The Jacket spoke with Doctor Lisa Hernandez, Berkeley public health officer, about concerns people may have about getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

On April 15, Everyone in California aged 16 and up became eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. Berkeley opened up vaccinations to anyone 16 and older two days prior.

On Monday, March 29, the majority of Berkeley Unified School District elementary schoolers in transitional kindergarten through second grade returned to full-time, in-person school.

In Berkeley Unified School District elementary schools, all students are required to participate in music education from third to fifth grade. Fourth and fifth grade students can access an instrument for free, and are taught by professional music teachers.

In March of 2020, before BUSD closed schools due to the pandemic, custodians were brought in on a weekend to deep clean Berkeley High School. BHS Custodian Supervisor, Clinton Robinson, explained, “We went through cleaning all the high points, wiped all the rails, wiped all the desks.

Despite difficulties created by the pandemic, the Berkeley High School Health Center has remained open, and continues to provide all mental, sexual and reproductive health services that were available before the pandemic, as well as over-the-phone care for students.   To accommodate students during the pandemic, the Health Center has created a warmline, which students

As the Berkeley Unified School District moves into its second semester of distance learning for the 2020-21 school year, there are growing questions from community members regarding when and how students will be able to return to in-person instruction.

The pandemic has upended the education system, with most schools pivoting to a fully or mainly online model since March of 2020. For special education students, issues with evaluating those who currently have an Individualized Education Program, or who are requesting one, have been exacerbated over distance learning.

The 2020 elections were a stressful whirlwind for most. They involved a drawn-out presidential election, high stakes congressional elections, controversial propositions in California, and multiple electoral positions up for grabs in Berkeley.

The importance of voting has been a major topic of discussion as the 2020 election draws nearer. Being ineligible to vote does not mean that students cannot participate in the election.

The body positivity movement has proven to be extremely lucrative for large brands and corporations in recent years. Companies like Aerie have become known for being inclusive and body positive, and have raked in millions of dollars banking on the movement.

A school board representative should have experience working with school districts and be dedicated to advocating for equity in our schools. Ana Vasudeo, a candidate for Berkeley Unified School District School Board, meets these qualifications and many more, making her the clear choice for a school board representative.

Mainstream celebrities already dominate most social media platforms, touting tens of millions of followers across their accounts. However — although it didn’t technically occur on a social media platform — actress Bella Thorne’s recent stint with OnlyFans calls into question the place of well established celebrities online.

Partially due to increased awareness around the drawbacks of fast fashion, thrift shopping has rapidly gained popularity among wealthy, young consumers in recent years.  There are now countless videos on YouTube featuring “thrift hauls” and “thrift flips.”  On the surface, it appears to be a positive thing that more people are buying secondhand clothing and