater emotional support for prospective attendees. “I get their fears, but what we can do next time
[is] have more volunteers stay with the people who don’t feel as safe or secure,” Moozarmi said. “They can have a buddy with them and someone there to be like, ‘It’s okay and I’m here. I got you.’”
See ICE walkout, page 2
Photo illustration by Malar Raguraman
C-Night celebrates culture Chinese department, clubs collaborate for annual event Elina Li and Alan Zhang In collaboration with National Chinese Honor Society and other cultural clubs, the Chinese department hosted its second annual Chinese Cultural Night, also known as C-Night, on Feb. 24, NCHS vice president, junior Naveen Badrinath said. Through food, games, presentations and performances, the event aimed to promote culture to the school community, Badrinath said. With last year’s turnout and engagement setting a high bar, the Chinese department looked to improve planning and the event itself by utilizing the organizational experi-
ence they gained, NCHS secretary, junior Rachel Chen said. “Going into this year, there was a pressure of meeting the level of expectation because last year still ended up being a success despite the unknowns,” Chen said. “As much as there is this pressure to perform at the same level or higher than last year, all of us still went into the event with a lot more confidence and direction.” Getting off to a steady start, NCHS president, junior Kalea Chau said the Chinese department began the process earlier this year to reduce the stress of deadlines. Since last year marked the inaugural C-Night, they used experience as a planning blueprint and identify aspects to improve on, Chau said.
See C-Night, page 2
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