Pepperbox Issue 3 by AHS Pepperbox

Box Editorial

As we welcome the first 31 days of the last year on Earth (according to the Mayans), the normalcy in our everyday lives seems to be deteriorating. Our consitutional rights revoked by the U.S. governent with the passage of the NDAA, and our freedom of speech being confinscated with the threat of SOPA/PIPA. Our public educationbudget is being further slashed by “da man” G. Brown and is now gasping for its last breathes. With the end upon us, we have decided to reduce our paper from 40 pages to 24 pages, and only report on the most pressing, and important issues. We decided to send a renowned journalist of Humboldt County to answer the question that we have perhaps always wondered about: who is the lunch lady? We have also reviewed what is (in our opinion) the best sandwhich in the world, the Cobb. In the possibility that we are also trapped in a zombie apocalypse on campus, we have set out to determine the most compatible teachers and faculty to plant the intellectual seed of our community, through a blatantly efficient speed match-making survey (inspired by THRIVE assessments). We have reviewed the critcally acclaimed and emotionally poignant film that we predict will win all the Oscars this year: Saw VI. Our resident opinion editor andlinguistics PhD, Francis Zierrer has explored the growing lexicon of text speek among us. And on the back page we included the most important information ever: The release of Junior Prom Nominees. On another note, in the sociopolitical climate that looks grim for student-run journalism, we encourage you all to donate and advertise for the Pepperbox. For more information contact our business manager, Nadia Al-Yagout at nadia.alyagout@gmail.com.

Disclaimer

Thanks

To Arcata High juniors Ben McQuestions regarding editorial content of the Pepperbox should be directed toward its Editors. Creath and Sam Huschle- Freed for Opinions expressed by columnists are not neces- completely revamping The Pepperbox’s computer Lab. sarily those of Arcata High School. The views of and content of the Pepperbox are those of the author and not necessarily Arcata High School.

February

In the Box

Box Briefs

Minimum Day/8th Grade Orientation, Feb. 3 Junior Prom 9-12 p.m. in MPR, Feb. 4 CASHEE, Feb. 7 - 8 Sweet Beats Valentines Swing Dance, Feb. 10 ACT: 8 a.m. at EHS, Feb. 11 Valentunes, Feb. 13 – 14 School Board Meeting @ AHS, Feb. 14 Kindness Week, Feb. 13 - 17 Blood Drive, Feb. 15 CSS Profile Deadline, Feb. 15 President’s Break No School, Feb. 20 – 24 FAFSA Deadline, March 2

Editors

Web Team

Kristyn Payne, Co-Online Editor Kim-Thu Pham, Co-Online Editor Billy Miller, Media Editor

Casey Aveggio, Reporter Nirvana Begovic, Reporter Taylor Bennion, Reporter Kasey Cather, Reporter Annie Ewald, Reporter Shea Hamilton, Reporter Lily Hebert, Reporter

Trigger Cuts �� Plaza Vandalization �� SOPA �� Briefs �� Lunch Lady �� Living With Lymphoma �� College Profiles �� iFluRtz: Teachers Edition �� Prom Fashion �� Ways NOT to Ask a Girl to Prom �� The Cobb �� New Year’s Resolutions �� Text-Speak �� Analysis: School Rankings �� Casey DeHaven �� Rec Basketball �� Snowboarding �� Wrestling �� Saw VI �� CSA �� Mason Bell �� DJ Itchie Fingas �� Dragon Tattoo ��

McKayla Alvarnaz, Co-Editor-in-Chief Toby Shao, Co-Editor-in-Chief Forrest Lewis, News Editor Felicia Watson, Feature Editor Francis Zierer, Opinion Editor Elaine Cunha, Sports Editor

Staff

Will Kauffman, Reporter Petey Levesque, Reporter Victoria Moroni, Reporter Kimber Peterson, Reporter/ Photographer Michael Scofield, Reporter Kaylee Steiner-Olson, Reporter

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Sarah Fraga, A&E Editor Nadia Al-Yagout, Managing Editor/ Business Manager/Love Guru Andrei Khemelnitski, Audio/ Visual Editor Colin Swenson, Art Director Hannah Luu, Photo Manager Brian Then, Reporter Zoe Tinseth, Reporter/Photographer Carter Wright, Reporter

Advisor

Danielle Lehman

The Pepperbox would like to thank Western Web, based in Samoa, for printing the Pepperbox at cost. Western Web supports student journalism throughout Humboldt County and has made publications like the Pepperbox possible for decades. We appreciate their dedication to keeping print media and the Pepperbox alive!

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tuesday, january 31, 2012

NEWS

The PB

Loading the gun for trigger cuts Kim-Thu Web Pham Editor

Unified School District, which sees 500 of its 750 students take a bus to school.” “Heck yeah! I’m not going to school!” Junior Emily Oparowski and bus rider said in response to the bus system being potentially cut. “That would freaking suck,”Ryan Tibulski, freshman bus rider said. “I would have to walk to school.” School busses provide safe and reliable transportation to and from schools. Cutting transportation funding essentially leaves kids stuck at home or walking to school from long distances in rural areas and unsafe stretches in crime-ridden districts. With cuts to transportation, dropout rates will soar from low-income families who cannot provide their children transportation to school. This will block students from the opportunity to learn and to benefit from the opportunity of quality education.

When California’s revenue fell more than $2 billion below the expected level in the latest budget projection, the state once again pulled the trigger on funding for education. Originally, funding would have been reduced by $1.5 billion and the 2011 – 2012 school year would have been shortened by one week. But because the revenue level was just slightly below the $2 billion margin, many of the predicted cuts did not happen. In the latest budget report from the state, childcare, services for the disabled, CSUs, and UCs now have less funding from the state. And although K-12 education was mostly saved from drastic cuts, funding for home-to-school transportation was reduced by $248 million this year and will be reduced by $867 million over the next two years. The state regards this reduction as a “complete elimination of the transporta- Fiscal responsibility or irrespontion program.” sibility? Along with responsibility for transTransportation takes an arrow to portation, a significant amount of fithe knee nancial control has shifted from the “Cutting $248 million from Home state to the district level. to School Transportation is tanta“Districts have been given more mount to completely eliminating control, but with less money,” exthe ability for students to get to plained Hanger. and from school to learn,” stated “The Budget dramatically increasthe Education Coalition. Rural and es flexibility and local control… poor districts are expected to suffer This change will empower local the most. Humboldt Office of Edu- school officials to determine the cation’s Assistant Superintendent of best uses of scarce resources,” said Business Services Rick Hanger said Governor Jerry Brown. In his budthe cut “could devastate some rural get report, Governor Brown condistricts like Southern Humboldt solidated funding for several differ-

ent programs into one fund which is based on a weighted pupil funding formula. The formula is structured to help districts with large populations of disadvantaged pupils over the next five years. The Education Hostage Crisis “The stark truth is that without some new taxes, damaging cuts to schools, universities, and public safety and our courts will only increase,” said Governor Brown. A budget report by the Association of California School Administrators stated: “The governor has proposed a ballot initiative for the November Presidential Election that provides $6.9 billion in temporary tax increases. The tax increases include an increase on the personal income tax of the state’s wealthiest taxpayers and a one half percent increase on sales tax. The proposal once again includes budget ‘triggers’ in case the initiative fails.” Superintendents have been urged to run schools as if the tax initiative on this November’s ballot is guaranteed to pass. If the initiative does not pass, however, education will be cut by an additional $4.8 billion, or $370 per student statewide, which will result in three weeks less of school in the 2012 – 2013 academic year. At a conference on the budget, Governor Brown was asked: “It appears you are holding education hostage. Please explain.” “Education is the largest part of the budget… when you need money, education cannot be ignored,”

Brown replied. According to Cindy Vickers, Director of Fiscal Services for the Northern Humboldt Union High School District, Brown is “trying to raise taxes by threatening more cuts to education- and people don’t like to cut education.” The Redwood Financial Curtain “We’ve experienced reductions and they’ve been painful but all our districts met our financial obligations this year,” said Rick Hanger. Of the 32 districts in Humboldt County, only 4 are in poor financial shape. “We had originally budgeted for the worst but we suffered the least damage that could happen. The reductions will have less of an impact because we budgeted so conservatively,” said Vickers. This year, the Northern Humboldt Union High School District budgeted for $421,962 in cuts, or $300 per student in cuts. Instead, the trigger cut reduced funding to the district by $18,285, or $13 per student. Home to school transportation in Northern Humboldt has been reduced by $129,241, however the district has already been accommodating for 19.84% of the transportation costs this year. The stability of the county’s funding for education has been a result of conservative budgeting and local financial support from property taxes. Rick Hanger explained, “Unlike other areas, our market is stable. We haven’t seen loads of devastation like in the Central Valley.”

“Cutting $248 million from Home to School Transportation is tantamount to completely eliminating the ability for students to get to and from school to learn.” - Education Coalition

tuesday, january 31, 2012

NEWS

The PB

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Plaza closes for New Year’s Eve Hannah Luu

Reporter

The City of Arcata experienced $10,000 worth of damage on October 31, 2011. Thousands of drunks adorned in various costumes defaced the plaza. The McKinley statue was covered in graffiti and shards of glass were scatted everywhere. It took around thirty trash bags to clean up the plaza.

“It is not worth the money or the safety risk if it becomes that out of control, something had to change.” --ASB Vice President Rebecca Smith On Halloween and New Year’s Eve, the plaza is traditionally the

place to be. People come from the bars, their homes, and parties, to participate in the festivities. In general, a few extremely intoxicated people climb the McKinley statue and the crowd cheers. Last New Year’s Eve, they set off fireworks in the middle of the plaza. Several people were injured. This Halloween, however, brought about a change to future gatherings at the plaza. The Arcata City Council held several meetings about how to control the plaza for this New Year’s Eve based on Halloween’s events. The Arcata High student body actually participated in student government day at the City Council. At this meeting, the topic was how to control the plaza on New Year’s. The students acted as city council members, citizens, etc. Each character held very different opinions. Clayton Wilson roleplayed as a college student. At the meeting he said that, “We should keep on partying on the plaza! Who cares, we

Billy Miller/PEPPERBOX

The view from the house of Billy Miller, Arcata High senior, on New Year’s Eve after the plaza was blocked off.

Hannah Luu/PEPPERBOX

only live once.” Many students disagreed with Wilson and saw the destruction of the plaza as an issue. Rebecca Smith suggested that a fence be put around the plaza with police officers safeguarding it. “It is ridiculous how much money went into cleaning up the plaza on Halloween,” Smith said. “It is not worth the money or the safety risk if it becomes that out of control, something had to change.” The city of Arcata followed through with Smith’s idea. This New Year’s Eve thirty police officers were stationed around the plaza. An emergency bus was located nearby and the plaza was fairly desolate. This ended up costing the police department around $2,800, much less than $10,000. At around 11:45 pm a few hundred individuals gathered around the plaza. Nobody knew what to expect. Midnight came and went without much commotion. The largest disturbance was a drum circle which was banned from going inside the plaza. A small tussle against the police broke out. Student Jimmy Luchessi observed: “Because all the cops were concentrated on the plaza, no parties were rolled. It was awesome.” When Pepperbox

interviewed the police about this, they explained that their presence at the plaza did not mean less cops were patrolling the streets for drunk driving. Rather, no cop got to spend the night with their family. Senior Billy Miller, who lives near the plaza, is not bothered by the large groups of people who gather on holidays. “There was a sad whimper of cheer from the right corner” said Miller. “It was honestly depressing compared to years past.” Arcata High junior Kasey Cather, says that, “On New Year’s Eve everybody is stoked and wants to celebrate the New Year together. It is a lot more respectful than Halloween.” In general on New Year’s Eve, flocks of people gather around the plaza and stay for an hour at most. People come from their homes, parties, the bars, and they all happily go into the New Year together. The plaza is simply the meeting place. In contrast, it can be observed that often on Halloween people are more disrespectful. The plaza is public property, and blocking it off was questioned by many people. The constitution gives citizens the right to assemble, and technically residents of Arcata’s tax dollars go to the plaza, so citizens have the right to be there.

tuesday, january 31, 2012

NEWS

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The PB

The rise and fall of SOPA Kristyn Payne

Web Editor

On January 18, 2011, it was gone. The plethora of information our teacher’s consistently tell us not to trust; like the bad-boy down the street parents tell their daughter’s not fraternize with, but daughter’s do all the same. Wikipedia. The friendly white page of Wikipedia. Darkened and left with an ominous message on Internet censorship. The vibrant blue, red, yellow and green colors of the Google logo had disappeared behind a solid black bar. King Zuckerberg posted a Facebook status of outrage on the state of emergency the internet is in. What was the cause of this? On October 26, 2011, Texas Republican Representative and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Lamar Smith, proposed before Congress the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). The bill aimed to “promote prosperity, creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation by combating the theft of U.S. property, and for other purposes.” In other words, it would have expanded the ability of the government to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods. The SOPA bill intended to stop piracy, but to what degree would it have limited free speech? The FBI estimates that U.S. businesses lose $200-$250 billion to counterfeiting on an annual basis. In another study done by the LA Times, almost half of the adults interviewed had bought, copied, or downloaded bootlegged music or video, including 70% of those aged 18 to 29. Persons who post material could face five years in prison for a first offense. The main concern of the SOPA bill were rogue sites, which are foreign-

located websites whose home country is a tad more hospitable to copyright infringement than the land of Red, White and Blue. SOPA would have allowed the US attorney general to seek a court order against the targeted over-seas site, turn it over to the internet provider, and expect the target site to disappear. “So, it’s somewhat like a virtual assassination,” said AHS senior Wayne Zhong. In section 102 of SOPA, it was stated that if an after service provider is bestowed with a removal order, the provider shall take the measures to “prevent access by its subscribers located within the United States.” In other words, the government would be taking the steps to limit what content can be seen by free U.S. citizens. Filling the top slot of SOPA creator’s top donors to his 2012 campaign committee is the TV/Mu-

sic/Movies category with $60,800. Now, this anti-piracy legislation has been a top priority for entertainment companies, publishers, pharmaceutical firms, and others, who claim that it is critical to curb online piracy. The three organizations that had yelled the loudest in support for the bill are the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Industry Association of America, and the most aggressive supporter, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, one of the most influential business lobby groups in the world. It boasts that its “core purpose is to fight for free enterprise” and “individual freedom.” It can be seen as surprising that the Chamber has been more forward than the Motion Picture Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of America in defending SOPA and attacking the legislation’s critics. Steve Tepp, the

The above image, published by http://americancensorship.org, quickly went viral and was posted onto social media sites like Facebook and Twitter thousands of times.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s most ardent public defender of SOPA, says that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “will always stand” on the “side of American businesses.” A perturbing statement if one considers the long list of American technology companies that oppose the bill such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter. Many internet companies opposed the bill, countering that letting the federal authorities shut the internet down without due process will compromise free speech rights and the overall functioning of the Internet. “It offers a set of barriers that the tech-savvy can work around rather easily while not effectively stopping overseas piracy,” said Representative Jared Polis in an interview with Forbes magazine. “If it were to become law it would be ripe for abuse as companies could use a private right of action to block a competitor out of existence.” Though, with the backlash from major Internet institutions and icons, the bill has been sent back for revision. There was widespread celebration among SOPA and PIPA critics when the statement was read. The phrase, “SOPA is Dead,” got its own hash tag on Twitter within minutes, but it does seem as if the bill has been pushed aside instead of being eliminated. Megaupload, a leading file-sharing Website, was shut down after accused it of mass copyright infringement. This move has only added fuel to the fire of the SOPA controversy. Minutes after the shutdown, hackers attacked public websites of trade groups that represent the music and film industries, including the Justice Department, Universal Music, and other prime backers of SOPA.

tuesday, january 31, 2012

NEWS

The PB

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No bells at Arcata High AHS students make history Forrest Lewis

News Editor

Since winter break, the transition between class to class at Arcata High has been marked by an awkward silence. Contrary to popular belief, it is not because AHS is trying to win the No“bell” Prize. “We’re getting new fiber optic lines to replace the ones that are there,” explained Secretary Monica Puzz. “We’re also putting in a new PA (Public Address) system that is going to be tied in with the clocks and the bells so they had to pull all that wire.” The process is spread over multiple months because the construction workers have only a limited number of hours they can work each day. Their shift lasts from 4:00 p.m.

in the afternoon to 12:30 a.m., five days a week, and they have only a 120 day window to complete the project. They are also working on only one section of the school at a time, as well as constructing a similar system at neighboring Mckinleyville High School. “I’m sure if we weren’t here it would go a lot faster,” Puzz stated. The new bell system will offer benefits. “From chaos, we hope to enjoy a new and improved communications system that is going to be a benefit for the students and staff,” said Principal Dave Navarre. “It’s going well so far, but unfortunately it had to happen right in the middle of the school year. Luckily, the teachers have been terrific, and so have the students.”

Toby Shao

Editor-in-Chief

25 terrific tigers walked away from this years Humboldt County History Day competition with metals strung around their necks. “It was a truly amazing demonstration of our academics,” Arcata High School senior Rich Macey said. Macey did not participate but attended just to see how Arcata High Students would fair in the competition. The Humboldt County History Day Competition, which has been held annually since 1982, is the county-level subidiary to the state and national levels of National History Day. Each year, students from 4th to 12th grade are given the opportunity to convey the fruits of their individ-

ualized historical research in a variety of formats (documentary, paper, website, exhibit, and performance). The theme this year was “Revolution, Reaction, and Reform,” The 25 students who won awards were: Madison Goddard, Connor Bradshaw, Kaylee Steiner-Olsen, Calvin Ryan, Ashlynn Cox and Lillabaek Anderson, Susannah McFarland and Hannah Christen, Anna Nordquist and Kaitlin Tucker, Dakota Goodman, Sage Fanucci, Emily Scweigert, Sara McGregor and Emily Waters, Forrest Lewis, Elaine Cunha, Cameron Wallace, Claire Appelmans with Kira Weiss and Day Robins, and seniors raging Ryley Burton-Tauzer with fantastic Felicia Watson, accented Andrei Khmelnitski, happy Hannah Luu, and yours truly, Toby Shao.

NHS hosts dress swap Germans enjoy Arcata Annie Ewald

Reporter

Each year, most girls at Arcata High School are left with empty wallets after junior prom. This year, however, the Arcata High National Honor Society (NHS) hosted a Prom Dress Swap to address this pressing issue. From 11 am – 2 pm on Saturday, January 21, a group of girls gathered up their old, already worn prom dresses and brought them to the Multipurpose Room. The idea was that each person would bring one or more dresses that were willing to sell, lend, or donate to another girl. This way, if the dress was important to the person, they were guaranteed to get it back. The event was organized extremely well and everyone seemed to have a good time. “There was lots of great

music, and it kind of turned into a fashion show which was bundles of fun,” NHS Co-President Ryley Tauzer said. No girl walked out empty handed, and everyone was satisfied. “It was great to see the AHS student body come together to help each other out,” ASB President Felicia Watson said. It is important to provide a cheaper solution for prom so everyone can be included, and still have a lot of fun. This is exactly what the dress swap provided. “It went pretty well but has the potential to be an even better event if more people participate,” senior Rebecca Smith said. “Everyone there found a dress they liked. It is good way to get another use out of a dress that otherwise may only be worn once or twice.”

Elaine Cunha

Sports Editor

Die Deutschen sind hier! The Germans are here! Twenty Arcata High School families are hosting German teenagers from the Nicolaus-Cusanus-Gymnasium in Bonn, Germany. As part of the German American Partnership Program, the Germans will stay with their host families for two weeks, attend school with their host brother or sister, and immerse themselves in the distinct culture of northern California’s Lost Coast. “Ich finde es niveaulimbo,” Frau Bareilles, German teacher at Arcata High, said (If you want to know what that means, ask a German). Prior to coming to Arcata, the Germans spent a week in San Francisco shopping, visiting museums,

and sightseeing. “Jumping on and off the cable cars was really fun,” German exchange student Chrissie Raptis said. While here, the group will hike in Lady Bird Johnson Grove, tour the Carson Mansion, visit Mad River Beach, and enjoy the beautiful weather of Humboldt County. “It’s great to see the differences between the two cultures,” German Nadine Hoffmann said. Hoffman is currently staying with Arcata High junior Molly Salamunovich. “It’s a great experience having someone from another country stay at my house,” Salamunovich said. “It’s fun to see how daily life can be so different, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what Nadine’s life is like in Germany.”

tuesday, january 31, 2012

FEATURE

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The PB

Who is the lunch lady? Brian Then

Reporter

“Who is the lunch lady?” everyone wonders. Her name is Jacqueline Slattery, better known as Jackie. She is a sweet, young, beautiful lady that is also a great cook! She is a very easy person to make conversation with. She enjoys when people ask about her job. I asked a couple questions about her job and I am pretty sure it made her day because she had a huge smile on her face after our conversation. Next time you talk to her, ask her about her job. Jackie is the kindest little lunch lady you will ever meet, and I can tell you that from experience. I have been to many different schools and I have met plenty of lunch la-

dies, and so far she is the kindest I have met. I would like to see someone try to find a lunch lady sweeter than ours. I am pretty sure that is not going to happen unless there is some sort of sweet lunch lady land I do not know about. If there was an award for the best lunch lady, our lunch lady would win it easily. The lunch lady loves her job more than anything. She has been a lunch lady for three years! That is a long time. No offense to lunch ladies, but if I were a lunch lady (well lunch man), I would quit. That is not my kind of job. She became a lunch lady because she loves to cook! It is one of her favorite things to do. Not everyone likes to cook like she does. However, I also love to cook.

It is fun and you get to eat your own delicious food! The coolest part of her job is working with students. You would think that would be the part she liked the least, but no, she likes it a lot. Her biggest pet-peeve about students is their foul mouths. That is the only thing she does not like. But then again who does? She wishes the students would not use foul language. A lot of teachers wish this too. I asked her, “What’s the your favorite food to make?” The lunch lady’s favorite food to make is des-

sert. I do not blame her; dessert is the best part of lunch! It is always fun to make also. Her favorite dessert to make is chocolate chip cookies. I bet she loves to eat them also. I mean who does not love to eat chocolate chip cookies? I know I love them! According to the lunch lady, they are really fun to make. I would not know, I have not made them before, oddly. Well, that is all I have to say about the sweet, young, beautiful, and funny lunch lady. So next time you see her say hi and ask about her wonderful job!

Toby Shao/ PEPPERBOX

Brian poses with the nicest lunch lady on Earth

tuesday, january 31, 2012

FEATURE

The PB

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Living with Lymphoma Casey Aveggio Reporter

Cancer. A word we all fear. A fear that creeps up on us when we are least expecting it. Nearly everyone has been touched by cancer somehow, either personally or through a close family member or friend. Until recently, I was one of the lucky ones. Cancer had always been there, just as it is for everyone else, but no one close to me had experienced it. Then my dad started to feel…tired. Just not himself anymore. Soon, at the beginning of November, he found a lump in his stomach, and it snow-balled from there. But this is not a story of how cancer ruined our lives. It is a story of the everyday struggles of living with lymphoma, and coming out on the other side.

The Internet told me terrible, horrifying facts: facts that left no hope whatsoever. Once my dad found that lump, I made him go to the doctor immediately. She ordered some tests, and then some more, and then some more. First, it was mono. But wait, that’s a teen disease, so let’s do some more tests. After two weeks of testing, the dreaded words that had loomed at the back of all our minds came: “You have leukemia. Get down to Stanford, NOW.” My parents rushed to school to tell me,

and the following day, the day before Thanksgiving Break, we drove down to Stanford. My head was spinning. My dad had cancer. Cancer. This couldn’t be happening. He was young, healthy, and strong. He did everything you were supposed to do: he ate right, exercised every day, and went to regular check-ups. The doctors must be wrong. Turns out, they were. When we arrived at emergency room that night (in order to get admitted sooner) the doctors told us he had a 99% chance of acute myeloid leukemia. But the next day, they weren’t as confident. Soon more tests were being run, and they had no idea what he had. Not knowing was the worst. Once we had a diagnosis, we could fight. But we were all stuck in the hospital with doctors coming in saying, “Ok, so it’s not this. We’re leaning towards this now, and we’re going to take some more tests to determine it.” I was in this in-between zone, freaking out about every disease they thought of, and researching it madly online. Big mistake. If you ever have a loved one with a serious disease, do not look online. I repeat, do not look online. It will scare the hell out of you. After the doctors finally pinpointed my dad’s specific form of lymphoma, I went online to research. The Internet told me terrible, horrifying facts: facts that left no hope whatsoever. I spent that night crying in the car with my mom, finally breaking down and voicing my fears. One thing that stood out glaringly was that I was terrified that my dad would never walk me down the aisle. The Internet said he had maybe a year left. I now know that his lymphoma, which was finally diagnosed as a rare and aggressive form, can have

a bleak prognosis. But with his treatment, his health, and his inner drive, he has much better chances of a cure. The doctor’s most recent words? “He is doing amazing. There is no cancer left anywhere in his body. This is the best scenario we could possibly hope for.” I’ve never heard better news in my life. Since my dad got sick, cancer has shown me the compassion of the human spirit. Everyone has been so supportive and caring; people I barely talked to before reached out with hugs and kind words. Nearly everyone was like this; even people in the busy hospital took the time to just talk. Two of my closest friends have been amazing during all this; one offering to ride down with us to Stanford during break, after she brought my dad the biggest get well balloon she could possibly find, and the other taking her time to create the neatest and most thoughtful care package I’ve ever seen and sending it down to Stanford. Since the diagnosis, my family has seen how people react to this news and how they try and help. For the most part, people are incredible. But, no matter how much comfort and support you have, cancer is hard. I’m not going to lie. There are nights where you are in the Emergency Room until 4:00 am, horrible life and death thoughts racing through your mind, and then going home for two hours so you can be back in time for the doctors’ morning rounds at seven. But there is a gift that comes along with it. I am infinitely closer to all the people in my life I care about, especially my mom and dad. You see life with new eyes, and things that mattered before, just don’t anymore. Cancer puts things in perspective. I had to

learn that the hard way, but at least I learned it. Cancer threw some twisted loop holes at me, but also gave me the things that I now could not do without. And now Dad is on the road to recovery. He is in no way out of the woods yet, but it looks like we can see the edge. He thanks my mom and I, his “angel-bulldogs” as he calls us, because we never left. But really, there was no choice at all in my mind. My dad needed me at those 4:00 am doctor visits, so I was there, regardless of how tired or hungry I was. Cancer has taught me my internal strengths. I know what I’m capable of, and I know I can tackle anything. Life will throw terrible situations at you, but if you face them, you will make it through. I now know that all that truly matters are your relationships. Everything else is superficial. I wake up each day thankful to have my family and friends with me. My dad has an incredible strength to go through all that he has, both physically and mentally. This disease has made us all stronger and has helped us realize what really matters in life. Cancer never had our family; my dad had it, and now we’re ready to beat it.

tuesday, january 31, 2012

FEATURE

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The PB

How to survive college applica tions Felicia Watson Feature Editor

Whoever said that senior year is the easy and most relaxing year of high school was wrong. Senior year is filled with stress, anticipation, and aggravation all originating from one institution: College. Collegethe life after high school that students dream about after their first week of freshman year. But what most seniors fail to realize is the amount of effort and time that goes into even applying to an institution beyond high school. Seniors go their own unique path after high school, following sports, arts, or academics. However, regardless of their choices all seniors must face the truth that the energy put in and the decisions made during senior year can affect how they will live the rest of their lives. When under-

classmen think of applying to college, they generally might think that the process includes: an application that you have to fill out sometime before the deadline, some letters of recommendation that teachers send in for you, and if you’re poor the college gives you money to pay for the tuition. However, in reality, the application alone is complex and time consuming. The average college application consists of: a personal statement, GPA/High school record, SAT or ACT test scores, and personal facts and data. AHS Senior, Hannah Luu said, “I started my first application in early September even though it wasn’t due until November.” Seniors commonly misjudge how long the application will take to fill out, which results in procrastination and a race with time. “I’m super glad I started so early

Top 14 Tips to Know About College Applications:

because I didn’t have to worry during Christmas break about getting my applications done like so many other senior did,” Luu said. Second, teachers are extremely busy and they have a number of student letters to write. Therefore most teachers need at least a month notice in order to write you a letter in time for the deadline. Teachers also do not simply write letters for any student; you must approach them and ask them if they would be willing to. “Teachers are an awesome resource to use when applying to college. They read over your supplements and personal statements. They will edit them for you if you ask,” said Luu. Then last, when you click submit on your last college application and you feel so accomplished you still have extensive financial aid applications to apply for and fill out.

1. Participate in extracurricular activities/volunteer work (Join school clubs, sports, organizations and stick with them. Colleges want to see commitment.) 2. Peer edit entire application (Read over you application with a friend and parent after you have finished to make sure the information is all correct.) 3. Apply for FAFSA, Cal Grants, CSS Profile (Attend the financial aid workshops available for seniors and their parents. Apply event if you think you won’t qualify.) 4. Fee waivers are available for low income students for all applications 5. Learn the difference between early action and early decision (Binding versus non-binding admission.) 6. Don’t rush the personal statement/essay/supplements (Have teachers, family, and peers edit your work. The essay is very important, it allows colleges to see who you really are.) 7. Take the SAT or ACT at least once in your junior year (Then if you don’t like your score, you have time to study and retake the test early in your senior year.) 8. Send SAT/ACT scores early (As soon as you finalize the list of schools to apply to. Even if you haven’t submitted you application yet.) 9. The Common Application is used for most private schools (You can register one account and apply to multiple private schools with the one application.) 10. CSU mentor/UC application due November 30 11. How to request for a transcript at AHS (Go into the office and fill out a transcript request) 12. Freshman grades do count (So try!) 13. Take at least two SAT subject tests (Subject tests are not required for UC and CSU’s; however, they are required for private schools. Also, most schools only accept the Math Level II subject test.) 14. Quality not quantity (It is better to apply to a few schools and spend a lot of time on the applications then rushing through applications just to apply to a bunch of schools.)

Luu said, “I suggest that all seniors should apply for financial aid even if you don’t think you will qualify. You might surprise yourself. It’s free money.” The cost, time, stress, anger, and dedication that goes into applying to college is not even recognized by most teens until they actually undergo the process themselves. Three seniors share their stories of applying to college as I follow them through their journey. Ryley Tauzer, Wayne Zhong, and Hannah Luu all share how the process of applying to college affected them personally, from the actual application to financial aid packages. They explain what surprised them about college applications, what was easy, what was the most stressful, and hints on how to be successful during your senior year and use time to your advantage.

College Deadlines/checklist: • November 1 – Most Early Decision Appli-

cations due (Postmarked with all supporting credentials) • Mid November – Notify teachers and counselor if you will request a letter of recommendation from them • November 30 – CSU and UC applications due (no letters of recommendation or SAT Subject Tests needed) • Mid December – Announcement of Early Action results: Acceptance, rejection or deferral • By January – SAT Reasoning (sometimes SAT Subject Tests also) or ACT Plus writing must be submitted to colleges. • Early January – Most Common Applications due (With letter of recommendation, and school transcripts) • February – FAFSA and CSS Profile financial applications due for both Regular and Early Decision candidates.

tuesday, january 31, 2012

FEATURE

The PB

page 11

Senior Profiles: College hints and tips

Hannah Luu/ PEPPERBOX

Ryley Tauzer: Ryley is an extremely hard-working and dedicated student as well as a talented athlete. She has applied to a number of University of California campuses as well as various other private schools all over the nation. She is now at the nervous waiting stage. Ryley’s advice for students who plan on applying to college is to “make a list of colleges you want to apply to early.” She said that applying to college is costly, and when you narrow down where you want to apply early in the year you can really focus on the few schools. Ryley said, “if you decide on schools you like early then it gives you extra time to fill out the separate supplements and research the majors available.” Ryley was surprised by the amount of small details you must keep track of when applying to college. “Not only do you have to submit your online application,” she said, “But you also must send in an official school transcript, send letters of recommendation from teachers and a counselor, send in official SAT or ACT results, send in additional supplements for each school, and send in financial aid forms!” Ryley advises juniors to send your official SAT or ACT results in as soon as you narrow down your list of schools because it takes a few weeks for colleges to process the scores and you do not want them to arrive late. Another piece of advice Ryley adds is to “research about the schools you apply to.” Get to know the school; it will help you write your supplements and give you an advantage in any interview you might have. The process of applying to college was overwhelming for Ryley. “I began my applications too late. All the applications I submitted have been on the deadline day, most of them within minutes of the deadline. I would recommend starting to apply as early as November.”

Apply early

Wayne Zhong: Wayne is ranked second in the entire senior class, and he is hoping to attend Duke University or University of California, Berkeley next year. Wayne’s advice for applying to college is to, “pick the top two colleges you want to go to and apply to them. Then pick lots of colleges that are easier to get into that you would still be interested in going to.” Wayne is applying to both public and private schools; however, with the economy today, private schools seem like the best fit for him. “Private schools can offer you more scholarships and financial aid then public schools can,” Wayne said. What surprised Wayne about the process of applying to college were the supplements. Each college on the Common Application (the online Application that almost every private university uses so that the applicant only needs to fill out one application) has its own unique additional supplement portion of the application. “Many colleges had similar essay prompts. I was able to use the same essay to apply to multiple colleges with only slight variations,” Wayne said. A second aspect that surprised Wayne was the cost that goes into simply applying to college. Just to send in an application is up to $75.00 at some schools (some are cheaper; for example, all the UC’s are $50.00), then $10.50 to send SAT scores per school, $10.00 for an ACT report per school, a $9.00 application fee for the CSS Profile financial aid application, and $18.00 to send the CSS Profile application per school. The cost adds up in the end, and you haven’t even been accepted into any schools yet! “I think that the application costs are worth it, because in the end the college education will pay off the silly application feeds,” Wayne said.

Toby Shao/PEPPERBOX

Get Involved

Hannah Luu/ PEPPERBOX

Put in Energy

Hannah Luu: Hannah Luu is dedicated and determined to go to college. “I applied to over thirty schools,” Hannah said. “I recommend applying to a lot of colleges.” According to Hannah the process was easy, but extremely stressful. “College applications stressed me out! I didn’t have any help or anyone to remind me to do my applications. It really worried me,” Hannah said. She began the Common Application in September as soon as it was released. “I had to write over ten essays; one for the Common Application, two for the UC Application, and at least two additional for each supplement,” Hannah said, “college essays are time consuming!” However, one thing Hannah appreciated, like Wayne did, was the similarity of the personal statement topics. Once you write an essay, it can be “morphed around to work for several universities,” Hannah said. Hannah wants to stress to underclassmen the importance of extracurricular activities and volunteer work. “The outside activities show that you are a leader and an individual, which colleges want to see,” she said. Hannah spent a year abroad on foreign exchange during her sophomore year. “I don’t have straight A’s or above a 2000 on my SAT’s; but I am fluent in Spanish, I have volunteered over 300 hours, and I have lived a year in a developing country. Those are the factors that are getting me into college,” Hannah said. She also added that colleges look you up online, so be cautious what you post because you never know who might see it. Hannah used resources on campus to her benefit, talking to counselors and teachers early. “Ms. Olesen was a really really big help. She wrote me an amazing letter!” Hannah said. Hannah, like Ryley and Wayne, is waiting to hear back from colleges. So far, Hannah has been accepted into University of Vermont with a $40,000 scholarship!

tuesday, january 31, 2012 page 12

FEATURE

iFluRtz: Teachers Edition

Nadia Al-Yagout

Managing Editor/ Business Manager/ Love Guru

ams e r d f o dream e!” y M “ ru ome t BC c s a h A - Ms.

“Destiny !” -Ms. Ros ebrook

The Boydstun Effect

The PB

Valentine’s Day is almost here and love is in the air. With Prom only days away, teachers filled out 25-question love surveys to find out who their most compatible campus matches were. Questions include a personal reflection rating their humor on a scale of 1 to Mr. Johnson, a ranking of their favorite Republican Candidate, and many more deep and thought-provoking inquiries.

TOP SWEET 16 MATCHES 1. Mr. Peters and Ms. Angles 2. Mr. Boydstun and Ms. ABC 3. Mr. Peters and Ms. Lehman 4. Mr. Johnson and Ms. Rosebrook 5. Mr. Boydstun and Ms. Bareilles 6. Mr. Filippini and Ms. Anderson 7. Mr. Hildebrand and Ms. Condit 8. Mr. Boydstun and Ms. Lovato 9. Mr. Boydstun and Ms. Ledogar 10. Mr. Boydstun and Ms. Teasley 11. Mr. Boydstun and Ms. Zamboni 12. Mr. Filippini and Ms. Lazaridis 13. Mr. Johnson and Ms. Jacobson 14. Mr. Hildebrand and Ms. Helms 15. Mr. Ghisetti and Ms. Clark-Luera 16. Mr. Hildebrand and Ms. Fernandes

‘I di d wors n’t know hipp [Gh -Ms. ed godd isetti] e Clar k-Lu sses!” era

e n’s got th u t s d y o “B Jagger!” e k i l s e v mo onahan - Julian M

It is no secret that according to Greek Mythology, Jeff Boydstun was crafted from the marble hills of Mount Olympus itself to seduce the mortal women of Earth. We all know this. What you do not know is that our Mr. Boydstun is in fact Prince Charming. Yes, shocking as it may seem, the mild-mannered Jeffrey was the manly inspiration for many a Knight’s Tale. Superman? Also based on Mr. Boydstun! Not only is he a Grecian God, but he is also the last son of Krypton and as such has dominion over the women of Earth. He is a kind demigod, though and chooses to only use his gigantic charisma for good, but sometimes he just cannot resist. The man, the myth, the legend, the Mr. Boydstun is truly the embodiment of manhood. He eats rocks for breakfast and according to rumor beat Mario Bros without dying a single time. He cries openly at the film “Old Yeller” and is completely unafraid to admit it. He has been known to make women blush with just The Man. The Myth. The Legend. Jeff “Fabio” Boydstun. his gaze alone. Let’s just say it’s no coincidence that he teaches “physical” education.

tuesday, january 31, 2012

Feature

The PB

page 13

Dress your body type! Lily Hebert

Reporter

Prom is almost here, it’s time to start looking for a dress. I’m sure at one point you’ve heard the terms “pear-shaped,” or “apple-shaped,” or possibly even “banana-shaped.” These are terms used to describe a woman’s body type. I have some tips to help you find the perfect dress for your shape; not for the pear sitting at home in your fruit basket. Prom is an exciting event for most people, especially girls. For me, I get geeky about prom dresses. I look them up at any chance I get because I want to look perfect. Of course, everybody’s bodies are different, and everyone wants to look perfect at prom. I’ve listed four general body types. Take a glance at my pictures, and determine what body type fits you the most.

If you have body type number two, a fitted top paired with an ‘A’ line skirt is very flattering. It draws attention to the upper half of your body without making the bottom half appear larger. If you have body type number three, and your mid-section is not your favorite aspect of your body, try to find a dress with a high waist line or a shorter dress to emphasize your waist and show off your legs. If you have body type number four, drawing attention to your waist will show off your evenly proportioned Shea Hamilton/ PEPPERBOX body. 1.Your bust and shoulders are a bit wider than your hips Regardless of your body type, you 2.Your hips are wider than your shoulders can rock any dress type you chose. 3.Shoulders and hips are evenly proportioned with a less defined Always remember to be proud of waist. who you are and love your body. 4.Shoulders and hips are evenly proportioned with a more defined You will look stunning at prom as waist. If you have body type number one, accentuate your waist, making your long as you feel stunning. After all, remember: you wear the dress, the try to wear a slightly fuller skirt to hips appear a bit larger. dress does not wear you!

10 ways NOT to ask a girl to prom Kasey Cather & Carter Wright Reporters

6. Don’t wait for her to ask you. 7. Don’t command her to go to

1. Don’t kidnap her. 2. Don’t send a picture mes-

Prom with you.

sage with “Prom” written on your bod.

8. If you find yourself in costume,

3. Don’t have your best “bro”

you did something wrong.

ask her for you.

9. Don’t tweet her. 10. Don’t chicken out.

4. Don’t pester her and keep asking until she says yes. No means no.

worst that could happen?

5. Don’t creep on her.

If you find yourself “coincidentally” running into her all the time then you’re doing something wrong. Forrest Lewis/PEPPERBOX

What’s the

Overall, just remember: Keep it smooth, keep it classy.

tuesdsay, january 31, 2012

OPINION

page 14

The PB

Pepperbox food review: Hole in the Wall’s “Cobb” Andrei Khmelnitski Audio/Visual Editor

You pick up your sandwich, delicately sliced into perfect halves. It has a considerable weight to it and is lightly moist because the sauce has already begun to soak through the insubstantial tissue sheath. You remove the wrapping carefully and deliberately so as to not disturb the equilibrium of ingredients. You handle this sandwich as though it were a fossil, just removed from the Earth. You are a sandwich archeologist. The sandwich is brought up to your mouth by your hand with the greatest of care making sure not to let any lettuce morsels fall out the back. Your mouth is salivating. Your teeth hit the bread and there is a gentle crunch, like Sperrys on fall leaves. Just enough to remind you that it’s there, but not enough to slow you down on your journey to the center of the Cobb. As you continue to bite, a bounty of flavor is unleashed upon your pallate; each unique, each special. Layer One: Bread Inhabitants: Brio Roll, Mayonnaise, Mustard Perhaps one of the most important levels, taking up the bulk of the sandwich, but possessing the least of the flavor. If this sandwich was feudalism, and flavor was money, the bread layer would be the peas-

ants, possessing by far the least money, but needed to support the more flavorful upper-class. Layer Two: Lettuce Inhabitants: Fresh Local Lettuce, Vinegar, Olive Oil The lettuce layer serves two purposes; one being to cleanse the palate with its blandness so the subsequent layers will taste even better, and the other being that it allows the eater to feel good about what they’re eating. They can say that they’ve had a serving of vegetables. The vinegar and olive oil provide a little tang, to spice up the normally boring layer. Layer Three: Bacon Inhabitants: Bacon The sharp contrast between the tender crunch of the bread and salad and the crisp crack of bacon will leave your mouth in awe. It is truly one of the most incredible texture combinations a mouth can come upon. Layer Four: The Flavor Inhabitants: Avocado, Blue Cheese, Turkey The last and most important layer of The Cobb. Your mouth is yet again hit by a jaw dropping (hopefully not) texture combo as your teeth slide from bacon to avocado. The blue cheese compliments the entire layer by adding a little bit of mystery. If you didn’t know there was blue cheese, you wouldn’t guess it

was there. The turkey adds a nice base line classic flavor to the sandwich. Layer Five: (that’s right, there’s one more) Enjoyment Inhabitants: You and a Mouthful of Cobb When I told you that layer four was the most important layer, I was lying. This is what eating the Cobb sandwich is all about. Sure, each of those layers sound great on their own, but together they generate a sensation that can only be described as Cobb-like. Your tongue is satisfied because of the intense flavor combos, mouth is satisfied because it’s being massaged from the inside by all of the contradicting textures,

think I’ll quit smoking and eating junk food and I’ll begin a strict exercise routine.” But then you find yourself sitting on the couch in front of “Leave it to Beaver” with a full ashtray and some potato chips and it dawns on you that you have once again defaulted on your New Year’s resolution. Perhaps this is due to the fact that you have wait-

ed until December 31st to make changes. Perhaps you’re just plain lazy, in the clutches of addiction, or you set an unreasonable goal. Maybe you’re part of the ten percent of people who actually follow through with this silly tradition. One person I have spoken to is part of this ten percent: Ms. Ledogar said that she would try to go outside more often

and your mind is satisfied because you only paid $8.50 for one of the best things you will ever eat in your life. If you want to have this kind of experience yourself, there is only one place to go: Hole in the Wall. This local treasure has locations throughout the area, but the closest to us is just outside of downtown Arcata. The employees are personable, and the lines are short(ish), so if you ever feel inclined go down and get yourself a Cobb, I promise you won’t regret it. Just tell them Andrei sent you. They probably won’t know what you’re talking about, but do it anyway.

Andrei’s mouth waters in anticipation.

Toby Shao/PEPPERBOX

Stop making New Year’s resolutions Taylor Bennion Reporter

Every New Year people make a “resolution,” but why do we make these empty promises of change? Is it to make us feel like fools once our plans fall apart? What kind of sick individual chooses to start this demented tradition of self esteem sabotage: “Hey, it’s a new year, I

and is succeeding in her task. This is most likely because she made a reasonable plan unlike running a twenty six mile marathon in record breaking time. She has chosen to simply go outside more often. Most resolution makers are terrorists, in fact they all are, sent by the Taliban to destabilize our country and bring >>>Con’t on pg 15

tuesday, january 31, 2012

The PB

New Year’s>>>cont’d from pg. 14 about a new age of Taliban rule which will last a thousand years. Now I know what you’re thinking. You probably believe that I’ve gone off the deep end but that’s not true we are surrounded by terrorist

OPINION

page 15

sleeper cells that are meticulously sabotaging the American way of life in the subtlest of ways. They have instilled an idiotic tradition of making drastic life style changes based on revolutions of the sun. It’s ridiculous to think that anyone will be ca-

pable of following through on these lofty goals which is exactly what they want. They want us as a society to become weak and unmotivated, demoralized by our own failures and shortcoming. They will quickly take over with extreme prejudice,

wiping our civilization out entirely and turning North America into a vast wasteland. If you care about your country and the future of our civilization you will stop making life altering decisions based on the recurrence of an annual holiday.

puters. Since its invention, writing has been mainly used for recording and communicating. Letters are perhaps the most famous of the written communications. Unfortunately, the e-mail largely killed them off. And now, as the e-mail killed the letter, and as video killed the radio (star), cell phones are in

And without this positive influence on their spelling, grammar, and vocabulary, they might become stuck in the rut that is text-speak. When young, developing children text using “words” that they think are acceptable, like “ u,” or “r,” they are hurting themselves. Texting could be useful for their futures, strengthening their spelling and grammar through practice, but instead people often practice these mistakes. Practice leads to perfection, and perfection of error is not a good thing. Texting is hurting the world. Society! You might wonder, “Why is it important that I have good grammar, good spelling? Isn’t it enough that my friends simply know what I’m saying?” Well, yes and no. What really matters is that people understand you, but what is more important is that everyone understands you. Text-speak is not a real, viable language. The English language used to be very different in different places. Today, British people may still use different words than us, people in other parts of the country may use different words than us, but they essentially speak the same language. This standardization of spelling and speech is very important in communication, as it allows people to communicate with a greater number of other people. It allows for society to progress. How would science work, how would philosophy work, if the great minds of those fields didn’t speak the same language? We are in danger of a destandardization of

the English language. It took many years for the language to evolve to where it is today. Do not allow it to devolve. I implore you, good people of Arcata High, and whoever else is reading this, do your part to end text-speak! Do you really need to shave two seconds off of the time it takes to write a text message? No. You just don’t. It’s not up for debate. Maybe you can use text-speak if those two seconds are the difference between life and death, but I really doubt it. You probably have a full QWERTY keyboard. Use, it for grammar’s sake! I may have drawn it out a bit, but really, if this article was too much for you to read and you just skipped straight to the end, I have this to say: pls do not txt or type or do nething tht looks lik this evr again in youre l1fe. Unless it’s a joke.

Text-speak: The plague sweeping the nation Francis Zierer

Opinion Editor

Honestly, I’m surprised you’re reading a newspaper. I’m about 87% sure you’ve looked at your phone at least once since you flipped the first page. But hey, if I got a text or a call, I’d probably answer it, too. Guilty as charged. Whatever, man.

Y use m0ar lettrs if u dnt need 2? U can still reed it! Big deal. So, newspapers, as I hope you know, are a dying art. Between 2008 and 2010 alone, 166 daily newspapers printed their last edition. Besides the unfortunate loss of jobs for many editors and “writers,” this is a very interesting sign of the times. The people of the 21st century are migrating. They’re not actually physically moving (if they are, it’s probably less than they were before), but they’re starting more and more to take advantage of modern technology. Modern luxuries such as the cell phone, the mp3 player, and the Internet all came about fairly recently. And while I love all these things, I also believe that convenience breeds laziness. In particular, cell phones. Since education was first viewed as a basic human right, there have been efforts to educate the masses. People have written on papyrus, on slate, on bark, on desks, on paper, and now, on cell phones and com-

a way killing e-mail, and communication in general. Text messaging is highly convenient, allowing people young and old to instantly send and receive messages. But this instantaneousness makes people impatient. So they shorten their wrds. Y use m0ar lettrs if u dnt need 2? U can still reed it! Maybe I’m overdramatizing the whole thing, but I think it’s a problem. Cell phones have become a necessity for the modern teenager. This in itself is not that much of a bad thing. What’s bad is that they are slowly becoming a necessity for younger children, as well. Parents are buying their kids cell phones more and more. Often it’s simply so they can contact their young one, which is certainly a noble cause, but then the kid demands a texting plan, and they give in. Here’s where there is potential for trouble. It’s a well known fact that kids these days read and write much less than they once did.

Colin Swenson/PEPPERBOX

One time I had a nightmare that I turned into a 14 year old girl.

tuesday, january 31, 2012

OPINION

Page 16

The PB

Analysis: Beyond formulaic high school rankings Toby Shao

Editor-in-Chief

How can two completely dissimilar schools, like Arcata and NPA, be measured with the same gauge? In the past decade, a desperate attempt to preserve America’s first-world superpower status has changed public K-12 education to a more progress oriented and data driven institution. The merit of this change is debated. In 1999, California schools started using the 2001000 scale Academic Performance Index (API) to evaluate schools. The API is heavily reliant on STAR and CAHSEE testing. Hence, the generally perceived validity of API does not correspond to its complexity. Arcata High Principal Dave Navarre asked. “I feel that if the test actually mattered to [students], that standardized testing would accu-

“I don’t think that these rankings represent college readiness, as we kind of live in a dream world here.” --Arie Jorristmsa NPA Senior rately reflect student performance, there should be some way to combine tests so that it can be done more efficiently.” On October 10, 2011 Jerry Brown vetoed Bill SB547, which would have added even more factors to the API, quoting Einstein in his letter, that “not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.”

The tendency to quantify success is seen in many national media outlets. (See graphic.) “I don’t think NPA deserves the ranking right now,” said June Rosen, an Arcata High School senior who attended NPA in her junior year. “They might have a couple of years ago when the school was really top-notch, but now it’s just a typical charter school with a bloated ego.” Even though the Department of Education recognizes that statistics do not reliably portray school excellence, gigantic news agencies like U.S. News, Newsweek, and the Washington Post all evaluate statistics of a charter school like NPA and compare them to public schools like Arcata in the same category. “APIs are based on small numbers are less reliable and therefore should be more carefully read,” Tina Woo Jung, an information officer at the California Department of Education, said. The Pepperbox attempted to contact NPA’s head administrator, Michael Bazemore, several times, but he could not be reached. “I think at NPA you’ll find that the students are very intelligent, albeit socially inept,” Arie Jorritsma, NPA senior and former Arcata High student said. “I don’t think these rankings represent college readiness, as we kind of live in a dream world here.” At NPA, students enjoy the attention and personal aspects of a small school. “Teachers teach on a very personal level not offered with anonymity of a thirty five person class at Arcata High,” Jorritsma said. At Arcata High, students enjoy the advantages of a bigger school. “I decided to come mainly for three reasons: Sports, Lab, Wood

Colin Swenson/PEPPERBOX

and Auto shop opportunities, and because of the amount of people that go here,” said senior Andrea Conti, an Italian AFS exchange student who transferred to Arcata High from NPA two weeks into the school year. “Public school is about bringing in a diverse group of people, and giving them as many opportunities as possible, that’s what we’re all about.” Navarre said. “Look at our sports, look at all our school trips, look at our arts and music programs, I don’t think that they could do that at this scale.” Even with Gerry Brown’s staunch

disapproval, we continue to be rated on a more-less arbituary basis. If high schools were consumer products like vacuum cleaners, restaurants, or even music albums, it would make sense to systematically rate and evaluate them in the way they are now. However, the gain that one gets from a school is much more subjective, holistic, and student specific. In a society where we find work so that we can afford to buy a car to get to work, shouldn’t we spend less time entrapping ourselves with superficial goals?

tuesday, january 31, 2012

SPORTS

The PB

page 17

DeHaven:Sponsored scootership Elaine Cunha

Sports Editor

After interviewing sponsored scooter rider Casey DeHaven, I realized that the world of scootering has its own language. Knowing full-well that the Oxford English Dictionary would not remedy my curbed knowledge of the sport, I asked DeHaven to provide me with some helpful scooter jargon for myself and other Pepperbox readers: 1) A person who rides a scooter is simply called a scooter rider, not a scooterer or a scoot. 2) When someone travels on a scooter, he or she is considered to be “riding,” rather than “scootering.” 3) When a rider has a trick “on lock,” it means that they can land the trick every time they attempt it. Arcata High junior Casey DeHaven

converted from the skateboard to the scooter just three years ago, but since has earned a sponsorship from Gryndo Scooters, becoming the only sponsored rider in Humboldt County. DeHaven began his search for a sponsor last fall by sending videos of himself to his favorite scooter companies. For Gryndo Scooters, he also wrote an 800-word essay about why he was interested. “I was absolutely ecstatic when I found out,” DeHaven said about obtaining a sponsor. “I felt like a fiveyear-old kid on Christmas.” Gryndo Scooters is a family run scooter company based in Mobridge, South Dakota. It stocks professional and free-style scooters and accessories that are sold throughout the United States and Canada. “The

owner puts a lot of trust in me for advice on what parts and apparel to stock on gryndo.com,” DeHaven said. While his sponsor trusts him for product input, DeHaven relies on Gryndo for financial aid and advice. “They are very supportive,” DeHaven said. “I appreciate everything they do for me; paying for my flight to Woodward, free spare parts, stickers – just everything basically.” Last year DeHaven competed at Rocklin, California’s Epic Skate Park competition with over 100 participants, including some professional riders. He looks forward to this February when Gryndo will fly him down to southern California for the Woodward West Camp.

Forrest Lewis/PEPPERBOX

Casey Dehaven, AHS junior and sponsored scooter rider, performs a quick tailwhip in between classes

“Woodward West is a massive camp that almost everyone in the scooter scene attends,” DeHaven said. “The whole park is the size of our mall!”

“I can do tricks down massive gaps, but I can also do very technical grind combos on the box I made in my Wood 3 class specifically for riding.” --AHS junior and scooter rider Casey Dehaven As a former soccer player, DeHaven also appreciates the freedom in scooter riding, especially that he is allowed to be his own coach. “I get to push myself, and I push myself hard, too.” He trains about one hour every day, at least five days a week, mastering moves such as Briflips and 360 whips. His favorite move, the finger whip, includes pulling the scooter up in mid-air and slapping its deck with his hand, so the bottom spins around and comes full circle for him to land on. “One of the unique things about my riding is the influence of technical riding on my street game,” DeHaven said. “I can do tricks down massive gaps, but I can also do very technical grind combos on the box I made in my Wood 3 class specifically for riding.” While the ups and downs of mastering such a trial-and-error sport are difficult to deal with, DeHaven can always depend on his strong passion for scooter riding. “I love to ride, it makes me happy and free. When I ride, nothing else matters.”

tuesday, january 31, 2012

SPORTS

page 18

The PB

Rec League: More than just a fantasy Forrest Lewis

News Editor

The much anticipated annual Recreational Basketball League, known around the court simply as “Rec,” tipped off the morning of January 7, 2012. For those of you who are not familiar with this tradition, Arcata High School senior Thomas Souza calls Rec, “The place where all the real basketball players come to play.” This season brings about one dramatic change. Quinn Rice, Arcata High School sophomore and son of City of Arcata Recreational Supervisor Mike Rice, has organized an online Fantasy Rec League with his friends to follow and track certain players’ performances throughout the year. The idea of a Fantasy Rec League stems from a hobby known as Fantasy Sports in which participants build an imaginary team of professional players and enter their team into an online league with their peers which gives “Fantasy Points” to the team based on how the play-

Photo Courtesy of Cameron Cather

Mavericks’ Sam Winter (4) goes up for a free throw in his team’s 47-45 win against the Suns.

ers did in their most recent game. “I’ve done Fantasy Rec for the last few years” said Rice. “It used to just be me and my dad and we did it for fun. It was simple; we chose players and kept track of their points. But we’re expanding this year – we’re now tracking rebounds and assists, allowing other fans to create teams, and publishing the results online weekly (see for yourself at http:// www.arcatafrec.netau.net/quinn. html). Sophomore Alex Yeoman is among the lucky few who was invited to compete in the first ever Fantasy Rec League draft. “It all started at Porter Street” said Yeoman. “The Fantasy Rec owners met and had some random guy pick our names out of a hat. Quinn (Rice) was drawn first, guaranteeing him first draft pick, and if I recall correctly, I’m pretty sure he got up and started dancing.” Rice did not hesitate to choose legendary Rec League baller Alex Puzz to be the first member of his Fantasy Rec team. “To tell you the truth, I really wasn’t surprised at all about Rice’s choice” said Varsity Captain Will Taylor. “I’ve been around the court a few years, and I know you can count on Puzz for twenty every Saturday.” When the stats came in from opening weekend, Puzz did not let his teammates or his Fantasy owner down. Beasting it up with 26 monster points, 4 assists, and 8 rebounds, Puzz led the entire Rec League with 38 Fantasy points going into week two. “He started off the season good, pressing everybody” said Rice. “It’s his senior year, he’s gotta do it. He’s gotta own up.” Puzz led his team, the Nuggets, to a 48-40 victory over the Mavericks. “Puzz got lucky because we didn’t

have our star forward Kasey Cather at the game” said Mavericks’ Point Guard Sam Winter. “But our team held them close until he (Puzz) went off in the fourth quarter. I’ve never seen a player so clutch.” Ranked 2nd in the Fantasy League after week one was senior Thomas Souza. When asked if he believed he had the potential to beat Puzz in the long run, he responded, “Of course I can beat Puzz. He’s not even good!” Rice surprised his fellow Fantasy members by picking up junior Tyus Bryson for his Fantasy Team. “I have German with him,” said Rice, “and he used to always look over and say ‘Quinn you’ve got to pick me.’ So I did. And I’m not disappointed.” Bryson finished the opening weekend with 19 Fantasy points, including 8 solid rebounds. In addition to Fantasy teams, the website also ranks what they call, “Top Rated Free Agents.” After week one, Owen Scofield led the category with 25 Fantasy Points. “I’m finally with a team I can work with,” said Scofield. “After losing every game last season, I’m ready to make a big comeback this year.” Fantasy owner Alex Yeoman quickly noticed Scofield’s performance, and drafted him onto his team to start week 2, where Scofield continued to impress with 18 Fantasy points. Rec League ranges from people who have never touched a basketball in their lives to junior Aleric Stone who made the Varsity basketball team and quit after two weeks to play Rec. “Varsity just wasn’t offering me the competition that I needed,” said Stone. “I’m proud of my decision, I see myself improving every day.” Senior Luis Bressoud might not

have played basketball since his career came to an abrupt end in 8th grade, but that did not stop him from quickly rising through the ranks of the Fantasy league. Most recently, he was drafted to sophomore Cayman Durham-Vance’s Fantasy team where has been averaging in the double digits. “I fiend for competitive atmospheres,” Bressoud said, “and nothing delivers more then Rec. Most intense league I’ve ever played in. The end of January unfortunately marked the half-way point of the 2012 Rec Season, but it also brought about a big surprise: the release of unprecedented Fantasy Rec league t-shirts designed by none other than the father of Fantasy Rec, Quinn Rice. They feature a basketball growing out of a tree, with “Are you part of my Fantasy?” printed on the back. Rice is seeking interested buyers, so contact him before they sell out. In the meantime, make sure you catch a Rec game before they are all over. The more fans, the merrier.

Photo Courtesy of Cameron Cather

Mavericks’ Ryan Ennes (7) drives past Suns’ Joseph Mayer (3) curtesy of Luis Bressoud’s (2) screen.

tuesday, january 31, 2012

SPORTS

The PB

Snowboarding is 100% better than Skiing Petey Levesque Reporter

The winter controversial issue: skiing or snowboarding. I look at it this way— if you like to have fun, fall down and have some good laughs, then strap on a board. If you like screaming ankles and high-waisted snow pants with suspenders, then clip into some skis. Any time someone attempts to convince you that skiing is more fun, they’re wrong. The one and only upside to skiing is that you don’t have to clip in at the top of the lift. However, even someone ineptwouldn’t recognize that the 30 seconds it takes to tighten down your bindings is easily worth the 20 minutes of complete and udder joy. Now snowboarders that are exceptionally bright rock their FLOW bindings and pull their board up to themselves while on the lift to clip in their other foot. This way they can head straight to the bottom of the mountain directly off the lift.

“I started skiing, tried snowboarding and stuck with snowboarding because it’s better,” Mark Hertz, teacher at Six Rivers Charter High School, commented. I can recognize why some people of the older generation would choose to ski—it can be more relaxing and possible to have a mellow ride. But believe it or not, in some cases, skiers are actually the ones causing the injuries. Exhibit A: A jump was falsely advertised to Pearse Narum, junior, by skier/ friend Connor Bradshaw. As a result, Narum broke his back. Clearly skiers cannot be trusted. The amount of tricks that are possible on a snowboard are far greater than those on skis. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty to do on skis, and hats off to the people who can successfully land such tricks (i.e. Connor Bradshaw). “Anyone can be a snowboarder, but it takes the best to ski,” Bradshaw claimed. Since Bradshaw is

capable of landing a 540˚, I will mountain to ski patrol to ease the refrain from degrading him. As for pain of the skier with the broken the rest of the skiers who drearily ribs. Now, being the nice person slide down the mountain and appear that I am, I chose to help a skier out, to take the reasonable time to arrive but keep in mind that not everyone back at the lift: You might as well has a kind soul like me. stay at home and watch reruns of Now I know I’m getting awfully “Everybody Loves Raymond.” preachy, but remember, I am only I know I am bashing on skiers, but attempting to create more joy on the I am only trying to help convince mountain. some of you out there who choose to ski to stop, because I want you to have fun. When you say you are a snowboarder you will instantly get more high fives. I am still nice to skiers: Last winter, I broke through the trees off of a path to find a couple of skiers, one huddled over in misery and the other calling, “HELP!” I still did the right thing Zoe Tinseth/PEPPERBOX and raced down the Ryley Burton-Tauzer enjoys a trip to Mt. Shasta

I have done since I can remember,” she said. Nickols’s dedication has obviously paid off, as she constantly places first in regional tournaments, is ranked first in the state, and plans to take first in Nationals. “I have seen her make boys cry,” former teammate Kauffman said. “Not gonna lie, she used to throw me around a lot.” Kauffman was a recognized wrestler in Humboldt County but recent shoulder injuries have put him out of the sport. In some sports, size and weight really matter, but 4-foot-11 sophomore Michael Lefuel has found that wrestling makes up for his size, although it can tough. “The weight loss sucks sometimes when you can’t eat,” Lefuel said, “but it’s to-

tally worth it in the end.” Lefuel el and Kauffman have all learned plans on wrestling the rest of his high important skills from this sport that school career and plans on becom- they incorporate into their lives. “At ing a coach later on in life. “I would the end of the day, you are your own like to take my skills and share them coach,” Kauffman said. with wrestlers who are determined and want to succeed,” Lefuel said. Students that wrestle feel that the sport helps their academics. “I felt better physically, and I just felt smarter, it changed me,” Toby Shao/PEPPERBOX Kauffman said. Michael Lefuel breaks down an opponent at Del Nickols, Lefu- Norte.

Arcata High’s wrestlers pin the competition Kasey Cather

Reporter

Hidden in the shadow of Arcata’s basketball season, one sport is continuously overlooked. The sweat and turmoil of a small, dedicated group of Arcata High athletes, without cheerleaders, crowds, and the need for any extra balls, is wrestling. Wrestling takes skill, determination, focus and the mentality to stick with it. “This sport tests you in everything; it pushes you to limits you did not think you could reach; it pushes you both mentally and physically,” senior Will Kauffman said. “It’s a mental game, with the physical aspects following.” Savanna Nickols has been Wrestling since she could walk. “It’s all

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tuesday, january 31, 2012

A&E

page 20

The PB

The worst of the sixes: Saw VI Sarah Fraga

A&E Editor

On the last Sunday of Winter Break, I chose to spend the remainder of my freedom indulging myself in one of America’s favorite past times: watching “Saw VI.” While feasting my eyes upon one the more beautiful wonders of the world, I encountered myself falling into the bottomless depths of an epiphany. So many wonderful masterpieces in the entertainment world have the number six in them. Seriously, just think about it. “Lion King 6.” “Snow White and the Six Dwarfs.” “The Godfather: Part VI.” “Nitendo 66.” And of course, “Saw VI.” The sixth installment of the seven piece series is the most bloody and mind thwarping of all. The special effects look so life-like that I, person-

ally being an only cry in two out of twelve movies person, was brought to tears. Big salty petrified tears. The film starts off where “Saw V” ended. The main victim’s fate is revealed and a beat is not skipped when the next scene involves two predatory lenders unwillingly in a challenge of who can cut off the most flesh in one minute. Although Jigsaw, the primary antagonist and killer of the “Saw” franchise, has been dead since the third movie, the games carry on through his apprentice Mark Hoffman and wife Jill Tuck. Since Jigsaw’s death Hoffman and Jill have been working together in the execution of the games. In the fifth “Saw” film Jill is given information for the next games, left to her in Jigsaw’s will. The games of “Saw VI” begin in a way that Jigsaw had not anticipated them to. Hoffman demands the informa-

tion for the next games from Jill, insisting that he does these games alone. Left to Jill in Jigsaw’s will are five envelopes containing five photographs of who will be tested. The death traps are created for Will Easton, a health insurance executive who revoked a dying man’s insurance policy. Throughout the games he must play God, choosing which of his employees get to live and die. The most intense and difficult death trap is saved for the final test. Six of his staff members are chained to a spinning carousel with a shotgun set up to kill each of them one at a time. Will can only save two out of the six staff members, and each time he reaches to stop the gun from shooting, spikes are driven into his hand in return. This is a representation of how each time Hoffman makes a decision on who can get insurance coverage or not, he and his compa-

ny are affected by that decision. The sixth “Saw” film expands from being single minded death trap scenes. The plot focuses on the background of Jigsaw and his wife, the reason why Will was chosen for the sixth game, leading up to the twisted discovering of a sixth photograph of an unexpected victim to be killed. Six being the number of the film also plays a big part in symbolism, from there being a sixth photograph to six staff members on the spinning carousel. If you don’t believe me that many entertainment masterpieces inlude the number six in them, then I recommend you don’t watch “Saw IV.” On the other hand, if you can recall just one memory of how fantastic “Lion King 6” was, I’m sure you will change your mind.

map, to have our area recognized throughout the nation,” Anne BownCrawford, CSA Director, said. CSA will give the local area the ability to cultivate a vibrant arts community by commenting the artists with local arts supporters. Interested members of the community, who want to help support the arts, have the opportunity to purchase one of twenty shares. The shares include three different deliveries of art boxes over the course of February through June. In these boxes will be works from nine local artists, including such famous painters as Joyce Jonte and Alan Sanborn. Not only will these boxes contain works from the artists, but they will have “bumper crops” and items from the art “root cellar” as added bonuses. The box-

es were made by Arcata High’s very own Woodshop classes as a part of their final in addition to the local and supportive feel of CSA. The process of making CSA happen has been long, involving many aspects of Humboldt’s local arts community. From AAI students taking on managing and creative rolls, to

getting artists to sign up, to getting registration forms printed, even to making the boxes that the art is put in, every part of the process has been a local, community effort. For more information on CSA and how to sign up to be an art Share Holder visit artsinstitute.net

CSA: Community Supported Art Kimber Peterson Reporter

The Arcata Arts Institute (AAI) is at it again! This time with Community Supported Art (CSA). CSA is an exciting new model of art support and distribution, designed to encourage local art, artists, and collectors. CSA is inspired by Community Supported Agriculture, which for the last twenty years has become a popular way for consumers to buy seasonal food directly from local farms. With the same buy direct, buy local spirit Community Supported Art was created. AAI is proud to be the first launch of the CSA program in California, keeping with its high-quality of entrepreneurial ability and dedicated labor. “I wanted to get on CSA’s

tuesday, january 31, 2012

A&E

page 20

The PB

Music to the second power Carter Wright

Reporter

When asked who Mason Bell is, most Arcata High students know the basic facts. He is attending Arcata High School as a junior. He goes to class, sits through various lessons, and gets homework. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Upon further inspection one will discover something that sets Mason Bell apart from the status quo: his music. “He’s the next big thing,” Latrell Wilson, Arcata High junior, said about Bell’s music. A bold claim considering the many artists that attempt to make it in today’s music industry. “Ever since I was little, hip-hop has just been big for me,” Bell said, naming his favorite genre of music. “The ability to say something that has meaning while retain-

ing a musical element and expose things that most people don’t know about has always drawn me in.” Starting his music career as a DJ, Bell played music at middle school dances for money until setting his sights upon his current forte: rap. For a year and a half now, Bell has shouldered the title of “rapper,” and by doing so has demonstrated his feelings for hip-hop. “My week consists of just writing music,” Bell said. “Sometimes I just come up with random words; it’s all about the first line.” Since starting, Bell has performed in three local shows, and has released his first mixtape, “M^2.” In terms of his performances on stage, Bell described them as, “nerve wracking ahead of time, but once I’m on stage I just like to smile and be positive.” Those who have seen him perform

on stage share similar sentiments. Both Latrell Wilson and Sarah Bradbury, also a junior at AHS, described Mason Bell’s performances as, “amazing.” While remaining positive, the specific impressions vary: “It was awesome because I didn’t know what to expect,” Wilson said. “He’s legit.” “It’s so cool to see a really good friend of yours up there doing something he loves, and sharing his music and thoughts with the local community,” Bradbury added. Mason Bell already has a growing fan base, but there are still those who have never heard one of his songs, and have no idea what it is like. To describe his music, Bell said, “I try to expose situations for what they are, talk

Zoe Tinseth/PEPPERBOX

Mason Bell, Arcata High junior and rising rapper

about what I see, and give my opinion on it.” “He flows well, and he raps about relevant subjects,” Wilson said. With each of Bell’s songs, a depth in subject manner can be heard that veers away from the stereotypical topics that many critique rappers upon. “His music is real. It’s life. It’s poetic, ” Bradbury said. Attributing his influences to artists such as Drake, Big K.R.I.T., Kendrick Lamar, and many others, Bell plans to continue making music into his life, hopefully making it big as a rapper someday. “I swear I’ll do whatever it takes to get not just myself but my family to a higher place.” Bell said.

tuesday, january 31, 2012

A&E

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The PB

DJ Itchie Fingaz: Setting the mood Zoe Tinseth Reporter

Junior Prom: a night filled with dancing, decorations, and fun. A high point for many Arcata High School students; they remember it as a glorious night spent with their friends, but do they give enough credit to the person that sets the musical mood? Chris Grossman, also known as DJ Itchie Fingaz, is the DJ for Arcata High School’s 2012 Junior Prom. He has previously played at the Arcata High School’s 2011 Sophomore Dance, which was a success. “I had fun, and everybody seemed to be having a blast,” Grossman said. “I believe that Junior Prom will be another great night.” He plans on rocking the crowd, having fun, and interacting with the audience. Grossman has a strong passion for music. “Listening to music, finding new music, playing music, making music, all that. It’s all I think about,” Grossman stated. He has always had an interest in DJing from when he grew up in Tampa, Florida, to when he moved to California. He bought his first tables and mixer when he moved to California and that is when his Djing got serious. Though he plays no instruments, he does make his own music. “I make hip hop, glitch hop and dubstep. Nasty music,” Grossman said with a passion. Depending on the show, Grossman will incorporate some of his own music into his DJ sets. From his first DJ set at a house party, Grossman has known that DJing is what he wants to do. He plans on staying a DJ and doing the thing he loves for as long as he possibly can. His family and friends are major supporters of what he does and have been since the beginning. “I think my dad’s a little jealous I get to do

what I love for a living,” Grossman said while laughing. Grossman has mostly played in Humboldt County, but has also played out of the area a couple times. He recently won an award for being The Best Club DJ on the North Coast. When asked how it felt to win the award, Grossman responded, “Awesome, but I got to continually step it up! I need to bring my A game every time.” Grossman is very dedicated to what he does, and is proud to say

“Listening to music, ﬁnding new music, playing music, making music, all that. It’s all I think about.”

--DJ Itchie Fingaz

that after a lot of hard work and time, DJing is his only job and he is able to make a living off it. When he first started DJing, he was a DJ for Emcees. He played their beats, scratched their songs, and controlled the flow of the sets. After a while,

he started having the opportunities to open for well known acts as they came through town. He was able to open for various artists that he listened to growing up and admired. Even a couple times, impressed with Grossman’s set, the headliners asked him to DJ with them. He has shared the stage with artists such as E-40, Cypress Hill, Mos Def, and Lyrics Born. His shows are said to be energetic and exciting. When Grossman was a kid, he loved to draw cartoons. He had a character he drew that he called “Itchie” and once he started DJing and scratching music he figured it could be Itchie Fingaz, and that stuck as his DJ name. Though some of his friends mess with him about it, Grossman thinks the name is funny. Grossman has a DJ group called BossLevelz who he plays with depending on the event, which consists of himself, and his partner Masta Shredda. “We play GlitchDubstep-Bass music with hip-hop a capellas at the same time,” said Grossman. It takes him about an hour to set up for each set and they last for about three to five hours generally. When Grossman is DJing he looks to entertain and interact with the audience but not bore them with him constant talking. The most important thing to him during a set is to have the audience having fun and to play energetic music. He has a West Coast Tour planned for this spring and he plans to have fun and make sure to bring his A game.

tuesday, january 31, 2012

A&E

The PB

page 23

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Nirvana Begovic Reporter

As I prepared myself to see the American version of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” I wondered about why there seems to be an obsession with remaking European films. Has the United States completely lost all inspiration? The most recent remake of a Swedish film was the horror flick, “Let Me In,” which in my opinion was a total disaster. It is literally one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The director obviously missed the point of the story, and decided to create another pulpy, gore-filled junk pile to add amongst the buckets of them that already exist. The Swedish version of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” was a little too graphic for me personally, mostly because of the explicit rape scene. However, I really do like the main character Lisbeth. You really end up empathizing with her, and her character means a lot, despite her faults. The plot line is a little bit confusing, and the movie itself is a bit long. I sat down to watch this movie, and made an effort to keep an open mind. The opening for the American version was smoother, and the characters were introduced in a manner less muddled. The quick pace was one of the only positive

changes in comparison to the original. However, Lisbeth is a pretty big disappointment. She is essentially portrayed as an unintelligent brute, only capable of violence. In general, I felt that there was poor character development throughout the entire movie. Lisbeth also wears makeup in this version; which goes entirely against one of the key points of the story: her participation in the feminist movement. A lot of the costumes on the extras, and minor characters were neat, but I was unimpressed with the outfits for Lisbeth. The soundtrack, when listened to by itself, is a wonderful work of art, which is to be expected from Reznor, but I don’t feel that it worked for this movie. The music did not fit well with the transitions, and at some points was nearly nonexistent, leaving a silent gap. I also had faith that the American version would at least tone down the horrifying rape scene; most viewers are rightfully unsettled after witnessing it. About thirty minutes into the movie I found out that my hopes were useless, and I regretted every single piece of candy that I had just consumed seconds before. If that display of violence and nudity isn’t exciting enough for you, there are plenty of gratuitous sex scenes to compensate for the lack of personality instilled in the main character.

Hollywood was too easily distracted from the point of the story, and let an oversized budget consume the purpose of what the book was originally written for. For a movie intended on bringing awareness to

violence against women, all I got from this film is that there are a thousand more places to have piercings than you think, and it is extremely easy to get your hands on a cheap tattoo gun.

Kimber Peterson/ PEPPERBOX

Night AOscarsat the Juniors

The

ndy awken ABeronilla HRitter

atrell LWilson

wyn aitlin GCaughey KTucker

TheSophomores

aylor TBorges

TheFreshmen

Tyler Keil

Chris Cherms

Georgie Cavinta

Ryan Ghisetti

Kayla Reed

Lauren McCoy

Sarah McGregor

Morgan Brown

Jay Larson

Jessie Bareilles

Lakota Camp

Kay Zurasky